WITH Us...

In this Christmas season, I have been thinking about the Name "Immanuel" which means, "God with us." 

As someone who had a mother who would sit on my bed all night when I was sick as I child, I early on understood the power and comfort of "with me". How much more it means to have the God of the Universe "come so near."

As someone who left my home to go to a far away place to secure the adoption of my children, I am enthralled with the thought of Jesus leaving the perfection of Heaven to come down "with us" to a world of hurt and sickness in order to secure our adoption. The love wrapped in that sacrifice boggles my mind and heart. The thought that the final act would be for him to die on my behalf is nearly unfathomable. Such love seems past my ability to understand. 

Now in Heaven, but still "with us" the call of Jesus is to "come, all who are weary and heavy burdened and I will give you rest..." Peace in His presence...

To the single mom who cannot afford presents...come...

To the widow who doesn't think she can look at the empty chair one more time...come...

To the one fighting for her life, battling cancer with a table top Christmas tree replacing last years elegant fresh cut tree...come...

To the parents mourning the prodigal child who still has not come home...come...

To the dad who has lost his job and can't find another who struggles with thoughts of failing his family...come...

To the one who buried her child...come...

To the one who is overworked and overtired...come...

Christmas is a time to remember that our God came in the form of man to the poverty of a stable birth to be "with us". It is a time to remember that the question of whether God cares about our pain and struggle was settled a long time ago when He "left" and "came". It is a time to remember that He now beckons for us to "come"...

In the difficult days I find hope and love in His presence...

In the joyful days I rejoice in His presence...

"The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel" (which means God with us)." ~Matthew 1:23