Our Emmanuel! While God has many names in the Bible, this one is so very important that, when Isaiah announced the First Advent years before Jesus would become incarnate, God chose this name out of all of them. (see Isa 7:14 & Mt 1:23) Emmanuel simply means God with us, and it is one of the messages He so wants us all to understand. You see, if God is with us, then we can have Hope. Hope that whatever difficulties we might be going through, we are not alone in the midst of them, because God is with us. We can be sure that God will see us through the good, the bad and the ugly, because God is with us. The good times become much more fulfilling, because God is with us. The bad times become lessons that will grow us, because God is with us. And the ugly times God will redeem as He continues to work it all together for our good, (see Ro 8:28) say it with me: because God is with us. Knowing our God is Emmanuel, that He is indeed with us, brings security, confidence and peace.
And one more thing, because God promises to be our Emmanuel, we can know beyond a shadow of a doubt that He loves us. How? Well, why would God be with us, putting up with all our flaws, faults and failures, if He did not love us? He is never obligated to pour His Presence over us, but it is because He loves us, that He does exactly that. I pray over each of us that we can know deeper this Holy Christmas Season, and all year long, that we are truly and deeply loved by our Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father and Prince of Peace. Let’s spend some time today reading another of Isaiah’s prophecies about our Emmanuel in Isa 9:6-7…and praise God for always being with us!
2023’s Got A Minute? Book Club
January: The First & Best Book Ever: The Bible
February: Love Is In the Air: “The 5 Love Languages: The Secret to Love That Lasts” by Gary Chapman
March: Spring Growth: “Secrets of the Vine” by Bruce Wilkinson
April: Living the Resurrected Life: “The Wonderful Spirit Filled Life” by Dr Charles Stanley
May: My Spiritual Mom: “Making Good Habits Breaking Bad Habits” by Joyce Meyer
June: Spiritual Dad: “It’s Not About Me- Rescue from the Life We Thought Would Make Us Happy” by Max Lucado
July: Financial Freedom “Complete Guide to Money” by Dave Ramsey
August: Summer’s Soul Restorer “A Shepherd Looks At Psalm 23” by W Phillip Keller
September: Covering Our Children: “Prayers for the Prodigals” by James Banks
October: Reformation of Our Hearts: “Grace: More Than We Deserve, Greater Than We Imagine” by Max Lucado
November: So Thankful To Be Chosen: “The Chosen 40 Days with Jesus Book One, Book Two & Book Three” by Amanda Jenkins, Kristen Hendricks and Dallas Jenkins
December: Emmanuel: “The Pursuit of God- The Human Thirst for the Divine” by AW Tozer
<>< Peace, Diane
