Emmanuel, God with us.

There will never be a gift under the tree... a Christmas memory we reflect on… a big bearded, big bellied person who drinks our milk and eats our cookies every Christmas Eve… NOTHING can ever replace Jesus.

I love everything about Christmas, the movies, the baking, the songs, the lights, it’s easy to get so lost in the wonder and beauty of Christmas that we forget about Jesus.

Because in just a few days, we will be taking down the tree, the lights, the decorations but we will never take down Jesus.

Jesus is more then a baby in a manger in a nativity on our mantel that we set up every year.

Jesus is Emmanuel, God with us

Jesus is the light of the world, Jesus is our wonderful counselor, Mighty God, everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

Jesus rules, HE reins in power and justice over every earthly authority.

When Jesus came as a baby, on that first Christmas day, when Love came down to earth HE never left.

Jesus is Emmanuel, God with us.

God is with us in our Darkness

In Luke 2:1-7 we see Mary and Joseph traveling.

Mary pregnant with Jesus. Having to travel miles to fulfill a government mandate… a census.

And after an exhausting journey they finally arrived at their destination but because there was so many people coming from out of town, there was no rooms available.

So Mary and Joseph made there accommodations with the barn with the animals.

Then her water broke, Labor pains, contractions, pushing and out comes Jesus, as a baby, born with the animals.

Jesus, welcome to our world. The King of kings born in a stable, lying in a feeding trough, wrapped in swaddling clothes.

It was a dark time, a difficult time, a stressful time but it was all how God orchestrated everything.

In our mind, none of this was ideal but to God, everything was fulfilled according to HIS miraculous plan.

Born in Bethlehem.

Born of a virgin.

Born through the Linage of King David.

Born to fulfill God’s promise… not in a bright luxurious palace but in a small town, in darkness, in a drafty stable, lying in a manger.

God was faithful to show us according to HIS Word that God is with us in our darkness.

God is with us in our ordinary day.

In Luke 2:8-15 an angel of the Lord appeared to shepherds watching over their flocks at night.

The shepherds were up at night doing their jobs, guarding their sheep against predators who were looking for an easy midnight snack.

These shepherds did show up to their shift thinking, “man, wouldn’t that me awesome if an angel came and told us some good news about the Messiah being born in Bethlehem wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.”

No, they were just doing their job, the same job they did yesterday and the day before…

They happened to be present the day God became present with us. It wasn’t an accident… a coincidence… it wasn’t a lucky strike at night that they happened to be a part of the birth of Jesus.

Even after Jesus came to earth as a little baby in a manger, where shepherds came, and angels sang, and wise men brought gifts.

Even 2000 years after the very first Christmas came and went, Emmanuel is still true.

No matter how common, or tedious the task or the job might be, Jesus is still present in our day to day.

The shepherds could have just disregarded the angels proclamation.

They could have responded like King Herod with the wise men and rely just on second hand info to learn about the Messiah coming… but they went and became one of the first to see Jesus.

God will always be present in our day but we have to listen, we have to respond to God being present with us in our day to day.

How is God speaking to you? What is God leading you to do? Are you willing to step out in faith and follow?

God is Still With US

In our muck and mire, when the world doesn’t make room for Jesus.

When we hustle and bustle from one family to the next, from one party to the next, from one present to the next. Don’t be so busy that we don’t recognize and appreciate the true meaning of Christmas… Jesus is present with us.

Simply pause, be amazed at the reality that God is with us.

Remember how Mary responded… how the shepherds were in awe and worshipped.

Luke 2:19–20 NLT

19 but Mary kept all these things in her heart and thought about them often. 20 The shepherds went back to their flocks, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen. It was just as the angel had told them.

Let this be that Christmas where we slow down, take in the moment, ponder and reflect that God is with us.

When things are dark, when life is confusing, when people are difficult, God’s still with us.

Tomorrow Christmas will be here and the next day it will be gone but God’s still with us.

As Christmas comes every year, don’t get so caught up in the Christmas cheer that you forget the promise that God is near.

Now as we hold our candle we don’t see the benefit and beauty until our candle is lit.

In John’s Gospel, we don’t see Baby Jesus in a manger, shepherds, wisemen, angels, not even Mary and Joseph.

We see Jesus presented as the Word of God, the Light in our darkness, the creator of everything, the beginning and the end.

John 1:1–5 ESV

1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. 4 In him was life, and the life was the light of men. 5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.

Light the candle

Jesus is the light in the darkness and the darkness has and will not overcome it.

John 1:9–12 (ESV)

9 The true light, which gives light to everyone, was coming into the world. 10 He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world did not know him. 11 He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him. 12 But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God,

We are presented an invitation to be a part of HIS wonderful family. The Word says that it may not be accepted, applauded or appreciated but when we receive Jesus, as HIS children we are little lights that reflect Jesus.

Spread the Light.

Sing Silent Night

Nothing can replace the light of Jesus. Only Jesus is the light in our darkness.

As HIS children, as we abide in the love of Jesus… God’s love illuminates our hearts and we reflect the love of Jesus in the midst of our darkness.