Immanuel, A Christmas Presence

Hmmm. . . what to write about for five minutes of encouragement to YOU. Is it possible that God would have a special word for just you?

I think He would want you to know that He realizes that marriage is hard. He grieves for the days when your husband is distant and hard-hearted, and runs rough-shod over your emotions. He sees you when you fling yourself with despair onto your knees. He sees, and He longs for you to know that He will never leave you or forsake you (Hebrews 13:5).

It takes only a moment to experience Immanuel. Know what that is?

“Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.” Isaiah 7:14

Immanuel means God with us. It is the message of the season. God becoming flesh, dwelling among us, “Behold I bring you good tidings of great joy. . . for unto you is born. . .a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. . .Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.” Luke 2:10-14

Have you ever experienced Immanuel?

Here’s how. Close your eyes . Take a deep breath. Let it out, and with the emptying of that breath, empty yourself of self — thoughts of self, of the present, of now. And then — instead of being in the present — be in the PRESENCE.

For if God is ever-present. . . then He is in the moment, and if you can remove yourself from the present moment, and escape to His presence, His moment, then you will have experienced Immanuel. God with us. The hope of glory.

“Even the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to his saints: to whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.” Colossians 1:27

Immanuel,

Shari

photo credit

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About the Author

slpopejoy

Shari Popejoy is the author of the book Won Without Words, and the blog Won Without Words, encouragement to wives. She writes the Livingstone Library, http://livingstonelibrary.com/spknoevil/, an adventure series for young people, and the blog Oh Joy!, http://injoyinc.com/ohjoy/ for busy moms. She is a frequent contributor to Christian print and online magazines, and writes from the quiet country of the Ozarks, where she lives with her husband, Marc, and their three children.