Immanuel, God With Us

Immanuel. Even the sound of this name has a beautiful ring to it. The Bible tells us that the blessed son of a virgin would be called, Immanuel, which means God with us. When you take the time to actually consider that fact, that God is with us, it truly is humbling and brings such comfort at the same time.

Last fall was a very difficult time for our family. The deterioration of my Dad’s body due to ALS had left him completely paralyzed and unable to communicate. Even though he was paralyzed, he was still in constant pain. My mom was his primary caretaker and she was physically, mentally and emotionally exhausted. My heart had become so weighed down with sadness. It was heartbreaking to see my parents in so much pain, emotional and physical. Not only that, but my brothers and sisters were feeling helpless and sad too.

Sunday morning, on the 8^th of December, I sat in church in a broken state. The message that day was Immanuel, God with us. As my pastor spoke, I could feel the words going straight to my heart. As I listened to how God is with us even through the deepest pain and times of trials, I couldn’t keep the tears from forming in my eyes. It’s not that I didn’t know this already, but that day it was specifically what I needed to hear. I felt like it was meant just for me.

Sometimes we feel like God has turned a deaf ear to us, but we know, according to his word, that isn’t true. He does hear us. (John 9:31) Sometimes, we feel like he has simply forgotten about us and left us to deal with our pain on our own. That’s how I was feeling that day. That isn’t true either. Hebrew 13:5b says “For He himself has said, ‘I will never leave you nor forsake you.’” Even when we don’t feel Him, He is there.

At the end of the message, my heart was pounding. I knew I had to talk to God right then. As I knelt at the altar, the tears I had tried to hold back became a flood. When I stood and prayed with my pastor, I told him that I felt like God had forgotten my family. Even though I knew it wasn’t true, the pain was still present. I needed to feel God’s peace more than anything.

Five days later, my dad passed away. What a long day that was. My family and I stayed with my mom that night. As I lay in my childhood bed, I began to dread the next few days, days of planning a funeral and saying a final goodbye to my dad. I prayed that God would be with us over the next few days. Before I even finished my thought, I felt him speak to my spirit, “I never left you.” It was so strong and clear, there was no mistaking it was God. It gave me such peace and comfort. He had seen my anguish and consoled me. I knew God was not only with me but with my mom and the rest of my family as well. 

Immanuel, God with us. We think of this name at Christmas because it goes along with the Christmas story. But this is a truth we can hold on to all throughout the year. I’m so glad He is with me, even when it doesn’t feel like it. He never leaves His children alone.

Quiet My Soul

“The Lord your God is in your midst, The Mighty One will save. He will rejoice over you with gladness. He will quiet you with His love. He will rejoice over you with singing.” Zephaniah 3:17

I absolutely love this verse! One morning I was feeling exceptionally overwhelmed and really needed some encouragement. I took the kids to school and came back home to steel a moment with the Lord before work. (Something I should have already done) Normally I don’t do the open your Bible and read where it falls technique, but this particular morning, I had no idea where to go. I asked God to speak to me through his word and desperately just opened my Bible. 

It fell to this passage. As I read it carefully, I began to weep as I saw the Lord trying to tell me how much he not only loved me, but that he rejoices over me. I can be so hard on myself, and every time I mess up, I feel like I have disappointed God in some way. What a blessing to see that he is so glad when He looks at me that he sings joyfully! Can you just imagine that? It’s a little hard to picture. Despite my faults and sins, God still loves me so much that he rejoices over me. How cool is that?!

Not only does he rejoice over me, but he quiets me with his love. Oh how my soul needed calming that morning (and so many other times). Another translation reads “With His love, he calms your fears.” How many times have my anxious thoughts caused a battle in my mind and heart? The Bible tells us in Philippians 4:6 to “Be anxious for nothing,..” What a great truth to know that he calms us by his very own love. To me, it is truly amazing that the one true, powerful, holy God loves me like that, affectionately and personally. 

So now, when my heart is racing, I tell myself that God quiets me with his love. When I feel lonely and low, I remind myself that my Heavenly Father is rejoicing over me with joyful songs. How can I remain sad and anxious with knowledge of this truth?  The next time you feel anxious and alone, meditate on this verse and allow God’s love to calm your fears and quiet your soul.

Get it Together!

So encourage each other to build each other up. 1 Thessalonians 5:11

Many of us know people who appear to have it all together. Sometimes we feel intimidated by people like that. They seem to have great marriages, great kids, good jobs, and are spiritually mature. And the fact is they may have or be all these things. However, that doesn't mean they don't struggle with issues just like everyone else. That doesn't mean that at some point they were not intimidated by others who looked like they had it all together too. It just means at some point during their spiritual journey, they realized things had to change, and they sought guidance from the One who really does have it all together. They grew spiritually and let God have more and more control over their lives. But by no means does that imply that they don’t have trials. Everyone has days when they feel less than adequate. They have frustrations, doubts, insecurities and go through hard times.
 
Then there are people who look like they are doing everything right and with ease. But that is only what they want others to think. In reality their lives, in part or in whole, may be in shambles. They are afraid to let anyone see what things are really like. Perhaps it is a control issue or they don't want to be embarrassed. Maybe they feel like they will let people down if they knew how things really were. In any case, there is no need for other people to feel insecure or intimidated by someone who appears to have everything under control. Fact is few people do.
 
When my children were preschoolers, a fellow mom and I were talking and she was surprised to hear me talk about being stressed. She said, “but you always seem to be so calm and together.” My jaw dropped, I'm sure. I almost looked around to see who she was talking to! I could have kept her there for days filling her in on my insecurities and self-described short comings. Once a new friend at church read a post of mine and told me, “it really makes me feel better to know that someone as spiritual as you has problems too.” I just stared at her, dumbfounded. I wanted to crawl under the table. Oh my, if she only knew! Yes, I knew scripture, but I often struggled putting them into practice just like she did. Spiritual? I sure didn't feel like it.
 
Most people who appear to “have it all together” are often just trying to keep it all together. They would welcome an encouraging word, or it would make their day to know that someone was thinking about them. We usually tend to reach out to those we know are struggling, and we should. But even those who appear strong sometimes feel weak. Life still gets hard and knowing someone cares could make all the difference.

In Disguise

Even Satan tries to make himself look like an angel of light.     2 Corinthians 11:14

I saw a license plate this week that had the number 666*---. I thought to myself, “I would ask for a different plate! There’s no way I would ride around with that license plate on my car.”  When I told my husband about it, he said, “Well, maybe they had it made that way.” 

“I don’t think so; it looked like a regular car that you and I would drive.” I replied.

The number 666 has always represented evil, so wouldn’t that person’s car look, well, black or beat up or have evil bumper stickers? Of course in my mind evil was supposed to be easily recognizable, visible to any observer. Not always so, the Bible says in 2 Corinthians 11:14 that “Satan disguises himself as an angel of light.” Satan is dark and evil, light is good. So he disguises himself to be more appealing.

Sin is often that way. It appears to be pleasurable or “ok”, but in reality, it’s just Satan’s deception to blind an unbeliever to the truth of his need for Jesus. For a believer, he causes her to lose her joy and peace, maybe even her family and feel shame and regret. Many extramarital affairs start with compliments or “innocent” flirtations. Many people lose their careers over a choice to take money that “no one would miss.” Going out with friends is OK; you need to let off steam, but what happens when that occurs so often it takes you away from your family? You begin to want something else and become dissatisfied and discontent. Gossip can even be disguised as prayer requests!

So how do we know that something is a sin, even when it is disguised as something harmless or even good? Psalm 119:105 says “Thy word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path.” First of all, God’s word is THE first place for direction in our lives, the place to determine right and wrong. When we are full of God’s word, he will make the path clear. If you are still not clear on whether something is harmless or not, ask God. James 1:5 says, “If you need wisdom, ask our generous God, and he will give it to you.” He will not rebuke you for asking.” It never fails, when I have asked God for wisdom in a matter, he always comes through. However, whether we listen or not is up to us. The Spirit of God is here to help us do the right thing. (John 14:26)

We as Christians have available to us the help we need to discern between good and evil. We have to listen and obey. It is so very important that we do. “Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life.” Proverbs 4:23.

Walk in Love

Therefore be imitators of God as dear children. And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and given himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling aroma. Ephesians 5:1,2

I had an aunt who has now passed on, that truly lived this verse. Whenever I read it, I think of her. Aunt Bertha’s life was a portrait of God’s love. She walked and talked love every day of her life. She taught on walking in love every chance she got. I fully believe it was her calling to share, teach and live God’s love to others; she did it so well.

It saddens my heart when I see and hear Christians, fellow brothers and sisters in Christ, not loving one another but instead hurting each other in attitude, word or deed. Jesus told his disciples in John 13:34, 35 “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” How did Jesus say people would know we were his disciples? By how often we go to church? By how much money we give? By serving in many different areas of church? All these things are great, biblical and serve a purpose, but the way everyone knows we belong to Jesus is when we love each other.

When Paul wrote that we are to “walk in love,” he meant for it to be a lifestyle, a way of life, especially to those who belong to the family of believers. (Galatians 6:10). God gave us all strengths, and we all have weaknesses. We are to encourage one another and lift each other up. (Hebrews 10:24, 1 Thessalonians 5:11) We may not all get along like best friends. Some personalities just don’t mesh. That’s OK. There were even some disciples who didn’t quite get along all the time. However, we still have to love each other.

How do we do that? By reading God’s word and asking the Holy Spirit to help us live it out. 1 Corinthians 13 is a wonderful place to start. It tells us what love is and what it is not:

If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains,but do not have love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing. Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails. And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.

Philippians 2:1-5 also has a great way to start, with humility. 

Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind. Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others. In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus…

Love is not a feeling or an emotion. It is a choice we make. It’s a decision to treat people right and actually care about them. We as Christians should be an example to the rest of the world of what Christ’s love is all about. We are His ambassadors. 2 Corinthians 5:20, “We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us.” How can God make his appeal through us, if people don’t see us, the family of God, genuinely loving one another?

Joyful Worship

“Worship the Lord with gladness; come before him with joyful songs.” Psalm 100:2

We’ve recently been studying about God's Character in Sunday school. It has made my heart full and reminded me how wonderful, holy, loving and mighty God is. He deserves our praise and worship given by all that we are. In fact in Mark 12:30, Jesus tells us to “love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind and with all your strength.” He stresses every aspect, leaving no question that every part of who we are is to be entirely for God. If we love Him with all our heart, soul, mind and strength as we are commanded, wouldn’t we worship with all our heart, soul, mind and strength?

Psalm 9:2 "I will be glad and rejoice in you; I will sing the praises of your name. O Most High."

Psalm 35:9, 10 "Then my soul will rejoice in the LORD and delight in his salvation. My whole
being will exclaim, "Who is like you, Lord?" (Emphasis mine)

Psalm 86:12 "I will praise you, Lord my God, with ALL my heart; I will glorify your name forever."

Did you notice the word "rejoice" in both the first and second verses? And "with all my heart" in the third?  Our worship time, especially with other believers, should be a joyful time of rejoicing in the Lord and we should praise him with all our hearts. Yes, we may come to church with burdens and heartaches, but worship is about God, not about us. When we lay ourselves aside in order to worship God, everything else fades in comparison to our realization of who we are praising. God is still God, no matter what problems we are facing. He still deserves our praise and worship.

When we come together in worship to sing praises to God, let's prepare our hearts, really listen to the words of the songs and remind ourselves that God is so worthy of our praise. He
deserves our ALL! To prepare our hearts, reading scripture about praise and worship is a good place to start. So is studying about God's character.  Try using the Bible app or other resources to suggest verses to read. When we take our minds off of ourselves or others around us and put our mind on God and his goodness, we glorify him and fill our hearts as well.

With Jesus

When they saw the courage of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished and they took note that these men had been with Jesus. Acts 4:13

Wow, that is a powerful thought! They took note that they had been with Jesus…Oh how I want that to be said of me! Not for bragging rights or to “toot my own horn,” but to know that my life reflects Jesus in such a way that others know it is Him in me.

As we look at this scripture, we see the religious and governing leaders didn’t think there was anything extraordinary about Peter and John… except their courage. Peter and John had been arrested for teaching that Jesus had been raised from the dead. They had healed a man, and they proclaimed that is was by the power of Jesus Christ. As they stood in defense of the “charges” brought against them, their accusers saw that there was nothing special about these men, but because of their courage in defending their faith during their difficult circumstances, they knew they had been with Jesus.

That’s when God is able to receive glory. When there is nothing special about us, but because we spend time in his presence, he graciously lets his glory shine through us. What a privilege!

Yes, we may fool people sometimes. We may put on a fake smile and use “churchy” lingo, and we may get by for a while. But what is inside will come out. What is in our hearts will radiate through our eyes and be spoken from our lips. (Luke 6:45) I want to be like Moses when his face shown with the glory of God because he had been in the Lord’s presence. (Exodus 34:29)

There’s so much that can be said of us, but for someone to take not that we have been with Jesus, what an honor!