Good morning, DearHeart.
We are always growing.
Ever-changing.
Through difficult times, scanning our environment to decide whether or not this is a safe place … choosing our response … ‘will I exercise my right here to fight or will I take flight?’ Recently, I was thrilled when asked how I successfully made it through a difficult conversation. I shared:
I planned for it.
I knew the agenda.
I walked in prepared.
My preparation included inviting Christ into the room with me. Into the very chair in which I would sit. Asking His Holiness to meet me there, to be waiting for me as I entered,
as I sat down,
to weave through my thought process,
to guide the words I heard,
and to be in the words I spoke.
“God, be with every part of this process. Be with me. Be with us.”
And, He was.
“The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel”–which means, “God with us.” (Matthew 1:22-23 NIV).
Sometimes I can read the Christmas story & miss things due to the familiarity that has grown over the years.
Immanuel.
A single name that means so much. ‘God with us.’
After the resurrection, Jesus is commissioning the disciples & says to them:
“Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” (Matthew 28:20 NLT).
Immanuel.
‘God with us.’
Again we are told in Hebrews 13:5:
“God has said, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.” (NLT)
‘God with us.’
Wake up.
Invite Him in with you.
Never will He leave or forsake you.
Go.