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.