Immanuel Emmanuel | Kristi's Morning Devotional

Dave and I have gone to the woods to cut our Christmas tree for many years. However, the last few years if wasn’t practical, we lived too far away and the drive would have been too long.

I remember one year when we lived in Montana. It was getting toward mid-December and we still hadn’t gone to get our tree. Dave wasn’t available for several more days and Kaci’s work schedule had her busy so our little dog, Glory, and I went to the mountain by ourselves.

Dave had given me strict instructions to follow. My vehicle was a 4×4 so I wasn’t concerned with the snow on the roads but he was. I had the saw and knew how to use it but I could see he was apprehensive. I was determined to go and I assured him I would be safe.

It was a wonderful day!

The sun was shining, the air was crisp and I was on top of the world, or at least the mountain. (The picture I used today is from that outing.) I took my time and found the perfect tree – tall, well-shaped with no sparse sides. Glory was having fun playing in the snow and running from place to place with me. A good day indeed.

Looking out across the valley, I spotted our house. It was so tiny. I gained a new perspective.

“The Lord is constantly watching everyone, and he gives strength to those who faithfully obey him.” II Chronicles 16: 9 CEV

The Lord is constantly watching for those of us who need help and strength.

“The Lord is high above all nations. His shining-greatness is above the heavens. ⁵Who is like the Lord our God? He sits on His throne on high. ⁶He looks down upon the heavens and the earth. ⁷He raises the poor from the dust. He lifts those in need from the ashes.” Psalm 113:4-7 NLV

He lifts up those of us who are in need!

We are not insignificant dots on a map, we are His children and He watches over us diligently.

“But the Lord watches over all who honor him and trust his kindness. ¹⁹He protects them from death and starvation.” Psalm 33:18-19 CEV

It’s important that we remember to view things from His perspective.

“I will bless you with a future filled with hope—a future of success, not of suffering. ¹²You will turn back to me and ask for help, and I will answer your prayers. ¹³ You will worship me with all your heart, and I will be with you”. Jeremiah 29:11-13 CEV

Our Father sees the beginning and the end of all things. He sees each step, He knows when we get up and when we lay down and He has established a plan for our lives.

The joy and the peace of Christmas is that God came to be with us. His name Emmanuel means just that, God with us.

From His viewpoint, He saw that we were a people in need of a Savior and so He came to earth. Thank God for His insight and oversight. Thank You Father, for Your view from the top!

For the last several days we have been with our son, Koy, and his girlfriend, Kym, in California. We knew that we wouldn’t be together at Christmas so he flew us out a couple weeks early.

We’ve had a great time of being with each other. Phone calls and video chats are good but actually being with the ones we love is the best.

God enjoyed being with Adam and Eve each day in the garden; they would walk and talk – it was a special relationship. But when Adam sinned that fellowship was broken. However, God had a plan for restoring what had been lost. It was important to Him to be with us.

“Joseph was a good man^[a and did not want to embarrass Mary in front of everyone. So he decided to quietly call off the wedding.

²⁰While Joseph was thinking about this, an angel from the Lord came to him in a dream. The angel said, “Joseph, the baby that Mary will have is from the Holy Spirit. Go ahead and marry her. ²¹Then after her baby is born, name him Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.”

²²So the Lord’s promise came true, just as the prophet had said, ²³“A virgin will have a baby boy, and he will be called Immanuel,” which means “God is with us.” Matthew 1:19-23 CEV

God wanted a way to be with us so He sent His Son. One of the things that means the most to us as parents is knowing that our kids want to be with us. God is no different.

“When anyone is in Christ, it is a whole new world.^[a The old things are gone; suddenly, everything is new! ¹⁸All this is from God. Through Christ, God made peace between himself and us. And God gave us the work of bringing people into peace with him. ¹⁹I mean that God was in Christ, making peace between the world and himself. In Christ, God did not hold people guilty for their sins. And he gave us this message of peace to tell people.” II Corinthians 5:17-19 CEV

It’s a whole new world when we have life with Christ. We aren’t alone. God is with us – in the car going to work; in the kitchen baking cookies; helping our kids with their homework; Christmas shopping; sitting beside the bed of a sick friend; sitting alone looking at the checkbook and the bills that need to be paid.

God with us – His purpose in coming was to be “with us”. In fact, Hebrews 13:5 tells us that He will NEVER leave us or abandon us.

We are also told that He promises to provide all our needs, heals all our diseases and forgives all our sins. Psalm 103

I didn’t always realize that God wanted this type of relationship with me but I can say that when I realized “God is with us” it has certainly changed the outcome of my life for the better – the best.

When we focus on all “we” have to do and how it’s all up to us, we become self absorbed. We make a very small package. When we realize, truly realize, that God’s purpose is to “Be with us”, when we unwrap the present of His presence in our daily lives, our world changes dramatically.

” What can we say about all this? If God is on our side, can anyone be against us? 32 God did not keep back his own Son, but he gave him for us. If God did this, won’t he freely give us everything else?” Romans 8:31-32 CEV

“Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore.” Psalm 16:11

The Christmas carol today is one that was written in the 12th century.

O come, O come, Emmanuel
And ransom captive Israel
That mourns in lonely exile here
Until the Son of God appear
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to thee, O Israel.

O come, Thou Rod of Jesse, free
Thine own from Satan’s tyranny
From depths of Hell Thy people save
And give them victory o’er the grave
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to thee, O Israel.

O come, Thou Day-Spring, come and cheer
Our spirits by Thine advent here
Disperse the gloomy clouds of night
And death’s dark shadows put to flight.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to thee, O Israel.

O come, Thou Key of David, come,
And open wide our heavenly home;
Make safe the way that leads on high,
And close the path to misery.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to thee, O Israel.

O come, O come, Thou Lord of might,
Who to Thy tribes, on Sinai’s height,
In ancient times did’st give the Law,
In cloud, and majesty and awe.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to thee, O Israel.

I know the Old English is a bit hard to understand but the basic message is one of God’s desire to be with mankind, who He created, and bring them deliverance in each situation. Just remember, He’s a loving Father who wants nothing more than to be involved in His children’s lives.

God wants to spend time with us; with is better!

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A View from the Top

With Is Better