Emmanuel, God with us! Part 1

What a special time of year!

A time when God, the Father, fulfilled multiple scriptures in sending the Perfect Lamb to walk among us and be our Redeemer and Savior.

The Lord provides so many promises in His Word regarding “God with us”, here are just a few:  

• And surely I am with you always, even to the end of the age - (Matthew 28:20)

• . . . He (the Father) will give you another Counselor - to be with you forever -  He lives with you and in you - (John 14:16)

• (Because I live - v 19) you will realize that I am in the Father and you are in Me and I am in you! (John 14:20)

• Be strong and courageous . . . for the Lord, you God, goes with you; He will never leave you or forsake you – (Deuteronomy 31:6)  

•  Were I to count them (the thoughts the Lord has concerning me), they would out number the grains of sand, when I awake – I am still with You (Psalm 139:18)
• Do not be afraid or discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you (Joshua 1:9)

• Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you (Hebrews 13:5) 

•  Since you are precious and honored in My sight – and because I love you, do not be afraid for  I am with you – (Isa 43:4-5)

•  You hem me in, behind and before, You have laid Your hand upon me (Psalm 139:5) 
  
• . . . though he stumble, he will not fall for the Lord upholds him with His hand (Psalm 37:24)
  
• . . . when you pass through the waters I will be with you . . . (Isaiah 43:2)
  
  

  EMMANUEL

  
  

  GOD IS WITH US

  
  

   Where you are is holy ground

  and you are HERE!   

  
  
  

  

  
  
  

Clean out our INBOX!

I am sitting here looking at my Inbox and shaking my head.

How did 11 pages of stuff accumulate so quickly? 
 
Why did I leave these e-mails sitting here taking up space, serving no purpose except to make it so hard to find those special ones I want to read and remember.

Ephesians 2: 1-10 compares and contrasts a life before Christ and a life in Christ.

Verse 2 is particularly intriguing; “You HE made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins, in which you once walked according to the course of this world."

There is a continual tug of war occurring around us -  subtle, deceptive and relentless. Our standards and beliefs are constantly bombarded with compromise and erosion. We are told what is good and bad. We are instructed as to what to wear, eat, listen to, watch, read, and even think. We are inundated with ideas and changing values, Satan inspired philosophies and constantly evolving morality.

Reminds me of waves that I used to watch rolling in on the beaches of Florida. In some areas the rolling waters quietly removed layers of sand while in others , the swells deposited blankets of sand to reform the entire beach.

If we are not watchful, if we are not diligent, our thinking will, as in verse 2, follow the "course of this world'. Layers of opinions and eroding ideas will bury God's principles and twist His truth in our minds.

Our faith, our values based on His Word are given in order to protect us as we walk through the waves of ungodly bias crashing in on us and shield our minds from the disintegration of our culture’s philosophies.

Solution?

Delete the junk and trash and clean out our mind’s Inbox by holding to the truth (1 Thes 3:21-22)

Daily reading, studying, memorizing and meditating on God's Word (Romans 12:2)

Diligently, excitedly and purposefully seek to know Him (Exodus 33:12b-13)

Depend on the Holy Spirit to teach us and Christ to fight for us! (1 Corinthians 2:10-11, 1 Samuel 17:47)