GOD WITH US
Christmas 2011
By Angi Waldrop (composed on 12.20.2011)
Earlier this year, God placed me in a position to lead worship at a small church in Lancaster, SC.
Each week, I simply ask Jesus what He would like us to sing/play on the following Sunday. Sometimes, He'll put a theme on my heart and other times, I'll hear songs on the radio or He'll bring them to my remembrance and my spirit will confidently know those are the ones He's asking for. He never fails me and I am amazed by His consistent leading and how it all fits together each Sunday morning.
Last week, I felt "Emmanuel" pressing on my spirit. He quickly gave me three songs that fit perfectly with this particular theme. A day or so after I decided on the music, I was listening to Joyce Meyer when she mentioned how He is referred to as "Emmanuel". On Saturday night, my brother said, "God be with you" as we were saying goodbye. On Sunday morning, the Lord lead me to Matthew 1:23 to be read at the beginning of the service: "Behold, the virgin shall become pregnant and give birth to a Son, and they shall call His name Emmanuel - which, when translated, means 'God with us'."
As usual, I was so excited about the Lord (once again) confirming Himself like this, but He didn't stop there. On Monday morning, I opened my Charles Stanley devotional (which sits on my desk at the office) and it was his commentary on - yep, you guessed it - Matthew 1:23. Furthermore, my Joel Osteen devotional directly mentioned the very same Scripture today.
At first, I thought it was all about this past Sunday, but then I remembered that it's been a few years since I've written a Christmas message. Recently, I knew that I must return to this once developing tradition, and I had asked the Lord to place on my heart what He wants to say this year. I have come to believe - by all of His confirmation - that this is it:
HE IS WITH US!
When the Lord of the Universe, Jesus Christ, first came to us 2000 years ago, it was in the humblest of any possible form He could've chosen; He came into the world as a helpless, completely dependent infant. His pure objective was to show us that He could relate to us from the very first breath we take to every single phase of our lives. Although He was without sin, He experienced infancy, adolescence, and adulthood, living 33 years in a real human body so that He could fully experience life just as we do.
2000 years ago, He was physically present on the Earth. Now, His Spirit lives in and through us when we believe in Him. No matter how you look at it, GOD IS WITH US - 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. He has always been with us, and He never leaves or forsakes us (Hebrews 13:5)!
To my loved ones - including those who go to church faithfully and those who do not - Jesus Christ is with you everywhere you go. He knows everything about you and loves you unconditionally despite any of your issues and mistakes. He understands all of your emotions, He identifies with your struggles, and He celebrates the cool stuff that happens to you.
Just as He had friendships with His disciples, He passionately desires to be your friend.
If you do not have an intimate relationship with Jesus, let this Christmas be a turning point in your life. Allow this holiday season to never end but rather evolve into a personal relationship with Him to be celebrated daily throughout each year for the rest of your life! Hanging out with the Savior of the world will transform you in unimaginable ways!
MERRY CHRISTMAS TO AND YOURS - 24/7/365!
Love, Angi
P.S. PLEASE pass this message along as you feel lead!
.
No comments:
Post a Comment