“Now all of this took place so that what the Lord had spoken through the prophet would be fulfilled: Look!  A virgin will become pregnant and give birth to a son, and they will call him, Emmanuel.  (Emmanuel means ‘God with us.’)” – Matthew 1: 22-23Matthew 1: 22-23
English: Contemporary English Version (1999) - CEV
22 So 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.”

WP-Bible plugin (CEB)

I’ve read this passage a million times.  Okay, maybe I exaggerate, but I can easily tell you that Emmanuel means God With Us; however, as I read it this morning, I started to really let these words seep in.  I started to ask about what it means that God is with us.

And as I thought about this, I was blown away by what this is saying.  God is WITH me.  He is really in the midst of my life with me.  I’ve known this fact for awhile, or at least I’ve said it’s something I believe, but I really felt this truth this morning.

God is here.  When I am lying in bed at night going over a list of worries and concerns, God is with me.  When I am playing with my child and having the time of my life, God is right there playing with us.  When my heart is breaking because I’ve had to discipline my child, God is breaking over the sadness but proud that I can stand firm and correct to the right behavior.  When I am sad, God is handing me a box of Kleenex.  When I’m laughing at a lame pun, God is right there probably rolling His eyes or chuckling along with me.  When I am figuring out how to bring God’s love to others, God is throwing out ideas during the brainstorm.

Yes, friends, God is with us.  It’s taken me twenty-nine years to really begin to feel like I’m understanding this concept.  As chaos surrounds us in the world, I need to stop and realize that God is standing there with me.  He is guiding me.  He is pointing out a direction.  He’s trying to show me a path in the midst of the insanity.  I may not be paying attention.  I may have my sights set so far away from Him that I cannot realize He is here; but the good news this Advent is, God is with me.  And God is with you.   And God is with us all!

“If only you would tear open the heavens and come down!  Mountains would quake before you like fire igniting brushwood or making water boil.  If you would make your name known to your enemies, the nations would tremble in your presence.”  Isaiah 64:1-2Isaiah 64:1-2
English: Contemporary English Version (1999) - CEV
64 ¹ Rip the heavens apart! Come down, Lord; make the mountains tremble. ² Be a spark that starts a fire causing water to boil. m Be ... boil: One possible meaning for the difficult Hebrew text. Then your enemies will know who you are; all nations will tremble because you are nearby.

WP-Bible plugin (CEB)

I’ve been planning on doing some Advent reflections for awhile, but I guess that just hasn’t happened.  This text was used this past Sunday during the lighting of the Advent wreath, and I really wanted to share some thoughts about it.

This is one of the most beautiful prayers that I think any of us could be praying!  The prayer that God would tear open the heavens and come down into our world.  All around us we see examples of the places where we prevent God from going.  We complain about the godlessness of the world.  We complain about the way things our going in our political realm.  We complain about how things are going with our families.  We complain about how things are going with our churches.

Well, instead of complaining about life in these difficult times, maybe all of us need to band together and begin praying this Psalm.  We need to pray and believe that God is going to tear things open and come down.  He already did that with the birth of Christ, and ever since, Christ has been trying to get involved in every aspect of our world.  We are the ones keeping Him out!

So let’s stop complaining and focusing on all of the doom and gloom.  Let’s begin praying for God to tear open our lives, our schools, our families, our world and our churches.  Let’s begin praying that He enters our lives in such intense and amazing ways that the only thing we can do is stand amazed and praise Him.

Amen.