God With Us….even with no Christmas tree this year.

I want to begin this posting by giving Praise, Glory and Thanks to God!!! He truly is a God that is worthy and deserving of all Praise!! Our house in New Hampshire is officially sold.  The closing date was December 3rd.  On December 3rd we also heard that our offer on the property here in Colorado had been accepted! Was that a coincidence or a glimpse of God and a reassurance that He is in this with us on this journey? We have been staying at a campground since our arrival here in Colorado and our payment to the campground expires on December 19th.  We have some new friends here that are leaving for a months vacation and offered their house to us while they are away.  Guess when they are leaving?  You guessed it…..December 19th!! Was that a coincidence or a glimpse of God and a reassurance that He is in this with us on this journey?

I have no doubt that they are glimpses of God and reassurances that God is with us on this journey from New Hampshire to Colorado!!!! Whenever I think about God being with us, I can't help but think about Jesus being called "Emmanuel".  Emmanuel means God with us.  God is with us.  God is not some distance, cold, uncaring being in heaven but rather He is a compassionate, involved, loving and gracious God who walks with us each day.  I love that God reached down to us from heaven by sending His son Jesus.   I love that this time of year we get to celebrate when God came down to earth as a little baby in a manger.  Emmanuel…..God with us.  I love this time of year with all of the Christmas lights, music, shopping, gifts, decorations, traditions, food and time spent with friends and family.  

This Christmas will be quite a bit different for Ed and I.  We won't be spending Christmas in our own house this year.  We won't be putting up a Christmas tree and we won't be decorating it with our ornaments that we have collected over the past 37 years.  We won't be putting up Christmas lights outside or spending Christmas with our family.  All those thing that were traditions for us in celebrating Christmas each year will not be with us.  Emmanuel…..God with us.   The best tradition of all will not change.  Emmanuel….God with us.  Emmanuel is better than a Christmas tree with treasured ornaments on it or shining lights outside of our house.  Emmanuel is able to fill the ache in our heart when we miss our family.  Emmanuel….God with us.  Emmanuel will be with Ed and I on Christmas Day as we celebrate His birth.  Emmanuel is the perfect gift from a loving, caring, compassionate, involved and gracious God.

Glimpses of God here on earth. Emmanuel….God with us.   These glimpses of God come to those of us who believe in God and believe that God is with us.  Emmanuel….God with us.   For those who don't believe, these glimpses and miracles are reduced to coincidences.  These glimpses reassure me that God is alive and is a loving and caring God.  It also reassures me that my faith will be rewarded when I get to spend eternity with Him in heaven.  No longer will I have glimpses of God but I will be able to see Him face to face in all His glory! Emmanuel…God with us.  Emmanuel truly is the best Christmas gift of all from a loving God in heaven.  I pray that you will see glimpses of God in your lives and pray that you will recognize them and believe that they are signs that God is with you.  Emmanuel….God with you.