Category: Advent 2019 – Immanuel

Welcome back to another of our Advent devotionals about “Immanuel – God With Us.”

 Have you ever felt like you were all by yourself against a huge crowd of people? I remember when my daughter Prisca was in a school assembly, and Officer Friendly was asking the crowd about rules for driving in Pennsylvania. “Is it okay to drive after drinking?” he asked. “NO!” hundreds of students yelled. “Can you drive legally if you are ten years old?” “No!” they shouted. “What about driving barefoot?” Again the whole assembly shouted, “NO!” Except for one small voice. My daughter said, “Yes.”

 Officer Friendly looked at her sternly and asked why she thought it was okay to drive barefoot. “Because my mother said there are only two states in the country that allow it…California and Pennsylvania.” All her friends were staring at Prisca; they expected the officer to say she was wrong. But to their surprise, he grinned and said, “You’re RIGHT!”

 God gave Jeremiah a message that no one wanted to hear and Jeremiah was afraid of the people, but God told him, “Today I have made you strong like a fortified city that cannot be captured, like an iron pillar or bronze wall. You will stand against the whole land – the kings, officials, priests and people of Judah. They will fight you, but they will fail, for I am with you, and I will take care of you. I the Lord have spoken.” (Jer. 1:18,19)

 We are never alone when God stands with us!

Did you know that the number of people joining us in following this Advent theme is growing each day? Some people are following it at my website, others on Facebook, still others on GoodReads. I think this increase of interest reflects how much people desire the presence of “God With Us” in their daily lives.

 When Matthew tells the story of the lost sheep, we see the Shepherd leaving the 99 sheep in the safety of the fold and searching for the one lost lamb on the mountainside. We rejoice when the lamb is found and carried home on the Shepherd’s shoulders. But sometimes we forget that there was also joy for that lamb when it reunited with the rest of the flock.

In Matthew 18:20, Jesus told his followers, “Where two or three gather together as my followers, I am there among them…”

Why not call a friend today and invite them to join you for a cup of hot chocolate? Or at least talk by phone and encourage each other to remember that when you two are together, the Sovereign Lord of the Universe is on the same party line!

Can you believe we are now halfway through Advent? We are gradually learning more and more about what “Immanuel – God With Us” means. For example we have seen that it has always been God’s desire to be near His people. He delights to listen to us and has power to respond to each of our needs. However, those privileges come with responsibilities.

 In 1 Kings 11:38, we learn “If you listen to what I tell you and follow my ways and do whatever I consider to be right, and if you obey my decrees and commands, as my servant David did, thenI will always be with you.”

 God being with us involves a two-way conversation. He listens, yes. But He also speaks and expects us to listen and obey. How do we know what He is saying? The answer is in the same verse above: “if you obey my decrees and commands.” One of the ways we hear His voice most clearly is when we read the Bible and allow it to change our lives.

 Why not take your Bible off your shelf today and carry it with you to the coffee shop, your office, the library or your recliner? Open it up and listen to His voice.

As you go about the malls and shops this season, you listen to laughter, see smiles on faces and hear people wish you “Merry Christmas!” They appear happy, but many of those people hide deep pain within. They need “Immanuel – God With Us.”

 Yesterday, I mentioned that, as a counselor, I spend a lot of time listening to my clients. Some years ago, one young teenager shared a difficult story of emotional abuse that she received year after year within her home. Children and Youth Services became involved, but emotional abuse rarely meets the level of concern that removes a child from his or her home. My hands were tied. I could not change her parents’ behavior. Instead, over the next months, I helped her learn coping skills that would make her life tolerable until she was no longer a minor in their care. I shared with her about faith in a God who could help her forgive and heal.

 Imagine if God sat next to you and listened sympathetically to your needs but had no power to change your circumstances! Our God is far more powerful than we are. His hands are not tied. As Isaiah 59:1 says, “The Lord’s arm is not too weak to save you, nor is His ear too deaf to hear your call.”

 Take time today to read Psalm 18:4-19. In those brief verses, David cries out for help and the Lord sets aside all other priorities and races to the side of His child. As the psalmist concludes: “He led me to a place of safety; He rescued me because He delights in me.” As you step out your door today, remember that your God delights in you!

During the Christmas season, the whole world seems to speed up, so I appreciate your taking time to return to pause and reflect on the real focus of this season. Here we are on the ninth day of this Advent celebration of “Immanuel – God With Us.”

As a counselor, I spend a lot of time listening to people. Some speak easily, pouring out their grief and hurt, looking for healing from past trauma. But occasionally I have a client who does not want to talk. I ask questions but get one word answers. I try to engage but they refuse to make eye-contact. I want to help, but their silence makes it hard to do so.

During this season, we are looking at the theme of God being with us, sitting beside us, anxious to hear our needs and concerns. In Psalm 116:1,2, the author tells us that, “I love the Lord because He hears my voice and my prayer for mercy. Because he bends down to listen, I will pray as long as I have breath.” What a beautiful picture of a father bending down on one knee in order to be near enough to hear the voice of his child! But what if the child never speaks?

What are your concerns today? What weighs heavy on your mind? Remember God is nearby waiting to hear from you.

Welcome back to this Advent series on “God With Us.” Have you thought to invite a friend to join you in reading these daily devotionals?

Scripture is full of stories of people who tried to solve difficulties on their own terms. Abraham was old and his wife Sarah was barren, so they tried a human solution seeking out a surrogate mother. King David’s son Absalom wanted to be king and was willing to hurry God’s plan along by murdering his older brother and rebelling against his father. Jonah ran away from Nineveh because he wanted God to condemn the city. All those plans led to chaos and mayhem because they relied on human solutions.

When we face impossible situations at work or at home, it is good to remember the words of Psalm 22:11, “Do not stay so far from me, for trouble is near, and no one else can help me.” When trouble is near, we need to remember that God Himself is also near. He alone can lead us to a safe place.

Read the rest of that psalm and discover, “”O Lord, do not stay far away! You alone are my strength; come quickly to my aid!”

Thanks for coming back. We are completing the first week of Advent and looking at the theme of “God With Us.”

Sometimes I feel discouraged as I look at the huge mountain of tasks to accomplish as Christmas approaches. Gifts to buy. House to decorate. Cards to mail. Cookies to bake. At the same time all the routine tasks like laundry, meals, and work still demand my time. And this year I face major spinal surgery…again. Sometimes I feel like giving up.

But I draw encouragement from Isaiah 41:10, “Don’t be afraid, for I am with you. Don’t be discouraged, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you,” and in Is. 43:2, we read, “When you go through deep waters,I will be with you. When you go through rivers of difficulty, you will not drown.”

Are you discouraged today? What difficulties do you face in the day ahead? God says to you, “I will be handling all of your problems today, so relax and have a great day!”

PS: here is one more musical link which ties in with our Advent theme. Enjoy!

O come, O come, Emmanuel – (Piano/Cello) – The Piano Guys
► Get our albums: https://smarturl.it/TPG_ALBUMS ► WE’RE ON TOUR! https://smarturl.it/tpgtour ► TPG APPAREL: http://smarturl.it/tpgapparel __________________…
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Welcome back to the next in this 2019 Advent series on God’s promise to remain with us every hour of every day.

Have you ever experienced acute physical pain without knowing its source? Or the sudden death of a beloved family member? Our brains tell us the Lord is strong, that He is reliable, but when difficult circumstances arise, we often ask, Where is God?

For years I walked through our neighborhood daily. My route crossed a small stream twice. At the first bridge, I often paused to listen as the water burbled and tumbled over the stones in its way. God seemed to call me to slow down and listen to His voice. One day I realized that at the other end of my circuit, the current made no sound at the second bridge. What was the difference?

Obstacles. At the second bridge, no obstacles interrupted the water’s flow. The riverbed had no rocks or branches impeding the passage of the stream.

Is it possible that the obstacles you and I face in life are the very events that allow us to hear God’s voice most clearly? When we are most in need of the assurance that he is near, that is the very time when his voice speaks loudest?

Psalm 23:4 offers familiar words of assurance: “Even when I walk through the darkest valley, I will not be afraid, for you are close beside me. Your rod and your staff protect and comfort me.” God is closest to us as we walk through difficulty.

Why not read the entire psalm before you go out to face the world today?

If you are joining us for the first time today, welcome! We are in the midst of a series of Advent devotionals on the theme of Immanuel, “God With Us.” You will find earlier thoughts in the series posted at my website, emilychase.com.

When my grandson Josiah was a toddler, one day he climbed out of the family car and shouted at the top of his voice, “Hi, God!” When asked why he was yelling, he replied that he wanted to be certain God could hear him. My daughter assured him that God was everywhere and there was no need to shout. For days after that, as Josiah walked around the house, my daughter heard him whispering softly to himself, “Hi, God!”

We can all learn from Josiah’s youthful example. In Jeremiah 1:7,8, the Lord said to the prophet, “Don’t say, ‘I’m too young, for you must go wherever I send you and say whatever I tell you. And don’t be afraid of the people, for I will be with you and will protect you. I, the Lord, have spoken!”

Young or old, we all need to be reminded that God walks near us. Take a moment today to say “Hi, God!” to the One who delights in hearing our voices.

PS: my daughter-in-law sent the following links for your enjoyment!