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Advent is almost over! Soon we we will welcome Jesus. Imagine the joy Mary experienced after nine months of pregnancy as she embraced “Immanuel – God With Us” for the first time in her arms. Think of Simeon and Anna praying for years and finally beholding their Savior face to face. Magi traveled around 400 …

For the past three weeks of Advent, we have prepared for “Immanuel – God With Us.” We have seen just how much the Lord desires to be near us. He wants to listen to us, guide us, protect us, and encourage us. He pours out rich gifts of love, anointing us with oil of gladness …

For many people, December is a time of anticipation of seeing and being near those we love. Today, the Saturday before Christmas, is a major day for holiday travel as families board airplanes and climb in cars to visit grandparents or grandchildren over the next few days.  Holidays offer opportunities for families to gather, but …

Christmas is less than a week away. I hope you are motivated to continue with this Advent series for a few more days!  For weeks, even months during the Fall season, stores promote Christmas shopping. It used to be that they waited until after Thanksgiving to begin their promotions, then we saw Christmas decorations appear …

Advent is a joyful time of year. The piles of gifts begin to accumulate under the tree. The smell of fresh baked cookies wafts through the house. Greeting cards arrive with news of old friends.  Have you ever had a dear friend drop out of touch? There was a time when you talked almost every …

Immanuel is almost here! Welcome to the eighteenth devotional thought of this Advent series on “God With Us.”  Writing these devotionals each year is always a pleasure for me as they force me to take time to slow down and focus on the real meaning of this holiday season. However, the thoughts that I post …

Thank you for sticking with me through this Advent season a we explore the theme “Immanuel – God With Us.” Yesterday we saw that God walks by our side as we move through our days in a world that has rebelled against His ways. Sometimes we are tempted to give up hope. How can one …

How good to have you back again for the next in our Advent series on the theme “Immanuel – God With Us.”  Just because the Lord walks at our side does not mean that everything in our lives runs smoothly. Jesus lived in a world that rebelled against God’s laws and continually pressured Him to …

Every day brings the excitement of Christmas closer. I hope that these brief Advent devotionals are helping you keep your focus on Immanuel – “God With Us.”  When we walk with God, sometimes we find ourselves out of step with the world around us. The newspapers are full of accounts of court decisions about bakers …

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 …