Celebrating Christmas

This is something that I recently wrote to some new grandchildren that I've gained.

I’m planning on sending you one thought about Jesus coming each week. I’d like to help you to prepare to celebrate His coming, Christmas.

Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call his name Immanuel (which means, God with us). Matthew 1:23

This is a favorite of mine. The thought that God is with me has meant so much. I don’t know if anyone told you, but I was married before. Her name was Linda. And one day she died. She was stung by a bee and died. That was a really hard time for me. But one thing that kept me going was this thought about God being with me. That meant that I wouldn’t have to deal with all the pain and the questions and all the rest alone. My God was right there with me to guide me through the hard times, to teach me what I didn’t know about living alone, to comfort me when the pain got to be too much and made me cry and sob. This gift of the comforting presence of God with me is something that Jesus gives to all who entrust themselves to Him. When I think about this gift, celebrating Christmas – Jesus coming – it just makes sense for me to celebrate. Jesus has come and has brought amazing gifts.

I hope that this helps you to celebrate also. And I send it to you with my love.

Grandpa Leon

Gratitude: The Presence of God

There are many aspects to the salvation Jesus has provided. One of them is simply the comfort of God's presence. 'Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil. For Thou art with me.' This is something to cling to, something to enjoy, something to be happy about.

Gratitude: Promises from God

The Bible is filled with promises that God has made to His covenant people. Actually, they all boil down to one promise: Immanuel. God promises to be with us, and He assures us of that by covenant. And 'being with' is so full of blessing. As a result, we who know God can be full of hope and joy. Our God is with us, and He will do much good as a result.

Here is a promise that I encountered. 'Listen to me, O house of Jacob, all the remnant of the house of Israel, who have been borne by Me from before your birth, carried from the womb; even to your old age I am He, and to gray hairs I will carry you. I have made and I will bear; I will carry and will save.' [Isaiah 46.3,4] I find this very comforting as I grow old and face the prospects of my body deteriorating with the difficult consequences of that.

Gifts of Advent: Immanuel

Last week we started a short series on the Gifts of Advent. We looked at peace, the peace of God that passes all understanding. That is a gift of Jesus’ Advent which frees us from anxiety. This morning we’re going to look at another gift that Jesus has brought to us.

All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet: “Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call his name Immanuel” (which means, God with us).  Matthew 1.22-23

Immanuel, God with us. Because of Jesus, this gift is ours to enjoy. And