“Immanuel,” which translated means “God with us.”

Behold, the virgin shall be with child and shall bear a Son, and they shall call His name “Immanuel,” which translated means, “God with us.”
Matthew 1:23

As we are entering into a very uncertain New Year one thing is certain; God is with us. That is a truth we all can cling to during this wonderful Christmas season. In fact, He is more with us in this present time than when He came to earth as a child. He eventually walked among mankind on the earth teaching and discipling. He performed miracles in His Father’s name, and glorified the Father in all He said and did. He lived a life of complete obedience to His Father which included becoming the sacrificial Lamb who took away the sins of the world.

Jesus tells His disciples in John 16:7:

“But I tell you the truth, it is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I go, I will send Him to you.

In John 14:15-18 Jesus said:

“If you love Me you will keep My commandments. I will ask the Father and He will give you another Helper, that He may be with you forever; that is the Spirit of truth, who the world cannot receive because it does not see Him or know Him, but you know Him because He abides with you and will be in you. I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you.”

Clearly, as you slowly read His comforting words to His disciples and us, we know it was to our advantage that He returned to the Father, so the Holy Spirit could be sent to us. Now, God has made a way to live inside His children through the Holy Spirit. God is not only with us, but inside us forever if we choose to become a disciple of Christ. It is the Spirit of truth that leads us into all truth forever! He warns the world cannot receive this,  because it doesn’t see or recognize Him or know Him. Then He assures His disciples, but they will know Him, because He abides within them and will us as well. He affirms He will not leave us as orphans, but He will come to us.

I know this is true in my life. What about you? Let this be the Christmas you fully embrace and receive the Baby who was the Son of God. He then became Savior for all mankind as He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death on a cross. For this reason God highly exalted Him and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and that every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of  God the Father. (Philippians

2:5-11)

Let us come on bended knees, and acknowledge and declare the true meaning of Christmas. Truly God is with us both now and forever! Are you with Him??
In His love.

Teresa Roberts

Masterpiece Fitness

www.masterpiecefitness.com

276-237-6680

“Break forth into joyful shouting O mountains!    For the Lord has comforted His people, and will have compassion on the afflicted.”       Isaiah 49:13

I was comforted in the mountains by my Lord at the Cove this week at the Billy Graham Training Center in Asheville, NC  inside and out as we celebrated the true meaning of Christmas.