God with Us!

Now the birth of Jesus Christ was as follows: After His mother Mary was betrothed to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Spirit. Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not wanting to make her a public example, was minded to put her away secretly. But while he thought about these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take to you Mary your wife, for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit. And she will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins.” So all this was done that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet, saying: “Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel,” which is translated, “God with us.” Then Joseph, being aroused from sleep, did as the angel of the Lord commanded him and took to him his wife, and did not know her till she had brought forth her firstborn Son. And he called His name Jesus.

Sometimes we feel alone

Alone in life

Alone in a crowd

Alone in our struggle

Alone in our pain

Sometimes God seems distant

We don’t sense His presence

We don’t seem to connect with Him in prayer

We question, “Where is God in all of this?”

Psalm 42:1–3 NKJV

As the deer pants for the water brooks, So pants my soul for You, O God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When shall I come and appear before God? My tears have been my food day and night, While they continually say to me, “Where is your God?”

Does God know my name?

God knows your name!

Isaiah 43:1 NKJV

But now, thus says the Lord, who created you, O Jacob, And He who formed you, O Israel: “Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by your name; You are Mine.

God knows everything about you!

Psalm 139:1–11 NKJV

O Lord, You have searched me and known me. You know my sitting down and my rising up; You understand my thought afar off. You comprehend my path and my lying down, And are acquainted with all my ways. For there is not a word on my tongue, But behold, O Lord, You know it altogether. You have hedged me behind and before, And laid Your hand upon me. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; It is high, I cannot attain it. Where can I go from Your Spirit? Or where can I flee from Your presence? If I ascend into heaven, You are there; If I make my bed in hell, behold, You are there. If I take the wings of the morning, And dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea, Even there Your hand shall lead me, And Your right hand shall hold me. If I say, “Surely the darkness shall fall on me,” Even the night shall be light about me;

Matthew 10:29–31 NKJV

Are not two sparrows sold for a copper coin? And not one of them falls to the ground apart from your Father’s will. But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Do not fear therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows.

If God knows all of this, then does He really care?

Does He really care?

Mark 4:38 NKJV

But He was in the stern, asleep on a pillow. And they awoke Him and said to Him, “Teacher, do You not care that we are perishing?”

God cares even when we aren’t aware of it

Footprints in the Sand

One night I dreamed a dream.

As I was walking along the beach with my Lord.

Across the dark sky flashed scenes from my life.

For each scene, I noticed two sets of footprints in the sand,

One belonging to me and one to my Lord.

After the last scene of my life flashed before me,

I looked back at the footprints in the sand.

I noticed that at many times along the path of my life,

especially at the very lowest and saddest times,

there was only one set of footprints.

This really troubled me, so I asked the Lord about it.

"Lord, you said once I decided to follow you,

You'd walk with me all the way.

But I noticed that during the saddest and most troublesome times of my life,

there was only one set of footprints.

I don't understand why, when I needed You the most, You would leave me."

He whispered, "My precious child, I love you and will never leave you

Never, ever, during your trials and testings.

When you saw only one set of footprints,

It was then that I carried you."

We must bring our cares to Him

1 Peter 5:7 NKJV

casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.

Philippians 4:6–7 NKJV

Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

Matthew 11:28–30 NKJV

Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”

How can I know?

The Creation

Psalm 139:13–18 NKJV

For You formed my inward parts; You covered me in my mother’s womb. I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Marvelous are Your works, And that my soul knows very well. My frame was not hidden from You, When I was made in secret, And skillfully wrought in the lowest parts of the earth. Your eyes saw my substance, being yet unformed. And in Your book they all were written, The days fashioned for me, When as yet there were none of them. How precious also are Your thoughts to me, O God! How great is the sum of them! If I should count them, they would be more in number than the sand; When I awake, I am still with You.

The Incarnation

John 1:1 NKJV

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

John 1:14 NKJV

And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.

The Crucifixion

John 3:16 NKJV

For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.

His Abiding Presence

Deuteronomy 31:8 NKJV

And the Lord, He is the One who goes before you. He will be with you, He will not leave you nor forsake you; do not fear nor be dismayed.”

Matthew 28:19–20 NKJV

Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen.

Hebrews 13:5 NKJV

Let your conduct be without covetousness; be content with such things as you have. For He Himself has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.”

Immanuel: God with Us!

God is Present Everywhere

August 23, 2014

God is present everywhere

God is present in every place

God is present on the earth

God is present in outer space

God is present where you work

God is present in where you learn

God is present when you run away

God is present at every turn

God is present in every second

God is present in every day

God is present in every season

God is present to show the way

God is present in your past

God is present here today

God is present in your tomorrow

God is always here to stay

God is present when you feel Him close

God is present when you don’t

God is present when you think He will

God is present when you think He won’t

God is present in the triumphs

God is present in the pain

God is present in the sunshine

God is present in the rain

God is present at every birth

God is present at every grave

God is present when we’re fearful

God is present when we’re brave

God is present in our questions

God is present in our doubt

God is present when we cannot see Him

Everywhere He’s all about

God is present when we’re feeling up

God is present when we’re feeling low

God is present when we need Him most

God is present when we think we don’t

God is present when there’s peace

God is present when there’s pain

God is present when things are perfect

God is present when things are stained

God was present at the Cross

When darkness filled the sky

God was present in Jesus’ suffering

God was present when He died

God was present when they laid Him

In the dark and lonely tomb

God was present when the angels sang

And broke the silence and the gloom

God was present when He rose again

When He came forth from the dead

God was present when the angel spoke

He is risen as He said

God was present when they saw Him

Faith restored and sin atoned

God was present when He ascended

And took His place upon the throne

God is present in the end of time

When Christ and angels will fill the sky

God will comfort us with His presence

And wipe tears from every eye

God is present everywhere

He is even in this place

God is present here to save you

By the power of His grace

God is present, now believe Him

His promises are ever true

God is present, now receive Him

Let Him live inside of you