Wednesday, December 28, 2011

EVERYDAY EMMANUEL

Emmanuel.

God with us.

For some reason, this Christmas I was captivated by this name for Jesus. Enthralled. Enraptured.

It stirred some deep feelings inside of me – a longing, a yearning.

The whole concept of God actually becoming one of usone with us – is really rather staggering. We take for granted the Truth of it – a truth that is mind-boggling, overwhelming, mysterious.

But this Christmas, I was stopped in my tracks thinking about it.

Of course, since God was speaking deeply to my soul, the enemy decided it was the perfect time to assault me.

There was nothing particularly new about this latest round of arrows – nothing uniquely clever, or especially startling. Just a rather steady onslaught of the SAME. OLD. STUFF.

I realized that this is basically how the enemy works. Yes, sometimes he brings out the "big guns" a job lay-off, a death, an illness, a divorce, etc. But more often than not, he's most effective when he goes after us with the steady *drip-drip* of everyday pokes and prods and pinpricks.

I think it's because he realizes that there's a certain risk in the "big ammo" – the risk that huge blows often drive saints to their knees. But, he's discovered that the incessant "gnats" of common aggravations, frustrations, hurts, disappointments, fears often drive saints to distraction.

"If I can't have their souls, at least I can grab their hearts and minds."

Sigh.

How often I let him win that battle…too often.

So, the last couple of days I've felt oddly wistful and lonely. No particular reason, probably seasonal letdown like I talked about on Monday. And yes, I've got some fearful things on the horizon, some unanswered problems, some unresolved situations. A few relationship issues niggling at my heart.

And I'm grappling – where is God with me in all of this?

Because if God is with us, then He's absolutely with us when life doesn't make sense. He is assuredly with us when waiting is distressing. He most definitely is with us when we are hurting…

More often than not, what I really want from God is not just His presence what I really want is His intervention. I want Him to swoop in with answers, and resolution, and measurable miracles. I want Him to make the unhappiness, the confusion, the pain, the anxiety JUST. GO. AWAY.

God with me – I often want that to mean "God make things work."

But God is more than a heavenly handyman – He isn't just Grandpa Fix-It.

Yes, sometimes He does fix things but that happens according to His sovereign will and His good purposes. It does not happen according to my wishes or wants.

This thought occurs to me – why do I want God to be something LESS than He is?

So, Emmanuel has come to me…

Into the dark and lonely "mangers" in my life, into a "land" occupied by enemy thoughts and feelings, into the most unlikely places for a Savior to show up.

He is there.

Even when I'm being "hunted down by Herod" – He offers me solace and escape and peace.

Yes, the Prince of Peace reigns in my heart – Emmanuel.

He has come to answer my deepest cries, and to fulfill my deepest longings – not with answers or resolutions – but with HIS PRESENCE.

Always there, ever near…

He is all I need.


What does the truth of Emmanuel mean to you in your life today?


(Linked with Joan at the GRACE CAFE - come join us as we glorify the King!)


BLOG = "Blessedly Leaning On God!"

9 comments:

  1. The truth of it blows me away. He loves me, and cares enough about me, to always be with me. I praise Him for that.

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  2. Bless you, Sharon - always the quality meditation and enemy disarming ammunition I need to load into my thought life! Emmanuel - God With Us - Fear Not - My Hero HERE - present in ways we barely understand but by faith must know decidedly!

    Love the comparison between "driving to our knees" and "driving to distraction"! Truly - distraction has been a way of life for me lately - and I am determined that to my knees I must be!!!

    Blessings to you - and great joy!

    Kathy

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  3. I think a lot of us are like you, Sharon, wanting God to "fix it" and "fix it now please Lord, not in your time but my time". I know I'm guilty of that. It is hard to remember that truly God is with us at all times, 24/7, he never sleeps or slumbers. I think if we could grasp that "simple" concept we would not let that enemy get to us like he is clever to do. I think that's why it is good to know scripture, to have those verses that remind us of God and his greatness and might and let his words penetrate into our hearts to remind us that Emmanuel is among us!

    (if I don't pop back in between now and the end of the year, Happy New Year!)

    betty

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  4. God is always with us - sometimes it takes solitude to see it though. sandie

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  5. This hit home big time today...so there also..and Yes, God is with us! Meeting Him at the manager this year was very precious as I move forward with those hits from the enemy that are just distractions...yes and yes..You have penned it well...thanks!

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  6. Sharon - I hardly have the words to say anything...your post says it all. It makes me stop to think, "Do I want God with me because He can fix my problems, or do I want Him with me because I care about having a relationship with Him?"

    Blessings to you and well said...

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  7. In the challenges of the last 2 years, I remember crying out, "Help me" so often that one particularly difficult moment, I realized that He is already helping, working on the solution - that bringing resolution takes time. Then I changed my cry to "be with me" - and He was - and I felt peace in the midst of the challenge. You express it so perfectly - and I so needed to remind myself that, yes, the devil is at it again, trying to gnaw at the vine of my faith. I needed this today:) this straight-talk reminder!

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  8. You amaze me. I love how you contrast Satan with the "big guns" vs. the "drip-drip". I never thought of it that way, but you are exactly right. The big stuff causes me to cling to God, the little stuff chips away and certainly distracts me. Next time God doesn't seem so with me, I'm going to check who's chipping away at my faith. And I will pray for you too, Sharon.

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  9. (Sigh)ahhhh Emmanuel!!! God with us!

    ohhh Sharon... I'm speechless! You never cease to amaze me with how you vividly capture and share deep spiritual truths while applying them to our lives... and you hit on something we all probably do, expect God to "fix it" or in my mess, I mean case... "rescue me". Yes, He has been to my "manger" too... how I love how you wrote that part of Emmanuel comes to us. Praying that we are no longer being hunted down by the "Herods" of this world, but being lifted up by the Prince of Peace, Wonderful, Counselor, Almighty God, Everlasting Father, our
    Emmanuel... Dios con nosotros!

    I listened to your pastor's message from Christmas this evening...

    Many blessings from you and to you, Sharon from Emmanuel... and much love from me,
    Peggy

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"So [I] have been greatly encouraged in the midst of [my] troubles and suffering, dear brothers and sisters, because you have remained strong in your faith. It gives [me] new life to know that you are standing firm in the Lord. How [I] thank God for you!" (1 Thessalonians 3:7-9)

Thanks for your comments - it is such a joy to be sharing my journey with friends like YOU!

(NOTE: Anonymous comments will be removed. Thank you for understanding.)