So I have a confession to make. I hope my honesty will not make you think less of me, but here I go. Late at night, when everyone is asleep I love to watch Hallmark Christmas movies. Yes, I said it. The movies are all pretty much the same — they're not entirely identical, but there is always someone finding both love and the spirit of Christmas in the span of two hours.

There was one story about a boy who promised his fiancee that he was always only a call away. If ever she needed his presence, all she had to do was call. One day while facing a difficult situation (I think her oven broke just before the big gingerbread bake off) she called and asked him to come over quickly. His response was basically, “Honey, I will climb the highest mountain to be with you. I will swim the deepest river to be with you. I will travel the longest distance to be with you, another day. But sorry, I cannot come today!” She ended up falling in love with the repairman who showed up immediately. Incidentally, he also loved gingerbread!

Corny, sure, but there is something about being there — particularly, being with someone in their time of need.

The name ‘Immanuel’ means, “God with us” (Matthew 1:23). It tells us of how God identified with our brokenness and came to be with us in the form of Jesus. It tells us that our God was willing to live and dwell among us so that we could experience His love and grace first-hand!
I can imagine the Father telling Jesus as he was about to leave Heaven to be incarnated among humanity, “Son, as you live among them, give them ALL my love!”

That’s exactly what Jesus did as he spread God’s love extravagantly! The fullness of His love was eventually seen through His sacrifice on the cross.
On Sunday mornings we have been working through a series entitled God with Us. We have been taking about the presence of God in the different seasons of our lives - in the good times but also in the valley, and in the wilderness This coming Sunday we will talk about how God is with us in the storms of life.

God is with us. God is with you. God promises that He will never leave you, and He will always be with you.

Join us this Sunday and we continue to journey through Advent together.

This coming Sunday morning is your last opportunity to win a prize. When I ask the question below, be the first to yell out the answer and you will go home with a special gift.

Question: What is my Christmas guilty pleasure?

Answer: Hallmark Christmas movies ;)