Immanuel means God with you.  Do you only think you “feel” God when your life is going GREAT? The accolades are pouring in, the job promotion came, the proposal was spectacular, the graduation ceremony was full of honors, the contract was signed on the new house, the beautiful, healthy baby finally arrived and on and on.  Is that when you “feel” God within you?  Is that when you smile and say “thank you God for this blessing?”

        How about when you lose a loved one, when a mood descends upon you and you feel depressed, when the power gets turned off, when your job is terminated, when you fail at an endeavor, when your anniversary is forgotten, when your pet dies? Are you giving thanks for Immanuel, God with you?

        Seems so very easy to believe God is with us, living in our hearts while we skip through the merriest of times. The real JOY is knowing that God is with us, living in us, crying with us, supporting us, loving us unconditionally…ALWAYS!  So many of us cannot wrap our heads around this precious gift.  That gift of knowing our Lord and Savior never leaves us… NEVER! We are never alone and always cared for through the highs and the lows of our journey through life.  Immanuel, God with you.  May you embrace this precious gift.  Give thanks.  Look within and feel His love surround you. Every moment, good, bad, blah, or indifferent in your life is a perfect time to seek solace, praise Him, thank Him and know He lives within you. Immanuel.

Jill