This morning I posted Amy Grant's classic Christmas song "Emmanuel." It's one of my favorites!
Emmanuel means "God with us."
"God with us" is off the charts significant because it implies that God is not distant, far and out of reach rather near, like right beside us, alongside us.
The "Coming" is a reminder that Emmanuel accompanies us.
Emmanuel is personal. Consider Mary, greeted by an angel announcing a major turn of events impacting her future. When troubled, the angel replied "do not be afraid," speaking directly to her emotion of the moment. Emmanuel is not out of date in our lives, although churches may make us feel like there are millennial generational gaps between us and the Spirit of Emmanuel. Emmanuel, Emmanuel is totally modern! Emmanuel is not about yesterday's business. Emmanuel lives in the present, alongside us. Emmanuel knows the fears, joys, hopes and sorrows of today not yesterday.
Emmanuel is a lover of "what is" not "what was."
Join me in celebrating the presence of Emmanuel in your life today, this hour, this moment.
Now that feels refreshing!
