CHRISTMAS

     Matthew 1:23-“The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel,” which means, “God with us.”
     Christmas, what does that word bring to mind? Maybe it’s an overwhelming dread, the presents to be bought with money we don’t have, the meals to be prepared with energy we’ve lost, or family gatherings with families that aren’t really close.
     There comes a time in our faith walk when we need to separate the worldly Christmas with all its hoops to jump through and all the commercials asking for your money. There comes a time when we need to see Christmas for what it is…the birth of Christ our Savior. 
     Allow this Christmas to be that one. The one when we put Christ first in all our celebrations.
     This year, let’s take to heart the scripture from Matthew. We read that the name of this baby will be Immanuel, God with us. As we prepare for all the things of the worldly Christmas, keep your heart in tune to the Biblical Christ-mas. Who is this person we are cele-brating? He is 'God with us.' Let him be WITH you in all your activities this year.
     'God with us.' Every moment of every day. He’s with us even when we aren’t thinking of Him. He’s protecting us even when we aren’t asking.
Dear friends, this must be the core of our faith. God IS with us, all the time, and everywhere. He’s in the middle in the joys of our lives as well as the
conflicts.
     I pray that your Christmas preparations as well as the day itself are filled with the thought...God is with us.
          Blessings to you all,                            
                          Pastor Eleanor Fix