In 2025, we don’t have to wait much in our everyday lives. We have access to apps that deliver almost anything we need quickly, televisions that allow us to skip through commercials, and fast passes to get us to the front of the line at amusement parks. It’s hard to wait when we can have pretty much anything we want whenever we want.
In Isaiah 7:14, Isaiah prophesied that the Lord would give God’s people a sign through a virgin conceiving a son she would name Immanuel. In Hebrew, “Immanuel” is translated as “God is with us” (Matthew 1:22–23). Signs in the Old Testament were given to warn people, execute divine judgment, deliver people from oppression, memorialize God’s miraculous protection, and in this passage, anticipate a Savior for all nations.
To a people who longed for freedom, a sign of a Savior sounded good, but how long would they have to wait?
Although we don’t love to wait, we are willing to wait for the table at our favorite restaurant, the arrival of a child, or the fun vacation getaway. When a friend says the words, “you won’t regret waiting,” or when the waiting is tied to someone or something we love, we wait. On the other side of our waiting, we typically proclaim, “It was worth the wait!”
Long ago, God spoke to our ancestors by the prophets at different times and in different ways (Hebrews 1:1). These credible sources would remind the people that the gift of God with us, One that would be born in a manger that would dwell among them, was a gift that was worth waiting for. Grace upon grace and truth would come through Jesus (John 1:16-17).
If we allow it, God can meet us, hold us, and keep us in the waiting. And the God of immeasurably more tends to give us gifts in the waiting—that is, if we’re willing to stick around and unwrap them.
How has God met you in your waiting seasons? What grace and truth did you receive that would have been bypassed if you had not waited?
God is a promise keeper. We can trust God because God’s track record speaks for itself. The Savior God promised the people throughout the Old Testament was God Himself in the incarnation. There were roughly 400 years between the Old Testament and the New Testament, and Jesus was more than worth that wait!
God put on flesh to become like us so He could redeem us. The One made lower than the angels for a short time tasted death so that each of us could unwrap the gift of salvation and a “God with us” for now and for eternity (Hebrews 2:9).
What have you been waiting a long time for?
During this Advent season, may we be reminded that Jesus is our sign and salvation. While we wait for healing and complete restoration and redemption to come to pass, Immanuel, God with us, means we’re not waiting alone.
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132 thoughts on "Immanuel, God with Us"
Jesus was a gift worth waiting for!
God is always with us in our waiting. <3
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I love this reminder: even in the waiting, we are not alone. I have had many seasons of waiting , and God has been so faithful. I needed this reminder in my current wait.
Immanuel ❤️
Amen. Not our timing but HIS!
Lord help me continue with patience. There is joy and peace knowing what is waiting for me at the end but this season I am in right now feels endless. Lord help me feel renewed by your abundance of grace——undeserved but still given over and over. Although I am struggling in this time period I can look back and see you by my side and at times holding me on the days I could not walk. I feel so blessed and hate that I am being ungrateful during this season of struggle. I know You are there. Thank You for the little nudges, burning light, and your fulfilling promises.
Amen. Your words deeply resonate with me.
Lord, at times it feels I have been waiting so long and yet, you have been so faithful! You know what my heart longs for and I can see you at work. Thank you for the reminder that what you are doing, how you are working IS worth the wait. I trust in you and I lay my husband at your feet. Amen
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Today’s focus on Immanuel reminded me how comforting it is to know that God didn’t stay distant! Jesus chose to come near, to live among us and share in our humanity. That brings real comfort and joy to my everyday life.
Oof; wow. God is with us in the waiting season.
One thing that struck me and that I had never noticed was that it says that ‘grace upon grace’ and truth is given to us through Jesus. Grace UPON grace! To His children!
I have certainly seen this in my lifetime, and because God is faithful, I need to preach to my heart that God will do it again.
I am in a waiting season now… it’s difficult to explain, but please could anyone pray for this man called Harry. Him and I work together and I can confidently say that I have never felt more connected with anyone. I feel such comfort and peace when he’s around, and we can’t help smiling when we talk to each other. I can’t explain it but there is a connection that seems to run deeper.
Please could you pray for opportunities for me to share my faith boldly with him and let the light of Jesus, which is all that I have really, shine through? He knows I’m a Christian but I don’t think he fully understands what Christ means to me, and I need him to know the Gospel, and I also need him to know his response to the Gospel. I don’t know what God has in store for me, but I have prayed a lot about this situation as it is quite emotionally stressful.
Praying for good timing and the softening of His heart by God.
Thank you, Mercy x
Currently in a waiting season, praying for the future of my relationship— that it grows into a loving engagement, marriage, and family. I often see God meeting me in this waiting season. I purchased the She Reads Truth Advent book at the beginning of this season and have journaled in it frequently throughout the past few weeks. At the beginning of the book, it asked for some goals and desires of this season. I wrote down a few, one being getting back into going to Church as a couple. And tonight we attended a candlelight service. Praise God!!! I pray that my boyfriend and I continue to grow together in our faith, and make worship a routine we can practice together. God always shows up, and always right on time. Thank you, Lord for your blessings! Merry Christmas, everyone! ♥️
Praying for you too Cassidy
Praying for you both to grow in love with God and with one another.
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I love the thought and promise that no matter what I am waiting on God for or to do, I am never alone. He is with me. He is taking me through something in the waiting. He is strengthening me in the waiting. He is stretching my capacity for more of Him in the waiting. He is also showing me more of who he is in the waiting- facets of his character I am experientially learning.
He is with me and I am comforted to know that as long as He is there…. I can wait the more on Him.
Jesus was/is worth the wait! 400 years of waiting, and I struggle with a year! What an amazing example of waiting with hope, peace, and joy!
Yes!!
Thank you God for coming in the flesh to be the lamb of God the Messiah who takes away the sins of the world so we can be saved forgiven redeemed and even reconciled back to you so we can know you have a real relationship with you and be your children and you be our ABBA Father!!! Thank you Lord Amen
My life verse comes to mind after today’s reading- Isaiah 40:31 but those that “wait” upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not become weary, they will walk and not become faint.
The word wait is used in many versions- other versions use words like trust and hope and I am sitting here in awe because when I wait do I trust God? Am I hoping for His glory or my own? All these questions, emotions and weight flood my heart and center my focus on Jesus. What we do while we wait matters- let it be for His glory!!!
Allison, have you heard the song by Elevation and Maverick City “Wait on You?” It’s so good, the extended version, they repeat this scripture!
❤❤❤Amen, Allison! Good to ‘see’ you again!
I’m grateful to look back on the waiting and why God had me waiting in those times. Thankful to remember it wasn’t waiting alone!
Rachael asked us how God has met us in our waiting seasons and what grace and truth we received that otherwise would have bypassed us. It took me almost 3 decades to understand why my marriage wasn’t working and why my family of origin wasn’t healthy. But in the waiting, God blessed me with 5 wonderful children for whom I can break the cycle of toxic abuse (and that involves still more waiting). I pray that they may find a healthy faith and bless generations yet unborn, whether or not they ever have families of their own. I recall that while the curses of the fathers are passed on to the third and fourth generation, the blessings of those who love Him are passed on to 1000 generations, so great is the Father’s love.
Thank you for sharing. So good.
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How’s your knee?
Wow what a promise to hold on to. Also excellent record keeping KELLY. Praying your knee recovered well after surgery.
A fun preschool book I mentioned before… “Waiting Is Not Easy” by Mo Willems. At the end… waiting was SO worth it. Let’s remember that when we struggle during the waiting, sweet sisters! ❤️
How ‘bout that!! Worth the wait.
Mo Willems. My 5 year old grandson is a “fanboy”.
I was waiting for a cure for my son. It came, but he was to far along. I have struggled with it. God is grace. He has taken away any hurt I may have had.
Traci, Much love. He is good and He is faithful ❤️❤️
❤️ I need to hear this “He has taken away any hurt I may have had”
Waiting for my youngest to make a decision to follow Christ. Waiting is hard.
I feel like I do a lot of waiting. Waiting (while praying) for my prodigals is one big one. So thankful that we don’t wait alone!!
Mia..x❤️❤️
Praying for a prodigal in my life along with you, Mia!
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We are not waiting alone. What a great reminder
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God is with us! We never walk alone! Hang on to that truth! And His great love for us to give up the treasure of heaven to come to earth. Perfection becoming imperfection! Yet, did not sin! All for us! To save us! This is a beautiful reminder of how great Gods love is for us!
Amen!
My Lord
Who grants infinite “grace upon grace” as I push & poke & prod my whole life along.
When have I ever waited? Or even dreamed it?
I humble that impulsive, impatient,“don’t hold my breath” person before the One who has saved me in my most rash & most ridiculous moments.
Father, I know You forgive without my asking. But I ask any way.
In the name of Jesus, God is with us, I pray.
Amen
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“Emmanuel-“Dios con nosotros!” My JESUS is and has been with me all-this-time! And He won’t stop! I believe this promise with my whole heart! YES! He is the promise keeper. I trust Him! Even when I don’t know whats coming, I trust Him because He already knows. So comforting I’m not waiting alone.
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I see what the author is saying, but I would argue my life has been full of waiting, regardless of the advancement of technology and convenience. I think for believers, God is always giving us opportunities to grow in patience :) it is literally our way, I don’t think we can live otherwise! We will always be waiting for His return, after all.
Perfectly stated, Michelle; I agree! ❤ Great to see you!
So amazing that we have a God that left heaven to dwell (“tabernacle”) with us in order to redeem us ❤️
Waiting is hard. So, so hard. In our world of quick results, immediate gratification, orders filled and delivered the next day it makes waiting all the moreso difficult.
Thankfully in the waiting we have our Immanuel- God with us. And, His grace upon grace is for us as we struggle, falter, question and wrestle. His mercy, patience, kindness and strength meet us.
These words resonate today….”If we allow it, God can meet us, hold us, and keep us in the waiting. And the God of immeasurably more tends to give us gifts in the waiting.”
Hold us Jesus as we wait and give us eyes and hearts that can see your gifts. Amen❤️
Thank you for your prayers yesterday. There is always challenges for me with scan appointments, both in the actual procedure itself and emotionally but as always, the staff are wonderful and I was able to remain calm. And now, we wait for results. Again, thank you for praying ❤️
That’s one of the wirst ‘eaiting’! Thankful you felt some calm and pray for peace in the wait! ❤
*’worst waiting’!
❤️ thank you CeeGee. It is very hard
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The scripture that stood out to me was in John 1:18 no one has ever seen God. The one and only son, who is himself God and is at the Father’s side-he has revealed him. Jesus is our message from God, God talking to us. Telling us, I am with you, I want to be with you, I want you to know me. This is who I am.
For context, I reviewed Isaiah Chapter 7. This verse jumped out at me: Isaiah 7:9b-
“…Unless your faith is firm,
I cannot make you stand firm.”
Whoa or maybe even Woe!
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FROM HE READS TRUTH:
“He says, ‘I can redeem you.’ No longer does God have to feel far off in the midst of our sin and fallen world, He entered in to forgive our sin and redeem us. That is what it means for God to be with us.” – Written by Ryne Brewer.
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SONG SHARE:
Chris Tomlin – Emmanuel (Hallowed Manger Ground) [Lyric Video).
This is a regular at our church.
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Love, hugs, and prayers! ❤
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Great sparkling :)
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I have never been one that has been good in the waiting. But, by God’s grace, I’m trying!
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Waiting is hard – really, really hard, especially when you are waiting for your loved ones to turn to Jesus. I take comfort in these words written by Rachael – “God is a promise keeper. We can trust God because God’s track record speaks for itself.” I am so very thankful that God hears my cry, He sees my tears, He answers my prayers – yet in His timing, not mine.
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Jesus, the hope of all mankind.
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Immanuel, God with us.
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The Light in the darkness.
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The Promise Keeper…that’s my Jesus!
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The song King of Kings comes to mind this morning…
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In the darkness we were waiting
Without hope, without light
‘Til from Heaven You came running
There was mercy in Your eyes
To fulfill the law and prophets
To a virgin came the word
From a throne of endless glory
To a cradle in the dirt
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Praise the Father, praise the Son
Praise the Spirit, three in one
God of glory, Majesty
Praise forever to the King of Kings
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To reveal the kingdom coming
And to reconcile the lost
To redeem the whole creation
You did not despise the cross
For even in your suffering
You saw to the other side
Knowing this was our salvation
Jesus for our sake you died
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Praise the Father, praise the Son
Praise the Spirit, three in one
God of glory, Majesty
Praise forever to the King of Kings
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And the morning that You rose
All of Heaven held its breath
‘Til that stone was moved for good
For the Lamb had conquered death
And the dead rose from their tombs
And the angels stood in awe
For the souls of all who’d come
To the Father are restored
And the church of Christ was born
Then the Spirit lit the flame
Now this gospel truth of old
Shall not kneel, shall not faint
By His blood and in His name
In His freedom I am free
For the love of Jesus Christ
Who has resurrected me
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Praise the Father, praise the Son
Praise the Spirit, three in one
God of glory, Majesty
Praise forever to the King of Kings
Praise forever to the King of Kings
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Happy Wednesday She’s! ❤️
Amen! That song make me bawl every time I hear/sing it!
Me too!
I love this song, too! Thinking we have sung it at church.
Sharon… every time We sing that song i in church, my ♥️ is touched for our precious prodigals… Praise the Father… Praise the Son … Praise The Spirit… 3 in ONE!! But God!! He’s got this… and them!!
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Great song share! ❤️
My husband has suffered with chronic pain for 25 years. He was recently diagnosed with a rare form of cancer. He is being treated at MD Anderson in Houston. Long story short as we have been waiting and have found the answer he still is not well. So we continue to wait. But we wait with Hope. Waiting is so difficult, but I’m reminded of Jesus in the garden, knowing his own fate, he waited for his punishment, which was really ours so he could be our Savior. I’m so grateful for Jesus. Our healing is coming, thank you Lord.
Praying for you and your husband, Shawna ❤️
Praying for you and your husband. Praying for his doctors and caregivers, and praying that he may be healed.
Shawna, praying that the treatment plan offered proves to be just right and successful! Praying for more strength in the waiting. ❤
“Isaiah 26:3
You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in you, all whose thoughts are fixed on you!”
I will be keeping you and your husband in my prayers dear Shawna. Mercy posted a beautiful prayer yesterday and I am praying this morning for peace and strength for caretakers.
Praying for you, your husband and our awesome Lord and Savior to equip you with all you need as you wait in confident, expectant hope!
Shawna, praying for you and your husband!
With you and your husband in prayer, Shawna..
I love ‘We wait now with Hope.’♥️
Praying for healing, peace and comfort.
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It popped into my head that perhaps you are at this medical center for a reason beyond treatment. Maybe sharing your faith with staff or other patients? Easier said than done I know, especially in the midst of this health crisis.
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God bless and keep you in the palm of His hand.
Also, this devotional reminded me of Phil Wickham’s Christmas song “Worth the Wait”
You were good on Your promise
Sent Your Son to our darkness
Savior of our souls He will light the way
Jesus You were worth the wait
Hear the hosts singing glory
See the star, this is holy
Creator of the world in a manger laid
Oh Jesus You were worth the wait
He will heal all the broken
Take back what the enemy has stolen
With a fire in His eyes and freedom in His name
Oh Jesus You were worth the wait
He will die so we don’t have to
And then He’ll rise to make a way through
Forgiven by His love and covered in His Grace
Oh Jesus You were worth the wait
Every heart come and adore Him
Every knee bow before Him
The King of every king
Forever You will reign
Oh Jesus You were worth the wait
Oh Jesus You were worth the wait
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Waiting is difficult, we are a microwave society…but we wait for Him to return, and I want to wait well..Help me, Help us, Holy Spirit to wait well, going about our Fathers business as we wait, in hope and expectation. Keep our oil full, lamps lit, shining bright for the Kingdom!
Love this so much ❤️
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Father help me reach out and receive Your peace while I wait
“The LORD is good to those who wait for Him,
to the soul who seeks Him.
It is good that one should hope and wait quietly
for the salvation of the LORD.”
Lamentations 3:25–26
…one should hope and wait quietly…
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Thank you for this verse; perfect connection to today’s theme. A reminder that the wait is the way to Him.
Isaiah 7:14
Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, and shall call His name Immanuel.
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God is always faithful and we can always trust God’s promises.
God With Us means always – in the hard, painful, trying times when we call out and cling to every verse and promise; and in the joyful, abundant, easy times when we may think ‘look what we’ve done’ and lose our focus on Him … let’s keep our eyes on Jesus all the time.
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MARGARET W – thank you for the beautiful sharing about your son ❤️
MERCY ❤️ thank you encompassing prayer that reminds us God will meet us where we are, and He is bigger than anything we are facing
WENDY B – praying for your scan results ❤️
CEE GEE ❤️
MICHELLE P ❤️
SUSAN BURLEY ❤️ thank you for the testimonies of healing! Joining my sisters in praying for God’s love to overcome the whispers of the past and that you would be overwhelmed by God’s answering of each of your prayers and requests, whether the answer is yes now, yes later, or no – that He has something better than you can imagine.
Beautiful as always, Searching! Any updates on the baby? ❤
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GOD with us means.. always.. as the old slogan used to say.. ‘.. not just for Christmas..
Amen.♥️
Father I will wait. Come Lord Jesus Come. Amen
The fact that God chose to promise us a perfect gift, and then promised also to wait with us while we live this life preparing for the gift, shows his ultimate love and grace for us. What a tender, loving God!
Asking for prayers for patience this morning. My son has been a handful these past few days, and I haven’t always done my best at being patient and kind. please pray I can be a parent that points my son to Jesus. Thank you She’s!
Praying, Meagan, that each of you can take some deep breaths during those times and that the Lord will calm the frustrations he’s feeling.
Praying patience for you Meagan as you deal with your son in these “teaching moments.” I’ve been there, many years ago when I was raising my own children. How I wish I had an “SRT” back them to share with and ask for prayer support.
Amen!
Same!❤️
Praying!! I feel that as a mom of 3 littles – grateful God is with us in mothering and teaching us patience
Praying for patience, Meagan, and for a little attitude adjustment for both of you and just time to breathe. ☺☺☺ Yes, with 3 boys I am acquainted with the need for more patience. You know what? They are all wonderful, caring men- 2 of them fathers now and experiencing similar moments.
Praying for you, Meagan C! You are in the Word and I know God will help you! He helped me!
Praying Meagan..♥️
Immanuel — God With Us
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Faithful God,
You chose to come.
Not from a distance,
but into our history,
our flesh,
our lives.
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You did not send hope,
You came Yourself.
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God with us,
dwelling among us.
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We have seen Your glory,
full of grace,
full of truth,
light that does not fade,
love that does not fail.
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You came near.
You shared our suffering,
entered our weakness,
and walked our road
all the way through.
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Because You came,
fear no longer has the final word.
Because You stayed,
we are restored.
Because You gave Yourself,
we are redeemed.
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Teach us to trust Your presence,
even as we wait.
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Help us live as people
who are not alone,
not forgotten,
but deeply loved.
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Immanuel,
God with us,
God for us,
God who makes a way
for us to live with You.
Amen.
Amen ❤️
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Amen. Beautiful Kimberly.♥️
So good! Amen
“How has God met you in your waiting seasons? What grace and truth did you receive that would have been bypassed if you had not waited?” Phew— 2025 has really been a season of waiting for me and my family. We were displaced in a lot of ways, living in someone else’s home for a year while waiting for our own house to be finished. It took a lot of patience—and honestly, a lot of biting my tongue when frustrations came up. This waiting period also shed light on some areas of my marriage that needed more care.
During that time, especially after what happened at the end of 2024, I found myself leaning on God more than I ever had before. Most of the time I felt at peace, but there were also moments that were emotionally really hard. I know I pulled back from my church community at times, and that part was on me.
But in the waiting, something shifted. My relationship with God grew stronger, and I started to see “home” differently. It’s not just about finally having a finished house—it’s about the feeling of belonging, of having our own space where we can breathe and feel grounded again. This season taught me to appreciate that in a much deeper way, and I’m really grateful for what it changed in me.
I love this, Maria.
It seems that in the wait, in the hard times, when we get to the end of ourselves and trust God to be faithful, we learn that His presence is what we really need.
this so good Maria! I have often thought after your comments, wow, she never mentions loosing her home and everything in a fire or complains if living with the inlaws! I appreciate that! (I would). We tend to vent and want others to know our woes. Thank you for sharing the blessings you have gleaned and received!
Beautifully said, Maria.. It truly is about changing perspective in the waiting..♥️
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Immanuel.
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God with us.
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Immanuel.
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God with us..
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He promised.
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He kept His promise.
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We wait.
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Not because He has forgotten, but because He is faithful and true. Generous in His mercy, love and grace.
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He covers us.
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He will come again.
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For us.
For our people.
For our healing.
For our restoration.
For our good.
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We wait.
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We are not alone.
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Immanuel.
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God with us.
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Immanuel.
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God with us.
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AMEN.
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Happy and blessed Wednesday my dears., covered as always in love, hugs and continued prayers as requested..♥️
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Thank you, Tina. AMEN✨✨
Good Morning fellow waiters! I was struck with a thought. Waiting is not a sedentary posture. What does a waiter do? They serve. They anticipate the needs of others. While we wait. Let’s do kingdom stuff!
Love this!
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I love this Brandi- yes! we are called to bear fruit – which Jesus said in John 15 means to love people sacrificially- serve them with our time, money and effort so they experience the love of God- Jesus said it is how we experience complete joy! Just love people like He loved us- and He gave His LIFE!
Amen! Love this in general but also thought of our single sisters here. What does it look like to wait well in the season that sometime feels like it will never end? God wastes nothing, so I pray that each of us will steward our respective seasons of waiting well and not squander the time God has us in whatever “pause”…for our good and for His glory. ❤️
So true. I love this!
Thank you Brandi..♥️
“If we allow it, God can meet us, hold us, and keep us in the waiting. And the God of immeasurably more tends to give us gifts in the waiting—that is, if we’re willing to stick around and unwrap them.”
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Wow. How many gifts in the waiting have been rejected or ignored because they were not what I asked for?
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Lord open my eyes to all Your good gifts meant for my good and Your glory!
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WENDY B – praying for you to have peace as youbwait for scan results.
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MOLLY ANSON – praying your dad’s test results come through with good news.
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TRACI GENDRON – continued prayers for your grand-nephew’s healing.
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CAROLINE BRIDGES – praying all went well with your grandmother
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SEARCHING – any updates on the 7-month-old’s RSV?
Yes, I received an update last night. The little one has improved enough to be released from the hospital, praise the Lord! Not sure if I will get any future updates but will share them if I do. Thank you for your prayers!!
Praising with you, Searching..♥️
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PTL!!!
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So appreciated this reminder today: “While we wait for healing and complete restoration and redemption to come to pass, Immanuel, God with us, means we’re not waiting alone.”
Thank you Jesus for being with us in all the seasons – especially the hard, long ones!!
Amen.
The sentence above today’s reading in our Advent book tells us God himself became our Savior and Messiah. This morning I felt this knowledge travel from my head to my heart. This is very exciting to me as Jesus is becoming more real to me and God’s love is something I am beginning to grasp and appreciate.
So wonderful, Kerry! Praying that your relationship with Jesus flourishes and grows every day
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