“And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”—Matthew 29:20b (NLT)

Earlier this month I encouraged those that may be missing a loved one this holiday season to do something to honor their memory. Although it is difficult to have someone you love pass, thankfully you can carry your fond memories of them with you. While that person may not physically still be with us, their love still is. That is how God’s love is for us too. Even though you can not physically see or touch God, His love is always with you. 

God hand knit us in our mother’s womb. His love for us is so much deeper than the person you may be missing this Christmas. It is really hard for me to fathom how God’s love never ends for us, but human love does and how His love is deeper than any love I can have for another person.

Today and tomorrow you may find yourself in a dark place. Lay your burdens at the foot of the cross with your mighty Lord and Savior. If this is you, pray for God to be your source of hope and to fill you with His peace and joy.

During your idle time, rather than scroll through social media which can magnify and remind you of what you don’t have, do something that will lift you up. Maybe send an email to someone close to you and let them know what a gift they are to you or listen to music and do a craft that you can share with others less fortunate than you. The main thing is that you do something to take the focus off of you and what may be missing in your life. 

One of my favorite Christmas scriptures is, “For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.”—Isaiah 9:6  

I love this scripture because what a gift God gave us through Jesus. He is my Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father and Prince of Peace and He is yours too. That is something worth celebrating not just today and tomorrow but every day. Merry Christmas and may your day be filled with God’s love, joy and peace, especially when you listen and watch the video O Holy Night.

Dear Lord,

Thank You for Your Christmas gift. You are the Prince of Peace. Wrap Your loving arms around the broken and hurting and infuse them with Your love. Lord, I know that You are the only One that can fill the emptiness that someone may be feeling today. Thank You that You are always with me until the end of the age. It is in the name of Jesus that I pray these things Amen.

 If you are memorizing Romans 15:13, personalize it for you; “May the God of hope fill me with all joy and peace as I trust in him, so that I may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.”