Welcome, Immanuel...!

The turkey has been cooked and devoured, family has come and gone, the dishes are being washed, and now comes the quiet time of Christmas. Hospitality has been joyously offered and gratefully welcomed, Christmas classics have been re-played on the TV, music has echoed through the house, and friends and family have met and relished stimulating conversation and plentiful food. The house has been cleaned, the gifts have been opened, and I am enjoying the satisfaction of a successful Christmas dinner....

And the Reason for the season has been waiting for the thanks He is due for His humble kindness in coming to us two thousand years ago.

"God with us" - "Immanuel" - "Mighty God" - "Everlasting Father" - Prince of Peace"

Father... Savior... Spirit... Thank You for Your grace and mercy. Thank You for coming down to dwell with Your people as one of us. Thank You for showing us how You want us to live. Thank You for Your sacrifice for our sins. Thank You for Your deep, abiding, eternal love for Your children.

Welcome to the world, Lord! Let Your Spirit kindle anew in our hearts. Let Your Son rise in and revive the hardened hearts of those who do not know You. Let Your love and grace and mercy be known and embraced throughout the earth...

And let the Light of the World return to His people and establish His kingdom here on earth.

O come, O come, Emmanuel,
And ransom captive Israel,
That mourns in lonely exile here
Until the Son of God appear. Refrain:
Rejoice! Rejoice!
Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel. O come, Thou Wisdom from on high,
Who orderest all things mightily
To us the path of knowledge show,
And teach us in her ways to go. Refrain O come, Thou Rod of Jesse, free
Thine own from Satan's tyranny;
From depths of hell Thy people save,
And give them victory over the grave. Refrain O come, Thou Day-spring, come and cheer
Our spirits by Thine advent here;
Disperse the gloomy clouds of night,
And death's dark shadows put to flight. Refrain O come, Thou Key of David, come,
And open wide our heavenly home;
Make safe the way that leads on high,
And close the path to misery. Refrain O come, O come, great Lord of might,
Who to Thy tribes on Sinai's height
In ancient times once gave the law
In cloud and majesty and awe. Refrain O come, Thou Root of Jesse's tree,
An ensign of Thy people be;
Before Thee rulers silent fall;
All peoples on Thy mercy call. Refrain O come, Desire of nations, bind
In one the hearts of all mankind;
Bid Thou our sad divisions cease,
And be Thyself our King of Peace. Rejoice, Rejoice!
Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel!

God has come to this world. He has lived with us, and He has borne our sorrows and our sins...

Immanuel - "God with us."

Rejoice! He has come!