Immanuel is not just a title but a revelation of God's heart for humanity. From the beginning, God has desired to be with His people. Jesus promised us the Holy Spirit. His presence with us and within us.

Life without Jesus is chaos, and we spend our lives looking for temporary relief. However, Jesus offers us new life in Him. New life is a gift of God, unmerited, undeserved, and Jesus patiently waits to give it to anyone who would receive. Through Jesus we are made alive. We are no longer defined by our past, our sins, or our failures.

At the heart of Christmas is the glorious truth that Jesus Christ is the fulfillment of God's promises to humanity. The ultimate proof of God's faithfulness is found in Jesus. Jesus is the promise of God who came to show us that God is always with us.

As we kickoff our Advent series, Pastor Pat talks about how Jesus is the ultimate gift. One of the gifts from Jesus is the promise of heaven. Jesus tells us, "unless you turn and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven." What would it look like for you to walk in humility like a child and to have that joy and wonder.

As Thanksgiving is upon us, sometimes it can be hard to be grateful. Pastor Pat challenges us to not allow your heart to be robbed of gratitude. Gratitude flows naturally when we see Jesus' sacrifice as the ultimate gift. Gratitude is something we should make apart of our daily life, not just on Thanksgiving Day.

We are called to be ambassadors of Jesus wherever we go. We look to Jesus as the example on how to live, serve, and engage with the world around us. Our mission is to represent Christ in every setting, including that difficult family gathering.

Jesus calls us all to place Him above all else as seen in Matthew 19 including family. We must speak in truth and grace which is a balance. Jesus showed love through compassion, patience, and grace, even while holding people accountable to teaching God's truth, and we are to do the same. We must trust God can work through that love in ways we may not even see right now.

Paul tells the church that we are not to judge those who do not believe or follow the ways of Jesus. We are called to keep each other accountable who have professed that Jesus is Lord. Always make sure that you walk in humility, recognizing your own need for grace while also holding each other accountable.

Jesus modeled what it looks like to give compassion and not condemnation. There is a balance of both grace and truth. Jesus offers a pathway to repentance and restoration. We as the church are called to follow Christ's example by offering love and mercy, and encouraging people to to turn from their sin to be transformed in Christ.

We live in an age of convenience. In every corner of life, people gravitate towards things that are easy, quick, and immediately satisfying. The same can be said for our spiritual life. Be careful what you take in and listen to.