The Untold Christmas Story 2God is With UsGOD WITH US (Matthew 1:23)Look! The virgin will conceive a child! She will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel, which means ‘God is with us.'Matt 1:23 NLT——————————————————————Easy to say God is with us when things go well or at ChristmasGod in the valleys —Enjoy mountaintops—Know Him in the valleysGod in the wilderness—Deepest need becomes a gift—Drives us to depend on Him!God in the storms—Difficult times that blow up out of nowhere.——————————————————————God is with us in the valleysGod is with us in the wildernessGod is with us in the storms——————————————————————God is with us = Emanuel (Jesus)Jesus is with us to be with us in the valleysJesus is with us to walk with us through the wildnessJesus is with us to calm our storms——————————————————————VALLEYSWe praise God on the mountaintopsbut we get to know him intimately in the valleys.——————————————————————Psalm 84:5-7 - Blessed are those whose strength is in you, whose hearts are set on pilgrimage. As they pass through the Valley of Baka, they make it a place of springs; the autumn rains also cover it with pools. They go from strength to strength, till each appears before God in Zion.——————————————————————Valley of Baka—Valley of Tears, Valley of Weeping, Valley of Loss, Mountain—Valley of Tears——————————————————————What joy for those whose strength comes from the Lord, who have set their minds on a pilgrimage to Jerusalem. Ps 84:5 NLT——————————————————————We may be in the Valley, but the valley is not the destination.“Even though I walk through the Valley of the shadow of death”Because of Christmas, we are just passing through.Enjoy him on the mountain—Get to know him in the ValleyJesus is with us to give us STRENGTH——————————————————————WILDERNESS3 Elijah was afraid and ran for his life. When he came to Beersheba in Judah, he left his servant there, 4 while he himself went a day’s journey into the wilderness. He came to a broom bush, sat down under it and prayed that he might die. “I have had enough, Lord,” he said. “Take my life; I am no better than my ancestors.” 1 Kings 19:3-5YOUR DEEPEST NEED BECOMES A GIFT WHEN IT DRIVES YOU TO DEPEND ON GOD. The LORD is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit. Ps 34:18Jesus is with us to give us REST——————————————————————STORMSActs 27:20 - When neither sun nor stars appeared for many days and the stormcontinued raging, we finally gave up all hope of being saved.I know the Lord is always with me. I will not be shaken, for he is right beside me.Psalm 16:8 NLTNever let the presence of a storm cause you to doubt the presence of God!Jesus is with us to give us HOPE——————————————————————LIFEWhen we are lost - He provides a divine guideWhen we feel attacked - He defends with justiceWhen we are lonely - He is the companion our soul longs forWhen hurt is overwhelming - He is a comfortWeakness is not overwhelming because in Him we have strengthWhile we were yet sinners - He was and still is our savior——————————————————————Jesus is with us to give us LIFEJohn 10:10 He is with us to give us life.——————————————————————HE IS WITH US15 “If you love me, keep my commands. 16 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever—17 the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you. 18 I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. 19 Before long, the world will not see me anymore, but you will see me. Because I live, you also will live. John 14:15-1919 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” Matt 28:19-20——————————————————————Jesus is with us to give us STRENGTHJesus is with us to give us HOPEJesus is with us to give us RESTJesus is with us to give us LIFE