THE OMNIPRESENT GOD

It is the end of 2019 and the vast majority of us are exhausted after a long, arduous year. We can finally take a breather and look back on the year that was.

There were good times when we celebrated and there were those sad times where we had to say goodbye to our loved ones. The daily challenge of keeping afloat in difficult economic times have kept us all alert. The political turmoil either made us laugh or angered us.

But, now we are at the end of the year and we can still reminisce with gratitude. We survived. It was no picnic, but worth it. We have experienced and learned new things. We

met and welcomed new people. We learned more about ourselves. We sought new outcomes for old problems. We got stronger. Hopefully, we have become wiser and we have learned anew in Whom we are anchored.

This is probably the most important lesson we could learn again this year - in whom we are anchored. You will agree, that if we did not have God as anchor, we would have conceded defeat and drowned in self pity.

God is the only constant in this mess we call life. If all goes well, He is there. If things go wrong, He is still there. If we are excited, He is there. If we mourn, He is there. I can highlight hundreds of situations where God is always there. Present. Fighting for us. Providing outcomes. Sending angels across our path. We never have to wonder. We can just relax in the presence of God.

Years ago, God sent tangible proof of His omnipresence to earth. Not just to be present, but to save us. After more than 2,000 years, we are still in anticipation of the celebration of Jesus' coming to earth. Every year the Child that is born is still a phenomenon that we cannot necessarily explain. And we don't have to either. We don't have to wonder why we are so lucky. We can simply accept the greatest gift.

We can thank God daily for the grace that carries and envelops and protects us year in and year out. Even the unintelligible things are included in His grace. His love has no limits. All you and I can do in the light of this grace is to hold on to this constant relationship. Hold on to this all-encompassing love. Clinging to this omnipresent God.

In this Christmas season, I wish you the peace, love and omnipresence of God. May the child Jesus be to you all that Isaiah prophesied at that time:

For a child is born to us, a son is given to us. The government will rest on his shoulders. And he will be called: Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. His government and its peace will never end. He will rule with fairness and justice from the throne of his ancestor David for all eternity.

The passionate commitment of the Lord of Heaven’s Armies will make this happen!

(Isaiah 9:6-7 NLT)