&Music Monday: “Oh Come, O Come Emmanuel” by for King + COUNTRY
By: Debbie Waltz
Since Christmas is only a few days off, I’ve been thinking about the year and how much God has shown us His faithfulness. This year has been quite hectic, marked by a shift from being one of Linda Gilden’s last clients to entering the world of self-publishing. If it were not for her encouragement, I would not have found the courage to complete the ending and to persevere despite facing many rejections. I wouldn’t have had the process go any other way. It got me exactly where I needed to be- introduced to the right people and reminded me you can’t please everybody. Through self-publishing, I have realized the importance of standing up for what I believe. Though traditional publishing may have brought more marketing help and buyer power, I have learned the value of self-confidence in my work.
This doesn’t mean waiting was easy; it wasn’t. Actually, I was tempted to quit once or twice. Much like the Jewish people, I’m sure. The Bible tells of Jewish traditions passed down from generation to generation. While some individuals abandoned the faith of their families, others persevered and tenaciously held onto their beliefs with unwavering hope. Clinging to the hope, they believed in the prophecies that spoke of a Messiah who would come and deliver His people. The Jewish community hoped Jesus would end Roman rule and usher in peace for their nation. They concentrated on escaping their current predicament under Roman rule, but Jesus saw the bigger picture. They failed to grasp the significance of His plan: to redeem humanity from sin and mend their fractured relationship with the Lord.
But that’s not the end of the story. As members of the Christian faith, we are grateful for His earthly sacrifice on the cross, which serves as a means for us to reconcile our relationship with the Lord. In addition, we are eagerly anticipating his return, when he will arrive to bring his children together with him in heaven. Through this act, He will not just provide us with new bodies, but He will also return His creation to its original form, a place free from sin, where we can live in eternity with Jesus.
But there’s even more good news. We don’t have to wait. He is with us here and now. Just as Emmanuel means – “God with us”