When one of our young boys was toddling around the house, he would stand in the center of our home and call “Mama!” until he received a response. Sandi would respond and ask what he needed. His response was “I just want to be near you.” I understand how he felt. When I walk out my driveway for my daily time of seeking my Dad, I don’t use the same words, but my heart echoes the same desire. I need to connect with my Dad regularly. I like to be near Him. Even in the cold weather I look forward to these daily times of communing. Sometimes I wonder if He will be there. Even though He meets me every time, I still have doubts. That is when I lean on scriptures like, James 4:8 “Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you.” and “Seek the LORD while he may be found; call upon him while he is near” (Isaiah 55:6) I remind myself of Paul’s inspired words in Acts 17:27-28, “Yet he is actually not far from each one of us, for ‘In him we live and move and have our being’” Fearful Even with these wonderful truths, I found myself commiserating, as I walked, “what if I have sinned and God is now far away,” the Spirit communicated to my heart “there is a lot of love in the blood.” Then I remembered these scriptures. "Jesus Christ the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of kings on earth. To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood” (Revelation 1:5) “Love covers a multitude of sins.” (1 Peter 4:8) “Perfect love casts out fear.” (1 John 4:18) I am still amazed at the thought that God really likes me and enjoys connecting and communing with me. “For the LORD takes pleasure in his people; he adorns the humble with salvation.” (Psalm 149:4) and “The LORD takes pleasure in those who fear him, in those who hope in his steadfast love.” (Psalm 147:11) The blood of Jesus not only provided a way for us to be near our Dad, it demonstrated our Dad’s desire to be near to us. God Draws Near Even as my focus is on drawing near to God, 2000 years ago God took the initiative to draw near to us when He sent His Son to be with us. God the Father’s great heart sent us His own Son to be with us. He named Him Immanuel, or God with us. Jesus was not just a cute babe in a manger, an incredible teacher, and a healer, He was on a mission. He came to be the perfect sacrifice and take away our sin. That sin which separates us from God. Which prohibits us from being near to Him. He lived well. He died well. After three days He was raised by the Spirit, to rejoin His Father on His throne. His blood was successfully shed to make us near to God. “Now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ.” (Ephesians 2:13) His flesh enabled us to boldly enter into the holy of holies in a new and deeper way. “Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holy place by the blood of Jesus, by the way which he dedicated for us, a new and living way, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh;” (Hebrews 10:19-20) Red and White When I see the red and white colors so predominant during this Christmas season, I am focusing on the blood of Jesus which makes me white. I think of Jesus’ blood which takes away my sin and makes me near to God.“Come now, let us reason together, says the LORD: though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow;” (Isaiah 1:18) The demands of the season can make it difficult to be still and draw near to your Dad. But my prayer for myself and each of us is that as we draw near to God we remember that God, in Christ, took the initiative to draw near to us. He loves us. He enjoys us. He’s our Dad and we are His children who simply want to be together. “It is good to be near God; I have made the Lord GOD my refuge,” (Psalms 73:28) “Glory in his holy name; let the hearts of those who seek the LORD rejoice! Seek the LORD and his strength; seek his presence continually!” (Psalms 105:3-4) May you each have a blessed holyday this Christmas, with Immanuel, Steve