We wait...

The Texas sky deepens to purple dusk and we wait.

We wait for freshly mopped floors to dry, the UPS man to deliver last minute packages, guests to arrive, and cookies to finish baking.

We wait to hear results from the doctor, the prescription to be filled, and at at that forever long red light.

We wait for a reply from the job interview, the text message, and the phone call.

We wait for questions and for answers.

In all this waiting, it is advent -- so we wait for the coming of Immanuel....

Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son,
and shall call his name Immanuel. -- Isaiah 7:14

She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins."
All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet: "Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call his name Immanuel" (which means, God with us). -- Matthew 1:21-23

Immanuel: God with us. 
God with us in the noise of cleaning and quiet expectation.
God with us in our pain and unanswered why's.
God with us.
God with us, saving us from our sins.
God with us, saving us from discontentment, laziness, sharp tongues, and unloving hearts.
God with us, saving us from our not-honoring, our not-thanking, and our foolish hearts. (Romans 1:21)
God with us, saving us from acting in fear, arguing with the why's, and disbelief. 

The LORD spoke to me again: "Because this people has refused the waters of Shiloah that flow gently, and rejoice over Rezin and the son of Remaliah, therefore, behold, the Lord is bringing up against them the waters of the River, mighty and many, the king of Assyria and all his glory. And it will rise over all its channels and go over all its banks, and it will sweep on into Judah, it will overflow and pass on, reaching even to the neck, and its outspread wings will fill the breadth of your land, O Immanuel." Be broken, you peoples, and be shattered; give ear, all you far countries; strap on your armor and be shattered; strap on your armor and be shattered. Take counsel together, but it will come to nothing; speak a word, but it will not stand, for God is with us. For the LORD spoke thus to me with his strong hand upon me, and warned me not to walk in the way of this people, saying: "Do not call conspiracy all that this people calls conspiracy, and do not fear what they fear, nor be in dread. But the LORD of hosts, him you shall honor as holy. Let him be your fear, and let him be your dread. And he will become a sanctuary and a stone of offense and a rock of stumbling to both houses of Israel, a trap and a snare to the inhabitants of Jerusalem. And many shall stumble on it. They shall fall and be broken; they shall be snared and taken."  Bind up the testimony; seal the teaching among my disciples. I will wait for the LORD, who is hiding his face from the house of Jacob, and I will hope in him. - Isaiah 8:5-17

God is with us, and we wait with hope and eager expectation to celebrate His birth.
We celebrate how He came down to dwell and tabernacle with us. Our celebration looks forward with the hope of His future coming.
Still, God is always with us. Here even now--He is with us, saving us.

For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of him who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to corruption and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God. For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now. And not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies.
 For in this hope we were saved.
Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what he sees? 
But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience.
Romans 8:20-25

And so we wait....with God with us....and in eager expectation of advent, the coming of the Lord!