The season of Advent and Christmas can be summed up in three words. They are to my mind the three most powerful words in the Bible, words that changed the entire course of history. These three words are the basis of any hope, joy, peace, or love we could ever experience. They are “God with us”. These words are so important that it’s the name God chose for himself when he came to earth to live among us. God’s declaration that first Christmas was that he is not just available to us, and not simply on our side, but with us. What an amazing thought! God is with us on Monday mornings when we don’t want to crawl out of bed. When we’ve let others down, God remains with us. When we are eating, sleeping, or at work, God is with us. And if God is with us, then there is reason to hope. Hope is the first theme of Advent, and a great place to begin the Christmas season. After all, what are we without hope? Christmas is the time when God invites us to hope again. Hope that life can mean more than we realize. Hope that even the darkest days can be redeemed into something beautiful. A reminder that the most beautiful flowers push up out of seemingly worthless dirt. Hope exists because regardless of how it feels, God has chosen to be with us. And “with” God is a wonderful and hope-filled place to be.