Immanuel is a term or word that we tend to use only at Christmas, we see it on Christmas cards and sing it in carols. God has always been with his people, but in Jesus, there was and is freedom from the law and the promise of the indwelling Holy Spirit. And if we believe all we have preached over this year regarding God having know the plans for us, knowing us before the foundations of the world, and seeing us in the dark place before we were born - then He has always been with us. "God is with us" - was the promise the fulfilment of that personal relationship, and why Jesus came, was crucified and rose from the dead. He wants us to be with Him, He wants more than an "association."