EMMANUEL (YOU ARE WITH ME) by MARK SMEBY [Smee-bee]
Featured in the motion picture The Perfect Gift (available on Amazon)
Smeby also plays the role of the story's antagonist, Blaine Pollett.

THE SONG: “This song was written to acknowledge the reality that the holidays are one of the most difficult times of year for a lot of people. God's desire to step into our darkness, bringing a timeless message of hope and love to a broken world, is the reason we celebrate Christmas. But it's also the ultimate reason we have for living each day with resounding joy. A simple Christmas prayer becomes a song of hope, acknowledging the presence of God. Emmanuel, God with us.”


THE ARTIST: While Mark Smeby has made a living in the Christian music industry over the last 15 years, it hasn't always looked liked he had dreamed. "I thought I'd arrive in Nashville and find my spot as the next Michael W. Smith or Steven Curtis Chapman. That's not quite what has happened." Instead, Smeby has found great joy living without fame (or fortune!) as a worship leader and grassroots prison ministry leader. "I'm thankful to be able to have made a living as a journalist, author, actor, DJ, Compassion spokesman, waiter...and even had some great music opportunities. But it's the times when I can challenge and inspire other people to see God more clearly that are what I live for. That's where my music comes from."  www.marksmeby.com

About The Perfect Gift
The Perfect Gift is a Capra-esque tale of a spoiled schoolgirl, her overworked executive mother, and a disillusioned young minister, and how each receives an uplifting message about friendship, commitment, and the truest meaning of Christmas from a friendly, but mysterious “drifter” named Jess. The Perfect Gift is a big-hearted Christmas film, bringing to the forefront the realities of the culture war surrounding this most sacred of holidays.
www.perfectgiftmovie.com

From a lady in Oklahoma who saw the "Emmanuel" music video on myspace: "You have no idea how much this song touched my heart. My husband of 14 years was killed in December 2006 just weeks before Christmas and as you can imagine Christmas has never been the same. I used to love Holidays and was normally the one that went overboard with holiday cheer but after the death of my husband holidays are just not the same. I dread them. The first sign of cool weather or the first Christmas song I hear is like a knife in my heart. You’re song is so perfect. I remind myself that Jesus is a gentleman and we have to ask him to come into our silence, darkness and broken hearts and make us whole again. You can bet this Christmas I will play your song over and over! Thank you for making a Christmas song for everyone that struggles through the holidays."