Chill Christmas – 1 – How to Light Up Dark Times

 

Welcome to Redemption Church of Plano TX. My name is Chris Fluitt!

 

Merry Christmas!

 

Have you ever felt like the holiday season was more stressful than joyful?

 

Our traditions ought to serve us…
But we may feel like our traditions have become a burden.

 

The tree… the good/the bad

The gifts…

The perfect day…

The full schedule…

 

Christmas traditions stressing you?
Make new traditions.

DO NOT breathe life into traditions…
Choose traditions that breathe life into you.

 

Inventory your Christmas traditions this season.

 

Chill Christmas Title

 

Our Message series is called…

 

Chill Christmas – Crafting your holiday vibes.

 

Series Outline

Dec 8 – Navigating Holiday Chaos

 Crazy time of the year – Need PEACE

Dec 15 – Rediscover Simple Fun

 NOT fun – Rediscover the Joy

Dec 22 – How to make a moment

Left with wrapping paper trash and  empty feelings? Better option. Filled with Love.

Today – How to Light Up Dark Times

 

 

We live in dark times.

 

World stage – World War III

US – Anxiety epidemic.
20% experienced anxiety disorder this year.
…Female more likely
…younger more likely

(https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/statistics/any-anxiety-disorder)

Anxiety Reasons?
-Disconnection
-Social pressure
-Uncertainty
-Financial stress

-Poor habits (Sleep habits)

Compare your Christmas Traditions to this list…

Is it possible we are…
-less connected to family, friends, and God?

-Social pressure of the perfect… Decor, Instagram Pics

-Social pressure of the busy… FULL CALENDAR

-Less certain… new year… many are weighing divorce. (January #1 divorce month)

-$$$ Stress – pressure to provide = debt

 

-Holidays kill diets.  Poor sleep  

 

 

Review… This Christmas is…
WW3 Fears
Anxiety on steroids

 

Are we even enjoying the season?
Is the season amplifying our struggle

 

Can you relate?
The Ideal vs The Real

What is ideal?

Images of perfect family
Lavish gifts (Car with bow, Jewelry)
Non-stop celebration

 

What is reality?

Crazy kids out of school
Packed stores and bad traffic
Loneliness – loss of loved one

The gap between IDEAL & REAL leaves us feeling hopeless and lost in the dark.

God wants us to know something…

 

The very first Christmas wasn’t ideal.

Anxiety Reasons? THE 1ST CHRISTMAS
-Disconnection
-Social pressure
-Uncertainty
-Financial stress

-Poor habits (Sleep habits)

 

Not a mistake… but prophecy… Isaiah prophesied.

Isaiah 9:6 For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

 

We read and sing this verse often…

Check out four verses earlier…

Isaiah 9:2 The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of deep darkness a light has dawned.

 

Dark times do not ruin Christmas.
It is because of Dark Times we need a Christmas!

 

(Christ Mass – a Jesus celebration)

 

People walking in darkness have seen what?

A new iPad?
A fancy tree?

No! The people walking in darkness saw A GREAT LIGHT.

ONLY ONE EVENT could fulfill the prophecy of Isaiah.

 

Only the birth of God’s Son Jesus… the light of the world could push back on the darkness.

One of Jesus’ disciples described Jesus like this…
John 1:4-5 4 In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. 5 The light shines in the darkness…

 

John refers to Jesus as a light in darkness.

 

Where did John get this description??
From Jesus Himself!

 

John 8:12 “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”

 

Do you believe Jesus is the light that shines in dark times?

 

If so… then why wouldn’t you focus on Jesus to light up your dark times?

 

Leave it to silly humans…
We take a season about Jesus… and spend all our time and energy anxiously doing this…

 

Anxiety Reasons?
-Disconnection
-Social pressure
-Uncertainty
-Financial stress

-Poor habits (Sleep habits)

 

We should change our focus…
We should make new traditions that light up dark times.

 

Let’s think about the ideal vs the real…

The Ideal vs The Real

The Ideal is not…
-Stockings and chestnuts by an open fire.
-Buying everything on the wish list.

 

Jesus is the Ideal

The perfect savior…
The perfect gift…

Jesus is the Ideal
Jesus steps into our Real

 

…Steps into our…
-Anxiety
-Darkness
-Fear
-Loss

 

This is what Christmas is about…
This is HOPE.

 

The one who is Ideal, came to the ones who are not ideal.  THAT IS US.

A Not Ideal Christmas Story
Home – 14 people. CROWDED.
Broken toilet…

I LOVED IT!
People I loved.
People who loved Jesus.
The love of Jesus present.

IT WAS IDEAL AFTER ALL.

 

What should you do with this info?

 

Call to Action

#1 Acknowledge the real:

• Admitting struggle is the first step towards finding hope.

#2 Change your Focus!

• A new Ideal – Jesus
• Look for Light: Practice gratitude by noticing even the tiniest blessings each day.
• Be a light for others: Sometimes, the best way to find hope is to offer it to someone else.

#3 Take this moment to focus on Jesus

• Pray & Worship