Chill Christmas – 4 – How to Make A Moment

Chill Christmas Bumper?

 

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

 

Chill Christmas Title

 

Christmas is upon us!
We are in the FINAL week of our message Series – Chill Christmas.

 

Last week we talked about…

 

Rediscovering Simple Fun – through Joy!

 

Life is complex, but Joy is simple

 

In this series we have lit the candles of HOPE, PEACE, & JOY.

Now we light the candle of Love.

 

Today – How to make a moment

 

I remember a Christmas Eve where Sarah and I were doing a Christmas Eve worship service.

 

Beautiful Ambiance… Music… Spiritual moment… Candlelight

 

It was PERFECT!

 

But then the Service ended…

 

-No food ready at home…
-Search for restaurant – Closed!

-Only Chinese food (Packed out)

 

Kids – Dad what are we going to do?
Extended family with us…

 

We had a PERFECT Christmas Eve service…

But our Christmas Eve was complicated.

Thankfully Sarah saved the day with a traditional Christmas Spaghetti!

 

Perfection

We know this season is driven by an idea of perfection.

 

Scrolling through Instagram… perfect Christmas photos.
Perfect tree.
Perfect family.
Perfect matching pajamas.
Perfect everything.

 

Your life – NOT PERFECT.
-Christmas tree – dent where the cat attacked it
-Your kids are fighting because – they are awake. (Fight Club)

-Turkey is dry again…
-Thoughts “How do I return whatever ugly sweater I get as a gift.”

 

We are chasing perfection… but this world is anything but perfect.

 

You know the stats… debt, divorce, depression.

You’ve seen the news… We have no idea what the drones are!

 

We have REAL HARDSHIPS in our life…
THIS WEEK, some of you have…
Hospital…
Job problems…

Anxious & freaking out…

 

Trying to manufacture perfect moments in the middle of an imperfect world is exhausting.

 

The first Christmas – it wasn’t perfect. Not even close.

 

Luke 2:7 “And she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them.”

 

Let that sink in.

 

The most important moment in human history – and He did it in a stable. No place to stay…

 

Cloths… Swaddling clothes… STRIPS OF CLOTH (No onesie – Baby’s First Christmas)

 

No perfect conditions… but WHAT A MOMENT!

 

The moment marked… not by what they DID NOT have… but what they did have.

 

Love made the moment

God didn’t wait for perfect conditions to show perfect love. He didn’t say, “Let me wait until humanity gets its act together.” No, He stepped right into our mess. Our chaos. Our imperfection.

Perfection did not make the moment…

Love made the moment…

 

Yeah yeah… God’s love… but Chris… Easy for God… difficult for people in the real world…

 

Let’s not talk about God for a moment…

 

Let’s talk about Joseph….
Mary, Joseph, Jesus

 

Joseph is engaged to Mary!
Life gets complicated – Mary becomes pregnant!

 

Not what Joseph signed up for…
Joseph continues to love Mary. How do we know?
He chooses to trust God and to not divorce Mary.

Love made the moment…

 

Joseph has a son that is not technically his…
Complicated…
Joseph loved Jesus… How do we know?

#1
It appears Joseph adopts Jesus. Matthew gives us the lineage of Jesus through his adopted father – Joseph.

 

#2
Do you know Joseph’s profession? Carpenter. Same as Jesus’ profession.
Joseph Jesus
Joseph loved Jesus enough to share wisdom.
Jesus loved Joseph enough to receive wisdom.

 

What an amazing example for our families.
Parents & Kids listen up!
LOVE ENOUGH to give wisdom.
LOVE ENOUGH to receive wisdom.

 

Life was NOT PERFECT for Joseph…

But Love Made the Moment
Love made the moment

 

So what does this mean for you?

 

Stop waiting for perfect conditions…
Create meaningful moments with Love.

Love is what makes the moment.

 

Complication does not have to derail the significance of the season.

 

Instead, try these three things:

1. Check your motivation – LOVE

   – Before you plan anything this holiday season, ask yourself: “Am I doing this out of love or obligation?”

   – If it’s not adding value or showing love, maybe it needs to go.

 

2. Embrace the Mess

   – Stop waiting for perfect conditions

   – Create moments right in the middle of your chaos

   – Remember: if God can use a stable, He can use your imperfect situation

 

3. Make it About Others

   – Shift your focus from perfection to connection

   – Ask: “How can I show love in this moment?”

   – Look for opportunities to serve, not impress

 

Imagine what could happen if we stopped trying to create perfect moments and instead started creating meaningful ones.

 

What if we decided to make our moments about love instead of perfection?

 

What if we chose to be more like that first Christmas – maybe a little messy, definitely not perfect, but absolutely transformational because it was motivated by love?

 

What would that look like for you?

Less pouting over less than perfect gifts…
Less stress for perfect pictures…

More focus on LOVE.

 

Traditional Advent candle wreaths have candles for Hope, Peace, Joy, & Love… and then there is a center candle – Christ Candle.

Advent/Arrival

Advent means ARRIVAL.

 

This season is about the arrival of Jesus Christ.

 

When Jesus arrives… Hope, Peace, Joy, Love arrive…

 

Your Move

1. Stop chasing Perfect

-Make love your motive

-Speak, Listen, Serve because of Love

2. Choose one person who needs to experience love this season

-create a moment specifically for them.

3. Celebrate the ARRIVAL of Jesus

 -Pray & Worship

-Receive the Hope, Peace, Joy, Love of Jesus