Merry Life Repair – 4 – Stress Relief

 

Hello, Redemption Church. Merry Christmas Eve.
Hello, everyone online. We are glad to share this time with you.

 

Merry Life Repair

I hope your season is merry and bright.  …but more than that I pray that your life is merry and bright.

Long after you box up the decorations… I want you to still experience hope, love, joy, and peace.

 

The Christmas story is marked by peace.

Luke 2:14 (NIV) “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”

Isaiah 9:6 (NIV) 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.

 

The world needs peace.
Your home needs peace.
You need peace.
 

Peace is supposed to be a part of the Christmas story… but this season has us stressing out big time.

What are we doing wrong?  Where is that peace the angels sang about?

Our peace is robbed by this…

 

I need one more thing…

There is this overwhelming feeling that you always need something else.
What is that thing that you lack?  How are you going to find it, get it, buy, create it?

Right now on Christmas Eve you may feel stressed because there is one more thing you need to do. This thought will rob you of peace and pull you out of the moment.

We think that when we have that one more thing… then we will have peace.  But we don’t have peace because there is always one more thing.

This describes my life. What about your life?

 

Perhaps we need to rethink peace.

John 14:27 (NIV) Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.

 

Jesus gives peace… but not like the world gives peace.

 

Peace – Shalom – Wholeness

Peace does not mean a lack of stress and trouble. Peace means WHOLENESS, COMPLETENESS.

Jesus gives a peace that is superior.

 

Peace is not needing one more thing

What if you did not need one more thing?

What if you had all that you need.
What if you could enjoy that… instead of focused on one more thing?

This is the peace that Jesus gives.

Let’s focus on the peace He gives.

Stand and sing with us.
We are going to hand out communion and receive the peace of Christ together.

 

This bread reminds us of His body. Jesus is the bread from heaven. All the provision of heaven has come to Earth. Jesus when we have you, we don’t need one more thing.

 

This juice reminds us of His blood. The blood of Jesus covers all regret, guilt, and shame.

Jesus when we have you, we don’t need one more thing.