3 CHRISTMAS GIFTS FROM GOD

happiness and peace is what ppl are searching for

whats the point of having wealth and procession where we dont have happiness and peace?

-worries, anger causes anxiety

-ppl are always thinking and living in the future... stress, anxiety, tiredness increases

-happiness is often described as a feeling, a positive quick sensation... to many, happy is a craving for a pleasurable feeling

are these really happiness?

-feel great

-feel appreciated (appreciated and recognition)

-feel in control (in control of things)

-feel safe (enough $$ in the bank account for the future

-feel less tired (solve the problem and get some rest so tt wont feel so tired anymore)

It's just a sensation trigger by something and make us feel good

-problem is they dont last.. only for awhile.. come and go very quickly

   -looking for the next thing to feel good again, but nv satisfied

-being at the top is becoming addictive

Jesus is born to tell us that theres a happiness tt doesnt come and go... this kind of happiness is JOY

-joy comes directly from God

when Jesus is in our life, it doesnt matter how ppl look at us

-happiness is not just a feeling tt comes and go depending on situation

JOY is the 1st Christmas present from God

PEACE is the 2nd Christmas present from God

-peace doesnt mean theres no trouble, but not troubled by troubles

-when we are in a stress out situation, we tend to react negatively

-inner peace overcomes from all the troubles of the world

-take time to sleep, rest, pray

plan for the future, but not over plan... dont dwell in it

   -learn to enjoy today

   -learn to be calm and trust God more

FAVOUR is 3rd Christmas present from God

-favor = demonstrated delight

   -God protect, preserve and heal us

- favor = preferential treatment

   -God's righteous will make us stand out from the crowd (better jobs, increment, healing in the mist of troubles)

-Christmas is abt favor especially in family (relationship with family members)

-Christmas is abt the birth of Jesus

-Jesus maybe born a thousand times, but if He's not born in our hearts, we will still be in our sins

   -all we have to do is just to receive Jesus into our heart

COPING WITH CRISIS AND CHANGE

how Jesus cope with crisis and change

the only constant in life is change

-life is always changing, evolving
-what doesnt change is God

Jesus had 3 kinds of mastery

1. Jesus came into a different season of life
-there is stress whenever we go into a new transition of life
-knowledge is power
-the more we know God and His Word, the stronger we will become
-when we are lost, His Word is a lamp to our feet and light to our path

-reading the bible is not purely reading, but renewing of mind
-ppl tend to be in a "pilot brain" mode (doing routine, not needing to think much).. however, in a season change, we cannot allow our mind to be stuck in the past

-Jesus uses the season of change to grow
-God uses "stress test" to determine our moral and spiritual stability

2. Jesus began His ministry
-time of solitude... to pray, reflect, thinking and clarifying in the presence of God
-in time of stress, we should allow our thoughts to be filtered in God's word
   -don't trust by own judgement or past experience... this is where many mistakes are made

-Jesus is very clear abt His guiding principles and values
-how we end this season will determine how we start the other

3. Jesus faced opposition
Jesus faces opposition from the ppl

-things were getting very tense and his family were worried and didn't understand Him
-this was a very painful and embarrassing moment --- opposed by His own family

-Jesus accepted "His new norm"
-5 stages of grief
   -grief, anger, bargaining, depression (hopeless), acceptance

-when life suddenly changes, its normal if we feel upset
-we mustn't stay sad, anger, stuck at the current "new norm"
   -we must accept the reality!

don't be fearful! change is not our enemy... but fear is!

4. Jesus commissioned disciples

-Jesus expand His options and take positive steps
-in every crisis, its a opportunity to get ready for a new season

5. Jesus put absolute trust in God

we must learn to let go and let God