DECEMBER 8/9, 2012

ALL I WANT FOR CHRISTMAS IS LESS STRESS

MATTHEW 6:25-34 "An anxious heart weighs a man down."
PROVERBS 12:25

JESUS GIVES US FIVE REASONS WHY WE'RE NOT TO WORRY

MATTHEW 6:25-34

1.WORRY DISTORTS

(6:25) "Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes?" (6:26) "Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?" (6:27) "Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?" (6:28-30) "See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?" "And my God will supply all your needs according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus." PHILIPPIANS 4:19 (NASB)

2.WORRY DEVALUES

3.WORRY DOESNT WORK 4.WORRY DISTRACTS

5.WORRY DISHONORS GOD

(6:31-33) "So do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well."

MATTHEW 8:23-27

"Then he got into the boat and his disciples followed him. Without warning, a furious storm came up on the lake, so that the waves swept over the boat. But Jesus was sleeping. The disciples went and woke him, saying, 'Lord, save us! Were going to drown!' He replied, 'You of little faith, why are you so afraid?' Then he got up and rebuked the winds and the waves, and it was completely calm. The men were amazed and asked, 'What kind of man is this? Even the winds and the waves obey him!'"

WHAT DO YOU DO WHEN A STORM HITS?

1.RELAX YOUR RESPONSE - STORMS HAPPEN!

Facts About Storms

Storms are INEVITABLE

"Whenever you face trials..."
JAMES 1:2

Storms are UNPREDICTABLE Storms are IMPARTIAL

"Without warning, a furious storm came up..."

MATTHEW 8:24

"He sends the rain on the righteous and the unrighteous."

MATTHEW 5:45

Common Reactions to Storms

"Why are you so afraid?"
MATTHEW 8:26

ANXIETY PANIC HELPLESSNESS HOPELESSNESS

"Teacher, don't you care"
MARK 4:38

2.REMEMBER GOD'S CLOSENESS

"Then he (Jesus) got into the boat and his disciples followed him."

MATTHEW 8:23

"Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you, and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you!" ISAIAH 43:1-2

3.REST IN GODS CARE

"The disciples said to him, 'Teacher, dont you care if we drown?'" "Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you!"

MARK 4:38

1 PETER 5:7

4.REFOCUS ON GODS PROMISES

LUKE 8:22

"He (Jesus) said to his disciples, 'Let's go over to the other side of the lake.'" "Jesus got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, 'Quiet! Be still!' Then the wind died down and it was completely calm" MARK 4:39 "The men were amazed and asked, 'What kind of man is this? Even the winds and the waves obey him.'" MATTHEW 8:27

MEMORY VERSES
"So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand."
ISAIAH 41:10

MONDAY

"The LORD is my light and my salvation whom shall I fear? The LORD is the stronghold of my life of whom shall I be afraid?"
PSALM 27:1

TUESDAY

"Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you."

1 PETER 5:7

WEDNESDAY

"Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. "
PHILIPPIANS 4:6-7

THURSDAY

"Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own."
MATTHEW 6:34

FRIDAY

"God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging."
PSALM 46:1-3

SATURDAY