NO NEED TO FEEL LIKE THIS MOST DAYS

Deuteronomy 28:1-12
If you fully obey the LORD your God and carefully follow all his commands I give you today, (simply reading the word, praying and hearing God speak into your life) the LORD your God will set you high above all the nations on earth. All these blessings will come upon you and accompany you if you obey the LORD your God( Living out what God asks you to do ,loving him, loving others, sharing your money and belongings, being kind, being faithful, putting others before you): You will be blessed in the city and blessed in the country ( You will live a life of peace and joy because you have God walking alongside you ). The fruit of your womb will be blessed, and the crops of your land and the young of your livestock( Your children will walk with God because you have been faithful and sown good seeds in them, yes they may wander from side to side for a time but if their feet are firmly planted in God they will be back)—the calves of your herds and the lambs of your flocks. Your basket and your kneading trough will be blessed. ( Every area of your life will be watched over and cared for by God, every small detail God is there with you, he cares about you more than you will ever comprehend)You will be blessed when you come in and blessed when you go out. The LORD will grant that the enemies who rise up against you will be defeated before you.( Life is not without trouble, but God is there like a shepherd who tends his sheep Gods eye is always watching and he will never allow more harm come to you than you can bear) They will come at you from one direction but flee from you in seven. The LORD will send a blessing on your barns and on everything you put your hand to. The LORD your God will bless you in the land he is giving you. The LORD will establish you as his holy people, as he promised you on oath, if you keep the commands of the LORD your God and walk in his ways. Then all the peoples on earth will see that you are called by the name of the LORD, and they will fear you. The LORD will grant you abundant prosperity—in the fruit of your womb, the young of your livestock and the crops of your ground—in the land he swore to your forefathers to give you. The LORD will open the heavens, the storehouse of his bounty, to send rain on your land in season and to bless all the work of your hands. You will lend to many nations but will borrow from none. The LORD will make you the head, not the tail. If you pay attention to the commands of the LORD your God that I give you this day and carefully follow them, you will always be at the top, never at the bottom. 14 Do not turn aside from any of the commands I give you today, to the right or to the left, following other gods and serving them. What an awesome promise, you will find no other who can offer you this, many have tried, many false teachers are out there right now proclaiming themselves as God, but he is the ALPHA AND OMEGA THERE WILL NEVER BE ANOTHER. All he asks from you is to love him with all your heart.

IT IS THE SEASON TO BE JOLLY........

This Christmas season is clearly not too different from past ones, as people get caught up in the hustle and bustle off life we see more and more people living on the edge. Just head out to the shops for 1 hour today and watch people you will see as I have that road rage is at its highest ever. families are being slowly torn apart right before your eyes in the mall, parents at the end of their tether almost ripping the arm off their toddler as they drag them screaming from the shops, people screaming obscenities from their car window. The strange part is that these very people are out and about to buy gifts for their families and friends, If you stop to ask them what are their thoughts on Christmas, most of them will tell you that they HATE Christmas, they find the whole thing a pointless chore, and they cant wait for it to be over.
My heart breaks for people in this situation , if they could only see the real reason for Christmas Their day would be altogether different.
Christmas from the christian perspective is that , without Jesus there would be no Christmas, we are celebrating the birth of THE SAVIOUR TO THE WORLD. Jesus came to save us to give life and life abundantly . If we live by his ways and teachings then we do not need to be living on a knife edge in a constant frazzled state, in fact I find it hard to wipe the smile off my face at this time of year. It is a time to be so grateful for the free gift of Grace and mercy that was given to me the day that I was saved.
God even gives us instructions as to how we should be behaving at Christmas, well all year round relay, but especially when we are celebrating HIS birth. John 15:9 9 Jesus said to his disciples: ‘As the Father has loved me, so I have loved you. Remain in my love. 10 If you keep my commandments you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and remain in his love.
1 .Count your blessings rather than count your trials.
2. Be even tempered and not quick to get angry. Romans 5:1 Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ,
3. give your neighbour a small gift and a card to wish them a fantastic year ahead, John 15:17 This is my command: Love each other.
4. Have someone extra at your table for Christmas lunch that has nowhere to go. Luke 14:13 But when you give a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind,
5. Smile when you go shopping, be nice!!!! talk to the shop assistants. Habakkuk 3 : 17-18 Although the fig tree shall not blossom, neither shall fruit be in the vines; the labour of the olive shall fail, and the fields shall yield no meat; the flock shall be cut off from the fold, and there shall be no herd in the stalls Yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will joy in the God of my salvation.

6. Share much laughter and love with your family. Colossians 3:12 So, as those who have been chosen of God, holy and beloved, put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience;
7. Take your kids out walking to look at Christmas lights
8. Listen to Christmas carols that are worship songs , and worship your king . Genesis 24:26 Then the man bowed down and worshiped the LORD,
9. Listen to God when he prompts you to talk to someone, or pray for someone 1 Kings 19:12 And after the earthquake a fire; but the LORD was not in the fire: and after the fire a still small voice.
10. Christmas should be about peace and joy , pray for Gods peace and joy to be upon you .
John 16:33 These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.

I encourage you this year , don't be like the grumpy people who just make everyone else around them grumpy. Be filled with : The spiritual nature produces love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, Galatians 5:22
This is what God is calling us to do. Chose Life, this is the time of the year that we have a great opportunity to witness to non believers, don't waste a moment. God asks us to be different to the world, he needs us to be there to show people there is a better way of getting through life here on earth. The last thing God wants is for non believers to watch our behaviour as Christians and say to themselves that we are no different to anyone else. Mathew 5:15 Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house.