Thursday, December 6, 2007

what the world REALLY wants for Christmas Pt 1




One thing Todd & I have learned since we've been trying to figure out this whole one-flesh ministry thing and how it's supposed to work is that we both need to let go of things that we just are not good at and 'play to our sweet spots' (got that one from Andy Stanley, I believe). One of the ways this plays out is holidays...I LOVE them, and Todd - well, just doesn't get as excited about them as I do. (They tend to stress him out because he feels the weight of 'expectation'). So, I tend to get excited about teaching...(dare I say the word...'preaching') at these special times. (Now I know there are those among my readers who would disagree with whether or not I should be preaching, but please either bear with me, and continue to ask God to bring clarity to my understanding, yours or both of ours - or just skip this post!:)) I feel like holidays are such an opportunity to speak into people's hearts...especially those who might be more open around seasons like Christmas and Easter that might not at other times of the year.

For December I am doing a series called "What the world REALLY wants for Christmas" and what I'm going to do is take 4 Christmas movie favorites and taking a look at what is really going on in the plot, what the people really want - and how Jesus is the very answer to these deep human desires. Each week I will pull out of the movie what the longing of the heart is that is expressed by the story, and how Jesus came to meet each of those needs, and is represented by each of His Names as listed in Isaiah 9 - Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father and Prince of Peace.

I'm starting this week with "It's a Wonderful Life", which I watched last night. My thoughts are starting to come together about how something in George Bailey represents how we all long to matter, have a purpose, and impact the world. But without the Wonderful Counselor to take the blindness from our eyes, we are blind to the purposes and plans that God has for us, and we flounder around, not knowing what to do.

I'm really excited and praying that God will be bring the exact person/people who need to hear this very message at this very time.

2 comments:

Shaula said...

I hope it's a great series.

Shaula said...

I hope it's a great series.