21 Dec Why We Do What We Do
I was 28-years-old when the holidays felt a little less “merry and bright” than usual.
Mimi – my mom’s mom, the female version of Santa, herself, the stocking stuffer, present giver, Christmas pie baker – wasn’t there. For the first time in my life Mimi wasn’t there for Christmas. Her body was degenerating, as well as her mind, so she couldn’t make the drive.
I guess it was the first time I felt what I call the “hole-idays.”
I know. That sounds cheesy. But it’s when the holidays approach, and instead of feeling all warm and fuzzy, I feel like something is missing. An emptiness and even hurt stings my heart. Last year was the first Christmas without my father-in-law. This year, without the child we thought was promised to us. I know I’m not the only one who feels a lump in my throat when Christmas comes. We live in a world where, for many, Christmas rings in more pain than joy.
So what if we, as Christians, looked at this hurt as an open invitation? An invitation to share those words prophesied by Isaiah almost 3,000 years ago:
“For a child has been born—for us! The gift of a son—for us! He’ll take over the running of the world. His names will be: Amazing Counselor, Strong God, Eternal Father, Prince of Wholeness” (Isaiah 9:6).
Words spoken over 700 years before they were fulfilled in a Bethlehem stable. To a hurting world, Christ brings counsel, strength, the promise of eternity and, my favorite word within the verse, wholeness. Wholeness to the punctured heart.
“Whole-iday.” I like that word a lot better, don’t you? (But yes. Still cheesy. Sorry.)
This year, let’s come together to bring the message of Christ’s healing bigger than ever before. In fact, what if we did it on a global scale? How?
Live streaming.
This holiday season, a Christ-centered production and media team called Media Fusion wants to give you and your church FREE online streaming for your Christmas services.
- Did you know three out of 10 of all Millennials say they search for spiritual content online?[1]
- About one-third of Millennials are using online search to scope out a church, temple or synagogue online.[2]
The world is searching for hope, for healing, for wholeness. So let’s meet them where they are searching: online.
Live stream your church services free and tell the world about the Counselor, the Strength, the Eternal Father, and the Prince of Wholeness that will restore the joy in Christmas and, most of all, restore their hearts.