The Gen Z Series: (4) “Christmas is the best and worst time of the year”

Hey everybody, Lena Jammer here with the Living with Power Hope podcast. And as

usual, I am not here alone. I got

somebody special with me.

>> What's up guys? It's Micah again. Good

to good to be back with y'all and excited to to chat chat once more.

>> Yeah, man. Micah's no longer a one-time visitor. If you've been here the last

visitor. If you've been here the last couple weeks, you know that he is a new fixture on the Living with Power Hope podcast. Dude, I barely made it in time

podcast. Dude, I barely made it in time today. I'm showing up still in my I call

today. I'm showing up still in my I call it my PJs, but just my sweats and running around. So, it's been one of

running around. So, it's been one of those days which kind of goes along with our edition. We're doing a special

our edition. We're doing a special Christmas edition today. And who doesn't feel frazzled at Christmas, >> Doc? I mean, you know, I mean, last

>> Doc? I mean, you know, I mean, last second gift buying. You know, you got to cook for all the family. It It's a It can be a stressful holiday. It can be stressful.

>> You're cooking. You're cooking. That

really wears you down.

>> Yeah. You know me. You know, I do more of the eating, doc. I do more of the eating.

>> You do your good share of it. But

football, man. Full bloom right now.

College football.

>> Yeah. We're heading down the stretch, you know, we're going to be preparing for our, you know, our final, you know, stretch of games and that'll be really fun.

>> So, it's interesting because we're thinking about Christmas gifts and you're thinking about football and bowl games and all this stuff. So, it's kind of fun to >> We're just trying to see if we can get home for Christmas, doc. We don't even know. We don't even know if we can get

know. We don't even know if we can get home. So,

home. So, >> that's right. So, we're pre-recording this a few weeks before Christmas. I

know it's I wish I could say we're doing it on the 23rd, but that's how it is.

And so, we don't know. Yeah. Is is Micah gonna come home for Christmas? It'll

depend on how they do in the college uh bowl track and hopefully, you know, if they're if they're doing well, then he has less of a chance of coming home. So,

it's always this mixed feeling, but exciting. It's really fun to watch. Uh,

exciting. It's really fun to watch. Uh,

by the way, before we jump in, let me remind you guys that you can subscribe to our podcast and uh be reminded every week of this and you can also share it with your friends. And just for those of

you who are just showing up, first time, maybe you've never met us before, I'm Lena and Micah's my nephew. Uh, but I didn't mention that last week, so you may not have missed that. But, uh,

basically, um, you can find out about my ministry that I started about 20 years ago by God's grace. It's actually his ministry, I hope, but it's living with power.org. Uh, check it out. Check out

power.org. Uh, check it out. Check out

all the free resources you can get there. And we are excited to be back

there. And we are excited to be back talking about the best and worst of Christmas. And my track, I'm always a

Christmas. And my track, I'm always a cup half empty. I I think Micah, you've inherited that gene, but I am good at listing the worst at Christmas. What's

your take on Christmas?

>> You know, Christmas is mixed feelings, Doc. You know, there's kind of

Doc. You know, there's kind of sometimes, you know, it's really fun.

Other parts of it, you know, you wish you could skip out, but for being honest, sometime sometimes sometimes it makes your heart feel two sizes too small like the Grinch or you feel like that little girl, what what's her name

with the big with the big hair, right?

She loves Christmas. You got the Grinch in her.

You kind of got both sides.

>> That's your brother Sam's favorite movie. Our favorite Christmas movie is

movie. Our favorite Christmas movie is >> He watches it like five times every Christmas and he always begs to watch it with him.

>> Always wants you to watch it with him.

>> Well, we we're all doomed to watch The Grinch. Uh it is his favorite Christmas

Grinch. Uh it is his favorite Christmas movie. What's your favorite Christmas

movie. What's your favorite Christmas movie?

>> I like Home Alone. Home Alone's a classic, >> right? All right. I'm not going to get

>> right? All right. I'm not going to get into the whole die hard. Is it a Christmas movie or not? What's my

favorite Christmas movie? I'm not sure I have one. I may go for

have one. I may go for >> Everyone has one. Everyone has one.

>> You know, I like that. What is that? The

holiday is really cute. I like that one.

It's like the It's a classic romcom and you know I don't know it's there's a lot >> the Polar Express the Polar people like the Polar >> Oh no no no I'm not a big Polar Express >> you know I think we I feel like we're do a new Christmas movie maybe soon it's

coming but listen we're gonna we're gonna you know talk about what you're hitting up on. So the Gen Z POV uh actually we're trying to make this episode short because we know everybody's busy. We know Christmas is

everybody's busy. We know Christmas is two days away and so we but we felt it was important enough to spend a week talking about this topic because it's true most of us wrestle with Christmas.

Do we love it? Do we hate it? We love to hate it or hate to love it. I don't

know. But whatever it is, uh the Jez POV Micah you felt was sort of tapping into this. Why do I feel like the Grinch at

this. Why do I feel like the Grinch at Christmas is what you were asking me before we started this episode and sort of said, "Yeah, my heart feels two sizes too small." And why do you think that

too small." And why do you think that is? I just think I I really think it's a

is? I just think I I really think it's a lot of what our culture is portrayed to be. You watch Hallmark movies, it's

be. You watch Hallmark movies, it's always this perfect Christmas. All these

influencers, you know, with their photos with Santa and whatever, you know, you feel like you might be missing out and that your Christmas is never good enough. And

enough. And >> that's it, man. No matter how hard you try, my Christmas the gifts are not as great. It never wraps up with a nice bow

great. It never wraps up with a nice bow at the end. And there's so much conflict at Christmas. Everyone's stressed

at Christmas. Everyone's stressed financially because you got to spend more to I mean it really can be really really painful. So our approach is

really painful. So our approach is >> what does the Bible say about it?

>> Amen. Let's tack it. Yeah.

>> I'm I'm gonna throw that at you this time. You were throwing it at me last

time. You were throwing it at me last week. But what do you think? What does

week. But what do you think? What does

the Bible say about this?

>> Yeah. And I think it's I think it's a really interesting thing to think about because the Bible actually never mentions Christmas as a holiday. It's

something we've totally created. Um, and

you know, just like all, you know, things we create, they, you know, we like to make traditions, right? Ask, ask

my other aunt, auntie, aunt Patricia.

She loves traditions, right? She's all

about it. And so do we in America. So,

we've got this day Christmas.

>> Her her big tradition was to have matching pajamas, which I absolutely will never do that, but that's been And now, you know, Target has matching pajamas for whole family. Like, it's

gone crazy. It's like everyone's into this nonsense. Even at Halloween, people

this nonsense. Even at Halloween, people were showing their pictures with pajamas. But you're right,

pajamas. But you're right, >> the Instagram picture. You need the Instagram picture.

>> But but listen, before you you you bag on this like merch and everything, I mean, I know the Bible doesn't talk specifically about Christmas, but the entire book is about Christmas.

>> Yeah. No, no doubt. Because I mean ultimately that's that's the >> No, it's the cornerstone of our faith.

It's about, you know, it's it's Christ coming to the world. He doesn't

>> he doesn't come to the world. He never

dies and he never raises again from the dead and we never have true life. So

it's it's really the the the center of it all. The crux

>> the crucifixion is like probably the the biggest event, you know, Easter is the big but but the incarnation is like it's like neck and neck, right? I mean, like I think even of these superhero movies

that we watch and like the hero who goes to the planet that they're trying to save, like really when you think about the the the line of script this narrative of scripture, it's that I mean the entire Old Testament, while we don't

talk about Christmas per se. You and I were just talking about that like how many prophecies in the Old Testament?

Well, first of all, are fulfilled on Jesus? Hundreds. But how many are

Jesus? Hundreds. But how many are fulfilled at Christmas?

She petit. I mean, there's a list of them. Isaiah 7:14, a virgin will

them. Isaiah 7:14, a virgin will conceive. Micah 5:2, he'll be born in

conceive. Micah 5:2, he'll be born in Bethlehem. Um, Hosea, out of Egypt, I

Bethlehem. Um, Hosea, out of Egypt, I called my son. Oh, where you know that Egypt angle? That's kind of an

Egypt angle? That's kind of an interesting >> interesting. Yeah. Yeah. I don't I'm not

>> interesting. Yeah. Yeah. I don't I'm not I'm not as familiar with that one.

>> Well, you know, when Herod killed all the kids, right? I mean, he killed all the boys and they went to Egypt. And so,

that's Hosea 11:1 Jeremiah Rachel weeping for her children. Again, best

and worst. I mean, Christmas isn't all fuzzy was in the Bible. I mean, there was a tragedy when Jesus was born where Herod would kill all the the male boys of in the Bethlehem area because he was

threatened by the birth of a baby.

Isaiah 40, a voice preparing the way of the Lord. Second, I mean, you can go

the Lord. Second, I mean, you can go down the list. The point is the Bible is packed, jam-packed, full of predictions about the coming of this God become man, incarnation, man, Emmanuel, God with us.

It just blows me away. What's your

favorite part of the Christmas story? I

just love the idea of the virgin birth that you hear about that as a look, you're like, "What? How does she just have a kid?" And

>> mind-blowing.

>> The coolest part is I think it's just Joseph's, you know, back then if that happened, they'd be like, "Whoa, whoa, that's totally that's wrong. She can't she can't be having a kid right before you

guys are married." But his obedience to the Lord and his commitment to what the Lord, you know, having the kid, naming him Jesus is just really just commendable. And it's a great example of

commendable. And it's a great example of his obedience and and Mary, right? These

angels, she's just this normal this normal girl and all of a sudden like tasked with bearing our savior. It's

it's pretty it's pretty inspiring story.

It's pretty inspiring.

>> And so and so I think you know again like you go what does the Bible say about Christmas? Everything right? I

about Christmas? Everything right? I

mean basically even we can go down and and and look at like all the traditions that we do at Christmas. the gift giving of course the but but just stepping back a bit big picture you know I'm an ER doctor by training so I want to kind of

get the big picture but Matthew 1 and two great passages of scripture Luke 1 and two those are the two kind of parallel passages of scripture to read Matthew 1 and Luke 1 and 2 I think it'd be a pity to spend um the Christmas week

and not read those most churches will go through them um there of course I mentioned some of the Old Testament references but so many of our traditions that we celebrate at Christmas are based out of the story of of of you know gifts

come to mind because of of course the three wise men. Uh but the shepherds, the lights, you know, why do we have a star and the tree pointing, you know, the the star at the top of the tree? I

mean, you can start to think through some of those ways that that the traditions that we have, well, they can be >> I don't know, sometimes overwhelming or why do we do what we do if we don't stop

and pause and think about them, which I think the week of Christmas and Advent coming into Christmas, now we're towards the end of that season, is a great time to be reflecting on those things. And

so, you know, even even thinking through like do we go to church at Christmas week, like you know, people debate that.

What are your thoughts on that?

>> Well, I mean, I I I know and like it it gets it gets a little, you know, when Christmas is Christmas on a Sunday, what happens then, dog? What happens then?

>> Do we go to church once or do we go twice? What if it's on Yeah, it's crazy.

twice? What if it's on Yeah, it's crazy.

>> Yeah. What about that? Right. But it's

it all comes down to keeping Christ at the center of Christmas. And

>> that's the whole point.

>> Yeah. That's what it's about. like how

how can you skip Christmas going to church on Christmas? It doesn't make any sense. And so as you even think about

sense. And so as you even think about forming traditions, whether you're a Gen Z who's just now like starting to form, whether it's with your, you know, maybe you're in a work situation where you can't go home and you're trying to form like traditions at Christmas with your

chosen family, we can call them, or if you're going back home. I mean, why do we do what we do? I think it's an important time to think through that and to establish traditions that as you said point to Jesus because ultimately the

gospel is about the birth of Christ and then the life of Christ and then the death of Christ and then the resurrection of Christ. That's why we're here. That's why we're spending time

here. That's why we're spending time talking about this. That's why we read this book. That's amazing. And so in the

this book. That's amazing. And so in the story, we see the best and the worst. We

see Mary and Joseph being asked to travel as a nine-month-old pregnant woman to go to pay taxes. Man, I don't even like to pay taxes from the from the comfort of my living room clicking on a

computer screen, right? She has totally move out. And and why? Because she's

move out. And and why? Because she's

fulfilling prophecy. Not because they just had an evil empire who was ruling the Jewish people at the time, but because God fore orained it, planned it before that this would work out this way to fulfill his word so that the people

watching would see the signs and they missed the signs. Now the question for us is are we missing the science and it and and the second question what leads leads us into so the Gen Z POV you know

why do I feel like my heart's too small maybe maybe you're caught up in the in the business of Christmas in the culture of Christmas and you're missing the person of Christmas

>> that's good that's really good yeah >> and so so now what so so okay obviously the Bible story is the Bible of Christmas and so the the story of Christmas is there Matthew 1:2 Luke 1:2

The bad reminds us of why we need Jesus.

The good exists because of Jesus.

Expectations have to be managed in light of Jesus and the gospel. But how does this translate to how we live even in the next week moving into the new year?

And so >> Micah, you are bringing up to me like you're really concerned like about people going back home. How do we live out our faith?

>> Yeah. Yeah. I think that's that to me is probably the hardest part of Christmas, right? You're you're a new believer. uh

right? You're you're a new believer. uh

or or you know you're you're someone who's trying to stand out for their faith more and and you go home and you're among your family and you know maybe the majority of them maybe all of them are not following Christ right

Christmas is just about you know buying gifts for people celebrating Santa Claus and maybe you know having some eggnog with some rum in it right that could be

your Christmas um but what does it look like to shine the light of Christ on that day in that week with your family and uh really just make sure that your

life is centered around Christ and centering your Christmas around Christ.

>> And do you feel like you're imposing?

Like let's say you do come in and say like, "Dude, I want to read the story of Christmas." Everyone looks at you like

Christmas." Everyone looks at you like >> what's okay? How do you establish that?

What what is some wisdom that that people can turn to? Like how do you discern that?

>> Yeah. Well, I keep coming back to the idea the idea of the giver, right? And

so we have Christ giving his son. This

was the initial like giving up, right?

Use chem's from heaven as a little baby.

It's this idea of the giver. And so in the way we give, right? Maybe you're in your situation. It's it's a, you know,

your situation. It's it's a, you know, there's a lot of tension, but what a great way you have to be a giver this Christmas and and shine as a person that can give because of what Christ has

given you.

>> And that's why the Bible talks about a cheerful giver because you truly understand that Christ has given you the greatest gift in his son. And that's

what we're celebrating. That's what it's all about. So like and practically like

all about. So like and practically like I I mean just to say like so a tradition so I think even if you've been a Christian forever and your family's Christian I think to establish a new tradition is difficult to change way

like there's a dynamic in every extended family that that's there and so maybe you've had a season of revival and you're walking back to Christmas maybe you've changed something about you've changed or you see things that you're

repenting and you're changing in the way that you approach others and and and this whole thing a tradition is not a tradition until it becomes a tradition.

So even establishing new traditions is hard. It's like a new habit. In fact,

hard. It's like a new habit. In fact,

we're going to be talking about that soon. But but you have to start

soon. But but you have to start somewhere. And so me, I would even

somewhere. And so me, I would even encourage if you're watching this episode or listening, you know, think about little ways. I mean, you know, I think there's has to be a discernment of the spirit. Every family is different.

the spirit. Every family is different.

Every culture is different. How you

represent Christ going into the Christmas weekend. Maybe your family

Christmas weekend. Maybe your family doesn't even celebrate Christmas. How

are you going to bring that to them? If

they don't celebrate it, it could be as simple as giving them gifts to say, "Look, you know, we've not celebrated this before." Maybe they have done it a

this before." Maybe they have done it a million times. So maybe you pick gifts

million times. So maybe you pick gifts that are more u intentional. Maybe you

write a note this time, handwritten note. Maybe you you you know, something

note. Maybe you you you know, something that you do. You you learn. I hate to rely on love languages, but the reality is some people need extra time. Others

like the gifts, you know. So you start to think through the other person in your life and think through how what would bless them and how can I step out of my comfort zone in order to do that.

It doesn't have to be a lot of things.

It can be one thing that you potentially change or or even that awkward I want to read the Christmas story and no one in my family thinks that's doable. Well,

maybe you you think a creative way to do it and you do it in a time where people might, you know, Christmas is the time when families are more open to that than any other time. And that might be their only exposure to God's word in the whole

year. And so, you do have an advantage

year. And so, you do have an advantage at Christmas and maybe you bring an extra special gift to give and that way they're more open to you reading the Christmas story. I mean, if you show up

Christmas story. I mean, if you show up with no gifts and you say, "I want to read the Bible." That's not going to fly. Thank the people in your life. But

fly. Thank the people in your life. But

I think I think that is a good challenge for us even moving into the next couple of days. As we wrap things up, what's

of days. As we wrap things up, what's one way to avoid the Christmas blues, unmet expectations, lonely, you're single and you're looking for everybody around you is with, you know, under the mistletoe. How do you how do you

mistletoe. How do you how do you encourage those who are really >> blue? Doc, I think I think when the

>> blue? Doc, I think I think when the Christmas blues hits me, when I feel like the Grinch is I get among this family time, there's a lot of events, a lot of dinner, and I I forget to spend as much time in the word. That's it. And

how do you cure the blues? you invest

even more. Um, and so my encouragement like you know like Doc said at the beginning write open Matthew 1 and 2, open Luke 1 and2 and really take you know 10 15 minutes just read that story

be immersed in his word and and you'll find that when you reflect on his word uh God pulls through for you every time and he'll he'll cure your blues because you know he's the giver and he

>> go for a walk in nature sing a worship song out loud like make it less about me and focus on on the out you know the like like I think anytime we focus focus on the fact that we're alone, it's going to make us feel worse. And honestly, to

to to a certain degree, this is the problem of the romantic comedies and the feel-good Christmas hallmark movies where everything wraps up in a boat.

That's not real life. We know that. But

if that's all you're filling your mind as in at Christmas, then you're going to leave potentially more disappointed. But

if you serve, if you pour into others, but but I think you're hitting it, Micah. I think spending time reflecting

Micah. I think spending time reflecting on God's goodness, um going to church at midnight, if that's what your church does, and just to get your mind fixed on Jesus, I think that that those are the things that I would focus on. So, we'd

love to hear. Listen, guys. We'd love to hear what you're going to do differently this Christmas. Are you going to start a

this Christmas. Are you going to start a new tradition? Tell us what it is. Shoot

new tradition? Tell us what it is. Shoot

us an email. Uh, go on Instagram, share it. I mean, we'd love to hear that. If

it. I mean, we'd love to hear that. If

you're going to If there's a Bible passage that's been really helpful to you to avoid the blues, share it, man.

We'd love to hear it. We We love you guys. We're praying for you this

guys. We're praying for you this Christmas. I believe this could be our

Christmas. I believe this could be our best Christmas yet.

>> Yeah. Yeah. No doubt.

>> For Christmas, Micah, let's wrap this up, man. You got to tell me. What tell?

up, man. You got to tell me. What tell?

No, no, no. I'll keep it a secret, Doc.

I'll keep a >> surprise. BETTER BE GOOD. BETTER BE

>> surprise. BETTER BE GOOD. BETTER BE

GOOD. BETTER HAVE A handwritten note.

I'm not going to accept anything less.

>> Doc, your your gift is always much thought and very special. It'll be very special. Very special.

special. Very special.

>> Tell me I'm doing a great job. Words of

affirmation. That's my love.

>> Yeah. Some people That's the love language right?

>> Love language.

>> Mine probably gift giving. Gift giving.

>> Gift giving. All right, we're in good shape.

>> This is This is my This is my Super Bowl here Doc.

>> That's awesome. I'm gonna give you the chance to give me a gift this Christmas.

>> Thank you. I look forward to it.

>> I hope you're in the big bowl game and that Christmas is everything you want it to be. And if you're listening and if

to be. And if you're listening and if you're watching, I pray that God's going to meet every need of yours and then some this Christmas. He is a God of Ephesians 3:20. I know that to be true.

Ephesians 3:20. I know that to be true.

He does above and beyond what we could ask or think. And even if you're going through a difficult season right now, I'm praying that over you that God would show you that he's good and he's got more abundant abundance for you. Listen,

we'll be back next week. Gonna talk

about change. New year, new you. year.

Yep.

>> In the meantime, wish us a merry Christmas.

>> Merry Christmas, guys. All of you guys.

Merry Christmas.