Why we're drawing inspiration from a 'miracle' movie

At Dallas Leadership Foundation, we’re excited to get another chance to serve Dallas families Dec. 14 at our annual Treasures of Hope Christmas Store. We’re keeping the 1940s theme that inspired our successful gala in October. The can-do spirit, the perserverance, the style and wit of the era hasn’t worn off for us!

We’re drawing inspiration this holiday season from the classic film “Miracle on 34^th Street.” The 1947 movie is one of several popular Christmas movies from the 1940s, including “It’s a Wonderful Life,” “Christmas in Connecticut,” and “Penny Serenade.”

We chose "Miracle on 34^th Street" because it centers around miracles and believing the impossible. The movie teaches a compelling lesson about the power of belief and the bondage of unbelief. Sometimes, when circumstances disappoint people, they struggle to hope again. They play down their hopes and expect little from life. Something inside them feels crushed.

"Miracle on 34th Street" uses Kris Kringle as the route from unbelief to faith. But in truth, only God can achieve what appears humanly impossible. Only He can be trusted like that because only His miraculous power can transform a life. 

We know this from experience at DLF. It’s Him who blesses 600-900 families and nearly 1,800 children every year through Treasures of Hope. It's Him who connects specific gifts to specific needs in specific families at critical moments in time. DLF creates the physical setting with prayer, food, music and a decked-out store, but God delivers the miracles.

The Bible urges us to cling to hope because hope doesn't disappoint! God invites us to believe in Him, to trust in Him who gave His only Son Jesus for our sake, once, and for all time. The more time we spend time with God, the more we experience His trustworthiness. We learn that we can count on Him and that He can accomplish the unusual, the miraculous. 

The psalmist describes God's miraculous ability in Psalm 77:14: “You are the God who works wonders; you have made known your might among the peoples” (ESV). This holiday season, ask the Lord where He wants to work His wonders in your life!

If you’re interested in helping us help others in a Jesus-centric Christmas celebration, learn more about Treasures of Hope at http://www.dlftx.org/events. Please share DLF blog posts on your social platforms and include the hashtag, #WebelieveGodcan.