Today is the third Sunday of Advent, the "Joy" Sunday. It feels strange to talk about Joy when the world feels heavy, or when there is an empty chair at your table this year. But biblical Joy is different from Happiness. • Happiness depends on Happenings (what is going on around you). • Joy depends on Him (who is living inside you). You can be grieving and still have Joy. You can be struggling and still have Joy. Joy is the quiet confidence that God is good, even when the season is hard. Prayer: Lord, give me a Joy that makes no sense to the world, because it is rooted in You.

Every tree has one. It’s the macaroni star from 1998 that is falling apart. It’s the creepy elf that stares at you. It’s the pickle hidden in the branches. (Yes, we have that pickle ornament! Whoever finds if first on Christmas morning, gets to open the first present) We want to see the "Real Life" side of your holiday decor! Comment below: Describe the weirdest or ugliest ornament that you insist on putting on the tree every single year. Why do you keep it?

One complaint we often hear in relationships: "I don't feel heard." During the holidays, stress makes us bad listeners. We are so busy defending our point of view or checking our to-do list that we miss the heart of what our person is saying. Try the "Mirror" technique: When your spouse/child tells you something, repeat it back: "So what I hear you saying is..." It sounds simple, but it changes everything. It lowers defenses and builds safety. Want to master this? In our Connection Lab, we deep-dive into communication styles and practical tools to break the cycle of miscommunication. If you want 2026 to be the year you finally understand each other, click HERE

We want this community to feel like a safe space where we can all support each other's marriage journeys. Let's start with introductions! You can use this simple format: Hey, I'm from ________________. I'm here because ________________. The biggest thing I'm working on in my marriage right now is ________________. Examples: - "Hey, I'm Sarah from Texas. I'm here because we keep having the same fights over and over and I'm exhausted." - "I'm Mike from Ohio. I'm here because my wife and I feel like roommates and I want that spark back." - "I'm Lisa from Florida. I'm here because my husband won't engage in fixing our problems and I'm trying to figure out how to create change on my own." - No judgment here - just real people working on real relationships. The more we know about each other, the better we can support and encourage one another. Drop your intro below! 👇

As we get closer to gathering with family and friends, let’s talk about the "Them" category. In our Boundaries Protocol, we talk about the difference between your "Safe Room" (your inner circle) and your "Backyard BBQ" (acquaintances and extended family). Holiday drama often happens when we give "Backyard BBQ" people access to our "Safe Room" heart. Just because you are eating turkey at the same table doesn't mean you have to engage in deep emotional processing with everyone. It is okay to keep conversations light and polite with family members who have proven to be unsafe or critical. You can love them, but you can love them better with a boundary in place. - Protect your peace: You don't have to explain your marriage struggles, your parenting choices, or your political views to anyone who hasn't earned the right to hear them. - For those in a difficult season: If you are navigating separation or a hard patch in your marriage, decide ahead of time what you will and won't share. "We are working through some things, and we appreciate your prayers," is a complete sentence. Application Question: Is there a topic of conversation you need to put "off-limits" next week to protect your peace?