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.

Hey Connection Lab Group! We are kicking off the Silent Night Challenge by "Naming the Elephant." We know that "Discretionary Distractions" like social media or TV often feel like a necessary escape after a long day. But often, what feels like "decompression" is actually just "disconnection." As you identify your distraction today, let’s dig a layer deeper than just naming "the phone." DEEP DIVE DISCUSSION: When you reach for that specific distraction (the scrolling, the news, the busyness), what emotion are you trying to numb or avoid? Is it boredom, anxiety about the holidays, or just exhaustion? Let's get real in the comments: What is the specific "Elephant" in your room, and why has it been so hard to evict it until now? Don't forget to share your insight with your spouse... this is where connection begins.

We have two full weeks left before Christmas week. Let’s set the tone right now. The "Big Three" Strategy: Don't try to do 50 things this week. Pick your "Big Three." 1. What is the most important thing for your work/home? 2. What is the most important thing for your marriage/relationships? 3. What is the most important thing for your soul? Everything else is just noise. Focus on the Big Three and let the rest go. Let's go, 11 Marriage Community! You’ve got this. 💪

We need a mid-week temperature check because things are getting serious out there in the shopping aisles! There are two types of people in this world: 1. Those who have been blasting Mariah Carey since November 1st. 2. Those who think Christmas music is illegal until 2 weeks before the day. Poll Time: What is the ONE Christmas song you could listen to on repeat, and what is the ONE song that makes you want to cover your ears? (I’m looking at you, "Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer"…)

In the heat of holiday stress, conflict happens fast. A sarcastic comment from a relative, a forgotten errand by a spouse—and suddenly, we explode. Here is the best tool for your belt this week: The Pause. When you feel your heart rate spike (that’s your body going into fight-or-flight), you lose access to the logical part of your brain. You literally cannot resolve conflict well in that state. The Move: "I’m feeling flooded right now. I need 20 minutes to cool down, and then we can talk about this." Need help mastering this? This is exactly the kind of practical skill we drill down on in our Connection Lab. Learning how to regulate yourself is the first step to connecting with others. We are opening up the link again. Check the link and join us tomorrow for our December Live Class.