As we live between Christ’s birth and His return, we are called to live awake, confident, and hopeful—knowing that those we love who are in Christ are still connected to us, and that Jesus is faithfully carrying us all toward eternity.

Before we hurry into Christmas, Paul reminds us how rich true gratitude is. He never thanked God for things—but for people transformed by Christ.

Too often, our reactions mirror the loudest voices around us instead of the quiet strength of Jesus. When we let His words shape our speech and actions, our families, churches, and communities begin to look more like His kingdom.

A family tradition with resurrection eggs becomes a powerful teaching moment, pointing us not only to the empty tomb but also to the deeper truths of Holy Week and the need for personal reflection and prayer.

Eternal life is not just a future promise; it is something we can experience now as we live and love like Jesus, with the confidence that both we and our departed loved ones are alive in Christ.

It is still God’s plan to use broken folks like us—and like those in today’s Bible stories—to share the story of redemption and transformation with those we meet every day.