This weekend, let’s focus on real, intentional preparation for Christmas—not just the decorations, the gifts, or the meals, but our hearts. Here’s your challenge: 1️⃣ Reflect Daily: Spend 5 minutes each day thinking about what Jesus’ birth truly means for you. 2️⃣ Act of Kindness: Do one intentional act of love or service for someone else—no strings attached. 3️⃣ Gratitude List: Write down 5 ways God has shown His goodness to you this year. Share one in the comments! 4️⃣ Pray for Others: Lift up at least 3 people by name in prayer—friends, family, or someone in our community. 5️⃣ Focus on Jesus: Pick one holiday tradition and intentionally center it on Christ—let it point back to Him. Let’s enter this Christmas season with hearts ready, eyes fixed on Jesus, and hands open to serve. Comment below once you complete your challenge and encourage someone else in the community! 💛

1 Corinthians 2:11 says, “For who knows a person’s thoughts except their own spirit within them? In the same way no one knows the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God.” There are times when it feels like God has gone silent simply because we aren’t hearing Him. But the question isn’t whether He’s still speaking—for God speaks again and again, though people do not recognize it (Job 33:14). The real question is whether we are slowing down long enough to sit in His presence and listen. We cannot continually know the thoughts of God unless we are continually in His presence. This is why we must choose to live in His presence every day. My Dad once said, “If you don’t start your day with God, then don’t complain to Him how it ends!” I think this is an important reminder that at some point everyone needs to hear! He desires to have communion with us, so the loss of communication is never on His end! Psalm 25:14 says, “The Lord is a friend to those who fear him. He teaches them his covenant.”

Family, we want this community to remain a safe, focused, distraction-free place where you can grow, learn, and pursue Jesus without the chaos that often happens on social platforms. To protect that, here are our official guidelines: ⸻ 1. THIS IS A TRAINING CENTER — NOT A PROMOTION SPACE We are here to grow, be transformed, and chase after Jesus together. So inside this community: • 🚫 No asking for money • 🚫 No fundraising • 🚫 No promoting personal ministries, platforms, or events This isn’t to reject anyone — it’s to protect the purity, focus, and unity of this space. Posts or comments that break these guidelines will be removed, and repeated violations may result in removal from the community. ⸻ 2. KEEP CONVERSATIONS PUBLIC (FOR EVERYONE’S GROWTH + SAFETY) To keep things healthy and transparent, we ask that all conversations stay inside the public community, where we can grow together as one family. The only reason anyone should need to send a private DM is if they have a specific question about: • The community • The classrooms • Technical issues In those cases, you can message Aaron and Julie Schilling directly. There’s no need for private messaging beyond that. ⸻ 3. YOU CAN TURN OFF MESSAGING (OPTIONAL SAFETY FEATURE) If you want complete peace from unexpected messages, you can disable chat entirely. How to turn off receiving messages: 1. Tap your profile picture 2. Go to Settings (three dots in top corner) 3. Select “Chat” 4. Toggle off “Who can message me?” This feature is here to help you stay focused and protected. ⸻ 4. MAINTAINING A SAFE & HOLY ENVIRONMENT These guidelines are simply here to keep this community: • Safe • Free of spam • Free of self-promotion • Spiritually focused • Healthy for every member If someone cannot honor these boundaries, we may need to remove them — not as punishment, but to protect the environment God has entrusted us to steward. ⸻ We love you deeply. Thank you for helping make this community a place where people can truly grow, encounter Jesus, and become who God designed them to be. ❤️🙌

Hey family, how’s your week going so far? Sometimes life can feel heavy, busy, or overwhelming—but even in the middle of chaos, God is working in ways we can’t always see. Take a moment today to pause, breathe, and notice one small blessing around you. It could be a conversation, a quiet moment, or even just the fact that you woke up this morning. 💬 Drop ONE thing you’re grateful for today in the comments. Let’s fill this space with gratitude and encouragement for each other! Remember: every small moment of thankfulness is a spark that can light up your whole week. 🌟

Preparing Our Hearts For Christmas As the Christmas season approaches, it is easy to get caught up in the plans, the gifts, and the busy schedules, but the most important preparation happens inside our hearts. This is the time to slow down, breathe deep, and remember why we celebrate in the first place. Jesus stepped into our world to bring hope, peace, and salvation, and when we prepare room for Him, everything else finds its place. Let this season be less about rushing and more about refocusing on the Savior who came for us. Bible Verse: “Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for him.” Matthew 3:3