Many Christmas movies portray the season as one of hot chocolate, comfy slippers, and warm blankets. But the profound message of hope that Christmas brings, is a far grander and grittier story.

True hope is not merely about future outcomes but about experiencing God's goodness and strength in our everyday lives. A superficial understanding of hope can be dangerous, particularly if it invites complacency about our need for transformation.

By drawing on insights from Dallas Willard's work, The Divine Conspiracy, we see genuine change comes from a heartfelt desire for transformation, rather than just accumulating knowledge. We are reminded that hope is a sustaining force, capable of supporting us through both joyful and difficult times, and is essential for becoming the best versions of ourselves.

Takeaways:

• Honesty takes bravery, especially when reflecting on the true meaning of hope during Christmas.
• The Christmas story invites us to experience transformation rather than just information.
• Hope is essential for thriving, but it can also be a difficult concept to live with.
• True hope in the Christmas season is not about getting what we want, but about becoming who we are meant to be.
• We often confuse gathering information with personal growth, which can limit real transformation.
• Genuine hope is found in God's goodness, not merely in hoping for desired outcomes.

Empower yourself and your family to engage fully in God’s grand story. Subscribe to Hi(Impact) at Stephanie Presents for insights, encouragement, and practical resources!

Book Stephanie to speak to your women, parents, Christian educators, and students.

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Nurturing gratefulness in kids isn't easy. But it's not impossible, either!

Cultivating a perspective of thankfulness isn't just about making your home life more pleasant -- although that's a good enough reason. But the connection between faith and gratitude is significant, and the cost of ingratitude is extraordinarily high. (See episode 133 for a deep dive into that lesson.)

Get ten action items you can apply for kids of all ages starting today. Start with one or go all-in with all ten!

Empower yourself and your family to engage fully in God’s grand story. Subscribe to Hi(Impact) at Stephanie Presents for insights, encouragement, and practical resources!

Book Stephanie to speak to your women, parents, Christian educators, and students.

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The Old Testament book of Exodus includes a sobering story about the high cost of ingratitude. By default, we're at risk for repeating that mistake, but we can choose a different path.

We'll see the connection between gratitude and faith, thanksgiving and character. Drawing on Dallas Willard's work in The Divine Conspiracy: Rediscovering Our Hidden Life in God, we unpack five ways we can avoid the high cost of ingratitude.

Empower yourself and your family to engage fully in God’s grand story. Subscribe to Hi(Impact) at Stephanie Presents for insights, encouragement, and practical resources!

Book Stephanie to speak to your women, parents, Christian educators, and students.

#spirituallystrong

#emotionalhealth

#relationships

#bible

#faith

#truth

#biblestudy

#christianfaith

#christianwomen

#christianity

#lifeskey3