If Jesus seems distant to you, you are not alone. But this is not the Jesus in the gospels nor of early church tradition. Jesus is right here, right now—and that idea will renew your life.

In our grief for the world we remain faithful, but grow discouraged. Faced with the responsibility to care for the sick, the persecuted, and the impoverished, maybe we become disillusioned—sick with helplessness.

Being a missionary doesn’t always mean traveling to developing countries. Being a missionary means taking on the mission of spreading the gospel—which is something we are all called to do.

At this time of year, the stress levels for many are almost too much to bear. We struggle through the ups and downs of the season. It’s all too easy to become frustrated and angry, and then to lose sight of our priorities. The key to changing all this: thankfulness—for Christ, salvation, and what we have been given.