This week we have remembered and reflected on Christmas memories. I pray you have had a Christ-filled Christmas. Today is the last Friday of 2025 and I share what has become one of my favorite activities to keep me grounded and focused on Christ. Since 2017, Julie and I have transformed the way we end a year and begin a new year. Instead of choosing a New Year’s resolution we chose a word of the year. Ray has also joined us in this practice since he joined our Water Walkers team.

If you have never practiced focusing on a word for a year, I highly encourage you to prayerfully consider it for 2026. A book to get you thinking about it is titled One Word That Will Change Your Life by Jon Gordon, Dan Britton, and Jimmy Page.

Below are some words that Julie and I have used over the years.

Julie: flexibility, rejoice, influence, gifts, refine, serenity, love, seek, humble

Deborah: joy, hospitality, intention, impact, transform, simple, relish, pause, peace & joy

Ray has used the words prayer and faith.

Today I encourage you to reflect on the Christmas memories you have made this year and pray about a word God would have you focus on in 2026. Next week Julie, Ray, and I will share with you the words God has laid on our hearts for the new year.

Let’s pray. Dear God, thank You for the special Christmas memories that were created this year. Open my eyes, ears, and heart to a word to focus on in 2026. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.

Luke 2:1-20 NIV

Let’s take time to reflect on our own Christmas memories. While my experiences around Christmas may not be the same as yours, perhaps my memories will spark an interest with you and together we can be inspired to create new memories centered around the true meaning of Christmas.

One of my favorite Christmas memories revolves around my mom’s ceramic nativity set. As a child I remember mom working hard to decorate our home. However, displaying the nativity became a family affair. One evening my parents, brother and I would sit together in our formal living room. My brother or I would read the Christmas story from the large Bible while the other unwrapped and placed each character as it was mentioned in the story. I remember my brother and I arguing over who would get to unwrap and place baby Jesus because we both realized He was the most important character in the story. 

Today is Christmas. Today we celebrate the true meaning of Christmas, the birth of our Savior Jesus Christ. What Christmas memories are you remembering today? What Christmas memories are you creating today? I pray that however you celebrate today that you are intentional about focusing on Jesus, the greatest gift ever given to us.

Let’s pray. Dear God, thank You for special Christmas memories that taught me about the true meaning of Christmas which is the birth of Your Son, Jesus Christ. Help me to create new Christmas memories that focus on our Savior’s birth. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.

Luke 2:13-14 NIV — Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”

Let’s take time to reflect on our own Christmas memories. While my experiences around Christmas may not be the same as yours, perhaps my memories will spark an interest with you and together we can be inspired to create new memories centered around the true meaning of Christmas.

One of my favorite Christmas Eve memories involves candles. As a child I remember my dad spending time on Christmas Eve filling bags with sand and a candle to line our driveway and then lighting them at dark. As an adult, our neighborhood used milk jugs and candles to line the roads. After the candles were lit it would be time for our Christmas Eve service at church. The service was always focused on the birth of Christ and ended in a dark sanctuary with the only light being that of the candlelight each person in the congregation held. Often the last song sung would be “Let There Be Peace On Earth.” Take a moment to read about the history of this song and listen to Vince Gill’s version. Love and Peace: The Story of Vince Gill’s “Let There Be Peace On Earth”

What are your Christmas Eve traditions? What Christmas Eve memories will you create today? Who or what will be your focus?

Let’s pray. Dear God, thank You for special Christmas memories that taught me about the true meaning of Christmas which is the birth of Your Son, Jesus Christ. Help me to create new Christmas memories that focus on our Savior’s birth. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.

Luke 2:8-20 NIV

Let’s take time to reflect on our own Christmas memories. While my experiences around Christmas may not be the same as yours, perhaps my memories will spark an interest with you and together we can be inspired to create new memories centered around the true meaning of Christmas.

When I was elementary school aged, our church would visit a local nursing home once a month to share a worship service with the residents. We would read scripture, sing hymns, and my dad, the minister, would share a brief devotion. At Christmas the service was even more special as we sang Christmas hymns. One particular year I was so proud when I was asked to sing a solo part in the song “Go Tell It On the Mountain.” While I was not really a very talented singer, I remember being very enthusiastic as I belted out the lyrics to the top of my lungs. Not only did I feel special, but the residents felt special as we all shared the love of Christ with them. 

What special Christmas memories do you have that center around the birth of Christ? How can that memory inspire you to create a new Christmas memory this year?

Click here to read about the history of the hymn Go Tell It On the Mountain.

Let’s pray. Dear God, thank You for special Christmas memories that taught me about the true meaning of Christmas which is the birth of Your Son, Jesus Christ. Help me to create new Christmas memories that focus on our Savior’s birth. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.

Take time today to read and meditate on the featured scriptures for the week ahead.

Luke 2:8-20 NIV

Luke 2:13-14 NIV — Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”

Let’s begin our week together by listening to Go Tell It On The Mountain by For King And Country and Go Tell It On The Mountain by The Tabernacle Choir.

Acts‬ ‭11‬:‭16‬-‭18‬ ‭NIV‬‬ — ‭Then I remembered what the Lord had said: “‘John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.’ So if God gave them the same gift he gave us who believed in the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I to think that I could stand in God’s way?’ When they heard this, they had no further objections and praised God, saying, ‘So then, even to Gentiles God has granted repentance that leads to life.’”

This week, we have been sharing about Gifts. Let’s pause and savor the gift of the Holy Spirit. In today’s key verse, we know that we are baptized with the Holy Spirit. On Wednesday we talked about love being our motivation. 

5 Love Languages by Gary Chapman includes, words of affirmation, acts of service, giving gifts, quality time, and physical touch. During Christmas, we all enjoy giving and receiving gifts. I encourage us all to take the 5 Love Languages quiz at 5lovelanguages.com. What are ways that we can share our gifts through the love we receive from the Holy Spirit? As I’ve gotten older I find the value of quality time. 

Dear God, thank You for giving me the gift of Your Holy Spirit. I desire to share the gift of Your love through quality time with family and friends this Christmas season. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.

@biblegateway @youversion