As Julie and I have shared over the last few weeks, instead of making a New Year’s resolution, we choose a word to focus on throughout the year. In 2025 I chose two words that coincide together: peace and joy. Joy comes through peace.

Julie and I have found that whatever word or words God lays on our heart to focus on is usually an area that we will be tested. As a result, we must lean into our word of the year and truly focus on it to strengthen us through trials and troubles. This idea held true for me in 2025 as me and my family faced many difficulties. Midway through the year I caught myself spiraling into a cycle of worry. Needless to say, my peace and joy were on shaky ground. Thankfully I wasn’t in this spiral long before God brought it to my attention during my prayer and devotion time one morning. The Holy Spirit led me to understand that after all the speaking and writing I have done about my faith, now I must truly live out my faith. Having faith means I must trust God and by trusting God I would have peace and joy.

In the latter part of 2025 I have been praying about my word for 2026. I felt God was still asking me to focus on trust but I needed to be sure. In November I began using a new journal a friend gave me last Christmas to write my prayers and gratitudes each morning. On November 22, 2025 God confirmed that trust would be my word for 2026. As I turned to a new page I discovered a special inserted page with a scripture written on it.

Romans 15:13 NIV — May the God of all hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

There it was, a God wink found in an unexpected page in my journal. There was my confirmation in a scripture that contained my words from last year and my word for the new year. WOW! Go God!

What word is God laying on your heart to focus on in 2026? We would love to hear from you and be in prayer with you for your new year.

Join me in prayer. Dear Heavenly Father, thank You for God winks and confirmations. May I keep my heart open to the guidance of Your Holy Spirit as You lead me into a new year. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.

@biblegateway @youversion

This week Julie and I will be sharing our words of the year as well as our mantras to focus on in 2026. Read and meditate on the following scriptures that are the basis of our focus. 

Romans 15:13 NIV — May the God of all hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

Isaiah 40:28-31 NLT — Have you never heard? Have you never understood? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of all the earth. He never grows weak or weary. No one can measure the depths of his understanding. He gives power to the weak and strength to the powerless. Even youths will become weak and tired, and young men will fall in exhaustion. But those who trust in the Lord will find new strength. They will soar high on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not faint.

‭‭Galatians‬ ‭5‬:‭22‬-‭23‬ ‭NIV‬‬ — But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.

‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭12‬:‭11‬ ‭ESV‬‬ — For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.

@biblegateway @biblerecap @youversion

Welcome to the last Sunday of 2025. As we look toward a new year, spend some time thinking about your focus for 2026. Listen to the words from the following songs as you ponder.

How Many Kings by Downhere
King of Kings by Hillsong Worship

Today I am sitting in a room that is dark except for the glow of lights shining from our Christmas tree and the candle burning beside me. I am savoring the memories we have created this Christmas season and am so thankful for the time to slow down and refocus. I am savoring special church services, time with friends and family, and the excitement of Christmas through the eyes of children. I pray that you have had the opportunity to reflect on Christmas memories as well as create new Christmas memories. While I am savoring this time, I also realize the Christmas season may hold sadness for some. Some may be missing loved ones and some may be experiencing hardships that squelch joy. For those that find this time hard to savor, I pray a special blessing found in Numbers 6:24-26 NIV — The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face shine on you and be gracious to you; the Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace.
No matter your circumstances today, I pray you can take a moment to listen to this musical version of Numbers 6:24-26 by Elevation Worship featuring Kari Jobe titled The Blessing. May you find comfort and peace as you reflect and may you find joy in Christ to savor today.

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.