That’s a Wrap

Hi! I hope you had a wonderful Christmas spent with those you cherish the most. As this year comes to a close, you’re probably already thinking about what’s next. New goals. New habits. New plans. Maybe even a new version of yourself. This time of year usually pulls our attention forward, toward what we want to change, fix, or finally accomplish. And while there’s nothing wrong with growth, I want to gently invite you to pause before rushing ahead. Before the resolutions. Before the lists. Before the pressure to become something more, I want you to pause and look at what God has already done in your life.

This week will be my last of 2025 and the 49th newsletter I’ve written this year, and as I write this, my heart is overflowing with gratitude. It has been one of the greatest honors of my life to write these words week after week and to create Christian meditations on YouTube, all with one simple prayer: that more hearts would draw closer to our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

I am humbled to be here. I am grateful beyond words. And I know without question that I am here because of God’s grace and because of you, the faithful readers, the ones who have purchased my books, who faithfully watch my channel, the ones who have been here since the beginning, and the ones who have joined along the way. I love you all, and I am deeply blessed to walk this journey of living a more Christ-centered life together.

In Luke 17, Jesus heals ten men suffering from leprosy. All ten are physically healed. All ten receive the miracle. But only one turns back. Only one returns to Jesus to thank Him.

Jesus notices this.

He asks, “Were not all ten cleansed? Where are the other nine?” The gratitude of that one man mattered to Jesus, not because Jesus needed praise, but because gratitude revealed something deeper in that man’s heart. He didn’t just get a miracle and move on. He showed love and appreciation for what he had received.

This story speaks directly to the way we often move through life. God answers prayers. God carries us through seasons we didn’t think we’d survive. God opens doors, closes others, heals, restores, and provides. And sometimes, without realizing it, we hurry on to the next thing without stopping to say thank You.

As we end this year, let’s be the ones who turn back. The ones who pause. The ones who recognize that every breath, every lesson, every open door, and even every closed one has been held together by God’s hand.

As we step into a new year together, I wanted to share a few things I genuinely love. These aren’t just recommendations; they’re small, meaningful ways to stay anchored in gratitude, prayer, and purpose as we move into 2026 with intention.

📖 A 100 Day Journal That I Absolutely Love!
Have you been... limiting yourself? Maybe getting in the way of what heaven has for you due to doubt, fear, or feeling you're just too flawed? Well, you are not alone. You were made to believe and live bigger, and this devotional journal can guide that discovery, drawing you confidently toward God's one-of-a-kind dreams for you as His beloved child. This is a perfect pick to get your 2026 started off on the right foot!
❤️👉You can buy it here on Amazon

🖊️ A Gratitude Journal to Ground Your Heart
Gratitude changes everything. Especially when life feels uncertain. This gratitude journal has been such a gift for helping me notice God’s goodness in the everyday moments, not just the big ones. It’s a beautiful way to begin or end your day.
❤️👉 You can buy it here on Amazon

💧 Tumblers That Give Back Clean Drinking Water
One of my favorite ways to support a cause while doing something practical is through these tumblers that help provide clean drinking water to communities who need it most. Each one purchased provides 40 bottles of clean drinking water to shelters across America. Tumblers that give back!
❤️👉 You can buy one here on their website

📰 A Newsletter I Truly Enjoy
We all have inboxes full of stuff we don’t open, but this is one newsletter I actually look forward to reading every week. It’s thoughtful, encouraging, and rooted in faith. If you’re looking to add something meaningful to your week, I highly recommend it.
❤️👉 Subscribe for free right here

🎬 A Movie Everyone Should See: Jesus Revolution
My mom was a hippie so maybe that’s why I’m so fond of this movie but, if you haven’t seen Jesus Revolution yet, I can’t recommend it enough. It’s a powerful reminder of how God moves through ordinary people, broken situations, and unexpected places. It’s a story of revival, surrender, and what happens when hearts are truly open to Jesus.
❤️👉 Here’s the link to watch it on Prime

Let’s make 2026 a year we walk through together, grounded in prayer, filled with gratitude, and focused on growing closer to Christ in real, tangible ways.

1. Many Christians around the world begin the New Year in church, not at a party
In countries like Italy, Spain, the Philippines, and much of Latin America, New Year’s Eve or New Year’s Day services are common. Believers gather to thank God for the year behind them and pray for His guidance in the year ahead.

2. In the Philippines, New Year’s prayers focus on God’s provision
Christian families often pray specifically for God’s blessing, protection, and provision at midnight. Circles and round foods symbolize God’s abundance and faithfulness for the coming year.

3. In Ethiopia, the New Year is celebrated with worship and Scripture
The Ethiopian Christian New Year, called Enkutatash, includes church services, hymns, and readings from the Bible that emphasize renewal, gratitude, and God’s sustaining grace.

4. Many churches around the world hold “Watch Night” services
Watch Night services, popular in African-American Christian traditions and churches worldwide, invite believers to pray, worship, and reflect together as the old year ends and the new year begins in God’s presence.

5. In parts of Europe, New Year’s Day is dedicated to blessing homes
Christian families in countries like Germany and Austria traditionally ask for God’s blessing over their homes for the coming year, often writing blessings above doorways or praying Scripture aloud together.

6. The tradition of New Year resolutions has Christian roots
John Wesley, founder of Methodism, encouraged believers to use the New Year as a time of spiritual renewal, repentance, and recommitment to Christ, not just self-improvement.

7. Across cultures, Christians view the New Year as a symbol of resurrection life
Many Christian communities connect the New Year to verses like “See, I am making all things new” (Revelation 21:5), reminding believers that renewal comes from God and not just the calendar.