Just a Theme Will Do!

 I love working with themes.  Gives focus, a common ground...and all things just look better!

Today, I randomly...or should I say that God was pointing out details to me!?...chose a theme for my Bible Study Christmas Dinner (hummm...I have not selected a theme for this party in the past...but I have probably begun another trend!).  Earlier, I came across a Facebook ad for Oriental Trading for Christmas ornaments of the manger scene...a deal!...at 50 for $11.99.  Then, as I began deleting not nearly enough emails, I just happened to open one that was promoting the theme "Gather at the Manger."  There the brain went!  I purchased that lady's packet at Loving Christ Ministries and ordered 150 ornaments.  Ready I am...or will be! (Now to chat with My Man about building me a little manger centerpiece!)

Another recent theme that developed was for our church's association's women's team as we plan a gathering.  I just happen to love Gingerbread and know it is still popular, so ChatGPT and I played with enjoying the Bread of Life this season and created the one to the right.  If we organize this right, the gifts can be a part of the centerpieces...win-win!  Really already looking forward to this one!

Is this not such a timely reminder:  Jesus is the bread of life.  He truly is the reason for the season.  He is our friend, and we are meant to enjoy that relationship we have with Him.  May the mug or ornament be that visual reminder that each lady needs throughout the upcoming season.

To back up a bit, our fall theme at church is "Falling for Jesus," and we now have new shirts for the ladies who chose to purchase one, and are they not cute?!  Yes, we plan to purposefully use sunflowers, also.  (That is my beautiful daughter on the right, and, yes, we attended the recent Women of Joy in Branson.  Such a tremendous blessing!)

But...I digress!  Back to themes!

For Christmas, we have (finally) decided on two themes and plan to alternate them and to grow those themes each year, rather than completely begin anew.  Year before last when we used the new tree backdrops, we used "He Grew the Trees."  I love this one, for even then, He knew that He would grow the tree upon which He would hang for me...and you.

Now, for this year:

1. Evergreen Faith, Everlasting Love - This is where I started as I began thinking about that backdrop.
2. Then...the song "Angels, We Have Heard on High" - seems like I remember one of the ladies on our team suggesting gold and angels.
3. Maybe "Glory in the Evergreens" - this is one of the ideas that developed from ChatGPT; thereafter, I asked it to create a possible image, so I will share that tomorrow with the ladies at church...and see where we go from there!
4. Light was our big theme for VBS this summer, and we continued it with sun/son for the fall...might we also continue that connection with angels and Christmas lights?  I hope so!

AND...our theme for 2027 Women's Conference:  Stand...and we want to use flamingos.  How cute is that?!  Interestingly, we have already found several items and have begun stockpiling some decorations!

The downside to a good theme, especially one on which you may work for months, you may get tired of it before the actual event arrives, which is not a good thing, for one must have energy and excitement for these events.  For instance, our theme word for last year's conference was bloom...and then we got the word for next year stand.  And...by that time, we had made soooooo many flowers!  But!  Fun we had!  Of course, for when God is there, joy abounds.

Yes, I love a good theme.  I am thinking Jesus does, also...or, at least, a good thematic topi, for He sure focused on several words...as in, a lot!

My One Word for 2026: Sing

This one word came early for me...back in November.  So early, that I felt if might change.  But...the word remained with me and is My One Word for 2026:  sing.

At some point, I read this scripture and the visual of His singing over me stirred me, excited me.

"The Lord your God is with you, the Mighty Warrior who saves. He will take great delight in you; in his love he will no longer rebuke you, but will rejoice over you with singing" (NIV)

What an amazing image!

At some point last school year, I realized that I no longer sang to the kids at school as much...just one-liners.  The acoustics in our hallway are soooo good, and I just enjoy it...and watching the smiles happen on their faces when out comes their names.  :)

Why less singing?  That spring semester became quite the challenge, and the stealer of songs eased some of that from me, and now that makes me mad...and I want to continue to bring it back.  And...back this singing is returning!  Throughout the fall semester, the transition began.  Love it!

More than my singing, I want to be worthy of His singing, rejoicing over me.  He will take great delight in this (just imagine that!), and I want to be ever still enough to hear that singing!  

Yes, I see that word rebuke in that scripture, but this progression to sanctification involves that word, also.  As a parent I have learned that rebuking is done in love and for the betterment of the child.  I want to be better.

Choosing One Word has been a powerful journey, one I began in 2011.  I look at this list of words and am amazed ever at how He took one word, just one, and used each one in my life that year.

BUT!  I do not want to leave these previous words behind, so I revisit them, for if they were important enough for one year, each is still important in this year, too.  Last year, I designated a book/journal just to this.  (Now, to find the time to be "intentional" about writing there, too!

NOTE:  I have a friend who just cannot choose one word.  Then, this is not for her.  I get that.  I choose to NOT be involved in various movements and trends that come along.  Listen to that still, small voice and go with the ones that will bring us closer to Him.  That is the goal.

Happy diving into one word...shall we sing?!

 

Reading Plans for 2026

This year, I will host two on-going Bible studies:  one face-to-face that will continue to meet on the second and fourth Tuesdays of the month and another online with a year-long read of The Story, which I hope coincides with my chronological read of the Bible this year.

Face-to Face:  The following list are the selected reads for my Making Choices for Him Bible Study.  I had not planned to include the first one, but some asked for it after attending our Open Door Conference in November, so I added it to the list!

• I Surrender All by Priscilla Shirer
• A Jesus-Shaped Life by Lisa Harper
• 12 Daring Women of the Bible - various authors
• The Case for Christmas

Online:  I gave 40+ copies of The Story as Christmas gifts and am offering to host a year-long read-along in a private Facebook group.  We shall see!  

Bible Read-Thru:  I am returning to a chronological yearlong read of Genesis to Revelations, a read, a journey that I have taken several times, but not in a couple of years, and it is time!  

What reading and studying plans do you have for 2026?

Finishing One...Beginning Another

My Bible study group has spent several months in Beth Moore's David:  Seeking a Heart like His, resulting in a separation issues!  Just kinda sad to end one...but!...then, that excited about a new study beginning.

Ten ladies and myself met twice a month for Prayers and Praises and a time to reflect on the study and then a viewing of that week's video.  Two...or more!...hours spent talking Jesus and ever learning about him and drawing closer thru the process.  Precious memories and a time to which I always look forward.  Such a blessing!

Thru October and mid-December, our study shifts to The Women of Christmas by Liz Curtis Higgs, who has prepared this outline to further coincide with the study questions within the book and also includes connections to the movie The Nativity Story. Yay!

I do hope that you have such a girl-group as I do with whom the Lord has blessed me.  Prayers prayed.  Prayers answered.  Studies selected.  Studies completed.  May this cycle ease me right into eternity!

A Verse a Month

 Because a friend uses a from of this Bible Study, in Sept. 2018, I decided I wanted to draw closer to Him this way, also…choosing just one scripture a month. 

She writes her verse on an index card and places by her bathroom mirror…where she reads/studies it daily. Nice!

I chose to adopt a method I learned in an Anne Graham Lotz  Bible study.  See below. 

As the years have passed…as they do!…, I now have a book…a book of scriptures that have meant something just to me. 

This month, I chose (like to think that He nudges me just to the right one) Col 3:23…all about the heart this month…and is one of the memory verses from a Bible study our church is working through during our evening services. 

Is this the best way to study the Bible?  The best way 1) be in the Word anyway you can, and 2) be where He wants you to be. 

For instance, this year I really wanted to do/use what so many are…The Bible Recap…but!…I knew, yes, felt that gentle nudge that this year I need to really stay focused on The New Testament, so I chose a study of 

Joanna Weaver Books that takes us through, as we pull out a scripture each day. 

Whatever your way…isn’t it a blessing to have this relationship with Jesus?!

Blessed we are to be Jesus Girls!

Just One Word for 2025

Since 2011, I have chosen...no, one word has chosen me. What a journey.  Some words I wanted; some words I questioned; some words I dreaded...but!...all of these words were meant for me.

Last year, my one word was more.  Not a word that I wanted as I have a fairly busy schedule, but, sometimes, more is not more busyness. Or it may be more!  For example, I took on a brand new class just two weeks before school started, and, while I stressed much about situations, this class has been quite rewarding.  Very much.

For several years, asking my students to choose a theme word (aka one word) has been an assigned Writer's Notebook topic when we return after Christmas Break. This year, I shared this assignment so they might choose to ponder on a word...or maybe let a word choose them?

When I shared this assignment with them, I had to tell them that, at that point, I had no idea what my one word would be for 2025, as my word had not chosen me.  Then, that weekend, in our Sunday evening Bible study, the word renew nudged me...and would not leave; therefore, this word became my one word for 2025.

Along with the word, on the same page of this study, two scriptures supported this word and are two of the scriptures on which I will study as I focus on the word renew.

• Proverbs 17:3 - The crucible for silver and the furnace for gold, but the LORD tests the heart.
• Romans 12:2 - Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.

I am a bit excited about this word, as I know I want and need to renew relationships, studies, intentions...maybe, I just need to renew my commitment to each word all the way back to 2011...to all 15 words.  Hummm...maybe?

Bible Studies and 2025

After some discussion and prayer and quiet time, the following will be our studies for 2025:

1. Jesus and Women:  This will be the second time for for this study...just that good!  The author Kristi McLellend focuses on studying the Bible thru an Eastern lens...learning about the time thru a historical focus.  
2. David:  Sight and Sound will host David this year, so we wanted to read and go see and study all at the same time.  I appreciate Beth Moore's earlier studies.  Very in-depth.  As a teacher, summer is a good time to host one of her studies!  More time...with Moore!
3. The Women of Christmas:  I so appreciate Liz Curtis Higgs and read this one some years ago and think the ladies will enjoy diving into this study as we approach the Christmas season.

I always look forward to our bi-monthly meetings.  This group of ladies bless me so.  Just a group of women wanting to ever learn more about Jesus.  

I usually choose studies that are video-based, since my time to full as I am still a full-time teacher.  Maybe when I retire I will take a different focus?  

The Women of Christmas does not have author videos, but since I read/studied it last time, the author has added a movie that coincides with the women discussed.

____________________________________________

Just for the record, we sure did enjoy last year's studies.  Always a very good thing to fellowship and study and focus on The Word.

These all were amazing and timely and needed.  Isn't that just like God?  To give what you need in ways you might not even know you needed?  To give more!  Yes, more was My One Word in '24.  Turned out to be a very good work...although I was a bit concerned about that word in the beginning as I thought I had no more time for more!  Re-learned that sometimes less can be more.  Also, I discovered that He had more in mind for me...more classes, more books, more friends.  just more.

This year, renew is my new one word.  This word found me during our focus on the heart during our Sunday evening Bible study.

Early in December, I began encouraging my students to ponder on one word that each might choose in 2025, as this will be one of our first Writer Notebook topics when we return on January 2.  At that time, I did not have any inkling of a word.  Nothing.  Not even a small hint.

Then, that Sunday evening as we read and studied that word jumped off the page, and I felt that gentle nudge...and the word renew would not leave me.  Yes, my word had chosen me.  I like!

Whatever you do...just stay in The Word...even when you do not want to do so.  Just stay.

Happy New Year!