Wow, 2025, what a wild ride this has been! Personally, my life has been a roller coaster vs a Ferris wheel. I had to make some big decisions, lots of travel coast to coast. New health progress and health setbacks. New growth, books read, programs help me grow and author another book, and lots of precious family time. That’s just the tip of my 2025!
What has your 2025 been like?
This audience in the Titus Rose Blog, is centered around Christian Women. Launching from this point, I have some Questions, Observations, and Insights I’d like to share with you here in December 2025.
QUESTIONS
Small groups are at the center of a Christian Woman’s relationships outside of worship services.
- What were the small group Bible Studies you engaged in this year?
- What would you like to study in terms of a book in your Bible or a topic that interests you this next year?
- Where did you feel you grew in your Ch4ist-Centered life this year?
OBSERVATIONS
- I’ve noticed many churches like to do a “Church-wide Study” with their congregations. The feedback I have heard is mixed about these studies. I believe that mixed reviews are about the various places each person finds themselves in their own Christ-Centered journey.
What do these various places on this road mean?
This statement comes from my own personal in-depth study of a book called: “MOVE,” by Greg L. Hawkins and Cally Parkinson. I’d like to simplify this 286-page book as follows.
There are four basic points to this continuum.
1) “Exploring Christ” – This person explains their position this way: “I believe in God, but I am not sure about Christ. My faith is not a significant part of my life today.”
2) “Growing in Christ” -This person explains their position in this manner: “I believe in Jesus, and I am working on what it means to get to know him.”
3) “Close to Christ” – “I feel really close to Christ and depend on Him daily for guidance.”
4) “Christ-Centered” – “My relationship with Jesus is the most important relationship in my life. It guides everything I do.”
Taking these four phases into consideration where do you find yourself today?
INSIGHTS
Insight #1
2025 proved to be a year of obedience and submission to God’s prompting. When I chose to push His promptings aside in favor of going my own way, God thumped me on the head and gave me an ultimatum.
This ultimatum felt much like the way a child acts in disobedience to a parent’s words: “STOP that – Do this!”
I’ve written about this personal experience earlier this year in this blog and I will not repeat myself here.
The insight is this, “when we obey God, He blesses us!” In my case He blessed me beyond measure and in multiple areas of my life. I thank Him daily and seek His will for my day upon waking up each morning.
Insight #2
When we decide to obey God’s prompting, we often must give up/walk-away from something we love. Seasons change and for me to grow, I needed to pass the baton. Immediately when I obeyed – my life changed in a short window of time.
God is so good and so faithful in His promises!
Insight #3
Be very aware that God’s blessing and your success and growth are exactly what Satan hates! The evil one will try to bait you [as he did me], he will throw up roadblocks in every direction, cause division, and disharmony in all areas of life. Satan is determined to destroy humanity as long as he is given free reign for his time on earth.
We of course know that he has been defeated and that there is a time coming soon [we pray] he and his army will be thrown into the pit of hell.
Put on the full armor of God every day for your protection all day!
Experiencing is a choice that you and I make every day!
Let the troubles of the headlines perpetuated by the evil one, be turned off for this season, when we celebrate Christ’s birth. These things can consume each of us and steal our joy. You can revisit this chaos in January. I know all that nonsense will still be right where you and I left it!
Decide instead to be a person unplugged from technology, new, drama and negativity in your life, wherever you experience it.
Instead do something with very low stress and simplicity.
Get outside in nature.
- Make a warm cup of a non-alcholic beverage and sip it slowly.
- Play a board game with your child or grandchild
- Put a puzzle together with family and play Christmas music.
- Read a great classic by firelight.
- Take a long warm bath by candlelight
- Attend a candlelight church service.
- Wrap up in a soft cozy blanket with the lights off and watch the snow fall.
- Speak the “Love Language” of each of your family members over the month of December, and watch their faces light up!
- Give someone you love a massage.
- Give a small bouquet of flowers to a shut in for no reason and wish them a Merry Christmas!
- What about bringing a warm
- meal to your elderly neighbor or a sweet treat.
- Buy an extra item for your holiday meal and donate the meal to the local food bank.
- Buy a toy from a child’s request on an Angel Tree and donate it.
- Pray for those you receive a Christmas Card from the day it arrives and pray over each card you write and send off.
- Write a letter to God thanking Him for His blessings for you and your family.
- Write a letter to each of your family members expressing how they bring joy and blessings to your life and place it in their stocking.
*All images from free 123rf.com
janice@janicebastanicoaching.com
8914 Collina Ct.
Granite Bay, CA 95746
908-229-3797
www.janicebastanicoaching.com
www.johnmaxwellgroup.com/janicebastani
