more // 2025.

2015: trust.

2016: healing.

2017: growth.

2018: discipline.

2019: new.

2020: rooted.

2021: release.

2022: see.

2023: hallowed.

2024: abide.

and this year?

more.

(determiner): a greater or additional amount or degree of.

The last few years have been marked with so much loss for us and for people we love. Some of the loss has been subtle, leaving scars that can be covered; and some of it has felt like we were pushed into moving traffic, leaving us crushed and in shock and barely breathing. One good thing that all the loss has done is reveal the sincerity and depth of our faith, our hope, and our love. None of which *felt* good at the time, though.

I remember the days when I would hoot and holler and celebrate the clock striking midnight, giddy with anticipation for all a new year would bring. It wasn’t so long ago.

And yet, last night was the fourth midnight in as many years that my first response was to welcome the turning of a page with tears, bitter and hopeful.

So, what does all that have to do with “more,” Anna?

Our intention this year is not to do more or be more or give more effort or take on more responsibility. It is to simply do what we are able to at any given moment and to trust God with the more that will likely be required for it to come to fruition. We have lacked so much in recent years, and yet we have never been lacking. And as 2025 begins and brings its own requirements, our prayer is to remember that when more is needed, more will be given.

We, also, want to make more memories in 2025, too! More time with loved ones, more quiet mornings together at home, more front yard football games, more being in awe of the beautiful places we visit, more evenings when we’re all sitting on the couch reading a book, more gym dates, more dinner dates, more hikes, more trips to the zoo…

More laughter.

More joy.

More giving.

More receiving.

More wisdom and grace and mercy and compassion.

More acknowledging the purest of miracles (the breath in our lungs, for example).

More of the things we love (which requires a blessed awareness of what that is, another miracle all its own).

Losses will come, we know they are inevitable. But the spaces they leave in our lives aren’t meant to be black holes of misery. Our best days don’t have to be in our rear view mirror. We want to remember that more, too.

Less of what matters less.

More of what matters more.

And holding space for the grief and gratitude that the less and the more will inevitably bring.

Our meditation:

“Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.”

-Ephesians‬ ‭3‬:‭20‬-‭21‬ (NIV)

Our song:

Made for More by Josh Baldwin

Our response:

Jesus, we are Yours and we were made for more.