Category Archives: WiseWords

Countdown Reflections to 2025

About 35 hours left until 2025 as I post this.

Each hour, let’s reflect, connect, and have fun with a simple activity and a Bible verse to inspire us.

35 Hours to Go

➡️ Write down three things you’re thankful for.

📖 “Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” (1 Thessalonians 5:18)

34 Hours to Go

➡️ Send a kind message to someone.

📖 “Gracious words are like a honeycomb, sweetness to the soul and health to the body.” (Proverbs 16:24)

33 Hours to Go

➡️ Reflect on God’s faithfulness this year.

📖 “The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases; His mercies never come to an end.” (Lamentations 3:22)

32 Hours to Go

➡️ Sing or listen to a worship song.

📖 “Sing to the LORD, all the earth; proclaim His salvation day after day.” (1 Chronicles 16:23)

31 Hours to Go

➡️ Play a silly Bible-themed game (e.g., charades).

📖 “A joyful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.” (Proverbs 17:22)

30 Hours to Go

➡️ Share your favorite Bible verse from 2024.

📖 “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.” (Psalm 119:105)

29 Hours to Go

➡️ Make a creative prayer list for 2025.

📖 “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.” (Philippians 4:6)

28 Hours to Go

➡️ Go outside or look out a window and thank God for His creation.

📖 “The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of His hands.” (Psalm 19:1)

27 Hours to Go

➡️ Write a short thank-you note to God.

📖 “Enter His gates with thanksgiving, and His courts with praise! Give thanks to Him; bless His name!” (Psalm 100:4)

26 Hours to Go

➡️ Challenge someone to share a blessing from 2024.

📖 “Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits.” (Psalm 103:2)

25 Hours to Go

➡️ Do something kind for a family member.

📖 “Let all that you do be done in love.” (1 Corinthians 16:14)

24 Hours to Go

➡️ Reflect on how God has worked through challenges this year.

📖 “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him.” (Romans 8:28)

23 Hours to Go

➡️ Play Bible trivia together.

📖 “I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you.” (Psalm 119:11)

22 Hours to Go

➡️ Share your favorite parable or Bible story.

📖 “The unfolding of your words gives light; it gives understanding to the simple.” (Psalm 119:130)

21 Hours to Go

➡️ Memorize a short Bible verse together.

📖 “Be still, and know that I am God.” (Psalm 46:10)

20 Hours to Go

➡️ List ways you want to serve others in 2025.

📖 “Serve one another humbly in love.” (Galatians 5:13)

19 Hours to Go

➡️ Pray for someone specific.

📖 “The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.” (James 5:16)

18 Hours to Go

➡️ Describe God’s character in three words.

📖 “For the LORD is good; His steadfast love endures forever, and His faithfulness to all generations.” (Psalm 100:5)

17 Hours to Go

➡️ Write down one lesson God taught you this year.

📖 “Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.” (Psalm 90:12)

16 Hours to Go

➡️ Challenge someone to recall a Bible promise.

📖 “For no matter how many promises God has made, they are ‘Yes’ in Christ.” (2 Corinthians 1:20)

15 Hours to Go

➡️ Reflect on one way you grew in faith.

📖 “But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.” (2 Peter 3:18)

14 Hours to Go

➡️ Pray for a fresh start in 2025.

📖 “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.” (2 Corinthians 5:17)

13 Hours to Go

➡️ Encourage someone with a verse.

📖 “Therefore encourage one another and build one another up.” (1 Thessalonians 5:11)

12 Hours to Go

➡️ Do a mini gratitude journal session.

📖 “Oh give thanks to the LORD, for He is good; for His steadfast love endures forever!” (1 Chronicles 16:34)

11 Hours to Go

➡️ Look up “Hope” in the Bible and share one verse.

📖 “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him.” (Romans 15:13)

10 Hours to Go

➡️ Play a game of “Guess the Bible character.”

📖 “But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.” (2 Peter 3:18)

9 Hours to Go

➡️ Write down one goal for your spiritual life in 2025.

📖 “But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness.” (Matthew 6:33)

8 Hours to Go

➡️ Pray for guidance for the year ahead.

📖 “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.” (Psalm 119:105)

7 Hours to Go

➡️ Reflect on what “joy” means to you.

📖 “The joy of the LORD is your strength.” (Nehemiah 8:10)

6 Hours to Go

➡️ Plan a family worship night for the new year.

📖 “As for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.” (Joshua 24:15)

5 Hours to Go

➡️ Share a favorite Bible song or hymn.

📖 “Sing to the LORD, for He has done glorious things.” (Isaiah 12:5)

4 Hours to Go

➡️ Draw or write something inspired by a Bible verse.

📖 “In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.” (Genesis 1:1)

3 Hours to Go

➡️ Pray for peace in the world and in your home.

📖 “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you.” (John 14:27)

2 Hours to Go

➡️ List five blessings for 2025 in faith.

📖 “Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.” (Hebrews 11:1)

1 Hour to Go

➡️ Celebrate the new year with a prayer of thanksgiving!

📖 “Let everything that has breath praise the LORD!” (Psalm 150:6)

Happy New Year! 🎉

Begin 2025 with love, joy, and gratitude, trusting God in all things.

The Who

Pontius Pilate asked Jesus, “What is truth?”

He listened. And he also went on to wash his hands off of Jesus’ sentence. And, as if for his own benefit, he put the sign over Jesus’ head to proclaim that Jesus is the King of the Jews.

Truth-seeker, as you listen, remember that your silence or passivity puts you in the crowd who picked to free Barrabas over Jesus and sentenced Jesus shouting  “Crucify him!”

Let this be a gentle reminder that you are a sinner, too, and Jesus died for you. Yes, even you. And that you who know the Truth have a moral obligation to tell people…

…that Truth isn’t a What but a Who.

Who is Jesus to you?

Be Present

“For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who sleep in Jesus.”1 Thessalonians 4:14

I am still in disbelief, grieving my Momsie’s passing. I realize, however, that this disbelief stems from regret. I regret not having spent more time with her or showing up for her. I regret it in pretty much the same way I regretted not having spent much time with my Papa, my Lola and even my uncles. Spending quality time may not be my top love language, but God calls me “to redeem the time because the days are evil” (see Ephesians 5:15-16). God doesn’t waste any of my pains, even my regrets, and life is too short to wallow on regrets. Grief is hard but today I can make a choice. I can choose to honor the memory of these important people in my life by paying it forward.

From my Papa, I have learned to take responsibility for my own actions and choices. “You made your bed, you must lie on it,” he would say. Thank you, Papa. I miss you.


One of my uncles admonished me about my anger problem before: “Mabait ka naman eh, wag ka lang padaig sa galit.” Salamat po, Tito Banie.

My maternal grandmother, though she wasn’t as wordy as I am, taught me the value of persevering in prayer for the people we love. Lola Tutay, mahal kita.


My dearest Momsie Melanie who, in my U-turn days to Jesus, took me in and nurtured my fledgling, prodigal soul. Momsie humbly shared her 5 loaves and 2 fish to Jesus, and He faithfully multiplied it. She exemplified the inclusive love of Jesus, the love that doesn’t play favorites, His compassionate and gentle love that celebrates me for who I am – warts and all – and never gave up believing that I can become who God intends me to be. Salamatmuchee, Momsieee.

Even as I grieve and my heart is still in the process of healing and recovery, I will choose today, to honor the ones I love by being more present with those who are present with me. So help me God.

“So teach us to number our days that we may get a heart of wisdom.” Psalm 90:12