2026.01.04 | Trading My "Mom-Resolutions" for a Waterfall
This blog is based on the sermon from January 4, 2026.
If you looked at my notes app on New Year’s Day, it was a mess of ambitious "Mom-Resolutions."
- Be more patient during the morning rush.
- Meal prep so we stop eating cereal for dinner.
- Declutter the playroom (for the tenth time).
- Read one non-fiction book a month.
- Hit 10,000 steps every single day.
- Limit my own screen time so I’m more "present."
By January 4th, I was already tired. I was already failing. I felt like I was trying to manufacture enough patience and energy just to make it to Sunday, running on empty while trying to keep everyone else's tank full.
But then Pastor Jeff shared a vision for 2026 that stopped me in my tracks.
He didn't give us a 10-step plan to be better parents or a list of "New Year, New You" habits.
Instead, he pointed us to a statistic: 1 in 100 trillion. That’s the probability of one person fulfilling just eight of the prophecies Jesus fulfilled. And if the odds are that high, then the hope He offers isn't just a "passive wish" that my kids will grow up okay… it’s a sure future.
Jeff talked about "Abounding Hope" and showed that picture of Snoqualmie Falls in flood season. I realized that my Mom-Resolutions were all about me trying to dig a well in my backyard with a plastic shovel, while God was offering me a literal waterfall.
But then Pastor Jeff shared a vision for 2026 that stopped me in my tracks.
He didn't give us a 10-step plan to be better parents or a list of "New Year, New You" habits.
Instead, he pointed us to a statistic: 1 in 100 trillion. That’s the probability of one person fulfilling just eight of the prophecies Jesus fulfilled. And if the odds are that high, then the hope He offers isn't just a "passive wish" that my kids will grow up okay… it’s a sure future.
Jeff talked about "Abounding Hope" and showed that picture of Snoqualmie Falls in flood season. I realized that my Mom-Resolutions were all about me trying to dig a well in my backyard with a plastic shovel, while God was offering me a literal waterfall.
So, this year, I’m trading my resolutions for the 4 Mini-Goals:
My resolution for 2026 isn't to be a "Perfect Mom." It's to be a Hope-Filled Mom. Because when I abound in hope, it’s not just for me, it overflows onto my kids, my husband, and my neighbors.
The pressure is off. The waterfall is open.
- 10 Minutes of Worship: I might not get an hour of "quiet time," but I can spend 10 minutes singing worship songs in the car after school drop-off. It’s not about checking a box; it’s about refilling my soul at the waterfall.
- The Word: Reading the Bible daily. I need the reminder that I am a child of God before I am a "coordinator of schedules."
- Praying for One Person: There’s a mom at the playground who I know is struggling. This year, my goal isn't just to be "nice", it's to pray for her heart every single day.
- The Invitation: One invite a week. Maybe it’s just, "Hey, we’re heading to the 10:30 service, want to come with?"
My resolution for 2026 isn't to be a "Perfect Mom." It's to be a Hope-Filled Mom. Because when I abound in hope, it’s not just for me, it overflows onto my kids, my husband, and my neighbors.
The pressure is off. The waterfall is open.
Pause & Reflect
- Which of the 4 Mini-Goals (Worship, Word, Prayer, or Invitation) feels like the "missing piece" in your daily routine right now?
- When you think about your week ahead, do you feel like you're digging a well or standing under a waterfall? What is one thing you can "put off" to focus more on Jesus this week?
Missed the service? You can watch the full Vision & Values message, "Abounding Hope," on our YouTube Channel here.
Posted in Sunday Sermon
Posted in Book of Romans, Jeff Potts, Church vision, Spiritual Growth, Vision and Values, Hope and Faith in Jesus
Posted in Book of Romans, Jeff Potts, Church vision, Spiritual Growth, Vision and Values, Hope and Faith in Jesus
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Archive
2026
January
February
March
2026.03.01 | I’ve Been Around Jesus My Whole Life, But My Picture of Him Was Too Small 2026.03.08 | I Didn’t Realize How Distracted I’d Become at Church2026.03.15 | When the Leaves Look Good but the Fruit Is Missing2026.03.22 | Watching My Kids Helped Me Understand the Two Sons2026.03.29 | The Stewardship of the "Vineyard"
April
May
2026.05.03 | I Told Myself I’d Serve When Life Slowed Down2026.05.10 | I Finally Understood What Wholehearted Love Looks Like. I Was Holding It.2026.05.17 | I Keep Running Into This Question, and I'm Running Out of Reasons to Ignore It.2026.05.24 | I’ve Been Trying to Impress God for Years. I’m Tired.
June
2026.05.31 | I've Always Assumed Global Mission Was for a Certain Kind of Person.2026.06.07 | I Know the Gospel. I Just Don't Talk About It Much Anymore.2026.06.14 | I've Been Searching for Something. I Think Sunday Told Me What It Is.2026.06.21 | I've Been Running on Empty for a While. Sunday Gave Me Something to Hold Onto.2026.06.28 | I Keep Praying for Stability. Maybe I Should Be Praying for Something Else.
2025
August
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September
2025.05.04 | When Jesus Wants More Than Just Our Sundays2025.05.11 | When Jesus Shows You Your Heart2025.05.18 | Faith That Won’t Let Go: At Home and Around the World2025.04.27 | When Following Rules Isn't Enough2025.04.20 | Alive. Free. Loved. With Jesus.2025.04.13 | When the Wind Hit My Face2025.05.25 | Loaves, Fish, and a Full Calendar: Why I’m Still Saying Yes to Jesus2025.08.17 | What Must I Do to Be Saved?2025.08.03 | Faithfulness When It Hurts2025.06.08 | When Obedience Makes Things Awkward... Not Easier2025.07.27 | When God Redirects You, Trust Him2025.08.10 | Finding Freedom in the Midnight Hour: A Journey Through Fear and Faith2025.08.24 | Hope in Hard Seasons2025.08.31 | Grace That Gathers Us2025.09.07 | The Sign That’s Already Enough2025.08.24 | Childlike Faith, Public Love: Ryder and Brady’s Baptism at Hope2025.09.14 | When the Headlines Overwhelm, Remember God’s Track Record2025.09.21 | Who Do You Say Jesus Is?2025.07.20 | You Were Made for This2025.07.13 | I Thought I Wasn’t Ready… Until I Realized Jesus Already Called Me2025.07.06 | Not Flashy, But Faithful: A Tribute to the Barnabases at Hope2025.06.29 | Learning to Just Point to Jesus2025.06.22 | The Church Is Full of People Who Don’t Belong — And That’s the Point2025.06.15 | Living Faith That Puts Others First2025.06.01 | When Bold Faith Feels Costly
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