HAPPY February, friend!
2026 has been so many new changes for me. I was deciding my Word of the Week for last week and I ended up choosing the word ‘redemptive’.
Not solely because January is the mark of a new year. Redemptive was a bit more personal towards my life this year. This was the first year entering a new year as a married woman! My husband and I tied the knot legally December 17 of 2025. Then, about two weeks ago, I was getting ready for work and BURST goes my bathroom pipe underneath my sink. Yup. My apartment=FLOODED.
Now, fortunately, I only have carpet in my bedroom and the remainder of my home is hardwood. But, that carpet I had? Flooded. I was frustrated and totally panicked as I watched the water get higher and higher. Eventually my maintenance man came and got the water to stop. My carpet had be replaced with new carpet. While the whole experience was totally inconvenient and frustrating, it came with renewal. This inconvenience could be looked at as simply that, an inconvenience. Or, I realized it could be looked at as a blessing in disguise. I’ve been wanting new carpet and my baseboards replaced. And that’s exactly what I am getting plus more. Additionally, on Friday, I also got a new car. No money down. Just brand new car. This year has been a lot of new blessings for me and I give God, ALL the glory. I share these pieces of my life in connection to my word of the week and this month’s Bible Challenge. As I was deciding my word for the week, I knew I wanted it to reflect the new transitions God has been orchestrating.
The word redemptive is more than simply new or good again. Redemptive for me is: God intentionally working good out of brokenness. Redemptive is a spiritual renewal. God isn’t just making my life good again… He is making it better than it has ever been.
The book of Ezra has a lot of connections to starting over. Let’s talk about the Importance of the book of Ezra.
The Importance of the Book of Ezra:
Have you ever felt like you were starting over, but still carrying the weight of what broke you in the first place?
That’s the heart of the book of Ezra—a story about returning to God after everything fell apart and learning how to rebuild with Him, not without Him. Ezra reminds us that restoration doesn’t erase the past; it redeems it, calling us to realignment, obedience, and deeper trust. This book feels incredibly modern because so many of us are rebuilding faith, identity, and hope after loss, drift, or hard seasons. Ezra shows us that freedom isn’t the finish line—obedience is—and that God is deeply invested in what He’s rebuilding in us, even when the process feels slow or uncomfortable.
The Importance of the Book of Nehemiah
Have you ever known what God was calling you to rebuild, but felt overwhelmed by the opposition, distractions, and fear that came with it?
That’s the story of Nehemiah—a man who prayed first, acted boldly, and stayed faithful even when resistance came from every direction. Nehemiah shows us that rebuilding isn’t just about fixing what’s broken; it’s about guarding what God is restoring through boundaries, leadership, and perseverance. This book feels incredibly relevant today because rebuilding anything meaningful—faith, family, purpose, discipline—will always face pushback. Nehemiah reminds us that obedience requires courage, finishing strong matters, and God’s work is worth protecting all the way to the end.
The Reading Plan:
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