I am reviewing this year in my mind, and boy has it been crazy. What I have heard from many is “it has just been hard.” While I do see where they are coming from; and yes, in a sense I do agree. However, for me this year has been a year to reflect on what is important. I have spent much of the time, in God’s Word, online business classes, and, like so many, on ZOOM, the new crazy connection we all have!
I have kept my focus on God’s Word. No matter who leads our country, no matter what stage we are in for the virus, no matter what political group is in the forefront, we have the promise, “Jesus Christ, the same yesterday, today, and forever.” ~ Hebrews 13:8. Walking each day, hearing the news, the shouting and yelling, the fighting and unrest, this verse has kept me grounded.
Most recently I have been focusing on the Truth that we are in full-on Spiritual Warfare. I continue to look at Ephesians 6: 10 “Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. 11 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. 12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. 13 Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.” The underlined is my go-to scripture. Following my morning armoring up with God’s Word, I am ready to take my stand, do the work for that day which God has called me to, and find joy as I experience His work through the day.
To the glory of God, I share my testimony: I have had one day of a mental breakdown in the last 6 months, the day I was told my mom was being discharged from the hospital and I would be her caretaker; my dad was in the hospital a full 2 weeks. I have learned to order groceries online with delivery or pickup; saving me time and money, with no impulse buying. I have learned to enjoy cooking once again, with desserts not being the main item (lol); and I have found rest in my home with books, games and conversation with loved ones, and special times with my husband.
As we look ahead to 2021, I hear people speaking with excitement, I hear words, “2020 can’t end soon enough”; and many conversations of “end times.” Yes we will celebrate a New Year, a hope that life will be better, a chance that things will move forward with some of our old ideas thrown in; however, ladies, I encourage you to not be so quick to forget, the seasons of our times are not a time-based product. We will wake up on January 1, 2021, with the same concerns, feelings, and struggles we went to bed with on December 31, 2020.
May I suggest that you begin to ponder 2021 and all it will bring you; ask yourself a few questions:
- What am I hoping for in 2021?
- What are my expectations that will be different in 2021?
- How will I plan for my year; now that I have spent a year when all plans were thrown out the window?
May I ask you to get a bit more personal…
- If you could go back to March 2020, what would you have done differently?
- How would you have spent your time?
- What would you like to remember of 2020?
- What will you take with you into 2021?
- What words of encouragement will you tell your kids as they experience 2020 as a year of history in their young lives?
You ask me…yes, I have thought about these questions. Do I have answers for all of them, “no, not yet.”
In the next few weeks, like so many of us, I am looking at my blank calendar, I am looking at the month we have marked for my husband to retire from his daily job, and with anticipation, I am looking at what God is doing with KatyNelsonCoaching.net and WalkingWithWomen as He is my CEO. The one thing I know, and I have shared in an earlier blog, is God is in control. He has blessed both Scott and I with health this year, and He has given us a vision with a mission for KatyNelsonCoaching.net and WalkingWithWomen. The most important lesson I have learned this year is, I can work as hard as I want, and it can be undone in one moment. But when I stay focused on God, walking in obedience to His Word daily in my life, He brings all things together for good to those who love Him. (see Romans 8:28).
I invite you to join me on my journey with KatyNelsonCoaching.net and WalkingWithWomen in 2021. We are putting together workshops based on Romans 12:1-2, Renewing our Minds to live our lives in Holy Worship each day. We are expanding WalkingWithWomen to invite churches to join us on our mission with the vision of gathering more women together for connection, activities, and discipleship each week. We have learned we do not need to be driving distance focused, we can be a Light to the World.
Please follow Katy Nelson Coaching, LLC. on our website KatyNelsonCoaching.net. We hope to connect with you soon!
May you be blessed with joy this holiday season,
Katy Nelson
Life Coach, CPLC, GMC, ACC
Certified DISC Facilitator