2020 In The Rear-View Mirror
by Jodi Keeling
I am always one of those people who takes a big breath of fresh air when a new year rolls around. New beginnings, new goals, just a renewed focus. So, when 2020 came, I was ready.
January...Great!
February...Great!
March...Okay!
April-May...What in the world??
June-Dec...Where are we, and WHAT IN THE WORLD IS GOING ON?!
As each month passed, I found myself more and more confused at what was going on in our country. I was shocked at the things happening right in front of my eyes. I was hurt at the falling away of the churches. I was shocked of the rights being taken away from me left and right and watched as most Americans even beg for them to be – out of media driven fear.
January...Great!
February...Great!
March...Okay!
April-May...What in the world??
June-Dec...Where are we, and WHAT IN THE WORLD IS GOING ON?!
As each month passed, I found myself more and more confused at what was going on in our country. I was shocked at the things happening right in front of my eyes. I was hurt at the falling away of the churches. I was shocked of the rights being taken away from me left and right and watched as most Americans even beg for them to be – out of media driven fear.
I have let it drive me into a weird state of almost depression of how others are living or reacting to this whole pandemic.
It has been a punch in the gut every time I would see people beg for people not to go to church, or even be with their families, out of fear of spreading a virus, while still going to work or running to get groceries. I could never (and still can’t) understand the inconsistencies.
I watched all the Covid daily updates from federal and state levels. I was constantly monitoring CDC. I was even looking at other countries how they were responding and reacting. I knew, and still do know, this Covid thing is real. I personally know many who have had it in some way or another. I have hurt for and prayed for so many through this, and still am and will continue to do so.
With all that being said… 2021 is now here.
I can look back over last year and with ALL the bad… there is SO MUCH good!
God has remained faithful to my family, to our church, to my extended family, and to me personally.
He has met every need.
I have tried my hardest to stand on what I believe are convictions He put in my heart years ago.
I know I have failed Him daily, but He has still been there every step of the way.
He has lifted my spirits and calmed my heart.
While I am excited to start a new year, I am fearful of what is to come.
2 Timothy 1:7
“For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.”
I am reminded that God does not want me to fear; but to be grounded in the Word, leaning on Him through every trial and every step I take in life.
James 1:8
“A double minded man is unstable in all his ways.”
I am not to be double minded, but stedfast in the Lord.
1 Corinthians 15:58
“Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.”
I am a born-again Child of God.
Until the Lord calls me home, I am here on this earth to bring honor and glory to Him.
I am here to help spread the Gospel of the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ and to show others that there is only one way to Heaven and that is through His blood.
While all the other junk gets me down and concerns me for the state of our churches and brothers and sisters in Christ, I can only worry about me and my house.
Joshua 24:15
“And if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.”
I pray that in 2021, I can stay focused on ME.
On what I am doing to act right, stay right, and do right in all things concerning Christ.
I cannot fix nor can I change others.
The Lord is the only one who can do that.
While I will continue to pray for this country and others, I have to remember that we live in a sin filled world. The devil is here to divide and destroy.
1 Peter 5:9-10
“Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world. But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you.”
I beg and plead with every born-again child of God...
Let’s get a fire so deep in our soul that NO MATTER THE COST we will serve God in 2021.
May we affirm our convictions, and then FERVENTLY stand on them, no matter what goes on around us.
2 Timothy 4:2-7
“Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables. But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry. For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand. I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith:”
It has been a punch in the gut every time I would see people beg for people not to go to church, or even be with their families, out of fear of spreading a virus, while still going to work or running to get groceries. I could never (and still can’t) understand the inconsistencies.
I watched all the Covid daily updates from federal and state levels. I was constantly monitoring CDC. I was even looking at other countries how they were responding and reacting. I knew, and still do know, this Covid thing is real. I personally know many who have had it in some way or another. I have hurt for and prayed for so many through this, and still am and will continue to do so.
With all that being said… 2021 is now here.
I can look back over last year and with ALL the bad… there is SO MUCH good!
God has remained faithful to my family, to our church, to my extended family, and to me personally.
He has met every need.
I have tried my hardest to stand on what I believe are convictions He put in my heart years ago.
I know I have failed Him daily, but He has still been there every step of the way.
He has lifted my spirits and calmed my heart.
While I am excited to start a new year, I am fearful of what is to come.
2 Timothy 1:7
“For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.”
I am reminded that God does not want me to fear; but to be grounded in the Word, leaning on Him through every trial and every step I take in life.
James 1:8
“A double minded man is unstable in all his ways.”
I am not to be double minded, but stedfast in the Lord.
1 Corinthians 15:58
“Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.”
I am a born-again Child of God.
Until the Lord calls me home, I am here on this earth to bring honor and glory to Him.
I am here to help spread the Gospel of the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ and to show others that there is only one way to Heaven and that is through His blood.
While all the other junk gets me down and concerns me for the state of our churches and brothers and sisters in Christ, I can only worry about me and my house.
Joshua 24:15
“And if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.”
I pray that in 2021, I can stay focused on ME.
On what I am doing to act right, stay right, and do right in all things concerning Christ.
I cannot fix nor can I change others.
The Lord is the only one who can do that.
While I will continue to pray for this country and others, I have to remember that we live in a sin filled world. The devil is here to divide and destroy.
1 Peter 5:9-10
“Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world. But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you.”
I beg and plead with every born-again child of God...
Let’s get a fire so deep in our soul that NO MATTER THE COST we will serve God in 2021.
May we affirm our convictions, and then FERVENTLY stand on them, no matter what goes on around us.
2 Timothy 4:2-7
“Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables. But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry. For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand. I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith:”