Do you remember the beginning of 2021? I remember wondering… “Will it be a fresh new year or will it be a continuation of the chaos of 2020?”
The “new normal” is a term that was thrown around A LOT during this time.
I think it would be easy to let the “new normal” define us. Instead, I’ve decided to define my “new normal.”
For me, the “new normal” would end up meaning the following…
A closer relationship with Jesus Christ and prioritizing that relationship above all else. (Admittedly, this is something I work on daily and I am appreciative of God’s grace.)
More time (QUALITY time) with my family.
Being ALL IN on God’s plan for the business and my life. Letting go of “my business” and becoming a steward of HIS business.
Realizing that “the borrower is slave to the lender” (Proverbs 22:7) and that debt would one day serve no place in my life. In 2020 & 2021… it’s weight was unbearable…
[Added notes and elaboration are italicized…]
Tuesday, February 2nd, 2021 8:31a NS4L Office
Jesus,
Thank you for the rest I got last night. I woke up once or twice but was able to get back to sleep. I felt more refreshed this morning. Thank you.
LORD - I continue to pray for [my good friend] and his family. They all have had COVID and I just pray that you would heal them. I ask for you to be with [another good friend] and his family as I know they have been battling some things. I pray for [another good friend] and his family. He said his wife’s mom wasn’t doing well. Be with her. Heal her. Be with them. Comfort them. Show your face through these trials they are going through.
Jesus - The Family Church is planning on doing a two week fast starting next Sunday as they (we) seek you and these next days of what your church looks like. The statistics that 30% or so won’t be returning to church post-pandemic is worrisome [our pastor had shared this statistic]. I know you have a plan. A reset. People will discover you in new ways. Let me be part of that process, that plan. Let the church grow like never before.
[In divine timing, I read this prayer from nearly 3 years ago and smiled... I was recently nominated to be an elder for The Family Church. For those of you that are unsure of what that means, it’s like sitting on a “board of directors”… helping guide and make important decisions for the church. I haven’t been made an elder yet as the process is not yet complete and the church body gets the final say, but no matter what happens, it’s always intriguing to reread these prayers and see how the Lord has been working.]
There are two people I know that are far from you and I pray that they will find you and be saved… [names of the two people]. The thought of eternal life and knowing that is my destiny is freeing, but not being able to share it with those we love is frightening to me.
I will fast. I will fast to seek you. I will fast for them and for all those that I hope will one day find you. I pray that my own kids will grow to know you and love you too. [Exciting news, I baptized both my boys this year (2023)!] I’ll also fast as I wait on your decision and word about NS4L [New Scooters 4 Less]. I know the chapter is closing for me, but when? [or is it? lol.] Does it mean it is closing for everyone on my team too? Bring clear direction. The disciples waited 10 days for your power [Pentecost]. You wandered the wilderness [the desert] for 40 days. Others for years and years. I continue to wait on you. [As I was waiting on the Lord, I think part of my fear was that I would be waiting for a LONG time. I was hoping the Lord would only make me wait 10 or 40 days as to opposed to the 40 years the Israelites wandered, lol.]
In the meantime, thank you for the breathing room. Thank you for the PPP funds that deposited into our account last night. Again, you show up when things are getting very low. We had less than $20,000 in the bank and last night $91,706.00 was deposited. Thank you so much. [I’m grateful for the PPP money, but I never want to be dependent on the government again. I’ve learned so much from this period in my life.] That should be enough to get us into April or May, which aligns nicely with the timeline I laid out, so I pray that it aligns with YOUR timeline, too. Let this be the opportunity to really pay down some debt.
[For clarity, during this time I wanted New Scooters 4 Less to sell. I wanted to get rid of this debt that was so burdensome and thought the sale of the business was the fastest path, especially since I was mentally “not in it.” 100% of the PPP money was used for payroll and taking care of my team during this time.]
I pray specifically for these current debts to be eliminated from my balance sheet: (As of today…)
[Private Investor Loan]: $20,000
[Private Investor Loan]: $20,000
[Private Investor Loan]: $50,000
[Private Investor Loan]: : $45,000
Repaint the Wall: $40,000 [a loan from my other company]
AMEX: $23,240.10
PNC Visa [Credit Card]: $48,065.58
Northpoint Financial [credit line for purchasing scooters]: $47,841.48
Wells Fargo CL [credit line for purchasing scooters]: $96,615.33 (75,012.78 is Vespa/Piaggio inventory that will be picked up and should be credited back.) [I voluntarily terminated our license with Vespa/Piaggio and asked them to pick up all their units. More here.]
[Total]: $390,762.49
In holdings [Austin Global Holdings, LLC is a holdings company that holds the commercial property]…
[Private Investor Loan]: $80,000 (plus interest)
Repaint the Wall: $20,000
[Total]: $100,000
Plus—> $1,200,000 on mortgage
LORD - Let this be an opportunity to really start knocking out some debt. Bless these times. Let me grow during these times. I love you.
Collin
Today’s final thoughts…
How often are you praying for others? I think it is easy to get wrapped up in our own needs. We should ABSOLUTELY pray and ask for the Lord’s help with our circumstances, etc., but it’s important to serve others by praying for them.
Do you have an emergency fund? Do you have debt? 57% of Americans can’t cover a $1,000 emergency expense.1 I used to be one of them. Jesus used the pandemic to make me realize how vulnerable we (my family and the business) really were. I was used to having debt. I was used to having payments. It was “normal.” Today, my family has a 6-month emergency fund and the business has one, too (though I am actively working to make it larger). We’re also 100% debt-free besides the mortgages on the house and commercial property, praise God! (All of those debts listed above? Yep! GONE! The journey will continue to be told through this blog.)
What is your “new normal?” Define it. I’d encourage you to take some time with this one. Write it out.
Matthew 7:13-14 NIV 13 “Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. 14 But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.
I wish you all a wonderful week and a blessed Thanksgiving filled with family and lots of gratitude. Thank you for reading!
Collin
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https://finance.yahoo.com/news/57-americans-t-afford-1-195843284.html