23

I’m back for the holidays. It’s the end of the first semester of my third year, leaving 3 more semesters to go. These one month breaks, the ones that follow after my first semesters are the ones I look forward to to plan for the year ahead.

Finally settling in after exams, packing and travelling home -it feels like the long day is over. I’ve had some rest, now it’s time to gather myself for what’s ahead.

And honestly, 23 feels different. It makes me think that I need to get serious about things; my spiritual life, my young adult life, my education and future, my family and relationships. It’s not just another year to fleet by, I really want to make this count for good.

Tbc

Beginning the year with the Lord of the Harvest.

After a groggy morning post-NYE night out, I stir from slumber at spritely 1pm on the 1st of January, washed up and soon found myself sat opening the Bible.

Recalling the year that has passed paints a simple watercolor scene of a land plowed and planted with tall, easily kept crops.
To me, it was in the first semester of the year I said goodbye to Georgetown Baptist to attend Tabernacle of Praise in Penang; ended 1 year term of exco-ship and decided not to continue into my third year; the year I let go of an ideal I wanted to hold on to in an old friend; the year I parted with some dear seniors and later unexpectedly found myself in the dating realm for a short period of time; the year I was roped in to be a contributing writer in the church I love back home and the year I joined a camp that would soon make a life-changing impact to my spiritual life (and also gained me a friend I didn’t know was missing in my life). The same year in which I learnt an important lesson after breaking someone’s heart and figured, I was not ready -and after which I won’t be for awhile.
In the following semester I came back having decided -it was time to declutter. After over a month of working in a bakery, (which wasn’t all that bad)..I decided to quit. All that beckoned me from extra cash and attention in a new place, was the God who wants my 100%. Every hour of every day, no days excluded -not even half days were to draw my focus and commitment from a pursuit of Him. Making that decision opened the gateway for opportunities tailor-made to serve him -answered prayers to me. Serving as facilitator in Bible study came at a perfect timing and served to propel me further into the love of God’s word, alongside my main service of CGL -that ofcourse I found joy in. All these not before carefully weeding out guilts and little shames from ambiguity and better actions I could’ve made in the past. It took a phone call and three conversations. As soon as the semester ended, it was fulfilling having time to copy-write during Christmas and thereafter making plans to continue where I left off for the youth.
The last weeks before the year ended I spent with my family, and I thank God for giving me that.

In my mind, this past year that little plot of land reached its dirt quota and then was cleared of little stones, weeds and wild flowers and over it the proclamation of a time coming of reaping which was sown being called out. The last sermon of the year 2015 I got to listen in GT, by Rev Benny spoke of the coming year of harvest. How appropriate as I ended this morning’s readings.

“The harvest is great, but the workers are few. So pray to the Lord of the harvest to send more workers into His fields.”

Thank you for the year that has passed and the year to come. May we continue to be hardworking workers and usher in more to help, for a great harvest awaits.

 

Lei