A Woman's Weekly

This past weekend, I had the privilege of sitting in the ‘Expository Preaching & Study’ class by Ps Benny Ho of Arrows Institute Australia, at PTCM.

Afterwards, we were also blessed to have him speak at our Sunday Service.

I first met Ps Benny at his Mentoring class at PTCM last year. Usually, at every lunch time, someone from the class gets to take the lecturer out. Together with my buddy and partner-in-ministry Janice, we had that opportunity one day with him.

During that time together, I shared with him my decision to transit out of Youth Ministry on account of wanting more time to spend with my kids. I shared with him that I believed the first five years of a child’s life was the most useful years in which as a parent we can input values and a strong foundation in the Lord into them. I wanted to leave a legacy for my kids that I didnt have the opportunity to receive during my first five years.

Much as my passion is for the young people in my church, I too have ‘young people’ in my own home. I have always believed that ministry begins at home. I didn’t want to be so busy helping other people’s kids, that I can’t make time for my own. What example would I be to both their kids, as well as mine?

I would be lying if I said that I didn’t miss being with the youth. In giving my time to them, I have learned much from them myself. I also now feel a little out of place when I meet up with my PTCM class-mates as I discover that I now couldn’t ‘talk ministry’ with them.

His response then was simply “Yes, it is a season.”

After Sunday Service today, I introduced him to my Miss D, Miss Mel & Spunky. He said, “That’s why you’ve had to make that very difficult decision to transit eh?”

For the first time since I moved away from Youth Ministry in 2004, I felt that a minister of God, aside from Ps J, actually understood why I did what I did.

He then went on to pray for Cool Dad and I, and released a Word of Knowledge for me.

He saw the pages of an open book, flipped to a new page, and the words on that page were small. He sensed that I was asking, where are the ‘big words’? Is there anything ‘big’ out there now that I am home more? He sensed God saying that for now, I needed to give the Lord the pen and He will write out the next chapter in the story of my life. He will write the ‘big words’ as He sees necessary. He will craft the pages of my life in a way that can only be beautiful and good, as is His plan for me.

Today, I resolved in my heart that rather than whining about what used to be, I would savor every moment that I have with my kids and with Cool Daddy. And then in my free time, I should perhaps write out sermon outlines!

After all, what better time to ‘compile my materials’ than while God is writing the pages of the next chapter in the story of my life?