A New 15-Year Season: The Shift (Part 4)
MMM 8 January 2024
In the last post, I showed the picture of the shifting “doors” taken in December and felt that it was a sign of a coming shift or change.
I heard V confirm it in today’s worship:
“Now is the time to shift your focus – from the transference of wealth, storing up resources, now you focus on Revival – starting with yourself, your soul, and then to the things of God.”
Last year, I worked hard to teach how to master over money so that we do not become slaves to it, urging everyone to position themselves for perhaps the final call to receive the wealth God has stored up for us, for the coming Mother of All Wars. Sensing an urgency, I had it translated to Chinese and invested in producing a series of audio recordings and podcasts for our China members.
In mid 2023, I sent my mentor, Pastor BC, my Q3 and Q4 Strategic Plan. In the last half of the year, I planned to relinquish all my roles in COBS leadership and management. And to consolidate and simplify my asset portfolio so that I can be ready to step into my future role as Praying Mother and Grandma. I figured that from 2024, prayer, and praying for our families and loved ones in particular, is of utmost importance.
She voiced her approval, noting that this is indeed an important role.
With new leaders firmly and well in place, I wrapped up my last Good Works projects one by one to the very last day of 2023; exhausted but happy and fulfilled. I felt I have closed 2023 well and I am ready for 2024, well positioned for the shift.
Something About the Youth
At the conclusion of our worship meeting today, I shared this feeling that this shift has something to do with the youth; for young adults, some starting out in their careers and some raising their young families.
Sharon, my prayer buddy, also nodded in full agreement. A devoted mother and grandmother, she noted that things are getting really difficult for her adult son and his family, and also for her older son who is single.
In the past months, Florence has also been receiving a lot of Rhema from V, about the youth. Like me, she has three adult children and dozens of adult nieces and nephews. 2024 started with a call from the police over an incident involving her son. But duly forewarned in spirit, she remained unrattled, calm and prayerful and this matter passed without any issue.
The Stressful World of the End
I recall from a book I read last year. The title had caught my attention while I was looking for a gift for Asha who was visiting Singapore, her first trip in years after the long China lockdown.
I was rivetted by the caption on the front cover:
“We may not be at the end of the world, but we are at The World of the End.”
Dr Jeremiah proffered that since Jesus what was right about so many prophecies (like the destruction of the Great Temple, His death and resurrection and so on), we should also take heart he has prophesied about the End.
Indeed, looking at the world today, it does seem like we are very much in it – the world of the end. These are days of great deception, lawlessness and offence etc. We are also to expect persecution too… a time of great testing and tribulation.
Spiritual matters aside, all over the world, the rising cost of living has become almost impossible for this generation of young adults to bear. Without help, they cannot afford a home, and can barely support their families. With world politics, society and the economy under the control of many powerful actors, no politician or leader is going anywhere near to solving these problems. Wise, sensible and upright leaders are hard to come by. Christianity is becoming a mockery, and more widely disdained than ever.
I thought to myself, “This is a very stressful time for this generation and a scary time to be raising young children, a time when even I am not sure whether I am able to endure should persecution come.”
Everything and Everywhere is Falling Apart
The new year began with a deadly earthquake in Japan at a massive 7.6 on the Richter scale, setting off tsunamis and wiping out villages. Record wet weather, tornadoes and severe flooding were reported the world over in the past week alone. There seems to be no let down in the bombings in Ukraine and in Gaza. No solution is in sight while, in the meantime, the humanitarian crises and damage to homes and human lives exacerbate.
Just as the earth is traumatised and is breaking down, many people are also breaking down inside. Worldwide, there is an alarming increase in mental illness and suicide reported among the young and the youth.
Even the God-loving, God-fearing are not immune. My daughter, whom my mentors had described as a spiritual antenna when she was little, suddenly found herself anxious, distressed and confused with all the terrible news and noise going on in the world, on top of more bad news in the Christian world.
The Time of Fearless Parents and Grandparents
Perhaps that was why we needed those fifteen years of grace upon grace upon grace… for us, the generation of praying parents and grandparents. So that we can be there for our children and the youth for such a time - a safe harbour, a calming balm, a steady hand when things get too rocky, with a warm bed, food on the table when they get tired and with resources to help them tide over stressful and hard times.
And when things look really hopeless, we can stand in the gap for them like fearless Calebs, looking at them straight in the eye and say without a doubt:
“Do not worry, God has got this. This, too, shall pass.”
And it will. God had said that to me and then He showed it to me.
In the next and final post of this series, I made a thrilling discovery – I found the 15th door! It gave me a peek into what is in store when this daunting season ends…
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