2 more years.....

As I was reading Acts 19 during my morning devotion one day, God's word struck me. 

I was praying about leaving my job and going full time. However I had the feeling of some unfinished business in my office that kept me from throwing in my resignation. A year past 55 and the desire to leave seems to be increasing day by day. 

Once a year the boss will call me into the privacy of her room to give The Letter. It is called The Letter because in this letter contains my increment and my bonus. She will then say some words to either express her dissatisfaction or her happiness. 

Last year the words spoken were really awful. She said that my pay was too high and that the work I was doing was not proportionate to the high pay I was getting. She also said that that I was not able to help her or support her in the work.

I was so offended. Is it my fault for getting a high pay? Wasn't it a decision of the management to give me this promotion?

It was then I decided that I would resign this year if the same words were spoken to me again when The Letter was given to me. I prepared my resignation letter with the dates in blank. I was ready and serious. I could not take the humiliation of her words which to me was most unjust and unfair considering all the work and support I have shown her all these years.

To my surprise, she spoke kindly to me this year. She even gave me a new title! However I was in the role long before the title was given to me. It was a title that was long overdue. Anyway I was thankful for God's favor.....

So I did not throw my resignation letter not just because of this but also because I could not help feeling that I had to finish something in the bank...

A messy 10-year old case had to be resolved as I could not leave it as a legacy. No one would know what to do about it and it would have cost the bank millions if the case was not resolved. The case was resolved this year with the threat of over ten million fine removed! Prayers answered!

I asked the Lord for 3 more prayers to be answered before I make the move that would really impact me for the next 2 to 3 decades of my life....indeed it is not something to be rushed hastily but to be prayed through thoroughly.

Yesterday while reading Acts 19:10 it struck me that Paul was in Ephesus for a total of 2 years preaching and teaching the Gospel.

"And this continued for two years, so that all who dwelt in Asia heard the word of the Lord Jesus, both Jews and Greeks"

It struck me. I may have to be here for 2 more years to preach the Gospel!

When I came back to the office after a day at the hospital with Tim, something happened to confirm the 2 years stay.

My junior staff came to me on Monday heavy in heart. He told me that his fiance had left the house with another man and could not be contacted. He said that he was so heartbroken because he loved her very much. On top of that he had printed engagement cards and planned a big engagement bash and he was planning to invite all of us in the office.

The Holy Spirit prompted me to pray for him there and then. In the morning hours, I just asked him to sit in front of me and I prayed a prayer for God to help him recover from this rejection.

He could not concentrate on his work. He then asked to take leave to solve his problem with the girl's family. I granted the leave.

On Thursday when I texted him on his status update, he replied full of joy "boss you prayed for me and supported me. All have been sorted out. Tq"

Coming back on Friday, he shared that his family had a big meeting with the girl's family and they found out that all the lies and rumours were spread by the girl's roommates. The roommates attempted to spread lies to separate them. He and his fiance reconciled and they got together again!

I said to him "N...now you need to come to church". He replied "Yes, we must come to ask for prayers especially now that God has answered our prayers"!

That's why I felt in my heart that this incident has confirmed Acts 19:10 to me that I have to stay another 2 more years to preach the Gospel to my colleagues who have not heard the Gospel.

Yesterday during a Hari Raya party, one of my colleagues quoted John 4 to me. I had to correct him on the misconception that just because Jesus turned water to wine, it did not mean that Christians drink to get drunk!

The other day also, I counseled one of my most maligned staff who was thinking of suicide due to harassment by her husband during work and shamed her terribly to all of us. She was comforted and actually got out of the depression after I told her that I will pray to Jesus for her. 

The other day too, I shared the 4 Spiritual Laws which Tim downloaded to my handphone with a good friend and colleague. As an RC she told me that she had never prayed this prayer before. She also took the step of faith to pray the prayer of salvation!