Thanksgiving to God
By Eisen Tan
Every morning when I wake up, I thank God that l am still alive. One year ago, on 15/12/2021 I suddenly felt chest pain after coming home from work. An ambulance was called, and I was taken to TTSH A&E. After an examination by the doctor, it was confirmed that I had a heart attack. Three arteries were found to be blocked after cardiac catheterization. The doctor couldn't do a heart stent procedure because the blockage was too close to the heart inlet port. Bypass surgery is recommended by them and must be performed at SGH/National Heart Centre. The next day (17/12/2021) I was transferred to SGH /NHC The doctor explained to us about my condition and the process of the operation. He also said that if everything goes well, I should be able to go home in 4 to 5 days. However, all operations will have some risks, that is, stroke, kidney failure, inflammation, and others. The night before the operation (19/12 /2021), my family and l had Holy Communion at my hospital bed. We prayed together and entrusted the entire operation and the doctor who performed the operation to the hands of God. From that day on, when my wife and children came to visit me, we would partake the Holy Communion.
On the day of operation, God sent me a very kind anesthesiologist. He explained the whole process to me before I entered the operation room. All the way to the operating table, he constantly comforted me and said, "Don't be afraid; we will take care of you throughout the operation." I was very calm from that moment, and I knew I was in God's hand. After the successful operation, I stayed in ICU one day before before being transferred to the high dependency ward. The operation caused an imbalance in the body's electrolytes, resulting in the next 4 to 5 days l had irregular heartbeat. When my heartbeat was finally stable, l was transferred to a normal ward and expected to be discharged in 2 or 3 days. However, when everything seemed to be back to normal, I had a high fever, and the doctor suspected that there was some inflammation, so he immediately arranged for a CT scan the next day. On New Year's Eve, the doctor told me that the CT scan showed that there is bleeding around the heart. He recommended that emergency surgery be performed the next day to stop the bleeding and remove the inflamed fluid. That night, I told God that I didn't want my life to end there because I wanted to witness my children get married and see grandchildren with my own eyes. On New Year's Day this year, my wife and sons came to pray early in the morning before the operation. We entrusted the entire operation and the surgeon to God. Just like the first operation, l felt very peaceful when I was pushed into the operating theatre.
I was very sure that l would make it this round again. But later, X-rays showed fluid in the right lung. The doctor needed to insert 3 tubes in my chest to drain out the liquid. I was very frustrated. On 5 January, the doctor removed 2 tubes and asked me to start walking exercise, but l felt the heart beat very fast and stopped the exercise. At dinner time in the evening, I had no appetite and couldn't eat anything. I feel very depressed. I looked out the window. Suddenly, fear entered my heart. I felt being detained by an evil spirit. I felt very helpless and scared at that moment. I asked myself how long I had to stay here? At that moment, the Holy Spirit in me reminded me to pray to God! Immediately, I knelt down and prayed to God sincerely. I said: "God, I am so tired, I want to REST in you, God. Protect me and heal me!" After that prayer, I felt so released and peaceful. That night, I slept very soundly. I thought of Psalm 23:1,2 - "The Lord is my Shepherd; I shall not lack anything. He leads me to still waters and makes me lie down in green pastures."
On 06/01/2022, God's grace and miracles began to release. 1)Dr Chua came to take out the last tube from my chest and informed me that all infections had cleared. 2)Drip Antibiotics also stopped because blood test results showed no bacteria, and I continued with oral antibiotics. 3) I managed to walk 3 rounds, and my heartbeat was okay. 4) At 2 pm, ultrasound on that heart showed it works normally. There was a mild fever of 37.7 at 10 o'clock in the evening. This time, I believed that God will bear everything for me. On 07/01/2022 Friday, before 9:19a.m. Doc said l could be discharged in the afternoon because all test results showed l was recovering. I immediately called my wife and told her the good news. At 10.00am I had a blood test. At 12:30pm, I had a mild fever of 37.6-37.8 degree and the nurse said that I couldn't be discharged yet because I still had fever and possibly inflammation in my body. I was very disappointed, and tears began to flow. The nurse saw it and promised to ask the doctor again. After a while, my wife came and she had arranged for my brother-in-law to drive me home. When she heard that I might not be able to discharge today, she comforted me and said, "Let's pray and commit to God." After we prayed, the next doctor on duty came in and said, "The blood test report in the morning has shown the inflammation index continues to decrease; you should be able to be discharged." Praise God! Later, the infection specialist came to see me and said the fever in the morning might be due to the stopping of antibiotics. He said, "If antibiotics can be resumed by oral medication, you may be able to continue with the discharge." So finally, l am going home, praise God!
While I was waiting in the ward for discharge, my wife went to collect the medicines for me. A nurse who had taken care of me in another ward earlier passed by and saw me sitting on the bed. She came in and said to me, "God loves you very much. You know, many people here prayed for you when they heard that you need a second operation. It is very rare to have to operate twice within such a short time." These words touched my heart deeply, and my tears flowed again. Throughout my stay in hospital, l listened to many sermons and read the Bible. It was God's Word that sustained me. I thank God for the 2nd operation, which happened during my stay in hospital. If l was discharged and the complication happened at home, my heart could stop any time without the monitoring equipment.
Resting at home after being discharged, I asked God why He wanted me to go through this ordeal? The following are the answers that touch my heart: 1) God is always with us. He is waiting for us to hand over the burden to him, and then we can rest safely in His arms. 2) God controls everything in our lives, and everything we have and everything in us is under God's control. 3) God wants me to reset the priorities of my life. 4) Finally, I know and believe that God loves us. Many people had prayed for me. I want to thank God for all of you at church, for your prayers, concern and support that were given to me and my family during this time, for it is by God's grace He brought me through it! Amen!
HONORING JESUS
By Jonathan Tan
Throughout my 3 years in polytechnic, I have experienced the faithfulness of God and learnt to honour God in my day-to-day affairs.
In my first year of polytechnic, I took the significant step of water baptism, as I knew that water baptism is an outward expression of my faith in God. Despite my eventful school schedule and exam preparations, while learning how to manage my time, I also prioritized attending church and youth activities faithfully. It was not an easy decision, however, the Lord never failed to minister to me from His Word, plus I got to have some much-needed downtime as well. Indeed, He will honour us in return when we honour the Lord. He gave me the wisdom to revise for the exams, and by His strength, I managed to diligently study for my exam and strive for academic excellence. By God's grace, I was on the Director's List five times, where I was one of the top students for five semesters. I was also selected by one of the lecturers to be a potential candidate for SMU's scholarship too.
That being said, I did go through tougher times, where I fell into despair. One of them was when I received a PES D status for my National Service medical check-up due to an incorrect result of the Echocardiogram test. It was caused by my anxiety through the worrying thoughts that overwhelmed me, elevating my blood pressure and heart rate. However, I was still thankful to the Lord for guiding me through this never-ending trial as I continued to put my faith in Him to help me out of this overbearing problem. And true enough, after many subsequent tests, and disappointing results, God blessed me with a PES A status which I received on 3 March 2022. This meant that I took an entire year to complete this medical check-up. However, throughout my moments of despair, I was also reminded of my identity in Christ, which has allowed me to stay rooted in my faith in Him and has rebuilt me to be an optimistic person.
To end off, I would like to quote Jeremiah 17:7 "Blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord whose confidence is in Him". It was this verse that made me believe in Him and lead an overcoming life.
By Jonathan Tan
Throughout my 3 years in polytechnic, I have experienced the faithfulness of God and learnt to honour God in my day-to-day affairs.
In my first year of polytechnic, I took the significant step of water baptism, as I knew that water baptism is an outward expression of my faith in God. Despite my eventful school schedule and exam preparations, while learning how to manage my time, I also prioritized attending church and youth activities faithfully. It was not an easy decision, however, the Lord never failed to minister to me from His Word, plus I got to have some much-needed downtime as well. Indeed, He will honour us in return when we honour the Lord. He gave me the wisdom to revise for the exams, and by His strength, I managed to diligently study for my exam and strive for academic excellence. By God's grace, I was on the Director's List five times, where I was one of the top students for five semesters. I was also selected by one of the lecturers to be a potential candidate for SMU's scholarship too.
That being said, I did go through tougher times, where I fell into despair. One of them was when I received a PES D status for my National Service medical check-up due to an incorrect result of the Echocardiogram test. It was caused by my anxiety through the worrying thoughts that overwhelmed me, elevating my blood pressure and heart rate. However, I was still thankful to the Lord for guiding me through this never-ending trial as I continued to put my faith in Him to help me out of this overbearing problem. And true enough, after many subsequent tests, and disappointing results, God blessed me with a PES A status which I received on 3 March 2022. This meant that I took an entire year to complete this medical check-up. However, throughout my moments of despair, I was also reminded of my identity in Christ, which has allowed me to stay rooted in my faith in Him and has rebuilt me to be an optimistic person.
To end off, I would like to quote Jeremiah 17:7 "Blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord whose confidence is in Him". It was this verse that made me believe in Him and lead an overcoming life.
Jing Jing’s Testimony
I was on a train home one day and wanted to understand a Chinese word I read. So, I asked the person sitting beside me. He was kind enough to help me, together with a few students of his. We chatted and they asked if I would be interested to go to church. I did and came to know Ivan, a youth leader. He shared about Jesus with me and asked if I wanted to accept and trust Jesus. I decided to and Ivan prayed with me. Accepting and knowing Jesus helped me a lot in my life. I am now able to share my happiness and sadness with Jesus and always found comfort in Jesus.
After 6 years, I stopped going to church because of my work schedules. But, I still kept in touch with Ivan. Around September 2020, some personal things happened. I felt very upset and did not know what to do. Talking with Ivan over the phone helped me stand on my feet again. He also asked me to go back to church, which I did.
I have returned to church for 5 months now, and going back to Jesus made my life better. I also joined a cell group and I thank God I found new friends and support in this cell group. I now am happier and carefree. I want to continue to put my trust and faith in Jesus, and decided on water baptism.
Thank you, Jesus!
Foo En Ya’s Testimony
I used to be a very rebellious and reckless child. I always love adrenaline, like how sometimes you are hiding a secret from your parents and your heart starts beating fast? Well, I’m not sure that everyone feels the same way, but that’s how I felt, so whenever I did something wrong, I lied about it, and I was a big liar. Sometimes when I got into trouble I would blame my siblings, though sometimes the lies I told were half true.
So yeah, I was pretty naughty as a kid, but I thought it was alright cause I was born to Christian parents, but as I grew older I realized that it didn't matter if I have Christian parents or not. For in John 1:12 says, “Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become the children of God.” It matters if I accept Jesus in my heart and believe in Him, let Him guide me through my life because he gives me the right to be his child.
My father always tells me that, but I didn’t truly understand the meaning of what he said, until September 25, 2015. In the morning my classmates and I did our morning exercise as usual, but after worship which ended with the song, “In Christ Alone”, our hearts were moved. My father shared about having Jesus in our lives. Teacher Vino was there also. He gave us special cards to record the date we accepted Jesus Christ as our true Saviour. That day, I finally accepted Him and it was the happiest day of my life, I felt very blessed.
After that, I tried my very best to honor Christ and yes, I have changed. I no longer lie to my parents much and I don’t blame my siblings for my own mistakes. Being a better sister not only helps me, I also influence my siblings to do the right thing.
I experience the truth in 2 Corinthians 5:17--‘This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!’
Wendy Chong’s Testimony
二十多年前我在一个传道会上接受了主耶苏为我的救主，然后加入一间教会的小组。不久之后因为小组的朋友移居及搬家，我就没有去敎会了。 今年因为受到健康问題的困扰让我再次接近神。 在我的好朋友Gate Ming的帮忙及传神的福音让我感受到神的爱及平安。在神的引导下，我渐渐改变了我的想法及性格，健康也进步了。 我非常感谢主耶稣的愛及祝福。也感谢神再次指引我回到祂的教会。谢谢大家。
From Skepticism to Faith
by Wang Siying
My story did not happen because of any particular incident, instead I gradually came to terms with the belief that there lay more to life than worldly pursuits, which was Christian faith.
I grew up in a free-thinking family and lived according to values I was taught. Christianity is however not entirely new to me as through my early days of school and initial attendance of friends’ invitation to churches, I have been exposed to teachings about Jesus but as far as I can recall, they were merely amazing stories of Christ. My foundations in Christ then were not firmly rooted and slowly drifted away with gradually lesser interest to know more.
I led a self-centred life and choose to believe that I am the master of my own destiny and lived according to my own dictates. Upon graduation, I transited to the corporate world, eager to make my very own first dollar so that I could be independent on my own. There and then, being one who very much loves liberty coupled with constant stress trying to cope with challenges at work. My life continued to be a schizophrenic one, swinging from one extreme to the another; most of my time I was either buried at work or just simply out in the wee hours. Sadly, I neglected my family, relationships and friendships. I became rebellious for a period. It did not take long for me to start questioning the real meaning of life.
Being typically skeptical and curious, countless questions sprung into my mind. (What’s the purpose of life on earth? Is there really a God? Why is the bible the most popular selling book? Why are they so many intelligent people in the world mesmerized by this God?) I wanted to find out. Unlike other various beliefs, Christianity is where a God who seeks out His people. It is like a loving parent whose heart has been broken because His rebellious children have gone astray yet He continues to love and pursue the child, desiring to save him or her from destruction, and in hope that one day, the child will turn back to Him.
At this precise timing, Ivan came along and you know God is wise and he found the person to speak to me but all he did was just invite me. Every week I go to church, messages and sermons was speaking something in my heart that mattered to me and the constant questions that bugged me that week with even wisdom to handle that week ahead. At that time, I know there’s no hold barred and I cannot stop him from coming into my life because he’s so ever present (Proverbs 15:3). I eventually decided to open my heart to Christ. It certainly helped that Pastor Winnie shared revelation which related to current world affairs and resonated more with me.
By God’s grace, I see the person in Jesus. Through my growing knowledge of Jesus, I could, for the first time in my life, experience God and an overwhelming deeper sense of peace. Gradually I have learnt to relate to God in prayer and Romans 8:32 (He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things?) spoke to my heart, I started to appreciate God’s hand of blessing and provision in Christ in my life, where I have used to naively credited my own efforts. It has also helped me to have a more grateful heart.
I became convicted of my innately sinful nature and I am now more conscious than ever that I can only overcome temptations and propensity to transgress with God’s help. I also started to approach challenges in a different light.
God’s people in Lifeline Family played a significant part in helping me arrive at my convictions about my personal faith. Through built up relationships and friendships, I was impacted by God’s love from various people and in many ways. I would also like to take this chance to thank my family for being ever so supportive and patient with me and being open with my faith.
SALVATION AND HEALING
Julian Yeow
I would like to dedicate this testimony to our Almighty God and to the Lord Jesus Christ who gave His life to save mankind from sin and to love us unconditionally. I thank the Lord for His abundant blessing my life and my family. All that I possess belong to Him. He holds my hands and my future in my life journey. In Jeremiah 29:11-14 God declares, “For I know the plans I have for you, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. I will be found of you.”
When I was not a Christian, I was very engrossed with earthly concerns that got me into many problems. My heart was not at peace. One day, my friend invited me to his home prayer meeting. I obliged, and on that very day the Lord touched my heart, and I cried like a baby in front of strangers. At once my heart was filled with joy and peace which I had not experienced before, and all my burdens were lifted. Since that day the Lord has been blessing me. The love of God fills my heart, and I have joy and peace.
One day when I was alone at home, the Lord spoke very clearly to me that He would bless me with a wife and that I would have three children. He would bless me with a business and that my wife would help me do the administration of the company. True enough within a couple of days, I met the one the Lord spoke of. What a coincidence—the lady was my former colleague whom I had not contacted for a long time.
However, I backslided once I got married because she was not a Christian. But I felt the presence of the Lord had not left me. Eventually, we had three children. I continued to work for a firm until the Lord opened the door for me to start a business. At the Lord’s direction, I started a childcare centre, an industry I was not familiar with. I just walked in obedience to the Lord’s guidance. It was amazing that the bank was willing to lend me the capital to start this business without collateral or a good financial background. Praise the Lord. What He spoke to me about had come to pass.
When my son Nicholas was about five years old, he was diagnosed as autistic just like his brother Aaron. My wife and I were devastated, and we tried to find the best doctor and sought all ways to cure their condition. In this search for a solution, we were cheated by a medium who promised a cure for a sum of money which my wife gave.
In 1995 I suffered from multiple slip discs. Before the operation, the Lord told me that He would heal me. I trusted the Lord to guide the doctor’s hand for a successful operation. When I was recuperating at home, the Lord impressed upon me to return to Him. So, I turned up at Elim Church for the Good Friday service after 10 years of backsliding. But I missed the service because that the church held it at another location. I was not disheartened and returned to attend the Resurrection Sunday service. The Lord impressed upon me that my whole family would be saved. I spoke to my wife about God’s saving grace. The following Sunday I brought my family to church. I asked my pastor to to counsel my wife. The Lord began to touch her heart, and she became more open to accepting Jesus into her heart. She asked what would happen to the idols we had at home. I told her that our awesome and almighty God would take care of such matters. After some counseling with the pastor, my wife was ready to accept Jesus as her personal savior. Praise the Lord that my whole family has now received the Lord!
The Lord continued to bless me with more businesses – a second childcare centre, a kindergarten, and a dry clean and laundry shop. All these businesses are blessings from the Lord. When He impressed on my heart to start the laundry business, I obeyed and followed His instructions. The Holy Spirit directed me on how to run the business, guided me on the right location in an HDB heartland and opened doors for financing.
In 2003 I began to feel pain on my arms and hands. Once again, I had a slipped disc on my neck, and an operation was needed. I felt peace in my heart on the day of surgery. I was supposed to stay in a B2 ward without air-conditioning. Somehow, I remained in the high dependency ward which had air-condition until the day of my discharge. Praise the Lord for the successful operation and providing me comfortable rest in the air-con ward.
After the operation, I ceased running the business because of the stress. I took on employment for two years. In 2005 the Lord impressed upon my heart that I should retire from work to look after my son Nicholas. Over the years I saw my son Nicholas improved tremendously. I know that one day the Lord will heal Aaron and Nicholas in His time and that He will make things beautiful for them. My greatest wish is to bring my children to testify of the goodness of the Lord. It would be wonderful for Nicholas to himself speak of his journey with the Lord.
Over the years I have experienced many physical healing. He healed my trigger fingers. It was amusing how it happened. The doctor at SGH told me that the pain in my wrist was due to old age, but the Lord took the pain away. During a service at Elim Church, a foreign evangelist with the gift of dentistry fillings prayed over me and immediately one of my teeth was filled with gold. The dentist who examined me said that it was not possible to fill a big cavity with gold, but God did it! In 2002 I had severe pain on my right leg which made it impossible to walk, but the Lord healed my leg within two weeks. What is not possible with man is possible with God! Praise the Lord.
Many of the things God told me about had come to pass. I await the Lord’s perfect timing for His work upon my two sons. When the time comes, I will shout to the world of God’s beautiful masterpieces presented through His unique creations of Aaron and Nicholas. I am reminded of John 9:3 … ‘but this happened so that the work of God might be displayed in his life.’ It is my desire to serve the Lord with my children; that their life stories will touch lives in all the nations of this world.
Indeed we have a good and faithful God who never forsakes us. Put your trust in Him, and He will lead you through thick and thin, and even in your darkest hour. Finally, I would like to thank God for the strength He has given me all these challenging years in bringing up my two special kids; to love them with no condition but the simple fact that they are my children, to care for them in spite of their condition. I thank God for the two special needs children He has given me, and I know that He has a great plan for us. I am grateful for God’s mercy and grace upon our lives. I encourage you to pray unceasingly, and He will answer your prayers. To God be the glory!
GOD TRANSFORMS OUR LIVES
Fion Goh
My encounters with God were amazing. At 15, I got to know Christ through a church performance. I was moved and accepted the Lord Jesus Christ into my heart. However, at that age, I was playful and not faithful to God. I attended church simply because my friends were there and I just wanted to have an enjoyable time with them. After a few weekends, I began to feel that attending church was a chore, and a hassle to have to wake up so early just for the worship. I would rather sleep longer, or hang out with my friends elsewhere. I began to distance myself from God. I only remembered Him whenever I got myself into trouble at school. Back then, I frequently skipped lessons. Every time I did that, I would pray to God solely out of fear that my parents would cane me. God still answered my prayers. Either I managed to slip away without being caught, or when I was caught, I would get only detentions in school, or just scolding from my parents, which were really very light punishments. Although I thanked God for that I started to feel guilty about always asking God to protect me from punishments yet most of the time, I did not think of Him. By the time I was 18, I stopped praying completely and became a free thinker. Thank God, He did not forsake me because of that. He continued to work in my life.
In 2010, I met Ivan, Daniel and Yan Shan, whom I saw as devout Christians. We were colleagues at the beginning but soon become close friends. At lunch, they would talk about their experiences with God. I sat beside them and listened to their conversations. Slowly, I began to draw close to God. Knowing that God had already forgiven me, I started praying to Him and reading the Bible during my free time. My faith grew stronger. One day, I decided to be baptized and so approached Ivan and sought his advice. He told me I needed to start attending a church as water baptism is conducted through the church. I heeded his advice and started to visit different churches, hoping to find a suitable one for my son Izzac and myself. Eventually I came to Lifeline Family Church with Izzac and my younger sister, Shion.
I used to think: "being a Christian does not mean I have to attend church. It is enough as long as I read my Bible and pray to God. I can pray to Him anywhere; not necessary be inside a church.” Through Pastor’s preaching and going through The Survival Kit with Aunty Gate Ming, God began to change my view. I realized how important it is to attend church and to have fellowship, especially when I feel depressed or stressed. Lifeline Family Church is like a big family. They welcome anybody who wants to know God and they do not despise people who are different. They really care for the people around them.
I can be very ill-tempered and tend to worry easily. I was impatient and not easily contented. After accepting the Lord Jesus Christ, I witnessed certain changes in my life. I am able to manage my anger better and also find peace in Him. God also helped me overcome my financial difficulties. Every time I face financial difficulties, I will refer to Matthew 6:26--“Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they?” I always find peace after reading this verse, knowing that God is there and that He will feed us and supply our needs. Now Eric and I are receiving higher incomes.
God also works in my marriage. Eric and I used to quarrel a lot. Because of stress at work and parenting issues, I picked on him a lot. And it jeopardized our relationship to the extent that I had thoughts of ending our marriage. By heeding Ivan’s advice, I turned all my worries and stress into prayers. And each time after praying, I felt relieved. The feelings of anger, stress and worries subsided immediately after my prayers. Now Eric and I seldom quarrel and I also learned to respect his feelings and know when to give in to him.
God is also working in Izzac’s life. From a boy who did not like to pray, he now enjoys praying every night before his bedtime. From a boy who was very dependent, he is now more independent and capable of achieving things on his own. From a boy who did not like to attend church, he now enjoys his moments in church.
I would like to take this opportunity to thank Pastor David and Pastor Winnie for showing their concern towards Izzac, Shion and myself. I thank Aunty Gate Ming for her guidance, Ivan for his listening ears, and Eric for his love and patience towards me.
Once again, I want to give all glory and praises to our Lord Jesus Christ, who is the reason why we celebrate Christmas.
Support During Exam Period
Jessica Tan
God was definitely with me throughout my exam from 9 August to 6 November 2012. It was not easy going through it as a private candidate. It was definitely by God’s grace that I completed my ‘O’ level! I also thank God for the support that my family and different people had given to me. They were there for me in so many ways. Such support does not go unappreciated.
I vividly remember when I had second thoughts about going into the exam hall for my Bible Knowledge Paper 2, Pa, you were there with me.
Pastor, thank you for praying with me. It meant a lot to me. And I remember what you said. You told me that I should not let the exam results bother me; the important thing is that I had put in my best.
Ma, thank you for being there for me throughout my English papers. You waited tirelessly for me under the hot sun. Without you I wouldn’t have known what to do.
Nat, thank you for being there for me, rushing down when you heard that I suffered another attack (illness).
Ivan, thank you for always being there praying with me and for your countless encouragements.
Pastor Winnie, thank you for coming to my home to prepare me for the BK exam even though time was limited.
During the exams, God provided me with kind and understanding CPEs and invigilators.
My results came in January. They are not fantastic but I take comfort in knowing God saw me through, kept me going, and kept me alive during that crucial period. The Apostle Paul’s words are especially true for me.
Each time (Jesus) said, “My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.” So now I am glad to boast about my weakness, so that the power of Christ can work through me. That’s why I take pleasure in my weakness, and in the insults, hardships, persecutions, and troubles that I suffer for Christ. For when I am weak, then I am strong. (2 Corinthians 12:9)
Fion Goh
My encounters with God were amazing. At 15, I got to know Christ through a church performance. I was moved and accepted the Lord Jesus Christ into my heart. However, at that age, I was playful and not faithful to God. I attended church simply because my friends were there and I just wanted to have an enjoyable time with them. After a few weekends, I began to feel that attending church was a chore, and a hassle to have to wake up so early just for the worship. I would rather sleep longer, or hang out with my friends elsewhere. I began to distance myself from God. I only remembered Him whenever I got myself into trouble at school. Back then, I frequently skipped lessons. Every time I did that, I would pray to God solely out of fear that my parents would cane me. God still answered my prayers. Either I managed to slip away without being caught, or when I was caught, I would get only detentions in school, or just scolding from my parents, which were really very light punishments. Although I thanked God for that I started to feel guilty about always asking God to protect me from punishments yet most of the time, I did not think of Him. By the time I was 18, I stopped praying completely and became a free thinker. Thank God, He did not forsake me because of that. He continued to work in my life.
In 2010, I met Ivan, Daniel and Yan Shan, whom I saw as devout Christians. We were colleagues at the beginning but soon become close friends. At lunch, they would talk about their experiences with God. I sat beside them and listened to their conversations. Slowly, I began to draw close to God. Knowing that God had already forgiven me, I started praying to Him and reading the Bible during my free time. My faith grew stronger. One day, I decided to be baptized and so approached Ivan and sought his advice. He told me I needed to start attending a church as water baptism is conducted through the church. I heeded his advice and started to visit different churches, hoping to find a suitable one for my son Izzac and myself. Eventually I came to Lifeline Family Church with Izzac and my younger sister, Shion.
I used to think: "being a Christian does not mean I have to attend church. It is enough as long as I read my Bible and pray to God. I can pray to Him anywhere; not necessary be inside a church.” Through Pastor’s preaching and going through The Survival Kit with Aunty Gate Ming, God began to change my view. I realized how important it is to attend church and to have fellowship, especially when I feel depressed or stressed. Lifeline Family Church is like a big family. They welcome anybody who wants to know God and they do not despise people who are different. They really care for the people around them.
I can be very ill-tempered and tend to worry easily. I was impatient and not easily contented. After accepting the Lord Jesus Christ, I witnessed certain changes in my life. I am able to manage my anger better and also find peace in Him. God also helped me overcome my financial difficulties. Every time I face financial difficulties, I will refer to Matthew 6:26--“Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they?” I always find peace after reading this verse, knowing that God is there and that He will feed us and supply our needs. Now Eric and I are receiving higher incomes.
God also works in my marriage. Eric and I used to quarrel a lot. Because of stress at work and parenting issues, I picked on him a lot. And it jeopardized our relationship to the extent that I had thoughts of ending our marriage. By heeding Ivan’s advice, I turned all my worries and stress into prayers. And each time after praying, I felt relieved. The feelings of anger, stress and worries subsided immediately after my prayers. Now Eric and I seldom quarrel and I also learned to respect his feelings and know when to give in to him.
God is also working in Izzac’s life. From a boy who did not like to pray, he now enjoys praying every night before his bedtime. From a boy who was very dependent, he is now more independent and capable of achieving things on his own. From a boy who did not like to attend church, he now enjoys his moments in church.
I would like to take this opportunity to thank Pastor David and Pastor Winnie for showing their concern towards Izzac, Shion and myself. I thank Aunty Gate Ming for her guidance, Ivan for his listening ears, and Eric for his love and patience towards me.
Once again, I want to give all glory and praises to our Lord Jesus Christ, who is the reason why we celebrate Christmas.
Support During Exam Period
Jessica Tan
God was definitely with me throughout my exam from 9 August to 6 November 2012. It was not easy going through it as a private candidate. It was definitely by God’s grace that I completed my ‘O’ level! I also thank God for the support that my family and different people had given to me. They were there for me in so many ways. Such support does not go unappreciated.
I vividly remember when I had second thoughts about going into the exam hall for my Bible Knowledge Paper 2, Pa, you were there with me.
Pastor, thank you for praying with me. It meant a lot to me. And I remember what you said. You told me that I should not let the exam results bother me; the important thing is that I had put in my best.
Ma, thank you for being there for me throughout my English papers. You waited tirelessly for me under the hot sun. Without you I wouldn’t have known what to do.
Nat, thank you for being there for me, rushing down when you heard that I suffered another attack (illness).
Ivan, thank you for always being there praying with me and for your countless encouragements.
Pastor Winnie, thank you for coming to my home to prepare me for the BK exam even though time was limited.
During the exams, God provided me with kind and understanding CPEs and invigilators.
My results came in January. They are not fantastic but I take comfort in knowing God saw me through, kept me going, and kept me alive during that crucial period. The Apostle Paul’s words are especially true for me.
Each time (Jesus) said, “My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.” So now I am glad to boast about my weakness, so that the power of Christ can work through me. That’s why I take pleasure in my weakness, and in the insults, hardships, persecutions, and troubles that I suffer for Christ. For when I am weak, then I am strong. (2 Corinthians 12:9)