How have your day been at the office, home, school, or even at home?
Has it too overwhelming or too stressful?
Has Life has been such a drag, drudgery?
Do You need something to unwind yourself?
Does any of the above sounds familiar to you??
“How God saved me by Beatrix Chong
Song – Chorus:
How great is our God
Sing with me, how great is our God
And all will see, how great, how great is our God!
I am here to tell you how true this song, “How great is our God!” is of our Living God whom we worship, admire and believe. How the God who knows our inmost being, who created us in our mother’s womb, has a purpose for each and every one of our lives. How He never let go of His loved ones, nor forsakes you or I when bad things happen to us. Indeed, when we choose to believe in Jesus, His son who was sent into this world to die on the cross for us, we are saved. For by His blood, we are cleansed from all unrighteousness and by His stripes we are healed!
God’s gave towards me unfolded on the 1st day of Chinese New Year on 23 January 2012. It began after our Chinese New Year family reunion lunch with my mum at my sister Helen’s place, when in the middle of that night, I felt excruciating pain in my abdomen and had to keep going to the toilet. At first, I thought I was having my usual gastric attack which brings with it a pain that runs either to the right or left, can be very sharp and makes me feverish; or at most, a tummy upset caused by contaminated water. So, I did what has always worked for me when I am struck with the first – I applied medicated oil, take a panadol and an antacid, and said a prayer. By the grace of God, He has made me a tough person, and I am someone who can usually withstand pain to a reasonable degree. But this time was different.
All through the night and until the next day, despite applying all types of medicated oil on my tummy, taking medicines which I vomited out within half an hour, passing “loose stools”, and praying continuously, the excruciating pain would not subside. I felt weak, giddy and breathless. In the afternoon, when I could not bear it anymore, I told my husband that I needed to be admitted to the hospital. We sped to the hospital, with my son Bryan panicking at the wheel because of my groans, but managing to follow the directions my husband was giving him. My niece, Serena, accompanied me in the back seat … it was indeed a blessing to have her with me.
Once I had been attended to and my condition stabilized, I decided to stay overnight for observation even though most of the doctors were on leave as it was Chinese New Year. In my heart, I prayed that God would send me a good doctor. After a blood test, medication and being put on the drip, I no longer felt giddy, but the pain from the middle of my abdomen suddenly moved to and increased on my right side. The Doctor called for an immediate ultrasound and it was there that they discovered multiple stones and a big 3.17cm stone in my gall bladder. I was given antibiotics and panadol as I had a fever and my blood was slightly infected.
I was scheduled for an operation the next day by another specialist surgeon. Though doubtful and fearful, God reassured me that He is God, He’s in control because He created me and has the power to use the surgeon for His glory. That evening, the surgeon briefed to me the risks and methods of the operation. I prayed to God to take control and committed the surgeon into His holy hands. I asked God to guide and give Him wisdom to make the correct decisions, and to give him good health.
With many of the other surgeons being on leave, my surgeon had to covered their work – so was in and out of the operation theatre the whole day. I had to wait in queue. Finally, I was operated on in the mid-afternoon and it took about three hours. I came out with a four inch wound. I was shocked to hear from the surgeon that the 3.17cm stone was stuck in my cystic duct, and without the operation I may not have survived! Oh, how I praise God for saving me and giving me the chance to share this testimony about Him, so that others may also know our true, living and great God to whom none other can compare!
As I recuperate at home, I can’t stop thanking God for His many blessings, goodness and grace upon my family and loved ones. I thank God for preserving my life so that I can continue to serve Him with joy and good health, and for enabling me to feel His presence and know His guidance, every steep of my life.
photo of Beatrix Chong in Church
taken by Maria Wong
I would like to give God all the glory, majesty, honor, praises and thanks, for only He deserves it! I believe we serve a risen Saviour who is still with us today. He truly is Emmanuel, God with us! To Him alone be all glory, majesty, honor, power, authority, dominion and praise!
Peace with God – Beatrix Chong
Photo by Rosemary Hack
“Truly I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, Be taken up and cast into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that what he says is going to happen, it shall be granted him.
Therefore I say to you, all things for which you pray and ask, believe that you have received them, and they shall be granted you.” (Quotation – NASB version, Mark 11:23-24)
Are you feeling hopeless – give up everything?
Discouraged to the point of your soul being so despair,
Discontented that life is a struggle?
As a believer in Christ we have the answer – the key to our present situations, that is – Faith and hope in God. Not in knowledge of it but applying that truth in our predicaments.
Focus on the bigger picture – God is in control, not our problems.
Life is not a ‘bed of roses’ but a journey. Along the way we may meet with many challenges, ‘storms’. Don’t allow these deter you elsewhere – as believers we press on with God’s help and strength.
We seek His face in prayer and persists in it until the answers come – God will provide a way out of it. Follow the directions He is leading you – be steadfast, unmovable in God’s promises. What He says He will do.
Don’t blame God for your problems but claim that abundant life. (The thief [devil] comes only to steal, and kill, and destroy; I came that they might have life, and might have it abundantly. John 10:10 – NASB version)
Prayer Guide:
Dear Lord,
I thank you that I can call upon You anytime. (share your problems with God…, even though He knows all things, He wants you to tell him).
As the problem at hand is bugging and overwhelming me, help me dear Lord to overcome it with Your help. Guide me out of it.
In Jesus name, I declare that Your word is truth and life – remove this problem which seems as huge as the mountain.
I claim your wisdom and make the right choices in the course of life and I believe this problem is removed by Your mighty power. I release my problems into Your hands and also cease striving to find alternative ways of resolving it other than Your way.
Striving out of life’s situation. Photo by Eddie C, Singapore
You are my strength and shield – help me never doubt Your word or promises.
Thank you dear Lord.
In Jesus name, name above all names I pray, Amen.
Today’s youth is tomorrow’s leader. How important it is that they are mentored and guided by caring people who would love them as they are, rebuked when necessary and prayed for their well being so that they are prepared to meet the challenges of life in the ‘real’ world out of their comfort zone. God has endowed them with special gifts that need to be develop and use for His glory. Its every parents dream to see their offspring be successful in their studies and do well in life.
High School youth playing the guitar
Sing-a-long session
Composed by MariaWong on Quozio.
Even though this is specially dedicated to my Mom. But I would like to wish all Mothers a blessed Mother’s Day.
Dear Lord,
Thank you for our mothers.
Today we honour them the way You wants us to. Even though their ways of bringing us up may not be perfect, yet they did their best and we are thankful.
Lord guide their coming in and going out. Grant them good health and strength and help them grow old gracefully.
You are their Shepherd and guide. Give them wisdom when they have to make choices in life.
Release them from past hurts, spiritual baggages. Refresh and energize them when they are exhausted.
Help them focus on You, Lord and not on the problems they faced. “All their tears are collected in a bottle” as Your Word says and You understand them more than we do because You created them.
Lord, fill them with your love and peace. May each passing day be a day of rejoicing as they spend time with you.
Help us never to take them for granted. In their ‘golden’ years help us see to their needs, for soon someday You may take them to Your heavenly mansion above. Help us treasure the times with them now.
In Jesus Name I pray, Amen.
roses by mariaonprayer.com photos
Photo by Rosemary Hack
mariaonprayer.com photos
mariaonprayer.com photos
LORD
mariaonprayer.com photos
Photo by Eddie C, Sg
Thank you Lord for another new day,
Your lovingkindness is fresh every morning.
Thank you for your precious Word,
Its a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.
Thank you for Your wisdom and unfailing love.
Thank you Lord for being with me,
You are strength and shield.
Let the words that comes out from my mouth
be words of life and healing.
Thank you for your daily provisions,
You are Jehovah Jireh – my provider,
I raise my hands to praise You.
Let Your peace flood my very being.
Wherever I go Lord, I know you are with me.
Whatever I face today, help me FOCUS on YOU alone,
for You still the storms in my life.
Thank you Lord for you are My Shepherd and Deliverer.
No matter what posture or manner you are praying – God sees your heart.
Kneeling down to pray
rising up early in the morning to worship and pray
women crying out to God in prayer
Child praying
Image from freedigitalphotos.net
As we go through the different ‘seasons’ in life, you may be fearful and uncertain of what you will faced. Be in touch with God through prayer and reading His Word.
There are many promises in His Word to claim.
We have to make choices everyday so ask Him for wisdom to do the right thing that will bring Him glory.
Regardless of whatever situation you are in – He has promised:
“I will never leave you nor forsake you” (Hebrews 13:5)…
“at all times you ought to pray and not lose heart” (Luke 18:1)
…Always giving thanks for all things in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ..
(Ephesians 5:20a)
Be encouraged that at times when you go through difficult pathways in life – trust God.
Visualize how a pupae struggle to get out of the cocoon… through it, its wings are strengthen and then emerges a beautiful butterfly. Had someone cut open the cocoon to free it, it would be too weak to fly and it will die. Likewise our situations may be similar.
photo by christianphotos.net
I will give thanks to You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
Wonderful are Your works, And my soul knows it very well. – Psalm 139:14
Dear Heavenly Father,
Let my heart rests in you.
I am not here by chance or mistake. I claim that Psalm 139:13-16 – “For Thou didst form my inward parts; Thou didst weave me in my mother’s womb. I will give thanks to Thee, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; wonderful are Thy works, and my soul knows it very well. My frame was not hidden from Thee, when I was made in secret, And skillfully wrought in the depths of the earth. Thine eye have seen my unformed substance; And in Thy book they were all written, the days that were ordained for me, when as yet there was not one of them.”
Let not my heart be troubled when sons are more favored than daughters. I am what God say “I am”. I am the apple of Your eye, your precious child and a Princess in your kingdom. I am unique. When men belittle us, help me forgive them and not bear a grudge or harbor any bitterness in my heart. I look up to you – You are my creator, friend, shepherd and a strong and mighty tower. You are my Strength and Shield, when challenges, problems arises. Thank you Lord for being there for me always. I have a destiny – as in Jeremiah 29:11 says – For I know the plans that I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for calamity to give you a future and a hope.
Protect me dear Lord in ‘my going out and coming in from this time forth and forever.’ (Psalm 121:8)
Lord, pour out Your agape love into me that I will never feel unloved but rest in Your unfailing love. Help me be a blessing to those around me. Thank you Lord that You never change – You are the same, yesterday, today and forevermore. Your words and promises are true – I cling on to them.
In Jesus Name, I pray. Amen.
I am Your Princess, Lord
My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth.
Does the above question resonate with you?
You are not alone.
Are you going through some challenges or situations that brings no solutions to your predicament?
You may cry but the problem is still there… it seems so hopeless.
You may find comfort in friends but its only for a moment. Perhaps you may drown your sorrows by watching movies, drinking or smoking your health away…etc. Blaming others doesn’t help either, gradually you may even turn inwards – self-pity, depression sets in. You really need help.
At times, a good ‘Samaritan’ may come along and offer you physical help but what you really need is that inner strength to carry on in life. Picture the scene of a toddler learning to walk, he falls and cry but he gets up and walk again – a persistent effort that eventually pays off – he finally walks on his own.
Do you at this juncture – ponder why at the last resort many turn to God in desperation?
