On September 1st 2014, at a Thanksgiving Dinner, we were privileged to hear Dr Benny Prasad gave a beautiful rendition of songs on his special guitar. Little did we realise he has an amazing story to tell. He used to suffered from severe asthma and took too much cortisone steroids which led him to developed rheumatoid arthritis. As a result of this 60% of his lungs were damaged and his life is threaten since his immune system is weak. By the grace of God he is still alive and is able to travel to so many countries sharing his music and about the God who saved and enables him to do the impossible.
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
Below are some blessed Scriptural truths and verses which God revealed to me or were sent to me in SmSes by my two girls Joane and Joyce, which I want to bless you all with in your times of need.
God is in control. There is nothing God cannot do.
God is Good All the Time. All the Time, God is Good.
You are His precious child and He will not forsake you.
He is the Greatest Physician, Surgeon and Healer.
Cast all your anxieties on Him, for He cares about you. 1 Peter 5:7
Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding, in all your ways acknowledge Him and He will make your paths straight. Proverbs 3:5-6
In this world you will have trouble. But take heart I have overcome the world. John 16:33
My words are life to those who find them and health to the whole body. Proverbs 4:22
I have carried you since you were born, I have taken care of you from birth. Even when you are old, I will be the same, even when your hair turned gray. I will take are of you. I will sustain you and rescue you. Isaiah 46:3
By His wounds, we are healed. Isaiah 53:5
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!
