My Dad
Story, a song by Nathaniel Tan about his father William Tan
I
remember...
There was a man, wise and strong
He loved one king, deep and long
He prays and reads, the Bible he loves
And sings his praise, to his God above
He loves his king by honoring others,
and caring for them
He loves his family, he’s a kind and a
happy man
Dad,
thank you for... always being
there for me.
You're
my Dad for Life.
Testifying
God's love
Kian, March 2011
For the past five years, I had been asking God many
questions. Asked why did He allow my three unborn babies be
brought back to heaven before I can even cuddle them. Asked
why He was so cruel and did nothing when my baby’s
heartbeats stopped beating. Asked if my miscarriages were a
punishment because I am not a good mother to my 7 years old
boy. Asked why He was so ruthless to a boy who yearned to
have a sibling just like his friends.
“Why Lord why?”
It was one of my toughest walks with God. I could not
understand why God thinks I can handle this trial. Through a
person who did not know anything about me, God told me “a
new life will birth forth.”
A new life.
I did not know what it meant. I only understood its meaning
five years later.
When my husband and I decided that we would not try to get
pregnant again, the idea of adopting a child came
automatically to me. I am an adopted child myself and I was
an assessor who worked in a Voluntary Welfare Organization (VWO)
that helps to assess couples interested in adopting. I know
the guideline from the Ministry of Community Development,
Youth and Sports (MCYS) and have helped many clients adopt
children from Singapore and overseas. Although I am very
familiar with the process and thus at an advantage, we were
faced with many hurdles being permanent residents, rather
than citizens. Due to all the restrictions, we were confined
to adopt a local child. From my experience as an assessor,
the chance of adopting a local child is rare. To adopt a
local Chinese child is even more difficult, and for the
child’s well being, we decided our adopted child should be
of the same race. Hence, we would need to wait. Usually, it
would be a long waiting period. Due to personal beliefs, we
decided that we would not adopt from the private adoption
agencies in Singapore. There are children under MCYS’ care
whom we could adopt. However we were not confident if our
family could take up this challenge. It would not be right
to “return” the child if it did not work out.
I dragged myself to do the assessment. I asked God what is
the point of being assessed when I do not see the
possibility of adopting a local Chinese child? As a matter
of fact, why do I even need to be assessed when the
assessment is not needed to adopt a local child?
Through someone, God revealed to me that I was focusing on
the impossible circumstances instead of Him. “Begin with
people and all circumstances, you will have a wrong view of
God; begin with God, you will have the right view of
everything. Difficult circumstances do not prevent God’s
blessing.”
With the prompting and reassurance of the Holy Spirit, we
submitted to God and went ahead with the application with a
VWO. Half way through our assessment, our assessor told us
that there was an unborn Chinese baby girl who may be given
up for adoption. The biological mother was not ready to be a
parent and with the consent of her family, she decided to
put her baby up for adoption. We were over the moon! My son
was on cloud nine! As the biological mother still has to the
right to keep the baby, our assessor asked us to wait for
the confirmation after she had given birth. Compared to
others who had to wait for a year or years, we only waited 1
month. In this month, everything went really smoothly. We
brought our adopted daughter back when she was 2 days old.
Yes, when she was 2 days old. God spared me the agony of
waiting, the uncertainty and disappointment many adoptive
parents have to face. If I had not obeyed the Holy Spirit’s
prompting, I would have missed His blessing.
“His will must be done in His way and in His timing.”
It was when I looked at my 4 days old adopted daughter
sleeping soundly in the cot that my tears started rolling
down my cheeks. Sitting on the floor, hugging my legs, I
started to weep uncontrollably. How could I explain what had
happened? It just happened too quickly and smoothly. I
started to ask God again.
“Why me Lord, why me? What did I do to deserve this new life
from you?”
“Because I love you.” This sentence kept coming to me as I
wept. It was my tears of joy as God affirmed His love for
me. It also dawned on me how unworthy I was to receive such
a wonderful new life from Him. What rights do I have?
It is purely His love and grace.
My daughter is going to be 1 year old soon. She is a
cheerful girl who brings a lot of joy to our family,
especially my son, who adores her. The meaning of my
daughter’s name is “Who is like God?” Indeed, who is like
God? My God. He is my comforter when I am sad. He is an
amazing God who works in ways I do not see. He is the God
who provides in His prefect timing. He is the Mighty God who
can do the impossible. He is the God who chooses to stay
faithful when I doubt him.
“Who among the gods is like you, O Lord? Who is like you –
majestic in holiness, awesome in glory, working wonders?”
(Exodus 15:11)
Is my daughter a replacement of my three unborn babies from
God? No. Not because she is not my biological child. It is
because God had never granted her to me as His second best.
She is a jewel among jewels. I still think of my darlings in
heaven. I still do not understand why but I choose to
believe “the secret things belong to the Lord our God, but
the things revealed belong to us and to our children
forever, that we may follow all the words of this law”
(Deuteronomy 29:29). God also says, “For my thoughts are not
your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways. As the heavens
are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your
ways and my thoughts than your thoughts” (Isaiah 55:8-9).
Hence, a new life, a baby, has birth forth in an amazing
way. Yet, I believe that there is another meaning to this
new life. It is also a new transformed life that has birth
forth through me. It is a new life that chooses to cling to
God even though I have so many questions and doubt. It is a
new life that trusts that God does not make mistakes and has
the best plan for me. It is a new life that believes in
reaching out to others despite of my own pain and sorrow.
Hebrews 10:36 says, “You need to persevere so that when you
have done the will of God, you will receive what He has
promised.”
I have indeed humbly received what God had promised me, a
new life.
With prayer, there need not be fear Irene Lee, October 2009
I went for my blood test in August and my tumor marker reading for Pancreatic Carinoma showed a reading of 732u/ml, which is actually way above the normal range of 39u/ml and lower. My doctor suggested an immediate CT scan just to make sure that it was not Pancreatic Cancer. I prayed to God for healing, and got my Christian brothers and sisters to pray for me, trusting that God would make all things well. Subsequently, I felt a sense of peace in my heart when I went for the scan. The result showed that my pancreas is normal in size and all is well. Praise be to God.
Healing comes in the name of Jesus Mr Allan Yong, September 2009
Although I had a terrible stomachache on 5th September, I persevered by coming to the miracle service at 5pm that day. After kneeling at the altar and being prayed for, I went home still in excruciating pain. For more than 1 hour, I struggled on my bed to rest and pray, but didn’t do what my pastor had taught. Eventually, God had to ask me, “What did your pastor preach at the healing service?” I quickly cried out to God in the name of Jesus. “Jesus, Jesus, Jesus, Jesus…” I just kept repeating His name, probably more than 100 times. The pain then disappeared as suddenly as it had appeared. Praise God that I am perfectly well now.
Right ear healed from deafness Mrs Chan, August 2009
From young I was unable to hear from my right ear due to an ear discharge that was not treated. After they prayed for me at the miracle service this month, I can hear more clearly in my right ear, and I feel much better. I believe that God is in the process of healing this ear totally.
Pain disappears after prayer
Mrs Allan Neo, July 2009
For some years I had suffered from osteoporosis – degeneration of the spinal column – which resulted in the vertebrae and spurs pressing on the nerves. For months on end I had to put up with constant throbbing, nagging pain, and I could neither sit nor stand or even turn in bed without experiencing shooting pain. The doctor advised surgery, but I rejected it because I believe in miracles.
God heard my prayer and the prayers of my cell group, and so many other friends. On 1st July I attended the miracle service in church. Doreen prayed for me, and during that prayer I felt a tingling sensation like electricity running on my head. From then onward I was free from the pain in my legs and could climb up the stairs quite easily. I feel most blessed. What happened has increased my faith to believe that God can do the impossible. I can now walk for 1 – 2 hours comfortably without looking for a chair. Further good news came from my doctor awhile later, who said that I no longer need surgery because the spurs had shifted. We need to pray without ceasing.
God healed my weak knees
Mdm Yee Hoon, 4 April 2009
At the Miracle Service on 7 March 2009, I asked a ministry team member to pray for my knees and legs which were feeling weak. I had not seen a doctor because I did not know how to describe the discomfort. After a few seconds of praying, she exclaimed she saw a beautiful picture. Then I experienced being 'slain in the spirit'.
When I got up, I asked her to describe what she saw. She said she had seen bright lights, and relayed that God wanted me to know that He is with me. She also gave me the verse Isaiah 40:31 - "But those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint." (this is the joy of the redeemed.) Then she prayed for me again and the verse Isaiah 35:3 came to her: "Strengthen the feeble hands, steady the knees that give way."
I had just started to serve as pianist in BSF Children’s Ministry and indeed I needed to strengthen my fingers! Also my knees were weak, sometimes very tired. It seemed so difficult to move forward, physically. So she prayed for God’s protection and that His blood will cover me as I serve.
The words of an old song "You'll be blessed because you came" rang in my mind, and indeed I found that I WAS blessed because I had gone to the miracle service. I felt charged up. All my tiredness had disappeared, my burdens had lifted, and I felt very peaceful and happy, because God touched me and was with me. I even found I had energy to take a leisurely walk home from church. It was a wonderful experience and there was such great assurance in my soul!
Since then, my knees and legs have remained strong. So now I know for sure that the God we worship is a God of precision. He knows exactly what we need and He heals! We just have to ask Him.
Healing from painful pressure in my eyes Mrs Elizabeth Irby, 4 April 2009
The pressure in my eyes had been increasing for some time. My ophthalmologist had prescribed different kinds of eye drops to bring the pressure down but none had worked. It was getting tedious to visit her every month so I prayed to God for His intervention. I also asked a member of the ministry team to pray for the problem during the Miracle Service on 7th March. I believed that He would do something.
After that, the eye drops I was using miraculously started to work! (I was trying the first prescription again, though it hadn't worked before.) When I visited my ophthalmologist again in early April, she remarked that she was happy to see the pressure in my eyes had significantly decreased. I thank God for His healing and give Him alone the glory.
Miraculous disappearance of runny nose!
Mrs SuAnne Sng, 4 April 2009
In March, I went with the CMC mission team to India. That week, unfortunately, I was down with a bad cold and was sneezing all the time. My nose ran constantly, which I knew would be a huge hindrance to my participation during ministry time.... So during the healing crusade I prayed "Lord, how can I minister to the people like this? Lord help me. Do something!" Would you believe it? During the ministry time (about 2 to 2.5 hours), I didn't even sneeze once and my nose didn't run at all! But as soon as the ministry time concluded, I started sneezing again and my nose was running badly! This happened not once, not twice, but three times - on all three nights of the healing crusade. Isn't our God amazing?
Tumor on kidney disappeared after prayer! Mdm Chang Yunn Ling, March 2009
After being baptized in March 2008, I have grown to trust Him more and more and to serve him with a smile. God is my Difference Maker, my rock, fortress, my mentor, my ultimate counselor. This month I also learned that He is a great Healer who performs miracles!
My husband (a non believer) has a tumor approximately 1.5cm on his remaining kidney (nearly 3 years ago he lost his first kidney to cancer).
I’m sharing this testimony to encourage you to believe that God does answer prayers! Instead of outright surgery to remove the tumor (which was cancerous), it suddenly vanished after six weeks of prayer in faith. To me this is really was a miracle of healing! I praise and thank God!
Healed from heavy bleeding L J, July 2008
I am going through pre-menopause and have been experiencing heavy bleeding about a year. I saw the doctor and was given some medication. I didn’t want to be dependent on the medication.. so I decided to depend only on God and stopped the medication.
I started to cry out to God and seek Him about my situation. It was truly very difficult to go to work in this condition. I was led to read the bible (Mark 5:25-34) about the woman with the issue of blood even though my condition became worse.
I claimed that same healing for myself. Every time our pastors made an invitation during church service, I would go forward to be prayed for or even sometimes stay in my seat and believe that I am Healed By the blood of Jesus.
After about 6 months I found that my monthly bleeding was much better. Praise God!!!!!
I believe that truly God is the healer and has Paid the price on the Cross. To date my bleeding is normal. Ultimately it is what God can do for you if you only Believe. God is true to His word. I can trust Him. I continue to confess God's word ...by His stripes I am Healed.
Amen!
GOD HAS BEEN ALWAYS FAITHFUL.
GLORY TO GOD!
God cleared the vision in my left eye Alice A, July 2008
Praise be to the Lord Jesus Christ for his wonderful touch!
When I came to church a few months ago for healing service, I could not see anything in my left eye when I closed my right eye.
So I went up and requested for a ministry team member to pray for my eye. After he prayed for me I was able to see in my left eye.
To God Be the Glory!
God cares for the details of our children's education Efie Senarta, July 2008
I’m a member of this church, and I want to write a testimony of how good God has been to my family. At the time of writing this, my family & I are preparing to relocate from Singapore to KL.
One of the greatest challenges of moving from Singapore is schooling, but deep down in my heart I know my Jesus will settle schooling for us. No worries about the long waiting list, no worries about catching up when we're back, no worries about friends in school etc. Look to Jesus, that's my only strategy. So we visited a couple of recommended schools and finally made a decision to enroll our son into Garden International and ISKL.
Garden International’s acceptance came early. Unfortunately Timothy's date of birth only qualified him to be enrolled into Singapore's equivalent of P1 level. All along, I knew that this is going to be a challenge. I had been praying and confessing that Timothy will be "the head and not the tail, be above only and not be beneath" - Deut 28:13. Repeating close to 9 months of work is not something that I believe is good for him (He's now already in P1). My competitive (a.k.a kiasu side) just didn't feel peaceful about that. We tried talking to Garden to allow him to sit for enrollment test into P2 level, however school policies were pretty firm.
When we contacted ISKL, they told us that Grade 1 enrollment is full. They are considering Timothy for Grade 2 since he is just 2 days younger than the school cut off for Grade 2. Enrollment test is arranged on June 26, just a day before offer expired in Garden International. At this time, I'm starting to feel the pressure. I started a fast and pray session. The day before we left for KL for the enrollment test and also for house hunting, I was spending time with the Lord, doing soaking while listening to CD. I fell asleep shortly. Suddenly I was awakened and the lyric of the song spoke to me, "There is a place for you". I felt God's tingling presence the way I've been accustomed to and I knew that it was Him speaking.
To cut a long story short, after Timothy took a test we got the news that ISKL had accepted him into Grade 2. Praise to Jesus once again! How amazing is His love!
No more pain in my toes! Mrs Raja, 30 Jun 2008
I have been suffering pain in three toes of my right foot for a few months. The pain is especially bad at night. I consulted a doctor and I put medicated plasters but it hasn't got better. Before service started on Sunday 29 Jun 2008, I asked Fung Peen to help me pray for healing. Praise God! I do not suffer pain in my toes anymore!
Healing from unknown sickness Irene Lee, 11 Jun 2008
On 17 April 2008 I went for a routine medical check-up. Results showed that there was blood in my urine. My family doctor suggested I go for a further specialists check-up. I felt pain on the left side of my body for quite some time. Two days before my check-up, on 25 May 2008, two of our pastors prayed for me and I could feel God touching and healing me. The pain was gone that very day. When the results came out on 7 Jun 2008, everything was normal.
PRAISE THE LORD! I want to thank God for His healing.
This morning I got up with pain in my finger on my right hand and it was swollen. I prayed for God to heal the pain and the swelling.. saying " pain be gone in Jesus' name. I am healed by His stripes." After awhile, the pain and swelling were completely gone. I want to give thanks to God my Healer.
PRAISE BE TO YOU, LORD!
Healing from asthma attacks at church camp Luke & Wendy, 9 Jun 2008
When we first got to our resort at Port Dickson, Wendy started to have persistent asthma attacks, especially when we worship at the function room, presumably caused by the carpeting of the room. It was so bad that she needed to take a puff of salbutamol inhaler every 30 mins, as long as she stayed in the room. But whenever the service was over, and we left the function room, her asthma attacks would stop. It was getting so severe that I was getting a little worried that she may even run out of inhalers. Even then, that did not stop us from continuing our worship at the function room.
On the 3rd day, when Pastor Henry prayed a general healing prayer, Wendy took the chance to ask for healing from her asthma attacks. I prayed hard as well. And later on, we found out that some of our CG mates have also prayed for Wendy too, as we’ve earlier shared with them about her worsening asthma condition. Much to my surprise (even though I know I should not be surprised by the wonderful healing powers of the Lord), Wendy really improved from her asthma attacks, to the extent that she does not even feel chest tightness, much less need her inhalers, throughout the rest of the church camp! I cannot explain how this is poshsible medically, except the fact that God is our Healer, and His powers are greater than we can ever fathom!