Tuesday, June 24, 2014

My Praise Report

Hi readers!

It has been a while since I last blogged. During this time, I am sure all of you are greatly blessed.

Today, I thought I would like to share with all of you my journey during my disappearance for the last couple of weeks.

As many of you would be aware, I was unfortunately involved in an accident while cycling at West Coast with a group of enthusiasts on the night of 21 May. I fell off my bike (not knowing the cause till date) and was admitted to the hospital unconsciously. I underwent an emergency head surgery due to the presence of blood clot which lasted about 4 hours. A portion of my hair was shaved off to accommodate 25 stitches and I suffered a swell on the left side of my face after the surgery. It was quite an ugly sight in front of my wife, family, friends and colleagues when they came to visit me.

I was admitted to the High Dependency ward to closely monitor my condition. It was only after admitting to this ward that I came to know that this ward is just a grade below ICU. The surgeons came to assure us that the operation was very successful and chances of recurrence is a mere 5%. 
During the post surgery, I recovered very well and was discharged from the hospital in about 5 days.

Back at home, my wife took care of me, helped me with the washing of my head daily, prepared meals for me daily while I just rested. Life was rather hard for her who is expecting a child of 6 months old at that time.

On the night of 5 June, I felt uneasy in my head all of a sudden. I felt a little bump swelling on my forehead, accompanied with a slight giddiness. The bump grew a little till the brown skin on my wound just dropped by itself. When that happened, I was terrified and extremely worried. Immediately, I started to praise God by singing praises to Him while sitting on the sofa. I dared not sleep because tons of fearful thoughts came into my mind. I continued to sing songs of worship for over 3 hours till I felt calmer. After that, I walked to the room and fell asleep.

Morning came. My wife texted me saying that she will accompany me to the doctor for a scan to ensure all is well. I contemplated because there was already a scheduled scan on the following Monday. Thinking that if we go for the follow-up scan today, we can skip the scheduled appointment. So, I agreed.

At the hospital, I was directed to the CT scan room and the scan completed in about 5 mins. As I opened my eyes, I saw the worrisome look on the nurse and immediately they pushed a bed over and carried me over. It was a total stunner and all I asked was, "What is happening??"

"We observed a blood clot in your head and the neurosurgeons are coming right away", the nurses replied.

At that moment, I felt my world came crashing down. This was totally unexpected. I expected to go home after the scan. I cannot imagine how would my wife would ever take this news.

Soon, the junior neurosurgeon came. He explained that there is a blood clot in my head, it is smaller that the first blood clot but it is not entirely small. We can decide whether to opt for a surgery or to observe. He highlighted that a blood clot will not diminish in a few days and no one knows when it will. Presently, there is no medication to remove blood clots. Should it increase in quantity, it will be life threatening. He added that on a positive note, I am currently clear minded and alive.

Both of us were dumbfounded and did not know what the future holds for us. The doctor suggested I quickly be admitted to the High Dependency ward again for close monitoring. Back to the same ward, the nurses there all recognised me, same goes for me. They started connecting all the apparatus on my body. Everything happened so fast that we did not know how to react.

Shortly, the head surgeon came together with a team of neurosurgeons. He explained that they found out the cause of the recurrence of the blood clot. From the scans, he attributed the cause of the blood clot due to a vein on my membrane. Accordingly to him, the vein may either be there due to the trauma or developed since young. If I were to opt for the surgery, they will clip/remove the vein. He assured me that this is a low risk surgery and will not take as long as the first operation.

Hearing the positive remarks, I trusted the Lord and agreed to go for the second operation. Right after that, they started to prepare and they wheeled me to the operating theater almost immediately. While on the way, all the doctors and nurses greeted me and assured me that I will be greatly taken care of. It definitely helped soothe me a little. Soon, I was greeted with something which I never wanted to see ever - the huge spotlights in the operation theater.

The mask came on me bearing a weird smell and I was unconscious in a short while.

Over 2 hours, the operation ended and I went back to the High Dependency ward. This time I felt better comparing with the post-op effects during the first time. All ended well and this time I recovered fast too. I was discharged from the hospital after 5 days.

Ever since I stepped home, all day long I sang praises to the Lord and ensured we partake the holy communion every night as one family. I simply banked all my trust in Jesus complete work on the cross 2000 years ago. I kept reminding myself the fact that I survived the first ordeal was the indication that Jesus was with me. There is no way my time is up because I kept trusting the Lord to live to a 120.

Today is the day for my follow-up scan after the second operation. To be honest, I was fearful because flashes of the first scan often came up in my mind. I rejected any negative thoughts and kept claiming Jesus' healing work on my body. I kept proclaiming "I am the righteousness of God in Christ" and "No weapon formed against me shall prosper".

The head surgeon greeted me with a smile on his face. He said, "There is no more blood clot in your head anymore." I was thrilled and kept asking him the same question and he said "No more" while looking at my scan results. I felt such a sense of relief because I needed to hear this good news desperately.

He added that the surgeries can both be summed up in one word, "Fortunate".

Upon hearing that, I felt God's love and deep down inside me I know that the world calls it "fortunate" while we His children calls it "Divine Protection".

I am very encouraged today that I am a survivor of this accident. I am not perfect nor am I reaping the rewards of my self efforts. I am saved today because of who we are in Christ. We have the backing of Christ in our lives. Today we stand perfect in God's eyes and we are entitled to every single blessing because we are an heir of Christ.

I pray that you are encouraged greatly by my experience today. During moments where you feel you are lost and alone, be reminded of my story and know that Jesus will never ever abandon you. Because He has paid for every blessing for you on the cross, we can boldly come to Him with countless requests.

Always remember He is the same yesterday, today and forever.

Feel free to share my testimony to your beloved family and friends. I hope that it reaches out to every person to bless them. In fact, I can't wait to share this experience with God to my 90 year old granny in hope to encourage her and trust the Lord even more.

Take care and be blessed everyone!


I would also like to take this opportunity to thank the following people who have been an integral part of this episode.

Julian Lim & David Ho:
Million thanks for sending me to the hospital after the accident. Though we only knew each other for the first time, both of you made the point to send me for rescue. I am truly grateful. Thanks Julian & David.

Family:
Thanks to my family. I felt very loved when I heard my granny say her heart hurts when she saw me.

Appreciated when my sis communicated to the neurosurgeon during my first op despite being overseas and in a different timezone. She also started a prayer group with her friends to cover me under their prayers.

Big thanks to Aunt Irene who was a great support while I was recuperating and showered lots of care & concern to me.

Alfred & Chiou Ting:
Both are my bestest soulmates who are always there for us. They are the next best support and will always be close to our hearts.

Changhong:
My army buddy who visits me so frequently in hospital and brought me home when I was discharged.

KPMG Colleagues:
I've gathered lots of reminders to have ample rest during this time from my superiors and team. Thank you for the support and standing in my place in multiple projects.

Last but not least, to the woman of my life.

Denise:
Thanks for being positive during this time. Words cannot express how thankful I am towards you for showering me your love, care and concern. It isn't easy I know but you did an awesome job and I am certainly very blessed to have you in my life.

Tuesday, June 3, 2014

11 May 2014

Topic: Hear Jesus Only And Be Uplifted

Hi everyone, this sermon message is a little overdue. Couldn't edit and upload it ever since the accident. Nevertheless I hope it will still bless you. I have another sermon message for 1 June 2014 to be uploaded subsequently :)
Enjoy the songs that were sang during Praise and Worship. They are awesome great songs. Be blessed!

1) Hillsong - To You

2) How Excellent Your Name

3) O the glory of your presence


4) Blessed Jesus - Lyrics
 
Blessed Jesus, come to me.
Soothe my soul with rays of peace.
As I look to You alone.
Fill me with Your love

Mountains high or valleys low.
You will never let me go.
By Your fountain let me drink.
Fill my thirsty soul.

Glorious, marvelous.
Grace that rescued me.
Holy, worthy is the Lamb.
Who died for me.

Blessed Jesus, come to me.
As I fall down at Your feet.
Let me touch Your nail-scarred hands.
Jesus I would see.

Glorious, marvelous.
Grace that rescued me.
Holy, worthy is the Lamb.
Who died for me.

Holy, worthy,
Holy, worthy,
Holy, worthy,
Holy, worthy,

Holy, worthy,
Is the Lamb who died for me.
 
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Pastor is back from Israel to preach and film for TBN.
He shared with us about the tour in Israel. They were at Samaria where Jesus met the woman at the well. The crusher of the serpent's head came from a Jew. Jesus said if you knew Me you will live by the fountain of life.

From 9am to 12pm, Jesus suffered at the hands of man. From 12pm to 3pm, Jesus suffered at the hands of God.

The woman by the well were living in the time of the high priest, Jonathan (the gift of God).

The Hebrews bible has sixty nine (69) characters in the name of God. There are three (3) missing characters in the book of Deuteronomy which the Jews do not know the reason today. On the other hand, the Samaritan bible has all the seventy two (72) characters found in the book of Deuteronomy. While the Samaritan revealed the three (3) characters which are missing, God revealed to Pastor a revelation.
The missing letters are Vav. Vav in Greek is a conjuncture like "and" in English. It is also a symbol of a nail. Hebrews is a pictorial language. At that moment, the truth was revealed to Pastor. Today if you don't see the three (3) nails, you will never know God.

Song of Solomon 5:9-13, 6:1
Verse 10: The beloved is talking. "White" is dazzling. "Ruddy" is red. Lord of Christ is depicted in these verses.

Look at the result of the description of Jesus. When she described the loveliness of God, the people are provoked with hunger for the Lord. When you find someone to talk about the beauty of the Lord, you sense God in you.

Matthew 17:1-8
Chapter 16 tells us there were at another mountain.
Praying means to be dependent on the Lord. As Jesus was praying in Luke 9, His face shone. That was the transfiguration in Luke's account.

Peter writing by the spirit before his death.
2 Peter 1:15-18
Verse 16: "Eyewitness" is talking about him being the eyewitness to the transfiguration.
Peter was recollecting the times of the transfiguration.

Grace does not buy hearts but win hearts.
Peter, James and John had a sampling of God.

When Jesus comes back, the whole world will be ruled by this perfect Man. There will be no imperfection in this world. This is called the Kingdom.

Moses (law giver) represented the law. Elijah represented the prophets. (law restorer)
The time of Jesus has come.

Verse 17: There are two times God publicly declared His love in His son. The first account was at the dead sea and the second account was on Mount Herman. This literally meant that even at the lowest and highest point, God loved His son.

So how do we clothe our children with honour and glory?
We need to do it verbally. Even though they made a mistake, we need to do so.

Back to Matthew 17:1-8
Verse 5: There was a bright cloud. This is interesting because when the law was given, there was a dark cloud. When Moses came down, the people ran away. It was a shining glory but it was a decreasing brightness. There is brightness where Jesus is.

Romans 3:20-22
Verse 20: By the law is not the knowledge of holiness.
Verse 21: But now, the gift of righteousness is apart from the law. Righteousness was not given by the law. Moses (law) and Elijah (prophets) both witnessed.

Back to Matthew 17:1-8
Verse 8: Moses and Elijah were gone. They only saw Jesus only. May this be the ministry where we see no one but Jesus only. The Father just said "Hear Him." While the disciples were kneeling down and trembling in fear, Jesus walked to them and told them to arise and not be afraid.

There is no salvation of nations but salvation of individuals. The world will get darker and darker but the church will get brighter and brighter.

When Jesus said "Arise" in the verse above, it is a passive word. Simply, Jesus raised them up. When you are lifted, you stand on equal ground with Him.
You can say how can we be on equal ground? Jesus paid for you to have it.

Great is your reward. Not that you will only be rewarded in heaven, your treasures are already in heaven.
Dare to be different. Like diamonds, they dare to be different.

Bring up your children by the way of the Lord. Teach them the values in being different. Teach them that man values girls that are hard to get. Man devalues woman who are easy to get.

Mark's transfiguration comes in the book of Mark Chapter 9. We see how these two chapters of Matthew and Luke ends.

Matthew 17:24-27
Verse 24: Each person in Moses days must pay half a shackle for the temple tax.
Verse 25: When a king conquers a country, who does he collect tax from. The sons or strangers? What Jesus is saying, Jesus is greater than the temple and He didn't have to pay.
Verse 26: The tithe is not a temple tax. This is temple tax. Jesus said, "Then the sons are free". Unconsciously, Peter lowered the status of Jesus to the law. He was looking at Jesus as a man. Peter was still thinking about Moses, the law. The law was given by a servant but grace came from the One. The servant does not abide in the house forever.
Verse 27: Jesus even paid for Peter's tax. He tells Peter to fish, take out the money from the first fish. Jesus is saying to Peter, I can summon the wealth.

Jesus went to Samaria. James and John asked Jesus if they should call down fire to consume the Samaritans like Elijah. Matthew ends with Peter; Luke ends with James and John not learning the lesson.

The spirit of Elijah is judgment. In Peter's case, they are looking at the law.

Many people who are glorifying the law is right. When Peter said Jesus will pay the tax, he harbored a good intention to paint a positive impression to the people. Peter did not have the intention to lower Jesus even though his motive was right. It's important is to promote God and not promote the law and judgment at the same time.

Luke 9:29-31
Verse 31: Moses and Elijah talked about something Jesus is going to accomplish at Jerusalem (Jesus death).
Moses life ended in impatience. Elijah's biggest mistake was discouragement. Both ministries ended.

Isaiah 42:1-4
Verse 4: He will not fail (Moses failed) nor be discouraged (Elijah failed). When we fail, Jesus will not. These are the greatest men back then but they all still failed.

Mark's account says that His garments were dazzling. At Mount Herman, the disciples were afraid, they fled. Before the feast of Tabernacles, there must be an atonement. Jesus came to die for you and I.

In closing,

God is no longer doing a "Moses" on you. Christ fulfilled the law. There can be correction but a pointing to Jesus correction. Grace has come. Hear Him and He is saying to arise. Stand in His righteousness. Jesus can touch the leper and not be affected. He offers that as a gift. He suffered and rose again from the dead to offer you this gift of righteousness. Just because it is a free free, it does not mean it is cheap. He did all these for you.
If today, you want to receive this grace, pray with me:
Heavenly Father, I believe in this love for me. I believe Jesus is the son of God, he died for me to become His righteousness before you. Thank you Father all my sins are completely forgiven. Thank you for giving me victory and a body that is alive. When Jesus comes, my body will be changed. Jesus is my Lord and saviour now and forever. Amen.
If you prayed this prayer, you are a believer now.