Before I begin telling my story, I would like to tell Jesus, “Even though I’m very small and tiny, You still choose me. Even though I may not be able to finish the task you’ve given me with flying colors, Your grace and mercy had never forsaken me. There are no words to describe Your love for me. Lord, You knew me, Thank you, My dearest heavenly Father – my Lord Jesus Christ.”
 
I always love to hear people share their testimonies, not because how lively and interestingly they can tell the story, but what they share of how God changed their lives. It allows me to see God’s miraculous deeds in their lives. It also made me realize the many characteristic of God.
 
Heng and I first came to a Christian gathering on Christmas day in 2004. We accepted Christ on Easter Day, 2005, and were baptized on 7^th August 2005.
 
I could still remember the Christmas party that we attended. We were invited by Cheong and Hannah. The truth was they had been inviting us several times to join them, but we had turned them down because Heng (my boy friend at that time) didn’t want to go. But this time since it’s Christmas and my mother and brothers had come down from Penang, we decided to go. I’ll always remember, the minute I walked into the Church, I was immediately attracted by the music. It was such a warm and homely feeling. And at that moment I made a prayer: “Lord, I want to live my life like this forever, filled with peace and joy.”
 
After Christmas, we did not return. At that time, the Chinese service was not operating yet. But Heng and I attended a shepherd group gathering around Chinese New Year 2005. Sister Eva shared her testimony, and for the first time I saw how marvelous our God is! He is a God who listens and answers prayers. Heng was still reluctant to go to Church again but Hannah had encouraged me to pray for him, and that she too will up hold us in prayer.
 
One day, we attended the Sunday celebration at Seapark Center. A pastor was preaching, and I knew Heng was getting restless. To encourage him, when the pastor asked to turn to passages in the Bible I acted as if I didn’t know how to do it, and asked Heng for help. He was excited when he found the passages, and I praised him for that. After a few weeks of attending church, Heng began to be receptive. To my surprise, one particular Sunday morning, he woke up early and prepared to go to church, but I was still in bed. He dragged me out of bed saying: “Wei! Go church lo.” Praise God! Before this, I’d always make a prayer saying: “I don’t want to have disagreements with Heng just because of religion; I hope Heng will join me one day.” God is a God who listens to prayer; in His own timing, things that are impossible to men, is possible to Him. I would not be able to change a person, but God can. Today, we not only attend church together, accepted Christ together, we also got baptized together! Praise God!
 
On Easter, we attended the Celebration together. We were very joyous on that day, the phrase [Jesus is Alive] simply made us felt ALIVE. As a new believer at that time, we couldn’t understand the joy that we had. I was worshipping and singing praises together with Pastor Paul Huang’s wife. I could still remember her saying: “Jasmine, when we worship God, we should lift our hands high up to worship Him…” At the ending note of the celebration, Pastor Paul asked whoever is willing to accept Jesus Christ into their lives to please step forward, and his wife led Heng and I to the front. We were confused at that moment - what is ‘accept Christ?’ After pastor Paul’s wife’s explained, we finally understood. It simply means God entered our hearts. How wonderful that is! She had also shared her testimony, which strengthen our faith in God and I will always keep it dear to my heart.
 
We began to read the Bible together and God moved and worked in our lives. During that time Heng was still a smoker, and I know that every morning after breakfast he will have to smoke. On morning, I hid his cigarette. When he couldn’t find it, he was very annoyed with me. I argued back that since you have decided to attend church, why do you still want the cigarette for. He forced me to give it back to him, but I refused. We almost fought that day, but he left the house. During that afternoon, he came back and told me that he had quit smoking. I told him that he need not say that just to make me happy. I’d heard that many times. But he told me when he left the house to get a new packet of cigarette that morning, while riding his bike, he heard a clear voice telling him: “why do you want to fight over a stick of cigarette?” He then gave away his packet of cigarette to a passing person. That day I was observing whether he was lying to me, but it was true. He hadn’t smoked for a week, and I’d never seen him suffer – “cold turkey” as some people say will happen when quitting the smoking habit. Hallelujah! I’d seen the Hand of God on Heng; he didn’t need to rely on his own strength to quit the smoking habit. When we walk close to God, He will work in our lives. I’d learned to believe and rely on Him even more.
 
One Bible study session, I got to know that there is only one God in the whole universe. This truth prodded me to remove the idols at home. It was a difficult decision, because Heng’s parents worship these idols, and we had removed them without their consent. On day his parents came for a visit and realized that the idols were no longer there. Heng’s father was really angry about it. We were prepared for his reaction. We were not afraid, because we believe God is in control. So we did not compromise nor give up. Today when we go back to Heng’s hometown, his father no longer reject us. If we would have given in the other time, not only would it jeopardize their salvation later on, but God would not be pleased as well. Thank You, Holy Spirit, without Your guidance, we would never have had such great faith!
 
Heng and I are in the food and beverage industry; we do caterings. Because we just started the business it wasn’t an easy task when the suppliers are not willing to deliver the ingredients. We were very busy because we needed to spend a lot of time to purchase the ingredients and essential things. I made a prayer to God saying: “I am willing serve You at church, I pray that You will help us so that we will have more time to do the works of Your kingdom.” By His Grace, there were few suppliers who offered to deliver the ingredients! We learned that, even thought we may earn a lot but it’s more blessed to earn lesser but gain more joy in the Lord. Thank you Lord! You really love us!
 
There was a period of time when I felt strongly that I should pray for my grandmother. I did not understand why from of a long list of people, I had the urge to pray for my grandmother. I just obeyed and prayed. I realized the Lord cared for my grandmother. I believe that He had a plan right at the beginning. I suddenly remembered during my primary school years, my grandmother was very sick; she seemed as if she will not make it through. She laid on her bed with her eyes opened, but it was as if her spirit was no longer there. We called her name for more than two hours, but she did not respond. When her spirit came back, she cried sorely, because she saw our dead relatives, but they asked her to go back. So she came back. But then there were no Christian family members in the house, mostly Buddhist. Then there was another time, the same thing happened. Grandmother’s spirit seemed to wonder away again. This time when she came back she also cried sorely. She told all of us that she went to a very beautiful place. People sang and were wearing white garments. She wanted to go in and take a look, but the people there don’t let her in; that’s why she came back crying. Our family all assumed she had gone to paradise. After that, grandma got better, but she fell sick again when I was in secondary school. She was 70+ then, and had undergone some operations and pulled through safely. I accepted Christ when she was around 80 years old. I began to pray for her. Once, back in Penang, through pestering after pestering, my uncle finally gave permission to bring my grandmother to church, because she’s already physically challenged in many ways. According to my uncle and auntie, grandma can’t walk and can’t hear anymore, I must be in saint to bring her out. I knew, if God wants to work, no one can go against Him.
 
Everything went smoothly and we arrived at church. Even though grandma couldn’t hear during praise and worship, she saw us clapping, and she followed. When the preacher shared, she kept silent. I saw God’s peace in her, even though she was unable to hear. When pastor prayed for her, she bowed her head quietly. When I came back to Kuala Lumpur, I heard grandma was admitted to the hospital. I was worried, and I prayed for her. My best friend, June, who was in Penang, visited my grandma in the hospital. June and I are very new Christians. She knew my grandma couldn’t hear, so she talked to her right beside her ears and brought her a cross and asked my grandma whether she wanted the cross. Grandma nodded. June then prayed for her, and sang hymns and praises beside her bed. As far as I know, she couldn’t recognize anyone who visited her. I sought my uncle’s permission to baptize my grandma. Even though he wasn’t a Christian but he was very familiar with what grandma had been through, thus he was unable to reject me and granted the permission. I was very happy! Without any delay I’d asked June to arrange pastor to baptize my grandma. The weird thing was, during the pastor’s first visit, my grandma was in deep sleep and no one was able to wake her up, but we didn’t give up. After two day had passed, the pastor tried again, he asked grandma whether she was wiling to accept Jesus Christ? My auntie did the translation and my grandma actually read her lips and then nodded. And when pastor asked grandma whether she is willing to be baptized, she nodded as well. Hallelujah! One month later, I received a phone call saying grandma had passed away. Heng and I prayed together, and Heng heard the sound of a trumpet. We were very anxious because it was very quiet all around. Where did the sound of trumpet came from? In my prayer I kept asking Jesus – is grandma with You? Jesus assured me and I knew my grandma was safe! Praise God! How wonderful His plans and works are. Through this experience I saw the grace and mercy of God. The things that might be impossible to the world, it is possible with our Almighty God.
 
Before I end this article, I would like to say to our Heavenly father: “ I’m not lonely because You walk me through this spiritual journey, no matter how the situation is, I’ll still give You praise. Thank You Lord for a heart that longs for You. Help me to grow more through the guidance of the Holy Spirit. Thank You for giving me courage and faith to see everything through Your eyes. It’s You who allows me to be your witness, to have a part in Your Kingdom, and gives me the chance to come to Your throne. Without You, everything would be meaningless. You are the Hero of my life! Lord, I write this for You. It’s also my prayer, may it bring pleasure to You. May all glory be unto You and You alone – my precious Jesus.
 
I hope and pray that my testimony will strengthen your faith in Jesus. God knows and understands our weaknesses; we can trust and believe in Him. Remember in Matthew 6:33, it says, “Seek ye first the Kingdom of God and His Righteousness, and all these things will be added unto you.”