Joey's Journal Sunday, 30 July 2006

Woke up early at 6:30 am to get ready for 9 am church service. Second son, Joshua was already awake, as usual and having his pancake with syrup breakfast. Noticed fishbowl water was cloudy and asked Carlyn to change water and wait for Joel to wake up and feed his new pet goldfish. Didn’t feel like having anything for breakfast, just water. Was still feeling bloated from not going to the toilet for some time.

At 7:40, Joel and Annabel wake up same time. Very synchronized. While Annabel was getting ready, Joel feeds his fish and we talk about what name to call it. Nemo? El-josh? Fishy? Joel liked ‘fishy’ so from now on it will be called Fishy! I said good; at least Joshua can call its name. By 8:20 am, Joel and Annabel were having their breakfast, pancakes with syrup for him and a Fuji apple for her. Carlyn was pushing Joshua on his pram; he really looked sleepy after taking his morning bath. Maria was attending to Joel and Annabel.

We were off to church at 8:35 am taking ECP to Singapore Expo. Was very concerned about the way Annabel drives and at times, very scary. I pray that she is able to get the confidence of driving back and with God’s help and guidance, she will be able to. At the entrance, brother Tommy from the Special People Ministry, met us and asked three gentlemen to assist Carlyn to transfer me from car to wheelchair. Thanked Tommy and the guys for giving me ‘red carpet’ service. Carlyn wheeled me to the place where all the other wheelchair-bound people were. Said hello and nodded to all who were there already. Said hello to Mrs. Koh and her caretaker, Jennifer while coming in to join the worship time.

Worship, what can I say. This time I spend glorifying and thanking the Lord for all His blessings on me, on us as a family and for loved ones. As each song is sang, my eyes start to water and soon I am engulfed in this breathlessness feeling, like I will start weeping. But these are not unhappy tears, but joyful ones. Someone said, I remember reading this, that these heartfelt tears sting the eyes unlike unhappy ones. And, I agree; they do sting! Once the worship team turns from fast and jovial songs to slow and somber ones, I look at the congregation and notice there are others who are moved to teary eyes. I sincerely hope for their heartfelt connection to our Lord as I have connected. Praises and glory be to God!

Senior Pastor Lawrence Khong delivered the word of God, 6 part series called ‘Jesus is the Lord!’. He read from Colossians 1: 1-14 about Paul’s affirmation why Jesus is the Lord. Pastor Khong supported this by 3 definitive reasons why Jesus is Lord. (1) Jesus is God; (2) Jesus is God in the flesh; and (3) Jesus is God and He died for us. These are very basic truths in which our faith as Christians is etched in the cornerstone of our hearts. Every Christian believes in these three basic truths. Listening to Pastor Khong gave me a sense that he was driving these points across very emphatically so that we, as believers in the Word of God, would not be shallow in our faith. He compared some believers to a Sequoia tree, towering almost 300 feet from the ground and considered to be the tallest of trees. Yet, in its majestic splendor, its roots are not deep and would topple over when strong gusts of wind came along. Some believers are shallow; outside like the Sequoia, they look holy and regal; but their faith can be tested and soon, they are no longer the believers they say they are. They give lip service about the faith and sometimes the word and could not support what they say. Real believers live with the three basic truths. They uphold this faith in their hearts. They spread and share these three truths with others. Overall, another good and moving message from our spiritual father.

After church service, we headed for Parkway Parade for lunch. Had 2 green bean filled pastry and coffee; still feeling full. Met former cell members, Mike and Grace with their son, Jared. Also, saw Sally and Liang Kheng plus 4 boys. Annabel asked Sally to join us for coffee at MPH Bookstore while we were on our way out of food court area. On the way to MPH, a lady approached Annabel, introduced herself and asked what happened to me that I am on a wheelchair. She brought the lady over to talk to me. The lady introduced herself as Susan from Lighthouse church led by Pastor Ronnie. Susan asked if I have attended their healing service at Tampines and if not, I should plan to go because she has witnessed cripples walking and miracles happening. I told her I believe in healing services and went to one done by well-known pastor from South Africa, Korbus van Rensburg, who had the gift of healing. I told her too that I believed in miracles and seen people healed through healing services but I respectfully declined. She was puzzled with my response. I explained that the Lord is using me to be of service to Him on this wheelchair. I added that God revealed His plan for me to minister to the wheelchair-bound people, since I can empathize with them. He also said He will not forsake me after calling on to Him to claim His promise that I will be restored. I told sister Susan that I will follow God’s word to be ‘healed spiritually’ now and wait patiently for Him to physically heal me and said ‘if God wants me to be on this wheelchair to spread His Good News, so be it!’ I informed sister Susan that I am a member of the Special People Ministry of FCBC and explained that the ministry is involved taking care of the physical needs of the wheelchair bound people like cooking for them, cleaning their homes, giving them baths and taking them out of their homes from time to time. Along with other volunteers, I have to get involve in cultivating their spirituality. This is what God has revealed to me in serving and uplifting the spiritual side of these people whom He has not forgotten. I added that God’s purpose for me has been revealed and this is why He gave me a second chance in life; to serve Him with all my heart. I briefly mentioned about the voice encounter with the Lord and gave Him praise and thanks for being fortunate enough to hear His voice and following His purpose that He revealed during my stay at the hospital. Sister Susan understood what I told her that this message was from God and I must follow it. She spoke of her visions and asked me for my interpretation. I told her that her visions are related to salvation; hers first, second are her loved ones and third, are the lost. God is speaking to her on these visions of seeing the Singapore river filled with honey rather than water; people lined up on its banks being interrogated by the evil one; and one by one asking them if they were Catholic, Christian or otherwise. Should they renounce their faith in God then they are sent to the depths and sweetness of honey and if not, they were sent back to earth. Of course, the devil entices them with honey, making hell sound nice. She mentioned that when it was her turn, she saw the sky filled with crucifixes and a balloon floating in the heavens. The crosses asked her to cling on to the balloon and she did. But, she thought of her loved ones and pleaded to take them, particularly her mother, who was a staunch buddhist being left behind while other believers in the family went with her. I explained this is what is going to happen at the second coming of Jesus. Believers will be raised up in this rapture and along with the believers who have passed away before us will meet the Lord and be judged. Not all will be allowed to enter God’s kingdom.

Sister Susan understood that God’s message to me was clear and said ‘maybe after my service to the wheelchair bound people, He will let me walk’. I said I sincerely hope for this to happen. She prayed over me and I prayed for her before she left to attend church service at Tampines. I told her to spread what I have testified to her with her church members and continue sharing God to others.

Home around 4:30pm and spent my quiet time thanking God for this meeting with sister Susan. I prayed for strength and God’s hand to be on me. Prayed the Jabez prayer as we go through finding what business to concentrate on and for God’s hand of protection to be on us; shielding us from anxieties and the evil one’s temptation; that God’s grace will give us strength to release forgiveness to those who have offended us and keep us safe under His refuge.

Did some computer work and took on sister Susan’s advise to journalize my daily affairs and experience with God in my heart’s focus. This is first day.

Washed up and prepared for bed at 10:30pm

by : Joey B