The year 2009 has been a real challenging year in terms of growing my faith in our Heavenly Father. Now as I look back I really stand in awe as to God’s faithfulness to His Words. As I learn to know God better, I have learnt that the simple act of “trusting & obeying” Him is so rewarding.

In early January, the company that I was working for started retrenching people from our plant. In late Jan 2009, God prepared me over one weekend that I will receive some bad news, and true enough on the Tuesday after that, I was told by my boss and the Human Resource manager that I have been made redundant. However, God is so wonderful. Along with the bad news, I actually received a piece of good news. I was told that when Head Office saw my name on the redundancy listing, they have requested that I go and help them out by filling in for someone who was going on maternity leave. The contract for the fill-in was for 9 months (from end of Feb to Nov 30, 2009), and as an incentive for me to stay in the position till the end of the contracted period, I will be paid a lump sum (retention money) for honoring my side of the commitment. Then if there is no other work for me in the company when the person on maternity is back, I will be paid off as redundant.

Ouch! It really hurts, knowing that among so many people, I have been made redundant. After a good cry, I spent some time calling out to God, reminding Him (not that our Almighty God needs the reminder, but more for myself reclaiming His promises to me) that before I moved to Melbourne He has promised me that He will provide. Then God spoke to me loud and clear, saying “Now, my dear child, it is time for you to live out your faith and what you have preached”. Yes, I have met people in the past who have lost their jobs, and I have been telling them to trust & obey God. It was easy to say that to them when I myself still have a job. Now that I am going through the process myself, loosing my sole income with a huge mortgage what do I do? At that point of time, I made a resolution – I will commit my next step to Him and listen to Him and learn to obey whatever He says!

Then God said to me:

Live out your FAITH
Trust me. I will provide
You are the King’s daughter, live as one
Your future will be brighter by far than your past – how can this be? I have just been told that I will have no more work! But just because God said so, I know it will be so.
Remember Joseph – he has been brought to the lowest of places, but because he was right with Me, I have made him successful.
Psalm 37:1-11 – …… trust in the Lord and do good…… Dwell in the Land and feed on His faithfulness….. Delight yourself in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart……. Commit your way to the Lord and trust also in Him……. Rest in the Lord and wait patiently for Him…….. Do not fret it only causes harm………

The above are promises and instructions from God to me over and over again throughout the year. It was not easy, but I have known God enough to know that whatever it takes, I need to learn to act upon and not just listen to what He said.

After knowing that my employment is going to end soon, many well wishers have advised me to quickly look for other jobs and forget about honoring the contract. However, over various occasions, God specifically told me to stay put and do NOT to move! On one hand, it was not easy for me not to start applying for jobs, knowing that I may be losing my job soon. Then on the other hand, I have learned from past experiences that if it is not God’s timing, I can put in hundreds of job applications and will still not get any reply. So, I waited. I did casually send in my resume to a few recruitment advertisements, and true enough, I did not even get any reply from any of them. However, one amazing thing is that I had peace throughout the waiting period, which is pretty unusual for me as a worrier and a pessimist.

When October approached and almost ended, I asked my boss at Head Office a few times if there will still be any work for me after November, and the answer was always “we do not know yet.” Then at the end of October (Oct 23), I got a call from James. Jams is from an employment agency which I have put in some applications for work prior to 2009 and have never heard from for a long while. James said that he just wanted to catch up with me, as his colleague who has interviewed me in the past has just left the company and he has just taken over. So I met up with James on Oct 29. When I asked him how the job market was, he commented that it was still pretty quiet and employers are still not hiring. However, there are some organizations which are preparing to increase the workforce, but even so, they are pretty cautious. He told me that he has no work at the moment for me but he will keep a look out. I was fairly disappointed with the news, but was pretty excited because I sense that this may be the beginning of God’s hand moving. I have not heard from any employment agency for ages, and now, just when my contract was about to end, I have been contacted by an agency that I have not even put in any application with them lately!

One Friday (Oct 23) just before going to Cell Group, somehow it suddenly occurred to me that it will be ideal that I get retrenched at the end of November so that I will get the lump sum retention money as well as the retrenchment benefit. Then if I get a new job with equivalent pay from January 2010 onwards it would be wonderful. If that happens, I would be getting some extra money which would really help towards the mortgage! It sounds too good to be true. Anyway, during the Cell Group prayer time, I shared this whish of mine and someone actually prayed that I get retrenched and get a new job soon. Then on Oct 30, the following Friday, I finally got a letter from my boss confirming that my employment will end Nov 30. Wow! I actually prayed myself out of job! My feelings were mixed. Psalm 37:4 is being fulfilled once again. The desires of my heart have been granted. At least part of it any way. I was happy that it is finally confirmed and no longer a pending news that I will be getting the retention money and the redundancy payout. One more desire to go - I will need a job that requires me to start working in January 2010 after I return from my holiday overseas.

I never thought that I will have anything going for me regarding a new job till 2010. But nothing is impossible for God! I received a call from James again on Nov 24, informing me that there is a prospective employer that may meet my requirement. If I am interested, he will try to get me an interview before I go off for my holiday in December. Wow, how good can that be in terms of timing? I went on my knees that night, praying that God will grant me an interview before I leave for my holiday. While praying, God again spoke to me that it is not by might nor by power but by His Spirit alone will I get a job. So I prayed that God’s Spirit will move among those decision makers. Then suddenly I stopped praying, sensing that my prayer has been answered. I tried to continue but could not as the Spirit was telling me that it is done and there is no need for further prayer, so I left it at that. The next day, James called around 4:30pm and confirmed that the interview has been set for 4/12/09. How exciting! I was also told that there are 5 other candidates with similar work experience as mine that have bee lined up for the interview. Wow, what a competition!

By God’s grace, the interview went pretty well on 04/12/09, and I was told to leave my email and contact number so that in event they want me to go through a web based psychometric assessment. And if the assessment went well, I would then be called in for a second interview by the CFO sometime in January 2010.

During my first week of my holiday, I received an email for the psychometric assessment and to be very honest, I think I did pretty badly. However, I was reminded of what God has said and that is there is nothing on my part that I can do to secure a job but only by His Spirit alone. So I hope on. I would be extremely happy and grateful if I just get an email telling me that I need to go for a second interview at this point of time. But God has a better Christmas present for me. On 23/12/09, I received an email with a job offer! Wow, I literally jumped up from my seat! In addition to the provision of a job, God has fulfilled His promise to me on Psalm 37:4 once again. It has been my desire that my next job could be closer to where I live. Now the workplace is only half way distance from my previous job! It is a desire that I did not dare to pray for and God has even granted that. As I learn to take delight in God in obedience to His command, He has granted all the desires of my heart.

Even though the job offer is only on a temporary basis with a view for permanency, I am extremely thankful for the opportunity. All glory and praise be to the Lord.

Through all these I have learned a few precious lessons.
1) What God has said will come to pass. He said he will provide and He did.
2) When God said not to move, I will just need to rest in Him and use my time wisely still serving Him wholeheartedly and not get distracted by what my logical mind is telling me. If I allow logic to take control, I would have wasted lots of futile time applying for jobs in vain. It was not easy doing nothing when all logic told me otherwise, but at the end, it is rewarding to see God’s power working against our human logic.
3) If I trust and obey God, He can use bad circumstances (the retrenchment) to glorify Himself in my life.
4) When God said to trust Him and live as His children, I have to obey and to live and behave like a King’s daughter and not as a pauper.
5) When God said to live out my faith, tithing is one area of challenge. I need to continue, reminding myself that God is no man’s debtors.

"Have faith in God," Jesus answered. "I tell you the truth, if anyone says to this mountain, 'Go, throw yourself into the sea,' and does not doubt in his heart but believes that what he says will happen, it will be done for him. Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours. And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive him, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins." (Mark 11:22-25)

I have experienced on numerous occasions that placing my faith fully on God brings no disappointment, and that He does hear every prayer.

I, Kanchana (Kay) Anandasivam want to thank God for the Grace and Peace given to me from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit firstly.

As His witness, I wish to share His goodness, comfort and reassurance in a situation that no kind words from man would have been adequate.

While I was on holidays overseas, I received a couple of e-mails from the bank I worked for, stating that they were urgently trying to get in touch with me. The email did not touch on the reason for them trying to contact me. As I had already forwarded my trip back home prior to receiving these e-mails, I advised them that I’d see them upon my return, therefore, I was given an appointment for a meeting with them just two days after my arrival.

When I met with my managers, they gave me the shocking news that I had lost my job and handed me the retrenchment letters, stating that I had to leave in just two weeks. I was asked if I had any questions, and my only question was to know the outcome, in the event I were able to secure a job in the same bank within two weeks. They advised me that their HR department would withdraw the retrenchment letters and I would continue my employment with them.

As devastating as such situations can be, I decided to place all my hope on God. I told myself that with Him, all things are possible. I was realistically left with 7 business days to look for a job as this was just prior to Christmas. I trusted that what man cannot do for me in the midst of such economic crisis, my God will do for me. I didn’t allow negativity in the form of doubt creep into me, even though the numbers of those around me, losing their jobs were rising every day. It was also that time of the year when recruiting was at its lowest anyway.

At church on Sunday, I spoke to our Senior Pastor Ken Harris, and advised him about my situation. He listened to me and straight away said, ‘let’s pray for God to intervene.’ As he prayed for me, I felt the comfort of God the Father holding me in His arms. I felt an unexplainable feeling of comfort and reassurance along with confidence that God will provide. After praying with me, Ps Ken committed to me, that he’d pray for me the next day along with other pastors and wrote this in his diary so he can pray about it, during his devotional time as well.

The next day at work, I talked to a friend and colleague who worked in a different department, and she advised me that I should enquire internally for any vacant positions that may have opened up due to the changes. She suggested that I speak to my previous Head of the Department under whom I had worked, for two years. So I did. As God had been at work in the background, he agreed to see me straight away. On my way to see him, amidst the busy lunchtime rush in the building, a guy came up to me, and gave me a pen. I looked at the pen and it was from World Vision and the pen read - SMILE. Looking at the pen, I asked Jesus, ‘what are you saying to me God? Are you reassuring me that you’ve done it all, and I only need to smile?’

Upon meeting him I explained the plight I found myself in, and stated that if I could advise HR by Friday that I had found a job, they will not process my retrenchment. He listened to me and advised that he will direct me to one of the other managers, who may be able to assist me but insisted that he was making no guarantees at all.

Hearing this in my situation was like music to my ears and I remembered God’s message on the pen. I had a small chat with whom I was directed to and she advised me to forward my resume to her, which I did that very afternoon. She asked me to see her the next day for a formal interview and I agreed. I cannot express in words the feeling of having hope at a time like this.

The next day, the interview went well and in my heart I felt I had secured the job. I returned home and in faith, binned the retrenchment letter as I knew I will not need it.

The following afternoon I was given the good news that I had been selected!! My only reaction was to fall to my knees with tears rolling down my cheeks and give thanks and Glory to Him who didn’t let me fall or face any shame, Him who has proved yet again, that He’ll never leave me nor forsake me.

Never will I leave you, never will I forsake you, so we say with confidence, ‘The Lord is my helper, I will not be afraid what man can do to me’. (Hebrews 13:5-6)

Praise be to God, who has not rejected my prayer or withheld His love from me!

To Him be all glory, all honour and all praise, always...

Joyfully and gratefully in His Name,

Amen.

<:))))><

My house was reblocked (restumped) recently. A few hours into the first day, it became apparent this job was going to be a reblocker’s nightmare. The reblocker, John, told me that, judging from the state of the wood he had pulled out, there used to be termite activity. As he got further under the house, he found something he didn’t really want to see: a nest of live termites. He informed me that termites usually demolish a house in 6 months.

I briefly pondered the possibility that my family and I could have been made homeless, and I wondered if I should be more concerned about the state of our home. But NO! Prior to work commencing, my daughter, Elaine, and I had prayed and committed the safety of the workers and the entire project to the Lord. I was confident that between Him and John, all will be well.

When John had scoured the entire foundations of the house, he said,

• “I don’t understand why this house is still standing because there is nothing supporting some parts of it.”
• “I don’t understand why the termites have not done more damage to the house.” Apparently, their activity was confined to under the middle of the lounge-room floor, and no further.

As a reblocker who has been in the business for 15 years, he began again, “I don’t understand what the termites ….. etc”. As he was speaking I found myself thinking, “I know why… I know what – Malachi 3: God said, “I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes.” Verse11: “I will prevent pests from devouring your crops.” (NIV) “I will guard them from insects and disease.” (NLT)
The Lord God Almighty had prevented termites from ruining our home! His protection went further. A few days into the work, I smelled gas which no one else did. I called in a gas-fitter who located on his detector “a substantial leak.” He said it was not caused by the heavy excavation work, but was “just waiting to happen.” He completed his repairs just before John finished reblocking, which meant the entry-holes to under the house could be re-sealed.

What can I say but thanks be to our wonderful Lord for His mercy and grace abundantly poured out on us, saving our home from damage and preventing a potential gas-leak disaster.

“Bring all the tithes (the whole tenth of your income) into the storehouse, that there may be food in My house, and prove Me now by it, says the Lord of Hosts, if I will not open the windows of heaven, for you and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it” (Malachi 3:10 AMP)

God’s blessing came in the most unexpected and down-to-earth way.

Matthew: 11 verses 10-11 says, “This is the one about whom it is written, I will send my messenger ahead of you who will prepare your way before you. I tell you the truth, among those “born of women” there has not risen anyone greater than John the Baptist yet He who is least in the kingdom of Heaven is greater than He.”

As I was “meditating” on this verse, God took me back to the year 2000. Why 2000? This is the year that lightens up my mind about JESUS. My husband and I got engaged on Christmas Day, 2000. Getting engaged on this day was “Special” to me because “Christ was born.”

From then on, I thought of God and started reading the Bible and attending Church as well. But the Church we were attending wasn’t the one I thought it would be. So, we started searching for the right Church. Valentines Day 2004, we got married. We wanted to get married because we gave our life to JESUS. After 1 year of marriage…February 6th 2005 God invited us to Church of Christ (Clayton) for the 1st time. The Spirit of God came pouring down on me…it’s like someone was lifting me up and down when this song “Deeply in Love” was playing. I knew something is yet to happen and I started to cry. After service that day, I shared with my husband what happen to me…I reared the bible that week, confessed my sins and looking forward to the next Sunday service.

Our 2nd Sunday in this Church, I responded to His call, His hand touched my left shoulder for the 1st time…My Life was totally transformed but not for my husband. God then used me as a Mother and Wife to teach my 2 beautiful sons His Word and most importantly to PRAY for my husband to come to know the “LORD”

After 14 months praying for my husband, God came into his Life. I also learned that, number 14 in the Word of God means “Double”. It is God’s Double Blessing in my life to have a husband walking together as one in Christ, is truly a Double Blessing.
God had truly guided my family’s life in these past years.

“3” Sundays ago, God spoke to me clearly and said, Haumata! “Today is your Special Day”. For me, Mother’s Day last Sunday (14 May 06) brings a Double Blessing in my life because not only has God blessed me with 2 beautiful sons, but Our God is truly faithful and has answered my prayers for my husband “who is now a believer”

…Praising God and giving Him all the Glory...

My Journey with Cancer
by Chee Seng Fah (Posted 18th May 2006)

My name is Chee and I was 24 when I was first diagnosed with cancer. On the 1 st June 2005 I distinctly remember my surgeon ringing during my lunch break to tell me the news that was going to change my life - I have metastatic nasopharyngeal cancer. The primary tumor was in the passageway from my nose to my throat and had spread to the left and right lymph nodes of my neck. Over a next few weeks the news went from bad to worse as the PET scan revealed the cancer had spread to my right pelvis bone. Before I knew it, the words of my radio-oncologist were echoing through my mind, “....there has never been a case of cure for this, and the best that we can hope for, is a few years with treatment.”

The reality of this disease unfolded as I began the journey of a life with cancer - the educational DVDs, the never-ending wait in hospitals, the daily visits, the financial and occupational adjustments, the concerns of the future, the Medicare claims, telling of family and friends and the sorrow of my beloved wife. It became even harder when the side effects of my treatment kicked in. My cancer treatment regime was 18 weeks of chemotherapy and 7 weeks of radiotherapy to my head, neck and pelvis region. I had all the typical chemotherapy side effects of nausea, loss of appetite, loss of weight, but the worst of it all was the radiotherapy. There was unbelievable pain in my throat, so much that I could not swallow or speak and had to have a feeding tube put in. Regardless I still lost about 20kg of weight in total. The skin all around my neck was burnt off, I lost my salivary flow and my sense of taste. It was horrible.

However, life with cancer is more than the external reality; it's really about the internal reality. You’ve heard the saying ‘cancer is not a respecter of persons’ – well that’s true. I am young and 6 months newly married. I am a dentist by profession and my wife is a doctor. We are good people and have treated people well. We don’t smoke, drink or have any of the other risk factors for cancer. We had a future and a good lifestyle ahead of us – but all that didn’t matter. Having cancer stripped away all that was meaningless and left me asking real questions about life. At the end of the day, what is really important? My conclusion is Presence.

The presence of family and friends is a great expression of love and joy in such difficult and trying times. To have people who rally together to support you in time of need is a real encouragement and a boost for my spirit. Money, status, power and vocation proved no comfort, only the presence of loved ones by my side made this journey possible. The love of my wife is amazing and steadfast. To see our marriage vows – ‘in sickness and in health,’ made flesh - 6 months into marriage was remarkable. Family and friends provided much needed comfort, but human love is not perfect – and sometimes it is expressed out of needs, insecurities, fears and selfishness. People often love in the context of their journey, of having a friend with cancer or a son with cancer. And although I felt that their presence was indispensable, I sometimes felt burdened by it.

The Presence that supersedes all, is that of my greatest love, my living God, Jesus Christ. His presence and perfect love helps me in my deepest and darkest valleys - places where no one and nothing can adequately fill at times such as these. He gave me timely words of encouragement and unconditional love, and knew me intimately. This provided all I needed for internal resolution. And to this day, praise God, I have finished my treatment and am in remission. I acknowledge everyday that I am alive by the grace of God and I live my life, my future, my dreams, hope and aspirations anchored in Him. I live each day in the presence of my God and this is more than enough.

Chee Seng and Wei Lyn Fah