Lim Tse Min – Child of God
Christianity wasn’t in my dictionary when I was young as I was not from a
Christian family, my family were free thinkers but they didn’t really like the idea of Christianity and also they were more close to my third auntie and grandma who is a Buddhist. I was enrolled into a Christian primary school when I was young and it was then when I heard about Jesus. I vividly remembered the first few days of school where we were asked to pray after morning devotions. I did like everyone although I didn’t know who they are praying to. But after that I was being reprimanded when my mum asked me about it and I was told to get my allowance from the God that I prayed to. That was the time where I never ever dared to pray again and throughout my primary school life the gospel of love passed me by.
As I grew older, I began to question my existence on earth. Why am I here on earth? What is my purpose in life? Is it just to get a good education and have a good job in future? I felt there was no drive in life, unsatisfied. Being the youngest in the family, I was often influenced by them as well. When my older brother got into secondary school, vulgarities started to become common at home. We communicate using foul language and often ended up quarreling as I was also very hot tempered and always flare up easily. I started to speak dirty languages verbally as well, especially during the times when things don’t go my way. I also began to become materialistic and followed what my friends did. Fun was everything and late weekend nights were a common routine for me. I began to be rebellious when my parents scold me or nagged at me, feeling that life is so unfair, why cant I when my brother can stay out late and sometimes stay over at his friends house and not return home. Friends were my only outlet of frustration. I felt good being with my friends, looking good in my new clothes. It satisfied me at first but soon after I found that it was only temporal and began looking for something else to fill that emptiness inside of me.
Huizhen had a hard time dragging me to church as I always had an excuse up my mind not to go. My idea of church was always one that sits on long pews and singing long draggy hymns. Finally I was persuaded by her to attend one youth rally and there I accepted Christ hoping for a better and smooth sailing future.
But it wasn’t the case. Life was not smooth-sailing after I’ve receive Christ but instead it has become more challenging. I didn’t dare to tell my parents that I accepted Christ for fear that I may face serious consequences. I always tell them I was going out with friends when I attended church. But subsequently, they found out through the time when I had a curfew at 7 and I returned home late after an evening service. My parents were furious and locked me out of the house. I was devasted as I thought that accepting Christ would make life better instead it became worst for me. It was from then that they found out that I accepted Christ. Since then I faced persecutions at home and my parents were unhappy that I became a Christian. They began to persuade me not to go church anymore as they felt that I was still young and there was no need for a religious commitment.
But I still went for services and since then I embarked on an exciting journey even till now. I’ve found that fulfillment in life and realized that only Jesus could fill that emptiness inside of me. I’ve been blessed through sermons and altar calls, witnessing the realness of God. He has also been merciful to me even though I’ve failed Him many times, always drawing me back to Him when I strayed away. Through these 2 years, I’ve tasted of Gods goodness and faithfulness through the times of testing and temptation, I can always be sure that God is there for me, through my persecution periods, sometimes sending people from the family of God to encourage and help me in my walk with God. I’ve changed my speech life through Gods grace and He has also taught me not to be so easily angered and to control my temper. I also learnt to surrender to God my desires of my life and not to be conformed to the world, letting God take control of my life in the area of studies and entrusting my family’s salvation to Him. Baptism has been my desire for a long time but I never had the courage to put it into action for fear that history may repeat itself, this time worst. My parents told me very firmly that baptism is a NO. It’s a trying period for me now as I’m just finished my prelims and taking my Os soon, and I know that my parents would not be happy with this decision of mine to be baptized. I fear the future, persecution that is to come but I know that God is always faithful and is bigger than all my circumstances and I pray that God would take me to a higher level in my relationship with Him and use me as His tool to serve for His purpose.
So today Im going to take this step of faith to proclaim of what Christ has done for me, and I want to thank those who have been there for me through it all. You guys know who you all are ya?!
-Christ for life-
Christianity wasn’t in my dictionary when I was young as I was not from a
Christian family, my family were free thinkers but they didn’t really like the idea of Christianity and also they were more close to my third auntie and grandma who is a Buddhist. I was enrolled into a Christian primary school when I was young and it was then when I heard about Jesus. I vividly remembered the first few days of school where we were asked to pray after morning devotions. I did like everyone although I didn’t know who they are praying to. But after that I was being reprimanded when my mum asked me about it and I was told to get my allowance from the God that I prayed to. That was the time where I never ever dared to pray again and throughout my primary school life the gospel of love passed me by.
As I grew older, I began to question my existence on earth. Why am I here on earth? What is my purpose in life? Is it just to get a good education and have a good job in future? I felt there was no drive in life, unsatisfied. Being the youngest in the family, I was often influenced by them as well. When my older brother got into secondary school, vulgarities started to become common at home. We communicate using foul language and often ended up quarreling as I was also very hot tempered and always flare up easily. I started to speak dirty languages verbally as well, especially during the times when things don’t go my way. I also began to become materialistic and followed what my friends did. Fun was everything and late weekend nights were a common routine for me. I began to be rebellious when my parents scold me or nagged at me, feeling that life is so unfair, why cant I when my brother can stay out late and sometimes stay over at his friends house and not return home. Friends were my only outlet of frustration. I felt good being with my friends, looking good in my new clothes. It satisfied me at first but soon after I found that it was only temporal and began looking for something else to fill that emptiness inside of me.
Huizhen had a hard time dragging me to church as I always had an excuse up my mind not to go. My idea of church was always one that sits on long pews and singing long draggy hymns. Finally I was persuaded by her to attend one youth rally and there I accepted Christ hoping for a better and smooth sailing future.
But it wasn’t the case. Life was not smooth-sailing after I’ve receive Christ but instead it has become more challenging. I didn’t dare to tell my parents that I accepted Christ for fear that I may face serious consequences. I always tell them I was going out with friends when I attended church. But subsequently, they found out through the time when I had a curfew at 7 and I returned home late after an evening service. My parents were furious and locked me out of the house. I was devasted as I thought that accepting Christ would make life better instead it became worst for me. It was from then that they found out that I accepted Christ. Since then I faced persecutions at home and my parents were unhappy that I became a Christian. They began to persuade me not to go church anymore as they felt that I was still young and there was no need for a religious commitment.
But I still went for services and since then I embarked on an exciting journey even till now. I’ve found that fulfillment in life and realized that only Jesus could fill that emptiness inside of me. I’ve been blessed through sermons and altar calls, witnessing the realness of God. He has also been merciful to me even though I’ve failed Him many times, always drawing me back to Him when I strayed away. Through these 2 years, I’ve tasted of Gods goodness and faithfulness through the times of testing and temptation, I can always be sure that God is there for me, through my persecution periods, sometimes sending people from the family of God to encourage and help me in my walk with God. I’ve changed my speech life through Gods grace and He has also taught me not to be so easily angered and to control my temper. I also learnt to surrender to God my desires of my life and not to be conformed to the world, letting God take control of my life in the area of studies and entrusting my family’s salvation to Him. Baptism has been my desire for a long time but I never had the courage to put it into action for fear that history may repeat itself, this time worst. My parents told me very firmly that baptism is a NO. It’s a trying period for me now as I’m just finished my prelims and taking my Os soon, and I know that my parents would not be happy with this decision of mine to be baptized. I fear the future, persecution that is to come but I know that God is always faithful and is bigger than all my circumstances and I pray that God would take me to a higher level in my relationship with Him and use me as His tool to serve for His purpose.
So today Im going to take this step of faith to proclaim of what Christ has done for me, and I want to thank those who have been there for me through it all. You guys know who you all are ya?!
-Christ for life-
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