The Lord Is Picking Up the Pieces of My Life!
Brother David Tee

Before I came to know Jesus, I heard from the people around me that he knows me and will comfort me. I had been looking for someone or something that could fill the gap in my life when my mother was called home to heaven earlier on. My parents are believers. That does not mean, however, that I was one from the start. It was good that I was able to make this decision for myself. I knew my life had seen many turns of up and down. The thought that I was alone and the sadness that came with it could cause me to go down a very deep hole. This might be why my life was and still is very messy and disorganised. I could simply “disappear” with this despair and return later to try to “pick up the pieces.”

I was exposed to Christianity through many ways: the camps I attended as a child, the religious knowledge subject in school and the people I met in my teenage years and early working life. It was at my temporary job with a bank that one of my “colleagues” invited me to attend church in 1993/1994. Yes, in 1993/1994, I received Jesus as my Lord and Saviour. I saw in the lives of friends I got to know a calmness and clarity of purpose. This clarity of purpose was what I was lacking, calmness in making decisions and going about life in a very . . . how should I put it . . . “simple” way. I think “trusting way” is a better phrase. And I decided to trust in Jesus and said the sinners’ prayer. I am still in touch with this good friend who has returned to Penang, her hometown, as a lecturer.

I continued to attend and serve in church throughout my time in the army and university. I was baptised in 2003/2004. I was very caught up with work and became very tired. I later drifted further away from the Lord. Although I tried to keep up my involvement in church ministry, it did not last long. I also visited different churches from 2005 to 2010.

At work I met Elder Chin Tian during the runs, walks and work. He invited me to Tree of Life Christian Church in 2014/2015. I had wanted to bring my family to church but had limited success. I continued to be bothered with the tremendous amount of issues at work and in my life. I was tired and frustrated. Talking with Pastor, elders, brothers and sisters here, I realised that I needed to start with trusting God. This was much simpler said than done, especially for me. As I have related, a large part of my life was spent in searching restlessly for something or someone to fill the gap and sadness in my life. I am very encouraged and inspired by many friends here who have shared with me on trusting God. I am trying to take those small steps. My person, time, attitude, work—so challenging. How can I do it? I do not know.

Since I returned to church and the Lord, I have experienced changes in my life for the better. The changes in my life are small. I will continue to try to bring my family to church, do my best at work and always look forward to stepping out of work at the end of the day. I try to do whatever I could on an issue or problem that comes up while believing, at the same time, that God can and will help me in the best possible ways. By his grace some seemingly big problems that came up are starting to get resolved. As I continue on this journey, it is so clear that I am not perfect and I cannot be. This is the reality. This is why I want to continue following the Lord.

All things God works
Sister Ng Hwee Ling

I was born into a Buddhist family. I remembered when I was young my mother would bring me to the temple to pray to those idols. Under my mother’s guidance, I understood that there really was a god on earth. At that time, however, I could not differentiate between a false god and the true God.

When I was about 10 years old in primary school, my classmate, who was from a Christian family, invited me to attend school at his house. My sister was also invited by her friends to visit another Presbyterian church. Thus, I followed her. After attending a few times, however, I stopped. I thank God that I was introduced to Jesus then, but I did not have a deep understanding of this Saviour.

This continued until I was 15 years old. I contacted members of the Presbyterian church and started attending the youth fellowship and the Sunday worship. I felt, however, that during this period I still did not understand the Lord Jesus. I just knew that as long as you believed in the Lord Jesus, you can be saved and go to heaven after death.

After completing secondary school, I came to Singapore to work. As time passed, I started not going to church and gradually, I began abandoning God. In the time without God I became my own king, arrogant with no humility in my heart.

After marriage, my mother-in-law once again encouraged me to attend Sunday worship. I accepted and attended Sunday worship. I was also baptised in 2014. In this period, I felt that my journey in believing God was careless and not with a serious attitude. I felt that my faith was too weak. Only when there were big issues did I turn to God in prayer. If not, I would not pray.

In the year 2018 my life after believing in Christ met with a change. I had an unprepared pregnancy. This would be my fourth child. This child was unexpected, and my entire family was delighted. However, the child left us only after a weeks. I could not understand nor comprehend why God gave me this child only to take the child away.

At that time, I was very discouraged. With Pastor Andrew, pastor’s wife Koon Yoke, Chen Ming, Bao Li, Rev Wong’s family, and brothers and sisters’ comfort, I was given a Bible verse: “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose” (Rom 8:28).

I have been meditating on the meaning of this Scripture and took away a question: where would my unborn child go after death?

This point awakened me to the fact that my living children and husband have yet to believe in God. If I do not maintain an enthusiastic attitude, how could I lead them to Christ? How could I help my family received the eternal hope?

I thank God that since young Jesus Christ has never left me when faced with any kind of problems. Ever since I entered Tree of Life Christian Church, I became like a seed and the church members tried their best to add fertiliser and help me gradually grow into a small tree. I feel it deeply in my heart that God arranged everything for me to gain a richer understanding of His love and salvation. I thank and praise the Lord.

translated by Davina Seet