It was the month of August in 2013 and we at CCF were very busy in organizing for the 7 Habits programme. Just few days before the programme, my daughter was down with fever. We took her to the doctor and the regular antibiotics didn't have any effect at all and the fever was hitting century every day!!!.

Then the doctor decided to take a blood test and going through that process itself is a tough thing, to see your little one being sucked off blood in multiple containers intended for various tests!!. It was purely by God's grace that we came through that. With so many things happening around, it was too much!!!

The blood test result came in on 12th Aug and the 7 Habits programme was on 15th Aug. The blood test came with positive for Dengue. The white blood cell count was almost half of the lowest limit and platelet count on the lower side, but above the lower limit. I didn't know what to do!!!

On the one side, seeing your little one suffer with fever and with the results like this, it was over my head. Sometimes, that is the time when you fully surrender to the Lord, when you cannot think of any alternatives??.....isn't it.

Even though, the Lord wants us to hand over things to Him, right up, but many times, we keep trying, thinking, planning for things which we cannot do nothing about. And here was a situation, in which I can do nothing!!!.

I took the blood test result to the doctor and he saw it and advised rest and thank God, he didn't talk about admitting her!!!. I was just clueless, blank. With the programme on one side, and family on the other side...I knew that it was my Lord's grace, which can take me through. I promptly dropped a mail to Bro. Anand Pillai for prayers, he called me immediately and we prayed together.

I also informed my friends for prayer and there were so many questions on the platelet count, which was over my head and was just focusing on the Lord and the programme. We were just praying proclaiming His promise in Isaiah 53:5.

By God's abundant grace, my daughter recovered very quickly and we (myself, my wife and sister-in-law) were able to attend the 7 Habits programme on 15th Aug without any concern!!!!

Praise God for His healing hand on my daughter!!!!...amazing are His ways!!!

After few days, when I went to the doctor to get the medical certificate, he was amazed himself saying, 'didn't we admit her, I had to admit many kids with Dengue during that time'.

Thank and Praise God that we didn't have to admit her and she was fine before the programme and the programme also went on well by God's grace and His hand was seen in very step.

As per Psalm 37:5, whatever may be your situation today - be it health issues or issues at the workplace, relationship issues, financial issues...'Commit it to the Lord's hands and also trust in Him and He shall bring it to pass'. Amen.

All Glory to Him!!! Praise God!!!.

Rajiv R G, CCF.

Greetings in the Name of Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. I am Daniel and I would like to share how God miraculously led me through the path of pain and suffering over the last few months. It is His pure Grace that I am living today with full strength.

It all started on 09^th January 2014, when I had severe headache with vomiting and double vision in my left eye. I was rushed to the hospital and was diagnosed with a tumor under the brain and just above the skull base pressing many vital nerves.

The tumor was 2.7*2.7*2.5 cms big. The tumor was pressing my optic nerve and it was also agonizingly close to the artery (Vein from heart – Blood supply to brain) that connected the left portion of the brain. It was also pressing the pituitary gland. If not treated it would have led to loss of vision, left side complete paralysis or even death.

Before Neuro Surgery Operation

I had to undergo an open skull Neurosurgery to decompress the artery by removing the tumor. The tumor couldn’t be removed completely because of its location. On 21^st of January 2014, I underwent a 6 hours complicated, critical and high risk surgery at Fortis Hospital, Bangalore. My skull was opened and had 50 stitches in my head.

50 Stitches after the operation

God strengthened me to face these tough situations. His strength was made perfect in my weakness. My family was totally shaken and shattered. My wife Aarthy was pregnant for 8 months and we couldn’t share much detail to her as we were expecting a baby very soon. God healed me so I returned back to normal condition very faster than expected. The Doctors and the nursed were amazed at my healing. I walked from bed the next day of my surgery. I was discharged on the 3^rd day from my surgery. All glory to Jesus Christ.

After the surgery was done the removed tumor was sent for Biopsy and was found locally malignant and the results were told to us exactly on my birthday 31^st of January 2014. I was asked to undergo radiation treatment by Dr. Chandran Gnanamuthu, Neurologist and Dr. Praharaj Singh S, Neurosurgeon.

I got admitted in BGS Global Hospitals, Bangalore. From the 10^th of February 2014 to the 16^th of February 2014 I underwent a radiation treatment of very high dosage of radiations for six fractions. Dr. Mathangi, Oncologist treated me. The equipment in which I was given treatment was called as Cyber Knife which emits X-rays and Cobalt rays. These rays are focused on the tumor from 200 directions. The tumor is burnt using these rays.

With Cyber Knife instrument poster

According to Malachi 4:2 – But for you who revere my name, the sun of righteousness will rise with healing in its rays. And you will go out and frolic like well-fed calves. The Lord rose as Righteous sun over me. I believe that the rays came from Him and He healed me.

After the treatment was over Dr. Mathangi told us that I was the first patient to cooperate so well and undergo this “Radio Surgery” successfully. All glory to Jesus. All the Doctors who treated me felt the hand of God with me. Dr. Chandran Gnanamuthu told “All praises to God”. Dr. Praharaj Singh S was so excited and shook my hands for 5 times and told me 3 times “It is God’s grace”. Dr. Paneerselvam my family Doctor told me “God is with you”. All glory to God that the world felt His presence through me. All the Doctors were amazed to see me so normal. My medicines were reduced rapidly. And during the First Check Up I was told I was completely normal. Also Dr. Praharaj Singh S told “The tumor is Benign – Non Cancerous”.

Outside the Radiation Room

I give all glory to Jesus who was with me and healed me. I believe the 2 months of January and February 2014 was a wonderful experience with God. He has blessed me and my dear wife Aarthy with a Boy baby – Benjamin on 25^thof February 2014. All Glory, Honor and Praise are unto Jesus Christ”.

“No Doctors No Medicines No Huge Equipment or Instruments But Jesus Heals”

I would like to encourage my fellow brothers and sisters in Christ that no matter what happens in our lives, nothing is impossible with Our God.

A big Thank you to all the loved ones and dear ones who prayed fervently for me and the entire God sent angels who helped us. God bless you all!!!

Daniel works in a Tier 1 IT MNC in Chennai

Children are a heritage from the Lord. The fruit of the womb is His reward – Psalms 127:3

My background:

Born and raised in an orthodox Brahmin family, accepting Christ and being baptized in Him came as a shock to my family. In addition, I faced many difficulties in my job and health. As time progressed, they gradually accepted my faith and in 2006 I got married to a God-fearing woman born and raised in Christian faith.

By God’s grace, everything went fine in our marital life. We both had good jobs, traveled many places and enjoyed our lives. But there was one thing missing: the blessing of a child. Though we did not face any embarrassing situation, every wedding anniversary reminded us of our state.

Hardships faced:

Many people told us about their dreams of us being blessed with a child. I did not take it lightly, since I knew this blessing was going to take some time, and these dreams were an encouragement from the Lord. As time passed, people started questioning us and I started avoiding certain people. We too wanted to rule out the cause, and sought medical help from our doctor friend who performed many tests for my wife and me, and confirmed that a medical condition in my body reduced the chances of my wife conceiving. Hearing this news, we were shocked and we decided to trust God for the impossible.

One day I was reading Luke 1, which narrates two supernatural incidents: the birth of John the Baptist and our Lord Jesus. Both incidents speak of God‘s omnipotence in conception. We therefore based our faith on God’s power and also took medical help for conception of a child. After a couple of years, we decided to stop pursing medical treatments since nothing worked out, and depended totally on God for the miracle. During this time of grief, when my wife was much troubled, God spoke the following verses to us.

“A woman giving birth to a child has pain because her time has come; but when her baby is born she forgets the anguish because of her joy that a child is born into the world. ²² So with you: now is your time of grief, but I will see you again and you will rejoice, and no one will take away your joy.” – John 16:21-22

For there is a proper time and procedure for every matter, though a person may be weighed down by misery. – Ecclesiastes 8:6

For with God nothing will be impossible. – Luke 1:37

Isaac prayed for his wife to be pregnant. – Genesis 25:21

Loss:

In 2011, I was transferred to the US. Within 3 months, my wife conceived and our joy knew no bounds. However, it was short lived for the baby did not grow properly and my wife had a miscarriage. The Lord prepared us for the loss ahead of time and my wife came out of it peacefully.

In the mid of 2012, our US visa extensions were denied and we had to return to India. God revealed to me one day that a curse of barrenness was upon my life. I prayed God to relieve me from that curse (for the Lord Jesus took all my curses at the cross), so the blessings of Abraham would be on me. God delivered me and later in September of that year, God opened door for us to return to the US. In December, God gave me a word of knowledge that the blessing of child was coming into our lives and asked me to receive it.

Promise to come:

In the last week of December, I told my wife I had a dream of her bearing a child. Once again, God had already revealed to her ahead of time that the wait was over. On January 16, 2013, the promise came true and we joyfully and hopeful prayed each day for God to sustain the baby throughout the time of pregnancy.

Complications during pregnancy:

During the 12^th week, my wife had some internal infection which caused extreme pain and I rushed her to the emergency. She couldn’t take any strong medication due to pregnancy and the doctors were finding it hard to perform an operation. Miraculously, the baby was very active and the heart beat was good. The next day, a doctor from another hospital asked us to visit her. With that pain I took my wife and without an incesion, the infection was treated and the pain vanished instantly. In the midst of this, God gave us the hope nothing will prevent the birth of this child.

During the 21^st week scan, the nurse observed irregular heartbeat in the baby. We committed this into the Lord’s hands. Our church prayed for the baby and the following detailed heart scan of the baby’s heart revealed no such symptoms.

The promise fulfilled:

The Lord led us all through the 9 months and on Sep 6^th, 2014 my wife gave birth to a beautiful girl baby through a safe & normal labor. Our baby brought bountiful joy and laughter not only to us, but also to our family, friends and our entire church.

God answered our prayers after 6 years of marriage and made us to wait for His perfect timing. For all things work together for good to those who love God and are called of him.

We thank and praise God for remembering his promises in our lives and fulfilling them at his appointed time.

Ramana.

Ramana is an IT Professional who is working in US.

I was one among the experienced IT professionals (11 year) who have been laid off from the top IT Company during Dec 2015. I was not on the D band in appraisal rating (or) under performer (or) in bench (non billable), but with continuous C grade appraisal rating. Even though I deserved for B grade, manager didn’t rate it correctly due to internal problems.

I worked in that IT company for 4 years and I thought that I were in a safer place in IT industry to lead my life peacefully.  But the day before Christmas, I got an email from my employer that I was moved out of the project without any prior intimation. I felt that I was going to be laid off in a day or two because the company started the process of laying off. I had huge pressure in my mind and lot of questions in my heart, why  things were happening against me . Also, my bigger worry was about getting a new job with 11+ years of experience with the previous employer history who laid off huge professionals. Till i attended the Christmas morning church service, desperate sadness engulfed around me. But during the Church service, HE began to comfort me through HIS Grace.

 I began to feel that I was not an ordinary man, if Jesus was with me, amidst of this  situation. I have experienced so many, also this is the time that i should be strong enough to show the difference between being a man of knowing and trusting God  and being not knowing and trusting God .

“He that believeth shall not make haste” –  Isaiah 28:16.

Also,I believed that without HIS permission, no one will touch me. While coming out from church , i felt GOD is holding my right hand to cross over this tough situation (as every time he does)  On 26 Dec, my HR called me and gave the termination letter. With the complete hope and confidence according to the Biblical verse “nevertheless I am not ashamed:

For I know whom I have believed, – 2 Timothy 1:12”,  

Neither I spoke anything against nor showed any discomfort to them. But I said within myself that I would get minimum of 2 offer letters from other companies before I  submit my ID card to HR which was scheduled on Jan 2015 last week. In the 2015 New Year church service, pastor preached the new year promises with the word from Joshua.

 “Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the LORD thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest. – Joshua 1:9”

I realized that Christ  did not want  me not to settle down in a comfort zone. He is expecting me to do more things. I started updating my technical skills for the interview preparedness  and posted my resumes in the job portal. No positive sign from the first 3 interviews. Got motivated by the verse, “though our outward man perish, yet the inwardman is renewed day by day. – 2 Corinthians 4:16″

I was looking to God to provide me job. During Jan 2015 second week, I got a call from 2 companies and I got offer with 20% hike. Next interesting part was, one of the new company gave me  the opportunity to shortlist few profiles and to interview the people for my new team (even before I join the company) This made to ponder upon this verse : “Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worked in us –  Ephesians 3:20”

In Jan 2015, last week I surrendered my id card with by holding new company offer.  During this laid off period, I have under stood very clearly that that Jesus Christ  is the only person who cares for me and HE is the one who can guide me correctly. When I  shared my situation to my friends, they all tried to help me out from the situation. But JESUS is the one who helped me and delivered me from this dangerous situations.

Now I have set that  JESUS is my employer and I started thinking that i am working on a contract basis for a client. So I no need to worry about the client’s action here after. I have Jesus, as my CEO who knows both my strength and weakness and my career skills . I can trust Him till the end in all situations. Unless the Lord had been my help, my soul had almost dwelt in silence.When I said, My foot slippeth; thy mercy, O Lord, held me up.In the multitude of my thoughts within me thy comforts delight my soul. Psalm 94 : 17 -19

An IT Professional working in an Indian MNC

Masakit na makita ko ang 3 kabaong na sunud-sunod sa aming sala at sinabi kong “Jesus, ikaw na ang bahala sa akin  ( Filipino)

I had a very normal and a very nice childhood.  My family was almost an ideal one. I can confidently say that I had a very good relationship with my parents, three brothers and a sister.  I considered myself blessed to have such good, loving and God-fearing parents.  To me, they were the most important people in my life, the most influential and I loved them the most. At an early age, I learned a lot from them through their simple gestures of kindness and humility towards others, no matter what your status and background is. I learned about God and that there is a loving God through their examples.

To a certain extent, I did love God but He was never the focus of my life. Like any other normal child, I was totally dependent on my parents. That was my life then – it was perfect, so blissful & secured because of my parents’ love for me.

But the love and dependence I had on them ended very abruptly and violently as I went through a series of trials and very painful tests that would have broken me deeply had I not hung on to the LORD for sustenance.

I was fifteen when my parents and brother were brutally murdered by our two houseboys.  My brother and father each sustained more than 12 stab wounds while my mother was hacked on the neck with a sharp instrument, a bolo knife. I was there but it was indeed a miracle that I was spared. I was just gagged, hogtied and harassed emotionally by my parents’ murderers. I was so close to death and even thought that that would be my end as they came to me and twice poked a gun at me – first one at the back of my head and second one on my temple. I said “Jesus, Ikaw na lang ang bahala sa’kin” ( Filipino translation : Jesus, from now on, You will take care of me).  But, mind-boggling as it were, they never pulled the trigger. I certainly had no idea where I got the courage and strength, which I displayed during that 5-hour ordeal I had with them, but I am very sure it wasn’t from me.  I knew it was God’s own guiding hands and loving protection that put a hedge between me and my parents’ killers.

Going through the aftermath of the massacre was another ordeal in itself. I couldn’t describe that deep pain in my heart when I saw three coffins lined up side by side in our house that used to ring with their laughter and music. Just seeing my loved ones lifeless was so unbearable. I felt hopeless as if the whole world was crushing on me.

I was so dependent on my parents that losing them was like having that connecting string suddenly cut off.  I never felt so alone, so lost and so lonely in my life. I used to pray that God would just take me to where my parents were. Oftentimes, I wished I wasn’t spared. My bedtime prayers consisted of lines like, “God, please don’t let me wake up anymore, let me just die in my sleep, so I could be with papa & mama.”

But every time these thoughts would overtake me, I would hear Him whispering gently to me, assuring me that I have to hold on to Him because He has great plans for me. As He promised in Hebrews 13:5, “Never would I leave you and never would I forsake you.”  I held on tight to that promise. And indeed, God came through for me.  He replaced the string, which attached me to my parents with another string, but this time attaching it to Him. And you know what God did, He never stopped loving me. He never gave up on me. His love pursued me. And finally, He won me over. Yes, the more I struggled with the thoughts about wanting to be with my parents, the more He re-focused my mind and my heart in wanting to love Him, instead.

I also became the star-witness of this much-celebrated case, my father once being the musical director of Pilita Corrales & Nora Aunor and the long judicial process of attending hearings wearied me. The only thing that sustained me was the thought that Jesus was always with me.

I really had this belief before that God would spare me from further sufferings after the tragedy. But I was wrong. There were family problems, sibling disputes over inheritance, separation from my brothers and sister, financial struggles, betrayal and broken-heartedness. I was even swindled many times not by people whom I have not known, but by my very own relatives whom I trusted.  Those were all painful events. But these all led me to understand His great love for me and to keep me ever so dependent on Him. Yes, there were struggles in my heart along the way too, and made me lose hope temporarily on Him. But God’s grace and kindness never allowed me to be hopeless for long because in every struggle I experienced I found myself down on my knees praying and relying on Him for strength. Those were even the times I felt closest to Him.

While that tragic incident suddenly left me orphaned, it was the time when God revealed Himself to me in a very special way. Because I was still a child yet at that time, in my own childlike way, I would run to God for everything I needed and without meaning to, I made Him my papa and mama. I remember telling Him, “Paano na ‘yan? Wala na sila papa and mama, pa’no na ‘ko?  Ikaw na lang ang bahala sa’kin”.  Little did I know that those simple words I uttered in a very childlike manner out of desperation and hopelessness was a simple act of sweet surrender to God. And God took it seriously. One thing is for sure, I bore the burden ALL because of GOD.

Now, as I recall these unusual and sad experiences to people, they would ask me, “Who took care of you?”  I’m always at a loss for words because I’m afraid they would not understand. Because to be honest, it was really God and no one else who took care of me and is still taking care of me. I still slip, oh yes, a lot of times but each time I’m down there at the pits, I feel the grip of God’s hand on mine.  I manage to go on with my life with a lot of prayers and with God’s love for me in my heart.  He continues to remind me of the time when I lost my parents, that I was quick to put my trust on Him. I am so grateful that I received Him in my heart, forever thankful for all that He has done in my life.  He has been my papa, my mama, best friend, my confidante, my refuge, my stronghold, my security, my hope, the reason for my living. His promises that I read in the Bible all have special meaning for me.  When I felt so lost and that my world was falling apart, I found hope in this verses, “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.” When I decided to choose God over anything and anybody, that is, for me the greatest choice I have ever made in my life.

My God has helped me rebuild the broken bits and pieces of my life. He allowed me to experience the worst so I could relish the best that He has to offer. I still do not and may not totally understand His ways. I just understand better now. He not only took away the people who mattered most to me then, but also everything I deemed important because He knows fully well that those would hinder me from loving Him the most. I should have been killed a long time ago but I was spared because I have yet then to experience the miracle and truth about His love.

I will be forever grateful to Jesus, my Lord and Savior for allowing me to experience His great love for me. When I allowed Him in my heart and in all areas of my life, to me, everything became simple. I need not worry at all because He carries me and has me on the palms of His hands.

I have this song for Him, a jazz song by David Pack which goes like this:  God I’ve been through / Some hard times before / Still I made it through the years / You know it’s true / Whatever lies in store / I’ve faced troubled times/ But I won’t look behind / ‘Coz God, when I think about Your love and what it means / I know that You are the answer / I keep coming back to You / Heal me one more time / I keep coming back to You / You’re the reason why / The reason I’ve got to keep this love alive.

It has been 31 years since I lost my parents yet it seems like yesterday. At 46 years old, I could say that I’m still very much a child at heart. My God has blessed me with so much more than I could ever imagine. He has given me a great family, my husband and my kids, who are my inspirations. I have a lot of things to look forward to and one of them is seeing my children spreading their wings, enjoying their independence and life to the fullest with God in it. With them beside me, holding my hand, I continue to look forward to God’s many miracles and I know I would forever be in awe of His wonders in my life.

2 Corinthians 12:10 says, “That is why for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions and in difficulties.  For when I am weak, then I am strong”.   These very verses have touched me very meaningfully and you will see why, as I relate to you part of my life.

To You, our God and my Father, be the glory and honour forevermore!  Thank you.

This testimony is from Vivian,  who is working an executive in Corporate Strategic Planning department of reputed bank in Philippines.