I saw a great man today. Benny Prasad. Humble, talented, and yet very faithful.
His testimony was very powerful. He shared that he came from a well to do family in India, Bangalore. Expectations of him was high, and his parents placed a lot of on emphasis on academic success on him. However, he developed a side effect from the drugs that he took for treating asthma, which caused him to lose 60% of his lung power. He even said he got pierced by a javelin when he was 12. Maybe that's the reason why. His health became very poor, his grades weren't good, and his parents became disappointed with him.
He was considered such a failure and good for nothing that everyone gave up on him. Friends, family, society... Fortunately his teacher gave him some hope. "Everyone is useful. Everyone can be used for their own purposes. Benny, you can be used as a negative example..."
"My family called me a curse to the family! I bring curse and disgrace to the family. I was very hurt. I even tried to commit suicide when I was 16. There is no point in living. Living means shame, rejection, and disgrace."
"But I got to know Jesus when I was 16. He was willing to die for my sake to save me."
"I asked him, how is this possible, when I am not healthy, I am a disgrace, I am a good for nothing. I have no savings, I have no talent, I am not worthy."
"Jesus said no. He said He needed me, to become a blessings for the nations. I was not so sure of myself. But I trusted Him."
"Jesus, if it is your plan for me to bring blessings to the nations, I will do it all by your provisions. I will not draw loans from a bank. I will not owe anyone anything to do Your work. I will trust You to provide all that I need."
His friends laughed at him. No one believed in him. But Benny never had any doubts about Jesus's promise to him. Benny became a great man. His guitar playing skills became legendary. But Benny was as humble after all these years.
His small bundle of passports was very cute! haha.
"Jesus taught me how to play the guitar, but I don't know why others say I'm good at it. I merely added two drums to the guitar and the University of New York gave me a doctorate for it!"
Yeah you better listen and see how he plays the guitar. It is anything but ordinary. He is crazily good at it.
"Jesus gave me a new life again, to live life in a clean slate. I am thankful for Him putting a price on my life by paying for it with His own life. That is how much my life is worth in His eyes! He is willing to die for me, and He gave me hope. I am eternally grateful to Him!"
I feel very encouraged after listening to Benny's testimony. He was indeed, someone put under extreme circumstances, and He shone for the Lord! Somehow I can feel a connection between him and me. Just by that one line of his.
"Jesus taught me how to play the guitar."
I didn't receive any formal training in music or guitar either. In worldly terms, I picked up the guitar on my own, by learning how to read chords, by observing youtube videos. But deep down I know, my skills were a blessing to me by the Lord, who taught me how to play the guitar. Why do I say so? I did the same things even before I returned back to Christ, like reading chord diagrams, observing videos, but my guitar playing skills were as lousy.
After seeing Benny, I felt very excited. I know I am able to do great works for God in time to come! Because we have something in common.
Jesus taught us how to play the guitar.
Sunday, August 30, 2009
Tuesday, August 25, 2009
Never let me go
Returning to church somehow gives a mixed feeling. Gladness because I finally found peace in life. Yet, it also brings about some sadness in me.
Sadness as in, some of my pre-believer friends are starting to shun me because they have an impression that all Christians are evangelistic. While I gained lots of new friends in church, I am also losing some outside church, just by their impression of Christianity.
One friend even asked me, "Are you talking to me now because you feel that I have the "potential" to be converted?"
It hurts, but I pray that they might know of this grace someday.
I could still remember very vividly, how the Lord's hands picked up the shattered pieces of the kingdom of ah lang, and said to me.
"My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." 2 Cor 12:9.
He gave me peace in life.
"And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." Philipians 4:7.
He is the rock that I stand on, the source of my confidence in life.
"He alone is my rock and my salvation; he is my fortress, I will never be shaken." Psalms 62:2.
He taught me to honor my parents despite me not totally respecting them.
"Honor your father and your mother, so that you may live long in the land the LORD your God is giving you." Exodus 20:12.
He told me to give wisely with respect to the constraints I have, so that I may give happily.
"Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver." 2 Cor 9:7.
He never fails to encourage me whenever I am feeling low.
"From the ends of the earth I call to you, I call as my heart grows faint; lead me to the rock that is higher than I. For you have been my refuge, a strong tower against the foe."
Psalms 61:2-3.
He gave me hope in life.
"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." Jeremiah 29:11.
He taught me to start doing good works.
"All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, 17so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work." 2 Tim 3:16-17.
He blessed me with a skill for guitar playing and singing songs!
"Worship the LORD with gladness; come before him with joyful songs." Psalms 100:2
He has taught me not to resolve things spitefully, or to create more tension, just to get back at others to do myself justice.
"Peacemakers who sow in peace raise a harvest of righteousness." James 3:18
But most importantly He gave me this promise, when I finally realised all I had achieved in my life have been meaningless.
"Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you." Hebrews 13:5.
Can you feel God's love tonight?
Sadness as in, some of my pre-believer friends are starting to shun me because they have an impression that all Christians are evangelistic. While I gained lots of new friends in church, I am also losing some outside church, just by their impression of Christianity.
One friend even asked me, "Are you talking to me now because you feel that I have the "potential" to be converted?"
It hurts, but I pray that they might know of this grace someday.
I could still remember very vividly, how the Lord's hands picked up the shattered pieces of the kingdom of ah lang, and said to me.
"My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." 2 Cor 12:9.
He gave me peace in life.
"And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." Philipians 4:7.
He is the rock that I stand on, the source of my confidence in life.
"He alone is my rock and my salvation; he is my fortress, I will never be shaken." Psalms 62:2.
He taught me to honor my parents despite me not totally respecting them.
"Honor your father and your mother, so that you may live long in the land the LORD your God is giving you." Exodus 20:12.
He told me to give wisely with respect to the constraints I have, so that I may give happily.
"Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver." 2 Cor 9:7.
He never fails to encourage me whenever I am feeling low.
"From the ends of the earth I call to you, I call as my heart grows faint; lead me to the rock that is higher than I. For you have been my refuge, a strong tower against the foe."
Psalms 61:2-3.
He gave me hope in life.
"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." Jeremiah 29:11.
He taught me to start doing good works.
"All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, 17so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work." 2 Tim 3:16-17.
He blessed me with a skill for guitar playing and singing songs!
"Worship the LORD with gladness; come before him with joyful songs." Psalms 100:2
He has taught me not to resolve things spitefully, or to create more tension, just to get back at others to do myself justice.
"Peacemakers who sow in peace raise a harvest of righteousness." James 3:18
But most importantly He gave me this promise, when I finally realised all I had achieved in my life have been meaningless.
"Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you." Hebrews 13:5.
Can you feel God's love tonight?
Saturday, August 08, 2009
Being watched over
All these while I had always believed someone was watching out for me up there, even when I was not a believer in Christ.
When my hand struck the landing skid of the helicopter while doing my live descent during NS days, I lost control of the rope and free-falled for 10 metres down the rope. If my line man wasn't alert and tightened the rope, I would have pummeled to my death.
And I was almost knocked down by a van near my school when I crossed Watten Drive without really checking the incoming vehicles from the main road. (Was too preoccupied thinking about work then!)
And the feeling of unpeace when I sat in the car, that led me to that conclusion what I wanted to do with my life.
And today, when the boy gave me a tackle that fell me to the ground face flat, after I got up the opponent players immediately came up and restrained me and held me back for goodness knows what. It was only after the game that my friends told me they were quite worried that I will retaliate because the tackle seemed very terrible. Will break shin bone that type! They were so worried for me! And then I thought I had a routine fall, and I didn't even feel anything.
If you were to ask me how I felt given this position last year this time, I would have attributed it to luck.
But now I know, that it is actually the Lord who has protected me from being the fourth person I know in my life after Ace, Ah Koh, and CK to suffer a broken shin bone.
Hallelujah!
When my hand struck the landing skid of the helicopter while doing my live descent during NS days, I lost control of the rope and free-falled for 10 metres down the rope. If my line man wasn't alert and tightened the rope, I would have pummeled to my death.
And I was almost knocked down by a van near my school when I crossed Watten Drive without really checking the incoming vehicles from the main road. (Was too preoccupied thinking about work then!)
And the feeling of unpeace when I sat in the car, that led me to that conclusion what I wanted to do with my life.
And today, when the boy gave me a tackle that fell me to the ground face flat, after I got up the opponent players immediately came up and restrained me and held me back for goodness knows what. It was only after the game that my friends told me they were quite worried that I will retaliate because the tackle seemed very terrible. Will break shin bone that type! They were so worried for me! And then I thought I had a routine fall, and I didn't even feel anything.
If you were to ask me how I felt given this position last year this time, I would have attributed it to luck.
But now I know, that it is actually the Lord who has protected me from being the fourth person I know in my life after Ace, Ah Koh, and CK to suffer a broken shin bone.
Hallelujah!
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