Dear all,
After David's last medical review, he was advised to increase his intake of thalidomide after he complained of aches in his spine. It is now every alternate days instead of once every 3 days and he is also scheduled for an X-ray tomorrow. His medical appointment is also now 2 weeks apart instead of 3. Due to the thalidomide, he is often very very tired but other than that, thank God he has not experienced any numbness like before. We are also thankful that his blood tests and other markers are negative of any active disease. Please continue to pray that tomorrow's X-ray result be good and that he continues to be in full remission. The dreadful thought of "what if he suffers a relapse" kept creeping back and it takes great effort to renew my mind and continue to trust God and "hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful" (Hebrews 10:23).
A dear sister-in-Christ whom we got to know in the church David shared his message last Sunday, blessed us as she shared Psalm 84 with us after hearing our story. I take comfort in the lovely truth of God's word once again:
"For the LORD God is a sun and shield; the LORD bestows favor and honor; no good thing does he withhold from those whose walk is blameless.
O LORD Almighty, blessed is the man who trusts in you."Psalm 84:11,12
I would also like to share a story which touched me when I read it in a friend's email as she updated her sister-in-law Sharon's condition. (Sharon is in coma, please join us to pray for her to be awaken and fully healed so she could be home with her husband and 2 young kids again). I am sure many would be encouraged by this:
"Malachi 3:3 He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver.This verse puzzled some women in a Bible study and they wondered what this statement meant about the character and nature of God.One of the women offered to find out the process of refining silver and get back to the group at their next Bible Study.That week, the woman called a silversmith and made an appointment to watch him at work. She didn't mention anything about the reason for her interest beyond her curiosity about the process of refining silver.As she watched the silversmith, he held a piece of silver over the fire and let it heat up. He explained that in refining silver, one needed to hold the silver in the middle of the fire where the flames were hottest as to burn away all the impurities.The woman thought about God holding us in such a hot spot; then she thought again about the verse that says:'He sits as a refiner and purifier of silver.'She asked the silversmith if it was true that he had to sit there in front of the fire the whole time the silver was being refined.The man answered that yes, he not only had to sit there holding the silver, but he had to keep his eyes on the silver the entire time it was in the fire. If the silver was left a moment too long in the flames, it would be destroyed.The woman was silent for a moment. Then she asked the silversmith, 'How do you know when the silver is fully refined?' He smiled at her and answered, 'Oh, that's easy -- when I see my image in it'When going through difficult times, remember God has His eye on you and will keep watching you and that you are being "polished" so that the Lord can see His image in you."
God bless!
Whee Ling
