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

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.

I have been in faith for about 15 long years and only recently have I realized that I do not exercise my faith enough. I limit God in my life. But recently God revealed me that anything is possible though faith in God.  My younger brother is a 2009 passed out BE candidate. You all know…how the recession had affected placements in engineering colleges and the worst affected were the 2009 passouts. Lot of hope was on my brother who could not manage a placement among the few companies that came for campus in early 2008. My mother who was struggling to support my family financially after my father’s demise was very depressed. I took the responsibility of appealing to God his case, but somewhere in my heart I knew that God had a beautiful plan for him.

By God’s grace, recently IT companies started recruiting 2009 passout freshers. My brother had applied for the off campus along with his friends, but to our dismay he was not called for the tests for reasons unknown while all his other friends were called. This was the company my brother wanted to get in to and hence he was very much disappointed.  After a few weeks in April, through my husband’s contact we came to know that the same company was conducting walk-ins for 2009 freshers for testing career. My brother has very good analytical skill than technical skills. He was always scary in getting in to programming jobs fearing that he would not be able to perform. So this seemed to be God’s answer to our prayers, if he had gone through off campus, he would have to go in to programming profile. None of his friends who attended the test were able to clear the tests. Those friends were better performer than my brother in college. I insisted my brother to put all his faith in God and perform well. He is quite a shy guy and not a very good communicator and that bothered us more. Whatever may it be, I put all trust in God and sat in prayer and fasting on the day of his test. I was only telling that “God, nothing is difficult for thee, your glory is revealed only in our weakness”.

I kept sending him SMS to call upon God in times of fear. I asked him to keep saying “For this, I have Jesus”. He too felt God’s presence and guidance and to his surprise, he was the only person to have cleared all the 3 written test rounds. He next went through the technical and HR interviews by GOD’s grace. Yes pure grace. That day I experience God’s grace to the fullest. Moreover through this experience, God has revealed me the power of fasting and praying. From that day onwards I have been Praising and Thanking God for the way he has lead my brother’s life. My brother’s faith on God has deepened and I am sure he is going to hold on to God always.