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Just a couple of photos of the family....wanted to put the latest of the latest, but a bit 'cacat' in downloading, so these are from my handphone. The top was from our 17th Wedding Anniversary on 25 January this year. A pity Noel looks blurred in the photo. The photo of the boys was also taken about then, in my messy study room! See my books (God's Word & You) all stacked up on the left??
This morning, it must have been about 4am, when I woke up with terrible palpitations....that is, took the pulse rate, and it was about 200 per minute! I did think, this heart may just decide to stop! Other times, it does not go up so high, usually, 140-160. I am sure you know that normal pulse rate would be about 80-90. For those who don't know, this is a regular occurrence in my life, causing me to be in the hospital on an average of once per month. Don't worry, there is nothing dangerous about my heart palpitating. But....palpitations mean that the heart is pumping too fast, and it is not pumping properly, therefore reduction of oxygen to the brain and I may just faint....and causing low blood pressure too. It will be dangerous if you are driving, or you faint and hit your head somewhere. It will just take too much space to explain everything - how to solve problem, why, when.... so I will leave it to some other time.
5 am. Normally, I will just wait for Noel to wake up about 6am, then we will go off to Sunway Medical Centre, where my cardiologist is at. I decided to read the book of Hebrews. This is such a great book, and it seems to be a mini Bible that explains God's purpose for His people, Israel, and about living by faith.
Heb 11:13 These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of [them], and embraced [them], and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth.
Heb 11:14 For they that say such things declare plainly that they seek a country.
Heb 11:15 And truly, if they had been mindful of that [country] from whence they came out, they might have had opportunity to have returned.
Heb 11:16 But now they desire a better [country], that is, an heavenly: wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God: for he hath prepared for them a city. (KJV)
It is very easy, as believers, to live on this earth, as if this is our final destination. We build our dreams here, just like everyone else....a life of comfort, with our material possessions. I find that it is important to know that we are only here on transit to our heavenly country! That is the reason why Jesus said we are not to build our earthly treasure but heavenly treasure.
Mat 19:20 The young man saith unto him, All these things have I kept from my youth up: what lack I yet?
Mat 19:21 Jesus said unto him, If thou wilt be perfect, go [and] sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come [and] follow me.
Mat 19:22 But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful: for he had great possessions.
Mat 19:23 Then said Jesus unto his disciples, Verily I say unto you, That a rich man shall hardly enter into the kingdom of heaven.
So at 6am Noel dropped me while the nurses ('You again, ah?", "Palpitations again?!?" "Ha! Ha! The same ......." ) get me ready to inject the medication straight to the heart. It will bring the pulse rate to 0....this is actually very scary, I only found out only recently!....and then the heart will start pumping and go back to normal. When the heart goes to 0 rate, I have a sick feeling for about 2 seconds, and I am fine! Then it is waiting for another hour for the blood pressure to go back to normal. Then it is time to go home.
While I was waiting, there was another elderly patient next to me. From the conversations I heard between the nurses and doctor, she has renal failure. They had contacted her children but they were taking a long time to come. Suddenly, she was calling out for the nurse that she could not breathe, and I called, "Quickly, she is calling!". So there was a bit of commotion, but she was ok, and was later brought to the ICU. I was praying for her that her children would get there quick, thinking of the fact that it would be terrible to go without your family around! But I remembered what I read this morning. We, as children of God are truly blessed to know the Lord, and there is nothing to fear if we are leaving this place we call home....this earth.....but it is truly temporary. Then I remembered that about 2 months ago, a Chinese lady in her 50s, that a few of us shared the gospel to, passed away of renal failure. She had asked the Lord's forgiveness and gave her life to the Lord, and found hope and joy in Him, though it was only in such a short time. Her family who were unbelievers could see that she had peace when she passed away and called me. They said they know that she believes in Jesus and wants her to go through a Christian funeral service. This was the first time we were organising for aChinese speaking funeral but thank God we had a Chinese pastor friend that helped us tremendously. It was such a joy to KNOW that she has gone back to her rightful, permanent HOME. And it was so wonderful that her relatives could hear the gospel and know that there is indeed a better place. This earth is full of pain, and suffering, and problems, but Praise God for the hope we have through our Lord Jesus Christ!
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