Today, in church, a newcomer sat next to me. She doesn't look Chinese, so I presumed she is not a local, a Filippino perhaps.

Talked to her after service. Found out she is an ex Muslim! And she is a local. A true blue Singaporean Malay! Oh wow...

Given that 99 per cent of the Malay population in Singapore are Muslims and people expect a Singaporean Malay to be a Muslim, she must have been given many queer looks and thrown many questions when she profess that she is a Christian.

She told me that currently she is staying in a hostel as her own family chased her out when she declared her belief in Jesus Christ. What pain she must have went through.

I wonder...

Every festive season, does she crave for her family? She must be very upset and lonely. Malays are wellknown to be grounded in family. Yet she has given up her family cos she wants to follow Christ.

When her family and friends scold her, ridcule her, how does she handle the pain? The pain must be so so great that she must be tempted so many times to give Chirst up and go back to her family. Yet she didn't.

When her family, her parents, her siblings plead with her to go back cos they miss her, does she turn soft inside and wants to give up? Yet she didn't.

She strives on. She is determined to follow Christ, despite the odds against her, despite the lack of understanding from her family and society.

She told us that her family told her that she will never survive outside alone. Her reply was "My living God will sustain me."

When I heard her story, I don't know what came into me. I felt such joy and excitement that I went around church, telling everyone I bumped into about her. Cos hey, I never thought I can know someone like that. I can't contain my excitement!

Oh, what faith! What courage! What strength!

As I am blogging this, it dawns on me that this woman here has lived out Luke 9:23. The verse I shared yesterday on my blog. Oh my dear Heavenly Father, is this what You are teaching me? I asked for strength, courage and faith yesterday to deny myself and take up my cross daily so I can follow You.

And today, You showed me a living example who has just done that! I have spoken, touched and seen such a person! She is not someone I read about or heard about. She is not a spiritual powerhouse, like Ruth Graham and Beth Moore. She is an ordinary Singaporean who has determined in her heart to follow an extraordinary God, You!

She has DENIED HERSELF, her own ethnicity. She is TAKING UP HER CROSS DAILY, her pains of hearing her family and race calling her a betrayer. She is FOLLOWING YOU.

Dear Heavenly Father,
I thank You for sending Anatasia to me today. I thank You so much for this soul You saved. What a powerful testimony! Oh wow, Lord. Wow. I thank You for showing me that I, too, can be as strong, as courageous, as full of faith. I can deny myself. I can take up my cross daily. Most imporantly, I can follow You! Oh God, You are so good to me. You know that my weak spirit may sometimes doubt whether I can do it. But today, You showed me, I can. I can. Thank You, once again. Yet another revelation to me today. Like what Dennis Lee prayed about me last Sunday, You will reveal Youself to me. Revelations will come to me. One had already came on Thurs. Today, yet another one. Jesus, I want to remember always how good You are to me. You have 'quiet me with Your love' Zep 3:17. I am stunned by Your goodness. Thank You, Abba Father. And now, I want to deny myself, take up my cross daily and follow You. Cos I know I can do it, by Your spirit.
In Jesus' name I pray,
Amen