my own personal revival that stemmed from coordinating a wedding on 10 Oct 2015

2 weeks before their wedding on 26 Sept 2015 was my first time meeting this couple at their wedding rehearsal at Caversham house. The bride looked pale and stressed out, and she reminded me of myself, 2 weeks before my own wedding. Mark was engaged to help them with their actual wedding day photoshoot, and they have graciously extended to invite me along to their small and intimate wedding.

At the wedding rehearsal, we realised that they are doing everything on their own, and are quite clueless with some of the nitty gritties. I decide to just help them on the spot, since I'm available... and suggested that if they need me to help coordinate the wedding, I am more than happy to help them along. And they happily took up the offer upon strong and eager encouragement from their parents and Ps Cheng Lai, the Pastor officiating their wedding.

Little did I know this little gesture to help a couple in times of need changed my focus, my perspective and brought about a major spiritual breakthrough... a personal spiritual revival...

The first thing that we needed to discuss was "what is happening for that entire wedding day"?

There was no run sheet for any helpers to follow.

There was no contact list of all key helpers and bridal party.

The bride was flying out that evening, back to Malaysia to pick up her gowns and spend time with her grandma who can't come to Perth to attend the wedding. They were only available to meet over lunch for a short time, but Mark and I are rushing to grab some stuff from Swan Valley and head to church for prayer meeting thereafter. 

We couldn't arrange to meet to discuss. All conversations continued via whatsapp for the wedding preparations thereafter. God inspired me to share two key verses with the bride............

The following weekend, 3-5 Oct, Mark and I went to Singapore to attend a wedding, and on Sunday, while we were worshipping at Agape Baptist Church, I started developing a high fever... we went on to rush around to catch up with friends and family, celebrated my niece's birthday in advance with family, whilst popping panadols in between to bring the fever down.

5 Oct, Monday, we went to ICA to collect my new IC and passport, before heading to Airport to catch the plane back to Perth... My fever persisted and we went to see a doctor on Tuesday morning. The doctor told me I should be getting better, there are white spots on my tonsils and to continue eating panadols and nurofen in staggered intervals to have the fever under control. If I don't get better, then start on the antibiotics he has prescribed for me on Wed. I went home, ate some soupy food for brunch and popped some panadols. Felt better, and started doing some work on the computer etc... After a while, my feet started feeling itchy, and I was scratching profusely. I realised that I started developing red itchy spots similar to Hand Foot Mouth Disease that I had contracted in April 2014. I was getting worried and I prayed that God will not let me have a full-blown HFMD because the ulcers in the throat were just torturous and there's no way I can help Joel&Sharon with their wedding on Sat, 10 Oct, if I don't get well! I quickly contacted Mark to remind him to buy the antibiotics on his way home from work. I started taking the antibiotics on Tuesday night religiously in 8 hours interval... the fever seems to go off in the morning but in the afternoon, it came back again. I was on sick leave for that entire week. Thank God it was the school holidays and I did not need to run tutorial classes at Touchpoint. Unfortunately, the antibiotics doesn't seem to work and I became so severe and weak that I had no choice but call for After hours GP to come to our place to check on me. By the time the doctor eventually arrive, it was close to 12am. She had a look at my condition, and the medication that was prescribed to me, and told me that I have been prescribed with the wrong antibiotics. I should stop taking it, and gave me new antibiotics prescription. Thank God she had two pills with her, and she gave them to me. She cautioned me that if I don't get better the next morning, I should just go straight to the hospital, in fear that I'd develop Pneumonia. That was definitely a huge scare for me then. Who'd have thought that it'd be so serious. I was really panicking and praying that God will just miraculously heal me and prayed against all forms of spiritual attack. Amazingly, and only by the grace of God, I finally recovered by Friday, although not fully, and continued to help Joel and Sharon finalise their wedding plans, contact the key personnels who have been engaged by them to confirm the timing of their deliveries and arrivals etc. sort out the guest list, seating arrangements etc. And we are speaking of the day before the wedding! (This is hilarious, because somehow as of 17 Oct 2017, I actually forgot the entire episode of my sickness happening just before their wedding, until I read the draft of this post that was never completed and published since 2 years back!)

All glory to God that everything went smoothly for the wedding, I made many new friends through this special episode of coordinating Joel & Sharon's wedding, and through it all, I realised my strength, my gift, the talent that God has given me. It has re-confirmed once again that God has given me the ability to coordinate and multi-task even under humongous stress and conflicting situation, to be clear-headed still and make wise decisions and be that helping hand to someone else in need.

It is something special and unique that I should never dismiss: the gift and talent God has blessed me with to multi-task well and be an efficient coordinator. Through the episode of coordinating Joel & Sharon's wedding, I came to the realisation that indeed God's fingerprints are all over my life, and He has changed me tremendously to be a vessel for the advancement of the Kingdom of God.

I just need to be patient and obedient to His calling, His plans, His will, His directions, His destiny for my life and my family...