Why Elisha?

Our baby’s name, Elisha, has been inspired by a dream and three promises from God. But first, what does it mean?

Elisha: Its Biblical Significance
Elisha, pronounced Ee-LYE-Sher, is a Hebrew name that means ‘God is my salvation’. Elisha was a prophet of God in Old Testament Times. He was a faithful attendant to his master, the prophet Elijah. Before Elijah was taken up to heaven, Elisha asked for a double portion of his master’s spirit and he received from God. Elisha is said to be an even-tempered man, and his ministry a type of Jesus – one marked with mercy, and miracles accessible to common folk. So it is our hope and prayer that our son will be deeply filled with the Holy Spirit and be a minister of God’s compassion, grace and healing to all he meets.

Why Elisha?
Now, to explain the choice for our baby’s name properly, I have to skip back in time to late July 2007.

We were expecting our first child then. His name was Jaeden which means ‘The Lord has heard’. Jaeden probably went home to heaven when he was about 7 weeks old. We didn’t miss him till he was 10 weeks old. However, the strangest thing then was that I had a dream. I dreamt that I had two children – a boy of 4 or 5, and a nursing girl of 2. When I woke up from that dream, I told Roy that it was God’s way of reassuring me that I would not miscarry Jaeden. However, that was not so. In hindsight, I think it was God’s way of telling me that I would have children because the dream came after Jaeden had already left.

First, a dream…
It was a powerful dream. In that dream, I saw our son rushing forward to Pastor Raymond of Emmanuel AoG who had injured his back and was bent over in pain. The minute the little boy laid his hands on Pst Raymond, he was well again. The dream gave me two insights: (1) My eldest child would be a boy. (2) He would be God’s vessel of His healing grace.

Then, a word…
Of course, after I realised that Jaeden was gone on August 18, I felt the pain bitterly as I did not understand why I would have had such dream and still have my baby die. However, God , ever the compassionate Father, gave His comfort through my husband and a dear friend, Serena Koh-Lo. In a short span of 3 days after I had the D&C operation, both Roy and Serena told me separately that I would have a child again, and that child would have the double portion anointing. It was still difficult for me to receive this promise that I would have another child.

More reassurances…
On September 13, my soul and hope for a child was revived. I went for a bible study session at New Creation Church. The main thrust of that day’s teaching was about the Jubilee, with nothing to do with fertility or children. However, as Pastor Prince was expounding on the differences between commanded blessings and blessings received by faith, he made mention of how Elisha commanded the blessing of a son upon a Shunammite woman in 2 Kings 4:11-17. When Elisha called her and told her, “About this time next year, you will hold a son in your arms.” Her response was faithless. She had actually objected. “No, my lord. Don’t mislead your servant, O man of God!” Despite her faithlessness, she became pregnant and gave birth at about the same time the following year as Elisha had said. My first reaction was that I was as faithfless as that Shunammite woman. But if God did it for her, He could, and would, do it for me too. “God, help me in my unbelief!”

I walked out of that service and called Roy immediately. I told him, ” I am certain that we will have a son by this time next year because God told me so during the service.” Indeed, if you stop to check the calendar, this baby will arrive at about the same time this September. Isn’t God awesome?

Unfolding miracles…
This pregnancy has also been marked with physical threats of miscarriage. Actually, more than the previous one. These are quickly quelled by the reading of His Word as well as His promise to me at the year-end service at NCC. God had distinctly said to me, “I hurt when you hurt. That miscarriage was one too too many.” I know He will not let me lose this child again. Fears of abnormal foetal development have also assailed me. However, I know it never matters how I feel. What matters is the kind of God and Father He is. So I know that without a doubt, just as I’ve received this child in my womb, that He too will continue to perfect the growth of this baby.

To God be the glory; Great things has He done and continues to do!

What Being Pregnant Has Taught Me About God and Faith

Well, it has been a while since I posted anything. My last visit to the gynaecologist was on the 11th of February and the doctor’s report was great! The baby had grown to 23 mm, up from 8.7 mm two weeks before. The estimated due date has been pushed back by 2 days to 17 September, 2008. The arm and leg buds have started showing. I couldn’t figure out the heartbeat of the baby on the ultrasound scan but the gynae was ever so patient in explaining to me what the hazy shapes meant. In fact, the gynae seemed really happy that my baby was doing so well. I found her super chatty that day. I also found it so funny that she said that “you see, sometimes doctors really can’t do much to help a baby survive. What is important is that the genetic make-up of the baby is correct.” I was like “Huh? How come a doctor would say something like this?”

But of course, what she says is so true. Medical professions and advancements can do a lot to help improve the physiological state and well-being of the human race. However, they cannot control, ascertain nor guarantee the outcome of medical treatment nor the lifespan of individual. Only God can.

During the course of the last 5 weeks or so, since I discovered that I am with child, I have learnt so much more about the reality of life and its mystery. No matter how intelligent or how advanced technology gets, we cannot control life nor death. And as for health? Sure, we can take all the supplements or medications but they are still no gurantee for complete recovery or preservation of health. Being on the hormone pills to help support a healthy pregnancy, I am so aware of that the health of my baby is not dictated by these small white pills. No matter how well I eat or how much I rest, there is still no way I can personally ensure the healthy development of my baby. All that I do helps to boost the chances of the healthy development, but still it is not a guarantee. I cannot but I am so thankful that I have a Creator, a Covenant Friend and a Father who can.

He who spoke the universe into being. He who commands dry bones to live. He who raises the dead. He can.

And what is even more amazing is He has already made a personal promise to ensure that we will have life, and life abundantly, if we put our trust in Him. I had this discussion with a friend about what faith is. For me, faith is choosing to believe God is who He says He is and will do what He says He will do. Something I have also been learning about faith is that it speaks. Faith calls things that are not, as though they were (Romans 4:17). How powerful is that – to call things that have not come to pass as though they have. Faith is also believing against all hope, all natural circumstances. Why is it that without faith, it is impossible to please God, and not righteousness or holiness? Because I believe that faith makes one realise just how powerless we really are and only God is the omnipotent. Faith gives God the rightful glory and honour He is due.

However powerless we really are in ourselves, I am truly amazed to find that God has empowered us to live an overcoming life through Jesus and through the Holy Spirit whom He has placed in us. There is so much more to my God that I have known, and it is through this miracle of a baby that I am learning so much more about what it means to be entirely dependent on Him and Him alone.

That is perhaps why in John, Jesus says that He is the vine and we are the brances. If we abide in Him, then we will bear fruit. Just like a branch separated from the mother plant cannot have life and will soon dry up and die, I have no hope of bearing this baby fruit on my own.

Bless You, Our Little Marvel

A baby is God’s opinion that the world should go on.

Never will a time come when the most marvellous recent invention

is as marvellous as a newborn baby.

Carl Sandburg (1878 – 1967)

To our dearest baby,

Though we cannot see you nor hold you just yet,

we know you are beautiful and wonderful.

You are growing more and more incredible

with every passing day.

As God’s hands ever so delicately shape you,

we know you are just simply perfect –

in form, stature and spirit.

God spoke His Word and you were formed.

His Word will continue to give strength

to your tender flesh,

and breathe health into your bones.

Little one, though you are still tiny,

you already have a big destiny.

Something God has determined that

no one else but you are able to fulfil.

Even now as you are living in my womb,

your destiny is already unfolding,

and your wisdom in the ways of God growing.

For it is His very life that flows in you.

Your daddy and I cannot wait to hold you,

and help you live the life God has in store for.

But as we wait, we are praying for you

Each and every day.

So until we have you in our arms,

we want you to know that you are already in our hearts.

We love you, precious little one.

We cannot wait to welcome you into our home.

With lots of love,

Your mummy