When
and How do I come to know God and accept Jesus Christ as my Savior?
It was
in 2002, when I was 42 years old, through God’s love I have become a Christian believer
by accepting Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior and humbly surrendered every
area of my life to God. I’m Saiaung M Teekham, Tai (Shan) race, residing in New
York, U.S.
At
first, in late 2001, I suffered from several losses. I was so sad, ashamed,
angry, hopeless and frustrated. I could not forgive myself from my mistakes I made which became as blockades that hindered and broke the bright future of
my children. I was very discourage so that I cried out to the truth many times.
Then I scheduled a period for meditation began by many hours in a day and weeks and then months
long to seek the truth in Buddhist way, totally 196 days when it came to the
end. During my meditating period, Sai James (Tai) and Thai Christians, David and Amy the American friends, John & Anna and some Norwegian
friends, and Mario a Christian friend from Philippine visited me individually
and separately some time as a group as well. When visiting I was asked if they could pray for
me, and nervously I agreed. They laid hand on me and prayed; and took any
opportunity to read the Bible verses to me and told me about Jesus Christ.
On behalf of friends from the U.S. Amy asked me if I can help them translate some booklets such as
“About God Power”, “How to know God” and “Help comes from above” into my native
Tai language. Willingly I accepted and got them done. Furthermore, those
friends told me that I did not need to do that kind of meditation; and instead
just to believe in Jesus and then He will take care of every area of my
life. And they said that Jesus is the Son of God, He is God and can do
everything. If I believe and receive him I will be forgiven and saved. But,
confusedly I didn’t. Even many questions and arguments arose when I was
translating those booklets.
By that time, I did not believe and was so ignorant, so that I just kept on
meditating selfishly. Unexpectedly, it came one day, when my mother in-law who had been visiting us, was
called to immediately go back to Shan State. While we were packing her belongings,
I felt someone whispered to me that I should give to her all Buddha idols that
I worship. I did not thoroughly understand the situation, but I realized that it came from my heart
and felt right in mind, so that I discussed about that with my wife and she also agreed. My
wife helped me to pack those antique bronze and stone statues. And then we gave
them to her mother and she left within an hour.
At that
night I continued the meditation without any Buddhist idol left on the Shelve
or alter. Anxiously, I did not know what to say, but just said, “I’m sorry
God for I got rid of your images the Buddha idols. Forgive me. But do not get
rid of me because a consequence that may arise from my action. O Lord, take me
to peace. Lead me to the truth.” And
I uttered to ask for forgiveness in Buddhist teaching because I
had no idea what else to say and how to go on that sitting mindful meditation
under that certain circumstance. [By that
time I did not yet know that God has commanded us to keep ourselves from idols.]
The
next early morning, I felt I wanted to write something rather than going for
meditation as I had been doing at least twice a day, in early morning and late
night. I just wrote down something that truly came out from the deepest of my heart.
While I was writing I sorrowfully cried and wept. I did not exactly know the
reason why, but cried. Quietly, I began to ask Jesus for help. Sequentially, I decided
to stop that meditation and to depend on Jesus because I had heard that He has
already done and sacrificed for me; and that every help comes from Him. Finally,
I courageously determined to surrender and commit my life to Jesus Christ right
away in that morning. Then, boldly I called a Christian friend of mind and sent
my confession out to all friends by email.
It was
on October 24th, 2002 that I declared my faith and confessed that I
believe Jesus Christ is the Son of God and Savior of the world. I believe He
died on the Cross for my sin and rose again. I repented and trust that Jesus is
the way and the truth and the life. Faithfully, I accepted Jesus Christ as my Lord
and Savior. Thankfully, after a month later on November 24th, 2002
altogether with my family, we were baptized at Chaing Mai Christian Fellowships
Church in Thailand and we are blessed by God’s grace. [I thank you that God used John and Anna Broomfield family for all arrangements for us.]
In
conclusion, I thank you to my wife Nangshwe, son Sailao, daughter Monom, and my
mom Htwe and Mu (in-law) and all brothers, sisters, brethrens and friends for their love. In all cases I give all my thanks to our
loving Father for my life in His love and mercy. I praise Him for the freedom
that He set me free. I am very grateful to the LORD our God, for every gift and His gracious hands of salvation, healing, redemption and blessings on me and my family’s
lives. Our heavenly Father, I thank you for your grace, goodness, love, peace, hope, joy,
victory and every blessing that you gave and have in store for my future. In
Jesus’ name. Amen.
Saiaung M Teekham
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