By Sis. Vanitha Joseph
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Psalm 139:14
I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Marvelous are Your works, and that my soul knows very well.
This verse is one of God’s Words that is so powerful in my life. It always reminds me, I was brought to planet earth for a purpose. Now I will begin MY STORY.
Date of Birth : 21st February 1957
Place : Malacca
Original Parentage : Chinese and Indian
As a baby I was sent to a Baby’s Home, (welfare) in Malacca. The very first baby’s home in Malaysia. The baby stories, I can’t remember. But my memory is vivid when I was about 3 years old. I was adopted into an Indian Christian family.
I believe my journey with JESUS starts here. I was raised in a Christian home. Sunday School and church was part of my life. My adopted parents were attending the Tamil Methodist Church in Malacca. Dad noticed that we (my adopted sister and myself) were struggling with the Tamil language; that he sent us to the Wesley Methodist Church. We have an elder brother who had already gone to the police force after his form 5. He was based in Seremban. So basically, my sister and I were “church girls!” I was very much involved in Sunday School activities. We had to memorise verses, do mini preachings, do art and craft and dramas.
I was given a very strong foundation on the Word of God. I was introduced to JESUS at a tender age. These were valuable moments for me in the past and I took this precious moments with JESUS into my future. I built my relationship with JESUS!
At the age of nineteen (19), I got married to JOSEPH T. JOHN, who later became a Pastor. We got married in the year 1976. A small testimony on my marriage. When I was working I received a lot of proposals from guys of other faiths. Remember I told you all I was a “Church girl”. When the proposals came, I became concerned. I knelt down and prayed to JESUS.
This was my prayer: “Heavenly Father, Lord Jesus I want a man who will take me to Church and worship You only! Amen”. (simple but powerful request)
The proposal came and I immediately said “YES”! At that time Pastor Joseph was a government servant, and more importantly he was a Christian.
In 1981 my husband had a calling to serve JESUS as a full-time Pastor. I was overjoyed to hear that decision because that was one of my desires too. To be a Pastor’s wife.
Today looking back of those years where I journeyed with JESUS and still am, I’m constantly reminded of a few more verses that keeps me going in my journey and ministry.
Psalm 119:57
You are my portion, O Lord;
I have said that I would keep Your words.
Psalm 46:5
God is in the midst of her, she shall not be moved; God shall help her, just at the break of dawn.
This is for my ministry and as a Pastor’s wife, God is with me and I will not be moved. From a teenager, whatever feelings and emotions of sadness and loneliness I went through, the Word of God became my strength, my fortress and my source of help.
Being a young girl I had many wants and desires like other girls, but I was taught by the Word of God to be satisfied and contented with whatever I had.
This helped me greatly in my ministry, as a Pastor’s wife. JESUS has been good to preserve me in good health without any type of sickness which comes through age.
The secret of good health, is joy, peace, kindness and happiness in life, in our relationship with JESUS.
I give ALL glory and thanks to my Lord JESUS CHRIST. He is my strong tower.
Proverbs 18:10
The name of the Lord is a strong tower;
The righteous run to it and are safe.
Amen.