I’m Marie Parker from Cluster 9 at COG Silang. It’s my privilege to stand in front of everyone to tell my experience of Christ’s exceeding love. Two years ago, there was a gas explosion in our house that burnt my arms and legs. I was rushed to the hospital and the nurses were peeling my skin without anesthesia; I was really in pain. I was in the hospital for a month and as a patient suffering from third degree burn, I had to undergo multiple dressings for the injuries I sustained. In the midst of pain, I kept on worshiping, praising and praying to the Lord for the successful treatment. Eventually after a month, I was discharged and the Lord has provided for all our expenses.
I thought the pain that I experienced would be over. However, if you are a burn patient you will experience these blisters that would become wounds; the pain gets worse as it felt like they were rubbing the wounds with sandpaper. Indeed, the pain was unbearable. I endured that kind of pain for almost 8 months.
My ministry was to spread God’s Word to the people who are lost. But due to my condition, I cannot walk or even help others to evangelize. I, then, approached Pastor Anthony and told him that I wanted to quit because I cannot fulfill my responsibilities. But he did not allow me and I pressed on despite of my condition.
My arms and legs are now full of scars. Some people ask me if I want to have my old skin back but I say no. Whenever I see these scars, they remind me of God’s grace, goodness, and faithfulness in my life. I was supposed to leave this world more than two years ago, but the Lord still allowed me to live. These scars remind me that God is not yet done with me. One of my favorite verses says “Being confident of this, that He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 1:6)
God is not yet done in our lives because He has a great purpose for us. No matter how the enemy tempts us, when we know His promises, the evil will always be defeated. Every time He wakes me up, He says “Marie, your life was extended.” I am a third degree burn survivor and I believe that the situations I have encountered cannot hold me back, instead it gave me strength to continue and remain steadfast in the Lord.
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