“THERE’S A MIRACLE IN OUR OBEDIENCE”
Only six months into Sister Edna Judy Lumasac’s newfound faith, she was diagnosed with cancer. However, through that ordeal, her faith was strengthened. She was told by the doctor that she had to undergo surgery to remove her uterus, but Sis Judy was reluctant to do it. She is the breadwinner in her family so if she goes on surgery, she won’t be able to work. Therefore, she was puzzled about what to do. It was engraved in her mind that cancer equals death. She was terrified of dying however she didn’t want to have the surgery. She cried and cried in her room until she had a moment of clarity and looked for her Bible. As she opened her Bible, God spoke to her through Psalms 116:1-5. It says:
“I love the Lord, for he heard my voice and my cry for mercy. Because he turned his ear to me, I will call on him as long as I live. The cords of death entangled me, the anguish of the grave came over me; I was overcome by distress and sorrow. Then I called on the name of the Lord: “Lord, save me!” The Lord is gracious and righteous; our God is full of compassion.”
The verse was so timely and so specific that it spoke about how Sis Judy feels, her situation, and what she needed the most at that time. She cried more after reading that verse because she knows in her heart that God was speaking to her. It dawned on her that when she was attending Bible studies, most of the topics she heard were about healing. She heard the stories of those who had leprosy who were healed, the woman who was bleeding for 12 years was healed, and the blind man who was able to see again. All those stories had a common factor, they all believed. Their faith made them whole. Therefore, Sis Judy surrendered everything to God and spoke, “Lord, I believe that You will heal me just like how You have healed them”. She sought a second opinion, but the result was still positive. But then again, she went for a third opinion, and unfortunately, it is still positive. She decided to get a fourth opinion and miraculously it became negative! Hallelujah! Praise God! Sis Judy knew in her heart that it was God who healed her. The Lord has greater plans in her life, and she will be used mightily as she obeys God’s calling.
It was December 2012 when Sis Judy had a very vivid dream vision. In her dream, she was on a jeepney, a Philippine-public vehicle, and she was with her friend. As she looked out the window, she saw different kinds of Asian foods then as the jeepney made a turn she saw “senbei” which are Japanese rice crackers. Consequently, she saw some vegetables and huge cabbages and bread. In the end, there was a change in the scenery and the people she was with. She was with the people whom she met in Japan. They were in a tall building, and they met someone famous although Sis Judy was the only one who didn’t recognize him. They all went to a room, and it was beautiful and had several flags on top of it. As she departed, the dream ended. Sis Judy knew that it was no ordinary dream and there was great anticipation as to when it would come to pass.
Sis Judy joined the Access 1 Training in International Teams Philippines, a missionary sending organization. After the training, new IT members are required to go on a mission exposure trip overseas. As the international conference was to be held overseas, Sis Judy signed up so she could learn more about international missions. After the conference, she also went to Cambodia and Vietnam to explore and learn more about other cultures.
As she returned to the Philippines, she knew in her heart that after Vietnam and Cambodia she would go to Japan. “I just know it.” Sis Judy recalled. Looking back to 2011, when she tried to go to Japan her visa application was denied, and was told that she had no right to go to Japan as a tourist. But after her trip to Vietnam and then Cambodia according to her dream vision, her next destination would be Japan. As she looked out of the window of a bus she was on, she saw a plane and declared that she would be on that plane going to Japan.
Soon enough, Sis Judy flew to Japan and started doing her mission as the Lord instructed her. In the church she was attending, there’s an “Awake Japan Ministry”. She and her friends would share the Gospel inside the community hall as part of their ministry. Consequently, an idea popped into her head, and she suggested why not do it outside where there are lots of passersby. She went to the city hall and spoke with the department of tourism to get permission. Youngsters are busking in train stations so Sis Judy asked if they could also sing and encourage people in the streets. Sis Judy chose a date and filled out some forms. She brought it to her pastor and that’s when they started their street evangelism. They would share some words of hope before they start singing Christian songs. She and her friends were out in the streets and got to meet different kinds of people. Their hard work paid off and they were able to reap the fruits from the seeds of faith they have sowed. Some Japanese people went to church and continued to increase their faith in God. Indeed, God works in various ways!
For five years, Sis Judy has been teaching English in the church which they called the ministry as “Harvest English Academy”. She isn’t a teacher by profession, but she is a teacher by heart, and it was indeed a great gift from God. She continues to sow seeds of faith to others, and she believes that in His perfect time, there will be a great harvest to reap.
Sis Judy is currently staying in Japan doing God’s work. She recalled the time when she and her daughter first came to Japan. The apartment they were staying in was empty and they only had a rice cooker, their luggage, and a few other basic things. But they also had God’s Word they could hold unto. The verse Matthew 6:33 is real in Sis Judy’s life. As she seeks the Lord first, everything that they needed was provided for them. “We just focus on seeking Him first and that’s it. And because of God’s goodness, all these things shall be added unto us. Let’s prioritize what should be prioritized and we can always see that there’s a miracle in our obedience” Sis Judy commented.
God promises to meet our needs. He knows our every need, even before we can ask Him for it. He is good and gracious to provide for us all that we need so that we can live a life for His glory and pleasure. Isn't it amazing that God, who reigns over all the earth, attends to our needs?
Psalm 84:11
For the LORD God is a sun and shield; the LORD bestows favor and honor. No good thing does he withhold from those who walk uprightly.
(Written by: Venus Jablo)
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