by David Ho, Liwen Y. Ho
Welcome to Songs of Salvation, a new feature for Sundays. Each week I hope to feature a different Christian author to share a "Song of Salvation", a post that is intended to uplift, encourage and glorify God.
And they overcame him because of the blood of the Lamb and because of the word of their testimony, and they did not love their life even when faced with death. Revelation 12:11 NLT
Authors, find out how to share your Song of Salvation here.
I’m sharing my husband, David’s, and my testimony together because, as I often tell our kids, he and I are a team. (This is often in response to a question they’ll ask in an attempt to get different answers from us, haha). Our stories intertwine because we have gone through many of the same experiences together. We’ve also learned three important truths along the way that I would like to share with you.
The first truth? God is so very gracious. Both of us received Christ at an early age; David at 14 and myself at 12. God placed several instrumental people in our lives early on who helped us grow in our faith. When we met and married in our mid-twenties, we brought with us a lot of baggage from the past, but also a desire to build a future together that would honor Christ and each other. God has been faithful in helping us each step of the way. He is our strength, our salvation, and our light.
The second truth: God is good. As teammates for almost seventeen years now, David and I have had our share of highs and lows. We’ve faced personal struggles of depression and anxiety, multiple job changes, and the loss of family members, including one of our twins. Through it all, we’ve seen God’s hand at work in our lives. He provides for us on a daily basis and teaches us to trust in Him. We have two wonderful children, a roof over our heads, more than enough food on the table and in our fridge (especially the freezer section!), and the support of our family and friends. Life really is good, because God is good.
The final truth? God is faithful. As we are in our forties now and nearing (or in the midst of) a mid-life crisis, we find ourselves struggling more and more with “real life”. Sometimes it’s hard to find joy in the daily grind. Balancing the responsibilities of work and family can be overwhelming. We struggle with being patient with our kids, forgiving each other, and being financially responsible. More than ever, we find ourselves looking to God for wisdom and help to get through the day. And being the gracious and good Father that He is, God continues to prove Himself faithful every single time.
For David and me, our Christian testimony isn’t defined by one turning point in our lives. It’s been a succession of many turning points, or rather, daily turning points as we try to make the most of what God has given us. We may be a team, but we wouldn’t be the team we are today if not for our Coach. God is the one who gives us the strength and hope we need to persevere each and every day. May all glory and honor go to Him!
“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” (Romans 8:28, NIV)
About David Ho
David H. Ho is an IT guy by trade and the author of The Time Rift, his first novel, co-written with his wife. He lives in California with his family where he spends his free time catching Pokemon with his kids and keeping a 70-gallon saltwater tank alive.
About Liwen Y. Ho
Liwen Y. Ho works as a chauffeur and referee by day (AKA being a stay at home mom) and a writer by night. She penned her first children’s picture book, “A Rainbow of Nine Colors” in high school (now available at Meegenius.com) and has been writing for grown-ups since 2014.
She writes sweet and inspirational romance infused with heart, humor, and a taste of home (her Asian roots). As a former therapist, Liwen enjoys creating realistic characters who find hope and healing through relationships. She lives with her hubby and their two munchkins in California and loves all things pink, family beach trips, and white chocolate macadamia nut ice cream.
She also enjoys writing about real-life matters, such as marriage, parenting and faith because truth can be as strange and entertaining as fiction. Her work has appeared in various online publications, including LiteraryMama.com and MomLifeToday.com, and she is a contributor at StartMarriageRight.com.
In her pre-author life, she received a Masters degree in Marriage and Family Therapy from Western Seminary, and she loves makeovers of all kinds, especially those of the heart and mind. She lives in the San Francisco Bay Area with her techie husband and their two children, and blogs about her adventures as a recovering perfectionist at www.2square2behip.com.
Leave a Reply