The best evidence of God's presence is the devil's growl. So once wrote Charles Spurgeon in The Sword and the Trowel.

That little sentence has helped many a tried and tired child of God to stand fast and even rejoice under the fiercest attacks of the enemy. We read in the book of Second Samuel that the moment David was crowned at Hebron, "All the Philistines came up to seek David. And the moment we get anything from the Lord worth contending for, the devil comes to seek us.

When the enemy meets us at the threshold of any great work for the Lord, let us accept it as "a token of salvation" and claim double blessing, victory and power. Power is developed by resistance. The cannon carries twice as far because the exploding power has to find its way through resistance. In the powerhouse, electricity is produced by the magnetic resistance of the revolving armature. Even so we shall find some day that Satan has been one of God's agencies of blessing.
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Philippians 4:12-13
I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want.  I can do all this through him who gives me strength.

- Writing of Charles Spurgeon

Luke 22:32
But I have prayed for you, Simon that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers
 
How encouraging is the thought of the Redeemer's never- ceasing intercession for us. When we pray, he pleads for us; and when we are not praying, he is advocating our cause, and by his supplications shielding us from unseen dangers.

Notice the word of comfort addressed to Peter -"Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift all of you as wheat.”  Jesus didn’t conclude by saying "But go and pray for yourself." That would be good advice, but it is not so written. Neither does he say, "But I will keep you watchful, and so you shall be preserved." That were a great blessing but no, Jesus said "But I have prayed for you, that your faith fail not."

We little know what we owe to our Saviour's prayers. When we reach the hill-tops of heaven, and look back upon all the way whereby the Lord our God have led us, how we shall praise Him who, before the eternal throne, undid the mischief which Satan was doing upon earth? How shall we thank Him because he never held His peace, but day and night pointed to the wounds upon his hands, and carried our names upon his breastplate! Even before Satan had begun to tempt, Jesus had forestalled him and entered a plea in heaven. Mercy outruns malice.

O Jesus, what a comfort it is that You have pleaded our cause against our unseen enemies; countermined their mines, and unmasked their ambushes. 

- Writing of Charles Spurgeon (@Heartlight)

January; widely recognised as the National Thank You month by most US calendars. To most of us, it is a widely encouraged practice; starting the New Year with gratitude is the best way to reflect on the gift of life and the goodness of the Lord.
 
Psalm 136 begins and ends its passage with “Oh, give thanks.” The Psalmist penned each line to reflect on the goodness and deliverance of God for His people. What a way to start the new year, let us spare a few minutes and reflect on this passage. Let us continue to proclaim that the Lord’s love endures forever. Give thanks to the Lord.                          

As the days are leading to Christmas, it has been a leading to share what has been the core heart of Hopeful Heart. Hopeful Heart started on a mundane night of August 2011 where God has been speaking much about hope unto our seasons.

Hope through Christ has been such a key message we delight in sharing to believers. When we as believers speak of hope, it resonates deeper that any earthly desires but it is an affirmation that our hope is made certain and it rests on the finished work of Jesus to bring us forgiveness, eternal salvation and reconciliation of humanity's brokenness in a fallen world. We are not left in this world to fight our own battles, Christ is the anchor of our soul, He has come to this world to be a Saviour and a secure hope in times of need and hopelessness.

Through the coming of Jesus, He has secured us hope in many ways. We are able to hope for the future; that we will be redeemed through the free gift of salvation, we could hope in the present that we are sustained, upheld and loved by a God who loves unconditionally. We are also enabled to hope for reconciliations over the scars and consequences of past mistakes; failures are no greater than God’s restorative power.
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As we were led to the verse of Hebrew 16: 20 about hope, it brought about the name of Hopeful Heart. The word Heart is derived from Proverbs 4: 23 NLT. It instructs us to guard our heart above all else as it will determine the course of our lives. So dear friends, as we anchor our hearts in Christ Jesus our Saviour and Redeemer in this month where Christ needs to be celebrated more than gifts and festive activities, we will find His Words to continually guard our hearts through the providence of insightful wisdom and deeper Biblical understanding. May you always find hope in Christ, your living hope and continue to spread His Good News. Jesus is the real reason for Christmas, it is because of His birth, we have Christmas; let Him be at the center of it.

Hebrew 16: 20 NIV
We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure. It enters the inner sanctuary behind the curtain, where our forerunner, Jesus, has entered on our behalf...

- Irene Soon

​I just want to share a short reflection after reading about what happened on 16th November to John Allen Chau - (http://www.bpnews.net/52019/crazy-or-called--missionarys-death-debated). The story of Chau probably reminded us to the story of Jim Elliot and his four other friends who died trying to reach the Huaorani in the Ecuador. But it also reminded me to a question I got from a colleague many years ago when I was still in research: Is Jesus’ death a sacrifice or a suicide?

I shared the story of Jesus at that time and one said: Supposed that Jesus did once walked on earth and went to the cross, I think He was crazy to go to the cross. It was suicide not a sacrifice. At least you serve some higher purpose if it is sacrifice, but it is suicide! Who wants to believe in someone who committed suicide? It is difficult to accept that Christ’ death is necessary for our forgiveness of sin and to take away God’s wrath.

With the controversy of his death, we do not know the impact of Chau’s story yet but one thing for certain, we know the impact of Jesus’ story. The story of Jesus’ death keeps on transforming lives including my own life. God’s way to reconcile His justice, wrath, mercy and love through His one and only Son is the most remarkable story I have ever heard and we believers have the assurance of truth in the story of Christ that transforms us daily.

If Chau’s story can stir the heart of many believers, should not the story of Jesus be even more powerful to compel us to be His witness to people who have not heard of His good news? God has called His people from every generation to be His witness. Will we learn from Jesus’ obedience and pick up our cross to share the good news of Christ in this month of December?
 
Matthew 28:19-20 NKJV
“Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”

- Jenni Wang

It is a normal experience for the modern world we live in. With constant distraction and options; variety of choices as we go through our days.

This is how God prompted me about the battle in my mind... and how indecision and double-mindedness drains my energy and capacity. It is that constant background chatters; that static noise that eats away at your ability to focus and concentrate. It is time to step up and decide, be steadfast in the choices we made; choosing righteousness over fleeting emotions or mood.

James says that those who are double-minded will not receive anything from God, they are unstable in ALL their ways. Being double-minded permeates all aspects of our life not just that one area we think we struggle with. 

But let “Steadfastness have it’s full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. If any of you lacks wisdom, let her ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given Her...” (James 1:1-27)

- Susanna Tan

 Think about this, you are never alone. Those quiet, lonely times when you think no one gets you or even appreciate you, those are false thinking. No, you are never alone.

There is a friend who sticks closer than a brother (Proverbs 18:24. That precious friend is Jesus, He promises He is with you always and He will never leave nor forsake you. Before your day even started, Jesus guarded you through your slumber, He was with you when you woke in the morning, when you begin your day and thought about your plans ahead, Jesus is there. He is waiting with the direction you need. When you encounter a problem in your day, Jesus is still beside you, waiting for you to speak to Him and ask of help, He is ready to comfort you and even has provided a solution. As you are reading this, Jesus is beside you.

“My presence will go with you,” (Exodus 33:14) Jesus promises. Become aware of His presence in your day, think of Jesus as your constant companion. It will change your perspective, try it. Find the comfort and relieve from the false loneliness you feel. Jesus could fill that void better than anyone or anything ever can.

Psalm 139: 7 - 10
Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence?  If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there. If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, even there your hand will guide me.

- John W.

Reading this passage below, the words “The Invitation” came to mind, because of the language of Relationship God is using. 

Words like Come...Show...Walk...With Me...Work...With Me...Watch...Keep Company...Keep...With Me...

God never designed life to be walked without Him. We were always meant to depend on Him. But how many times have I taken the steering wheel and left Him out? 

God has been holding out His hands, waiting for me to grab His hands with both of mine. He wants us to allow Him to take the lead in life, in work, in our relationships... to Watch Him and Work with Him and Model what He is doing. And then to Keep Remaining in Him. 

And this is the secret to LIVING FREE! And LIGHTLY! Not burdened like the rest of the world...

- Susanna Tan 

The day of miracles from God is not of the past. God still reigns, loves His children no matter how broken they are and working just as powerfully from the days of Abraham to our current time. He promised us in His Words, “I’am the Lord, I do not change (Malachi 3:6)

God promises to heal us regardless what ailment our body or mind may have. To heal His children is a small thing for God who created all parts of our beings. “I’am the Lord, the God of all flesh. Is there anything too hard for me?” He knows when your flesh is hurting, when you are weak and he knows your demons, the ones whom you thought you will never be able to overcome. 

Your demon may be that big mountain of debt, that sickness that you have prayed for healing for ever so long, a wayward child, a stale career, a broken relationship or it could a mental torment within you. Whatever it may be, God knows the story better than your own heart and mind. He knows how hope deferred makes the heart sick and when we will reach a weary, worry-full state, thinking if God will ever come through for us.

God can and wants to heal us. He wants to provide for us but we must first make the decision that we want what He wants and knows His plan is the best for us, without reservation. In following through that decision, let us faithfully do our part to address the physical or spiritual problems that may be a contributing factor. Perhaps this is where the saying comes in, do your best and let God do the rest. Prayerfully surrender what you can’t do; tell Him the pain you feel and watch God’s supernatural power swept you up to His embrace. The day of miracles from God is not of the past.
 
Jeremiah 32:27
I am the LORD, the God of all mankind. Is anything too hard for me?
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- Irene Soon

When we read the Bible, we could easily presume that men and women of the Bible seems to be so confident. Unwavering faith despite their impossible situations. Perhaps all these are easily presumed as we are seeing their miracles in hindsight.

Look at Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. They were thrown to a fiery furnace for not bowing down and worshipping Nebuchadnezzar’s golden image.

In this, we could see that their faith isn’t the absence of fear; faith overcomes fear. Their faith didn’t seem to be based on any assumption that their bodies would miraculously be fire-proof. They said, “If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to deliver us from it, and he will deliver us from Your Majesty’s hand. But even if He does not, we want you to know, Your Majesty, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up.”

They didn’t know what would happen, but their faith was in the fact that no matter what, they knew God had a plan and they weren’t setting conditions according to what seemed best to them.

You may feel afraid of what you’re facing. Situations may seem impossible and when faith enters, you are assured that God will not leave you despite not knowing what the outcome may be. What faith knows is that Jesus will not leave us comfortless; He’ll be there walking with us through the fire, as He was with Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego.
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​Daniel 3: 17
If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to deliver us from it, and he will deliver us from Your Majesty's hand.

- John W.