Dear friends and families, 

We collectively pray that this season brings upon you the Joy of the Lord; not as the world gives but as the Lord has given us and may your peace surpasses all understanding.

We the Children of God has been given this privilege and may you see His promises fulfilled in your lives.

May your words, kindness and living testimonies be a fragrant offering to everyone around you and strangers who are in need of Christ in their lives.

Amen.

- Hopeful Heart Team

Through the chapters of Exodus and I was drawn to God’s covenant: If you will obey me fully and keep my covenant. (Ex.19:5). The covenant is not only for the Israelites, but it is for us too, the children of God who declared Christ as their Saviour.

The covenant’s promise is the same: we will be His chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation and people belonging to God (Exodus 19:6; 1 Peter 2:9). The promise which was for the Israelites alone now is for everyone. But the promise comes with responsibility: to declare the praises of Him who called us out of darkness into His wonderful light. What a high calling and a difficult one if I may say but it is doable.

As we are celebrating Christmas, we are celebrating the impossible conception turning into a miracle. How can God become human? But Christ has done it in obedience to the Father so that those who walk in the darkness no longer will walk in the darkness. Because without the light, nothing can be seen but even in the darkness, a dim light will attract attention. So those walk in light can show to the world the Sovereignty of God.

The God we serve is the God who does not give us only promises and list of do and don’t but He has given us Himself. Nothing is impossible for a God who could uphold you in the callings He has for you. You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden (Matthew 5: 14). Shine your light and declare praises for the remembrance that a Saviour has been born in the world for us.

- Jenni Wang

​In Corinthians 10: 3 – 5 (ESV) Paul wrote:
 
“For though we walk in the flesh, we are not waging war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds. We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ.”
 
What are the strongholds that spiritually imprison people? Arguments and opinions.
What arguments are raging in your mind? What arguments and opinions do you have of God and most importantly what do you know of His arguments and opinions of you? Arguments and opinions are more than just strongholds. They are deadlier than any weapons. Adam and Eve (and us, included) fell to sin because of an argument. They believed the serpent’s argument and stopped believing God.
 
When we stopped believing God, whose argument and opinions do we believe? The argument and opinions of the world? And where do you think they come from? Our enemy, the devil. We do not want to believe his lies, he is a liar and the father of all lies - John 8:44. He is out to kill us with his lies.
 
When we believe wrongly about specific things or issues, emotions such as anger, discouragement, depression, anxiousness, self-pitying, fearfulness or irritation may likely follow.
 
Monitor your emotions as it may indicate what arguments are currently raging in your mind. The devil does not want you think clearly, he wants to keep you confused, unclear, imprisoned and disarmed. Press on and fight, warrior of God. He has overcome the world and in Him, we will find peace. .
 
John 8:31-32
If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth and the truth will set you free. 
 
John 16:33
I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.

John 8: 43 - 44 
Why is my language not clear to you? Because you are unable to hear what I say. You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father's desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies.

- Annie Pisca

Recently, my relative responded to a distressed neighbor’s call. Together, they found another neighbor who has just committed suicide and the scene left them scarred in ways they would never forget.
 
This reminded me on how peace could be an elusive element in today’s society. Ephesians 6:12 clearly states that we are in a war-zone, whether we like it or not, we are in a war. This war is cosmic in proportions. It involves the big league, bigger than we what we can see. Everyone alive is enlisted, God is in it, so are the angels and demons.
 
For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. Ephesians 6:12
 
These battle in our everyday lives can be chalked down to pressure of life; work, financial issues, relationship problems, health concerns and the list goes on. However, where is the actual battle? It’s in waging aggressively in our mind.
 
Jesus has promised His peace for us, “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid (John 14: 27).

When the pressures of life harangue you to the ground, do not give up. Remember the promises of God that He has given us peace not as the world gives. This is a spiritual fight where we need to stand our ground and involve God in every aspect of the battles. Do not let your heart be troubled and do not let fear reign in your mind. The Lord is our victory.

- Annie Pisca

Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? After all the challenging obstacles and enemies that have been mentioned, the triumphant answer comes: In all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.

Our trials will be turned to helps; our enemies will be taken prisoners and made to fight our battles. Like the weights that keep the tall pendulum clock going, so our very difficulties will prove incentives to faith and prayer and occasions for God's becoming more real to us.

We shall acquire from our troubles not only deliverance but triumph, and in all these things we shall be even more than conquerors through Him who loved us.

Our security depends not upon our unchanging love but on the love of God in Christ Jesus toward us. It is not the clinging arms of the baby that keep it from falling, but the strong arms of the loving mother. God loves us with an everlasting love, and although all else may change He will never leave us, never forsake us. 

Romans 8:35
Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword?

- A. Simpson

​​Oh, how it helps and comforts us in the plodding of life to know that we have with us the Christ who spent the first thirty years of His life swinging a hammer in the carpenter shop at Nazareth, covered with sweat and grimy dust, physically weary as we often are, and able to understand all our experiences of drudgery and labor!
 
Moreover, He still loves to share our common tasks and equip us for our difficult undertakings of hand and brain. Yes, housewife, He will help you at the kitchen range and sink as gladly as at the hour of prayer. Yes, busy laborer, He will go with you and help you to swing the hammer, or handle the saw, or hold the plow in the soil of life. You will be a better mechanic, a more skilled workman, a more successful man because you take His wisdom for the common affairs of life.

There is no place or time where Jesus is not able and willing to walk by our side, to work through our hand and minds, and to unite Himself in loving and caring partnership with all our needs and tasks and trials. In this way He proves Himself our all-sufficiency for all things.
 ​
Matthew 28:20
...And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.

- Writing of A. Simpson

​How many times do we read that God is with us or God will be with us?

A couple weeks ago I was reminded that whenever or wherever He sends us, He will not let us go by ourselves, just like what He did to Moses (Exodus 3:12) or to Joshua (Joshua1:9).

​Jesus Himself made the same promise to us because we are called to be His witness (Matt.28:20). 

It is amazing to receive the promise from the One who can never break the promise. Who am I that the Creator of the world, the King of kings gives me the promise to be with me? Who are we that we have received this promise and know He is fulfilling it?

It is not an accident that I am in this new place and learning to adapt and facing different challenges. The reminder of His presence is such a great blessing for me and even today at Sunday meeting the message is about His promise. 

And as I am thinking of those who live in a situation where proclaiming His name means prison or death, they still persevere to live on God’s promises. Why? Because I believe they have learned in trust that God’s promises are applicable in every trials and we are sent to proclaim His name despite all oppositions. The Lord will give us the grace to do His work and we are His vessels. That is a wonderful thought I find comfort in.
 
Matthew 29: 20 NLT
Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.

- Jenni Wang

The month of June has always marked a turning point of my life. I remember he sleeps in the storm but today, decades ago, I sent him off in a white wooden casket. He had a peaceful smile on his face, his storm has passed but losing him marked the start of my self-discovery’s journey. The memory of his casket being lowered down to the soil humbles me.

There laid my hero, my father; lifeless and free from all pains. Who are we to clench our fist to God asking why He did so, which I freely admit that I did so for many years or who are we to boast a list of promises we could do? A man's heart plan his course but the Lord determines his steps (Proverbs 16: 9).

Looking back in hindsight, the tragedy birthed courage within us, taught us a new level of humility and surrender to the Lord. Through the change of perspectives and trust, we watched together as a family on how God restored us; spiritually, financially, emotionally and mentally.

​Yes, plan the course of your lives but in all that you do, remember to prayerfully lay all of the plans at the throne of the Most High. It is through His grace, we could achieve a milestone and complete any task or wake to see another day. Let us give thanks for such gift and in time, He will reveal to you the silver linings of all sorrows

- S.I.L 

Let us rejoice and claim our victorious stand!
The Lord has conquered death and He has risen!
Victory is here and now.
The Son of God has set us free and we are free indeed.

Wishing you a joyful Easter Sunday.

- Hopeful Heart team

I once read a story that I kept as a good reminder  The story started with a company who sent two shoe salesmen to Africa. The first salesman wrote to headquarter saying, “Nobody wears shoes here,” and turned in his resignation. The second salesman wrote in with excitement and said, “Everybody here needs shoes!”
 
The first salesman’s negative mindset cemented his decision to resign from the company His mindset caused him to give up in despair. In contrary to the first salesman, the second salesman beamed with confidence that there is much work to be done as no one wears shoes in Africa. What a difference a mindset could make.
 
The same scenario happened when Moses sent the twelve spies to the Land of Canaan for 40 days. Only two spies brought back good news whilst the other ten spies came back with negative reports focusing on the giants of the land. Where the ten spies see impossible situation, Joshua and Caled saw endless provision. Joshua and Caleb responded in faith; believing in the unlimited power of the Lord.

Against the negative murmuring majority, Joshua and Caleb proclaimed, “The land we passed through and explored is exceedingly good. If the Lord is pleased with us, he will lead us into that land, a land flowing with milk and honey, and will give it to us. Only do not rebel against the Lord. And do not be afraid of the people of the land, because we will swallow them up. Their protection is gone, but the Lord is with us. Do not be afraid of them.” (Numbers 14: 7 – 9)
 
It is essential that we re-evaluate any negative mindsets that may hold us back and refocuses on our Lord Jesus Christ’s Sovereignty. The boldness of Caleb and Joshua rested on their understanding of God’s mighty power to conquer the land, the majority rested their confidence on israel’s capability to conquer the land.  Needless to say, Joshua and Caleb made it to the promised land.
 
Let us respond in a positive, faith filled manner when any challenges come our way. Our breakthrough does not come solely from our own doing, it has everything to do with the power of the Lord God we serve. 

- Irene Soon