I sponsor a child in Cambodia under the Transform Cambodia program and a few years ago, I had the opportunity to visit him. He was a thin scrawny little 8-year old kid I could easily carry on one arm. We visited his home (a dingy one bedroom unit in a block of rundown flats) which he shared with his parents and 4 other siblings. 

The highlight of his day was going to school at a day care center ran by Transform Cambodia. At the center we met up with the local Cambodian staff and it amazed me how they carried such a culture of gratefulness and simple faith. Many of the kids and staff did not have much to eat outside the center, many had families who were jobless or struggling for money or had to live on the streets. Yet, they did not worry, they were not fearful or even envy us! They just believed God had brought them this far and would not give up on them!

Many of us enjoy much more comfortable and secure lives. So let's not allow fears, doubts and worries shake us. God's not looking for perfection or for great big faith; all God requires from us is a little simple faith of just saying Amen!

Mark 10:15
Truly I tell you, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.” 

2 Corinthians 1:20
For no matter how many promises God has made, they are “Yes” in Christ. And so through him the “Amen” is spoken by us to the glory of God. 

-Jo Voon-

To all, the Jews that had believed him, Jesus said, "If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth and the truth will set you free."
John 8:31-32

I tell you the truth is said a fair bit in the Gospel of John. Jesus leads us into all truth. He glides us mad makes sure we keep by him. When we are led by the Holy Spirit we are able to discern what is and isn't truth in our lives. We learn Jesus importance of truth.

Jesus gave us the ticket to freedom though truth! The truth of God sets us free! NO bondage from the enemy hold you back. Wield the truth!

- Sandra Iliev

Did you know that you are approved and favored? Before Jesus commences His earthly ministry, His Heavenly Father has approved and favored Him.

“You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased,” were the words stated in verse Mark 1:11. Our Heavenly Father has approved of Jesus even before He went through His 40 days trial in the desert and before He performed any miracles.

Now, to us who have been imparted righteousness through the death of Christ Jesus, we too are already approved and favored. God’s approval and love have been imparted to us not by works but by our faith in Christ Jesus who was the propitiation for our sins.

Be assured, God’s great love and favor is in your life. Proclaim His favor over your situations and circumstances. Do not let the devil deceive you into thinking that you are not good enough. You are approved and favored by the Almighty GOD. Believe and experience the supernatural that God has planned in your life.

Mark 1:11
And a voice came from heaven: "You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased.

- Irene Soon

Tucked away in our subconscious is an idyllic vision. We see ourselves on a long trip that spans the continent. We are travelling by train.

“Out the windows we drink in the passing scene of cars on nearby highways, of children waving at a crossing, of cattle grazing on a distant hillside, of smoke pouring from a power plant, of row upon row of corn and wheat, of flatlands and valleys, of mountains and rolling hillsides, of city skylines and village halls.

“But uppermost in our minds, is the final destination. Bands will be playing and flags waving. Once we get there our dreams will come true, and the pieces of our lives will fit together like a jigsaw puzzle.“How restlessly we pace the aisles… waiting, waiting, waiting for the station.”

• “When I’m finally 18…”
  
• “When I buy a new 450SL Mercedes Benz…”
  
• “When I paid off the mortgage…”
  

Sooner or later we must realize there is no station, no one place to arrive at once and for all. The true joy of life is the trip. The station is only  a dream. It constantly outdistances us.

It isn’t the burdens of today that drive men mad. It is the regret over yesterday and the fear of tomorrow.  “So stop pacing the aisles and counting the miles. Instead, climb more mountains, eat more ice cream, go barefoot more often, swim more rivers, watch more sunsets, laugh more and cry less. Live the life as it comes and soon enough, you will reach the station.

Psalm 118:24
This is the day the LORD has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.

(Excerpt taken from Joyce Meyer’s book “Enjoying where you are.”)

Most of us imagine building our dream home with wooden floors, a huge patio, a spacious kitchen, a bathroom fit for a king or anything else you could possibly dream of. However, most of us can’t afford our dream home, especially not our first home anyway. 

We want the blueprints of our house to be just perfect and for the building process to go without a hitch. Those of you who have built a house or are in the process of doing so, know that is never the case. There is always at least one glitch, if not many. Our life is like that. We have such grand plans on how our life is meant to turn out and for some, if it doesn’t happen, disillusionment sets in. Disappointment after disappointment, nothing goes according to plan. 

We want God to give us the blueprints of our life. God doesn’t work that way. He may give you glimpses of what your life could be like, but nothing is ever set in stone. Our choices shape our consequences. Even if you feel like you’re doing everything right to get what you want, if it is not God’s desire for you, chances are it will not pan out. 

Ask God not for the blueprints, but for the wisdom to know where He wants you to go or what He wants you to do. If you walk in God’s will, things will slowly fall in place. Trust the master builder; He has the best plans for your life, far exceeding what you could even hope for or imagine.

2 Chronicles 1: 10-12 
Give me wisdom and knowledge, that I may lead this people, for who is able to govern this great people of yours?” God said to Solomon, “Since this is your heart’s desire and you have not asked for wealth, possessions or honor, nor for the death of your enemies, and since you have not asked for a long life but for wisdom and knowledge to govern my people over whom I have made you king, therefore wisdom and knowledge will be given you. And I will also give you wealth, possessions and honor, such as no king who was before you ever had and none after you will have.

- Zhen Ang

The headlines that greeted me today read: 
"$36 billion was wiped from the value of the Australian shares after the local market posted its largest one-day decline in nine months". 

What a wake up call and a reminder how easy and temporal money and material wealth is! 

The world all around us is all about the next newest car, a better house, wonderful holidays, the latest fashion, etc. And God in His goodness does provide for us and blesses us in many, many ways. 

Yet, we are called to so much more than what the world sees or has! As our pastor likes to remind us, we are not to confuse our blessings with our calling. Let's remember we are eternal beings on a journey through a temporal world towards an upward, heavenly calling! And let's make our blessings count for eternity!

Matthew 6:19-21 
Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. 

-Jo Voon-

And the angel of the LORD appeared to him and said to him, "The LORD is with you, O mighty man of valor." (Judges 6:12, ESV)

"And the angel of the Lord appeared unto him" -  Gideon being busy in threshing, took no notice of angel of the Lord when he came and stood before him, in his sight: and said unto him, the Lord is with you. 

The gracious presence of God was with Gideon while he was threshing, who very probably was sending up prayers to heaven, on account of the distressed case of Israel, and was deep in meditation about the affairs of the people of God, and contriving how to deliver them.

The angel, who was no other than Jehovah; the eternal Word of God, who was present with Gideon, and spoke unto him; and so the Targum (translation in Hebrew) reads: my Word is your help: you mighty man of valour; who very probably was a stout man in body, and of a courageous mind naturally, and might at this instant have an increase both of bodily strength and greatness of soul; or, on the other hand, this was said to animate and encourage him to do what he was about to be sent to do.

Thought to keep: 
The Holy Spirit empowers believers to do what God would have us do. Are you living like a mighty man or woman of valor?

(Adapted from John Gill's Exposition of the Bible, Judges 6:12)

- Sandra Iliev

Everybody needs love. But what kind of love do you hope for?

Would you be content enough if your partner/ spouse loves u half- heartedly? What if he/she spends a lot of time with you and does many things for you, but doesn't truly understand you, will you be happy?

We all desire to be loved wholeheartedly. Let us also consider how our God desires to be loved. The best person in the universe who loves us with the most perfect and deepest love desires to be loved wholeheartedly. Have we loved Him in such a way?

When we come to Him through reading His word in the Bible, do we feel bored and do it just for the sake of fulfilling a routine? Do we attend the church meetings just for the sake of attendance? Do we spend the time to come to talk to Him often in prayer? Do we pray just to ask Him to do something for us?

Oh, may we love our precious Lord with the right kind of love. May we love Him wholeheartedly. He who gave up His life and glory to redeem us is more than worthy of all our love.

Matthew 22:37
Jesus replied: “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.

- Diven

“Hi, my name is John. I’m a prideful person and  impatient too. Occasionally, make that frequently, I can disappoint many people without me knowing it. So uhm, I’m here in this therapy session because…”

“No, scratch that! Hello, my name is John. I struggle in many things and I was wondering if I could get help here from this counseling.”

“No, no, please let me try again. Hi, I’m John and I need help. I’m hoping to be a better person.”

Okay, these scenarios never really happened. I have imagined these are the scenarios that will go through in my head if I were asked to go to a counseling session. I would rehearse that much because I want to be accepted by whoever who is going to assess me; I care about what they think of me, I care about how they would sum me up through their first impression.

I know this is quite a juvenile practice or is it? We serve a God who accepts us no matter how tainted, bruised and broken we are or have become. There is neither the need to rehearse any form of introduction nor the need to provide an excel spreadsheet listing all of your sins. He sees you flawless; He has made you in His image, you are validated and you are accepted because of who your Creator is.

So let me say this as my introduction – “Hello I’m John, I’m a work in progress but I’m in a good hand, Lord Jesus’.”

Psalm 55:22
Cast your cares on the LORD and He will sustain you; he will never let the righteous fall

- John W.

Dear God,

Where are you? Why have you abandoned me, especially in my time of need?

We sometimes feel like God is far away, especially in our most trying times. We don’t feel Him around us and we can see no end in sight.

I love reading the poem, Footprints in the Sand by Mary Stevenson. It is a timely reminder that the Lord is with us always. During the good times he is walking side by side with us, at times He is even holding our hand. Other times we feel like God has thrown us into the ocean, the waves crashing over our heads. No life vest, buoy or life guard in sight. 

That is not the case. During these times, when there are only one set of footprints in the sand, it is the Lord’s footsteps, he is carrying you. He promised that He would never leave you nor forsake you. Talk to Him, He is closer than you think.

Deuteronomy 31:6 
Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.

- Zhen Ang