Not long ago, we went out on a boat for some deep sea fishing. Although it was a beautiful day, the swell was bigger than usual and we found ourselves on a very rocky boat. We were bobbing up and down with each wave and it was a sure battle to keep our balance!

Sometimes we face similarly rocky environments in life. We may feel at the mercy of forces beyond our control. Perhaps it's job uncertainty, or business risk or a family or relationship situation.

The enemy seeks to use these situations to steal, kill and destroy your identity, peace and faith. During these times, stand firm! Remember that Christ is with you in the boat! In fact, not only is He with you, He has the power over any and every storm! It's time to tell those lies of defeat, depression, fear and hopelessness that they have no authority over you or place in your life. Because Christ holds your future and because of Him you are the head and not the tail, above and not beneath!

The thief comes only in order to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have and enjoy life, and have it in abundance (to the full, till it overflows). (‭John‬ ‭10‬:‭10‬ AMP)

And the Lord shall make you the head, and not the tail; and you shall be above only, and you shall not be beneath, if you heed the commandments of the Lord your God which I command you this day and are watchful to do them. (‭Deuteronomy‬ ‭28‬:‭13‬ AMP)

- Jo Voon-

There is a very singular shrub which grows abundantly in the west and is to be found in all parts of Texas. The mesquite, sometimes called the "mosquito tree," is a very slim and willowy looking shrub and would seem to be of little use for any industrial purposes; but it has extraordinary roots growing like great timbers underground and possessing such qualities of endurance in all situations that it was once valued as pavement material. 

It is said that the city of San Antonio was once paved with these roots.The mosquito tree reminds us of those Christians who make little show externally, but their growth is chiefly underground-out of sight in the depth of God. These are the men and women that God uses for the foundations of things, and for the pavements of that city of God which will stand when all temporary things crumbled into ruin and dissolved into oblivion.

Let your inner self and root in the knowledge of Christ be embedded deep; possessing all the qualities of endurance in all situation that you may bear good examples to all around you.

Ephesians 3: 16 - 17
I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love

- Anonymous

When you tear someone down, it is displeasing in the eyes of the Lord. The Bible wrote, “ who dares to accuse us who God has chosen for His own (Romans 8: 33.34). God is the one who has given us and everyone else a right standing with Himself when we invite Him unto our lives.

There is no telling of us being perfect and there is no bad qualities of others that we could bring to the Lord without Him already knowing it full well. By devaluing, judging and tearing someone down, we are questioning the One who has redeemed them. Our demeaning judgements imply that the Lord made a mistake redeeming such sinner and the Lord needs to know the bad of this undeserving person.

As a new creation in Christ, we too were sinnners, undeserving yet redeemed by the blood of Christ. Our lives are stories of undeserving grace so who are we to judge others. Our attitude should be of the one of helpfulness, forgiveness and understanding. God is the fair judge, let Him do what He is at best and as we have been pardoned by Him , let us extend grace and not judgement.

James 4: 12
God alone, who gave the law, is the Judge. He alone has the power to save or to destroy. So what right do you have to judge your neighbor?

- John W.

The tests of life reveal how well you take instruction, what you've learned, and what you'll do in any given set of circumstances. What you've been taught is only theory, until it's been tested on real fire. Chuck Swindoll tells the story of a bird named Chippy:

'Chippy the parakeet never saw it coming. One second he was peacefully perched in his cage singing, the next he was sucked in, washed up, and blown over. His problem began when his owner decided to clean his cage with a vacuum. She stuck the nozzle in to suck up the seeds and feathers at the bottom of the cage. Then the phone rang. Instinctively she turned to pick it up. She'd barely said 'hello' and then ‘sswwwwPPPPP!’ Chippy got sucked in.

The owner gasped, dropped the phone and snapped off the vacuum. She unzipped the bag and there was Chippy alive, but stunned; covered with heavy black dust. She grabbed Chippy and rushed to the bathtub, turned on the faucet full blast and held Chippy under a torrent of ice-cold water, power-washing him clean. Then she did what any compassionate pet owner would do: she snatched up the hairdryer and blasted the wet, shivering little bird with hot air.' Swindoll closes his story with these words: 'Chippy doesn't sing much anymore.' Life will test you, but don't let the struggles steal your song of life.

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.

- Author unknown

Within the mighty hand of the Lord, I rest. He will hide me under the shadow of His mighty hands. The shelter He provides comfort my inner soul. There is a supernatural strength that emerges from within for I know the Lord lives in me and He is far greater than any worldly spirits or turmoils that attempt to trouble my soul.

Who are we but mere dust yet our Creator has summoned us by name, breathed life and graced our earthly body a life of righteousness; which enabled us to cast all burden unto Him. Our God promises to sustain us; even to old age and grey hairs, He sustains and rescue us for He has made us. The Lord, He is our God. The LORD is my rock, my fortress, and my savior; my God is my rock, in whom I find protection. He is my shield, the power that saves me, and my place of safety.(Psalm 18: 2)

Our Lord, Our God, we are safe within His mighty hand.

- Irene Soon

Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. This is God's promise and He will keep it. if we resist the adversary, God will compel him to flee and will give us the victory. just as a citizen of a country would claim the protection of their government against an outrage or injustice, so we can at all times fearlessly defy and resist Satan our enemy.

At the same time we are not to stand on the adversary's ground by any attitude or disobedience. In so doing we give him a certain power over us which, while God will restrain in great mercy and kindness, He will not fully remove until we get fully on holy ground. 

We must therefore be armed with the breastplate of righteousness as well as the shield of faith, if we would successfully resist . . . principalities, . . . powers, . . . rulers of the darkness of this world, . . . (Ephesians 6:12). Our full redemption rights could be claimed in boldness because God has promised to and He will keep it.  Resist the devil and flee from him.

James 4:7
Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.

- A. Simpson

Author Barbara Johnson was frazzled; she was running late, and had to stand while riding the bus to work. Her attitude was going downhill fast when a cheery voice from the front of the bus announced, “Beautiful day, isn’t it?” 

She couldn’t see the man, but she listened to his commentary as he described the lovely scenery…this church…that park…a cemetery…a firehouse. His grateful attitude lightened the mood of everybody around him. Then as Johnson got off the bus she caught a glimpse of the speaker: an average-looking man wearing dark glasses and carrying a white stick! 

Paul said, “In everything give thanks, for this is the will of God.” We don’t thank God for trials, we thank Him in them. Gratitude is like a boomerang. It blesses the recipient, makes a 180-degree turn and blesses the person who gives thanks. 

One Bible teacher says: “Whatever crisis there is in your life, before it ever came God made sure you’d be able to endure it…others have gone through exactly what you’re going through…and made it through victoriously…with every temptation God promised to ‘make a way to escape, that you may be able to bear it’ (1Co 10:13). Trials and ‘escape ways’ are inseparable. But the Devil doesn’t want you to know that, so every time you go through a test he tells you there’s no way out.

I learned long ago when the Devil keeps pressuring me, it’s always an indication that ‘the way out’ is about to be revealed…We need to do what God says. Rejoice!” Remember, “The joy of the Lord is your strength” (Ne 8:10). When you have His joy, it gives you strength for the journey.

Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 NIV)

- taken from http://www.jentezenfranklin.org/gratitude-its-contagious-2

May we find the true meaning of life in the Lord's suffering and His resurrection. 

May His suffering remind us of how He has left His comfort zone because of His love for you and me.

May His resurrection remind us of how He has conquered the ultimate enemy and thus give us hope of eternal life.

May He become the one true Lord and Savior because no one else can give us what we have received from Him: redemption and love everlasting.

May as He shed His blood for you and me, let His love overflow from our grateful and joyful heart as we live as His ambassador.

May we all can say as what Paul said: for me to live is Christ and to die is gain because He is sovereign over all: over all lives till we meet Him face to face.

May His love shine on you and through your lives, to those you encounter on your journey.

Happy Easter. Jesus is risen indeed.

Philippians 1: 20 - 21
I eagerly expect and hope that I will in no way be ashamed, but will have sufficient courage so that now as always Christ will be exalted in my body, whether by life or by death. For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.

- Jenni Wang