I once saw a painting at a local Art Gallery. Although its composition was simple, the lines etched were well defined and detailed.  If it were not for the textures of the painting, you would have thought that it was a photo canvas.

It was an oil painting of a blue sky with clouds.  It took the painter 16 jugs of coffee and 6 months of cloud gazing every time he wakes. “Although I’m unable to replicate what I see, I have found a new appreciation for its beauty.” 

The artist’s statement shows how God is truly the Creator of Beauty.

The splendor of God’s creation surpasses all. The clouds, the sunsets and the mountains have the mark of His fingerprints. In everything He creates, He adds beauty to it so why we often question our own worth when God creates everything we see out of nothing and turn it into a masterpiece?   

He clothe the lilies, see the smallest sparrow and call the stars by name. He created you and call you HIS Beloved, you are HIS masterpiece. You are precious and honored in His sight.   

When you are tempted to question your own worth, remember the Creator of Beauty created you and calls you by name. 

Isaiah 43:4 
Since you are precious and honored in my sight, and because I love you, I will give men in exchange for you, and people in exchange for your life.   

Matthew 10:31
So don't be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.


- Irene Soon

Does prayer changes your circumstances? 
No, not always, but it changes the way you look at your circumstances and situations.

Does prayer changes your shattered dreams and past regrets? 
No, not always but it shifts where you draw your strength and comfort from.

Does prayer changes your wants and desires? 
Yes, it purifies your desires to align with God’s purpose in your life.

Does prayer change your life? Yes, it does.

We look at prayer simply as a means of obtaining things from God but the biblical purpose of prayer is that we may get to know God deeper, to delight in HIM and HIS heart.  Prayer is not a matter of changing your external circumstances  but more to working miracles in a person’s inner nature. 

We all have heard the phrase “Don’t expect a different result if you keep doing the same thing”.  When we pray, prayer changes us and we will eventually change the way we do things. When we do so, we will get a different result. A better result.

Does prayer change anything? Yes, it changes everything.

Psalm 37:4
Take delight in the Lord and He will give you your heart’s desires.

During the weekend, I visited one of my favorite restaurants only to learn that the lunch I ordered would take about 30 minutes to prepare and since I was in a rush, I couldn’t wait.

Disappointed, I left for my next appointment. Whilst driving there, I realized the place I was heading to, has a canteen and that I had a lunch voucher from their previous promotion. As I reached into my bag, I pulled the voucher out and saw it had expired!  It would be useless to reason with the employee so I bought myself lunch and waited for my friends to show up.

Sometimes in life second chances don’t come so easily. You can reason your way; you can try your chances but often you’ll hear people say: 

'If you missed it that is your problem.’
‘If you made a mistake that is your fault.’
‘If you messed up why should we trust you again?’

However, when we succeed in securing a second chance, there is always a condition attached to the “new acceptance”. 

God on the other hand always forgive and does not remember our transgressions hence HIS acceptance has no conditions. When we confess our sins and seek a new start, HE will be first person to hear us and HE jump at the opportunity to save us from the misery of rejections. He will heal our discouraged hearts and help us start afresh again. 

Psalm 34:18
The Lord is near the brokenhearted; He saves those who are crushed in spirit.

Esref Armagan is a remarkable Turkish man who loves to paint. Although his artwork may not be deemed impressive by all, what makes this man remarkable is, he is completely blind.

Esref was born without eyes but it doesn't stop him from pursuing his passion to paint. His unusual condition has given him a remarkable acknowledgment that is unheard of by most people.

Esref is able to paint although he has never seen colours, objects or even the face of the former US president, Bill Clinton, yet he painted a portrait of him. When asked how he can do it, he simply answers that he believes what he sees in his mind and paints it to the canvas, bringing it to life.

Skeptic scientists who studied Esref’s brain via a MRI Scan couldn’t even explain how his inactive brain region could react and lit up actively whenever he is painting. “No one can call me blind, I can see more with my fingers than sighted people can see with their eyes,” he says.

Esref doesn’t have to see to believe, he sees because he believes. What a beautiful picture of faith. Believing requires no sight, it starts from the mind and the heart.  

When you close your eyes, what do you see through your eyes of faith? 

Do you see your breakthrough?

John 20:29 
Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.

Today at 8 am, my friend gave birth to a beautiful baby girl, Allesandra, weighting at 2.88kg. Although we are thousand miles apart, the joy transcends the distance between us and I share the occasion with joyful tears. 

The joy of a new beginning always calls for a celebration between friends and families. Just like Allesandra, we too are new creation.

When we accept Jesus Christ into our hearts, Heaven celebrates and we are 'born again' in a Christ-like image. We receive the assurance of peace and love through Holy Spirit whom we've invited to our heart.

Our past sins and iniquities are forgiven. Best of all, we learned that there is a special someone who loves us unconditionally, accepts us no matter how frail our conditions are, judges nothing about us, fights for us and promises to always be there when nobody else understands or cares. 

My friend is a devoted career woman but today, her maternal nature surfaces and there is nothing she wouldn’t do for precious Allesandra. The baby girl she bore for the past 9 months is now in her arms. Her desire to love, protect and take care of Allesandra is iron-willed. 

Imagine how much more our Father in Heaven will do for us, HIS new born. HE made an everlasting covenant to never forsake us, protect us and love us. All we have to do is believe. Just believe.

Matt 26:53
Do you think I cannot call on My Father and HE will provide me at once with more than 12 legions of angels?

With the upcoming City to Surf Perth just around the corner, many are preparing and training themselves actively to gain physical fitness for the event. 

Life on the other hand is an ongoing marathon, it is not a sprint or a one time event in a year, We ought to actively fight the good fight of faith and not give up by believing God is able to provide the grace we need to walk out of every trials victoriously.

It is not how you starts but it is how you finishes. Strangers, scoreboards, newspapers doesn't acknowledge those who started well, they record and remember the ones who finishes strong and well. 

• Building a friendship is not a sprint, it is a marathon.
  
• Building a relationship is not a sprint, it is a marathon.
  
• Building a ministry is not a sprint, it is a marathon.
• Chasing your dream or goals is not a sprint, it is a marathon.

Success is not built within days of perseverance, sometimes it  takes months and years. Till then, we have to rest on the assurance that God will enables us to be the best we can be in facing the trials ahead. 

Success is not how well you start but how well you persevered till the finish line.
 
Remember God who begin a good work in you will bring it to full completion - Philippians 1:6

In this world of instant gratification, we are often faced with constant challenges and demands. This leads to a perpetual cycle of worry in life.

I'm not sure about you but I certainly am in that scenario. Worry often creeps to my mind, presenting me with the "what if" scenarios. 

One thing I have learned and  still learning about is,  worry can only succeed at getting you frustrated, it weakens your faith and allows fear to take control.

We as believers should not indulge in those what if scenarios as Jesus has promised us that HE will not forsake us.  We are not alone. He cares.

Matthew 6:27
Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?

I was looking through a christian blog website yesterday and I came across this inspirational image.An inspirational picture that gives hope to my heart, knowing that God's love is new every day. 

He will guide and lead me to where I should go. How I know it is HIM? Seek peace in your heart and take that leap of faith knowing that HE is watching over you. 

Psalm 143:8
Let me hear in the morning of your steadfast love, for in you I trust.
Make me know the way I should go, for to you I lift up my soul.