While on the way to watch a gig in the city, I had a difficult time finding parking. It seemed like every free spot was taken. Empty lots turned out to be designated taxi stands, handicapped or motorcycle lots, no stopping areas, or loading zones. It definitely seemed like an unproductive journey as we went a number of times around the block.

Sometimes, life feels like a car ride around and around just to find that spot of rest. 

The good news is that we have rest at hand. When we take our eyes off the road and look into His face, and see things from His perspective, we will find our rest. All it requires is for us to be "sheep" and let him be the Shepherd.

Psalm 23:1-3 
The Lord is my Shepherd [to feed, guide, and shield me], I shall not lack. He makes me lie down in [fresh, tender] green pastures; He leads me beside the still and restful waters. He refreshes and restores my life (my self); He leads me in the paths of righteousness [uprightness and right standing with Him--not for my earning it, but] for His name's sake.

- Jo Voon

If we want something bad enough, we will put in that extra bit of effort to get what we want. Perhaps it's the newest gadgets on sale, a holiday plan, coffee cravings, career ladder promotion, a business, a house or making a relationship work.

Often, it follows this trend: we pray once or maybe a couple more times. Meanwhile, we may already have a strategy or a decided course of action. We may plan this, try that, if it fails, not to worry because we have yet a backup. And then coming close to the year's end we wonder why we end up feel tired and burnt out!

Of course, planning is a good and wise thing to do. However, through it all we must not forgot God is our refuge and shield, instead of just planning and doing things in our own strength. Don't underestimate the power of your prayers, because God can do abundantly more than we can ask, think or imagine. 

In Luke 18, Jesus talks about a woman who received the requested she needed because she persisted and did not give up. In 1 Samuel, Hannah received the child she so badly wanted because she was desperate in her prayers.  The measure we persist and desperately pray is also the measure of how we understand of god's greatness. Let us remember, magnify and make big god's works.

Luke 18:1-8
Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up. He said: “In a certain town there was a judge who neither feared God nor cared what people thought. And there was a widow in that town who kept coming to him with the plea, ‘Grant me justice against my adversary.’ “For some time he refused. But finally he said to himself, ‘Even though I don’t fear God or care what people think, yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will see that she gets justice, so that she won’t eventually come and attack me!’” And the Lord said, “Listen to what the unjust judge says. And will not God bring about justice for his chosen ones, who cry out to him day and night? Will he keep putting them off? I tell you, he will see that they get justice, and quickly. However, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on the earth?”

- Jo Voon

The mind and will can be our strongest ally and friend or it can be our greatest enemy. We can move from happiness to hopelessness just within the speed of a thought! How often are we faith-filled after hearing Sunday's mesage and doubtful or worried on Monday? We can even be angry at someone, yet pick up the phone and proceed to chit chat with casual politeness...

Many a time I find myself feeling as though I have been in a washing machine or an emotional rollercoaster when I allow my mind to run around like an uncontrolled child in a lolly shop. But we have been given the steering wheel - the power to choose life or death, blessing or cursing.

With This god-gift of choice and through the power of his enabling grace, we can muster and discipline our mind to focus on things which are of eternal worth (Col 3:2). We begin to understand what Paul means when he says: we have the mind of Christ and do hold the thoughts, (purposes and feelings) of his heart (1Cor 2:16).

Deut 30:19-20 
I call heaven and earth to witness this day against you that I have set before you life and death, the blessings and the curses; therefore choose life, that you and your descendants may live and may love the Lord your God, obey His voice, and cling to Him. For He is your life and the length of your days, that you may dwell in the land which the Lord swore to give to your fathers, to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.

- Jo Voon

Sometimes I find myself making hasty decisions, saying something I’d later regret while in the pressure of the moment, or being generally restless, worried and impatient. I have realized this happens for little things - I have found myself getting annoyed while behind the wheel, trying to quickly resolve a situation at work or while just waiting for the cashier.

At other times, it happens more subtly. I have found myself in times where the excited hope of dreams and revelations slowly fade away into ordinariness, business and even cynism.

I have found these are times or situations where our patience gets tested. The wait may be a little while, or a little more, or years to decades for fulfillment. But the difference is that we have God. And like David, we can strengthen ourselves in our God. We can be certain that His Word and His Promises will not fail. After all, it is not the end that we can see, but the journey of our character being perfected and fully developed that carries onwards to eternity. This is immeasurable and priceless.

James 1:2 
Consider it wholly Joyful, my brethren, whenever you are enveloped in or encounter trials of any sort or fall into various temptations. Be assured and understand that the trial and proving of your faith bring out endurance and steadfastness and patience. But let endurance and steadfastness and patience have full play and do a thorough work, so that you may be perfectly and fully developed, lacking nothing.

- Jo Voon

_ Having been a Christian for a couple of years now, I think it’s safe for me to say that it really hasn’t been an easy journey. In fact, I would go as far as to say that this is an intense, hardcore journey. Whoever said that Christian is easy is obviously lying…and if you have a Christian friend who said what you’ve gone through is nothing compared to what they have gone through, be assured that the difficulty you’ve felt is justified.

Do not be mistaken;Jesus said that “Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” (Matthew 11:29-30). However, that is precisely why Jesus said to take His yoke.  When we receive Christ into our lives, most of us carry not just His yoke, but of the world’s heavy yoke too. That alone makes our journey with Christ a struggle. For example, the world teaches us that when things are not going right according to what we perceive, it’s time to be anxious.

As much as we try to overcome anxiety, try not to think about the “thing” that causes us to be anxious, we somehow fail…. perpetually brainstorming the different possibilities of how things might play out, as though increasing our levels of anxiety will turn the situation around. In this sense, we tell God and ourselves that what He is asking (which is not to be anxious) is too challenging.

I don’t know about you but I’ve been through periods with high anxiety level and of course, I have tried many methods to combat them. Only two methods worked for me:
(1) immediately talk to God about the worrying situation and committing it into His hand
(2) speaking in tongues until anxiety eases off.

Yes, it may be a difficult walk, but take heart! With increasing struggle comes His ever-abounding Providence and Grace that never fails. Whatever you may be going through, be reminded that Jesus is with you all the way.

Philippians 4:6
Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.

- Jia Lin Ang

_The bible says in Matthew 7:7, “ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find.” How much does our faith allow us to believe in this exact scripture that was given to us since thousands of years ago?

I’ve read this verse many times before, but it never quite sank in. I never really kept it in my heart. Often times during moments of difficulties, I recall myself crying out to God for His providence and miracles but how many times have I really, really ask God to reveal His face to me? How much have I tried to seek Him? Not much, I’ve missed out big time!

By the Grace of God, it dawned upon me that there are 2 types of blessings I could have (and all of us as sons and daughters of God, co-heir with Christ can access)- just by asking.

The first type of blessing is common, ranging from miracles to material goods and providence. I love this type of blessing, it keeps me going, spurred on for Christ. Yet, it’s not enough…. Once something bad happens, I know for a fact that I will be wavered. The impact of the blessing is –for a lack of word- “diluted”.

The second type of blessing however, is lasting, and it provides infinitely greater happiness and joy to those who receives it. This type of blessing is the revelation of His Face. In other words, when our eyes are open to who Christ, the heart of God, or His love for us. I say that this blessing is more lasting because it is through this form of blessing that we grow closer to God and become transformed into His image from glory to glory.

Both blessings are important, but we must always remember to also seek the second type of blessing. Why? Because God Loves YOU, whoever you are. He has you in mind all the time.

Matthew 7:7
Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you

- Jia Lin Ang

_ Conceiving a dream is like the midpoint from receiving the dream and having the dream coming into a reality. At this stage you are probably committed to seeing your God given dream coming to pass. 

Being pregnant with this child, we are committed to bringing this baby into the world, so no matter how hard the pregnancy is, I am committed till the end because I feel like I’m carrying a dream, a seed and a purpose. I and my husband are so excited for this little one; on what he/she will bring into the family and what the future holds for him/her.

During the journey to labouring your dream, you are bound to face some set-backs, disappointments, or criticisms from people you love.  You may feel tired, frustrated and you may have to sacrifice a lot of things that are dear to you but do not lost that initial excitement and expectation. God will help you pull through; He is true to His words and promises.

When we bring our lives under Jesus’ lordship, it means we are bringing the entirety of our lives to Him. It is not by our efforts but by His finished work that our weaknesses are healed. As Paul tells us, God can do more than we dare to expect or dream. He can turn our weakness into strengths!

- Linda Soh

2 Corinthians 12:9
Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me

_ Most of us who had received a vision or dream from God would have known by now that most of the time those dreams are bigger than ourselves and almost close to impossible to see it coming to pass without God’s help.

There’s nothing wrong with planning how you can bring your dream to pass. Have a plan and pray through how you want to see your dream come to pass. If you fail to plan, you plan to fail. Be prepared physically, mentally, emotionally or even spiritually to reach that goal.

Being a 1st time mother to be, I have to take steps to ensure that the whole pregnancy is healthy and without complication. I have to eat healthy, exercise and take extra supplements. So far, I thank God that I do not experience any unpleasant sickness and I’m currently close to my estimated due date. I'm believing God for a smooth delivery and a healthy baby.

Am I afraid of going into labour and giving birth? Will the baby turn out normal? Are we as 1st time parents able to raise our kid in a godly manner? There are so much doubts and fear...but we are counting on God to teach us along the way. I could’ve just allowed my past fears, doubts, uncertainties and disappointments hinder my ability to dream and hope for the best for my baby but I choose not to!

Maybe a past experience is stopping you to dream big for God. Maybe the people you love are discouraging you from dreaming big and it is stopping you to receive the future that God have for you.

Be hopeful and dare to dream BIG once again. Remember, even though Adam and Eve had given up on God and His dream, God didn’t give up on them...God came looking for them still.

Hebrews 11:32-34
And what more shall I say? I do not have time to tell about Gideon, Barak, Samson and Jephthah, about David and Samuel and the prophets, who through faith conquered kingdoms, administered justice, and gained what was promised; who shut the mouths of lions, quenched the fury of the flames, and escaped the edge of the sword; whose weakness was turned to strength; and who became powerful in battle and routed foreign armies.

- Linda Soh

“Dream is the substance for life”
In this world there are 5 types of dreamers:

• Those with NO DREAM -The length of your dream got to be limitless.
• Those with LOW DREAM - Don’t be afraid of challenges.
• Those with WRONG DREAM - Make sure we know what we are leading in life.
• Those with VAGUE DREAM - Be clear with what you want to achieve in your life.
• Those with GOD’S DREAM - Heb 11:32-34

We all have dreams about the future and what it holds for us...I too have many dreams, visions and goals but what do we do with our dreams when time has passed and we haven’t seen them come to fruition?

Those with God’s dream will depend on God more to see it come to pass and in turn draw you closer to God as they know they can’t achieve that dream without God’s help.

Are you willing? Are you willing to hear from God, to receive that God given dream, to allow God to mould you; to transform you so that HE could work through you? As the year is coming to a close, why not start the year by dreaming big for God once again?

2 Corinthians 12:9
My Grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. 

- Linda Soh