“Aslan,” said Lucy, “You are bigger!”
“That is because you are older, little one, “answered Aslan.
“Not because you are?”
“I’m not but every year you grow, you will find me bigger.”

In a fictional story of Prince Caspian, the writer C.S Lewis wrote the dialogue of Aslan the Lion with Lucy that reveals the simple beauty of God’s grace; it meets every believer at where they are at. It is a meaningful portrayal of our relationship with Christ in which as we grow in the likeness of Christ; seeking Him, His omnipotence. presence and importance in our lives will grow as well.

Does the Lord seem bigger to you when you walk through your valleys or trials? If it isn’t so, you will feel the prompting of the Holy Spirit within you to behold Christ; to pray, to worship and seek the Lord’s presence. The grace of the Lord finds you as you take every step towards Him, no matter how feeble it may be, the Lord is your strength.
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Behold the Lord and find Him bigger than all your fears and trials. Let His presence and omnipotence be magnified as we continue to grow in the knowledge and likeness of Him.

Psalm 145: 14 – 17 NIV
The LORD upholds all who fall and lifts up all who are bowed down. The eyes of all look to You, and You give them their food at the proper time. You open Your hand and satisfy the desires of every living thing. The Lord is righteous in all His ways, gracious in all His works

- Irene Soon 

Struggle after struggle and God brought into light how much I tried to depend on my own strength. There are times when it is too difficult to pray, but He gently reminds me of His love that always draws me back to Him in prayers.  As our family continues to go through some crisis, I went through restless sleepless nights, thinking when my family will trust and depend on God completely.

As a prayer coordinator, there are many issues that burdens my heart, the country I constantly pray for, my family, my health, praying to go the mission field and to spread the good news of the Lord. To think about it, I’m a fool if I don’t surrender all these burdens that I can’t control the outcome of, to the Lord. His love is vast as the ocean and overflowing like a river in my life. I am reminded that He is God and when I fall again and again, He will pick me up and reminds me that even if I can’t, He can.

When I am full of concerns, He tells me not to be afraid. Even when the trials and tribulations come to my life and my own foolishness make me forget who He is, He always reminds me to go back to Him and to learn to trust Him more and more. I am a lifelong learner of how trustworthy God is and I am learning to trust Him more and more.

May we continue to strengthen our prayer life and remember that when we can’t see any result, it does not mean the Lord is not working. Have faith, trust in Him and the Lord will carry you in all seasons of trials. 

Isaiah 12: 2 NIV
Surely God is my salvation; I will trust and not be afraid. The Lord, the Lord himself, is my strength and my defense; he has become my salvation.

- Jenni Wang

What would it be like to be the wisest person who has it all? King Solomon had the privilege to be recognised as one in his time. He had the access to all the worldly possessions, knowledge and Godly bestowed wisdom.

King Solomon has tried whatsoever he desired during his lifetime. He chased all pleasures known to mankind, recognitions, promotions, wealth, and everything else under the sun, to these he said, all are meaningless, a chasing after the wind.
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With the applause, accolades and achievements he gained, it too was meaningless. Something is still amiss and he finally concluded that the greatest pursuits of one’s life is to fear God and keep his commandment. If the wisest man has learned his life lesson and offered us his wisdom that the Lord is centre of our whole existence, would we give weight to his words?

Ecclesiastes 12: 13 - 14
Let us hear the conclusion of the matter:

Fear God and keep His commandments, for this is man’s all. For God will bring every work into judgement, including every secret thing, whether good or evil.

True joy and true enjoyment: What are you spending your talent, your time, your treasures on; what are you chasing? May we ponder on Solomon's wisdom and turn wholeheartedly willing to Jesus. 

- Irene Soon 

In this modern life, we are often served with choices and options but like a clueless sheep, we often gravitate towards what appeals to our flesh even if it will lead us away from the Shepherd’s protective care.

You may say that God has given me the ability to make choices and if it is bad, He will lead me away from it but are you listening to His guidance? We often do things because of our own needs and timelines and if we are being truthful, it may have led us astray far too many times as well. How do we make the right choices then? The ones that will lead us to the path of righteousness?

God has sent Holy Spirit to be our guide in this choice-full life. He may impress certain choices that bring peace to your heart and you will find strength in God’s words and promises in the Bible. Do you take time to seek Him in your quiet time? The one where you listen and not speak out of many requests? The Holy Spirit will instil in you a conscience of right and wrong, a sense of peace and calm amidst the storm. You may ask, “would God want to speak to me despite all the mistakes or wrong choices I have made?” Yes… He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. When he has brought out all his own, he goes on ahead of them, and his sheep follow him because they know his voice (John 10: 3 – 4).

Be hopeful in your prayer times, you will know His voice and He will guide your choices to a righteous path. Amen.

- Irene Soon 

​Over the past few months, our family has gone through many transitions and through it all, we now must go through season of grieving. Friends and families have helped with prayers and practical helps yet this is another season that I’m still learning to accept and comprehend. I am learning to trust God who knows the best and though it is difficult, I will learn to trust.​ 

Psalm 139: 7 - 10 Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence? If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there. even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast.

The verse above has always been a reminder for me that besides Him, I have no one else who fully understand our situation and despite our failure and brokenness, He embraces us in all our brokenness. God accepts us as who we are even when we reject Him in our sadness, anger or confusion. The Lord understands, He knows you better than anyone else including yourself and He will strengthen you in all seasons.

- Jenni Wang

I sometimes wonder what if Jesus lives in this era we live in, what would he do? Would he spend it teaching and healing more; not distracted by all the noise we have in this digital world? Would he feel the need to hurry in this instantaneous gratifying world? The answers to these questions however, will not change my faith in Jesus. What I need to focus on is the fact that Christ has died on the cross for us and because of that, we are made righteous through Him (2 Cor.5:21).  

Timing is also another question that many of us have asked at least once. Though we have heard testimonies that God is never late, sometimes we find ourselves asking, “When God, when?” Sometimes, His timing may even seem unfair but I rest my assurance on the Lord’s invitation to walk daily with Him, to cast my cares unto Him, to grow in knowledge and love Him (2 Peters 3:18).

​The Lord is working in and through all things. He only lived on earth for 33 years yet He has accomplished His mission and defeated death. Let me encourage everyone to live by faith and love and not allow questions to plague our faith in Christ’s Sovereignty and love for us.

2 Corinthians 5:21 NLT
For God made Christ, who never sinned, to be the offering for our sin, so that we could be made right with God through Christ.

2 Peters 3:18 NIV
But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and forever! Amen.
 
- Jenni Wang 
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In physics, the butterfly effect is a theory that describes on how a tiny momentum or changes i.e such as the flap of a butterfly’s wings could affect the weather thousands of miles away. There will be times when you feel insignificant, metaphorically like a small butterfly and you find yourself saying whatever you do will not matter much when you are facing trials.

As a child of God, there is much you could do. Like the butterfly effect, your words, your faith, your perseverance, your prayers, deeds and kindness could activate the heavenly forces no matter how small they may be. In the Bible, we have seen how the Lord uses things that we consider insignificant to bring miracles, things such David’s slingshot to bring down Goliath, a boy’s lunch box to feed multitudes, Samson’s donkey’s jawbone that slew thousand Philistines. What you do, could bring changes or influences to people around you and your own circumstances.

It is not about the size of seeds or actions you could do but it is about our God who could facilitate that mustard seed faith to grow. It is not about the number of prayers you pray but it is about the Lord who answers prayers of His children, He leaves no one behind and that is the beauty of His grace. He rejoices in your beginnings no matter how small, begin your butterfly effect.

Zechariah 4:10 NLT
Do not despise these small beginnings, for the Lord rejoices to see the work begin…
 
- John W.

There is a vast difference between happiness and blessedness. Paul had imprisonments, sacrifice and painful sufferings up to the very limit; but in the midst of it all, he was blessed. All the beatitudes came into his heart and life in the midst of those very conditions.

On one of his concerts, Paganini, the great violinist discovered that his precious famous violin has been stolen. On that discovery, he felt paralyzed for a moment and he stepped back behind the stage's curtain looking at the old cheap violin that has been left as the replacement of his stolen violin.

He remained at the back of the stage's curtain for a moment, then came out before his audience and said: “Ladies and Gentlemen: I will show you that the music is not in the instrument, but in the soul.” And he played as he would have with his precious violin. Out of the old cheap instrument, the music poured forth until the audience was enchanted with enthusiasm and the applause almost lifted the ceiling of the building;  Paganini had revealed to them that music was not in the instrument, be it an old or a a precious expensive one but in his own soul.

It is your mission, tested and tried one, to walk out on the stage of this world and reveal to all earth and Heaven that blessedness is not in the conditions, not in things, not in externals but it is through the peace and faith within your soul that trusted the Lord, your Saviour.

If peace be in the heart, the wildest winter storm will be full of solemn beauty. If peace be in the heart.

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.”

- Charles F Richardson

When we are faced with an unfavourable situation, the thought that is often the loudest in our mind tends to be why.

Life is like being in a boat and when we accept Him as our Lord and Saviour, we can and should be assured that we have Him in the boat with us.
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At times we think that having Jesus, the sail would be easy. Then the waves hit, the storm rages, we think this should not be happening. Jesus is in us, with us and for us but why is this happening? Everything is against me, I am overwhelmed, why Lord, why?
 
Remember what Jesus says in John 16: 33
I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.
 
Yes, we have trials and sorrows but His promise is that He has overcome the world for us. This is where our faith in Him and His promises matters. Our faith in Him navigates through the waves and storm of our life. We are never alone and we have Him in the boat with us. It means that even though the storm hit, it will not sink our boat.
 
Practice to say His promises rather than the usual whine and why. A good skipper will defend his/her boat when the storm hits. We must also have the same stance and deny the influence of problems in our lives.

- Anonymous

This year, the Lord will take care of us. The Bible has records that attest to His lovingkindness and faithfulness since the beginning of creations and the Lord Himself promises He will never forsake us, who else could make this promise to us with an everlasting credibility.

Never also implies that the Lord will always be available for us at all times, any time and everytime. Doctors, bankers and services are usually available to us from Monday to Friday and immediate appointments are not always guaranteed with them but with the Lord, He guarantees around the clock care; He will never forsake you.

​Let us heed the wisdom of the ​Bible for it is written, “So if you faithfully obey the commands I am giving you today - to love the LORD your God and to serve him with all your heart and with all your soul- then I will send rain on your land in its season, both autumn and spring rains, so that you may gather in your grain, new wine and olive oil. I will provide grass in the fields for your cattle, and you will eat and be satisfied.” (Deuteronomy 11: 13 - 15). 

This year, the Lord will take care of us, obey His commandments and honour Him in all you do. Truly, you are blessed.

- Irene Soon