The goodness of God endures continually.”- Psalm 52:1

Good things show up in our lives in many ways: friends and family, health, a roof overhead and food on the table, the enjoyment we receive from music, nature, books and so on. The Bible teaches us that God is the giver of these blessings. “God’s gift to us is the happiness we get from our food and drink and from the work we do. “Whatever is good and perfect comes down to us from God our Father, who created the heavens.”

These gifts however, as wonderful as they are, are just a small illustration of God’s love. God didn’t have to send His Son; and Jesus didn’t have to lay down His life for our sakes, but He did, and as a result, we are eligible to receive forgiveness of sins and the assurance of an eternity in God’s loving presence.

Without Jesus’ sacrifice, without His sufferings on the cross, without His death, without His resurrection and triumph over the grave, we would not have the promise of everlasting life. Let us take some time to thank God for His gift of salvation. Thank Him for these eternal gifts of forgiveness and redemption.

“Thank You, Lord for sending Your Son, Jesus, to bear the punishment for all my mistakes and shortcomings. Please keep my heart, mind, and life open to You, so that I always remember Your daily goodness in my life.” Amen.

James 1:17 ESV
​Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.

- Anonymous 

Dear blessed friends and families, 

We pray into the year of 2021 that it may bring you abundant favors and beautiful beginnings. May you continue to bring the Lord as the center of your 2021 and let Him lead you in all of your plans.

May you receive fullness in health, joy and love in abundance. Together, we proclaim the blessings of the Lord and may our cups overflow to bless others around us and in this, lead them to the Victory of Christ Jesus. 

In Jesus Name we pray, Amen.

With social distancing encouraged and big indoor gatherings not allowed, it is easy to cave into our comfort zone and not socialize like we used to during the pre CoVid-19 days. Though churches are doing online sermons and small groups are still engaging in video teleconference, we have the option to disengage and in turn, it may lead to us losing enthusiasm to spend time with God or serve Him. I certainly have days as such and prayers seem to lessen as days go by.

That’s when I heard an old hymn that sings, “Come home, come home , Ye who are weary , come home, Earnestly, tenderly, Jesus is calling…” Realizing the risk of becoming indifferent for God, I repented. I have gravitated towards a self serving attitude that may cause a fall out in fellowship with the Lord. It humbles me to know God is always lovingly and tenderly welcoming us back into His life of mercy and abundant grace.

Has your mind or heart wandered off from God? He is calling you home again, you will never be lost in His daily care, neither does He condemns you.

Psalm 51: 12 ESV
Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and uphold me with a willing spirit.

​- Irene Soon

O Lord, why have you brought trouble upon this people? …and You have not rescued Your people at all (Ex.5:22-23).

In the Book of Exodus, I found it interesting that at the end of chapter two, God shows concern to His people by calling Moses to deliver them.

But at the end of chapter five, the situation of the Israelites worsen than before God came to their rescue. Only after ten agonizing plagues fell on the Egyptians, the Israelites were allowed to leave Egypt. As they continued on their journey, we know the Bible has recorded many troubles they had to go through but through all those times God has shown Himself as a faithful God who holds on to His promises.

During this time of uncertainties from Covid-19, I'd imagine that we are like the Israelites at chapter five. We pray and we believe God is listening, but things seem to remain the same or appear to worsen.
 
We may be tempted to ask God on why He has allowed such calamity to fall upon our world but the Bible has shown us records after records that He has been faithful with all His promises. Trials always reveal God’s glory at the end. He showed His greatest love at the cross and we can trust the Lord knows how this trial will reveal His victorious glory at the end.

- Jenni Wang

In my recent travel, I have learned that autumn has the most rainfall in all parts of Scandinavia or at least that was what we experienced. We spent countless days walking in the rain, holding to dear hope that our waterproof gears could withstand the harsh weathers.

The gloomy days were enough to dampen any travelling spirits. I tried to pray the rain away and held on believing that the Lord’s favours surround us like a shield (Psalm 5: 12).

​Slowly but surely, the rains gave way to the sunny skies and we were able to hike the two most scenic mountains in Norway during the days rains were predicted to fall the heaviest.  At one of the mountains, we were the only group at the top and I saw how the clouds shifted dramatically as I uttered prayers under my breath. Many may say that what happened to us was pure luck as weathers could change instantaneously in that region but we continued to enjoy days where the weathers were bearable and we got to enjoy most of what our destinations have to offer.

We praised the Lord for His mercy and protections. No hails, snows nor storms could against the power of God, even the wind and waves listen to Him (Matthew 8: 27). Know that no matter how small your prayer may seem, the Lord cares enough to come down from His Heavenly throne and listen to our fearful whisper or bold cry. He has the power to change any outcome so cast your cares in prayers, take that step of faith and look forward to see the Lord intervene on your behalf.
 
Psalm 5: 12
Surely, LORD, you bless the righteous; you surround them with your favour as with a shield.
 
Matthew 8: 27
The men were amazed and asked, "What kind of man is this? Even the winds and the waves obey him!"

- Irene Soon

Dear friends and families, 

We collectively pray that this season brings upon you the Joy of the Lord; not as the world gives but as the Lord has given us and may your peace surpasses all understanding.

We the Children of God has been given this privilege and may you see His promises fulfilled in your lives.

May your words, kindness and living testimonies be a fragrant offering to everyone around you and strangers who are in need of Christ in their lives.

Amen.

- Hopeful Heart Team

A friend of mine named Paul received a brand new car from his brother as a Christmas present. On Christmas Eve when Paul was walking to his brand new car, a street urchin was admiring it. “Is this your car, Mister?” he asked.

Paul nodded. “My brother gave it to me for Christmas.” The boy was astounded. “You mean your brother gave it to you and it didn’t cost you nothing? Boy, I wish . . .” He hesitated.

Of course Paul knew what he was going to wish for. He was going to wish he had a brother like that but to Paul's surprise, the boy went on and said, “I wish... that I could be a brother like that.”

“Would you like to take a ride in my car?” Paul sincerely offered then. 

“Oh yes Mister, I’d love that.”

After a short ride, the boy turned and with his eyes aglow, said, “Mister, would you mind driving in front of my house?”

Paul smiled a little. He thought the boy wanted to show his neighbors that he rode home in a new shiny car. The boy quickly got off the car and ran up the steps of his house. Then in a little, the boy came back. He was carrying his little crippled brother. He sat him down on the bottom step and pointed to the car.

“There she is, Buddy, just like I told you upstairs. His brother gave it to him for Christmas and it didn’t cost him a cent. And some day I’m gonna give you one just like it . . . then you can see for yourself all the pretty things in the Christmas windows that I’ve been trying to tell you about.”

Paul got out and lifted the little brother to the front seat of his car. The shining-eyed older brother climbed in beside him and the three of them began a memorable holiday ride.

That Christmas Eve, Paul learned what Jesus meant when He said: “It is more blessed to give . . .”

Acts 20: 35 
In everything I did, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said: ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.

- Dan Clark

The month of June has always marked a turning point of my life. I remember he sleeps in the storm but today, decades ago, I sent him off in a white wooden casket. He had a peaceful smile on his face, his storm has passed but losing him marked the start of my self-discovery’s journey. The memory of his casket being lowered down to the soil humbles me.

There laid my hero, my father; lifeless and free from all pains. Who are we to clench our fist to God asking why He did so, which I freely admit that I did so for many years or who are we to boast a list of promises we could do? A man's heart plan his course but the Lord determines his steps (Proverbs 16: 9).

Looking back in hindsight, the tragedy birthed courage within us, taught us a new level of humility and surrender to the Lord. Through the change of perspectives and trust, we watched together as a family on how God restored us; spiritually, financially, emotionally and mentally.

​Yes, plan the course of your lives but in all that you do, remember to prayerfully lay all of the plans at the throne of the Most High. It is through His grace, we could achieve a milestone and complete any task or wake to see another day. Let us give thanks for such gift and in time, He will reveal to you the silver linings of all sorrows

- S.I.L 

If you’re trying to recover from a broken relationship, don’t rush into another one. As you become healthy you begin to make healthy choices. Some hurts take a long time to heal, but don’t be discouraged: ‘He heals the broken-hearted and binds up their wounds.’

Give God a chance. Take time to search His Word and find out how He feels about you, for that’s the true basis of all self-worth. If God can love and accept you with full knowledge of your imperfections, then the message is: "Lighten up, you can love, and be loved again, but remember the second greatest commandment, only with the same wholeness with which you love yourself.

When you don’t value yourself, you attract people who feel the same way about you, including those who seek to control you. So hold out for it for better! Remember, you train others how to treat you by how you treat yourself. As you become whole, you’ll start to see how unwholesome some of your relationship choices have been. If some people walk away, ‘so be it’.

Sometimes you’ve got to give up less so that God can give you more. He has new relationships in store for you, but He’s waiting until your values, perceptions, and self-worth line up with His Word. So take it step by step, one day at a time. And take heart —your best days are ahead.

Psalm 147: 3
He heals the broken hearted, he binds up their wounds.

- Word for Today devotional Bob Gass

Would you be excited to receive a free gift? As God’s child, Jesus gave us a free gift; he promises to give us an advocate to help us and He will not leave us comfortless. His very free gift that is unseen by the world – the Holy Spirit. 

“And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever. The Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you.” – John 14: 16-17.

Holy Spirit is a free gift that everyone has access to, it is a gift that is redeemable by everyone. To receive the Holy Spirit is to access the supernatural power of God in your life, it is a gift of the Spirit and it has the ability to bring God’s reality into your life. God wants to do much good to you and through you.

​If it has been in your heart to invite the Holy Spirit into your life, all you have to do is ask for them to come and believe that Jesus is your Saviour.  It is a gift that will change your life for the better and you will always have an advocate who understands you like no other. 

The person who speaks in tongues is strengthen personally… (1 Corinthians 14: 4). Would you invite and allow the Holy Spirit into your heart today? He will be your Comforter, Advocate, Intercessor—Counsellor and Strengthener.

Acts 19: 5 – 6
On hearing this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. When Paul placed his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came on them, and they spoke in tongues and prophesied. 

- Irene Soon