In Australia, we have a bird called the willie wagtail. Although it is a  different type of bird, I often liken it to the sparrow.

​Perhaps it is just the way they puff their chest or how tiny I see they are. They are however much bigger than the sparrows but the sight of one brings me joy and reminded me of the verse in Matthew 10.

In the Bible, Jesus said, “Are not two sparrows sold for a copper coin? And not one of them falls to the ground apart from your Father’s care…So don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows (Matthew 10:29 – 31).

Jesus is heeding us to hold on to the faith that the Lord is bigger than any of our problems and challenges. When circumstances threaten us to lose hope, we can find this truth that the Lord who loves the little sparrows are also our Saviour who numbers the very hairs on our head.

He is the Saviour who watches over us; the loving Saviour who remembers every detail of our lives and everyday, every moment, we are always under the Lord’s watchful eyes and loving care. His eyes who are on the sparrows are also on you and me.
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Matthew 10:29 - 31
Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground outside your Father’s care. And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. So don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.

- Irene Soon 

Once in a while, an ewe will give birth to a lamb and reject it. If the shepherd tries to return the lamb, the mother might even kick the baby away and will not change her mind to accept the baby back.

These little lambs spirits break and they will hang their heads so low that it looks like something is wrong with their little necks. These lambs are called "bummer lambs.”
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Unless the shepherd intervenes, that little lamb will die, rejected and alone.  This is where the shepherd will take the rejected little lamb to their home, hand feed it and keep it warm. They will wrap the baby lamb in blankets and hold it to their chest for it to feel the shepherd’s heartbeat. When the baby lamb is strong enough, the shepherd will then place it back with the flocks in the field.

That baby lamb who is now a sheep will never forgets the shepherd's love and care when their mother rejected them. When the shepherd calls for the flock, guess which sheep runs first? That sheep that knows the shepherd's voice.

By now that forgotten sheep knows that it is loved and intimately trust the shepherd. Many of us are like the bummer lambs; rejected and broken but Jesus is our good Shepherd. He cares for our every need and holds us close to His heart so we can hear His heartbeat.

As broken as we are, our Lord Jesus deeply love us and He is Shepherd who would leave the 99 sheep just to find our lost soul, to find you, to find me. Jesus, He left the 99 to rescue you and me.
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Luke 15: 4 ESV
What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he has lost one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the open country, and go after the one that is lost, until he finds it?
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- Author unknown

Dear blessed friends and families, 

We pray for everyone to enter into this new year with a thanksgiving heart and we would like to start 2026 with a prayer.

Heavenly Father,

​We thank you for Your abundant grace, faithfulness and love for us through the past year. As we step into this new year, we place our trust in You Lord; to guide our steps with clarity and purpose. Please renew our strength and hope, give us courage and help us walk in love, stand firm in faith and be light around the people around us.

In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen.

- Hopeful Heart Team

One afternoon, a little girl lingered in front of a thrift shop, studying the items displayed in the window. After taking her time, she stepped inside and shyly asked to see a necklace with a small pearl pendant.

The shopkeeper, Dan, brought it to the counter. The moment she saw it, her eyes sparkled. “It’s perfect,” she said softly. “Could you wrap it for me, please? My sister would love it. She’s been taking care of us since our mom passed away, and I want to give her something special for our first Christmas without her.” Dan looked at her gently and asked, “How much do you have to pay for it?”

The little girl untied a cloth bundle and poured its contents onto the counter. There were stacks of coins, a few folded dollar bills, and a well worn Snoopy watch. “I emptied all my savings,” she said earnestly. “That watch is the only one I have. Will it be enough?”

Dan picked up the necklace and asked her name. “Lily Grace,” she replied.

With a warm smile, Dan disappeared into the back room. He returned moments later with a beautifully wrapped gift box, a Christmas card attached, Lily Grace’s name written neatly inside.
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Days later, on Christmas Eve, a young woman walked into Dan’s shop holding the same package Lily Grace had purchased. “Do you remember who bought this?” she asked.

“A little girl named Lily Grace,” Dan replied. “She bought it for her sister for their first Christmas.”
“It must have cost much more than she could afford,” she said. “How much is it really worth? I would like to pay the difference.”

Dan gently handed the package back to her and said, “She paid with everything she had. That is exactly how much it is worth.”

This Christmas, may we rejoice in the truth that we are no longer a slave but through Jesus Christ, we receive the gift of adoption of Sonship; we have been gifted Heaven’s Best to redeem us from the condemnation and curse of the law to receive free flowing loving mercy, grace and daily favours. Jesus paid with everything that He had to redeem us, that is how much you and I are worth to Him. Rejoice for we are redeemed by a Good Saviour who loves us unconditionally.

Jesus Christ, He is the greatest gift of all. 
 
Galatians 4: 4 – 7
But when the set time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those under the law, that we might receive adoption to sonship. Because you are his sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out, “Abba, Father.” So you are no longer a slave, but God’s child; and since you are his child, God has made you also an heir.
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- Irene Soon

Thank you, Father, for the privilege of being able to come freely to You in prayers.; to be able to have a direct communion with you and receive abundant grace and mercy at any given time. The apostle Paul encourages us to be strong in the Lord and in the Lord’s mighty power (Eph 6:10).

Paul knows how blessed it is to be able to draw strength, protection, discernment and wisdom from our Lord who gives never-ending supply; that we could say a prayer and feel the peaceful presence of the Lord enveloping our anxious thoughts.

Being strong in the Lord and in His mighty power grows from a deliberate immersion through prayers of every concern, worry, every thanksgiving, every tear and every joy to a God who dearly loves us. He loves to be part of our every minute and day; draw near to Him and receive His steadfast strength and conviction to fully believe in His good promises. The Lord promises and He delivers. Let us boldly come to His throne and claim His good promises.
 
1 Chronicles 17: 26 – 27
And now, Lord, You are God and have promised this goodness to Your servant. Now You have been pleased to bless the house of Your servant, that it may continue before You forever; for You have blessed it, O Lord, and it shall be blessed forever.

Hebrews 4: 16
Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.

- Irene Soon
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Jesus came to our world in its brokenness and hopelessness to bring freedom and life. His resurrection is the very evidence that He has accomplished what He has set out to do as the Son of God atoning our sins; bestowing upon us righteousness to approach the Throne of Grace.

Let us celebrate His victory and share  the good news - He is RISEN! Praise His name for the new life He has gifted us. We wish everyone a blessed Easter Resurrection Sunday.

- Hopeful Heart Team

As we remember Christ's suffering and sacrifice on the cross, may we find His unending grace and mercy fill our days with peace, courage and hope.

We have hope because of Christ's sacrifice on the cross; He has given us the authority to trample upon our sins and no longer live under the bondage of sins but under the freedom He has purchased for us by His blood.

Praise His Holy Name and may you always remember that Jesus loves you.

-Hopeful Heart Team

When we look back in our walk with Christ, it is easier to see and understand why He has placed us in the places He did, why He has brought certain people and situations, why he permitted trials and challenges and also why He uprooted us to new places, jobs, friendships and/or relationships.

There is always a lesson in every season and though we may not always get the clarity we want at the time we want; I count it as a blessing and protection from the Lord as His ways are higher than ours (Isaiah 55: 8).When we encounter challenges and trials, our solutions are always grounded in men’s wisdom which is foolishness to the Lord (1 Corinthians 3: 19 – 20).

As we reflect at this end of year, I could testify and see how God has assisted and directed good outcomes of my trials faithfully and pruning what is not required. If the thought of the upcoming new year still bears uncertainty for you, let Psalm 111 be your faithful reminder of the Lord’s heart for us.
The Lord also promises to never leave and forsake us (Deuteronomy 31:8).

With the promise of God’s presence and help, we can move to 2025 with confidence and faith for the Lord goes before us. Let us rejoice for the Lord is faithful and good.
 
Isaiah 55: 8
For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, said the Lord”

1 Corinthians 3: 19 - 20
For the wisdom of this world is foolishness in God’s sight. As it is written: “He catches the wise in their craftiness”[ and again, “The Lord knows that the thoughts of the wise are futile.”
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Psalm 111: 3 - 5
Great are the works of the Lord; they are pondered by all who delight in them. Glorious and majestic are his deeds, and his righteousness endures forever. He has caused his wonders to be remembered; the Lord is gracious and compassionate. He provides food for those who fear him; he remembers his covenant forever.

- Irene Soon

Charles Spurgeon wrote beautifully referencing the promise that the Lord has made in Isaiah.

"See, I have engraved you on the palms of my hands; your walls are ever before me." (Isaiah 49: 16)
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In Spurgeon's active preaching years , it is said that He loved to preach on Isaiah 49: 16. It is a wonderful - wonderful promise and Spurgeon painted a visual reference for us whereby Jesus' wounds were engraved by nails, fastened to the Cross by thuds of hammers that His people will be truly engraved on the palm of His hands.

If and when we are plagued by doubts and thoughts that Jesus has forgotten us, we can look to our palms and remember Jesus' wounded engraved palm for us. Our names have been engraved on the palm of the Lord. He has put a permanent lasting mark on His palm for us, our walls are ever before Him; it is Jesus' way to say He loves you and me and He will always go before us; making a way and He will not in any way forsake us. Amen.

Deuteronomy 31: 6
Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.

- Irene Soon