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 

The hot water that would soften a potato could harden an egg as well as the same sunshine that gives warmth during winter could easily harden the clay. Although in our earthly life, we can’t choose circumstances that can happen to us, God wants our struggles to strengthen us and nurture the perseverance within us. His promises in the Bible encourages us to defend our faith in a living God than to give in to fear that the Lord has the power to conquer for us.

Paul writes, “We can rejoice too.. (Romans 5: 3). Paul spoke of a freedom to choose and if he who has gone through many trials and sufferings with imprisonment could still heed us to rejoice, we too can choose to rejoice during trials. We can because we have the confidence that the Lord is working His purposes in our lives for our good and we are never alone as we have the Holy Spirits within us. So, let us rejoice!
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Romans 5: 3 – 5 NLT
We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance. And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation.  And this hope will not lead to disappointment. For we know how dearly God loves us, because he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love.

- John W.

​In everyday life, the Lord lovingly leaves His fingerprints on His creations. I believe, these are reminders for us to believe in His provision and plans.

Take a look at a palm tree – 1) This tree will bend but it will not break. Despite how strong the storm or wind may come its way, the palm tree will bend its branches even to the ground and when the storm eases, it will straighten its branches and be its strongest in the place where it bent. 2) You can’t kill a palm tree; you may be able to cut it but it will grow again. The nutrients it need to survive are stored through the tree’s rough outer rings and it also remains close to its roots. 3) Palm tree’s roots can grow as deep as hundreds of meters in search of water hence why it could thrive even in a dry place as it stays close to its water source.

If the Lord could equip a palm tree to be enduring and robust, how much more would He equips you? He readily equips us, His beloved children with His enduring grace. You may be overwhelmed and bend but you will not be broken, lay your root deep to the source of the Living Water. Let no wind nor storm be able to uproot and break your faith.

​Yes, you are more than able to endure and rise stronger. The Lord is your source and you have His enduring grace to rise stronger.
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Isaiah 40:31
"But those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint."

- Irene Soon

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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Why pray you asked? Prayer is a weapon, why don't you want to invite a victorious Saviour into your situations? Think of the acrostic P-R-A-Y:
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P – Praise the Lord! Not sure how? Think you’ll run out of words? Not if you use the Scriptures.

R – Repent of your sins. Just as heat forces impurities to the surface so that the metal refiner can remove them, your prayer time will reveal attitudes that must be changed, habits that must be broken, and barriers to blessing that must be removed. It’s not enough to tell God about your sins. He already knows them. You must ask Him to help you turn away from them. This is true repentance.
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A – Ask for yourself and others. Your prayers invite God into the situations, and your faith actives His power to change it. There’s no distance in prayer, no culture or language barrier it can’t overcome. It’s like throwing on a power switch – things begin to move when we pray. Jesus said, “I will give you the keys of the Kingdom of Heaven… whatever doors you open on earth shall be open in Heaven (Matt 16: 19 TLB)
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Y – Yield yourself to God’s will. Declaring the Lordship of Jesus Christ in your life is like signing your name to your autobiography and inviting Him to write you life’s story.
 
1 Chronicles 29:11
Yours, O LORD, is the greatness, the power, the glory, the victory, and the majesty. Everything in the heavens and on earth is yours, O LORD, and this is your kingdom. We adore you as the one who is over all things.

- Writing of Bob Gass (Word for Today)

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.

Colossians 1:13 NLT
For he has rescued us from the kingdom of the darkness and transferred us into the Kingdom of his dear Son..
 
Have you ever imagined what it was like to be in the Kingdom of Jesus Christ? Joy, peace, fulfilment and love that many are seeking but many can’t find on this earth are freely offered as benefits to the citizen of His kingdom. Don’t imagine it any longer! His wonderful Kingdom is in you!

Jesus said for behold the Kingdom of God is already among you (Luke 17:21). From the moment you accepted Him as your Lord and Saviour, He lives in you. Just as Paul declared that “it is no longer I who live, but it is Christ who lives in me.” (Galatians 2:20). In 2018, as I was passing through a dark moment of my life, I saw this same verse - Galatians 2:20, boldly emblazoned on the back of a random guy’s t-shirt. That very moment, I could tangibly feel the Holy Spirit administering to my spirit. Love and hope were knocking loudly in my heart that day.

If you are going through a dark moment today, surrender your pain, fear and sorrow to Him. Give Him the reins to your life. You live in His kingdom and the government will rest on His shoulders (Isaiah 9:6). This will affirms His Lordship, over your life, family, relationship, work and any activities happening in His kingdom. Let the Lord's grace flow in your life and let Him lead you to the full abundant life He has promised (John 10:10). 

Galatians 2: 20 
I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God who loved me and gave Himself for me.

- Annie Pisca

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

As the year is drawing to an end, let us take the time to recount the goodness the Lord has brought to our lives; giving thanks to the seen and unseen protection and provision the Lord has lavished on us. We will give thanks to the lessons and tears that this year brings as well for the Lord has strengthen us through it all.

Jesus constantly remained in constant communion with His Heavenly Father, He looked for opportunities to seek His Father in prayers. I believe, this is the way our Lord Jesus Christ coped with daily demands that depletes His human energy.
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The book of Matthew wrote that when Jesus heard of the ill fate that befell John the Baptist, He withdrew by boat privately to seek solitude but upon seeing a large crowd following Him, He had compassion, healed them, attended to their needs and fed them. After it, He went to the mountainside by Himself to pray. 

Jesus repeatedly helped multitudes who seek Him yet He did not rely on His own strength, stay haggard and hurried, He nurtured His communion with His Father through prayers in solitude and thanksgiving. Will we follow this example and intentionally make time for the Lord before the year ends and starts it afresh with prayers? In your own solitude, be refreshed by His mighty strength and gracious fulfilment; giving thanks trusting that our days are in our Lord’s good protections and provisions.

Matthew 14: 13 - 14
When Jesus heard it, He departed from there by boat to a deserted place by Himself. But when the multitudes heard it, they followed Him on foot from the cities. And when Jesus went out, He saw a great multitude; and He was moved with compassion for them, and healed their sick.
 
Matthew 14: 23
And when He had sent the multitudes away, He went up on the mountain by Himself to pray.

- Irene Soon

Through all ups and downs in life, I still want to testify that God is trustworthy.

I have started a new role in my team, as Assistant Prayer Coordinator (APC). It is a role that could overwhelm me with worry. Taking the role took me out of my comfort zone but I believe it is an opportunity to experience the Lord’s faithfulness and it is a learning curve for me to depend more on Him.
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I believe there will be times in our lives when we are asked to make decision when we have several choices in front of us. We may not be an expert decision maker but I believe when we choose to obey the Lord and step out of our comfort zones, He will grace us to have the strength and wisdom daily. Even if we doubt our own ability, He would still allow us to have the opportunity to advance beyond ourselves and abilities.

Choosing to obey and trust the Lord may seem like threading a path less known, it may seem uncertain but would you challenge yourself to believe that it would be the best decisions we could make? Not because of our own intelligence or discernment but because of the Lord’s everlasting love that gifted us everlasting mercy and grace. The Lord is truly trustworthy and we can put our trust in Him.

Ephesians 2: 4 - 5
But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions-it is by grace you have been saved.

- Jenni Wang