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

“Today was a difficult day,” said Pooh. There was a pause.

“Do you want to talk about it?” asked Piglet.

​“No,” said Pooh after a bit. “No, I don’t think I do.”

“That’s okay,” said Piglet, and he came and sat beside his friend.

“What are you doing?” asked Pooh.

“Nothing, really,” said Piglet. “Only, I know what difficult days are like. I quite often don’t feel like talking about it on my difficult days either.”

“But, goodness,” continued Piglet, “difficult days are so much easier when you know you’ve got someone there for you. And ill always be here for you, Pooh.”

And as Pooh sat there, working through in his head his difficult day, while the solid reliable Piglet sat next to him quietly, swinging his little legs… he thought that his best friend had never been more right. (A.A Milne)

Sometimes, our quiet presence with a friend in need is more precious than offering a handful of instructions which may overwhelm them on their difficult days. Sometimes, there won’t even be any words or actions that may help at that moment but your presence can comfort and it is an earnest counsel that you could offer. Just like little Piglet with his quiet and understanding comfort.

Proverbs 27: 9
Oil and perfume make the heart glad; So does the sweetness of a friend’s counsel that comes from the heart.

- Irene Soon

As we listened to mostly Christmas tunes in the shops and radios, you would have come across ‘Silent Night. ‘It’s serene melody portrays a calm bright starry night that’s captivated by a heavenly peace when baby Jesus was born.

As I pondered to its lyrics, our picture of calmness surrounding Jesus’ birth could be far from a silent night as the angel armies sing the glory of Heaven announcing the birth of a Saviour. Not to mention the visitation of the shepherds, wise men, sheep and camels crowding the stable but amidst the commotion, there was baby Jesus. I pictured Him peacefully asleep in the arms of an exhausted young mother and under the watchful protection of Joseph, His father.

As we enter to the days of church, worship, gatherings and festive activities nearing to Christmas day, let’s remember amidst all these commotions and busyness, there was baby Jesus who was peacefully asleep amidst the crowds and noises around him; that there’s peace in remembering our Prince of Peace embracing the heavenly peace meant for this season. Do not let the world busyness take that away from you. Jesus, He is Immanuel, He is with us and He is the Peace to be embraced this season.

Matthew 1: 22 - 23
Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call his name Immanuel' (which means, God with us) 

- Irene Soon

During my recent house-moving, I came to realization that I have become a collector of things. You know those people who seems to buy and store things in their closets or wardrobes and suddenly feel their house is in such clutter.

I believe most of this problem originates from the popular culture of materialism in our society. Whenever we watch TV, browse social media or listen to the radio, we are presented by many advertisements selling us the newest and greatest things we should own. The rapid technological advancement even contributed to a shorter life span of us owning that new piece of thing.

Jesus puts this in perspective when He said, “Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; life does not consist in an abundance of possessions." If your possessions seems to clutter all your spaces including your mental space, you could decide to give what you no longer need to charity or those who are in need. Remember the golden wisdom that Jesus said, “it is more blessed to give than to receive.” As we give away our extra or earthly possessions in the spirit of generosity, we accumulate spiritual blessings and joy that no possessions could ever bring to us.​

Acts 20: 35 ESV
In all things I have shown you that by working hard in this way we must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how He Himself said, “It is more blessed to give than to receive.”

- John W.

 Think about this, you are never alone. Those quiet, lonely times when you think no one gets you or even appreciate you, those are false thinking. No, you are never alone.

There is a friend who sticks closer than a brother (Proverbs 18:24. That precious friend is Jesus, He promises He is with you always and He will never leave nor forsake you. Before your day even started, Jesus guarded you through your slumber, He was with you when you woke in the morning, when you begin your day and thought about your plans ahead, Jesus is there. He is waiting with the direction you need. When you encounter a problem in your day, Jesus is still beside you, waiting for you to speak to Him and ask of help, He is ready to comfort you and even has provided a solution. As you are reading this, Jesus is beside you.

“My presence will go with you,” (Exodus 33:14) Jesus promises. Become aware of His presence in your day, think of Jesus as your constant companion. It will change your perspective, try it. Find the comfort and relieve from the false loneliness you feel. Jesus could fill that void better than anyone or anything ever can.

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. If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, even there your hand will guide me.

- John W.

As each day comes to you,
My thoughts speed out your way,
For all the things you do,
"God bless you, Love," I pray;
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May life show you its charm,
May God renew your strength, 
​And keep you from all harm, 
You mean so much to me, 
I can't describe my care,
Love holds you close to me,
"God bless you," is my prayer.

Tho you are far away,
I send my love and care,
To keep you every day from trouble and despair,
So do not have a fear,
Keep faith and trust above,
Our living God is near,
"God bless you,"is my prayer

Psalm 84:11
For the Lord God is a sun and shield; the Lord bestows favor and honor; no good thing does He withhold from those who walk uprightly.

- Writing Excerpt by Ruth Hamilton (1962)

Have you come across a durian fruit before? The prickly greenish-brown husks you see hanging from street vendors at any of tropical Asian countries, when it is in season that is. It is a fruit I have grown accustomed to having or even eating but it is not the same case with everyone.

Some simply find its pungent odour revolting or foul, repelling them the thoughts of even trying it for the first time. The thing with durian is, inside its thick prickly hard shell, there is soft sweet edible centre that many crave and sometimes willing to pay the premium price for the fruit.

Loving people and seeing the good possibilities in people may sometimes be quite similar to knowing a durian as well. Their presence or attitude could repel or prick you. People can be horrible and stinky with the words they say and those barriers add to the challenge of reaching out the soft sweet centre of the person. To reach in, sometimes you have to be willing to be pricked and not let the “bad odour” of their bad attitude repulse you.

​Like me and you, everyone wants and needs to be affirmed for their own self. Be kind and thoughtful in your choice of words as Christ has to us. We too, could be like a durian and it is always such a relief for people not to misunderstand our wrong behaviour in times of our struggles.

Thank you Father for your grace in our life. Help us extend grace to others as You have been to us. In Jesus name, we pray. Amen.

John 13:34
So now I am giving you a new commandment: Love each other. Just as I have loved you, you should love each other.

- Irene Soon 

“Never judge a man until you’ve walked a mile in his shoes.”If there was anyone who knew all about that, it was probably Mother Teresa.

After having lived among the poorest of the poor in India for nearly 30 years (and she would continue to do so for nearly 20 more), she was awarded the 1979 Nobel Peace Prize. She began her acceptance speech with the words, “Life is life.” She went on to explain that all human beings are special and of great worth, no matter who they are, and that only when we have learned to respect that fact can we begin to help them improve their lives.

Most people would be happy to walk a mile in a pair of plush designer shoes or top-of-the-line athletic shoes, but how many would want to step into a poor laborer’s shoes? When I was living in Uganda, East Africa, I found a discarded pair of shoes.

It was apparent from the cement splatters that their last owner had been a construction worker. Like many others, he no doubt worked long days in sweltering heat with no protection against the sun and had only a couple of sticks of raw sugar cane for lunch. He had worn those shoes until the holes in the soles had gotten so big that the shoes no longer served their purpose. When there was no point in wearing them one more day, he left them for me to find. Those shoes put my own petty problems into perspective.

There wasn’t any question in my mind when, some time later, a young man knocked at my door, asking for help. He had won a scholarship to a boarding school, but he didn’t have any shoes. He asked if I had an extra pair I could give him. The ones I was wearing at the time fit him quite nicely, and that was that.

No, one simple act of kindness didn’t make me a saint on the level of Mother Teresa, but I do believe that in that moment I experienced a touch of what motivated her all those years: “The love of Christ compels us.”

Proverbs 18:2 ESV
 A fool takes no pleasure in understanding, but only in expressing his opinion.

- Unknown author