Recently I have been reading through the book of Jeremiah. There are lots of judgement - not only for God’s people, but also for other nations. Surprisingly though, it is not the focus of the book as God also promises restoration to other nation as well. This reminds me of the Sovereignty of the Lord, He is the Judge as well as the Restorer.
 
God’s grace and mercy is not reserved only for His people, neither is His judgement only for unbelievers. His fairness reminds me that we pray not only for believers to keep rooted in faith and be fruitful in Christ but we also need to extend His mercy and compassion to unbelievers because it is within His heart to restore, to see all be blessed abundantly and that everyone including those who are yet to believe in Him, can have a fulfilled lives through Christ Jesus.

Personally, it is hard for me to pray this, seeing corruptions, greed and suffering in my country, seeing people in power to be self-serving and harming the weaker innocents; marginalizing them to poverty rather than fostering peace and caring for the ones in need. It is however, not for me to judge as God is the judge of all and I’m called to extend His compassion and grace to unbelievers too, to pray for them to have the heart of Christ and bring the likeness of His Kingdom to the world, to instil in believers’ hearts the courage and faith to be a true ambassador of Christ, bringing hope and restoration in this uncertain, challenging and corrupt times. God want's to restore.
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May God strengthen us to bring changes and restorations in our own world through prayers and courage to do what is needed. God bless you.
 
2 Corinthians 5:20 (NIV)
"We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God.
 
Colossians 3:13 (NIV)
“Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.”

- Jenni Wang

Antonio Stradivari, the Italian violin maker was a poor man. He was unable to afford most materials s and got the woods to craft his violins from the harbors where he lived.

The wood materials were dirty waterlogged pieces, discarded and unwanted lumbers. Stradivari would take those wet fibrous woods, cleaned it and dried in his shop. Despite this humble beginning, Stradivari violins are the most prized violins; recognised for its rich and resonant sound that can’t be duplicated. Stradivari sees the unwanted lumbers on its potentials and not on how it was unwanted, dirty and discarded materials.

This made me reflect on how God could also transform any of us from a humble beginning to the potential and purpose He has planned for our lives. We may view ourselves as those dirty, unwanted and discarded lumber with no hope of redemption, perhaps from past shame, adversities or mistakes, but God can transform each one of us into what we are meant to be; He could save us no matter how hopeless we feel.

He is Sovereign and we are His beloved children, give the Lord a little faith, try Him. Receive His redemptive grace, “…He is able to save completely those who come to God through Him, because He always lives to intercede for them.” – Hebrew 7: 25
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- Irene Soon 

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

Wishing you and your families a blessed Merry Christmas where there are joy, glad tidings, warmth and peace. We pray that there are no loneliness and griefs as our Lord place the lonely in families to celebrate together the reason for the season.

The Lord will especially strengthen the weak and needy and we pray that He makes His presence and love tangible in every way that you need. He will bless you and me. Amen!

Merry Christmas, dear blessed ones.
Our Lord and Saviour is born, Emmanuel - God is with us.

- Hopeful Heart Team

In Matthew 13: 54 - 56, Jesus was rejected by the Nazarene; people of His hometown. They scoffed at the idea of how He was able to do miracles and possessed great wisdom. After all, they knew His family and Jesus was only the carpenter’s son. How did He learn all these things?
 
“And they were deeply offended and refused to believe in him” – Matthew 13: 57

Jesus knows that His calling would face opposition yet he take no heart of the offence and stayed true to righteous living and teaching that offended even His disciples (John 6: 61). We tend to see things through the lens of worldly wisdom; we reject anything foolish or anything that does not make sense to us and we may even take to offence to some sayings or teachings that offend us.

Jesus has every right to feel offended from the judgement of the Nazarenes or even His own disciples yet offense is not something He teaches us to take. He forgives our offences and encourages us to do the same. “Make allowances for each other’s faults, and forgive anyone who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others.” Colossians 3:13

If you are hurting because you get offended in the past. Do not let the hurt dwell within you any longer. Do not let the hurt define and make who you are. Your identity has always been the beloved child of
the Almighty God. Jesus extends His loving hands toward you, let Him heal your grievances. Forgive those who offended you and forgive yourself, then fully surrender to Him.

The Lord is willing and He wants to take away the offense and the hurt. He promises love and rest, like a good Shepherd in Psalm 23. The question is now, are you willing?

- Annie Pisca

Recently, a dear colleague of mine passed away.

A woman in her late 60’s passed quietly on her bed without struggle and pain as we were told. The funeral director began her commemoration by asking guests what is the first word that comes to mind when we think of Pam, my mind quietly whispered, “kindness” and like an echo, the funeral director voiced it audibly, “kindness.”

Pam’s kindness will leave a lasting mark of a gentle soul that touches each one of us who came to know her and it will certainly be a legacy we aim to replicate when life feels unkind. Kindness is often misconstrued as a weakness, softness, a vulnerability that may be misused by people around us when in truth, anyone who shows kindness are the ones with profound strength; a strength to forgive, a strength to accept and a strength to heal from hurt with courage.

Christ’s very essence is goodness. He emanates mercies and kindness and He offers us fresh new grace every morning to begin again. “Let us be kind to one another, tender hearted, forgiving one another as God in Christ forgave you (Ephesians 4: 32 ESV)”. Even if you struggle to offer a solace of kindness, the Lord will not condemn. The Bible speaks of kindness as one of the fruits of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22), ask for the Lord’s strength and dear friends, I believe He will enable you to bear the fruit of kindness. Let us trust His process, amen.
 
Galatians 5: 22 – 23 NLT
But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things!

Ephesians 4: 32 ESV
Let us be kind to one another, tender hearted, forgiving one another as God in Christ forgave you.
 
Irene Soon

Merry Christmas dear blessed families and friend, ​

We wish you and your families a Christmas season filled with the peace and love of Jesus Christ as the centre of your festivities and gatherings. May the lost be found, may the lonely be placed in families, may the broken be restored and may the weeping be comforted. May the Lord continue to reveal His glory through our lives and testimonies as how Mary has declared in one of her prayers: 

And Mary said:
My soul glorifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,
for He has been mindful of the humble state of his servant.
From now on all generations will call me blessed, for the Mighty One has done great things for me--holy is His name. (Luke 1: 46 - 55)

- Hopeful Heart Team

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.

​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

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