I keep a few photographs on my fridge and there is one that always makes me smile.

In it, my children are of toddler age, gap-toothed and smiling ear to ear, leaning to me with the complete and uncomplicated trust that only very young children have. I remember that photo, I remember that moment, I remember being exhausted that very afternoon. I remember wondering if I was doing enough for my kids.

I was present in body but my mind was burdened and three tasks ahead of time. Motherhood has a way of making me feel incompetent and not enough. The love we feel for our children is so vast that it could be frightening sometimes; knowing and worrying that we can’t always fully protect them, can’t fully fix their problems and then, there are some days where I have raised my voice when I meant to show my care in a gentler way or I simply came home from work with no more attention left to give to my children, that guilt settles in like an invisible yet tangible weight.

The Lord, however, He constantly reminds me that we are not called to  be perfect mothers. He asks us to lean on His strength. The same hands that formed our children before we even knew them are holding them still. We are not their only covering, the Lord is.

To every mother reading this, the tired one, the busy one, the one who wonders if you are enough, yes you are enough and yes, what you do matters. God sees you, God loves you and God loves your children.

Isaiah 49:15-16 NIV
Can a mother forget the baby at her breast and have no compassion on the child she has borne? Though she may forget, I will not forget you! See, I have engraved you on the palms of my hands.
 
- S.I.L

Have you ever watched trees during a storm?

When the winter season comes, they stand tall through the cold and rain, quietly growing itself by the steady pouring rain. When the storm deepens, their resilience becomes visible, they do not resist the forces of wind; the branches bend, yielding to the nature’s force as its leaves are torn away. The trunk however, remains steady and deeply rooted, making the tree stays grounded and unmoved, holding firm through it all.

We are living in a season where the storm seems relentless. The news carries unsettling headlines one after another and the future which once felt exciting and full of hope now seems to be full of uncertainties. If we are honest, the weight of daily life can bend us, tearing away the sense of peace we have cultivated as God’s children.

The Apostle Paul wrote his letter to the Philippians not from a place of comfort but from a prison cell and yet, he wrote words that have outlasted every empire, generations and times that has come since, "Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God."

Paul did not promise that everything will work out, he did not assure everyone of a smooth circumstance but he simply urges us to present our requests, to bring all of it; to bring all the fears, tears, the uncertainties, the helplessness, the thoughts that keeps you awake at early mornings, bring all these to God. Paul also did not say the storm will immediately cease but because there is peace available to us, the ones that Paul testify to “transcend all understanding”

This could simply mean a peace that does not require us to have the answers first, a peace that guards our hearts even while the storms are roaring and our branches are bending helplessly. The Lord, He is the unshakeable root that holds the tree, unseen yet fully present holding us when we feel like we are failing.

Dear friends, when life feels out of control, it is not truly beyond His care. We belong to the One who spoke the world into being, the One who can calm even the fiercest storm. He is our steady ground, our unchanging certainty. We are not meant to carry the weight of being the trunk or the roots. We are simply called to remain connected to Him.

So let us gently release all things that steals our peace and rest in the One who holds all things with care.
 
Philippians 4:6-7 NIV
Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

- Irene Soon 

It’s been awhile that I have noticed my unsettling morning habit. Before I say any word or prayer to God, I have already read 10-20 news headlines, scrolled through my phone notifications, reminders and watched reels that I can’t even recall properly.

When it is time to open my Bible, my mind was cluttered and full even at the dawn of morning and I couldn’t sense the Lord’s presence but of the world’s noise. Do you relate to this too?

The phone is mostly, the first thing many of us reach for in the morning and also likely, the last thing we see at night. The device itself its not sinful but when we allow the noise of all the information replace the stillness we need to hear from God, this is a sign we need to put it down longer.

In Mark 1:35, we read that Jesus rose early in the morning while it was still dark and went to a solitary place to pray. Jesus was not a man with nothing to do, crowds were following Him, demands were pressing in from everyone he meets including His own disciples and yet, He knew how to separate the noise of His worlds and protect the stillness and quiet time with His Father above all else.

If the Son of God guarded His devotional life against the urgency of work, ministry and everything else, how much more must we guard ours against the distraction of a phone screen?

Could I challenge you to try this daily? Before you reach for your phone tomorrow morning, reach for the Lord first. Even a few deliberate minutes in prayer or in the Word will reorient your heart in a calming peace that 10 – 20 headlines never will.

​The world will always demand our attention. Let us choose daily and intentionally, to give our first moments to the Lord who is worthy of them.

Mark 1:35 NIV
Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed.

- John W.

The song "Jesus is a Friend of Mine" by Sonseed is such a classic quirky "oldie," but it carries a timeless truth. On a personal level, I can proudly say that Jesus truly is my friend.

​Right now, the everlasting and all-powerful Son of God is inviting you into the most satisfying relationship you will ever experience. In John 15:15, Jesus says, "I have called you friends, because I have told you everything I have heard from my Father"
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If you’ve been hurt by earthly friends and find it hard to imagine a bond like this, I invite you to give Jesus a chance. He specialises in healing aching hearts; as Psalm 147:3 reminds us, 'He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.' 

Jesus call you a Fried and as you seek Him, you’ll find that—just like the song says—He will never leave you flat. He understands you and loves you exactly as you are. Zephaniah 3:17 captures this perfectly: the Lord is with you, He delights in you, and His love calms every fear. He isn't just watching you; He’s rejoicing over you with singing." 

- Annie Pisca

This Easter Sunday, let us remember the Hope that Jesus has gifted us. Through His death and resurrection, Jesus cancelled the charge of our sins' debt that could condemn us by nailing it to the cross. 

Receiving Jesus' gift of sacrifice for the wrong we have done means we are able to wake with fresh new grace, hope and mercy everyday, free from the burden of sins. He has RISEN, He has beaten death and darkness and oh dear blessed ones, He loves you so very dearly.

Dear Lord, thank you for paying the price of my sins. May Your mercy and forgiveness helps me to extend forgiveness and love to those who needs to know you and of your Love. In Jesus Name, we pray.

Amen.​

Colossians 2: 13 - 14 NASB
And when you were dead in your wrongdoings and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He made you alive together with Him, having forgiven us all our wrongdoings

- Hopeful Heart Team

Dear blessed ones, let us take a moment to remember the sacrifice that Jesus Christ has done for us at the Cross. Though initially the Cross and Jesus' sacrifice bore sorrow, it opened the way to an incorruptible inheritance and reconciliation to our Father in Heaven that we have a living Hope who unconditionally loves us and call us His children.

His Light could break through any darkness and no death could defeat the power of Christ, His Spirit courses through our body with strength and assurance of victory. This Easter, remember the victorious power of Christ is on our side. Celebrate His Glory, praise His Holy Name! The Lord Jesus Christ loves you!

- Hopeful Heart Team

I often wondered how could Jesus forgive his enemies whilst He hung in pain and grief from the cross and graciously said "forgive them for they do not know what they are doing (Luke 23:34) and for those who put Jesus on the cross, didn't they know they were killing an innocent man?

Perhaps, they were just following the protest where most people yelled "crucify Him" but would they know what was Jesus' crime? If only they knew how much Jesus loves them. Jesus demonstrated His love on the cross by dying for His children and He did not impose any blame unto them. If an earthly parents will never dream of seeing their own children suffer, how much more God will not allow suffering unto His children.

Are you weary and burdened today, let us return to the Cross.

The Lord has died on the cross to set us free from all torments, sins, shame and guilt; He reconciled us to God at the cross. For if, while we were God's enemies, we were reconciled to Him through the death of His Son, how much more , having been reconciled, shall we be saved through His life! Not only is this so, but we also boast in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation (Romans 5: 10-11). His resurrection then becomes the assurance that the same power that raised Him is available to lead us into a life of victory.

How would our lives be if we have the boldness and hope to live in the overflow of God's abundant love for us? That His Light could break through any darkness and no metaphorical death could defeat the power of Christ, His Spirit courses through our body with strength and assurance of victory. This Easter, return to the Cross, remember the Lord's unconditional love for you and receive His forgiveness. Let Him renew your strength and hope once again, to live wholly and joyfully assured that His mercy and goodness will follows us all of our days.

Psalm 23: 6
Surely your goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever.

- Irene Soon 

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.
​
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.
​
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?
​
- Author unknown

We are taught the great lesson from the Bible, that to get, we must give; that to accumulate, we must scatter; that to make ourselves  happy, we must make others happy; and that in order to become spiritually healthy, we must seek the spiritual good of others. In watering others, we are ourselves watered.

How? Our efforts to be useful brings out our power for usefulness. We have latent talents and dormant and dormant skills which were brought to light by usage. Our strength for labour is hidden even from ourselves, until we venture forth to fight the Lord’s battles or to climb the mountain of difficulty.

We do not know what tender sympathies we possess until we try to dry the widow's tears and soothe the orphan's grief. We often find in attempting to teach others, that we gain instruction for ourselves. So that watering others makes us humble. We discover how much grace there is where we had not looked for it.

Our own comfort is also increased by our working for others. We endeavour to cheer them, and the consolation gladdens our own heart. He that watered shall be watered also himself. Give then, and it shall be given unto you, good measure, pressed down, and running over.
 
Proverbs 11:25 ESV
Whoever brings blessing will be enriched, and one who waters will himself be watered.

Excerpt from Charles Spurgeon @Heartlight inc 1996 - 2024