In my years of working, I have observed a pattern in workplaces, ministry and teams. Leadership or power quietly drift from servant posture into control and pride stemming from insecurities.

It simply happens when protecting our position becomes more important than caring for the people we lead or working with. You will see the changes when collaborations turn into compliance, others may stop speaking up because they no longer feel safe in offering ideas or suggestions in the fear or worry of being seen as challenging leadership or any power above them.

The shift is often subtle but the observing it and shifting our behaviour as someone with authority, power or leadership matters. When something goes differently than we planned, do we feel concern for those affected or do we feel personally threatened and exert control at, sometimes, the expense of others’ inconveniences. The answers will reveal whether we are leading or simply guarding our own authority and pride.
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In Matthew 20, James and John asked Jesus for positions of honour. The other disciples were upset at the questions because they too, wanted the same thing. Jesus gently redirected all of them: “Whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant.”
In God’s Kingdom, greatness is not measured by influence, title or how many people “listens” to us. It is measured by how well we serve. Control grows from insecurity but service and a servant posture grow from knowing who we are in Christ.
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When our identity is rooted in Him, we no longer need to cling to our title , power and influence. We can lead with open hands, free to give, free to listen and free to serve without fear of losing our authority or leadership. We can lead through serving, just like Jesus.

Matthew 20:26–28 NIV
Whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant… just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve.

- John W.

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

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 wordly 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 

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

When I was younger, I strive to excel in studies and sports with a goal to get that coveted trophy prizes. Now, no matter how the trophies display my accolades over the years, they do not bring lasting happiness nor it determine my worth.
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As an adult, we too could unknowingly chase things instead of intentionally and mindfully making time for the Lord; time to pray, time to worship and time to listen to Him, to heed His wisdom and finding His strength in the quietness and stillness.

In Revelation 4, it tells of 24 elders who fell down before God, casting their crowns before Him who sits on the throne. The act of casting crowns down is symbolic in those days; it is essentially an act of casting down their honor whilst also pledging loyalty and faithfulness.

A crown often symbolizes our status, achievements, and the “trophies” we have worked so hard for. Yet in this passage, the elders willingly lay their crowns at the foot of the throne; giving all glory to the Lord. Being elders also suggests they hold a place of wisdom, authority and leadership, the kind of people whom others turn to for guidance and still, these elders humbly acknowledge that the Lord alone is worthy of all praise.

Let us learn to cast our crowns down before Jesus with an intentional reverence and adoration to our King of Kings and Saviour who alone is worthy of all praise and worship.

Revelation 4: 10 - 11
the twenty-four elders fall down before him who sits on the throne and worship him who lives forever and ever. They lay their crowns before the throne and say: You are worthy, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they were created and have their being.
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- John W.

During my trip to China, I saw barbed wire fence along the border between China and the nation next to it - DPRK, it came to mind a picture of physical oppression. We as follower of Christ are no exempt as we may be under spiritual oppression – oppression of sins making us prisoners of sins.

God reminded me about freedom in Him, that we are no more slave to sin but slave to righteousness (Romans 6: 18). In the Bible, being slave o righteousness means we are fully repentant and committed to the cause of Christ, we strive to be obedient to His calling and seek to do what is pleasing to the Lord in contrast to us serving the sins that engulf and entrap us in cycles of defeat.

When I pray for clarity and guidance in trials, there are times I was met with no answers but am reminded of His promise in the Bible that when I obey, the Lord with strengthen me to continue and when I stray, He will lead me back to the path of righteousness.

This freedom is given by the Lord so we could have a life of living testimony and that we could proclaim the Good News to the poor in the spirit, freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to set the oppressed free (Luke 4: 18). Proclaim the Good News of the Lord and set the prisoners free.
 
Romans 6: 18 NIV
You have been set free from sin and have become slaves to righteousness
 
Isaiah 42:16 NKJV
I will bring the blind by a way they did not know; I will lead them in paths they have not known. I will make darkness light before them, And crooked places straight. These things I will do for them and not forsake them.

- Jenni Wang

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

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