KEEPING HOPE ALIVE

I had a wonderful afternoon walking around on Orchard Road. I was particularly interested to see the new Ion Orchard Shopping Mall. A lot of my friends in Singapore told me about it. Indeed, the Ion Orchard is so big that you can get lost inside. There are so many shops and food stores in all the different levels of the shopping mall. I enjoyed being among the crowd walking around and looking at all the new stores. I took many photos in and outside of Ion Orchard. As you can gather, one of my hobbies is to take photos of all the new places I visit around the world.

Keeping Hope Alive

It is so importance to keep our hope alive in God. There are so many things around that may discourage us from believing the goodness of God. I was really encouraged by the Lord during my devotion time from Psalm 77:11-14:

Psalm 77:11-14 (New International Version)

11 I will remember the deeds of the LORD; yes, I will remember your miracles of long ago. 12 I will meditate on all your works and consider all your mighty deeds. 13 Your ways, O God, are holy. What god is so great as our God? 14 You are the God who performs miracles; you display your power among the peoples.

This passage of scriptures help us to keep our hope alive in all situations by:

Remember who God really is

Sometimes, we can wonder where is God in my life? Is God really working in our family, business and ministry? We may get discouraged by looking at our current situation or the (lack of) progress in our lives. The psalmist encourages us to remember the deeds of the Lord. In time of uncertainty or discouragement, we need to remember what God has done in our lives. We need to remember His love, faithfulness and goodness.

Remember what God has done in the past

We need to recall all the big or small miracles God has performed in our lives. We need to mediate on all His works and consider all His mighty deeds. The blessings of God include our family, friendships, job and purpose in life. God wants us to shift our focus from ourselves or our circumstances and look to His love and power. We need to remind ourselves what God has done to inspire us of a greater future in Him.

God continue to perform mighty acts today

What God has done in the past, He can do even greater in present and future. Do lose sight of God because He has never change. Read Hebrew 13:8

Hebrews 13:8 (New International Version)

8Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.

Our hope is founded in God unchanging nature. His love and goodness never change. We need to seek God more than ever so we can experience more of Him. Allow God to do great things in our lives as we remember His mighty deeds and press forward for greater anointing, provision and blessings.

My Story Video

I really like this video showing life transformation through the love of Christ. I hope you will be encouraged.

A FUN DAY IN SINGAPORE

I had a fun day at the Singapore duck tour. The tour took us to all the historical and attractive places on the river and city. The tour guide did a great job mentioning various facts about Singapore. I had a wonderful time videoing the tour and taking photos with my friends during the boat ride.

I enjoy reading Psalms for my devotion. There are so many good promises and encouragements from God in the book of Psalms. Today I read Psalm 52.

Psalm 52:8-9 (New International Version)

8 But I am like an olive tree flourishing in the house of God; I trust in God's unfailing love for ever and ever. 9 I will praise you forever for what you have done; in your name I will hope, for your name is good. I will praise you in the presence of your saints.

Living in the blessings of God

His love and blessings awaits us each new day

God desires for us to dwell in His presence at all times. David loved to be in the presence of God. He sought God at all occasions. David had many troubled times in his life but he never forsook God. He always ran to God for help and deliverance in challenging and difficult times. In Psalms 52:8, David spoke about prospering in the house of God and trusting in His unfailing love.

8 But I am like an olive tree flourishing in the house of God; I trust in God's unfailing love for ever and ever.

I found great comfort in knowing that God is always there for me. I can run to Him anytime to seek His face. God's unfailing love is waiting for me when I come to Him. God is the anchor of my life. He is my foundation in a changing world. Let us come into the presence of God everyday and trust in His unfailing love. God cares about your situation in life and He wants to embrace you with His unfailing love.

His power awaits us each new day

David praised God for all the wonderful things God has done in his life. It is great to know that God not only loves us but He has the power to help us. God's love and power are available to us each day. No matter what mountains or obstacles we face in life, God is more than able to help us overcome.

9 I will praise you forever for what you have done; in your name I will hope, for your name is good. I will praise you in the presence of your saints.

David placed his hope in God because of His love and power. David declared the goodness of God. I am relying on the love and power of God each day of my life. Sometimes, I feel inadequate and limited in my ability to accomplish tasks set before me. I am learning to cry to God for His mighty hands to intervene in my life and circumstances.

Last week, I was praying for a student in Singapore with a group of friends. She was not able to stand on one foot because she would feel severe pain. During prayer, she felt God was touching her foot and it became hot. Then, she felt the pain disappeared from her foot as she put weight on it. She was so happy that the love and power of God came upon her that day.

God is near so seek Him today.

MARTHA HEALING TESTIMONY

I am so blessed to read Martha's healing testimony. It is amazing to see what God can do in our lives when we have faith in Him for signs and wonders. Allow God to do miracles through us each day. I pray that you will be inspired by Martha's testimony.


Martha Banda-Chalwe Healing Testimony

I greet you all in Jesus’ name. My name is Martha Banda-Chalwe. I am a student at the University of Queensland’s Division of Physiotherapy.

I wish to share with you one of the many miracles that God has done in my life. In 2000, I started experiencing pain in my lower spine. I was told that the fifth lumbar spine bone had slightly shifted to the right and the bone was pressing on the nerve leading to my right leg. Because of that pressure on the nerve, I used to experience pain on my right leg up to my knee.

The pain used to be constant, especially when I sat down or had to stand for a long time or bend my back. The doctor had even recommended surgery to my back which I refused. When I came to Australia from Zambia, I was still experiencing the pain.

In April 2009, I went for the Tuesday prayer meeting in the city with one of my daughters. I responded to the altar call, praying for healing. I prayed in my heart, “God help me with this pain, I surrender it to you”. I saw myself walking to the front to receive prayer. As other people were being prayed for, I felt some relief on my back. It felt like there was ice on my back. After altar call, I returned to my seat, moved my legs and bent my back and there was no pain.

Since then, there is no longer any pain on my back and leg. I feel good. I am able to sit or stand as long as I want, I can even bend my back!

Jesus reminds us in Mathew 17:21,

“I tell the truth, if you have faith as small as mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, “move from here to there and it will move. Nothing will be impossible to you”.

God reminds us again of His power when we have faith in Him. Luke 1:37 says

“For nothing is impossible with God.”

FAITH HEALS, AMEN!

Written by Martha Banda

MY FRIENDS IN GOLD COAST

I had the opportunity to spend Sunday afternoon at the Gold Coast, Australia. I went for a stroll along the beach. It was a beautiful sunny afternoon. Many families were on the beach relaxing. I saw some people fishing and children playing on the sand. Some people were riding bicycles. It was refreshing for me to stroll along the beach and talking to God. Then, I caught up with Pastor Lance, Belle and friends at the Gold Coast. (See photos).


Impossible into Possible

As we journey through life, we may encounter impossible or difficult situations. How should we respond to impossible or difficult situations in life? God has been challenging me to respond in biblical ways.

• Allow God to give us right perspectives

Sometimes we focus so much on the problems that we lose our perspective. We need to compare our problems to the size of our God. Our God is bigger than the challenges we face in life. Who is bigger? The mountains that we face in life or the God who created the universe? I often need to remind myself that God is bigger than whatever I am facing in my life.

• Allow God to stretch our faith

God can be compared to a personal trainer who helps a person to build muscles at the gym. God desires to help us grow in our faith and our trust in His love, power and promises. I desire to experience more of God and His miracles in my life. God often brings challenges in my path so I can see His love and power working through me. I will grow in my faith as I see God's hands in and through my life.

• Allow God to turn impossible into possible

I love the story of Elisha in 2 Kings 4:1-7. The widow had a big debt she could not repay and the creditor want to take her two boys. She only had a little oil and no money to repay the debt. It was an impossible situation in the natural. Elisha, a prophet of God performed a miracle for the widow by asking her to gather empty oil jars and fill it with oil. God supernaturally provided a continuous flow of oil to fill up all the empty jars. The widow was able to sell the jars of oil to repay her debts and feed her family. The next time we face an impossible situation at home, workplace or ministry, allow God to turn impossible into possible. God is really good at doing things beyond our natural abilities. I am going to allow God to do many wonders in my life in 2010. I pray that you will see God do incredible things in your life too.

2 Kings 4:1-7 (New International Version)

The Widow's Oil

1 The wife of a man from the company of the prophets cried out to Elisha, "Your servant my husband is dead, and you know that he revered the LORD. But now his creditor is coming to take my two boys as his slaves." 2 Elisha replied to her, "How can I help you? Tell me, what do you have in your house?" "Your servant has nothing there at all," she said, "except a little oil."
3 Elisha said, "Go around and ask all your neighbors for empty jars. Don't ask for just a few. 4 Then go inside and shut the door behind you and your sons. Pour oil into all the jars, and as each is filled, put it to one side."5 She left him and afterward shut the door behind her and her sons. They brought the jars to her and she kept pouring. 6 When all the jars were full, she said to her son, "Bring me another one." But he replied, "There is not a jar left." Then the oil stopped flowing. 7 She went and told the man of God, and he said, "Go, sell the oil and pay your debts. You and your sons can live on what is left."

THE BASIC OF CHRISTIANITY

I had a wonderful time at the "Multicultural Fiesta" in Brisbane, Australia. There were over 500 people attending this special event. Many people dressed up in their national costumes. There were many cultural dance performances and games. There was a lot of laughter on the night. Pastor Wen'an Zhu is leading the afternoon service in Hope Brisbane. I took a photo with Pastor Wenan at the "Multicultural Fiesta".

Photos of the Multicultural Festa

In the last few weeks, I have gone back to the basics of Christianity. I took time out to be with God and be refreshed. Here are the five basic things I have been doing in the past few weeks in Brisbane.

The BASIC of Christianity

• Bible reading
  
• Adoring God through personal worship
  
• Setting new visions in God
  
• Intimacy with God through prayer
  
• Catching up with brothers and sisters in church

It is wonderful to allow God to speak to us through His living Word. God desires to speak, direct and encourage us through His Word. Worship brings us into the reality of God. It helps to take our eyes off ourselves and our problems and refocus back on the power of God. We have a visionary God. He desires to impart fresh new visions into our lives and ministry. We receive great visions as we seek God's face. Prayer is our connection to God. He desires to connect with us on a daily basis. Allow your prayer life to draw you closer to God. Finally, allow fellowship with your brothers and sisters in the local church to be the source of encouragement and spiritual growth.

The LORD has done great things for us, and we are filled with joy. Psalms 126:3

Let us believe God to do great miracles in our lives as we go back to the BASIC of Christianity.