Author: annemarie_kim

From Letdown to Lifted Up

Have you ever been letdown by others? Especially by people you thought you could count on or people you believe wouldn’t hurt you?

It is human nature that we place expectations on people around us – and sometimes they let us down. Not once, but again and again. In our pain, we find ways to protect our hearts…

Don’t Let Disappointment Harden Your Heart

Guarding your heart doesn’t mean becoming cold or shutting everyone out. It means being wise with whom you trust, how much you give, and when to say no. It’s learning to carry love and wisdom in the same breath — and not allowing pain to turn you bitter.

“Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.” – Proverbs 4:23

Lower Your Expectations of People

Jesus knew this better than anyone. He loved people — healed, taught, fed, and forgave them. But He didn’t place His emotional well-being in their hands. He knew that only the Father was faithful to the end. We can love others without needing them to be our source of peace, validation, or joy. That’s freedom.

“But Jesus would not entrust himself to them, for he knew all people.” – John 2:24

Place Your Hope in the Unshakable One

God never fails. His timing, His character, and His promises are all steadfast. When you shift your expectations from people to God, you find peace that isn’t tossed around by others’ decisions. You begin to live with a heart that’s open to love — but anchored in truth.

“Those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength.” – Isaiah 40:31

My Invitation

This is my invitation to you today: turn to God in your disappointments and let Him lift you up in His love, grace, and compassion. Do not be tempted to harden our hearts, but let God’s grace melt the chains of bitterness so that we can let the power of the Holy Spirit lift us up from the pit of disappointment.

The Strength Behind the Proverbs 31 Woman

The Proverbs 31 woman is often admired—but sometimes misunderstood. She’s not a checklist of perfection. She’s a portrait of a woman whose life flows from a deep fear of the Lord. Her strength isn’t in doing everything—but in doing what matters with wisdom, purpose, and honor.

Let’s dwell into the heart behind her strength through three timeless traits that still speak powerfully to us today.

💎 1. She Is Trustworthy and Honourable

The Proverbs 31 woman builds trust through her integrity, kindness, and reliability. She speaks and acts with honor, not for applause, but because she knows who she is in God. Her dignity is quiet but powerful—clothed in strength, not self-promotion.

“Her husband has full confidence in her and lacks nothing of value.” — Proverbs 31:11

“She is clothed with strength and dignity; she can laugh at the days to come.” — Proverbs 31:25

🛠️ 2. She Is Diligent and Wise in Her Work

She doesn’t hustle to impress, but she is intentional. She works with purpose, stewarding what’s in her hands. Whether in the home, business, or ministry, her wisdom guides her productivity. Her diligence is an expression of love and responsibility—not striving.

“She sets about her work vigorously; her arms are strong for her tasks.” — Proverbs 31:17

“She watches over the affairs of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness.” — Proverbs 31:27

🙏 3. She Fears the Lord Above All

At the core of her life is reverence for God. She isn’t defined by outward beauty or temporary success, but by her relationship with Him. Her life is an overflow of abiding in God—this is what makes her truly praiseworthy.

“Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.” — Proverbs 31:30

💌 Invitation:

This is your invitation to you today: aspire to become a Proverbs 31 woman. It will take time. You can begin today—by anchoring your life in the fear of the Lord, and letting everything else flow from there.

You already have what it takes—because He is your strength.

The Power of Amen: More Than Just a Prayer Ending

How often we end our prayers with “Amen”?

Have you stopped to wonder what it means?

Do you realize the power of this simple word?

We often end our prayer with “Amen” – out of habit – not realising we’re actually speaking a word of deep spiritual agreement. This simple word, carries the weight of generations and centuries of faith.

In both Hebrew and Greek, “Amen” means “truly”, “so be it” or “let it be”. When we say “Amen”, we’re not just ending a prayer – we’re declaring our belief in what we’ve just said in our prayer.

1️⃣ Amen Is an Act of Agreement

When the people of Israel responded with “Amen,” it was their way of saying, “We agree. We stand with this.” Saying Amen unites our hearts with heaven. It’s not passive—it’s powerful.

“Then all the people said, ‘Amen,’ and praised the Lord.” — 1 Chronicles 16:36

2️⃣ Amen Declares Faith in God’s Promises

God’s promises are not vague. They are yes in Christ—and our “Amen” activates our trust. Every time we say it with conviction, we’re reminding ourselves that God is faithful to finish what He started.

“For no matter how many promises God has made, they are ‘Yes’ in Christ. And so through Him the ‘Amen’ is spoken by us to the glory of God.” — 2 Corinthians 1:20

3️⃣ Amen Is a Personal Surrender

To say “Amen” is to surrender—it’s saying “Let Your will be done, not mine.” It’s a word of worship and humility, trusting that God’s way is always better.

“Amen. Blessing and glory and wisdom and thanksgiving and honor and power and might be to our God forever and ever! Amen.” — Revelation 7:12

💬 Invitation:

This is my invitation to you today: the next time you say “Amen,” pause for a moment. Let your “Amen” come from your heart, not just your lips. Speak it with boldness—because it’s not just a closing word, it’s your yes to God’s faithfulness.

Humble Yourself – Before Life Does

Do you make plans then feel frustrated when life doesn’t go as planned? Who do you blame when plan goes astray?

We want to “make it” in the world, and make various plans to make it big. Yet time and again, we stumble through our plans, surprised when things fall apart. When we think we know everything, or what’s best for us, or what we believe is under our control – then we forget that there is only one who knows everything and is in control of everything – God.

Humility is the wisdom to admit: I don’t know everything. And I need God.

1️⃣ God Lifts the Humble—But Opposes the Proud

“God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” — James 4:6

Pride blinds us. It makes us believe we’re self-sufficient, that our way is best. But God resists that posture—not to punish us, but to protect us. He pours out grace not on the strong, but on those willing to be humble before Him. He wants us to trust and obey Him wholeheartedly.

2️⃣ Life Will Humble What We Don’t Surrender

“Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall.” — Proverbs 16:18

When we insist on doing life our way—without seeking God—we often end up humbled by disappointment, failure, or confusion. But God can use these moments to lovingly correct and realign us. Better to humble ourselves first than be humbled by what we didn’t see coming. Do not let pride be our stumbling block.

3️⃣ Humility Makes Room for God to Move

“Humble yourselves before the Lord, and He will lift you up.” — James 4:10

True humility isn’t self-deprecating—it’s God-exalting. It says, “Lord, I need You more than I need my plans to succeed.” When we step back, surrender control, and lean in, God steps in and does what only He can. Truly, He can do more than you can ever imagine, and wants to bless you abundantly. If only you will let Him!

My Invitation

This is my invitation to you today: humble yourself before God, and surrender your life to Him. We should not let our pride, arrogance and stubbornness to teach us painful lessons of humility.

Quiet Abiding in a World of Noise

When was the last time you sat quietly before God?
What noise fills your life today – externally and internally?

Could “abiding” be the simple answer you’ve been looking for?

In today’s noisy and distracted world, we are constantly bombarded by so-called news, phones notifications, and countless messages. Even when we want to rest, our minds are racing from one thing to another, and our souls stay restless.

Yet Jesus offers another way: “Abide in Me” (John 15:4). Simple, but not easy. No, it is not another thing to add to your never-ending to-do lists, but it is about reordering your life around a Holy God.

1️⃣ Abiding Silences the Noise

“Abide in Me, and I in you…” — John 15:4

Abiding in Jesus means you are dwelling, remaining and staying connected to Him. It is in abiding that we drown out the noise of this world and focus on Jesus. We are connected to His vine and we can bear much fruit.

2️⃣ Abiding Anchors Us in Peace and Power

“You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in You.” — Isaiah 26:3

Abiding deadens the noise of this world, and brings in the peace of God. This peace gives give us the quiet confidence to trust and obey God. We are anchored in His peace – to stand firm in His power – where His quiet whispers is able to drown out the deafening noise of this world.

3️⃣ How to Abide Practically

“If you remain in Me and My words remain in you…” — John 15:7

How do we abide? Through small daily rhythms:

  • Start and end each day with thanksgiving to God
  • Spend time in Scripture each day to connect to His Word
  • Whisper prayers throughout your day
  • Tune in to the Holy Spirit’s gentle nudges (sometimes not so gentle nudges!)
  • Create moments of stillness — pause before reacting
  • When distracted, return quickly — abiding is continual

Abiding is not a spiritual “achievement”, but an ongoing posture of the heart.

My Invitation

This is my invitation to you today: choose to abide in God by cultivating quietness and stillness with God. Start small. Listen deeply. Be intentional.

Watch how His peace grows as the noise fades.

The Mary and Martha Within Us

I am constantly juggling starting the day with God versus my long to-do lists. Some days, I remember to say ‘Good Morning, Jesus!’ and thank Him for a brand new day. But once I touch my phone, it is a slippery slop of distractions – list of things to remember and things to do.

Martha: Distracted by Duty

There is nothing wrong with what Martha was doing – after all, she was serving Jesus. But her busyness became a distraction. In today’s world, our busyness has become a measure of our productivity. We are pressured to perform, achieve and accomplish. In the process, we become too busy to carve out time to be in His presence.

But Martha was distracted with much serving. And she went up to him and said, “Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Tell her then to help me.” – Luke 10:40

Mary: Anchored in Presence

Mary chose to sit down and listen to Jesus, much to Martha’s annoyance. Mary recognise that Jesus was in the room, and chose to be in His presence and listen to His Words. She chose His presence over worldly pressure.

How often do we stop and sit still – to be in God’s presence and truly listen to His words?

And she had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet and listened to His teaching – Luke 10:39

The One Thing That’s Needed

Jesus didn’t scold Martha – He gently invited her back to what matters most. He showed her that in the midst of all our obligations and responsibilities, one thing is truly necessary – Him. God is asking us to prioritise His presence in our busy lives.

“Martha, Martha… you are anxious and troubled about many things, but one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from her.” — Luke 10:41–42 (ESV)

My Invitation

This is my invitation to you today: to choose the portion that is most important, which is to anchor in God’s presence, and don’t let anyone or anything take it away from you.

Rooted in Grace: Embracing our True Identity in God

The eternal question: “Who Am I?”

The constant striving to be “Your Best”, yet no idea what does the version looks like, especially when you haven’t even quite figure out your own identity in the first place…

In your spiritual life, are you trying to earn God’s favour through your achievements and good works? We have been ingrained in a culture of earning our love, seeking approval and validation from others, and constantly striving to be “good enough”. We forget that our identity in Christ is not earned, it is received.

We are Who God says We Are

We are Children of God. This identity was given to us when we received Jesus as our personal saviour. We are chosen, redeemed and made new.

“But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God.” — John 1:12

Grace, Not Performance

God’s kingdom does not operate on merit. It operates on grace. When we understand this, striving to earn God’s favour gives way to surrendering wholeheartedly to God. We are called to receive our salvation with humility.

“For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast.” — Ephesians 2:8–9

Humility Before God Frees Us

There is a misconception that being humble means thinking less of ourselves. In truth, it is thinking of ourselves rightly – in light of who God is. When we let go of proving ourselves – to people and to God – we are finally free to live as sons and daughters of God. It means that we live as a Holy People – secure, beloved and empowered by grace. We are free to live an abundant, audacious and bold life, in pursuit of our divine dreams, according to His plan for each of us.

“Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up.” —James 4:10

My Invitation

This is my invitation to you today – embrace your identity as a child of God, with humility and grace, being confident of His mercy, salvation, and redemption. We are saved by a merciful Father God who sent His Son to die for our sins. We live in His love, mercy and grace.

When Fear Wears the Mask of Procrastination

We often beat ourselves up for procrastinating. We call it laziness. We accuse ourselves of lacking disciple and willpower. But what if the real culprit isn’t laziness?

What if it’s fear?

Behind every delay, there may be a deeper emotion hiding—fear of failure, fear of rejection, fear of not being good enough. We don’t avoid the task because we’re lazy; we avoid it because doing it exposes something vulnerable inside us.

We Delay What Matters Most

Have you noticed that we often procrastinate on the things that mean the most to us? That medical checkup we should make. That conversation we need to have. That idea to start a book club or sports club.

These aren’t trivial tasks—they matter. And that’s precisely why we delay them. We fear that starting means we might fail. Or worse, that we might not be enough. Fear traps us—but God invites us to trust.

“Fear of man will prove to be a snare, but whoever trusts in the Lord is kept safe.” — Proverbs 29:25

Perfectionism: The Polished Mask of Fear

Perfectionism often disguises itself as excellence, but at its core, it’s fear in a tailored suit. We say we’re “just waiting until it’s ready” or “I want to give it my best,” but sometimes we’re just stalling because we’re scared it won’t be perfect.

God doesn’t call us to perfection. He calls us to obedience. There will never be a perfect time. The best time is now—flawed, messy, but surrendered to Him.

“If you wait for perfect conditions, you will never get anything done.” — Ecclesiastes 11:4 (TLB)

The Cure for Fear is Trust

Procrastination loses power when we anchor ourselves in God’s promises. He doesn’t expect us to have it all figured out—He simply asks us to take the next step in faith. You’re not walking alone. God is with you.

“Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified… for the Lord your God goes with you.” — Deuteronomy 31:6

My Invitation

This is my invitation to you today: take a moment to notice what you’re putting off—not with shame, but with curiosity. Ask yourself: What am I afraid of?

Then bring that fear to God. Let His strength fill your weakness.

Because on the other side of that fear might be your next breakthrough.

Cultivate the Garden of Your Faith

Growing our faith is like cultivating a garden. It needs tender loving care and patience. Plants do not grow overnight – similarly, our faith takes time to grow and mature. We need our Master Gardener to help us cultivate our Garden of Faith.

Prepare the Soil – Make Room for God

Before any seed is planted, the soil must be tilled. That means removing rocks, weeds, and thorns—the habits, thoughts, and distractions that harden our hearts or clutter our minds. We have to ask ourselves: where is our attention and focus? Is there any space in our lives for stillness, prayer and reflection? Just as the gardener clears the soil, we are called to examine, purify and prepare our hearts to make room for God.

“Break up your fallow ground, for it is time to seek the Lord, till He comes and rains righteousness upon you.” — Hosea 10:12 (ESV)

Sow with Intention – Plant the Seeds of Faith

Planting takes intentionality. Faith grows when we consistently invest in it – through prayer, devotions, worship, scripture reading, acts of love and kindness, trust and obedience to God. We have to sow the seeds of God’s love in our hearts and nurture our faith intentionally.

“Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.” — Proverbs 4:23 (NIV)

Trust the Process – Growth Takes Time

Gardens don’t bloom overnight. Likewise, our faith matures through seasons—sometimes in silence, sometimes in storms. But underneath, God is always working. While waiting, we must not lose heart, but stay vigilant against the weeds of bitterness, comparison or apathy that can take root if left unchecked. Even when we don’t see anything happening, know that God is working underneath the soil and growing our roots for a sturdy foundation against the storms of life.

“Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest…” — Galatians 6:9

My Invitation

This is my invitation to you today – to start cultivating your garden of faith by weeding out the negative voices and plant seeds of God’s Words to sink its roots in the fertile soil of our hearts and for the branches to grow strong and tall.

The Danger of Small Compromises

How often do we overlook small white lies? Or do the things that compromise our values just because everyone else is doing it? Or we ignore the red flags?

Our downfalls might not be a dramatic moment of weakness, but the slow decline of our values and convictions. This was the cautionary of the Bible character, Samson. Gifted with extraordinary strength and chosen by God from birth, his downfall didn’t begin when Delilah cut his hair. It began much earlier—through a pattern of small compromises that quietly distanced him from his calling.

“But he did not know that the Lord had left him.” — Judges 16:20 (NIV)

These haunting words show how easy it is to lose what matters most—not with a crash, but with a slow decline.

1. Compromises Creep In Quietly

Before Delilah, Samson had already broken his Nazirite vows. He touched what was unclean, pursued relationships outside of God’s will, and followed his impulses more than God’s direction. Each step seemed small, but together, they chipped away at his spiritual foundation.

“Catch for us the foxes, the little foxes that ruin the vineyards.” — Song of Songs 2:15 (NIV)

2. Strength is sustained by Surrender

Samson’s power wasn’t in his hair alone—it was in his set-apart life. We, too, are called to spiritual strength, but it’s maintained through daily surrender to God. When we stop praying, stop listening, or start drifting, we may still appear strong—but the roots are weakening.

“So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don’t fall!” — 1 Corinthians 10:12 (NIV)

3. It’s Never Too Late to Return

Despite his failures, Samson’s final prayer reveals a turning point. He remembered the source of his strength and cried out for one more chance. God granted him his last wish.

“Then Samson prayed to the Lord, ‘Sovereign Lord, remember me. Please, God, strengthen me just once more…’” — Judges 16:28 (NIV)

My Invitation

This is my invitation to you today: pray and discern the small compromises in your life, and return to God humbly in repentance. Like small leaks, small compromises never remain small – don’t let them ruin you.

The Myth of Tomorrow: Embracing Today

How often have we said, I will do it tomorrow?

How often have we postponed our important appointments, e.g. our medical checkup?

How often have we procrastinated on important but not urgent tasks, e.g. writing our will?

Tomorrow is an Illusion

Our procrastination shows that we believe there is an infinite amount of tomorrows. Our urgency mostly comes when there is a deadline to meet, or a health scare, or a market crash! And sometimes, it is too late, resulting in regrets.

But the Bible warns against such complacency:

“Do not boast about tomorrow, for you do not know what a day may bring.”

— Proverbs 27:1 (ESV)

Today is Your Stewardship

We often think of stewardship in terms of money or resources, but our greatest stewardship is our time, specifically, our “today”. Each day is a precious gift from God.

Jesus lived with holy urgency:

“We must do the works of Him who sent me while it is day” — John 9:4

Embrace Today – in Good Stewardship

Let us be good stewards – faithful and obedient to God:

  • Start the day thanking God for each new day
  • Set aside time in the morning to seek God’s direction for the day
  • Turn your commune time into prayer time
  • Use break time to send encouraging messages of support and love
  • Be sensitive to God’s soft promptings to do things, whether it’s a Hello or a smile, or opening a door
  • When God nudges you to contact someone, do it immediately
  • When God convicts you of your sin, confess and repent as soon as possible
  • When God asks you to forgive someone, do it while you can – don’t wait until it’s too late
  • When God gives you a crazy impossible ideas, don’t make excuses
  • We are called to plant seeds “today”, but not demand a harvest by sunset – trust in God’s timing
  • End each day with thanksgiving to God for all His blessings and protection

“Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom” — Psalm 90.12

My Invitation

This is my invitation to you today – before the day ends, do one thing you’ve been putting off – not in your strength, but in surrender. Do the one thing that has been prickling you for ages, and God is reminding you today. You know what it is…

His Whispers In Our Busyness

In the hustle bustle of a busy life, it is a challenge to discern the soft whispers of the Holy Spirit amidst the noise of the world. We are constantly moving from one place to another, juggling multiple tasks and assuming multiple roles at one time. Is it a wonder that we suffer from burnout and mental exhaustion?

God Speaks Differently than What We Expect

Elijah was expecting to hear God in the earthquake and fire, but God came in a whisper. In our noisy world, shouting the loudest to be heard seems obvious. But God wants us to quiet our hearts and lean in to Him to hear His soft whisper.

“And after the earthquake a fire; but the LORD was not in the fire: and after the fire a still small voice.” — 1 Kings 19:12 (KJV)

Busyness is the Modern Enemy of Hearing

Oftentimes, we wear “busyness” like a badge of honour, a sign of high productivity, even creativity. Eventually, it is through pain and suffering that we finally hear His voice, as that is when we stop struggling with our own futile efforts and finally surrender to Him. When our faith is attacked, or when our bodies break down, or when our relationships break up. Do we want to be so busy that we ignore God, neglect our health, and ruin our relationships? God asks us to pause.

“Be still, and know that I am God.”

— Psalm 46:10 (NIV)

When We Listen, We Gain So Much

God reaches out to us every day in hundreds of little ways – from the morning sunrise, the friendly hello, the call you’ve been waiting for, the insight from a book or video – to enjoying a simple warm meal.

He constantly reminds us of who we are – beloved children of God. He orchestrates great plans for our lives. He picks us up with we fall. He nudges us many times when we are hesitant. He is always patient with us. He guides and leads us in the right path – under His plan, protection and blessings.

“Whether you turn to right or left, your ears will hear a voice behind you saying, ‘This is the way…'” (Isaiah 30:21)

My Invitation

This is my invitation to you today: to intentionally pause, listen to God’s whispers and delight in His presence.

Buried Talents: Unveiling the Meaning of Stewardship

In Matthew 25:14-30, Jesus shared the Parable of the Talents, where the master gave his three servants five talents, two talents and one talent, each according to their abilities. The servants who were given five and two talents invested and got five and two talents more, earning the praise from the master:

“Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!” — Matthew 25:21 (NIV)​

But the one who was given one talent buried it, and returned back the one talent to his master, who was furious with him.

God Entrusts Us According to Our Abilities

In the parable, the master gave the servants according to their abilities. God knows us intimately, and He entrusts us according to our abilities. We are stewards for the abilities, responsibilities and opportunities that God has given to us. He has great plans for each of us, and wants to entrusts us with more – when we show that we are good stewards of His gifts and use them to serve others.

“Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms.” — 1 Peter 4:10 (NIV)

Faithfulness Leads to Greater Opportunities

The servant with two and five talents made two and five more talents. God rewards His faithful stewards with more gifts, opportunities and responsibilities.

“Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much, and whoever is dishonest with very little will also be dishonest with much.” — Luke 16:10 (NIV)​

Neglecting Our Gifts has Consequences

The servant with one talent was so afraid that he hid his one talent, and his master was mad. Often, we let our fears, limiting beliefs and self-sabotaging ways – bury our abilities, responsibilities and opportunities. Then what little you have – it will be taken away from you!

“Do not neglect your gift, which was given you through prophecy when the body of elders laid their hands on you.” — 1 Timothy 4:14 (NIV)

My Invitation

This is my invitation to you today: reflect on the gifts God has entrusted you, and commit to actively steward them for His glory and the benefit of others.

Permission to Pause: Taking a Break without Guilt

Do you dare to stop and pause?

Do you feel guilty when you take a break?

Do you need permission to enjoy a “me-time”?

I am kind of going through a funk, where I am doing a little above minimum and constantly procrastinating, then feeling guilty for not being productive and wasting time (scrolling through social media). I feel there are many things on my plate, big rocks and small pebbles, crowding my life. I spend almost as much time and energy attempting to do my work as avoiding them, especially when they don’t have urgent deadlines.

Rest is God’s Design

During this time, God is reminding me that He has established a time to work and a time to rest, just like what He did in the creation of the world. Our bodies are designed to rest after work, or it will break down and insist upon it. There is always enough time to do the work God has assigned to us. So if we are feeling overwhelmed, it is a sign that we are overloading ourselves with non-essential work and/or inundated with distractions.

“On the seventh day God had finished his work of creation, so he rested from all his work.”

— Genesis 2:2 (NLT)​

Jesus Invites us to Rest

In this hectic life, we are constantly striving. It has become a norm – we sometimes forget to ask what are we really striving for. Jesus is inviting us and giving us permission to take a break from the hustle bustle of life. He invites us to rest and trust in His providence, His protection and in His timing.

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.”

— Matthew 11:28 (NIV)

Stillness Reveals God’s Presence

In the midst of all the noise, it is only in the stillness that we can listen to the soft whisper of God’s voice. He wants us to be still in His presence. He wants us to experience Him in the stillness.

“Be still, and know that I am God.”

— Psalm 46:10 (NIV)

My Invitation

This is my invitation to you today: give yourself permission to take a break without guilt, and be still in God’s presence as He refreshes your soul.

Stuck for 38 Years? Get Up and Walk

Have you been stuck so long and you can’t remember what it was like before being stuck? Or are you waiting for the perfect time or circumstances to get unstuck?

The Guy at the Pool of Bethesda

This is the Bible story of a guy who was sick for 38 years, who tried without success to enter the Pool of Bethesda to get healed. I couldn’t help but wonder, how on earth could he be stuck for so long?! Then I realize: it might not be 38 years, but there are some areas of my life that I have been stuck for the longest time!

Jesus’ Question

Jesus asked the man: Do you want to be well? John 5:6

It might seem obvious, but the man didn’t answer Jesus in the affirmative. He replied, “I have no one to help me… Someone else goes down ahead of me” – John 5:7

I can’t help feeling this reply is so familiar! We always find excuses or justification for being stuck. This begs the question: do we really want to be healed? Have we been so comfortable being stuck, and our identity has become ingrained in it, that we unconsciously sabotage our efforts towards healing? Has the mat we are lying on become our so-called “security blanket”, like how a child clings to his/her security blanket for comfort and security?

Jesus’ Command

Then Jesus said to him, “Get Up! Pick up your mat and walk” – John 5:8

The man didn’t need the Pool of Bethesda, because he has Jesus to heal him. All that is required is his obedience – to get up, pick up his mat and walk.

All of us have our little “mats” that we are lying on and keeping us stuck – limiting beliefs, fear of change or fear of failure, past hurts and unforgiveness, waiting for perfect conditions, relying on others to help us, etc. And we have our metaphorical “Pool of Bethesda” – external circumstances, traditions or rituals that we rely on.

What Jesus is commanding us to do is to get up from lying on the fake “security blanket” mat and walk in obedience and faithfulness to God. Then true healing comes, and with it, freedom.

My Invitation

This is my invitation to you today: Get Up! Pick up your mat and walk.

From Scarcity to Blessed Abundance

I started my personal blog in 2019 as a gift to myself – and to share my journey from scarcity to abundance. I was always worried about money, and anxious about almost everything. So when God revealed Michael Hyatt’s article, “Perceived Scarcity in a World of Outrageous Abundance” – I had an epiphany!

Perceived Scarcity

Social media is a constant reminder of what we think we’re missing out – vacations, promotions, and achievements that others are posting on their social media. We compare other people’s highlight reels with our mundane daily lives, and feel that we are lacking, or not good enough.

It is a perceived scarcity because we fail to recognise the many blessings and achievements we have. When we look back at how far we have travelled, we should be so proud of what we have achieved. We are constantly worried about being good-enough, achieving-enough, and social media-worthy! We fail to remember – we have our own paths and our standards to live by, not someone else’s! And God has His divine plan for each one of us.

“So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.” – Matthew 6:31-33

Outrageous Abundance

Yes, not just abundance – OUTRAGEOUS ABUNDANCE!!! This really knocked me off my socks. I absolutely loved this idea of Outrageous Abundance. God excels in doing the impossible – and He can certainly do Outrageous Abundance – when we ask for it and seek His will for us.

“Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us,” – Ephesians 3:20

From Scarcity to Abundance

It was a profound mindset shift – and it is through the Lens of Gratitude that we travel through our lives to make this shift from scarcity to abundance. It is also a call to pursue our boldest wildest divine dreams.

“Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name.” – Psalm 100:4

My Invitation

This is my invitation to you today: dare to ask God for – Outrageous Abundance..

The Shift from Let Them to Let Me Be Empowered

Last week, I talked about Mel Robbin’s book, The Let Them Theory. This week, I want to continue on the shift to Let Me – to empower me to grow, to shine and to walk boldly in my divine dream. I know it can be challenging, as I sometimes struggle to get out of my comfort zone.

Let Me Show Up Imperfect but Willing

Most of the time, I would prefer to plan properly and get things ready before starting anything. Or maybe it is my excuse for procrastination. God is seeking our obedience, not our effort and skills. In fact, He wants us to obey Him and rely on Him to do His will. I read this quote: God does not call the equipped, He equips those He calls. Therefore, trust God to equip you – just show up and do whatever He asks you to do. He is a God of “Mission Impossible” – so be willing to do the impossible and give Him all the glory for HIS great works (yes, not my works).

Let Me trust and obey God.

Let Me show up and be empowered.

Let Me learn and grow.

“My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” — 2 Corinthians 12:9

Let Me Shine Unapologetically

Sometimes, it seems safer in the shadow, than to be in the spotlight. We become comfortable in the shadow, as it can be quite uncomfortable to be in the spotlight. Not only that, the shadow also keeps people around us comfortable.

Yet God has called us to shine – to reflect God’s glory in our lives. We are God’s masterpiece. We are called to live big, audacious and bold lives. He gives us divine dreams to pursue boldly, even outrageously. Yet, too often, we shrink to fit into our limited beliefs and the expectations of people around us. How are we giving glory to God when we continue to stay in the shadows?

Let Me Shine.

Let Me Be Unapologetic.

Let Me Level Up.

“For we are God’s masterpiece, created in Christ Jesus to do good works…” — Ephesians 2:10

My Invitation

This is my invitation to you today: trust and obey God wholeheartedly – to pursue your boldest and wildest dreams, so that you can shine unapologetically and give glory to Him.

Let Them: The Freedom of Letting Go What You Can’t Control

Last week, I read Mel Robbin’s book, The Let Them Theory. I was quite blown away by the simplicity and impact of her theory. People all over the world are raving about it, even having tattoos of “Let Them”. She has made it so practical and easy to understand. For me, I became more aware of the stress and frustration of wanting to control – and learning to let go of it. For my faith, it meant letting go and letting God.

Let Them Be Who They Are – and Be Free from the need to fix them

Mel Robbins said that human beings have a hardwired need for control. With that, comes the need to repair, fix and change people. Her theory advocates to simply let people be who they are, thereby freeing you from the responsibility of changing their behaviour, and you can let go of the frustration of trying to change people, which is an impossible task.

Let Them disagree.

Let Them talk or say whatever they want.

Let Them go or do whatever they want.

What we gain is the emotional peace, self-respect and healthier relationships, where love is not based on control, but on freedom.

“If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.” (Romans 12:18)

Let Me be True to Who God Called Me to Be

The other side of the coin for the Let Them Theory is – Let Me. It is to remind myself – to give myself permission to grow, to be who I am, and to walk in God’s calling for my life

Let Me choose peace over people pleasing.

Let Me set boundaries without guilt.

Let Me make my decisions with courage.

What we gain here is boldness, self-compassion and alignment with God’s calling for our lives.

“For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things He planned for us long ago” (Ephesians 2:10)

My Invitation

This is my invitation to you today: to embrace the Let Them theory of choosing peace over pressure, growth over control, and freedom over frustration. Then Let Me take back control of my life and be the best version of me.