In The Darkness

“Woman,” he said, “why are you crying? Who is it you are looking for?”

(John 20:15, NIV)

In the dark of that very early morning, the hurried footsteps could be heard in the quietness. Her heart was filled with anxiety. Her hope was almost lost. She was hanging on a thread of the least that was left in her heart. She needed to find the body. One last hope. Just one more to bang on.

To her horror when she reached her destination, the stone was rolled off. The entrance of the tomb was left opened. She panicked. Her only remaining hope. It was gone! The body of the Lord she loved was not there anymore.

She hastily ran to the other men and announced the shocking news. Two men immediately set for the site and soon found the truth. It was gone. The body – it was gone! In the midst of the emptiness they only saw the strips of linen and burial cloth for his head. She was not imagining. These men witnessed it too. The empty tomb.

While the men left, she remained at the spot crying. Her whole being was flooded by a gush of sorrow unspeakable. She stood in the darkness of the wee hours of the morning weeping in tremendous sorrow. Her last hope vanished. She must have stood there confused, afraid and helpless.

A sudden voice interrupted her weeping. She looked up and saw two angels. They asked her, “Woman, why are you crying?” She replied quickly, “They have taken my Lord away and I don’t know where they have put him.” She felt another presence and another voice interrupted her again, “Woman,” he said, “why are you crying? Who is it you are looking for?” “Please, sir, tell me where…I’ll get him,” she muttered in between her sobs.

Jesus then called her name, “Mary.”

In the dark hour and amidst the quietness, I instantly heard him asked me the same question, “Woman, why are you crying?” “I am here.” I felt a sudden closeness of my Lord and heard my name. That was enough. It was suffice to reassure me that he will take care of everything. In the darkest hour. In the darkest night. He is there – always. I may not realize his presence when I am caught in the deepest sorrow, pain, confusion and anguish – just like Mary at the empty tomb. When I thought my last hope was also gone, he appeared. He resurrected it.

That’s the power of his resurrection. He died a cruel death but on the third day, he rose again. He caused the darkest night to break forth with the dawn of his light. He is risen. All hopes are found in him.

We stand here today to celebrate the power of his resurrection. That same power still works today. He did not die in vain.

The power of his resurrection lives in us. Blessed Easter!

In His Name

May the name of the God of Jacob protect you.

(Psalm 20:1, NIV)


“Aunty Senina, Aunty Senina, Aunty Senina…” little Kael called incessantly the moment we connected. The barely 3 year old could not pronounce the “l” despite his mum corrected him a few times. Thus my name change. His chubby little finger hooked onto mine and dragged me all around to tour his house as we met for the first time. His friendliness warmed my heart as he opened up to me so quickly. Soon I was his buddy for the weekend. My name was buzzing in the air the entire time. Kael and Aunty Senina were inseparable. Aunty Senina’s name never left Kael’s lips. This name became the the name which carry much power. His mum would use the name to get him do something when he refused. The name got him going.

“Your name will be useful for a while after you leave this weekend,” chuckled his dad. “I am sure we can get him to do things by just mentioning it,” he continued. What power in that name for Kael’s little world!

A few days after my return of that short trip away I read Psalm 20. Verse 1 begins with an exhortation of God’s name. It says this name “protects”. That was comforting to me as I was still nursing my gastric reflux. No matter what happens, I can call on this name, the name above all other names to protect me. It is not just any name. It is not Aunty Senina in Kael’s little world for a weekend. This awesome name is the One who saves. The Everlasting One.

I must admit I was a bit tired of answering Kael after some time. But God never gets tired when we call his name. His name makes our enemy trembles and flees. Psalm 20:7 declares that, “some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the Lord, our God.” It is not in the physical magnitude and massive weight that we should rely on, but our reliance is in placing our trust in his majestic name. The mention of his name guarantees our protection. I am reminded of many boys who would use their daddies’ names when they are being bullied. “I will tell my daddy!”

How about us? We can always tell our Daddy too. Just declare his name!

Let us sing his name. Let’s shout for joy unto his name. Let’s lift up the banner in the name of the Lord (Psalm 20:5). Remember David overcame Goliath in the name of the Lord!

Abba Father, Yours is the Most Beautiful Name of all. The name which is above all other names. Today I declare your power in my life, the trusted name of all generations. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

The Songs of Life

The LORD your God is with you,
the Mighty Warrior who saves.
He will take great delight in you;
in his love he will no longer rebuke you,
but will rejoice over you with singing.

(Zephaniah 3:17, NIV)

While I desperately needed God to come through in the various personal situations, he directed some cases to deal with in others’ lives. My eyes switched from my own troubles to the pain others are carrying. As I listened to each talked about their big problems which entails such deep distress and pain in the mind, soul and spirit; I kept reminding these dear ones there is no problem too big for God, our Saviour. That truth resonated in return to my own ears.

As I struggle in my own thoughts while I grapple with different issues in my life and interceding for these dear ones I requested God to give each a song. We need to hear a new song from him in our different seasons. He promises in the verse above that he is with us, and he saves for he is the Mighty Warrior. He saves irrespective of our troubles. He does not just save, but continue to take great delight in us as he showers us with his songs of love and deliverance. So I pray:

For the emptiness of the soul, he sings a song of love.
For the broken hearted, he sings a song joy.
For the distress, he sings a song of peace.
For the lost, he sings a song of hope.

There are still many songs available from heaven. One to suit each of God’s children in each season. There is the song of freedom, the song of deliverance, the song of faith, the song of victory, and the list is endless.

I confessed and claimed the verse one night. Then I slipped into dreamland. I dreamed that God’s angels sang in my living room while I was getting ready to bed. It was a sweet song. That night before I slept, I was in distress.

At bedtime my children would often request, “Mum, sing us a song.” Mum’s soothing voice calms and comforts. But, our Father's voice is the most powerful in whatever capacity you need.

What song(s) do you need? Place a request now with your Father and hear the music play. Just listen…

Dear Lord, what song are you singing over me? Let me hear it. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

The Heavenly Canvas

The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands.

Psalm 19:1, NIV

Three days had gone by. The image I captured as we drove back from the mainland along the Penang Bridge to the island was just a normal splash of colours in the sky of the late afternoon. Yet it remained in my memory for days. The mixture of blue and white background was lined artistically with such graceful strokes of orange streaks. No eyes could have missed that masterpiece. It was gloriously hung above us. Yet many times we overlook the sky, simply because we forget to look up.

It was a rush day being the first day of the lunar new year. The agenda for the next few days had been lined up with full schedule of visitations. I whispered to God every now and then that I would not miss his presence amidst the crowds, noise and heat. The loudness of his presence broke forth through the simplest yet majestic display of the sky. When I spotted the glamorous look, I exclaimed with excitement in the car, “Look! Beautiful!” Clicked. The image was captured. Not in any digital camera since my old one declared its end of life some time ago. Instantly I stored it in my memory.

The power of this panoramic view was amplified when I read Psalm 19 the next morning. Yes, indeed the heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands. The immense space above calls our attention to the glory of God’s creative work. His revelation made known in such radiance in the vastness of the sky. How can we dismiss the Creator of all? I couldn’t help but worship him as his radiance permeated my spirit.

When was the last time you look up the sky and marvel at his art piece?
Let your eyes see the beauty of his work and your heart praises his name.

Creator of all, I heard the skies proclaim your name. Call my attention today to your creative work and let my heart shout your praise. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Oh, What Big Hands!

The time ticks away.

Time waits for no man, so they say. How true!
Take it easy. Relax. Slow down. What common phrases. Most of us live lives as though there aren't any hand brakes. We just have to keep going. The feet is on the accelerator all the time. Too many things to do. Too little time. Some dawdle. But some sincerely work so hard yet still can't seem to find enough time to accomplish all the tasks. Perhaps just too much. Is this balancing act an art? No wonder I always see life liken to a dance. Its movements vary but there's a constant flow. Some pauses in between but never too long.

I am wondering how others cope while others are wondering how I cope?! Perhaps it is a disease of post-modernism. Too much work. Too little time.

It is only a week past the new year. My eyes see the dreams and desires my heart contains. A little anxiety as I caught glimpses of potential challenges. My hands may not be strong enough, big enough, and careful enough to hold all. I haven't stop telling the Father all of my concerns. There seems to be silence. It's as though He is listening and smiling in between my talks, nodding in agreement with full understanding. But He is still quiet. My heart beats faster waiting for his response, hoping to tick off every concern with an answer right away. He still didn't say anything. But I sense his quiet presence. While I struggle to comprehend the how(s) and what(s)...I am determine to stay contented knowing my hands may be incapable of handling the all that's to come (and the ones which are already here), yet He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. (Colossians 1:17, NIV)

When he holds all things together, and goes before me, I can always rest assured all things will work out for the good for those who love him (Romans 8:28). Perhaps the Father has pleasant surprises in store for me. I will wait patiently as I await each of them to be revealed.

What about your state? Excited. Anxious. Worried. Carefree. The year always starts with good dreams which our eyes may lose focus as time ticks away into the months...but let's remember the Father is listening to our needs and concerns; and work is already in progress even as we ramble to him. Our days are securely held in his hands. Nothings slips through his fingers.

Some may still stay put in the old. Still riding on the regrets of the past year and rollerskating on the guilt trip. Stop! Pull the brake and cease it. Step into the new and welcome a fresh breath of the Spirit. Isaiah 43:18-19 proclaim, "Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the desert and streams in the wasteland.

Thank You Lord for Your big and mighty Hands. I trust my year into Your big Hands which all power flows. In Jesus' name. Amen.