Fear not

Dear Friends,

Thanks for stopping by, and all your prayers and encouragements. Thank God for His goodness and mercies in seeing us through another week.

It has been a very busy and tiring week for me, in much joyful service for our Lord. Thank God for grace and strength daily. I am looking forward to a time of rest and worship this weekend and Lord's day :)

Recently, I read this very comforting portion from CH Spurgeon's Morning and Evening, and reminded afresh that we have a God Who loves us dearly and is in control of all things in our life. So we need not be afraid no matter what befalls us or what we have to go through in this temporal life.

God is continuing to work all things for His glory and our good. He sanctifies us through ever trials and afflictions He allows us to go through. He draws us closer to Himself and enable us to know more and more of His love and sufficiency.

Are you going through a difficult time or fearful time? Fear not, you are of more value than many sparrows. God will take care of you as you cast all your anxieties upon our Lord Jesus Christ. His grace is sufficient for you. He will most assuredly deliver you or continue to support you under the trial so that you may know more and more of His sufficiency and presence with you.

“Thou shalt not be afraid for the terror by night.”
Psalm 91:5

WHAT is this terror? It may be the cry of fire, or the noise of thieves, or fancied appearances, or the shriek of sudden sickness or death. We live in the world of death and sorrow, we may therefore look for ills as well in the night-watches as beneath the glare of the broiling sun.

Nor should this alarm us, for be the terror what it may, the promise is that the believer shall not be afraid.

Why should he? Let us put it more closely, why should we?

God our Father is here, and will be here all through the lonely hours; He is an almighty Watcher, a sleepless Guardian, a faithful Friend.

Nothing can happen without His direction, for even hell itself is under His control. Darkness is not dark to Him. He has promised to be a wall of fire around His people—and who can break through such a barrier?

Worldlings may well be afraid, for they have an angry God above them, a guilty conscience within them, and a yawning hell beneath them; but we who rest in Jesus are saved from all these through rich mercy.

If we give way to foolish fear, we shall dishonor our profession, and lead others to doubt the reality of godliness.

We ought to be afraid of being afraid, lest we should vex the Holy Spirit by foolish distrust.

Down, then, ye dismal forebodings and groundless apprehensions, God has not forgotten to be gracious, nor shut up His tender mercies; it may be night in the soul, but there need be no terror, for the God of love changes not.

Children of light may walk in darkness, but they are not therefore cast away, nay, they are now enabled to prove their adoption by trusting in their heavenly Father as hypocrites cannot do.

“Though the night be dark and dreary,
Darkness cannot hide from Thee;
Thou art He, who, never weary,
Watchest where Thy people be.”

Taken from CH Spurgeon's Morning & Evening, 22 April, Evening

Thanks again for stopping by. Hope you have a very restful and blessed weekend. Take care.

Warm regards,
Nancie















My friend, CW, took this lovely picture

It is well with my soul : Our eter­nal hope no mat­ter what pain and grief be­fall us on earth

Dear Friends,

Thanks for stopping by.

Today, I was re-reading the following devotional from CH Spurgeon and reminded of how blessed it is to belong to our Lord. God's promise is that IT is well with the righteous always.

♥ I am thankful to God that it is well with us always because we have a God Who loved us and is in control of everything. And God is working all things for His glory and our good (Romans 8:28).

♥ Thank God that I can have this great comfort as I walk with our Lord Jesus Christ daily. In all the ups and downs in life, in sickness and in wellness, in weakness and in strength, it is well with my soul. What a mercy!

♥ I thank God that by His grace, we can live a meaningful and productive life despite whatever trials, afflictions or difficulties we have to go through. For we are more than conquerors through Him Who loved us!

♥ I thank God that He provides people around us who love us and takes care of us. Thanks for each and every one of you for your visits, prayers and encouragements. Your friendship and support means a lot to me. Thank you!

May you too find much encouragement in this precious promises of God.

“Say ye to the righteous, that it shall be well with him.”
Isaiah 3:10

IT is well with the righteous always.

If it had said, “Say ye to the righteous, that it is well with him in his prosperity,” we must have been thankful for so great a boon, for prosperity is an hour of peril, and it is a gift from heaven to be secured from its snares:

or if it had been written, “It is well with him when under persecution,” we must have been thankful for so sustaining an assurance, for persecution is hard to bear;

but when no time is mentioned, all time is included.

God’s “shalls” must be understood always in their largest sense. From the beginning of the year to the end of the year, from the first gathering of evening shadows until the day-star shines, in all conditions, and under all circumstances, it shall be well with the righteous.

It is so well with him that we could not imagine it to be better, for he is well fed, he feeds upon the flesh and blood of Jesus; he is well clothed, he wears the imputed righteousness of Christ; he is well housed, he dwells in God; he is well married, his soul is knit in bonds of marriage union to Christ; he is well provided for, for the Lord is his Shepherd; he is well endowed, for heaven is his inheritance.

It is well with the righteous—well upon divine authority; the mouth of God speaks the comforting assurance.

O beloved, if God declares that all is well, ten thousand devils may declare it to be ill, but we laugh them all to scorn. Blessed be God for a faith which enables us to believe God when the creatures contradict Him.

It is, says the word, at all times well with thee, thou righteous one; then, beloved, if thou canst not see it, let God’s word stand thee in stead of sight; yea, believe it on divine authority more confidently than if thine eyes and thy feelings told it to thee.

Whom God blesses is blest indeed, and what His lip declares is truth most sure and steadfast.

(Taken from CH Spurgeon, Morning & Evening, 14 April, Evening) Go To Morning Reading

I am also reminded of the hymn written by Horation Spafford "It is well with my soul".

This hymn was writ­ten af­ter two ma­jor trau­mas in Spaf­ford’s life. The first was the great Chi­ca­go Fire of Oc­to­ber 1871, which ru­ined him fi­nan­cial­ly (he had been a weal­thy bus­i­ness­man). Short­ly af­ter, while cross­ing the At­lan­tic, all four of Spaf­ford’s daugh­ters died in a col­li­sion with an­o­ther ship. Spaf­ford’s wife Anna sur­vived and sent him the now fa­mous tel­e­gram, “Saved alone.” Sev­er­al weeks lat­er, as Spaf­ford’s own ship passed near the spot where his daugh­ters died, he wrote the words to the hymn "It is Well with My Soul". They speak of the eter­nal hope that all be­liev­ers have, no mat­ter what pain and grief be­fall them on earth.

It is well with my soul

When peace, like a river, attendeth my way,
When sorrows like sea billows roll;
Whatever my lot, Thou has taught me to say,
It is well, it is well, with my soul.

Refrain

It is well, with my soul,
It is well, with my soul,
It is well, it is well, with my soul.

Though Satan should buffet, though trials should come,
Let this blest assurance control,
That Christ has regarded my helpless estate,
And hath shed His own blood for my soul.

Refrain

My sin, oh, the bliss of this glorious thought!
My sin, not in part but the whole,
Is nailed to the cross, and I bear it no more,
Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, O my soul!

Refrain

For me, be it Christ, be it Christ hence to live:
If Jordan above me shall roll,
No pang shall be mine, for in death as in life
Thou wilt whisper Thy peace to my soul.

Refrain

But, Lord, ‘tis for Thee, for Thy coming we wait,
The sky, not the grave, is our goal;
Oh trump of the angel! Oh voice of the Lord!
Blessèd hope, blessèd rest of my soul!

Refrain

And Lord, haste the day when my faith shall be sight,
The clouds be rolled back as a scroll;
The trump shall resound, and the Lord shall descend,
Even so, it is well with my soul.

Refrain

Hear this moving hymn on Youtube:





Thank you for stopping by!

Thanks for your encouragement. Take care and have a blessed day!

Warm Regards,
Nancie

My encounter with Dengue Haemorrhagic Fever about 4 years ago

This morning, I was reminded of how God preserved and restored me when I was down with Dengue Haemorrhagic Fever about 4 years ago.

Dengue fever is a disease caused by the dengue virus which can be transmitted to humans by the bite of an infected mosquito. The incubation period of dengue fever normally ranges from between 3 to 14 days.

Dengue haemorrhagic fever is a more severe form of dengue and can be fatal if unrecognised or not treated.

(For more information about Dengue Fever and Dengue Haemorrhagic Fever, there are is a very useful website that gives some FAQ about Dengue Fever by Ministry of Health in Singapore. World Health Organization also has a useful information on Dengue Fever.)

When I was down with Dengue Haemorrhagic Fever about 4 years ago, it was at a time when Dengue Fever was epidemic in Singapore. It was a time when Dengue Fever was most high since many years, and there were several deaths due to it. Pastor C was just taken home about 1 month ago in that year also due to Dengue Haemorrhagic Fever and a complication of it, Dengue Shock Syndrome.

At that time, I experienced symptoms very similar to flu. I had very high fever, body aches, headaches, joint pains, tiredness and loss of appetite for about 5 days. Taking paracetamol could not bring the fever down. Though I went to the Polyclinic for blood test twice they didn't suspect dengue fever because my platelet count was still within normal range and I didn't have any rashes. It was on the 6th day that I began to develop more severe symptoms like nause, vomitting, abdominal pain and difficulties breathing. My brother immediately took me to the Emergency Unit in the Hospital.

In the Hospital, they did a blood test for me and put me on drip for fluid replacements. After the blood test they told me that they suspect I had Dengue Fever and I needed to be warded. It was in the ward that the Doctor later came and told me that I had the more severe form of Dengue Fever called Dengue Haemorrhagic Fever and my platelet count was only 57 (normal range is 140 to 440). He said that was the second time I had Dengue Fever and that was why it had turned to Dengue Haemorrhagic Fever. They found 2 different Dengue virus in my blood during blood test. But I wasn't even conscious that I ever had Dengue Fever before. I used to get flu very often, and it was possible that I had dengue fever before without knowing it. Usually it is the 2nd time getting Dengue Fever that it becomes fatalistic.

In the Hospital, rashes developed all over my body. The medical people did a blood test for me every day and Doctor ordered me to drink at least 4 liter of water. On my second day of hospitalization my platelet dropped further to 25. The Doctor ordered that I was not allowed to get down from my bed because if I fall I will have internal bleeding and I can die of internal bleeding. Doctor also said that if my platelet continue to drop below 20, then they will put me on blood transfusion. That night, I sms my Pastor and asked him whether he will bury me should the Lord takes me home and he said yes :-) I knew that my condition was critical and the Lord might take me home. Several Dengue Haemorrhagic Fever patients had died due to internal bleeding at that time. So I knew there is a possibility that I might be the next one. But I had complete peace in the Lord and I entrust all things into His Hands.

By God's mercies and sovereignty, He preserved my life. The next day, my platelet count went up to 70 and after that it continued to go up. I was admitted for a total of 6 days. During my period of hospitalization, I saw the goodness and mercies of God upon me. I wasn't as sick as before I was hospitalization. In the Hospital, I was alert and able to sit up and talk to people. Thank God for many friends and brethren in my church who prayed and visited me. I was not very sickly like most Dengue patients were. I was able to read, talk and listen to sermons. Neither did I know how fatal or critical my actual situation was. It was only on the day of discharged, that my Doctor revealed to me how sickly I really was on the day of my admission. According to my Doctor, I was severely dehydrated due to the fever and vomitting, and all my other vital signs were upside down. I was in danger of getting Dengue Shock Syndrome which is fatalistic. Pastor C died of Dengue Shock Syndrome where there is internal bleeding and the body developed shock as a result, and internal organs failed. At the point of discharged, all my vital signs are back to normal and my platelet count also had gone up to 240. The Doctor actually treated me like a case study. Every day he brought a group of Students Doctor to see me and explained things to them. I didn't understand what was going on at first. Only at the point of discharged, that the Doctor told me that my case was very unique and they took me as a study object. They were amazed that I recovered so well when I was clearly very sick. I give thanks and glory to God.

Now as I recounted this incident to you, I am once again in awe at God's power to preserve and protect us from all harm, when we belonged to Him. If He so wills, like in the case of Pastor C, He may take us home through an illness, so that we no longer need to suffer in this world and we can be with Him for all eternity. But if He so desires, He may also demonstrate His power to sustain, protect and restore us, until it is His time to call us home. And meanwhile, may we run the race that is set before us patiently, looking unto Jesus the Author and Finisher of our faith.

Thank God that we can trust in Him no matter what we may have to go through in this life, knowing that He loves us and is working all things for His glory and our good.

Thank you for stopping by. Take care and have a blessed Lord's day!

Whom have I in Heaven but thee? and there is none upon earth that I desire beside thee. My flesh and my heart faileth: but God is the strength of my heart and my portion for ever. Psalm 73:25-26

My friend, Sau, took this picture at Saipan.

Today's real heroes : The inspiring and encouraging story of a father's extraordinary love for his son (Team Hoyt - Dick and Rick Hoyt with video)

Dear Friends,

Thanks for stopping by my combined Word-Filled Wednesday and Thankful Thursday post. It's been very long time since I last participated in these because I have been unable to blog actively.

♥ Today, God fills my heart with praise and thanksgiving when a friend shared with me this very encouraging video of a father's love for his son. It reminded me of our Heavenly Father's love for wretched sinners like us.

♥ I thank God that He loved us and He demonstrated His love for us by giving His only begotten Son our Lord Jesus Christ to die on the cross for us, to redeem us from the condemnation of sin and give us life here and eternal life.

♥ I thank God that by His grace, we can live a meaningful and productive life despite whatever limitations or infirmities.

♥ I thank God that He provides people around us who love us and takes care of us. Thanks for each and every one of you for your visits and encouragements.

Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. John 15:13 But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Romans 5:8

God's precious promises to in through all the trials in this life:

My grace is sufficient for thee (you):
for my strength is made perfect in weakness.
2 Corinthians 12:9

Please take a moment to watch this inspiring true story of two very remarkable men :

* Rick Hoyt, a 46 years old man born a spastic quadriplegic, cerebral palsy, non-speaking person but achieved independence and inclusion in community activities, sports, school and the workplace, and is a graduate of Boston University; and

* his father, Dick Hoyt, a 66 years old elderly man, who loved his son dearly and determined to raise him up as "normally" as possible. Dick pushed and pulled his son across the country and over hundreds of finish lines. When Dick runs, Rick is in a wheelchair that Dick is pushing. When Dick cycles, Rick is in the seat-pod from his wheelchair, attached to the front of the bike. When Dick swims, Rick is in a small but heavy, firmly stabilized boat being pulled by Dick.

An inspiring and encouraging story of a father's extraordinary love for his son.




Read more about them on their website : http://www.teamhoyt.com/index.html

Other real-life testimony or inspirational story of people with extraordinary courage :

* No Arms, No Legs, No Worries : Victory in God's grace, the story of Nick Vujicic (video)

* In celebration of being alive

Thanks again for stopping. Take care and have a blessed day!