More than Conquerors

Medisave use for Bipolar Disorder in Singapore beginning 1 November 2011

2011-11-03T11:28:00.002+08:00

Thank God there are some good news for people undergoing treatment for Bipolar Disorder in Singapore!

From 1 November 2011, sufferers of bipolar disorder will be able use their Medisave funds to cover the costs of outpatient treatment.

Medisave (Chinese: 保健储蓄) is a national medical savings account system for Singaporeans. The system allows Singaporeans to put aside part of their income into a Medisave account to meet future personal or immediate family's hospitalization, day surgery and for certain outpatient expenses. This Medisave is part of every employee's contribution to the Singapore Central Provident Fund (CPF) every month.

The Health Ministry (MOH) of Singapore has just announced the extension of the Chronic Disease Management Programme (CDMP) to 2 mental illnesses - dementia and bipolar disorder. It was first mentioned at this year's Health Budget in March.

The CDMP was launched in 2006 to allow Medisave funds to be used in the treatment of diabetes, hypertension, lipid disorders and stroke. Over the past three years, more chronic illnesses, such as major depression and schizophrenia, were added to the list. The inclusion of bipolar disorder and dementia brings the number of diseases covered under the programme to a total of 10.

The extension of the Chronic Disease Management Programme (CDMP) will help the reduction of out-of-pocket expenses and make treatment more affordable for Singaporeans who live with such conditions.

Similarly, the Primary Care Partnership Scheme (PCPS), where needy elderly patients can see their general practitioner (GP) at polyclinic rates, will similarly be extended to include bipolar disorder and dementia.

The Ministry of Health says this will make it more affordable for Singaporeans to manage the conditions and also avoid unnecessary complications and hospitalisation.

In addition, the amount of Medisave that can be used for treatment of chronic illnesses will be increased from $300 to $400 per Medisave account per year with effect from next year ie 1 January 2012.

It will go a long way in helping the low- and middle-income in seeking treatment for these chronic illnesses, either for themselves or for their loved ones with the conditions."

For full report, read StraitsTimes, AsiaOne and ChannelNewsAsia.

Thank God that I can serve our Lord through this blog. It is solely by God's grace that I am able to cope better with this condition since my diagnosis of bipolar disorder in 2007. I was interviewed by Straits Times Singapore in January 2011 this year regarding Bipolar Blog in Singapore on how blogging helped me to cope with Bipolar Disorder. I posted about it here. Thank God that the article has helped some of my readers.

Thank God that I was interviewed again by Straits Times Singapore in March 2011 this year regarding this report on the approval of the usage of Medisave for the outpatients treatment of bipolar disorder when MOH first announced that Medisave has been approved for use in treatment of Bipolar Disorder in Singapore. I posted about it here. Through the interview I have the opportunity to share some of my concerns regarding bipolar disorder in Singapore. It is sad that there is still a lot of ignorance, misunderstanding and terrible stigma associated with bipolar disorder and depression in Singapore. Like others with this neurological condition, I too feel that much can be done to raise awareness of this condition so that more compassion and understanding can be extended to us. I suggested in the interview that employers could be urged not to discriminate against mental patients. I also suggested that employers be offered financial perks if they allow extended time off, or shorter and flexible working hours for employees with mental illnesses.

Hopefully in future, there will be more acceptance and help for this condition and other mental health condition in Singapore.

How time flies! Tomorrow is November 1. Here is a simple homemade November 2011 Calendars that I made. Making homemade gifts are therapeutic hobbies for me in coping with bipolar disorder.

Do feel free to download and make this homemade 2011 November Calendars for yourself or your family and friends.

To download this Free Printable November 2011 Calendar, place cursor on the picture, click at the picture for a bigger image, right click mouse and choose “save image as”.

For more free homemade Calendars 2011 and 2012, visit :

1. Printable Calendars 2011 / 2012 : http://printablecalendars.resources2u.com/
3. Free Bookmarks, Cards and Calendars : http://handicrafts.resources2u.com/

For information on Bipolar Disorder and Depression:

1. Contact of medical helps in Singapore for Psychiatrist for Bipolar Disorder and Depression
2. Resources for Depression and Bipolar Disorder
3. Family and Friends' Guide to helping someone with Bipolar Disorder and Depression
4. Myths and Facts on mental illness
5. Recovery steps
6. Christian and Depression
7. Finding meaning in a life with bipolar disorder

Resting in God's love and promises....We know that all things work together for good

2011-08-11T19:00:00.007+08:00

Dear Friends and Readers,

Thanks for stopping by. It's so good to be back again and count my blessings with all of you!

♥ Thank God for giving me much grace and strength in these recent weeks when I am busy with work, family and serving in church. Thank God for giving me simple peace and joy in Him daily.

♥ Thank God that my brother was able to come for a short holiday for the last 2 days and we had a good family get together :)

♥ Thank God that He is with us and works all things for His glory and our good. Recently, I went through some very difficult challenges. Thank God that He is with me and graciously works His ways for me. This gives me much encouragement. I am reminded of Romans 8:28 "We know that all things work together for good to them that love God."

We know that all things work together for good
to them that love God.
Romans 8:28

♥ Thank God for giving me joys in some creative and therapeutic hobbies. I love to spend time in nature as it reminds me of what a great God we serve and that He loves us very much. As He takes care of the birds and flowers, He takes even better care of us. I love to take pictures of flowers and nature, and create homemade calendars, bookmarks and cards with these pictures.

Here are some Free Printable Homemade Christian Calendars 2011 September which I have created using some pictures I took myself. Do feel free to download these printable Christian Calendars with Bible verses for yourself or your family. You can also make these simple Christian September 2011 Calendar for your friends as a gift. Making these simple homemade 2011 Calendar are very therapeutic hobbies for me and I hope you enjoy it too!

To download the Free 2011 Calendar September monthly template, place cursor on the picture, click at picture for big size, right click mouse and choose “save image as”.

Resources for Calendars and Blank Calendars Planners: for 2011 Calendars

Printable Calendars with encouraging quotes: for 2011 Calendars

Children's Calendars Kids Crafts: for 2011 Calendars

Other Resources for Free Calendars, Cards, Bookmarks, Handicrafts:

Free printable Bookmarks
Free printable Calendars 2011 and 2012
Free printable Cards with quotes / sayings
Free printable Children / Kids Arts and Crafts
Free printable Bookmarks, Cards, Calendars, Handicrafts
Free resources for cross-stitch and knitting ideas
Free resources for Origami and other paper crafts

Thanks for stopping by. Take care and have a blessed week!

Warm regards,
Nancie

Therapeutic hobbies ... Making Free Christian Calendar August 2011 with Bible verse

2011-07-23T15:42:00.008+08:00

Dear Friends,

How are you? Sorry that I have not been able to post or visit blogs recently. I have been extremely occupied with work, family situations and church work. How time flies! It's been more than one month since I last posted! And August is coming soon :)

I thank God for keeping me well though busy and tired. I am trying to pace myself carefully, by His grace, and so I have to consciously cut down on the things I used to do. But some unexpected things do cropped up every now and then. Thank God for giving me grace, strength and joy in Him daily.

Thank God that with Him all things are possible. There have been many difficult challenges in the recent weeks, and thank God for working things out for me in His many wonderful ways. Something went wrong with some work I was doing and I had to re-do them. My Mom's health has not been very good but thank God that she is feeling better now. One of the elderly lady who comes to my church and I have been visiting and reaching out to had heart failure and was hospitalised. She is 84 years old and I taught our Lord might take her home but in His providence, He restored her! Wow, these and so many other things happened but our Lord gave me strength and grace, and see me safely through each one. Truly with our God nothing is impossible!

Here's a simple Christian Calendar for August 2011 which I created using a picture of a yellow rose flower that I took. Feel free to download this Free Homemade Christian Calendar August 2011 with Bible verse. You can make this Christian Calendar with encouraging Bible quotes for yourself, your family and friends.

This Bible verse is one of my favourite and it is very encouraging as it reminds me that:

With God all things are possible.

Matthew 19:26

To download this Free 2011 Calendar August monthly template, place cursor on the picture, click at picture for big size, right click mouse and choose “save image as”.

Making homemade Bookmarks, Cards and Calendars 2011/2012 are some of my therapeutic hobbies. Photography is also one of my therapeutic hobbies. And using the photos I took to make Bookmarks, Cards and Calendars 2011/2012 are most fulfilling! These are helpful therapeutic hobbies for people who are suffering from bipolar disorder and depression, for us to express our feelings and put our creativity to good use. Thank God for the beauties of His creations!

Other Resources for Free Calendars, Cards, Bookmarks, Handicrafts:

Free printable Bookmarks
Free printable Calendars 2011 and 2012
Free printable Cards with quotes / sayings
Free printable Children / Kids Arts and Crafts
Free printable Bookmarks, Cards, Calendars, Handicrafts
Free resources for cross-stitch and knitting ideas
Free resources for Origami and other paper crafts

Take care and have a blessed weekend!

Warm regards,
Nancie

But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength...

2011-06-16T08:00:00.001+08:00

But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.
Isaiah 40:31

Dear Friends,

Thanks for stopping by. I am so thankful to God for His many mercies, and I can't wait to share them with you.

♥ Firstly, I want to thank God for a new friend that I have just gotten to know. She is M. Caron and she too is a Christian who is learning to manage bipolar disorder and to live for the glory of God. Her blog The Bipolar Christian is at http://thebipolarchristian.blogspot.com/. She writes with faith and hope in God as she shares her ups and downs in life. Do visit her, if you can, and be encourage by her faith and hope in God in her struggles.

♥ I thank God for a very blessed time of worship, fellowship and serving our Lord in church on the Lord's day. I heard a very encouraging message "As an Eagle... so the Lord" from Deuteronomy 32:11-12. The preacher spoke about how as the eagle stirreth up her nest in order to enable the young eaglets to learn to fly and live, our Lord at times allow us to go through severe trials and difficulties in life in order for us to grow in Him and strengthened in our faith. He is with us in all our troubles and difficulties and He will see us safely through. He works all things for His glory and our good through them, and we become a more strengthened Christian.

As an eagle stirreth up her nest, fluttereth over her young, spreadeth abroad her wings, taketh them, beareth them on her wings: So the LORD alone did lead him, and there was no strange god with him. Deuteronomy 32 : 11-12

I thank God for preserving me through all the difficult struggles in life in my learning to manage bipolar disorder and also other challenges in my life. The Lord is the One sustaining me and delivering me, time and again. Through them all, I am experiencing more and more of God's love and mercies, knowing God in a more real and personal way, and finding increasing peace and joy in Him. Praise Him! May this be our experience always through all the changing scenes in life and we can give all praise and glory to God!

♥ Thank God for answering my prayers in bringing an elderly lady Madam Wah to my church morning service. Madam Wah is 77 years old and collects card boxes to sell in order to make a living. She suffered a fall a year ago and so walks with much pain at times, yet having to collect card boxes to make a living daily. Her children are not able to support her much and so she has to rely upon God and work hard herself. Thank God that she has heard the Gospel and professed to trust in our Lord. Do pray with me for her that she will continue to come and worship with us, be able to know God's love and mercies in very real and personal ways, and find peace, hope and help in Him.

Thanks again for stopping by. Take care and have a very blessed week!

Warm regards,
Nancie

Thanking God.... The Mystery of Providence

2011-05-12T17:17:00.004+08:00

Dear Friends,

Thanks for stopping by. Thank you very much for your prayers for me. Thank God for His continuing mercies daily.

I just saw my psychiatrist today for a review on my bipolar condition. Thank God for improvements thus far, by the grace of God. It's been a year since I last experienced a relapse of bipoar depression. The medicine is working for me, by God's mercies, and our Lord is daily teaching me to pace myself better and to depend more and more upon Him. I am very thankful to our Lord for keeping me and dealing so graciously with me. Each morning that He enables me to wake up without feeling dreading to face the day, is a cause of thanksgiving to me. It is of the LORD's mercies that I am not consumed, because His compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is His faithfulness!

I would like to share the following excerpt from John Flavel's Book "The Mystery of Providence" with you which encourages me that God is sovereignly in control of all things in my life, and He is working all things for His glory and my good, and that of His beloved people. Thank God for sustaining me and delivering me time and again from some 15 episodes of prolonged bipolar clinical depression over the last 21 years. I may not always understand God's dealings with me, in all his mysterious Providences, but I have no doubt at all of His love and His Power. He performeth all things for me. May that be our encouragement through all the changing scenes in life. To God be the glory.

The Mystery of Providence
Excerpt taken from John Flavel's "The Mystery of Providence", The Banner of Truth Trust, 1995, 1st Published 1678, pages 15 to 20.

"I will cry unto God most high; unto God that performeth all things for me" (Psalm 57. 2)

The greatness of God is a glorious and unsearchable mystery. “For the Lord most high is terrible; he is a great king over all the earth” (Psalm 47:2). The condescension of the most high God to men is also a profound mystery. “Though the Lord be high, yet hath he respect unto the lowly” (Psalm 138:6). But when both these meet together, as they do in this Scripture, they make up a matchless mystery. Here we find the most high God performing all things for a poor distressed creature.

It is the great support and solace of the saints in all the distresses that befall them here, that there is a wise Spirit sitting in all the wheels of motion, and governing the most eccentric creatures and their most pernicious designs to blessed and happy issues. And, indeed, it were not worth while to live in a world devoid of God and Providence.

For it cannot but be a great encouragement to his faith, that God had transacted all things, or performed all things for him. This Providence that never failed him in any of the straits that ever he met with (and his life was a life of many straits) he might well hope would not fail him now, though this were an extraordinary and matchless one.

Providence not only undertakes but perfects what concerns us. It goes through with its designs, and accomplishes what it begins. No difficulty so clogs it, no cross accident falls in its way, but it carries its design through it. Its motions are irresistible and uncontrollable; He performs it for us.

And (which is sweet to consider) all its products and issues are exceedingly beneficial to the saints. It performs all things for them. ‘Tis true we often prejudge its works, and unjustly censure its designs, and in many of our straits and troubles we say: ‘All these things are against us’; but indeed Providence neither does nor can do any thing that is really against the true interest and good of the saints. For what are the works of Providence but the execution of God’s decree and the fulfilling of His Word? And there can be no more in Providence than is in them. Now there is nothing but good to the saints in God’s purposes and promises; and, therefore, whatever Providence does concerning them, it must be (as the text speaks) ‘performance of all things for them.’

And if so, how cheering, supporting and encouraging must the consideration of these things be in a day of distress and trouble! What life and hope will it inspire our hearts and prayers when great pressures lie upon us! It had such a cheering influence upon the Psalmist at this time, when the state of his affairs was, to the eye of sense and reason, forlorn and desperate; there was now but a hair’s breadth (as we say) between him and ruin.

This Psalm 57 was composed by David when he hid himself from Saul in the cave. This cave was in the wilderness of Engedi among the broken rocks where the wild goats lived, an obscure and desolate hole; yet even there the envy of Saul pursued him (1 Sam. 24. 1, 2). And now he that had been so long hunted as a partridge upon the mountains seems to be enclosed in the net. His enemies were outside the cave, from which there was no other outlet. Then Saul himself entered the mouth of this cave, in the sides and creeks of which David and his men lay hidden, and they actually saw him. Judge to how great an extremity and to what a desperate state things were now brought. Well might he say: ‘My soul is among lions, and I lie even among them that are set on fire’ (verse 4). What hope now remained? What but immediate destruction could be expected?

Yet now, while his soul is among lions, while he lies in a cranny of the rock, expecting every moment to be drawn out to death, the reflections he had upon the gracious performances of the Most High for him, from the beginning to that moment, support his soul and inspire hope and life into his prayers: “I will cry unto God most high, unto God that performeth all things for me.”

The encouragements to this resolution are taken from the sovereignty of God: ‘I will cry unto God most high.’ Upon this he acts his faith in extremity of danger. Saul is high, but God is the most high, and without His permission he is assured Saul cannot touch him. He had none to help, and if he had, he knew God must first help the helpers or they cannot help him. He had no means of defense or escape before him, but the Most High is not limited by means. This is a singular prop to faith (Ps. 59. 9).

To read this book online : visit http://www.reformedliterature.com/flavel-the-mystery-of-providence-intro.php

Take care and have a very blessed week!

All by His grace alone,
Nancie

This photo is taken by my sister-in-Christ, SE, in Norway

Resources for Depression and Bipolar Disorder

Depression and Bipolar Disorder: http://bipolardepression.resources2u.com/

Other Resources for Free Calendars, Cards, Bookmarks, Handicrafts:

Free printable Bookmarks
Free printable Calendars 2011 and 2012
Free printable Cards with quotes / sayings
Free printable Children / Kids Arts and Crafts
Free printable Bookmarks, Cards, Calendars, Handicrafts
Free resources for cross-stitch and knitting ideas
Free resources for Origami and other paper crafts

Use of Singapore CPF Medisave for treatment of Bipolar Disorder in Singapore (The Straits Times, ST)

2011-03-24T13:10:00.010+08:00

Medisave Singapore - Bipolar Disorder

Use of Medisave for treatment of bipolar disorder in Singapore

Dear Friends,

Thanks for stopping by!

I have been very busy lately and not able to post or visit much. It's so good to be back again and count my blessings with all of you!

♥ Thank God for giving me much grace and strength in these recent weeks when I am busy with work, family and serving in church. Thank God for giving me simple peace and joy in Him daily.

♥ Thank God that Medisave has been approved for use in treatment of Bipolar Disorder in Singapore! This was reported recently in The Straits Times (ST) Singapore newspaper, 18 March 2011. This is indeed helpful to some patients as treatment for bipolar disorder is long term.

Here is a copy of the newspaper article (Click at the image to see a larger version). It is also available online here.

Medisave (Chinese: 保健储蓄) is a national medical savings account system for Singaporeans. The system allows Singaporeans to put aside part of their income into a Medisave account to meet future personal or immediate family's hospitalization, day surgery and for certain outpatient expenses. This Medisave is part of every employee's contribution to the Singapore Central Provident Fund (CPF) every month.

Thank God that now Medisave can be used to pay part of the outpatient treatment of bipolar disorder patients. It was reported that more people are being diagnosed with bipolar disorder, affirming the recent move by the Health Ministry (MOH) to free up Medisave funds to cover their outpatient treatment bills.

♥ Thank God that I can serve the Lord through this bipolar disorder blog and help to contribute a little bit towards the awareness of bipolar disorder in Singapore, and share some resources available on treatment of bipolar disorder.

Thank God that through this blog, the reporter from The Straits Times (ST) Singapore, Miss Poon Chian Hui kindly approached me for an interview regarding this report on the approval of the usage of Medisave for the outpatients treatment of bipolar disorder.

Thank God that through the interview I have the opportunity to share some of my concerns regarding bipolar disorder in Singapore. It is sad that there is still a lot of ignorance, misunderstanding and terrible stigma associated with bipolar disorder and depression in Singapore. Like others with this neurological condition, I too feel that much can be done to raise awareness of this condition so that more compassion and understanding can be extended to us. I suggested in the interview that employers could be urged not to discriminate against mental patients. I also suggested that employers be offered financial perks if they allow extended time off, or shorter and flexible working hours for employees with mental illnesses. Hopefully in future, there will be more acceptance and help for this condition and other mental health condition in Singapore.

♥ Previously I was also interviewed by Straits Times Singapore regarding Bipolar Blog in Singapore on how blogging helped me to cope with Bipolar Disorder. I posted about it here. Thank God that the article has helped some of my readers.

♥ I thank God for all of you, for your prayers and encouragements. Thanks for stopping by!

Take care and have a blessed week!

Warm regards,
Nancie

My brother took this lovely picture in New Zealand.

GOD, grant me the Serenity to accept the things I cannot change,
Courage to change the things I can,
and Wisdom to know the difference.

Resources for Depression and Bipolar Disorder

Depression and Bipolar Disorder: http://bipolardepression.resources2u.com/

Resources for Homemade Calendars, Cards, Bookmarks, Handicrafts:

Bookmarks : http://homemadebookmarks.resources2u.com/
Calendars : http://printablecalendars.resources2u.com/
Cards : http://printablecards.resources2u.com/
Children Kids Arts and Crafts : http://kidscrafts.resources2u.com/
Cross-stitch : http://cross-stitch.resources2u.com/
Handicrafts : http://handicrafts.resources2u.com/
Origami : http://origami.resources2u.com/

My bipolar disorder blog featured in a newspaper in Singapore, The Straits Times (The Sunday Times)

2011-01-27T09:18:00.007+08:00

I took this picture at Changi Beach, Singapore

Fear not... When thou passest through the waters,
I will be with thee
Isaiah 43:1,2

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

Dear Friends,

Thanks for stopping by! Thank God for seeing us through almost a month in this new year.

Several months ago a reporter from a local newspaper here in Singapore, the Straits Times, approached me for an interview regarding this blog on Bipolar Disorder - More Than Conquerors: (http://www.lifewithbipolardisorder.blogspot.com/). She was writing on how blogging help people cope with chronic illnesses and asked if I could share my story so that it can help others.

This interview was published a few days ago in The Sunday Times, 23 January 2011, Lifestyle section, page 9, and thank God for several readers in Singapore who wrote to let me know they appreciate my sharing of my own experiences plus the resources available. They themselves or their loved ones too suffer from bipolar disorder.

Click at the picture to see a larger version

♥ I thank God that I can testified of His goodness and mercies to me through this blog. He is the One Who sustains me daily and enable me to cope and live a useful life for Him. Thank God that He is with us through all the changing scenes in life and He is working all things for His glory and our good. He promised that His grace is sufficient for us. He is my greatest comfort, peace and strength daily.

♥ I thank God for my family, my Church brethren and friends who love and accept me, pray for me and support me in my time of need. I am thankful to God for the joy and privilege of being acquainted with several people who are also suffering from bipolar, depression and other chronic illnesses and to be able to pray, support, encourage and learn from one another. I thank God for everyone of you, my dear blogging friends, and for your prayers and encouragements. They mean a lot to me. You have made a great difference in my life and used by God to encourage me and show me His love by your friendship and encouraging notes. You are in my thoughts and prayers too.

I thank God that I am in a community of people who love God and love me, who accepts me in my illness and weaknesses, and continue to extend their love and friendship to me. To the Lord and to all of you I owe a debt I cannot repay.

Thank you once again for all your prayers as I seek to walk with our Lord and serve Him within these limitations. Through your support, prayers and encouragements, God makes blogging therapeutic to me. It not only allows me to share my thoughts and feelings, and journal them as a form of reminder of God's goodness, it also encourages me through your friendships, prayers and encouragements. I am encouraged whenever I remember that there are people who care and are praying for me, and I am not alone.

♥ I am thankful to God that besides my personal sanctification and leading me to know more of His love, grace and mercies daily, He has opened a door of usefulness for me even through this condition and this blog. Since this blog was started in 2008, several readers from different parts of the world have also written to me to share their experiences and to let me know how the resources shared on my blog have helped them.

♥ May God be glorified through this blog. May He continue to use it to help others and their loved ones who are suffering in these ways and in need. Hope our Lord will lead some to come to find peace and comfort in the Lord too.

To God be the glory. Take care.

In His blessed care,
Nancie

Resources for Depression and Bipolar Disorder

Depression and Bipolar Disorder: http://bipolardepression.resources2u.com/

Other Resources for Free Calendars, Cards, Bookmarks, Handicrafts:

Free printable Bookmarks
Free printable Calendars 2011 and 2012
Free printable Cards with quotes / sayings
Free printable Children / Kids Arts and Crafts
Free printable Bookmarks, Cards, Calendars, Handicrafts
Free resources for cross-stitch and knitting ideas
Free resources for Origami and other paper crafts

Though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow.... Isaiah 1:18

2011-01-24T09:45:00.002+08:00

White as snow...

My friend, Jennifer, took this lovely picture.

Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool. Isaiah 1:18

Dear Friends,

Thanks for stopping by!

Do you still remember Madam TAM, the 83 years old elderly lady, whom I shared with you sometime back? Thank you for your prayers for her.

♥ Thank and praise God that she has just been baptised last Lord's day evening (20th February 2011) in my church!

Madam TAM being baptised by my Pastor

Madam TAM first came to my church's evening service about 5 years ago when my church went tracting in our church's neighbourhood. She was among one of those who stays in a one-room flat, a small rental apartment usually stayed by destitute and poor elderly people. Ever since then she attended my church evening services on and off, whenever she can.

Madam TAM has been very sickly over the last 2 years with severe heart failure and she went through many trials with her health and difficult family situations. She also suffered from geriatric depression and was suicidal at one point of time.

God in His mercies led my church to closer contact with her over the last 2 years and He gave her many opportunities to hear the Gospel and to know His love and kindness in many wonderful ways. She found comfort in His love and His presence with her. She nearly died of heart failure in 4 hospitalizations in early 2009 and she nearly died of heart failure again in early this month (February 2011) but God graciously preserved her life once again.

In our Lord's mercies and faithfulness He has led her to put her complete trust in Him over the years and to testify of her faith through baptism. Praise Him!

Although Madam TAM does not know many deep doctrine or remember them, she has simple child like faith. She is thankful to God for His goodness and mercies to her. She prays and asks the Lord to be with her especially when she goes out and to bring her safely home. It is heartening to hear her thanking our Lord and knowing sensibly that our Lord has protected her and provided for her. Please continue to pray that she will grow in her knowledge, faith and love for our Lord. May our Lord also increase her peace, joy and comfort daily.

God's goodness and mercies to Madam TAM is an encouragement to me and my brethren as we serve God at home, work, church, reaching out to lost souls and our beloved ones. May it be your encouragement too as you serve our Lord.

♥ I thank God that He gives me the joy and opportunities to serve Him in little ways like these in visiting the sick and elderly, despite my bipolar condition. It gives me a reason to wake up every morning, a sense of usefulness to know that I can be used by God as an instrument to contribute to the well-being of others and be useful in God's kingdom despite my many limitations and failures.

♥ I thank God for all of you, for your prayers and encouragements. You are in my thoughts and prayers too.

Take care and have a blessed week!

Warm regards,
Nancie

Resources for Depression and Bipolar Disorder

Depression and Bipolar Disorder: http://bipolardepression.resources2u.com/

Resources for Homemade Calendars, Cards, Bookmarks, Handicrafts:

Finding meaning in a life with mood disorder

2011-01-01T06:33:00.004+08:00

Living meaningfully

One of the missions of my blog is to share with others God's goodness and mercies to me in managing clinical depression and bipolar disorder, as well as resources that will benefit a person with a mood disorder and information for their family and loved ones.

Last week, I shared an article "Trust during rough times" which is an excerpt taken from a new book "A Firm Place to Stand" written by my friend and fellow blogger, Marja Bergen. Marja is also the author of "Riding the Roller Coaster: Living with Mood Disorders".

Today, I like to share another very encouraging article written by Marja for CanadianChristianity.com entitled "Finding meaning in a life with bipolar disorder". It is a personal testimonies of how God has enabled Marja to find meaning in a life with bipolar disorder. This article is reproduced here with Marja's kind permission.

Bipolar Disorder or previously known as manic-depressive illness is a mood disorder with extreme mood swings ie. manic/hypomanic and depression. It is a medical condition that can be treated.

It is possible for people with mood disorders such as bipolar disorder, clinical depression and other mood disorders to live a close to normal life with medical helps and other helps. Support from family and friends are crucial to their recovery and well-being too.

I am thankful to God that with medical and other helps, I am able to live a more functional and productive life.

It is my prayers that resources and testimonies shared on this blog will continue to benefit people with mood disorders and their family/friends who love them.

Finding meaning in a life with bipolar disorder
by Marja Bergen

....I have lived with bipolar disorder for over forty years and have found it has many benefits. I couldn’t imagine living without it and am not at all unhappy with my life. In many ways, I value what this illness has made possible for me.

With effective medication to keep symptoms under control, people with bipolar disorder can live a close-to-normal life. Yes, moods will fluctuate and cause occasional problems, and treatment will need adjustment. Suffering will always be part of my life. But I accept the way God, the Great Potter, made me. I am rich on many levels.

Like many people with this disorder, I am very creative. I receive a lot of pleasure from photography and using my imagination. The deep emotions I experience, although painful, are a source of richness; I feel completely human. My frequent hard times have helped me appreciate the good times and I make the most of them. Spiritually, I’m stronger for having had to deal with great trials. The fires I’ve passed through have refined me.

Most of all, I appreciate the compassion I am able to have for others who suffer from depression and other mental health issues. Paul’s words in 2 Corinthians 1: 4 hold true for me. I praise God “who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received.” God has shown me his love, and I want to pass that love on to others.

Over the past few years, I’ve been fortunate to be part of a church community that has supported me and helped me grow spiritually. With the Christ-like love they have shown me, I have come to understand how great God’s love is. In turn, I now help others through a support group and one-on-one, in person and through my blog. I feel fulfilled. The language of suffering I’ve learned helps me connect with people in trouble. I am able to understand them in a way many others could not.

I feel a bit like Patch Adams in the Robyn Williams film. While Patch is a patient in a psychiatric hospital, he discovers his ability to connect with people. He learns to understand his severely disturbed roommate to see the person behind the illness and helps him through his problems. Not only does this delight Patch, it makes him a well man.

Patch eagerly tells his doctor he is well and needs to leave the hospital. I connected to another human being, he said. I want to do more of that. I want to learn about people. I want to help them with their troubles. I want to really listen to people. Connecting with other people gave Patch joy. It gives me joy, too. When God places you in this role a role he made for you joy happens. Walking with people through some of their toughest times is rewarding and a privilege.

Bipolar disorder will always be with me, and I suffer many high and low moods. But, I don’t feel I’m a victim of the disease. God has helped me find a way to make my illness work for me instead of against me.

‘For I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.’ (Jeremiah 29:11) God has a plan for each of us. Though we might have a severe illness such as bipolar disorder, God has work for us to do. Eventually, we can use what God has given us even the bad and turn it into something good.

Marja Bergen is the author of Riding the Roller Coaster: Living with Mood Disorders (Northstone, 1999) and a new book for Christians about living successfully with bipolar disorder (to appear). She is the founder of Living Room, a faith-based Mood Disorders Association of BC support group. Her blog, marjabergen.blogspot.com, deals with mental health and faith issues. She can be reached at info@candidsbymarja.com.

This article is published on the website of CanadianChristianity.com and reproduced here with the kind permission of Marja.

Here are some information about these 2 very useful books written by Marja:

Books by Marja Bergen:

1) Riding the Roller Coaster: Living with Mood Disorders

Mood disorders, such as depression and manic depression, affect up to 10% of the population. Marja Bergen is one of those people. Over the 30 years that she has had manic depression, she has gradually adopted a lifestyle that makes it possible not only to cope, but to live a full and productive life. In Riding the Roller Coaster, she shares very practical tips on such things as escaping the blues before they grab you, what to do when you don't feel like doing anything, and keeping life stable.

Buy this book:

2) A Firm Place to Stand : Finding meaning in a life with Bipolar Disorder

"A Firm Place to Stand is a must-read for Christians who struggle with mental health challenges and the faith communities who minister to them.

For too long, society has misunderstood and feared individuals who live with mood disorders. This book dispels the lingering stigma attached to mental health conditions and encourages people to lovingly welcome the sufferers into congregations by understanding them better and supporting them in practical ways.

Most importantly, for the sufferers themselves, A Firm Place to Stand shows that it is possible to have a mental disorder yet be close to God and derive strong support from a growing relationship with Christ.

In her sincere and candid style, Marja Bergen reflects on her forty-two years with bipolar disorder, showing how faith in God can help a person with a serious illness turn weakness into strength. She describes how God transformed her from an insecure, withdrawn person into a leader, an activist, and the founder of Living Room, the growing Christian support group for people with mood disorders."

Buy this book:

Do visit Marja's blog, if you can, and get to know her. You will be greatly encouraged by her.

Hope the above article and resources are helpful to you or your loved ones/friends with mood disorders.

May God continue to enable us to know His love and mercies through all the changing scenes in life. May God enable us to love, pray and support our loved ones/friends with mental illness or mood disorders, and reflect Christ's love and compassion for His suffering people.

Thanks again for stopping by! Thanks for all your prayers and encouragements!

Take care and God bless :)

Warm regards,
Nancie

First published on 9 August 2008

Resources for Depression and Bipolar Disorder

Depression and Bipolar Disorder: http://bipolardepression.resources2u.com/

Other Resources for Free Calendars, Cards, Bookmarks, Handicrafts:

Free printable Bookmarks
Free printable Calendars 2011 and 2012
Free printable Cards with quotes / sayings
Free printable Children / Kids Arts and Crafts
Free printable Bookmarks, Cards, Calendars, Handicrafts
Free resources for cross-stitch and knitting ideas
Free resources for Origami and other paper crafts

Therapeutic hobbies : Nature walks and Photography - Seeing God in the beauties of His creations in nature

2011-01-01T06:29:00.013+08:00

Dear Friends,

How are you? Thank you for stopping by.

Thank God it is Thursday! I am reminded to give thanks to God.

♥ Today I am feeling a bit down. Not sure whether it is because I have been too busy and stressed up with a new freelance work assignments plus some visitations of the sick and elderly. Thank God for reminding me that He loves me and there are many things I can be thankful for daily. As I write this thankful post, I am beginning to feel a little better. I need to remember to count my blessings daily!

♥ Thank God for giving me an opportunity to go for a walk recently. I am often too busy to remember to slow down, relax and re-charge my batteries. I need to make time and effort to consciously take a break and spend time in nature. I love to go for walks in the nature park. Nature always remind me of what a great God we serve, He loves us dearly and is with us each day. He takes care of the lilies and feed the sparrow, we are of more values than many sparrow to Him. So today I thank God for the nature walk that refreshed me and help me to connect with God once again and remember His love and care.

♥ I thank God for giving me the joy of photography and of capture something of the beauties of His creations as reminders to me always of His majesty and love. Here are some pictures I took at Hort Park, Singapore and other places in Singapore. Hope you like them :)

To read more Thankful Thursday visit Laurie. Thank you for stopping by. Take care and have a blessed day!

Warm Regards,
Nancie

18 March 2010

Resources for Depression and Bipolar Disorder

Depression and Bipolar Disorder: http://bipolardepression.resources2u.com/

Resources for Free Calendars, Cards, Bookmarks, Handicrafts:

Free printable Bookmarks
Free printable Calendars 2011 and 2012
Free printable Cards with quotes / sayings
Free printable Children / Kids Arts and Crafts
Free printable Bookmarks, Cards, Calendars, Handicrafts
Free resources for cross-stitch and knitting ideas
Free resources for Origami and other paper crafts

More than Conquerors through Him Who loved us in this year and for ever more...

2010-12-30T09:36:00.006+08:00

My brother took this picture in New Zealand.

...in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. Romans 8:37

Dear Friends,

Thanks for stopping by! Thank God for seeing us through another year. I wish you a very Happy and Blessed New Year in advance.

♥ I thank God for His goodness and mercies to me in this year. I have experienced God's abundant love and mercies in many wonderful ways that I don't know how to describe with Words! This year has been a very challenging year for me in health, work, some family matters and as I serve our Lord in my various callings. I thank God for His many grace and mercies as He has seen me through all the ups and downs in this year and works all things for His glory and my good.

♥ I thank God that we are more than conquerors through Him Who loves us! No matter what we go through, His grace is sufficient for us. He is faithful and full of loving kindness. I praise and thank Him for His graciousness to me despite my many failings. I know I shall continue to praise and thank Him in the year ahead because His compassion fails not and His mercies are new every morning. And He is the same yesterday, today and for ever! May this be your blessed experience too! May you too continue to be more than a conqueror through Him Who loves you!

♥ I thank God for restoring Madam TAM whom I shared with you previously. She is 83 years old and attends my church's evening service whenever she can. She has heart failure and recently suffered a fall. She was hospitalised for 2 months. Thank God that she is well enough to return home now though still recovering. May God continue to be merciful to her soul that she may know more and more of His love, mercies and comfort as she waits upon Him. Thank you very much for your prayers for her! Please continue to pray that she may truly know the comfort and mercies of God in her evening years, and be enabled to put her complete trust in Him as her Saviour and Lord and experience the peace that passes all understanding which He alone can gives.

♥ I thank God for using various physical illnesses eg vertigo, asthma, cold and flu, knee pain and chronic fatigue, to help me to slow down and rest in Him from time to time. With bipolar disorder, whenever I am well, I am a little hypomanic. I am more creative and tend to do many things and take on more and more projects unknowingly, which then will lead to burn out and relapse of clinical depression. Thank God for using various physical illness to help me to slow down and pace myself so that I was preserved from relapse of clinical depression and able to walk with Him and serve Him in little ways. I thank God that His grace is sufficient for me and He hears and answers prayers in many wonderful ways.

♥ I thank God for the beauties of His creations and the joy He has given me in enjoying them and taking photographs of them. I thank God for giving me the joy too in making homemade gifts using these photographs. I have been making Free Calendars 2011, Free Homemade Bookmarks Handicrafts and Free Homemade Cards. Do feel free to download the above calendar 2011 and also the following 12 monthly 2011 Calendars with encouraging Bible verses.

To download and print these Free Big Monthly Calendar 2011 with encouraging quotes:

1) Click at the picture to see a bigger image. Put your cursor on the picture, right click and choose "save as" and save into your computer

2) Go to the folder where you saved the picture and double click at the picture. Then print from there.

3) Or you can open any word processor program such as Microsoft Word or OpenOffice and insert the picture into it. Then you can format the size, etc, and print from there.

I made this monthly 2011 Calendar using the pictures my brother took in New Zealand. There are 12 pieces for the 12 months. Feel free to download and make these calendars as gifts. To download all the 12 months, click here.

I made this monthly 2011 Calendar using the pictures I took at Singapore Botanic Garden. There are 12 pieces for the 12 months. Feel free to download and make these calendars as gifts.

You can also download other Free Calendars 2011, Homemade Bookmarks and Homemade Cards with colorful pictures and encouraging quotes at the following websites:

Resources for Free Calendars, Cards, Bookmarks, Handicrafts:

Free printable Bookmarks
Free printable Calendars 2011 and 2012
Free printable Cards with quotes / sayings
Free printable Children / Kids Arts and Crafts
Free printable Bookmarks, Cards, Calendars, Handicrafts
Free resources for cross-stitch and knitting ideas
Free resources for Origami and other paper crafts

♥ I thank God for my family, my church, my friends and everyone of you, my dear blogging friends, and for your prayers and encouragements. They mean a lot to me and I thank God for every one of you. You have made a great difference in my life and used by God to encourage me and show me His love by your friendship and encouraging notes. You are in my thoughts and prayers too.

Thank you for stopping by. Take care and have a blessed day and Blessed New Year ahead!

Warm Regards,

Nancie

30 December 2010

Thank God for His unchanging love - Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and today, and for ever.....

2010-12-02T08:41:00.004+08:00

Dear Friends,

Thanks for stopping by.

Amy posted a Calendar for December 2010 for her Word-Filled Wednesday Post. It is my joy to share this 2011 Calendar with you for my Word-Filled Wednesday Post. Please feel free to download this 2011 Calendar and print it for your use or give to your family and friends. I took this picture at Sentosa Island, Singapore. This is one of my favourite Bible verse. Thank God that our Lord Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever. His love and mercies are enduring and unchanging and this is my greatest comfort through all the changing scenes in life!

Jesus Christ the same yesterday, today, and for ever.

Hebrews 13:8

To download and print this Free Big A4 Calendar 2011 January to December with encouraging Bible quotes:

1) Click at the picture to see a bigger image. Put your cursor on the picture, right click and choose "save as" and save into your computer

2) Go to the folder where you saved the picture and double click at the picture. Then print from there.

3) Or you can open any word processor program such as Microsoft Word or OpenOffice and insert the picture into it. Then you can format the size, etc, and print from there.

To download more Calendars 2011 in 1 page, click here.

For more Word-Filled-Wednesday, visit here.

♥ Thank God for seeing us through almost another year! It is December now and soon we will enter into 2011. It's been a while since I was able to post a picture and Bible verses on Word-Filled-Wednesday and to count my blessings and thank God together with you on Thankful Thursday. It's so good to be back!

♥ I thank God for strengthening me and restoring me from some illnesses. I have been rather sick over the last 1 month and so have been unable to blog. But thank God that I am better now and it is so good to be back! I missed all of you so much. Hope to catch up with you by and by.

♥ I thank God for the beauties of His creations and the joy He has given me in enjoying them and taking photographs of them. I thank God for giving me the joy too in making homemade gifts using these photographs. I have been making Homemade Calendars 2011, Bookmarks and Cards. Do feel free to download the above calendar 2011 and also the following 12 monthly 2011 Calendars with encouraging Bible verses.

To download and print these Free Big Monthly Calendar 2011 with encouraging quotes:

1) Click at the picture to see a bigger image. Put your cursor on the picture, right click and choose "save as" and save into your computer

2) Go to the folder where you saved the picture and double click at the picture. Then print from there.

3) Or you can open any word processor program such as Microsoft Word or OpenOffice and insert the picture into it. Then you can format the size, etc, and print from there.

I made this monthly 2011 Calendar using the pictures I took at Sentosa Island, Singapore. There are 12 pieces for the 12 months. Feel free to download and make these calendars as gifts. To download all the 12 months, click here.

I made this monthly 2011 Calendar using the pictures my brother took in New Zealand. There are 12 pieces for the 12 months. Feel free to download and make these calendars as gifts. To download all the 12 months, click here.

See other Resources for Free Calendars, Cards, Bookmarks, Handicrafts:

Free printable Bookmarks
Free printable Calendars 2011 and 2012
Free printable Cards with quotes / sayings
Free printable Children / Kids Arts and Crafts
Free printable Bookmarks, Cards, Calendars, Handicrafts
Free resources for cross-stitch and knitting ideas
Free resources for Origami and other paper crafts

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

Warm Regards,

Nancie

Books on depression and bipolar disorder : (1) Broken Mind by Steve and Robyn Bloem and(2) A Firm Place to Stand by Marja Bergen

2010-11-10T00:02:00.000+08:00

God's presence and help in trials

- 2 Real Life Testimonies

I took this picture at East Coast Beach, Singapore

God is our refuge and strength....
Psalm 46:1

...for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.
Hebrews 13:5

Dear Friends,

Thanks for stopping by!

♥ Thank God that after the interview regarding my this blog on Bipolar Disorder - More Than Conquerors: (http://www.lifewithbipolardisorder.blogspot.com/) was published in a local newspaper here in Singapore ie. The Sunday Times, 23 January 2011, several readers in Singapore have written to let me know they appreciate my sharing of my own experiences plus the resources available. They themselves or their loved ones too suffer from depression or bipolar disorder. You can read this interview here : interview

♥ I thank God that I can testified of His goodness and mercies to me through this blog. He is the One Who sustains me daily and enable me to cope and live a useful life for Him.

♥ Thank God that He is with us through all the changing scenes in life and He is working all things for His glory and our good. No matter what we go through, what illness, failures, difficulties, trials or tribulations, He promised that His grace is sufficient for us. He is my greatest comfort, peace and strength daily. May He be yours too!

♥ Thank God for providing various coping means for me so that I can cope better and live a more stable, useful and meaningful life.

♥ Thank God for 2 books that have been used by God to help me in understanding depression, bipolar disorder, and how faith in God can gives peace and hope. Thank God for these 2 real life testimonies of how God has helped 2 Christian to cope with the difficult struggles in their life with depression and bipolar disorder. I would like to introduce these books to you and I highly recommend that you read these books as you will be greatly encouraged by them.

(1) BROKEN MINDS - book on depression by Steve Bloem and Robyn Bloem

The first book is Broken Minds by Steve and Robyn Bloem.

Steve Bloem, author of Broken Minds,

a book on the problem of depression

Visit Steve's Blog at : http://sbloemreflections.blogspot.com/

Here is an excerpt of a review on this book "Broken Minds" by David Gregson. This article is in the public domain.

BROKEN MINDS - THE PROBLEM OF DEPRESSION
David Gregson reflects on a recent book by Steve and Robyn Bloem

In 1985, American Steve Bloem was about to make a final visit ‘with a view’ to what seemed a very suitable and attractive church in Florida. He had a wife and a young family and had successfullypassed through Bible seminary.

Up until then, Steve had been blessed with a joyful, stable personality and had coped well with the pressures of life. In 1985, however, he entered the dark tunnel of severe clinical depression — whichtook him and his wife Robyn by complete surprise.

Since then, Steve has endured further episodes of mental illness. He confesses readily that he is now a man of God ‘on pills’ and will be for the rest of his life.

Sadly, Steve and Robyn have had to contend with the tragic misconceptions about mental illness that are prevalent in evangelical circles, both in the USA and UK. That is why Steve and Robyn Bloem have jointly written a new book entitled "Broken Minds" to try to dispel the myths that seriously hinder Christians who suffer from depression.

Can Christians get depressed?
The symptoms of Steve’s illness were gloomy mornings, endless walks around the neighbourhood, poor concentration, disordered sleep patterns, loss of appetite, stomach complaints, feelings of worthlessness, intense sadness and even suicidal thoughts.

When eventually Steve suspected that he might be suffering from depression, he fought against the very idea. He writes, ‘As a born-again believer and a trained theologian, I did not want to entrust myself to a system where I would be vulnerable to mistreatment or psychological brainwashing. A deeper reason was that I had been taught that depression was for wimps. Surely if Christians walked with God, they would not get depressed’.

Steve was further bemused when well-meaning people said that his condition was due to his inability to handle stress or the consequence of anger turned inwards. Even Robyn at first thought that her husband was showing uncharacteristic signs of weakness and self-centredness. She, however, came to
see that she too had been the victim of evangelical ignorance and misunderstanding regarding mental illness.

After years of witnessing Steve’s struggles and supporting him through all his pain, she was able to write, ‘Diseases from the neck downward are acceptable, but start talking about the mind and the defences go up’. She realised that among Christians there was a real misunderstanding of depression
and that a dreadful stigma had grown up around it. She had become convinced of the reality of mental illness, not so much by scientific studies as by her husband’s suffering.

Chemical imbalance
It is generally accepted in the medical field that clinical depression is due to an imbalance in the chemistry of the brain. Neurotransmitters are chemical substances that carry electrical impulses from one nerve cell to another within the brain.

They are released from one cell (the sender) and travel to the next cell (the receiver), where it is either absorbed or returned to the sender. The best understanding of clinical depression is that there are not enough neurotransmitters to ferry these messages across all the gaps.

This deficiency leads to a change in the person’s mood, thinking and behaviour. Serotonin and noradrenaline are two neurotransmitters that increase brain activity and improve mood.

Antidepressant drugs help the brain to retain more of these substances and so stabilise the mental condition.

At the present time, an estimated 121 million people suffer from serious depression throughout the world. It is one of the leading causes of disability and we should not be surprised to find Christians among the sufferers.

Spurgeon’s afflictions

One noteworthy example was Charles Haddon Spurgeon. It is well known that he had gout but the authors of Broken Minds suggest that he might also have been a victim of post-traumatic stress disorder (after a stampede in one of his services led to seven deaths) and seasonal affective disorder (SAD, due to a deficiency of light during the winter months).

He said in one of his sermons, ‘When the great wind blew at the time of the fall, a slate blew off everybody’s house; and some are more affected than others, so that they take the black view of all things’.

On another occasion he said, ‘The worst cloud of all, I think, is depression of spirit that is accompanied with the loss of the light of God’s countenance. Sickness, poverty, slander — none of these is comparable to depression’. He then quoted Proverbs 18:14: ‘The spirit of a man will sustain him in sickness but who can bear a broken spirit?’..... read full review

Broken Minds by Steve & Robyn Bloem is published by Kregel Publishers at £9.50 (ISBN: 0-8254-2118-7)

Buy this book: Broken Minds by Steve Bloem and Robyn Bloem

♥ A second book that I have found very encouraging is "A Firm Place to Stand" by Marja Bergen.

(2) A Firm Place to Stand by Marja Bergen - Finding meaning in a life with Bipolar Disorder

Marja Bergen, author of A Firm Place to Stand,

a book on finding meaning in a life with bipolar disorder

Visit Marja's blog at : http://marjabergen.blogspot.com/

Here is a review on this book: "A Firm Place to Stand":

"A Firm Place to Stand is a must-read for Christians who struggle with mental health challenges and the faith communities who minister to them.

For too long, society has misunderstood and feared individuals who live with mood disorders. This book dispels the lingering stigma attached to mental health conditions and encourages people to lovingly welcome the sufferers into congregations by understanding them better and supporting them in practical ways.

Most importantly, for the sufferers themselves, A Firm Place to Stand shows that it is possible to have a mental disorder yet be close to God and derive strong support from a growing relationship with Christ.

In her sincere and candid style, Marja Bergen reflects on her forty-two years with bipolar disorder, showing how faith in God can help a person with a serious illness turn weakness into strength. She describes how God transformed her from an insecure, withdrawn person into a leader, an activist, and the founder of Living Room, the growing Christian support group for people with mood disorders."

Buy this book: A Firm Place to Stand by Marja Bergen

♥ Thanks for stopping by. Thank God for all of you, your prayers and encouragements. I hope you have a great week! Take care.

Warm regards,
Nancie
10 January 2011

Other articles on :

Depression and the Christian

Real Life Testimonies of Depression, Bipolar Disorder (manic-depressive illness), Stress, Burnout

More resources about:

For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain..... In memory of a departed brother-in-Christ (WFW and TT)

2010-10-28T09:30:00.005+08:00

This picture is taken by my friend at Saipan.

This picture and verse reminded me of the purpose of our life here and the blessed hope we have for all eternity. I post this in remembrance of a dear brother-in-Christ that just went home to be with our Lord recently. Please read my sharing below...

Dear Friends,

Thanks for stopping by! Thank God for His goodness to us daily.

♥ Thanks for your prayers and encouragements! I missed all of you so much and it is so good to be back to post a picture and Bible verses on Word-Filled-Wednesday and to count my blessings and thank God together with you on Thankful Thursday!

♥ Thank God for strengthening me day by day and I am much better now. I do still experience a little dizziness every now and then especially when I am tired but the intensity has lessened and so I am more functional. I am still learning to pace myself and everyday is a challenge. Recently, besides weakening health some unforseen circumstances cropped up and thank God for helping me to cope.

♥ Thank God for restoring me from a bout of very bad throat infection and cough which triggered off my asthma. The Lord is good and has given me much peace and simple joy in Him as I wait upon Him. I had to take a break from usual activities. Thank God that I am feeling so much better now. There were very bad haze in Singapore recently due to forest fire in our neighbouring country, Indonesia. This has been bad for my asthma and I had to stay indoor most of the time. Thank God that the haze is clearing and my asthma is stabilising.

♥ Thank God for His goodness and mercies to one of my brother-in-Christ who was just called home to be with Him recently. I have known this brother and his wife for almost 20 years and greatly saddened by his sudden home-going. But I am comforted that God is in total control and His timing is the best for us. While we are here, we labour for Him for the extension of His Kingdom and when our work ordained by Him here is completed, He will then take us home to enjoy our eternal rest and unending worship and fellowship with Him. It is at that time that we shall enjoy too the fullness of His love. What a blessed hope!

Thank God for enabling my brother-in-Christ to maintain a very good testimony for Him, by His grace, at home, at work, in church and in the University where he just graduated with a Master Degree. They all have such high regards for him and loved him and missed him very much. He was a teacher for 10 years and almost 400 students wrote notes of condolences on Facebook even students who did not know him but have seen him before in school. He left such a deep impression in their heart and many of them wrote that they will never forget him and his contributions to the school and the difference he made in their life.

Shortly just before he was called home, he shared with his beloved wife when they were talking about the behaviour of some people who fear death, who live in fear as if there is no hope. He told her, “A true believer should not fear death, because he knows that it is better to depart and to be with the Lord, and to die is gain.”

From this conversation, we are greatly comforted because we know he was ready to die, even though it had to be so sudden. This conversation is God's token of mercy to her family and to my church, to assure us that our dear brother was not afraid, and was ready for the Lord to take him home. His work on earth is done, but the Lord still has work for us to do. Saying goodbye is always hard. But one day when our work on this earth is done, the Lord will take us home too and we shall all meet again never to say goodbye.

For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain. Philippians 1:21

I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me. Galatians 2:20

Therefore we are always confident, knowing that, whilst we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord: (For we walk by faith, not by sight:) We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord. Wherefore we labour, that, whether present or absent, we may be accepted of him. 2 Corinthians 5:7-9

...thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord. 1 Corinthians 15 : 57-58

Here is a very touching video his students did for him with the following encouraging words in between the pictures:

"He always love us, more than he love himself
He always make us happy when we're sad

He enjoy life to the fullest, yet never neglect us
Teaching us everything in life and making us a better person

He'll give chances when we make mistakes
Allowing us to learn from the mistakes we've made

His life make all our lifes a better life
Paving the path of our life, never letting us walk alone

We love you
We miss you"

For more Word-Filled-Wednesday, visit here.

To read more Thankful Thursday, visit here.

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

Warm Regards,

Nancie

Resources for Free Calendars, Cards, Bookmarks, Handicrafts:

Free printable Bookmarks
Free printable Calendars 2011 and 2012
Free printable Cards with quotes / sayings
Free printable Children / Kids Arts and Crafts
Free printable Bookmarks, Cards, Calendars, Handicrafts
Free resources for cross-stitch and knitting ideas
Free resources for Origami and other paper crafts

You are never alone... nothing is going to happen today that God and you can't handle together

2010-08-19T10:23:00.004+08:00

Dear Friends,

Thanks for stopping by! Thank God for His goodness to us daily.

♥ Thanks for your prayers for me. Thank God for strengthening me day by day and I am much better now. I do still experience a little dizziness daily every now and then but the intensity has lessened and so I am more functional. I am getting use to it and am thankful to God for protecting me from falls and restoring me. Thank you so much for all your prayers and encouragements!

♥ Thank God in the past month of slowing down and recuperation He enables me to spend more time in reading His Words, prayers and also reading other books. God's Words brings me great comfort and through every difficulty He enables me to understand a little better His love, His sovereignty, His goodness and mercies.

♥ I thank God for enabling me to rediscover the joy of prayers, in communion with God and praising Him. I am learning the joy of resting in our Lord and being assured of His love and mercies no matter what we go through in this life.

Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.
1 Peter 5:7

♥ I thank God too for helping me to rediscover the importance of praying for one another. We all go through various ups and downs in this life and sometimes as much as we want to help one another, there are at times very little we can do for one another. We may not always understand why God allows our loved ones and brethren to go through certain trials in their life but we have no doubt at all of His love and His promise that He works all things for His glory and our good. And we have the privilege to bring all our cares to God in prayers and commit ourselves and our loved ones and friends into His mighty hands for with Him all things are possible. He will most assuredly deliver our loved ones and friends in His time or sustain them in the trials of their life and working all things for their good. Thank God for always hearing our prayers and working His ways for us, sometimes not what we desire but always His best for us.

♥ Here are some simple Christian bookmarks that I have made to remind myself of the importance of prayers whether it be for myself or my loved ones and friends. We are never alone because the Lord is with us. And when we feel that we can't take it anymore we can take our difficulties to our Lord in prayers and find strength in Him to go through all the challenges we face daily.

Do feel free to download these bookmarks and make them for yourself or your friends.

To make these Free Christian Bookmarks with Bible verses :

1) Download the picture
- Put your cursor on the picture
- Right Click your mouse
- Saved the .jpg picture into your computer

2) Insert this picture into a Word Processor (such as MicroSoft Word).

3) Use a color printer to print.

4) Cut out the bookmark and laminate it. The bookmark will be more lasting if you laminate it.

For more Free Christian Bookmarks Templates:

Various Bible verses , Birthday Prayer , All things for good , God is our refuge and strength , God's Grace , Strength from God, Prayers , With God all things are possible , God holds my tomorrow , Help me to remember, Lord, nothings gonna happen today that you and I can't handle together , The Cross in My Pocket , Whatever our need , When there seems no way out, let God in , You are never alone

Resources for Free Calendars, Cards, Bookmarks, Handicrafts:

Free printable Bookmarks
Free printable Calendars 2011 and 2012
Free printable Cards with quotes / sayings
Free printable Children / Kids Arts and Crafts
Free printable Bookmarks, Cards, Calendars, Handicrafts
Free resources for cross-stitch and knitting ideas
Free resources for Origami and other paper crafts

♥ I thank God for my family, my church, my friends and everyone of you, my dear blogging friends, and for your prayers and encouragements. They mean a lot to me especially as I wait upon our Lord for restoration.You have made a great difference in my life by your friendship and encouraging notes. I thank God for every one of you. You are in my thoughts and prayers too.

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

How do I cope with the hypomanic or manic phase of bipolar disorder (hypomania or mania)?

2010-08-11T06:32:00.000+08:00

Dear Friends,

Thanks for stopping by! Trust you have had a blessed and wonderful weekend. Thank God for the beginning of a new week to walk with Him and serve Him.

Recently, I received an email from one of the readers of my blog. She noticed that I don't touch much on the manic state of Bipolar Disorder and on how I am learning to cope with manic state. I have written much on the Depression phase of bipolar disorder and been sharing about how to identify the signs and symptoms, and what are the coping strategies that I have been learning to use to help me to be more functional besides medical help and looking to God.

I have found some helpful articles on the internet on bipolar disorder and the mania / hypomania phase.

Bipolar Disorder causes dramatic mood swings—from overly "high" and/or irritable to sad and hopeless, and then back again, often with periods of normal mood in between. Severe changes in energy and behavior go along with these changes in mood. The periods of highs and lows are called episodes of mania and depression.

What is mania? What are the signs and symptoms?

Signs and symptoms of mania (or a manic episode) include:
• Increased energy, activity, and restlessness
• Excessively "high," overly good, euphoric mood
• Extreme irritability
• Racing thoughts and talking very fast, jumping from one idea to another
• Distractibility, can't concentrate well
• Little sleep needed
• Unrealistic beliefs in one's abilities and powers
• Poor judgment
• Spending sprees
• A lasting period of behavior that is different from usual
• Increased sexual drive
• Abuse of drugs, particularly cocaine, alcohol, and sleeping medications
• Provocative, intrusive, or aggressive behavior
• Denial that anything is wrong

A manic episode is diagnosed if elevated mood occurs with three or more of the other symptoms most of the day, nearly every day, for 1 week or longer. If the mood is irritable, four additional symptoms must be present.

A mild to moderate level of mania is called hypomania. Hypomania may feel good to the person who experiences it and may even be associated with good functioning and enhanced productivity. Thus even when family and friends learn to recognize the mood swings as possible bipolar disorder, the person may deny that anything is wrong. Without proper treatment, however, hypomania can become severe mania in some people or can switch into depression.

Descriptions offered by people with bipolar disorder give valuable insights into the various mood states associated with the illness:

Hypomania: At first when I'm high, it's tremendous… ideas are fast… like shooting stars you follow until brighter ones appear…. All shyness disappears, the right words and gestures are suddenly there… uninteresting people, things become intensely interesting. Sensuality is pervasive, the desire to seduce and be seduced is irresistible. Your marrow is infused with unbelievable feelings of ease, power, well-being, omnipotence, euphoria… you can do anything… but, somewhere this changes.

Mania: The fast ideas become too fast and there are far too many… overwhelming confusion replaces clarity… you stop keeping up with it—memory goes. Infectious humor ceases to amuse. Your friends become frightened…. everything is now against the grain… you are irritable, angry, frightened, uncontrollable, and trapped.

This is taken from an article from the website of National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH). NIMH said "NIMH publications are in the public domain and may be reproduced or copied without the permission from the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH). NIMH encourages you to reproduce them and use them in your efforts to improve public health. Citation of the National Institute of Mental Health as a source is appreciated."

Read more here.

Another helpful website listed Some ways on How to cope with Hypomania:

1. Get enough sleep. Patients experiencing a hypomanic episode often feel a decreased need for sleep. This is an important warning sign of the condition and stabilization is key. Try your best to return your sleep patterns to normal. If you are unable to sleep, contact a doctor or mental health specialist.

2. Refrain from making important decisions despite the impulsive urge. Wait until you feel normal before rushing into any action you may regret later. Maintaining awareness of your character and patterns are important.

3. Refrain from excess caffeine, sugar and alcohol because they are stimulants and may keep you from getting the rest you need.

4. Engage in calming activities and refrain from over-stimulating environments.

5. Identify members of your personal support system, such as family members, friends and loved ones, and reach out to them as necessary.

6. Contact your local medical and/or mental health provider for ongoing help.

7. Call 911 immediately for assistance if you are thinking about suicide

Read more here.

Actually, for me personally, my depression episodes have been more severe, prominent and paralysing, and I have been learning intensively how to manage it besides medication and looking to God. So I was able to write and share what I am learning along the way and what are my coping strategies thus far.

As for manic, whenever I am well, I am a little hypomanic but I don't really get very manic. I am still learning to identify when I am hypomanic and what are the things I do when I am hypomanic. So I don't really have much to share yet and that is why I have not written about it on my blog.

My hypomania is partly controlled by medication. I am taking an anti-psychotic (Seroquel 25mg) every evening which helps to slow me down and sleep through the night.

My psychiatrist is training me to identify my hypomanic phase. Keeping a Mood Chart is one of the way to track and see how my mood fluctuates and what may have caused it. I try to chart down my mood for each day, whether it is depression, normal or hypomanic. This way, I can kind of identify the triggering factors and try to work on resolving it from getting worst or do what can be helpful to get better.

Recently, I have been learning to identify that one of my hypomanic behaviour is I tend to write long emails to many people, or make many gifts or buy many gifts for many people when I am hypomanic. I tend also to take on many projects and have many ideas on what to do. These often lead to over-exhaustion, burn out and eventually depression. So now I am learning to cut down on these whenever I notice it. That's if I notice it :) I am learning to let go and set my priority on choosing what I need to do now and what can wait. Thank God also for some friends around me who constantly remind me to slow down when they sense that I am doing more than I ought to do.

Do you know of any other strategies that is helpful in managing mania or hypomania? Do feel free to share with me and my readers.

Thank you once again for stopping by. Take care and have a blessed week!

Warm Regards,

Nancie

11 August 2010

We know that all things work together for good to them that love God...

2010-08-05T10:04:00.001+08:00

I took this picture at Hort Park, Singapore

“We know that all things work together
for good to them that love God.”
- Romans 8:28

Dear Friends,

Thanks for stopping by! Thank God for His goodness to us daily.

♥ Thanks for your prayers for me. I am still experiencing dizziness daily every now and then but so much better now. Thank God for strengthening me day by day and I am more functional this week. I also had a mild asthmatic attack last Sunday due to heavy rain for a few days and extremely cold temperature. I thank God that He sustains me and restore me day by day.

♥ I thank God that He gives me simple joy and peace in Him despite some health issues recently. I am learning to rest in Him and to rejoice in Him no matter what happens. The Lord in His faithfulness has shown me time and again that He is in control and He works all things for His glory and our good. This gives me the courage to press on daily in His grace and strength no matter what happens and through all the changing scenes in life.

♥ I thank God for the encouraging devotional the Lord used to minister to me this morning from CH Spurgeon's Morning and Evening. Spurgeon said:

“We know that all things work together for good to them that love God.” - Romans 8:28

Upon some points a believer is absolutely sure.

He knows, for instance, that God sits in the stern-sheets of the vessel when it rocks most. He believes that an invisible hand is always on the world’s tiller, and that wherever providence may drift, Jehovah steers it. That re-assuring knowledge prepares him for everything.

He looks over the raging waters and sees the spirit of Jesus treading the billows, and he hears a voice saying, “It is I, be not afraid.”

He knows too that God is always wise, and, knowing this, he is confident that there can be no accidents, no mistakes; that nothing can occur which ought not to arise.

He can say, “If I should lose all I have, it is better that I should lose than have, if God so wills: the worst calamity is the wisest and the kindest thing that could befall to me if God ordains it.” “We know that all things work together for good to them that love God.”... continue reading

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

Warm Regards,
Nancie

You are not Alone

2010-07-22T08:31:00.009+08:00

Thy mercy, O LORD, is in the heavens;

and thy faithfulness reacheth unto the clouds.

Psalm 36:5

Dear Friends,

Thanks for stopping by! Thank God for His goodness to us daily.

♥ Thanks for your prayers for me. I am still experiencing dizziness daily every now and then and vertigo occasionally due to the inner ear infection some weeks back. Thank God that my condition has improved a lot. I have seen the Doctor twice and taken 3 course of medicine. The Doctor said it may take time to recover and he suggested that I monitor my condition and revert to him should it get worse. Meanwhile, I am to cut down on activities. I am learning to pace myself and to rest in our Lord.

♥ Thank God for keeping me and for His grace as I learn to depend upon Him in various health issues ie asthma, bipolar disorder, vertigo and dizziness. Thank God that these conditions are under control and I am functional though limited. These health issues are thorns in my flesh to keep me dependent upon our Lord, and so I thank God that in His mercies they are drawing me closer to Him as I learn over and over again that His grace is sufficient for me. The Lord is good in all His ways!

♥ Thank God that no matter what thorns are in our flesh or what afflictions and trials we have in this world, we are More Than Conquerors through our Lord Jesus Christ Who loves us and gave His life for us! We can do all things through Him Who strengthens us. Praise Him!

♥ Thank God for His continuing mercies to my 83 years old friend, TAM, in her many difficulties. She is very grateful to our Lord and always never fail to say "Thank the Lord" whenever I speak to her. She is such an encouragement to me and my friends. Please pray that she may continue to know God's mercies and grace.

♥ I thank God for my family, my church, my friends and everyone of you, my dear blogging friends, and for your prayers and encouragements. They mean a lot to me especially as I wait upon our Lord for restoration.You have made a great difference in my life by your friendship and encouraging notes. I thank God for every one of you. You are in my thoughts and prayers too.

♥ Someone sent me the following 2 encouraging poems. Hope they will encourage you too through all the changing scenes in life and as you journey towards the celestial city, running the race that is set before you looking unto our faithful and gracious Lord.

♥ Thank God that He loves us and is with us at all times.

You Are Not Alone

You are not alone - For God is with you.
You are not defenseless - For God is your protector.
You are not inadequate - For God is your sufficiency.
You are not useless - For God has a purpose for your life.
You are not worthless - For God sent His Son to die for you.
You are not without hope - For God has a place prepared for you.
You are not unloved - For God loves you with an everlasting love.
You are not rejected, or abandoned - For God calls you His own.

"....for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee. So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper" Hebrews 13:5-6

♥ Thank God for loving us and upholding us.

12 Things God Wants You To Remember

God is for you.
God loves you.
God will guide you.
God will not fail you.
God will be with you.
God will provide for you.
God will bless you.
God will give you rest.
God will strengthen you.
God will answer you.
God will uphold you.
God will keep you.

♥ Thank you for stopping by. Take care and have a blessed day!

To read more Word Filled Wednesday, visit Amy. (Thanks, Peggy, for entering my link into WFW!)

To read more Thankful Thursday, visit Lynn.

Warm Regards,
Nancie

Taking a break from blogging

2010-07-12T10:59:00.002+08:00

Dear Friends,

Thanks for stopping by. Sorry that I have not been able to reply to your comments and visit your blogs. Thank you for your love and prayers.

I have been down with an inner ear virus infection that caused vertigo and dizziness. Vertigo is a form of dizziness that gives the impression as if my surrounding is spinning or my head is spinning and I will lose balance and fall. I also experience nausea and shortness of breath at times. I feel tired easily. These symptoms limited my ability to sit up, stand and walk. Thank God that I am slightly better after some medication by a doctor. Now I can sit up for short intervals of time. I thank God for His keeping daily. I am comforted that He is with me in this affliction. Now I understand the distress that a person with vertigo goes through and I may be able to comfort him/her with God's presence in time of need.

I read the following very encouraging sharing from Streams in the Desert. May God draw us closer to Himself and make us what He wants us to be. It is an encouragement to remember that we are held and sheltered by the Lord and admist the difficult trials of life, nothing can hurt us. We can dwell safely because we dwell in God and underneath are His everlasting hands:

"We often pray to be delivered from calamities; we even trust that we shall be; we can also pray to be made what we should be, in the very presence of the calamities; to live amid them, as long as they last, in the consciousness that we are, held and sheltered by the Lord, and can therefore remain in the midst of them, so long as they continue, without any hurt.

For forty days and nights, the Saviour was kept in the presence of Satan in the wilderness, and that, under circumstances of special trial, His human nature being weakened by want of food and rest. The furnace was heated seven times more than it was wont to be heated, but the three Hebrew children were kept a season amid its flames as calm and composed in the presence of the tyrant's last appliances of torture, as they were in the presence of himself before their time of deliverance came. And the livelong night did Daniel sit among the lions, and when he was taken up out of the den, "no manner of hurt was found upon him, because he believed in his God." They dwelt in the presence of the enemy, because they dwelt in the presence of God."

Thanks again for stopping by and all your prayers and encouragements. I hope to visit you as soon as I am better. Take care and have a blessed week.

Warm regards,
Nancie

My brother took this picture at New Zealand

Jesus Never Fails - Fear not:... When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee:...

2010-07-01T15:38:00.005+08:00

I took this picture at Changi Beach, Singapore

Fear not:...

When thou passest through the waters,

I will be with thee:...

Isaiah 43:1-2

Dear Friends,

Thanks for stopping by!

♥ I have been unwell this week and tempted to skip today's Thankful Thursday :) But as I rest in the Lord, I am thankful for His goodness daily in sustaining me, strengthening me and giving me His quiet peace and joy. At the end of last week I was experiencing great discomfort and anxieties with difficulties sleeping but thank God for strengthening me and I am feeling better now. So today I thank our Lord for caring for me and He never fails.

♥ I am thankful to God for working things out the 83 years old elderly lady, TAM, whom I shared about on my past TT posts. She has been having many problems at home and was suicidal. I thank and praise God for working things out for her. Through the help of a very kind and compassionate Social Worker who visits her and help her in many ways, she is feeling better now and no longer suicidal. My church has also kindly step in to help her with some financial needs. Thank you for your prayers for her! May she continue to know the love of God and His abundant mercies and peace despite her conditions. God is good!

♥ I thank God for my family, my church, my friends and everyone of you, my dear blogging friends, and for your prayers and encouragements. They mean a lot to me.You have made a great difference in my life by your friendship and encouragements. I thank God for every one of you. May God may your visit here a blessed one too!

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

Warm Regards,
Nancie

Resources for Free Calendars, Cards, Bookmarks, Handicrafts:

Free printable Bookmarks
Free printable Calendars 2011 and 2012
Free printable Cards with quotes / sayings
Free printable Children / Kids Arts and Crafts
Free printable Bookmarks, Cards, Calendars, Handicrafts
Free resources for cross-stitch and knitting ideas
Free resources for Origami and other paper crafts

Enjoying God through nature and beauties of His creations

2010-06-24T10:00:00.019+08:00

Dear Friends,

Thanks for stopping by!

Thank God for seeing us through another week. It's so good to be reminded on every Thursday to count my blessings and remember to give thanks and praise to God.

♥ Thank God for seeing me through another busy and tiring week, and giving me much joy and strength in Him daily.

♥ I thank God for the beauties of His creations. I thank God for giving me an opportunity and joy of going with my very dear Church Aunty, AR, to East Coast Beach, Singapore recently. AR stays near the Beach and we love to go there together. I particularly love the beach as it always remind me of the majesty of God. What a Great God we serve! He Who creates the beautiful nature around us, loves us and cares for us daily. We can cast all our anxieties upon Him. Whenever I am going through difficult time I like to go to beach and be reminded that God is so powerful and great. He loves me dearly and all my trouble are like just a drop of water in His sea of mercies. He can still all the storms in my life and see me safely through them.

I took this picture at East Coast Beach, Singapore

Be still, and know that I am God:
Psalm 46:10

♥ I thank God for giving us the gift of creativity and the new technology of photography to capture some of the beauties of His creations. Taking walks in the nature is one of my therapeutic hobbies. Photography is another of my therapeutic hobbies. It gives me a lot of joy. I love to take pictures of nature, beach, flowers and the beauties of God's creations. Whenever I look back at these photos I will remember with joy the time I spend in nature and just bathing in God's love and the beauties of His creations. It brings such calmness and quietness to my heart.

Here are some photos and video I took of East Coast Beach, Singapore:

A video of East Coast Beach. I love to watch the waves:

♥ I thank God for my family, my church, my friends and everyone of you, my dear blogging friends, and for your prayers and encouragements. They mean a lot to me.You have made a great difference in my life by your friendship and encouragements. I thank God for every one of you. May God may your visit here a blessed one too!

To read more Thankful Thursday visit Iris.

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

Warm Regards,
Nancie

Serenity Prayer : Living one day at a time

2010-06-17T00:00:00.009+08:00

Dear Friends,

Thanks for stopping by!

Thank God for seeing us through another week. It's so good to be reminded on every Thursday to count my blessings and remember to give thanks and praise to God.

♥ I thank God that He gives me strength and grace sufficient for each day. Sometimes when I think of all the things I think I should do or need to do, and wonder how I am going to face the challenges ahead, it can rather overwhelming! I need to constantly remind myself to take just one day at a time and pace myself moderately. And no matter how badly I have done the previous day or what I have failed to accomplish, each day is a new beginning for me to walk with our Lord by His grace and strength.

My friend, Marja Bergen, wrote the following that really encourage and help me. Hope this quote will encourage you too as you go through all the challenges in your various callings, and through all the changing scenes in life.

"Each new day brings an opportunity to pick myself up
and move ahead. It's a fresh start, a clean slate.
The past is history.
Nothing that happened yesterday is so bad
that I can't leave it behind and,
at least for today, look to what is ahead.
I don't want to look way out to the distant future.
The next few hours are all that matter now."

Taken from "A Firm Place to Stand: Finding meaning in a life with bipolar disorder"

Deuteronomy 33:25 ".....as thy days, so shall thy strength be."

♥ I thank God for the privilege of prayers that I can call upon the Lord daily. A friend of mine sent me this lovely Serenity Prayer. I need the grace from God to accept the things that I cannot change and the courage to change the things I can, and most of all the wisdom to do so! I need grace to live one day at a time and trust in the Lord fully no matter what happens.

Serenity Prayer

God grant me the serenity
to accept the things I cannot change;
courage to change the things I can;
and wisdom to know the difference.

Living one day at a time;
Enjoying one moment at a time;
Accepting hardships as the pathway to peace;
Taking, as Jesus did, this sinful world
as it is, not as I would have it;
Trusting that He will make all things right
if I surrender to His Will;
That I may be reasonably happy in this life
and supremely happy with Him
Forever in the next.
Amen.

--Reinhold Niebuhr

I created the simple cards and posters above. Please feel free to download and print for yourself or share with your family and friends to encourage them.

To download the above free poster or card to make simple poster or homemade cards:

1) Download the picture above:

- Put your cursor on the picture
- Right Click your mouse
- Saved the .jpg picture into your computer

2) Insert this picture into a Word Processor (such as MicroSoft Word) or any other software.

3) Use a color printer to print.

Resources for Free Calendars, Cards, Bookmarks, Handicrafts:

Free printable Bookmarks
Free printable Calendars 2011 and 2012
Free printable Cards with quotes / sayings
Free printable Children / Kids Arts and Crafts
Free printable Bookmarks, Cards, Calendars, Handicrafts
Free resources for cross-stitch and knitting ideas
Free resources for Origami and other paper crafts

♥ I thank God for my family, my church, my friends and everyone of you, my dear blogging friends, and for your prayers and encouragements. They mean a lot to me.You have made a great difference in my life by your friendship and encouragements. I thank God for every one of you. May God may your visit here a blessed one too!

To read more Thankful Thursday visit Iris.

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

Warm Regards,
Nancie

God cares and provides for all our needs

2010-06-10T10:13:00.002+08:00

Dear Friends,

Thanks for stopping by!

Thank God for seeing us through another week. It's so good to be reminded on every Thursday to count my blessings and remember to give thanks and praise to God.

♥ I am thankful to God for giving me much grace and strength daily. These 2 weeks have been very busy and tiring for me with various commitments. I am feeling rather tired these 2 days but am very thankful that He is giving me grace and strength each day. I need to remember to pace myself :)

♥ Thank you for your prayers for the 83 years old elderly lady, TAM, whom I shared about on my last 2 TT posts. She has been attending my church's evening services whenever she can. She has severe heart failure and may go any time. Some sisters-in-Christ and myself have been visiting her and sharing God's Words and love with her.

She has been having some relationship problems with her children who do not know the Lord and do not care for her as much as they should. Last week she was suicidal as her son has been causing her much problems and scolding her very badly. She was deeply grieved. Thank God that a Social Worker went down to visit her and managed to help her worked out some solutions to her various problems. The Social Worker will be meeting up with her children to counsel them as well.

Thank God that TAM is feeling so much better now. I just visited her yesterday. She is thankful to God for working things out for her. She is still grieved by her family situations but she is learning to cast her cares upon our Lord. It is heartening to hear her thanking our Lord and knowing sensibly that our Lord has protected her and provided for her. May she continue to cast all her cares upon our Lord and find peace and rest in Him.

♥ I am thankful to God that He takes care of us daily and provide for our every need. I am thankful especially that He takes care of the Widows like TAM and the Fatherless and provide for their every need. Even if their family members do not take care of them or even forsake them, God is able to provide for them. I am reminded of the way God took care of the widow in 1 King 17. This is my encouragement as I continue to serve our Lord among the poor and needy widows that come to my church's evening services. With God all things are possible!

A father of the fatherless, and a judge of the widows, is God in his holy habitation. Psalm 68:5

The LORD ... relieveth the fatherless and widow:.... Psalm 146:6

When my father and my mother forsake me, then the LORD will take me up. Psalm 27:10

1 Kings 17
¹⁰So he arose and went to Zarephath. And when he came to the gate of the city, behold, the widow woman was there gathering of sticks: and he called to her, and said, Fetch me, I pray thee, a little water in a vessel, that I may drink. ¹¹And as she was going to fetch it, he called to her, and said, Bring me, I pray thee, a morsel of bread in thine hand.
¹²And she said, As the LORD thy God liveth, I have not a cake, but an handful of meal in a barrel, and a little oil in a cruse: and, behold, I am gathering two sticks, that I may go in and dress it for me and my son, that we may eat it, and die.
¹³And Elijah said unto her, Fear not; go and do as thou hast said: but make me thereof a little cake first, and bring it unto me, and after make for thee and for thy son.
¹⁴For thus saith the LORD God of Israel, The barrel of meal shall not waste, neither shall the cruse of oil fail, until the day that the LORD sendeth rain upon the earth.
¹⁵And she went and did according to the saying of Elijah: and she, and he, and her house, did eat many days.
¹⁶And the barrel of meal wasted not, neither did the cruse of oil fail, according to the word of the LORD, which he spake by Elijah.

To read more Thankful Thursday visit Iris.

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

Warm Regards,
Nancie

Day by Day and with each passing moment, strength I find to meet my trials here

2010-06-03T11:02:00.108+08:00

I took this picture at Hort Park, Singapore.

.....as thy days, so shall thy strength be.
Deuteronomy 33:25

Dear Friends,

Thanks for stopping by!

Thank God for seeing us through another week. It's so good to be reminded on every Thursday to count my blessings and remember to give thanks and praise to God.

♥ I thank God for seeing me through a very busy week and enabling me to complete some work assignments. My medical expenses have increased recently after my doctor increased my medication due to recurrent depression. So I am so thankful that the Lord has provided more job assignments for me recently so that I can earn a little bit more income to cover my medical expenses. The Lord is good and He always provide for all our needs in many wonderful ways!

♥ Thank you for your prayers for the 83 years old elderly lady, TAM, whom I shared about on my TT post last week. She has been attending my church's evening services whenever she can. She has severe heart failure and may go any time. Some sisters-in-Christ and myself have been visiting her and sharing God's Words and love with her.

She has been having some relationship problems with her children who do not know the Lord and do not care for her as much as they should. Yesterday I spoke to the phone and found out that she is suicidal as her son has been causing her much problems and scolding her very badly. She is deeply grieved. I just visited her and she was very very down. She broke down in tears several time as she shared with me her griefs. She is very tempted to jump down from the 9th storey flat that she is staying at. I told her not to do so and encouraged her to cast her cares upon our Lord as He cares for her and He will work a way for her.

Thank God that tomorrow a Social Worker will be visiting her and I will be joining them in the counselling session to see what we can do to help her. Please pray with me that God will give the Social Worker wisdom to handle TAM's complicating family condition. The Social Worker is aware that TAM has been suffering from depression for a long time due to her family problem. She may look into the possibility of arranging for her to see a psychiatrist and perhaps start on anti-depressant.

As I was leaving today I was heartened that TAM thank our Lord and my church for our cares for her. She said without us she really doesn't know what to do. I encouraged her that we have a loving Heavenly Father Who watches over us daily. Even if our family members forsake us, He will never leave us nor forsake us and He will work a way for her in her difficulties. Thank God that she seems comforted by this. Please pray with me that these family problems may turn her more and more to our Lord to find comfort and peace in Him.

♥ I am thankful to God that I have a loving Heaven Father who watches over me daily and He gives me strength and grace for each day. Though Bipolar Disorder is a terrible illness and a lifelong condition, I can have the assurance that He is in control and He has a purpose for allowing me to have this illness. He cares for me and He is working all things for my good and His glory. He promised that His grace is sufficient for me and through all the ups and downs of Bipolar Disorder with its depression and mania, He is in fact drawing me closer to Himself to know more of His love, His mercies, His grace and His sufficiency. My life is not my own but to be lived for our Lord and I know that without Him I can do nothing. So I am daily learning to rest in Him and His love and precious promises.

♥ I am thankful for this poem and song that reminds me that I can look to my Heavenly Father day by day and He gives strength to face all the challenges here.

....as thy days, so shall thy strength be.
Deuteronomy 33:25

This is such a great comfort. It gives me the courage to press on daily relying upon God and His grace. To know He is near me daily and He will see me through all the challenges for that day, and in all that He allows me to go through I can be a witness and shine for Him. So I shall run with patience the race that He has set before me looking unto my Lord Jesus Christ, until the day that labours end here and He takes me home to be with Himself.

Day by Day Lyrics

1. Day by day, and with each passing moment,
Strength I find, to meet my trials here;
Trusting in my Father’s wise bestowment,
I’ve no cause for worry or for fear.
He Whose heart is kind beyond all measure
Gives unto each day what He deems best—
Lovingly, its part of pain and pleasure,
Mingling toil with peace and rest.

2. Every day, the Lord Himself is near me
With a special mercy for each hour;
All my cares He fain would bear, and cheer me,
He Whose Name is Counselor and Pow’r.
The protection of His child and treasure
Is a charge that on Himself He laid;
“As thy days, thy strength shall be in measure,”
This the pledge to me He made.

3. Help me then in every tribulation
So to trust Thy promises, O Lord,
That I lose not faith’s sweet consolation
Offered me within Thy holy Word.
Help me, Lord, when toil and trouble meeting,
E’er to take, as from a father’s hand,
One by one, the days, the moments fleeting,
Till I reach the promised land.

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

Warm Regards,
Nancie

Should you go first : Beyond the Sunset - Blessed hope of meeting our loved ones again

2010-05-27T09:29:00.007+08:00

Dear Friends,

Thanks for stopping by!

Thank God for seeing us through another week. It's so good to be reminded on every Thursday to count my blessings and remember to give thanks and praise to God.

♥ I thank God for giving me the joy of ministering to an elderly lady, TAM, who is 83 years old. She has been attending my church's evening services whenever she can. She has severe heart failure and may go any time. Some sisters-in-Christ and myself have been visiting her and sharing God's Words and love with her. On Monday, we took her to the hospital for a review on her heart failure and thank God that her condition is stable at the moment. She has been having some relationship problems with her children who do not know the Lord and do not care for her as much as they should. Thank God that recently she is beginning to be more sensible of the Lord's goodness to her and able to see that the Lord is extending His kindness through us to her whereas her own children do not care as much for her. She consciously say "thank the Lord" every now and then. She told my friends and I "thank the Lord for sisters like all of you who are here to help me" :) Thank God. Please pray with me for her genuine conversion. May God continue to do a deeper work of grace in her soul and grant that she may genuinely know His saving grace and find rest and comfort in Him, if she belongs to Him.

♥ Recently, I also have the joy to visit another elderly lady, LH, who is 90 years old. She too attends my church's evening service whenever she can. Sadly, her children and grandchildren too do not care very much for her and she lives alone. She has been unwell on and off and still having bad skin allergy problems on her leg and also experiencing leg pain. She related to my friend and I that recently she was unwell with several ailments and in order to save on medical expenses, she did some self-medicating. She was so thankful that our Lord restored her through these means. She beamed with joy as she related to us what has happened and she mentioned that "thank the Lord after that I recovered". Please pray that these trials relating to her health and her other needs may continue to turn her to our Lord and she too may come to a true saving knowledge of our Lord in His time, if she belongs to Him.

♥ As I ministered to these 2 elderly lady, I realized that with their age and many illnesses, the Lord may take them home anytime. They are very dear to me and my friends. They are like our grandmothers and we love to spend time with them. It is sad that their own children and grandchildren do not take care of them. But we thank God that through these painful trials the Lord has shown them His great mercies, and they have been led to attend church and hear the Gospel. I will surely be sad should the Lord take them away one day but I am reminded of the blessed hope that believers in Christ has that one day we shall meet the Lord and our loved ones who belong to Him in Heaven. What a blessed hope.

1 Thessalonians 4
13 But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. 14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him. 15 For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep. 16 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: 17 Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. 18 Wherefore comfort one another with these words.

♥ Here is a very lovely poem "Should you go first" and the song "Beyond the sunset" with this poem in it being narrated by George Younce. When the Lord takes our loved ones home first, be it our husband, wife, father, mother, children or friends, we have the blessed hope of meeting them once again in Heaven where there will be no parting anymore if they too belong to the Lord. May we continue to labour much in prayers and sharing God's Words and love with them if they still do not know our Lord as their Lord and Saviour.

Beyond the sunset Lyrics

Beyond the sunset oh blissful morning
When with our Saviour heaven is begun
Earth stroll is ending oh glorious dawning
Beyond the sunset when day is done

Poem "Should you go first" (narration)

Should you go first and I remain to walk the road alone
I'll live in memory's garden, dear, with happy days we've known
In spring I'll watch for roses red when fades of lilac's blue
In early fall when the brown leaves call I'll catch a glimpse of you

Should you go first and I remain to finish with the scroll
No lenghtening shadows shall creep in to make this life seem droll
We've known so much of happiness yes we've had our cup of joy
But memory is one gift of God that death cannot destroy

Should you go first and I remain for battles to be fought
Each thing you’ve touched along the way will be a hallowed spot
I’ll hear your voice I’ll see your smile
And though blindly I may grope
The memory of your helping hand will buoy me on with hope

Should you go first and I remain one thing I’ll have you do
Walk slowly down that long, long path for soon I’ll follow you
And I want to know each step you take that I may walk the same
For some day, some day down that lonely road, dear
You’ll hear me call your name

Beyond the sunset oh glad reunion
With our dear loved ones who've gone before
In that fair homeland we'll know no parting
Beyond the sunset for evermore
(For evermore)

Here is another video showing George Younce narrating this Poem "Should you go first".

♥ I thank God for my family, my church, my friends and everyone of you, my dear blogging friends, and for your prayers and encouragements. They mean a lot to me.You have made a great difference in my life by your friendship and encouragements. I thank God for every one of you. May God may your visit here a blessed one too!

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

Warm Regards,
Nancie

What a Friend we have in Jesus... What a privilege to carry everything to God in prayer!

2010-05-22T10:06:00.008+08:00

Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and show thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not. Jeremiah 33:3

And it shall come to pass, that before they call, I will answer; and while they are yet speaking, I will hear. Isaiah 65:24

Dear Friends,

Thanks for stopping by! Thank God that tomorrow is the Lord's Day. I love the Lord's Day and the joy to worship God, sing the Psalms, fellowship and serve our Lord together with His people.

On Saturdays as I prepare for the Lord's day, I love to listen to Psalms and Christian Songs that reminds me of our Lord, His love and His care for us.

I just heard this lovely song that reminded me What A Friend we have in our Lord Jesus Christ! What a precious reminded that we have a Friend in our Lord Jesus Christ. He is our Creator, our Redeemer, our Saviour, our Lord, our Brother, our Friend and our Heavenly Husband. He is with us through all the ups and downs, and changing scenes in life. No matter what we go through, we can carry all our sins, burdens, griefs and cares to God in prayer through the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Our Lord Jesus Christ has reconciled us to God our Heavenly Father through His death on the cross and His resurrection to redeem us from sins and eternal condemnations. He cares for us and is with us daily. If we have trusted in the Lord Jesus Christ as our personal Lord and Saviour, we can have the assurance that He will lead us through all the changing scenes in life and He is working all things for our good and His glory. He hears our cries and our prayers. He knows our needs and He is able to sustain us, deliver us and provide for all our needs. He is our Refuge and Strength. Underneath are His everlasting arms.

I need this precious reminder today as with Bipolar Disorder I experience such great fluctuations in my mood from day to day, that I need to cling unto God's precious Words and promises at all times. I know that due to sins and remaining corruptions every Christian struggles with these too but with Bipolar Disorder it is especially difficult to manage and unpredictable. I need to learn over and over again to cast all my cares and anxieties upon our Lord. I was up and well yesterday, energetic and productive, but today I feel weak, sickly, down and having headaches. As I struggled to get up this morning I have to remind myself over and over again that God loves me and He is with me. I prayed and asked the Lord for strength and grace to live for Him. Though I am weak, He is strong. His grace is sufficient for me.

Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you. 1 Peter 5:7

Hebrews 4:14-16

14 Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession.
15 For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.
16 Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.

What a privilege to be able to carry all our burdens to our Lord and cast all our cares upon Him!

What A Friend We Have In Jesus Lyrics

What a Friend we have in Jesus, all our sins and griefs to bear!
What a privilege to carry everything to God in prayer!
O what peace we often forfeit, O what needless pain we bear,
All because we do not carry everything to God in prayer.

Have we trials and temptations? Is there trouble anywhere?
We should never be discouraged; take it to the Lord in prayer.
Can we find a friend so faithful who will all our sorrows share?
Jesus knows our every weakness; take it to the Lord in prayer.

Are we weak and heavy laden, cumbered with a load of care?
Precious Savior, still our refuge, take it to the Lord in prayer.
Do your friends despise, forsake you? Take it to the Lord in prayer!
In His arms He’ll take and shield you; you will find a solace there.

Blessed Savior, Thou hast promised Thou wilt all our burdens bear
May we ever, Lord, be bringing all to Thee in earnest prayer.
Soon in glory bright unclouded there will be no need for prayer
Rapture, praise and endless worship will be our sweet portion there.

Click here to see the above video.

For more of Then Sings My Soul Saturday visit Amy.

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

Warm Regards,
Nancie

On Eagle's Wings : They that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength Isaiah 40:31

2010-05-20T09:48:00.008+08:00

This is a card that I have collected many years ago.

Dear Friends,

Thanks for stopping by!

Thank God for seeing us through another week. It's so good to be reminded on every Thursday to count my blessings and remember to give thanks and praise to God. It is also encouraging to visit you and other friends who are doing Thankful Thursday and to read of the many wonderful ways God has blessed each one. All praise and glory be to God!

♥ I am thankful to God for providing a good Doctor for me to follow-up on me regularly on my managing of Bipolar Disorder. I just went for my review with my Doctor yesterday and everything is okay. I am to continue with my current medicine and see her in 3 months time.

♥ I am thankful to God for giving me the grace to walk with Him daily and to find joy, strength, grace and peace each day. With Bipolar Disorder I do experience great fluctuations in my mood from day to day as I manage the different challenges in my life. One day I can be up and fill with the joy of the Lord and face the day with enthusiasm. But sometimes the next day I have difficulty waking up, feeling so extremely exhausted, heavy heart to face the day and not knowing how I am going to survive that day. At such times, I have to strive to put my complete trust in God and wait patiently for Him to strengthen me and uplift me. Thank God that His mercies are new every morning! He is the One holding tightly to me and strengthening me day by day no matter how my mood is or what I am going through. What a mercy to have such a loving Heavenly Father and Lord Jesus Christ to take care of me daily. I am learning to be contented in Him and resting in Him no matter what I go through, whether it be on the mountaintop or low valley. He is there with me.

♥ Thank God for His promise that as we wait upon our Lord, He will renew our strength and enable us to rise up again to walk with Him.

But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint. Isaiah 40:31

♥ Thank God for His promise too that as we abide in Him and dwell in His presence, no evil will befall us. He will deliver us in our difficult time and work all things for our good. It is difficult at times during severe afflictions and trials to rest in this precious promise, yet it is healing to do so because God is faithful and He keeps His promises. He is a Covenant Keeping God. Our flesh and our heart may fail us, men may fail us, we may lose all our possessions but God is forever with us and He will hold us in the palm of His hands. He is our refuge and fortress, our strength and our eternal inheritance.

This Psalm 91 is one of my favourite Psalm. It is very comforting. May you find comfort in God and His Words daily too no matter what you are going through. If you have trusted in the Lord Jesus Christ as your personal Lord and Saviour, He is holding you tightly in the palm of His hands.

Psalm 91

1 He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.
2 I will say of the LORD, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust.
3 Surely he shall deliver thee from the snare of the fowler, and from the noisome pestilence.
4 He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust: his truth shall be thy shield and buckler.
5 Thou shalt not be afraid for the terror by night; nor for the arrow that flieth by day;
6 Nor for the pestilence that walketh in darkness; nor for the destruction that wasteth at noonday.
7 A thousand shall fall at thy side, and ten thousand at thy right hand; but it shall not come nigh thee.
8 Only with thine eyes shalt thou behold and see the reward of the wicked.
9 Because thou hast made the LORD, which is my refuge, even the most High, thy habitation;
10 There shall no evil befall thee, neither shall any plague come nigh thy dwelling.
11 For he shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways.
12 They shall bear thee up in their hands, lest thou dash thy foot against a stone.
13 Thou shalt tread upon the lion and adder: the young lion and the dragon shalt thou trample under feet.
14 Because he hath set his love upon me, therefore will I deliver him: I will set him on high, because he hath known my name.
15 He shall call upon me, and I will answer him: I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him, and honour him.
16 With long life will I satisfy him, and shew him my salvation.

♥ Thank God for this encouraging song "Eagle's Wing". May you be encouraged too that the Lord will raise you up on the Eagle's Wing in your difficult time.

On Eagle's Wings Lyrics

You who dwell in the shelter of the Lord,
Who abide in His shadow for life,
Say to the Lord, "My Refuge,
My Rock in Whom I trust."

And He will raise you up on eagle's wings,
Bear you on the breath of dawn,
Make you to shine like the sun,
And hold you in the palm of His Hand.
The snare of the fowler will never capture you,
And famine will bring you no fear;
Under His Wings your refuge,
His faithfulness your shield.

And He will raise you up on eagle's wings,
Bear you on the breath of dawn,
Make you to shine like the sun,
And hold you in the palm of His Hand.
You need not fear the terror of the night,
Nor the arrow that flies by day,
Though thousands fall about you,
Near you it shall not come.

And He will raise you up on eagle's wings,
Bear you on the breath of dawn,
Make you to shine like the sun,
And hold you in the palm of His Hand.
For to His angels He's given a command,
To guard you in all of your ways,
Upon their hands they will bear you up,
Lest you dash your foot against a stone.

And He will raise you up on eagle's wings,
Bear you on the breath of dawn,
Make you to shine like the sun,
And hold you in the palm of His Hand.
And hold you in the palm of His Hand.

Click here to see the video.

♥ I thank God for my family, my church, my friends and everyone of you, my dear blogging friends, and for your prayers and encouragements. They mean a lot to me.You have made a great difference in my life by your friendship and encouragements. I thank God for every one of you. May God may your visit here a blessed one too!

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

Warm Regards,
Nancie

Thanks to Calvary we are not the same person any more

2010-05-15T16:30:00.015+08:00

This beautiful picture is taken by one of my friends in Saipan.

Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. 2 Corinthians 5:17

For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain. Philippians 1:21

I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me. Galatians 2:20

Thank God that we are not the same person any more because of our Lord Jesus Christ's death at Calvary and His resurrection, and the forgiveness of sins He has given to us and a new life in Him!

Thanks To Calvary Lyrics
George Younce

Today, I went down to the place where I used to go
Today, I saw the same old crowd I knew before
And when they asked me what had happened, I tried to tell them,
Thanks to Calvary, I don't come here anymore.

Thanks to Calvary I am not the man (dad) I used to be
Thanks to Calvary things are different than before.
And as the tears ran down my face I tried to tell them (him)(her),
Thanks to Calvary, I don't come (live) here anymore.

Then we went down to the house where we used to live,
My little boy (girl) ran behind the door, like so many times before;
And I said "Son (Honey) you don't need to be afraid, you've got a new Daddy now,
(And I said, "Son (Honey) never fear, you've got a new Mommy here,)
Thanks to Calvary we don't live here anymore.

Thanks to Calvary I am not the man (dad) I used to be
Thanks to Calvary things are different than before.
And as the tears ran down my face I tried to tell them (him)(her),
Thanks to Calvary, I don't come (live) here anymore.

Thanks to Calvary I am not the man (dad) I used to be
Thanks to Calvary things are different than before.
And as the tears ran down my face I tried to tell them (him)(her),
Thanks to Calvary, I don't come (live) here anymore.

Click here to watch the above video.

The following a very joyful and memorable video of George Younce's Final Appearance Part 1 (2004) before he went home to be with the Lord on 11 April 2005 at the age of 75.

I love this video! Every time I watch it, it brings smiles and laughter to me :) It reminds me of what the joy of the Lord can do to a man, irrespective of his condition. George suffered from diabetes and was on kidney dialysis but he has such a cheerful disposition and always brings joy to others. May God enable us too to be able to rejoice in Him always no matter what we go through for we have a blessed new life in Him and eternal inheritance in Heaven. May the joy of the Lord be your strength too!

Click here to watch this video : (Please turn your volume lower as this video is rather loud)

Here are more resources on George Younce:

1) Read a touching report on George's Funeral.

Gloria Gaither commented on George describing him as timeless full of Laughter, Love of People, and Love of Music.

Bill Gaither spoke much about what a "giver" George was, comparing him to Barnabas as the master encourager. He told about George being an "Old Friend" to him, and how George would buy him new shoes and mail him new tennis shoes in the mail.

George's pastor expounded on his generosity, and his unselfishness.

2) Read a touching account and comments from fans on Remembering George Younce.

3) To read more about George Younce visit George Younce Online

For more of Then Sings My Soul Saturday visit Amy.

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

Warm Regards,
Nancie

Hitting the absolute ultimate jackpot in regards to riches and blessings

2010-05-14T14:20:00.006+08:00

Dear Friends,

Thanks for stopping by!

I just heard this video on tribute to George Young, one of the Gaithers Homecoming singers who has passed on. Towards the end of the video, he said that he has hit the absolute ultimate jackpot in regards to riches and blessings because of the paths our Jesus Christ is leading him.

This reminded me that recently, a very good friend in the Lord wrote to me too and shared that we need to know the fact that we have hit the absolute ultimate jackpot in regards to riches and blessings because of Jesus Christ.

Indeed we are rich and most blessed in Christ no matter what our circumstances is in this life may be. We may be in poverty materially but we have a crown in heaven, a mansion up above and someday we will walk the street of gold in paradise.

John 14:1-3
1 Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. 2 In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. 3And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.

2 Corinthians 5:1
For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.

We may be suffering much trials and afflictions, losses and pains, loneliness and but one day our Lord shall wipe away all our tears and we shall forever enjoy His love and rejoice in Him always. This is my comfort in my struggles in life and especially when I struggle with the extreme highs and lows of bipolar disorder. The awful and painful experiences with depression especially has caused me to appreciate God's love for me and makes me long to be with Him to enjoy His love and worship Him without hindrance. I thank God for this blessed hope that I may look forward to one day.

Isaiah 25:8
He will swallow up death in victory; and the Lord GOD will wipe away tears from off all faces;...

Psalm 30:5
...weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning.

I read this very encouraging devotional from Charles H Spurgeon's Morning and Evening, Morning, 14 May, and was reminded of the blessedness that God has bestowed upon us in making us joint heirs with Christ.

"Joint heirs with Christ.” Romans 8:17

The boundless realms of his Father’s universe are Christ’s by prescriptive right. As “heir of all things,” he is the sole proprietor of the vast creation of God, and he has admitted us to claim the whole as ours, by virtue of that deed of joint-heirship which the Lord hath ratified with his chosen people.

The golden streets of paradise, the pearly gates, the river of life, the transcendent bliss, and the unutterable glory, are, by our blessed Lord, made over to us for our everlasting possession. All that he has he shares with his people.

The crown royal he has placed upon the head of his Church, appointing her a kingdom, and calling her sons a royal priesthood, a generation of priests and kings. He uncrowned himself that we might have a coronation of glory; he would not sit upon his own throne until he had procured a place upon it for all who overcome by his blood. Crown the head and the whole body shares the honour.

Behold here the reward of every Christian conqueror! Christ’s throne, crown, sceptre, palace, treasure, robes, heritage, are yours.

Far superior to the jealousy, selfishness, and greed, which admit of no participation of their advantages, Christ deems his happiness completed by his people sharing it.

“The glory which thou gavest me have I given them.”

“These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full.”

The smiles of his Father are all the sweeter to him, because his people share them. The honours of his kingdom are more pleasing, because his people appear with him in glory.

More valuable to him are his conquests, since they have taught his people to overcome. He delights in his throne, because on it there is a place for them. He rejoices in his royal robes, since over them his skirts are spread. He delights the more in his joy, because he calls them to enter into it.

Click here to see the video on tribute to George Young in which he sings many beautiful songs and mentioned towards the end that he has hit the absolute ultimate jackpot in regards to riches and blessings because of the paths our Jesus Christ is leading him.

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

Warm Regards,
Nancie

A Mother's Beatitudes : Thank God for Blessed and Happy Mother's Day!

2010-05-13T07:07:00.005+08:00

Dear Friends,

Thanks for stopping by! Thank God for seeing us through another week. Thank you for your prayers and encouragement. Thank God for His many love and mercies daily.

Hope you have had a very Blessed and Happy Mother's Day!

♥ Thank God that my sister, brother-in-law, 2 nieces and nephew, came to visit my mum and I. We have a small Mother's Day celebration. My 2 brothers and sisters-in-laws who are overseas also send their Mother's Day greetings to my mum. My mum was so happy :)

My mum loves flowers. So I got her some carnations. She loves them :) Here are some pictures. Aren't they sweet ?

♥ I thank God for giving me a very loving and caring mother. She loves me and my siblings very dearly. She has been a homemaker all of her life and she takes care of our every need. I love her very much. But she is not a believer yet. Please pray for her salvation.

♥ Thank God for blessing us with mothers to love us and care for us. To all mothers : Happy Mother's Day! Here is a sweet Be-Attitudes for Mothers to share with you. Feel free to download the Free Poster below to make your own poster or card!

Be-Attitudes for Mothers

Blessed are the Mothers who love God, for their children shall
not be ignorant of their Creator and His plans concerning them.

Blessed are the Mothers who love the word of God, for their
children shall know of the way, the truth and the life.

Blessed are the Mothers who love the house of God, for their
children shall enter there and sit with them in the presence of God.

Blessed are the Mothers who love to pray, for their children
shall feel the power of prayer and many shall find salvation.

Blessed are the Mothers who love to give to the cause of Christ,
for their children shall become supporters of the Kingdom of God.

Blessed are the Mothers who love the family altar, for they
shall have their reward in this world and in the world to come.

Blessed are the Mothers who love to speak kind words to their
neighbor's children, for thereby they shall win
other boys and girls besides their own to Jesus Christ.

Blessed are the Mothers who love to be companions to their
children, for they shall be called understanding Mothers.

Blessed are the Mothers who love to fight life's battles
bravely with a strong and steadfast faith in God, for their
children shall know where to find strength in time of need.

Blessed are the Mothers who, when they are old and gray,
can look back upon memory's wall with no regret and can say,
"I brought my children up in the fear of the Lord."
Theirs are the mansions in glory.

(Author unknown)

To download the above free poster or card to make simple poster or homemade cards:

1) Download the picture above:

Resources for Free Calendars, Cards, Bookmarks, Handicrafts:

Free printable Bookmarks
Free printable Calendars 2011 and 2012
Free printable Cards with quotes / sayings
Free printable Children / Kids Arts and Crafts
Free printable Bookmarks, Cards, Calendars, Handicrafts
Free resources for cross-stitch and knitting ideas
Free resources for Origami and other paper crafts

To read more Thankful Thursday visit Laurie.

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

Warm Regards,
Nancie

Doing all things in close communion with our loving Lord

2010-05-09T14:13:00.010+08:00

Dear Friends,

Thanks for stopping by!

Hope you are having a blessed Lord's day too. Thank God for blessing my time of worship and fellowship with His beloved people.

I was reading this devotional from Charles H Spurgeon and greatly blessed by it. Such a precious reminder to me. I love to be busy for the Lord as I am sensible that my life belongs to the Lord and is to be lived for His glory. But I do realized that sometimes I have become too much of a Martha and I forget to be a Mary! You know what I mean :)

Sometimes I get too busy with serving the Lord that I began to spend lesser and lesser time with His Words or prayers. How mistaken am I that serving Him is foremost and how forgetful am I that without Him I can do nothing! What God truly wants is not what I can do for Him but my relationship with Him, my love for Him and my fellowship with Him.

Oh, such a Great and Majestic God condescend to love such weak and frail creature of dust such as me and how He delights to spend time with me! This is unimaginable!

How can I ever understand the depths and heights of His love! Love so divine, love is so unconditional and sacrificial that He sent His only begotten Son, our Lord Jesus Christ to die for my sins and saved me from eternal damnation.

This same Lord is my Good Shepherd Who watches over me daily and keeps me in His loving care.

Oh, for more love to Him and devotion to Him, so that whatever I do is for His glory and out of sincere love and gratitude for His abundant love and mercy.

Whenever the Lord enables me to wake up earlier in the morning and spend precious quiet time with Him, reading His Words, praying and singing Psalms, how refreshing that is to my soul! How He enables me to know His love sensibly and so real. It's like a little taste of Heaven on earth! Then I find such joy and peace as I walk with Him through all the ups and downs in the day. I found that He gives me grace and courage to face whatever challenges knowing that His grace is sufficient for me and that He is in total control and working all things for His glory and my good. What a comfort and blessed assurance! May I never forget the need to walk close with Him.

How much I need Him! Have you experience this too?

Hope you too will be encouraged by this encouraging article.

“Come, my beloved, let us go forth into the field ... let us see if the vine flourish.” Song of Solomon 7:11, 12

The church was about to engage in earnest labour, and desired her Lord’s company in it. She does not say, “I will go,” but “let us go.” It is blessed working when Jesus is at our side!

It is the business of God’s people to be trimmers of God’s vines. Like our first parents, we are put into the garden of the Lord for usefulness; let us therefore go forth into the field.

Observe that the church, when she is in her right mind, in all her many labours desires to enjoy communion with Christ. Some imagine that they cannot serve Christ actively, and yet have fellowship with him: they are mistaken.

Doubtless it is very easy to fritter away our inward life in outward exercises, and come to complain with the spouse, “They made me keeper of the vineyards; but mine own vineyard have I not kept;” but there is no reason why this should be the case except our own folly and neglect.

Certain is it that a professor may do nothing, and yet grow quite as lifeless in spiritual things as those who are most busy. Mary was not praised for sitting still; but for her sitting at Jesus’ feet. Even so, Christians are not to be praised for neglecting duties under the pretence of having secret fellowship with Jesus: it is not sitting, but sitting at Jesus’ feet which is commendable.

Do not think that activity is in itself an evil: it is a great blessing, and a means of grace to us. Paul called it a grace given to him to be allowed to preach; and every form of Christian service may become a personal blessing to those engaged in it.

Those who have most fellowship with Christ are not recluses or hermits, who have much time to spare, but indefatigable labourers who are toiling for Jesus, and who, in their toil, have him side by side with them, so that they are workers together with God.

Let us remember then, in anything we have to do for Jesus, that we can do it, and should do it in close communion with him.

Taken from Charles H Spurgeon's Morning and Evening, 9 May, Evening. For more Spurgeon's Morning and Evening devotional visit website http://www.ccel.org/ccel/spurgeon/morneve.d0509pm.html

Click here to see the video of the song "Trust and Obey"

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

Warm Regards,
Nancie

How Great Thou Art!

2010-05-08T15:21:00.006+08:00

Dear Friends,

Thanks for stopping by! Thank God for seeing us through another week. Tomorrow is the Lord's day and I am looking forward to worship, fellowship and serving our Lord together with His people in church.

I love to spend time in nature. It always remind me of what a Great God we serve. He is both our Creator and our Redeemer. The Heavens declare God's glory and all on earth too. May He enables us to know more and more of His love and mercies daily, and to walk in the light of His Words.

Psalm 19:1
The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handywork.

Psalm 8:3-5
3 When I consider thy heavens, the work of thy fingers, the moon and the stars, which thou hast ordained; 4 What is man, that thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that thou visitest him? 5 For thou hast made him a little lower than the angels, and hast crowned him with glory and honour.

Heard this lovely song that reminds me of how Great our God is.

How Great Thou Art Lyrics

O Lord my God, When I in awesome wonder,
Consider all the worlds Thy Hands have made;
I see the stars, I hear the rolling thunder,
Thy power throughout the universe displayed.

Then sings my soul, My Saviour God, to Thee,
How great Thou art, How great Thou art.
Then sings my soul, My Saviour God, to Thee,
How great Thou art, How great Thou art!

When through the woods, and forest glades I wander,
And hear the birds sing sweetly in the trees.
When I look down, from lofty mountain grandeur
And see the brook, and feel the gentle breeze.

Then sings my soul, My Saviour God, to Thee,
How great Thou art, How great Thou art.
Then sings my soul, My Saviour God, to Thee,
How great Thou art, How great Thou art!

And when I think, that God, His Son not sparing;
Sent Him to die, I scarce can take it in;
That on the Cross, my burden gladly bearing,
He bled and died to take away my sin.

Then sings my soul, My Saviour God, to Thee,
How great Thou art, How great Thou art.
Then sings my soul, My Saviour God, to Thee,
How great Thou art, How great Thou art!

When Christ shall come, with shout of acclamation,
And take me home, what joy shall fill my heart.
Then I shall bow, in humble adoration,
And then proclaim: "My God, how great Thou art!"

Then sings my soul, My Saviour God, to Thee,
How great Thou art, How great Thou art.
Then sings my soul, My Saviour God, to Thee,
How great Thou art, How great Thou art!

Click here to see the video.

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

Warm Regards,
Nancie

The trials of our faith that works patience and perseverance

2010-05-06T09:38:00.005+08:00

Dear Friends,

Thanks for stopping by. Thank God for seeing us through another week! It's so good to remember that today is Thursday and it's time for me to write my Thankful Thursday post. I am reminded to count my blessings and be thankful to God always.

♥ Thank God for seeing me through a very difficult week. I have been having much struggles and difficulties in a certain aspect of my life, and I am learning to cast my cares upon our Lord. I have to make a very difficult and painful decision this week, and it has been very very difficult for me. But I am learning to rest in our Lord and to trust that He knows what is best for me. I need to learn to wait upon Him for His clearer leading and provision in His time. I thank God that He is the One that is holding on to us and guiding us along the paths of life. He has given us His Words to guide us and His Spirit to lead us.

♥ Sometimes I feel so weak and that I don't have the strength to fight the battles in this life. It is then that the Lord reminds me that His grace is sufficient for me. I am reminded that the trial of our faith will produce patience. As we persevere in our walk with the Lord, we will know more and more of His love and grace. He is very real to us each day. I do not know how I would have make it without the Lord holding me through all the ups and downs of life. Times of trials and difficulties are often time when God sanctified me and make me more sensible of His love and mercies. He is also training me to be more patience and to rest in His love and sovereignty.

James 1:2-4
2 My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; 3 Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. 4 But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.

♥ Last year, my brother, sister, nieces, nephews and I went to the Singapore Zoo. Here is a video of a cute monkey that I videotaped on that day. This monkey is very persevering and determined. I am reminded that as God's people, we too are to persevere in our walk with the Lord no matter what we encounter along the way. We have a God Who loves us dearly and with Him all things are possible.

♥ I thank God for my family, my church, my friends and everyone of you, my dear blogging friends, and for your prayers and encouragements. They mean a lot to me.You have made a great difference in my life by your friendship and encouragements. I thank God for every one of you. May God may your visit here a blessed one too!

To read more Thankful Thursday post visit Laurie.

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

Warm Regards,
Nancie

Making Homemade Christian Bookmarks with encouraging Bible Verses : Another therapeutic Hobby

2010-04-29T10:05:00.003+08:00

Dear Friends,

Thanks for stopping by.

♥ Thank God for seeing me through another busy and fruitful week! How times flies. It's Thursday again! :) I am reminded that it's good to share about God's goodness and mercies to me on Thankful Thursday :) I have been so blessed every since I joined Thankful Thursday as it helped me to count my blessings and be more thankful to God. I am also greatly encouraged by all the thankful posts that I read on your blogs. Thank God for His goodness and mercies to us daily! May we be always praising Him.

♥ I am thankful to God for a very encouraging sermon I heard in Church last Lord's day morning. My Pastor preached on the importance of Prayer Always in our daily Christian life and as walk with the Lord daily. I am reminded of the need to be praying always, not just during my devotional time or in church, but throughout the day as I seek the Lord's grace and strength to live for Him and in Him. It is a means of grace that God has provided for us to draw us closer to Him and receive grace and strength from Him.

♥ So I thank God for the privilege prayers in which we can fellowship with our Lord and enjoy His love and grace. We can casts all our anxieties upon Him and find peace and joy in Him, and direction in our Christian walk as He teaches us through His Words.

♥ I thank God for the joy of doing some simple Christian crafts to give to my friends. Last Thursday I shared about the joy of making simple Cross-stitch bookmarks with Bible verses for my friends. It is one of my therapeutic hobbies. Another therapeutic hobbies that I enjoy very much is making simple Christian homemade bookmarks with Bible verses. Below are some samples of bookmarks I made with regards to Prayers. The first two I made using pictures I have taken myself and the last two are just simple design from Microsoft PowerPoint or Open Office.

To download and make these simple Do-It-Yourself DIY Christian homemade bookmarks with Bible verses at home, just follow the instruction below. Feel free to download these Free Homemade Bookmarks for yourself or your friends. You can also make them and sell them :)

Resources for Free Calendars, Cards, Bookmarks, Handicrafts:

Free printable Bookmarks
Free printable Calendars 2011 and 2012
Free printable Cards with quotes / sayings
Free printable Children / Kids Arts and Crafts
Free printable Bookmarks, Cards, Calendars, Handicrafts
Free resources for cross-stitch and knitting ideas
Free resources for Origami and other paper crafts

To make the following Free Homemade Christian Bookmarks with encouraging Bible verses on prayer:

1) Download the picture
- Put your cursor on the picture
- Right Click your mouse
- Saved the .jpg picture into your computer

2) Insert this picture into a Word Processor (such as MicroSoft Word or OpenOffice).

3) Use a color printer to print.

4) Cut it and laminate it. The bookmark will be more lasting if you laminate it.

Therapeutic Hobbies : Doing simple cross-stitch as gifts for friends

2010-04-22T12:04:00.004+08:00

Dear Friends,

Thanks for stopping by.

♥ Thank God for seeing me through fruitful week! How times flies. It's Thursday again :) It has been a very busy week for me and I am tempted to skip posting but I am reminded that today is Thursday and it's good to share about God's goodness and mercies to me on Thankful Thursday :)

♥ I thank God for answering my prayers for one of the elderly grandma that comes to my church evening service. She is 85 years old and is suffering from severe heart failure. She also has some dementia. She has been forgetting to take her medicine on and off and so she began to show early symptom of possible relapse of heart failure as water begins to retain in her body, and on her legs and ankles specifically. Due to weak heart, she has problem flushing out the water from her body and the medicine helps her to do so. I have been visiting her together with another sister in Christ and reminding her to take her medicine. Thank God that yesterday she seemed so much better and she has remembered to take all her medicine! Due to dementia, she has problem remembering many things she heard in the church about the Gospel and our Lord Jesus Christ. But thank God yesterday she told me that every morning when she wakes up, she does remember to thank our Lord. She will say, "Lord Jesus, thank you". Although it is a very short prayer, I am encouraged :) Thank God!

♥ Thank God for giving me the joy of doing some cross-stitch recently. I love to do cross-stitch as it is very relaxing and it helps me to develop patience :) I have been making cross-stitch bookmarks for some of my friends. I love to sew some simple Bible verses and make a small bookmark for them.

This is one of the first cross-stitch I sewed when I first learn how to do cross-stitch about 20 years ago.

Recently, I sewed this small bookmark for my friends.

This is another bookmark I like to sew as a gift for my friend.

Sometimes, I like to sew my friends' name of the bookmark to personalize it for them.

This is one of my favourite cross-stitch designs. I like to sew this as a gift for my friend and sometimes I use different Bible verses to suit their needs. After I sewed this cross-stitch, I usually frame it up with a simple frame. I have found many free cross-stitch resources on the internet. For some free cross-stitch resources, visit Free Cross-stitch Resources : http://cross-stitch.resources2u.com/.

Resources for Free Calendars, Cards, Bookmarks, Handicrafts:

Free printable Bookmarks
Free printable Calendars 2011 and 2012
Free printable Cards with quotes / sayings
Free printable Children / Kids Arts and Crafts
Free printable Bookmarks, Cards, Calendars, Handicrafts
Free resources for cross-stitch and knitting ideas
Free resources for Origami and other paper crafts

What are you thankful for today? Thankful Thursday is hosted by Lynn. Thanks, Lynn! Do visit the other participants and be encouraged by their thanksgiving to God too.

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

Warm Regards,
Nancie

The God on the mountain is still God in the valley

2010-04-15T08:16:00.005+08:00

My brother took this picture in New Zealand

Dear Friends,

Thanks for stopping by!

♥ Thank God for seeing me through fruitful week. Thank God that this week I managed to connect with a very dear friend and we have had a very blessed time of fellowship. Friends are special gifts from God.

♥ I just went for my review at the hospital for asthma. I have asthma as a child and I am on long-term low dosage maintenance medicine due to mild persistent asthma since 2002. Thank God that my asthma is under good control now and the doctor is very pleased :)

♥ Thank God for giving me much strength and grace to complete a very difficult work assignment too. It is at times rather stressful and mentally strenuous and I am learning to pray and ask the Lord for help and grace during such difficult times. Thank God for His many mercies. I am learning to pace myself and spread out my work with time of rest and relaxation in between, and some exercise.

♥ Thank God for for giving me a song to sing every day :) Recently, I have been sharing some songs because the Lord has been giving me a song to sing every day :) Each morning when not plague by clinical depression, I wake up with a sense of joy and anticipation of how I can walk with our Lord and serve Him in little ways. Thank God for giving me simple joy and contentment in Him daily, to walk with Him and serve Him in little ways.

Thou hast put gladness in my heart...
and hath put a new song in my mouth,
even praise unto our God.
Psalm 4:7, 40:3

♥ I heard this encouraging song and am so thankful that God is with us through all the changing scenes of life. No matter what we go through, God is with us always. For the God on the mountain is still God in the valley. Hope you enjoy this song by the Gaithers "God on the mountain" with Lynda Randle.

God On The Mountain Lyrics

Life is easy when you're up on the mountain
And you've got peace of mind like you've never known.
But then things change and you're down in the valley.
Don't lose faith for you're never alone.

For the God on the mountain is still God in the valley.
When things go wrong, He'll make it right.
And the God of the good times
is still God in the bad times.
The God of the day is still God in the night.

You talk of faith when you're up on the mountain.
Oh but the talk comes easy when life's at its best.
But it's down in the valley of trials and temptation
That's when faith is really put to the test.

For the God on the mountain is still God in the valley.
When things go wrong, He'll make it right.
And the God of the good times
is still God in the bad times.
The God of the day is still God in the night.

For the God on the mountain is still God in the valley.
When things go wrong, He'll make it right.
And the God of the good times
is still God in the bad times.
The God of the day is still God in the night.
The God of the day is still God in the night.

"God On The Mountain" words and music by Tracy G. Dartt

Click here to see this video.

♥ I thank God for my family, my church, my friends and everyone of you, my dear blogging friends, and for your prayers and encouragements. They mean a lot to me.You have made a great difference in my life by your friendship and encouragements. I thank God for every one of you. May God may your visit here a blessed one too!

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

Warm Regards,
Nancie

I know Who holds tomorrow

2010-04-08T09:39:00.003+08:00

Dear Friends,

Thanks for stopping by!

♥ I thank God for seeing me through another week. It has been a very busy week and very tiring. Thank God for giving me much grace and strength, and simple joy in Him. I am learning to rest in Him and am finding much joy in walking with Him day by day, though there are much ups and downs over the week.

♥ I heard this lovely song "I know Who holds tomorrow" recently and I am reminded that though we do not know about tomorrow and there are many things we may not understand but we know Who holds tomorrow and we know Who holds our hands. It is such a great comfort that no matter what happens tomorrow, God is with us and He will lead us safely through. Should our path be a difficult one, we can still have the assurance of His love for us. This week, I am thankful for this precious reminder from God.

♥ With bipolar disorder, I truly have no idea what will happen from moment to moment. Sometimes my mood changes so quickly and dramatically that I feel I am losing control and don't know what will happen next. Will I go down into severe depression again or rise too high up to mania? At such times, what I need to do is to turn to our Lord Jesus Christ. Though I do not know what will happen and at times it can be frightening, I need to remember that God is in control and He holds my tomorrow. He has promised that His grace is sufficient for me and He will never leave me nor forsake me. Nothing can separate me from His love and He is working all things for my good and His glory even if I can't understand. I will see things clearer in His time and have many reasons to praise Him. So I am learning to depend upon Him day by day and rest in His love and His precious promises. Just taking one day at a time, and moment by moment, and don't worry about tomorrow.

"... for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day." 2 Timothy 1:12

Thank God for His presence with us through all the changing scenes in life. Hope you enjoy this song and will be encouraged too.

I know Who holds tomorrow Lyrics

I don't know about tomorrow,
I just live from day to day.
I don't borrow from it's sunshine,
For it's skies may turn to gray.
I don't worry o'er the future,
For I know what Jesus said,
And today I'll walk beside Him,
For He knows what is ahead.

Refrain
Many things about tomorrow,
I don't seem to understand;
But I know Who holds tomorrow,
And I know Who holds my hand.

I don't know about tomorrow,
It may bring me poverty;
But the One Who feeds the sparrow,
Is the One Who stands by me.
And the path that be my portion,
May be through the flame or flood,
But His presence goes before me,
And I'm covered with His blood.

Refrain
Many things about tomorrow,
I don't seem to understand;
But I know Who holds tomorrow,
And I know Who holds my hand.

Click here to see this video.

♥ I thank God for my family, my church and all my friends, who love me, pray for me and accept me.

♥ I thank God for everyone of you, my dear blogging friends, and for your prayers and encouragements. They mean a lot to me.You have made a great difference in my life by your friendship and encouragements. I thank God for every one of you. May God may your visit here a blessed one too!

To read more Thankful Thursday visit Lynn.

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

Warm Regards,
Nancie

In remembrance of my father on earth and my Father in Heaven

2010-04-01T09:29:00.005+08:00

Dear Friends,

Thanks for stopping by!

♥ I thank God for seeing me through another week. The last week has been a very busy one for me and I am thankful to God for His strength and grace daily. I am learning to look to Him and rest in Him daily.

♥ 2 days ago my family and I went to the columbarium where my dad's ashes are kept. My dad passed away from heart failure 9 years ago and my family goes once a year to the place where his ashes are placed to remember his death. We put some flowers there.

My dad loved my siblings and me very much. But my mother said, I was his favourite child :-) My mother said when I was a little child, I looked so much like my father! My dad loves me very much and I do missed him a lot.

I am glad that I have the privilege to take care of my father in the later part of his life when he was ill, together with my family. God has been good to my father. He went with me to church for a few times and heard the Gospel. Though he didn't make any open profession as to whether he has trusted in the Lord Jesus Christ as his personal Lord and Saviour, he did tell me on a few occasions that he believed Jesus Christ is the living and true God. I cherish the hope that the Lord may have worked in his soul while he was alive, and possibly I can see him one day in Heaven. But all these are in the Lord's hands and I humbly submit to His wills. The dead is already gone and the secret things belong to the Lord. So now I am concentrating in praying for my remaining family's salvation and strive to be a good witness to them with the Lord's enablement.

♥ As I remember my earthly father, I think of our Heavenly Father. I am thankful to our Heavenly Father for His love for us and what He has done for us through Jesus Christ our Lord. Thank God for loving us and caring for us daily. Thank God for giving us the Bible to let us know who He is, His love for us and His mercy in saving us from eternal damnation, and giving us the blessed hope of spending eternity with Him.

Hope this letter will encourage you too as you remember with thankfulness the love and goodness of God, our Heavenly Father.

Dear Child,

You may not know me, but I know everything about you (Psalm 139:1). I know when you sit down and when you rise up (Psalm 139:2). I am familiar with all your ways (Psalm 139:3). Even the very hairs on your head are numbered (Matthew 10:29-31). For you were made in my image (Genesis 1:27). In me you live and move and have your being (Acts 17:28). For you are my offspring (Acts 17:28). I knew you even before you were conceived (Jeremiah 1:4-5) and I chose you when I planned creation (Ephesians 1:11-12). You were not a mistake, for all your days are written in my book (Psalm 139:15-16). I determined the exact time of your birth and where you would live (Acts 17:26). You are fearfully and wonderfully made (Psalm 139:14). I knit you together in your mother's womb (Psalm 139:13) and brought you forth on the day you were born (Psalm 71:6). I have been misrepresented by those who don't know me (John 8:41-44). I am not distant and angry, but am the complete expression of love (1 John 4:16) and it is my desire to lavish my love on you (1 John 3:1) simply because you are my child and I am your Father (1 John 3:1). I offer you more than your earthly father ever could (Matthew 7:11) for I am the perfect Father (Matthew 5:48). Every good gift that you receive comes from my hand (James 1:17). I am your provider and I meet all your needs (Matthew 6:31-33). My plan for your future has always been filled with hope (Jeremiah 29:11) because I love you with an everlasting love (Jeremiah 31:3). My thoughts toward you are countless as the sand on the seashore (Psalm 139:17-18) and I rejoice over you with singing (Zephaniah 3:17). I will never stop doing good to you (Jeremiah 32:40) because you are my treasured possession (Exodus 19:5). I desire to establish you with all my heart and all my soul (Jeremiah 32:41) and I want to show you great and marvelous things (Jeremiah 33:3). If you seek me with all your heart, you will find me (Deuteronomy 4:29). Delight in me and I will give you the desires of your heart (Psalm 37:4). It is I who gave you those desires (Philippians 2:13). I am able to do more for you than you could possibly imagine (Ephesians 3:20). For I am your greatest encourager (2 Thessalonians 2:16-17). I am also the Father who comforts you in all your troubles (2 Corinthians 1"3-4). When you are brokenhearted, I am close to you (Psalm 34:18). As a shepherd carries a lamb, I have carried you close to my heart (Isaiah 40:11). One day I will wipe away every tear from your eyes (Revelation 21:3-4) and I'll take away all the pain you have suffered on this earth (Revelation 21:3-4). I am your Father, and I love you even as I love my son, Jesus (John 17:23). For in Jesus, my love for you is revealed (John 17:26). He is the exact representation of my being (Hebrews 1:3). He came to demonstrate that I am for you, not against you (Romans 8:31) and to tell you that I am not counting your sins (2 Corinthians 5:18-19). Jesus died so that you and I could be reconciled (2 Corinthians 5:18-19). His death was the ultimate expression of my love for you (1 John 4:10). I gave up everything I loved that I might gain your love (Romans 8:31-32). If you receive the gift of my son Jesus, you receive me (1 John 2:23) and nothing will ever separate you from my love again (Romans 8:38-39). Come home and I'll throw the biggest party heaven has ever seen (Luke 15:7). I have always been Father, and will always be Father (Ephesians 3:14-15). My question is will you be my child (John 1:12-13)? I am waiting for you (Luke 15:11-32).

Love, Your Father,
Almighty God

♥ I thank God for my family, my church and all my friends, who love me, pray for me and accept me.

♥ I thank God for everyone of you, my dear blogging friends, and for your prayers and encouragements. They mean a lot to me.You have made a great difference in my life by your friendship and encouragements. I thank God for every one of you. May God may your visit here a blessed one too!

To read more Thankful Thursday visit Lynn.

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

Warm Regards,
Nancie

Who I am in Christ : Understanding my true significance in Christ

2010-03-25T11:14:00.021+08:00

Dear Friends,

Thanks for stopping by! Thank God today is Thursday. Thursday always remind me to count my blessings and to thank God. I am learning to be thankful daily but to write about it and share with others, really helps me to remember God's goodness and mercies to me daily.

♥ I thank God for seeing me through another week. The last one week has been a very busy one for me as I took on some new freelance assignments. The income will really help me but I need to remember to pace myself moderately to avoid over-straining and over-stressing myself. I thank God for giving me strength, grace and wisdom daily.

♥ I thank God for saving me through our Lord Jesus Christ and giving me a new life in Him. Due to undiagnosed recurrent clinical depression over some 17 years, I have a lot of distorted views regarding God, myself and the Christian life. During depression my thoughts all turned negative and turned against me. This is mainly due to the chemical imbalance in the brain which caused my brain not able to function properly thereby affecting my thoughts and feelings. Partly also the enemy made used of such times to cast doubts into my mind about God, myself and the Christian life. I was often very confused. Due to the lack of understanding on the issue of clinical depression, many people around me have misjudged me and misunderstood that my depression was due to me being very weak, emotional and lack of faith in God. The enemy made used of them to discouraged me further. I was very discouraged by what they said but I also made the mistake of believing them. So these negative thoughts and negative self-image have been ingrained in me for some 17 years.

Thank God that after my diagnosis of bipolar, I realized that my condition is a medical condition just like asthma and diabetes and not due to a weakness in my character or a lack of faith in God. I need to trust that God has a purpose in allowing me to have this condition, and allowing me to go through 17 confusing years, and He is working all things for His glory and my good even out of all these. In order to do that, one of the most important thing I have to do is to understand afresh my true identity in Christ. I need to know afresh that God loves me and I am of value to Him. It is true that I am a sinner with many sins, weakness and failures, but God loves me, I am precious to Him and I am valuable to Him because He sent His Son to die on the cross for me and He has redeemed me. It is precisely because I am a sinner that I can find salvation in Christ. He has been doing a wonderful work of grace in my soul ever since the day He saved me though I was not sensible of it due to recurrent depression. The many prolonged severe depression caused me to remember mostly only the negative thoughts and experiences. I need to understand afresh God's love for me and my true worth in Him, and find meaning once again in my new life in Christ. The Lord in His mercies has been helping me over the last 3 years to do so and I found that as He lead me step by step to understand His great love and mercies, I have grown to love Him more than I ever did. It is so important to have a right understanding of our identity in Christ and to fight against those wrong notions that threatens to draw us away from God daily.

♥ I thank God for a friend who sent me this encouraging list of reminders on Who I am in Christ.

John 1:12	Who I am in Christ I am accepted... I am God's child.
John 15:15	As a disciple, I am a friend of Jesus Christ.
Romans 5:1	I have been justified.
1 Corinthians 6:17	I am united with the Lord, and I am one with Him in spirit.
1 Corinthians 6:19-20	I have been bought with a price and I belong to God.
1 Corinthians 12:27	I am a member of Christ's body.
Ephesians 1:3-8	I have been chosen by God and adopted as His child.
Colossians 1:13-14	I have been redeemed and forgiven of all my sins.
Colossians 2:9-10	I am complete in Christ.
Hebrews 4:14-16	I have direct access to the throne of grace through Jesus Christ.

	I am secure...
Romans 8:1-2	I am free from condemnation.
Romans 8:28	I am assured that God works for my good in all circumstances.
Romans 8:31-39	I am free from any condemnation brought against me and I cannot be separated from the love of God.
2 Corinthians 1:21-22	I have been established, anointed and sealed by God.
Colossians 3:1-4	I am hidden with Christ in God.
Philippians 1:6	I am confident that God will complete the good work He started in me.
Philippians 3:20	I am a citizen of heaven.
2 Timothy 1:7	I have not been given a spirit of fear but of power, love and a sound mind.
1 John 5:18	I am born of God and the evil one cannot touch me.

	I am significant...
John 15:5	I am a branch of Jesus Christ, the true vine, and a channel of His life.
John 15:16	I have been chosen and appointed to bear fruit.
1 Corinthians 3:16	I am God's temple.
2 Corinthians 5:17-21	I am a minister of reconciliation for God.
Ephesians 2:6	I am seated with Jesus Christ in the heavenly realm.
Ephesians 2:10	I am God's workmanship.
Ephesians 3:12	I may approach God with freedom and confidence.
Philippians 4:13	I can do all things through Christ, who strengthens me.

♥ Thank God for this video with these encouraging verses:

♥ I thank God for my family, my church and all my friends, who love me, pray for me and accept me.

♥ I thank God for everyone of you, my dear blogging friends, and for your prayers and encouragements. They mean a lot to me.You have made a great difference in my life by your friendship and encouragements. I thank God for every one of you. May God may your visit here a blessed one too!

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

Warm Regards,
Nancie

Do you know of any good church at Delaware, US?

2010-03-15T08:58:00.005+08:00

I took this picture in Singapore. This is the national flower of Singapore, the Orchid Flower or Vanda Miss Joaquim.

Dear Friends,

Thanks for stopping by. Hope you have had a blessed weekend.

I am thankful to God for many of you and your prayers and encouragements. It is so wonderful to know that we can pray and encourage one another in the Lord because of what the Lord Jesus Christ has done when He laid down His life on the cross to save us from our sins. It is because of the salvation He has given to us that we can enjoy this special bond of love as a family in Christ. Though we have never met and we are separated by seas and mountains, the love of Christ our Lord bind our hearts together. This is such a mercy! You are God's gifts and blessings to me! I thank God for all of you. May you find your every visit here a very blessed one too.

It is very important for us to be able to worship in a church where God's Truths is being faithfully preached and the people of God seek sincerely to live by faith and the by the Word of God. One of the commandments God has given to us, is to love one another like the way He has loved us. By nature we are sinful and selfish people. On our own, we are not able to love others unconditionally. We only love those who love us, and those who can do us good. But Christ has demonstrated His love for us in that while we were yet sinners, He died for us. He died to save us and reconcile us to God. And He wants us to love others with the same unconditional love. Only by God's grace, we can love one another. It is my prayers that daily God will fill me with His love so that I can love others like the way He is loving me.

One of my friends is now in the midst of looking for a church. I am just wondering whether you or any of your friends can help one of my friends. He is staying at Delaware, US. He has just been diagnosed with bipolar disorder and learning now to cope with his condition and live usefully for our Lord. He is in the midst of recovering from a relapse of severe clinical depression and very much in need of prayers and encouragements from fellow believers. Please pray for him, if you can. His name is Will.

Like myself and many others who have suffered from recurrent clinical depression, Will has suffered a lot of pain and confusions over the years. Thank God that the Lord has preserved him and he is seeking now to walk closely with the Lord and to be more dependent upon Him. Due to the terrible stigma and great misunderstanding on the issue of clinical depression, Will has often been misunderstood by his friends. They misjudged his condition and caused more harm than help to him.

Now Will is in the midst of looking for a church where God's Truths is being faithfully preached and where God's people are warm and compassionate, and able to accept him, love him unconditionally for Christ's sake, and pray for him. This form of support from God's people is most precious to him.

Please do let me know if you are staying at Delaware or anywhere near there and you are able to link up with Will to bring him to a good church. Or if you know of any friends or relatives staying at Delaware or near there, who are able to introduce a good church to Will.

Please leave a comment here, if you are able to help, or email me at mylifewithbp@gmail.com

Thank you! Take care and have a blessed week!

Warm Regards,
Nancie

(Note: I found on the internet some details of a church at Wilmington Delaware. It's called Emmanuel Orthodox Presbyterian Church (Emmanuel OPC). It sounds like a nice church that is desiring to honour God.

You can read more about them from their website is http://www.eopc.org/:

Their other contact details are:

Emmanuel Orthodox Presbyterian Church
1006 Wilson Road
Wilmington, DE 19803-3449
Telephone : (302) 478-7776
Website: http://www.eopc.org/

Worship Services:
Morning Worship: Sunday 9:30 am
Sunday School: Sunday 11:15 am
Evening Worship: Sunday 6:30 pm

Has anyone worship in this church before? If you have been to this church, can you share with me more about it? Thanks!)

When there seems no way out, let God in... for with God all things are possible.

2010-03-11T13:57:00.005+08:00

My friend EN took this lovely picture.
(I posted this picture on song on Monday too)

Dear Friends,

♥ Thanks for stopping by and all your encouragements!

♥ I thank God for seeing me through another week and providing a new freelance work assignment for me this week.

♥ I thank God for strengthening me and my health is improving. Thanks for your prayers and encouragements!

♥ I am thankful to God for giving the joy of walking with Him and serving Him once again.

♥ I thank God for everyone of you, my dear blogging friends, and for your prayers and encouragements. They mean a lot to me.You have made a great difference in my life by your friendship and encouragements. I thank God for every one of you. May God may your visit here a blessed one too!

♥ I thank God that He is with us through all the changing scenes in life. And He always work a way out for us in whatever difficulties we go through.

♥ Thank God for comforting me with His Words daily and through the psalms, hymns and songs I have heard. The following song is very encouraging whenever I hear it as it reminds me that God will work a way when there seems to be no way. He works in ways we cannot see but He surely will work a way for us. May you be encouraged by this song too and know that God will work a way for you whenever you look to Him. No matter how difficult a situation you are going through now or whatever pain and sufferings you are going through, the Lord will make a way for you. He promise that His grace is sufficient for us and He will not allow us to be tempted more than what we can bear. He never leaves us nor forsakes us. Nothing can separate us from His love.

God will make a way

God will make a way
Where there seems to be no way
He works in ways we cannot see
He will make a way for me
He will be my guide
Hold me closely to His side
With love and strength for each new day
He will make a way, He will make a way.

By a roadway in the wilderness, He'll lead me
And rivers in the desert will I see
Heaven and earth will fade
But His Word will still remain
He will do something new today.

God will make a way,
Where there seems to be no way
He works in ways we cannot see
He will make a way for me
He will be my guide
Hold me closely to His side
With love and strength for each new day
He will make a way, He will make a way

Click here to see the video.

To read Thankful Thursday visit Laurie.

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

Warm Regards,
Nancie

God will work a way where there seems to be no way

2010-03-08T12:03:00.000+08:00

My friend EN took this lovely picture.

Dear Friends,

Thanks for stopping by and all your encouragements!

I thank God that He is with us through all the changing scenes in life. And He always work a way out for us in whatever difficulties we go through.

The last few months have been very challenging for me as I was very busy with my work, taking care of my mother who has many illness, serving the Lord in my church through visitations to the sick and elderly, and other volunteer publications work plus posting on this blog and visiting my blogging friends whenever I can. Thank God for giving me much grace and strength daily. Thank God that His grace is always sufficient for me!

Clinical depression is a very distressing and painful experience. I have been through it many times in the past without understanding what it is. Thank God that with medical helps, I am being helped and lifted up to more functional level. I am not as severely depressed as in the past and I am beginning to learn to rest in our Lord and depend more upon Him. Just like a man with a broken leg will take time to recover, so will my broken mind. Once the chemical in my brain are restored, I will be able to think and feel more normally.

I am thankful to God for giving the joy of walking with Him and serving Him once again. Whenever I am better, I am like a busy octopus :) There are so many things I love to do and I want to do especially to bring joy to other people and share God's goodness and mercies to them. I got very carried away especially in visiting the sick and elderly. I derived so much joy from doing so as I witnessed time and again God's goodness and mercies to them and their simple faith in Him. But I tend to get too carried away and do too many visitations. Whenever I am busy I sometimes forget to listen to my body when it is tired or sometimes I simply don't feel the tiredness (my body and mind don't synchronize. This is a symptom of bipolar disorder with its mania and depression). I tend to want to reach out and help whenever I see a need. By the time I know it, I have over-strained myself and soon it lead to burnout and relapse of clinical depression. This has happened to me many times but I am still so slow to recognize it and to learn how to manage it.Thank Go for helping me to slowly learn how better to manage my condition so that I can be more functional and able to walk closer with Him and serve Him more effectively and consistently.

I have suffered from this mood disorder ie alternating hypomania and depression, for some 20 years before I was diagnosed 3 years ago. I am thankful to God that with the diagnosis I can find help and live a more useful and productive life. I am thankful to God for working His ways out for me and continuing to work His ways for me daily. I am encouraged by His love and His mercies daily. It gives me the courage to press on daily, depending on His grace and strength. Though I am weak, He is strong. His strength is made perfect in my weakness. I pray that He may increase my love for Him and His people daily, and enable me to die more and more to self and live more and more in Him and for His glory.

Thank God for comforting me with His Words daily and through the psalms, hymns and songs I have heard. The following song is very encouraging whenever I hear it as it reminds me that God will work a way when there seems to be no way. He works in ways we cannot see but He surely will work a way for us. May you be encouraged by this song too and know that God will work a way for you whenever you look to Him. No matter how difficult a situation you are going through now or whatever pain and sufferings you are going through, the Lord will make a way for you. He promise that His grace is sufficient for us and He will not allow us to be tempted more than what we can bear. He never leaves us nor forsakes us. Nothing can separate us from His love.

God will make a way

God will make a way
Where there seems to be no way
He works in ways we cannot see
He will make a way for me
He will be my guide
Hold me closely to His side
With love and strength for each new day
He will make a way, He will make a way.

By a roadway in the wilderness, He'll lead me
And rivers in the desert will I see
Heaven and earth will fade
But His Word will still remain
He will do something new today.

God will make a way,
Where there seems to be no way
He works in ways we cannot see
He will make a way for me
He will be my guide
Hold me closely to His side
With love and strength for each new day
He will make a way, He will make a way

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

Warm Regards,
Nancie

It's In the Valleys I Grow

2010-03-04T14:34:00.003+08:00

Dear Friends,

Thanks for stopping by! Thanks for your prayers and encouragements.

♥ Thank God for strengthening me and restoring me day by day. I am feeling much better and learning to wait upon our Lord and rest in Him daily.

♥ Recently, one of my blogging friends, LivingForGod shared this poem "It's In the Valleys I Grow" with me. It is very encouraging to remember that though it is wonderful to experience the joy of mountain top experience in our Christian walk, it is often in the valley that we grow. The Christian life is truly a very joyful and blessed one as we trust in the Lord daily. But as Christians, we too go through all the ups and down in life, just like everyone else. We too experience sickness, failure, disappointment, death, loss, etc etc. But we can have comfort and hope in God because He loves us and He is with us all the time to strengthen, uphold and deliver us in His time. And it is often during the most difficult times in our life that God is very real to us and we experience His love and mercies in very practical and personal ways daily. Through this way, God draws us nearer to Himself and enables us to grow in Him. So it's in the valley that we grow the most.

I know this valley life very well. Bipolar disorder truly caused me to go through alternating mountain top and deep valley experiences. Whenever I am well, I am a little hypomania with lots of joy in the Lord, more energetic, more creative and productive. These are mountain tops experience and I often can accomplish much in my daily life and service for our Lord. It is hard during such time to know that I am not quite "normal" :) but rather I am going through extreme mood swing with greater energy and creativity that an average person would have. It is hard to imagine during such joyful and productive time that I can ever be any different.

But no one can be on the mountain top forever. Usually period of hypomania with too many projects and the 101 things I love to do, tend to lead to over-straining, burn out and depression. I will then go through prolonged severe depressions which are like deep valleys experiences and made to know very sensibly my many sins, failures and weaknesses. Thank God that through such valley experiences the Lord is causing me to see more and more of my need to depend upon Him. Without Him, I can do nothing at all. I realized that every time the Lord restored me and bring me out of the valley experience, He enabled me to grow a little in Him. He is becoming more and more precious to me daily. And I am finding greater joy in walking with Him and serving Him. He is helping me to grow in the valleys.

Hope this poem will encourage you too. If you are trusting in the Lord Jesus Christ and yet going through deep valley experience now, may you take comfort that the Lord is with you and He has a purpose in allowing you to go through it. He never leaves you nor forsake you and is holding you tightly. Though you may not see it clearly now, you will surely grow in this experience. It's in the valleys that we grow.

It's In the Valleys I Grow
By Jane Eggleston

Sometime life seems hard to bear,
Full of sorrow, trouble, and woe.
It’s then I have to remember
That it’s in the valleys I grow.

If I always stayed on the mountain top
And never experienced pain,
I would never appreciate God’s love
And would be living in vain.

I have so much to learn
And my growth is very slow,
Sometimes I need the mountain tops,
But it’s in the valleys I grow.

I do not always understand
Why things happen as they do,
But I am very sure of one thing.
My Lord will see me through.

My little valleys are nothing
When I picture Christ on the cross.
He went through the valley of death;
His victory was satan’s loss.

Forgive me, Lord, for complaining
When I’m feeling so low.
Just give me a gentle reminder
That it’s in the valleys I grow.

Continue to strengthen me, Lord
And use my life each day
To share Your love with others
And help them find their way.

Thank You for valleys, Lord
For this one thing I know
The mountain tops are glorious
But it’s in the valleys I grow!

My brother took this picture in New Zealand.

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

Warm Regards,
Nancie

More Than Conquerors through Him Who loved us

2010-02-25T11:12:00.004+08:00

My friend took this picture at Saipan.

Dear Friends,

Thanks for stopping by! Thanks for your prayers and encouragements.

I have not been able to participate in Thankful Thursday for a few weeks because I was unwell. I know I ought to be thankful to God always and to share my thanksgiving in praise of God's goodness and mercies. But I was afraid of unable to return visit to you when you visit me, and I will feel bad for not being able to do so. So I thought I will wait until I am better and more able to return visits. I truly appreciate every one of your comments, prayers and encouragements and I want to be able to visit you too and let you know how much I appreciate you.

Thank God for strengthening me. Here's my thankful list this week :)

♥ I thank God for preserving me daily and strengthening me. I have been having a relapse of clinical depression recently and been very unwell. I thank God for watching over me daily and giving me the grace to live for Him.

♥ I thank God for the blessed assurance of His love for us through all the changing scenes in life with its various ups and down. I thank God that nothing can separate us from His love and He holds us tight each day!

♥ I thank God for the comfort and assurance that He loves us and is in control though we may not sense it at times. He promised that He is working all things for His glory and our good, and therefore something good shall surely come forth from our sufferings.

♥ I thank God for His precious promise that He will never leave us nor forsake us, and His grace is sufficient for us. We are More Than Conquerors through Him Who loved us.

I took this picture at East Coast Beach, Singapore.

I created this More Than Conquerors Award to remind myself and everyone that loves the Lord Jesus Christ that we are More Than Conquerors through the Lord Who loved us. So if you love the Lord Jesus Christ and He is your Lord and Saviour, this Award belongs to you. Please take this Award and share it with every one of God's children Who loves Him. We are More Than Conquerors no matter what we go through or have to go through. What a blessed assurance! May this comfort you and everyone who belongs to our Lord!

♥ I thank God for giving me all of you to pray and encourage one another. Thanks for your prayers and encouragements! They mean a lot to me. Your comments always bring great encouragement to me and they always come at a time when I most need them. God is using you to convey His love and kindness to me, and I am thankful to you for your willingness to be His instrument of blessing to me. I am praying for you too upon every remembrance of you. May God bless you abundantly with His love and many blessings!

♥ I thank God for answering your prayers for me and for strengthening me. I am better though not fully well yet. I am learning to wait patiently upon Him daily, assured of His love and unfailing mercies. I know in His time, He will restore me. Thank God that He draws me closer to Him through this affliction and enable to know afresh His unfailing love and mercies.

To God be the glory!

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

Warm Regards,
Nancie

Finding meaning in a life with bipolar disorder

2010-02-21T16:44:00.004+08:00

I took this picture at Changi Beach, Singapore.

Dear Friends,

Thanks for stopping by. Thanks for your prayers and encouragements. Thank God for His many mercies.

The stress and strain of preparing for Chinese New Year (on 14, 15 and 16 Feb) plus the family obligations related to it have drained me and worsened my depression over the last 1 week. I was very unwell the whole week and especially so yesterday. Last night I began to question the purpose of life and began wishing the Lord will take me home soon.

Thank God this morning the Lord strengthened me. I felt better and was able to go for my church's morning service. The Word of God sang and preached comforted me. I realized that the sense of life being meaningless and wishing to be gone, are signs of worsening depression. Whenever I am better or well, I do find life very meaningful and fulfilling in Christ as I walk with Him and serve Him and His people.

I am thankful that my medicine is helping me and I am preserved from prolonged severe depression which I used to experience for months for some 18 years prior to my diagnosis 3 years ago. Now my relapses are more manageable though it takes time to get well and careful management while waiting upon the Lord. Occasionally it takes a dip and I go very down, like last evening. Strain and stress does worsened my condition and it is a challenge daily for me to learn to manage them. I thank God for His many mercies. I know I would not have made it this far without the Lord holding me tightly. Thank God that we have our Lord Jesus Christ!

Today I was re-reading portions of a book written by Marja Bergen, one of my fellow blogger, entitled "A Firm Place to Stand: Finding meaning in a life with Bipolar Disorder". I was greatly encouraged by Marja's sharing of God's goodness and mercies to her, and His abundant love in her struggles with the ups and downs of bipolar disorder. I am comforted by the reminder that God is with us through the ups and downs of life, and He is working all things for His glory and our good, even through such illnesses as depression or bipolar. He has a plan for our lives and even this is working together towards His divine purposes.

Marja has also written the following very encouraging article on finding meaning in a life with bipolar disorder. Hope you will be encouraged by her sharing too.

Finding meaning in a life with bipolar disorder
by Marja Bergen

Mental illness is not all bad. I have lived with bipolar disorder for over forty years and have found it has many benefits. I couldn’t imagine living without it and am not at all unhappy with my life. In many ways, I value what this illness has made possible for me.

With effective medication to keep symptoms under control, people with bipolar disorder can live a close-to-normal life. Yes, moods will fluctuate and cause occasional problems, and treatment will need adjustment. Suffering will always be part of my life. But I accept the way God, the Great Potter, made me. I am rich on many levels.

Like many people with this disorder, I am very creative. I receive a lot of pleasure from photography and using my imagination. The deep emotions I experience, although painful, are a source of richness; I feel completely human. My frequent hard times have helped me appreciate the good times and I make the most of them. Spiritually, I’m stronger for having had to deal with great trials. The fires I’ve passed through have refined me.

Most of all, I appreciate the compassion I am able to have for others who suffer from depression and other mental health issues. Paul’s words in 2 Corinthians 1: 4 hold true for me. I praise God “who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received.” God has shown me his love, and I want to pass that love on to others.

Over the past few years, I’ve been fortunate to be part of a church community that has supported me and helped me grow spiritually. With the Christ-like love they have shown me, I have come to understand how great God’s love is. In turn, I now help others through a support group and one-on-one, in person and through my blog. I feel fulfilled. The language of suffering I’ve learned helps me connect with people in trouble. I am able to understand them in a way many others could not.

I feel a bit like Patch Adams in the Robyn Williams film. While Patch is a patient in a psychiatric hospital, he discovers his ability to connect with people. He learns to understand his severely disturbed roommate to see the person behind the illness and helps him through his problems. Not only does this delight Patch, it makes him a well man.

Patch eagerly tells his doctor he is well and needs to leave the hospital. I connected to another human being, he said. I want to do more of that. I want to learn about people. I want to help them with their troubles. I want to really listen to people. Connecting with other people gave Patch joy. It gives me joy, too. When God places you in this role a role he made for you joy happens. Walking with people through some of their toughest times is rewarding and a privilege.

Bipolar disorder will always be with me, and I suffer many high and low moods. But, I don’t feel I’m a victim of the disease. God has helped me find a way to make my illness work for me instead of against me.

‘For I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.’ (Jeremiah 29:11) God has a plan for each of us. Though we might have a severe illness such as bipolar disorder, God has work for us to do. Eventually, we can use what God has given us even the bad and turn it into something good.

Marja Bergen is the author of Riding the Roller Coaster: Living with Mood Disorders (Northstone, 1999) and a new book for Christians about living successfully with bipolar disorder (to appear). She is the founder of Living Room, a faith-based Mood Disorders Association of BC support group. Her blog, marjabergen.blogspot.com, deals with mental health and faith issues. She can be reached at info@candidsbymarja.com.

This article is published on the website of CanadianChristianity.com and reproduced here with the kind permission of Marja.

Take care and have a blessed week!

Warm Regards,
Nancie

Living with Depression: The story of Fred Friedman - his loss and recovery

2010-02-14T09:27:00.000+08:00

Recovery from Depression

Dear Friends,

Recently, I saw this encouraging video of a man, Fred Friedman, a former attorney who used to practice law who went through severe depression. He lost everything that mattered to him during a worst time of depression - he lost his wife of 24 years, his law profession of 20 years, and most of his possessions, including his home of 10 years.

Friedman spent five weeks in a mental hospital, ten months in a homeless shelter and more than a year in a nursing home. None of these placements helped him get better. Friedman’s recovery started with his move out of a nursing home and into an apartment, with the help of a social services agency.

Friedman has rebuilt his life with some help and he is now a leading mental health public policy expert in Illinois who can comment on a wide range of related public policy issues. His story of loss and recovery demonstrates how it is possible to rebuilt life and live a useful and purposeful life despite the illness, and even help others who are in the same dire need.

I am thankful to God for helping me to cope with living with depression and bipolar disorder in my own life.

It is sad that there is still such a terrible stigma, misunderstanding and ignorance concerning depression, bipolar disorder and other brain condition. As a result, many are suffering in silence and not seeking the helps that are available and able to help them live a more stable and functional life.

I am thankful that there are many helps available in this generation. Through the severe relapse in end 2006, I was led to seek medical and counselling help for the first time, besides praying and reading God's Words plus some other helps. I thank God that after so many years of roller coaster rides with extreme mood swings, I have finally understood the reason behind them. To know that I suffer from this medical condition, that it has a name for it, is helping me to learn to manage it better and live a more functional life.

Seeking early treatment is very crucial. Family and friends support is equally important. Here are some coping means that I have found useful in my own experience.

My Coping Strategies (14)

More resources about:

Thanks for stopping by! Take care and have a great week!

Warm regards,
Nancie

Taking a break due to relapse of clinical depression

2010-02-11T10:24:00.000+08:00

Dear Friends,

Thanks for your visits and prayers. I am taking a short break from blogging due to ill health.

I am down with a relapse of clinical depression. I think I have unknowingly overstrained myself. I am still learning to pace myself and it is not easy to manage this condition. I am looking to our Lord and hoping to return soon to resume communication with all of you.

I am thankful to God that with medical help, I am not as severely clinically depressed as I used to be in past years (I have experienced about 12 or so relapses over 20 years). Knowing that my condition is a medical condition also helps to remove false guilt. I know that my condition is not due to a lack of faith in God or scandalous sins. It is a thorn in my flesh which the Lord in His faithfulness has allowed for my sanctification and growth in Him, and in order too that I can be more useful in His Kingdom.

I am looking to our Lord daily and waiting upon Him for restoration. These few weeks are especially difficult because of some stressful and straining situations in my life. Please pray with me for grace and strength daily. Mornings are the worst part of the day for me. Thank God that there are pockets of time throughout the day which I am more functional and able to do some work as well as help my mother to prepare for Chinese New Year which falls on 14th and 15th February. Chinese New Year is the first day in the Chinese Calendar. My mother is very traditional and Chinese New Year means a lot to her. My siblings will be coming to visit us and we will be preparing meals for them. I am also doing much cleaning up these 2 weeks. My mother does not know of my condition as she will get very worried if she does. She is already very old and have many illnesses, so I can't let her know as it will affect her health. I need much grace from the Lord daily to conduct myself in such a way that will not worry her. Please with me for grace.

The Lord is good through all the changing scenes in life. It takes time to recover, and I am learning to wait patiently upon our loving and gracious Heavenly Father who is working all things for His glory and our good, and our Lord Who promised that His grace is sufficient for us.

Take care. May God bless and keep you.

Warm Regards,
Nancie

Relying upon God's Grace which is sufficient for us

2010-02-08T09:27:00.011+08:00

Dear Friends,

Thanks for stopping by.

Recently, the Lord has been reminding me that I live daily by His grace. Sometimes I feel so weak and so sensible of my many failings daily. I wonder how I can live for God's glory and be more useful in His Kingdom.

The Lord brought to my comfort and encouragement, through a devotion by Hoekstra, that it is found on relying upon His grace. I am sometimes preoccupied with my own ability and being sensible of my many weaknesses, I wonder how to live usefully for the Lord. But the focus of the Word of God is on His ability, not ours. I am a weak vessel but in the hands of an Almighty God Who is able to do exceeding abundantly! He Who loves me will keep me and give me the grace to live for Him and in Him daily.

"Our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace" (Dan_3:17).

"Therefore He is also able to save to the uttermost those who come to God through Him" (Heb_7:25).

"Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling" (Jud_1:24). "

Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think" (Eph_3:20).

When we rely upon the one who is able, God, we will experience His sanctifying grace abundantly in our lives. What a comfort and encouragement! Relying upon God Whose love is enduring and Whose mercies are new every morning gives me the courage to face each day, knowing that He is with me, and His grace is sufficient for me.

May this article encourage you too.

Access to Grace
Devotion by Hoekstra, 3 February

For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ . . . The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all . . . And God is able to make all grace abound toward you. (2Co_8:9, 2Co_9:8, and Rev_22:21)

We have seen that abundant grace is available from the Lord, not only for justification, but also for sanctification. Yet, how does a person access the sanctifying grace of God? How does one actually live day by day by grace? Soon, we will consider the two relational realities that God wants to develop in our lives that we might live daily by His grace.

First, a reminder of where that grace is, and the ability upon which it all depends. The grace we need is always found in a person, not a procedure. "For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ ."

Consequently, in order to access this grace, we must be seeking after the person in whom the grace resides. No wonder that many of the letters of the New Testament end with "The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all" (Rev_22:21).

Our God is not one who wastes words. He does not speak vainly. Nor does He stand on human formalities. These repetitious conclusions are an emphasis from the heart of God. When all is stated on any subject to any people, the ongoing need will ever be that they learn to live by the grace that is found in Jesus Christ.

Furthermore, upon whose ability does the grace of God depend? We so easily become preoccupied with our own ability. "Will I be able to please and serve God?" "Will I be able to be an effective witness?"

The focus of the word of God is on His ability, not ours. "Our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace" (Dan_3:17). "Therefore He is also able to save to the uttermost those who come to God through Him" (Heb_7:25). "Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling" (Jud_1:24). "Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think" (Eph_3:20).

Concerning grace we may even be thinking, "Will I be able to live by God's grace?" Again, God's ability is the issue, not ours. "And God is able to make all grace abound toward you." If we are willing to rely upon the one who is able, God, we will experience His sanctifying grace abundantly in our lives.

Prayer
Dear Lord, Teach me these great matters of access to Your grace. Remind me often that grace is found in Jesus. I confess my tendency to explain the Christian life by a formula, instead of by a person. Help me to remember that living by grace depends upon Your matchless ability. I admit my inclination to hope in my inept ability. So, Lord, I now look to You to abundantly pour out Your grace upon my life, through Christ Jesus, my Lord, Amen.

Thanks for stopping by. Take care and have a blessed week.

Warm regards,
Nancie

Our unchanging God...

2010-02-01T14:58:00.002+08:00

I took this picture at Hort Park, Singapore

Dear Friends,

Thanks for stopping by. Thank God for seeing us through another week.

This morning, I was pondering over the great changes between my thoughts, feelings and actions in the different phases of my mood swings - manic and depression. Whenever I am well or manic, I am filled with the joy of the Lord, have more energy, more creativity and enjoy relating to people and doing things, and able to accomplish much for the Lord and for others. Whenever I am unwell or in clinical depression, I am the total opposite - so miserable from the time I wake up until the time I go to bed, so slowed down and exhausted that I have no energy to do anything, can hardly get up of my bed, my mind is so empty and unable to focus that I can't get anything done properly, hate to relate to people and just want to be alone. How terribly inconsistent are my behaviours! I must have confused lots of people around me! Thankfully some of them are beginning to understand that with bipolar disorder (manic-depressive illness), some of these things are beyond my control. I am trying, by God's grace, to manage this condition better but it is not easy. I do get discouraged at times in the difficulties of managing this condition.

The Lord reminded me that as frail creatures in a fallen world, we are always changing, all the time. So it is not just with bipolar disorder that I experience so much changes, even a normal person experience changes daily, though not as dramatically as I do. The Lord brings this Psalm to my remembrance:

Psalm 102
11 My days are like a shadow that declineth; and I am withered like grass.
12 But thou, O LORD, shalt endure for ever; and thy remembrance unto all generations.
27 But thou art the same, and thy years shall have no end.

Hebrews 13:8
Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever.

Knowing how weak and inconsistent I am, I am learning to look to the Lord daily for grace to live for Him. I realized that I also need to lower my expectation of myself and others as we are forever changing and have many limitations.

I am reminded that though I am always changing and so are the people and circumstances around me, God is unchanging. The Lord is the same yesterday, today and forever. I can rest in His love, mercies, grace and faithfulness. What a mercy and encouragement!

I like the ways Spurgeon put it "The Christian knows no change with regard to God. He may be rich to-day and poor to-morrow; he may be sickly to-day and well to-morrow; he may be in happiness to-day, to-morrow he may be distressed—but there is no change with regard to his relationship to God. If He loved me yesterday, He loves me to-day. My unmoving mansion of rest is my blessed Lord." Amen! Thank God that His love is unchanging :)

Hope this article by CH Spurgeon will encourage you just like the way it has encouraged me.

“Thou hast made the Lord, which is my refuge, even the Most High, thy habitation.”
Psalm 91:9

THE Israelites in the wilderness were continually exposed to change.

Whenever the pillar stayed its motion, the tents were pitched; but to-morrow, ere the morning sun had risen, the trumpet sounded, the ark was in motion, and the fiery, cloudy pillar was leading the way through the narrow defiles of the mountain, up the hillside, or along the arid waste of the wilderness.

They had scarcely time to rest a little before they heard the sound of “Away! this is not your rest; you must still be onward journeying towards Canaan!” They were never long in one place. Even wells and palm trees could not detain them. Yet they had an abiding home in their God, His cloudy pillar was their roof-tree, and its flame by night their household fire.

They must go onward from place to place, continually changing, never having time to settle, and to say, “Now we are secure; in this place we shall dwell.” “Yet,” says Moses, “though we are always changing, Lord, thou hast been our dwelling-place throughout all generations.”

The Christian knows no change with regard to God. He may be rich to-day and poor to-morrow; he may be sickly to-day and well to-morrow; he may be in happiness to-day, to-morrow he may be distressed—but there is no change with regard to his relationship to God.

If He loved me yesterday, He loves me to-day. My unmoving mansion of rest is my blessed Lord.

Let prospects be blighted; let hopes be blasted; let joy be withered; let mildews destroy everything; I have lost nothing of what I have in God. He is “my strong habitation whereunto I can continually resort.”

I am a pilgrim in the world, but at home in my God. In the earth I wander, but in God I dwell in a quiet habitation.

Taken from CH Spurgeon's Morning and Evening, 27 Feb, Morning

Hope you enjoy the reading of Psalm 102:

Thank you for stopping by. Take care and have a blessed week!

Warm regards,
Nancie

God is our Refuge and Strength.... Psalm 46:1

2010-01-21T09:55:00.007+08:00

Dear Friends,

How are you?

Thank God for seeing us through another week. How time flies! It's almost a month has gone by in year 2010!

I am thankful to God for strengthening me day by day. I am still learning to pace myself. My health fluctuates from time to time, and I am learning to rest in our Lord and His grace and strength daily.

Thank God that recently He strengthens me and enable me once again to visit some sick and elderly people who come to my church or who are home-bound. It is always a joy to visit these dear grandpa and grandma, to see their faith in the Lord and to encourage them to continue to look to God. Thank God for giving me the joy of walking with Him and serving Him in little ways like these.

I have also been kept very occupied with some freelance work to earn a living. Been also helping my church with some volunteer work besides caring for my mother.

The Chinese New Year is coming soon in Singapore on the 14th of February. It is the first day of the Chinese Calendar. The Chinese has our own Calendar and New Year. One of my brothers will be coming from overseas to visit my mum and I. So will my sister and her family. I am looking forward to see them again. They are all non-believers. Please pray with me for their salvation. Thank you.

Thank God that He is our Refuge and Strength daily and He has promised that He will never leave us nor forsake us. No matter what we go through in this life, we can have the blessed assurance of His love and His presence with us. And He in His mercies and faithfulness is working all things for His glory and our good.

I am thankful that through this bipolar disorder illness, God has given me the gift and talent to serve Him whenever I am well or a little manic. I have more energy and are more creative. This blog is one of the result of my manic. I build this blog about 2 years ago when I was recovering from a relapse of severe depression and was becoming a little manic.

Now I am not able to blog as regularly as in time past due to my various commitments. But this blog has been a great blessing to me not only in allowing me to share my journey of walking with our Lord and coping with bipolar disorder and other challenges in my life, but also it has enabled me to help others or their loved ones who are struggling with depression or bipolar disorder. Another great blessing is to get to know so many of you who loves God and are seeking to walk with Him despite whatever afflictions, trials or chronic illness you are going through. Your friendship and prayers have been such blessings to me, and I am learning so much from all of you, especially how to be thankful in everything as we are under the care of such a Great God.

Thank you for stopping by. I took this picture at East Coast Beach, Singapore. These are 2 of my favourite Bible verses. Hope you like it too.

God is our refuge and strength....Psalm 46:1

....for He hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee. Hebrews 13:5

What are you thankful for today? Thankful Thursday is hosted by Lynn. Thanks, Lynn! Do visit the other participants and be encouraged by their thanksgiving to God too.

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

Warm Regards,
Nancie