05 December 2024

God is our Protector : The Lord mighty in battle. (Psalm 24:8)


I took this photo at a flowers exhibition more than 10 years ago.

Dear Reader, 

Thank you for stopping by.

I would like to share with you the following encouraging writing by CH Spurgeon in his devotional "Morning and Evening" for 3 Dec, Evening, that I read:

"The Lord mighty in battle." Psalm 24:8

Well may our God be glorious in the eyes of his people, seeing that he has wrought such wonders for them, in them, and by them. 

For them, the Lord Jesus upon Calvary routed every foe, breaking all the weapons of the enemy in pieces by his finished work of satisfactory obedience; by his triumphant resurrection and ascension he completely overturned the hopes of hell, leading captivity captive, making a show of our enemies openly, triumphing over them by his cross. 

Every arrow of guilt which Satan might have shot at us is broken, for who can lay anything to the charge of God's elect? 

Vain are the sharp swords of infernal malice, and the perpetual battles of the serpent's seed, for in the midst of the church the lame take the prey, and the feeblest warriors are crowned.

The saved may well adore their Lord for his conquests in them, since the arrows of their natural hatred are snapped, and the weapons of their rebellion broken. 

What victories has grace won in our evil hearts! 

How glorious is Jesus when the will is subdued, and sin dethroned! 

As for our remaining corruptions, they shall sustain an equally sure defeat, and every temptation, and doubt, and fear, shall be utterly destroyed. 

In the Salem of our peaceful hearts, the name of Jesus is great beyond compare: he has won our love, and he shall wear it. 

Even thus securely may we look for victories by us. 

We are more than conquerors through him that loved us. 

We shall cast down the powers of darkness which are in the world, by our faith, and zeal, and holiness; we shall win sinners to Jesus, we shall overturn false systems, we shall convert nations, for God is with us, and none shall stand before us. 

This evening let the Christian warrior chant the war song, and prepare for to-morrow's fight. 

Greater is he that is in us than he that is in the world.
The full verse is:
"Who is this King of glory? The Lord strong and mighty, the Lord mighty in battle." Psalm 24:8
(Excerpts from: CH Spurgeon, Morning and Evening, 3 December, Evening. The paragraphing are mine.)
Thank you for stopping by.  Have a blessed day! 

If you are in Singapore, please come and visit my Church, Pilgrim Covenant Church, for worship and fellowship: https://pilgrim-covenant.com/

Details for worship services:  https://pilgrim-covenant.com/#view-2-service

Or you can join us online for Morning and Evening worship services: https://pilgrim-covenant.com/join-us/online-links/


Best Regards,
Nancie 
3 December 2024

If you are in Singapore, please come and visit my Church, Pilgrim Covenant Church, for worship and fellowship: https://pilgrim-covenant.com/

Details for worship services:  https://pilgrim-covenant.com/#view-2-service

Or you can join us online for Morning and Evening worship services: https://pilgrim-covenant.com/join-us/online-links/

29 October 2024

Photography and Bible Verse : Psalm 36:5 "Thy mercy, O Lord, is in the heavens; and thy faithfulness reacheth unto the clouds."

Dear Reader,

Thank you for stopping by. Photography is one of my hobby and it is therapeutic to me to express the creativity side of me and my bipolar disorder.

I like to put encouraging Bible verses unto photos which I took myself. 

I took this photo and put Psalm 36 verse 5 on it. Psalm 36:5 is one of my favorite Bible verse as it reminds me of God's mercies and faithfulness. "Thy mercy, O Lord, is in the heavens; and thy faithfulness reacheth unto the clouds." (King James Version / KJV).



May God enables you to know His mercies and love through the changing scenes in your life.

Thank you for stopping by. Have a blessed day! 

Best Regards
Nancie
29 October 2024

If you are in Singapore, please come and visit my Church, Pilgrim Covenant Church, for worship and fellowship: https://pilgrim-covenant.com/

Details for worship services:  https://pilgrim-covenant.com/#view-2-service

Or you can join us online for Morning and Evening worship services: https://pilgrim-covenant.com/join-us/online-links/

28 October 2024

Coping Skills for Bipolar Disorder

Dear Friends, 

Thanks for stopping by. 

Thanks for your prayers and encouragements. Thank God for sustaining and strengthening me daily. I am still experiencing fatigue and tiredness. 

I am looking to God daily and continuing to learn to pace myself. I have been doing exercise regularly and cut down on some activities. 

I am not able to do active blogging but hope to post some helpful resources that can encourage and help you and my readers. I do missed all of you very much and you are in my thoughts and prayers! 

I found a helpful article on Coping Skills for Bipolar Disorder and thought it might be useful to you and some of my readers. Bipolar disorder, also known as manic-depressive illness, is a brain disorder that causes unusual shifts in a person's mood, energy, and ability to function. 

Different from the normal ups and downs that everyone goes through, the symptoms of bipolar disorder are severe. They can result in damaged relationships, poor job or school performance, and even suicide. But there is good news: bipolar disorder can be treated, and people with this illness can lead full and productive lives. 

From my personal experiences, I have found that it is important to accept the reality of my condition, to learn to understand the limitations as well as the advantages of it, to learn to manage it and live a productive life, by the grace of God, through all the resources that are available. I am thankful to God that since my diagnosis, He has provided me with many helps and resources to many my condition and my condition is under better control. He is enabling me to live a meaningful and productive life despite various limitations of my condition. I look forward to each day that I can walk with God and serve Him, and His people. The following article is taken from the website of Bipolar Focus:
Coping Skills for Bipolar Disorder

Step-by-Step Coping:

  1. Find a good doctor
  2. Become an expert
  3. Manage your illness
    • mood charting - what it is and why it's helpful
    • managing medications
    • a healthy lifestyle helps recovery
  4. Plan for a crisis
  5. Find a community
    • United States Support Organizations
    • Online Support Groups and Newsgroups
    • International Support Organizations
  6. Practical matters - work, school, and federal aid issues
  7. Other Resources - coping with mania, depression, and life with bipolar disorder

When we give lists of symptoms and medications for people with bipolar disorder, the entire thing can seem disarmingly simple. But anyone who has been there knows that there is nothing simple about accepting and living with a chronic illness, and it's just as important to address the emotional and practical issues of bipolar as it is to know the diagnostic criteria and treatment guidelines. Those with other chronic diseases like diabetes, cystic fibrosis, or multiple sclerosis go through a similar process of grieving, accepting, learning, and adapting - and through this, begin healing and recovery.

A helpful outline to guide a healing and recovery journey is described in the acronym TEAR:

T = to accept the reality of loss. There are things that will be different after a diagnosis of bipolar, and it's important to recognize these things rather than denying or hiding them.

E = experience the pain of the loss. You are allowed to grieve what you feel has been lost with the onset of this disease, both from your own life and the lives of others. You are allowed to mourn previous goals and aspirations that must be altered to this new reality.

A = adjust to the new environment without what was lost. Whatever was lost with your diagnosis doesn't constitute the whole of your person. The core of you is still the same, and knowing about your illness now allows you to re-adapt to this new context of life.

R = reinvest in the new reality. Explore, create, engage, and live as the person you are, managing your own life and your illness as part of that life.

Below are some articles and resources that we hope will help you in your own life.

1) Find a good doctor.

Even if you already have your diagnosis, your doctor will be your ally and partner in treatment and recovery. It's important to have a doctor you can speak openly with, who will listen to you as an equal and acknowledge your expertise on your own body, who will offer helpful suggestions and be invested in your recovery. Below are some resources on what to look for in a good psychiatrist and/or health care provider, and how to find one in your area.

  • The Patient-Doctor Relationship: The Good, The Bad, and the Ugly - signs of each kind of relationship, and advice from someone who has experience as a psychiatric health care consumer.
  • Mental Health Professionals: Who They Are and How to Find One - article provided by NAMI.
  • Contact your local NAMI chapter or another support group, and ask people in the area who has provided quality care for them in the past. Ask family members, friends, other doctors, and anyone else who has had personal experience who they recommend as health care providers.
  • A Bipolar Specialist Referral Database - provided and maintained by the Harvard Bipolar Research Program
  • The Best U.S. Psychiatrists for Mood Disorders - names and contact info compiled (and kept current) by Dr. Ivan Goldberg, a psychiatrist and clinical psychopharmacologist in private practice in New York City.

2) Become an Expert.

Putting a name to what used to be a vague collection of debilitating symptoms puts you in control. Knowing your disease as intimately as you can gives you the tools to manage it effectively, rather than it managing you. It can also make your situation seem much less frightening when you can understand and recognize what is happening in your own body. Here are some resources to get you started.

  • What Is Mental Illness? - it is not a choice, a weakness, a failing, or a sign of immorality. It is a biological disease based in the brain. This information from the American Psychiatric Association gives an introductory look.
  • Manic Depressive Disorders and Schizophrenia are Diseases of the Brain - an introduction to the evidence, with references.
  • Guide to Depression and Bipolar Disorder (PDF) - an easy-to-read pamphlet provided by the Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance.
  • Understanding Bipolar Disorder - a comprehensive, 24-page information booklet provided by NAMI.
  • What Causes Mood Disorders? - a short, understandable explanation of the brain chemistry that underlies mood disorders.
  • Excellent books - a list of essential reading about bipolar disorder and mental illness [coming soon].

3) Manage your Illness - mood charting and meds.

One of the best coping strategies, suggested by professionals and patients alike, is using a mood chart to track your own episodes and symptoms. A mood chart can be a preventative tool to help identify early warning signs for relapse, a record for physicians and family to help assess the efficacy of different medications and treatments, and a therapeutic tool to organize a person's daily routine and improve awareness of the illness.

The simplest method of mood charting is rating your mood (at the same time each day) on a scale of 1-10, with one being very depressed and ten being absolutely elated. A good place to keep a record is on a wall calendar or in a daily diary. Other methods involve more elaborate charts, and a more detailed rating scale (see the links below). Some people work better with graphs, others with numbers, others with writing lists of words or paragraphs to describe their feelings. The overall goal of the charts is to have a reliable and consistent record of how greatly your moods flucuate over a period of time, so develop the method that is easiest for you to achieve this goal.

  • Mood charting resources:
    • The Mood Diary - gives an explanation of how to use the mood chart, and has a blank and a completed example available for downloading (pdf files).
    • A Mood Chart System - a patient describes how he developed a personal system that worked for him, including examples.
    • Mood Charting for Children - the Child & Adolescent Bipolar Foundation provides examples and resources for charting your child's moods, and eventually helping him/her to track it themselves.

Another excellent coping strategy is learning how to manage your medications effectively. The first thing to do is know about what you are taking - ask your psychiatrist what symptoms your medication is treating, how long it might take to work, how much and how often you should take it, what you should do if you miss a dose, what side effects you might have and what you can do about them, and anything else that is on your mind. Keep track of your own medication information - names, dosages, how it makes you feel, what symptoms it makes better or worse - in a journal or diary. Having this information will help both you and your doctor find the medication regimen that works the best for you, and allow you to adjust it effectively as needed.

It can be an extremely frustrating trial-and-error process to finally find a medication that works for you. Please be patient and give the medications adequate time to do their job. Most people won't feel better right away - it can take four to six weeks for a drug to get into your system and start noticeably helping. In the meantime, you can help yourself by trying some of the suggestions on this page, or finding a support group to help you through difficult times. By all means work with your psychiatrist to switch medications if you are unhappy with your current one; however, try to be realistic about what medications can and can't do, and consider the relative benefits of staying on one versus trying to adjust to a brand-new one.

Simplify your medications as much as possible by putting them in separated daily pill boxes (you can purchase pill organizers with seven separate compartments, one for each day of the week), taking them at the same time each day, or taking them with a daily vitamin pill or something else that you do religiously. If you have a lot of trouble remembering, ask family members/roommates to help, or ask your doctor about the possibility of switching to long-acting injectable medications instead of pills.

Help your medication do their job by keeping healthy habits in your daily life.

  • A reliable sleep routine is especially important for people with mood disorders - research shows that not getting enough sleep can bring on a manic episode.
  • Making sure you get all your daily nutrients and vitamins - especially omega-3 fatty acids, which have been shown to help relieve the symptoms of psychiatric disorders - will keep you feeling better and more stable.
  • Daily exercise will help your mood during a depression, will add structure to your day to help avoid mania, and will keep you looking and feeling better and healthier.
  • More resources:
    • Download Healthy Lifestyles (pdf file) - a brochure provided by the National Depressive and Manic-Depressive Association
    • Bipolar Disorder Self Care - information on eating/sleeping/exercise habits, getting adequate nutrition, reducing stress, and avoiding relapse
    • A Healthy Lifestyle Approach - tips and info from the Organization for Bipolar Affective Disorders Society (Canada)

4) Plan For a Crisis

Your mood charts (see above) will help you recognize what particular symptoms or behaviors tend to precede a manic or a depressive episode. Having a plan ready for relapse situations will help you get the care you need, and make sure other practical matters are taken care of, even if you are in a place where you can't effectively make decisions. One of the most difficult aspects of bipolar to deal with is the seductiveness of mania - many people don't seek help during a manic episode because they are feeling on top of the world. However, even though they can't recognize it, they still present a danger to themselves or others via reckless acts, excessive spending, uncontrollable behavior, etc.

You can take some precautionary steps while you are stable to help get through a crisis situation as smoothly as possible. Put the following information (along with anything else that might be helpful) into a "crisis plan" folder, and distribute it to your doctor, your family members, and other trusted people who can help you.

  • Make a list of people you trust (close family members, friends in the area, etc) who know about your disease and are willing to help you. Have their names and phone numbers together on a "crisis alert list"
  • List the names and contact info of your psychiatrist, general practitioner, case worker, or any other professional that helps you manage your illness.
  • Write out the particular signs that indicate a manic or a depressive episode, to help others recognize when you need help. (See some of the early warning signs compiled by bipolarsurvivor.com to use as a guide in making your list).
  • Make another list of all your medications, what dose you take, and what side effects you experience. Note any medications you are allergic to or do not want to take under whatever circumstances.
  • Leave directions for the care of your house, your pets, your plants, etc., in case you are hospitalized.
  • Write down your insurance plan information
  • Leave the names and numbers of family members and/or employers that need to be contacted in case of an emergency or an extended hospital stay.
  • Leave any detailed instructions of what kind of care you do and do not want to recieve if you are unable to make your own decisions (the legal document for this is called a psychiatric advanced directive).

5) Find a Community

Having a supportive community is important for anyone, but particularly for someone dealing with a chronic illness. A support group of friends and peers can relate to what you go through like no one else can, offer support or a sympathetic ear, and give practical advice and solutions for difficulties as they come up. For the times when you are not feeling particularly social, an online discussion group or chatroom is a great option to keep yourself connected with others.

National U.S. support groups for people who have mood disorders:

  • Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance - a comprehensive website w/ information, resources, advocacy materials, and a database of local chapters
  • National Alliance for the Mentally Ill - free education programs and support groups in every state for patients and family members
  • Children and Adolescent Bipolar Foundation - a comprehensive database with support orgs/chapters for every U.S. state. Also has online chatrooms and discussion boards
  • Locate Regional Mental Health Services and Support Groups with a national database provided by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration

6) Practical Matters - work, school, and federal aid issues:

  • How does a mental illness affect the way I function at school?
  • Documenting your disability for an educational institution - recieve the resources and support you are entitled to
  • Disclosing your Disability to an Employer - this is a personal choice and NOT required by law. This article outlines the pros and cons of both options.
  • Handling your Psychiatric Disability at Work and School - lots of articles and links from the Center for Psychiatric Rehabilitation in Boston.
  • What is Supplemental Security Income (SSI)?
  • FAQs, advices, and articles about disability benefits - lots of information for most every situation.

7) Other Resources - coping with mania, depression, and life with bipolar disorder:

  • Dealing Effectively with Manic-Depression (pdf) - an excellent pamphlet for patients from the Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance.
  • How to avoid a manic episode
  • 10 things to remember when you are manic
  • 10 things to remember when you are depressed
  • Should I take therapy or pills? - thoughts from someone with manic-depression
  • Ideas for coping - advice from someone with manic-depression
  • Myths about mental illness - good things for anyone to know, and occasionally remind themselves of.
Take care and hope you have a great weekend!

   
  My friend took this lovely picture at Saipan. This is one of my favourite verse:

"Cause me to hear thy lovingkindness in the morning; for in thee do I trust:Psalm 143:8

Warm Regards,
Nancie
(First posted on 9 March 2009)

If you are in Singapore, please come and visit my Church, Pilgrim Covenant Church, for worship and fellowship: https://pilgrim-covenant.com/

Details for worship services:  https://pilgrim-covenant.com/#view-2-service

Or you can join us online for Morning and Evening worship services: https://pilgrim-covenant.com/join-us/online-links/

14 October 2024

The joy of knowing the Lord Jesus Christ as my Saviour and Lord

Dear Reader,

Thank you for stopping by. It is raining heavily here in Singapore. Thank God for a cool morning. :-)

During my personal devotion time (quiet time) this morning, I read the following very comforting and encouraging devotional by Charles Haddon Spurgeon's Morning and Evening, 14 October, Morning.

I am reminded of the great privilege and joy God has given to me, in saving me from the eternal condemnations of sins, through the death of the Lord Jesus Christ on the cross where He shed His blood to redeem me and all His people. By the Lord's resurrection, He had reconciled me with God. May the Lord help me to grow to love Him and His Words more and more each day, to glorify Him in my life and to continue to rejoice in Him daily.

If you too are a Christian, may the devotional below, encourage you too. If you have not trusted in the Lord Jesus Christ yet, it is my prayer that you will seek Him and know His saving grace.
"I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord." Philippians 3:8

Spiritual knowledge of Christ will be a personal knowledge. I cannot know Jesus through another person's acquaintance with him. 

No, I must know him myself; I must know him on my own account. 

It will be an intelligent knowledge--I must know him, not as the visionary dreams of him, but as the Word reveals him. 

I must know his natures, divine and human. I must know his offices--his attributes--his works--his shame--his glory.

I must meditate upon him until I "comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; and know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge." 

It will be an affectionate knowledge of him; indeed, if I know him at all, I must love him. An ounce of heart knowledge is worth a ton of head learning. 

Our knowledge of him will be a satisfying knowledge. When I know my Saviour, my mind will be full to the brim--I shall feel that I have that which my spirit panted after. "This is that bread whereof if a man eat he shall never hunger." 

At the same time it will be an exciting knowledge; the more I know of my Beloved, the more I shall want to know. The higher I climb the loftier will be the summits which invite my eager footsteps. I shall want the more as I get the more. Like the miser's treasure, my gold will make me covet more. 

To conclude; this knowledge of Christ Jesus will be a most happy one; in fact, so elevating, that sometimes it will completely bear me up above all trials, and doubts, and sorrows; and it will, while I enjoy it, make me something more than "Man that is born of woman, who is of few days, and full of trouble"; for it will fling about me the immortality of the ever living Saviour, and gird me with the golden girdle of his eternal joy. 

Come, my soul, sit at Jesus's feet and learn of him all this day.
Full verse:
"Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ," Philippians 3:8

(Excerpts from: CH Spurgeon, Morning and Evening, 14 October, Morning. The paragraphing are mine.)

To read Online:

To listen Online:

Thank you for stopping by. Have a blessed day! 

Best Regards
Nancie
14 October 2024

If you are in Singapore, please come and visit my Church, Pilgrim Covenant Church, for worship and fellowship: https://pilgrim-covenant.com/

Details for worship services:  https://pilgrim-covenant.com/#view-2-service

Or you can join us online for Morning and Evening worship services: https://pilgrim-covenant.com/join-us/online-links/

02 October 2024

Comforts and Encouragements Even amidst the Storms of Life

Dear Reader,

Thank you for stopping by. Below, is a very encouraging prayer that my friend shared with me. The prayer is quoted from a Devotional "Even amidst the storms of life!" on the website of Grace Gems. 

This prayer is very encouraging and comforting to me. It reminds me of the love of God for His beloved people who are redeemed by the precious blood of the Lord Jesus Christ, and His sovereignty in their life no matter what happens to them or whatever they are going through in the various changing scenes of their life. The Lord Jesus loves His people with an everlasting love and is faithfully working all things to His own glory and the good of His beloved people.

May God use this prayer and the devotional to encourage and comfort you, and for your eternal good. If you are facing difficulties and your are hurting, grieving and or in pain, may God comforts you through His Words and this devotional by Grace Gems. 

If you are not a Christian yet, may God use His Words and this Devotional to lead you to seek after the Lord Jesus, to know His saving gra, to love Him and experience His lovingkindness, tender mercies and unfailing sovereignty through the changing scenes in your life. 
"Heavenly Father,
Help me to trust in Thy unerring wisdom in all things. Remind me that Thy ways are higher than my ways, and that every situation I face is under Thy sovereign control. When I feel beaten down and discouraged, help me to meditate on Thy precious promises, and find peace in the knowledge that Thou art indeed working all things for my soul's benefit. May I learn to embrace whatever Thou ordain for me, knowing that all is for Thy glory, and my eternal good. In Jesus' name, Amen." 
The above prayer is quoted from a Devotional "Even amidst the storms of life!" on the website of Grace Gems foe 22 September 2024. It is under the category of  Puritan Devotional. The Scriptures are from Ephesians 1:3-4; Romans 8:28. 

"3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ: 4 According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love:" Ephesians 1:3-4 
"And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose." Romans 8:28
To read the whole devotional and other devotionals on Grace Gems Website:


To listen to the audio Reading of this devotional article Online or Download it:


Thank you for stopping by. Have a blessed day! 

Best Regards
Nancie
2 October 2024

If you are in Singapore, please come and visit my Church, Pilgrim Covenant Church, for worship and fellowship: https://pilgrim-covenant.com/

Details for worship services:  https://pilgrim-covenant.com/#view-2-service

Or you can join us online for Morning and Evening worship services: https://pilgrim-covenant.com/join-us/online-links/

28 September 2024

Lesson on Gratefulness : Short video in Thai language with English subtitles. Must watch!

Dear Reader,

Thank you for stopping by!

Today, I woul like to share with you a Video in Thai language with subtitles in English. This is a very touching, heartwarming and encouraging Thai short story about a son, who is a Teacher, and his grateful love and care for his mother with Alzheimer, who gave birth to him and took care of him when he was a child. His actions became lessons and influences his students' life and also touched their parents heart. This is a video on gratefulness to mothers. 

Thank God for giving me and my siblings a very caring and kind mother. She was a housewife all the days of her life. She always put her children's need above her own needs. She taught us many precious lessons on life. She was very friendly to people around her, even when she met strangers. They remember her fondly and always very happy to see her. 

On 8 November 2015 my beloved mother was taken Home to be with her Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ at the age of 75 after 5 months of battle with metastic colon cancer that had extended to her liver and lung. 

On her tomb stone, it was inscribed the Bible verse from Psalm 23:6 "Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever." This verse in Chinese Mandarin Bible was also included "我 一 生 一 世 必 有 恩 惠 慈 爱 随 着 我 ; 我 且 要 住 在 耶 和 华 的 殿 中 , 直 到 永 远." 诗篇 23:6, Chinese Union Version (Traditional). 

Truly, with the Lords Jesus Christ as her Shepherd, she had been the recipient of His goodness and mercy all the days of my life and now I dwelling in the house of the Lord for ever to praise Him together with the Lord's beloved people in Heaven. 

I missed her very much and thankful to the Lord Jesus Christ for saving her out of darkness into His marvellous light. By the grace of God, I hope that one day I will see her again in glory! Thank God for His tender mercies and lovingkindness. To God be the glory!
 
May the following short video be a blessing and encouragement to you on the lesson of gratefulness to parents.

If you are in Singapore, please come and visit my Church, Pilgrim Covenant Church, for worship and fellowship: https://pilgrim-covenant.com/

Details for worship services:  https://pilgrim-covenant.com/#view-2-service

Or you can join us online for Morning and Evening worship services: https://pilgrim-covenant.com/join-us/online-links/

Thank you for stopping by. Have a blessed day! 

Best Regards
Nancie
(28 September 2024)

19 September 2024

The great Promises of God in His Words, the Bible, for comfort and encouragement in Christian life

Dear Reader,

Thank you for stopping by. Below, is a sharing from a very comforting and encouraging excerpts taken from the Devotional by Charles Haddon Spurgeon's Morning and Evening, 19 September, Morning.

May God encouraged and comfort you too as He guide you through the various changing scenes in your life. If you are facing difficulties and your are hurting, grieving and or in pain, may God comforts you through His Words and this devotional by CH Spurgeon:

"Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage." Galatians 5:1 (KJV Bible, King James Bible)

This "liberty" makes us free to heaven's charter--the Bible. 

Here is a choice passage, believer, "When thou passest through the rivers, I will be with thee." You are free to that. 

Here is another: "The mountains shall depart, and the hills be removed, but my kindness shall not depart from thee"; you are free to that. 

You are a welcome guest at the table of the promises. Scripture is a never-failing treasury filled with boundless stores of grace. It is the bank of heaven; you may draw from it as much as you please, without let or hindrance. 

Come in faith and you are welcome to all covenant blessings. There is not a promise in the Word which shall be withheld. In the depths of tribulations let this freedom comfort you; amidst waves of distress let it cheer you; when sorrows surround thee let it be thy solace. This is thy Father's love-token; thou art free to it at all times. 

Thou art also free to the throne of grace. It is the believer's privilege to have access at all times to his heavenly Father. Whatever our desires, our difficulties, our wants, we are at liberty to spread all before him. It matters not how much we may have sinned, we may ask and expect pardon. It signifies nothing how poor we are, we may plead his promise that he will provide all things needful. We have permission to approach his throne at all times--in midnight's darkest hour, or in noontide's most burning heat. Exercise thy right, O believer, and live up to thy privilege. 

Thou art free to all that is treasured up in Christ--wisdom, righteousness, sanctification, and redemption. It matters not what thy need is, for there is fulness of supply in Christ, and it is there for thee. 

O what a "freedom" is thine! freedom from condemnation, freedom to the promises, freedom to the throne of grace, and at last freedom to enter heaven!
To read Online:

To listen Online:

If you are in Singapore, please come and visit my Church, Pilgrim Covenant Church, for worship and fellowship: https://pilgrim-covenant.com/

Details for worship services:  https://pilgrim-covenant.com/#view-2-service

Or you can join us online for Morning and Evening worship services: https://pilgrim-covenant.com/join-us/online-links/


Thank you for stopping by. Have a blessed day! 

Best Regards
Nancie
(19 September 2024)

16 September 2024

Finding comfort and encouragement in difficult time

Dear Reader,

Thank you for stopping by. Thank God for His tender mercies and lovingkindness in my life. Below, is my sharing from a very comforting and encouraging excerpts taken from the Devotional by Charles Haddon Spurgeon's Morning and Evening, 15 September, Morning.

May God encouraged and comfort you too as He guide you through the various changing scenes in your life. If you are facing difficulties and your are hurting, grieving and or in pain, may God comforts you through His Words and this devotional by CH Spurgeon:

"He shall not be afraid of evil tidings." Psalm 112:7

Christian, you ought not to dread the arrival of evil tidings; because if you are distressed by them, what do you more than other men? Other men have not your God to fly to; they have never proved his faithfulness as you have done, and it is no wonder if they are bowed down with alarm and cowed with fear: 

But you profess to be of another spirit; you have been begotten again unto a lively hope, and your heart lives in heaven and not on earthly things; now, if you are seen to be distracted as other men, what is the value of that grace which you profess to have received? Where is the dignity of that new nature which you claim to possess?

Again, if you should be filled with alarm, as others are, you would, doubtless, be led into the sins so common to others under trying circumstances. The ungodly, when they are overtaken by evil tidings, rebel against God; they murmur, and think that God deals hardly with them. Will you fall into that same sin? Will you provoke the Lord as they do?

Moreover, unconverted men often run to wrong means in order to escape from difficulties, and you will be sure to do the same if your mind yields to the present pressure. 

Trust in the Lord, and wait patiently for him. Your wisest course is to do as Moses did at the Red Sea, "Stand still and see the salvation of God." 

For if you give way to fear when you hear of evil tidings, you will be unable to meet the trouble with that calm composure which nerves for duty, and sustains under adversity. 

How can you glorify God if you play the coward? 

Saints have often sung God's high praises in the fires, but will your doubting and desponding, as if you had none to help you, magnify the Most High? 

Then take courage, and relying in sure confidence upon the faithfulness of your covenant God, "let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid."

(Excerpts from: CH Spurgeon, Morning and Evening, 15 September, Morning)

To read Online:

To listen Online:

If you are in Singapore, please come and visit my Church, Pilgrim Covenant Church, for worship and fellowship: https://pilgrim-covenant.com/

Details for worship services:  https://pilgrim-covenant.com/#view-2-service

Or you can join us online for Morning and Evening worship services: https://pilgrim-covenant.com/join-us/online-links/


Thank you for stopping by. Have a blessed day! 

Best Regards
Nancie
(16 September 2024)

03 July 2024

Prayer Answered by Crosses By John Newton

Dear Reader,

Thanks for stopping by. The following poem is very true in the life of a Christian! God answers prayers by sanctifying him/her. 

Prayer Answered by Crosses
By John Newton

I asked the Lord that I might grow 

In faith and love and every grace, 

Might more of his salvation know, 

And seek more earnestly his face.

’Twas he who taught me thus to pray; 

And he, I trust, has answered prayer; 

But it has been in such a way 

As almost drove me to despair.

I hoped that, in some favoured hour, 

At once he’d answer my request, 

And by his love’s constraining power 

Subdue my sins, and give me rest.

Instead of this, he made me feel 

The hidden evils of my heart, 

And let the angry powers of hell 

Assault my soul in every part.

Yea, more, with his own hand he seemed
Intent to aggravate my woe, 

Crossed all the fair designs I schemed, 

Blasted my gourds, and laid me low.

Lord, why is this? I trembling cried; 

Wilt thou pursue this worm to death? 

This is the way, the Lord replied
I answer prayer for grace and faith.

These inward trials I now employ 

From self and pride to set thee free,
And break thy schemes of earthly joy, 

That thou may’st seek thy all in me.


To listen Online:
https://www.biblegateway.com/audio/devotional/morning-and-evening/0915m

If you are in Singapore, please come and visit my Church, Pilgrim Covenant Church, for worship and fellowship: https://pilgrim-covenant.com/

Details for worship services:  https://pilgrim-covenant.com/#view-2-service

Or you can join us online for Morning and Evening worship services: https://pilgrim-covenant.com/join-us/online-links/

Thank you for stopping by. Have a blessed day! 

Best Regards
Nancie
3 July 2024

02 July 2024

God moves in a mysterious way

Dear Readers,

Thank you for stopping by. The following poem is called "God moves in a mysterious way". This poem also reflects my experience and I believe that of many people. God works His ways in our life!

God moves in a mysterious way
His wonders to perform;
He plants His footsteps in the sea
And rides upon the storm.

Deep in unfathomable mines
Of never failing skill
He treasures up His bright designs
And works His sov’reign will.

Judge not the Lord by feeble sense,
But trust Him for His grace;
Behind a frowning providence
He hides a smiling face.

Ye fearful saints, fresh courage take;
The clouds ye so much dread
Are big with mercy and shall break
In blessings on your head.

Blind unbelief is sure to err
And scan His work in vain;
God is His own interpreter,
And He will make it plain.

His purposes will ripen fast,
Unfolding every hour;
The bud may have a bitter taste,
But sweet will be the flow’r.


If you are in Singapore, please come and visit my Church, Pilgrim Covenant Church, for worship and fellowship: https://pilgrim-covenant.com/

Details for worship services:  https://pilgrim-covenant.com/#view-2-service

Or you can join us online for Morning and Evening worship services: https://pilgrim-covenant.com/join-us/online-links/

Thank you for stopping by. Have a blessed day! 

Best Regards
Nancie
2 July 2024

01 July 2024

The Weaver : My life is but a weaving between my God and me.

Dear Readers,

Thank you for stopping by.

Recently, someone reminded me of a poem called "The Weaver". This poem reflects my experience and I believe that of many people. There is a purpose for everything in our life....

The Weaver

My life is but a weaving
Between my God and me.
I cannot choose the colors
He weaveth steadily.

Oft’ times He weaveth sorrow;
And I in foolish pride
Forget He sees the upper
And I the underside.

Not ’til the loom is silent
And the shuttles cease to fly
Will God unroll the canvas
And reveal the reason why.

The dark threads are as needful
In the weaver’s skillful hand
As the threads of gold and silver
In the pattern He has planned

He knows, He loves, He cares;
Nothing this truth can dim.
He gives the very best to those
Who leave the choice to Him.


If you are in Singapore, please come and visit my Church, Pilgrim Covenant Church, for worship and fellowship: https://pilgrim-covenant.com/

Details for worship services:  https://pilgrim-covenant.com/#view-2-service

Or you can join us online for Morning and Evening worship services: https://pilgrim-covenant.com/join-us/online-links/

Thank you for stopping by. Have a blessed day! 

Best Regards
Nancie
1 July 2024

01 March 2024

Thank God for His mercies and faithfulness

(First posted on 21 Feb 2008)

Dear Readers,

Thank you for stopping by.

This morning, the Lord brought the following verse to my mind:
"It is of the LORD's mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness." Lamentations 3:22-23
I am thankful to God for His mercies and faithfulness throughout my life. As I considered afresh how He provided and led me through this part-time job assignment that just ended, I am once again amazed by God's love and mercies to unworthy me.

When I was first diagnosed with proneness to bipolar disorder (manic-depressive illness), it was a relief to me. I finally understood my confusing past where I have experienced some 10 or 11 episodes of severe depression that usually lasted between 3 months to 6 months or sometimes longer. I struggled to get through each day. I used to wonder what sins have I committed that I have to go through these punishment time and again. Whenever I am well, I do love the Lord, love His people and love to serve Him. It must be a great sin that landed me into severe depression each time, that was what I thought. Yet during such an episode of severe depression, no amount of soul-searching, repentance and cries can bring about deliverance. It was usually 3 to 6 months later that I began to get better and more functional. I thank God for preserving me through those very very difficult times and now finally enabling me to understand why.

My diagnosis helped me to realize that my severe and prolonged depression episodes are due to my proneness to bipolar disorder which is a medical condition that can be treated. No doubt various factors, internal and external, has brought about a relapse in depression. Most of the time could be due to stress and overstraining as I am some kind of a perfectionist in my character and though I have tried hard to change, it is not easy. So unknowingly I sometimes set rather high expectations of myself or goals that are unrealistic and I am doomed to fail in my own eyes when I don't meet up to those high expectations. These often happened unknowingly as I always strive to do my best. I just can't seem to understand my limitations and how much I can really do. This has something to do with the other side of bipolar ie. hypomania. Whenever I am well, I am usually on the hypomania side. Which means I have more energy, more ideas, more creative, more talkative, more friendly and tend to take on more projects than I can handle (without realizing it) and sleep/rest less. I also will be so engrossed or occupied with various things that I neglect exercise, breaks, recreation, hobbies and sometimes regular meals or healthy meals. After weeks or months of such hypomania, a severe depression will surely follow for another 3 to 6 months or so.

My diagnosis helped me to realized that bipolar can happen to anyone. And thank God for preserving me through those very difficult times in the past and delivering me each time. Each experience, confusing though they were, have been used of the Lord for my eternal good. Through every prolonged depressive episodes, I was thrown completely upon the Lord. I have no one else to turn to. No one understood what I was going through. I thank God that through those times, He led me to seek and search His Words and Truths to understand the importance of a right relationship with Him and the great work of sacrifice our Lord Jesus Christ has done when He laid down His life on the cross for us to redeem us from sins and eternal damnation. I thank God that these Truths became very precious to me through my darkest days. I wanted to know what I must do to be saved. During a depressive episode, all my thoughts and feelings became distorted and not functioning properly. I often couldn't feel my love for God, His Word or His people. Actually, I can't feel aright generally, but I didn't realize it. I thought I was surely not a sincere believer and probably even a reprobate. So through each difficult experience, I learn afresh to look unto Jesus the Author and Finisher of our faith, to seek Him afresh and to know His love and forgiveness. So those very difficult times became great blessings as the Lord sanctified me, drew me closer to Him and enable me to experience His love and faithfulness experientially. God is very real to me because of these difficult experiences. Now I understand why the Psalmist said in Psalm 119:71:
"It is good for me to be afflicted; that I might learn thy statutes."
It was through my afflictions that I understand the true meaning of some of God's Words and promises.

But my diagnosis also brings about some difficulties. In the past when I was looking for a new job, I have had difficulties finding one due to my asthma condition. It is a requirement to declare my health condition in the job application form. There were times when I was rejected because they said my asthma condition is very serious as I am on long term medication. They didn't want me to be a liability to them. Actually, my asthma is not very serious. It is mild and persistent, and that is why I have to be on long term medication as I will be in danger of sudden asthmatic attacks that can lead to sudden death otherwise. But as long as I continue with my medication, I am fine most of the time. I only get asthmatic attacks during very very cold weather in December as it rains heavily in Singapore during that time. Or if the office's aircon is too cold, I will feel uncomfortable too. But I have made it a point to wear my sweater and so in the recent years, I have very few attacks. But even then it is so difficult to get a job because of my asthma.

God in His faithfulness, provided a job for me through my good friend, Dr Chin Ming Shu, who is a child psychologist helping children with special needs such as autism, dyslexia, speech delay, etc. Ming Shu is a Christian and a very kind friend. I was with her for the next 4 years plus until I left the job recently when I was severely depressed and could hardly work. At that time, providentially she had to scale down her work to attend to some family matters. I am thankful to God for Ming Shu's kindness to me over the years as she allows me flexibility in terms of my working hours and work. And she lightens my load whenever I went through depressive episodes. Being a child psychologist, she understood depression. So she never condemn me and she sympathized and prayed and encouraged me during such distressing time. I survived a few episodes while working with her and it was because of her kindness that I was able to continue working despite my depression. It was also through her promptings that I finally sought medical help in Dec 2006, and now able to manage my condition better with medical plus other helps. Thank God!

End of last year when I started to look for a new job, I encountered the same difficulties where my health declaration is involved. Now I have to declare not only asthma, but that I am on medication for manic-depressive illness or bipolar disorder. Once I declared that, I don't hear from them anymore. Mental illnesses is still very much a stigma in Singapore. But I thank God that through my friend, Grace, that I was offered this part-time job recently. And because it was a part-time assignment, I was not asked to fill up any application forms. So no one know about my medical condition and I was not rejected because of that. Thank God! Truly with Him all things are possible. Great is His mercies and faithfulness.

As I pray, look and await God's provision of another suitable job, I thank God for the assurance in my heart that He will provide for me in His time despite the great difficulties. I pray that He may enable me to once again testify of His goodness and mercies in His next provision of a job, and that I may continue to know Him and serve Him in my new job. Meanwhile, I really appreciate this little break once again.
"My soul, wait thou only upon God; for my expectation is from him." Psalm 62:5
If you are in Singapore, please come and visit my Church, Pilgrim Covenant Church, for worship and fellowship: https://pilgrim-covenant.com/

Details for worship services:  https://pilgrim-covenant.com/#view-2-service

Or you can join us online for Morning and Evening worship services: https://pilgrim-covenant.com/join-us/online-links/

Thank you for stopping by. Have a blessed day! 

Best Regards
Nancie
1 March 2024

02 February 2024

愛祢到底 歌詞 ài mí dàodǐ Love You Till The End with Lyrics Words 歌詞

Dear Reader, 

Thank you for stopping by. 

Recently, I heard this encouraging Chinese Mandarin Christian song 愛祢到底  (ài mí dàodǐ) Love You Till The End. The first video below has a short exhortation in Chinese Mandarin which is very encouraging.




Below, is the Lyrics with words in Chinese HanYuPinYin, translated using Google.

愛祢到底 
ài mí dàodǐ
Love You Till The End

歌詞 Lyrics: 

1 來到主前 卸下一切憂慮重擔 
Lái dào zhǔ qián xiè xià yīqiè yōulǜ chóng dān
耶穌我來敬拜祢 
Yēsū wǒ lái jìng bài mí
疲憊的心 在祢裡面重新得力 
Píbèi de xīn zài mí lǐmiàn chóngxīn délì
耶穌我來敬拜祢 
Yēsū wǒ lái jìng bài mí

2 全心相信 祢的恩典和應許 
Quán xīn xiāngxìn mí de ēndiǎn hé yìng xǔ
水火之中 不離不棄 
Shuǐhuǒ zhī zhōng bù lì bù qì
全心相信 萬事都互相效力
Quán xīn xiāngxìn wànshì dōu hùxiāng xiàolì
我願一生 愛祢到底 
Wǒ yuàn yīshēng ài mí dàodǐ

3 來到主前 卸下一切憂慮重擔 
Lái dào zhǔ qián xiè xià yīqiè yōulǜ chóng dān
耶穌我來敬拜祢 
Yēsū wǒ lái jìng bài mí
疲憊的心 在祢裡面重新得力 
Píbèi de xīn zài mí lǐmiàn chóngxīn délì
耶穌我來敬拜祢 
Yēsū wǒ lái jìng bài mí

4 全心相信 祢的恩典和應許 
Quán xīn xiāngxìn mí de ēndiǎn hé yìng xǔ
水火之中 不離不棄 
Shuǐhuǒ zhī zhōng bù lì bù qì
全心相信 萬事都互相效力
Quán xīn xiāngxìn wànshì dōu hùxiāng xiàolì
我願一生 愛祢到底 
Wǒ yuàn yīshēng ài mí dàodǐ

5 我全心敬拜 全心感謝 
Wǒ quán xīn jìng bài quán xīn gǎnxiè
全心讚美 耶穌的名 
Quán xīn zànměi yēsū de míng
我渴慕有祢 與我親近 
Wǒ kěmù yǒu mí yǔ wǒ qīnjìn
我一生 要愛祢到底 
Wǒ yuàn yīshēng ài mí dàodǐ

6 全心相信 祢的恩典和應許 
Quán xīn xiāngxìn mí de ēndiǎn hé yìng xǔ
水火之中 不離不棄 
Shuǐhuǒ zhī zhōng bù lì bù qì
全心相信 萬事都互相效力
Quán xīn xiāngxìn wànshì dōu hùxiāng xiàolì
我願一生 愛祢到底 
Wǒ yuàn yīshēng ài mí dàodǐ

我願一生 愛祢到底 
Wǒ yuàn yīshēng ài mí dàodǐ
我願一生 愛祢到底 
Wǒ yuàn yīshēng ài mí dàodǐ




愛祢到底 Love You Till The End
 
歌詞 Lyrics 

1 來到主前 卸下一切憂慮重擔 
耶穌我來敬拜祢 
疲憊的心 在祢裡面重新得力 
耶穌我來敬拜祢 

2 全心相信 祢的恩典和應許 
水火之中 不離不棄 
全心相信 萬事都互相效力
我願一生 愛祢到底 

3 來到主前 卸下一切憂慮重擔 
耶穌我來敬拜祢 
疲憊的心 在祢裡面重新得力 
耶穌我來敬拜祢 

4 全心相信 祢的恩典和應許 
水火之中 不離不棄 
全心相信 萬事都互相效力
我願一生 愛祢到底 

5 我全心敬拜 全心感謝 
全心讚美 耶穌的名 
我渴慕有祢 與我親近 
我一生 要愛祢到底 

6 全心相信 祢的恩典和應許 
水火之中 不離不棄 
全心相信 萬事都互相效力 
我願一生 愛祢到底

我願一生 愛祢到底
我願一生 愛祢到底

If you are in Singapore, please come and visit my Church, Pilgrim Covenant Church, for worship and fellowship: https://pilgrim-covenant.com/

Details for worship services:  https://pilgrim-covenant.com/#view-2-service

Or you can join us online for Morning and Evening worship services: https://pilgrim-covenant.com/join-us/online-links/

Thank you for stopping by. Have a blessed day! 

Best Regards
Nancie
2 February 2024