Because He Lives - another lovely song on Sally DeFord Music website

While searching for "Because He Lives" by the Gaithers on the internet, I stumbled across another song "Because He Lives" posted on Sally DeFord Music website.

The wordings are also very encouraging and the tune is nice. The .mp3 song sung by various people plus a very beautiful sound track can be downloaded from Sally DeFord Music website.

Because He Lives

Because he lives;
because he rose in mighty triumph from the grave
I put my trust in him, and seek to follow him in faith
Because he lives

Because he lives,
I shall find strength to stand against the tempter's power
He is my refuge and defense in every troubled hour
Because he lives

Chorus:
Because he lives I can bear whatever burden may be mine
I am encircled in the arms of love divine because he lives
Because he lives he will banish every shadow of my pain
Every sorrow will be swallowed up in him
For in his hand is healing for the weary soul
This I know because he lives

Because he lives my heart is filled with peace amid a world of fear
And through the blindness of the night, in him I rest secure
Because he lives

Because he lives there is no task so great that I cannot endure
I bear no heartache that his tender mercy cannot cure
Because he lives

(Repeat chorus)

Because he lives I will fear no darkness
Because he lives I will walk in light
Because he lives I will praise his kindness
Because he lives hope shines ever bright
Because he lives I will seek his righteousness
Because he lives I'll follow where he leads
Because he lives I shall conquer even death
And I shall live because he lives!

Because he lives I will rejoice in Christ and glorify his name
And with the willing voice of gratitude proclaim: My Savior lives!
Because he lives he will banish every shadow of my pain
Every sorrow will be swallowed up in him
For in his hand is healing for the weary soul
This I know because he lives

This song is posted by aldora87 at YouTube.

I took this rose at the Sentosa Flower exhibition at Sentosa Island, Singapore.

He is not here: for he is risen, as he said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay. Matthew 28:6

Romans 5:8 But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

Matthew 28
5 And the angel answered and said unto the women, Fear not ye: for I know that ye seek Jesus, which was crucified.
6 He is not here: for he is risen, as he said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay.
7 And go quickly, and tell his disciples that he is risen from the dead; and, behold, he goeth before you into Galilee; there shall ye see him: lo, I have told you.
8 And they departed quickly from the sepulchre with fear and great joy; and did run to bring his disciples word.

Romans 8
28 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.
31 What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?
32 He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?
33 Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God's elect? It is God that justifieth.
34 Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us.
35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?
37 Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.
38 For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come,
39 Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Romans 5
1 Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:
2 By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.
3 And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience;
4 And patience, experience; and experience, hope:
5 And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.
6 For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly.
7 For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die.
8 But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
9 Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him.
10 For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life.

Whom have I in heaven but Thee?

Thank God for the joy and privilege to join in my church's public worship again this morning and to fellowship with my friends. My Pastor shared a very encouraging sermon with us on the theme "The Fear of the Lord" (Proverbs 1:7).

"The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge:..." Proverbs 1:7

Today, Pastor JJ shared with us that the basis of our fear of the Lord is:

1) The LORD is our God and our Creator
The LORD is self-existent and He depends on no one for His existence. On the other hand, we are fully dependant on Him for our existence, life and motion. Our lives are in the hands of God.

2) The LORD is a holy God
God's holiness exposes our earthiness and uncleanness.

3) The LORD is a covenant God
God Who is self-existent, transcendent and holy has chosen to reveal Himself unto a people and adopted them to be His sons and daughters. God chose to reveal Himself to us so that we can know Him and be adopted as His children. God is our covenant making and covenant keeping God and He draws us near to Himself, by sending His only begotten Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, to live and died for us, so that we may know Him.

When we come to know and understand who God is, we are drawn to love and reverent Him. The fear we have of God is a fear that causes us to know our own unworthiness and makes us want to respect and please God, and makes us fear to sin against Him. It is a fear that causes us to love God just as a child would love his father with respect.


This encouraging message reminds me once again of God's mercies to me in leading me to seek and know Him about 20 years ago. Through an episode of severe depression, and finding life meaningless, the Lord has providentially used my circumstances to lead me to seek Him.

I was born in Malaysia and I grew up there. More than 20 years ago, I came to Singapore on my own to work. With unrealized ambitions, and seeing the deceitfulness of human heart, I was very disillusioned. I wasn't interested in the rat race I saw around me in my job. I was disappointed with the fragile human friendships I experienced then too. Life seemed so meaningless. Providentially, as I love reading, I came across a book in the library in which several Christians testified to living a very meaningful life because they had a personal relationship with God through the Lord Jesus Christ. I have always believed there is a God but never felt the need to be "religious." But at that point of time, I seemed to have come to an end in myself. I was far away from home and family. I was not able to realized my ambitions and disillusioned by friendships. I wondered whether life was worth living. But that book opened my eyes to realized that what if there is really a God? What if God really loves me and is interested in my life? And He has made me for a purpose? Which means my existence is not by accident? Wouldn't that makes life meaningful? I have never really prayed before. But that evening, I prayed and asked God to lead me to know Him through my 2 colleagues who have been witnessing to me. By God's mercies, He used these 2 brothers to bring me to church. They gave me a Bible and I began to read, go to Church for public worship and I pray on my own too. As I read the Bible, I was moved by the love of God for lost sinners. For the Bible says, that

"For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life." John 3:16

To know that God loved me and sent His Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, to live and died for me, was very encouraging to me. Though I found much disappointment in human friendships, I found much consolations in God's love. I read with wonder of how the Lord suffered and died on the cross for us. Who will lay down his life for another man? But our Lord laid down His life for us, to save us from our sins, by paying the penalty for our sins, so that we can have our sins forgiven by the cleansing of His precious blood and we can enjoy eternal life in Him. What a comfort!

My life was never the same again. Though I continue to experience about 10 to 11 severe depression episodes thereafter until my diagnosis last year, because I didn't know that I have this condition called bipolar disorder (manic-depressive illness), the Lord's love changed my life. God's love gives me the courage to face many difficult challenges in my life. And no matter what He allows me to go through, I have experienced His love and faithfulness in many wonderful ways.

I love the Lord, though my love are feeble at times, and I failed the Lord in many ways. But life will be meaningless to me without God. I know that God has a purpose for my life here, even in this bipolar condition. I am thankful that through my struggles with severe depressions, the Lord has led me to know Him in very personal and real way daily. Without God sustaining me, I would not be alive today neither would I be able to be useful. I thank God for His love for me despite my unworthiness. It is my prayer daily that God will help me to know Him and live for Him.

Augustine said in his famous Confessions, "Our hearts are restless until they rest in Thee, O Lord." Truly, it is in God that I found rest for my soul. And I am comforted by the knowledge that one day when my tasks here are completed, God will take me home to be with Himself, to my eternal rest and fellowship with Him.

This morning we sang one of my favourite portions in Psalm 73 (This Psalm can be sing to the tune Wetherby or Wiltshire which can be downloaded (.mp3) from here. You can also download from Free Reformed Software Page, the Psalter with Tunes or Psalm Tunes Midi Files)

Psalm 73:25-28

Whom have I in the heavens high
but thee, O Lord, alone?
And in the earth whom I desire
besides thee there is none.

My flesh and heart doth faint and fail,
but God doth fail me never:
For of my heart God is the strength
and portion for ever.

For, lo, they that are far from thee
for ever perish shall;
Them that a whoring from thee go
thou hast destroyed all.

But surely it is good for me
that I draw near to God:
In God I trust, that all thy works
I may declare abroad.

Edward Griffin preached a very encouraging sermon titled "Whom have I in heaven but Thee". This is one of my favourite sermons. Edward said the Psalmist, Asaph, had experienced a severe trial from the infirmities of his own heart; which trial, together with the manner in which he was relieved, is described in this beautiful Psalm. He had been “envious at the foolish when” he “saw the prosperity of the wicked,” and had indulged in unworthy complaints against divine providence. But the glory of God’s faithfulness and truth so opened on his soul, and the comparative emptiness of all earthly things, that with more than recovered spirits he exclaimed, “Thou shalt guide me with thy counsel and afterward receive me to glory. Whom have I in heaven but thee? and there is none upon earth that I desire besides thee.”

Edward wrote:

Such a temper of supreme delight in God will operate in unreserved and universal submission to divine providence. While God is more beloved than all other objects, the withholding or removal of every thing besides him will not awaken a spirit of unsubmission and rebellion.

While the Christian has such supreme delight in God, he will not be inordinately leaning on friends or wealth or any worldly object for enjoyment. No high expectations will be formed except those which centre in the supreme good. Lightly valuing the things of time and sense, he will scorn the restless pursuits and unsatisfied desires of the covetous; and holding the commands of God in supreme veneration, he will practice deeds of liberal charity.

Sensible that prosperity gives and adversity takes away only those things which are least desirable, neither by prosperity nor adversity will he be greatly moved. Ever assured that God, the supreme good, is safe, he will dismiss all anxieties respecting future changes, and come what will, he will “rejoice evermore.” Calmly resigning the management of all affairs into hands dearer than his own, he passes his days in unruffled serenity, and knows not the distrusts of jealousy nor the uneasiness of unbelief. Having a greater regard for the divine will than for any earthly comfort which that will can bestow, he has learned “both how to abound and to suffer need,” and “in whatsoever state” he is, “therewith to be content.”

The result of this supreme love to God will be faith, trust, self-denial, obedience, and an unreserved consecration of all that we are and have to him, to be disposed of according to his pleasure, and to be employed in his service, how and when and where he is pleased to appoint.

Read the rest of this very encouraging sermon from my Believers Encouragement blog at "Whom have I in heaven but Thee".




My friend, Heng Sau, took this photo at Saipan.

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

Because He Lives, I can face tomorrow

Michelle posted a video on YouTube on the song "Because He Lives."

Christianity Today has a touching account of how this Song was written by Bill and Gloria Gaither during a very difficult time in their life.

Inspired by the miracle of their son's birth, "Because He Lives" poured out of the Gaithers' grateful hearts. The song clearly affirms the hope believers have in Christ. We can face tomorrow, with all its uncertainty, as we realize that God holds the future and makes life worth living.

How sweet to hold a newborn baby,
And feel the pride and joy he gives;
But greater still the calm assurance:
This child can face uncertain days because He Lives!

Because He lives, I can face tomorrow,
Because He lives, all fear is gone;
Because I know He holds the future,
And life is worth the living,
Just because He lives!

This beautiful song reminded me once again that because God is with me, I am able to live a meaningful life despite my bipolar disorder and other struggles or difficulties in the many challenges I face in life daily.

In this life, we shall have our portions of ups and downs, wellness and sickness, success and failures, richness and poverties, etc etc. But because God gave His only begotten Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, to die on the cross for our sins, and He rose again on the third day and is now living in Heaven and in our hearts, we can find strength and grace in Him to live for Him daily. In Him we find forgiveness for our sins, and daily grace to live for Him. No matter what He allows us to go through in this life, His love remains unchanging and is especially felt in our most difficult times. It is He that will continue to sustains and strengthen us. And one day when our tasks here are completed, He shall take us home to be with Himself, where there will be no more tears, sickness and sufferings. And we shall enjoy His love and fellowship for ever more. What a blessed hope!

Because He lives, I can face tomorrow. Because He lives, all fear is gone. Because I know He holds the future, And life is worth the living, just because He lives.

What an encouragement!

*********

Various people has posted some videos on YouTube on this song:

"Because He Lives" with videos of beautiful pictures with Bible verses:

1) "Because He Lives" posted by gervis1

"Because He Lives" sang by writer of this song, The Gaither:

Read Christianity Today's account of how this Song was written by Bill and Gloria Gaither.

1) "Because He Lives" By The Gaither Vocal Band/Mark Lowry posted by hoover4000

2) "Because He Lives" By The Gaither Vocal Band posted by hoover4000

3) "Because He Lives" By The Gaither Trio 1972 posted by hoover4000 (with Gloria explaining the circumstances surrounding the time she wrote the words to "because he lives" and then the gaither trio sings it (from 1972)) (This is very touching. Must see!)

4) "Because He Lives" - Canadian Homecoming posted by willbonner

"Because He Lives" played on piano/organ:

1) Posted by jflowers10

Because He Lives
Words and music by William J. Gaither

God sent His son, they called Him, Jesus;
He came to love, heal and forgive;
He lived and died to buy my pardon,
An empty grave is there to prove my Savior lives!

Chorus
Because He lives, I can face tomorrow,
Because He lives, all fear is gone;
Because I know He holds the future,
And life is worth the living,
Just because He lives!

How sweet to hold a newborn baby,
And feel the pride and joy he gives;
But greater still the calm assurance:
This child can face uncertain days because He Lives!

Chorus
Because He lives, I can face tomorrow,
Because He lives, all fear is gone;
Because I know He holds the future,
And life is worth the living,
Just because He lives!

And then one day, I'll cross the river,
I'll fight life's final war with pain;
And then, as death gives way to vict'ry,
I'll see the lights of glory and I'll know He lives!

Chorus
Because He lives, I can face tomorrow,
Because He lives, all fear is gone;
Because I know He holds the future,
And life is worth the living,
Just because He lives!

Because He lives, I can face tomorrow.

This "Because He Lives" is posted by gervis1 on YouTube.

For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? Mark 8:36

Philippians 3
7 But what things were gain to me, those I counted lose for Christ.
8 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, but dung, that I may win Christ,
9 And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness, which is of God by faith:
10 That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death;
11 if by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead.

Photography - Another therapeutic Hobby

Thank God that with medical helps, counselling and Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, regular exercise, Omega 3 fish oil, managing stress level, etc etc my bipolar disorder is under control now and I am able to live a more stable and productive life. I also pray and read the Bible daily to find comfort and strength from God.

When I started to do brisk walking regularly end of last year, I began to discover the beauties in God's creations in many wonderful ways. I am always comforted to remember that God Who creates all these lovely creations, has also created me. He loves me and is taking care of me daily. Through brisk walkings, I also began to enjoy photography as I will try to take photos when I go brisk walkings.

I have never expected myself to be able to take pictures. But with the help of advanced technology that the digital camera provides, I am so delighted to be able to capture some of these beautiful creations of God and precious moments with my family and friends. It gives me a lot of joy when I can take good photos.

I find that it is very helpful and therapeutic for me if I can find activities that I enjoy and which can enhance my life so that I can relax, enjoy it and have a sense of achievement. It helps me to de-stress. I can forget about all my stress and problems and just enjoy this hobby or recreation or activity. Photography is one of these activities. I look forward to snap some photos whenever I can and I am eager to go new places or try taking new objects or places.

In particular, I love to go to the beach and watch the waves. Somehow they have a soothing effect on me and I feel very relax. I loved to take photos of the beach and the waves. I also love to take photos of flowers, plants and animals.

I am also finding much joy in using these photos to make bookmarks and other crafts. This is another therapeutic hobbies for me! For some Free Bookmarks Templates, visit my Homemade Bookmarks Blog :)

Visit my "Around Singapore" blog to see more of the photos I have taken and that of my friends.

1) I took the first 4 photos at East Coast Beach, Singapore.
2) I took the next 2 photos at Changi Beach, Singapore.
3) I took the last 4 photos at Sentosa Flower exhibition at Sentosa Island, Singapore.

Brisk walking - helpful and therapeutic

Thank God for discovering the joy and helpfulness of brisk walking and regular exercise end of last year while recovering from an episode of severe depression. I was encouraged to do brisk walking or other form of exercise for between 30 to 45 minutes daily as it can work like anti-depressant.

I do brisk walking around the neighbourhood of my home as regular as I can. Sometimes I go for long walks at the beach or gardens. I also signed up for a trial-membership with an all ladies gym near my home which had a very special offer at that point of time. I did brisk walking on their treadmill between 30 to 45 minutes daily, 3 to 5 times a week. I was on 20mg fluoxetine (common brand name is Prozac) daily at that point of time. After 1 week of doing brisk walking regularly, I was able to lower the dosage of my anti-depressant. And after 2 months, I was completely off the anti-depressant. Now I am on a mood stabiliser, 100mg Lamotrigine (brand name is Lamictal) and anti-psychotic, 25mg Quetiapine (brand name is Seroquel) every night. My doctor said I will probably need these 2 medication life long as they will help to stabilise my moods in the longer run. But whenever I fall into severe depression, I will need to take a short course of anti-depressant to lift me up to a more functional level. Then I can benefit from exercise and other helps.

Thank God for providing various helps for me as I strive to understand and manage bipolar disorder (manic-depressive illness). With medical helps, counselling and Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, regular exercise, Omega 3 fish oil, managing stress level, et etc my condition is under control now and I am able to live a more stable and productive life. I also pray and read the Bible daily and finding much joy, strength and comfort in God to live for Him.

I find brisk walking and other form of regular exercise are good to help me to fight depression. I think they are also good for general physical and mental health, and in preventing heart disease.

For those of us with physical or other illness or our age above 40, it may be good to check with our Doctor before we start regular exercise or vigorous exercise so that we do not injure ourselves during exercise or do exercise which is not suitable for us. Those with knee problems in particular, should be very careful with what kind of exercise we do, or what to do before and after exercise. Best to consult our physician.

For me, I do enjoy brisk walking a lot and I am beginning to enjoy nature and God's creations in many wonderful ways. I also picked up photography and am deriving great joys in capturing some of these beauties in God's creations with my digital camera.

I find myself physically more stronger and healthier when I started regular brisk walking and exercise. I found that mentally I am also more alert and happier after my exercise. I managed also to lose a bit of weight which has been troubling me for many years and making me very sluggish and lethargic. Therefore, I do personally find brisk walking very therapeutic and helpful in my recovery from depression as well as maintaining my physical and mental well being now.

There are truly a wide spectrum to the experiences of those with depression and bipolar depression. So sometimes brisk walking or regular exercise may be very difficult for those of us who are severely depressed as we are depleted of all energy or we simply didn't have the desire or will to do anything. We may find waking up in the morning itself is very very difficult. There will be times when a family member or friend's accompaniment for a walk maybe helpful and motivating. And whenever we are well enough to go for walks on our own and get the sunshine, I think it may be helpful to our physical and mental well being. And when we are no longer severely depressed, regular exercise or brisk walking may help in maintaining our physical and mental well-being in complement to our medical and other existing helps.

My friend and brother-in-Christ, George, emailed me this helpful and informative Powerpoint presentation on the advantage and importance of brisk walk especially in preventing Heart Disease.

Download this Powerpoint Slide on Brisk Walk : briskwalking.pps

In this Powerpoint Slide, it is documented the following :

Heart Disease is one of the most common diseases afflicting today's workers.

Caused by excessive stress, smoking, high calorie diet, sedentry lifestly, this disease is the no. 1 killer of today's employees.

Sedentry life style, smoking, high calorie diet, stress, alcohol may lead to high cholesterol, high blood pressure and over weight. These in turn may lead to angina, heart attack, cardiac arrest and heart failure. The end result may be blockage in coronary arteries or clot coronary arteries or constriction of coronary arteries.

With all these health problem, our family and job may be greatly affected. Expenses over medical treatments may increase or loss of income due to poor health. We may also experience much anxieties, sadness and loss of peace of mind.

Only we can do something about it. And we can start with a simple step TODAY.

It is recommended that we take a brisk walk for 30 minutes daily, every day.

For over 40 years now, studies have shown walking to be the best form of exercise that people of all ages can do.

• Regular walking can increase the levels of good cholesterol.
• Regular walking is a positive habit to replace smoking with.
  
• Regular walking makes the heart work more efficiently and improves blood circulation. Blood vessels become more elastic and the amount of oxygen delivered to the tissues increases.
• Walking is one easy way to deal with tension, anxiety and stress. Studies show that people who exercise regularly can cope better with stresses of life. Walking recharges our batteries after tension and stress have drained them of power and energy.
• Regular brisk walking improves muscle tone, makes your heart stronger and gives you that bite of fitness. Do it regularly for 30 minutes every day and enjoy that feeling of fitness from within.

Caution for those with knee pain: walk at normal pace. Do knee stretching exercises as shown in two of the slides.

Walking
Simplest - Cheapest - Easiest

Effective & Safe

• Reduces Stress
• Helps quit smoking
• Strengthens the heart
• Massages the legs
• Strengthens the muscles
• Reduces cholesterol
• Improves blood circulation

Build it in your daily routine, 30 minutes ever day.

Strengthen your heart and your health, walking 30 minutes briskly every day.

Looking through our prisons

Recently, I was thinking of the way my diagnosis of bipolar disorder have affected my perspective in life. When I knew that bipolar is a lifelong condition, I was at first very discouraged. I felt as if I have been given a lifetime imprisonment sentence in which there will be no release from this prison. It is worst then a death sentence.

There are different kinds of prison in this world. When I was diagnosed with proneness to bipolar disorder (manic-depressive illness), it was a relief to me because it helps me to understand my confusing past. With medical helps, counselling and Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, regular exercise, Omega 3 fish oil, managing stress level, et etc my condition is under control now and I am able to live a more productive life.

But my diagnosis last year did at one point of time throw me into despair. When I knew that bipolar disorder is a lifelong condition and that it is cyclical in nature, which means it will recur, I was very discouraged. Every prolonged and severe depressive episode is very unbearable and painful beyond words. The nature of severe depressive episodes is such that our brain can become so malfunctioning and can't receive/send the appropriate messages which cause our thoughts or feelings to be either blank, flat or distorted. Depression robs away all joy and hope, and makes living itself very difficult. I am often tempted with suicidal thoughts during severe depression episodes and I often pray that the Lord will take me home. The inability to enjoy my family, church, friends, work and even God Himself (as my brain simply can't function), makes life very meaningless. The hopeless I faced each day is beyond words description. Day in day out, night in nigh out, every hour, facing such hopelessness and helplessness is like living in hell. Oh, how the Lord preserved me! I cannot imagine how I could have survived those distressing episodes without God's mercies and preservation. Though I couldn't feel God's presence with me at times due to the chemical imbalance in my brain, God is still with me to sustain and deliver me.

When I knew that bipolar is a lifelong condition, I was at first very discouraged. I felt as if I have been given a lifetime imprisonment sentence in which there will be no release from this prison. It is worst then a death sentence. A death sentence will end all pain and misery once and for all. But to be imprison in a brain that can malfunction at any point of time and be thrown into severe depression episodes over and over again, is both scary and distressing. How my heart sank when I thought of that. But thank God that He will never allow us to be tempted or tried more than we can bear. I found comfort in God's Words and His love, mercies and faithfulness. I realized that no matter what God allows me to go through, He will be with me in it and His grace will be sufficient for me. He promised that He is working all things for His glory and for my good. And He will never leave me nor forsake me. He makes no mistake! If He allows me to have bipolar disorder, He knows that it will be cyclical. He does not delight in my sufferings. But yet He allows it for a good purpose and I can trust in His love and sovereignty.

I prayed much for grace to submit to God's will, to trust in Him and His mercies, and to live for Him despite my condition. Bipolar disorder does not define me nor my life. It is merely an illness just like diabetes, hypertension and asthma. People with these illness can live a life close to normal despite their limitations. So with medical and other help, people with bipolar, depression and other poor mental health illness can also live a life that is close to normal and be useful and productive.

There are different kind of freedom. I realized then that I still have the freedom to make choices. Would I smile when I see my family, church and friends or would I weep? Would I rail against God in bitterness or would I ask Him to strengthen my faith and give me grace to live for Him despite my condition? Would I allow my condition to rule and ruin my life, or would I seek to find and apply whatever help that is available and within my means to make use of? Would I allow my life to waste away in despair and hopelessnes, or would I look to God for strength to be useful and helpful to others by giving them hope in their own sufferings? In other words, what would I do with the free will that was still mine?

I decided to live as fully as I could, as the Lord enables me, to look for ways to transcend my physical and mental limitations by making use of my available mental capacities and expanding its use to help others. I could choose to be a role model to others who suffer in various ways, or I could wither and die, emotionally as well as physically and mentally.

There are many kinds of freedom. When we lose one kind, we must look for another. We can look at our illness and our limitations, or we can look through them. I thank God that He is strengthening me day by day and giving me the grace to trust in Him, to look beyond my condition to see His love and faithfulness, and to make use of whatever helps He has provided for me to help others too.

I thank God for the joy of developing this blog which is not only therapeutic to myself as I journal my thoughts and feelings. It also has been helping others who are suffering from depression and bipolar. I thank God that I can share His goodness and mercies, for it is only when we view our pains and sufferings in the light of the sovereignty and love of God, that we can find hope and help in our prisons. In God is our freedom and liberality. One day we shall leave our earthly prison to go to a far away land where the roads are made of gold, there are many mansions for us to live in, there will be no more pains and sorrows, and we shall enjoy our Lord Jesus Christ's love for all eternity. Maybe then we can understand a little better the path He has chosen for us. It shall redown to His glory and we shall be awed by His love and faithfulness, through all the changing scenes of life. What a mercy! And what a comfort! It is these thoughts and knowledge that gives me the courage to face each day joyfully in the Lord, looking unto Him alone who is the Author and Finisher of our faith. He who laid down His life for me, loves and cares for me daily. Praise Him.



My friend, HH Sau, took this lovely photo at Combodia.






"For thou wilt light my candle: the LORD my God will enlighten my darkness." Psalm 18:26

My Therapeutic Hobby - Making Bookmarks

Thank God for the joy of photography. I started to discover the beauties of God's creations in many wonderful ways recently when I started brisk walking. I enjoy my walks as I get to see many beautiful flowers, plants, birds and children :-)

When I started photography, I was thrilled at the advance technology of digital cameras that enables me to capture some of these beauties in God's creations and also precious moments with loved ones and friends. Thank God for this new hobby that is very therapeutic.

As I enjoyed making crafts and gifts for my friends, I used my photos and photos taken by my brother and friends, to make some bookmarks. Check out my Homemade Bookmarks Blog to download Free Bookmarks Templates and instructions on how to make simple bookmarks. Besides making bookmarks, I also enjoyed cross-stitch, making simple calendars and origami. Check out my Homemade Crafts and Gifts if you are also interested in making these crafts and gifts.

Making these crafts and gifts give me great joy and satisfaction. Thank God for the joy of sharing these gifts with my friends, and the joy of serving Him in this way.

I took these photo of the Orchid flower at Sentosa Flower exhibition at Sentosa Island, Singapore.

This flower’s actual name is Vanda Miss Joaquim. It was said to be first discovered in the garden of Miss Agnes Joaquim in Singapore in 1893. On 15 April 1981, this flower was chosen as the national flower of Singapore. Singapore has the distinction of being the only nation to have a hybrid as its national flower and whose distribution was confined to Singapore’s boundaries. This beautiful and enduring flower continues to show forth Singapore’s continual strive for progress and excellence in all aspects of life.

The official Chinese name for this flower is 卓锦万黛兰 (pinyin: zhuójǐn wàndàilán) meaning Orchid of Long-Lasting Excellence.

This Chinese verse is taken from Hebrews 13:8 "Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and today, and forever."

耶稣基督，昨日、今日、一直到永远 是一样的。希伯来书 13:8

If you are interested to make these Orchid Flower Chinese Bookmark for yourself or your friends, you can download these MicroSoft Word templates and make the necessary changes. I have 4 bookmarks in the template with different Bible verses.

Download Free Template : free-chinese-bookmarks-template-orchid.doc

You may wish to also check out my post on some simple instructions on how to make bookmarks.

These bookmarks are with English wordings and Bible verses. I have 4 bookmarks in the template and you can customized it to put your name or your friend’s name, if you wish to.

Download Free Template : bookmark-template-for-orchid.doc

You may wish to also check out my post on some simple instructions on how to make bookmarks.

Happy making your own bookmarks :-)

Free Calendars 2010 and Free Planners 2010 Resources:

• Calendar 2010 Design1
• Calendar 2010 Design2
• Calendar 2010 Design3
• Calendar 2010 with Singapore Public Holidays 1
• Calendar 2010 with Singapore Public Holidays 2
• Planner 2010 Design B
• Christian Calendar 2010 with Bible verses 1
• Christian Calendar 2010 with Singapore Public Holidays 1
• Christian Planner 2010

Free Bookmarks Resources:

• A Special Birthday Prayer for You
• All the best to you
• Animals
• Children - This book belongs to
• Chinese Bible verses
• Christian bookmarks with Bible verses
• Flowers
• Friendship
• Happy Birthday
• Happy Children's Day
• Happy Mother's Day
• Inspirational or encouraging quotes
• Prayer of St. Francis
• Sceneries
• Swan
• The Cross in My Pocket
• When there seems no way out, let God in
• With God all things are possible
• You are never alone
• Your Friendship is a blessing

Free Cards Resources:

• A Special Birthday Prayer for You
• Animals
• Birthday Card pop up
• Christian cards with Bible verses
• Don't Quit
• Encouraging Friendship Quotes1
• Encouraging quote on Love
• Encouraging Quotes1
• Flowers
• Get Well Soon!
• God holds my tomorrow
• Happy Birthday
• How to Make a Kirigami Dancing Crane Pop-up Card
• How to Make a Pop-Up Heart Card
• Prayer of St. Francis
• With God all things are possible
• Your Friendship is a Blessing

Free Handicrafts Resources : Free Cross-stitch

• How to sew a pink heart cross stitch
• About cross stitch and cross stitching
• Creative Needlecraft Cross Stitching
• Cross stitch of Yarn Tree
• Different ways of doing cross stitch
• Free cross stitch pattern : Pink Heart
• French Knot
• How to Choose a Cross Stitch Pattern
• How to Design a Cross Stitch Pattern
• How to Do Back Stitches in Cross Stitching
• How to Do Basic Cross Stitches
• How to Do French Knots in Cross Stitching
• How to Frame a Cross Stitch Pattern
• How to Personalize Your Cross Stitching Pattern
• How to Prepare Cloth for Cross Stitching
• Learn simple Cross Stitch In 5 Minutes
• Little Bear cross-stitch
• Supplies for Cross Stitching
• Types of Cross Stitch Patterns

Free Sewing Resources : Knitting

• Basics on how to knit
• How to Knit a Scarf : How to Add Fringe to a Scarf
• How to Knit a Scarf : How to Cast Off
• How to knit a scarf : How to Change to a Different Color when Knitting
• How to Knit a Scarf : How to Do the Basket Weave
• How to Knit a Scarf : How to Do the Knit Stitch
• How to Knit a Scarf : How to Do the Purl Stitch
• How to Knit a Scarf : How to Do the Rib Stitch
• How to Knit a Scarf : How to Pick Up Dropped Stitches
• Variations in Stitches

Free Origami Resources:

• Airplane
• Boat
• Box
• Bunny
• Camel
• Cup
• Dragonfly
• Fish
• Flowers Daffodil
• Flowers Pink
• Hummingbird
• Jumping Frog
• Parrot
• Penguin
• Pigeon
• Roadrunner
• Rose
• Shark
• Squirrel
• Sungflower
• Swan
• Zebra

Free Arts and Crafts for Kids Resources:

• How to make a Catepillar
• How to make a clock
• How to make a duck
• How to make a Kirigami Hummingbird
• How to make a Peacock
• How to make an Octopus
• How to make turtle

Nice Piano Instrumental Music Resources:

• Relaxing music
• A como amor
• Aline
• Ballade Pour Adeline
• Chinese Garden
• Concerto pour un jeune fille nommee
• Couleur Tendresse
• Dolannes Melody
• Dream Wedding
• Fur Elise
• Give a little to your love
• La Tendresse
• lara's theme
• Les derniers jours d´Anastacia kemsky
• Lettre à ma mère
• Love song in winter
• Mariage D'amour
• Piano Concerto No. 1
• Romeo and Juliet
• Tema de Amor
• Triste Coeur
• Unchained melody

Finding comfort in God

Mariposa said my post "The Weaver - A glimpse into the life of Vincent Van Gogh" made her reflect.. made her smile... cry... sigh... then comforting. It is a mercy that the end of it is "comforting"!

Truly if we view our difficulties, sicknesses, pains or sufferings in this life without God, they are rather meaningless, despairing and scary. But if we have God in our life, then we can have the assurance of His love and that all things are working together for His glory and our good - even our pains, sicknesses and sufferings. All these are working together too for our good. And this is our comfort! We may not always understand these things or God's purposes in allowing us to go through them. But we can have the assurance of His love as He assured us in His Words.

This morning, I was reading a portion of a little booklet entitled "Looking Unto Jesus" by Theodore Monod. The following portion brings much encouragement again:

Looking Unto Jesus
And not at our troubles,
to count up their number, to reckon their weight,.... Apart from Jesus trouble does not sanctify, it hardens or it crushes. It produces not patience, but rebellion; not sympathy, but selfishness; not hope (Romans 5:3,4) but despair. It is only under the shadow of the cross that we can appreciate the true weight of our own cross, and accept it each day from His hand, to carry it with love, with gratitude, with joy; and find in it for ourselves and for others a source of blessings.

My diagnosis of proneness to bipolar disorder (manic-depressive illness) last March ie March 2007 helped to see that my extreme mood swings and especially those 11 severe depressive episodes were due to a medical conditions that can be treated. When I realized that my condition is a medical condition, I then realized too that it can happen to anyone, just like diabetes, asthma and hypertension. Knowing this, helps me to accept my condition as from the hands of God.

I look upon my condition both as a thorn in my flesh to humble me and make me more dependant upon God, and also as a mercy from God to enable me to know Him, His love and faithfulness in very real and personal way. I would not have known God or understand His Words better if not because of the severe trials I have been going through over the last 20 years in battling severe depressions. Though depressions are awful beyond words, and I would not want to go through another extensive episode, they do have very sanctifying influences on me. I grow through every of such painful and difficult experiences. When I found that I could not get better and no one understand or sympathize with me, I was made to throw myself wholely upon God. Like Job, I learn to say "Though He slay me, yet will I trust in Him". Though at times when I was severely depressed and I can't feel God's presence with me at times (due to the nature of depression causing my brain not to receive appropriate messages) God is still with me. It is He that sustains and deliver me eventually.

Looking unto Jesus daily now, gives me the joy and the strength to press on in this pilgrim journey. I live in the uncertainty of whether tomorrow or the next moment I might plunge into severe depression once again (this being the nature of the illness), but I am learning to cast my cares upon God daily. Not to worry, but to trust and pray. I pray for God's preservation daily from severe depression or severe manic. I pray daily for grace to live for God and to be useful to Him and to others. Looking unto God, gives me the courage to press on and find out strength and joy in Him. Just as I need my daily bread, I need my daily grace too. And these come from God alone. I am thankful that I can wake up each day with joy and anticipation. I pray that I may be able remember God's sovereignty in my life always , rejoice in His love and faithfulness, and seek to do His will by His grace.

The remembrance of God's mercies, drive away my anxieties and fears. Truly, our Lord Jesus Christ's grace is sufficient for us as He Who loved us and gave His life for us continues to love and care for us daily, through all the changing scenes of life. What a comfort!




I took this photo of the waves at East Coast Beach, Singapore.




The sea of God's mercy should swallow up our particular afflictions. - Luther

Vincent van Gogh and Don McLean on YouTube

Michelle left a comment on my previous post "Starry, Starry Night - Vincent van Gogh and Don McLean" saying that she is not able to see the PowerPoint presentation of Vincent van Gogh because she does not have PowerPoint.

I did a search on the internet, and found the following very nice videos on YouTube on Vincent van Gogh and Don McLean singing Starry Starry Night :

1) Videos of Paintings of Vincent van Gogh with the song Starry Starry Night posted by casarini and Shaelrion.

2) Videos of Don McLean singing the song Starry Starry Night posted by queen106.

3) Music Video Karaoke of Don McLean singing the song Starry Starry Night posted by tonictao.

4) Videos of Paintings of Vincent van Gogh posted by sundroid

5) Videos of Portraits of Vincent van Gogh posted by eggman913

Enjoy these videos :)

This videos of Paintings of Vincent van Gogh with the song Starry Starry Night posted by casarini.

The Weaver - A Glimpse into the life of Vincent van Gogh

As we think of the difficult life of Vincent van Gogh and his tragic death by suicide, we sometimes wonder why God will allow His children to suffer thus.

According to Wikipedia,

Vincent van Gogh was the son of Anna Cornelia Carbentus and Theodorus van Gogh, who was a minister of the Dutch Reformed Church. Art and religion were the two occupations to which the Van Gogh family gravitated.

At a young age, Vincent had been fervent about religion. His religious emotion grew to the point where he felt he had found his true vocation in life, and at one point he became a nearby Methodist minister's assistant in wanting to "preach the gospel everywhere." Once while working in a bookshop where he was not happy with his work, he spent most of his time in the back of the shop translating passages from the Bible into English, French, and German.

In an effort to support his wish to become a pastor, his family sent him to Amsterdam in May 1877 where he lived with his uncle Jan van Gogh, a rear admiral in the navy. Vincent prepared for university, studying for the theology entrance exam with his uncle Johannes Stricker, a respected theologian who published the first "Life of Jesus" available in the Netherlands. Vincent failed at his studies and had to abandon them. He left uncle Jan's house in July 1878. He then studied, but failed, a three-month course at the Protestant missionary school (Vlaamsche Opleidingsschool) in Laeken, near Brussels.

In January 1879 Van Gogh got a temporary post as a missionary in the village of Petit Wasmes in the coal-mining district of Borinage in Belgium, bringing his father's profession to people felt to be the most wretched and hopeless in Europe. Taking Christianity to what he saw as its logical conclusion, Vincent opted to live like those he preached to, sharing their hardships to the extent of sleeping on straw in a small hut at the back of the baker's house where he was billeted; the baker's wife used to hear Vincent sobbing all night in the little hut. His choice of squalid living conditions did not endear him to the appalled church authorities, who dismissed him for "undermining the dignity of the priesthood."

It seemed, there was considerable conflict between Vincent and his father, and at one point of time his father made enquiries about having his son committed to a lunatic asylum at Geel. Vincent fled back to Cuesmes where he lodged with a miner named Charles Decrucq. He became increasingly interested in the everyday people and scenes around him, which he recorded in drawings. Wikipedia recorded his checkered life which is full of ups and downs, just like ours, but perhaps more colourful just like his paintings.

His paintings and drawings include some of the world's best known, most popular and most expensive pieces. He produced more than 2,000 works, including around 900 paintings and 1,100 drawings and sketches, during the last ten years of his life. Most of his best-known works were produced in the final two years of his life, during which time he cut off part of his left ear following a breakdown in his friendship with Paul Gauguin. After this he suffered recurrent bouts of mental illness, which led to his suicide.

Vincent and Paul Gauguin had quarrelled fiercely about art. Vincent felt an increasing fear that Gauguin was going to desert him, and what he described as a situation of "excessive tension" reached a crisis point on 23 December 1888, when Van Gogh stalked Gauguin with a razor and then cut off the lower part of his own left ear lobe. Gauguin left Arles and did not see Van Gogh again. Van Gogh was hospitalised and in a critical state for a few days. In January 1889 Van Gogh returned to the "Yellow House", but spent the following month between hospital and home, suffering from hallucinations and paranoia that he was being poisoned. In March the police closed his house, after a petition by thirty townspeople, who called him fou roux ("the redheaded madman").

The central figure in Van Gogh's life was his brother Theo, who continually and selflessly provided financial support. Their lifelong friendship is documented in numerous letters they exchanged from August 1872 onwards.


As I reflected on Vincent van Gogh's life - his rich heritage of Christianity, being the son of a minister of the Gospel, his theological trainings and his passion to spread the Gospel - and then his so checkered life with his tragic end, despite his giftedness, I am reminded that as God's children we may not always understand what God allows us to go through in this life. Sometimes some of our sufferings could be because of our sins and failures or weaknesses. At such time we have to face the sad consequences of our mistakes. But at other times, our sufferings and afflictions could happen without apparent reason. This is particularly true in our illness or chronic battle with clinical depression or bipolar disorder due to our constitution. Bipolar disorder (manic-depressive illness) is a medical condition that can be treated, just like diabetes, hypertension and asthma. The only difference is that during a severe depressive episode, a person's brain can be so mulfunctioning to the point that it is not able to send/receive appropriate messages and the person may be tempted to end his life in a moment of insanity. And sadly some are successful, and Vincent van Gogh is one of them. It is a mercy that if Vincent van Gogh truly belongs to Christ then he is now saved in the arms of Jesus where there is no more tears or sufferings, even though he left this world through such a tragic end.

We may not always understand why God in His sovereignty allows certain things in our lives or allows us to go through certain trials and afflictions. But we have no doubt at all of His sovereignty and His love for us, and that He in His faithfulness is working all things for His glory and our good.

God said in Isaiah 55:8-9

“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.”

God promised us in His words, that no matter what He allows us to go through, we can have the assurance that nothing shall ever separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Rom 8:38 “For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

Thank God for His love for us and His presence with us even when we have to go through the valley of the shadow of death on this earth.

Like this lovely poem "The Weaver", our life is a weaving, between the Lord and us. We cannot choose the colours, He worketh steadily. While we cannot understand the ups and downs He allowed in our lives, we sometimes forget He sees the upper, and we, the underside of the tapestry. 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. One day when we see our Lord face in face in eternity, maybe we will understand why.

The Weaver

My life is but a weaving,
Between the Lord and me.
I cannot choose the colors,
He worketh steadily.

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

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.

Not ’til the loom is silent
And the shuttles cease to fly.
Shall God unroll the canvas
And explain the reasons why.

- Author Unknown -

Just like the necessity of the dark threads on a colorful tapestry, the ups in our lives will have to be balanced out by the downs. Our manic/hypomanic experiences will have to be balanced out by our depressions. Both experiences complement one another. Borrowing the words of Dr Kay Redfield Jamison who is a Professor of Psychiatry with bipolar disorder and the author of "An Unquiet Mind", as a result of these ups and downs, we have felt more things, more deeply; we have more experiences, more intensely; loved more, and been more loved; laughed more often for having cried more often; appreciated more the springs, for all the winters; worn death "as close as dungarees," appreciated it - and life - more; seen the finest and the most terrible in people, and slowly learned the values of caring, loyalty, and seeing things through.

We have seen the breath and depth and width of our minds and hearts and seen how frail they both are, and how ultimately unknowable they both are. Depressed, we have crawled on our hands and knees in order to get across a room and have done it for month after month. But, normal or manic, we have run faster, thought faster, and loved faster than most we know. And much of this is related to our illness - the intensity it gives to things and the perspective it forces on us. It has made us test the limits of our mind (which, while wanting, is holding) and the limits of our upbringing, family, education, and friends.

Our sufferings make us more compassionate towards others. It helps to appreciate God and His mercies and faithfulness in our lives. It enable us to bring this same hope to others. For nothing in this life shall last for eternity. Our family, possessions, careers, achievements, fame, etc and even our own life, shall one day perish. But only our relationship with God through our Lord Christ shall last for all eternity.

As clay in the Potter's hand, our lives is in God's hands.

Then the word of the LORD came to me, saying, O house of Israel, cannot I do with you as this potter? saith the LORD. Behold, as the clay is in the potter's hand, so are ye in mine hand, O house of Israel. Jeremiah 18:5-6

Our comfort is God Who loved us and sent His only begotten Son, our Lord Jesus Christ to die on the cross for lost sinners like us, continues to love us and care for us through all the changing scenes of life. If we truly trust in the Lord Jesus Christ as our Saviour and Lord, we can have the assurance of our sins being forgiven in Him, and of our eternal heritage in Him. In this life, we have our portion of happiness and sadness, success and failures, joy and sufferings, laughter and tears, mania and depressions, wellness and sickness, etc. We can have the assurance that He will never leave us nor forsake us. One day when our tasks here have ended, He shall take us home to be with Himself where there will be no more tears, sickness and sufferings. What a blessed hope! Meanwhile, we can continue to press on in this pilgrim journey looking unto God for grace and strength daily. What a mercy!

But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Romans 5:8

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

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

Romans 8:35-39
35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?
36 As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.
37 Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.
38 For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come,
39 Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.