More Than Conquerors

09 June 2008

Making Bookmarks for Friends : A therapeutic hobby

Dear Friends,

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

Thank God for preserving me daily.

Just a short update. My condition is still fluctuating. It kind of worsened during the weekends and I rested much. I prayed and read a little of the Bible whenever I can. Thank God that I am better today.

I went for a walk this morning. It was refreshing to be out in the nature once again to behold the beauties of God's creations and to remember His greatness in creating and preserving us.

Today I was also able to work on some bookmarks that I am making for some overseas friends. Thank God for the joy of making these little gifts for my friends.

I will continue to pray and do whatever I can daily, and hope to get better by and by.

Thanks for stopping by. I am praying for you too. Take care.

If you are interested to make bookmarks for yourself or your friends or to sell, do feel free to download some Free Bookmarks Templates from my Homemade Bookmarks and Crafts website.

Free Calendars 2010 and Free Planners 2010 Resources:

Free Bookmarks Resources:

Free Cards Resources:

Free Handicrafts Resources : Free Cross-stitch

Free Sewing Resources : Knitting

Free Origami Resources:

Free Arts and Crafts for Kids Resources:

Nice Piano Instrumental Music Resources:

05 June 2008

Thankful Thursday

My flesh and my heart faileth: but God is the strength of my heart, and my portion for ever. Psalm 73:26

I have missed Thankful Thursday last week due to poor health. Thank God for strengthening me and as I continue to wait upon Him for restoration, I hope to recount God's goodness and mercies to me in this difficult time.

♥ Thank God for sustaining me and giving me strength for each day as I wait upon Him.

♥ Thank God that though at times my flesh and my heart fails, He is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.

♥ Thank God for the assurance of His love and mercies especially in very difficult times. I am clinging on to His precious promises that His grace is sufficient for me (2 Corinthians 12:9) and He will never leave me nor forsake me (Hebrews 13:5).

♥ Thank God for many friends' prayers and encouragements. Thanks to all of you for stopping by, for your prayers and encouragements.

♥ Thank God for the privilege of partaking in the Lord's Supper last Lord's day in my church. I am reminded afresh of our Lord Jesus Christ's love for us in laying down His life on the cross to redeem us and His care and blessings upon us daily.

♥ Thank God that we can cling on to God's love and faithfulness irrespective of our outward circumstances or inner struggles. He is with us always.

♥ Thank God for bringing an oversea friend here. She is a dear sister-in-Christ and God has delivered her from a difficult trial. I look forward to fellowship with her.

♥ Thank God for His mercies to His people wherever they are. Let us continue to pray for the people in China and Myanmar who have experienced great loss and calamities in these recent day. May they find comfort and grace in God to rebuild their lives and homes.

♥ Thank God for the privileges of prayers and the assurance that God hears and answers our prayers according to His will and time. And He knows what is best for us.

♥ Thank God that though our outward man perishes each day, our inward man is renewed in the Lord daily as we seek Him in prayers and reading of His Words. May God draw us nearer to Himself and make us useful in His kingdom to share His love and Truths with others.

How about you? How has the Lord blessed you through the past week?

Thanks for stopping by. Hope you have a blessed and thankful day!

For more participants of Thankful Thursday, do visit Iris at Sting My Heart. It will be a very blessed and spiritually uplifting experience for you!

04 June 2008

Word-Filled Wednesday : Waiting upon the Lord Who renews our strength

As I wait upon our Lord to restore my health, I thank God that He renews my strength in Him daily.

May you find encouragements too as you wait upon the Lord in your particular situations that He will renew your strength for He has promised:

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

For more Word-Filled Wednesday participants, do visit Amy at The 160 Acre Woods. It will be a very blessed and encouraging experience for you!

Thank you for stopping by. Thanks for your prayers and encouragements. Hope you have a blessed day!

03 June 2008

Overcoming Discouragements

Whenever I go through an episode of clinical depression, I feel as if I am wearing dark-glasses. Everything around me looks gloomy. The sun seems to have eclipsed behind the dark cloud. It is too easy to forget that behind those dark cloud the sun is still shining. And after darkness, will be the light. After the night, morning will come.

When I realized recently that I have once again slipped into clinical depression despite medications and efforts to cope, I was quite discouraged. I realized afresh that my battle with bipolar disorder is still an ongoing one. My hypomanic episodes will alternates with my clinical depression. I realized afresh the importance of managing hypomanic and stress better so that I minimize the tendency to overstrain myself and from burn out and clinical depression.

That morning when I was most discouraged, I poured out my heart to God in prayers. I asked God to strengthen my heart and give me the strength and grace to cope, and to live for Him.

God in His mercies spoke Words of comfort and uplifted my soul to Himself. I read the following encouraging devotional by CH Spurgeon.

God reminded me afresh that in life, we will face various ups and downs. After the morning, evening will come. And after evening, morning will come. Both mornings and evenings have their usefulness. God is with me through the mornings and evenings of my life.

I realized that my experiences with clinical depression is once again being used of God to draw me closer to Himself. I am cast entirely upon God. I know that unless God gives me the strength and grace to cope, I shall plunged deeper into depression when negative thoughts and doubts overwhelmed me.

I am learning to challenge my negative and faulty thoughts, recognizing that they are the effect of chemical imbalance in my brain. While waiting for the chemical in my brain to be restored, I am looking to God and actively seeking to identify faulty thoughts and reverse these thoughts and do that which is right in the sight of God. I read the Bible and speak to my own soul, counselling myself with God's Words to think aright and not believe my faulty thoughts.

If you are struggling with depression, everything will look very gloomy and negative. Know that it is not true. It is the chemical imbalance in your brain that takes away your ability to think and feel aright. Learn to identify these negative and faulty thoughts and to challenge them with more rational and biblical view. These will help you to see things in a more balance view and it can prevent further spiral down into deeper depression. Do read Dr David P Murray's message on Depression - The Condition and The Cure.

I realized that experiencing clinical depression once again is helping me to understand afresh the pain, agonies and discouragement that those who are going through clinical depression will experience every day. I sincerely believe that God is using this experience to enable me once again to be able to feel for others in their sufferings. When I am well, I will be able to be more effective in supporting and helping others who undergoes discouragements due to clinical depression.

So it is my prayers that this experience will not be wasted but that God will draw me nearer to Himself to depend upon His love and sufficiency, and God will make me more useful in His kingdom in helping others who struggles with clinical depression or other discouragements and sufferings.

Thanks once again for all of you, my dear friends, for stopping by and for praying for me and encouraging me. Thank God for all of you!

Thank God for His mercies and faithfulness in strengthening me day by day. I will continue to look to God and seek to serve Him in small ways during this time, and wait for Him for restoration.

Thanks again for stopping by! Hope the devotional from Spurgeon will bring some encouragements to you too.

“The evening and the morning were the first day.” Genesis 1:5

Was it so even in the beginning?

Did light and darkness divide the realm of time in the first day?

Then little wonder is it if I have also changes in my circumstances from the sunshine of prosperity to the midnight of adversity.

It will not always be the blaze of noon even in my soul concerns, I must expect at seasons to mourn the absence of my former joys, and seek my Beloved in the night.

Nor am I alone in this, for all the Lord’s beloved ones have had to sing the mingled song of judgment and of mercy, of trial and deliverance, of mourning and of delight.

It is one of the arrangements of Divine providence that day and night shall not cease either in the spiritual or natural creation till we reach the land of which it is written, “there is no night there.” What our heavenly Father ordains is wise and good.

What, then, my soul, is it best for thee to do?

Learn first to be content with this divine order, and be willing, with Job, to receive evil from the hand of the Lord as well as good.

Study next, to make the outgoings of the morning and the evening to rejoice. Praise the Lord for the sun of joy when it rises, and for the gloom of evening as it falls. There is beauty both in sunrise and sunset, sing of it, and glorify the Lord. Like the nightingale, pour forth thy notes at all hours.

Believe that the night is as useful as the day. The dews of grace fall heavily in the night of sorrow. The stars of promise shine forth gloriously amid the darkness of grief.

Continue thy service under all changes. If in the day thy watchword be labour, at night exchange it for watch.

Every hour has its duty, do thou continue in thy calling as the Lord’s servant until he shall suddenly appear in his glory.

My soul, thine evening of old age and death is drawing near, dread it not, for it is part of the day; and the Lord has said, “I will cover him all the day long.”

(Taken from CH Spurgeon's Morning and Evening, 1 June, Morning)

30 May 2008

I am with you always

Dear Friends,

Thank you very much for stopping by! Thanks for all your prayers and encouragements.

Just a short update on my current condition.

With bipolar disorder, whenever I am well, I am usually kind of hypomanic. Writing and reading is a breeze. My thoughts flow naturally and I can write a lot. I also tend to talk a lot. You can see from my past postings on this blog that I tend to post very long posts and almost every day.

But now I am rather slowed down. My thoughts are dis-jointed. My concentration level is low. Reading and writing takes much effort. Even talking is difficult. When I am a little better, I will tend to want to read, write and talk. But I will be terribly exhausted after that.

So I am coping by cutting down on activities that tire me out.

I learn to lower my expectations of self by not expecting myself to do too much during this period of time.

It is hard as I have perfectionism character trait and begin to feel a sense of uselessness.

But I try to remind myself that I am just taking a break. I can still be useful and contribute when I am better.

I try to exercise more regularly as my body has become so easily tired and lethargic.

I read the Bible and pray daily and am finding much comfort in God's Words.

I re-read this encouraging devotional from CH Spurgeon, that reminds me once again God is with me and will never leave me nor forsake me.

“I am with you alway.”
Matthew 28:20

It is well there is One who is ever the same, and who is ever with us.

It is well there is one stable rock amidst the billows of the sea of life.

O my soul, set not thine affections upon rusting, moth-eaten, decaying treasures, but set thine heart upon him who abides for ever faithful to thee.

Build not thine house upon the moving quicksands of a deceitful world, but found thy hopes upon this rock, which, amid descending rain and roaring floods, shall stand immovably secure.

My soul, I charge thee, lay up thy treasure in the only secure cabinet; store thy jewels where thou canst never lose them.

Put thine all in Christ; set all thine affections on his person, all thy hope in his merit, all thy trust in his efficacious blood, all thy joy in his presence, and so thou mayest laugh at loss, and defy destruction.

Remember that all the flowers in the world’s garden fade by turns, and the day cometh when nothing will be left but the black, cold earth.

Death’s black extinguisher must soon put out thy candle. Oh! how sweet to have sunlight when the candle is gone!

The dark flood must soon roll between thee and all thou hast; then wed thine heart to him who will never leave thee; trust thyself with him who will go with thee through the black and surging current of death’s stream, and who will land thee safely on the celestial shore, and make thee sit with him in heavenly places for ever.

Go, sorrowing son of affliction, tell thy secrets to the Friend who sticketh closer than a brother.

Trust all thy concerns with him who never can be taken from thee, who will never leave thee, and who will never let thee leave him, even “Jesus Christ, the same yesterday, and to-day, and for ever.”

“Lo, I am with you alway,” is enough for my soul to live upon, let who will forsake me.

(Taken from CH Spurgeon's Morning and Evening, 11 May, Morning)

Thanks again for stopping by!

Take care. Hope you have a blessed weekends.

I will post every now and then to let you know of my condition.

Thanks!

26 May 2008

Taking a Break - A Special Prayer for You

Dear Friends,

I am taking a break from blogging to let my health get better and to attend to some family matters.

I want to take this opportunity to thank all of you for your visits, kind comments, prayers and encouragements.

It has been a very precious and wonderful experience for me to write on this blog over the last few months and to visit your blogs.

I will miss all of you for a while but I am remembering you in prayers.

Hope you will press on daily in God's grace and strength, and continue on your wellness journey.

I will be back, God willing :-)

Take care!

A Special Prayer for You

I said a prayer for you today
and know God must have heard.
I felt the answer in my heart although
He spoke no word
I didn't ask for wealth or fame
I know you wouldn't mind
I asked Him to send treasures
of a far more lasting kind.
I asked that He be near you
At the start of each new day
To grant you health and blessings
and friends to share your way.
I asked for happiness for you
in all things great and small
But it was for His loving care
I prayed most of all

25 May 2008

Comprehending Loss - coping with tragedies

Dear Friends,

Let us continue to pray for the people in Sichuan China that many may find God's comfort and grace to be upon them as they seek to rebuild their lives. China has the most severe earthquake in Beichuan, Sichuan province on 12 May 2008 in which it is estimated over 70,000 people have already died and many are still buried. The people need lots of prayers and support in this time of overwhelming loss and sufferings. Thank God for many people who are extending their prayers, love and kindness in many wonderful ways.

Let us also continue to pray for the people in Myanmar that many may find God's comfort and grace to be upon them too as they seek to rebuild their lives and homes too. Myanmar was hit by Cyclone Nargis on 2 May 2008 in which it is estimated that up to 134,000 people might have died. They too need lots of prayers and support to rebuild their homes and lives. May God shower His mercies upon them.

Let us also pray for others in other part of the world who are suffering through other natural disasters. And pray for our other families or friends who are suffering in one way or another.

In particular, please pray for the Chapman's family on the loss of their little daughter, Maria. Maria (age 5), the youngest of three daughters adopted from China by Steven and Mary Beth Chapman, was tragically killed in an accident at their home on Wednesday afternoon. It is hard to grasp the immensity of their pain in the loss of this little girl. It is a great consolation to know that God is in control and because of Jesus, through faith in Him the family will see Maria again in glory one day.

My friend, Tracy, wrote a very encouraging post "Comprehending Loss" as she shared of this tragedy of the death of little Maria Chapman and a book she read on dealing with tragedy.

Do read Tracy's encouraging post "Comprehending Loss" and check on Maria's memorial website where there is a very touching video of little Maria with Steven. There were over 16,000 people who had offered words of prayer, love and support to the Chapmans in the condolences. May God continue to comfort this family as they look to Him.

We are persuaded that nothing shall ever separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. Not even death.

Romans 8:35,37-39

35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?

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.

24 May 2008

Faces that stir our hearts - earthquakes at Sichuan

My brother-in-Christ, George, sent me some photos and slides on the earthquake at Sichuan, China.

It is really hard-breaking to see the great calamities that have happened to this part of the world.

China has the most severe earthquake in Beichuan, Sichuan province on 12 May 2008. It reached 7.8 scale and is one of the worst one in the past 3 decades. It happened during the day while workers were in their office and children were in their school. It is estimated over 70,000 people have already died and many are still buried.

Many people died in crumbled buildings. Many people perished without saying good-bye.

Bridges collapsed. Historical buildings and foundations were destroyed.

After the earthquake many people have no home, school or office to return to. Many people became homeless.

It is hard to imagine what many people are going through now. The pains and sufferings they experienced from their injuries due to the earthquake is overwhelming. Many suffered physical disabilities and injuries.

Even more people suffered overwhelming emotional loss and pains. Parents lost their children, children lost their parents and many families are disintegrated. The life of many will never be the same again.

In the face of overwhelming sorrows, we read of many heroic stories of how little children risked their lives to saved their family and friends, some teachers risked their lives to save their students and many others who persevered on with the hope of seeing their families and love ones again. The sacrifices and hard work of the rescue teams, medical teams and various volunteers are most encouraging. The resiliency of many people are great encouragements to everyone.

You can read more about the situation in Sichuan China at CCTV.com and China View.

Let us continue to pray for China. China needs our help and prayer. May God bless China and her people in this very difficult time. May many people turn to God and find comfort and consolations in Him in this time of national calamities and personal tragedies.

It is a comfort that God's people who perished in these calamities are now in His presence, no more to suffer in this world.

May God give the people grace and strength to rebuild their lives. It will take a lot of courage and every help that is possible, to help them rebuild their lives. Thank God for many that are willing to help.

The world is mourning for China. We read of how many are moved with compassion and have seek to help by way of prayers, finance, provisions of daily necessities and medical needs. Thank God for all these kind people.

I am reminded of how we live each day by the grace of God. We do not know if we will live to see tomorrow. I hope to cherish this life that God has given me and live each day usefully for God's glory and the benefit of the society.

Natural disaster can happen anywhere and anytime. It is a solemn reminder to me that I need to set my heart and affection on things above, to seek God and His kingdom first. This life is temporary and there is eternal life as God has promised in His Words. If we trust in Christ as our Saviour, we can have the assurance that we will be with Him when we leave this world.

I am also reminded on how we need to cherish our loved ones and all that God has given to us. So often we let little disagreement create unhappiness in our relationship with our loved ones or friends. I am reminded that the time with our loved ones and friends may be short. I need to love and cherish them.

Time of sufferings are also time of sharing each other's burdens and praying for one another. I am reminded that sometimes through others suffering we can extend our love and kindness to others. An in time of our own sufferings, we can experience overwhelming love and kindness.

What about you? How do you feel when you read of such calamities? How has this incident affected you in your outlook in life or your relationship with your loved ones and others?