Thursday, August 28, 2008

Thankful Thursday : Because He lives, we can face tomorrow











Dear Friends,

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

♥ I am thankful to God for strengthening me and restoring me from my recent relapse of clinical depression. Around May recently, I over strained myself due to work, blogging, church, family and other commitments. By the time I realized it I was heading towards a burnout. Though I attempted to slow down, I still slipped into clinical depression. Thank God for preserving and restoring me. I am feeling so much better now and will continue to look to our Lord. Thank you for your prayers and encouragements!

♥ With this health condition, the future can at times seem very uncertain and fearful with possible relapses of clinical depression and all the pain and difficulties associated with it. I am thankful to God for the comfort and assurance in His Words of His presence with us, His love for us and His sufficient grace no matter what we may go through in this imperfect world. We have the hope of one day being with the Lord where there will be no more tears, illness and suffering. Meanwhile, He is with us. He loves us and will give us grace sufficient for each day.

♥ I am thankful to God that my illness has drawn me closer to God, to know more and more of His love and mercies, and to be more dependent upon Him. The Lord fills my heart daily with His love and joy so that I can rejoice in Him and find contentment in Him despite my condition.

♥ I am thankful to our Lord Jesus Christ for giving me grace and courage to press on daily because He Lives! I am comforted that in the Bible, God tells us that Christ is risen and He is living today and interceding for us. His Spirit lives in us and will give us grace to live for Him until He calls us home. We are never alone!

♥ I am thankful to God for providing precious people in my life ie. my family, church, friends and blogging friends who love and care for me in their very wonderful ways. These are tokens of God's love for me and I treasure very much.

♥ I am thankful to God once again for all of you, my dear blogging friends and visitors. I have been so greatly blessed by all of you and I thank God upon every remembrance of you. It is wonderful to read of how God is guiding and blessing you in your walk with our Lord and it encourages me in my walk with God too. Thanks again for your prayers and encouragements.


I saw these videos on YouTube for this encouraging hymn "Because He Lives" and it strengthens my heart to remember anew that we served a Risen Savior Who loves us and is in control of all things. Therefore I can face tomorrow, with all its uncertainty, in God's strength and grace, because God holds the future and that makes life worth living.

Christianity Today has a touching account of how this Song was written by Bill and Gloria Gaither during a very traumatic time in their life in the early 1970s while expecting their third child. The timing for another baby wasn't ideal due to various reasons and the thought of bringing another child into the world was taking its toll. But God ministered grace to them and Christ's resurrection, in all its power, was reaffirmed in their hearts. They were assured that the future, left in God's hands, would be just fine.

In July 1970 a healthy baby, Benjamin, was born. 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.

Because He Lives

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!

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!



This video "Because He Lives" By The Gaither Vocal Band is posted by hoover4000 on YouTube. The 2nd stanza was first written together with the chorus, 3rd and 1st stanza added subsequently:



This video "Because He Lives" By The Gaither Trio 1972 is 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!)



May the wonderful reminder that we serve a Risen Savior, affirms the hope we have in Christ. We can face tomorrow, with all its uncertainty, as we realize that God holds the future and that makes life worth living!

May you continue to know God's love and sufficient grace in very special ways today and everyday!

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!

Wednesday, August 27, 2008

Word-Filled Wednesday : I have loved you with an everlasting love

























The LORD hath appeared of old unto me, saying,
Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love:
therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn thee.
Jeremiah 31:3

Nothing is more powerful to engage our affection than to find that we are beloved! Expression of kindness and love are usually pleasing and acceptable unto us irrespective of who expresses it to us.

But to have the love of One Who is altogether lovely, to know that the glorious Majesty of heaven hath any regard unto us, how must this astonish and delight us, how must it overcome our spirits and melt our hearts, and put our whole soul into a flame!

Thank God for His everlasting and immeasurable love for us! It will take me a lifetime to try and comprehend it, and even then I may not fully understand it!

May you continue to know God's everlasting love and goodness in many wonderful ways daily :)

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!

(I took this picture at a Flower exhibition in Singapore)

Monday, August 25, 2008

Blogging - Therapeutic to me and a tool in recovery from depression and coping with bipolar and other challenges in my life

Dear Friends,

Thanks for stopping by!

I am thankful to God for restoring me from a relapse of clinical depression recently. Bipolar disorder is a medical condition with extreme mood swings (manic and depression) which can be treated. I am thankful to God for preserving me through the difficult times of a relapse and strengthening me now.

Thanks for your prayers and encouragements. They mean a lot to me!

As I am on the road of recovery, I am learning to pace myself moderately and prayerfully.

I have at one point of time contemplated giving up on blogging as I found myself spending a considerable amount of time writing on my blog and visiting other's blog. I do a lot of this especially when I am hypomanic :-)

Too much blogging is actually mentally very taxing on me though I don't always realized it. My freelance work is also very taxing as I work on the computer most of time. I suspect my relapse of clinical depression recently was due to overstraining at my freelance work plus blogging.

Should I give up blogging? I prayed and asked the Lord for direction.

It has been a joy and privilege for me to be acquainted with many blogging friends who are suffering from depression, bipolar and other physical or mental conditions.

To be able to share and support one another as we seek to learn to understand and manage our conditions has a great impact upon my life. I felt I have grown much over the last half year of blogging through my acquaintance with such dear friends and learning from various people's experiences. I am learning to understand my condition better and to manage it better.

Ever since I joined Word-Filled Wednesday and Thankful Thursday, God has helped me to grow spiritually.

Word-Filled Wednesday (WFW) reminds me of many precious passages from God's Words. God's Words bring comfort, encouragement and direction in my life. It helps me to know more of God's love, His mercies and His sovereignty. Every visit to WFW blogs and post are very encouraging and refreshing. WFW also gives me opportunities to share my passion in photography and God's Words with others. I am thankful to God for many kind friends who allowed me to use the photographs they took and shared them on WFW. Thanks, Amy Deane, for hosting Word-Filled Wednesday and thank God for giving us this precious opportunities to be reminded and encouraged by His Words and beautifies of His creations!

Thankful Thursday (TT) helped me to count my blessings and to be thankful for God's many mercies. I learn to appreciate little things in life and to be thankful for them. Visiting the various TT blogs have strengthened my faith in God as I read of His goodness to His people in spite of whatever difficulties we face in this fallen world. I read of the power of God sustaining and delivering His people from the trials in their life. I read of how thankful they are admist the challenges of life. I am greatly humbled by the many who find reasons to praise and thank God for little things in life which I sometimes overlooked or took for granted. TT has in some way changed my perspective. It has helped me to be a more thankful and happy person despite the bout of depression I experience every now and then, and the many challenges I face in managing bipolar disorder, my work, my family, etc etc. Thanks, Iris, for hosting Thankful Thursday and thank God for using it to encourage us to count our blessings and know more and more of His love!

I am so thankful for your friendships, dear friends and visitors, and the way you and your blogs or your comments have encouraged me. I am greatly humbled by so many of you visiting me and encouraging me. Your prayers and encouragements mean a lot to me. They are especially precious in my recovery process. God has used all of you to provide the love, friendship and support that I needed very much in my recovery. It makes a lot of difference.

I am thankful to God too for making my posts an encouragement to various people. It is my joy and privilege to share with you God's goodness and mercies to me in managing depression, bipolar and other challenges in my life. God is good to me. I am greatly humbled by the knowledge that what I shared has touched some people's life and I thank God for using such a weak vessel so that His grace and glory may shine through!

In life, we will have our portions of ups and downs. Whether it be depression, bipolar or other physical or mental afflictions, or loss of jobs, loss of loved ones, and other difficulties in life, to have the love and support of family and friends is so precious. Thank God that He is with us and thank God that we can be here for one another!

So in other words, Blogging is therapeutic to me. I am encouraged by so many of you. And when God uses me to encourage you in return, it gives me a sense of satisfaction to know that I can still be useful and contribute despite my infirmities. It helps me to feel useful and challenges me to be more useful, as God enables me.

I have found it a joy to blog. Blogging allows me to share my thoughts and feelings, to verbalise it and to see things more clearly. It has also enriched my life through the vast of information that other bloggers shared through their life, resources they found useful and comfort from God's Words and God's goodness to them.

So here I am, continuing with blogging :-)

But I shall endeavor to pace myself more moderately in order to prevent burn-out and depression, as far as I can. I probably won't be posting on my blog and visiting blogs everyday like what I did before my relapse of clinical depression recently. I have to learn to understand my limitation and work within that boundary. You are in my thoughts and prayers always. I love to visit your blogs but if I am not able to visit you as much as I would like to, I trust you will understand :-)

What about you? Do you enjoy blogging? How has blogging helped you? Or how has blogging changed your life?

Thanks again for stopping by, dear friends and visitors. Your friendship and kindness means a lot to me and I thank God for everyone of you. I pray that God will make me a blessing to you too and that your visit to my blog has been a pleasant and encouraging experience. All praise and glory be to God!

Take care and have a blessed day!

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

Saturday, August 23, 2008

Blog Awards

Thanks to God and my blogging friends for all these lovely awards!















Thank you, Michele! (17 Jan 2009)














Thank you, Michele! (17 Jan 2009)















The Premio Dardos award acknowledges the values that every blogger shows in his/her effort to transmit cultural, ethical, literary, and personal values every day.















Thank you, Michele!




A Perfect Blend of Friendship Award
Thanks, Serendipity (LS and Happy)!





Nisha's Friendship Award
Thanks Lorie!


If you ever need a hand, I'm here Award
Thanks Willow, Lorie and Sunny


Faithful Servant Award Sowing Seeds of Love!
Thanks Jill and Willow!




You lift my spirit Award
Thanks serendipity (LS & Happy)!



Gratitude with Attitude Award
Thanks Jim!




Kind Blogger Award
Thanks Melanie and Serendipity!






Friendship Award
Thanks Serendipity and Peggy!





Sharing The Love Award
Thanks Peggy!




The “Arte y Pico” Award
Thanks SharonB, Edie and Serendipity!




Flower Award
Thanks Colored Heart!






Brillante Weblog Premio 2008
Thanks Peggy and Jena!




BFF Gold Card
Thank you Serendipity!






I am an Awesome Blogger Friend Award
Thanks Dennis, Michele W. and Peggy!



Autumn Friends Award
Thanks Serendipity, Michele W. , Peggy and Carrie!




Inspiration Award
Thanks Dennis, Michele W., Peggy and Serendipity


Blogging makes us 'close' Award (Portugese)
Thanks Michele W. , Peggy and Kathy!




Top Pick Blog Award
Thanks Janera!

Thursday, August 21, 2008

Thankful Thursday : Father's Love Letter











The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: but the word of our God shall stand for ever. Isaiah 40:8

Heaven and earth shall pass away: but my words shall not pass away. Luke 21:33

Dear Friends,

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

Some weeks ago, I posted "Letter to My Child" which is very encouraging. It tells us of the great love God has for us and that He cares for us.

Dear Child,

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

Love, Your Father,
Almighty God



Recently, I saw another presentation of it on YouTube which is very very encouraging too and it is entitled "Father's Love Letter."

As I viewed "Father's Love Letter" I realized afresh God's love for us as He expressed it in His Words, the Bible. The Bible is in someway God's Love Letter to us to reveal His love for us from creation to salvation to sanctification and to glory.

"Father's Love Letter" is a very encouraging paraphrased of various Scriptures from Old Testament to New Testament. It helps me to appreciate how precious the Bible is to us and how we can know more and more of God's glory and love for us, and how we can live for Him.

♥ I am thankful to God for giving us His Precious Words, the Bible.

♥ I am thankful to God for giving us the Bible so that we can know Who God is, who we are, and what Christ has done to reconcile us to God.

♥ I am thankful to God that He reveals in His Words His love for us and how He has given us His only begotten Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, to redeem us from sins and give us eternal life.

♥ I am thankful to God that His Words admonish us and convict us of our sins, and assures us that with God there is forgiveness of sins as we turn to God in repentance.

♥ I am thankful to God that His Words has the answers on how we can handle the various issues in life with the many challenges.

♥ I am thankful to God that His Words instructs us on how we can live for God, glorify Him and enjoy Him.

♥ I am thankful to God that His Words directs us in the path that God wants us to go.

♥ I am thankful to God that His Words comforts us in our time of sorrows, sufferings and losses.

♥ I am thankful to God for the freedom to read His Words and to worship Him in my country.

♥ I thank God for providing precious people in my life ie. my family, church, friends and blogging friends who love and care for me in their very wonderful ways. These are tokens of God's love for me and I treasure very much.

♥ I thank God once again for all of you, my dear blogging friends and visitors. I have been so greatly blessed by all of you and I thank God upon every remembrance of you. It is wonderful to read of how God is guiding and blessing you in your walk with our Lord and it encourages me in my walk with God too. Thanks again for your prayers and encouragements.

♥ May God opens our eyes daily that we may behold wondrous truths out of His Words (Psalm 119:18) and enable us to walk in them.

♥ May God's Words continues to be a lamp unto our feet and a light unto our paths (Psalm 119:105).

♥ May God enable us to hide His Words in our heart that we might not sinned against Him (Psalm 119:11).



Do take a few minutes to listen to this narrated Father's Love Letter, if you can. Though these Bible verses and Truths are familiar to us, the way they are connected together in this touching letter is very encouraging and enable us to know God's love in a very special way.

To read the Letter is one thing, to listen to it being read is another totally yet wonderful experience! It may change your life!

This Father's Love Letter is posted by joetopc on Youtube.




To read more about Father's Love Letter, visit their website here.

Father's Love Letter is available in 89 languages! Free posters of Father's Love Letter can be downloaded from here.

May you know God to be our Heavenly Father, Who will never leave us nor forsake us and cares for us daily.

And may you know the love of God that is perfected in Christ Jesus our Lord Who gave His life for us so that we can be reconciled to God.

May you know God's love and care in very special ways today and everyday!

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.

Wednesday, August 20, 2008

Word-Filled Wednesday : The LORD's name to be praised











From the rising of the sun unto the going down of the same the LORD's name is to be praised. Psalm 113:3


Thank God for each day that we can wake up to praise Him and serve Him!

May we lift up our souls in praise and thanksgiving to God daily for His love and goodness in many wonderful ways !

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!

(My friend and sister-in-Christ, Sau, took this picture at Saipan)

Thursday, August 14, 2008

Thankful Thursday: The Lord is my Shepherd











Psalm 23

1 The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.
2 He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.
3 He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake.
4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.
5 Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.
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.

Dear Friends,

Thanks for stopping! Thanks for your prayers and encouragements.

♥ I thank God that our Lord Jesus Christ is my Shepherd and He has provided for all my needs, ,both temporal and spiritual, in His many wonderful ways, assuring me that with Him as my Shepherd, I shall not want (lack). What a comfort to us in this time of many changes, natural disasters, high costs of living and with our many needs!

♥ I am thankful to God for the comfort of His Words and the joy of seeking Him in prayers and devotion daily, of walking with Him and serving Him in small ways.

♥ I thank God for providing precious people in my life ie. my family, church, friends and blogging friends who love and care for me in their very wonderful ways. These are tokens of God's love for me and I treasure very much.

♥ I thank God once again for all of you, my dear blogging friends and visitors. I have been so greatly blessed by all of you and I thank God upon every remembrance of you. It is wonderful to read of how God is guiding and blessing you in your walk with our Lord and it encourages me in my walk with God too. Thanks again for your prayers and encouragements.

♥ Thank God that the Lord is our Shepherd and He will never leave us nor forsake us (Hebrews 13:5).

♥ Thank God that the Lord is our Shepherd and goodness and mercies shall follow us all the days of our life, irrespective of pain or pleasure (Romans 8:28).

♥ Thank God that the Lord is our Shepherd and we have the sweet assurance that we will dwell in the house of God one day to enjoy His love and fellowship in eternity.

Hope you enjoy Psalm 23 recited by this cute little girl posted by brimo on Youtube . She is such a sweetie :-)





This Psalm 23 is posted by tsaiwaiming at Youtube.




May you know God's love and care in very special ways today and everyday!

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!

Wednesday, August 13, 2008

Word-Filled Wednesday : All things work together for good









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


This is my comfort through all the changing scenes in life. No matter what we go through whether joy or pain, God is able to work them for His glory and our good.

May this truth strengthen your heart and may you know God's love and guidance in many wonderful ways today and everyday!

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!

(I took this photo at Hort Park, Singapore)

Saturday, August 9, 2008

Thank God and thank you for your Love and Friendship

Dear Friends and Visitors,

I am thankful to God for the joy and privileges of knowing each one of you, my dear blogging friends and visitors.

Reading your blogs and your comments have been such enriching and encouraging experiences for me!

Your friendships, prayers and encouragements do mean a lot to me. They are tokens of God's love for me and I thank God upon every remembrance of you.

I am thankful to God for causing our paths to cross in such wonderful ways through blogging!

Your presence, love and friendship has made blogging a very wonderful and blessed experience for me. Every one of your comments mean a lot to me even though I may not be able to respond individually to them due to various constraints. Know that they are precious to me and I thank you for leaving notes for me to encourage me!

I pray that God will continue to keep you near to Him and make you a blessing to all that come into contact with you, to His glory. May you continue to grow in your love for the Lord and His people.

2 Awards to share with you!
(Feel free to pass these on or if you prefer not to, it is okay!)

Here are 2 awards that kind friends shared with me and I like to share with all of you, my dear blogging friends and visitors, for the ways your friendships, your blogs and your comments have been such blessings to me.

I will try and list as many of you as I can, and will keep on adding. But if I do incidentally missed you out (I hope I don't!), please forgive me and know that these awards are for you too.

So if you are reading this post, these award belongs to you! Thanks for sharing your love and friendship with me and may we continue to pass this love and friendship on to others.


Sharing The Love Award

Peggy (Mazes, Messes, Miracles...aMazing Grace) loves the Lord and shares freely her writing gift with her readers and she is generous in encouraging fellow bloggers. Peggy has kindly shared this award with all her friends. I would like to share this award with all of you, my dear blogging friends and visitors.

This lovely award is created by Crystal @ Memoirs of a Mommy in honor of Noah and the donor of his sweet little heart who ENCOURAGES us to SHARE THE LOVE ! Thanks Crystal! [Click on Memoirs of a Mommy to learn and read this special love story!] The rules for this award are to pass it along to some people whose blogs you love. They make you laugh, smile, leave encouraging comments on your blog. You would like to share some love with them because they have uplifted, inspired, encouraged or prayed for you. Please include this paragraph with the link to Memoirs of a Mommy so that everyone know where this award originated from.


Friendship Award

Serendipity (Serendipity Park). Serendipity (LS and Happy) have very kind and loving hearts and they love to encourage others. I thank God for their encouragements to me and many others. It is a joy to visit their blog. Their posts, filled with creative writings and beautiful photographs, always make me smile :-)

Serendipity has kindly shared this award with me. I would like to share this award with all of you, my dear blogging friends and visitors. Feel free to pass these on to your precious friends.

So these 2 special awards are for you my dear friends and visitors (I am still adding you....):

A
Above the Clouds Lana G.
A Damsel no longer in distress JesusRulzMe
A happy heart at home Susan
A Life Uncommon Donetta
A Magnolia's Heart Beat Laurie Ann
Amy's Place Amy
Amazing Adventures Await! Erica
Ann Kroeker Ann
A Pink Carnation in Bloom Susie
A Psycho-Therapist with Bipolar Annie
Aroma of Joy Kelly

B
Bears In Exile Love Bears All Things
Bella Mama's Prairie Life BellaMama
Beverly by Grace Beverly
Bipolarity Syd
Blessed Beyond Imagination Kathy
Blessed with Grace Lisa
BPD in OKC Bpd
Breaths of Faith Tammy
Broken Vessels God Chaser

C
Child of the King Jennifer
C h r y s a l i s e-Mom
Clay in the Potter's Hand Colored Heart
Coming Out of the Dark Dream Writer
Critty Joy Critty Joy

D
Daily Provision Janet
Day to Day Miracles JeLalaine
Deanna's Corner Deanna
Depression Introspection Marissa

E
Encouragement From My Heart Lorie (Joyfulsister)
Ever so Dear Diane
Every Moment Matters Jena
Everything to Me aka Puff's Pockets Darlene

F
Faith Prints Tania
14 Fir Street Karen (Mrs Huse Clifton)
Five Minutes of Fame Jane
Flickers of a Faithful FireFly HisFireFly
Forever 'n Ever 'n Always Jill
Forever His Susan
From an Acorn
Fruits of the Spirit Melanie

G
Gratitude Lorri
Gina's Public Diary Gina

H
Happy Wanderer (Ellen b) Ellen b
Heather's Humor Heather
Hip chick's home Hip Chick
Home Sweet Home Deniece
Hope for Each Day Cheryl
How do we get there from here? Peculiar

I
I will take it lord, all you have to give Lori
In Christ Alone Renee
It's All About Him Tricia

J
Jendi's Journal Jendi
Jesus-Filled Hope Tessa
Jim's Deep Thoughts Jim
Joy of Desserts Joy
Joyful Journey Journal Kathy (Pianokat61)
Joyfull Living Joyfull
Joyfully Living for His Glory Chelsey

K
Kiki's Corner Kristi
Kisses From Heaven Mary

L
Life in the Wood Jenelle
Life's Blessings NanaNor's
Living Frugally JadeMerie

M
Maiylah's Snippets Maiylah
Mak!Mej! Mama meji
Mariposa's Tales Mariposa
Married to the Preacher Natalie
Marsha's Musings Marsha
Mary's Writing Nooks Mary
Mazes, Messes, Miracles.... aMazing Grace Peggy
Meditations and Confessions of a Homemaker Sheila
Memoirs of a Mommy Crystal
Multiple Synchronicities & Sclerosis Merelyme
Michele's Morsels Beelieve Michele
Millie Millie
Modobject at Home Mod Girl
Mom Of 4 Saved By Grace Amy
More questions than answer
Mother of Shrek Casdok
Moving the Mountain Mamasmurf
My Cup Runneth Over Tracy
My Life's Journey Pia
My Little Cowboys Kellie
My Name is Danielle Danielle

N
Not a DIY Life Heather

O
Oak Rise Cottage Carrie
One Bipolar Life Precious Rock
One Sacrifice For All Time Amanda
Our Life Tiffanie
Out Standing In My Field Chandy
Ozarks sew n' sew Michelle

P
Pennyraine.com pennyraine
Pockets of Time Lisa (Morning Rose)
Precious Memories Susan
Psychological Perspective Teresa

Q
Quiet Reflections SharonB
Quoth The Rav Becky

R
Raindrops and Rainbows Bp
Reading By the Seashore Ladybug
Redeemed Angela
Reflections in the window Jen
Regalo ng Diyos (God's Gift) Rocks
Remember the Moments alihsee
Rich Gifts Edie
Roller Coaster Marja

S
Safe in His Arms Tonya
Seed Thoughts Tracy (Blessed One)
Serendipity Park LS and Happy
Scattered Stones Kim
Scrapping Servant Carolyn
Sharon Hurley Sharon
Shortybear's Place Denise
Shabby Olde Potting Shed Lea
Simple Life Simply Me PinayMama
SmallWorld SmallWorld At Home
Soulful Sepulcher Stephany
Spin Original PJ
Sting My Heart Iris
Stover Lane Darlene
Sunflower Faith Twinklemom

T
Tales from the Back Acher Chickie Momma
Tea with Tiffany Tiffany
The 160 Acrewoods Amy
The Accidental Pharisee Beth
The CooknTcher Mom Princess
The Happy Wanderer Ellen
The Holley Herald (Steven and Aisha) Aisha
The Journey Back Sherry (MyJourneyBack)
THE KNIGHTLY NEWS Angie
The Liebers The Liebers
The narrow path flmom
The voice of FMLL
The Write Way Teresa
Thirsty For Him Tracy
Thirsty Soul Stephanie
To Know Him Toknowhim

U
Unequally Yoked In Grace Abby

W
warmHarte Beth (Sailorcross)
Wellness Writer Susan
Whispers of the Morning Dawn
Without Fear Pam
Women taking a Stand Laurie
Write From the Heart Lelia

Y
Yellowrose Cottage Tale Linda
"YOUR FRIEND" - CHERYL Cheryl


Here are some instructions on how you can copy these awards to your posts or sidebars:
A) To copy these awards to your posts:

1) Go to my post
2) put your cursor on the picture you want to copy
3) Right click on your mouse
4) Choose "Save image as"
5) Go to a folder in your computer/hard disk
6) Save it in your computer
7) Do the same for the second picture
8) Go to your blog
9) Create a new post
10) Use Add Image and upload the picture from your hard disk to the post (just like the way you will upload any other graphics unto your post)


B) To put these awards to your sidebar

1) Go to your Dashboard
2) Choose Layout
3) Add a Gadget
4) Choose Picture
5) A small window will open up.
6) For Title put "Sharing the Love Award".
7) For Caption, most people thank the person who gives them the award. So if you want, you can put "Thanks Nancie!"
8) Can ignore the Link
9) Image - at from your computer, click at "Browse"
10) Go to the folder where you saved the "Sharing the Love Award". Click at the image and click Open
11) Save the Gadget
12) You can move the Gadget to wherever you want on your Layout
13) Save your layout
14) When you view your blog you will be able to see the award on your sidebar
15) Repeat the steps for the second Image

Let me know if you have any problems with copying the images to your blogs and I will see how best I can help. You can email me at mylifewithbp@gmail.com

Thanks again for your friendships and encouragements. Thanks for stopping by. May God grant you a blessed weekends!

Take care.

Thursday, August 7, 2008

Thankful Thursday : The Love of God











Ephesians 3

14 For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,

17 That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love,

18 May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height;

19 And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God.

Dear Friends,

Thanks for stopping! Thanks for your prayers and encouragements.

♥ Today I want to thank God for reminding me once again of His unfailing and enduring love in these recent months as I go through many challenges in my health, work, family, etc etc. I thank God that His grace is sufficient for me.

♥ I thank God for allowing me to experience His love by giving His Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, to die on the cross to redeem me from sins. I thank God that He is my help and strength daily, and in Him is my hope and joy.

♥ I thank God for showing me His love in forgiving me of my sins daily. I am conscious of my many weaknesses and sins daily, and I thank God that with Him there is forgiveness of sins. As I go to Him for fresh strength and grace for each day, He has never failed to provide for my needs so that I can live for Him.

♥ I am thankful to God that I have the assurance of His love especially in tough times that He allows them for a purpose (Romans 8:28). I thank God for sanctifying me and enabling me to grow in Him at such times.

♥ I am thankful to God for the comfort of His Words and the joy of seeking Him in prayers and devotion daily.

♥ I thank God for showing me His love through my family, friends, church and blogging friends. I have been so greatly blessed by all of you and I thank God upon every remembrance of you. It is wonderful to read of how God is guiding and blessing you in your walk with our Lord and it encourages me in my walk with God too.

♥ I am thankful for this portion of a lovely hymn/poem which I like very much, “The Love of God”. It reminds me of the love of God which is immeasurable.

I love the way the love of God is being described as greater far than tongue or pen can ever tell. It is so true!

And even if we could fill all the ocean with ink and all the skies with parchment, and every one of us is scribe, to write the love of God above would still drain the ocean dry nor could the scroll contained the whole though stretched from sky to sky!

How true! The immeasurable depths and heights of God’s love! It has to be experienced to know what it means and even then we cannot fathom the whole of it!

The Love of God

The love of God is greater far
Than tongue or pen can ever tell;...
Could we with ink the ocean fill,
And were the skies of parchment made,
Were every stalk on earth a quill,
And every man a scribe by trade,
To write the love of God above,
Would drain the ocean dry.
Nor could the scroll contain the whole,
Though stretched from sky to sky.

Chorus: O love of God, how rich and pure!
How measureless and strong!

It shall forevermore endure
The saints’ and angels’ song.


May you know God's love in very special ways today and everyday!

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!

Wednesday, August 6, 2008

Word-Filled Wednesday : Cause me to hear thy lovingkindness in the morning











Psalm 143:8, 10

8 Cause me to hear thy lovingkindness in the morning; for in thee do I trust: cause me to know the way wherein I should walk; for I lift up my soul unto thee... 10 Teach me to do thy will; for thou art my God: thy spirit is good; lead me into the land of uprightness.
This is my prayers every morning that God may enable me to know His lovingkindness, lead me in His ways and teach me to do His will.

May you know God's love and guidance in many wonderful ways today and everyday!

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!

(This photo is taken by my friend and sister-in-Christ, Sau, at Saipan. Thank God for her kindness to share this photo with us.)

Saturday, August 2, 2008

Gracious blog awards from kind friends

Dear Friends,

Thank you for stopping by. I like to share some blessings with you today.

I am thankful to God and to kind friends for sharing with me the following blog awards.

I am honored and humbled to receive them and I give all praise and glory to God.

It is my privilege to share these awards with my blogging friends but is a hard decision for me to choose specifically a few because so many of you excel in these categories too and I feel you deserve these awards as well!

But in complying to the rules of these awards, I am pleased to pass these awards to the following friends whom God has used to be great blessings to me :

1) Gratitude with Attitude Award

Jim (Jim's Deep Thoughts) shared with me this "Gratitude with Attitude Award" on 3rd May 2008. (Thanks, Jim, for this lovely award. All praise and glory be to God.)

I am thankful for Jim's friendship.

I enjoyed reading Jim's posts. He is a man after God's own heart. He likes to share of the lessons he learned from God's Words or sermons he heard or books he read. These are very encouraging as they always reflect His love for God and his desire to walk pleasing to God. Do visit Jim, if you can. You will be encouraged by him too.

I would like to share this award with the following blogging friends whom God has blessed me with. They all love the Lord and have GREAT attitudes in their life. I am learning to enjoy their blogs. I am encouraged by their love for the Lord and sincere desire to walk pleasing to Him. Do visit them and you will be blessed too!

1. Iris (Sting My Heart) - Iris hosts Thankful Thursday (TT) and shares God's blessings and her thankful heart with us. She invites us to join her and count our blessings and share our thankful heart too. It has been a great blessing for me to join TT to count God's blessings and to read of God's goodness to so many others. Do join us at TT, if you can!

2. Melanie (The Fruits of the Spirit). Melanie is a woman after God's own heart. She loves to share what she is learning from the Bible with us. Her posts have many insights and encouragements from the Bible.

3. Sharonb (Quiet Reflections). Sharonb loves the Lord and she writes and share the devotional thoughts or experiences that God is teaching her daily. Her posts reflect her desire to submit to God's teachings and walk in His ways.

4. Tracy (My Cup Runneth Over). Tracy writes and shares the devotional thoughts or experiences that God is teaching her daily. Her desire is to encourage others and share the hope, joy and love of Jesus, through the overflow of her grateful heart.

5) Edie (Rich Gifts). Eddie loves the Lord and her greatest desire is to have Great faith in God. I am encouraged by her love for the Lord and desire to walk in His ways. In her own words, "My greatest desire is to have Great faith in God. The kind that will step out into the unknown and truely Trust Him with all that is within me. I'm not there yet but working on it. "For without Faith it is impossible to please God..." (Hebrews 11:6)"

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2) Kind Blogger Award

Melanie presented me with this kind award on 21 July 2008. (Thanks, Melanie, for this kind award. All praise and glory be to God.)

I am thankful to God for Melanie's friendship and her kind words of encouragements.

Melanie is a woman after God's own heart. She loves to share what she is learning from the Bible with us. Her posts have many insights and encouragements from the Bible. Her love for the Lord and sincere desire to walk pleasing to Him is so evident in her posts! Do visit Melanie and you will be encouraged by her too.

I would like to share this award with the following blogging friends who God has blessed me with. These friends have shown much kindness to me and others through their writing, in prayers and encouragements and in their many wonderful ways. Do visit them and you will be greatly blessed!

1. Darlene (Blog: Stover Lane). I am thankful to God for Darlene's friendship. She prays for me constantly and leave little notes for me to let me know that she cares. God used her and many others during my most difficult moments to let me know that He cares for me. Darlene shares very generously on her blogs when she finds useful information on others blogs or encouraging videos.

2. Jim (Jim's Deep Thoughts). Jim awarded me with Gratitude with Attitude Award above. He has a great attitude himself and he loves the Lord. He writes on various topics and has a compassion for others who are suffering because of what Christ has done for him in his own sufferings.

3. Jennifer (Blog: Child of the King). Jennifer is a sweet and dear friend whom God sends to me. She loves the Lord and she encourages me with her prayers and sweet little notes. Her desire to walk with God and honours Him in her decisions, are great encouragements to me. I thank God for her.

4. Denise (Shortybears Place). Denise has a very kind and loving heart. She is always encouraging others though she herself is afflicted in her health. She loves the Lord and find her strength and joy in Him daily. Her blog is also very sweet, just like her :-)

5. Peggy (Mazes, Messes, Miracles...aMazing Grace). Peggy is very gifted in her writing and I enjoy her writings. She loves the Lord and shares freely her writing gift with her readers and she is generous in encouraging fellow bloggers.

6. Serendipity (Serendipity Park). Serendipity has a very kind and loving heart and she loves to encourage others. I thank God for her encouragements to me and many others.

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3) The “Arte y Pico” Award

The “Arte y Pico” award was created to be given to bloggers who inspire others with their creativity (whether it be writing or artwork in all media), design, interesting material, or also contributions to the blogger community, no matter what language.

Sharonb very kindly shared this award with me and other bloggers on 26 July 2008. I am thankful for her kindness and large-heartedness. Sharonb loves the Lord and I enjoy her posts on the devotional thoughts or experiences that God is teaching her daily.

Edie kindly shared this award with me on 31 July 2008. I am thankful for her kindness and encouragements. I am encouraged by her love for the Lord and desire to walk in His ways.

I would like to share this award with the following blogging friends who God has blessed me with. These friends have encouraged me in their writings, creativities, kindness and contributions to the blogging communities in their various gifted ways. Do visit them and you will be greatly blessed!

1. Michelle (Ozarks sew n' sews). Michelle is very gifted in cross-stitch and other sewings. Her blog is beautiful. She is also a very excellent photographer and I especially love to see the photos of her cross-stitch and that of her husband (yes, Jack loves cross-stitch too!) and cute Katie (you will smile too when you see her).

2. AmyDeane (The 160 Acre Woods). AmyDeane hosts Word-Filled Wednesday (WFW) where she shared her photography skills with us by adding encouraging Bible verses to it. If you love to share photos or pictures with Bible verses, do join us at WFW. I have been greatly blessed by the many beautiful photos and encouraging Bible verses posted by the various participants of WFW.

3. Marja (Roller Coaster). Marja loves the Lord and is always hopeful in Him in the face of many challenges in her life. Marja is interested in writing about mental health issues, especially encouraging a more understanding view by the church. In an effort to help her church give support to people with mood disorders, Marja has started a support group called "Living Room". Now she is encouraging groups to start up elsewhere. Marja has been a great blessing, encouragement and help to those who attend Living Room and those of us who read about her experiences there, her books she has written as well as how the Lord helps her to live for Him and serve Him in her various gifted ways.

4. Susan (Wellness Writer). Susan is a writer and she shares generously on her wellness strategies and her own experiences on handling depression, bipolar, handling irrational anger, overcoming fear, and other challenges in life. She has helped many by her sharing and I have benefited too.

5. Serendipity (Serendipity Park). Serendipity is a gifted and creative writer. She also takes lovely pictures. Her posts always make me smile :-)

Here are the rules:

1. Share this award with 5 blogs that you consider to deserve this award whether for creativity, design, interesting material or contributions to the blogger community, no matter what language.

2. Show the award and include the name (and link to his/her blog) of whoever present you with this award.

3. Name each nominee and link to his/her blog.

4. Link to "Arte y Pico" blog so everyone will know the origin of this award.

5. Post these rules.


To each of the recipients above, I thank God for you and the way you and your blogs have been such great blessings to me! You well deserve these awards and so much more!

I am also thankful to God for Colored Heart, Peggy and Serendipity for sharing the following awards with me:


Flower Award

Colored Heart (Clay in the Potter's Hand) loves the Lord and it is encouraging to read of her close walk with God, always seeking to please Him.

Colored Heart writes very well and I enjoy her writing. She is also a very encouraging person and loves to encourage others.


Awards to share with all

I am thankful to God for the joy and privileges of knowing each one of you, my dear blogging friends and visitors. Many of you do serve the above awards though I am not able to name each one of you. Your contributions to the blogging community have made blogging such a wonderful experience for me!

Your friendships, prayers and encouragements do mean a lot to me. They are tokens of God's love for me and I thank God upon every remembrance of you.

I pray that God will continue to keep you near to Him and make you a blessing to all that come into contact with you, to His glory. May you continue to grow in your love for the Lord and His people.

Here are 2 awards to share with all of you, my dear blogging friends and visitors. If you are reading this post, these award belongs to your too! Thanks for sharing your love and friendship with me and may we continue to pass this love on to others.


Sharing The Love Award

Peggy (Mazes, Messes, Miracles...aMazing Grace) is very gifted in her writing and I enjoy her writings. She loves the Lord and shares freely her writing gift with her readers and she is generous in encouraging fellow bloggers.

Peggy has kindly shared this award with all her friends. I would like to share this award with all of you, my dear blogging friends and visitors. If you are reading this post, this award belongs to your too! Thanks for sharing your love with me and may we continue to pass this love on to others.

This lovely award is created by Crystal @ Memoirs of a Mommy in honor of Noah and the donor of his sweet little heart who ENCOURAGES us to SHARE THE LOVE ! Thanks Crystal! [Click on Memoirs of a Mommy to learn and read this special love story!] The rules for this award are to pass it along to some people whose blogs you love. They make you laugh, smile, leave encouraging comments on your blog. You would like to share some love with because they have uplifted, inspired, encouraged or prayed for you.

Friendship Award

Serendipity (Serendipity Park). Serendipity has a very kind and loving heart and she loves to encourage others. I thank God for her encouragements to me and many others. She is also a gifted and creative writer. She also takes lovely pictures. Her posts always make me smile :-)

Serendipity has kindly shared this award with me. I would like to share this award with all of you, my dear blogging friends and visitors. If you are reading this post, this award belongs to your too! Thanks for sharing your friendship with me and may we continue to pass this friendship on to others.

Thanks again for your friendship. Thanks for stopping by. May God grant you a blessed weekends!

Take care.