[閒聊]續--［彩虹下的约定］之三

[CONNIE LAI]

Dear sisters in CHRIST,

The Bigger Picture
by Alan Smith

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Leith Anderson shared a story about when he was a boy. He grew up outside of New York City and was an avid fan of the old Brooklyn Dodgers. One day, his father took him to a World Series game between the Dodgers and the Yankees. He was so excited, and he just knew the Dodgers would trounce the Yankees. Unfortunately, not a single Dodger ever got on base and his excitement was shattered.
Years later, he was engrossed in a conversation with a man who was a walking sports almanac. Leith told him about the first major league game he attended and added, "It was such a disappointment. I was a Dodger fan and the Dodgers never got on base."

The man said, "You were there? You were at the game when Don Larsen pitched the first perfect game in all of World Series history?"

Leith replied, "Yeah, but uh, we lost."

He then realized that he had been so caught up in his team's defeat that he missed out on the fact that he was a witness to a far greater page of history.

"You were there?"

I wonder how often the same thing happens to us. We get so caught up in the "defeats" in our lives — the times when things don't turn out the way we want them to. So we're depressed because an illness continues to linger, or when people don't treat us the way we think they ought to, or when we face financial difficulties.

But, we are often so blinded by the pain and disappointment of our "defeat" that we fail to appreciate the fact that we might be witness to something far greater that God is doing in our lives.

Remember when Paul was in prison? He wrote to the Christians in Philippi:

My dear friends, I want you to know that what has happened to me has helped to spread the good news. (Philippians 1:12)

While most of us would have focused on the "defeat" (being in prison even though he was innocent), Paul was able to see what God was doing in his life. It's not an easy thing to do. It's never easy to view things from a heavenly perspective rather than an earthly one, but it is especially difficult in the midst of pain and defeat. But it is learning how to have a heavenly view that helps us to know joy no matter what happens in our lives.

from HEARTLIGHT.ORG

[CONNIE LAI]

Dear sisters in CHRIST,

偉大的神


耶和華說：「人豈能在隱密處藏身，使我看不見他呢… …我豈不充滿天地麼？」（耶廿三24）

有一本書名叫《你的神太小了！》（Your God Is Too Small）深深的吸引了我。是的，我們所認識的神究竟在我們的心中有多大？有限的人，加上有限的頭腦，有時不經意地將無限的神看小了、限制了。因此擔心「神」不知道自己的景況，懷疑「神」不可能解決自己的困難。更可惜的是，我們又把自己看得太大，以為自己比神更慈愛、更公義、更有智慧，故此有時竟指斥神容許不公平的存在，投訴神罔顧世界的苦難，彷彿我們比神更有義。

神是靈，祂充滿天地，祂並非世人，也非受造之物。創造我們的主絕對是無處不在，無所不知，無所不能的。你今天有甚麼憂慮未放在全能神的手中呢？放心交託吧！你最近遇上甚麼快樂事未感謝叫萬事互相效力的神呢？因為祂掌管一切！你未來有甚麼打算呢？記得當拜主你的神，單要事奉祂！
～岑美霞

from CCMHK

[CONNIE LAI]

Dear sisters in CHRIST,

尋求供應

「凡跌倒的，耶和華將他們扶持，凡被壓下的，將他們扶起。萬民都舉目仰望你，你隨時給他們食物。」（詩篇一四五：14-15）

詩篇104篇屬於創造的詩篇，廿七節說的「這都仰望你」，指的是動物的受造。而一四五篇則是上帝國度的詩篇，「萬民都舉目仰望你」中，特別指出聖徒的需要﹑失敗及重擔。比較起來，動物是無意識的仰望上帝，人則是出於自願的等候仰望，因為人是大自然的銓釋者，他要見證的是，即使出於自意志，世上還是沒有比等候上帝更尊貴，更蒙福的事。

如果一支部隊受命進入敵境，這時消息傳來，要他們停止前進，第一個大家的質疑一定是是宕延的原因，答案通常都是：「等候補給品。」舉凡糧食﹑衣物或軍火尚未到齊，沒有這些軍需，誰也不敢冒然前進，這就像基督徒的生命一樣；每一天，每一步，我們都需要從上頭來的供應，重要的莫過於培養自己的靈全然信賴祂，若缺乏恩典與力量的供應，就不要前進。

在禱告中，我們的心思常被自我﹑本身的需要，還有向上帝殷殷陳明的努力所佔據了；而在我們安靜的住入上帝面前之後，上帝以祂自己來蔭蔽我們，其實上帝渴望彰顯自己，以祂自己充滿我們。等候上帝的秘訣就是以祂的方式，給祂時間，然後屬天的能力就會臨到我們。

在禱告當中，必須決定培養自己有等候上帝的心志，而禱告之前，你先安靜地降服在上帝面前，謹記祂是誰，祂是何等的親近，不但能夠而且極其願意施恩幫助﹗在祂面前肅敬，讓聖靈喚醒﹑激勵你的靈魂，使你擁有孩子的單純，以致能完全倚靠，全心期待祂。等候上帝就是等候永在的那一位，永活的上帝關切﹑注意你，祂渴望以祂自己的救恩充滿你；等候上帝，直到你確知已經遇見祂；如此，禱告就會與以前完全不同。

禱告當中，要有一些安靜的時段，那是靈魂敬虔的安靜，它幫助你順服在上帝面前，這時，祂可能希望教導你，或在你心中動工。總之，等候上帝將成為禱告最蒙福的一部份，這份寶貴的恩典實源於我們與至聖者相交的結果。上帝早已如此命定，使我們得享與祂的榮耀互相交融，而在祂面前的時候，就是我們該歸給祂的榮耀。

「萬民都舉目仰望你，你隨時給他們食物。」上帝既把大自然的一切供應給祂所造的萬物，祂更願意供應恩典給祂所救贖的人﹗學習對每一個願望，每一次失敗和每一個需畏的恩典說：過去我等候上帝的時間太少了，否則祂早就供應我一切的需要了，然後還要如此說：

我的心默默無聲專等候上帝。　

　


慕安得烈，《如何等候上帝》，大光出版

[CONNIE LAI]

Dear sisters in CHRIST,

心靈之光

「我等候耶和華，我的人等候，我也仰望祂的話。我的心等候主，勝於守夜的等候天亮，勝於守夜的等候天亮。」（詩篇一三○：5-6）

人在等候曙光的心情是何等迫切啊﹗就像一個浪高船破的水手，也像一個夜幕低垂置身險境的旅人；更像一支遭敵人圍困的軍隊。曙光意謂著逃生有望，象徵著生命與自由。所以在黑暗中的聖徒渴望上帝臉上榮光的心情，遠遠勝過更夫等候天亮。

上帝就是光，就是太陽。保羅說：「上帝已經照在我們心裡。」什麼亮光﹖「叫我們得知上帝榮耀的光，顯在耶穌基督的面上。」就像太陽發出燦爛美麗的生命之光照耀大地一般，上帝也照樣在祂兒子基督裡，將祂榮耀慈愛的光照在我們心中，使我們的心終日充滿著喜樂之光，之所以能夠如此，因為上帝是我們的太陽，正如經上說：「你的日頭不再下落。」上帝的愛永不止息的照耀在我們身上。

我們真能終日如此享受嗎﹖是的﹗那麼怎樣才能享受呢﹖大自然可以給我們答案。不妨看看那些美麗的花樹，如茵的碧草，它們何嘗作了些什麼，使陽光照耀其上呢﹖什麼也沒有，它們只是享受陽光罷了﹗太陽雖在千萬哩之外，但陽光的明朗喜悅卻近在咫尺，連一朵小花也能抬起頭來接受陽光的祝福。我們無須擔心一日工作需要多少陽光，陽光自會提供。照耀我們所需的一切，我們只要依賴﹑接受﹑享受陽光就夠了﹗

大自然與恩典惟一的不同在於，花草樹木沈浸在陽光的祝福中卻渾然不覺；而我們的領受卻出於歡然欣喜與對上帝的愛。信心，就是單純的相信上帝的話語及慈愛，信心使眼目﹑心靈得開，繼而接受﹑享有祂那訴說不盡的恩典，就如樹木，日復一日，月復一月歡然迎接陽光的照耀，以致成成茁壯，枝葉扶疏，甚而果實纍纍，所以信徒生命最大的操練就是住在上帝的光中，讓上帝充滿我們的生命，叫我們的生命也能燦爛明麗﹗ 　

　


慕安得烈，《如何等候上帝》，大光出版

[CONNIE LAI]

Dear sisters in CHRIST,

以神的話語為樂

經　　節： 耶和華─萬軍之神啊，我得著你的言語就當食物吃了；你的言語是我心中的歡喜快樂，因我是稱為你名下的人。（耶利米書十五章16節）
　

倘若你收到國家領袖或名人的字條，你也許會存起來，當作紀念品。從神而來的信息，則更是珍貴！有時候，我們發現自己沒法控制環境。當馬利亞與馬大面對自己兄弟拉撒路的死亡時，就是這種心境。在這些時候，耶穌的一句話會帶來許多喜樂（約翰福音十一：41～45）。其他的時候，耶穌的話則會更正我們。「撒但，退我後邊去吧！」（馬太福音十六：23）和「你這小信的人哪！」（馬太福音十四：31）這兩句話似乎不能帶來喜樂。然而，耶利米說神的話語是他心中的歡喜快樂。那聖潔的全能神居然開口對我們說話，實在令人難以置信！我們是何等地榮幸，神居然關心我們，願意質問我們敗壞的思想與行為。無論祂是讚美或責備，我們仍舊要喜樂。因為由我們的主那兒領受到改變生命的話語！每回敬拜神，我們心裏一定要預備聆聽，全能神可能有話要對我們說。每當打開聖經，我們應當期待神在我們與祂相交時，有話對我們說。在禱告時，我們應該比自己想說甚麼話，更關心神要對我們說些甚麼話。當你從神那兒領受到一句話，不管是讚美或責備，要以全能神向你說話為樂。


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轉載自《每日經歷神》道聲出版社

[CONNIE LAI]

Dear sisters in CHRIST,

Rhythm of Grace

In my article today on Heartlight today — Rhythms of Grace — I try to challenge us, especially myself, to rethink how we view a day and understand that God blesses us with the day beginning with rest and night rather than work and day. If we allow it to do so, this understanding can make a huge difference in the way we approach our lives and what it means to be productive.

So what are we going to do about dealing with this principle?

How are we going to implement this principle in our lives when our culture marches to a different beat?

What advantages and blessings come to us when we realize that God blesses us with grace and rest before we face obedience and action?

I'd love to get your take on things!

Posted by Phil Ware at 12:55 PM - from HEARTLIGHT.ORG

[CONNIE LAI]

Dear sisters in CHRIST,


How Long?

How long, O Lord? Will You forget me forever? How long will You hide Your face from me? —Psalm 13:1

My friends Bob and Delores understand what it means to wait for answers—answers that never seem to come. When their son Jason and future daughter-in-law Lindsay were murdered in August 2004, a national manhunt was undertaken to find the killer and bring him to justice. After 2 years of prayer and pursuit, there were still no tangible answers to the painful questions the two hurting families wrestled with. There was only silence.

In such times, we are vulnerable to wrong assumptions and conclusions about life, about God, and about prayer. In Psalm 13, David wrestled with the problem of unanswered prayer. He questioned why the world was so dangerous and pleaded for answers from God.

It’s a hard psalm that David sang, and it seems to be one of frustration. Yet, in the end, his doubts and fears turned to trust. Why? Because the circumstances of our struggles cannot diminish the character of God and His care for His children. In verse 5, David turned a corner. From his heart he prayed, “But I have trusted in Your mercy; my heart shall rejoice in Your salvation.”

In the pain and struggle of living without answers, we can always find comfort in our heavenly Father. —Bill Crowder

Not ours to know the reason why
Unanswered is our prayer,
But ours to wait for God’s own time—
To lift the cross we bear. —Anon.

When we pray, God wraps us in His loving arms.

from OUR DAILY BREAD-rbc.org

[CONNIE LAI]

Dear sisters in CHRIST,



How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them?

Romans 10:14, New International Version


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Since "calling on the name of the Lord" is essential for salvation, then what is going to happen if we don't speak about Jesus with those who do not know him? We must share Jesus with everyone who will listen. That "someone preaching to them" must be us!

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Concerned and loving Father, I know the people in my life were put there by you. Please make me bolder in my witness to others about Jesus and his sacrifice. Please give me wisdom to know when to speak to them about the Gospel. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

from HEARTLIGHT.ORG

[CONNIE LAI]

Dear sisters in CHRIST,

心田的土質
經　　節： 那落在好土裏的，就是人聽了道，持守在誠實善良的心裏，並且忍耐著結實。（路加福音八章15節）


　

無論何時，你的心對神話語的領受程度，決定了你對神話語的 回應（路加福音八：5～18）。

倘若你的心田被苦毒與不饒恕的罪所踐踏摧殘，變成硬土，你將無法由神那裏接受任何信息。雖然你聽見信息的每一個字，你仍然不會改變。

倘若你的心田像磐石上的淺土，你會領受神的話語，但真理卻無法刺透你的心，你的行為仍然與過去一樣不會改變。

心田像荊棘的生命，則是被世界的思慮弄昏了頭，對屬世享樂的追求使得神的話語失去影響力，以致結不出公義的果子。

心田像好土的生命，則會領受神的話且實踐它，在收成的時節結出成熟的果粒。

這是耶穌希望我們能夠擁有的心田，結出的果子是似基督的生命。任何時候，不管是讀經、禱告或敬拜，當你聽到神的話，你的反應取決於你如何開墾自己的心田（何西阿書十：12）。你如何開墾你的心田，讓它像塊好土呢？為那些使你硬心的任何苦毒、憤怒與不饒恕而悔改。默想神的話，直到它深深地進入你的內心，而不只是進入你的意志而已。當你讀到或聽見神的話語，要應用到你的生活上，讓神使祂的話語化為你生活的實際行動（加拉太書六：9）。謹守你的生活方式，不要把你的精力都放在追求屬世的思慮，卻不去追求你與神之間的關係。你的心田土質如何，取決於你如何去開墾它。

如果它昨天領受神的話，並不保證今天它還會領受神的話。每日當預備好自己的心田，好接收神賜予你的話語！


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轉載自《每日經歷神》道聲出版社

[CONNIE LAI]

Dear sisters in CHRIST,

意志的喜樂

你們要靠主常常喜樂，我再說，你們要喜樂。
Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!
腓四4
要常常喜樂
Be joyful always;
帖前五16
我要在你的命令中自樂，這命素來是我所愛的。
for I delight in your commands, because I love them.
詩一一九篇47
你們外邦人，當與主的百姓一同歡樂。
Again, it says, "Rejoice, O Gentiles, with his people.
羅十五10
我要因你手的工作歡呼。
For you make me glad by your deeds, O Lord ; I sing for joy at the works of your hands.
詩九十二4
普天下當向耶和華歡呼。
Shout for joy to the Lord , all the earth.
詩一○○1
這是耶和華所定的日子，我們在其中要高興歡喜。
This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.
詩一一八24
喜樂不只是一種情緒，更是一種意志。聖經中的喜樂包括了心思、感情、意志，但最關鍵的是「意志」，我「要」喜樂，我「不要」憂愁。現在就以喜樂向神大聲歡呼吧！


摘錄自《敬虔與健康》，校園出版