操练感恩五

阅读经文：腓立比书 4:8-9

        如果你每天都操练感恩，你认为结果会是什么？

        圣经应许，看见日常生活中的美好会带来平安。

         “若有什么德行，若有什么称赞，这些事你们都要思念。你们在我身上所学习的、所领受的、所听见的、所看见的，这些事你们都要去行，赐平安的神就必与你们同在。”

                                                                                                                   （腓立比书 4:8-9）

        医学研究也证实了感恩与心理健康之间的联系。当受试者每天写下三件好事（Seligman 等人，2005年）、保持感恩日记（Kerr, O’Donovan 和 Pepping, 2014年），或写感恩信给他人（Toepfer 等人，2012年），他们的焦虑、抑郁以及生活满意度都有所改善。

        圣经和科学研究都证明，简单的感恩操练很有效。如果你想加深内心的平安和与神的关系，感恩是一个很好的起点。

操练：

        回想过去一周，哪种感恩操练最能带给你平安？是每天觉察三件好事？是在困境中找到感恩？是感谢他人？还是用感恩取代比较？

        无论哪种方式最有效，今天就开始操练吧。

        制定未来计划：你如何将感恩操练融入日常生活？

祷告：

         神啊，感谢祢赐给我的一切。请赐我一颗感恩的心，并让我与祢建立更深的关系。今日求祢赐我平安。阿们。

引自：https://zh-hant.theologyofwork.org/devotions/practicing-gratitude

  Practicing Gratitude, Part 5

 Scripture Reading: Philippians 4:8-9

          If you practice gratitude every day, what do you think the result will be?

          The Bible promises that seeing the good in daily life leads to peace.

          “If there is any excellence and if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. Keep on doing the things that you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, and the God of peace will be with you.” (Philippians 4:8–9).

         Medical studies confirm the link between gratitude and mental health. When test subjects wrote down three good things (Seligman et al., 2005), kept a gratitude journal (Kerr, O’Donovan, & Pepping, 2014), or wrote letters of gratitude to other people (Toepfer et al., 2012) all demonstrated improvements in levels of anxiety, depression, and life satisfaction.

        The Bible and the scientific material both attest to the effectiveness of simple gratitude practices. If you want to deepen your level of peace and your relationship with God, gratitude is a great place to start.

Practice:

        Reflect on the past week. Which practice of gratitude gave you the most peace? Was it noticing something good three times a day? Finding gratitude in something hard? Thanking another person? Replacing the urge to compare with gratitude for what you have right now?

Whichever discipline most helped you to experience gratitude, make that your practice today.

       Make a plan for the future: How can you build a practice of gratitude into your daily life?

Prayer: God, thank you for all that you’ve given me. Please give me a grateful heart and a deeper relationship with you. Grant me peace today. Amen.

       If you enjoyed this plan, find more plans from the Theology of Work Project at www.theologyofwork.org/devotions

Quote: Called To Work dcrandall-keeptouch.com@shared1.ccsend.com,Mon, Mar 17, 4:33 PM. 

操练感恩四

阅读经文：诗篇 16:5-6，出埃及记 20:17
        当你试图激起感恩的火焰时，“比较”就像一桶冷水把它浇熄。
        “比较”意味着看着别人拥有的，然后衡量它比自己的是好还是差。这是如此危险，以致第十诫特别警告我们不要这样做：“不可贪恋人的房屋；也不可贪恋人的妻子、仆婢、牛驴，并他一切所有的。”（出埃及记 20:17）
        “比较”会破坏两种关系：你与神的关系，以及你与他人的关系。当你嫉妒别人或试图胜过别人时，就无法完全地爱他们。同样地，当你认为神对你不公平时，也难以爱神。
       当你忍不住拿自己与他人比较时，把这个念头转为感恩的祷告。诗篇第16篇是一个好例子：“耶和华是我的产业，是我杯中的分；我所得的，你为我持守。用绳量给我的地界，坐落在佳美之处；我的产业实在美好。”（诗篇 16:5-6）
         诗人承认神是他一切供应的源头，并宣告神赐给他的一切都是美好的。这正是对抗“比较”的解药。

操练：
         回想你上一次与别人比较自己或自己所拥有的是什么时候。
         为那人所蒙的祝福感谢神。
         为神赐给你的人生样貌感谢祂。
         今天，当你发现自己在比较，列出神在这方面赐给你的祝福。
         今晚睡前进行一次“比较盘点”：我是否嫉妒任何人？我是否需要对神说：“谢谢祢赐给我所拥有的一切”？

祷告：
         神啊，感谢祢为我设下生活的边界。感谢祢赐给我所拥有的一切。求祢成为我对抗嫉妒和不满的见证。阿们。
引自：https://zh-hant.theologyofwork.org/devotions/practicing-gratitude

Practicing Gratitude, Part 4

Scripture Reading: Psalms 16:5-6, Exodus 20:17
       When you’re trying to fan your flame of gratitude, comparison douses it like a bucket of ice water.
       Comparison means looking at what someone else has and thinking about how much better or worse it is than what you have. It’s so dangerous that the 10th commandment warns against it. “You shall not covet your neighbor’s house; you shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, or male or female slave, or ox, or donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor” (Exodus 20:17).
       Comparison sabotages two relationships at the same time: your relationship with God, and your relationship with other people. You can’t fully love others when you’re jealous of them or trying to outperform them. And you can’t love God when you think maybe God has given you a bad deal.
       When you feel the urge to compare your lot in life with someone else’s, replace that thought with a prayer of gratitude. A good example comes from Psalm 16. “The LORD is my chosen portion and my cup; you hold my lot. The boundary lines have fallen for me in pleasant places; I have a goodly heritage.” (Psalm 16:5–6).
        The writer of the psalm acknowledges God as the source of his provision. He declares that what God has given him is good. This is an antidote to comparison.

Practice:
       Think about the last time you compared yourself to someone else or compared what you have to what someone else has.
       Thank God for blessing that person.
       Thank God for your lot in life – exactly the way it is right now.
       Today when you notice yourself making a comparison, make a list of the good things that God has blessed you with in this area.
       Before you go to bed tonight, do a comparison inventory. Ask yourself: Am I jealous of anyone else? Do I need to say “thank you, God” for what I have?
Prayer: God, thank you for setting boundaries around what is mine. I am grateful for the lot you’ve given me. Be my proof against envy and unhappiness. Amen.

Further Exploration: Read this reflection on loving other people without jealousy .

Quote: Called To Work dcrandall-keeptouch.com@shared1.ccsend.com,Mon, Mar 10, 9:06 AM

天父的爱
杜嘉

　　“严父慈母”这是中国人再熟悉不过的对父母的描述。大多数中国人对父亲的印象都是严肃的，威严的，让人敬畏害怕的。心中无数次想奔向父亲的怀抱，好像奔向母亲的怀抱一样，但无数次都可能被一张无形的帐幕骤然阻挡，亲而不能相近，这是无数儿女心灵中难以释怀的创痛。
　　曾有一个中年妇人泪流满面地说着自己的故事：从有记忆开始，就完全没有被爸爸抱过的印象，爸爸近在眼前，却远在天边。直到有一次（都少年人了），她不小心踩了钉子，锥心之痛啊！这时，爸爸一手抱过她来，很焦急、很专注、很细心地清洗护理她的伤口。她感到无比幸福，希望钉子的伤口不要那么快痊愈，让爸爸可以再抱她一次……如果受伤能换取爸爸的关注和拥抱，她宁愿再次受伤！
  　这让人伤心的故事，多少都会在我们的心里引起共鸣。我们渴望父亲的爱，父亲的爱却不能完全满足我们心里的渴望。为什么呢？原来，父亲心里的渴望也没有被他的父亲完全满足啊！
 　可是，我们在天上的父亲，却能满足人类心灵深处一切的渴望！
 　“慈爱的天父”，这是基督徒每次祷告开头说的话，这是何等温暖亲切的称呼啊！原来，我们在天上有一位父亲，祂是慈爱的父亲，祂是伟大的父亲，祂是永远的父亲。
　   有人说，人的一生都在尽力取悦父亲，期望得着父亲的赞赏。但我们的天父却是天天巴望流浪在外的，破败不堪的儿子回家。圣经记载了一个浪子回家的故事，记载在路加福音第十五章。那个浪子拿了父亲的财产，离家出走，以为外面的世界很精彩，却发现外面的世界不但很无奈，而且很悲哀。于是，浪子怀着忐忑不安的心回家找父亲，想着，就算回家做父亲的雇工都很幸福。没想到，父亲一见到自己的儿子，二话不说，就张开怀抱，把这个心灵破碎的孩子紧紧地抱在怀里！连连地亲嘴（估计这浪子很久没有沐浴洗脸了，污秽臊臭）；急急地把外袍披在孩子的身上，把戒指戴在孩子的手指上（这是尊贵身分的象征）；快快地让仆人们预备丰盛的宴席，表达无比喜乐的心情，并让所有的人都一同高兴快乐！原来，我们不需要拼命地取悦天父，我们是天父的孩子，这就够了。神就是爱，天父本身就是爱，祂给予祂孩子们的，是完全的爱，是能够满足孩子们心灵一切需要的爱。
　　有人把父亲比作家里的银行，他负责养家糊口，培养孩子。有一首诗歌叫〈这是天父世界〉，歌词说到：“这是天父世界，我心满有安宁，树木花草，苍天碧海，述说天父全能。这是天父世界，小鸟长翅飞鸣，清晨明亮好花美丽，证明天理精深……”天父上帝是世界的创造主，天地万物都是祂的，祂毫不吝啬地都赐给我们了，并且在其中教导我们：野地的花，无比艳丽，那是天父给他们披上的彩衣，何况我们呢？不必为衣裳忧虑；天上的飞鸟，不种不收，天父上帝尚且养活他们，何况我们呢？不必为食物忧虑。天父上帝养活我们，并且赐给我们富足又不加上忧虑的福分。
　　这么伟大的天父上帝，对祂的孩子们却是无比的温柔慈爱，祂曾如此说：“你们要从中享受〔从中享受原文是咂〕；你们必蒙抱在肋旁，摇弄在膝上。母亲怎样安慰儿子，我就照样安慰你们。”（圣经以赛亚书66:12-13）咂？咂！这是亲嘴发出来的声音吧？抱在肋旁，摇弄在膝上，这是在逗乐吧？母亲怎样安慰儿子？足够的温柔细腻吧？这幅图画，温馨得令全人类都震惊了！
　　“慈爱的天父……”能够如此呼唤上帝的人有福了，因为他们必称为天父的孩子。

（引自金灯台活页刊第237期 2025年5月）

The Father’s Love
By Du Jia

       “Strict father, gentle mother”—this is a description of parents that Chinese people are all too familiar with. Most Chinese associate fathers with seriousness, authority, and a sense of awe or fear. Countless times, children may long to run into their father’s arms just as they would their mother’s, but an invisible curtain often suddenly stops them. Close, yet unreachable—this is a lingering pain buried deep in the hearts of many sons and daughters.
       There was once a middle-aged woman who tearfully told her story: ever since she could remember, she had no memory of being embraced by her father. Her father was physically near but emotionally distant. Until one time—as a teenager—she accidentally stepped on a nail. The pain was excruciating! Her father immediately scooped her up in his arms, anxiously, attentively, and carefully cleaning and treating her wound. She felt an overwhelming sense of happiness and secretly wished that the wound wouldn’t heal so quickly—so that her father might hold her just once more. If getting hurt could win her father’s attention and embrace, she would rather be hurt again!
        This heartbreaking story resonates with many of us. We long for a father’s love, yet find it unable to fully satisfy the deep hunger of our hearts. Why? Because our fathers themselves never fully received the love they needed from their own fathers.
        But our Heavenly Father—He alone can satisfy the deepest longings of the human soul!
“Loving Heavenly Father”—this is how Christians often begin their prayers. What a warm and tender address! It turns out we have a Father in heaven—He is a loving Father, a great Father, and an everlasting Father.
        Someone once said, a person spends their whole life trying to win their father’s approval, hoping to gain his affirmation. But our Heavenly Father is the one who is daily longing for His wandering, broken children to come home. The Bible tells the story of the prodigal son in Luke 15. The son took his father’s inheritance and ran off, thinking the world outside was exciting. But he soon found it disappointing, even miserable. So the prodigal returned home with a heart full of fear and uncertainty, thinking, “Even if I can only be my father’s hired servant, it would be enough.” But as soon as the father saw him, he ran toward him, wrapped him in a warm embrace, and kissed him repeatedly (even though the son hadn’t likely bathed in a long time and probably smelled awful). The father hurried to put the best robe on him, a ring on his finger (a sign of honor and sonship), and ordered a feast to celebrate, calling everyone to rejoice together!
It turns out, we don’t need to try hard to please the Heavenly Father. We are His children—that’s enough. God is love. The Father Himself is love. What He gives His children is perfect love—love that fully satisfies every need of the human heart.
        Some people compare a father to the “bank of the household,” responsible for providing and educating. There’s a hymn called This Is My Father’s World. One stanza goes:
 This is my Father’s world; Oh, let me ne’er forget,
 That though the wrong seems oft so strong, God is the ruler yet.
 This is my Father’s world: The birds their carols raise,
 The morning light, the lily white, declare their Maker’s praise…
        God the Father is the Creator of the world—everything in heaven and earth belongs to Him, and He generously gives it to us. Through all of it, He teaches us: the flowers of the field are arrayed in splendor—God clothes them. How much more will He care for us? We need not worry about clothing. The birds of the air neither sow nor reap, yet the Father feeds them—how much more will He provide for us? We need not worry about food. God our Father provides for us and grants us blessings that are abundant and free from sorrow.
        Such a great Heavenly Father deals with His children with immeasurable tenderness and love. He once said,
        “You will nurse and be carried on her arm and dandled on her knees.
          As a mother comforts her child, so will I comfort you.”
 (Isaiah 66:12–13)
       “Nurse”? The original Hebrew word suggests the sound of a kiss. To be carried on the hip, to be bounced on the knees—this is playful joy! “As a mother comforts her child”—such gentle intimacy! This picture is so warm and tender it astonishes all humanity.
       “Loving Heavenly Father…” How blessed are those who can call God by this name, for they shall be called children of the Father.
(From Golden Lampstand Leaflet, Issue 237, May 2025)

操练感恩三

阅读经文：腓立比书 1:3-4，民数记 6:24-26

        当你开始说话时，父母可能就教你说“谢谢”。
        父母教导孩子这基本礼貌并不令人意外。因为表达感恩，会让关系更加稳固。一句发自内心的“谢谢”不仅能让他人感到被欣赏，也提醒我们彼此之间是互相依赖的。
       “谢谢”不是你离开童年后就不再需要表达的词语。
        腓立比书的作者为我们树立了榜样：“我每逢想念你们，就感谢我的神；每逢为你们众人祈求的时候，常是欢欢喜喜地祈求。”（腓立比书 1:3-4）
       在旧约中，人们彼此祝福来表达感恩。圣经中最著名的祝福之一是：“愿耶和华赐福给你，保护你；愿耶和华使祂的脸光照你，赐恩给你。”（民数记 6:24-25）
       当你向别人表达感恩，就如同神的脸光照你们二人。一句真诚的“谢谢”能彰显对方的美善，并使其流露出来。

操练：
       今天向三个人说“谢谢”——可以是熟人，也可以是偶然遇见的人。
       具体表达感恩。指出对方做得好的地方，以及你看到的美善。例如：“谢谢你这么快回复我的邮件。我注意到你很用心工作，透过工作你真正在爱身边的人。”
       记录别人对你真诚感谢的反应。他听到“谢谢”时，脸上有什么变化？你表达感恩后感觉如何？
       一天结束时，反思你的感恩操练。

祷告：
神啊，感谢祢赐给我生命中的这些人。求祢赐福给他们。感谢他们给予我的各样祝福，帮助我说“谢谢”。奉耶稣的名，阿们。
引自：https://zh-hant.theologyofwork.org/devotions/practicing-gratitude

Practicing Gratitude, Part 3

Scripture Reading: Philippians 1:3-4, Number 6:24-26

As soon as you started to talk, your parents probably taught you to say, “thank you.”
        It’s no surprise that parents teach children this basic rule. Relationships grow stronger when you express gratitude. A heartfelt “thank you” makes other people feel appreciated. And it reminds you of your dependence upon other people.
        Saying “thank you” isn’t something you grow out of when you leave childhood.
        The writer of the letter to the Philippians modeled practicing gratitude for other people. “I thank my God every time I remember you, constantly praying with joy in every one of my prayers for all of you” (Philippians 1:3–4).
        In the Old Testament, people express gratitude to one another by blessing them. One of the most famous biblical blessings reads, “The LORD bless you and keep you; the LORD make his face to shine upon you, and be gracious to you” (Numbers 6:24–25).
        When you express your gratitude to someone else, it can be as if God is shining his face on both of you. A sincere “thank you” points out the good in another person and brings it to the surface.

Practice:
        Say, “thank you” to three people today. It could be someone you know well, or someone you only meet in passing.
        Use specifics. Point out exactly what the other person did and the good that you see in them. For example, you could say: “Thank you for responding so quickly to my email. I notice you put a lot of care into your work. You really love the people around you through your work.”
        Make a note of how someone reacts to a genuine “thank you.” Did the person’s face change when they heard it? How did you feel after expressing your gratitude?
        At the end of your day today, reflect on your gratitude experiment.

Prayer: God, thank you for the people in my life. Give them your blessing. Help me say “thank you” for the ways they bless me. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Further Exploration: Read a personal story about expressing gratitude at work.
Quote:
Called To Work dcrandall-keeptouch.com@shared1.ccsend.com, Mon, Mar 3, 1:31 PM

操练感恩二

阅读经文：帖撒罗尼迦前书 5:18，约拿书 4:6

       当你诸事顺利的时候，很容易察觉周围美好的事物。当你行事不顺，操练感恩就会更困难。

       然而，这正是你最需要与神连接的时候。人生艰难时，你比任何时候都更需要神。

       帖撒罗尼迦前书 5:18 说，基督向你所定的旨意是“凡事”谢恩。当你经历困难时，该如何谢恩呢？在你能感恩之前，可能要先向神倾诉你的伤痛和挫败。

       耶稣自己也经历过苦难。如果你正在经历苦难，就从思想耶稣开始。然后求问神你可以为何感恩。

       你可能会发现许多美好的事情跃入脑海。即使只是想到耶稣看顾和关爱你，也会令人鼓舞。

       当先知约拿在服事中经历糟糕的一天，他从现实中看到了神的供应，并因此感恩。神安排一棵植物为他遮荫，“约拿因这棵蓖麻大大喜乐”（约拿书 4:6）。

操练：

         思考你目前面临的困难。诚实地告诉神你的感受。分享每一个哀伤和埋怨。

         问自己，在这个处境中有什么是我可以感恩的？

         察觉自然环境中，有什么感觉像是来自神的礼物。

         每当你感到不堪重负，求耶稣分担你的苦楚。然后问：有什么是我可以感恩的？神在这里成就什么美好的事？

祷告：

          神啊，祢了解我的心。感谢祢聆听我的痛苦。帮助我凡事谢恩。

引自：https://zh-hant.theologyofwork.org/devotions/practicing-gratitude

Practicing Gratitude, Part 2

Scripture Reading: 1 Thessalonians 5:18, Jonah 4:6

        It’s easy to notice the good around you when things are going well. It can be harder to practice gratitude when things go poorly.

         And yet, that’s exactly when you need to connect with God. When life is tough, you need God more than ever.

         1 Thessalonians 5:18 says that Christ’s will for you is to give thanks “in all circumstances.” How can you give thanks when things are hard? It may take venting your hurt or frustration to God before you can get to gratitude. 

        Jesus himself suffered. If you’re suffering, start there with Jesus. Then ask God what you can be grateful for. 

        You may find many good things springing to mind. Even the thought that Jesus sees you and cares for you can be encouraging. 

         When the prophet Jonah was having a terrible day at work, he found gratitude by looking at God’s provision through the physical environment. God made a bush for shade and “Jonah was very happy about the bush.” (Jonah 4:6). 

Practice: 

• Think about a current hardship you face. Tell God truthfully how you feel about it. Share every lament and complaint. 
• Ask yourself: is there anything I can be grateful for in this circumstance? 
• Notice anything in your natural environment that feels like a gift from God.
• Anytime you feel your shoulders sink today, ask Jesus to share in your suffering. Then ask: is there anything I can be grateful for? What has God done here that’s good?

Prayer: God, you know my heart. Thank you for hearing my suffering. Help me thank you in all circumstances. 

Further Exploration: Read Ann Voskamp’s answer to the question: “How do I fully live when life is full of hurt?” 

Quote: Called To Work <dcrandall-keeptouch.com@shared1.ccsend.com>,Mon, Feb 24, 2:41 PM

操练感恩一

在母亲节，领受喜乐：在旅程中发现满足
在旅程中的喜乐

“愿一切寻求你的，因你高兴欢喜。愿那些喜爱你救恩的，常说：‘当尊耶和华为大！’”

 诗篇 40:16

        一百六十九英里。这是 Ellie 一天内为送孩子们参加课外活动所开车的总里程数，而且这样的一天一周要发生好几次。我们当中的许多人都经历过这样的情形吧？不管是通勤、送学步的孩子去上学前班，或是接送大孩子去排球训练、青少年聚会——或甚至这些全都包含在内——很多女性都能理解花大量时间坐在车里的感受。
        这样的生活很容易让人觉得：“我被造不是为了这样的琐事。”觉得沉重、觉得被压得喘不过气。
        Ellie 起初记录行车里程只是为了好玩。但随着里程表数字的不断跳动，她的心情却愈发烦躁。每次坐进驾驶座，她心里都会泛起一阵厌烦。如果孩子们在车里因为久坐而发脾气，那就更糟糕了——那个温柔体贴的妈妈不见了，取而代之的是一个情绪紧绷、容易暴怒的女人，她会怒斥孩子：“这是你们选择的活动，又不是我非要你们去！”
       有一天，交通特别糟糕，女儿们情绪低落，而且她们还迟到了。Ellie 再也忍不住了。她送完孩子后，决定不去赶行程，而是出去走走。她边走边感到沮丧和紧张……这时，竟然下起了雨。
       她终于抬起头来向神倾诉这一切。（“真的？现在下雨？”）但她这才发现，居然只下在她一个人身上！这正是神对她心情的一个完美写照。但更重要的是，她惊讶地看到，其余的天空竟然布满了难以形容、如电影般壮观的云朵。若不是这场雨，她根本不会停下来抬头仰望这壮丽的画面。
 若不是下雨，她根本不会停下来仰望这壮丽的画面。
        “谢谢你，上帝。”她轻声说道，“谢谢你让我停下来，看见这一切。”
         她拍了许多照片，想着要和女儿们分享。然后她意识到：这景象不仅让她从沮丧中暂时抽离，转而看见值得称颂的美好，也让她想到可以与孩子们一同分享、一起赞美神的理由。
        她也意识到另一个事实：这些云彩可能在她整个开车途中就已经在那里了，但她却完全错过了。她开始思考：如果她不再对每次接送心生厌烦，而是期待着每天神要向她展示的事物，会发生什么？
        姐妹们，我们多少次都是这样？那样的美好常常就在我们头顶之上，只是我们直到神差来一场小雨，才被唤醒、才愿意抬头。下次当你因突发的延误、抛锚的汽车，或是排得满满的行程被打断而情绪濒临崩溃时——抬头吧。去看看神要向你显明什么，看看那能带给你旅途喜乐的事物。
 “有福的人，是那些在卑微之处仍能看见美好的人，而别人却看不见。”

 ——卡米耶·毕沙罗（Camille Pissarro）
摘自Revelation Media于2025年5月3日星期六上午7:59发送的电子邮件

Receive Find Joy in Time for Mother’s Day
Joy in the Journey

But may all who search for you be filled with joy and gladness in you. May those who love your salvation repeatedly shout, “The Lord is great!”  — Psalm 40:16, NLT

        One hundred and sixty-nine miles. That is the distance Ellie drove her kids in one day. Multiple times a week. Just for after-school activities. Many of us have been there, right? Whether we are commuting, driving toddlers to preschool or older students to volleyball or youth group—or all of the above—many women can relate to spending lots of time in the car.
        It is easy to start feeling, I was made for more than this. To feel burdened. Put upon.
        Ellie had originally started tracking her miles for fun. But watching the odometer tick over soon brought frustration. Every time she got into the driver’s seat, dread bubbled to the surface. And if her children acted irritable about being in the car for so long, watch out! Long gone was the compassionate mom—she was replaced by an on-edge woman who snapped that it was their choice to do the activities, not hers.
        One particular day, the traffic was horrible, her girls were grumpy, and they were late. Ellie was fed up. She dropped them off and decided to walk outside instead of trying to cram in an errand. She walked along, discouraged and stressed…and then it started to rain.
        She finally looked up to the sky to talk to God about this. (Because really? Rain? Now?!) That’s when she noticed that it was raining only on her. What a perfect message from God about her mood. But more importantly, she was stunned to see that the rest of the sky was filled with indescribable, movie-worthy clouds. If it had not started raining, she would not have paused to look up and see this glorious sight.
         If it had not started raining, she would not have paused to look up and see this glorious sight.
        Thank you, God, she whispered. Thank you for forcing me to pause and see this.
        She took tons of pictures, eager to share them with her girls. Then she realized: the beauty had not only caused her to pause her discouragement long enough to see something worthy of praise, it had also caused her to turn her thoughts to something she could show her kids, something they could praise God for as well.
        She also realized something else. Those cloud formations had probably been their during her whole drive, and she had totally missed them. What would happen if she stopped dreading each drive and started eagerly looking for what God would show her each day?
Sisters, how often is there such beauty above us—something we miss until God sends a little rainstorm to wake us up? The next time we are on our last nerve because of an unexpected delay, a broken-down car, or an interruption in a packed schedule, look up. Let’s look for what God is trying to show us that will give us joy in the journey.
        “Blessed are they who see beautiful things in humble places where other people see nothing.”                     

—Camille Pissarro
Quote from an email from Revelation Media, Sat, May 3 at 7:59 AM, 2025.

神知道什么对我们有益
魏愛玲師母

世人对“善”的定义与上帝的定义截然不同！罗马书8:28说：“我们知道，万事都互相效力，叫愛神的人得益处，就是按他旨意被召的人。”
          所以这节经文说，上帝在万事上行事——不仅仅是孤立的事件——是为了我们的益处！我们知道这并不意味着发生在我们身上的一切都是善的。在这个堕落的世界里，邪恶盛行，但上帝能够扭转一切境况，为我们带来长久的益处！上帝行事并非为了让我们快乐，而是为了成就祂的旨意。也请注意，这应许并非针对所有人，只有愛上帝并按祂旨意蒙召的人才能领受。蒙召的人是那些被圣灵感动并有能力接受基督的人。这些人（我们）对生活有了新的视角和心态。他们（我们）信靠的是上帝，而不是人生的财富；他们（我们）在天堂而非尘世寻求安全；他们（我们）学会接受痛苦和逼迫，而不是怨恨，因为上帝与他们（我们）同在。
         上帝的最终目标是让我们更像耶稣！上帝是一位慈愛的良父。祂知道什么对我们有益，也总是知道我们需要什么，好让我们能够成就祂为我们预备的旨意！我们现在知道，在基督徒的生活中，这个过程绝非易事！上帝所成就的“善”远比个人的境遇更为广阔。上帝正在建立祂的国度……“使万物与自己和好”，而终极的善也包含在这过程中……
       我们的天父比我们更了解我们所需要做的！祂与我们同行，让祂的生命更深地进入我们里面！这周我读了卡罗琳·阿伦兹（Carolyn Arends）的一篇灵修文章，想和大家分享一些其中的内容。
        我们来看歌罗西书1:19-23“因为父喜欢叫一切的丰盛在他里面居住，既然借着他在十字架上所流的血成就了和平，便借着他叫万有，无论是地上的、天上的，都与自己和好了。你们从前与　神隔绝，因着恶行，心里与祂为敌；但如今祂借着基督的肉身受死，叫你们与自己和好，都成了圣洁，没有瑕疵，无可责备，把你们引到自己面前。只要你们在所信的道上恒心，根基稳固，坚定不移，不被引动失去福音的盼望。这福音就是你们所听过的，也是传于普天下万人听的；我保罗也作了这福音的执事。”
          在我们今天早上我所用的圣经版本上说：“因为上帝乐意将祂一切的丰盛都居住在祂（耶稣）里面… 另一个翻译 NAS 说：“天父乐意将祂的丰盛体现在祂的儿子耶稣身上…”使万物与自己和好”… 耶稣在十字架上的牺牲带来了上帝与所有受造物之间的和解与和平！
这段经文的第20节使用了“全部”，但这并不意味着每个人都已经得救或将要得救！它指的是，凡愿意信靠基督的人，都有一条得救的道路！除了基督，我们的罪不可能得到赦免和除去！
         灵修作家卡罗琳谈到她听了一场复活节布道，牧师说的一句话引起了她的注意！牧师说：“世间的承诺都空洞无物！但复活节的空洞却充满了承诺！”空的十字架、空的坟墓、空的裹尸布……都充满了希望！”这位名叫卡罗琳的作家对他的话感到困扰，因为“空洞”通常带有负面的感觉。她还意识到，即使在上帝的话语中，如果你不认识主并且不研读圣经，我们有时也会发现一些难以理解和接受的事情。例如……“能力是在人的软弱上显得完全”（哥林多后书 12:9）或“愚拙的叫智慧人羞愧”（哥林多前书 1:27），或“温柔的人承受地土”（马太福音 5:5），或“虚心的人得天国”（马太福音 5:3）或“若不死就不能生”（约翰福音 12:24）….卡罗琳说，在经历困难的情况下，她很难从这些话语和承诺中找到安慰。
         她说，当她感到心碎空虚，而母亲又面临死亡时，很难感到喜乐和感恩。然而，当她默想复活，聆听讲道，并铭记主的牺牲时……她意识到，即使是死亡也充满希望……只要……我们相信祂是我们的救主！她祈祷并得到确据，就像我们在挣扎中祈祷并得到确据一样，她不是一个人在受苦，因为宇宙之主宰上帝披着我们的皮肤，为我们而死，永远消除了死亡的毒钩……
        我最近看到一首诗，上面写着：
        若非坟墓空无，我心早已空虚；
        若非坟墓空无，盼望也将无依；
        若非坟墓空无，生命失却真义。
        唯因主坟是空，生命便被充满！
  安·沃斯坎普
          没有耶稣受难日，就没有复活节！我们可以看到上帝的愛和美好的计划，看到耶稣的牺牲，圣灵不断提醒我们要常存感恩的心，坚定我们的信仰，分享福音。
         昨天，魏牧师在希伯来书 2:3 中提醒我们“我们若忽略这么大的救恩，怎能逃罪呢？这救恩起初是主亲自宣布的，后来是听见的人给我们证实了！”所以，我们想起主耶稣传讲救恩的信息，而上帝也藉着倾倒圣灵和祂的恩赐来证实祂的信息！所以，上帝用尽一切可能的方法来说服人们信靠耶稣，别无其他，才能获得救恩。忽略上帝赐予的救恩是愚昧又危险的！所以希伯来书2:1-2警告我们：“要越发郑重所听见的道理，免得我们随流失去”……这段经文并非教导信徒会失去救恩！作为信徒，我们只需要在基督徒生活中不停滞不前，避免自满和自以为是！让我们不断省察自己，聆听圣灵的声音，并彼此代祷！

GOD KNOWS WHAT’S GOOD FOR US
Elinda West
At Early Morning Prayer on April 24, 2025
 

The world’s definition of “good” is very different from God’s definition!  Romans 8:28 says, “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” 
        So this verse says God works in ALL THINGS–not just isolated incidents—FOR OUR GOOD!   We know this doesn’t mean all that happens to us is good. Evil is prevalent in our fallen world, but God is able to turn every circumstance around for our LONG-RANGE GOOD!  God is not working to make us happy, but to fulfill HIS purpose. Notice also that this promise is NOT for everyone, it can only be claimed by those who love God and are called according to HIS purpose. Those who are “CALLED” are those the Holy Spirit convinces and enables to receive Christ.  These people (we) have a new perspective, a new mind-set on life.  They (we) trust in God, not life’s treasures, they(we) look for security in heaven, not on earth; they(we) learn to accept, not resent, pain and persecution because God is with them(us).
        God’s ultimate goal is to make us more like JESUS!  God IS a GOOD GOOD FATHER. He knows what’s good for us and He always knows what we need so that we can accomplish his purpose for us! We know by now in our Christian life the process won’t be easy! The “GOOD” that God is working toward is much more expansive than one individual’s personal circumstances. God is establishing his kingdom… “reconciling all things to himself” and the ultimate good is to be INCLUDED in that process….
        Our Heavenly Father knows more than we do what we need! And then He walks with us in the process of letting HIS LIFE go deeper INTO us!  I was reading a devotional this week by Carolyn Arends that I thought I would share some words from.
        Let’s look at Colossians 1:19-23.  “For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in HIM, and through HIM to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through HIS blood, shed on the cross.” 
       Once you were alienated from God and were enemies in your minds because of your evil behavior.  But now He has reconciled you by Christ’s physical body through death to present you holy in His sight, without blemish and free from accusation– IF, you continue in your faith, established and firm, not moved from the hope held out in the gospel. In our translation this morning it says, “For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in HIM (Jesus)…another translation NAS says,” It was the Father’s GOOD pleasure to have His fullness manifested in Jesus His Son…”to reconcile all things to Himself”….Jesus sacrifice on the cross brought reconciliation and peace between God and all of creation!  Verse 20 in this text uses ALL but does not mean everyone has been or will be saved!  It means THE WAY has been made for anyone who is willing to trust Christ to be saved! Apart from Christ there is no way for our sin to be forgiven and removed! 
        This devotional writer Carolyn was speaking about hearing an Easter Sermon and something the pastor said caught her attention!  The pastor said, “The world offers promises full of emptiness! But Easter offers emptiness full of promise! Empty cross, empty tomb, empty graveclothes… all are full of promise!”
         This writer named Carolyn felt troubled by his words because EMPTINESS usually holds a negative feeling. She also realized that even in God’s Word we find things that are sometimes hard to understand and accept IF you don’t know the Lord and study your bible. For example… “strength being made perfect in weakness” (2Cor 12:9) or “foolish things confounding the wise” (1 Cor 1:27), or “the meek inheriting the earth” (Mt 5:5), or “the poor in spirit getting the kingdom of heaven” (Mt. 5:3) or “dying in order to live” (Jn 12:24)….Carolyn said she  found it hard when going through difficult circumstances to find comfort in all these words and promises.
         She says when she feels broken and empty, and her mom is facing death it is difficult to be joyful and thankful.  However, when she was meditating on the resurrection, hearing the sermon, and remembering our LORD’S SACRIFICE… she realized that even DEATH is full of promise… IF… we believe in Him as our Savior! She prayed and she was assured, just as we pray and are assured in our struggle, that she is NOT suffering ALONE because the God of the universe wore our skin, died our death and removed the sting of death forever…  
        I saw a poem recently that said:
        “If the tomb wasn’t empty, I would be! 
         If the tomb wasn’t empty, our hope would be! 
        If the tomb wasn’t empty our hearts would be!
       ONLY because the tomb is empty, can life be fulfilling!”
                         Ann Voskamp
          Without Good Friday there would be no Resurrection Sunday! We can see God’s Love and Good Plan and we see Jesus’ sacrifice and we have the Holy Spirit to keep reminding us to keep a Thankful Heart, stand firm in our faith and share the Good News.
         Yesterday Wei Mushr reminded us in Hebrews 2:3 “how shall we escape if we ignore such a great salvation? This salvation, which was first announced by the Lord, was confirmed to us by those who heard HIM!”  So, we are reminded the Lord Jesus preached the message of salvation and God confirmed his message by pouring out the Holy Spirit and His gifts! So, God used every means possible to convince people to trust Jesus and nothing else for our salvation.
         To ignore the salvation God has provided is foolish and dangerous! So, we have this warning in Hebrews 2: 1-2 to “pay more careful attention to what we have heard, so that we do not drift away” … These verses in this text do NOT teach that believers can lose their salvation!!  We just need, as believers to Not grow stagnate in our Christian life, we need to avoid complacency and self-righteousness!! Let’s keep examining ourselves, keep our ears open to the Holy Spirit and praying for one another!