为安息日请假，我提出了两次。领导已经找了我四次。他们或是慷慨激昂，或是苦口婆心，或是以领导的身份，或是把我当作亲人和小妹妹，真心劝导我，我心里都知道。但我也非常清楚，他们之所以这么说，是因为他们还不认识上帝。我知道终有一天我会遇到挑战，当信仰和生活发生冲突的时候，我当为信仰而站立。一切都在上帝的手中，我不要害怕。今天，领导跟我提出了最严重的后果，让我认真考虑。我只求主，给我更多的信心去肩负，我说，如果真的需要如此，我愿意为我的信仰付上这样的代价。

我流泪，是每次在他们说他们把我当成自己妹妹的时候，我感受到他们的爱，但是我却不能听从。我求主，有一天，他们会明白；有一天，他们也将成为主耶稣阵营中那忠贞的一名精兵。

 

谢谢给我的鼓励和支持

谢谢主，赐我心中有平安

昨晚听《希伯来书》的讲道到了第12讲。如果说每听一讲都是对自己心灵的一次触动，昨晚所听的则是给我的一次深深的感动和震撼。面对上帝白白赐给我的安息，曾有多少时候，自己仍然是劳苦挣扎。我得不着安息，是因为我的不信，我的小信。但是，我的主并没有因为我的不信而背对我，祂仍然一次次向我显明祂的慈爱和信实。当主的恩典在我身上经过时，我真是后悔——我不该自以为义、我不该对主埋怨、我不该脸带愁容、我不该不信袮……

主啊，袮是如此爱我。当袮在客西马尼园三次挣扎的时候，袮正是看到了我的无助、我将要灭亡，袮向天父说你仍然要喝这苦杯——不管付上多大的代价，无论要做出多大的牺牲，袮都要将我救赎。袮将自己的性命献上，买赎了我。为什么我还不在袮面前降服，我还不想信靠你呢？

 

主啊，我愿意就在“今天”歇了自己一切的工，让我进入袮的安息。

 

 

Return to Thy Rest, My Soul (Hymn by W.Gadsby)

Return to thy rest, my soul, and rejoice;
Let Christ be thy boast, for thou art His choice;
And through sin and Satan, and their hellish guest,
Do vex and dishearten, Jehovah's thy rest.

A sweet resting-place is Jesus to thee;
A fulness of grace, rich, sovereign, and free;
From slavish works cease, then, and rest in the Lamb,
For Christ is thy freedom from wrath, law, and sin.

O yield not to fear, rest only in Christ;
His promise is sure: He's Jesus thy Priest;
And by one atonement thy sin has condemned,
Then by Himself sworn that He'll love to the end.

Return, then, my soul, to Jesus, thy Rest;
By faith on Him roll, and lean on His breast;
He will not deceive thee; His faithfulness prove;
He never can leave thee, till God is not love.

#639, by William Gadsby (From William Gadsby's Hymns)

 

 

早上读罗马书第10章的时候发现，保罗引用了好多旧约的经文，有利未记的，有申命记的，还有许多是以赛亚书的。可想，保罗对旧约经文——给耶稣作见证的经文已经耳熟能详，可以信手拈来。当我读到“以赛亚说：‘主啊，我们所传的有谁信呢？’”我不禁回想起自己也曾经背过这段经文，于是翻开以赛亚书53章，一边温习一遍背起来。主耶稣的故事虽常常传讲，但当我再一次以这一“羔羊的赞歌”来述说时，其优美、其动人，让我默想，让我流连……

 

我们所传的有谁信呢？耶和华的膀臂向谁显露呢？

祂在耶和华面前生长如嫩芽，像根出于干地，

我们看见祂的时候，也无美貌使我们羡慕祂。

祂被藐视，被人厌弃，

多受痛苦，常经忧患，

祂被藐视，好像被人掩面不看的一样，

我们也不尊重祂。

 

祂诚然担当我们的忧患，背负我们的痛苦，

我们却以为祂受责罚，被上帝击打苦待了。

哪知祂为我们的过犯受害，为我们的罪孽压伤，

因祂受到刑罚，我们得平安，

因祂受的鞭伤，我们得医治。

我们都如羊走迷，各人偏行己路，

耶和华使我们众人的罪孽都归在祂身上。

祂被欺压，在受苦的时候却不开口，

祂像羊羔被牵到宰杀之地，又像羊在剪毛的人手下无声，

祂也是这样不开口。

因受审判和欺压，祂被夺去，

至于祂同世的人，谁想他受鞭打、从活人之地被剪除，是因我百姓的罪过呢？
祂虽然未行强暴，口中也没有诡诈，
人还使祂与恶人同埋，谁知死的时候与财主同葬。

 

耶和华却定意将祂压伤，使祂受痛苦。

耶和以祂为赎罪祭。

祂必看见后裔，并且延长年日。

耶和华所喜悦的事必在祂手中亨通。

祂必看见劳苦的功效，便心满意足，

有许多人因认识我的义仆得称为义；并且他要担当他们的罪孽。

所以，我要使祂与位大的同分，与强盛的均分掳物。

因为祂将命倾倒，以致于死；祂也被列在罪犯之中。

祂却担当多人的罪，又为罪犯代求。

 

早上我的屋子里被这道充满的时候，我感谢上帝，因我认识这位“义仆”而得着了莫大的福气。我大声地背诵着，我想这是世界上最美的赞歌。

 

那次青年聚会的赞美会，至今仍然留存在我脑海中的是有一位穆姐妹背诵以赛亚书61章的场景。巴不得常有上帝的恩言在我们口中……

Chapter 3 tells me about how Popery grew up in Christdom. "The accession of the Roman Church to power marked the beginning of the Dark ages.""The noon of papacy was the midnight of the world."  The main errors of papacy are listed as follows:

a. Man was given the very titles of Deity.

b. Tamper with the fourth commandment, exalt the festival observed by hethen as " the venerable day of the sun".

c. people were taught not only to look to the pope as their mediator, but ot trust to the works of their own to atone for sin.

d. Pope Gregory VIII proclaimed the perfection of the Roman Church, the power to despose emperors.

e. The invocation of saints and the adoration of the  Virgin Mary.

f. Purgary.

g. Inquistion.

......

 

From this Chapter, I learned the beginning of Catholic Church. Now more and more protestant churches are shaking hands with Roman Church, and the world is pretending to be more godly than before, but actually it is seperating from the true godlieness. Watch out. Never pursue the popular thing, but hold fast to the truth.

 

Still to be continued...

Chapter 2 talks about the persecution on the first churches. Persecution brought bitterness to the churches, but what is more dangerous is the allurements that Satan put in the church. Many followers of Christ were lured and make concessions to the world. Finally, the Christian religion became corrupted and the church lost her purity and power.

"If unity could be secured only by the compromise of truth and righteousness, then  let there be difference, and even war."

We should carefully look at our church and our belief. Do not compromise with the world. Show them the truth, the way and the life and always be light in this fearful fallen place.

Jan. 17  The first 50 pages

 

I have read the first chapter and several pages of the second Chapter of GC. The destruction of Jeruselom show me the destruction of our earth at the last time. The world will taste what she has been sowing during the long history. What terrible scene will appear to those who are not hidden in Jesus, but the followers of Jesus will stand firm because our Lord protect them with His mighty hands. Get read for the great day. When reading it, I was also touched by those who are faithful during the severe persecution. " In these underground retreats the followers of Christ buried their dead; and here also, when suspected an proscribed, they found a home. When the Life-giver shall awaken those who have fought the good fight, many a martyr for Christ's sake will come forth from those gloomy caverns.""Under the fiercest persecution these witnesses for Jesus Kept their faith unsullied. Though deprived of every comfort, shut away from the light of the sun, making their home in the dark but friendly bosom of the earth, they uttered no complaint. With words of faith, patience, and hope they encouraged one another to endure privation and distress. The loss of  every earthly blessing would not force them to renounce their belief in Christ. Tials and persecution were but steps bringring them nearer their rest and their reward.

 

Lord, may these words be my encouragement when I meet some tests and trials. How I wish to be faithful to you whatever I come across. I ask for your help and your presence with me.

 

 

有一句话对于我来说耳熟能详，就是保罗所说的：我靠着那加给我力量的，凡事都能做。（腓4:13）

读起来觉得很有力量，也很鼓舞人心。最近这句话一直萦绕在我的心头，是因为我对它有了新的体会。

 

记得还在大学里的时候，有一次和香港历史大学的一些学生联谊，我们系有一个是学生会的师姐来总负责这件事。那天晚上，我们都在等待见面的时刻，然而那个师姐却总是忙碌着，做一些我原以为她不该做的事情。她是负责人，她怎么可以来做这些细小的事情……虽然这件事情过去多年，但当时我的心理活动还常常反复出现……

现在的我有时候也会遇到一些觉得自己不该做的事情，有时会想，让别人来做好了。这样的事情多了，我才发现保罗这句话的宝贵。我们的主为什么祂凡事都能做，祂连抚摸麻风病人，为门徒洗脚的事情都做了，祂还甚至为罪人被钉在十字架上，我为什么不能？我不能做，是因为我把自己的重心放太高了。

 

主啊，让我靠着你加给我力量，我也凡事都能做。

在残奥会的歌声中，我听到了人们渴望飞翔，梦想天堂。在你的心目中，天堂是不是只是一种理想，一种对已故之人的美好祝愿呢？是啊，你不承认天堂，但你又向往天堂……然而，在我的世界里，天堂则是一个确信，是我最终要得到的一个礼物。我的天堂不是梦。

人们把是非之心称为天良，因为唯有天上有一位是慈爱怜悯、公平公正的，是祂赋予了人良知；人们称生来具有的才智称作天赋，因为万有的智慧都在那位从天而降又升到天上的那位里面藏着；人们把悦耳动听、余音缭绕的声音称作天籁，因为天使的声音是如此优美和谐……一切的美善，都与我们在天上的父有关，而且祂也为你我预备了我们内心深处渴望的天家——一个美丽的，没有眼泪，没有哀伤，没有痛苦的天堂。你可以否认，但你的期望透过每一个细胞都在大声呼喊这一个梦想。我想告诉你，你可以和我一样白白得到这个礼物，你的天堂之路可以从今天起步。

人生之路有两条，一条是跟随耶稣的道路，另一条就是除此以外的路。这两条路的终点也是截然相反，一个是走向永生，另一个则是灭亡。上帝把一切的生死祸福都陈明在我们面前，祂也赋予我们自由意志，让我们作自由的选择。我亲爱的朋友啊，如果一条路是宽广的通途，但如果结局是痛苦的，请你也不要走上这条路；如果另一条虽然充满荆棘与坎坷，即使人使车轧过我们的头，如果通向天堂，你也当加倍的努力。天地之间只有一个桥梁，那就是耶稣基督。祂藉着自己在十字架上的流血舍命，天门从此为地上有罪的人敞开。“上帝爱世人，甚至将祂的独生爱子赐给他们，叫一切信祂的，不致灭亡，反得永生。”（约3:16）“我就是道路、真理、生命，若不藉着我，没有人能到父那里去。”（约14:6）“除祂以外，别无拯救；因为在天下人间，没有赐下别的名，我们可以靠着得救。”（徒4:12）

对于每一个信主的人来说，天堂是那么实在。从接受耶稣的那一天起，天堂就成了内心的期盼。世界非我家，我家在天家；今生非一生，我的今日通向永生。别把自己置身于这一美好的家乡之外，尽管你很留恋这个短暂的世界；别让自己被世界弄迷了眼，尽管这个世界让你放纵无边；既然我们要幸福，就要让幸福无穷无尽。

当主来的那一天，巴不得我和你，都在主面前；在那超越人心能想到的天堂里，我和你，与主面对面。

“我又看见一个新天新地；因为先前的天地已经过去了，海也不再有了。我又看见圣城新耶路撒冷由上帝那里从天而降，预备好了，就如新妇妆饰整齐，等候丈夫。我听见有大声音从宝座出来说：‘看哪，上帝的帐幕在人间。祂要与人同住，他们要作祂的子民。上帝要亲自与他们同在，作他们的上帝。上帝要擦去他们一切的眼泪；不再有死亡，也不再有悲哀、哭号、疼痛，因为以前的事都过去了。’坐宝座的说：‘看哪，我将一切都更新了！’又说：‘你要写上；因这些话是可信的，是真实的。’祂又对我说：‘都成了！我是阿拉法，我是俄梅戛；我是初，我是终。我要将生命泉的水白白赐给那口渴的人喝。得胜的，必承受这些为业：我要作他的上帝，他要作我的儿子。’”（启21:1-7）

 

I have been a Christian for many years. While I was still in pre-elementary school, my mother became a Christian, and I went along with her to church very often. Though I liked to sing but was reluctant to pray, I followed Him all the way.

 

Once when I was in the fifth grade of primary school, my teacher asked the class who believed in Jesus. I stood up and admitted my faith publicly, though I was not clear about what a Christian meant. After entering secondary school, I was confronted with another challenge - a teacher and several classmates were trying to persuade me to be a league member, because I was a good student in their eyes. At the end of the first semester, they had a conversation with me in an office. I can hardly remember what they said except one sentence, that was, "We can't have a good time during this Spring Festival, if you keep resisting joining the League." They said it with laughter, but I knew they were kind-hearted. What I said to them still is impressive to my mind now. I told them one can only have one belief. From then till now, I have had no interest in being a league member or a party member. I am a Christian, and what I believe in is the best.

 

I thought I was good and I could very easily achieve the goal my mother set for me, such as to be friendly, honest, and to go to church regularly. But, when I boasted, then my failure followed. When I began my college life in Hangzhou far away from my parents I didn't go to church for a term. However, God didn't forsake me and He offered an opportunity to realize the pride in my heart. I was asked to buy some communion cups for my hometown church, and I had to go to church to get them. I went to church on Sabbath. I didn't get any cups on that day though because it was Sabbath, but I was totally touched by the hymns filling the sanctuary. I found I had been a prodigal for a long time, and I needed a home badly.  I prayed to God and asked Him for forgiveness. Finally, I returned home.

 

I was baptized on August 4, 2001. Now I am 7 years old. During the past 7 years, I have learned more and more about what I am. I am weak and sinful and can do nothing without my Lord. Looking back on the way Jesus walked along with me, I am so thankful that God chose me when I was a child. I am so blessed every day I live. I'd like to share with you God's blessings toward me next time.

 

Today, for me, to be a Christian is to surrender myself to Jesus, humbly walk with Him, turn to Him whether in a high time or a lowly time, and to be a channel flowing with God's love to people.

 

Dear my Lord, thank you for choosing me from among the multitudes. I am just a tiny one, but you never ignore me. Thank you for filling my heart with your love. I ask you to cement me in faith so that I can follow you faithfully. In Jesus name I pray, Amen.

"When did you feel Jesus was so close to you?"

这是上安息日我们的英文查经班上老师向我们提出的问题。

 

一个姐妹分享了她初到美国时，虽然有亲戚和朋友，但内心的孤独唯有主能安慰，她说那时她感觉耶稣，我们的主离自己很近。

一位弟兄他回想自己母亲生病的那一段，回忆使他不禁哽咽，他说那段时间，他和他的妻子pray more and study the Bible more。那时发现主真的就在自己身旁。

 

我也在自己的脑海里翻箱倒柜，找找我与主更近的那时那刻。我在课上就说了离目前最近的一个实例。

I had not planned to carry on the English Bible study during the time that our teacher was away for his summer holiday. Last Wed. when I was having dinner with the teacher and K, they encouraged me to take it over. I was not confident because of my limited English level, so  I didn't make a dicision immediately. I prayed to the Lord that night, and thought about new comers in our group who need to be fed with spiritual bread regularly. At that time, I said to the Lord: Lord, I have made the dicision to take it over. I don't know what to say, please put your words on my lips. And the following morning, I sent short messages to all the members of our group and said that our study would be continued, but there were few response.  

On Friday morning, after the preparation for Sabbath School Lesson, I started to prepare for the English Bible Study. At that time, God reminded me a brother who originally wanted to do such kind of programme and had no chance last year. I asked him whether he was in Beijing. He said Yes. When I mentioned such a study and invited him to be our teacher, he accepted agreeably. Thanks be to the Lord. I felt hugely relieved. When I am willing to do His will, He always makes a way. When I cowork with Him, I feel that God is so close to me.

 

Ps: The study lasted 2 hours, and about 15 people participated it, and the bother said he never thought it was such a big group. We shared the story of Jesus' life from His birth to His resurrection. The more we share God's blessings, the more we are blessed. Next Sabbath, a sister will deliver a presentation, and the brother metioned above will help. Expecting... 

Words from Jesus:

I have heard your prayer, I have seen your tears, and they are precious in My sight. Though you may feel that this is one of the lowest times you have ever been through, yet in My eyes it is a precious time. I feel you closer to My heart than ever before. As I hold you in My hands and behold the beauty of your tears and your prayers to Me, the beauty of your surrender and humility in coming before My feet and saying, "Nothing in my hands I bring, simply to Thy cross I cling"--as I behold this, I love you. I hold you close to My heart, and I comfort you.

But you must let Me comfort you. You must have faith to reach out and receive from Me. It is nothing that can be earned or worked for. I wish to give it to you freely because of My love for you.

You must make the decision to accept My peace and comfort. And though this time seems long, it is only a moment compared to eternity. You will be rewarded greatly for your faith.

---

Daily praise:

Lord, I praise you. Thank you for being with me. No worries ahead of me, unless I forgot the beautiful grace you blessed on me.