Tuesday, September 20, 2011

随意说说

最近,太多远行。搞到自己非常疲累。看看别人的部落格,发现自己有4个月的时间没有更新心灵的分享。有时候,我们真的应该好好坐下来,审查自己的内在生命,透过文字把它记录下来。也许,这是今天的一个对自己的提醒。

Thursday, May 19, 2011

Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord

For Jews demand signs and Greeks desire wisdom, but we proclaim Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, but to those who are the called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. For God's foolishness is wiser than human wisdom, and God's weakness is stronger than human strength.

Consider your own call, brothers and sisters: not many of you were wise by human standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth. But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; God chose what is low and despised in the world, things that are not, to reduce to nothing things that are, so that no one might boast in the presence of God. He is the source of your life in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification and redemption, in order that, as it is written, "Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord."

-1 Corinthians 1:22-31 (NRSV)
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Today, there are many people seeking for miracles and knowledges. They seek miracles one after another, they try to attend seminars, conferences, and attain higher achievement, degree and position one after another. They think that only then they will be greatly respected by other people. They think that only then they can be greatly honored by someone.... HOwever, Paul said, actually we need only one thing, that's to proclaim and to understand the crucification of Jesus Christ.

How many of us today really understand the crucification of Jesus Christ? How many of them really deny themselves and take up their cross to follow Him? How much time we do spend in meditating the crucification of Jesus Christ? What do you mean of Salvation?

Honestly say, there are not many people really understand the pain of letting go and becoming nothing.... God's foolishness and weakness has shown in Christ Jesus.... Do we really understand it?

We may wise, capable and good in human standard. However, we may not wise in God's one.... What does God require from us? God requires us to love Him, to follow Him, deny ourselves and take up our cross to follow Him........Let's boast, boast in the Lord.

Thursday, May 5, 2011

Love must be genuine

"Let love be genuine; hate what is evil, hold fast to what is good; .....Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them."-Romans 12:9 and 14 (NRSV)


Yes, love must be genuine... Do not do what is evil and hold fast to do what is good.... This is not easy... Yesterday there was a lady, wrote one sentence on the facebook... Telling us that how life is so unfair.... Did you have this kind of thought before? I believe most of us feel that life is so unfair....

This lady told us that she was cheated by someone.... And felt that why good person always be bullied.... I wrote a comment to encourage her: "We should thank God that we are not the one who cheat them." As Paul mentioned in Romans 12: 9, we must love genuinely and do not do something evil, we must hold fast in doing good. No matter how unfair we are facing, we want to insist in doing good. Due to Jesus was unfairly judged and crucified on the cross for us... When people unfairly criticise him, judged him and even crucify him, He still keep silent and died for us on the cross.

Do not worry, Jesus knows how we feel when we get cheated or bullied.... He is just and faithful.... He knows what to do... Let us leave this to Him, to deal with that person.... Ha! What we need to do is........."Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them" Vv. 14

Wednesday, May 4, 2011

Fearfully and wonderfully made

The psalmist wrote, "I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well."

Today, there was a friend who shared in her facebook saying that she feels very low self-image recently. Psalm 139: 14 is a very comfort verse. It tells us that we are "fearfully made". What's that mean? It means when God made us He has done a proper plan for us. He knows every inner part of us. He knows how much we can take and how much we can do for Him. We are fearfully made. God did not simply make us. He did not make something roughly. He makes us fearfully.

Psalmist also said that we are "wondefully made". We are wondeful because God made us wondefully. When He looks at us, He saw that "we are good".

But, why people still feel that they are inferior? It is because we don't focus our sight on God. We care more of how people look at us than seeking God's guidance. When we loss our right focus, we will fail to see things rightly.....MAy the Lord helps us to focus on Him all the times.

Monday, April 25, 2011

保安的手势

今天,又是独处的时间。来到了Bintang Plaza停车场,像往常一样把车开进了停车场。刚上了斜道,就看到一个保安人员的手势,他的手势是要求我停。心里纳闷为什么他要我在这个位置上停下。虽然纳闷,可是却还是按照他的指示,停了下来。
停下来后,他又换了另一个手势,让我知道因为前面的车正在没有行驶。如果刚才我没有停下来,我可能会撞伤他的车。感谢神,我停了下来!

对了,有时上帝也是出示他“等候”的手势,要求我们停一下,上帝有他的理由。可是,停一下,也许会有意外的惊喜,也许是要我们成长。也许是为了我们的安全。又或者是为了要让我们更加经历上帝的美好和奇妙作为。是的,停一下吧!

Saturday, April 23, 2011

魔鬼比人们更紧张神的工作

Matthew 27:62-66 (New International Version, ©2011)

The Guard at the Tomb
62 The next day, the one after Preparation Day, the chief priests and the Pharisees went to Pilate. 63 “Sir,” they said, “we remember that while he was still alive that deceiver said, ‘After three days I will rise again.’ 64 So give the order for the tomb to be made secure until the third day. Otherwise, his disciples may come and steal the body and tell the people that he has been raised from the dead. This last deception will be worse than the first.”
65 “Take a guard,” Pilate answered. “Go, make the tomb as secure as you know how.” 66 So they went and made the tomb secure by putting a seal on the stone and posting the guard.


今天,当我读到这段经文的时候,有一个意外的发现。因为我发现,主耶稣不断告诉他的门徒们,我有一天会被捉,被钉,死,三日后复活。可是,门徒们却不以为然,甚至耶稣的被捉,被钉和死去的话真的应验的时候,他们还是懵懵懂懂。不知道救主将会在三天后复活。相反的是一群反对耶稣的人,那群出卖他,钉他十字架的人们,紧张他真的会在三天后出现什么变化?当然,他们不会真的相信有复活这件事。然而他们却做出“预备”,防止一切的“可能性”的发生。

而今天的我们呢?还在,沉睡和无动于衷吗?太荒谬了!基督徒们,我们是时候,专心等候神,明白他的心意,完成他所托付之工!

真的,今天相比之下,魔鬼比我们更紧张神的工!

Friday, April 22, 2011

非常疲惫的受难节

今天是我这么长久以来最累的受难节。不是因为节目质的问题,而是量太多的问题,一天之内要让自己脑袋瓜挤满许多的神学思想。今天,虽然有好多的“好东西”吸收,可是坦白来说,我更希望(特别是今天)能有更多自己个人的反省空间。疲累中无法反思主耶稣的受苦和他对我们生命的奇妙作为。希望来年的受难节,教会不要再把这一天挤满了节目,而是让弟兄姐妹有更多空间思考和反省自己在基督里的生命。

Thursday, April 21, 2011

Maundy Thursday - The Last Supper

Today is Holy Thursday in church calendar. We also call it The Last Supper and Maundy Thursday.... It is the night we come together to celebrate and remember the night before Jesus is going to be crucified on the Cross.... Many people don't know what the meaning of "Maundy". "Maundy" is actually a Latin word, "Mandatum Novum" means recall the new commandment - "Love one another".

This is the night which we are reminded to love one another in Christ. I believe this is the greatest hope from God to all His beloved children. May we all come to worship and respond to His love and call.

Wednesday, April 20, 2011

学习适应

今天还没来上班的时候就收到了一通简讯。这通简讯提醒了我在美里和在诗巫服事的不同。这通简讯,我就不提其内容。可是,它却提醒了我不要以为什么都可以是理所当然的。好多事情这里和那里是不一样的。我要学习去接受,从错误和问题中成长。

好多事情需要学习,好多问题需要去成长,好多的方式需要去适应。好多!可是,在这之中,上帝恩典够我用!

圣周

又是一年一度的圣周。和往常一样,又是要为着圣周的节目来忙碌。唯一不同的是今年的圣周我人会在美里。对于今年的圣周其实很有意义。因为我们刚刚过了州选举。16/4是州选举,17/4就是棕枝节。2000多年前的那一天,当耶稣骑骆驼进入耶路撒冷的时候,人们高呼“和撒那,高高在上和撒那!”每个人都在欢迎他的“王”进入他们的城。

可是,还不到一个星期的时间,这些人就有高呼:“把他钉十字架!”为什么呢?是因为耶稣无法满足他们的要求吗?是因为耶稣指出了他们的错误观念?是因为耶稣无法让他们大富大贵?还是,耶稣从始之终都没有要在这个地上做王的意思(他向他的跟随者说,“若有人要跟随我,就当舍己,背十字架来跟随我”呢?

舍己?背十字架?笑话!!为什么我要把自己搞成这样?如果这领袖无法满足我们,我们为什么要让他“活着”“折磨”我们呢?

在面对许多人的“自相情愿”,耶稣带着怜悯,带着爱,带着恩典;为着他的门徒们洗脚,他被那些误解他的人们鞭打,讥笑,吐口水,最后,更被他们钉在十字架上。然而,在十字架上仍旧爱他们到底,祷告说:“父啊,饶恕他们,因为他们所做的他们不知道。”

圣周帮助我们重思爱的真意,十字架的真意,以及复活的真意。

Tuesday, February 1, 2011

New Car

GMC is my third church posting. When I look back my posting journey, I thank God for His provision and protection. What He has done for me is beyond what I expected and what I thought.

Before I came to GMC, I was a bit worry of my transport here. Honestly speaking, all this while wherever church I went to they always provide me a private car to drive and I have never driven church van to go to shopping to buy thing. I can't imagine I myself has to drive a van around to do my shopping.

Anyway, I pray to God for it and I am willing to submit to the Lord also for it. God always knows what we need. LCEC decided to buy a new private car for the pastor before I came to this church.

I was very happy to hear this news. However, God did test my faith in Him. Waiting for the car coming is a journey of faith. Because at the beginning I felt that how come they didn't do anything, they didn't go to order or choose the car and I even started to question whether they will get the car on time for me.

I can say that God's timing is always right and just. I got the car in very perfect timing. I thank God for it!!

It reminds me that in Hebrews 13:8: "Jesus is the same yesterday, today, and forever." Praise the Lord!! If it is Him sends me here, then He will prepare all I need.....

Mummy came for Chinese New Year

After two years dad passed away, mummy seemed has recovery from her grieve. I thank God for it.... How did I find it?
Two days ago, she came to Miri. And we started to plan and buy things for Chinese New Year. We went out to the shopping centre and we bought a lot of things. She was very enjoy of doing the shopping. And doesn't look tire.
I thank Father in Heaven to look after her and me all this while.

What hinders me from serving the Lord freely?

Borrowed Equipment

Read 1 Samuel 17:32-40, 50

Let us throw off everything that hinders . . . and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.

-Hebrews 12:1 (NIV)

I'VE always loved the Bible's story of David, the shepherd boy who defeats Goliath with a sling and a stone. Recently I realized that David had to take something off in order to succeed in this mission. King Saul tried to protect David by giving him Saul's armor. David quickly discovered that Saul's heavy equipment hindered him. He removed the king's armor and approached Goliath unhindered, armed only with his usual shepherd's supplies and his strong trust in God.


Meditating on this story, I wonder how often I try to serve God wearing someone else's "equipment." Of course we all can learn from the good example of others. But when asked to teach Sunday school, do I think I must imitate the previous teacher? Do I study a method of evangelism and then mimic its exact words when I share my faith? Do I weigh myself down by copying someone else's style? Am I afraid to serve God just as I am?


I have decided that it's time to drop the weight of trying to be like others and instead to be myself. The Lord has given each of us unique gifts. We don't need borrowed equipment. We can all learn from David, taking off whatever hinders us and trusting God for help in using our God-given abilities.

Marion Speicher Brown (Florida, USA)


Thank you, mighty Lord, for equipping each of us uniquely. Give us courage to be ourselves as we serve you. Amen.


What hinders me from serving God freely?


To relax and be myself in the way I serve God
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I think this is a wonderful sharing passage which help me a lot. All this while I don't know how to fight my "giants". The only thing is to take one step as I can. I thank God for guiding me through all these days in Miri here. Many peoples or leaders' expectations on me, and I try to push all these things unto the Lord. And I know that He is my help.
This passage reminds me that I don't need to wear someone else "equipment", I have my own and this is from the Lord and if I wear it and use it, I can defeat my giant easily. For those who read this, pls do pray for me.... PRay that I will continue to put my trust in God and will not shrink back to serve Him.

Saturday, January 8, 2011

Lord, teach me how to pray

Saturday morning we always have a group of sisters will come to church to have a prayer meet. Today, this was my first time attended this prayer meeting. We all took turn to pray. I am the last one to pray.
Honestly say, I felt a bit uncomfortable to pray in English. When those sisters all prayed very fluently in English. I felt a bit scare and in fact I didn't know what should I pray for. Before it came to my turn, I prayed silently in my heart. I said: "Lord, teach me how to pray and what to pray."
Amazingly, when I started to pray, the words and prayer items just kept coming in to my mind and I could pray out loud and fluently. Indeed, it was really a miracle and thank God for the anointing.
The Lord always be my help.... When I first got to know that I will be coming to GMC. I was quite worry about my English. I don't how much I can guote. I don't know what should I do for the church.... However, it is just like what I preached in the past whole year about the book of Joshua. I believe God is the same yesterday, today and forever. I will be my help and guide me through all the things....
Now, it's time to pray for getting a better church caretaker. "Lord, please help the church to get a better caretaker. We need this person to clean up the church and keep this church tidy. So that when people come to your House, they will feel comfortable. In Jesus' Name I pray. Amen!!"

Friday, January 7, 2011

Calling for help

Today I read Matthew 14:18-33. It is about Jesus walked on the sea. This time, God led me to ponder on Peter calling out for help. Sometimes, although we have "thousand tans" of faith.... However, we may also "sink" like Peter when we face "strong wind blow". However, God is merciful and gracious, He slow to anger and abounding in Steadfast love. He is our help and shelter.... As long as we call out for help.... HE will reach out His hand and catch us from sinking.

As I came over to Miri, I find that I need God more than I continue to stay in Sibu. Due to I am the "in charge", there are many things which I need to make decision for the church. I need to handle a lot of matters and people.

"God, save me!" - I really need His help.... Anyway, as long as we call upon Him, He will never feel hesitate in helping me....

Wednesday, January 5, 2011

God answered prayer

This is my second week in Miri. Still adjusting to the new environment. New people, new roadmap, new talking style and new lifestyle. However, I still thank God for answering my prayers.

When I first knew about my posting, I started worrying about my transportation. Do I need to drive a van since then? Am I able to drive van around the places? How am I going to settle down the things in Miri? How am I get to know the places? There are many worries filled my brain. I don't know how to solve these problems.

I thank God that He is my help and my shelter. If there is anything, I can just call upon Him. He will help. And He did answer my prayers.

Church has decided to buy a new car for pastor use. IT IS A NEW CAR - MYVI. I have never expected it. My counsin came to my place and took me driving around the places and I picked it up very fast. Now, I knew how to go to many places. I bought all the things which I want and I need. I have settled down well.

When I was not able to do something, God grants strength and wisdom to help me. Indeed, without God all things are impossible to me.

I met friends and a lot of foochow people here. I thank God for it. Unless it is not as bad as I thought before. ha!