Sharing by JW 

April 26, 2012
Judge 6:
14 Then the Lord turned to him and said, “Go with the strength you have, and rescue Israel from the Midianites. I am sending you!”
15 “But Lord,” Gideon replied, “how can I rescue Israel? My clan is the weakest in the whole tribe of Manasseh, and I am the least in my entire family!”
16 The Lord said to him, “I will be with you. And you will destroy the Midianites as if you were fighting against one man.”
Luke 22:
60 But Peter said, “Man, I don’t know what you are talking about.” And immediately, while he was still speaking, the rooster crowed.
61 At that moment the Lord turned and looked at Peter. Suddenly, the Lord’s words flashed through Peter’s mind: “Before the rooster crows tomorrow 
     morning, you will deny three times that you even know me.” 
62 And Peter left the courtyard, weeping bitterly.
Proverbs 14:
5 An honest witness does not lie; a false witness breathes lies.
6 A mocker seeks wisdom and never finds it, but knowledge comes easily to those with understanding.
Sharing:  Today, God puts Gideon and Peter in front of me, one acknowledges that he is the weakest of the weakest, and one proclaims that he will sacrifice everything for Christ.  It is extremely interesting to me that the weak can win for God, and the strong can shame themselves first only to prepare them for bigger and better things to glorify Him later.   May you use Gideon to teach me how to serve you now, even I feel like the weakest of the weakest.  May you help me to be an honest witness and to gain understanding of your master plan on earth and in heaven.  Praise the Lord also that Ling has successfully delivered your precious gift safely yesterday.  Thank you Lord of letting us to experience your promises to faithful family together.  Thank you very much

Date: Wednesday, 04/25/2012
by Chunming

路 加 福 音 22 (Luke 22)
 
46 就 對 他 們 說 ： 你 們 為 甚 麼 睡 覺 呢 ？ 起 來 禱 告 ， 免 得 入 了 迷 惑 ！
46 Then He said to them, “Why do you sleep? Rise and pray, lest you enter into temptation.”
 
Sharing:
Jesus gave His disciples repeated warnings of alertness in the garden of Gethsemane (vv 40, 46) – He wanted his disciples to be alert and pray diligently. In this way, they were protected from temptation that could lead them astray. In fact, this serves as a reminder to us all that we could easily fall into prey of the evil one if we are not connected to our Lord through prayer.

 

Date: April 23, 2012

Shared by J Yang

詩篇 90

4 在你看來，千年如已過的昨日，又如夜間的一更。
5 你叫他們如水沖去，他們如睡一覺。早晨他們如生長的草，
6 早晨發芽生長，晚上割下枯乾。

9 我們經過的日子都在你震怒之下，我們度盡的年歲好像一聲嘆息。
10 我們一生的年日是七十歲，若是強壯可到八十歲，但其中所矜誇的不過是勞苦愁煩；轉眼成空，我們便如飛而去。
11 誰曉得你怒氣的權勢？誰按著你該受的敬畏曉得你的憤怒呢？
12 求你指教我們怎樣數算自己的日子，好叫我們得著智慧的心。

真的, 我們要數算自己的日子, 因為在世的日子轉瞬即逝如同草般的短暫.  我們要祈求神給我們智慧的心, 好叫我們活得有價值

Date: April 22, 2012

Shared by: TC Lo

若是你們以事奉耶和華為不好，今日就可以選擇所要事奉的：是你們列祖在大河那邊所事奉的神呢？是你們所住這地的亞摩利人的神呢？至於我和我家，我們必定事奉耶和華。”

But if serving the LORD seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your forefathers served beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the LORD."

Sharing:

至於我們和我們的主愛之家，我們必定事奉耶和華。

But as for us and our House of Christ’s Love, we will serve the LORD."

----Let this be our aphorism (願這成為我們的格言)

Date: Tuesday, 04/17/2012
by: Chunming

路 加 福 音 18 (Luke 18)
 
40 耶 穌 站 住 ， 吩 咐 把 他 領 過 來 ， 到 了 跟 前 ， 就 問 他 說: 41 你 要 我 為 你 做 甚 麼 ？ 他 說 ： 主 阿 ， 我 要 能 看 見 。42 耶 穌 說 ： 你 可 以 看 見 ！ 你 的 信 救 了 你 了 。
40 So Jesus stood still and commanded him to be brought to Him. And when he had come near, He asked him, 41 saying, “What do you want Me to do for you?” He said, “Lord, that I may receive my sight.” 42 Then Jesus said to him, “Receive your sight; your faith has made you well.” (NKJV)
 
Sharing:
This is one of the many miracles performed by our Lord Jesus in the four Gospels. It catches my eye because the comment our Lord Jesus said, “Your faith has made you well”. Even with an earnest desire to gain his sight, the blind man’s desire may not be granted if it was not by his faith in Jesus. This tells me that before the blind man could see, his spiritual eyesight needs to open first – it allows him to see the power and authority of Jesus. This miracle also reminds me that it is only by faith that I can be saved.

Sharing by JW
April 16, 2012
Psalm 84
10 A single day in your courts is better than a thousand anywhere else!.  
      I would rather be a gatekeeper in the house of my God than live the good life in the homes of the wicked.
Luke 18
Parable of the Pharisee and Tax Collector

  9 Then Jesus told this story to some who had great confidence in their own righteousness and scorned everyone else: 
10 “Two men went to the Temple to pray. One was a Pharisee, and the other was a despised tax collector. 
11 The Pharisee stood by himself and prayed this prayer[b]: ‘I thank you, God, that I am not a sinner like everyone else. 
      For I don’t cheat, I don’t sin, and I don’t commit adultery. I’m certainly not like that tax collector! 
12 I fast twice a week, and I give you a tenth of my income.’
13 “But the tax collector stood at a distance and dared not even lift his eyes to heaven as he prayed. Instead, he beat his chest in sorrow, 
     saying, ‘O God, be merciful to me, for I am a sinner.’ 
14 I tell you, this sinner, not the Pharisee, returned home justified before God. For those who exalt themselves will be humbled, 
     and those who humble themselves will be exalted.”
Sharing:  May the Lord, my God and Jesus, my Savior forgive me.  I have been too busy in the home of the wicked and I have acted like a Pharisee declaring that "I am not a sinner like everyone else."   O God, be merciful to me, for I am a sinner.    I would rather be a gatekeeper in the house of my God or just spend a single day in your counts.  Please help me, lead me and protect me.  I maybe too drawn into the wicked territory and I am just fighting it with my boastful declaration that I am not a sinner.   Thanks for your messages to me, I am a real sinner and you are my better place.   May you help me to glorify you for whatever I do.  Thank you Jesus, thank you Lord. 

Date: April 12, 2012

Shared by: TC Lo

Fyodor Dostoevsky (杜斯妥也夫斯基, 生於1821年十一月十一日). 他的女兒說, 當這位著名的俄國小說家臨終前躺在病床上, 那時是1881年二月九日, 他要人讀聖經給他聽. 他特選浪子 (prodigal son) 的故事. 因為這故事在他被流亡於西伯利亞的十年刑期內, 改變了他的生命.  這故事在他很多的著作中以不同的形式出現過----被拋棄者的歸正. 他對20世紀的世界文壇產生了深遠的影響. 他的名作品之: “罪與罰Crime and Punishment” 是一例也. 

歷世歷代不知多少牧師, 用不同的觀點來講 路加15:11-32 的道. 至少有四種講法:

  1. 浪子---小兒子---中東人喜愛聽故事. 路加15:11-32中的小兒子代表罪人的回頭歸正.
  2. 大兒子的故事---大兒子以勤勞來取悅父親. 這是代表律法主義. 在中東文化中, 其實是哥哥的責任去找回失喪的弟弟. 但這哥哥失責了.
  3. 第三個兒子的介入---哥哥雖然失責, 但我們有一位長兄, 就是基督, 祂來尋找我們. 這是何等的恩典.
  4. 正在等待中的父親 (the waiting father)---父神的愛.

不管這篇道如何講, 我認為最關件性的一句話就是: “他醒悟過來 When he came to his senses (路15:17a)”

所有人得救都是從這一點開始. 所有人生的轉捩點都是從這一點開始.

加爾文 (John Calvin) 說了一句頗有道理的話: “Without knowledge of self there is no knowledge of God. Nearly all the wisdom we possess, that is to say, true and sound wisdom, consists of two parts: the knowledge of God and ourselves.” 意即: 人如果沒有醒悟過來, 他是不能認識神的. 但容我加上一句, “如果沒有聖靈的光照, 人是不會醒悟過來的. 一切的一切, 都全是恩典. 感謝主
Date: 4-11-2012
BY: ELiza

Luke 14 : 12 Then Jesus said to his host, “When you give a luncheon or dinner, do not invite your friends, your brothers or relatives, or your rich neighbors; if you do, they may invite you back and so you will be repaid. 13 But when you give a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind, 14 and you will be blessed. Although they cannot repay you, you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous.”


路 加 福 音 14    12 耶 穌 又 對 請 他 
的 人 說 ： 你 擺 設 午 飯 或 晚 飯 ， 不 要 請 你 的 朋 友 、 弟兄 、 親 屬 ， 和 富 足 的 鄰 舍 ， 恐 怕 他 們 也 請 你 ， 你 就 得 了 報 答 。13 你 擺 設 筵 席 ， 倒要 請 那 貧 窮 的 、 殘 廢 的 、 瘸 腿 的 、 瞎 眼 的 ， 你 就 有 福 了 ！14 因 為 他 們 沒 有 甚 麼 可報 答 你 。 到 義 人 復 活 的 時 候 ， 你 要 得 著 報 答
Date: 4/10/12
By Wai
Joshua Chapter 1:6, 7, 9, & 17
 
6 Be strong and of good courage.......
7 Only be strong and very courageous........
9 Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage......
17 Just as we heeded Moses in all things, so we will heed you. Only the Lord your God be with you, as He was with Moses. 18 Whoever rebels against your command and does not heed your words, in all that you command him, shall be put to death. Only be strong and of good courage.”
 
Sharing:
After the death of Moses, God commanded Joshua to lead the Israelites into the promise land. God told Joshua to be strong and courageous three time in the first chapter. It is not to be faithful or be wise but be strong and courageous. What does it means to be strong and courageous?
In Hebrew the word strong is also mean to take hold by hand or to grasp. It is the same word that used in Genesis when the angels took hold of Lot and his family by hands and led them out of the city.
In Hebrew the word courageous also means determine. It was used in book of Ruth, when Ruth was determined to go with Naomi back to Israel.
So what does God wants Joshua to be. God wants Joshua to grasp hold of His hand and determine not to let go, no matter what they are facing in the land they are about to take possession
Not only Joshua knew this but the Israelites echoed this message.
Brothers and Sisters, let us determine to grasp hold of God's hand and not letting go and encourage one another with this phase.

Be strong and be very courageous

 

Date: 4/8
By Yiheng

申 命 記 32: 45-52
45 摩 西 向 以 色 列 众 人 说 完 了 这 一 切 的 话 ，
 46 又 说 ： 我 今 日 所 警 教 你 们 的 ， 你 们 都 要 放 在 心 上 ； 要 吩 咐 你 们 的 子 孙 谨 守 遵
行 这 律 法 上 的 话 。
 47 因 为 这 不 是 虚 空 、 与 你 们 无 关 的 事 ， 乃 是 你 们 的 生 命 ； 在 你 们 过 约 但 河 要 得
为 业 的 地 上 必 因 这 事 日 子 得 以 长 久 。
 48 当 日 ， 耶 和 华 吩 咐 摩 西 说 ：
 49 你 上 这 亚 巴 琳 山 中 的 尼 波 山 去 ， 在 摩 押 地 与 耶 利 哥 相 对 ， 观 看 我 所 要 赐 给 以
色 列 人 为 业 的 迦 南 地 。
 50 你 必 死 在 你 所 登 的 山 上 ， 归 你 列 祖 （ 原 文 作 本 民 ） 去 ， 像 你 哥 哥 亚 伦 死 在 何
珥 山 上 ， 归 他 的 列 祖 一 样 。
 51 因 为 你 们 在 寻 的 旷 野 ， 加 低 斯 的 米 利 巴 水 ， 在 以 色 列 人 中 没 有 尊 我 为 圣 ， 得 罪 了 我 。
 52 我 所 赐 给 以 色 列 人 的 地 ， 你 可 以 远 远 地 观 看 ， 却 不 得 进 去 。

Sharing: 神将关乎我们生命的道理交个我们,

也要我们将这样的道理带给我们生命当中的人. 如果我们不如此行的话是会有严重的后果的.
就如摩西未能进入应许之地其实并不是因为他有得罪神. 而是他所带领的以色列民没有尊耶和华为圣,得罪了神.

Date: Saturday, 04/08/2012
by: Fenlan

Luke 12:20-21
 
“But God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night your life will be demanded from you. Then who will get what you have prepared for yourself?’  “This is how it will be with whoever stores up things for themselves but is not rich toward God.” 

路 加 福 音 12:20-21
 
神 卻 對 他 說 ： 無 知 的 人 哪 ， 今 夜 必 要 你 的 靈 魂 ； 你 所 預 備 的 要 歸 誰 呢 ？凡 為 自 己 積 財 ， 在 神 面 前 卻 不 富 足 的 ， 也 是 這 樣 。
 
Sharing:  As human being, we have a tendency toward storing up things for ourselves, eg. money, knowledge, accomplishment and reputation...etc., so that we can feel secure, confident or satisfied. But the Lord told us if we are not rich toward God, whatever we store up for ourselves will be in vain. May we learn to be a wise man who seeks the Kingdom of God above all else, and He will give us everything we need.

Date: April 2, 2012
Shared by: TC Lo

Pr 12:11   He who works his land will have abundant food, but he who chases fantasies lacks judgment.

Share: This verse teaches diligence. But as I meditated on it, I think it is more than just that. The unique characteristic of the Hebrew culture is their awe-stricken wonder toward God and toward His character as so evident in the Book of Psalms. We ought to marvel at the mystery of God and His creation like we did as children. The question is how can we let our heart believe what our mind tells us? I believe the answer is worship. Without genuine worship, wonder is nothing more than a childish fantasy. Since worship must be in the Spirit and in the Truth and wonder is the essential part of Christian life, we now find the connections and know the difference: Wonder without Spirit is fairy tale, wonder without Truth is fantasies. Genuine wonder of the psalmists can elevate our spirituality. Thus, diligently pursuing God is what we must do. The expressive singing of our worship team is good for our church to quicken our sense of wonder, not fantasy.

 

Date: Sunday, 04/01/2012
by: Chunming

詩 篇 73 (Psalm 73)
2 至 於 我 ， 我 的 腳 幾 乎 失 閃 ； 我 的 腳 險 些 滑 跌 。
3 我 見 惡 人 和 狂 傲 人 享 平 安 就 心 懷 不 平 。
2 But as for me, my feet had almost stumbled; my steps had nearly slipped.
3 For I was envious of the boastful, when I saw the prosperity of the wicked.
 
Sharing:
This is a good reminder to myself that envy, which is one of the deadly sins, could trap me easily and could have myself stumbled.