Spiritual Thought for the Week 2009/3/15

DATE: 2009/3/15

本周默想分享
大斋节是由灰的星期三开始。人在甚麽时候最容易看见一切都是灰色的呢？在遭遇苦难的时候，人很容易灰心。如果苦难加重，神不听祷告，就更容易灰心，甚至离弃神。好像约伯的妻子所说的，既然从神那里受祸，何必持守纯正，还是离弃神死了吧！这种想法撒但也常向其他在苦难中的信徒提过，我们应当怎样对付，是一个很严重的问题。
首先我们应当相信神是绝对慈爱，良善，信实的，祂绝不会对我们不关心，不顾我们的苦难。我们也应当相信祂对我们有美好的意念和目的。祂叫我们遭遇的一切，都是为我们有益的，虽然表面上可能不像是，甚至是相反的，因为祂为我们存有更高永远的益处，肉体是暂时看不到的。
其次我们要寻求明白神的旨意，为甚麽叫我们遭遇这一切苦恼，不愉快的事，患难，危险的事。是由於我们的罪吗？应当悔改。是因为我们的错误吗？应该改正。是教训我们麽？应当学到功课。是要改变我们的道路吗？应当归向神。或者叫我们学习忍耐，谦卑，同情别人，多依靠神，看破世界，追求永生。灰心是对神发生怀疑，对神的慈爱，能力，信实发生问题，这是不应该的，神绝不会失信或不施怜悯的。
信神总有盼望，神能使无变为有，叫死人复活的神。人到了尽头，神还能给一个新的起头。人认为绝望的事，神还能加以挽救，改变，使之复活。或创造新的条件，使事情可以成就。所以无论到了甚麽地步，遇到甚麽困难都不要灰心。神使约伯後来的丰富，比以前更加倍（伯42：10）。

Spiritual Thought for the Week
Lent began in Ash Wednesday. The color of ash is grey. In Chinese the expression of a heart turning grey means giving up hope. When was the last time you gave up on hope? When we are in trials and tribulations we are tempted to see everything grey. Especially when God didn’t hear our cry for help, we wanted to give up. Like what Job’s wife said to Job, “Are you still holding on to your integrity? Curse God and die!” This is word of temptation from Satan. How we deter Satan’s attack is the most crucial test of our souls.
First of all, we have to believe God is absolutely loving, good and faithful.
He would never leave us or forsake us. We also have to believe He has good will and nice purpose for us. All the trials and tribulations are for our own good. Although it does not seem that way yet the opposite of what we comprehend will ultimately benefit us. This is something we can’t see in the flesh.
Secondly, we have to strive to understand God’s will. Why does God let this hardship to happen? Is it our sin? Let’s repent on it. Is it our wrong? Let’s correct it. Is it a discipline? Let’s learn the lesson from it. Is it an indication to change course? Let’s turn back to God. May be God is wanting us to learn to be more patient, humble, compassionate to others, obedience to God, unaffected by the world and steadfast towards eternity. Giving up on hope is equivalent to having doubt in God. Do you have doubt in His love, power and faithfulness? You shouldn’t have because God will never be unfaithful or unmerciful.
Belief in God always gives hope. God can make something out of nothing. He can raise the dead to life. When men come to a dead end God can initiate a new beginning. What men think is hopeless, God can restore, change and resurrect. He can create new possibility and make things happen. Therefore, no matter what desperate situation you are up against now, do not give up on hope. “After Job had prayed for his friends, the Lord made him prosperous again and gave him twice as much as he had before.”(Job.42:10)
--End—

CALL TO WORSHIP: Hebrew 10:19-22
HYMNS: 1. Cancelled from now on
2. #313 Lord, Speak to Me, that I May Speak
3. #323 The Great Commission
SCRIPTURE READING: Matthew 28:18-20
SERMON: Who should go out into the world?
講道題目: 誰要出去進入世界？
CONGREGATION & CHURCH CONCERNS:
(English)
1. The second council meeting will be held this Wednesday March 18, 2009 at 7:45pm in the board room. New officers have been elected They are: Brother Frank Pan (Chairman, Christian Education, Pastoral Care and Ministry & Personnel）, Brother Liang Yi (Treasurer), Brother Wei Wang (Secretary and Property), Brother Bruce Newman (English, Property, Ministerial & Personnel and Presbytery Representative), Brother Simon Ma (Treasurer), Brother Tie Qiang Hu (Christian Education), Brother Shupang Chou (Outreach, Christian Education and Ministerial & Personnel), and Brother Winson Orr (Worship and Ministerial & Personnel). We look forward to a vibrant church ministry under their leadership. 2. Lent has begun and is reaching the 15th day for a period of 40 days. Please take this time to fast and pray for the preparation of Christ’s saving act on the cross. 3. The March-April Chinese devotional “Proclaim” has arrived and is displayed on the foyer table. Please claim your copy and do your daily devotional with it at home. 4. 2009 Joint Mandarin Devotional Meeting will be held April 24-26 (Friday to Sunday) evenings 7:30 pm at the Emmanuel Alliance Church Ottawa. Theme speaker Rev. Felix Lau encourages us to enter into a program of fasting and praying relay which last 40 days starting from March 15 and ending on April 23. You can fast one meal per week. With another 20 people signing up one form we will cover every meal with a person praying and fasting for the event. Please pray for personal need, church revival, families, seekers to the faith and all others that have specific needs when you fast. 5. This Friday March 20, 2009 evening 8 pm Rev. Gerry Fuller and his wife Norma will lead Bible study and prayer in the dinning hall. We are studying Jesus’ sermons on the mount. We will pray for our church as well as for individuals’ blessings. All are welcome. 6. This Saturday March 21, 2009 evening 6:00 pm Chinese Scholars’ Evangelist Testimony on DVD will be held in the dinning hall featuring the 8th lesson on “Knowing the name of God” by Rev. Hong Yu Jian. All are welcome.
会友与教会关怀：
1.第二次堂会会议定于本周三3月18日下午7：45分举行，請各堂会职员出席，他们是：潘文弟兄(堂会主席兼基督教教育，牧养关怀，教牧人事)，梁毅弟兄（司库），王蔚弟兄（堂会书记兼楼业管理），Bruce Newman弟兄（英语事工兼楼业管理，教牧人事，区会代表）马文豪弟兄（司库），胡铁强弟兄（基督教教育），周树邦弟兄（外展布道兼基督教教育，教牧人事）和柯文生弟兄（崇拜兼教牧人事）。愿主祝福本堂在新一届堂会领导下继续发展天国圣工。2.为期40天的大齋节現在已進入第15天。请弟兄姊妹多作禁食祷告。预备迎接救主在受难节和复活节所成就的救赎大功。3.三四月份的[传]灵修小册已放在门口桌子上，请领一本回家作个人每天灵修之用。4.2009年国语联合培灵大会定4月24至26日星期四至星期天下午7：30分在渥太华主恩宣道会举行。大会讲员刘富理牧师呼吁我们推动四十天的连锁禁食祷告。参加特会的弟兄姊妹，每人每周至少禁食祷告一次，而且每餐都有人为这特会禁食祷告。表格已貼在報告板上，您可以签名在其上。让我们在禁食祷告中，为个人，为教会的复兴，为家庭，为慕道友，为有需要的人迫切祷告。5. 本星期五3月20日下午8点，GERRY牧师和太太NORMA女士将带领查经和祷告。我们现在查考耶稣登山宝训的经文。我们为教友的事情和教会的事工，同心合意祷告。6。本星期六3月21日下午6时，中国学者传道人布道光碟见证晚会有『洪予健讲道集』。第八讲"認識神的名"，请带新朋友来参加