Spiritual Thought for the Week 2009/3/29

DATE: 2009/3/29
本周默想分享
在大斋节，我们学习在神面前静默，信靠，顺服，等候。诗篇39：9说，"我所遭遇的是出於你，我就默然不语。"我们应当在所遭遇的和一切事情的背後看到神的手，都有神的旨意在其中，若没有神的许可，没有甚麽事情可临到我们。所以我们不必怪人或怨己，应当认识神是管理一切的，只有到神那里求解答，得解决。不要钻到事物本身或与人的关系里，也不是自己的命运在作怪。有时我们找不到原因，神也没有解答，这时就当谦卑，顺服，等候神，神有绝对的主权，神的旨意都是美好的。我们不明白，但可以相信依靠，到了一定的时候会明白的。
神叫一切事情临到我们，并不是无缘无故的，是有目的在其中的，可能是为了我们过去有甚麽情况，使我们遇到这些事来管教我们，惩治我们，造就我们。或者为着将来使我们可以避免甚麽，改变甚麽，叫我们预先得到教训。更可能为着现在叫我们看见自己的渺小无能，世事何等虚幻，无益，我们不能在神的旨意外盼望有所得着。
真的，我们只有默然不语，服在神大能手下，我们的指望在乎神自己，如果所遭遇的能将我们剥夺尽净，只剩下神是最好无比的了。默然不语表明我们敬畏神，信靠神，顺服神，等候神，说甚麽都觉得是多馀的。我们的心知道了，出於神的都是好的，都是对我们有益的。我们的意见，想法，没有甚麽是高尚，正确，美好的，还是甘心服在神大能的手下，也是神慈爱的手下，是最好的。最终都要看见那些遭遇都是不可少的。

Spiritual Thought for the Week
In this time of Lent, let us learn the lesson of remaining quiet, trusting, obeying, and waiting on the Lord. As the Psalmist said, “I was silent; I would not open my mouth, for you are the one who has done this.”(Psalm 39:9) We need to see the hands of God behind the things he has done for us. We need to obey the will of God on things that happened to us. Nothing could come before us without his permission. We should not blame others nor ourselves when hardship happened knowing that it is God who rules over all things. Only in God we find answers. We won’t find answers in things or in relationships. So let’s not blame hardship on fate. Sometimes hardships just don’t make sense to us. Sometimes God doesn’t give us explanations either. This is the time to learn the discipline of humility, obedience and waiting on God. God has absolute sovereignty. God’s will is always good will. Although we do not understand it now, yet belief and trust will eventually disclose the truth and will make us understand it one day.
God would never let hardships happen without a cause. He has purposes. It could be something in the past that requires correction. God is using this hardship to discipline us. It could be something in the future that requires preparation. God is using this hardship to equip us and make us strong for the impending challenge. In all of these God wants us to see the frailty of our life. Apart from his will there is nothing but vanity and futility.
Truly, all we can do is to remain silent, and submit ourselves under his almighty hands. Our hope comes from God and God only. If our hardship strips us of everything except God, how wonderful it will be to see God still remains. Remaining silent means we fear God, we obey him, we wait on him. It is not necessary to open our mouth to say anything. Things that come out from God are always good things. They are for our benefit. Our ideas and thoughts are nothing noble, righteous or worthwhile. The only best solution is to surrender under his powerful loving hands. In the end we will realize our hardship is in fact a blessing.
--End—

CALL TO WORSHIP: Ps. 73: 25-26
HYMNS: 1. Cancelled from now on
2. #95 Wounded for Me
3. #280 My Faith Looks Up to Thee
SCRIPTURE READING: I Corinthians 13:7-12
SERMON: Love bears and hopes all things
講道題目: 愛是凡事包容，凡事盼望

CONGREGATION & CHURCH CONCERNS:
(English)
1. Good Friday is coming in 2 weeks. i.e. April 10, 2009. It is the day when our Lord Jesus was crucified on the cross for our sins. Our church will have a Good Friday worship in the sanctuary at 7:30 pm in the evening. Please come and remember Christ’s crucifixion and salvation for us.. 2. Lent has begun and is reaching the 29th 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. Brother Miguel Stack is starting a new English Adult Sunday school class. It is called "Studying The Scriptures". Time would be from 9:30 -10:30 am Sundays. Age target: 15 and over. All English speaking Adults and young Adults are welcome. 4. This Friday April 3rd, 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. 5. On Easter Sunday April 12, we celebrate the resurrection of our Lord from the tomb. We will have baptism and reception of members into the church who confess Jesus as their Lord and Saviour. Rev. Chan is conducting a baptism class to prepare people who want to join our church on that occasion. Please contact Rev. Chan if you have the intention. 6. Brother George Yang had a minor eye operation last Monday. All went well. We thank God for his healing power. 7. This Saturday April 4th, 2009 evening 6:00 pm Chinese Scholars’ Evangelist Testimony on DVD will be held in the dinning hall featuring the 9th lesson on “No more strangers.” by Rev. Hong Yu Jian. All are welcome.
会友与教会关怀：

1. 基督受难节还有2个星期在2009年4月10日就来到。本堂该天晚上7：30分有牺牲节纪念崇拜。请来参加感谢主在十字架上为我们所成就的救赎宏恩。 2. 为期40天的大齋节現在已進入第29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. 青年工作者Miguel Stack弟兄现正开始一个全新的英语成年主日学班，名为"圣经的研究"星期天9点半到10点半上课。凡年龄在15岁或以上的青年或成年人都欢迎参加。 4. 本星期五4月3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。 5. 在复活节2009年4月12日我们庆祝基督从坟墓里复生。我们为接受基督做主和个人救主的人举行洗礼和过会礼。陈牧师现正教授洗礼班预备领洗和愿意加入教会的人。如果你有这个心愿，请与陈牧师联络。 6. 杨张基弟兄上星期一做眼部小手术。一切平安顺利。感谢神的保守和医治。 7. 本星期六4月4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』。第九讲"不再作外人"，请带新朋友来参加。