(NIV) I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do.
Please forgive my sin, Abba, Father. I am grateful for the love and mercy you have for me. I will do better. I love you Heavenly Father, and thank you for loving me.
I found an interesting website! I have always wondered what the Book of Revelation talked about the End Time. The description is so buzzy that I could not picture that from the words in the Bible. It’s amusing when reading some summaries, some facts related evidence, and some imagination. It brings the words alive!
Regardless of what, I turned around, saw my colleagues were staring at their monitors, typing, taking notes. They were breathing, thinking, living. The signs of the End Time suddenly blowed away in my mind like a feather…
I don’t know when is the End Time. But I will be ready all the time.
A letter about myself, writing to a pastor regarding a bible study group.
https://www.clairebiblereading.com/
回头看自己受洗，看自己的生命有神，一路走来，格外感恩。 Continue reading
生命中有神，是一种祝福。
很多事情，我们执意想按照自己想的方式来做。不是说不行，而是往往自己计划要走的路，可能会让自己跌得头破血流。高傲自负的我们不去寻求神的帮助，不把自己的问题带到神的面前。憋着一口气，执意地想要按照自己的方法来闯。
往往到最后，只得两眼泪汪汪。
唉。
但没关系，站起来，拍拍身上的尘土，擦干眼角的泪水。告诉神，你的错误，你的心碎，你的苦闷。请求祂的原谅，请求祂的安慰，请求祂接下来的带领。祂一定会用爱来回应你的呼求。
感恩我生命中，遇见了神，以至于在我跌倒之后，不至于绝望。现在的我，就是这样一个无助的孩子。我凭借着自己的血气方刚，想要按照自己的方法来解决问题。但最后，一场闹剧，就像打在脸上的巴掌，疼痛感褪去了，羞耻的红血丝还残留在脸颊上。
但是，我感恩。因为我相信，天父不会让你挑战你无法克服的困境。因为在任何困难面前，你都可以勇敢地高喊，神最大。我相信这些难关，当有一天跨过去了，克服了，成长了，或许我就能明白，为什么神当初没有阻挡它们出现在我生命的道路上。
最后，我想分享一首能安慰人心灵的赞美诗歌。这首歌曾在去年的三月，陪伴我度过了一段时光。在今天我需要慰籍的时候，它的旋律和歌词中神永恒的大爱，又再次来到了我的身边，包裹着我，安抚着我的心灵。
当转眼仰望耶稣/ Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus Continue reading
最近发生了一件事情，有些许困扰我，以至于我在圣诞节也没有去处。
简单阐述：本来我报名参加了教会平安夜的舞台剧表演，开场和闭幕的舞蹈，从12月初开始已经参加了5次排练了，其中一次请假一次迟到。我也在下班后特意跑去大商场，买好了舞蹈可能要用的裤子。也因为这个活动，把自己的圣诞计划全取消了…然后…
老师发邮件和我说：
I call Vineyard Urbana “my home church”, because I grow the most in this community. I found my image in God during my service here. I turned myself and started to trust God’s plan, witnessing by my brothers and sisters in this church. I love this message about the current hot debt of the president elections.
I think the primary step is to care, to think, then take action. As a citizen, everyone’s vote counts. God bless America!
Election Day Is Here
Voting day, November 8th, is here. We’ve dreamed about it, talked about it, argued about it—but whether we’re excited or not, the day of reckoning is at hand. In all my years, I’ve never seen an election quite like this one. People are confused over issues, polarized, and almost unwilling to go to the polls. Need help? Here’s my vote!
Ask The Spirit For Help
The Holy Spirit is called “The Helper” repeatedly throughout the New Testament. We learned in our recent message series: Hello, Holy Spirit, that He actually lives in us to help us prosper in all issues of life—from the small things to those with massive consequences. Even better, the Holy Spirit can see into the future. He knows what is best for the nation, for the Kingdom and for you. Here are a few action items to consider surrounding Election Day.
Pray
1 Timothy 2:1-3 says that we are to pray for those in authority. Remember, this was written in a time when the evil Roman emperor, Nero was in power. Paul made no distinction about who was in authority—but rather we were/are to pray for those who are leading. I encourage all of us to not think of prayer as simply an option but as a priority for our country’s leaders.
Vote
While I realize there are no scriptures that ordain the various type of governments within nations, we have one of the best ever devised. One of our privileges (blessings) is that we get to cast a vote—share our opinion on who should be our leaders. This is a precious gift and responsibility. I believe we will be held accountable for exercising our civic duty to be an active participant in the life of our country and community.
After November 8th
Surprising as it may seem, the sun will come up on November 9th. Approximately half of America will think we’re headed into deep and dark days. While things are not exactly heading the way the Bible says they should, there’s still much to be thankful for and this is still a great country. Once more, the directive to pray did not end on election day or whether or not your favorite won the election.
Five Predictions That Will Emerge From The Election
I recently read an excellent blog by Carey Nieuwhol. He is a Canadian pastor and blogger that writes much directed at, and for the American Christians and churches. He listed the following five predictions about the US presidential election.
There will be renewed interest in the sovereignty of God.
The church will look to Christ more and to the government less.
Living out our values will become more important than ever.
The tone of public discourse will get worse… or better.
The work of the local church will be more important than ever.
If you would like to read the entire article, here is a link, it is clearly one of the best blogs I have seen about politics and culture for a long time. I highly recommend it.
Keep A Kingdom Perspective
This past July, I wrote a note entitled Politics and Prayer. Let me re-state a portion of that note. “Remember from a Christian point of view, more of Heaven is present on earth than ever. People are getting saved at a rate of 3,000 every 30 minutes rather than 3,000 on a single day like Acts 2. We are seeing increased revelation and understanding about the King and the Kingdom as we’re empowered more and more by the Holy Spirit. Romans 5:20 says that as darkness increases, Grace will much more increase. Thus, I believe our best days are ahead.”
Final Thoughts
These are indeed turbulent times. That’s why the Spirit was given to us by Jesus Christ. What’s more, it says in the Gospel of John that the Spirit will never leave us. In addition, we are given the comfort of the local body of Christ. From this group we draw strength and life.
Thanks for being a part of the Vineyard family. May we band together to see the goodness of God.
新学期开始，不外乎要来讨论这个话题：教导门徒怎么喂养未来的门徒。刘牧师用了五饼二鱼的例子：（太14:13-21；可6:35-44；路9:10-17；约6:1-14）
马克6：35 天晚了，门徒前来对他说：“这里是旷野的地方，天已经很晚了，36 请叫他们散开，好让他们往周围的田舍村庄去，自己买点东西吃。”37 耶稣回答他们：“你们给他们吃吧！”门徒说：“要我们去买两百银币的饼给他们吃吗？” 38 耶稣说：“去看看你们有多少饼！”他们知道了，就说：“五个饼，还有两条鱼。” 39 耶稣吩咐他们叫大家分组坐在青草地上。 40 他们就一排一排地坐了下来，有一百的，有五十的。 41 耶稣拿起这五个饼、两条鱼，望着天，祝谢了；然后把饼擘开，递给门徒摆在群众面前，又把两条鱼也分给群众。 42 大家都吃了，并且吃饱了。 43 他们把剩下的零碎捡起来，装满了十二个篮子，44 吃饼的人，男人就有五千。
约翰6： 9 “这里有个小孩子，带着五个大麦饼、两条鱼；只是分给这么多人，有甚么用呢？” Continue reading
Still repeating the song, ‘I sing praises to your name’!
Psalms 66 to 71 were written by David.
Psalms 72 were written by Solomon. Why, the last verse says David? 为啥啊，明明最后一句话是说：耶西的儿子大卫的祷告完毕。
Psalms 73 to 75 were written by Asaph.
为啥保罗他们要写帖撒罗尼迦 （还是觉得很绕口，哈哈）后书，哥林多书分前后是很合理的，就像哥林多后书上说的，保罗觉得上一封信写的太严肃了，想要再写一封来激励哥林多教会的使徒们的信心。但这个帖撒罗尼迦后书我就没搞懂。当然，我找了几个版本的答案，偏偏不告诉你。
3:5 May the Lord direct your hearts into God’s love and Christ’s perseverance. 5 愿主引导你们的心，使你们有 神的爱和基督的坚忍。
3:15 Yet do not regard them as an enemy, but warn them as you would a fellow believer.15 但不要把他看作仇敌，却要劝他好象劝弟兄一样。
*Joy Life* 