God's disciplines

God will test us. because the Lord disciplines those he loves, and he disciplines everyone he accepts as a son.” (Hebrews 12:6) But he always prepare the way out by His mercy. Praise God.

第二十五日
你們作僕人的，凡事要存敬畏的心馴服主人；

不但順服那善良溫和的，就是那乖僻的也要順服。倘若人為叫良心對得住神，就忍受冤屈的苦楚，這是可喜愛的。你們若因犯罪受責打，能忍耐，有甚麼可誇的呢?但你們若因行善受苦，能忍耐，這在神看是可喜愛的。(彼前二18-20)

主啊！我在工作中所遇見的艱難，你都知道。但你的話安慰我，使我知道，我的信心若經過試驗，就比精金更寶貴，主啊！我懇求你幫助我在面對不講理的上司時，我的心沒有苦毒、沒有憤怒，只有祝福。直到你的旨意成就。我深信你必會為我開路，而且是又新又活的道路。奉主耶穌的名禱告，阿們！

Meribah's water

你們不可硬著心，像當日在米利巴，就是在曠野的瑪撒。那時，你們的祖宗試我探我，並且觀看我的作為。四十年之久，我厭煩那世代，說： 這是心裏迷糊的百姓， 竟不曉得我的作為！所以，我在怒中起誓，說： 他們斷不可進入我的安息！ (詩篇 95:8-11)

This psalm of praise is ended with the serious warning to us. God led Israelites out from Egypt where they were in slaves. He did miraculous things and led them in person, day and night. However, the Israelites still complains all the way, about water, food, everything. Lack of faith and ungrateful heart is the very reason that they had to spend 40 years in the wilderness and could not go into the promise land. "They have seen what I did; yet still have not known my ways. They shall never enter my rest". What a warning to us as well! How many times we complain the things that not fulfilled as our plan, complain the circumstances, but when looking back, we cannot be more grateful that God has accomplish so many miraculous deeds and He is leading us all the way through these circumstances. Oh God, let us know your ways and enter into your rest. 

Rejoice always,  pray continually,  give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. (1 Thessalonians5:16-18)
要常常喜樂，  不住地禱告，  凡事謝恩；因為這是上帝在基督耶穌裏向你們所定的旨意。 (帖撒羅尼迦前書 5:16-18)

Thanksgiving

祂從一本造出萬族的人，住在全地上，並且預先定準他們的年限和所住的疆界，要叫他們尋求神，或者可以揣摩而得，其實祂離我們各人不遠；我們生活、動作、存留，都在乎祂。就如你們作詩的，有人說：『我們也是他所生的。』 (使徒行傳 17:26-28)

In 2007 summer when I was still a seeker in God kingdom, I had a conversation with a pastor, the keynote speaker on a retreat. He gave me this verse. Over the years after I became a Christian I ponder on it from time to time especially when I am discouraged or losing sight of the road ahead.
Indeed each time I realize that He is not far from me, from each one of us.  But He wants us seek him and reach out for him and find him in any circumstances in our journey of life. 'For in him we live and move and have our being.'

I am thankful for this whole year, the fullness of life that God gives me. There is tears and laughter, the setback and the accomplishment. But I am most thankful that I know God more.

Happy Thanksgiving!

當稱謝進入他的門； 當讚美進入他的院。 當感謝他，稱頌他的名！ (詩篇 100:4)

Come, let us sing for joy to the  Lord;  let us shout aloud to the Rock of our salvation.  Let us come before him with thanksgiving  and extol him with music and song. (Psalm 95:1, 2)

Interceding

Yes Lord Jesus Christ, please open our eyes and see bigger picture of yours. Each of us should look not only to our own interests, but also to the interests of others. (Philippians 2:4) We should confess our sins to each other and intercede for each other, not only for our own circumstances, but for the community, the city and the country.  The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective. (James 5:16)

第二十一日
我勸你，第一要為萬人懇求、禱告、代求、祝謝；為君王和一切在位的，也該如此，使我們可以敬虔、端正、平安無事的度日。(提前二1-2)

主啊！國家蒙福個人就蒙福，因為以耶和華為神的，那國是有福的！他所揀選為自己產業的，那民是有福的！因此我要奉你的名祝福總統，求你賜他屬天的智慧和謀略，治理國事，興起合你心意的基督徒成為他信任的幕僚。並且讓他遠離一切貪污的試探，因為公義使邦國高舉。
求你祝福行政院長和立法院長以及各部會首長，能行公義、好憐憫、謙卑與神同行。使國家的穩定帶來經濟的繁榮，以致我的家庭，和工作都因國家蒙福，也得著祝福。阿們！

Wisdom of words

Indeed. There is an old saying of wisdom that "speech is silver and silence is gold." I prefer the wisdom in God's word: A word aptly spoken is like apples of gold in settings of silver. (Proverbs 25:11) As a Christian, we shall speak out what we ought to say.

第二十日
主啊！求你禁止我的口，把守我的嘴，使我不說叫我後悔的話，因為大張嘴的必致敗亡。求你幫助我讓我所行的一切都不要發怨言，起爭論(腓二14)。

求你使我不說一句污穢的言語，讓我的口隨事說造就人的好話，讓聽見的人得益處(弗四29)。並且求你使我不說淫詞、妄語和戲笑的話，乃要說感謝的話(弗五4)。讓我得著智慧，所說的話，如同金蘋果掉在銀網子裡一樣。
主啊！我求你讓我在辦公室、有溝通的智慧、使別人能很清楚知道我的想法，而且我求你讓我懂得察顏觀色，能留意同事的心情，能夠合宜的表達關心，建立友誼，贏得對方的信任，漸漸的將他帶到你的面前，成為你派駐在辦公室的福音天使，奉主耶穌的名禱告，阿們！

All for God's Glory

We often use verse 20 to pray for others and ourselves. It is indeed encouraging and comforting. But connecting to verse 21 makes this prayer complete. It is all for God's glory.

神能照著運行在我們心裏的大力充充足足地成就一切，

超過我們所求所想的。  但願他在教會中，並在基督耶穌裏，得著榮耀，直到世世代代，永永遠遠。阿們！ (以弗所書 3:20, 21)

God's Wisdom

Dwelling and rest in God's word. No other breakfast more tasty and nutritious than God's word.

人不可自欺。你們中間若有人在這世界自以為有智慧，

倒不如變作愚拙，好成為有智慧的。  因這世界的智慧，在上帝看是愚拙。如 經上 記著說：「主叫有智慧的，中了自己的詭計」；  又說：「主知道智慧人的意念是虛妄的。」 (哥林多前書 3:18-20)

God's promise

"No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him. "(1 Corinthians 2:9) so is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it. (Isaiah 55:11)
It is so encouraging to see there verses early in the morning.
Thanks be to God. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. Everything belongs to you including my own beings. May each day a new day that accomplish in your will.

第十九日
你們要先求他的國和他的義，這些東西都要加給你們了。(太六33)

主啊！建立我禱告的祭壇，讓我學習做一個先求你的國和你的義之人，讓我在信心中，相信你的預備，使我不為生活憂慮。讓我也盡當盡的本分，殷勤工作，吃自己勞碌所得，但是讓我將你擺在我生命中的最優先。
我求你斷開一切貧窮之靈的捆綁，使我遵守十一的教訓，我相信你要敞開天上的窗戶，傾福於我，甚至無處可容。並且經歷你信實的供應。更重要的是求你讓我的心不要依靠無定的錢財，而是專心倚靠你。奉主耶穌的名禱告，阿們！

God's gentle voice

God speaks to us in a gentle voice (1 King 19). Most of time we are distracted by the voice of the world that can hardly hear His voice.  But He is keeping on speaking to us.  Until we are quiet in heart, we will hear, the unsearchable things, the wisdom, all from God.
The work of the week before thanksgiving is intensive (like every other year). 4 school projects also due this month. When I look at my calendar, I feel I need wisdom and strength from God so much.
Home Internet was outage for 5 days finally restored last night. I ordered Tim Keller's new book yesterday "every good endeavor: connecting your work with God's work". Looking forward to get it tomorrow.

第十八日
你求告我，我就應允你，並將你所不知到、又大又難的事指示你。(耶卅三3)

親愛的天父，人生活時有考驗，而我現在正面臨考驗，我需要從天而來的指引，使我能得著智慧的心，面對生命中的難題，靠主的恩典，突破工作的瓶頸。
幫助我與我家人、同事、朋友，有和諧的關係並與你的關係更為緊密，因為你說尋求你的，一樣好處都不缺。尋求要尋見，叩門的你要為他開門，專心尋求的，你要將當行的道，指教他。我需要你的指教，求你帶領。奉主耶穌的名禱告，阿們！

God's Provision

我所見為善為美的，就是人在上帝賜他一生的日子吃喝，

享受日光之下勞碌得來的好處，因為這是他的分。上帝賜人資財豐富，使他能以吃用，能取自己的分，在他勞碌中喜樂，這乃是上帝的恩賜。 (傳道書 5:18, 19)
Lord, we are thankful for your provision. Please give us the faith as the woman who supports Elijah, because she has trust in God willing to give even she is in short, you blessed her and Elijah  ‘The jar of flour will not be used up and the jug of oil will not run dry until the day the Lord gives rain on the land.’ ” (1 Kings 17:14)
Lord Jesus Christ, you are Jehovah–jireh. In the mount of the Lord it shall be provided. May your face be shine upon me, knowing that you will provide abundantly to him by his trust in you.
他又領我到寬闊之處； 他救拔我，因他喜悅我。 (撒母耳記下 22:20)

第十六日
你們貪戀，還是得不著，你們殺害嫉妒，又鬥毆爭戰，也不能得。你們得不著，是因為你們不求。你們求也得不著，是因為你們妄求，要浪費在你們的宴樂中。(雅四2-3)
貪財是萬惡之根。有人貪戀錢財，就被引誘離了真道，用許多愁苦把自己刺透了。(提前六l0)

親愛的主，光照我對金錢的態度，是否討你的喜悅，很多時候，我的禱告是以自我為中心，找工作是因為錢多，而不是為了榮耀你。我對金錢的態度，需要你的赦免，求你讓我做金錢的好管家，你說我的財寶在那裡，我的心也在那裡，求你讓我的心在你裡面。所作所行都為榮耀你，奉耶穌的名禱告，阿們！

God's grace

God's grace is always enough. "When I am weak, then I am strong." We will victory because Christ is the victorious King.
Have a good start of a new week!

第十五日
就是在患難中也是歡歡喜喜的；因為知道患難生忍耐，忍耐生老練，

老練生盼望。(羅五3-4)

主啊！求你賜我喜樂的心，來面對我的苦難，讓我不要被苦難打到，而能靠你勝過苦難。而且求你讓我能在患難中生出忍耐，並且讓我能夠老練，使我的生命日漸成熟，不會因為遇到困難就煩惱，也不會因為困難就懼怕，反倒能夠靠主得勝，並且得勝有餘，建立我的信心和忍耐力。幫助我，在苦難中能讀美你，因為我相信你是在天上用笑臉幫助我的神，讚美使你的寶座可以介入我的困境，仇敵雖從一條路來攻擊，卻要從七條路逃跑，我讚美你，因為我深信，你的恩典必定夠我使用。奉耶穌的名禱告，阿們！

Reflecting the work of our Lord Jesus Christ

Got up early morning, heading to Coney Island for volunteering cleaning up the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy. 

A verse is keeping on lingering on my mind: Jesus had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless. He worked so hard even had no time to eat. This is how Jesus do this work, because he has compassion, because He is there to fulfill father's will. 

Oh my Lord Jesus, give us your compassion, may your will be done through our lives. 

耶穌走遍各城各鄉，在會堂裏教訓人，宣講天國的福音，又醫治各樣的病症。  他看見許多的人，就憐憫他們；因為他們困苦流離，如同羊沒有牧人一般。 (馬太福音 9:35, 36)

耶穌進了一個屋子，眾人又聚集，甚至他連飯也顧不得吃。  耶穌的親屬聽見，就出來要拉住他，因為他們說他癲狂了。  當下，耶穌的母親和弟兄來，站在外邊，打發人去叫他。  有許多人在耶穌周圍坐著，他們就告訴他說：「看哪，你母親和你弟兄在外邊找你。」  耶穌回答說：「誰是我的母親？誰是我的弟兄？」  就四面觀看那周圍坐著的人，說：「看哪，我的母親，我的弟兄。  凡遵行上帝旨意的人就是我的弟兄姊妹和母親了。」 (馬可福音 3:20, 21, 31-35)

你想，這三個人哪一個是落在強盜手中的鄰舍呢？」  他說：「是憐憫他的。」耶穌說：「你去照樣行吧。」 (路加福音 10:36, 37)

Reflecting on Hurricane Sandy

1. Our lives are so good so that at times we are forgetting it is all grace from God. Should be thankful for everything.
2. Earthly property is also a given from God. We should not be obsessed by it.  Everything can be lost in a second. Should look more on the things with eternal values.
3. Saw the goodness and ugliness of human beings during the crisis. People volunteer helping each other while people fight for gas. Reflecting the precious salvation from Christ to our sinners
4. More and more natural disasters these days. When we are in childhood we have nothing so nothing to lose. Now our generation and our next generations have everything but natural disaster might make us lose everything. Days are few and we need to repent, repent for the world and peach gospel.
5. cherish life more and the time with family and friends, more contributions to the society.

我要向山舉目；我的幫助從何而來？

我的幫助從造天地的耶和華而來。 (詩篇 121:1, 2 CUNP)