9/1慕安德烈每日靈修 God's Best Secrets by Andrew Murray

禱告的操練

經文: 「應當一無掛慮，只要凡事藉著禱告、祈求，和感謝，將你們所要的告訴上帝。」（腓立比書四：6）「只等真理的聖靈來了，祂要引導你們明白一切的真理。」（約翰福音十六：13）

如何禱告？我所能給你有關如何禱告的最好建議，莫過於了解人的本相——原本完美的狀態，後來犯罪墮落，幸有榮耀救恩的預備。常常思想這些事實，將使你不滿目前的光景，檢討己身自私自利的惡念，深願恢復到起初與上帝毫無隔闔的關係；因為惟有藉著禱告，才能有機會讓聖靈光照，看到自己的本相是何等的敗壞、軟弱，並渴望做完全人像上帝那樣。當你禱告時，停下來思想你的心要什麼？對心說話，將一切浮現於腦海的念頭向上帝陳明。         面對苦難、考驗、惡習邪念、靈性乾枯，惟一的克服之道，就是放下自己的掙扎努力，什麼也不做，只單單地依靠上帝，讓祂親自做工來釋放自己。緊緊地抓住這真理，然後順其自然，將所面臨的試探，及內心的不順服，都交託在上帝手中，上帝自然會做奇妙的工作，幫助我們渡過難關和戰勝老我。若我們沒有全心仰望上帝，沒有體會到自己的一無所能，仍抱著一絲希望，以為自己能做些什麼，那麼我們所得到的結果僅僅只有慘敗以及又再向老我屈服。         我們必須承認，我們的禱告實在太少了！我們有這樣寶貴禱告的權柄，可以藉著禱告與上帝溝通親近，但卻常覺得味同嚼蠟，視它為畏途，或視它為例行公事，致終帶不出什麼能力來的。所以，我們首先要學習放下自己，這是第一步，然後真心地求告上帝，把一切希望寄託在上帝身上，這是真實禱告的兩樣要素。讓我們把注意力從自己的需要、人的代求，轉移到上帝的愛和祂的榮耀，那麼禱告將成為一件喜樂的事情，而非一件苦差事；它能帶出我們所需的能力，而非一種有口無心的禱詞；我們所遭遇的苦難，也將成為化妝的祝福，因為這些磨難逼使我們等候上帝。

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THE PRACTICE OF PRAYER

Scripture: "Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God."--Philippians 4:6 "Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth:"--John 16:13

"The best instruction I can give you as helpful or preparatory to the Spirit of Prayer, is already fully given where we have set forth the original perfection, the miserable fall and the glorious redemption of man. It is the true knowledge of these great things which can do all for you which human instruction can do. These things must fill you with a dislike of your present estate, drive all earthly desires out of your soul, and create an honest longing after your first perfection. For prayer can only be taught you by awakening in you a true sense and knowledge of what you are, and what you should be, and filling you with a con¬tinual longing desire of the heart after God, His life and Holy Spirit. When you begin to pray, ask your heart what it wants, and have nothing in your prayer but what the state of your heart puts you upon demanding, saying, or offering to God.         "The one and only infallible way to go safely through all the difficulties, trials, dryness or opposition of our evil tempers is this: to expect nothing from ourselves, but in everything expect and depend upon God for relief. Keep fast hold of this thread, and then let your way be what it will, temptation or the rebellion of nature, you will be led through all to a union with God. For nothing hurts us in any state but an expectation of something in it and from it, which we should only expect from God. And thus it will be till the whole turn of our minds is so changed, that we as fully see and know our inability to have any goodness of our own, as to have a life of our own. When we are happily brought to this conviction,-the whole spirit of our mind becomes a true faith and hope and trust in the sole operation of God's Spirit, looking no more to any other power to be formed in Christ new creatures, than we look to any other power for the resurrection of our bodies at the last day."         What a universal confession there is that we pray too little. How strange that our highest privilege, holding fellowship with God in prayer, is to so many a burden and a ailure, and to so many more a matter of form without the power. Let us learn the lesson that to expect nothing from ourselves is the first step. And then truly with the heart to expect everything from God. These two thoughts lie at the root of all true prayer. Instead of our thoughts being centred on man, on ourselves and our needs, let them become centred on God in His glory and His love, and prayer will become a joy and a power, and our trials will become our greatest blessing, because they compel us to wait upon God.

8/31 慕安德烈每日靈修 God's Best Secrets by Andrew Murray

真實信仰

經文: 「他又用印印了我們，並賜聖靈在我們心裡作憑據。」（哥林多後書一：22）

很重要的一點，就是首先要界定信仰真正的本質是什麼？因為這包含了教化功能，以及完全生命的內涵；它能夠滋養茁壯內在的新生命，這是信仰首要的功用，也是它最終的目的。換句話說，由父、子、聖靈所供應的新生命，將散發無比的能力，驅逐一切的罪惡；當然這必須配合我們對真神的敬拜，且願意謙卑降服於三一真神的帶領，以及順服聖靈隨時隨地的引導。         信仰是一種內在屬靈的生命，仔細尋思內在的心靈活動，何謂「治死老自己」，何謂讓「耶穌的生」在你身上發動？不要尋求肉身的安逸舒適，倒要常常思想屬天的聖潔；若你常注意內心爭戰的變化，你就越明白救贖的真意，因為救恩的本質就是治死人的脾氣，棄絕肉身血氣的老我，讓上帝進入你的生命裡，讓聖靈動工在你的心中，讓耶穌成了你生命中的亮光；祂榮耀的同在將滿溢你魂，你也浸沐在祂的愛中，用心靈與誠實在敬拜祂。         聖經的總結，就是告訴世人，一切宗教的儀式，無非教導人捨棄更多俗物並放下自我，讓聖靈更多動工在你心中，讓耶穌的形像成形在你身上；就如同童女馬利亞由聖靈感孕，耶穌的生命就在她體內孕育成長，我們內在屬靈的新生命也當如此成長。         我們有多少時候思想在我們生活中的份量？進而思想真正的信仰代表什麼含義？它應該是上帝自己成為我們靈魂中的亮光！若我們牢記這真理，就會經歷到每時刻對上主的仰賴，以及聖靈向我們吹氣的實際，並激起我們對上帝渴慕的心，這樣的意願使我們能不斷敬拜上帝，向耶穌禱告，並靠著聖靈行事。

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TRUE RELIGION

Scripture: "Who hath also sealed us, and given the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts."--2 Corinthians 1:22

"Here you should once for all mark where and what the true nature of religion is; its work and effect is within; its glory, its life, its perfection, is all within. It is merely and solely the raising a new life, new love and a new birth in the inward spirit of our heart. This was the spiritual nature of religion in its first beginning, and this alone is its whole nature to the end of time. It is nothing else but the power and life and Spirit of God, as Father, Son and Holy Spirit, working, creating and reviving life in the fallen soul, and driving all its evil out of it. Religion is no true Divine service, no proper worshipping of God, has no good in it, can remove no evil out of man, raise no Divine life in him, but so far as it serves, worships, conforms, and gives itself up to this operation of the Holy Triune God, as living and dwelling in the soul.         "Keep close to this idea of religion as an inward spiritual life in the soul; observe all its works within you, the death and life that are found there; seek for no good, no comfort, but in the inward awakening of all that is holy and heavenly in your heart; and then so much as you have of this inward religion, so much you have of a real salvation. For salvation is nothing but a victory over nature; so far as you resist and renounce your own vain, selfish and earthly nature, so far as you overcome all your own natural tempers of the old man, so far God enters into you, lives and operates in you, He is in you the Light, the Life, and the Spirit of your soul; and you are in Him that new creature that worships Him in spirit and in truth.         "All Scripture brings us to the conclusion that our religious services are only so many ways of giving up ourselves more and more to the inward working, quickening, sanctifying Spirit of God in us; and all for this end, that a true, real, Christ-like nature be formed in us, by the same Spirit by which it was formed in the holy Virgin Mary."         How much there is of religion in which man has his own thoughts of what it should be. Oh, let us seek to study what God counts true religion. Nothing less than this,- that He Himself, by His Spirit, should live and work in us as the Light and the Life of our souls. As we take these thoughts of God into our hearts, we shall see that a continual depending upon Him, a continual receiving of His Holy Spirit breathing His life into us, and a continual breathing of our heart and its longing after Him, is the life of Christ in us. It is this will enable us continually to worship, to pray, and to work in His holy presence.

Adobe illustrator 影像作品／陳思年

你 們 那 一 個 能 用 思 慮 、 使 壽 數 多 加 一 刻 呢 。 〔 或 作 使 身 量 多 加 一 肘 呢 〕何 必 為 衣 裳 憂 慮 呢 ． 你 想 野 地 裡 的 百 合 花 、 怎 麼 長 起 來 、 他 也 不 勞 苦 、 也 不 紡 線 ．然 而 我 告 訴 你 們 、 就 是 所 羅 門 極 榮 華 的 時 候 、 他 所 穿 戴 的 、 還 不 如 這 花 一 朵 呢 。
你 們 這 小 信 的 人 哪 、 野 地 裡 的 草 、 今 天 還 在 、 明 天 就 丟 在 爐 裡 、 神 還 給 他 這 樣 的 妝 飾 、 何 況 你 們 呢 。所 以 不 要 憂 慮 、 說 、 喫 甚 麼 、 喝 甚 麼 、 穿 甚 麼 。這 都 是 外 邦 人 所 求 的 ． 你 們 需 用 的 這 一 切 東 西 、 你 們 的 天 父 是 知 道 的 。你 們 要 先 求 他 的 國 、 和 他 的 義 這 些 東 西 都 要 加 給 你 們 了 。(馬 太 福 音6:27-33)

8/30 慕安德烈每日靈修 God's Best Secrets by Andrew Murray

倒空自我的新生命

經文: 「豈不知你們的身子就是聖靈的殿嗎？這聖靈是從上帝而來，住在你們裡頭的。」（哥林多前書六：19）

當福音真光照到人心，他會覺得自己心土很硬，無法接受真理；或者理性太強，無法相信真理。人性天然的肉體會產生抗拒，不願意降服或死掉，以致天人交戰，成為一種精神上的掙扎與折磨。         人除非被逼到一個地步，知道在人裡面毫無良善可言，而且毫無行善的能力，才會悔改轉向上帝並離棄罪惡。只有在自己走投無路時，對自己完全絕望時，人才會想到倚靠上帝，也就會因著真心尋求上帝，信心與希望才會產生。是的，人若不棄絕自己到一個地步，對自己完全絕望，就無法擁有新生命所帶來的信心與希望。 一個人無論他如何差勁，必須覺得上帝的愛摸得到他，他才能得救。上帝創造人，就是為祂自己設立一個居所，讓祂的聖靈能有駐留的地方。面對那些作惡多端，或是自暴自棄的人，愛是惟一的妙方；藉著重重愛網，網住他的心，讓他不得不感受到上帝的愛是何等偉大，叫人難以抗拒。         「上帝是什麼？祂的名字叫愛，祂是全然美善，樂意賜人平安喜樂及無限的福份。基督是什麼？祂是整個大自然以及受罪惡污染人類的救星；祂有無限的憐憫與恩慈，源源不絕地供應軟弱人一切的需要。」         讓我們用愛網重重網住人的心，讓他們志願做愛的俘擄；所有宗教的宗旨都是愛，若沒有愛，一切都是空談，都是鏡花水月沒有生命。愛是人類靈魂之光，這道理是顛撲不破的。         愛就是上帝的化身，是復活的生命，是極度的謙卑，是無限的忍耐與恩慈。讓我們誠心相信「上帝就是愛」的真理，並且渴望每個人都認識這個愛的源頭；如同陽光普照大地，甘霖滋潤萬物，若我們願意花時間等候在上帝面前，給上帝機會做工，上帝自然會將那說不出來的恩典與喜樂，滿足我們的心，飽足我們的愛，我們也甘心樂意地倒空自己，將自己完全獻給愛我們的上帝。

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OF THE DESPAIR OF SELF

Scripture: "What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?"--1 Corinthians 6:19

"When the truth touches a man's heart, he feels that he can not overcome the hardness of his heart and his pride by the force of his reason. Nature becomes a torment and a burden to itself before it can willingly give up to that death through which alone it can pass into life. There is no true and real conversion from the life of sin and death, till a man comes to know and feel that nothing less than his whole nature is to be parted with, and yet finds in himself no possibility of doing it. This is the despair by which we lose all our own life, to find a new one in God. For here it is that faith and hope, and true seek¬ing to God and Christ are born. But till all is despair in ourselves, faith and hope and turning to God in prayer are only things practised by rule and method; they are not born in us, are not living qualities of a new birth, till we have done feeling any trust or confidence in ourselves.         "A man must feel that he is still within the reach of Divine Love; God created him for Himself to be a habitation of His own life and Holy Spirit. In dealing with such souls, love must be our bait; it will put its hook into the heart, and force men to know, that of all strong things nothing is so strong, so irresistible, as Divine Love.         "Ask what God is; His Name is Love; He is the Good, the Perfection of Peace, the Joy, the Glory and the Blessing of every life. Ask what Christ is. He is the universal Remedy of all evil broken forth ia nature and creatures. He is the unwearied Compassion, the long-suffering Pity, the never-ceasing Mercifulness of God to every want and infirmity of human nature.         "Let us surround and encompass men with these frames of love until they become a willing victim to their power. All religion is the Spirit of Love, all its gifts and graces are love; it has no breath, no life, but the life of love. Love is heaven revealed in the soul; it is light and truth, it is infallible. Love is the Christ of God; it is the resurrection and life of every Divine virtue, a fruitful mother of true humility, boundless benevolence, unwearied patience, and bowels of compassion."         Let us seek above everything to believe that God is love, and as such, longs intensely to fill every heart with its blessedness. As the sun shines upon the earth with the one great object of shedding on it its light and its life, do let us believe that the great God of love is shining upon us every moment of the day. If we will but give Him time and patient waiting, that love will enter our hearts with all its gifts and graces and its unspeakable blessedness. That will make us willing to part utterly with self, and to yield ourselves a continual sacrifice to the God who loves us.

Adobe illustrator 影像作品／陳思年

神阿, 你的慈愛, 何其寶貴. 世上投靠在你翅膀的蔭下. (詩篇 36:7 )
How excellent is thy lovingkindness, O God! therefore the children of men put their trust under the shadow of thy wings.

Adobe illustrator 影像作品／陳思年

雖然無花果樹不發旺、葡萄樹不結果、橄欖樹也不效力、田地不出糧食、圈中絕了羊、棚內也沒有牛．然而我要因耶和華歡欣、因救我的　神喜樂。主耶和華是我的力量．他使我的腳快如母鹿的蹄、又使我穩行在高處。這歌交與伶長、用絲弦的樂器。(Habakkuk哈巴谷書 3:17-19)
Though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines, though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food, though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will be joyful in God my Savior. The Sovereign LORD is my strength; he makes my feet like the feet of a deer, he enables me to go on the heights. For the director of music. On my stringed instruments.

8/29/2011 所羅門的苦難（十五）── 在主手中、人不知道

經文:
傳九~十
鑰節:
我將這一切事放在心上，詳細考究，就知道義人和智慧人，並他們的作為，都在　上帝手中。或是愛、或是恨，都在他們的前面，人不能知道。（傳九1）
參考經文:
詩一一九32；太廿五10；西三23
提要
        世上最有智慧的人所羅門，論到義人與智慧人，他說：「我將這一切事放在心上，詳細考究，就知道義人和智慧人，並他們的作為，都在上帝手中。或是愛、或是恨，都在他們的前面，人不能知道。」（傳九1）指明一切都在上帝手中，祂掌管未來，無人知曉明天將如何；然而，死亡卻是世人共同的結局：「活著的人，知道必死，死了的人，毫無所知，也不再得賞賜，他們的名無人記念。他們的愛，他們的恨，他們的嫉妒，早都消滅了；在日光之下所行的一切事上，他們永不再有分了。你只管去歡歡喜喜喫你的飯，心中快樂喝你的酒，因為上帝已經悅納你的作為。……凡你手所當作的事，要盡力去作，因為在你所必去的陰間，沒有工作，沒有謀算，沒有知識，也沒有智慧。」（傳九5~7，10）雖然世人的遭遇有其共通性，終點相同；但對信徒而言，終點之後的審判，卻是不同的，信徒在世的日子有主可倚靠，來世有永生的盼望；聖經又說：「我們若能忍耐，也必和祂一同作王。」（提後二12）。
        傳道書作者感嘆說：「我又轉念，見日光之下，快跑的未必能贏；力戰的未必得勝，智慧的未必得糧食；明哲的未必得貲財，靈巧的未必得喜悅。所臨到眾人的，是在乎當時的機會。原來人也不知道自己的定期，魚被惡網圈住、鳥被網羅捉住，禍患忽然臨到的時候，世人陷在其中，也是如此。」（傳九11~12）但屬上帝的人，不是憑眼見，而是憑信心，因此，信靠上帝、站在祂的應許上，順服、謙卑、尊主為大，行在祂旨意中，不論禍福或苦樂，一心為討上帝喜悅而活。
默想
1.從屬世的角度看世人的遭遇，「死亡」是最終的結局。所羅門也說不論好壞、不管善惡，結局都是一死。但從屬靈的層面探討，卻是不然。「按著定命，人人都有一死，死後且有審判。」（來九27）「信主」與「不信主」的，在永恆裡的結局兩者有天壤之別；今生接受福音蒙主代贖的人，在永世裡是有福的。
2.「挖陷坑的，自己必掉在其中；拆牆垣的，必為蛇所咬。」（傳十8）講述那些害人終必害己的律，其實當尋求從主而來的智慧和屬天的生命，使我們能超越得勝屬世的枷鎖，用主的愛活出主的生命來。
苦難的金言
1.人類的心，也像老應一般。如果沒有永久的磐石，就永遠得不到安息。我們的老家乃是天家。「主阿，祢世世代代作我們的居所。」──Macduff
2.保羅和西拉受了鞭打，被下在監裡，兩腳上了木狗。他們四面的出路都關住了，只剩下一條信心的道路。他們靠上帝。在最黑暗的光景裡還禱告、唱詩、讚美上帝，上帝就向他們施行拯救。──C. H. P.
苦難的經文
1.我將這一切事放在心上，詳細考究，就知道義人和智慧人，並他們的作為，都在上帝手中；或是愛、或是恨，都在他們的前面，人不能知道。（傳九1）
2.你只管去歡歡喜喜喫你的飯，心中快樂喝你的酒，因為上帝已經悅納你的作為。（傳九7）
3.智慧勝過打仗的兵器，但一個罪人，能敗壞許多善事。（傳九18）
苦難中的禱告

        親愛的主阿，有時我們落在苦難深淵中，心裡充塞愁雲慘霧，苦難的洪濤也一波波襲擊過來。求祢使我不害怕、不喪膽，靠著祢的恩言得安慰，得鼓勵。祢是我們隨時的幫助與依靠。我們作祢兒女的，祢賜下這特權，可以向祢求取我們一切所需的。無論我們有何困難，麻煩，都要向祢傾吐，祢必垂聽且幫助、扶持我們。奉主耶穌基督聖名，阿們！

                                                                                     鉛筆素描插畫:休息是為了走更長遠的路

發表於美國世界日報小說版材質:鉛筆、紙39x27cm                                                                    這些鉛筆插畫也收錄在我的YouTube頻道內的鉛筆素描插畫作品欣賞影片中，謝謝親愛朋友們的欣賞!願上帝祝福你們平安喜樂!
http://www.youtube.com/user/artistsnc?feature=mhum#p/u/4/_32o6cbnOOM
http://www.youtube.com/user/artistsnc?feature=mhum#p/u/119/hNVtn2AU5mw

8/28 司布真每日靈修(夜) Evening by Evening

八月二十八日

經文: 你這不懷孕不生養的，要歌唱。（以賽亞書五十四：1）

我們能為基督結出一些果子，並能存著歡喜的盼望，因為我們是「耶和華所栽的，叫祂得榮耀」（賽六十一：3）。然而，有時候我們會感到十分貧乏。我們的禱告是無生氣的，我們的愛是冷淡的、我們的信心是軟弱的，在我們心園中的各種恩典都凋萎憔悴了。我們如同艷陽下的花朵，渴望一場清新的陣兩。本經文向我們說的正是如此光景。「你這不懷孕不生養的要歌唱……要發聲歌唱，揚聲歡呼。」可是，我能唱甚麼呢？我無法談現在，甚至過去也顯得空虛。我能唱耶穌基督。我能誇祂從天降下，為祂百姓的救贖所付出的大愛。我要再到十字架前。這同一的十字架曾經賜我生命，也能使我結實纍纍。我的貧瘠是祂創造果實能力的平台。我的荒蕪是鑲嵌祂藍寶石般永遠之愛的框子。我帶著貧窮前去、帶著無助前去、帶著所有羞恥和背道前去。我仍然是祂的孩子。我對祂存著信心，我雖然不育，仍要歌唱，仍要揚聲。歌唱吧，信徒，因為歌唱能使你自己的心歡樂，也使其他荒蕪的心歡樂。歌唱吧，不久你就能結出果子！不育的經驗是痛苦的，但是主的造訪是喜樂的。當我們感到一無所有時，就會驅使我們到基督的面前，並且在祂裏面，我們找到了自己的果子。

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Evening, August 28

Scripture: “Sing, O barren.”(Isaiah 54:1)

Though we have brought forth some fruit unto Christ, and have a joyful hope that we are “plants of his own right hand planting,” yet there are times when we feel very barren. Prayer is lifeless, love is cold, faith is weak, each grace in the garden of our heart languishes and droops. We are like flowers in the hot sun, requiring the refreshing shower. In such a condition what are we to do? The text is addressed to us in just such a state. “Sing, O barren, break forth and cry aloud.” But what can I sing about? I cannot talk about the present, and even the past looks full of barrenness. Ah! I can sing of Jesus Christ. I can talk of visits which the Redeemer has aforetimes paid to me; or if not of these, I can magnify the great love wherewith he loved his people when he came from the heights of heaven for their redemption. I will go to the cross again. Come, my soul, heavy laden thou wast once, and thou didst lose thy burden there. Go to Calvary again. Perhaps that very cross which gave thee life may give thee fruitfulness. What is my barrenness? It is the platform for his fruit-creating power. What is my desolation? It is the black setting for the sapphire of his everlasting love. I will go in poverty, I will go in helplessness, I will go in all my shame and backsliding, I will tell him that I am still his child, and in confidence in his faithful heart, even I, the barren one, will sing and cry aloud.         Sing, believer, for it will cheer thine own heart, and the hearts of other desolate ones. Sing on, for now that thou art really ashamed of being barren, thou wilt be fruitful soon; now that God makes thee loath to be without fruit he will soon cover thee with clusters. The experience of our barrenness is painful, but the Lord's visitations are delightful. A sense of our own poverty drives us to Christ, and that is where we need to be, for in him is our fruit found.

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8/28/2011 所羅門的苦難（十四）── 敬畏之人、終必得福

經文:
傳七~八
鑰節:
罪人雖然作惡百次，倒享長久的年日；然而我準知道，敬畏上帝的，就是在祂面前敬畏的人，終久必得福樂。（傳八12）
參考經文:
伯廿一~廿四；詩七十三；約五28~29
提要
        關於義人和惡人的結局，傳道書提出的見解，是超越俗世道德倫常的範疇，值得我們思考：「有義人行義，反致滅亡；有惡人行惡，倒享長壽；這都是我在虛度之日中所見過的。不要行義過分，也不要過於自逞智慧，何必自取敗亡呢？不要行惡過分，也不要為人愚昧，何必不到期而死呢？你持守這個為美，那個也不要鬆手，因為敬畏上帝的人，必從這兩樣出來。」（傳七15~18）他認為行義與危難、滅亡，沒有必然的關連，苦難也不必然與行義有因果關係。惟有敬畏上帝的人，才能在謙卑領受上帝所賜的生命，體悟上帝原創時的美好。「我所找到的，只有一件，就是上帝造人原是正直。……」（傳七29）
        他又慨歎說：「我見惡人埋葬，歸入墳墓；又見行正直事的，離開聖地，在城中被人忘記；這也是虛空。因為斷定罪名，不立刻施刑，所以世人滿心作惡。罪人雖然作惡百次，倒享長久的年日；然而我準知道，敬畏上帝的，就是在祂面前敬畏的人，終久必得福樂。惡人卻不得福樂，也不得長久的年日；這年日好像影兒，因他不敬畏上帝。……我就稱讚快樂，原來人在日光之下，莫強如喫喝快樂；因為他在日光之下，上帝賜他一生的年日，要從勞碌中，時常享受所得的。……我就看明上帝一切的作為，知道人查不出日光之下所作的事。任憑他費多少力尋查，都查不出來，就是智慧人雖想知道，也是查不出來。」（傳八10~13，15，17）對於現實的無奈，所羅門以成熟的信心宣告，公義的審判雖然在短暫的塵世中未顯明，但終久必然來到。他不喪膽，因為他靈魂的錨已拋牢。哦，信徒阿！雖然世事難料，但上帝掌管萬有，耶穌基督是一切問題的解答。放心倚靠祂。
默想
1.所羅門在所作的書卷中，一再強調「敬畏上帝」的重要性，這是他親身的經歷和得著。也是信徒與主相交、蒙主賜福的根基，敬畏不只是態度和心志，更是出於愛與降服的生命。
2.「我準知道，敬畏上帝的，就是在祂面前敬畏的人，終久必得福樂。」（傳八12）這發自成熟信心的宣告，向我們保證：屬上帝的人，最終必蒙恩福、得拯救。
苦難的金言
1.小鳥常會因受監禁唱出更悅耳的歌來，蓋恩夫人心中的音樂也遠盪出了牢獄牆外，驅散了人們不少的愁苦與傷心。──S. C. Rees
2.惟有基督是智慧，是我們最大的需要。我們的煩惱，只有基督的友誼和愛情能安慰我們。──Margaret Bottome
苦難的經文
1.你持守這個為美，那個也不要鬆手，因為敬畏上帝的人，必從這兩樣出來。（傳七18）
2.因為智慧護庇人，好像銀錢護庇人一樣。惟獨智慧能保全智慧人的生命，這就是知識的益處。（傳七12）
3.你要察看上帝的作為，因上帝使為曲的，誰能變為直呢？（傳七13）
苦難中的禱告
        親愛的主阿，祢是施行拯救，大有能力的主，祢正默默愛著我們。祢必要照祢的話語，成就祢的旨意。讓我們奉祢的名爭戰，我們深信靠著祢必得勝一切患難。奉主耶穌基督聖名，阿們！

壓克力繪畫創作-凡事興盛／陳思年Szu-Nien

                                                                  壓克力繪畫創作-凡事興盛／陳思年Szu-Nien

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cJYd97PLLFw

親愛的兄弟阿、我願你凡事興盛、身體健壯、正如你的靈魂興盛一樣。 (約翰參書 1:2)

Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth..(3 John 1:2)

鉛筆素描插畫:舞

                                                                                                             發表於美國世界日報小說版

                                                 材質:鉛筆、紙39x27cm

8/27 慕安德烈每日靈修 God's Best Secrets by Andrew Murray

持續的自我否定

經文: 「不要叫上帝的聖靈擔憂；你們原是受了祂的印記，等候得贖的日子來到。」（以弗所書四：30）「你們要思念上面的事，不要思念地上的事。因為你們已經死了，你們的生命與基督一同藏在上帝裡面。」（歌羅西書三：2～3）

「從前所交託你的善道，你要靠著那住在我們裡面的聖靈牢牢地守著。」（提摩太後書一：14）         如同亞當在伊甸園選擇「背棄」屬天的生命那樣，一個得蒙救贖的人，理當選擇「釘死老自己」，向「敗壞的天性」說「不」，這才是一條通往屬天生命的十字架道路。我們終其一生都當不斷向自己死，每時每刻選擇向上帝而活，也就是說凡事勿依賴自己的能力，只單單地仰望上帝。         你是否很興奮地想到，自己已經發現這些真理，就像你找到地上的珍寶了；但別忘了，若你不變賣你的所有去買它，這珍寶還不能屬你所有。「老我」是你所擁有的，而這「老我」裡面毫無良善可言；因此這「老我」必須完全被棄絕、釘死，屬天的生命這珍寶才能成為你的。「老我」是與上帝為敵，被它所接觸碰到的都會遭敗壞破損；因為老我是滋養罪惡的溫床，若將內在的老我治死，外在的仇敵也將被制服。         所有真實的宗教，都有共通的真理基礎，即克服敗壞老亞當的肉體生命，也就是完全的治死老我；上帝的兒子呼召我們，走十字架的道路，向世界死，向上帝活。當我們用意志選擇棄絕自己，將自己交託給上帝時，我們就可不再以自我為中心，並遠離驕傲、嫉妒、與仇恨了。         若把這些真理，只當作頭腦認知的教義，或外表假裝聖潔的樣子，卻沒有完全向老我死，那麼追求成聖的理想，不過是個空中樓閣；想向上帝活，卻又不願釘死老自己，如此是絕對無法走十字架的道路；就像一粒麥子，若不埋在土裡死了，就絕對不可能結出子粒來。 要過一個聖潔虔敬的生活，向老我「完全死透」是根本之道，因為「死」在我身上發動時，「生」才能同時在身上發動。若我們不肯帶著憂傷痛悔的心，不肯破碎老我，就無法成聖，因為沒有拆毀，那有建造！         我們的羔羊耶穌若沒有死在十字架上，上帝就沒有機會將祂從死裡復活、高舉祂升天，坐在父上帝的右邊。藉著祂的受死、復活，就為世人開了一條又新又活的路，讓我們可以坦然無懼地來到祂施恩寶座前；因此，我們也當與耶穌同死同復活，經歷老我釘十架的道路，如此才能嚐到上帝同在的滋味。要體會上帝同在的喜樂，與聖靈在我們心中運行的能力；惟一的秘訣，就是不斷宣告，我每時每刻向己死，並且向上帝而活。總之，破碎自己，讓上帝建造這個我，是成聖的不二法門。

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CONTINUAL SELF-DENIAL

Scripture: "And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption."--Ephesians 4:30 "Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God."--Colossians 3:2-3

" A Spiritual look is a call to as real and total a death to the life of corrupt nature as that which Adam died in Paradise was to the life of heaven. To the end of four lives every inch of our road is to be made up of denial and dying to ourselves. To think of anything but the continual total denial of our earthly nature is to overlook the very thing on which all depends. "You rejoice in thinking that now in knowing these truths you have found the Pearl of great price. But notice, it is not yours till you sell all that you have and buy it. Now self is all that you have; you have no good of your own, nothing is yours but this self; and all this self is to be parted with before the pearl is yours. That is, die to all thy possession of self; all of it is to be given up; it is an apostate nature, a continual departure from God; it corrupts everything that it touches. All evil tempers are born and nourished in self. Die to this self, to this inward nature, then all outward enemies are overcome.         "The true ground of all true religion is: it means nothing but to overcome that earthly life which overcame Adam in the Fall. Therefore you must know that the one thing needed is to die to all the life that we have from this world. The Son of God calls us to die to this life and take up His cross. When the human soul turns from itself, and turns to God, dies to itself and lives to God in the Spirit and tempers of the holy Jesus, then only it is delivered from covetousness and sensuality, from a worldly spirit, from all self-interest and self-exaltation, from all hatred and envy.         "To think of anything in religion, or to pretend to real holi¬ness, without totally dying to this old man, is building castles in the air. To think of being alive in God, before we are dead to our own nature, is as impossible as for a grain of wheat to be alive before it dies.         "The total dying to self is the only foundation of a solid piety. Thus alone does the spiritual life begin at the true root, grows out of death, and is born in a broken heart, a heart broken off from all its own natural life."         Our blessed Lord Jesus could not be raised from the dead into the glory of the Father's right hand until He had died on the Cross. This is the new and living way which He opened up through the rent veil of the flesh into the Holiest of All. And it is in this new and living way with our flesh also cruci¬fied and given over to the death, that we can enter into the life and the joy of God's presence here upon earth. The continual denial of self is one of the secrets of the continual enjoyment of God's presence and power working in our hearts.

8/26/2011 所羅門的苦難（十二）── 永生安置、世人心裡

經文:
傳三~四
鑰節:
上帝造萬物，各按其時成為美好，又將永生安置在世人心裡；然而上帝從始至終的作為，人不能參透。（傳三11）
參考經文:
羅十二1~2
提要
        研讀傳道書，對於所羅門王的一生，令人不勝唏噓，書中「虛空」一詞使用了33次，難免令人感到其思想之消極灰色，但仔細體會作者在話語之間、無奈之中，仍適時流露渴望屬天的啟示，而那有如暗夜的晨星、流沙中的黃金之寶貴。惟願這些雋語成為我們在苦難中的扶持：「凡事都有定期，天下萬務都有定時。生有時、死有時。栽種有時、拔出所栽種的，也有時。殺戮有時、醫治有時。拆毀有時、建造有時。哭有時、笑有時。哀慟有時、跳舞有時。拋擲石頭有時、堆聚石頭有時。懷抱有時、不懷抱有時。尋找有時、失落有時。保守有時、捨棄有時。撕裂有時、縫補有時。靜默有時、言語有時。喜愛有時、恨惡有時。爭戰有時、和好有時。」（箴三1~8）不錯，信徒當明白上帝掌管一切，在祂永恆的計劃中，包含了我們生命中的所有，若能獻上當作活祭（羅十二1~2），天天活在祂的旨意中，那是最美好不過的了。
        「我見上帝叫世人勞苦，使他們在其中受經練。上帝造萬物，各按其時成為美好，又將永生安置在世人心裡。然而上帝從始至終的作為，人不能參透。我知道世人，莫強如終身喜樂行善。並且人人喫喝，在他一切勞碌中享福，這也是上帝的恩賜。我知道上帝一切所作的，都必永存，無所增添，無所減少；上帝這樣行，是要人在祂面前存敬畏的心。現今的事早先就有了，將來的事早已也有了，並且上帝使已過的事重新再來。」（傳三10~15）論及上帝的作為這段經文指出：（一）世人的勞苦是為使人受經練，生命得以成長。（二）安置永生在人心裡，使信靠祂的人能與永恆連結。（三）上帝的作為奇妙永存，人不能參透。（四）要人在祂面前存敬畏的心。最終的目的，就是榮耀祂、以祂為樂。世人惟有尋得這條路，才能脫離虛空，得著真正的滿足。
默想
1.「我見上帝叫世人勞苦，使他們在其中受經練。」（傳三10）可見勞苦有其正面的意義和效果，信徒在苦難中受經煉，使生命得以純淨進深，更多經歷主的能力和恩典。
2.「上帝造萬物，各按其時成為美好，又將永生安置在世人心裡。」（傳三11） 永遠的生命是由上帝所賜，為了使信祂的人，能享受祂的豐富和滿足；一旦離了主，世人就永遠失去安息。
苦難的金言
1.在受試煉的時候，我們的信心最大。一切不能忍受試驗的，都不過是肉體的信心。順境中的信心不是信心。──C. H. Spurgeon
2.上帝不要我們像玻璃或者瓷器的花瓶一樣脆弱。祂要我們像堅韌的鋼一般，無論怎樣受絞受壓，都不會破碎。──J. H. McC
苦難的經文
1.我見上帝叫世人勞苦，使他們在其中受經練。（傳三10）
2.上帝造萬物，各按其時成為美好，又將永生安置在世人心裡，然而上帝從始至終的作為，人不能參透。（傳三11）
3.我知道上帝一切所作的，都必永存，無所增添，無所減少。上帝這樣行，是要人在祂面前存敬畏的心。（傳三14）
苦難中的禱告
        親愛的主阿，我們要永遠歌頌祢，因為祢的恩典不斷向我們湧流，每天都有新的驚喜與新的帶領。惟願天國的兒女，都因創造的主而歡欣，一生要以感恩為祭獻給祢。奉主耶穌基督聖名，阿們！

8/25 慕安德烈每日靈修 God's Best Secrets by Andrew Murray

上帝的美善

經文: 「上帝藉著聖靈向我們顯明了，因為聖靈參透萬事，就是上帝深奧的事也參透了。」（哥林多前書二：10）

上帝為什麼要創造？因為這位美善的上帝，一心就是渴望有個愛與溝通的對象，要把祂的美善傳送出去；所以祂對萬物沒有別的心意，就是要他們接受祂的美善，這就是祂起初創造宇宙萬物的動機。正如同燃燒的太陽，無怨無悔地將光熱傳送給大地一樣，上帝也是衷心誠意地，要將屬天的福份與美善，賞賜給祂的百姓。這位聖潔、三位一體的真神，絕不偏待人，只要你大大張口，祂就要將極其豐盛的榮耀，大大地滿足你。         這位樂意施恩的上帝，是永不枯竭愛的源頭，祂的愛長闊高深、無可測度，祂不斷將其美善向萬物湧流，不求任何回報；只巴望人把心歸向祂，並結出美善的果子，榮耀祂的名。這種神聖的愛是何等深刻滂薄、感人肺腑。任何有思想感性的人，若嚐過主恩美善的滋味，莫不思想如何回報這位偉大的愛！         基督教的信仰是如此奇妙，讓我們發現到我們的存在，與造物主是何等息息相關，我們是多麼仰賴這個神聖的大愛而活。幾乎救贖過程的每一部份，都敘述著上帝無限的愛，從亞當犯罪，到耶穌死而復活，都一一敘述主愛的奧秘，就是那起初造天地和人類的愛。福音所有的奧秘都是主愛的證據，為要彰顯上帝的心意——除掉人類萬物的罪惡，讓神聖的愛得勝。         想像瑞士山頂的冬陽是何等溫暖人心！但很可惜，有多少上帝的兒女，懂得等候在祂的面前，讓祂的慈顏榮光照亮穿透我們的內心？有多少基督徒明白除非我們肯花足夠的時間，等候在上帝面前，我們就無法讓主的榮光照進我們的心坎，也無法讓祂的大愛充滿我們的心田。         「天父啊！求祢教導我們如何禱告，叫我們若不讓祢的愛充滿我們心田，就不得安息。奉主耶穌聖名，阿們！」

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THE GOODNESS OF GOD

Scripture: "But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God."--1 Corinthians 2:10

"The goodness of God breaking forth into a desire to communicate good, was the cause and the beginning of the Creation. Hence it follows that to all eternity God can have no thought or intent towards the creature but to communicate good, because He made the creature for this sole end, to receive good. He must always will that to it which He willed at the creation of it. As the sun hath but one nature, and can give forth nothing but the blessings of life, so the holy triune God has but one nature and intent towards all the creation, which is to pour forth the riches and sweetness of the Divine perfection upon everything that is capable of them, and according to its capacity to receive them.         "This is the amiable nature of God; He is the Good, the unchangeable overflowing fountain of good, that sends forth nothing but good to all eternity. He is Love itself, the unmixed immeasurable Love, doing nothing but from love, giving nothing but gifts of love to everything that He has made; requiring nothing of all His creatures but the spirits and fruits of that Love which brought them into being. Oh, how sweet is this contemplation of the heighth and depth of the riches of Divine Love! With what attractions must it draw every thoughtful man to return Love for Love to this overflowing fountain of boundless goodness! What charms has that religion which discovers to us our existence in relation to, and dependence upon, this ocean of Divine Love! View every part of our redemption, from Adam's first sin, to the resurrection of the dead, and you will find nothing but successive mysteries of that first love which created angels and men. All the mysteries of the Gospel are only so many marks and proofs of God's desiring to make His love triumph in the removal of sin and disorder from all nature and creatures."         "With what joy an invalid on a winter's day yields himself to bask in the bright sunshine. What journeys are under¬taken to the heights in Switzerland where the sun gives its warmth best. And, alas! how little God's children understand that this is just the one thing they need, to wait before God in quiet till His light shines upon them, and into them, and through them. How little it is understood that unless we take time, time enough with God for His light to shine into the depths of our hearts, it is in vain for us to expect that His immeasurable love can enter our hearts and fill our lives. Oh, our Father, teach us, we pray Thee, to believe in Thy love, and not to rest until our hearts are filled with it!

水彩繪畫創作:玫瑰綻放／陳思年Szu-Nien Chen

                                                                水彩插畫:玫瑰綻放
水彩、紙
曠野和乾旱之地必然歡喜；沙漠也必快樂；又像玫瑰開花，必開花繁盛，樂上加樂，而且歡呼。利巴嫩的榮耀，並迦密與沙崙的華美，必賜給他。人必看見耶和華的榮耀，我們神的華­美。(以賽亞書 35: 1-2)

8/24 English 司布真每日靈修(日) Morning by Morning

八月二十四日

經文: 「他們在王在前面行，耶和華引導他們。」（彌迦書二：13）

耶穌道成肉身，降世為人，有如開路先鋒，嚐遍人間辛酸，歷盡人生滄桑，所以祂能體恤我們的軟弱，也能做我們過得勝生活的榜樣。若祂沒有走這一遭，我們的情況就迥然不同。         弟兄姐妹們，莫灰心喪膽，定晴注視耶穌走這天涯路。看哪，耶穌已經一路率先打敗仇敵，克服障礙，我們還怕什麼呢？怕罪惡嗎？耶穌已經將它釘在十架上；怕死亡嗎？耶穌已經得勝死亡；怕地獄嗎？耶穌已經在天堂與地獄間，劃一道鴻溝，信主的人掉不下去，無論擺在信徒面前的，是怎樣的危險與困難，耶穌都已經剷平，靠著救主，我們得勝有餘。         仇敵有如吼叫的獅子，遍地遊行，尋找可吞吃的人，但它們的利爪已被除掉；撒旦有如陰險的虺蛇，隨時伺機攻擊信徒，但它們的毒牙已被拔掉。那原要傷害我們的銳劍，已經生銹變鈍，那原要炸毀我門的導彈，已經失靈轉向。上帝是我們堅固城，有祂全能的保護，我們還害怕什麼？         讓我們快樂地奔跑天路吧！奮勇地打這場聖戰吧！因為萬軍之耶和華是我們的元帥，仇敵已經被打敗，被踩在腳下。我們何需膽怯懦弱？只管剛強壯膽，繼續走前面的路。

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Morning, August 24

Scripture: “The breaker is come up before them.”(Micah 2:13)

Inasmuch as Jesus has gone before us, things remain not as they would have been had he never passed that way. He has conquered every foe that obstructed the way. Cheer up now thou faint-hearted warrior. Not only has Christ travelled the road, but he has slain thine enemies. Dost thou dread sin? He has nailed it to his cross. Dost thou fear death? He has been the death of Death. Art thou afraid of hell? He has barred it against the advent of any of his children; they shall never see the gulf of perdition. Whatever foes may be before the Christian, they are all overcome. There are lions, but their teeth are broken; there are serpents, but their fangs are extracted; there are rivers, but they are bridged or fordable; there are flames, but we wear that matchless garment which renders us invulnerable to fire. The sword that has been forged against us is already blunted; the instruments of war which the enemy is preparing have already lost their point. God has taken away in the person of Christ all the power that anything can have to hurt us. Well then, the army may safely march on, and you may go joyously along your journey, for all your enemies are conquered beforehand. What shall you do but march on to take the prey? They are beaten, they are vanquished; all you have to do is to divide the spoil. You shall, it is true, often engage in combat; but your fight shall be with a vanquished foe. His head is broken; he may attempt to injure you, but his strength shall not be sufficient for his malicious design. Your victory shall be easy, and your treasure shall be beyond all count.          “Proclaim aloud the Saviour's fame,         Who bears the Breaker's wond'rous name;         Sweet name; and it becomes him well,         Who breaks down earth, sin, death, and hell.”

8/24 English 荒漠甘泉 Streams in the Desert

生在黑暗裡

經文: 「我樣樣都有，並且有餘。」（腓四18）

在我一本園藝書籍裡面，有一篇叫做「生在黑暗裡的花」。內中講到有一種小花，是從來不需要日光的。我的先生告訴我說，這種小花不但不怕黑暗，並且在黑暗裡反倒生長得快。         靈界裡也有同樣的小花，當物質環境最黑暗的時候，他們就出來了。他們是生在黑暗裡的。         使徒保羅寫這封腓立比書信的時候，正在羅馬作俘虜。那時候，他一生的事業似乎將要結束了。正是在這樣受圍困的黑暗裡，花兒開放得特別可愛。也許保羅以前已經看見過這些花兒，但是它們卻從來沒有像今天這樣濃郁美麗的。上帝的話替他揭開了一個他以前沒有看見過的寶藏。         在這個寶藏裡面有幾樣奇異的東西：基督恩典、基督的愛、基督的喜樂和平安；這些東西似乎需要黑暗去開發他們的神秘和榮耀一般。經歷了黑暗以後，保羅開始發現他以前所沒有發現的屬靈產業的廣大和豐富了。－－喬懷德（Dr. Jowett）         每一朵花，就是最美麗的，在日光下也都有它的黑影的。         光越大，影越黑。

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Grow in the Gloom

Scripture: "I have all, and abound" (Phil. 4:18).

In one of my garden books there is a chapter with a very interesting heading, "Flowers that Grow in the Gloom." It deals with those patches in a garden which never catch the sunlight. And my guide tells me the sort of flowers which are not afraid of these dingy corners--may rather like them and flourish in them.         And there are similar things in the world of the spirit. They come out when material circumstances become stern and severe. They grow in the gloom. How can we otherwise explain some of the experiences of the Apostle Paul?         Here he is in captivity at Rome. The supreme mission of his life appears to be broken. But it is just in this besetting dinginess that flowers begin to show their faces in bright and fascinating glory. He may have seen them before, growing in the open road, but never as they now appeared in incomparable strength and beauty. Words of promise opened out their treasures as he had never seen them before.         Among those treasures were such wonderful things as the grace of Christ, the love of Christ, the joy and peace of Christ; and it seemed as though they needed an "encircling gloom" to draw out their secret and their inner glory. At any rate the realm of gloom became the home of revelation, and Paul began to realize as never before the range and wealth of his spiritual inheritance.         Who has not known men and women who, when they arrive at seasons of gloom and solitude, put on strength and hopefulness like a robe? You may imprison such folk where you please; but you shut up their treasure with them. You cannot shut it out. You may make their material lot a desert, but "the wilderness and the solitary place shall be glad, and the desert shall rejoice and blossom as the rose."--Dr. Jowett         "Every flower, even the fairest, has its shadow beneath it as it swings in the sunlight."         Where there is much light there is much shade.

水彩繪畫創作:野地百合by陳思年Szu-Nien Chen

                                                                 你想百合花怎麼長起來；他也不勞苦，也不紡線。然而我告訴你們，就是所羅門極榮華的時候，他所穿戴的，還不如這花一朵呢！你們這小信的人哪，野地裡的草今天還在，明天就丟­在爐裡，神還給他這樣的妝飾，何況你們呢！你們不要求吃什麼，喝什麼，也不要掛心； 這都是外邦人所求的。你們必須用這些東西，你們的父是知道的。 你們只要求他的國，這些東西就必加給你們了。(Luke 路加福音12:27-31)

水彩繪畫創作:睡蓮by陳思年Szu-Nien Chen

                                                                 所 以 弟 兄 們 、 我 以 　 神 的 慈 悲 勸 你 們 、 將 身 體 獻 上 、 當 作 活 祭 、 是 聖 潔 的 、 是 　 神 所 喜 悅 的 ． 你 們 如 此 事 奉 、 乃 是 理 所 當 然 的 。 不 要 效 法 這 個 世 界 ． 只 要 心 意 更 新 而 變 化 、 叫 你 們 察 驗 何 為 　 神 的 善 良 、 純 全 可 喜 悅 的 旨 意 。(羅 馬 書 Romans12:1-2)

水彩繪畫創作:向日葵花by陳思年Szu-Nien Chen Music by Richard Clayderman愛的喜悅

                                                                 水彩繪畫創作:向日葵花
水彩、水彩紙
你 心 若 向 飢 餓 的 人 發 憐 憫 ， 使 困 苦 的 人 得 滿 足 ， 你 的 光 就 必 在 黑 暗 中 發 現 ； 你 的 幽 暗 必 變 如 正 午 。 (以 賽 亞 書 58:10)
Music by Richard Clayderman愛的喜悅

Painting by Szu-Nien Chen

Video Clip by Szu-Nien Chen

水彩繪畫創作:谷中百合by陳思年Szu-Nien Chen Music by Richard Clayderman愛的紀念

耶稣，求指引我生命道路

8/24 English 司布真每日靈修(日) Morning by Morning

八月二十四日

經文: 「他們在王在前面行，耶和華引導他們。」（彌迦書二：13）

耶穌道成肉身，降世為人，有如開路先鋒，嚐遍人間辛酸，歷盡人生滄桑，所以祂能體恤我們的軟弱，也能做我們過得勝生活的榜樣。若祂沒有走這一遭，我們的情況就迥然不同。         弟兄姐妹們，莫灰心喪膽，定晴注視耶穌走這天涯路。看哪，耶穌已經一路率先打敗仇敵，克服障礙，我們還怕什麼呢？怕罪惡嗎？耶穌已經將它釘在十架上；怕死亡嗎？耶穌已經得勝死亡；怕地獄嗎？耶穌已經在天堂與地獄間，劃一道鴻溝，信主的人掉不下去，無論擺在信徒面前的，是怎樣的危險與困難，耶穌都已經剷平，靠著救主，我們得勝有餘。         仇敵有如吼叫的獅子，遍地遊行，尋找可吞吃的人，但它們的利爪已被除掉；撒旦有如陰險的虺蛇，隨時伺機攻擊信徒，但它們的毒牙已被拔掉。那原要傷害我們的銳劍，已經生銹變鈍，那原要炸毀我門的導彈，已經失靈轉向。上帝是我們堅固城，有祂全能的保護，我們還害怕什麼？         讓我們快樂地奔跑天路吧！奮勇地打這場聖戰吧！因為萬軍之耶和華是我們的元帥，仇敵已經被打敗，被踩在腳下。我們何需膽怯懦弱？只管剛強壯膽，繼續走前面的路。

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Morning, August 24

Scripture: “The breaker is come up before them.”(Micah 2:13)

Inasmuch as Jesus has gone before us, things remain not as they would have been had he never passed that way. He has conquered every foe that obstructed the way. Cheer up now thou faint-hearted warrior. Not only has Christ travelled the road, but he has slain thine enemies. Dost thou dread sin? He has nailed it to his cross. Dost thou fear death? He has been the death of Death. Art thou afraid of hell? He has barred it against the advent of any of his children; they shall never see the gulf of perdition. Whatever foes may be before the Christian, they are all overcome. There are lions, but their teeth are broken; there are serpents, but their fangs are extracted; there are rivers, but they are bridged or fordable; there are flames, but we wear that matchless garment which renders us invulnerable to fire. The sword that has been forged against us is already blunted; the instruments of war which the enemy is preparing have already lost their point. God has taken away in the person of Christ all the power that anything can have to hurt us. Well then, the army may safely march on, and you may go joyously along your journey, for all your enemies are conquered beforehand. What shall you do but march on to take the prey? They are beaten, they are vanquished; all you have to do is to divide the spoil. You shall, it is true, often engage in combat; but your fight shall be with a vanquished foe. His head is broken; he may attempt to injure you, but his strength shall not be sufficient for his malicious design. Your victory shall be easy, and your treasure shall be beyond all count.          “Proclaim aloud the Saviour's fame,         Who bears the Breaker's wond'rous name;         Sweet name; and it becomes him well,         Who breaks down earth, sin, death, and hell.”

8/24 慕安德烈每日靈修 God's Best Secrets by Andrew Murray

祈禱開天窗

經文: 「靠著聖靈，隨時多方禱告祈求；並要在此儆醒不倦，為眾聖徒祈求。」（以弗所書六：18）

人來到這世界走一趟不為別的，就是能有機會藉著祈禱，從空虛夢幻的人世，找著天上那永恆的歸宿，無論我們的日子是如何悲慘貧窮，我們都可以通向那快樂美好之路；我們心中有一把鑰匙，可以打開那要賞賜給我們的天上福份。         上帝的道，並非遠在天邊遙不可及，祂乃近在眼前，就在我們的心中；因為我們心眼瞎了，不知如何禱告，以致我們對天堂的事很陌生，也不認識上帝。要知道祈禱是惟一與上帝連接的管道，也是打開天上窗戶的鑰匙。         種子埋在好土裡，有充足的陽光水份，不見得每粒種子都會發芽長得好，但人的靈若經上帝的吹氣與澆灌，則必甦醒活絡起來。陽光不一定都照得到向它伸展的葉片，但若有人向這位眾光之父，眾善之源仰望，上帝必向他展笑顏。         我們都是上帝的後裔，這關係其實比我們與同伴之間的關係還親近；因為我們的生命氣息都在乎祂，就像我們的始祖亞當，因著上帝在他鼻孔吹一口氣，就成為有靈的活人。他有上帝的形像，倒不在於他的外觀形像，而是內在有上帝本質的形像，祂把祂的性情吹進人的裡面，原本在天堂的三位一體神，藉著人心裡的聖靈，就把天堂帶到各處，而信徒在地也彷若在天；換句話說，那裡有重生的新生命，那裡就有天堂樂園。         剛才我們講到有關陽光的比喻，是聖經深奧真理之一。太陽從不間斷地將光與熱傳送給大地，上帝也不止息地動工在那翹首等待祂的兒女心田中，除非我們自己不願意接受祂，或被世界引誘而主動離開祂，上帝的愛永遠與我們同在。弟兄們，願我們天天學習做如此的禱告：         「父啊！願祢的愛、祢的光照進我的心田，就如同陽光毫不吝惜地普照大地，人就享用了它的溫暖與光熱。奉主耶穌聖名，阿們！」

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PRAYER THE KEY TO THE TREASURES OF HEAVEN

Scripture: "Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;"--Ephesians 6:18

"Man has been sent into the world on no other errand but by prayer to rise out of the vanity of time into the riches of eternity. For poor and miserable as this life is, we have all of us free access to all that is great, and good, and happy, and carry within ourselves a key to all the treasures that Heaven has to bestow upon us. "God, the only good of all intelligent nature, is not an absent or distant God, but is more present in and to our souls than our bodies; and we are strangers to heaven and without God in the world, for this only reason, because we are void of that Spirit of prayer, which alone can, and never fails to unite us with the one only good, and to open heaven and the Kingdom of God within us. A root set in the finest soil, in the best climate, is not in so sure a way of its growth to perfection, as every man may be, whose spirit aspires after all that, which God is ready and infinitely de¬sirous to give him. For the sun meets not the springing bud that stretches towards him with half that certainty as God, the source of all good communicates Himself to the soul that longs to partake of Him.         "We are all of us by birth the offspring of God, more nearly related to Him than we are to one another. For in Him we live and move and have our being. The first man that was brought forth from God had the breath and spirit of Father, Son, and Holy Ghost breathed into him, and so he became a living soul. He was the image and likeness of God, not with any regard to his outward shape or form, for no shape has any likeness to God ; but he was in the image and likeness to God because the Holy Trinity had breathed their own nature and spirit into Him. And as the Deity, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, are always in heaven, and make heaven to be every-where, so this spirit breathed by Them into man brought heaven into man along with it. And so man was in heaven as well as on earth, that is, in Paradise which signifies a heavenly state, or birth of life."         The lesson that we find here in regard to the sun is one of the deepest truths of God's Word. As willing as the sun is unceasingly to shine forth its light and warmth on the waiting earth, is the living God waiting unceasingly to work in the heart of His child. Or, rather, He is ever actually working within us, except as we hold Him back and hinder Him by our unbelief for our surrender to the spirit of the world. Oh, that we could learn to say every day: As sure as the sun shines on this earth, my God is sending forth His light and His love into my heart for me to receive and to rejoice in.

8/24/2011 所羅門的苦難（十）── 不可輕看、主的管教

經文:
箴三11；十二1；十三18，24；十五5，32；廿七21
鑰節:
我兒，你不可輕看耶和華的管教〔或作懲治〕，也不可厭煩祂的責備。（箴三11）
參考經文:
箴十九18；廿二15；廿三13；廿九1，17，19
提要
        箴言書中一再強調管教的重要和必要，藉以說明為何上帝允許祂的兒女經受試驗、患難。為了使經練後的生命更完全、更聖潔，更合乎主用，行完祂所定的旨意。「我兒，你不可輕看耶和華的管教〔或作懲治〕，也不可厭煩祂的責備，因為耶和華所愛的，祂必責備，正如父親責備所喜愛的兒子。……喜愛管教的，就是喜愛知識；恨惡責備的，卻是畜類。……棄絕管教的，必致貧受辱；領受責備的，必得尊榮。……不忍用杖打兒子的，是恨惡他；疼愛兒子的，隨時管教。」（箴三11~12；十二1；十三18，24）當中強調信徒面對從主而來的管教，應有的態度：（一）不可輕看、（二）不可厭煩、（三）要謙卑領受。因為主的管教是出於愛。
        所羅門又說：「愚妄人藐視父親的管教；領受責備的，得著見識。……棄絕管教的，輕看自己的生命；聽從責備的，卻得智慧。敬畏耶和華，是智慧的訓誨；尊榮以前，必有謙卑。」（箴十五5，32~33）新約希伯來書的作者呼應箴言的教導：「你們所忍受的，是上帝管教你們，待你們如同待兒子；焉有兒子不被父親管教的呢？管教原是眾子所共受的，你們若不受管教，就是私子，不是兒子了。再者，我們曾有生身的父管教我們，我們尚且敬重他，何況萬靈的父，我們豈不更當順服祂得生麼？生身的父都是暫隨己意管教我們，惟有萬靈的父管教我們，是要我們得益處，使我們在祂的聖潔上有分。凡管教的事，當時不覺得快樂，反覺得愁苦：後來卻為那經練過的人，結出平安的果子，就是義。」（來十二7~11）由此可見，被主管教是有福的、是得益處的。
默想
1.管教對信徒而言，是必要的。其目的：（一）證明主愛我們；（二）證明我們是主的兒子；（三）能得智慧見識；（五）能得生命；（六）能結平安的果子。親愛的，若你正受主管教，就當謙卑領受，經練過後，生命得以蛻變。
2.大衛見證說：「我雖然行過死蔭的幽谷，也不怕遭害。因為祢與我同在，祢的杖、祢的竿、都安慰我。」（詩廿三4）不錯，管教當時可能愁苦，過後卻享安息甜蜜。
苦難的金言
1.承認試煉是從上帝來的一個挑戰，你應當抓住這個機會，向上帝索取更大的恩典。──A. B. Simpson
2.全能的恩主，和你同在，縱使有甚麼事情叫你流淚，也足能叫你悲傷的心喜樂了。──S. D. Grodon
苦難的經文
1.因為耶和華所愛的，祂必責備．正如父親責備所喜愛的兒子。（箴三12）
2.聽從生命責備的，必常在智慧人中。（箴十五31）
3.棄絕管教的，輕看自己的生命，聽從責備的，卻得智慧。（箴十五32）
苦難中的禱告

        親愛的主阿，我們安靜地等候祢，我們得幫助在乎祢，因為祢的眼睛窺探無倚無靠的人。祢是我們唯一的依靠，祢是等候施恩給我們的上帝。奉主耶穌基督聖名，阿們！