火窰中的感恩 A Crucible Thanksgiving

起初神创造天地。 In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. – Genesis 1:1

我今日呼天唤地向你作见证。我将生死祸福陈明在你面前，所以你要拣选生命，使你和你的后裔都得存活。 20 且爱耶和华你的神，听从他的话，专靠他。因为他是你的生命，你的日子长久也在乎他。这样，你就可以在耶和华向你列祖亚伯拉罕，以撒，雅各起誓应许所赐的地上居住。 This day I call heaven and earth as witnesses against you that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life, so that you and your children may live 20 and that you may love the LORD your God, listen to his voice, and hold fast to him. For the LORD is your life, and he will give you many years in the land he swore to give to your fathers, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. – Deuteronomy 30:19-20

我是葡萄树，你们是枝子。常在我里面的，我也常在他里面，这人就多结果子。因为离了我，你们就不能作什么。 6 人若不常在我里面，就像枝子丢在外面枯干，人拾起来，扔在火里烧了。 7 你们若常在我里面，我的话也常在你们里面，凡你们所愿意的，祈求就给你们成就。 8 你们多结果子，我父就因此得荣耀，你们也就是我的门徒了。 "I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. 6 If anyone does not remain in me, he is like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. 7 If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be given you. 8 This is to my Father's glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples. – John 15:5-8

他的妻子对他说，你仍然持守你的纯正吗？你弃掉神，死了吧。 10 约伯却对她说，你说话像愚顽的妇人一样。嗳，难道我们从神手里得福，不也受祸吗？在这一切的事上约伯并不以口犯罪。 His wife said to him, "Are you still holding on to your integrity? Curse God and die!" 10 He replied, "You are talking like a foolish woman. Shall we accept good from God, and not trouble?" In all this, Job did not sin in what he said. – Job 2:9-10

尼布甲尼撒王造了一个金像，高六十肘，宽六肘，立在巴比伦省杜拉平原。 2 尼布甲尼撒王差人将总督，钦差，巡抚，臬司，藩司，谋士，法官，和各省的官员都召了来，为尼布甲尼撒王所立的像行开光之礼。 3 于是总督，钦差，巡抚，臬司，藩司，谋士，法官，和各省的官员都聚集了来，要为尼布甲尼撒王所立的像行开光之礼，就站在尼布甲尼撒所立的像前。 4 那时传令的大声呼叫说，各方，各国，各族的人哪（族原文作舌下同），有令传与你们， 5 你们一听见角，笛，琵琶，琴，瑟，笙，和各样乐器的声音，就当俯伏敬拜尼布甲尼撒王所立的金像。 6 凡不俯伏敬拜的，必立时扔在烈火的窑中。 7 因此各方，各国，各族的人民一听见角，笛，琵琶，琴，瑟，和各样乐器的声音，就都俯伏敬拜尼布甲尼撒王所立的金像。 King Nebuchadnezzar made an image of gold, ninety feet high and nine feet wide, and set it up on the plain of Dura in the province of Babylon. 2 He then summoned the satraps, prefects, governors, advisers, treasurers, judges, magistrates and all the other provincial officials to come to the dedication of the image he had set up. 3 So the satraps, prefects, governors, advisers, treasurers, judges, magistrates and all the other provincial officials assembled for the dedication of the image that King Nebuchadnezzar had set up, and they stood before it. 4 Then the herald loudly proclaimed, "This is what you are commanded to do, O peoples, nations and men of every language: 5 As soon as you hear the sound of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp, pipes and all kinds of music, you must fall down and worship the image of gold that King Nebuchadnezzar has set up. 6 Whoever does not fall down and worship will immediately be thrown into a blazing furnace." 7 Therefore, as soon as they heard the sound of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp and all kinds of music, all the peoples, nations and men of every language fell down and worshiped the image of gold that King Nebuchadnezzar had set up. – Daniel 3:1-7

上帝的道路經常是與眾不同的 - Do we realize that God’s path is often different?

“Beauty is the confidence you have within yourself”

Maybe We Should Blame God for the Subprime Mortgage Mess By David Van Biema, October 3, 2008 Prosperity Gospel’s central promise: “God will make a way for you to enjoy the better things in life.” It’s God sole purpose to bless you and make you happy.

沙得拉，米煞，亚伯尼歌对王说，尼布甲尼撒阿，这件事我们不必回答你。 17 即便如此，我们所事奉的神能将我们从烈火的窑中救出来。王阿，他也必救我们脱离你的手。 18 即或不然，王阿，你当知道我们决不事奉你的神，也不敬拜你所立的金像。 Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego replied to the king, "O Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you in this matter. 17 If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to save us from it, and he will rescue us from your hand, O king. 18 But even if he does not, we want you to know, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up.“ – Daniel 3:16-18

上帝的道路經常是與眾不同的 - Do we realize that God’s path is often different? 你願意跟隨上帝的道路嗎? - Are we ready to accept God’s path?

我们晓得万事都互相效力，叫爱神的人得益处，就是按他旨意被召的人。 我们晓得万事都互相效力，叫爱神的人得益处，就是按他旨意被召的人。. . . 35 谁能使我们与基督的爱隔绝呢？难道是患难吗？是困苦吗？是逼迫吗？是饥饿吗？是赤身露体吗？是危险吗？是刀剑吗？ 36 如经上所记，我们为你的缘故，终日被杀。人看我们如将宰的羊 37 然而靠着爱我们的主，在这一切的事上，已经得胜有余了。 38 因为我深信无论是死，是生，是天使，是掌权的，是有能的，是现在的事，是将来的事， 39 是高处的，是低处的，是别的受造之物，都不能叫我们与神的爱隔绝。这爱是在我们的主基督耶稣里的。 And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. . . . 35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? 36 As it is written: "For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered." 37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38 For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, 39 neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. – Romans 8:28, 35-39

Blessing:信心被建立 - Our faith is built 上帝奇蹟式的醫治: 我們免受火窯的試煉 God performs a miracle (cure): We can be delivered from the fire.   Blessing:信心被建立 - Our faith is built    上帝使我們經歷試煉(如化學治療): 我們浴火得救 - God allows us to go through the trial (chemotherapy): We can be delivered through the fire    Blessing: 信心被精煉 - Our faith is refined    上帝容許試煉盡其所為:  我 們 通 過 火 窯進入天父的懷裡 - God allows us the trial (cancer) to complete its course: We can be delivered by the fire into His arms   Blessing: 信心被成全 - Our faith is perfected

不要为自己积攒财宝在地上，地上有虫子咬，能锈坏，也有贼挖窟窿来偷。 20 只要积攒财宝在天上，天上没有虫子咬，不能锈坏，也没有贼挖窟窿来偷。 21 因为你的财宝在哪里，你的心也在哪里。"Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. 20 But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. – Matthew 16:19-21 若有人用金，银，宝石，草木，禾楷，在这根基上建造。 13 各人的工程必然显露。因为那日子要将它表明出来，有火发现。这火要试验各人的工程怎样。 14 人在那根基上所建造的工程，若存得住，他就要得赏赐。 15 人的工程若被烧了，他就要受亏损。自己却要得救。虽然得救乃像从火里经过的一样。 16 岂不知你们是神的殿，神的灵住在你们里头吗？If any man builds on this foundation using gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay or straw, 13 his work will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each man's work. 14 If what he has built survives, he will receive his reward. 15 If it is burned up, he will suffer loss; he himself will be saved, but only as one escaping through the flames. 16 Don't you know that you yourselves are God's temple and that God's Spirit lives in you? 1 Corinthains 3:12-16

Blessing:信心被建立 - Our faith is built 上帝奇蹟式的醫治: 我們免受火窯的試煉 God performs a miracle (cure): We can be delivered from the fire.   Blessing:信心被建立 - Our faith is built    上帝使我們經歷試煉(如化學治療): 我們浴火得救 - God allows us to go through the trial (chemotherapy): We can be delivered through the fire    Blessing: 信心被精煉 - Our faith is refined    上帝容許試煉盡其所為:  我 們 通 過 火 窯進入天父的懷裡 - God allows us the trial (cancer) to complete its course: We can be delivered by the fire into His arms   Blessing: 信心被成全 - Our faith is perfected

当时，尼布甲尼撒怒气填胸，向沙得拉，米煞，亚伯尼歌变了脸色，吩咐人把窑烧热，比寻常更加七倍。 20 又吩咐他军中的几个壮士，将沙得拉，米煞，亚伯尼歌捆起来，扔在烈火的窑中。 21 这三人穿着裤子，内袍，外衣，和别的衣服，被捆起来扔在烈火的窑中。 22 因为王命紧急，窑又甚热，那抬沙得拉，米煞，亚伯尼歌的人都被火焰烧死。 23 沙得拉，米煞，亚伯尼歌这三个人都被捆着落在烈火的窑中。 24 那时，尼布甲尼撒王惊奇，急忙起来，对谋士说，我捆起来扔在火里的不是三个人吗？他们回答王说，王阿，是。 25 王说，看哪，我见有四个人，并没有捆绑，在火中游行，也没有受伤。那第四个的相貌好像神子。 26 于是，尼布甲尼撒就近烈火窑门，说，至高神的仆人沙得拉，米煞，亚伯尼歌出来，上这里来吧。沙得拉，米煞，亚伯尼歌就从火中出来了。 27 那些总督，钦差，巡抚，和王的谋士一同聚集看这三个人，见火无力伤他们的身体，头发也没有烧焦，衣裳也没有变色，并没有火燎的气味。 28 尼布甲尼撒说，沙得拉，米煞，亚伯尼歌的神是应当称颂的。他差遣使者救护倚靠他的仆人，他们不遵王命，舍去己身，在他们神以外不肯事奉敬拜别神。 29 现在我降旨，无论何方，何国，何族的人，谤？？沙得拉，米煞，亚伯尼歌之神的，必被凌迟，他的房屋必成粪堆，因为没有别神能这样施行拯救。 30 那时王在巴比伦省，高升了沙得拉，米煞，亚伯尼歌。 Then Nebuchadnezzar was furious with Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, and his attitude toward them changed. He ordered the furnace heated seven times hotter than usual 20 and commanded some of the strongest soldiers in his army to tie up Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego and throw them into the blazing furnace. 21 So these men, wearing their robes, trousers, turbans and other clothes, were bound and thrown into the blazing furnace. 22 The king's command was so urgent and the furnace so hot that the flames of the fire killed the soldiers who took up Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, 23 and these three men, firmly tied, fell into the blazing furnace. 24 Then King Nebuchadnezzar leaped to his feet in amazement and asked his advisers, "Weren't there three men that we tied up and threw into the fire?" They replied, "Certainly, O king." 25 He said, "Look! I see four men walking around in the fire, unbound and unharmed, and the fourth looks like a son of the gods." 26 Nebuchadnezzar then approached the opening of the blazing furnace and shouted, "Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, servants of the Most High God, come out! Come here!" So Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego came out of the fire, 27 and the satraps, prefects, governors and royal advisers crowded around them. They saw that the fire had not harmed their bodies, nor was a hair of their heads singed; their robes were not scorched, and there was no smell of fire on them. 28 Then Nebuchadnezzar said, "Praise be to the God of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, who has sent his angel and rescued his servants! They trusted in him and defied the king's command and were willing to give up their lives rather than serve or worship any god except their own God. 29 Therefore I decree that the people of any nation or language who say anything against the God of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego be cut into pieces and their houses be turned into piles of rubble, for no other god can save in this way." 30 Then the king promoted Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego in the province of Babylon. – Daniel 3:19-30

上帝的道路經常是與眾不同的 - Do we realize that God’s path is often different? 你願意跟隨上帝的道路嗎? - Are we ready to accept God’s path? 你的生命中有空處給上帝顯出祂的 同在和大能的作為嗎? - Is our life open to God’s Presence and Power?

那時尼布甲尼撒王驚奇、急忙起來、對謀士說、我捆起來扔在火裡的不是三個人麼．他們回答王說、王阿、是． 25 王說、看哪、我見有四個人、並沒有捆綁、在火中遊行、也沒有受傷、那第四個的相貌、好像神子。 26 於是尼布甲尼撒就近烈火門、說、至高　神的僕人沙得拉、米煞、亞伯尼歌出來、上這裡來罷．沙得拉、米煞、亞伯尼歌、就從火中出來了。 27 那些總督、欽差、巡撫、和王的謀士、一同聚集看這三個人、見火無力傷他們的身體、頭髮也沒有燒焦、衣裳也沒有變色、並沒有火燎的氣味。 28 尼布甲尼撒說、沙得拉、米煞、亞伯尼歌的　神、是應當稱頌的、他差遣使者救護倚靠他的僕人、他們不遵王命、捨去己身、在他們　神以外不肯事奉敬拜別神． 29 現在我降旨、無論何方何國何族的人、謗讟沙得拉、米煞、亞伯尼歌之　神的、必被凌遲、他的房屋必成糞堆、因為沒有別神能這樣施行拯救。 Then King Nebuchadnezzar leaped to his feet in amazement and asked his advisers, "Weren't there three men that we tied up and threw into the fire?" They replied, "Certainly, O king." 25 He said, "Look! I see four men walking around in the fire, unbound and unharmed, and the fourth looks like a son of the gods." 26 Nebuchadnezzar then approached the opening of the blazing furnace and shouted, "Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, servants of the Most High God, come out! Come here!" So Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego came out of the fire, 27 and the satraps, prefects, governors and royal advisers crowded around them. They saw that the fire had not harmed their bodies, nor was a hair of their heads singed; their robes were not scorched, and there was no smell of fire on them. 28 Then Nebuchadnezzar said, "Praise be to the God of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, who has sent his angel and rescued his servants! They trusted in him and defied the king's command and were willing to give up their lives rather than serve or worship any god except their own God. 29 Therefore I decree that the people of any nation or language who say anything against the God of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego be cut into pieces and their houses be turned into piles of rubble, for no other god can save in this way.“ – Daniel 3:24-29

我的弟兄们，你们落在百般试炼中，都要以为大喜乐。 3 因为知道你们的信心经过试验就生忍耐。 4 但忍耐也当成功，使你们成全完备，毫无缺欠。 Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, 3 because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. 4 Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. – James 1:2-4

上帝的道路經常是與眾不同的 - Do we realize that God’s path is often different? 你願意跟隨上帝的道路嗎? - Are we ready to accept God’s path? 你的生命中有空處給上帝顯出祂的 同在和大能的作為嗎? - Is our life open to God’s Presence and Power?