"如果不是耶和華 . . .” If God Hadn't . . ."

詩篇 Psalm 124 （大卫上行之诗。）以色列人要说，若不是耶和华帮助我们， 2 若不是耶和华帮助我们，当人起来攻击我们， 3 向我们发怒的时候，就把我们活活地吞了。 4 那时，波涛必漫过我们，河水必淹没我们。 5 狂傲的水必淹没我们。 6 耶和华是应当称颂的。他没有把我们当野食交给他们吞吃（原文作牙齿）。 7 我们好像雀鸟，从捕鸟人的网罗里逃脱。网罗破裂，我们逃脱了。 8 我们得帮助，是在乎倚靠造天地之耶和华的名。 A song of ascents. Of David. If the LORD had not been on our side-- let Israel say-- 2 if the LORD had not been on our side when men attacked us, 3 when their anger flared against us, they would have swallowed us alive; 4 the flood would have engulfed us, the torrent would have swept over us, 5 the raging waters would have swept us away. 6 Praise be to the LORD, who has not let us be torn by their teeth. 7 We have escaped like a bird out of the fowler's snare; the snare has been broken, and we have escaped. 8 Our help is in the name of the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth.

詩篇 Psalm 124 （大卫上行之诗。）以色列人要说，若不是耶和华帮助我们， 2 若不是耶和华帮助我们，当人起来攻击我们， 3 向我们发怒的时候，就把我们活活地吞了。 4 那时，波涛必漫过我们，河水必淹没我们。 5 狂傲的水必淹没我们。 6 耶和华是应当称颂的。他没有把我们当野食交给他们吞吃（原文作牙齿）。 7 我们好像雀鸟，从捕鸟人的网罗里逃脱。网罗破裂，我们逃脱了。 8 我们得帮助，是在乎倚靠造天地之耶和华的名。 A song of ascents. Of David. If the LORD had not been on our side-- let Israel say-- 2 if the LORD had not been on our side when men attacked us, 3 when their anger flared against us, they would have swallowed us alive; 4 the flood would have engulfed us, the torrent would have swept over us, 5 the raging waters would have swept us away. 6 Praise be to the LORD, who has not let us be torn by their teeth. 7 We have escaped like a bird out of the fowler's snare; the snare has been broken, and we have escaped. 8 Our help is in the name of the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth.

上帝的同在化苦难爲祝福，若不是上帝幫助，事情的演变将更不堪設想 - God’s Presence makes the best of bad situations. Without God, it could have been far worse

耶和华说，我的意念，非同你们的意念，我的道路，非同你们的道路。 9 天怎样高过地，照样我的道路，高过你们的道路，我的意念，高过你们的意念。 10 雨雪从天而降，并不返回，却滋润地土，使地上发芽结实，使撒种的有种，使要吃的有粮。 11 我口所出的话，也必如此，决不徒然返回，却要成就我所喜悦的，在我发他去成就的事上（发他去成就或作所命定）必然亨通。 12 你们必欢欢喜喜而出来，平平安安蒙引导。大山小山必在你们面前发声歌唱。田野的树木也都拍掌。 13 松树长出代替荆棘。番石榴长出代替蒺藜。这要为耶和华留名，作为永远的证据，不能剪除。 “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the LORD. 9 “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts. 10 As the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return to it without watering the earth and making it bud and flourish, so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater, 11 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. 12 You will go out in joy and be led forth in peace; the mountains and hills will burst into song before you, and all the trees of the field will clap their hands. 13 Instead of the thornbush will grow the pine tree, and instead of briers the myrtle will grow. This will be for the LORD‘s renown, for an everlasting sign, which will not be destroyed.“ -以賽亞書 – Isaiah 55:8-13

上帝的同在化苦难爲祝福，若不是上帝幫助，事情的演变将更不堪設想 - God’s Presence makes the best of bad situations. Without God, it could have been far worse 上帝始終不渝的同在是確实的 - God’s abiding Presence is affirmed

詩篇 Psalm 124 （大卫上行之诗。）以色列人要说，若不是耶和华帮助我们， 2 若不是耶和华帮助我们，当人起来攻击我们， 3 向我们发怒的时候，就把我们活活地吞了。 4 那时，波涛必漫过我们，河水必淹没我们。 5 狂傲的水必淹没我们。 6 耶和华是应当称颂的。他没有把我们当野食交给他们吞吃（原文作牙齿）。 7 我们好像雀鸟，从捕鸟人的网罗里逃脱。网罗破裂，我们逃脱了。 8 我们得帮助，是在乎倚靠造天地之耶和华的名。 A song of ascents. Of David. If the LORD had not been on our side-- let Israel say-- 2 if the LORD had not been on our side when men attacked us, 3 when their anger flared against us, they would have swallowed us alive; 4 the flood would have engulfed us, the torrent would have swept over us, 5 the raging waters would have swept us away. 6 Praise be to the LORD, who has not let us be torn by their teeth. 7 We have escaped like a bird out of the fowler's snare; the snare has been broken, and we have escaped. 8 Our help is in the name of the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth.

沙灘上的腳印 - Footprints in the Sand 有一個晚上，一個人作了一個夢。 他夢見他和上帝在沙灘上散步。天空中閃過他人生的每一幕場景。 每一個場景，他都看到了沙灘有兩對腳印：一對是他自己的，一對是上帝的。 當人生的最後一幕在他的面前閃過時，他回首沙灘上的腳印。他注意到，在他人生的旅程中，好幾次沙灘上只有一對。 他同時注意到，這總是發生在他生命處於最低潮，最悲傷痛苦的時候。這件事讓他十分困擾，於是他問上帝： 「主啊，祢說一旦我決定追隨祢，祢將永遠與我同行。但我注意到在我人生中最困難的時候，沙灘上只有一對腳印。」 「我不明白為甚麼在我最需要祢的時候，祢卻離我而去。」 上帝回答說： 「我的兒子，我親愛的孩子，我愛你，絕對不會離開你。在你人生遭受試煉與苦難的時候，也就是你所看到的只有一對腳印的那些時候，其實正是我將你抱著你走的時候。」

「聖帕提克的護胸鏡」(St. Patrick's Breastplate) 今日基督保護我 抵擋毒害、焚燒、 水淹、傷害， 使我獲得無盡的報償。 基督與我同在，基督在我之前，基督在我之後， 基督在我裏面，基督在我之下，基督在我之上， 基督在我右邊，基督在我左邊。 我躺臥，我坐下，我起來，基督皆與我同在； 基督在每一個想念我的人之心裏， 基督在每一個談論我的人之口裏， 基督在每一雙看我的眼睛裏， 基督在每一對聽我的耳朵裏。 Christ shield me today . . .

詩篇 Psalm 124 （大卫上行之诗。）以色列人要说，若不是耶和华帮助我们， 2 若不是耶和华帮助我们，当人起来攻击我们， 3 向我们发怒的时候，就把我们活活地吞了。 4 那时，波涛必漫过我们，河水必淹没我们。 5 狂傲的水必淹没我们。 6 耶和华是应当称颂的。他没有把我们当野食交给他们吞吃（原文作牙齿）。 7 我们好像雀鸟，从捕鸟人的网罗里逃脱。网罗破裂，我们逃脱了。 8 我们得帮助，是在乎倚靠造天地之耶和华的名。 A Song of Ascents, of David. "Had it not been the LORD who was on our side," Let Israel now say, 2 "Had it not been the LORD who was on our side, When men rose up against us; 3 Then they would have swallowed us alive, When their anger was kindled against us; 4 Then the waters would have engulfed us, The stream would have swept over our soul; 5 Then the raging waters would have swept over our soul." 6 Blessed be the LORD, Who has not given us to be torn by their teeth. 7 Our soul has escaped as a bird out of the snare of the trapper; The snare is broken and we have escaped. 8 Our help is in the name of the LORD, Who made heaven and earth. (New American Standard)

上帝的同在化苦难爲祝福，若不是上帝幫助，事情的演变将更不堪設想 - God’s Presence makes the best of bad situations. Without God, it could have been far worse 上帝始終不渝的同在是確实的 - God’s abiding Presence is affirmed 上帝的目標不是提供舒適，而是鍛練品格。屬灵品格能使人靠著上帝克服万难 - God’s goal is to build character, not comfort. People of character can overcome any affliction with God’s help.

我知道怎样处卑贱，也知道怎样处丰富，或饱足，或饥饿，或有余，或缺乏，随事随在，我都得了秘诀。 13 我靠着那加给我力量的，凡事都能作。 I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. 13 I can do everything through him who gives me strength. -腓立比書 Philippians 4:12-13

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.“ -但以理書 Daniel 3:16-18

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

见证

上帝的同在化苦难爲祝福，若不是上帝幫助，事情的演变将更不堪設想 - God’s Presence makes the best of bad situations. Without God, it could have been far worse 上帝始終不渝的同在是確实的 - God’s abiding Presence is affirmed 上帝的目標不是提供舒適，而是鍛練品格。屬灵品格能使人靠著上帝克服万难 - God’s goal is to build character, not comfort. People of character can overcome any affliction with God’s help.