2019年11月25日

鄧麗姊妹


基督徒是蒙恩的罪人,信主以後有時還是會犯罪,但是與非信徒不同的是,當被提醒的時候就要立刻轉回改正,i.e. 持續攻克老我持續作新造的人。罪在人身上表現在2個方面: 1. 做了不該做的,i.e. 做錯事  2. 應該做的卻沒有做 或做得不夠/不好 e.g. 沒有達到標準,指聖經里的標準。

今天圍繞不達標準這個題目,來分享我這個最平常的人在最平常生活中的一個點 一個滴。

生老病死,人之常情。但是人希望自己生,而且不要老 (或極慢地老),不得病(或只有小病),哪天在自己不知不覺的情況下突然死去。大多數人在年齡不到的時候不會真正理解自己老的情形,在沒有真正病的時候也不會理解自己真的生病不會好。一個人如何對待自己 (或所愛的人)的健康是人生觀一個非常好的反映, 特別是生了不能治好的病 (包括身體和心理兩個層面的) 就好像過五關斬六將,e.g. 病到什麼程度去看醫生,確診之後如何對待,如何對待醫生給的治療方案,吃不吃藥,吃什麼葯,吃多少葯,聽不聽醫生的話, 聽多少, 總之相信/疑惑什麼,怕/不怕什麼,等等。基督徒相信生命是掌管在神手中的,我們每個人如何從出生到離開這個世界的整個過程都在神的手中。幸虧是掌管在祂那裡,為此我大大地感謝神!

十多年前我被醫生判定為三高 -- 高血壓,脂,糖(不是高薪,幹部,知識分子)。那時我大大的掙扎了一番,如很多自認為是相當健康的人一樣。醫生說 這是幾乎不能完全治癒的病,it’s conditional. 最佳情況是保持現狀,或有點進步,但是只要條件不對,就會一路下坡,而且天天服藥。我當然聽說過糖尿病綜合症的可怕後果。所以這雖不是死刑,但絕對是死緩!我疑惑,不承認,不想了解,不能理解,不願意聽從醫生,不好好吃藥, 不作手指驗血,還找出無數理由證明 我是對的,因為我最知道自己,都是用自己能想出來的,或道聽途說的觀點來抵抗。當然一切都無濟於事,血糖就是持高不下。我禱告了嗎?有,但是沒有聽到我想聽的回應,就認為神沒有回答我。

神能不能把病從我身上拿去?我相信祂能!我沒有失去對神的大能的信心。但是祂沒有這樣做。

過了相當長一段時間,我把自己煩夠了,只好安靜下來,才開始慢慢體會到了我的三高給我帶來屬靈上的意義。

在醫生拚命地催逼下,我開始認真做生活起居筆記,每頓飯吃什麼,睡眠,血壓,運動數據,空腹和進食后血糖,等等,以此找出我生活的規律 讓我自己重新學習我以後應該怎樣過日子。不用醫生說,很快我就學到了,只要吃了不該吃的,休息不夠,工作壓力大,頭痛,頭暈,沒力氣,早上睜不開眼睛,出差,休長假,血糖就飆。我終於懂了這意味着什麼,就是從此我必須終止以前那種隨心所欲的生活方式,不能隨心所欲的過日子。我每天的生活必須要改變!

這聽起來像什麼?很像是 -- 天天攻克己身,對付老我,就是那個只管自己痛快,不顧念神的心意的老我。要持續不斷地脫下舊人,變成新人!比如,嘴饞的時候,玩高興不睡覺的時候,不管理自己情緒的時候,那都是老我在掌控我的時候。經常做手指驗血就好比經常讀經禱告,它讓我清清楚楚的知道標準在哪裡,我是不是達標準。因為每個驗血結果都有記錄。記得當時有時候自欺欺人,故意不按時驗血,因為知道自己不達標準,跟自己說,等乖一點的時候再驗吧。很像是 -- 逃避被光照。從身體上這個經歷 我才切身體會到什麼叫天天攻克己身,對付老我。
之後的這麼多年來,我從與三高共存裡面學到許許多多的功課,身體健康的和屬靈的都有, 感謝神!今天分享最近發生的兩個例子, ie 一點一滴。

不久前去例行體檢。先是護士弄身高體重之類的,她順便問,你還是一周五天每天快走30分鐘嗎?我沒想,哼了一聲。之後醫生來了,問了一堆,又問,你還是快走30分鐘,一周五天嗎?我又隨便哼了一聲,奇怪了,他們為什麼都問我這個?突然想起來了,是我之前告訴醫生的。 那時立志每天快走30分鐘,上班五天, 午飯時走。堅持了一段時間,後來就做不到了,然後就完全忘了有這麼一回事了!該做的沒有做,當然更沒有達到標準!既然被提醒,馬上改。從那天開始,每天快走60分鐘,心裡安了,身體上反而不覺得那麼累。認真做該做的,把結果交託給主,在這過程中,得福的是自己, 我們經常在學這個功課。但是事情還沒完。

走路的時候很容易想事情。一天我在公園快走的時候,我被提醒到另一件自己沒有達標的事。今年年初第一次團契聚會 我們討論的是,立志作耶穌的門徒,從一件小事做起。每人給自己選擇一件事今年全年來做: 要能改變老我的,以愛為中心的,與人互動的,讓神喜悅的,能經常持續做的,靠自己應該成功不了的。我選擇的是與人多聯絡,多關懷,要熱情,要喜樂,因為聖經說,唯有彼此相愛要常以為虧欠。但是最近我好像沒有年初那麼儘力了,想他人的時候越來越少了。想到就立馬做!之前走路就是一門心思,目不旁視,基本上什麼都沒看見,走完就回家,任務完成。這次我就留意了一下周圍,看到公園裡有一位老人,是少數族裔白人,好像落單,他也在走路運動,走得搖晃,腰上邦了厚厚的帶子支撐。不久他坐下休息,機會來了。我就走過去打招呼,自我介紹,聊起來,知道他名字 家住附近,腰和背最近受了傷,每天必須作復健, 之類的。我說我會為他禱告,求神給他體力和心力,堅持復健。他也鼓勵我。後來每次見面,我們都像老朋友一樣互相問候,一段時間后見他搖晃得日益減少,我心裡喜樂增加。

從這我又聯想到,既然我來到這個公園,這裡就不能因為我的到來而增加了一個面無表情,只顧自己,看到對面的人就如同沒看見的人。我在這裡走路時可以有笑臉,可以跟人打招呼,更是可以為周圍的人禱告和感恩啊。之前如果有孩子哭號,大人呵斥,音響超高,騎車飛快,我都會心裡埋怨,嫌他們不懂公共道德。從那時開始,我為每一位遇到的人禱告。公園裡有幾位我們教會的會友,更多的是不認識的,孩子的嬉笑玩耍,老人帶孫子的甜蜜,有人運動得十分開心,有人行動比較困難,有孤單的,有成群的,統統為他們祝福,禱告,感恩!如果周圍沒有人,我就把目光完全放在神的創造上面,而不是人手所做的東西,e.g. 房子,車子,人穿什麼,帶什麼。我慢慢學會把我所有的感官都浸泡在神的創造中:燦爛的陽光,湛藍的天空,輕輕一抹的下弦月,有個性的樹榦,將落的果子,搖弋的小草,轉動的樹影,松樹的馨香,泥土的濕氣,空氣的甜美,晨霧的迷茫,耳邊風過的音樂,腳下落葉的和聲,最經常閃過腦海里的是出埃及時 神給以色列人的雲柱火柱。神創造的每一樣都如此的獨特,如此的美,都是甚好,且每日更新,為此就不住地感恩,身心靈大大的喜樂。正如詩歌中唱的:我靈歌唱讚美救主我神,你真偉大,何等偉大。

這些真的是微小得不能再小,平凡得不能再平凡的生活小事了。從三高,不承認,到開始學習功課;從自己顧自己,做事只是完成任務,到開始關心他人;從對人對己對事不達標準,到開始儘力做該做的;從只看到環境,到開始定意把目光鎖定在神。日子這樣一天天的過,而福分和數不盡的恩典卻是隨着歲月不斷添加!這也許是人老了的最大好處吧!

這麼多年了,我還是相信神隨時可以把我的三高拿去,但是祂沒有。為此我感謝神!我身體健康上的不達標準,在時時提醒我要依靠神,盡心儘力做該做的,持續攻克己身,努力達標準,向著標杆直跑。

有什麼比 在任何事上都學會了 抓住神的應許,與祂同行 更有福分呢

2019年11月15日

AWANA服事同工




Walking with God at Awana
For over two years now I have been serving in our Awana Cubbies Club. Started as a part-time leader, I transitioned into full-time after one year of service. It hasn’t been very easy but was full of God’s grace. Serving children at Awana not only opened up my heart and connected me with them, but also impacted my walk with God in a more meaningful way.

Initially, my daughter was in Awana Cubbies and she has gotten so much out of it as a preschooler. I felt the importance to get involved and give back to this wonderful program. That had motivated me coming to learn, explore and be an extra helper.

Started as a rotating leader, I came in to serve occasionally. I enjoyed helping, hearing kids laugh and playing games with them. The most impressive part was to see Cubbies stand up to say the entire Bible verse out loud without any help, and with a smile on their faces. It became my favorite part of Awana, because I can witness how God plants His words deeply into children’s hearts.

After some time, I was asked to consider becoming a full-time leader. At first, I did not think that I was qualified. Moreover, I was not even sure if I could commit to serve every week. But then the Holy Spirit reminded me that God does not look at what we have, but how much we are willing to do. Even though I still had questions and felt unsure of myself, I chose to walk by faith.

I prayed to God if this is God’s will, I am willing to take a step of faith. But God knows how limited I am, He will equip me and help me to seek Him. In the past, I had always prioritized many other things before God that nearly took up all my time. Until now, I still have no clue how I manage time and make time for Awana. But I believe that God will never leave me alone for He walks by my side. He is going to help me and provide a way out for me. For when I am weak, He is strong!

I started my new role. The first few weeks were exciting. I felt my passion, energy and joy that came out from serving. But it didn’t last quite long. I got sick, along with the stress from switching jobs, I felt I was weak spiritually. Surely God knows my frustration, and He is faithful as He has always been. He reminded me that His grace is sufficient for me. So, I continued to serve Him as I knew that He will carry my burdens and grant me peace. Amazingly, Cubbies cheered me up with their cute smiley faces. I was filled with peace and joy in my heart after Awana.

It has been extremely rewarding to watch kids growing up in church. I ended up learning from them all the time, which I am very grateful about. The excitement of seeing how kids love to be in church is very encouraging to me. It always touches me to see them growing in faith and showing love to others.

Being in Awana is part of my family routine. I will not forget the Awana night when my daughter told me that her favorite place in the world is CHURCH. I knew that it is not only because of the snacks, exciting games or friends at the church, but also because of the incredible leaders. They are showing Christ-like love with their faithful service, which is making an eternal impact on children’s lives. It is such an honor to be part of the Awana family! Glories to God in the highest!