~~The REAL pastor~~

Happened to read this realistic perspective on pastoring by Charles Jefferson. How true yet how difficult to do it:

"The shepherd's work is a humble work; such it has been from the beginning and such it must be to the end. A man must come down to do it. A shepherd cannot shine. He cannot cut a figure. His work must be done in obscurity. The things which he does do not make interesting copy. His work calls for continuous self-effacement. It is a form of service which eats up a man's life. It makes a man old before his time. Every good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. If a man is dependent on the applause of the crowd, he ought never enter the ministry. The finest things a minister does are done out of sight, and never get reported. They are known to himself and one or two others, and to God. His joy is not that his success is being talked about on earth, but that his name is written in heaven. The shepherd in the East has no crowd to admire him. He lived alone with the sheep and the stars. His satisfactions were from within. The messengers of Christ must not expect bands of music to attend them on their way. Theirs is a humble, unpretentious, and often time unnoticed labor, but if it builds souls in righteousness it is more lasting than a stars. "

An anonymous writer vividly captured the essence of pastoral stewardship before the Lord with the following exhortation to do God's work God's way according to God's Word:

'Stick with your work. Do not flinch because the lion roars; do not stop to stone the devil's dogs; do not fool away your time chasing the devil's rabbits. Do your work. Let liars lie, let sectarians quarrel, let critics malign, let enemies accuse, let the devil do his worst; but see to it nothing hinders you from fulfilling with joy the work God has given you."

Keep at your work. Let your aim be as steady as a star. You may be assaulted, wronged, insulted, slandered, wounded and rejected, misunderstood, or assigned impure motives; you may be abused by foes, forsaken by friends, and despised and rejected of men. But see to it with steadfast determination, with unfaltering zeal, that you pursue the great purpose of your life and object of your being until at last you can say," I have finished the work which Thou gavest me to do."

My little whispering to Abba Father:

Father, though it is extremely difficult to renounce my worldly view of pride and fame, I pray that You continue carve in me a shepherd heart, a shepherd mind and a sherpherd soul according to Your will in Your time. Help me not only be a listener but a doer of Your Word. (Luke 1:37 For nothing is impossible with God.) I pray that You continue keep the fires of religious life burning brightly in my heart and in the inmost core of my being. May I continue draw enlargement of heart, elevation of Spirt and adoring delight in You - the Maker and Savior. I believe strongly believe every soul seeking God honestly and earnestly find Him, and, in finding Him, finds the way to Him. Amen!

~~全然为你~~

你是否有尝试过或正处于梦幻破灭，进退两难，人生低潮，连呼吸也会让你想要哭泣，欲罢不能的状况？愿这小小则的散文在圣灵的陶冶及上帝话语的洁净下发挥舒缓及疗伤的作用。这心意是奉靠耶稣基督得胜的名所求。

原以为上帝终于听见我多年苦苦的祷告在祂美好的安排及圣灵的撮合下，我们相遇了。

* 原以为有着共同的嗜好是默契，却万万没想到这也包括了争吵。。。
* 原以为大家的差异有着互补的作用，没想到那是个无法弥补的缺。。。
* 原以为情侣之间应该坦诚相待，原来接受需要更大的勇气。。。
* 原以为争吵斗嘴是情趣，原来言语的伤害早已扩越了底线。。。
* 原以为他处事稳重，没想到感情线上他一窍不通。。。
* 原以为冷战是不甘示弱的过渡期，没想到也是感情冷冻的开始。。。
* 原以为他就是梦寐以求可以共同厮守的另一半，原来是单程恋爱。。。
* 原以为他会爱我一生一世，他却移情别恋了。。。
* 原以为他会一直守护照顾我至到年华老去，他却在还没正式行道别礼就与世长辞了。。。
* 原以为他强壮如牛，索命的病魔却偏偏缠上他。。。

面对如此无奈的局面，有谁会舍得放手？放手的杀那，有谁又能够强忍着泪水？
肉眼上看来是如此美好，充满瞳景的美事不是每个人都能如愿以偿。人生无常，伤心事十之八九，分别在于你是从自己或是上帝的角度来看事物。我们对上帝的信任及信心又有多大？我们是否选择怨天尤人又或者是坦然面对？我们能否凡事感恩谢主？

哥林多后书 2 Corinthians 5:7
因我们行事为人，是凭着信心，不是凭着眼见。
For we walk by faith, not by sight

虽然表面上看来美好的事就像琳琅满目，包装华丽，颜色诱人，
看了叫了垂涎欲滴的甜食。。。（魔鬼的试探不也是如此？）

是孩子们梦寐以求，渴望拥有越多越好的诱惑品。。。

只有天父晓得吃多了会坏肚子，会蛀牙，会对身体不好。。。

所以哪怕你哭着哀求，哪怕你会怨恨天父，祂也会把“它”从你手中夺走

从而把更好的献给你。 祂知道，祂也晓得什么是最好的礼物。祂这样做也

是全然为你。。。阿门！

路加福音Luke

11:11
你们中间作父亲的，谁有儿子求饼，反给他石头呢？求鱼，反拿蛇当鱼给他呢？
If a son shall ask bread of any of you that is a father, will he give him a stone? or if he ask a fish, will he for a fish give him a serpent?

11:12
求鸡蛋，反给他蝎子呢？
Or if he shall ask an egg, will he offer him a scorpion?

11:13
你们虽然不好，尚且知道拿好东西给儿女。何况天父，岂不更将圣灵给求他的人吗？
If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children: how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him?

~~信心的路~~

能否自由地在辽阔的天空中漫游往往在于你是否有展翅的勇气。。。

要到达终点，今天就要起程。。。

“马太福音14：27-31 “耶穌連忙對他們說 、你們放心 ．

是我 、不要怕 。。。耶穌趕緊伸手拉住他 、說 、

你這小信的人哪 、為甚麼疑惑呢 。”

“以賽亚书40:29-31
疲乏的、他賜能力 ．軟弱的、 他加力量 ．
就是少年人也要疲乏困倦 、強壯的也必全然跌倒 ．
但那等候耶和華的、必從新得力 、他們必如鷹展翅上騰 、

他們奔跑卻不困倦 、行走卻不疲乏。”

套用一行我曾经听过却忘了歌名的歌曲。

“想到达明天，今天就要起程。。。”可不是吗？如果今天不深呼吸，鼓起勇气，挺起胸膛踏出那第一步，一切依然照旧，生命不会因你的懦弱而有所更改和突破。每当困难重重，思绪复杂，前途茫茫，信心渺小，自卑懦弱的时候，我都会不断地提醒自己神是信实刚强永不食言的上帝。祂从新约到旧约一而再，再而三地应许会与我们同在（創世记21：22；48：21；出埃及记 3：21；撒母耳记上10：7；历代志上 28：20；历代志下13：12；诗篇 46：7；46：11；以賽亚书8：10；45：14；西番雅书3：17；马太福音19：26；马可福音10：27；启示录21：3）。

很高兴能够跟大家分享一首激励我心，坚强我灵，感动我思绪的一首歌 =）懂我者是耶稣基督也。祂知道每每我在赶报告，忙考试时都会压力及变得懦弱无比。哪怕是简单，没想像中难的事都会顿然变得如此的艰辛，如此的难行。感觉就像处在高山深海中，迷失方向，惊慌失措。很难想象平时信心满满的我也会如此不堪一击吧？人性难逃啊！我也是凡人一个，很平凡的那种 ^.^ 哪怕前方看起来好像毫无去路，毫无方向并且困难汹涌而至，唯一让我站得住脚的是永久不变的事实- 耶稣爱我，很爱很爱我。因为主，我有信心去走这条信心的路。愿神的话语，圣灵的感动及同工的勉励一直与大家同在直到永远。阿门。

哥林多后书 2 Corinthians 5：6-9

5:6
所以我們時常坦然無懼、並且曉得我們住在身內便與主相離。
Therefore we are always confident, knowing that, whilst we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord:
So, then, we are ever without fear, and though conscious that while we are in the body we are away from the Lord,

5:7
因我們行事為人、是憑著信心、不是憑著眼見。
(For we walk by faith, not by sight:)
(For we are walking by faith, not by seeing,)

5:8
我們坦然無懼、是更願意離開身體與主同住。
We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord.
We are without fear, desiring to be free from the body, and to be with the Lord.

5:9
所以無論是住在身內、離開身外、我們立了志向、要得主的喜悅。
Therefore we labour, that, whether present or absent, we may be accepted of him.
For this reason we make it our purpose, in the body or away from it, to be well-pleasing to him.

凡事都能做

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DHsNICSwuzA&feature=PlayList&p=E326C18BD656F0E7&playnext=1&playnext_from=PL&index=38

专辑：深触我心
歌手：赞美之泉

信是未曾看见 依然仰望十架
信是完全交托 深知主已掌权
我靠着那加给我力量的 凡事都能做
或风浪或低谷 主平安在我心
我靠着那加给我力量的 凡事都能做
行在主的旨意 我凡事都能做

~~The work of potter's hands~~

In the hand of the Potter, all the natural creation exhibit its supernatural beauty. It reminds me of some of the paradox that spread throughout the Bible. May it bless you the same way it does to me. =)

Matthew 5
The Beatitudes 1Now when he saw the crowds, he went up on a mountainside and sat down. His disciples came to him,

2and he began to teach them saying:

3"Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

4Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.
5Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.
6Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled. 7Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.

8Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.

9Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God.

10Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
11"Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me.

12Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

Matthew 19:30

30But many who are first will be last, and many who are last will be first.

Matthew 23:12
12For whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.

Proverbs 13:7

7 One man pretends to be rich, yet has nothing; another pretends to be poor, yet has great wealth.

Ecclesiastes 5:10
10 Whoever loves money never has money enough; whoever loves wealth is never satisfied with his income. This too is meaningless.

~~Sacrifice of praise~~

Bible and worshipping songs mention a lot of sacrifice, be it in term of offering of animal, plant, human life or some material possession to the Lord. Likewise, praise is also mentioned throughout the scriptures, be it praises to men or the Lord. Little do I give much thought to the combination of these two words - sacrifice of praise. I never expect give praise to the Lord is also considered a form of sacrifice. The two bible references below shed some light on the significant of giving praise to the Lord. (Father, I pray that You in Your gracious mercy will reveal the real meaning of these phrase to us as we explore and mediate on the verses below. Help us oh Lord, help us to have the full grasp of its meaning and in turn praise You all the more knowing what it means and how much it means to You. Father, I hereby present to You our sacrifice of praise.)

Psalm 54:6
6 I will sacrifice a freewill offering to you;
I will praise your name, O LORD, for it is good.

Every sacrifice made should stem from pure heart, good conscience and sincere faith. It is freewill offering from us to the Lord to praise Him solely for who He is and what He had done for us. His sacrifice on the Calvary alone is sufficient, perfect and complete to redeem all our transgressions and sins. Because He is righteous, we righteous; because He is holy, we are holy; because He is blameless, we are blameless. Wouldn't this reason more than enough for us to rejoice, give thanks and offer our praises to Him?

Hebrews 13:15
15 Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise—
the fruit of lips that confess his name.

Even when I feel like my world is shaking, I will give praise.
Even when thing does not go according to my way, I will give praise.
Even when reality is the exact opposite of what I want, I will give praise.
Even when I feel like my heart is breaking, I will give praise.
Even when I was persecuted, I will give praise.
Even when I lost my beloved one, I will give praise.
Even when I lost my means of living, I will give praise.
Even when I lost my health, I will give praise.
Even when I lost my courage to live, I will give praise.
Even when I can never bear a child, I will give praise.
Even when I will remain single, I will give praise.
Even when I was disfigured, I will give praise.
Even when I lost my sight, I will give praise.
Even when I lost my voice, I will give praise.
Even when I lost my legs and hands, I will give praise.
Even when I was born with disability, I will give praise.
Even when I was tempted and tortured beyond what I can bear, I will give praise.
Even when I was to live in exile, I will give praise.
......................................................................
......................................................................
......................................................................
Even when it costs my life, I will give praise.

(Philippians 3:8 I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ. Father, I pray that You will grant me the same measure of confident and love that You have lavished in Paul's life. May You will be done today and tomorrow)

It reflects the state of our hearts that lean fully on Him and Him alone. Regardless of the circumstances, we continue to place our full trust in Him - knowing that He is always in charge. In other words, when life has a head-on collision with life storms we continue to give Him praise. We refuse to constraint our praises to God in good times but in bad times we continue to praise Him all the more. We continue to guard our minds, protect our souls and watch over our bodies with the serenity from God. We choose to humble ourselves and exalt our mighty God for His sovereignty in our lives. It is a delibrate and conscious decision that we make in hearts no matter what happens now and tomorrow. With the help of the Holy Spirit, we refuse even the slightest hint of bitterness from taking root, we reject disappointment from flourishing in heart and we do not allow heart breaking from mushrooming all over our thinking. We acknowledge the fact that God gives and God takes away, blessed be the name of the Lord.

Whispering to Abba, Father:

Lord, I know it is easier said than done to praise You especially in bad season of life. Though my body is weak and broken, it is my desire to continue offer my sacrifice of praise to You all of my days. I pray that God will continue grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, courage to change the things I can, and wisdom to know the difference. Help me to see above and beyond the cruel reality of life and ground firmly in Your living words. Help me to fix Your words in my heart and mind; tie them as symbols on my hands and bind them on my forehead. Help me to fix my eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal. Father, I pray that You continue grant me the peace of mind knowing that I am fixing my eyes on Jesus, the rock, the strong refuge, the author and perfecter of our faith. Amen

~~My Little Dream Place~~

Visited one of the trinity colleges recently. =) Not too sure which is the right place for me. Simply go to satisfy my curiosity ^.^

Oh Lord, listen to Your child's prayer: If You are willing, do reserve a place for me in the college. May You go before me to prepare the way. May this little dream of mine come to pass in due time. I surrender this burning request in Your mighty hand. Keep this longing aflame till I set my foot there. I finally learn that it is not so much of receiving formal education to equip me to be a Shepherd but what is more important is learn about Your way and Your truth. I long to walk closely and intimately with You, by You and beside You. Help me to grasp how wide, how deep and how high Your love is for us. Oh Lord, mould me to be one of the few workers that work on the plentiful harvest in Your field. Amen.

Proverbs 13:12

Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a longing fulfilled is a tree of life.

Proverbs 13:19a

A longing fulfilled is sweet to the soul

~~Breakthrough~~

Lately I am pretty engaged in the book title "The 21st Century Pastor" by David Fisher.

I particularly like his style of writing. He is sympathetic and tender like a mother on one hand while firm and uncompromised like a father on the other hand. He explains the roller coaster journey of pastorial as a combination of excruciating pain and soaring joy. Though I am not in the ministry yet, at times I just can't help but feel pretty much at the bottom of the pit and sometimes I am overwhelmed with the moutain-top feeling where nothing matters except Jesus Christ.

He points out a very important fact which I have been struggled for quite a while. How prepare are you to be a shepherd? Frankly speaking, most of the times I feel inadequate, imcompetent, imperfect and somehow confused for the call. Who am I that You are so mindful of? I just came to know Christ 4-5 years ago, I finished reading the whole bible only once, I am chinese educated, I can't speak fluent English, I tend to eat too much, I have sweet tooth, I do not have much discipline in studying and meditating on Your words, I do not have much patient, I experience mood swings like any other girls... the list can go on and on....

"The very point of our human weakness was precisely the place of God's power and grace!" What an astonishing statement he had make. When we are empowered to accomplish the humanly speaking impossible task, all the glory, honor, credit and praise go to Him. It leaves no room for us to boast and brag. In our humanity, we tend to puff up with pride when God in His grace chose to perform miracles through us. Who can withstand excessive praises from men without feeling flattering? Who can remain humble all the times? Who can resist the splendor in this passing world without second thought? Who can abstain entirely from the lust of the world? Who can act perfectly all the times? Who can life entirely for Jesus Christ? Who can claim he/she loves Jesus with all his/her heart, mind and soul all the times? Who can love his/her neighbour all the times? Though we are called to spread His words, we are admit it or not just as human and sinful as the people we serve. Jesus knows we will fail in one way or another, that is why He crowned us with the Holy Spirit to guide and lead us. It is by grace and empowerment of the Holy Spirit we are able to breakthrough our old self to serve Him and His people whole-heartedly. Holy Spirit, what a wonderful gift that God had given us to stir up the inward transformation which in turn ignite the outward demonstration of God's love to the world.

Whispering to Abba Father:

Father, help me to see above and beyond all the gigantic intimidation factors that coming like roaring thunders every now and then. Help me to fix my eyes on You and You alone. Many things in the world I might not know and do not need to know, I just need to remember You love me and lay down Your life for me. Help me to guard our very first love with all my might, my strength, my heart and my soul. Walk me through every chapter of life with the confidence and power born of deep and humble dependence on You. Give me a pure and humble heart all the times. Though we are inadequate, thank you for working through our feeble efforts anyway. Help me to understand and etch deeply in my heart the very fact that our work, whether large or small, bears the eternal weight of glory. If our labors produce but one transformed life, it is more than worth the struggle, and heaven sings. Father, pardon my stubborn and slowness in learning Your truth and wisdom. I am sorry for the time when my knowledge puffs up and inflate with pride. I am sorry for the time when anger seems to overtake my calm. I am sorry for searching aimlessly instead of wait upon You under Your feet. I am sorry for the time when I chose to mute my ears to Your Word, blind my eyes to Your glory but speak like a fool. Father, I pray that Your word continue like the lamp to my feet and light for my path, just enough to illuminate the next step in life. Whether You chose to reveal a glimpse of Your glory to me or not, it does not change the fact that You love me. Amen!

John 14:25-27
25"All this I have spoken while still with you. 26But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you. 27Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.