Grace

A pastor sent me this daily devotional by Chuck Smith out of the blue.

He also wrote me the following,

Romans 6:23,  "For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord."

"Eternal life" is a free gift in Christ Jesus our Lord.   We do not need to "work" on it.  This is His Grace.   

However, after accepted Christ, we need to serve and work hard.    

When Jesus talked about the woman who broke the vial and poured it over Jesus head, Mk. 14:8a  "Jesus said, she has done what she could; ... "  Mt. 25:21, 23  Our Master wants us to be "good and faithful." 

I believe that you always try to do your best.  This is also "by His Grace" that we can serve Him more and serve Him better."

I was at first puzzled by why this pastor sent me things out of the blue.   I think I do now.  God must know what I'm going through these two days.  I so need His Grace.  "God's blessings are not dependent on our faithfulness or our hard work but are predicated upon his nature of love."

He knows my every need

馬太福音 6 章  

7 你們禱告的時候，不要像外族人那樣，說話空洞，絮絮叨叨，他們以為話多了就必蒙垂聽。 8 不要像他們那樣，因為你們祈求以前，你們的父已知道你們的需要了。 (漢語聖經)

"And when you pray, do not heap up empty phrases as the Gentiles do, for they think that they will be heard for their many words. 8 Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him."  ~ Matthew 6 (ESV Bible)

Both Matthew and Luke have recorded the Lord's Prayer, and more context is given in Matthew of how this teaching came about.  I think Matthew 6:8 holds the key to orient our thinking, in order for us to understand the essence of and to pray with sincerity the Lord's Prayer.

I no longer feel the need to pray for what I need, as the Lord has already known.  I needed friendship last year,  as much as I needed food and shelter.  I needed joy in my life.  The Lord has provided for me to my heart's desire.

No, I do not need to pray for what I need.  What I need to pray for is what the Lord wants:  Hallowed be His Name, His kingdom come, His will be done on earth as it is in heaven.  

青島

Almost a clean bill of health, now 青島, 去 或 不去？

2013 Outlook

"Satisfy us in the morning with your steadfast love,  

that we may rejoice and be glad all our days." 

~Psalm 90:14 (ESV)

Pray to have a joy-filled, love-filled, and Spirit-led 2013.

It just so happened that the page with my 2012 resolutions was right in front of me this morning, and I then remembered that JOY was one of the items that I wanted to work on.  Hm... I think I wasn't a very happy person in 2011.

Thank God for giving me plenty of joy in 2012 through sending loving people my way throughout the entire 2012.  Yes, life has its problems and ups, downs.  But I made it through OK.  2012 was a good year despite my thyroid episode, neck/spine injury.  God made me glad in 2012.  PTL.

Yes, pray to have a joy-filled, love-filled, and Spirit-led 2013.

Wrapping Christmas gifts for friends, I thank God especially for those whom He sent to care for and love me in this past year.  I also pray that I shall never love the gifts from God more than I love Him, the giver of gifts.

Help me to learn the lesson that You intend me to learn when I feel stuck and from which I try to get out. Grant me faith and endurance. Amen.

John 16:24

（預先）為我的一生感謝神

創 47:8-9, 法老問雅各說：「你平生的年日是多少呢？」 雅各對法老說：「我寄居在世的年日是一百三十歲。我平生的年日又少又苦，不及我列祖在世寄居的年日。」

從昨天起這段經文就在我的腦海，雅各對他自己（在再遇到他的兒子約瑟之前的）一生的評價是又少又苦。無論是客套或是實情，這令我想著，到最後我將會如何評價我的一生。 每個人或多或少也會遇到困苦，到目前為止我一生最難渡過的就是父親昏迷的數個月。回想那段日子，神與我家一起，祂的恩典十分足夠。從小我便認識了主耶穌，沒有日子我是自己單獨闖的，神一直與我同在。Thank God for my entire life.