我們福音工作的第一個項目是在週一和週二兩天的英文班。我們借用Panama Christian Academy,因為那時是他們的暑假。和我們合作舉辦英文班的Kevin和Carmen在學校是負責福音書店和小食部。週日下午我們安排了燒烤活動,一方面是為英文班做最後的宣傳,更重要的是認識小朋友和他們的家長。我們在燒烤活動中有機會和小朋友家長輕鬆的對談。對談中我們發現有些家庭是剛剛從中國移民來到巴拿馬,也有在巴拿馬落戶多年的。其中以做生意的人為主,不像北美華人那麼多專業人士。我們禱告是希望有三十位小朋友參加,結果在燒烤活動結束的時候點算報名人數,正好三十。
【編者按】陳存弟兄與伍衡姐妹(Stephen & Bertha Chen)堪稱我們教會的老園丁,從李秀全牧師時代開始,就在教會默默地服事,近年來更是成人主日學『門徒訓練』班的長青老師。以下是他讀了Focus on the Family 的作者Robert Velarde所著《生命讀經》一書後的感想。其中,透露了他數十年如一日忠心事奉的秘訣:生命讀經不是一個選項而是必須的。
3/16/2024 Interpersonal Relationships in Christ’s Heart
1 Pet 3:8-13
Interpersonal Life Principles for All(1 Pet 3:8-13)
Intention is of one mind, empathy, love, tenderhearted, and courteous. Be of one mind, having compassion for one another; love as brothers, be tenderhearted, be courteous. 8
Speak no bad word, only blessings. 9-10
Conduct: shunt evil, do good, seeking harmony, pursuing peace. 11-13
Meditate and Pray: Lord, give me Christ’s heart.
So we may enjoy our family and fellowship loving life: harmony, pursue the same with be free of insignificant things; compassionate, responsive to each other’s needs, love one another, treat each other as family; tenderhearted, have feelings, watch out and be eager to help; humbly encourage each other. 8-10, Phil 2:5
Let us rejoice in relations, be simple in one mind, have compassion towards each other, love as brother/sister, be kind with empathy, humble and tolerate, not bad mouth, bless only, godly shunt evil and do good, seek peace, and ensure it. 8-13; Job 1:1
(Bible in One Year:Judges 10-12)
3/15/2024 Lord’s Word Save Souls
James 1:19-25
1. God’s Word Saves Our Souls
So then, my beloved, let everyone be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath; for the wrath of man does not produce the righteousness of God. Therefore lay aside all filthiness and overflow of wickedness, and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls. 19-21
2. We receive blessings by keeping God’s word
But being doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man observing his natural face in a mirror; for he observes himself, goes away, and immediately forgets what kind of man he was. 22-24
3. Careful study and keep in mind God’s Word for doing it by heart
But he who looks into the perfect law of liberty and continues in it, and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work, this one will be blessed in what he does. 25
Reflect and Renew
Lord, help me be swift to listen, slow to speak, receive with meekness implanted Lord’s Word, reflect and repent to do the Word, cleanse my soul and be close to You, and live by Your Word.
Lord, help me look into the Lord’s perfect Word to serve my Lord and be Lord’s beloved, often reflect and repent to follow my Lord’s Word and do it.
(Bible in One Year: Judges 7-9)
3/13/2024 Full of Joy in God’s Presence
Ps 16: 1-11
In God’s presence the whole person is full of joy
My heart says to the LORD, you are my Lord; apart from You I have no good thing. (1-2)
Lord’s holy people are the noble ones. (3-4)
LORD, you alone are my portion and my cup; you make my lot secure. (5-6)
I have set the LORD always before me; for He is at my right hand I shall not be moved. Therefore, my heart is glad, and my glory rejoices; my flesh also will rest in hope. (7-9)
You have made known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand. (10-11)
Meditate:
My portion is the Lord. Lord’s saints are the noble ones. My thoughts are with my Lord, my heart is glad, and my soul rejoices; my flesh rests in hope. (1-11)
Lord Christ Jesus is the only way to God, the new and living way with eternal pleasures and blessings; those who trust in the Lord will never be put to shame. (Heb 10:20; 1 Pet 2:6)
In Christ, the secret of great joy is daily, prayerful reading of the scripture, the spiritual revelation and enlightenment; writing to saints to share Lord’s gracious words to build each other up. (Phil 2:2; 1 John 1:4; 2 John 12)
(Bible in One Year: Judges 1-3)
3/7/2024 Lord’s Love: Long Sufferings’ Patience
John 11:3-6, 11-14; Mark 10:27; 1 Cor 13:4-8; 1 Tim 2:4
1. The Lord loves those who belong to Him. (3, 5)
Sickness symbolizes the abnormal state of believers’ spiritual life. (3)
In Death, the Lord shall be glorified through those who are of Him. (4)
2. The Lord won’t start till the man has truly died. The Lord won’t do, until the old-self has died. (Mark 10:27)
The Lord stayed two more days while hearing Lazarus’s sickness. (6)
Meditate:
The Lord usually does not heal minor insignificant illness, but the deadly disease. He does not act until man is dead to establish men’s faith. (11-15)
Pray: Lord, help me understand Lord’s love: long suffering patience. Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.Love never fails. (1 Cor 13: 4-8)
Thank God for seeing friends restored. The Lord loves all people to come to the knowledge of the truth. (1 Tim 2:4)
The Holy Spirit urges me to witness His work in my heart. If I keep my mouth shut, the stones will cry. The stones of the wall cry out, and the beams of the woodwork echo for me to witness: before dawn I am called up to read the scripture prayerfully in Him, and He teaches bits and pieces of understanding, even for simple, ignorant fools like me. He instructs me, counsels and guides me, with His loving eye on me to interpret the Books of the Prophetic Word in detail. Sister Duojia prayed, and my heart overflowed with good matters: He prepared my pen, ready to tell of His wonder. (Luke 19:40; Ps 32:8; 45:1; Hab2:11)
Holy Spirit’s work–purposes and characteristics
The Holy Spirit works to mold me to be like God’s Son, Christ, with His heart. His presence will show three characters: First, He will convict the world and me of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment. Second, He will help me put off my old self and put on the new, and be renewed as I learn to know our Creator and become like Him. Third, He must increase; I must decrease. (John 16:8. Col 3:10; John 3:30)
The Holy Spirit works out three effects:
First, Christ’s ever-lasting love in long sufferings. His light would shine on my heart to put off my old self, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts, and cleanse my thoughts daily. God is pleased with every small step of turning back to Him, life changing and renewing. (Eph 4:22)
Second, bearing fruit of the Holy Spirit, with nine flavoring aromas: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, and self-control. The last one is the hardest. No longer relying on myself, unlike the Desperate Third Shi Xiu risking his life to pull the last straw. Pray and ask God about anything big or small, about what to do and how. I, who lack the three: knowledge, power and good, follow the Holy Spirit’s lead to go forward or back with no anxiety. The workload of writing is huge. The Lord will do His will without delay, because the Holy Spirit knows His timetable. I shall fix my eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and finisher of faith. For the joy set ahead, He endured the cross, scorning its shame. Since I had regretted and repented without grabbing every opportunity to share the gospel in 1991, I have never forgotten to follow Jesus, going forth unto Him outside of the camp, beyond the walls of church, bearing His reproach. (Gal 5:22-23; Ro 8:26; Is 55:11; Heb 12:2; 13:13)
Third, saving souls. The Lord has opened my spiritual eyes to see God’s wonders accompanying gospel believers. The person who hears goes out with joy, and is led with peace. (Mark 16:17; Is 55:12)
Summary. We go in company with the Lord. Bible groups, old and new friends, relatives, coworkers and schoolmates are joyfully sharing God’s love letter for all these years with daily responses, which touch my heart and inspire us to follow Him. Let all who take refuge in You be glad; let them ever sing for joy. Spread Thy protection over them, that those who love Your name may rejoice. (Ps 5:11)