牧人心語

我是個停不下來的人。無論是帶領教會或在家裡，總希望把教會和家裡的事務做好，把每個人都照顧得妥妥當當。但年紀大了，事務多了，總會有疏忽的時候和遺漏的地方。最近師母就提醒我要早點回電郵，讓人知道我已收到他們的資訊。

今早讀聖經時讀到（詩篇 73），其中有句說話十分受用，也是很大的提醒。詩人說：

我的肉體和我的心腸衰殘；但神是我心裡的力量，又是我的福分，直到永遠。（詩篇 73:26）和合

是的，我的肉體和我的心腸衰殘。我真的感覺有點累了，不單是身體感到疲憊，心也有點累了。但感謝讚美神，神是我心裡的力量。每當我的身體、心靈感到困乏時，祂總會用祂的說話或周邊的人和事賜我力量，讓我可以繼續振翅高飛。

現代中文版把『又是我的福分，直到永遠』翻成『永遠是我所需要的一切！』是的，當我在疲乏時意識到神同在，將我心中的憂慮和所掛念的事交給祂，我就能用平常心去面對一切。這就是我所需要的一切！

主內的弟兄姊妹，神就是我們所需要的一切。問題是當我們有需要時，我們有沒有意識到祂的同在。這是祂給所有相信祂的人的應許，祂常與我們同在。我們感受不到是因為我們被眼前的危機和困境捆綁，又被心中的憂慮和恐懼籠罩，所以忘記了神就在我們身邊。

詩人說：你們要休息，要知道我是神！我必在外邦中被尊崇，在遍地上也被尊崇。（詩篇 46:10）和合

現代中文版的翻譯是：『要停止戰爭，承認我是上帝。』是的，我們要停下來，我們要停止靠自己去爭戰、去面對和處理眼前的困境和危機。當我們能停下來去尋找上帝，就發覺祂其實離我們不遠，就在我們身邊。有神做我們的後盾，有誰能敵擋我們呢？

所以，主內的弟兄姊妹，如果你發覺自己很難靜下來，可以試試來參加在Milpitas母堂每逢第二及第四 8:15am 舉行的『呼吸祈禱會』，或可在自己的堂點開始一個類似的祈禱會，學習在呼吸中安靜、聆聽神的聲音，幫助我們能常常意識到神的同在。

招牧師

代禱事項

• 1. 感謝讚美神讓賜給我們祂常與我們同在的應許。求神幫助我們不再自己掙扎尋求解決眼前困境的方法，轉而尋求神的引領和幫助。
• 2. 感謝讚美神讓我們可以在世上成為祂的證人，讓人知道祂是神。祂應許的天國近了，求神激勵我們要把握機會將這福音帶給更多人。
• 3. 為李業基牧師、師母交通意外沒有受傷感謝讚美神。求神讓他們患難中更深體驗到神對他們的愛及弟兄姊妹的關心。
• 4. 為教會弟兄姊妹的屬靈生命能有新突破，繼續成長祈禱。求神裝備我們成為祂一支能為祂在末世爭戰，可以搶救更多失喪靈魂的強大隊伍。
• 5. 為考慮接受執事培訓的弟兄姊妹們祈禱。求神讓他們能明白神的心意，並願意接受培訓，進一步了解作為教會執事的位份與職責，敢於回應神給他們的呼召。

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From the Heart of a Shepherd

I am a person who can’t stop. Whether leading the church or at home, I always hope to do a good job in church and home, taking good care of everyone. But as I get older and have more responsibilities, there are bound to be times when I neglect things and overlook things. Recently, my wife reminded me to reply to emails earlier so that people know I’ve received their messages.

This morning, while reading the Bible, I came across Psalm 73, and one verse in particular was very helpful and a great reminder to me. The psalmist said:

“My flesh and my heart are wasting away, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.” (Psalm 73:26)

Yes, my flesh and my heart are wasting away. I really feel a bit anxious, not just physically, but also mentally. But thank God, He is the strength of my heart. Whenever my body and soul feel weary, He always gives me strength through His words or the people and things around me, allowing me to continue to soar.

The Modern Chinese version translates “Again, my blessing, forever” as “He is all I need forever!” Yes, when I am weary and realize God’s presence, I can pass all my anxieties and worries to Him, and I can face everything with equanimity. He is all I need!

Brothers and sisters in the Lord, God is all we need. The question is, when we have needs, are we aware of His presence? This is His promise to all who believe in Him; He is always with us. We don’t feel it because we are bound by the current crisis and predicament, and shrouded in the anxieties and fears of our hearts, so we forget that God is right beside us.

The psalmist says: “Be still, and know that I am God! I will be exalted among the nations, exalted throughout the earth.” (Psalm 46:10)

The Modern Chinese version translates it as: “Stop the war, acknowledge that I am God.” Yes, we must stop; we must stop fighting, facing, and dealing with the current predicament and crisis on our own. When we stop to seek God, we discover that He is actually not far from us, but right beside us. With God as our support, who can stand against us?

Therefore, brothers and sisters in Christ, if you find it difficult to quiet your mind, try attending the “Breathing Prayer Meeting” held at the Milpitas main campus on every 2nd and 4th Sunday mornings at 8:15, or you can start a similar one at your own church campus, learning to quiet your mind with your breathing, listen to God’s voice, and help yourself to be constantly aware of God’s presence.

Pastor Chiu

Prayer Requests

• Praise God for His promise to always be with us. Let’s ask that God help us stop struggling to find solutions to our current difficulties by ourselves but instead seek His guidance and help.
• Praise God for enabling us to be His witnesses in this world, letting others know that He is God. His promised kingdom is near; let us ask that God encourage us to seize the opportunity to bring this gospel to many more people.
• Praise God for Pastor Gideon and his wife’s survival in the car accident. Let us ask that God made them experience His love for them and the care of the brothers and sisters in Christ during this life epistle.
• Pray for new breakthroughs and continued growth in the spiritual lives of our brothers and sisters in the church. Let us ask that God equip us to become a powerful force capable of fighting for Him in the last days to rescue more lost souls.
• Pray for our brothers and sisters in Christ who are considering to receive deacon training. Let us ask that God help them understand His will, and be willing to accept the training, so that they can understand the position and responsibilities as church deacons, and dare to respond to God’s call.