牧者心聲 Pastor’s Corner 廖傳道 Connie Liu 2009年9月

迴響和嚮往                                             

從6月初到8月尾﹐我的生活喜樂地迎接著新轉變﹕渡過8週年結婚紀念之時﹐我們在偶然機會下買賣房屋﹐同時女兒亦準備升上小一﹐兒子也滿4歲了。不斷迴響在我們心內﹐是過去多年神怎樣在我們生命､婚姻､家庭和事奉中同在﹕怎樣從香港來到加拿大､怎樣從單身到結婚﹐神怎樣供應婚後第一所房子﹐當時我倆怎樣在入住第一天時跪下來感恩敬拜､還有往後弟兄姊妹多年在房子歡聚､兩個寶貝孩子怎樣出生､成長､歡笑､眼淚…還有過往歲月中對主愛的虧欠､無知﹐和對人的得失…點點滴滴歷歷在目﹗心中回味之際﹐迴響處處最寶貴的﹕竟然是神的同在､神的信實､和神的恩手如何步步憐恤﹐扶持和引領﹗

 

就在這個時候﹐我內心再次聽到主的聲音﹐“嘉蔚﹐您愛我比這些(以上一切)更深麼﹖”同一句說話﹐在我曾為婚禮慶高彩烈地準備細節時､又為新婚選購第一套床單時(主卻連枕首的地方也沒有)﹐或曾溫馨地為孩子出生而預備一切時(而主卻是降生在馬槽﹐亦為逃難而客居異鄉)﹐總是這樣震蕩我心靈﹗於是心中不斷迴響著﹐以往是怎樣信主﹐年輕時基督的愛是曾怎樣激勵我擺上自己﹐我只能淚眼盈眶的答道﹕“主啊﹗您是無所不知的﹐您知道我愛您﹗”神的恩典再次緊握我﹐叫我不要忘記﹐祂才是我們生活中的焦點和追求。我的內心再次被調整﹕孩子是神的﹗新房子也是祂的﹗祂是我們一家之主﹗

 

在我們最忙碌和忙亂的搬家之前﹐我們一家很感恩能在Fair Havens 聖經營地渡過和享受過從未如此安寧的4天。我們享受著大自然﹐也享受著早晨和晚上的崇拜。奇妙地﹐主的聲音是這麼近﹐神在晚堂崇拜再次重覆題醒我和丈夫﹕父母要先求祂的國和祂的義﹐而不要本末倒置﹐追求生活的安舒或以子女的活動為念﹗只要我們先尋求祂的國﹐我們才能看人生和生活的安排看得清晰﹐也必能安然經歷天父如何深知和供應我們一切所需﹗  記得丈夫分享他這一年在260新約計劃中最深刻的經文﹐就是西3:1-2 “所以，你們若真與基督一同復活，就當求在上面的事；那裡有基督坐在神的右邊. 你們要思念上面的事，不要思念地上的事。”

 

這個暑期我發現身邊很多弟兄姊妹原來都和我一樣搬屋﹐也面對兒女長大的喜悅和興奮。但願當我們容易為新居張羅忙亂﹐為孩子長大鋪排一切時﹐主耶穌成為我們的嚮往﹐並更新了們的心意﹕祂已教我們轉變焦點﹐轉變了金錢的使用﹐也轉變了對時間的安排﹐要更嚮往未來天上永存的房屋﹐嚮往這家能接待和祝福鄰舍﹐嚮往長進的家庭生活。現在我們已經搬入新居﹐而孩子也入讀新學校﹐在過去10天﹐神給我的焦點和滿足﹐是當我接送孩子上學路途中祝福與愛的對話﹐又或當我聽到女兒告訴我她會自己曉得在學校謝飯禱告﹐又或是當我真心的關心新認識的鄰舍﹐又或是我們一家在廳中禱告敬拜﹐又或是家中有小組的歡聚﹐又或是在每天疲累過後向主傾心吐意的省察和感謝﹗嚮往神在我們生命中同在﹐生活雖然累﹐但心內卻常因感受到祂而火熱起來﹗

 

但願您和我在人生不同的階段中﹐與主耶穌同在﹐同行﹗讓祂聲音成為您最寶貴的迴響﹐也願我們心中常嚮往的是﹕親近､服侍祂､從而能愛別人﹐和渴望別人得到善待與愛惜(楊牧谷牧師語)。 

 

這個世界絕大部份的人類都活在受苦和缺欠中﹐讓我們這屬祂而又是一小撮這麼在物質生活幸運的人﹐不作物質生活和忙碌節奏的奴僕﹐而能切實的做一個與基督耶穌同行﹐並能跨出信心的領域﹐回應神要我們服侍的人。

 

 

同工消息

 

 

 

 

Echoes and Yearnings                                    

 

From early June to end of August, I have been joyfully expecting new changes. While we celebrated our 8^th anniversary, we bought a new home and excitingly preparing Charis for Grade 1.  Wesley has also turned 4. Among all these, our hearts have been echoing with memories: memories of God’s presence in our lives, in our marriage, family and ministries.  We haven’t forgotten how we came from Hong Kong, the days when we were single, how we got married, and how God has lovingly provided our first home.  We still remember how both of us knelt down and praise the Lord on the 1^st day we moved to our first home, and how in the past that b/s filled our homes with joy.  We also remember when our 2 kids were born, how they grew with laughter and tears…how we also felt that we owe a lot to Christ in our ignorance and stubbornness, and how we failed to love others.   Yet among all these the most precious “echoes” was God’s presence, His faithfulness and how He mercifully led us each step.

 

While we pondered, the Lord’s voice came again, “Connie, do you love  me more than these?”    This question appeared many times in my life: while I was crazily preparing for wedding, while I was joyfully shopping for the 1^st bedding set for our home (yet Jesus had no place to lay His head), and while I lovingly prepared for my child’s birth (yet Jesus was born in a manger, and He had to live as a stranger being persecuted!).  This question always pound heavily in my heart.   I recalled how the Lord found me when I was young, and how His love had compelled me to offer my life to HIM.   I couldn’t help my tears and replied Him, “Yes, Lord, you know all things. You know that I love you.”    His grace gripped me tight not to forget that it is He should be my focus and desire.    Thanks God that my heart was tuned right again:  Children are His, and the new home is His.  He is the Lord of our family!

 

Just before our most hectic days of moving, we thank the LORD that we spent 4 days in Fair Havens Bible Camp.  It was an unprecedented peaceful and enjoyable trip as we immersed ourselves in nature and the morning and evening worship.    God’s voice was amazingly close especially during the evening message:  “Parents are to seek God’s Kingdom and His righteousness first.”  Only when we have our priorities right then we could see clearly make and arrange our days ahead.   His desire is not that we put making a comfortable home nor a vibrant childhood life first.  As our Father in heaven who knows our needs He will provide everything as we put seeking His Kingdom first.

 

William also shared with me his verse of this year was Col 3:1-2 “…set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. ²Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.” What a repeating melody!

 

We have found out that many brothers and sisters are also moving this summer. Besides, many are also enjoying the growth of their children.     While we busily preparing for our home and while we excitingly signup things for our children, may we have a higher yearning that transforms our minds.  He transforms our focus, transforms the way we spend, and the ways we plan our time.   There’s a higher yearning for the houses He prepared for us in heaven, a yearning for how the home can bless people, a yearning of lifestyle that can continue to grow in Christ.    

 

In the past 10 days while school year has started, my greatest contentment came from daily simple moments.   The times when I walked with my kids to school and conversed with blessings and love, moments when my girl told me that she prayed at school herself, moments when I sincerely and truthfully greet and cared for new friends/neighbours, moments that we sang and dance at home for Jesus as if no one was watching, moment when cell groups meet in our home, and moments while I get close to the Lord after a very tiring day.  With him, the body is weary but the spirit is filled with content and was on fire.

 

May you and I continue to walk humbly with Jesus in different stages of life.  Let His voice be your most precious echoes in your life’s journey. And may your deepest yearning is to love Him and love others..

 

The majority of humanity is suffering.  We are just a small bunch of lucky ones where we lack nothing.  As Christians let us encourage one another not to become slaves of materialism, nor become a busy slave.   May God’s grace keep us walk with Him, then through stepping out our boundaries of faith we can serve others!

 

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