(轉簡)
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STREAMS IN THE DESERT Compiled
by Mrs.Chas.E.Cowman |
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前 言
此書乃美國卡門夫人靈修巨著，出版以來，其行銷之廣，無法統計；供應聖徒每日靈糧，獲得造就者，何止千百萬人，全球各國，大都均有譯本，我國早在四十年前由唐醒先生等將此書予以節譯，但其中尚有五十三篇以及詩詞，則全付闕如。
敝社同工，經二載之整理與補缺，始成此全譯本，特將中英文並列對照，便利讀者深入領悟，但願榮耀頌讚歸於我主我神，祝福沛臨閱者諸君，阿門。
少年歸主社編輯室謹識
主後一九七四年七月
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January 1
“The land whither
ye go to possess it is a land of hills and valleys and drinketh water of the rain of heaven: a land which the Lord thy God careth for: the eyes of the Lord are always upon it, from
the beginning of the year even unto the end of the year.” (Deut. 11:11-12)
Today, dear
friends, we stand upon the verge of the unknown. There lies before us the new
year and we are going forth to possess it. Who can tell what we shall find?
What new experiences, what changes shall come, what new needs shall arise?
But here is the cheering, comforting, gladdening message from our Heavenly
Father, “The Lord thy God careth for it.” “His eyes
are upon it away to the ending of the year.”
All our supply is to
come from the Lord. Here are springs that shall never dry; here are fountains
and streams that shall never be cut off. Here, anxious one, is the gracious pledge of the Heavenly Father. If He be the Source of our
mercies they can never fail us. No heat, no drought can parch that river,
“the streams whereof make glad the city of
The land is a land
of hills and valleys. It is not all smooth nor all down hill. If life were
all one dead level the dull sameness it would oppress us; we want the hills and
the valleys. The hills collect the rain for a hundred fruitful valleys. Ah,
so it is with us! It is the hill difficulty that drives us to the throne of
grace and brings down the shower of blessing; the hills, the bleak hills of
life that we wonder at and perhaps grumble at, bring down the showers. How
many have perished in the wilderness, buried under its golden sands, who
would have lived and thriven in the hill-country; how many would have been
killed by the frost, blighted with winds, swept desolate of tree and fruit
but for the hill—stern, hard, rugged, so steep to climb. God’s hills are a
gracious protection for His people against their foes!
We cannot tell
what loss and sorrow and trial are doing. Trust only. The Father comes near
to take our hand and lead us on our way today. It shall be a good, a blessed
new year!
He leads us on by paths we did not know;
Upward He leads us, though our steps be slow,
Though oft we faint and falter on the way,
Though storms and darkness oft obscure the day;
Yet when the clouds are gone,
We know He leads us on.
He leads us on through all the unquiet years;
Past all our dreamland hopes, and doubts and fears,
He guides our steps, through all the tangled maze
Of losses, sorrows, and o’erclouded days;
We know His will is done;
And still He leads us on.
━ N. L. Zinzendorf.
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一月一日 “你們要過去得為業的那地，乃是有山，有谷，雨水滋潤之地。是耶和華你神所眷顧的，從歲首到年終，耶和華你神的眼目時常看顧那地” (申十一:11-12)
親愛的讀者，今天我們站在一個新的境界上，前途茫然。擺在我們面前的是一個新年，等待我們經過。誰也不能預知在將來的路程中有什麼遭遇，什麼變遷，什麼需要。可是在這裏有一段從父神那裏來的資訊，頂能安慰我們，頂能激勵我們━“耶和華你神…眷顧…從歲首到年終，耶和華你神的眼目時常看顧那地。”
我們所有的接濟都可仰賴於神。祂那裏有不幹的活泉，永流的江河。祂那裏有恩典的誓約。如果祂作我們供給的源頭，就什麼都不能使我們失望。沒有熱，沒有旱能叫那道“使神的城歡喜”(詩四十六篇四節)的河乾涸。
我們要得的那地乃是有山有穀之地。不是一片光滑的平原。若是我們前面的生活只是平而又光，何等乏味！我們需要山和穀。山使雨水彙集穀中，使地肥沃多結果子。山對於我們的生命也是這樣。山一般的難處原是催趕我們到施恩座前去得有福的甘霖的；我們所厭煩的山境，反使我們得福。多少人因為厭煩山谷的辛苦，貪戀平地的舒服，因此受風霜的摧殘，倒斃在山下的平地，埋葬在黃金色的沙中。神的山是祂子民的保障！
我們不能說前面沒有損失，憂慮，試煉。我們只能信靠。父神必從今日起伸出祂大能的手來扶持我們走當走的路程。所以我們的新年是一個快樂，有福的新年！
祂引導我們走上新的路程，
雖然我們步伐緩慢艱困，
祂引導我們往高處攀登，有時我們沮喪逡巡，
有時目眩頭昏，甚之那風雨使白晝晦冥；
但等天朗雲散，
祂仍在引導我們。
祂引導我們度過坎坷歲月，
其間有多少夢幻境況，
有多少疑懼驚恐：祂指引我們的腳步，
不至落入失望，傷心和憂慮的迷津；
祂的旨意已完成，
祂仍在引導我們。
━秦成陶夫
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January 2 “And there was an
enlarging, and a winding about still upward to the side chambers: for the
winding about of the house went still upward round about the house: therefore
the breadth of the house was still upward and so increased from the lowest
chamber to the highest by the midst.”
(Ezek. 41:7)
“Still upward be thine onward
course:
For this I pray today;
Still upward as the years go by,
And seasons pass away.
“Still upward in this coming year,
Thy path is all untried;
Still upward may’st thou journey on,
Close by thy Savior’s side.
“Still upward e’en though sorrow
come,
And trials crush thine heart;
Still upward may they draw thy soul,
With Christ to walk apart.
We ought not to
rest content in the mists of the valley when the summit of Tabor awaits us. How
pure are the dews of the hills, how fresh is the mountain air, how rich the fare of the dwellers aloft, whose windows look into the
New Jerusalem! Many saints are content to live like men in coal mines, who
see not the sun. Tears mar their faces when they might anoint them with
celestial oil. Satisfied I am that many a believer pines in a dungeon when he
might walk on the palace roof, and view the goodly land and
“I
want to scale the utmost height,
And
catch a gleam of glory bright;
But
still I’ll pray, till heaven I’ve found,
Lord,
lead me on to higher ground!”
Not many of us are
living at our best. We linger in the lowlands because we are afraid to climb
the mountains. The steepness and ruggedness dismay us, and so we stay in the
misty valleys and do not learn the mystery of the hills. We do not know what
we lose in our self-indulgence, what glory awaits us if only we had courage
for the mountain climb, what blessing we should find if only we would move to
the uplands of God. ━ J. R. M.
“Too
low they build who build beneath the stars.”
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一月二日
“這圍殿的旁屋，越高越寬。因旁屋圍殿懸叠而上；所以越上越寬，從下一層，由中一層，到上一層。” （結四十一：7）
願你的前程永遠向高向上,
今天我就為此禱告而瞻望；
隨着歲月推移,季節更新，
願你的前程永遠向高向上。
願你天天繼續向高向上,
你的前途等你去開創，
願你繼續向高向上,
一直到救主的身旁。
雖然苦難磨折你,悲愴臨到你；
你仍要向高向上,
魔鬼設計引誘你離開基督，
但你仍要向高向上。
能在平地上馳驅，不該就算知足，我們還該力求登峰造極。在山頂上，露珠何等光明、美麗，空氣多麼清潔、新鮮，居民何其幽逸、清高，他們一推窗就可望見新耶路撒冷！
多少信徒甘心樂意地過着礦工一般的生活，終日不見天日。他們的臉上原該膏着天上的喜樂油，可是卻抹着淚珠。他們原該在宮殿頂上散步，欣賞利巴嫩的美景，可是卻滿足於牢獄中的枯萎。醒來罷，信徒們，離開你的平地，努力向上罷！丟去你的倦、懶、冷，以及一切攔阻你向上追求基督的。讓基督作你的源頭、你的中心，要讓祂在萬有上居首位。不要滿意你目前所有的。渴望一個更高、更貴、更豐更富的生命。向着天！追求更近神！━司布真
我願攀登絕頂，
沾得一縷神的容光；
到達之前，我仍要不斷祈求，
主啊：引我升向更上方。
我們中間沒有多少人真是盡我們所能的活着。我們留戀在地上，因為我們怕攀山越嶺。山程的崎嶇、峻峭，寒了我們的心，因此我們終生耽擱在霧穀中，從不會瞭解山頂上的佳境。啊！寬容自己的損失何其大啊！只要我們肯決心登高尋求神，前面有極大的榮耀和祝福等着我們。━密勒
繁星之下的建造者,他們所建造太渺少。
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January 3 “I will lead on softly,
according as the cattle that goeth before me and
the children be able to endure.”
(Gen. 33:14)
What a beautiful picture of Jacob’s thoughtfulness for the cattle
and the children! He would not allow them to be overdriven even for one day.
He would not lead on according to what a strong man like Esau could do and
expected them to do, but only according to what they were able to endure. He
knew exactly how far they could go in a day; and he made that his only
consideration in arranging the marches. He had gone the same wilderness
journey years before, and knew all about its roughness and heat and length,
by personal experience. And so he said, “I will lead on softly.” (Gen. 33:14)
“For ye have not passed this way heretofore” (Josh. 3:4).
We have not passed
this way heretofore, but the Lord Jesus has. It is all untrodden and unknown ground to us, but He knows it all by personal experience. The
steep bits that take away our breath, the stony bits that make our feet ache
so, the hot shadeless stretches that make us feel
so exhausted, the rushing rivers that we have to pass through ━ Jesus has gone
through it all before us. "He was wearied with his journey." Not
some, but all the many waters went over Him, and yet did not quench His love.
He was made a perfect Leader by the things which He suffered. "He knoweth our frame; he remembereth that we are dust." Think of that when you are tempted to question the
gentleness of His leading. He is remembering all the time; and not one step
will He make you take beyond what your foot is able to endure. Never mind if
you think it will not be able for the step that seems to come next; either He
will so strengthen it that it shall be able, or He will call a sudden halt,
and you shall not have to take it at all. ━ Frances Ridley Havergal.
In
"pastures green"? Not always; sometimes He
Who knowest best, in kindness leadeth me
In
weary ways, where heavy shadows be.
So,
whether on the hill-tops high and fair
I
dwell, or in the sunless valleys, where
The
shadows lie, what matter? He is there.
━ Barry |
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一月三日 “我要量着在我面前群畜和孩子的力量慢慢的前行。” （創三十三：14）
這真是一幅惟妙惟肖的圖畫，描寫雅各對群畜和孩子的慈心！他不願意他們趕走一天的路程。他不願意照粗人以掃的心意去催促他們。他乃是量着他們的力量慢慢地領他們前行。他知道他的兒女們年幼嬌嫩，牛羊正在乳養的時候。他知道他們一天能行多少路；他考慮了然後才安排他們的行程。而且這條曠野的路程，以前他也曾走過；何處崎嶇、何處兇險、何處炎熱、何處寒冷，他都經歷過。所以他對他們說：“我要慢慢地領你們前行。”“因為這條路你們向來沒有走過。”（書三：4）
前面的路程我們也向來沒有走過，可是主耶穌曾走過。我們的前途真是茫然無所知，可是主都經過。這一程使我們心慌意亂，那一程使我們筋疲力盡，另一程使我們乾渴得舌貼牙床，又一程使我們喘不過氣來━其實以前主都嘗過、走過。經上說：“耶穌因走路困乏。”（約四：6）眾水沖淹祂，卻不能息滅祂的愛情。祂所經歷的苦難使祂成為最好的牧者。“祂知道我們的本體，思念我們不過是塵土”（詩一零三：14）。祂每時每刻體恤我們；不讓我們走一步過於我們力量的路。前面一程雖然有些難行，但是盡可放心；因為祂不是加力量使我們得以安然過去，定是吩咐我們突然止步。━海弗格爾
決非永遠是蔥綠的牧場，
有時全知全能的神祂指引我們
走過崎嶇的道路，黑暗茫茫。
不論是山頂的鳥語花香，
不論是深谷的陰沈淒涼，
因為祂總在那裏，我決不彷徨
━巴雷
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January 4 “Jesus saith unto him, Go thy way; thy son liveth.
And the man believed the word that Jesus had spoken unto him, and he went his
way.” (John 4:50)
“When ye pray, believe.” (Mark
When there is a matter that requires definite prayer, pray till
you believe God, until with unfeigned lips you can thank Him for the answer.
If the answer still tarries outwardly, do not pray for it in such a way that
it is evident that you are not definitely believing for it. Such a prayer in place of being a help will be a hindrance; and when
you are finished praying, you will find that your faith has weakened or has
entirely gone. The urgency that you felt to offer this kind of prayer is
clearly from self and Satan. It may not be wrong to mention the matter in
question to the Lord again, if He is keeping you waiting, but be sure you do
so in such a way that it implies faith. Do not pray yourself out of faith.
You may tell Him that you are waiting and that you are
still believing Him and therefore praise Him for the answer. There is
nothing that so fully clinches faith as to be so sure of the answer that you
can thank God for it. Prayers that pray us out of faith deny both God's
promise in His Word and also His whisper "Yes," that He gave us in
our hearts. Such prayers are but the expression of the unrest of one's heart,
and unrest implies unbelief in reference to the answer to prayer. "For
we which have believed do enter into rest"
(Heb. 4:3). This prayer that prays ourselves out of
faith frequently arises from centering our thoughts on the difficulty rather
than on God's promise. Abraham "considered not his own body,"
"he staggered not at the promise of God" (Rom.
Faith is not a
sense, nor sight, nor reason, but a taking God at His Word. – Evans.
The beginning of
anxiety is the end of faith, and the beginning of true faith is the end of
anxiety. ━ George Mueller.
You will never learn faith in comfortable surroundings. God gives us the promises in a quiet hour; God seals our covenants with great and gracious words, then He steps back and waits to see how much we believe; then He lets the tempter come, and the test seems to contradict all that He has spoken. It is then that faith wins its crown. That is the time to look up through the storm, and among the trembling, frightened seamen cry, "I believe God that it shall be even as it was told me."(Acts.27:25)
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一月四日
“耶穌對他說回去罷；你的兒子活了。那人信耶穌所說的話，就回去了。”
（約四：50）
“你們禱告祈求…只要信…”
（可十一：24）
如果這裏有一件事需要專一的禱告，就該禱告直到你能信神，直到你能發出無偽的讚美來感謝神的答應。如果神的答應一時還在中途，切勿重新求神答應你的祈求，因為這表示你沒有信神。這種不信的禱告非但不能幫助你什麼，反能減少或消滅你的信心。獻上這種禱告的催促，定是出乎撒但或是自己。這也許不能算錯：當神還放你在一個等候的地位，你再去向祂申說，可是切記你必須帶着信心。不要把你自己禱告得失了信心。你可以告訴祂你仍然等着祂、相信祂，因此仍然讚美感謝祂的答應。你如果確信答應必將來到，你能夠先為着尚未來到的答應感謝讚美神。我告訴你：沒有一件東西比這更能堅固你的信心。把我們禱告得失了信心的禱告，是否認神在經上給我們的應許，也否認神在我們心中給我們的一聲“是”。這種禱告不過表示我們的心沒有安息，沒有安息就是不信禱告的答應。“但我們已相信的人，得以進入那安息”（來四：3）。這種把我們自己禱告得失了信心的禱告，常是因為我們的思想集中在難處上過於在神的應許上。亞伯拉罕“不想到自己的身體…不疑惑神的應許”（羅四章19/20直譯）。讓我們儆醒禱告，免得入了迷惑，以致把我們自己禱告得失了信心。
信心不是感覺、不是眼見、不是理由，乃是在神的話語上抓住神。━伊文思
焦急的開始就是信心的結束，信心的開始就是焦急的結束。━莫勒
在舒適的環境中你絕不會學到信心的功課。神常在我們孤單的時候給我們應許；然後用祂恩典的話語當作印蓋在所給我們的約上，便暫時退後去看我們究竟相信多少；祂又讓那誘惑人的來試探我們，讓我們的遭遇似乎與祂所說的完全相反。這時候就是信心贏得冠冕的時候。這時候就該在黑雲之下、風波之中，發出勝利的歡呼來；“我信神祂怎樣對我說，事情也要怎樣成就”（徒二十七：25）
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January 5 “Lord, there is none
beside thee to help.”
(2 Chron.
Remind God of His entire responsibility. "There is none
beside thee to help." The odds against Asa were enormous. There was a million of men in arms
against him, besides three hundred chariots. It seemed impossible to hold his own against that vast multitude. There were no allies
who would come to his help; his only hope, therefore, was in God. It may be
that your difficulties have been allowed to come to so alarming a pitch that
you may be compelled to renounce all creature aid, to which in lesser trials
you have had recourse, and cast yourself back on your Almighty Friend.
Put God between yourself and the foe. To Asa's faith, Jehovah seemed to stand between the might of Zerah and himself, as one who had no strength. Nor
was he mistaken. We are told that the Ethiopians were destroyed before the
Lord and before His host, as though celestial combatants flung themselves
against the foe in Israel's behalf, and put the large host to rout, so that
Israel had only to follow up and gather the spoil. Our God is Jehovah of
hosts, who can summon unexpected reinforcements at any moment to aid His
people. Believe that He is there between you and your difficulty, and what
baffles you will flee before Him, as clouds before the gale. – F. B. Meyer.
“When nothing whereon to lean remains,
When strongholds crumble to dust;
When nothing is sure but that God still reigns,
That is just the time to trust.
“’Tis better to walk by faith than
sight.
In this path of yours and mine;
And the pitch-black night, when there’s no outer light
Is the time for faith to shine.”
Abraham believed
God, and said to sight, “Stand back!” and to the laws of nature, “Hold your
peace!” and to a misgiving heart, “Silence, thou lying temper!” He believed
God. – Joseph Parker
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一月五日 “耶和華啊，惟有你能幫助…”
（代下十四：11）
讓我們提醒神，叫祂負完全的責任，“惟有你能幫助…”攻擊亞撒的有兵士百萬、戰車三百。亞撒和猶太人要抵擋古實王的大軍似乎是不可能的一回事。沒有聯盟軍隊去援助他；所以，他惟一的盼望是神。或許你也有這般可怕的難處逼你放棄你平時所有的依據，而專一投靠全能的神。
亞撒的信心看見耶和華站在那耀武揚威的謝拉和毫無力量的自己中間。他並沒有錯誤。我們看見古實人果然敗在耶和華和祂軍隊面前，所以猶太人只要跟在祂後面收集掠物就是了。我們的神是萬軍之耶和華，祂能隨時召集援軍來拯救祂的子民。相信祂站在你和你的難處中間，無論什麼困難都會在祂面前逃跑，如雲在疾風面前被吹散一般。━梅爾
當堡壘碎成瓦礫，
正是你無所依恃，
除了神以外，一無可靠
這正是信主之時。
在你我所行這條路口，
信心比眼見更可依仗，
雖然茫茫夜色黑暗，
但是信心能放光亮。
亞伯拉罕信神，對眼見說：“退去”！對自然的定律說：“不要作聲”！對疑懼的心說：“閉口，你這謊言的誘惑者”！祂信神。━派克約瑟
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January 6
“When thou passest through the waters…they shall not overflow thee.” (Isa. 43:2)
"God does not open paths for us in advance of our coming. He
does not promise help before help is needed. He does not remove obstacles out
of our way before we reach them. Yet when we are on the edge of our need,
God's hand is stretched out.
Many people forget this, and are forever worrying about
difficulties which they foresee in the future. They expect that God is going to
make the way plain and open before them, miles and miles ahead; whereas He
has promised to do it only step by step as they may need. You must get to the
waters and into their floods before you can claim the promise. Many people
dread death, and lament that they have not “dying grace.” Of course, they
will not have dying grace when they are in good health, in the midst of
life's duties, with death far in advance. Why should they have it then? Grace
for duty is what they need then, living grace; then dying grace when they come to die. – J. R. M.
"When thou passest through the
waters"
Deep the waves may be and cold,
But Jehovah is our refuge,
And His Promise is our hold;
For the Lord Himself hath sait it,
He, the faithful God and true:
"When thou comest to the waters
Thou shalt not go down, BUT
THROUGH."
Seas of sorrow, seas of trial,
Bitterest anguish, fiercest pain,
Rolling surges of temptation
Sweeping over heart and brain ━
They shall never overflow us
For we know His word is true;
All His waves and all His billows
He will lead us safely through.
Threatening breakers of destruction,
Doubt's insidious undertow,
Shall not sink us, shall not drag us
Out to ocean depths of woe;
For His promise shall sustain us,
Praise the Lord, whose Word is true!
We shall not go down, or under,
For He saith, "Thou passest THROUGH."
━ Annie Johnson Flint. |
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一月六日 “你從水中經過...水必不漫過你”
(賽四十三；2)
神並不為我們開路，如果我們尚未起步。神並不給我們幫助，如果我們還不需要幫助，神並不除去我們路上的攔阻，如果我們還沒有碰到。可是一等到我們真有需要的時侯神的手就伸出來了。
許多神的兒女竟把這個原則忘了，終日掛慮前面未來的難處。他們盼望神先把前面幾十裏的路都鋪平了；但是神只肯照着他們的需要一步一步的開路。你必須從水中經過，然後才可求神實現祂的應許。有許多人怕死，歎息自己並沒有得到神在臨終時所給的祝福。當然，他們得不到，因為身體健康，正在作工的時侯，離死還遠得很哩。他們沒有這種需要。祂們需要的是工作的恩典，生活的恩典；等到死期臨到才需要臨終時的恩典。━密勒
當你從水中經過，
浪何深，水何冷。
我們有耶和華神的庇護；
祂的諾言使我們無所恐怖，
因為真實的神可信的主，
祂曾親口說過；
“當你來到江河，
你必不下沉，定能安渡。”
如海的悲哀，如海的磨難，
無限的煩惱，極頂的痛苦。
誘惑如洶湧的浪潮，
陣陣襲上心頭，
都不能使我們沉淪偃仆，
我們深信祂的話為真。
一切的波濤，一切的風浪，
祂會引導我們安渡。
暗礁多麼險惡，
潛流像可疑的陷阱，
但不能傾覆我們，
也不能把我們逐到大海深處。
因為祂的諾言給我們幫助，
讚美主，祂的話是真！
我們必不向下沉淪，
祂曾說：你們必得安渡。
━範麗
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January 7 “I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content.” (Phil. 4:11)
Paul, denied of every comfort, wrote the above words in his
dungeon. A story is told of a king who went into his garden one morning, and
found everything withered and dying. He asked the oak that stood near the
gate what the trouble was. He found it was sick of life and determined to die
because it was not tall and beautiful like the pine. The pine was all out of
heart because it could not bear grapes, like the vine. The vine was going to
throw its life away because it could not stand erect and have as fine fruit
as the peach tree. The geranium was fretting because it was not tall and
fragrant like the lilac; and so on all through the garden. Coming to a
heart's-ease, he found its bright face lifted as cheery as ever. "Well,
heart's-ease, I'm glad, amidst all this discouragement, to find one brave
little flower. You do not seem to be the least disheartened." "No,
I am not of much account, but I thought that if you wanted an oak, or a pine,
or a peach tree, or a lilac, you would have planted one; but as I knew you
wanted a heart's-ease, I am determined to be the best little heart's-ease
that I can."
"Others may do a greater work,
But you have your part to do;
And no one in all God's heritage
Can do it so well as you."
They who are God's without reserve, are in every state content; for they will only what He wills, and desire to do for Him whatever He desires them to do; they strip themselves of everything, and in this nakedness find all things restored an hundredfold.
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一月七日 “我無論在什麼景況，都可以知足，這是我已經學會了” (腓四：11)
保羅，輕看了一切的福樂，在監獄中寫上上面的幾句話。有一個故事講到一個國王一天早晨獨自到他的花園中去散步，他發現所有的花草樹木都枯萎凋謝了。園中充滿了死象，一無生氣。國王非常詫異，就問園門口的一棵橡樹：它們中間究竟出了什麼岔子。後來他才知道橡樹因為自怨沒有松樹那樣高大俊秀，所以就生出厭世之心，不想活了。松樹又恨自己不能像葡萄藤那樣多結果子。葡萄藤也將自盡，因為它終日匍伏於地，不能直立，又不能像桃樹那樣開美麗可愛的花。牽牛花，也病倒了，因為它歎自己沒有紫丁香那樣芬芳。其餘的都垂頭喪氣，怨自己不如人，只有一枝頂小的心安草，國王見它仍在噴香吐豔，維持原狀。國王高興極了，對它說：“心安草，我真歡喜，別的都悲觀厭世，只有你這枝小草這樣勇敢。你似乎一點都沒有沮喪。”小草兒回答說：“王阿，我絕對沒有，連一絲的灰心，一毫的失望，也沒有。我雖然算不得什麼，但是我知道如果你要一棵橡樹，或者一棵松樹或者葡萄藤，或者桃樹，或者牽牛花，或者紫丁香，你就會去種植；我知道你要我作一枝小的心安草，所以我就心滿意足地盡力作一枝小的心安草”。
別人或擔當更大任務，
但你有你本分的工作，
在神所揀選子民之中，
無人比得上你更適確。
那些不為自己留起絲毫地位的奉獻者，在萬事上都能知足；因為他們只願意神所願意的，只作神所要他們作的。他們剝奪自己的一切，在這樣的赤裸中，神在今世償還他們百倍。
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January 8 “I will cause the shower to come down in his season; there shall be
showers of blessing.” (Ezek. 34:26)
What is thy season this morning? Is it the season of drought?
Then that is the season for showers. Is it a season of great heaviness and
black clouds? Then that is the season for showers. “As thy day so shall thy
strength be.” “I will give thee showers of blessing.”
The word is in the plural. All kinds of blessings God will send. All God's
blessings go together, like links in a golden chain. If He gives converting
grace, He will also give comforting grace. He will send “showers of
blessings.” Look up today, O parched plant, and open thy leaves and flowers
for a heavenly watering. – Spurgeon.
“Let but thy heart become a
valley low,
And God will rain on it till
it will overflow.”
Thou, O Lord,
canst transform my thorn into a flower. And I want my thorn transformed into
a flower. Job got the sunshine after the rain, but has the rain been all
waste? Job wants to know, I want to know, if the shower had nothing to do
with the shining. And Thou canst tell me ━ Thy Cross can tell me. Thou hast crowned Thy sorrow. Be this my
crown, O Lord. I only triumph in Thee when I have learned the radiance of the
rain. ━ George Matheson.
The fruitful life seeks showers as well as sunshine.
"The
landscape, brown and sere beneath the sun,
Needs
but the cloud to lift it into life;
The
dews may damp the leaves of tree and flower,
But it requires the cloud-distilled shower
To bring rich verdure to the lifeless life.
“Ah, how like this, the landscape of a life:
Dews
of trial fall like incense, rich and sweet;
But
bearing little in the crystal tray –
Like
nymphs of night, dews lift at break of day
And
transient impress leave, like lips that meet.
"But
clouds of trials, bearing burdens rare,
Leave
in the soul, a moisture settled deep:
Life
kindles by the magic law of God;
And
where before the thirsty camel trod,
There
richest beauties to life’s landscape leap.
"Then
read thou in each cloud that comes to thee
The
words of Paul, in letters large and clear:
So
shall those clouds thy soul with blessing feed,
And
with a constant trust as thou dost read,
All
things together work for good. Fret not, nor fear !”
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一月八日
“我也必叫時雨落下，必有福如甘霖而降”
（結三十四：26）
今天早晨你的光景如何？是不是一個枯燥的光景？那麼你正需要時雨滋潤了。是不是一個憂鬱煩惱的光景？那麼你正需要時雨調劑了。“你的日子如何，你的力量也必如何”（申三十三：25）。“必有福如甘霖而降”。“福”字在原文中是多數的。意思是神要降各種━不止一樣━的福。神一切的祝福聯在一起，如一條金鏈一般━降下。如果祂給我們得救的恩典，祂也要給我們得勝的恩典。恩典上還要加上恩典。祂的祝福真如甘霖一般。哦，枯萎的植物呵！張開你的葉子和花瓣來接受從天上來的時雨罷。━司布真
只要讓你的心，像低窪的山谷，
神時降下甘霖，直到穀中沾足。
主啊：你能使我的荊棘變成花朵。我願我的荊棘變成花朵。約伯在雨後獲得陽光，雨是完全白費的嗎？約伯想知道，我也想知道，那場傾盆大雨和雨後的陽光普照，是否毫無關係？你能告訴我━你的十字架能告訴我。你已給你的苦難加上王冠。主啊！願這是我的王冠。我知道了雨的榮耀，我唯有為你而歡欣。 ━ 馬得遜
收穫豐富的生命需求陽光，同時也需要求時雨。
烈日之下的景色，一片枯黃憔悴，
只望雲兒將生機換回。
露珠或能滋潤枝葉，
怎能比得沛然甘霖，
使繁茂代替枯萎。
人生何嘗不是如此，
滴滴露珠，何讓甘旨，
玉盤中淺淺的沾潤，
可惜朝曦一現，即復消逝，
宛若庭間的少女，
輕輕一吻，疾去如矢。
雨從雲中毫不費力，傾泄如注，
浸潤到靈魂的深處，
神的大能點燃了生命，
如在饑渴的駱駝面前，
展開了一片嫩綠的草原。
細看每一朵飛來的雲塊，
仿佛銘刻着保羅的訓導，
祂說其中有你靈魂的糧食，
以永恆的信心牢記此語，
萬事互相效力，
你不必憂慮，更不必恐懼。
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January 9 “For I reckon that the sufferings of the present time are not
worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.” (Rom.
I kept for nearly a year the flask-shaped cocoon of an emperor
moth. It is very peculiar in its construction. A narrow opening is left in
the neck of the flask, through which the perfect insect forces its way, so
that a forsaken cocoon is as entire as one still
tenanted, no rupture of the interlacing fibers having taken place. The great
disproportion between the means of egress and the size of the imprisoned
insect makes one wonder how the exit is ever accomplished at all ━ and it never is
without great labor and difficulty. It is supposed that the pressure to which
the moth's body is subject in passing through such a narrow opening is a
provision of nature for forcing the juices into the vessels of the wings,
these being less developed at the period of emerging from the chrysalis than
they are in other insects.
I happened to witness the first efforts of my prisoned moth to escape from its long confinement. During
a whole forenoon, from time to time, I watched it patiently striving and
struggling to get out. It never seemed able to get beyond a certain point,
and at last my patience was exhausted. Very probably the confining fibers
were drier and less elastic than if the cocoon had been left all winter on
its native heather, as nature meant it to be. At all events I thought I was
wiser and more compassionate than its Maker, and I resolved to give it a
helping hand. With the point of my scissors I snipped the confining threads
to make the exit just a very little easier, and lo! immediately,
and with perfect ease, out crawled my moth dragging a swollen body and little shrivelled wings. In vain I watched to see that marvellous process of expansion in which these silently
and swiftly develop before one's eyes; and as I traced the exquisite spots
and markings of divers colors which were all there in miniature, I longed to
see these assume their due proportions and the creature to appear in all its
perfect beauty, as it is, in truth, one of the loveliest of its kind. But I
looked in vain. My false tenderness had proved its ruin. It never was
anything but a stunted abortion, crawling painfully through that brief life
which it should have spent flying through the air on rainbow wings. I have
thought of it often, often, when watching with pitiful eyes those who were
struggling with sorrow, suffering, and distress; and I would fain cut short
the discipline and give deliverance. Short-sighted man! How know I that one
of these pangs or groans could be spared? The far-sighted, perfect love that
seeks the perfection of its object does not weakly shrink from present,
transient suffering. Our Father's love is too true to be weak. Because He
loves His children, He chastises them that they may be partakers of His
holiness. With this glorious end in view, He spares not for their crying.
Made perfect through sufferings, as the Elder Brother was, the sons of God
are trained up to obedience and brought to glory through much tribulation. ━ Tract.
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一月九日
“我想現在的苦楚，若比起將來要顯於我們的榮耀，就不足介意了” （羅八：18）
我有一個天蛾的繭兒，差不多藏了一年。它的結構非常特異。一頭是一條細管，一頭是一個球形的囊，很像試驗室中的細頸瓶。當蛾出繭的時侯，它必須從球形囊那裏爬過那條極細的管兒，然後才能脫身，飛翔在空中。它的身體這樣肥大，那條管兒這樣細小，人人都會希奇它怎樣能夠出來呢，它一定會碰見多少難處，花費多少心機與力氣。據生物學家講：它在作蛹的時侯，翅膀萎縮不發達；脫繭的時侯，必須經過這一番掙扎，身體中的體質才能流到翅脈中去，兩翅才能有力飛翔空中。
有一天，我恰巧看見那久囚的蟲兒開始活動了。整個的早晨，我忍耐着在它旁邊看它在裏面努力，奮鬥，掙扎，可是還不能進前絲毫。它似乎再沒有可能出來了，最後我的耐心破產了。我就想我比造物者更智慧，更慈愛，我決意要幫它一忙。我用我的小剪刀把繭上的絲剪薄了些，讓它出來得稍為容易一些這正是我得意之作！看哪！一會兒我的蛾兒很容易地爬出來了，身體是反常的臃腫，翅膀是反常的萎縮。我守在它旁邊等它徐徐地伸展它的翅膀，顯露它細巧精緻的彩紋。豈知大失所望。我虛偽的溫柔竟成了禍根。可憐的蟲兒，非但不能撲着它帶虹的翅翼，飛翔空中，呈現它完全的美麗，竟很痛苦地爬了一會就不壽而終了。啊，我的智慧和慈愛害了它！一個沒有發育完全的蛾兒，被我強使流產了！我把這事想了又想。許多時侯我們看見人們在憂愁，困苦，艱難中掙扎，我們覺得很是可憐；我們常願意把神的法則變更，給他們屬人的幫助。啊，眼光淺近的人啊！我們怎麼知道這些唏噓和呻吟不是他們的必需呢？目光深遠的，完全的愛，為要人們得益，只得不顧憐祂們目前暫時的苦楚了。我們父神的愛正是如此。因為祂愛祂的兒女，所以才施管教，要使祂們有分於祂的聖潔。有了這樣榮耀的目的，祂才不顧祂們的眼淚。神使祂的長子在苦難中得榮耀；照樣，也使祂的眾兒女在患難中學習順服，得以進入榮耀。
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January 10 “They were forbidden of the Holy
Ghost to preach the Word in
It is interesting to study the methods of His guidance as it was extended
towards these early heralds of the Cross. It consisted largely in
prohibitions, when they attempted to take another course than the right. When
they would turn to the left, to
Beloved, whenever
you are doubtful as to your course, submit your judgment absolutely to the
Spirit of God, and ask Him to shut against you every door but the right one.
Say,
"Blessed
Spirit, I cast on Thee the entire responsibility of closing against my steps
any and every course which is not of God. Let me hear Thy voice behind me
whenever I turn to the right hand or the left."
In the meanwhile,
continue along the path which you have been already treading. Abide in the
calling in which you are called, unless you are clearly told to do something
else. The Spirit of Jesus waits to be to you, O pilgrim, what He was to Paul.
Only be careful to obey His least prohibition; and where, after believing
prayer, there are no apparent hindrances, go forward with enlarged heart. Do
not be surprised if the answer comes in closed doors. But when doors are shut
right and left, an open road is sure to lead to
Is there some
problem in your life to solve,
Some passage
seeming full of mystery?
God knows, who
brings the hidden things to light.
He keeps the
key.
Is there some
door closed by the Father's hand
Which widely
opened you had hoped to see?
Trust God and wait ━ for when He
shuts the door
He keeps the
key.
Is there some
earnest prayer unanswered yet,
Or answered NOT
as you had thought 'twould be?
God will make
clear His purpose by-and-by.
He keeps the
key.
Have patience
with your God, your patient God,
All wise, all
knowing, no long tarrier He,
And of the door
of all thy future life
He keeps the
key.
Unfailing
comfort, sweet and blessed rest,
To know of
EVERY door He keeps the key.
That He at last
when just HE sees 'tis best,
Will give it
THEE.
━Anonymous
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一月十日 “聖靈……禁止他們在亞西亞講道”
（徒十六：6）
在聖經中研究聖靈怎樣引導以前的十字架先鋒，是很有趣味的一回事。祂的引導大半是禁止，因為他們頂容易走錯誤的路。這次保羅和西拉想向左，到亞西亞一行，聖靈禁止他們。他們想向右，到庇推尼去，聖靈又禁止他們。再過一時保羅將在那裏興起他生平最大的工作；可是目前聖靈在那裏還未替他開傳道之門。在那裏攻破撒但城堡的時機尚未成熟。亞波羅必須在那裏先起開墾的工作。況且當時別的地方更需要他們去工作；他們也必須受更深的造就，然後才能到亞西亞和庇推尼一帶去建立神的教會。
親愛的，當你茫然不知前途的時侯，你就該完全讓聖靈替你定規，求祂封閉一切左道開啟唯一的正路。你該說：
“神的靈阿，我把選擇的責任完全交托給你，求你封閉左道，不讓我的腳步走在一切不是神命定的路上。當我偏左傾右的時侯，求你讓我聽見你的聲音”。
同時，在你沒有清楚聖靈的指引之先，你應當繼續站在你原來的路上。守在你原有的呼召中，除非你得了新的清楚的呼召。哦，旅客哪，耶穌的靈今日等着要啟示你，好似祂當日啟示保羅一樣。在你這方面，只須小心順服，連一個頂小的禁止也須順服；信心的禱告之後，如果聖靈沒有攔阻，你只管放膽前進。可是也不要希奇，聖靈的答應盡可以是禁止。若是左右的路是關閉的，前面的路是開啟的，那條路頂清楚是通到特羅亞去的。在那裏有路加等着，在那裏有異象會指引我們當走的路，在那裏有“敞開的門”和機會，在那裏也有忠心的朋友們等着。━梅爾
在人生的過程中，充滿了謎一般的問題，
你想找尋答案嗎？
唯有神知道，祂能揭開奇妙，
祂有一把匙鑰。
幾扇門被天父關閉，你希望開啟嗎？
你想瞧透門裏的奧秘嗎？
當信賴神，當等待神，
祂有一把匙鑰。
有些懇切的祈禱，有否回音？
或雖有答覆，卻不是你所祈求！
神慢慢地會顯明祂的旨意，
祂有一把匙鑰。
神有最大的耐心，祂是無所不知，
你也要對神有耐心，安分等待。
你未來的生命之門，
在祂有一把匙鑰。
我知道了祂有匙鑰，可開我心扉之門，
就得到了無窮的安慰，心中安息平寧。
祂選擇最適當的時候，
終於為我們一一開啟。
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