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STREAMS IN THE DESERT Compiled
by Mrs.Chas.E.Cowman |
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前 言 此书乃美国卡门夫人灵修巨著，出版以来，其行销之广，无法统计；供应圣徒每日灵粮，获得造就者，何止千百万人，全球各国，大都均有译本，我国早在四十年前由唐醒先生等将此书予以节译，但其中尚有五十三篇以及诗词，则全付阙如。 敝社同工，经二载之整理与补缺，始成此全译本，特将中英文并列对照，便利读者深入领悟，但愿荣耀颂赞归于我主我神，祝福沛临阅者诸君，阿门。 少年归主社编辑室谨识 主后一九七四年七月 |
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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 “你们要过去得为业的那地，乃是有山，有谷，雨水滋润之地。是耶和华你神所眷顾的，从岁首到年终，耶和华你神的眼目时常看顾那地” (申十一:11-12)
亲爱的读者，今天我们站在一个新的境界上，前途茫然。摆在我们面前的是一个新年，等待我们经过。谁也不能预知在将来的路程中有什么遭遇，什么变迁，什么需要。可是在这里有一段从父神那里来的信息，顶能安慰我们，顶能激励我们━“耶和华你神…眷顾…从岁首到年终，耶和华你神的眼目时常看顾那地。”
我们所有的接济都可仰赖于神。祂那里有不干的活泉，永流的江河。祂那里有恩典的誓约。如果祂作我们供给的源头，就什么都不能使我们失望。没有热，没有旱能叫那道“使神的城欢喜”(诗四十六篇四节)的河干涸。
我们要得的那地乃是有山有谷之地。不是一片光滑的平原。若是我们前面的生活只是平而又光，何等乏味！我们需要山和谷。山使雨水汇集谷中，使地肥沃多结果子。山对于我们的生命也是这样。山一般的难处原是催赶我们到施恩座前去得有福的甘霖的；我们所厌烦的山境，反使我们得福。多少人因为厌烦山谷的辛苦，贪恋平地的舒服，因此受风霜的摧残，倒毙在山下的平地，埋葬在黄金色的沙中。神的山是祂子民的保障！
我们不能说前面没有损失，忧虑，试炼。我们只能信靠。父神必从今日起伸出祂大能的手来扶持我们走当走的路程。所以我们的新年是一个快乐，有福的新年！
祂引导我们走上新的路程，
虽然我们步伐缓慢艰困，
祂引导我们往高处攀登，有时我们沮丧逡巡，
有时目眩头昏，甚之那风雨使白昼晦冥；
但等天朗云散，
祂仍在引导我们。
祂引导我们度过坎坷岁月，
其间有多少梦幻境况，
有多少疑惧惊恐：祂指引我们的脚步，
不至落入失望，伤心和忧虑的迷津；
祂的旨意已完成，
祂仍在引导我们。
━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
“这围殿的旁屋，越高越宽。因旁屋围殿悬叠而上；所以越上越宽，从下一层，由中一层，到上一层。” （结四十一：7）
愿你的前程永远向高向上,
今天我就为此祷告而瞻望；
随着岁月推移,季节更新，
愿你的前程永远向高向上。
愿你天天继续向高向上,
你的前途等你去开创，
愿你继续向高向上,
一直到救主的身旁。
虽然苦难磨折你,悲怆临到你；
你仍要向高向上,
魔鬼设计引诱你离开基督，
但你仍要向高向上。
能在平地上驰驱，不该就算知足，我们还该力求登峰造极。在山顶上，露珠何等光明、美丽，空气多么清洁、新鲜，居民何其幽逸、清高，他们一推窗就可望见新耶路撒冷！
多少信徒甘心乐意地过着矿工一般的生活，终日不见天日。他们的脸上原该膏着天上的喜乐油，可是却抹着泪珠。他们原该在宫殿顶上散步，欣赏利巴嫩的美景，可是却满足于牢狱中的枯萎。醒来罢，信徒们，离开你的平地，努力向上罢！丢去你的倦、懒、冷，以及一切拦阻你向上追求基督的。让基督作你的源头、你的中心，要让祂在万有上居首位。不要满意你目前所有的。渴望一个更高、更贵、更丰更富的生命。向着天！追求更近神！━司布真
我愿攀登绝顶，
沾得一缕神的容光；
到达之前，我仍要不断祈求，
主啊：引我升向更上方。
我们中间没有多少人真是尽我们所能的活着。我们留恋在地上，因为我们怕攀山越岭。山程的崎岖、峻峭，寒了我们的心，因此我们终生耽搁在雾谷中，从不会了解山顶上的佳境。啊！宽容自己的损失何其大啊！只要我们肯决心登高寻求神，前面有极大的荣耀和祝福等着我们。━密勒
繁星之下的建造者,他们所建造太渺少。 |
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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。” （创三十三：14）
这真是一幅惟妙惟肖的图画，描写雅各对群畜和孩子的慈心！他不愿意他们赶走一天的路程。他不愿意照粗人以扫的心意去催促他们。他乃是量着他们的力量慢慢地领他们前行。他知道他的儿女们年幼娇嫩，牛羊正在乳养的时候。他知道他们一天能行多少路；他考虑了然后才安排他们的行程。而且这条旷野的路程，以前他也曾走过；何处崎岖、何处凶险、何处炎热、何处寒冷，他都经历过。所以他对他们说：“我要慢慢地领你们前行。”“因为这条路你们向来没有走过。”（书三：4）
前面的路程我们也向来没有走过，可是主耶稣曾走过。我们的前途真是茫然无所知，可是主都经过。这一程使我们心慌意乱，那一程使我们筋疲力尽，另一程使我们干渴得舌贴牙床，又一程使我们喘不过气来━其实以前主都尝过、走过。经上说：“耶稣因走路困乏。”（约四：6）众水冲淹祂，却不能息灭祂的爱情。祂所经历的苦难使祂成为最好的牧者。“祂知道我们的本体，思念我们不过是尘土”（诗一零三：14）。祂每时每刻体恤我们；不让我们走一步过于我们力量的路。前面一程虽然有些难行，但是尽可放心；因为祂不是加力量使我们得以安然过去，定是吩咐我们突然止步。━海弗格尔
决非永远是葱绿的牧场，
有时全知全能的神祂指引我们
走过崎岖的道路，黑暗茫茫。
不论是山顶的鸟语花香，
不论是深谷的阴沈凄凉，
因为祂总在那里，我决不彷徨
━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
“耶稣对他说回去罢；你的儿子活了。那人信耶稣所说的话，就回去了。”
（约四：50）
“你们祷告祈求…只要信…”
（可十一：24）
如果这里有一件事需要专一的祷告，就该祷告直到你能信神，直到你能发出无伪的赞美来感谢神的答应。如果神的答应一时还在中途，切勿重新求神答应你的祈求，因为这表示你没有信神。这种不信的祷告非但不能帮助你什么，反能减少或消灭你的信心。献上这种祷告的催促，定是出乎撒但或是自己。这也许不能算错：当神还放你在一个等候的地位，你再去向祂申说，可是切记你必须带着信心。不要把你自己祷告得失了信心。你可以告诉祂你仍然等着祂、相信祂，因此仍然赞美感谢祂的答应。你如果确信答应必将来到，你能够先为着尚未来到的答应感谢赞美神。我告诉你：没有一件东西比这更能坚固你的信心。把我们祷告得失了信心的祷告，是否认神在经上给我们的应许，也否认神在我们心中给我们的一声“是”。这种祷告不过表示我们的心没有安息，没有安息就是不信祷告的答应。“但我们已相信的人，得以进入那安息”（来四：3）。这种把我们自己祷告得失了信心的祷告，常是因为我们的思想集中在难处上过于在神的应许上。亚伯拉罕“不想到自己的身体…不疑惑神的应许”（罗四章19/20直译）。让我们儆醒祷告，免得入了迷惑，以致把我们自己祷告得失了信心。
信心不是感觉、不是眼见、不是理由，乃是在神的话语上抓住神。━伊文思
焦急的开始就是信心的结束，信心的开始就是焦急的结束。━莫勒
在舒适的环境中你绝不会学到信心的功课。神常在我们孤单的时候给我们应许；然后用祂恩典的话语当作印盖在所给我们的约上，便暂时退后去看我们究竟相信多少；祂又让那诱惑人的来试探我们，让我们的遭遇似乎与祂所说的完全相反。这时候就是信心赢得冠冕的时候。这时候就该在黑云之下、风波之中，发出胜利的欢呼来；“我信神祂怎样对我说，事情也要怎样成就”（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 “耶和华啊，惟有你能帮助…”
（代下十四：11）
让我们提醒神，叫祂负完全的责任，“惟有你能帮助…”攻击亚撒的有兵士百万、战车三百。亚撒和犹太人要抵挡古实王的大军似乎是不可能的一回事。没有联盟军队去援助他；所以，他惟一的盼望是神。或许你也有这般可怕的难处逼你放弃你平时所有的依据，而专一投靠全能的神。
亚撒的信心看见耶和华站在那耀武扬威的谢拉和毫无力量的自己中间。他并没有错误。我们看见古实人果然败在耶和华和祂军队面前，所以犹太人只要跟在祂后面收集掠物就是了。我们的神是万军之耶和华，祂能随时召集援军来拯救祂的子民。相信祂站在你和你的难处中间，无论什么困难都会在祂面前逃跑，如云在疾风面前被吹散一般。━梅尔
当堡垒碎成瓦砾，
正是你无所依恃，
除了神以外，一无可靠
这正是信主之时。
在你我所行这条路口，
信心比眼见更可依仗，
虽然茫茫夜色黑暗，
但是信心能放光亮。
亚伯拉罕信神，对眼见说：“退去”！对自然的定律说：“不要作声”！对疑惧的心说：“闭口，你这谎言的诱惑者”！祂信神。━帕克约瑟
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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 “你从水中经过...水必不漫过你”
(赛四十三；2)
神并不为我们开路，如果我们尚未起步。神并不给我们帮助，如果我们还不需要帮助，神并不除去我们路上的拦阻，如果我们还没有碰到。可是一等到我们真有需要的时侯神的手就伸出来了。
许多神的儿女竟把这个原则忘了，终日挂虑前面未来的难处。他们盼望神先把前面几十里的路都铺平了；但是神只肯照着他们的需要一步一步的开路。你必须从水中经过，然后才可求神实现祂的应许。有许多人怕死，叹息自己并没有得到神在临终时所给的祝福。当然，他们得不到，因为身体健康，正在作工的时侯，离死还远得很哩。他们没有这种需要。祂们需要的是工作的恩典，生活的恩典；等到死期临到才需要临终时的恩典。━密勒
当你从水中经过，
浪何深，水何冷。
我们有耶和华神的庇护；
祂的诺言使我们无所恐怖，
因为真实的神可信的主，
祂曾亲口说过；
“当你来到江河，
你必不下沉，定能安渡。”
如海的悲哀，如海的磨难，
无限的烦恼，极顶的痛苦。
诱惑如汹涌的浪潮，
阵阵袭上心头，
都不能使我们沉沦偃仆，
我们深信祂的话为真。
一切的波涛，一切的风浪，
祂会引导我们安渡。
暗礁多么险恶，
潜流像可疑的陷阱，
但不能倾覆我们，
也不能把我们逐到大海深处。
因为祂的诺言给我们帮助，
赞美主，祂的话是真！
我们必不向下沉沦，
祂曾说：你们必得安渡。
━范丽
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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 “我无论在什么景况，都可以知足，这是我已经学会了” (腓四：11)
保罗，轻看了一切的福乐，在监狱中写上上面的几句话。有一个故事讲到一个国王一天早晨独自到他的花园中去散步，他发现所有的花草树木都枯萎凋谢了。园中充满了死象，一无生气。国王非常诧异，就问园门口的一棵橡树：它们中间究竟出了什么岔子。后来他才知道橡树因为自怨没有松树那样高大俊秀，所以就生出厌世之心，不想活了。松树又恨自己不能像葡萄藤那样多结果子。葡萄藤也将自尽，因为它终日匍伏于地，不能直立，又不能像桃树那样开美丽可爱的花。牵牛花，也病倒了，因为它叹自己没有紫丁香那样芬芳。其余的都垂头丧气，怨自己不如人，只有一枝顶小的心安草，国王见它仍在喷香吐艳，维持原状。国王高兴极了，对它说：“心安草，我真欢喜，别的都悲观厌世，只有你这枝小草这样勇敢。你似乎一点都没有沮丧。”小草儿回答说：“王阿，我绝对没有，连一丝的灰心，一毫的失望，也没有。我虽然算不得什么，但是我知道如果你要一棵橡树，或者一棵松树或者葡萄藤，或者桃树，或者牵牛花，或者紫丁香，你就会去种植；我知道你要我作一枝小的心安草，所以我就心满意足地尽力作一枝小的心安草”。
别人或担当更大任务，
但你有你本分的工作，
在神所拣选子民之中，
无人比得上你更适确。
那些不为自己留起丝毫地位的奉献者，在万事上都能知足；因为他们只愿意神所愿意的，只作神所要他们作的。他们剥夺自己的一切，在这样的赤裸中，神在今世偿还他们百倍。
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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
“我也必叫时雨落下，必有福如甘霖而降” （结三十四：26）
今天早晨你的光景如何？是不是一个枯燥的光景？那么你正需要时雨滋润了。是不是一个忧郁烦恼的光景？那么你正需要时雨调剂了。“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”字在原文中是多数的。意思是神要降各种━不止一样━的福。神一切的祝福联在一起，如一条金链一般━降下。如果祂给我们得救的恩典，祂也要给我们得胜的恩典。恩典上还要加上恩典。祂的祝福真如甘霖一般。哦，枯萎的植物呵！张开你的叶子和花瓣来接受从天上来的时雨罢。━司布真
只要让你的心，像低洼的山谷，
神时降下甘霖，直到谷中沾足。
主啊：你能使我的荆棘变成花朵。我愿我的荆棘变成花朵。乔布在雨后获得阳光，雨是完全白费的吗？乔布想知道，我也想知道，那场倾盆大雨和雨后的阳光普照，是否毫无关系？你能告诉我━你的十字架能告诉我。你已给你的苦难加上王冠。主啊！愿这是我的王冠。我知道了雨的荣耀，我唯有为你而欢欣。
━ 马得逊
收获丰富的生命需求阳光，同时也需要求时雨。
烈日之下的景色，一片枯黄憔悴，
只望云儿将生机换回。
露珠或能滋润枝叶，
怎能比得沛然甘霖，
使繁茂代替枯萎。
人生何尝不是如此，
滴滴露珠，何让甘旨，
玉盘中浅浅的沾润，
可惜朝曦一现，即复消逝，
宛若庭间的少女，
轻轻一吻，疾去如矢。
雨从云中毫不费力，倾泄如注，
浸润到灵魂的深处，
神的大能点燃了生命，
如在饥渴的骆驼面前，
展开了一片嫩绿的草原。
细看每一朵飞来的云块，
仿佛铭刻着保罗的训导，
祂说其中有你灵魂的粮食，
以永恒的信心牢记此语，
万事互相效力，
你不必忧虑，更不必恐惧。
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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
“我想现在的苦楚，若比起将来要显于我们的荣耀，就不足介意了” （罗八：18）
我有一个天蛾的茧儿，差不多藏了一年。它的结构非常特异。一头是一条细管，一头是一个球形的囊，很像试验室中的细颈瓶。当蛾出茧的时侯，它必须从球形囊那里爬过那条极细的管儿，然后才能脱身，飞翔在空中。它的身体这样肥大，那条管儿这样细小，人人都会希奇它怎样能够出来呢，它一定会碰见多少难处，花费多少心机与力气。据生物学家讲：它在作蛹的时侯，翅膀萎缩不发达；脱茧的时侯，必须经过这一番挣扎，身体中的体质才能流到翅脉中去，两翅才能有力飞翔空中。
有一天，我恰巧看见那久囚的虫儿开始活动了。整个的早晨，我忍耐着在它旁边看它在里面努力，奋斗，挣扎，可是还不能进前丝毫。它似乎再没有可能出来了，最后我的耐心破产了。我就想我比造物者更智慧，更慈爱，我决意要帮它一忙。我用我的小剪刀把茧上的丝剪薄了些，让它出来得稍为容易一些这正是我得意之作！看哪！一会儿我的蛾儿很容易地爬出来了，身体是反常的臃肿，翅膀是反常的萎缩。我守在它旁边等它徐徐地伸展它的翅膀，显露它细巧精致的彩纹。岂知大失所望。我虚伪的温柔竟成了祸根。可怜的虫儿，非但不能扑着它带虹的翅翼，飞翔空中，呈现它完全的美丽，竟很痛苦地爬了一会就不寿而终了。啊，我的智慧和慈爱害了它！一个没有发育完全的蛾儿，被我强使流产了！我把这事想了又想。许多时侯我们看见人们在忧愁，困苦，艰难中挣扎，我们觉得很是可怜；我们常愿意把神的法则变更，给他们属人的帮助。啊，眼光浅近的人啊！我们怎么知道这些唏嘘和呻吟不是他们的必需呢？目光深远的，完全的爱，为要人们得益，只得不顾怜祂们目前暂时的苦楚了。我们父神的爱正是如此。因为祂爱祂的儿女，所以才施管教，要使祂们有分于祂的圣洁。有了这样荣耀的目的，祂才不顾祂们的眼泪。神使祂的长子在苦难中得荣耀；照样，也使祂的众儿女在患难中学习顺服，得以进入荣耀。
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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 “圣灵……禁止他们在亚西亚讲道”
（徒十六：6）
在圣经中研究圣灵怎样引导以前的十字架先锋，是很有趣味的一回事。祂的引导大半是禁止，因为他们顶容易走错误的路。这次保罗和西拉想向左，到亚西亚一行，圣灵禁止他们。他们想向右，到庇推尼去，圣灵又禁止他们。再过一时保罗将在那里兴起他生平最大的工作；可是目前圣灵在那里还未替他开传道之门。在那里攻破撒但城堡的时机尚未成熟。亚波罗必须在那里先起开垦的工作。况且当时别的地方更需要他们去工作；他们也必须受更深的造就，然后才能到亚西亚和庇推尼一带去建立神的教会。
亲爱的，当你茫然不知前途的时侯，你就该完全让圣灵替你定规，求祂封闭一切左道开启唯一的正路。你该说：
“神的灵阿，我把选择的责任完全交托给你，求你封闭左道，不让我的脚步走在一切不是神命定的路上。当我偏左倾右的时侯，求你让我听见你的声音”。
同时，在你没有清楚圣灵的指引之先，你应当继续站在你原来的路上。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，耶稣的灵今日等着要启示你，好似祂当日启示保罗一样。在你这方面，只须小心顺服，连一个顶小的禁止也须顺服；信心的祷告之后，如果圣灵没有拦阻，你只管放胆前进。可是也不要希奇，圣灵的答应尽可以是禁止。若是左右的路是关闭的，前面的路是开启的，那条路顶清楚是通到特罗亚去的。在那里有路加等着，在那里有异象会指引我们当走的路，在那里有“敞开的门”和机会，在那里也有忠心的朋友们等着。━梅尔
在人生的过程中，充满了谜一般的问题，
你想找寻答案吗？
唯有神知道，祂能揭开奇妙，
祂有一把匙钥。
几扇门被天父关闭，你希望开启吗？
你想瞧透门里的奥秘吗？
当信赖神，当等待神，
祂有一把匙钥。
有些恳切的祈祷，有否回音？
或虽有答复，却不是你所祈求！
神慢慢地会显明祂的旨意，
祂有一把匙钥。
神有最大的耐心，祂是无所不知，
你也要对神有耐心，安分等待。
你未来的生命之门，
在祂有一把匙钥。
我知道了祂有匙钥，可开我心扉之门，
就得到了无穷的安慰，心中安息平宁。
祂选择最适当的时候，
终于为我们一一开启。
━佚名
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