Category: 260靈修

第五章

¹¹ 論到這些事，我們有很多話要說，可是很難解釋；因為你們已經遲鈍了，聽不進去。 ¹² 到這個時候，你們應該已經作老師了；可是你們還需要有人再把神道理的初步教導你們。你們成了只能吃奶而不能吃乾糧的人！ ¹³ 凡是吃奶的，還是個嬰孩，對公義的道理沒有經歷； ¹⁴ 只有長大成人的，才能吃乾糧，他們的官能因為操練純熟，就能分辨是非了。

 

默想

1. 基督徒靈命若要成熟，就當不斷以神的話語作準繩來分辨是非善惡。不要以為擁有屬靈的知識就是成熟；能夠引述長篇經文，或作神學性的辯論都不是最重要的。信徒的成長乃表現在刻意以神的話語為原則，來作是非的分辨。「奶」與「乾糧」的區別，不在於個人認識基督教教義的膚淺或廣泛，而是在於我們怎樣處理神的話語。對那些聽了神的話卻不去遵行的，他們所知道的真理就是「奶」；但對其他聽了又去遵行神話語的，同樣的真理就成了喂飽他們的「乾糧」。
2. 從今天的經文中，我聽見神的話語嗎？有哪方面是我可以實際應用在生活中的？祈求聖靈賜我力量與勇氣，讓我可以確實地在今天或這星期中做出來？

 

禱告與筆錄：

繼續安靜在神面前，與神對話，並聆聽祂對我說的話。將心中的思想（心得），或是與神的禱告，記錄在「靈程筆記簿」上面。

 

 

CHAPTER 5

¹¹We have much to say about this, but it is hard to explain because you are slow to learn. ¹²In fact, though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you the elementary truths of God’s word all over again. You need milk, not solid food! ¹³Anyone who lives on milk, being still an infant, is not acquainted with the teaching about righteousness. ¹⁴But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil.

MEDITATION

1. We become mature in our faith by constantly using the truth God has revealed to distinguish good from evil.  Don’t mistake possessing information for maturity.  The ability to quote long passages of Scripture or to argue theology is meaningless.  What brings believer to maturity is the conscious effort of distinguishing between good and evil on criteria established by God’s Word.  The difference between “milk” and “meat” is found in neither the depth nor breadth of our knowledge in Christian doctrine, but in the way we live out the Word of God.  For those who merely hear the Word but have no action, the truths they know are milk; whereas for those who not only hear but also act upon the Word of God, the same truths become solid and sustaining meat.
2. What is the one thing that I learn from God’s Word today that I can apply to my life?  How can I specifically apply it today or in this week?  Pray that the Holy Spirit will empower and remind me to truly do this one thing I’ve identified today.

 

Prayer & Journaling:

Stay with God for a little longer.  Continue to converse with God and listen to what he wants to tell me.  Then write down any thought and/or prayer in the  “Spiritual Journal” book.

第四章

¹⁰ 因為那進入神安息的人，就歇了自己的工作，好像神歇了自己的工作一樣。 ¹¹ 所以，我們要竭力進入那安息，免得有人隨著那不順從的樣子就跌倒了。 ¹² 神的道是活的，是有效的，比一切兩刃的劍更鋒利，甚至可以刺入剖開靈與魂，關節與骨髓，並且能夠辨明心中的思想和意念。 ¹³ 被造的在神面前沒有一樣不是顯明的，萬有在他的眼前都是赤露敞開的；我們必須向他交帳。

 

默想

1. 我們大部分人都知道相信神話語的重要，但若我們真正誠實的話，我們必須承認有時候讀經只是例行公事，並非享受。想想看，究竟聖經對我有多重要？若我有一年的時間不能讀也不能聽到聖經的任何片段，我會很惦掛嗎？為什麼？「被造的在神面前沒有一樣不是顯明的」是什麼意思？我曾否在哪些方面經歷過「神的道是活的，是有效的，比一切兩刃的劍更鋒利」？
2. 感謝神所賜的話語，求神賜我更多熱愛及渴望神話語的心。容許神在前面的日子裡，藉著祂的話語使我「在他的眼前……赤露敞開」。
3. 將12-13節背起來，並經常用這兩節經文來禱告，求神使祂的話在我生命中越來越為重要。

 

禱告與筆錄：

繼續安靜在神面前，與神對話，並聆聽祂對我說的話。將心中的思想（心得），或是與神的禱告，記錄在「靈程筆記簿」上面。

 

 

 

Chapter 4

¹⁰for anyone who enters God’s rest also rests from his own work, just as God did from his. ¹¹Let us, therefore, make every effort to enter that rest, so that no one will fall by following their example of disobedience.  ¹²For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. ¹³Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account.

MEDITATION

1. Most of us believe that God’s word is important.  But if we are honest, reading the Bible sometimes feels like a chore – less than enjoyable.  Now, think about how important the Scripture is to me.  What if I were unable to read or hear anything from the Bible for a year?  Would I miss it?  Why or why not?  What does “Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight” mean to me?  In what ways have I experienced God’s Word to be precise and powerful, “sharper than any double-edged sword”?
2. Start praying by thanking God for the gift of His Word.  Ask Him to give me more passion and desire for it.  Give God permission to let His Word to make me “uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him” in the days and weeks ahead.
3. Memorize vv12-13 and use them as my prayer regularly as a way of asking God to make Scripture increasingly important in my life.

 

Prayer & Journaling:

Stay with God for a little longer.  Continue to converse with God and listen to what he wants to tell me.  Then write down any thought and/or prayer in the  “Spiritual Journal” book.

 

第三章

 

⁷ 所以，就像聖靈所說的：“如果你們今天聽從他的聲音， ⁸ 就不要硬著心，好像在曠野惹他發怒、試探他的日子一樣； ⁹ 在那裡，你們的祖先以試驗來試探我，觀看我的作為有四十年之久。 ¹⁰ 所以，我向那個世代的人發怒，說：‘他們心裡常常迷誤，不認識我的道路。’ ¹¹ 我就在烈怒中起誓，說：‘他們絕不可進入我的安息。’” ¹² 弟兄們，你們要小心，免得你們中間有人存著邪惡、不信的心，以致離棄了永活的神； ¹³ 趁著還有叫作“今天”的時候，總要天天互相勸勉，免得你們中間有人受了罪惡的誘惑，心裡就剛硬了。 ¹⁴ 如果我們把起初的信念堅持到底，就是有分於基督的人了。 ¹⁵ 經上說：“如果你們今天聽從他的聲音，就不要硬著心，像惹他發怒的時候一樣。” ¹⁶ 那時，聽了他的話而惹他發怒的是誰呢？不就是摩西從埃及領出來的那些人嗎？ ¹⁷ 四十年之久，神向誰發怒呢？不就是向那些犯了罪陳屍曠野的人嗎？ ¹⁸ 他又向誰起誓說，他們絕對不可以進入他的安息呢？不就是向那些不順從的人嗎？ ¹⁹ 這樣看來，他們不能進入安息，是因為不信的緣故。

 

思想

1. 這幾節經文是針對屬靈生命的兩大敵人，就是心硬（8節）與不信（12節）。昔日以色列人聽見神的話，卻硬著心，不信靠神，與神對抗的，因此不能享有安息與平安。
2. 今天我們也是一樣。任何人聽見並回應耶穌的信息，都能經歷內心完全的平安。只有當我們不願全然信靠神，且拒絕聽從神的時候，我們就無法得到內心的平安。
3. 安靜在神面前，思想我的現況：我是否已經得救卻仍痛苦？已經信主卻仍焦慮？已經悔改卻仍不得滿足？祈求聖靈幫助我看見內心深處，有沒有什麼地方我是硬著心，不願順服神的聲音？若有，求聖靈引導，賜我順服與信靠的心，來甘心聽從神。

 

禱告與筆錄：

繼續安靜在神面前，與神對話，並聆聽祂對我說的話。將心中的思想（心得），或是與神的禱告，記錄在「靈程筆記簿」上面。

 

Chapter 3

⁷So, as the Holy Spirit says:    “Today, if you hear his voice, ⁸do not harden your hearts    as you did in the rebellion, during the time of testing in the desert, ⁹where your fathers tested and tried me  and for forty years saw what I did.  ¹⁰That is why I was angry with that generation, and I said, ‘Their hearts are always going astray, and they have not known my ways. ¹¹So I declared on oath in my anger, ‘They shall never enter my rest.’ ”

¹²See to it, brothers, that none of you has a sinful, unbelieving heart that turns away from the living God. ¹³But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called Today, so that none of you may be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness. ¹⁴We have come to share in Christ if we hold firmly till the end the confidence we had at first. ¹⁵As has just been said:    “Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts as you did in the rebellion.”

¹⁶Who were they who heard and rebelled? Were they not all those Moses led out of Egypt? ¹⁷And with whom was he angry for forty years? Was it not with those who sinned, whose bodies fell in the desert? ¹⁸And to whom did God swear that they would never enter his rest if not to those who disobeyed? ¹⁹So we see that they were not able to enter, because of their unbelief.

MEDITATION

1. These verses warn against two enemies of the spiritual life: a hardened heart (v8) and unbelief(v12).  The Exodus generation heard God’s word through Moses.  However, they would not trust God and refused to obey Him.  As a result, they found neither rest nor peace.
2. This is the same with us today.  When we heard and responded to the message of Jesus, we are invited to experience a rest and complete inner peace.  However, if we are not willing to trust God completely and refuse to respond his God’s voice, then we will not experience this peace of God.
3. Quiet before the Lord and reflect: Am I saved yet miserable?  Do I believe God but still anxious?  Have I repented yet unresolved?  Could it be that I have hardened my heart, and am unwilling to obey God?  Ask for guidance and a willing spirit to trust and obey God.

Prayer & Journaling:

Stay with God for a little longer.  Continue to converse with God and listen to what he wants to tell me.  Then write down any thought and/or prayer in the  “Spiritual Journal” book.

第二章

 

⁶但是有人在聖經上某一處證實說

“人算甚麼，你竟記念他？

世人算甚麼，你竟眷顧他？

⁷你使他比天使稍低微一點，

卻賜給他榮耀尊貴作冠冕，

   ⁸使萬物都服在他的腳下。

”既然萬有都服了他，就沒有剩下一樣不服他的了。但是現在我們還沒有看見萬有都服他。⁹不過，我們看見那位暫時成了比天使卑微的耶穌，因為受了死的痛苦，就得了榮耀尊貴作冠冕，好叫他因著神的恩典，為萬人嘗了死味。

¹⁰萬有因他而有、藉他而造的那位，為了要帶領許多兒子進入榮耀裡去，使救他們的元首藉著受苦而得到成全，本是合適的。

默想

1. 出聲讀出這段經文。
2. 再次慢慢地讀一遍經文，留意當中有哪些詞句觸動我的？反覆思想經文的主題與詞句。安靜一下，求神幫助我明白它們的意義，然後繼續思想這些字詞。為什麼我會被這些字詞觸動？這是否與我目前的生活狀況——感受、環境、抉擇——有關連？
3. 求主讓我能繼續不斷地被神的榮耀、神當受的尊崇，強烈地吸引。

 

禱告與筆錄：

繼續安靜在神面前，與神對話，並聆聽祂對我說的話。將心中的思想（心得），或是與神的禱告，記錄在「靈程筆記簿」上面。

 

 

Chapter 2

⁶But there is a place where someone has testified:
“What is man that you are mindful of him,
the son of man that you care for him?
⁷You made him a little lower than the angels;
you crowned him with glory and honor
⁸ and put everything under his feet.”

In putting everything under him, God left nothing that is not subject to him. Yet at present we do not see everything subject to him. ⁹But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels, now crowned with glory and honor because he suffered death, so that by the grace of God he might taste death for everyone.

¹⁰In bringing many sons to glory, it was fitting that God, for whom and through whom everything exists, should make the author of their salvation perfect through suffering.

 

Meditation

1. Read the passage aloud once.
2. Then read the passage again slowly.  What words or phrases capture my attention the most?  Pause for a moment and ask God to help me understand them and continue to meditate on them.  Why do I think those words or phrases fascinate me?  Are they related to what is going on in my life right now – feelings, circumstances, decisions, etc.?
3. Pray that I will be continually fascinated by God’s glory, honour and majesty.

 

Prayer & Journaling:

Stay with God for a little longer.  Continue to converse with God and listen to what he wants to tell me.  Then write down any thought and/or prayer in the  “Spiritual Journal” book.

 

第一章

 

¹神在古時候，曾經多次用種種方法，藉著先知向我們的祖先說話；²在這末後的日子，卻藉著他的兒子向我們說話。神已經立他作萬有的承受者，並且藉著他創造了宇宙（“宇宙”或譯：“諸世界”或“眾世代”）。³他是神榮耀的光輝，是神本質的真象，用自己帶有能力的話掌管萬有；他作成了潔淨罪惡的事，就坐在高天至尊者的右邊。⁴ 他所承受的名比天使的名更尊貴，所以他遠比天使崇高。

 

默想

1. 重讀幾遍這幾節經文，讓它在我心中回響，熟悉這些字句，嘗試背熟它。
2. 花些時間默想這段經文。若是可能，站在一面鏡子前面，看看自己的影像。想一想，這是多不可思議的事，耶穌來到世上，竟然是向世界反映神的形象！再想想，耶穌竟然統管著整個宇宙萬物，祂是維繫人類歷史的重要因素！我對耶穌的認識，與這裡的描述，有多少差距？
3. 再一次站在鏡子前面，看著鏡中的我，並求神賜我勇氣與指引；幫助我在世上，在每天生活中都能像鏡子一樣，反映耶穌的樣子。
4. 思想我今天當如何反映耶穌的形象，並且實際地去做出來。

 

禱告與筆錄：

繼續安靜在神面前，與神對話，並聆聽祂對我說的話。將心中的思想（心得），或是與神的禱告，記錄在「靈程筆記簿」上面。

 

 

 

Hebrews (NIV)

Chapter 1

¹In the past God spoke to our forefathers through the prophets at many times and in various ways, ²but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom he made the universe. ³The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven.

Meditation

1. Read these few verses a few times.  Become familiar with the words and try to memorize it.
2. Spend time meditating on the passage.  If possible, stand in front of a mirror and see my own reflection in the mirror.  How incredible it is that Jesus is to be like a mirror to reflect God’s image to the world!  Then consider the monumental act of holding everything together.   He is indeed the backbone of human history!  Is my knowledge of God different from what is described here?
3. Stand in front of the mirror and look at my own reflection again. And ask God for the courage and guidance to help me mirror Jesus to the world, reflecting him as I go about every day.
4. Consider how I might reflect Jesus today – and do it.

 

Prayer & Journaling:

Stay with God for a little longer.  Continue to converse with God and listen to what he wants to tell me.  Then write down any thought and/or prayer in the “Spiritual Journal” book.

 

第一章

⁸   我在基督裡雖然可以放膽吩咐你作應作的事，   ⁹   然而像我這上了年紀的保羅，現在又是為基督耶穌被囚禁的，寧願憑著愛心請求你，   ¹⁰   就是為我在囚禁時所生的兒子歐尼西慕求你；   ¹¹   他從前對你沒有甚麼好處，但現在對你我都有好處。   ¹²   我現在打發他親自回到你那裡去；他是我所心愛的。   ¹³   我本來想把他留在我這裡，使他在我為福音被囚禁時，可以替你服事我。   ¹⁴   但還沒有得到你的同意，我就不願意這樣作，好叫你的善行不是出於勉強，而是出於甘心。   ¹⁵   也許他暫時離開你，正是為了使你永遠得著他，   ¹⁶   不再是奴僕，而是高過奴僕，是親愛的弟兄。對我固然是這樣，對你來說，不論按肉身或在主內的關係，更是這樣。   ¹⁷   所以，你要是把我看作同伴，就接納他好像接納我一樣。   ¹⁸   如果他使你受了損失，或欠你甚麼，都記在我的帳上。   ¹⁹   “我必償還”，這是我保羅親手寫的。用不著我說，甚至你的生命，你也是欠我的。   ²⁰   所以弟兄啊！讓我在主裡得到你的幫助，使我的心在基督裡得著暢快。   ²¹   我深信你會聽從，也知道你所作的必超過我所說的，因此才寫信給你。

 

默想：

1. 當我們信主後，我們與其他信徒成了弟兄姊妹。有沒有什麼基督徒，我很難接受他們為主裡的弟兄或姐妹？為什麼會這樣？花些時間來搜尋一下我的內心，究竟是因為他們的背景，族群，行為，文化或神學的差異，或是其他理由？我要怎樣改變才能接受這位為主裡的弟兄或姐妹？
2. 告訴神，我對於接受這些人的掙扎。感謝神，因祂接納我，並感謝祂，因祂看我和其他人都是祂的孩子。求神幫助我能用同樣的眼光來看其他人。
3. 這個星期，當我遇到與我不同的人時，求主提醒我，神是以“我的孩子”來看他們的——這也包括我在內。

 

禱告與筆錄：

繼續安靜在神面前，與神對話，並聆聽祂對我說的話。將心中的思想（心得），或是與神的禱告，記錄在「靈程筆記簿」上面。

 

Philemon (NIV)

Chapter 1

⁸Therefore, although in Christ I could be bold and order you to do what you ought to do, ⁹yet I appeal to you on the basis of love. I then, as Paul—an old man and now also a prisoner of Christ Jesus— ¹⁰I appeal to you for my son Onesimus, who became my son while I was in chains. ¹¹Formerly he was useless to you, but now he has become useful both to you and to me.  ¹²I am sending him—who is my very heart—back to you. ¹³I would have liked to keep him with me so that he could take your place in helping me while I am in chains for the gospel. ¹⁴But I did not want to do anything without your consent, so that any favor you do will be spontaneous and not forced. ¹⁵Perhaps the reason he was separated from you for a little while was that you might have him back for good— ¹⁶no longer as a slave, but better than a slave, as a dear brother. He is very dear to me but even dearer to you, both as a man and as a brother in the Lord.  ¹⁷So if you consider me a partner, welcome him as you would welcome me. ¹⁸If he has done you any wrong or owes you anything, charge it to me. ¹⁹I, Paul, am writing this with my own hand. I will pay it back—not to mention that you owe me your very self. ²⁰I do wish, brother, that I may have some benefit from you in the Lord; refresh my heart in Christ. ²¹Confident of your obedience, I write to you, knowing that you will do even more than I ask.

 

Meditation

1. Are there one or more Christians that I have a hard time accepting as brother or sister in Christ?  Why is it hard to think of this Christian this way?  Take time to explore my heart.  Is it the background, ethnicity, behavior, cultural or theological difference, or something else? What would need to change in me in order to accept this person as a Christian brother or sister?
2. Talk to God about this.  Tell Him about my struggle of accepting others.  Thank God that He accepts me and thank Him that He sees me and other believers as no less than His very own children.  Ask God to help me see others with the same eyes.
3. As I encounter people this week who are different from me, remind myself that God sees them with the label “my children” – and that means me too.

Prayer & Journaling:

Stay with God for a little longer.  Continue to converse with God and listen to what he wants to tell me.  Then write down any thought and/or prayer in the 2012 “Spiritual Journal” book.

第三章

¹   你要提醒他們服從執政的和掌權的，聽從他們，隨時準備作各種善工。   ²   不可毀謗人，要與人無爭，謙恭有禮，向眾人表現充分溫柔的心。   ³   我們從前也是無知、不順服、受了迷惑、被各種私慾和逸樂所奴役，生活在惡毒和嫉妒之中，是可憎可惡的，並且互相仇視。   ⁴   然而，到了　神我們的救主顯明他的恩慈和憐愛的時候，   ⁵   他就救了我們，並不是由於我們所行的義，而是照著他的憐憫，藉著重生的洗和聖靈的更新。   ⁶   聖靈就是　神藉著我們的救主耶穌基督豐豐富富澆灌在我們身上的，   ⁷   使我們既然因著他的恩典得稱為義，就可以憑著永生的盼望成為後嗣。   ⁸   這話是可信的，我願你確實地強調這些事，使信　神的人常常留心作善工；這些都是美事，並且是對人有益的。   ⁹   你要遠避愚昧的辯論、家譜、紛爭和律法上的爭執，因為這都是虛妄無益的。   ¹⁰   分門結黨的人，警戒一兩次之後，就要和他絕交。   ¹¹   你知道這種人已經背道，常常犯罪，定了自己的罪。

 

默想：

1. 坊間流行減肥廣告的使用“前後照片”作效果宣傳 ，其實這“前後”對照的果效，對基督信仰比減肥計劃更適用，而且使用的方法也更可靠。基督在我們的生命中使我們改變，我們的生命也確實得到改變。救恩不僅是永生的事——讓我們得救可以上天堂。救恩乃是整個信仰群體的生活形態，不是個人與神的私事，而是夫妻之間，父母兒女之間，朋友之間，同事之間，牧者與會友之間的公開關係。
2. 再次慢慢地讀這段經文，用些時間來思想“前後照片” 的比喻。想想我信仰路途上“前後照片” 是怎樣的？照片上的差距很明顯嗎？

 

禱告與筆錄：

繼續安靜在神面前，與神對話，並聆聽祂對我說的話。將心中的思想（心得），或是與神的禱告，記錄在「靈程筆記簿」上面。

 

Chapter 3

¹Remind the people to be subject to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready to do whatever is good, ²to slander no one, to be peaceable and considerate, and to show true humility toward all men.  ³At one time we too were foolish, disobedient, deceived and enslaved by all kinds of passions and pleasures. We lived in malice and envy, being hated and hating one another. ⁴But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, ⁵he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, ⁶whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior, ⁷so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life. ⁸This is a trustworthy saying. And I want you to stress these things, so that those who have trusted in God may be careful to devote themselves to doing what is good. These things are excellent and profitable for everyone.  ⁹But avoid foolish controversies and genealogies and arguments and quarrels about the law, because these are unprofitable and useless. ¹⁰Warn a divisive person once, and then warn him a second time. After that, have nothing to do with him. ¹¹You may be sure that such a man is warped and sinful; he is self-condemned.

 

Meditation

1. The “before and after” snapshot is as applicable to Christian faith as to diet clinics.  In fact, the approach is much more reliable in faith than diet fads.  Christ in the life makes life different.  And makes us different too. Salvation is not merely a matter of eternity, of getting “saved” so we can get to heaven.  It’s a way of life for the community.  It isn’t a private matter between the soul and God but a very public matter between husbands and wives, parents and children, friends and co-workers, pastors and parishioners.
2. Slowly read through this passage again.  Take a moment to think of the metaphor of the “before and after” snapshot.  What is the “before and after” snapshot of my faith journey?  How obvious is the contrast shown?

Prayer & Journaling:

Stay with God for a little longer.  Continue to converse with God and listen to what he wants to tell me.  Then write down any thought and/or prayer in the 2012 “Spiritual Journal” book.

第二章

¹¹   　神拯救萬人的恩典已經顯明出來了。   ¹²   這恩典訓練我們除去不敬虔的心，和屬世的私慾，在今生過著自律、公正、敬虔的生活，   ¹³   等候那有福的盼望，就是我們偉大的　神，救主耶穌基督榮耀的顯現。   ¹⁴   他為我們捨己，為的是要救贖我們脫離一切不法的事，並且潔淨我們作他自己的子民，熱心善工。

 

默想：

1. 保羅對提多所帶領的群羊有一連串的勸勉、批評和指責。現在他從福音的角度看，前幾節的警告應以信心的肯定來平衡。恩典是賜給眾人的，救恩卻有道德的成分：捨棄與訓練，放下舊我，才能擁抱基督裡的新我。
2. 向神禱告，求主引導我有下面一項的成長：

◊  捨棄“不敬虔的心，和屬世的私慾”

◊  穿上“自律、公正、敬虔的生活”

◊  相信“這個新生命現在就開始了”（在今生過著。。。12節）

◊  要“熱心善工”

◊  其他：_________________________________________

 

 

禱告與筆錄：

繼續安靜在神面前，與神對話，並聆聽祂對我說的話。將心中的思想（心得），或是與神的禱告，記錄在「靈程筆記簿」上面。

 

 

Chapter 2 （NIV）

¹¹For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men. ¹²It teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, ¹³while we wait for the blessed hope—the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, ¹⁴who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good.

 

Meditation

1. Paul has a rather long string of exhortations, judgments, and condemnations for the flock under Titus’ leadership.  But now he puts his rebuke in the context of the gospel.  The hard admonitions of the preceding verses ought to be balanced with this affirmation of faith.  Grace comes to all.  Yet salvation has an ethical component: renouncing and training, letting go of our old selves in order to embrace our new selves in Christ.
2. Ask God to guide me in one or all of these growth:

◊  turning my back on “ungodliness and worldly passions”

◊  taking on a “self-controlled, upright and godly” life

◊  believing that this new life is starting right now “in this present age”

◊  being “eager to do what is good”

◊  other: __________________________________________

 

Prayer & Journaling:

Stay with God for a little longer.  Continue to converse with God and listen to what he wants to tell me.  Then write down any thought and/or prayer in the 2012 “Spiritual Journal” book.

 

第一章

¹　神的僕人、耶穌基督的使徒保羅（這是為著　神選民的信心，和那合乎敬虔真理的知識；²這都是根據永生的盼望，這永生就是沒有謊言的　神在萬世以前所應許的。³到了適當的時候，　神就藉著福音的宣講，把他的道顯明出來。照著　神我們救主的命令，這宣講的使命交託了我），⁴寫信給提多，就是那在共同的信仰上作我真兒子的。願恩惠平安從父　神和我們的救主基督耶穌臨到你。

 

默想：

1. 保羅自覺自己位居一個榮耀的地位，是傳揚神永生應許的使徒。我傳福音時是否也有這樣榮耀的自覺？
2. 我是神的僕人嗎？我在從事這個榮耀的召命嗎？為什麼？我的生命要怎樣，才能在別人當中，以言說和行為來傳揚這信仰？用些時間，仔細且實際地思想這些問題，找出幾個可行的意見。
3. 禱告祈求神幫助我成為祂的僕人。然後，記得，我是以基督的僕人開始今天的一天。

 

禱告與筆錄：

繼續安靜在神面前，與神對話，並聆聽祂對我說的話。將心中的思想（心得），或是與神的禱告，記錄在「靈程筆記簿」上面。

 

 

Chapter 1 (NIV)

¹Paul, a servant of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ for the faith of God’s elect and the knowledge of the truth that leads to godliness— ²a faith and knowledge resting on the hope of eternal life, which God, who does not lie, promised before the beginning of time, ³and at his appointed season he brought his word to light through the preaching entrusted to me by the command of God our Savior,  ⁴To Titus, my true son in our common faith:
Grace and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Savior.

 

Meditation:

1. Paul described his mission of proclaiming God’s promise of eternal life as a high calling.  Do I also share this understanding when I share the gospel?
2. Am I a servant of God? Am I engaged in this high calling?  Why or why not?  How can my life be promoting the faith among others by word and action?  Take time to consider these questions, being specific.
3. Ask Christ to help me be His servant.   Then, remember that I go into this day as a servant of Christ.

 

Prayer & Journaling:

Stay with God for a little longer.  Continue to converse with God and listen to what he wants to tell me.  Then write down any thought and/or prayer in the 2012 “Spiritual Journal” book.

第四章

²   你們要恆切禱告，在禱告的時候存著感恩的心警醒；   ³   也要為我們禱告，求神為我們開傳道的門，宣講基督的奧祕（我就是為了這個緣故被捆鎖），   ⁴   使我照著我所應當說的，把這奧祕顯明出來。   ⁵   你們要把握時機，用智慧與外人來往。   ⁶   你們的話要常常溫和，好像是用鹽調和的，使你們知道應當怎樣回答各人。

 

默想：

1. 以生命來見證基督是很有效的見證方式，但是這並不足夠。福音是需要以話語來傳遞，並以生命來證實的；話語及生命兩者缺一不可。
2. 我在分享福音的事上，表現如何？我應當在話語或是生命方面，更加改善，以便更有效的傳揚福音？
3. 從5-6節中，我可以學習用什麼原則，來向未信的人接觸？
4. 祈求聖靈，在我所認識的人中，賜給我一、兩個熟悉的面孔，敦促我為他們的得救禱告，並找機會向他們傳福音。

 

禱告與筆錄：

繼續安靜在神面前，與神對話，並聆聽祂對我說的話。將心中的思想（心得），或是與神的禱告，記錄在「靈程筆記簿」上面。

 

 

Chapter 4

²Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful. ³And pray for us, too, that God may open a door for our message, so that we may proclaim the mystery of Christ, for which I am in chains. ⁴Pray that I may proclaim it clearly, as I should. ⁵Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity. ⁶Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.

 

Meditation

1. Expressing Christ in my life is vital to an effective witness.  But it is not enough.  The gospel is a message delivered in words, and authenticated by life.  Both word and life must be shared.
2. How well am I doing in sharing the gospel?  Which do I need to improve (word or life) to become more effective in advancing the gospel?
3. From vv5-6, what principles do I want to build into my life as I relate to non-believers?
4. Pray and ask the Spirit to give me one or two faces of people in your life whom He wants me to pray for and share the gospel with.

 

Prayer & Journaling:

Stay with God for a little longer.  Continue to converse with God and listen to what he wants to tell me.  Then write down any thought and/or prayer in the 2012 “Spiritual Journal” book.

 

第三章

¹   所以，你們既然與基督一同復活，就應當尋求天上的事，那裡有基督坐在神的右邊。   ²   你們要思念的，是天上的事，不是地上的事。   ³   因為你們已經死了，你們的生命與基督一同隱藏在神裡面。   ⁴   基督就是你們的生命，他顯現的時候，你們也要和他一同在榮耀裡顯現。   ⁵   所以要治死你們在地上的肢體，就如淫亂、污穢、邪情、惡慾和貪心，貪心就是拜偶像。。。。

¹²   所以，你們既然是神所揀選的，是聖潔、蒙愛的人，就要存憐憫的心腸、恩慈、謙卑、溫柔和忍耐。   ¹³   如果有人對別人有嫌隙，總要彼此寬容，互相饒恕；主怎樣饒恕了你們，你們也要照樣饒恕人。   ¹⁴   在這一切之上，還要有愛心，愛心是聯繫全德的。   ¹⁵   又要讓基督的平安在你們心裡作主；你們蒙召歸為一體，也是為了這個緣故。你們要有感謝的心。   ¹⁶   你們要讓基督的道豐豐富富地住在你們心裡，以各樣的智慧，彼此教導，互相勸戒，用詩章、聖詩、靈歌，懷著感恩的心歌頌神。   ¹⁷   凡你們所作的，無論是言語或行為，都要奉主耶穌的名，藉著他感謝父神。

 

默想：

1. 慢慢地讀這段經文，仔細的思考穿上新人過程中的幾個部分：

–          新生命是可能的 （3-4節）

–          除去舊生命（5節）

–          穿上新生命（12-14節）

–          穿上新生命所需的內心及行為的改變（15-17節）

2. 那個部分對我是特別需要的？重新回去讀那些經文，再看這個部分的哪個字詞特別觸動我？為什麼？這與其他部分有什麼關連？這又與“聯繫全德的愛心”有什麼關連？
3. 以個人化的經文來向神禱告，例：13節“如果我對別人有嫌隙，求主助我對那人寬容，並饒恕他；主怎樣饒恕了我，我也要照樣饒恕人他。”（可以將自己和對方的名字放進去來禱告。）

 

禱告與筆錄：

繼續安靜在神面前，與神對話，並聆聽祂對我說的話。將心中的思想（心得），或是與神的禱告，記錄在「靈程筆記簿」上面。

 

Chapter 3

¹Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, 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. ³For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. ⁴When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.  ⁵Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry. ……

¹²Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. ¹³Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. ¹⁴And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.  ¹⁵Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. ¹⁶Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God. ¹⁷And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

Meditation:

1. Read the passage and consider these segments included in the process of putting on the new life.

–          A new life is possible (vv3-4)

–          Get rid of the old life (v5)

–          Put on the new life (v12-14)

–          Inner thoughts and behavior needed to put on new life (vv15-17)

2. Which segment of this process speaks to me most right now?  Reread the verses that correspond to that segment.  What word or phrase in that segment speaks to me?  Why?  How does that idea relate to the other segments?  How does it relate to love “which binds them all together in perfect unit”?
3. Pray back to God the segment that speaks to me, personalizing it.  For example, based on v13, Please help me to bear with XX(someone’s name) and forgive XX for the grievances I have against XX.  Help me to forgive as the Lord forgave me.

Prayer & Journaling:

Stay with God for a little longer.  Continue to converse with God and listen to what he wants to tell me.  Then write down any thought and/or prayer in the 2012 “Spiritual Journal” book.

 

第二章

⁸ 你們要謹慎，免得有人不照著基督，而照著人的傳統，和世俗的言論，藉著哲學和騙人的空談，把你們擄去。

¹⁶  所以不要讓人因著飲食、節期、月朔、安息日批評你們，¹⁷ 這些不過是將來的事的影子，那真體卻是屬於基督的。¹⁷這些不過是將來的事的影子，那真體卻是屬於基督的。¹⁸ 不要讓人奪去你們的獎賞，他們以故意謙卑，敬拜天使為樂；迷於自己所見過的；憑著肉體的意念，無故地自高自大；¹⁹ 不與頭緊密相連。其實全身都是藉著關節和筋絡從頭得著供應和聯繫，就照著　神所要求的，生長起來。²⁰ 你們若與基督一同死了，脫離了世俗的言論，為甚麼仍然好像活在世俗中一樣，²¹ 拘守那“不可摸、不可嘗、不可觸”的規條呢？²² （這一切東西，一經使用，就都朽壞了。）這些規條是照著人的命令和教訓而定的，²³在隨著己意敬拜，故作謙卑，和苦待己身等事上，似乎是智慧之言，其實只能叫人放縱肉體，再沒有任何價值。

 

默想：

1. 從8節開始，保羅就批判歌羅西的異端，不是照神在基督裡的啟示，而是根據「人的傳統」和「世俗的言論」所發展出來的一套哲學，是達不到生命豐盛的虛空妄言。
2. 在本段更清楚說明「世俗的言論」就是指舊約中的禮儀規條（16～17、20節）。當然這異端具多重面貌，但其基本精神，就是要靠守規條來得神喜悅，並以為藉此可以達到聖潔豐盛之境。
3. 這類異端的教導，有了根本的錯誤，自然發展出許多錯誤的表現：

   錯誤的敬拜：敬拜天使，按私意敬拜（18、23節）

   錯誤的成長之道：嚴守規條，苦待己身以求聖潔（20～23節）

   錯誤的標榜：沈迷靈異經驗，並以此為誇（18節）

   錯誤的持定：不持定基督，卻謹守舊約的律例規條（16、19節）

4. 在我自己的信仰生活中，或是我周圍的圈子中，是否察覺到有哪些錯誤的救恩教導？將它們逐一列出，帶到小組中討論，若仍有不明之處，盡快找牧者詢問。

 

禱告與筆錄：

繼續安靜在神面前，與神對話，並聆聽祂對我說的話。將心中的思想（心得），或是與神的禱告，記錄在「靈程筆記簿」上面。

 

Chapter 2

⁸See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the basic principles of this world rather than on Christ.

¹⁶Therefore do not let anyone judge you by what you eat or drink, or with regard to a religious festival, a New Moon celebration or a Sabbath day. ¹⁷These are a shadow of the things that were to come; the reality, however, is found in Christ. ¹⁸ Do not let anyone who delights in false humility and the worship of angels disqualify you. Such a person also goes into great detail about what they have seen; they are puffed up with idle notions by their unspiritual mind. ¹⁹ They have lost connection with the head, from whom the whole body, supported and held together by its ligaments and sinews, grows as God causes it to grow. ²⁰ Since you died with Christ to the elemental spiritual forces of this world, why, as though you still belonged to the world, do you submit to its rules: ²¹ “Do not handle! Do not taste! Do not touch!”? ²² These rules, which have to do with things that are all destined to perish with use, are based on merely human commands and teachings. ²³ Such regulations indeed have an appearance of wisdom, with their self-imposed worship, their false humility and their harsh treatment of the body, but they lack any value in restraining sensual indulgence.

Meditation:

1. In v8, Paul criticized the Colossian false teaching that is not based on God’s revelation in Christ but the “hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the elemental spiritual forces of this world”.
2. In this passage, it was clear that the “elemental spiritual forces of this world” refer to the rituals and rules of the Old Testament (vv16-17,20).  The legalistic false teachers were probably advocating obedience to the Law of Moses for justification and sanctification.
3. From these basic mistakes, many wrong manifestations developed:

   self-imposed worship of angels, (vv18, 23); strict adhering to rules and self-denial (vv20-23); indulging in mystic experience it (v18); not focusing on Christ the head, but rule and rituals of the Old Testament (vv16,19)

4. Am I aware of any false teachings of Christ’s salvation in my own faith belief or my church or other churches?  List them down and bring for a discussion at the cell.  Bring it to the pastors if still not clear.

Prayer & Journaling:

Stay with God for a little longer.  Continue to converse with God and listen to what he wants to tell me.  Then write down any thought and/or prayer in the 2012 “Spiritual Journal” book.

第一章

¹⁵   這愛子是那看不見的神的形象，是首先的，在一切被造的之上。   ¹⁶   因為天上地上的萬有：看得見的和看不見的，無論是坐王位的，或是作主的，或是執政的，或是掌權的，都是本著他造的；萬有都是藉著他，又是為著他而造的。   ¹⁷   他在萬有之先；萬有也一同靠著他而存在。   ¹⁸   他是身體的頭，這身體就是教會。他是元始，是死人中首先復生的，好讓他在凡事上居首位；   ¹⁹   因為神樂意使所有的豐盛都住在愛子裡面，   ²⁰   並且藉著他在十字架上所流的血成就了和平，使萬有，無論是地上天上的，都藉著他與神和好了。

 

默想：

1. 站著開聲讀這段經文，以恭敬的姿勢表達我對神話語的尊敬和接納。
2. 這段經文是一首偉大的讚美詩，表達了基督信仰的核心真理。基督是萬有的主，超過世界上一切被造的，祂使神與一切被造物和好。我們的生活建造在其上，個人被塑造改變；藉著基督復和的工作，得以回到神面前，成為聖潔、無有瑕疵、無可指摘的人。基督的超越性表示祂是宇宙的全能統治者；道成肉身表明神的至大權能，藉著耶穌基督彰顯在世界上。基督的內住，意味神繼續透過我們，在這世界彰顯祂的能力。因為基督的內住，我們對將來有盼望；現今在世能過得勝的生活，將來必與基督同在榮耀中。
3. 重讀這段經文，讓自己沉浸在基督崇高的超越性中，思想在這偉大的宇宙主宰的心目中，竟然有我的位置，而且祂居然“內住”我心！“深哉！神豐富的智慧和知識。”（羅11：33）用這節經文作為對至高神由衷的感恩。

 

禱告與筆錄：

繼續安靜在神面前，與神對話，並聆聽祂對我說的話。將心中的思想（心得），或是與神的禱告，記錄在「靈程筆記簿」上面。

 

 

Colossians (NIV)

Chapter 1

¹⁵He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. ¹⁶For by him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by him and for him. ¹⁷He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. ¹⁸And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy. ¹⁹For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, ²⁰and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross.

 

Meditation

1. Stand up and read this passage aloud.  Stand prayerfully in a posture that communicates to God respect and receptivity to His word.
2. This great hymn of acclamation expresses the central truth of Christian faith.  Christ is Lord over all creation and is the reconciler between God and this creation.  Our lives are built upon it, shaped in every way by it, so that now through Christ’s reconciliation we may be given back to God as persons who are holy, blameless, and irreproachable.  Christ’s preeminence means that God is the all-powerful Ruler of heaven and earth.  The Incarnation means that God expresses His supreme power in this world of space and time in the person of Jesus.  “Christ in you” means that God still expresses His supreme power in this world – through us!  Because this Christ is in us, we do have hope for glorious things ahead.  We will triumph today and tomorrow will join Christ in glory!
3. Read this passage again.  Immerse myself in the supremacy of Christ and remember that I am in Him and He is in me!  Read this verse as a humble thanksgiving to the mighty God: “Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God!”(Rom 11:33)

Prayer & Journaling:

Stay with God for a little longer.  Continue to converse with God and listen to what he wants to tell me.  Then write down any thought and/or prayer in the 2012 “Spiritual Journal” book.

第四章

¹⁰ 我在主裡大大地喜樂，因為你們現在又再想起我來；其實你們一向都在想念我，只是沒有機會表示。 ¹¹ 我並不是因為缺乏才這樣說：我已經學會了，無論在甚麼情況之下都可以知足。 ¹² 我知道怎樣處卑賤，也知道怎樣處富裕；我已經得了祕訣，無論在任何情況之下，或是飽足，或是飢餓，或是富裕，或是缺乏，都可以知足。 ¹³ 我靠著那加給我能力的，凡事都能作。 ¹⁴ 然而，你們一同分擔了我的患難，實在是好的。

 

默想：

1．  一個屬靈生命成熟的信徒，他會學習無論在怎樣的經濟景況下，都能安之若素。保羅就是如此；他感謝腓立比信徒對他經濟的資助，同時他也和他們分享他的心態——他雖然對他們很感激們的慷慨，但也希望教會眾人知道，他即使身陷獄中，因為在基督裡，他可以滿足於任何的生活環境中。

2．  傅士德為“簡樸”作了這樣的定義：“從內在的真實光景，流露出來的外在生活方式”。對保羅來說，內在的真實光景是什麼呢？我的生活中有類似的經驗嗎？怎樣可以更加進步？

 

禱告與筆錄：

繼續安靜在神面前，與神對話，並聆聽祂對我說的話。將心中的思想（心得），或是與神的禱告，記錄在「靈程筆記簿」上面。

 

 

Chapter 4

¹⁰I rejoice greatly in the Lord that at last you have renewed your concern for me. Indeed, you have been concerned, but you had no opportunity to show it. ¹¹I am not saying this because I am in need, for.   I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. ¹²I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. ¹³I can do everything through him who gives me strength.  ¹⁴Yet it was good of you to share in my troubles.

 

Meditation:

1. One of the lessons of spiritual maturity is the secret of living well whatever our financial means.  Paul shares this lesson as he thanks the Philippians for their financial support.  Although he is grateful for their generosity, Paul wants the church to know that in Christ he can be satisfied with any standard of living, even in prison.
2. In defining simplicity, Richard Foster writes that it is “an inward reality that results in an outward lifestyle” (Celebration of Discipline).  According to Paul, what is the inward reality?  How close am I to experiencing this in my life?  What can I do to encourage it?

 

Prayer & Journaling:

Stay with God for a little longer.  Continue to converse with God and listen to what he wants to tell me.  Then write down any thought and/or prayer in the 2012 “Spiritual Journal” book.

第三章

⁷ 然而以前對我有益的，現在因著基督的緣故，我都當作是有損的。 ⁸ 不但這樣，我也把萬事當作是有損的，因為我以認識我主基督耶穌為至寶。為了他，我把萬事都拋棄了，看作廢物，為了要得著基督。 ⁹ 並且得以在他裡面，不是有自己因律法而得的義，而是有因信基督而得的義，就是基於信心，從神而來的義， ¹⁰ 使我認識基督和他復活的大能，並且在他所受的苦上有分，受他所受的死； ¹¹ 這樣，我也許可以從死人中復活。

 

默想：

1．  保羅本有傲人的資歷，他的家世、教育、和宗教熱忱，本可使他穩守高位，前途無量。但保羅在與基督相遇時，徹底改變了；他傲人的履歷在主面前毫無用處，所有他以前認為有益的，如今都當作有損了；唯一要緊的，就是他與基督的關係。我們因遇見基督，也必須將一些東西看作是有損的（財產、資歷、和態度等等）。靈命的塑造過程，就是一路上學習認清並捨棄這樣的東西，如此，我們才能專心尋求得著基督。

2．  在我心目中，生命裡，有什麼東西是我引以為傲、甚為珍惜，但卻成為我走天路歷程上毫無價值，反而成為“重擔” 和“纏累的罪”（來12：1）？我當怎樣改變觀點，而將認識我主為至寶，而其他每件事都看為次等？

 

禱告與筆錄：

繼續安靜在神面前，與神對話，並聆聽祂對我說的話。將心中的思想（心得），或是與神的禱告，記錄在「靈程筆記簿」上面。

 

 

Chapter 3

⁷But whatever was to my profit I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. ⁸What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ ⁹and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ—the righteousness that comes from God and is by faith. ¹⁰I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, ¹¹and so, somehow, to attain to the resurrection from the dead.

 

Meditation:

1. Paul had credentials.  His family heritage, training, and zeal would have secured him a prominent place in the society.  But Paul’s encounter with Christ radically changed his values.  When Paul stood face to face with the risen Christ, his resume did nothing for him.  And all that Paul had once considered assets he now counted as losses.  What mattered now was relationship with Christ.  Spiritual formation is learning to recognize and abandon those things that must be counted as losses in light of our encounter with Christ (possessions, credentials, attitudes, etc.), so that we might focus on the “gain” of relationship with Christ.
2. What are the things that I count “gain” but actually are “loss” and may become “the weight and the sin that clings so closely” (Heb 12:1) for my heavenward journey?  How can I change my perspective and consider everything as secondary to knowing Jesus as my Lord?

 

Prayer & Journaling:

Stay with God for a little longer.  Continue to converse with God and listen to what he wants to tell me.  Then write down any thought and/or prayer in the 2012 “Spiritual Journal” book.

 

第二章

1 所以，你們在基督裡若有甚麼勸勉，有甚麼愛心的安慰，有甚麼靈裡的契通，有甚麼慈悲和憐憫， 2 就應當有同樣的思想，同樣的愛心，要心志相同，思想一致，使我充滿喜樂。 3 不要自私自利，也不要貪圖虛榮，只要謙卑，看別人比自己強； 4 各人不要單顧自己的事，也要顧別人的事。 5 你們應當有這樣的意念，這也是基督耶穌的意念。（全節或譯：“你們當以基督耶穌的心為心。”） 6 他本來有神的形象，卻不堅持自己與神平等的地位， 7 反而倒空自己，取了奴僕的形象，成為人的樣式； 8 既然有人的樣子，就自甘卑微，順服至死，而且死在十字架上。 9 因此神把他升為至高，並且賜給他超過萬名之上的名。 10 使天上、地上和地底下的一切，因著耶穌的名，都要屈膝， 11 並且口裡承認耶穌基督為主，使榮耀歸給父神。

 

默想：

1．  這首教會初期的詩歌（6-11節）描述基督是“他本來有神的形象，卻不堅持自己與神平等的地位，反而倒空自己，取了奴僕的形象，成為人的樣式；既然有人的樣子，就自甘卑微，順服至死，而且死在十字架上。”詩歌繼續強調耶穌不但從死裡復活，並且被神升至最高位。

2．  保羅以此鼓勵信徒留意耶穌的謙卑態度，並以此應用在我們與人關係之中。也因此，難怪世人誤以為基督徒是軟弱、遲鈍、一絲不苟、膽卻懦弱，無法在世上出人頭地的一類。其實世人不明白，基督徒選擇謙卑，並非出於軟弱，而是出於剛強壯。

3．  所有讓我們認為高人一等，出類拔萃的理由，當我們看見耶穌的時候，都變得蒼白無力；祂甘願放棄與神同等的身份，不單成為卑微的人，並且死在十字架上。

4．  如果我秉持3-8節的教導，持續地應用在家中、教會中、工作中，事情會有怎樣的改變？有什麼是我現在就應該開始做的？

 

禱告與筆錄：

繼續安靜在神面前，與神對話，並聆聽祂對我說的話。將心中的思想（心得），或是與神的禱告，記錄在「靈程筆記簿」上面。

 

 

Chapter 2

1 Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, 2 then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind. 3 Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, 4 not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others. 5 In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus: 6 Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage;  7 rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness.  8 And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death— even death on a cross!   9 Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name,  10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth,  11 and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Meditation:

1．  This early church hymn (vv6-11) portrays Christ as was “in very nature God’, but emptied Himself to take on human nature and suffered a shameful death.  It affirms not only Jesus’ resurrection but His ultimate exaltation over all.

2．  Here Paul encouraged Christians to look at the attitude of humility Jesus displayed, and adopt it in our relationships with others.  It’s no wonder that Christians have been considered weak, dull, too scrupulous or too cowardly, to make it big in the world.  What the world doesn’t understand is that Christians choose humility not out of weakness, but out of strength.

3．  Whatever basis we might have for believing we are better than others, all pale to utter insignificance when we see Jesus, willing to abandon His rightful claim of full equality with God, to not only become a human being, but even to die on a cross.

4．  How would things change if I consistently applied v v3-8 in my family? Church?  Work?  Which do I need to work on now?

Prayer & Journaling:

Stay with God for a little longer.  Continue to converse with God and listen to what he wants to tell me.  Then write down any thought and/or prayer in the 2012 “Spiritual Journal” book.

第一章

3  我每逢想到你們，就感謝我的神；  4每次為你們大家祈求的時候，總是歡歡喜喜地祈求。 5 為了你們從頭一天直到現在都在福音的事工上有分，我就感謝我的神。 6 我深信那在你們中間開始了美好工作的，到了基督耶穌的日子，必成全這工作。

 

默想：

1. 有的時候，基督徒會認為，禱告時在我們面對急難、害怕的時候，才會想到的。但是保羅在此的禱告時出於喜樂，並且充滿了信心的禱告。腓立比教會的信徒，從開始就曾與保羅一同傳揚福音。保羅深信神會保守祂在他們中間開始的工作，且到耶穌基督再來的時候，必成全祂的工作。
2. 當我為別人禱告的時候，我也可以有同樣的信心，相信神必不會丟棄祂的任何一個兒女。因此我可以帶著喜樂為其他信徒禱告，也全心地相信神在他們的心中工作。為什麼要禱告呢？因為禱告是我表達愛的方式，並且因為我相信，神會使用我的禱告，使得祂在別人生命中的工作更加充實。
3. 花幾分鐘的時間，用我自己的話，改寫保羅的禱告，來為我的小組，我的教會禱告。

 

禱告與筆錄：

繼續安靜在神面前，與神對話，並聆聽祂對我說的話。將心中的思想（心得），或是與神的禱告，記錄在「靈程筆記簿」上面。

 

 

Philippians (NIV)

Chapter 1

³I thank my God every time I remember you. ⁴In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy ⁵because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, ⁶being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.

 

Meditation

1. Sometimes Christians think of prayer as a last resort when we’re desperate, or when we are fearful for others.  But Paul prayed out of joy, and with supreme confidence.  The Philippian believers had worked in partnership with Paul in spreading the gospel from the first.  And Paul had total confidence that the work God began in their lives would be carried on to completion, “until the day of Christ Jesus.”
2. We can have the same confidence when we pray for one another.  God won’t abandon any of His own.  We pray for other Christians with joy, and with total confidence that God is at work in their lives.  Why then do we pray?  We pray as an expression of love.  And we pray because we believe that God in some mysterious way uses our prayers to enrich that good work He is committed to do in His children’s lives.
3. Take a few minutes to put Paul’s prayer into my own words, then apply the prayer for my cell group and my church.

 

Prayer & Journaling:

Stay with God for a little longer.  Continue to converse with God and listen to what he wants to tell me.  Then write down any thought and/or prayer in the 2012 “Spiritual Journal” book.

 

第六章

¹ 你們作兒女的，要在主裡聽從父母，因為這是理所當然的。 ² “要孝敬父母，使你得福，在世長壽。”這是第一條帶著應許的誡命。 ⁴ 你們作父親的，不要激怒兒女，卻要照著主的教訓和勸戒，養育他們。 ⁵ 你們作僕人的，要存著敬畏、戰兢和真誠的心，聽從世上的主人，好像聽從基督一樣。 ⁶ 作事不要只作給人看，像那些討人歡心的一樣，卻要像基督的僕人，從心裡遵行神的旨意， ⁷ 甘心服務，像是服事主，不是服事人。 ⁸ 你們知道，無論是奴僕或自由的人，如果作了甚麼善事，都必從主那裡得到賞賜。 ⁹ 你們作主人的，也要照樣對待僕人，不要威嚇他們；你們知道，他們和你們在天上同有一位主，他並不偏待人。

 

 

默想

1．  慢慢地讀這段經文，請求聖靈提醒我，一些熟悉的面孔。用些時間來反省，我是怎樣的孩子，怎樣的父母，怎樣的雇員或學生，等。我在這個角色上的表現與保羅的標準有何差距？回想一下：我父母是怎樣的？我所尊重的導師或其他人，他們是怎樣與雇主老板相處？

2．  和耶穌對話，與祂分享我對自己和他人的表現而得的感受，告訴耶穌我心中的失望、感激或沮喪……。

3．  聆聽耶穌要我在這個關係中，是繼續成長？或是有所改變？寫下來，並為此禱告，祈求主的幫助與提醒。

 

禱告與筆錄：

繼續安靜在神面前，與神對話，並聆聽祂對我說的話。將心中的思想（心得），或是與神的禱告，記錄在「靈程筆記簿」上面。

 

 

Chapter 6

¹Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. ²“Honor your father and mother”—which is the first commandment with a promise— ³“that it may go well with you and that you may enjoy long life on the earth.” ⁴Fathers, do not exasperate your children; instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord. ⁵Slaves, obey your earthly masters with respect and fear, and with sincerity of heart, just as you would obey Christ. ⁶Obey them not only to win their favor when their eye is on you, but like slaves of Christ, doing the will of God from your heart. ⁷Serve wholeheartedly, as if you were serving the Lord, not men, ⁸because you know that the Lord will reward everyone for whatever good he does, whether he is slave or free. ⁹And masters, treat your slaves in the same way. Do not threaten them, since you know that he who is both their Master and yours is in heaven, and there is no favoritism with him.

 

Meditation

1. Read the passage; ask the Spirit to call to mind the face of someone that I know.  Take a few minutes to reflect on what kind of child, parent, employee, or student I am.  How do my actions in this relationship compare to the standard Paul sets?  Ponder the models in my life for that role.  How were my parents?  How do my role models relate to their employers?
2. Talk to Jesus about this and share with Him any disappointment, gratitude, or frustration I feel about my own role and my role models.
3. Listen to what Jesus’ telling me in this relationship, to continue growing in this relationship? Or to change in some specific action?  Write it down and ask for God’s help and reminding.

 

Prayer & Journaling:

Stay with God for a little longer.  Continue to converse with God and listen to what he wants to tell me.  Then write down any thought and/or prayer in the 2012 “Spiritual Journal” book.

 

第五章

¹ 因此，你們既然是蒙愛的兒女，就應當效法神。 ² 要憑著愛心行事，好像基督愛我們，為我們捨己，當作馨香的供品和祭物獻給神。

 

默想：

1. 我們若要被神塑造成為基督的樣式，最基本的屬靈操練就是“效法神”；耶穌訓練門徒的重心就在於此。當我們想要裝扮成那原非自己本相的基督模樣時，卻往往不得其法；而基督卻奇妙地將祂自己的生命“注入”我們的生命裡。這就是最不可思議的事——我們竟然可以效法神。
2. 安靜在神面前幾分鐘，專注在“效法神”幾個字上。有什麼念頭？興奮？喜樂？慚愧？失望？沮喪？恐懼？
3. 與神對話，心中是否浮現什麼要我特別留意的事？有什麼態度需要改變？有什麼需要採取的行動？求主幫助我今天，在所作、所說的事上，能成為“效法神”的人。

 

禱告與筆錄：

繼續安靜在神面前，與神對話，並聆聽祂對我說的話。將心中的思想（心得），或是與神的禱告，記錄在「靈程筆記簿」上面。

 

 

Chapter 5

¹Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children ²and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.

 

Meditation

1. No spiritual practice is as fundamental to our being formed into the Christ life as imitation.  The whole of Jesus’ ministry with His disciples turned on this practice.  When we pretend to be what we are not naturally, Jesus mysteriously “injects” His kind of life into ours.  And here is the most unthinkable of all – we can imitate God!
2. Stay quietly for a few moments dwell on the words “imitator of God”.  What comes to mind, Excitement? Joy? Shame? Disappointment? Frustration? Fear?
3. Talk to God about it.  Any specific things brought to mind that I should pay attention to? A change of attitude? Any action to take? Ask for God’s help today for me to be an “imitator of God”.

 

Prayer & Journaling:

Stay with God for a little longer.  Continue to converse with God and listen to what he wants to tell me.  Then write down any thought and/or prayer in the 2012 “Spiritual Journal” book.

 

 

第四章

⁷ 我們各人蒙恩，是照著基督量給我們的恩賜。 ⁸ 所以他說：“他升上高天的時候，擄了許多俘虜，把賞賜給了人。” ⁹ （“他升上”這句話是甚麼意思呢？他不是也曾降到地上嗎？ ¹⁰ 那降下的，就是那升到諸天之上的，為了要使他充滿萬有。） ¹¹ 他所賜的，有作使徒的，有作先知的，有作傳福音的，也有作牧養和教導的， ¹² 為的是要裝備聖徒，去承擔聖工，建立基督的身體； ¹³ 直到我們眾人對神的兒子都有一致的信仰和認識，可以長大成人，達到基督豐盛長成的身量；

 

默想

1. 這段經文保羅並沒有羅列所有的恩賜，他在其他的書信中，有提到類似以及別的恩賜。在12 節，保羅指出恩賜的目的是為“裝備（訓練）聖徒”。聖靈賜給我們恩賜，當我們都使用這些恩賜時，我們就能幫助彼此，越來越像基督。
2. 神給了我怎樣的恩賜？我如何使用它們？是為了修補、糾正、整合基督的身體嗎？
3. 為神給我及教會其他弟兄姐妹的恩賜感謝神，求主助我能盡我的本分，參與在建立教會上。

 

禱告與筆錄：

繼續安靜在神面前，與神對話，並聆聽祂對我說的話。將心中的思想（心得），或是與神的禱告，記錄在「靈程筆記簿」上面。

 

 

Chapter 4

⁷But to each one of us grace has been given as Christ apportioned it. ⁸This is why it says:
“When he ascended on high,
he led captives in his train
and gave gifts to men.” ⁹(What does “he ascended” mean except that he also descended to the lower, earthly regions? ¹⁰He who descended is the very one who ascended higher than all the heavens, in order to fill the whole universe.) ¹¹It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, ¹²to prepare God’s people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up ¹³until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.

 

Meditation

1. This list of gifts is by no means exhaustive.  Similar lists appear in Paul’s other letters.  Here, he says that the purpose of these gifts is “to train (prepare… for work) Christ’s followers, so that the body of Christ may be built up” (v12).  The Spirit gives gifts to us so that, by all of us exercising these gifts, we will build each other up to be more and more like Christ.
2. What gifts has God given me?  How am I using them?  Are they for mending, setting right, or putting together in the body of Christ?
3. Thank God for the gifts he’s given me and other members of the church.  Pray that I will do my part to help build up the church.

 

Prayer & Journaling:

Stay with God for a little longer.  Continue to converse with God and listen to what he wants to tell me.  Then write down any thought and/or prayer in the 2012 “Spiritual Journal” book.

 

第三章

¹⁴ 因此，我在父面前屈膝， ¹⁵ （天上地上所有的家族都是由他命名的，） ¹⁶ 求他按著他榮耀的豐盛，藉著他的靈，用大能使你們內在的人剛強起來， ¹⁷ 使基督藉著你們的信，住在你們心裡，使你們既然在愛中扎根建基， ¹⁸ 就能和眾聖徒一同領悟基督的愛是多麼的長闊高深， ¹⁹ 並且知道他的愛是超過人所能理解的，使你們被充滿，得著神的一切豐盛。 ²⁰ 願榮耀歸給神，就是歸給那能照著運行在我們裡面的大能，充充足足地成就一切，超過我們所求所想的。 ²¹ 願榮耀在教會中和基督耶穌裡歸給他，直到萬代，永世無窮。阿們。

 

默想：

1. 保羅這裡所說的“愛”並非神的愛或對神的愛，而是家庭的愛—即在基督裡信徒彼此的愛。保羅熱切地希望神的百姓“愛心有根有基（在愛中扎根建基）”，以致我們“能和眾聖徒一同明白（領悟）基督的愛是何等長闊高深”（18-19節）我們怎樣能領悟明白愛呢？就是在家庭的環境中，藉著相愛和珍惜，培育和支持，關心和分享，來學習體驗基督的愛的長闊高深。
2. “基督如今在地上，除了你的身體，祂沒有身體，

你的手是祂唯一的手，祂可用來工作，

你的腳是祂唯一的腳，祂可以走遍世界，

你的眼是祂唯一的眼，可以將祂的關愛照耀在困苦的世界，

基督如今在地上，除了你的身體，祂沒有身體。——大德蘭

3. 今天一個真正屬靈教會的標記仍然是“彼此相愛”。用這段經文來為教會及信徒禱告，求主使我的教會家庭有“彼此相愛”的標記，能深刻體驗並明白基督的愛是何等長闊高深。

 

禱告與筆錄：

繼續安靜在神面前，與神對話，並聆聽祂對我說的話。將心中的思想（心得），或是與神的禱告，記錄在「靈程筆記簿」上面。

 

 

Chapter 3

¹⁴For this reason I kneel before the Father, ¹⁵from whom his whole family in heaven and on earth derives its name. ¹⁶I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, ¹⁷so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, ¹⁸may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, ¹⁹and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.  ²⁰Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, ²¹to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever! Amen.

 

Meditation

1. The “love” Paul spoke of here isn’t the love of God, or love for God.  His theme was family love –love for one another in Christ.  Paul earnestly desired that God’s people be “rooted and established in love” in order that we have power “together with all the saints” to grasp and know the love of Christ (vv18-19).  How can we grasp or understand love?  In the context of the family that loves and cherishes, that nurtures and supports, that cares and shares, we are to learn by experience the width and length and height and depth of the love of Christ.
2. “Christ has no body now on earth but yours;

Yours are the only hands with which He can do His work,

Yours are the only feet with which He can go about the world,

Yours are the only eyes through which His compassion can shine forth upon a troubled world,

Christ has no body now on earth but yours” – Teresa of Avila

3. The mark of a truly spiritual church is still, “See how they love one another.”  With this passage in mind, pray for my church that we, as a church family, may bear the mark of “loving one another” and may experience deeply the love of Christ.

 

Prayer & Journaling:

Stay with God for a little longer.  Continue to converse with God and listen to what he wants to tell me.  Then write down any thought and/or prayer in the 2012 “Spiritual Journal” book.

第二章

¹ 你們因著自己的過犯和罪惡，原是死的。 ² 那時你們在過犯和罪惡中行事為人，隨著時代的潮流，也服從空中掌權的首領，就是現今在悖逆的人身上運行的靈。 ³ 我們從前也都和他們在一起，放縱肉體的私慾，隨著肉體和心意所喜好的去行；我們與別人一樣，生來都是可怒的兒女。 ⁴ 然而神滿有憐憫，因著他愛我們的大愛， ⁵ 就在我們因過犯死了的時候，使我們與基督一同活過來，（你們得救是靠著恩典，） ⁶ 又使我們在基督耶穌裡，與他一同復活，一同坐在天上， ⁷ 為的是要在將來的世代中，顯明他在基督耶穌裡賜給我們的恩典，是多麼的豐盛。 ⁸ 你們得救是靠著恩典，藉著信心。這不是出於自己，而是神所賜的； ⁹ 這也不是出於行為，免得有人自誇。 ¹⁰ 我們原是神所作成的，是在基督耶穌裡創造的，為的是要我們行各樣的善事，就是神預先所安排的。

 

默想：

1．  行善之於信仰，就如呼氣之於吸氣，是一進一出、一前一後的；我們的善行使得神的救恩在我們身上得以完全。我們不是以行善來贏取救恩，而是用善行來表明我確實接受了救恩。跟從耶穌的人，長久以來，都因為信心和行為之間的關係困惑不已；但其實我們所追隨的主是這樣說的，“你們既知道這事，若是去行就有福了。”（約13：17）

2．  我的行為是否清楚向別人說明我對主耶穌的信心？有什麼是我“既知道”但尚未去做的“善行”？求聖靈光照，讓我知道並能實際去做。

 

禱告與筆錄：

繼續安靜在神面前，與神對話，並聆聽祂對我說的話。將心中的思想（心得），或是與神的禱告，記錄在「靈程筆記簿」上面。

 

 

Chapter 2

¹As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, ²in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. ³All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our sinful nature and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature objects of wrath. ⁴But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, ⁵made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. ⁶And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, ⁷in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. ⁸For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— ⁹not by works, so that no one can boast. ¹⁰For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

 

Meditation

1．  Works are to faith as exhaling is to inhaling.  They complete the gift of salvation.  Good works are not what we do to win salvation; they are what we do to demonstrate and enjoy it.  Followers of Jesus have for the longest time been perplexed by the relationship between faith and works.  However, Jesus said, “If you know these things, you are blessed if you do them.”(John 13:17)

2．  Does my behaviour demonstrate to others my faith in Jesus Christ?  What are the things that I know but have not done?  Ask the Holy Spirit to show me how to actually do these good works.

 

Prayer & Journaling:

Stay with God for a little longer.  Continue to converse with God and listen to what he wants to tell me.  Then write down any thought and/or prayer in the 2012 “Spiritual Journal” book.

 

第一章

¹⁵因此，我聽到你們在主耶穌裡的信心，和對眾聖徒的愛心，¹⁶就不住地為你們獻上感謝。我禱告的時候，常常提到你們，¹⁷求我們主耶穌基督的神，榮耀的父，賜給你們智慧和啟示的靈，使你們充分地認識他，¹⁸並且使你們心靈的眼睛明亮，可以知道他的呼召有怎樣的盼望；他基業的榮耀，在聖徒中是多麼的豐盛；¹⁹神照著他強大的力量，向我們信他的人顯出的能力，是何等的浩大。²⁰這力量運行在基督身上，使他從死人中復活，並且在天上坐在自己的右邊，²¹遠超過一切執政的、掌權的、有能的、作主的，和今生來世所能舉出的一切名銜。²²神又使萬有都歸服在他的腳下，並且使他作教會至高的元首。²³教會是他的身體，是那充滿萬有者所完全充滿的。

 

默想：

1. 保羅在這段為信徒的禱告中提到，神已經賜給我們一切所需的，使我們可以過豐盛的基督徒生活，是充滿喜樂和信心的生活。
2. 安靜地讀這段經文（17節起），將保羅的禱告變成為自己的禱告，例：求我主耶穌基督的神，榮耀的父，賜給（我的名字）智慧和啟示的靈，使我充分地認識他。。。體會保羅在寫這段當時激動的情緒感受；嘗試用同樣的心情，向這樣榮耀、偉大、尊貴、全知、全能、全在的神，為自己作這樣的禱告。
3. 這樣的禱告，對神，和對自己有什麼新的體驗？

 

 

禱告與筆錄：

繼續安靜在神面前，與神對話，並聆聽祂對我說的話。將心中的思想（心得），或是與神的禱告，記錄在「靈程筆記簿」上面。

 

 

Chapter 1

¹⁵For this reason, ever since I heard about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints, ¹⁶I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers. ¹⁷I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. ¹⁸I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, ¹⁹and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is like the working of his mighty strength, ²⁰which he exerted in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, ²¹far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every title that can be given, not only in the present age but also in the one to come. ²²And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, ²³which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way.

 

Meditation

1. Paul is saying that we already have everything we need for living the Christian life. We don’t have to wait for something additional to happen before we can live joyfully and confidently.
2. Read the passage silently.  Make Paul’s prayer in this passage my own.  For example, I ask you – the God of my Master, Jesus Christ, the God of glory – to make me intelligent and discerning in knowing you personally.  And so on.  Try to imagine Paul’s emotion when he wrote this passage.  Then pray to the same awesome, glorious, mighty, omnipotent, omniscient, omnipresent God according to this passage.
3. What new insight or awareness about God and myself do I get from such prayer?

 

Prayer & Journaling:

Stay with God for a little longer.  Continue to converse with God and listen to what he wants to tell me.  Then write down any thought and/or prayer in the 2012 “Spiritual Journal” book.

第十六課

1過了安息日，抹大拉的馬利亞和雅各的母親馬利亞並撒羅米，買了香膏要去膏耶穌的身體。 2 七日的第一日清早，出太陽的時候，她們來到墳墓那裡， 3 彼此說：「誰給我們把石頭從墓門滾開呢？」 4 那石頭原來很大，她們抬頭一看，卻見石頭已經滾開了。 5 她們進了墳墓，看見一個少年人坐在右邊，穿著白袍，就甚驚恐。 6 那少年人對她們說：「不要驚恐！你們尋找那釘十字架的拿撒勒人耶穌，他已經復活了，不在這裡。請看安放他的地方。 7 你們可以去告訴他的門徒和彼得，說：『他在你們以先往加利利去。在那裡你們要見他，正如他從前所告訴你們的。』」 8 她們就出來，從墳墓那裡逃跑，又發抖又驚奇，甚麼也不告訴人，因為她們害怕。  

 

默想：

1. 這幾位婦女完全沒有想過耶穌有可能復活的，所以當天使告訴他們耶穌已經復活時，時她們的反應是「從墳墓那裡逃跑，又發抖又驚奇，甚麼也不告訴人，因為她們害怕」(8節)。
2. 多少時候我們就像墓旁的婦女，當我們經歷了神奇妙意想不到的作為時，也會驚訝得不能自己，這表示我們所熟悉的生活已經結束，即將開始的是我們的未知；不再是我為神做什麼，而是神為我做；不再是我因需要來親近神，而是神以祂的慈悲親近我。我不再主控，是神在掌管。
3. 沒有死亡就沒有復活。在我生命中，有哪些方面神可能想要使它們死去，但我卻一直抗拒要使它繼續苟延活著？若我將這方面的掌控權交給神，會有什麼改變？有什麼新生命會冒出來？新的信心？新的希望，新的愛，新的喜樂？

 

禱告與筆錄：

繼續安靜在神面前，與神對話，並聆聽祂對我說的話。將心中的思想（心得），或是與神的禱告，記錄在「靈程筆記簿」上面。

 

Mark 16

¹When the Sabbath was over, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices so that they might go to anoint Jesus’ body. ²Very early on the first day of the week, just after sunrise, they were on their way to the tomb ³and they asked each other, “Who will roll the stone away from the entrance of the tomb?”  ⁴But when they looked up, they saw that the stone, which was very large, had been rolled away. ⁵As they entered the tomb, they saw a young man dressed in a white robe sitting on the right side, and they were alarmed.  ⁶“Don’t be alarmed,” he said. “You are looking for Jesus the Nazarene, who was crucified. He has risen! He is not here. See the place where they laid him. ⁷But go, tell his disciples and Peter, ‘He is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him, just as he told you.’ ”  ⁸Trembling and bewildered, the women went out and fled from the tomb. They said nothing to anyone, because they were afraid.

 

Meditation

1. Jesus’ resurrection is totally different from what these ladies experienced and expected.  Therefore when the angel told them that Jesus was indeed risen from the dead, the ladies were “[t]rembling and bewildered, the women went out and fled from the tomb. They said nothing to anyone, because they were afraid.”(v8)
2. Often we are just like the women at the tomb.  When we experienced God’s wonderful, unexpected work in our lives, we would be totally astounded.  This means the end of our familiar life and the beginning of our unknown.  No longer am I doing something for God; he is doing something for me.  No longer am I drawn by my needs to God; he is drawn by his compassion to me, whether I’m ready for him or not, whether I feel anything for him or not.  That means you and I are not in charge; he is
3. There can’t be a resurrection without a death.  What area of my life is God perhaps trying to put to death that I am trying to keep alive?  What would happen if I relinquished control of it and simply let ie die?  What new life might come out of it?  What new faith?  What new hope, new love, new joy?

 

Prayer & Journaling:

Stay with God for a little longer.  Continue to converse with God and listen to what he wants to tell me.  Then write down any thought and/or prayer in the 2012 “Spiritual Journal” book.

 

第十五章

33 從午正到申初，遍地都黑暗了。 34 申初的時候，耶穌大聲喊著說：「以羅伊！以羅伊！拉馬撒巴各大尼？」（翻出來就是：我的神！我的神！為甚麼離棄我？） 35 旁邊站著的人，有的聽見就說：「看哪，他叫以利亞呢！」 36 有一個人跑去，把海絨蘸滿了醋，綁在葦子上，送給他喝，說：「且等著，看以利亞來不來把他取下。」 37 耶穌大聲喊叫，氣就斷了。 38 殿裡的幔子從上到下裂為兩半。 39 對面站著的百夫長看見耶穌這樣喊叫（有古卷沒有喊叫二字）斷氣，就說：「這人真是神的兒子！」 40 還有些婦女遠遠地觀看；內中有抹大拉的馬利亞，又有小雅各和約西的母親馬利亞，並有撒羅米， 41 就是耶穌在加利利的時候，跟隨他、服事他的那些人，還有同耶穌上耶路撒冷的好些婦女在那裡觀看。 42 到了晚上，因為這是預備日，就是安息日的前一日， 43 有亞利馬太的約瑟前來，他是尊貴的議士，也是等候神國的。他放膽進去見彼拉多，求耶穌的身體； 44 彼拉多詫異耶穌已經死了，便叫百夫長來，問他耶穌死了久不久。 45 既從百夫長得知實情，就把耶穌的屍首賜給約瑟。 46 約瑟買了細麻布，把耶穌取下來，用細麻布裹好，安放在磐石中鑿出來的墳墓裡，又滾過一塊石頭來擋住墓門。 47 抹大拉的馬利亞和約西的母親馬利亞都看見安放他的地方。

 

默想：

1. 耶穌的死，在四卷福都有記述。當中不同的人有不同的行動和反應。若我親歷其中，我會有何反應、感受？
2. 禱告：慢慢地讀下面這首詩，揣摩當中的意思及詩人的心態，再以緩慢的速度，懷著感恩的心，將這篇詩讀出來，作為對主的禱告。

您已給了我太多，

懇求再給我一樣 —— 一顆感恩的心；

不是當我高興時才感恩，

好像您的祝福有停止的時刻；

而是一顆心，

它的跳動就是對您的讚美。                            – – George Herbert

 

禱告與筆錄：

繼續安靜在神面前，與神對話，並聆聽祂對我說的話。將心中的思想（心得），或是與神的禱告，記錄在「靈程筆記簿」上面。

 

Mark 15

³³At the sixth hour darkness came over the whole land until the ninth hour. ³⁴And at the ninth hour Jesus cried out in a loud voice, “Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani?”—which means, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”  ³⁵When some of those standing near heard this, they said, “Listen, he’s calling Elijah.”  ³⁶One man ran, filled a sponge with wine vinegar, put it on a stick, and offered it to Jesus to drink. “Now leave him alone. Let’s see if Elijah comes to take him down,” he said.  ³⁷With a loud cry, Jesus breathed his last.  ³⁸The curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. ³⁹And when the centurion, who stood there in front of Jesus, heard his cry and saw how he died, he said, “Surely this man was the Son of God!”  ⁴⁰Some women were watching from a distance. Among them were Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James the younger and of Joses, and Salome. ⁴¹In Galilee these women had followed him and cared for his needs. Many other women who had come up with him to Jerusalem were also there. ⁴²It was Preparation Day (that is, the day before the Sabbath). So as evening approached, ⁴³Joseph of Arimathea, a prominent member of the Council, who was himself waiting for the kingdom of God, went boldly to Pilate and asked for Jesus’ body. ⁴⁴Pilate was surprised to hear that he was already dead. Summoning the centurion, he asked him if Jesus had already died. ⁴⁵When he learned from the centurion that it was so, he gave the body to Joseph. ⁴⁶So Joseph bought some linen cloth, took down the body, wrapped it in the linen, and placed it in a tomb cut out of rock. Then he rolled a stone against the entrance of the tomb. ⁴⁷Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of Joses saw where he was laid.

Meditation

1. The death of Jesus has been recorded in all four gospels.  Different people reacted differently.  If I were there in person, what would be my reaction and my emotion?
2. With a prayerful heart, read the following poem slowly.  Then, with a grateful heart, read it very slowly as a prayer to God.

Thou has given so much to me, 

Give me one more thing – a grateful heart. 

Not thankful when it pleases me,  

As if Thy blessings had spare days. 

But such a heart 

Whose pulse may be Thy praise.                       – George Herbert

Prayer & Journaling:

Stay with God for a little longer.  Continue to converse with God and listen to what he wants to tell me.  Then write down any thought and/or prayer in the 2012 “Spiritual Journal” book.

第十四章

3 耶穌在伯大尼長大痲瘋的西門家裡坐席的時候，有一個女人拿著一玉瓶至貴的真哪噠香膏來，打破玉瓶，把膏澆在耶穌的頭上。 4 有幾個人心中很不喜悅，說：「何用這樣枉費香膏呢？ 5 這香膏可以賣三十多兩銀子賙濟窮人。」他們就向那女人生氣。 6 耶穌說：「由她吧！為甚麼難為她呢？她在我身上做的是一件美事。 7 因為常有窮人和你們同在，要向他們行善隨時都可以；只是你們不常有我。 8 她所做的，是盡她所能的；她是為我安葬的事把香膏預先澆在我身上。 9 我實在告訴你們，普天之下，無論在甚麼地方傳這福音，也要述說這女人所做的，以為記念。」

 

默想：

1. 當我想要送一樣禮物給我心愛的人時，我會有哪些考慮？
2. 我如何可以像這個女人這般地，向神作同樣奢侈的奉獻？有什麼阻礙我這樣作的呢？
3. 繼續思考上題問題。容許聖靈來光照我，顯明我不能對神慷慨的癥結何在。靜候神的指示，讓我知道下一步該如何走，來克服這個問題。

 

 

禱告與筆錄：

繼續安靜在神面前，與神對話，並聆聽祂對我說的話。將心中的思想（心得），或是與神的禱告，記錄在「靈程筆記簿」上面。

 

Mark 14

³While he was in Bethany, reclining at the table in the home of a man known as Simon the Leper, a woman came with an alabaster jar of very expensive perfume, made of pure nard. She broke the jar and poured the perfume on his head.  ⁴Some of those present were saying indignantly to one another, “Why this waste of perfume? ⁵It could have been sold for more than a year’s wages and the money given to the poor.” And they rebuked her harshly.  ⁶“Leave her alone,” said Jesus. “Why are you bothering her? She has done a beautiful thing to me. ⁷The poor you will always have with you, and you can help them any time you want. But you will not always have me. ⁸She did what she could. She poured perfume on my body beforehand to prepare for my burial. ⁹I tell you the truth, wherever the gospel is preached throughout the world, what she has done will also be told, in memory of her.”

 

Meditation

1. When I want to give a special gift to someone I love, which kind of thing do I look for?
2. What can I do for God that would be as lavish?  Are there things that keep me from doing it?
3. Continue to reflect on the last question.  Allow the Holy Spirit to show me my problems to be generous to God.  Wait for God’s direction for me to take the step in overcoming it.

 

Prayer & Journaling:

Stay with God for a little longer.  Continue to converse with God and listen to what he wants to tell me.  Then write down any thought and/or prayer in the 2012 “Spiritual Journal” book.

 

第十三章

32 但那日子，那時辰，沒有人知道，連天上的使者也不知道，子也不知道，惟有父知道。 33 你們要謹慎，儆醒祈禱，因為你們不曉得那日期幾時來到。 34 這事正如一個人離開本家，寄居外邦，把權柄交給僕人，分派各人當作的工又吩咐看門的儆醒。 35 所以，你們要儆醒；因為你們不知道家主甚麼時候來，或晚上，或半夜，或雞叫，或早晨； 36 恐怕他忽然來到，看見你們睡著了。 37 我對你們所說的話，也是對眾人說：要儆醒！

 

默想：

1. 對我來說，基督的再來最令我興奮的是什麼？最令我沮喪的是什麼？當我見到耶穌時，我希望問耶穌什麼問題？
2. 慢慢地讀這段話。用這段話來作為期待和盼望基督再來的禱告。
   基督再來的真理將我整個生命觀改變過來；它破除了世界的權柄及它在我身上的野心，并在最令人失望的情況下，使我生命充滿了最燦爛的樂觀。– R. A. Torrey

 

禱告與筆錄：

繼續安靜在神面前，與神對話，並聆聽祂對我說的話。將心中的思想（心得），或是與神的禱告，記錄在「靈程筆記簿」上面。

 

Mark 13

³² “But about that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. ³³ Be on guard! Be alert^[e]! You do not know when that time will come.³⁴ It’s like a man going away: He leaves his house and puts his servants in charge, each with their assigned task, and tells the one at the door to keep watch.   ³⁵ “Therefore keep watch because you do not know when the owner of the house will come back—whether in the evening, or at midnight, or when the rooster crows, or at dawn. ³⁶ If he comes suddenly, do not let him find you sleeping. ³⁷ What I say to you, I say to everyone: ‘Watch!’”

Meditation

1. What is the most exciting thing to me about the second coming?  The most depressing?  What questions would I like to ask Jesus about it?
2. Read slowly this paragraph.  Make this a prayer of anticipation and hope for Christ’s coming again.
   The truth of the second coming of Christ transformed my whole idea of life; it broke the power of the world and its ambition over me, and filled my life with the most radiant optimism even under the most discouraging of circumstances. – R. A. Torrey

 

Prayer & Journaling:

Stay with God for a little longer.  Continue to converse with God and listen to what he wants to tell me.  Then write down any thought and/or prayer in the 2012 “Spiritual Journal” book.

第十二章

41 耶穌對銀庫坐著，看眾人怎樣投錢入庫。有好些財主往裡投了若干的錢。 42 有一個窮寡婦來，往裡投了兩個小錢，就是一個大錢。 43 耶穌叫門徒來，說：「我實在告訴你們，這窮寡婦投入庫裡的，比眾人所投的更多。 44 因為，他們都是自己有餘，拿出來投在裡頭；但這寡婦是自己不足，把她一切養生的都投上了。」

 

默想：

1. 耶穌警告那些文士律法師，他們喜歡穿長袍招搖過市，喜歡人家在公共場所向他們致敬問安，又喜歡坐在會堂裏的特別座位和宴會上的首座；他們一方面貪婪地暗吞了寡婦的家產，卻在會堂中公開發表長篇的禱文。這樣的人，耶穌說「要受更嚴厲的懲罰」。相反地，耶穌卻讚揚一個女人，甘心地將自己全部的生活費用都獻上了。
2. 這是價值觀的問題：貪婪的富人，貪得無厭，而窮寡婦卻甘心獻上所有。“大人物”被社會尊重，而默默無聞的女人，卻被神所讚賞。
3. 我可能並不富也不窮，但我日常的抉擇都是被這兩者之一（富有的律法師或窮寡婦）所左右。我願意選擇效法哪一個？

 

禱告與筆錄：

繼續安靜在神面前，與神對話，並聆聽祂對我說的話。將心中的思想（心得），或是與神的禱告，記錄在「靈程筆記簿」上面。

 

Mark 12

⁴¹Jesus sat down opposite the place where the offerings were put and watched the crowd putting their money into the temple treasury. Many rich people threw in large amounts. ⁴²But a poor widow came and put in two very small copper coins, worth only a fraction of a penny. ⁴³Calling his disciples to him, Jesus said, “I tell you the truth, this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others. ⁴⁴They all gave out of their wealth; but she, out of her poverty, put in everything—all she had to live on.”

 

Meditation

1. Jesus warned against those teachers of the Law who paraded themselves openly, whose prayers were a pious show, and whose greed was so great they would “devour widow’s houses”.  Such men, Jesus said, “will be punished most severely.”  For contrast, Jesus praised a woman who freely placed her last coins in the treasury.
2. What a study in values.  The greedy rich man, who always wanted more, and the poor widow willing to give all.  The “great man” viewed with respect by society, and the insignificant woman, held in high regard only by God.
3. While I may be neither rich nor poor, my choices are likely to be governed by the values expressed by one of these two.  Which of the two will I choose to be most like?

 

Prayer & Journaling:

Stay with God for a little longer.  Continue to converse with God and listen to what he wants to tell me.  Then write down any thought and/or prayer in the 2012 “Spiritual Journal” book.

 

 

第十一章

1耶穌和門徒將近耶路撒冷，到了伯法其和伯大尼，在橄欖山那裡；耶穌就打發兩個門徒， 2 對他們說：「你們往對面村子裡去，一進去的時候，必看見一匹驢駒拴在那裡，是從來沒有人騎過的，可以解開，牽來。 3 若有人對你們說：『為甚麼做這事？』你們就說：『主要用牠。』那人必立時讓你們牽來。」 4 他們去了，便看見一匹驢駒拴在門外街道上，就把牠解開。 5 在那裡站著的人，有幾個說：「你們解驢駒做甚麼？」 6 門徒照著耶穌所說的回答，那些人就任憑他們牽去了。 7 他們把驢駒牽到耶穌那裡，把自己的衣服搭在上面，耶穌就騎上。 8 有許多人把衣服鋪在路上，也有人把田間的樹枝砍下來，鋪在路上。 9 前行後隨的人都喊著說：和散那（和散那：原有求救的意思，在此乃是稱頌的話）！奉主名來的是應當稱頌的！ 10 那將要來的我祖大衛之國是應當稱頌的！高高在上和散那！ 11 耶穌進了耶路撒冷，入了聖殿，周圍看了各樣物件。天色已晚，就和十二個門徒出城，往伯大尼去了。

 

默想：

1. 眾人歡呼，稱頌耶穌是彌賽亞—他們的救主（9-10節）。 但未多幾時，他們卻成為吶喊釘耶穌十字架的兇手。當環境似乎很順利、我們的禱告得到應允、身邊的人也都支持我們的信仰的時候，我們就比較容易跟從神、讚美神。但當這些支持和假想開始消失時，我們的信心就會受到考驗。
2. 我對主的信心，有沒有因為時間、地方、群體的改變而受到考驗？我是如何走過的？
3. 在教會或小組中，有沒有什麼人，正在經歷這樣的考驗，至今還沒有走出來？將他/她的名字寫下來，在這個月中，固定且認真為他/她定時的禱告。若可能，打個電話，寫個電郵，或寄張卡片，去鼓勵他，陪伴他走過來。

禱告與筆錄：

繼續安靜在神面前，與神對話，並聆聽祂對我說的話。將心中的思想（心得），或是與神的禱告，記錄在「靈程筆記簿」上面。

 

Mark 11

¹As they approached Jerusalem and came to Bethphage and Bethany at the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two of his disciples, ²saying to them, “Go to the village ahead of you, and just as you enter it, you will find a colt tied there, which no one has ever ridden. Untie it and bring it here. ³If anyone asks you, ‘Why are you doing this?’ tell him, ‘The Lord needs it and will send it back here shortly.’ ”  ⁴They went and found a colt outside in the street, tied at a doorway. As they untied it, ⁵some people standing there asked, “What are you doing, untying that colt?” ⁶They answered as Jesus had told them to, and the people let them go. ⁷When they brought the colt to Jesus and threw their cloaks over it, he sat on it. ⁸Many people spread their cloaks on the road, while others spread branches they had cut in the fields. ⁹Those who went ahead and those who followed shouted,    “Hosanna!”    “Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!”
¹⁰“Blessed is the coming kingdom of our father David!”    “Hosanna in the highest!”  ¹¹Jesus entered Jerusalem and went to the temple. He looked around at everything, but since it was already late, he went out to Bethany with the Twelve.

 

Meditation

1. The crowd shouted and waved and praised Jesus as their Messiah – the savior (v9-10).  But soon after, they became the crowd that wanted to nail Jesus on the cross.  It is easier to follow and praise God when everything seems to be going well, when God is meeting our expectations, and when faith is supported by those all around us.  The strength of our faith is tested when all of these supports and assumptions begin to fall away.
2. Has my faith in God been tested through changes of time, location, community?
3. Anyone at church or cell is going through this testing process and has not come out yet?  Write down his/her name on this page.  Commit to pray for him/her regularly for the whole month.  If possible, give him/her a call, write an email or send a card to encourage him/her and to accompany him/her to come through this process.

 

Prayer & Journaling:

Stay with God for a little longer.  Continue to converse with God and listen to what he wants to tell me.  Then write down any thought and/or prayer in the 2012 “Spiritual Journal” book.

第十章

35 西庇太的兒子雅各、約翰進前來，對耶穌說：「夫子，我們無論求你甚麼，願你給我們做。」 36 耶穌說：「要我給你們做甚麼？」 37 他們說：「賜我們在你的榮耀裡，一個坐在你右邊，一個坐在你左邊。」 38 耶穌說：「你們不知道所求的是甚麼，我所喝的杯，你們能喝嗎？我所受的洗，你們能受嗎？」 39 他們說：「我們能。」耶穌說：「我所喝的杯，你們也要喝；我所受的洗，你們也要受； 40 只是坐在我的左右，不是我可以賜的，乃是為誰預備的，就賜給誰。」 41 那十個門徒聽見，就惱怒雅各、約翰。 42 耶穌叫他們來，對他們說：「你們知道，外邦人有尊為君王的，治理他們，有大臣操權管束他們。 43 只是在你們中間，不是這樣。你們中間，誰願為大，就必作你們的用人； 44 在你們中間，誰願為首，就必作眾人的僕人。 45 因為人子來，並不是要受人的服事，乃是要服事人，並且要捨命作多人的贖價。」

默想：

1. 耶穌對雅各和約翰的要求沒有譏諷或惱怒，卻拒絕他們的要求。我們可以向神求任何東西，不過神不見得會將我們所求的給我們，但祂卻要把最好的賜給我們。因此，有時為了我們的好處，祂會拒絕我們的請求。
2. 回想一下，有什麼禱告，是神至今沒有答應，或是已經拒絕的？現在憑著信心，為著神已經、或將要將最好的賜給我來感謝神。
3. 在基督的國度裡，「服事」才是成功之路，這是主留給我們美好的榜樣。祈禱是服事的一種，我是否留意萬民堂每星期的祈禱週誌，忠實地每天為教牧同工、教會、社區、弟兄姊妹的需要祈禱？求主幫助我。

 

禱告與筆錄：

繼續安靜在神面前，與神對話，並聆聽祂對我說的話。將心中的思想（心得），或是與神的禱告，記錄在「靈程筆記簿」上面。

 

Mark 10

³⁵Then James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came to him. “Teacher,” they said, “we want you to do for us whatever we ask.”  ³⁶“What do you want me to do for you?” he asked.  ³⁷They replied, “Let one of us sit at your right and the other at your left in your glory.”  ³⁸“You don’t know what you are asking,” Jesus said. “Can you drink the cup I drink or be baptized with the baptism I am baptized with?”  ³⁹“We can,” they answered. Jesus said to them, “You will drink the cup I drink and be baptized with the baptism I am baptized with, ⁴⁰but to sit at my right or left is not for me to grant. These places belong to those for whom they have been prepared.”  ⁴¹When the ten heard about this, they became indignant with James and John. ⁴²Jesus called them together and said, “You know that those who are regarded as rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. ⁴³Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, ⁴⁴and whoever wants to be first must be slave of all. ⁴⁵For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

 

Meditation

1. Jesus didn’t laugh or getting angry at James or John, but He did reject their requests.  We may want to ask for anything from God, but God wants to give us the best and not just anything we asked for.  So, it’s for our good that He may reject our requests.
2. Take a time to reflect.  Is there any prayer request of mine that God still hasn’t answered, or has refused?  Right now, offer a prayer of thanksgiving to God, for He has or will have given me the best.
3. In the kingdom of Christ, “serving” is the way to success.  This is the model Christ left us.  Prayer is one of the services for believers.  Have I noticed the PGC weekly prayer letter? Lord, help me to pray faithfully daily for pastors, the church, our community, needs of brothers and sister.

 

Prayer & Journaling:

Stay with God for a little longer.  Continue to converse with God and listen to what he wants to tell me.  Then write down any thought and/or prayer in the 2012 “Spiritual Journal” book.