分辨善恶树

最近又思想这句话，我想大概可以这样理解：

1、给我们选择，所以在园中留下分辨善恶树。

神爱我们，所以神赐给我们自由意志--我们可以选择从善还是从恶，选择爱或者不爱神，选择服从神的命令（不吃那果子）或者违背神的命令（吃那树上的果子）。

分辨善恶树是神留给人的一个选择。如果没有选择，没有自由意志，人与机器有何不同？没有自由意志，关于人的一切都不值一提，人也没有了存在的意义。神需要的不是机器，神造人的一个重要的目的就是和他建立亲密的关系，分享、享受神的一切的美好。

与其说留下分辨善恶树是给亚当夏娃留下犯罪机会，不如说是给人一个选择从善的机会。

2、在园中留下分辨善恶树时，神在想什么？

神是奥秘的，我们无法详尽推测他的想法。

但是我们知道，神是全知的神，他在伊甸园中种下分辨善恶树之前，必然已经看到了亚当、夏娃必要违背他的命令，为什么还要种下这棵树？是设下一个套，让人来钻么？

我们必须记得，神是慈爱的神。神在种下分辨善恶树之时，在恩赐给人自由选择的能力同时，在预测到人必将悖逆他的同时，神也预先给人预备了救赎---他的独生子耶稣的生命！

神植下分辨善恶树的同时，神也已经预备上自己独生子的生命！
神在给人选择的同时，自己却没有选择！

3、我们到底算什么？

我们到底算什么？甚至神竟不顾惜自己的独生子的生命！
论到肉体，我们在这个世界上卑微的如同粪土，如同灰尘，一文不值。然而，我们有清清楚楚地看到，神用超乎我们想象的爱，爱我们每一个人！

来吧，朋友，来吧，接受神的爱，接受耶稣在十字架上张开的拥抱！

Each day..

the day is coming
the refuge of the early morning will be invaded by decisions to be
made and deadlines to be met.
for the next twelve hours i will be exposed the the day's demands. it
is now i must make a choice.
because of Calvary, I'm free to choose.

and so i choose,,,,

i choose love...
no occasion justifies hatred;
no injustice warrants bitterness.
I choose love.
today i will love God.
and what God loves.

I choose joy..
i will invite my God to be the God of circumstance.
i will refuse the temptation to be cynical... the tool of the lazy thinker.
i will refuse to see people as anything less than human beings, created by God.
i will refuse to see any problem as anything less than an opportunity
to see God.

i choose peace...
i will live forgiven.
i will forgive so that i may live.

i choose patience...
i will overlook the inconveniences of the world. instead of cursing
the one who takes my place, I'll invite him to do so. rather than
complain that the wait is too long, i will thank God for a moment to
pray. instead of clenching my fist at new assignments, i will face
them with joy and courage.

i choose kindness...
i will be kind to the poor, for they are alone.
i will be kind to the rich, for they are afraid.
and kind to the unkind, for such is how God has treated me.

i choose goodness...
i will go without a dollar before i take a dishonest one.
i will be overlooked before i will boast.
i will confess before i will accuse.
i choose goodness.

i choose faithfulness...
today i will keep my promises.
my debtors will not regret their trust.
my associates will not question my word.
my wife will not question my love.
and my children will never fear that their father will not come home.

i choose gentleness...
nothing is won by force.
i choose to be gentle.
if i raise my voice, may it be only in praise.
if i clench my fist, may it only be in prayer.
if i make a demand, may it only be of myself.

i choose self control...
i am a spiritual being after this body is dead, my spirit will soar.
i refuse to let what will rot rule the eternal.
i will be drunk only by joy.
i will be impassioned only by my faith.
i will be influenced only by God.
i will be taught only by Christ.

love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,
gentleness and self control,
to these i commit my day.

if i succeed, i will give thanks.
if i fail, i will seek his grace.
and then, when this day is done, i will place my head on my pillow and rest.
may your day be blessed in Jesus.

才德的妇人

才德的妇人谁能得著呢？
她的价值远胜过珍珠。

她丈夫心里倚靠她，必不缺少利益；
她一生使丈夫有益无损。
她寻找羊和麻，甘心用手做工。
她好像商船从远方运粮来，
未到黎明她就起来，
把食物分给家中的人，
将当做的工分派婢女。
她想得田地就买来；
用手所得之利栽种葡萄园。
她以能力束腰，使膀臂有力。
她觉得所经营的有利；
她的灯终夜不灭。
她手拿捻线竿，手把纺线车。
她张手济困苦人，伸手帮补穷乏人。

她不因下雪为家里的人担心，因为全家都穿著朱红衣服。
她为自己制作绣花毯子；
她的衣服是细麻和紫色布做的。
她丈夫在城门口与本地的长老同坐，为众人所认识。
她做细麻布衣裳出卖，又将腰带卖与商家。
能力和威仪是她的衣服；
她想到日後的景况就喜笑。
她开口就发智慧；
她舌上有仁慈的法则。
她观察家务，并不吃闲饭。
她的儿女起来称她有福；
她的丈夫也称赞她，
说：才德的女子很多，惟独你超过一切。
艳丽是虚假的，美容是虚浮的；
惟敬畏耶和华的妇女必得称赞。
愿她享受操作所得的；
愿她的工作在城门口荣耀她。

----谨以此文纪念三八妇女节

存心忍耐，奔

"……存心忍耐，奔……"（来12：1）。

　　"……存心忍耐，奔……"是一件非常困难的事情。"奔"的时候，常是缺乏"忍耐"的时候；因为"奔"的时候，常是急急想达到目的的时候。我们平常说起"忍耐"立刻就联想到"静止"――一幕天使守护病榻的图画。然而我以为静止的忍耐，并不是最难做到的忍耐。

　　我相信有一种忍耐，更难做到――就是那同时能
"奔"的忍耐。固然，在悲伤的时候不动，在不幸的时候不言，需要极大的忍耐；可是我知道一件事，需要更大的忍耐：就是在袭击之下继续工作――心中负着重压，仍不停止前
"奔"；灵里深感痛苦，仍然勉力尽职。这才是基督的忍耐！

　　许多时候，神要我们学习忍耐，不是在床上，乃是在街上。神要我们埋葬我们的悲哀，不是在寂静中，乃是在活动中――在贸易中，在工场中，在交际的时候，在帮助别人的时候。没有一种埋葬比这种埋葬更难；可是这就是所谓"……存心忍耐，奔……"

　　哦，人子啊，这就是你的忍耐！这就是又等又奔的忍耐！虽然你没有一刻不背负着极大的忧伤，可是我们看见你仍在迦拿变水为酒，在野地变饼济众。人们都向你求云中的虹；我要向你求更大的：求你叫我作一条云中的虹――一条叫别人喜乐的虹！

―马得胜

Beginnning of the new year

It is good to begin a new year with Jesus!
It is good to sail into the uncharted waters of '07 because He
is your Captain and the Anchor of your soul;
It is good to walk upon unexplored trails because He is your
Guide and the Guardian of your way;
It is good to face the unknown because He is your Wisdom
and the One who knows the beginning from the end.

It is good to have your hands empty, for He will fill them;
It is good to have your heart open, for He will cause it to overflow;
It is good to have your eyes focused, for in His light things will
be made clear;
It is good to have your ears listening, for His voice will
be the sweetest sound you hear;
It is good to have your feet grounded, for He is your Rock
and the Foundation upon which you stand.

It is good to trust Him because He makes no mistakes;
It is good to serve Him for He does all things well;
It is good to honor Him because He has no equal;
It is good to obey HIm for His plans always include what is best;
It is good to rest in Him for He is the Lord of the easy yoke;
It is good to depend upon Him for He takes care of you daily;
It is good to delight in Him for He is your exceeding great reward.

May the Lord fill your year with good things.
-Roy Lessin

We are His Sheep and He is Our Shepherd

You were on His heart.
When He left His home in heaven,
He saw you;
When He became a man on earth,
He was seeking you;
When He strenched out His hands upon the cross,
He was reaching out to you;
When He returned to His Father,
He was preparing a place for you.

You are the sheep He has come to shepherd,
to guid, to feed, to protect, and to carry.
You are the one He calls His own.

--Roy lessin