Monday, 4 August 2014

个人献身见证与分享

牧师、传道、教会领袖,主内长辈弟兄姐妹,主里平安!

“太年轻”、“社会经验不足”,“经不起考验”。或多或少,一般人对于一个17岁就打算献身的小孩都会有这般的怀疑。

2012年,由于交通不方便,孩子在团契后一般上都是跟声忠牧师的车回家。记得牧师很常在路途上告诉我说:“诚赞,以后要献身做牧师哦~”。当时的我虽然口头上回答说:“好啊,会考虑,会考虑“,但是心里其实一直都坚持着自己的理想,想要去读电脑和科技学,心想在科技越来越发达的时代,读这个一定能赚大钱。至于当传道人,一直以来都没有认真考虑过,就算真的要的话也不是9号毕业后就直接去念。

有一次,晋光堂邀请到“零零歌”的创作人 —— 萧招和牧师在主日崇拜证道。在他的信息里,牧师提到“欧洲国家极度缺乏牧者和传道人”。这看似普通的一句话,我听到的时候却看见了一副图画 —— 在一片沙漠里,自己站在一个平台上,底下有许多的人在听我证道。当下的我真的不知所措也感到很震惊。回到家后就马上发信息通知俊杰牧师和声忠牧师,他们鼓励我祷告求上帝赐予印证,同时预备好自己的心。两个星期后,神在我的梦中再次向我显现,同样的图画出现在我梦中。

去年6月,我参加了年会少团在诗巫所举办的代表大会。孩子在那里有幸与主题讲员,刘世尧牧师接触并且问了他许多的问题。牧师告诉我说:“主观蒙召,客观印证”。主观蒙召就是自己有意全时间服事上帝,客观印证就是上帝透过身边的人的鼓励、推荐或支持来向你肯定祂对你的呼召。确实,从2012年看见异象到参加这个营会差不多一年的时间里,在恒切祷告后,看见自己对兴旺福音更加有委身,更是看见原本反对我献身的父母逐渐转向支持我一生摆上为主使用。也是在那营会里,我肯定地走上台回应神的呼召,在主面前立志献上自己,终生引人归主。

在过滤了各神学院的要求后,孩子选择了沙巴神学院,因为只有沙巴神学院有英文的神学学士课程(符合在欧洲国家服事的使命),而且愿意录取刚从 9号毕业的学生。谁也没想到,沙巴神学院的夏忠就牧师认识我的母亲。于是在他的鼓励和推荐下,我前往槟城考了国际英文考试 TOEFL,写了4篇个人生命见证篇,让声忠牧师和教会领袖,李国华执事和陈绍维荣誉执事填写推荐信后交上给美国芝加哥的慕迪神学院,申请入学。托大家的代祷与关心,所有的文件在时间内顺利抵达学院,我也成功被慕迪录取了。

在这里我要特别向一些人致谢。首先是我的父母亲,谢谢他们一路来的支持和栽培,让我从小在知识、语言掌控、实际事奉经验,待人处事和各方面上都得到学习与成长。这包括给予我上等的教育,支持我参与教会活动和服事,不断地鼓励我和帮助我等等。接下来是声忠牧师,感谢他不放弃地呼吁我献身。我不知道他有没有听出我很多时候只是敷衍地回答他,但他不断的鼓励让我从敷衍的态度走到今天真正踏上献身之路。俊杰牧师,虽然他今天不会在场,但是我觉得一句谢谢实在不足以表达孩子对他的谢意。当我遇到一些圣经知识方面的问题、或者在个人事奉中收到批评和打击,甚至是个人感情或待人处事方面遇到问题时,我都会打电话给他,他每次都尽能力扶持我,鼓励我和帮助我。

最后,我要谢谢晋光堂各位弟兄姐妹的支持。虽然一些人我都叫不出你们的名字,你们都让我从各方面感受到教会的爱与关心。其中包括鼓励我在次序单后面所写的文章、无私地教导和塑造我个人的生命与灵命素质、坦率直接地告诉我自己事奉的不足和需要学习的地方等等,当然也不忘记大家在整个过程中的问候与代祷。我更要谢谢少团,若不是少团在过去8年来不断地教导我,装备我,给我服事和学习的机会,我相信今天我也不会走上献身之路。曾经,甚至是现在还在少团服事的教会长辈和弟兄姐妹,谢谢你们!孩子想要告诉大家,无论你现在在教会参与什么样的服事,委身和用心地去做吧!一个小小的关心和问候也能带来很大的改变。执事职员,主日学老师,甚至是普通会友也好,我相信正如大家如何培育了我,你现在所做的一切一切,都很有可能在间接栽培一个传道人!


到了美国,孩子仍然会在祷告中纪念大家和教会一切的需要。虽然很遗憾自己无法参与50周年庆典,但是我相信神的时间和旨意最美好。希望大家也能在祷告中纪念我在那里的学业和生活,适应美国的文化和生活环境,与同学和朋友之间的关系等等。虽然我们在不同的地方,我相信主必用这里的每一个人,包括你和我,为主共同扩展上帝国度,引人归主!晋光堂,我爱你!愿神继续引领和看顾大家往后的需要,也继续赐福你们的学业、工作、家庭和服事。但愿我们在主里,一切为福音共同努力!谢谢。

Wednesday, 16 July 2014

感恩

      7月1号早上经历了迷你心脏病!那天灵修祷告后进入领事馆,凭信心地在第一关卡交上所有的文件。过不久我的号码又被叫到,心想怎么又是去第一个关卡?有种不详的预感。工作人员告诉我,我的 DS-160 (个人资料表格)是上一次面试的,必须带最新的来。问题是,我从来不知道需要再填写过啊!马上叫了的士回去旅馆上网,重新填写DS-160 表格后用旅馆的打印机印出来。幸好来得及在时间内赶回领事馆。感恩的是,圣灵在整个过程中安抚我的心,使我能不断地对在旁焦虑的母亲说,不要担心,神必定引领!

      感谢主,面试通过了!这次在预备充足的文件后,面试在差不多 5-10 分钟之内就结束了。非常感恩,从领受神的呼召到今天顺利拿到准证,确实深深经历了神一步一步的带领。当中包括祷告求印证、有智慧来选择神学院、牧师们推荐慕迪、考国际英文考试、写入学所需的个人见证篇、邮寄所有文件申请入学、预备各样资料前往面试等等,让我体会到,离了神我实在不能做什么!

      希西家患了必死的顽疾时,他再度呼求神,向他祷告求医治,神又藉以赛亚预言他得延长寿命十五年,并有日影后退十度为证据,希西家再度经历神的神迹,神医治了他的疾病。可惜,经历神那么多恩典的希西家,竟然败在自己愚蠢的骄傲上,糊里糊涂地答应巴比伦使者的要求,尽露国家财宝,给野心勃勃的敌人看见,且要在未来承担国破家亡、人财被掳的恶果。

      上帝透过今早个人灵修时的心得提醒我,骄者必败!感谢父母亲不顾一切地栽培我,从提供最好的教育、自小的圣经知识教导、教会事奉上的鼓励,一直到支持我献身全时间的服事并协助申请准证,一句谢谢实在不足以表达对他们的谢恩!更要谢谢牧者长辈与领袖们的看顾,从小教导和帮助塑造我以致今天能全然献上蒙主使用。也不忘记大家的代祷、关心和问候,让我觉得自己真的是一个蒙福的人,蒙神眷顾的孩子!

      个人从整件事的领悟就是,上帝一直在掌权。如果你生命中正面对什么挫折和打击,夫妻争吵、亲子不合、事业失败、感情伤害等等,需知的是在你前面引领你的神,是无所不知,无所不能的!神必定有最美好的计划给你,主不要求我们多做什么,祂只要我们凭着信心、耐心等待、仰望主恩!荣耀跪给神,赞美主,哈利路亚!

Thursday, 12 June 2014

失败的经历

12号早上前往美国领事馆面试,欲申请出国留学准证。到了那里,办了手续耗了差不多 2个小时半的时间终于轮到我面试。先前大学给了两个选择,缴付第一年全数的学费,或呈交银行对账单(bank statement)来证明你有能力还 5年的学费。缴付第一年的全数学费后,学校出了一封信说明我经济上没有问题。万万没有想到美国领事馆很死板地一定要看 bank statement,由于资料不足,面试失败并且拿不到准证。这件事给我的个人领悟与反思:

一、起初真的很失望,但是圣灵让我想起那天早上看到某位牧师发的文,“我们都有跌倒的时候,但跌倒之后,要立刻爬起来”。让我想起上帝从我选择神学院、考国际英文考试(TOEFL)、邮寄文件至当地的大学等等,一路来都没有遇到很大的问题。整个过程都蛮顺利,就这么一次跌倒难道就对失去信心了吗?敢敢再申请!


二、缺乏迫切祷告。比起上一次申请慕迪神学院,这次申请准证似乎轻视了整个过程。总觉得只要意图不是犯法或偷渡,拿准证应该是轻而易举。自己也没有很主动地告诉人这件事让他们帮忙代祷,没有上台找牧师按手祷告,在家更没有认真为此代祷。忽略了最重要和关键的行动。


三、防不胜防。体会到美国领事馆,面谈员的权力。当下如果被拒绝,毫无商妥的余地。因为只有一次的机会,如果申请不被批准就必须再还申请费、买飞机票、订酒店等等。从中学习到无论处理什么事情都必须以细心和认真的态度去面对。各样的资料都必须预备好来应付他们各方面的要求。

罗马书4:20,“并且仰望神的应许,总没有因不信心里起疑惑,反倒因信心里得坚固,将荣耀归给神,”。但愿以这个经验与大家共勉之。若你正处于相似的情景,愿圣灵赐你能力对上帝再次有不易动摇的信心,勇敢爬起来尝试!

神有祂最美的时间与计划,每件事情的发生都有祂要我们学习的功课。埋冤使人看不见和忘记神的恩典与带领,凡事学习顺服和感恩才会发现自己是何等蒙福!这件事让我领悟到,不要看差一步就达到终点,而要看自己已经走了多远。笔者也要在此请大家为我代祷。本人大概下星期三或星期四又会前往吉隆坡做第二次的面试与申请,求神帮助我不重犯同样的错误。愿我们在主里继续彼此勉励与成长,阿门!



Saturday, 24 May 2014

Simple look at my life

When I look back at my life on what I have experienced, including the education I received, the love and care from my parents (particularly my mom), to build a good solid foundation of faith in me, the support from family members and friends, I realize how blessed I am and that I should never take life for granted.

My whole life, since the beginning, is everything part of God's flawless plan. He supplied me with knowledge and experience like language skills, biblical understanding, practical ministry, music ability, all for no other purpose - but to call upon me and use me, among so many people, as one who will serve him in full time ministry. I am aware that my journey will begin soon, a life long journey with no turning back, and I am more than excited, honored as well as relieved to be able to dedicate my life to God the Almighty, the one who sacrificed His son Jesus Christ for sinner's sake, to be utilized in bringing more lost souls to Christ.

Praise the Lord! He is indeed faithful and loving, and for those of you reading this but have yet to accept Jesus Christ as your Personal Savior, I invite you to take this important step and decision in your life. May the Lord intervene into your life, to bless you and guide you on the path ahead, which might be filled with challenges but with Him walking beside you, you shall feel your burdens lifted up and you'll live a more meaningful and joyful life. If you are willing to do so, please say the following prayer,

"Dear God, I know that I am a sinner. I need you in my life to guide me. I ask you to be my personal Savior and the Savior of my life. In Jesus' name I pray, Amen."

Saturday, 19 April 2014

Pray now!

I am deeply enlightened by what God has shown me through this 2-day seminar and talk. No matter how interesting your activities are, or how attractive your gatherings may be, a church that is not praying is a dead church.

How is the situation of prayer in your church?
How is your relationship with God in terms of, not only personal prayer, but also your commitment to regularly attend church's prayer meeting?

Indeed sometimes we are so caught up with the church activities that we forget the true meaning behind them and we forget to pray. We worry about the venue, the cost, the date and time, but neglect the importance and power of prayer, to truly seek God's will and His pleasure.

A congregation that devotes themselves to come together and support the church with prayer is the fundamental to a living church. Without that, everything we do is meaningless as most of the time we find ourselves tired and lost because we carry out activities and planning just for the sake of doing it. Christians of this generation, it is time that we raise our hands and pray, for our personal needs, our church, our nation, society and the world. I believe it is by none other than consistent prayer that we can make a difference and impact the world!

Wednesday, 5 March 2014

Why do Christians fast during Lent?

        Why do Christians fast during Lent, or do things that we don’t usually do? Is this on line with the teachings of the Bible? Or is it just something that we randomly think out? [Originally written and posted by Reverend Lau Sie Ngiu, translated by Paul Ling]

        “Lent” is a 40-day period of fasting before Easter Monday, its climax being the “Holy Week” i.e. the week before Easter, followed by the joyous Easter,even the Pentecost (also known as Whitsunday) that comes after that. This is the spiritual training that numerous Christians from past generation churches do in order to commemorate the suffering of Christ’s sacrifice, to remind themselves that they “were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life.” (Romans 6:4)
In fact, in 1st to 3rd century A.D., churches mostly fast for 2 to 3 days. For instance, Christians in Rome would fast and pray overnight during the 40 hours before Easter to commemorate Christ’s death and burial. Until 4th century A.D., this habit extends to forty days, once it reaches the dawn of Easter, the fasting atmosphere totally removes then the joy of Easter and Pentecost immediately follows. Moreover, followers stop fasting, also not kneeling to pray in public worship service to rejoice the “victory through Christ Jesus” (1 Corinthians 15:55-57)!

       The 40-day fasting period, is the light we obtain from Moses, Elijah and Jesus Christ. 15th century B.C., Moses was there with the Lord at Mount Sinai, forty days and forty nights without eating bread or drinking water, and he received the Ten Commandments and Laws from the Lord. Even as he came down the Mountain, his face was radiant because he spoke to the Lord! (Exodus 34:28-29) 9th century B.C., Elijah was at the downside of his serving, even after he looked to die, he experienced two times where angels appeared and supply food and drinks to him. After he ate and drink the second time, “Strengthened by that food, he travelled forty days and forty nights until he reached Horeb, the mountain of God.” Over there in a cave, he heard God’s voice and saw God’s glory (1 Kings 19:1-14). 1st century A.D., the incarnated Jesus fasted in the desert for 40 days before he went out to preach. The result of it was the fulfilment of Holy Spirit, victory against temptation of the devil, and not leaving the Path of the Cross because of food, pride of life and prosperity of the world. Instead, obeying the will of the Heavenly Father wholeheartedly, walk towards the cross, into the cross and ultimately out of the grave, accomplished the great work of Salvation, bringing human and the creation out of the emptiness, sin, death and power of the devil!

        This way, I think that the church’s traditional practice of 40-day fasting during Lent, is fundamentally sound based on the Bible. Of course, there are various methods of fasting. Some choose to fast one or two meals per day to spend more time reading the bible and praying, or reading spiritual books. Some fast meat, some resolve to spend lesser time watching television or playing games in 40 day, some reduce their living cost to do more charity and donate to the poor. Regardless of the method of fasting, what’s most important is sanctifying ourselves and purifying our hearts with God’s Word, to renew ourselves with strength, to be even more able to love our home and love other people with all our heart, all our soul, all our mind and all our strength, just like how we love ourselves, to participate in the expansion of God’s kingdom and the great cause of renewing and transforming our country. 

In my experience of fasting in Lent, blessings that the Holy Spirit gave me includes,
1. Fostering a more restraint and patient character,
2. Eliminate certain lustful, negative thinking and emotions that has entangled me for years, 
3. Being more sensitive to the voice and advices of the Holy Spirit,
4. Knowing more clearly the specific will of God, e.g. matters regarding my future and family.