Friday, August 31, 2007

禱告本

離開台灣前,我特別去校園書房買了一本Scripture Journal。原本打算要將這個journal拿來當禱告本,把自己跟神說的話記錄下來,數算神的恩典,但是離開台灣那麼久了,都一直沒動筆把自己跟神說的話寫下來。不知道為什麼,昨天我從書櫃上把這本journal拿下來,開始動筆寫一些東西了。我不是只記錄禱告事項而已,我是把我的禱告逐字的記錄下來。也許這是一種操練。以前我禱告完以後,總覺得重點就只有一些些,但是當我逐字的將禱告寫下來時,我發現我跟神說的每個字都好重要,因為每個字都是我跟神說的心事,都是我心中最誠實的感受。當我將我所向神說的一一記錄下來時,我發現神仔細的聆聽我心裡所有只想跟祂說的話,我發現神好有耐心,神好愛我!

Thursday, August 30, 2007

關係的突破

也許來到美國,神要我學習用生命親近祂
過去,我總是以服事親近神
來到這裡,我停止了服事
一瞬間我覺得我跟神的關係產生了一些不確定感
我很怕我因為自己的生活步調而遠離神
經過神許多次的破碎、光照、挑旺後
我知道我最怕的就是遠離神
我知道我生命中最重要的就是神
也許這次來美國
神要我學習用不同的方式親近祂、與祂交通
我要學習時時刻刻與神保持「連線」
在生活中的每一分每一秒發現神的同在、神的提醒
對我而言,來美國不單單是當交換學生,完成學業而已
對我而言,來美國是個屬靈之旅
我要在這裡發現神的奇妙

來美國的目的?

來到美國後有好多機會到處跑、到處看,
但是今天突然想到一個問題,神帶我來這裡是為了什麼?
只是要我看看不同的文化,學習獨立、信任、交托,磨練膽量嗎?
神要我學的功課是什麼呢?
我知道神在我身上有美好的計畫,而來美國這個子計畫的目的是什麼呢?
我很擔心,來了美國我會鬆懈,我會不夠儆醒。
我很怕我從祭壇上逃走。我很怕健忘的我會忘記神的恩典。
也許我的信心太小,我總是想知道為什麼。
也許神要我放心的將自己的生命、未來、計畫全交托在祂手中。
也許神要我停止問「為什麼」,也許神只是要我休息、安靜。
雖然有這麼多的「也許」,我心中還是有個問號,
我還是想知道,因為我很怕我走錯了。

Lake Alice


8月25晚上去看蝙蝠出來覓食。在等待的過程中,我們到了對面的Lake Alice(UF校園內的湖)看一看。看到的第一幕就是一隻鱷魚寶寶在湖裡游來游去,享受著日落的美景~




除了鱷魚,Lake Alice旁邊有一間很美很美的教會。看到這一幕,我不禁問自己是否有一天也能夠在台灣的校園裡看見大復興?是不是能夠看到學生們喜歡敬拜神、渴慕敬拜神呢?

Wednesday, August 29, 2007

What can I do for You?

Four short years, one sixth of my current age, one thousand four hundred and sixty one days. All gone with a blink of the eye only to leave tears and smiles: smiles that revolve around You, tears that You use to cleanse me.

You taught me lessons that restores me to the image You created. You taught me not to look at the storms ahead of me, but to look past these storms and see that You are beside me. You taught me to never forget that I am not alone, never to forget that I was created for a purpose, never to forget that You keep Your promises. You taught me how to smile. You taught me how to cry. You taught me how to feel. You taught me how to be true.

You've done so much for me, way beyond what I deserve. Yesterday, I asked, "What can You do for me? What can you bring to my life?" Today, I ask, "What can I do for You, for Your kingdom?" Today, four years past, I know, not believe or think but know, that I don't belong to myself but to You alone.

發現

It's odd that humans are so weak in spirit. People normally insist that their ways of doing things is correct and they turn to God only when they are somehow defeated and are in need of consolation, certainly I am one of the people I speak about now. I've noticed that God is always there for me in the times of storm. And, I certainly know that God is with me at times of joy. Yet, it seems that I only notice God when I am under trials. Whenever I am not surrounded by hardship, my eyesight seems to be clouded and i forget God's grace, I forget Him gradually. I only pray that the Lord has His way in me!

As the Bible says, "I am a free man, nobody's slave; but I make myself everybody's slave in order to win as many people as possible." Lord, I don't want to waste the grace you gave me; use me, so that I be of help to the needy souls here! "So I become all things to all people, that I may save some of them by whatever means are possible."

主,我求祢翻轉我!徹底的翻轉我,叫我心中所有不合祢喜悅的全部被祢洗淨!讓我完全謙卑,毫無驕傲。在我身上,在我生命裡,除了祢以外,再也沒有可誇的事了!我只求祢破碎我,重新塑造我,使我成為祢手中合用的器皿,成為祢國度的僕人,成為靈魂的祝福!

生活作息

回台灣唸大學似乎放縱過頭了。在六年內,我的生活習慣真的是變的超級不規律的,晚睡晚起,早上8點有課常常會睡過頭。

沒想到來了美國之後,竟然選了一門早上7:25的課。一瞬間我必須將自己的生活作息調回高中那種晚上12點睡覺早上6:30起床的規律。

唉,過了六年我只能說自己老了,不在能像大學時的瘋狂作息,更不能向碩一一樣用命來唸書了。該重視健康了!

「身子是聖靈的殿」,要保守自己!

Tuesday, August 28, 2007

UF, my first 20+ days

UF, my first 20+ days

許多第一次

感謝主,來美國發現自己經歷了好多第一次:第一次住Wendy家、第一次在借住在朋友家(借住前其實不認識)、第一次跟香港人當室友、第一次認識大陸人、第一次自己做魯味、第一次被國際電話打敗、第一次這麼想念團契、第一次做fritos verdes、第一次...

好多第一次。

每個第一次都很特別!都很難忘!

Monday, August 27, 2007

在善上聰明

羅16:19:「 但我願意你們在善上聰明,在惡上愚拙。」
聖經要我們在惡事上單純,在善事上聰明,但是人如此的有限,行善時往往不知如何分辨何為有智慧的。雖然我願意幫助他們,但是我擔心這樣的幫助是不是其實害了他們。也許在現在這個時間點,這件事是無解吧。

負擔

看到剛信主認識的屬靈長輩的網誌,
不禁發現自己對世界、對靈魂的負擔好小。
因此,我對主禱告:
主,求祢賜我使徒性的熱情!
主,我要看到萬國萬民都起來敬拜讚美祢!
主,祢已將應許之地賞賜給我們了!
求祢激勵我!我要因祢成為大國!

主日

今天早上跟Michelle一起去Gainesville Chinese Christian Church. 雖然不是第一次去但是卻是第一次想要帶同學去。說「想要」表示原本有約同學,但是過去接他的時候就一直聯絡不上他,所以最後還是自己一個人跟Michelle去。

今天的證道很棒,主題是「耶穌恩友」,整個就很貼近我最近的生活經歷。雖然才去教會沒幾次,跟大家也都還不是很熟,但是在神的殿中絲毫沒有陌生的感覺。我發現無論到世界哪一個角落,只要能夠到神的殿中敬拜祂,我就會很高興,很心滿意足!在GCCC即使仍在與弟兄姊妹們建立關係,但是我知道這就是我的家,因為神就在那裡!來到Gainesville這一段時間,我經歷到好多好多神的恩典,但是讓我最高興、最感恩的是神為我預備了一個很棒很棒的教會!

這個教會充滿神的愛,弟兄姊妹們都很渴慕神,都很愛神,都很熱心的服事彼此!過去幾個禮拜的主日崇拜,都是弟兄姊妹們開車接送我們,我好感恩,好感恩!神真是用各種方式照顧我、使我飽足!這一切讓我更深的願意為神付出,為神而活!

Sunday, August 26, 2007

跟隨

聽著從韓國帶回來的詩歌CD發現時間過的好快!
一轉眼我從韓國回來已經一個月了。
在韓國神為我卸下所有的防衛,我從無力到抗拒到遇見神,這個過程好長、好難走
回頭看雖然發現我經歷了好多痛苦,但是我為這些傷害獻上感恩
若不是這些經歷我不會認識自己,不會認識神對我的愛,不會知道如何倚靠神重新得力,不會對神如此認真

在韓國,我重新找到仰望神的信心,跟隨神的渴慕
我曾經跟神說過我要一生跟隨祂
但是危難臨到時我卻從祭壇上跑下來
我發現在我跟神的關係裡,我太自我中心了
在韓國,我發現當我離開神,活在世界中,好茫,沒有盼望、沒有喜樂、沒有愛
當我用「直到主耶穌再來時候」敬拜神時
我跟神說我願意跟隨祢,即使代價再大,我都願意跟隨祢
若祢要我現在立刻放棄研究所,我就放棄研究所
若祢現在要我離開家人,我就離開
我跟神說我願意付出一切的代價跟隨祂,我願意為神流血

然而當我在汝矣島純福音教會唱「十字架的道路,殉道者的生命」時
神問我「你願意如詩歌一樣,成為殉道者嗎?」
我遲疑了,我頓時頭腦空白,我猶豫了起來,我發現我內心在發抖
難道神真的要我為了祂獻上生命?我不是跟祂說過我願意嗎?
為什麼神反問我願不願意時,我卻猶豫了起來?
我開始懷疑我是否真的在時候到時願意為神流血
我只能呼求神,求祂讓我無論在高山或低谷都堅定在祂裡面
過了一天,神回應我,賜我信心,讓我滿有平安喜樂的到祂面前跟祂說
「我願意,我願意跟隨祢,我願意為祢流血,我願意成為祢的殉道者,只要是祢的旨意,我都願意」
這一生若不為主活,為誰活呢?世界嗎?自己嗎?不!只為主活!

謝謝祢的保護

今天突然發現我常常take God for granted.
我真是個軟弱的人啊,竟然會將最愛我的神視為理所當然。
原來有祢,我好幸福!
原來有祢,即時在世界最遙遠的角落,我都不孤單!
在美國,我每天睜開眼睛看到的第一個人、事、物都訴說著祢的榮耀!
在美國,我發現祢在保護我,祢在呵護我,爸爸祢好寵我。
在這個陌生的地方,我一點都不擔心,一點都不害怕,
一點都沒有之前第一次離家去台灣唸書那種不安、緊張、憂慮。
我心中只有平安、喜樂
我確信這是祢的恩典,這是祢給我的禮物,這是祢愛我的應證。
爸爸,謝謝祢!

祢曾告訴我:「又要以耶和華為樂,他就將你心裡所求的賜給你。」
如今我發現當我還不知道我需要什麼,要求什麼時
祢就為我預備好了。
當我猶豫是否要離開熟悉的環境面對我一直很抗拒的「改變」時
你給我勇氣、信心,讓我單純的順服祢的旨意
出發時,我不敢多想什麼,我根本不知道要想什麼
我不知道要如何規劃在美國的生活、需要,我只知道我要來,因為這是祢為我開的路
當我抵達目的地時,祢已經為我預備好了一切
祢給了我一個安歇之處、一個與我最珍惜的朋友相處分享的時間、一群照顧我的弟兄姊妹、一個餵養我的教會
主,我都沒想到我需要這麼多,但是祢都在我還沒想到的時候給我了
主啊,在祢面前我沒有任何可誇的,我沒有縝密的心思、沒有過人的智慧
我只有一個心智,就是為祢而活
認識祢四年後,我發現我生命不能沒有祢,
我發現任何事情如果不是為了祢作就都沒有意義
我發現我會因著能夠親近你好喜樂,因著不能與祢獨處傷心
當我發現,我以祢為樂時,我心裡所求的只是能一生都跟祢這麼親密
我不要這世界的任何東西,我只要跟祢很親近、很親近
無論我在世界的哪個角落,我都要跟祢這麼親近,這麼親密!
爸爸,我好愛祢、好愛祢!

Jesus, I love You!

Everyday I feel God's grace and God's love all around me. In times of joy and laughter, He is there; in times of tears and worries, He is there. God is never absent in my life and I will never be absent in my relationship with God. Everyday, when I wake up, I just want to say, "Jesus, I love You!"

Jesus, You are wonderful, You are great, You are glorious, You are beautiful.
You're my friend, my rock, my life. I love You, Jesus!

Saturday, August 25, 2007

新的眼光(室友篇)

今天的我不禁懷疑自己是不是老了。我已經沒辦法過大學生的生活了。不是我想要回到大學時代,而是我現在的室友是大學生。在短短兩天短暫的相處後我赫然發現研究生與大學生真的完全不同;一個需要全然專注投入學習,另一個則是盡情的享受歡樂、活潑的生命。當我發現這一個事實後,我雖然想要堅持自己的需要,得到自己的空間、隱私,但是我發現我希望我的室友可以盡情的享受與他的朋友們聊天、殺時間,因為這是他們的權力、這是他應得的、這是她們生命中一段美麗的回憶。雖然我沒辦法在自己的房間裡面隨心所欲,想看書的時候就看書或想睡覺的時候就睡覺,但是看到他跟他朋友們過著如此無憂無慮的生活時,我卻有著莫名的喜樂。我為著他們能夠盡情的當大學生感恩。

Friday, August 24, 2007

與主的愛情

當我跌倒、撲倒、絕望時
是祢將我扶起
是祢推我一把
是祢給我力氣再走下去
是祢給我繼續的動力

這一生中,我只需要祢
因為祢是我唯一的真理
你是我唯一的所愛
當我的夢想破碎時
是祢陪著我掉淚
陪著我療傷
是祢讓我再次起身
再次微笑
是祢寶抱我
在祢裡面,好安全,好安靜,好享受

主,這一生我只要祢
我貪心的說我只想要跟祢分享
主,我愛祢
我好愛祢,好愛祢

Thursday, August 23, 2007

Roommate

This morning (8/23, 4th day @ UF) when I woke up I realized there was another person in the room. My roommate had moved in! Her name is Karuna and she is extremely nice! Her Mandarin is really good. I believe our room is going to become a room where three or more languages are to be spoken. Ha. Thinking about our first encounter now, I feel that she reminds me of someone I knew in college. Her speech reminds me of 德慧, a really nice girl I met in TVBS when I first met Jesus.

UF (the first 3 days)

It's been only three days since my life in UF as a Gator, but the experience is exceptional.

First of all, people here look more mature than Asians their same age. The way they dress is very different. People here tend to resort to the casual looks. Yet sometimes I feel that any type of attire is acceptable here because I see people wander around nearly topless and no one seems to find it unfit or improper. To be honest, you will not find someone dressed up like that in Taiwan. I guess this is one of my culture shocks.

Another difference is the way professors teach. Some professors are extremely straight forward (attitude-wise), they can be really blunt (in Asian standards or in my standards actually) but they are still professional. Other professors speak extremely fast because they have so much to offer to us. Every professor has his/her personality, but what amazes me is how up to date everything here is. Course material here is parallel to world events. When I take classes here, I learn more than just Marketing and Teams, I learn about the world, about people. It is so amazing how much I get out of class here.

What's more, I really enjoy taking classes with Americans and other foreigners. People here have different trend of thoughts than Taiwanese students. From the discussions in class I have come to notice that for American students, classes are a form of intellectual conversation, whereas for an Asian student, classes are reservoirs that students/sponges come to for water.

I'm really grateful for the opportunity to come here because never in my life can I meet so many people from so many different countries. Being able to live in Weaver Hall and take class in the Warrington College of Business really allows me to be in touch with different cultures. Today, I was able to listen to 7 or 8 Europeans speak about their countries' positions about the European Union. That is something you won't get in Taiwan.

Besides these Europeans, I also met a couple of Chinese students who I am getting along with very well. It turns out that I do have preconceived notions about Chinese people that are not true. I nearly made the mistake of judging them based on my limited understanding of their culture. It turns out that they are unique, each of them is unique. Of course, some Chinese people do fit with my preconceived notions, but not all Chinese people are as such. These Chinese friends of mine, Mindy and Leo, are really friendly. They won't impose their polical ideologies on you. In fact they respect you (to a certain degree) for who you are.

I thank God for all these wonderful, mind opening moments. Ever since before my departure from Taiwan, God has been guiding me and protecting my every footstep. When we got here, God prepared a place for me to rest and a place for me to be close to Him. He understands my personality of not wanting to bother other people or ask other people for help, so He brought help to me. He gave me the warmest church with the warmest and friendliest brothers and sisters. They care about my life here more than I do about my life here.

我願意

主耶穌 我願意為祢去到世界的盡頭
主耶穌 我願意放棄世界來宣揚祢
主耶穌 我願意放棄一切放棄生命
單單為祢 單單為祢的國 單單為失喪的靈魂
主耶穌 我願意 因為我相信祢 因為我愛祢

Saturday, August 11, 2007

感恩的一天!

感謝主!主真是垂聽禱告!

今天我陸續跟幾位學長們講我和伊婷要搬出去住的事。一開始我誤以為有一位學長因此而有不愉快,但是下午見到他時他說他有幫我們去找旅館,還給我們名片等。好感恩!
之後跟令一位學長說時,他聽到我的理由後,完全沒有不愉快或不贊同,而是agree,所以超感恩!

另外一件事就是神真的是太奇妙了,我一直想來這裡買套裝,但是又怕開學後沒時間而且這裡有點偏僻,可是今天跟學長和他朋友及朋友媽媽去outlet時,竟然讓我很順利買到套裝。感謝主!

另外一件事就是我昨晚睡覺沒有抽筋耶!太感恩了!

另外一件感恩的事是有機會跟伊婷分享信仰(not yet福音),但是他願意和我去教會耶!(需要繼續禱告,不能落入辯論,我會招架不住啊)