Shadowing Jesus for women

Calvary Exeter
June 2024

Election is coming up - how exciting!

To anticipate but not know the outcome is hard. It can be exhilarating or it can be exhausting. If it’s within our ability to influence the outcome, will we do our best? But years of struggling through pandemic, economic depressions and political turmoils may have disheartened souls and provoked frustration! Some may be tempted to give up, believing our enthusiasm is smothered, joy is stolen and our hope is destroyed.

As a Christ follower, I know God is in control and He’s given us a role to play. (Ephesians 2:10) Once again, He has reminded me to put our trust in Him -

Psalms 20:7
Some trust in chariots, and some in horses; But we will remember the name of the LORD our God.

It doesn’t take much to move us out of our comfort zone: everybody has an emotion that consumes them. Some of us are exhausted! We may have vented our opinions with a careless tongue & thoughtless actions... Is it because we feel we are entitled or maybe because we feel we need to correct other people?

But is it really necessary? The world has been teaching us that our opinions matter, we deserve better, ‘Just do it’ as long as it suits us, we are strong women; one can have it all. Indeed, yes if we’re not careful we will have it all - all the cares, all the worries, all the emotions. If we’re not careful we will be overwhelmed and taken to a place of exhaustion. Like a spiral slide, before we know it, we have rapidly slid to the bottom of a sandpit. Then we build a castle around us with sandy walls to protect ourselves and we shut out the outside world so we can focus on dealing with our own little emotional mess.

Some of us may still be feeling weary since the 2020 pandemic. Many are rather resilient and are in the motion of pushing to stand up firm and taking one day at a time with a thanksgiving heart. Just like our forefathers in the WWII, it was 6 long years of hardship; many have got down on their knees and not given up. Although more troubles with rumours of wars, strikes and depressions avalanched into their daily rhythm; they scrambled through an era of interruption and destruction rather than an era of rebuilding a normal lives. Nonetheless, they believed their faithful Lord would carry them through.

Whatever we are going through, it definitely has put us all in front of the mirror and we are being shown what we’re really made of. The emotion of ‘enough is enough’ seems to be bubbling up from beneath for some... Many contain that emotion within their little bubble of life and focus more on the pleasure of me, I and myself!

Is emotion bad ? Quite the contrary, emotion is a good thing; God gave us our emotions; the enjoyment of the emotion of love, emotions of fear when there’s danger and the emotion to be able to cry when we or someone we love are hurting...

But how we handle our emotions is an indicator of our spiritual maturity. If our emotions control us, instead of being an indicator, they become a horrible master. If we don’t master them well, the nagging noises of emotion will irritate us and eventually break us down!

Seeking first the Kingdom of God puts all things into perspective. As we feed on His Word and align with His Spirit, He reveals what lies behind our emotions. Emotions like delight (Psalms 37:4), affection (Romans 12:10), fear (Luke 12:5), joy (Psalm 5:11), anger (Psalms 37:4)etc... all reveal where our heart lies and what we love, what we trust and what we fear.

Someone once said, ‘The cross is where Evil, Forgiveness, Justice & Love meet...’ Jesus is our role model of how to perfectly master emotions; His Love ultimately forgives us, His Justice wins over the evil intention. (Genesis 50:20)

If we are wise in our own eyes and align ourselves with our fallen nature, the enemy will use that to entice us to disbelieve, to doubt and to condemn. When our emotions control us we exchange faith and truth for doubt and confusion.

Our battle is not against flesh and blood but against the power of the dark world and evil forces in the heavenly realm (Ephesians 6:12) and the deceitfulness of our indwelling sin (Hebrew: 3:13). These forces are enough to play on our emotions when we are too focused on our lives, when we’re tired and when we’ve forgotten who should be the captain of our life. Genesis 4:7 warns us clearly, “... sin lies at the door. And its desire is for you, but you should rule over it.”

Psalm 109:4 depicted how ugly & emotional David was when he pleaded for judgement on the false accusers, ‘...but i give myself unto prayer’; he knows it very well that there’s nothing that God cannot handle (Psalm 121:1-2) Indeed, in the New Testament, Paul remind us this “Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, to make you obey its passion (Romans 6:12)

Even if abnormality becomes our new normal in our daily life, don’t give up talking to Jesus; invite Him in to take control of our emotions. So get ready today. If you need help go to a trusted friend and pray together to Jesus. Ask Him to give you His perspective and His counsel.

1 John 3:20 reminds us that in whatever our heart condemns us God is greater than our heart and knows all things. And remember, these emotional afflictions don’t last forever, compared to eternity they will soon be over. Keep your focus on eternity and have a light touch on the things of this world. Our God is infinite, we are finite; how much easier life can be if we let Him carry our burdens.

Going back to the election, let us be of good cheer as the Lord’s children whatever the result will be.

Romans 13:1
Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God.

April 2024
Calvary Exeter
What is Easter

Let the world see The Hope we have in our Lord Christ Jesus.

Easter is definitively the pinnacle of Christian faith.
The crux of the matter is merely the matter of the Cross.

Luke 9:23✝️
Then He said to them all, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me. 💜

Hebrews 12:1–2✝️
Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.💜

Our Lord is Risen.

He’s Risen.

Has it become history that most of us has forgotten? Or has life experience been so harsh that we have lost all hope?

Calvary Exeter
29th Mar - 04th Apr 21’

Just over a year ago, the fear of death marked the beginning of Covid-19 lockdowns in the UK. Our government tried their best not to overreact and also not to cause unnecessary chaos. But death caused by the virus was no longer a thing we read or heard on the news from faraway lands; it had given birth to a pandemic on our own doorstep.

It has been an incredibly harsh year for many. For some the stresses caused by financial burdens or changes of lifestyle have overloaded their mental capacities. Many don’t like to be told what to do and what not to do, and many others have an overwhelming fear of death. To protect the lives of the vulnerable, lockdown measures were inevitable. Many of us have put our hope in scientists inventing a vaccine to save mankind. But others are sceptical, worrying that the vaccine will harm them. It seems none of us are immune from the fear of death? But one...

And He is Jesus.

Jesus is not afraid of death, indeed He conquered death and He sets us free too when we believe in Him. 2 Timothy 1:10 “but it has now been revealed through the appearing of our Saviour, Christ Jesus, who has destroyed death and has brought life and immortality to light through the gospel.”

We celebrated the birth of Jesus at Christmas as we rejoiced “Glory to God in the Highest; For unto us a child is born.” But it was a solemn occasion last year as we had very tight lockdown measures in force. Three months down the road, we are preparing to celebrate Jesus’ death and resurrection. His death was unprecedented because His resurrection brought transforming life to all those who repent. It is our biggest celebration as Christians. Thankfully, lockdown has eased off a little bit just in time!

We celebrate birthdays and anniversaries but we never really celebrate death. To many, death means agony, heartbreak and separation as life finishes. We send condolence or sympathy card, rather than a hip-hip hooray card. Some see death as a well-deserved punishment for someone bad but for most of us it is a tragedy with poor timing!

The process by which Jesus was crucified and died was both agonising and heart wrenching; it was the most severe torture method ever invented by the Romans. Jesus did nothing wrong. Indeed all He did was good and perfect. 2 Corinthians 5:21, “God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.” Besides, God’s timing is always perfect. Acts 1:7, “It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority.” We know that God’s grand plan in Jesus’s death was for our perfection, our sanctification. John 16:7 “Nevertheless I tell you the truth. It is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I depart, I will send Him to you.”
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We all sin, therefore we all die. Romans 6:23 “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” My husband did a great sermon yesterday on that. (https://youtu.be/Tj-2w8THOEM) It’s important to confess our sins. John 1:9 “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.”

Accepting Jesus’s death on the cross and His resurrection is vital. John 3:3 “Jesus replied, ‘Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again.’” I once heard someone describe life as maths: either 1 birth = 2 death (physical as well as spiritual) or 2 births (physical and spiritually born again) = 1 death (only physical but the spirit is saved and has eternal life)

The birth of Jesus is God’s gift under-wraps. The death of Jesus is the revealing of the gift. Ephesians 2:8-9 “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God.”

Our God is love, full of mercy and grace. Romans 10:9 “If you declare with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” If you’ve been born again there’s no need to be scared of death; it has no hold on you. What is the fear in your life? Would you surrender it with obedience in the Lord’s hands.

Easter is the season for reconciliation; a time to be reconciled with your Maker. Are you ready to repent your sin and to believe in Jesus? The crux of the matter is not how good we can be but is what Jesus did for us on the cross. Colossians 2:15 “And having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross.”

Have a blessed Easter.

是否已成為歷史，而大家已忘記了！也許生命嘅歷程苦處萬分，令到你今天已失去所有的希望嗎？

婦女靈修- 追隨耶穌的足跡2021年3月29日至4月4日
翻譯員Lavinia Tam

就在一年多以前，引起對死亡的恐懼的冠狀病毒Covid-19將這個英國帶入封鎖期。我們的政府已經盡最大努力沒有過度反應，避免去製造不必要的混亂。但是，由病毒導致的死亡已經不再是我們在遙遠地區的新聞中聽到的事件，而是直接在我們家鄉門前所發生的流行病。

對於許多人來說，這是非常艱難的一年。經濟負擔或生活方式的改變所帶來的壓力使他們的精神能力超負荷。許多人不喜歡被告知該做什麼或不該做什麼。其他人則是對死亡充滿恐懼。為了保護弱勢群體的生命，政府必須採取封鎖措施。我們中許多人都寄望科學家能發明拯救人類的疫苗。但是有些人卻對此表示懷疑，他們擔心疫苗會反而傷害到他們。我們每個人似乎都無法免於對死亡的恐懼？但是有一個人不懼怕...

祂就是耶穌。

耶穌不懼怕死亡。祂甚至戰勝了死亡，當我們相信他時，祂也使我們自由。提摩太後書1章10節：「但如今藉著我們救主基督耶穌的顯現才表明出來了。他已經把死廢去，藉著福音，將不能壞的生命彰顯出來。」

我們在聖誕節慶祝耶穌誕生的時候感到欣喜，「至高榮耀歸於上帝；因為有一個嬰孩為我們而生。」但去年因為我們在非常嚴格的封鎖措施下，聖誕節卻成為一個莊嚴的場合。接下來的三個月，我們準備慶祝耶穌的死與復活。祂的死是史無前例的，因為祂的復活為所有悔改的人帶來了新的希望。作為基督徒，這是我們最大的慶祝活動。值得慶幸的是，封鎖已適時緩解了一點！

我們慶祝生日和周年紀念日，但我們從未慶祝過死亡。對許多人而言，死亡意味著生命的終結，這意味著痛苦，傷心欲絕和與世隔絕。我們會發送慰問卡或憐憫卡，而不是嘻嘻哈哈的祝賀卡。有些人認為死是對一個壞人應有的懲罰，對我們大多數人來說，這是一個不好的悲劇！

耶穌被釘死在十字架上而死的過程既痛苦又使人痛心。這是羅馬人有史以來最嚴厲的酷刑方法。耶穌沒有做錯任何事。祂所做的一切都是美好而完美的。 哥林多後書5章21節，「神使那無罪（無罪：原文是不知罪）的，替我們成為罪，好叫我們在他裡面成為神的義。」此外，上帝的時機總是完美的。使徒行傳1章7節：「耶穌對他們說：父憑著自己的權柄所定的時候、日期，不是你們可以知道的。」我們知道，上帝在耶穌死後的計劃是為了讓我們變得完美，使我們的成聖。約翰福音16章7節：「然而，我將真情告訴你們，我去是於你們有益的；我若不去，保惠師就不到你們這裡來；我若去，就差他來。」

我們都因犯罪而會死。羅馬書6章23節：「因為罪的工價乃是死；惟有神的恩賜，在我們的主基督耶穌裡，乃是永生。」昨天我丈夫對此做了一個精彩的佈道。 （https://youtu.be/Tj-2w8THOEM）認罪是非常重要。約翰福音1章9節：「那光是真光，照亮一切生在世上的人。」

接受耶穌在十字架上的死和接受祂的複活都是至關重要。約翰福音3章3節：「」我曾經聽過有人用數學來形容生命：一次出生= 二次死亡（物理上以及屬靈性上）或者 二次重生（物理和靈性上重生）= 一次死亡（只有肉體，但精神得以保存並擁有永生）

耶穌的誕生是上帝的禮物。耶穌的死是恩賜的彰顯。以弗所書2章8-9節：「你們得救是本乎恩，也因著信；這並不是出於自己，乃是神所賜的；也不是出於行為，免得有人自誇。」

我們的上帝是愛，充滿憐憫和恩典。羅馬書10章9節：「你若口裡認耶穌為主，心裡信神叫他從死裡復活，就必得救。」如果你已經重生，則不必害怕死亡；它不會管束你。

復活節是復合的季節，與你的造物主和解的時候。你準備好悔改並相信耶穌了嗎？問題的關鍵不是我們有多好，而是耶穌在十字架上為我們所做的。歌羅西書2章15節：「既將一切執政的、掌權的擄來，明顯給眾人看，就仗著十字架誇勝。」

祝你復活節快樂。

Easter 2021 - The Sin Problem

Easter isn’t a hol, it’s the pinnacle of Christian Faith when the crux of the matter is the matter of the Cross.
✝️

Hi ladies,

My first ever published article after Shadowing Jesus for women fb page since the pandemic.

It is a short and sweet booklet contributed by 42 writers. I’m just one of them.

It was a privilege to represent my church Calvary Exeter as well as being the only writer from Devon.

Maybe you can get hold of a copy.

Repost
Calvary Exeter
22nd-28th Mar2021

Walking past the busy wet market during my annual visit to Asia, I noticed the shop on the market corner was always changing ownership. The shop was never updated or renovated, but the new owner was always demonstrating their new trendy time-saving gadget. It always attracted a lot of inquisitive locals and a crowd soon built up at the beginning of each demo but also soon dispersed when their curiosity died down. Often, they would leave, marvelling at the technique of the sales person, but without buying anything because it was not what was expected or they were not willing to pay the price.

Life can be like this - we like to follow the crowd, we’re attracted to the popular, the latest and the bargains. We also don’t like to be seen as different, we don’t like to miss out and we don’t like to pay a high price.

The crowd in the bible had been following Jesus and were amazed by His teachings. They witnessed miraculous healings, the raising of the dead to life, demons driven out, sins forgiven and sinners converted. They wanted to follow a King with power; who would deliver them from oppression, make them prosperous or even give them some of His power.

During Jesus’ triumphal Palm Sunday entrance to Jerusalem (Mark 11:1-11), the crowd shouted out the truth. Jesus entered Jerusalem on a c**t and the crowd waved palm leaves and laid down cloaks and shouted, v10, “Hosanna! ‘Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!’ Blessed is the kingdom of our father David that comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest!” Jesus was the King they’d hoped for.

Sadly, it wasn’t long before the crowds were turned against Jesus. Within a week, Mark 15 says, ‘Immediately, in the morning, the chief priests held a consultation with the elders and scribes and the whole council; and they bound Jesus, led Him away, and delivered Him to Pilate... the chief priests accused Him of many things, but He answered nothing, so that Pilate marvelled... For he knew that the chief priests had handed Him over because of envy... the chief priests stirred up the crowd... they cried out again, “Crucify Him!” Then Pilate said to them, “Why, what evil has He done?” But they cried out all the more, “Crucify Him!” So Pilate, wanting to gratify the crowd... delivered Jesus, after he had scourged Him, to be crucified.’

The crowd wanted a Santa Claus type of Jesus, a vending machine Jesus, a motivational Jesus or even a politician Jesus. As soon as they were stirred up by the religious leaders, they did a u-turn and stopped following. They had been swayed and blinded by the hatred of the religious leaders. They didn’t see the truth again until Jesus was crucified. v38, ’So when the centurion, who stood opposite Him, saw that He cried out like this and breathed His last, he said, “Truly this Man was the Son of God!”’

Jesus left us His Holy Spirit and also the holy bible to instruct us. So what sort of Christian crowd are we? While we would like to imagine that we would never be one of the crowd, the reality is, we all are. For how many times have we praised His name on a Sunday but by Monday questioned His goodness? Have you not taken for granted His blessings — the same blessings for which we so eagerly prayed? Oh friend, you and I are no different than that crowd.

We’ve all been there, but let’s not be like the hypocritical religious leaders. Let’s not fill our hearts with hatred and jealously. Hatred can easily consume us and lead us into unwise actions. Hatred comes from pride and jealously and leads to unforgiveness and blindness to the truth. Someone once said, ‘it’s not how many friends you have on social media that shows your true character, it’s how many you have unfriended when you don’t like what they say’. Being corrected and having your hypocrisy pointed out and being told that you need God, are not things easily accepted by the proud.

Some of us are parents, teachers, mentors or people in authority and have power and influence over others. Proverbs 22:6, ‘Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it.’ We should all be prepared to share the gospel and bring alive the hope we have in Christ.

If you were Pontius Pilate, would you stand up for the truth or would you yield to the crowd and wash your hands of the truth? Romans 12:2, ‘And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.’

As we approach Easter, let’s take a deep, honest look into our hearts. Have we nailed our colours to the mask and decided to follow Jesus - no matter what.

婦女靈修- 追隨耶穌的足跡2021年3月22日至28日
翻譯員:Lavinia Tam

我每年旅遊亞洲期間，走過繁忙的濕貨市場時，都會注意到市場角落的商店總是有不同的檔主。商店從未進行過翻新，但每一個新主人都在展示他們新的小玩意。它總是會吸引很多好奇的當地人，並且在每個演示的開始不久就會聚集一群人。但是當他們的好奇心消失時，他們也很快就四散了。通常，他們會驚嘆於銷售人員的技術，但是最終都不會買任何東西。因為那不是他們所需要的，或者他們也不願付錢。

生活可以如此，我們喜歡跟隨人群，我們被最流行，最新和便宜的商品所吸引。我們也不想被視為另類，不喜歡錯過事物，但也不想付出高昂的代價。

聖經中的人群一直跟隨耶穌，祂的教導令他們驚訝。他們目睹了奇蹟般的醫治：死者復活，惡魔被驅逐，罪孽得到赦免，罪人悔改。他們想跟隨一個有無限權力的國王，一個能能救他們脫離壓迫，使他們昌盛，甚至給他們一些行奇蹟的能力。

在耶穌凱旋進入耶路撒冷的那個棕櫚週日（馬可福音11：1-11），人群都大聲喊出了心聲。耶穌騎著驢進入耶路撒冷，人群揮舞著棕櫚葉，披上了斗篷，大聲喊著，「那將要來的我祖大衛之國是應當稱頌的！高高在上和散那！」（第10節）。耶穌是他們所希望的國王。

可悲的是，不久之後，人群就變成反對耶穌的人。馬可福音15章記載：「一到早晨，祭司長和長老、文士、全公會的人大家商議，就把耶穌捆綁，解去交給彼拉多…祭司長告他許多的事…耶穌仍不回答，以致彼拉多覺得希奇…他原曉得，祭司長是因為嫉妒才把耶穌解了來…只是祭司長挑唆眾人…他們又喊著說：『把他釘十字架！』彼拉多說：『為什麼呢？他做了什麼惡事呢？』他們便極力的喊著說：『把他釘十字架！』彼拉多要叫眾人喜悅…將耶穌鞭打了，交給人釘十字架。」（第1-15節）

人群想要像聖誕老人般的耶穌，自動彈出禮品的耶穌，有極大領導能力的耶穌甚至像大政治家般的耶穌。一旦他們受到宗教領袖的煽動，他們便掉頭並停止追隨主。他們被宗教領袖的仇恨所左右。直到耶穌被釘死在十字架上，他們才再次看到真相。「對面站著的百夫長看見耶穌這樣喊叫，斷氣，就說：『這人真是神的兒子！』」（第39節）

耶穌把祂的聖靈和聖經都留給了我們。那麼我們是怎麼樣的一群基督徒呢？儘管我們想像自己永遠不會成為以上的那一群人，但現實是，我們其實都是。在星期日，我們有多少次讚美祂的名字，但是到了星期一，我們又質疑祂的良善？你難道沒有想過祂的祝福是必然的—是因為我們熱切祈禱之後應該有的祝福嗎？哦，朋友，其實你，我和那群人沒有什麼不同。

我們都經歷過，但請不要像那些虛偽的宗教領袖那樣。不要讓我們心裡充滿仇恨和嫉妒。仇恨很容易消滅我們，並導致我們有不明智的動機。仇恨來自驕傲和嫉妒，導致不能寬恕別人和對真相的盲目性。有人曾經說過：「你在社交媒體上的真實身份不在於你擁有多少追隨者，而是你因為聽到不喜歡的話而絕交了多少個朋友。」。驕傲者很難接受被人對他們的虛偽的指點，不喜歡被更正，並被告知他們其實很需要上帝。

我們中一些人是父母，老師，導師或權威人士，對其他人具有力量和影響力。箴言22章6節：「教養孩童，使他走當行的道，就是到老他也不偏離。」我們所有人都應該準備分享福音，並重現在基督裡的希望應該擁有的活力。

如果您是彼拉多斯彼拉多（Pontus Pilate），你會為真理站起來？還是會屈服於人群而忘記真理之道？羅馬書12章2節：「不要效法這個世界，只要心意更新而變化，叫你們察驗何為神的善良、純全、可喜悅的旨意。」

在復活節即將來臨之際，讓我們深入了解自己的內心。我們是否已將自己的信念鎖定在主身上，無論如何都跟隨耶穌？

Calvary Exeter
Jan 2024

Happy New Year. We’ve just celebrated God’s greatest gift to mankind - Jesus Christ. Many will already be thinking of putting away all of the decorations: angels, robins, candy sticks, baubles, the delicate fairy lights or even a baby Jesus (I have a special collection made from a milk carton by one of my children at Sunday school). Most of us likely won’t look at them nor check on them until next Dec! Many others will be contemplating their new year resolutions. I wonder what your plan is for 2024!

God’s got a plan for His world and His people. The Spirit of Christmas hasn’t stopped and He won’t be locked up in the cupboard. The birth of Jesus was just the beginning of a new thing God is doing and the best is yet to come. Colossians 1:16, ‘For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him.’

God’s will is that none should perish but that all should have eternal life and have His Spirit living in us - God indwell us. I pray that we would want to dwell with Him too. Some people only go to church when it’s convenient for them or they only attend because it’s their ritual or tradition. He dwells in us but do we dwell in Him? Is Jesus and your church family in your DNA or are they a bit of an inconvenience.

I knew a young student who was a believer who told me they didn’t like to stick their neck out among their peers who weren’t believers. But it was more than just their peers. When they went home for Christmas to be with their family who were all believers, they chose not to engage, not to help, not to spend time together or to consider any of their needs. Although they were physically present with the rest of the family, they weren’t dwelling with the rest of the family. Dwelling with the others was an obligation rather than a pleasure, so much so that they chose to run away as soon as an excuse arose. I pray that this doesn’t mirror any of your spiritual walks with God and His people. If it does then perhaps it’s time to renew the relationship.

New year, new you. Jesus always preached, “repent and believe”. If you have repented and believe then you are a new creation. 2 Corinthians 5:17, ‘Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.’ So I pray that you will all have the faith to step out and trust your 2021 into the hands of our Lord Jesus. Proverbs 16:9, ‘In their hearts humans plan their course, but the LORD establishes their steps.’

Whatever our plans are for 2024, we can never be sure how it’s going to work out. Who could have thought this time last year we would be ‘washing hands & masking up’ for almost a year! Just as I am writing this who would have thought that another six week national lockdown would be announced. How’s that going to affect your plan? I don’t have any answers regarding this virus but I can surely tell you what God’s plan is for His children. Jeremiah 29:11, ‘For I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.’

My husband once preached that the church is the bride of Christ; that’s us! I pray that I will be a bride who is ready when the bridegroom comes. I pray that I will be desiring spiritual intimacy with my groom through His Word and that I will be led by His Holy Spirit. Romans 8:14, ‘those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God.’

Are we a part of God’s family or are we just spectators?

Lord, I pray that You will reveal Your plans for us this year and that we will all desire to draw closer to you and to let your Spirit lead the way. Please guide us with Your eyes and protect us as we venture into 2024.

Proverbs 3:5-6

婦女靈修- 追隨耶穌的足跡
翻譯員 : Lavinia Tam

新年快樂！我們剛剛慶祝完上帝給人類的最偉大的禮物—耶穌基督的誕生。許多人也已經開始考慮把裝飾品收拾起來：天使，知更鳥，糖果棒，小玩意，精緻的童話般的燈光甚至是嬰兒耶穌的模型（我們家有一個特別的收藏品，是我其中一個孩子在讀主日學時用牛奶紙箱製成的模型）。我們大多數人也會等到明年的十二月才會再查看或檢查它們的狀況！而許多人將考慮他們的新一年的計畫。我想知道你對2024年的計劃是什麼！

上帝為祂的世界和祂的子民制定了計劃。聖誕節的精神並沒有停止，也不會被「鎖在櫥櫃裡」。耶穌的誕生只是上帝美好新事情的開端，而最好的事情還沒有到來。歌羅西書1章16節：「因為萬有都是靠他造的，無論是天上的，地上的；能看見的，不能看見的；或是有位的，主治的，執政的，掌權的；一概都是藉著他造的，又是為他造的。」

上帝的旨意是：任何人都不應滅亡，而所有人都應擁有永生，並有聖靈住在我們裡面，上帝更留在我們心裡。我祈求我們也會和祂一起同住。有些人只會在方便的時候上教堂，或者只因這是他們的傳統才上教堂。祂住在我們裡面，但是我們也讓自己住在祂裡面嗎？耶穌和你的教會在你的DNA中，或是為你帶來不便？

我認識一位年輕的學生，也是一位信徒，他告訴我他不喜歡在非信徒的同齡人中宣揚信仰方面的事。但這不僅是他們同齡人，當他們回家和同是信徒的家人們過聖誕節時，也不積極參與或不提供幫助。他們沒有花時間或考慮家人的任何需求。儘管他們與家人在一起，但他們並沒有真正與家人「在一起」。與他人來往已經是一種義務而不是一種樂趣，以至於他們選擇用藉口來逃之夭夭。我祈禱希望這行為不會反映在你與神，以及其子民之間的任何精神往來。如果有的話，也許是時候檢討你與神的關係了。

新的一年，新的你。耶穌總是講道「悔改並相信」。如果你悔改並相信，那麼你就是一個新造的人。 哥林多後書5章17節：「若有人在基督裡，他就是新造的人，舊事已過，都變成新的了。」因此，我祈禱你們所有人都有信心走出困境，並將你的2021年交託在我們的主耶穌手中。箴言16章9節：「人心籌算自己的道路；惟耶和華指引他的腳步。」

我們2024年的計劃無論是什麼，我們都無法確定它會如何實現。誰能想到去年的這個時候我們將以「洗手和戴口罩」度日呢！就在我寫這篇文章的時候，誰會想到我們又被宣佈額外六週的國家禁閉令。這將如何影響你的計劃？我沒有關於這種病毒的任何答案，但是我可以肯定地告訴你上帝對他的孩子有什麼計劃。耶利米書29章11節，「耶和華說：我知道我向你們所懷的意念是賜平安的意念，不是降災禍的意念，要叫你們末後有指望。」

我的丈夫曾經有講道，說教會是基督的新娘 — 那是我們！我祈禱我成為那位，當新郎到來時已經準備好的，新娘。我祈禱 我願通過與新郎的話語中，與我的新郎保持精神上的親密關係，並希望我會受到他的聖靈的帶領。羅馬書8章14節：「因為凡被神的靈引導的，都是神的兒子。」

我們是主的家人，還是僅僅是觀眾？

主啊，我祈禱祢今年能透露祢對我們的計劃，我們都希望與祢更加接近，讓祢的精神引領我們。請用祢智睿的眼睛引導並保護我們冒險走進2024年的道路上。

箴言3章5-6節：「你要專心仰賴耶和華，不可倚靠自己的聰明，在你一切所行的事上都要認定他，他必指引你的路。」

The year of our Lord, 2024.

Second day into a new year, there’s Amber warning of the season out there!

‘Oh Lord, the Maker of Heaven & earth, the one whom the wind and rain will subdue to, hear our praise & worship to your wonderful name as our offering to your faithfulness. There’s nothing better to do than to be still and praise Your awesome Wonder at the beginning of a new year.’
Psalm 46:10.

Instead of working on my writing, I’m sharing this again. Let us not be forgetful of His Mercy. By His Grace, we ran through a race at the most uncertain time of our life. Only by His Word which is the Living Water, we continue to grow together and bear fruit.
Psalm 1

Let’s sit down together and feed on His goodness of providing us our daily bread.

Matthew 4:4, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.’ ”

Calvary Exeter
28th Dec2020 - 03rd Jan 2021

20/20 is considered perfect vision. What do you see with your vision? I see hardship, uncertainty, chaos, panic, sorrow and death. However, I also see perseverance, unfailing love, God’s Mercy and Grace, miracles and prayers being answered in unusual ways.

My youngest child once decided to read the Book of Psalm during her quiet time. That inspired me to read you Psalm 91 today. It’s a beautiful reflection to read at the end of one year and the beginning of the next.

v1-2 ‘He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.
I will say of the LORD, “He is my refuge and my fortress; My God, in Him I will trust.”‘

We have looked at many names of Jesus. In this Psalm the psalmist also used four wonderful names for God - Most High God (El Elyon), Almighty God (El Shaddai), The LORD (Yahweh), My God (Elohay). These wonderful names reiterate to me why He is my refuge and my fortress.

Only those who dwell with Him, who abide in Him, who truly live intimately with God, really know the greatness of His protection. God Himself becomes their refuge and mighty fortress. The assurance of protection, comfort, and care of Yahweh becomes a daily blessing which moment by moment conquers any anxiety.

For many this Covid pandemic has been a long season of tough trial. We’ve been learning that resting in His shadow is not something we do occasionally but is a daily habit of going into His presence with a thanksgiving heart.

v3-4 ‘Surely He shall deliver you from the snare of the fowler
And from the perilous pestilence.
He shall cover you with His feathers, And under His wings you shall take refuge; His truth shall be your shield and buckler.’

The children of God are not immune to physical suffering, pestilence and disease; but they are forever guarded from destructive spiritual forces. God’s desire to protect is likened to a hen sheltering her young chicks under her wings - Matthew 23:37 That reminds me of a Sunday school song taken from Proverbs 18, ‘the name of the Lord is a strong tower, the righteous run into it and they are saved...’

v5-6 ‘You shall not be afraid of the terror by night, Nor of the arrow that flies by day, Nor of the pestilence that walks in darkness, Nor of the destruction that lays waste at noonday.’

We are not expected to be superheroes in our own strength; He is our strength. 2 Timothy 1:7 says, ’God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.’ Our strength and our courage comes from Him. What’s the worst fear you have faced this year? In life there are many tribulations but being able to face them without fear is a real blessing. As the following verses show, fear is dispersed when we make God our dwelling place.

v9-13 ‘Because you have made the Lord, who is my refuge, Even the Most High, your dwelling place, No evil shall befall you, Nor shall any plague come near your dwelling; For He shall give His angels charge over you, To keep you in all your ways. In their hands they shall bear you up, Lest you dash your foot against a stone. You shall tread upon the lion and the cobra, The young lion and the serpent you shall trample underfoot.’

This is the reassurance for those who make God their dwelling place. It doesn’t mean we will be trouble free but it does mean we only face those things which God has allowed to pass Him, as Psalm 34:7 states, ‘The Angel of the LORD encamps all around those who fear him, and delivers them.’

In life, the Lord may permit many terrible things to happen to his children, as he did to his own Son, our Lord. But his children know that no power nor evil scheme can ever separate us from the love of God, and what He does allow, is for our ultimate good and for His Glory. Romans 8:28 ‘And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.’

v14-16 ‘Because he has set his love upon Me, therefore I will deliver him; I will set him on high, because he has known My name. He shall call upon Me, and I will answer him;
I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him and honour him. With long life I will satisfy him, And show him My salvation.’

There are so many blessings in those few verses. David Guzik listed them like this-
· The blessing of His presence: I will be with him in trouble.
· The blessing of His protection: I will deliver him.
· The blessing of His promotion: I will…honour him.
· The blessing of His prosperity: With long life I will satisfy him.
· The blessing of His preservation: And show him My salvation.
What an amazing personal promise for our future.

Psalm 20:7 ‘Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the LORD our God.’

Maybe God is using 2020 to help us see who is in charge and who is our Helper and in Whom we should place our trust.

婦女靈修- 追隨耶穌的足跡
翻譯員Lavinia Tam

20/20是被定位為完美的視覺。你的視野願景是如何呢？我看到困難，驚濤，混亂，恐慌，悲傷和死亡。但是，我也看到堅忍，恆久的愛，上帝的憐憫，恩典和奇蹟都以不尋常的方式了回答我們的訴求。

我最小的孩子曾經決定在自己「安靜時候」讀《詩篇》。這啟發我今天為你們讀- 詩篇91章。在一年結束時和下一年開始前讀這本書真是一個美好的啟示。

詩篇91章1-2節：「住在至高者隱密處的，必住在全能者的蔭下。
我要論到耶和華說：他是我的避難所，是我的山寨，是我的神，是我所倚靠的。」

我們看過許多稱呼耶穌的名稱。在這首詩篇中，詩篇學家還為神使用了四個奇妙的名字：至高神（El Elyon），全能神（El Shaddai），耶和華（Yahweh），我的神（Elohay）。這些奇妙的名字向我重申了為什麼祂是我的避難所和堡壘。

只有那些與祂同住，住在祂裡面，真正與神親密生活的人才真正知道被祂庇護的偉大。上帝親自成為我們的避難所和強大的堡壘。耶和華的保護，安慰和照顧的保證，已成為我們日常的福份，時刻安撫所有人的焦慮。

對於許多人而言，這新冠狀病毒已經是一個漫長的試煉。我們學習在神的庇蔭下休息，並不是我們偶爾要做的，而是每天的習慣帶著感恩的心進入祂的身影後。

3-4節：「他必救你脫離捕鳥人的網羅和毒害的瘟疫。他必用自己的翎毛遮蔽你；你要投靠在他的翅膀底下；他的誠實是大小的盾牌。」

上帝的兒女不能免避肉體上的痛苦，瘟疫和疾病。但是他們在身心被沖擊之前，永遠受到保護。上帝希望祂的保護力就像一隻母雞在翅膀下掩護她的小雛雞一樣（馬太福音23章37節）。這使我想起一首源於箴言18章的主日學歌：「耶和華的名是堅固的塔，義人進入必被保護...」

5-6節：「 你必不怕黑夜的驚駭，或是白日飛的箭，也不怕黑夜行的瘟疫，或是午間滅人的毒病。」

我們不應以為能靠自己的力量成為超級英雄。上帝才是我們的力量。提摩太後書1章7節裡說：「因為神賜給我們，不是膽怯的心，乃是剛強、仁愛、謹守的心。」我們的力量和勇氣來自於祂。你今年面對的最擔心的事情是什麼？生活中有許多苦難，但能夠面對恐懼而能克服真是福氣。如以下經文所示，當我們將天家作為居所時，恐懼就散退了。

9-13節：「耶和華是我的避難所；你已將至高者當你的居所，禍患必不臨到你，災害也不挨近你的帳棚。因他要為你吩咐他的使者，在你行的一切道路上保護你。他們要用手托著你，免得你的腳碰在石頭上。你要踹在獅子和虺蛇的身上，踐踏少壯獅子和大蛇。」

那些以上帝為居所的人來說，便以找到安心的確據。但這並不意味著我們將沒有麻煩，而是意味著我們僅需要面對上帝允許臨到我們那些苦。如詩篇34章7節所說：「耶和華的使者在敬畏他的人四圍安營，搭救他們。」

在生活中，主可能允許祂的孩子們身邊發生一些可怕的事情，就像祂對自己的兒子-我們的主耶穌所做的一樣。但是祂的孩子們知道，沒有任何能力和邪惡的計劃可以使我們脫離上帝的愛，而祂的允許是為了我們最終的利益和榮耀。羅馬書8章28節：「我們曉得萬事都互相效力，叫愛神的人得益處，就是按他旨意被召的人。」

14-16節：「神說：因為他專心愛我，我就要搭救他；因為他知道我的名，我要把他安置在高處。他若求告我，我就應允他；他在急難中，我要與他同在；我要搭救他，使他尊貴。我要使他足享長壽，將我的救恩顯明給他。」

那幾節經文裡有那麼多的祝福。 David Guzik以下列出他們：
祂與我們同在的祝福：在患難中感受祂的陪伴
祂保衛的祝福：我會被拯救
祂提升我到高處的祝福：我沈溺中祂搭救我
祂賜前景的祝福：使我長壽得尊貴
祂恩佑我的祝福：我得救恩
這真是對我們未來美好的承諾。

詩篇20章7節：「有人靠車，有人靠馬，但我們要提到耶和華─我們神的名。」

也許上帝正在利用2020年來幫助我們了解誰在掌管，誰是我們的幫助以及我們應該信任誰。