Blog

全国40天禁食:第一天 National 40-day fast: Day 1

 

 

今天是一年一度全国教会一起为国家禁食四十天的第一天,这一次我们没有“全禁”,我们教会选择每天只吃一餐,而那一餐也不吃我们通常爱吃的肉类与淀粉类食物。神没有强迫我们一定要禁食,禁食也跟个人救恩无关,所以尽管你今生从未禁食过一次,只要是真实悔改信主,你依然是得救的。

然而,圣经却也让我们清楚看到禁食的属灵原则,它仿佛是上帝预备给基督徒的其中一个特别福份与神迹,不强迫你一定要拿的额外好处,其属灵效果是无法否认的,耶稣也从没否决禁食的重要。所以,我们虽不强迫弟兄姊妹禁食,但会兴奋鼓励大家参与,它是一个特别的学习经历,当中可以有很多体会和领受。其中一个就是学习顺服神,以及拒绝自己的一些渴望和享受,这样遇到一些试探和考验时,也能靠上帝的恩典站得稳,当然对身体健康也很有帮助。。。

于是,耶稣对门徒说:“若有人要跟从我,就当舍己,背起他的十字架来跟从我。”
~太16:24~

Today is the first day of our annual national 40-day fast when we fast together with all the other churches in the country to pray for our nation. We are not on a “total fast” this time, our church has chosen to eat just a meal a day, and for that meal, we do not eat meat and starchy food which are normally our favourites. God does not compel us to go on a mandatory fast, fasting has nothing to do with your personal salvation as well. So even if you have not fasted once in your entire life, you are still saved as long as you have truly repented and believed in the Lord.

However, the Bible does show us clearly the spiritual principle too. It is as though one of the special blessings and miracles God has prepared for Christians, a bonus reserved for you though you are not forced to take. You cannot deny its spiritual impact, Jesus never disregarded the importance of fasting too. So, even though we do not compel brothers and sisters to fast, we excitedly encourage them to participate. It is a very special learning experience, we can have many realizations and revelations in the midst of it. One of which is to learn obedience to God, and to reject some of our own desires and enjoyment, so that by God’s grace we may be able to stand firm when trials and temptations come, and of course it is a great help to our health as well…

Then Jesus said to his disciples, “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me.”
~Matt 16:24~

讓我很被鼓勵的獎。。。 A trophy that encouraged me a lot…

在Facebook放了这张照片,让大家猜我得了什么奖,后一直没向大家公布。。。
I posted this photo on Facebook and asked you all to guess what award I won, but I have not told you the answer since…

 

 

那是第一年在纽西兰,高中进大学之前(Form 7),在我当时的中学,Hillmorton High School参加的一项比赛。
话说回来,在古晋时我已经很活跃于中英文演讲和辩论比赛一类的活动,可是到了纽西兰,虽然会讲英语,很多时候因着我们马来西亚的“腔调”,同学和老师都不太听得懂我们讲什么。。。难免会造成一点自卑。。。

That was my first year in New Zealand, when I was still in Form 7 before entering the university, I participated in a competition at the high school I was studying at, Hillmorton High School.
Before that, while I was in Kuching, I was already very actively involved in activities like speech and debating competitions in both Chinese and English, but when I arrived in New Zealand, though I could speak English, many times my classmates and teachers found it hard to understand me due to our Malaysian accent… inevitably that kind of made me feel a bit inferior…

 

 

自卑归自卑,兴趣归兴趣,所以当学校报告将举办常年关英语演讲比赛,我也报名参加了!我是唯一的外国参赛者,跟当地的学生比,很荣幸的我竟然得了冠军宝座,真是喜出望外,也让我对公众演说添加信心!

Feeling inferior is one thing, your interest is another thing, so when the school announced about an upcoming annual public-speaking competition, I registered for it! I was the only foreigner in the competition competing against the local students there, and I was very honoured to win the trophy, beyond my expectation. That also increased my confidence in public-speaking!

 

 

想鼓励大家的是,不要因着自卑而退缩,不要因着困难而放弃,只要肯努力和学习,一定会出人头地!
I would like to encourage you all not to withdraw because of feeling inferior, do not give up because of difficulty, as long as you are willing to work hard and learn, you can achieve something outstanding!

 

 

我接下來的行程-新加坡和巴淡島。。。 My upcoming schedule – Singapore and Batam…

 

 

過後,6月29日(五)至7月1日(日),我也會到柔佛新山服事,稍後再把聚會時間、地點等放上來。。。

After that, I will also be ministering in JB, Johor from June 29 (Fri) to July 1 (Sun), I’ll post the time and venues etc later…