寒春將過、走出你的第一步！

3/2/08

今年天氣怪已是不爭的事實。春節前後，中國南方有十一個省遭受雪災的侵害，給人們帶來巨大的損失，也給人上了一堂警世的課。一方面，是末世近了，主快來了，人們必須悔改、信耶穌！另一方面是人種的是什麼，收的也是什麼。現在中國似乎已經成為世界工廠，污染、熱能排放量已居世界首位。我想當反省的時候滿足了。
It is a true fact that we have some very strange weather this year. After the Chinese new year, there were some eleven provinces in the Southern China suffered severe damages from snow storms, it gave people a great warning. On one hand, the end of this world is approaching, our Lord is returning, we need to repent, believe in Christ! The other lesson we learnt is that we reaped what we sowed. China had transformed into the factory of the world, pollution and heat emission is leading the world. I believe this is the time for us to reflect.

原以為這些都是大洋彼岸的事情，雖然美國也同樣是排放量名列前茅之矯姣姣者，但似乎離真正的地政暖化還有一段距離。但結果怎麼樣呢？好像神同樣給了美國以類似的信號：主實在是近了！
It seems like all these are happening on the other side of the ocean, even though the United States is also one of the leading countries in emitting pollution, it is far from global warning. What is the message? God had given us a similar message: God is near!

達拉斯什麼時候有過這樣的天氣？冬天曾否這般冷過？頂多有一個起兩個止的寒冬，而極少有出現過寒春。今年的寒春一直拖到今天，你是否想過神給我們是怎樣的信息嗎？
Did Dallas ever had this kind of weather? Did we ever had cold winter like we had this year? Rarely we have a cold spring, this year its winter drag beyond the spring season until today, do you think God is trying to give us a message?

第一、我相信寒春將過。無論我們在人生的際遇中遭遇何事，主都會帶領我們度過，包括我們生命中所遇到的寒春。神在目前給我們學習的功課是：憑信心靠主度過寒春，享受與主同行的光景。不然，我們就會被寒春所嚇倒，止步不前、故步自封。
I believed that the winter will pass, regardless of what had happened in our life, God will lead us through, including the “winter” of our life. This is the lesson God gave us now: Trust in our Lord to endure this winter, enjoy the moment of walking with our Lord, otherwise, we will be scared by the winter, not capable to move forward.

第二、我相信是警告。神在警告我們的生命，不要再虛度光陰！因為現今的時代險惡、人心詭詐、世事動盪，若不儆醒，就要跌倒！若是跌倒在教會裏，還好，還可以彼此攙扶，相互鼓勵、重新出發。
I believe this is a warning. God is trying to warn us not to wasting our time! This is an evil world, people are deceitful, the world is unstable, if we do not stay alert, we will falter!

第三、我相信是鼓勵。因為當黑夜即將過去的時候，白晝就將來臨。耶穌說當趁著白日，多作主工。因此，寒春將過，是我們多作主工的大好時機。你看！時間已經悄然躍進三月，本月的大事是差傳年會，主題是「邁出第一步！」教會從今年開始，準備走向伊斯蘭國家宣教；也已開始了麥肯尼植堂事工。
I believe it is an encouragement from God. As the darkness passed, the daylight will arrive. Jesus said that we have to work for Him during the daytime. Therefore, as the winter passed, it is time for us to work for Him. As you see, it is already the month of March, it is the month of our Mission Conference, this year the theme is “Making the first step”. From this year onward, we are planning to minister to the Islam, and we are going to plant at McKinney.

那麼，你呢？有什麼是你寒春將過的第一步呢？或是參加短宣，或是參與奉獻金錢、或是委身禱告、或是教會其他服事，都是非常寶貴的！但今年似乎神賜給我們的挑戰是走出第一步！你準備好了嗎？願意與我分享嗎？我會為你禱告！How about you? What is your first step after the winter? Whether you are participating in the short term mission trip, or participating financially or committed in prayer, or participating in serving in other ministry, it is all good. The challenge from God is asking you to move the first step! Are you prepared? Are you willing to share with me? I will pray for you.

Pastor Paul Wang
愛你們的王保羅牧師