活潑的現在
作者：盧國禮 翻譯：孫雅頌
時間在我們不經意間就流失了，無論我們的思緒是注目於過去還是將來，我們的生命都不會在此刻靜止不動 。我們必須要意識到讓自己為此刻而活，實實在在地為每一個時刻而活－不是為過去，也不是為將來。朗費羅在他的詩中寫到：
別指望將來，不管它多迷人！
把已逝的過去永遠埋葬！
行動吧！趁著每一個今天！
赤心在胸中，上帝在頭上。（朗費羅）
要活出我們的生命，我們就要活在當下－不管經歷是好還是壞。《聖經》中說，神看著一切所造的都甚好。有晚上，有早晨，是第六日。所羅門，大衛的兒子，耶路撒冷的王，曾說過：
"我見神叫世人勞苦，使他們在其中受經練。神造萬物，各按其時成為美好，又將永生安置在世人心裡，然而神從始至終的作為，人不能參透。"（傳道書 3:10 - 11）
打個比方，生活就像是凌亂的拼圖，拼圖的總數上千，而上帝願意用慈愛引導我們把這些碎片放到正確的位置。他在乎我們每一個人，為我們每一個人作好了獨特的安排。而我們所要做的就是對他的計畫全然順服。可是，我們是否真心願意完全降服於我們的天父，並讓聖靈引導我們在恩典的庇佑下走這義路呢？
相信神是愛，宇宙是一個整體，而我們存於宇宙中 。我們要知道愛是具有力量的，這是一種生命的力量。耶穌曾這樣禱告："我在他們裡面，你在我裡面，使他們完完全全的合而為一，叫世人知道你差了我來，也知道你愛他們如同愛我一樣。"（約翰福音3:10 -11)
停止擔憂。如果我們可以掌控事物的變化，我們則不會擔憂﹔然而如果事物不在我們的掌控之下，我們擔憂也沒用。
當上帝呼召我們的時候，我們應該要堅信，祂是萬能的。我們要走的窄路是艱難的，也許還有那巨浪滔天的大海和那漆黑的漫漫長夜，但我們必須要相信上帝會幫助我們過關斬將。耶穌對門徒們說過：
"所以我告訴你們，不要為生命憂慮吃什麼，為身體憂慮穿什麼。因為生命勝於飲食，身體勝於衣裳。......你們那一個能用思慮，使壽數多加一刻呢？這最小的事，你們尚且不能作，為什麼還憂慮其餘的事呢？（路加福音12:22 - 26）。
請你心平氣和地去體驗，永遠不要抱怨，別人會指出你的錯誤，但請學會去接受這就是現實。一個陽光燦爛的日子並不會比一個下雨天帶給人們更多享受，因為無論什麼時候，都有神特別的心意，有他要成就的美好。
不要論斷，就如耶穌說過，"你們不要論斷人，免得你們被論斷。因為你們怎樣論斷人，也必怎樣被論斷。你們用什麼量器量給人，也必用什麼量器量給你們。"（馬太福音7:1-2）
不論斷的力量源於赦免。免我們的債，如同我們免了人的債（主禱文）。只有原諒，能夠使得我們得到真正的釋放，得到那內心的平安。嘗試讓事情變得簡單，從客觀的角度看待別人。
"並要以恩慈相待，存憐憫的心，彼此饒恕，正如神在基督裡饒恕了你們一樣。"（以弗所書4:32）
"你豈不曾知道嗎？你豈不曾聽見嗎？永在的神耶和華，創造地極的主，並不疲乏，也不困倦，祂的智慧無法測度。疲乏的，祂賜能力，軟弱的，祂加力量。就是少年人也要疲乏困倦，強壯的也必全然跌倒。但那等候耶和華的，必從新得力，他們必如鷹展翅上騰"（以賽亞書40:28 - 31）
生命有神聖的意義：
生命的意義隱藏於上帝的創造中，"我們要照著我們的形象，按著我們的樣式造人。"（創世紀1:26）"神就照著自己的形象造人，乃是照著他的形象造男造女。"（創世紀1:27）
生命有神聖的價值：
"你看父賜給我們是何等的慈愛，使我們得成為神的兒女。"（約翰一書3:1）因為神是愛，祂看重和人之間的連結。祂透過祂的本性來讓我們認識祂：聖父、聖子、還有聖靈。這三位一體證明祂三個位格之間的關係。這是一個完美的關係，我們應該要更加尋求祂、認識祂。"所以你們因信基督耶穌，都是神的兒子。"（加拉太書3:26）
生命有神聖的目的：
生命的目的隱藏於神預先定下的使命中，這個定義源於拉丁文的 "sending" 這個詞。
"神從魔鬼撒旦的權勢中拯救人類，並把五個目的放在得著救恩的人身上：
－愛神；
－成為主內肢體的一部分；
－學習基督的樣式；
－服侍神；
－把福音分享給其他人；而這一切都是因為他拯救了我們並讓我們將福音廣傳
我們是那傳揚神的愛和福音的使者。"
讓我們禱告：
親愛的天父，感謝您的恩典。請讓我們知道我們應該為現在而活，學會去接受。停止那憂慮並且將您的大愛傳播出去。有多少次我們忘記了您在我們生命當中掌王權，並且要我們順服您的計畫。我們相信您的信實廣大，您是那位掌王權居首位的主。奉耶穌基督的名禱告，阿門！
The Living Presence
Written by Francis Loo Translated by Ruth Sun
Time runs on no matter how we feel. If my thoughts are dwelling in the Past or the Future, I can no longer live this moment in time. But we must realize that the living Present is the only moment we can actually live our lives - not the Past, nor the Future. Longfellow continued in his poem:
Trust no Future, howe'er pleasant!
Let the dead Past bury its dead!
Act--act in the living Present!
Heart within, and God o'erhead! (Longfellow)
To live our lives, we have to live in the Present—no matter the experience are good or adverse. The Bible says, in the sixth day God saw all that he had made and it was very good. (Genesis 1:31, .NIV.) Solomon, son of David, king in Jerusalem, also said:
"I have seen the burden God has laid on men. He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the hearts of men; yet they cannot fathom what God has done from beginning to end" (Ecclesiastes 3:10- 11, NIV).
Metaphorically, life is like the jigsaw puzzle with thousands of minor but unique pieces God would like to guide our hands to put them one by one in the right place. He has a plan for each of us. He needs our willingness to cooperate with Him. Are we willing to surrender ourselves totally to God and let the Holy Spirit guide our way in His prevenient grace?
There are things to do:
• Believe that God is love, the Universe is complete and we are all one. Love is energy--our life force. Jesus prayed:
"I in them and you in me. May they be brought to complete unity to let the world know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me" (John 17:23, NIV).
• Stop worrying. If things are in our control, we should not worry. If things are not in our control, worry won't help at all. We should believe when God calls, He enables. The path that we have to take may be rugged, the sea may be stormy and the night may be dark and long, but we must trust God would see us through. Jesus said to His disciples:
"... Do not worry your life, what you will eat; or about your body, what you will wear. Life is more than food, and the body more than clothes. ... Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life? Since you cannot do this very little thing, why do you worry about the rest?"(Luke 12:22-26. NIV).
• Quiet your mind to experience the perfect rhythm of the Universe. Never blame others for your mistakes. Accept circumstances as they are. Enjoy a sunny day and no more or less than a rainy day because all have their divine purposes and they are good in One.
• Do not be judgmental as Jesus has said: "Do not judge or you too will be judged. For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you" (Matthew 7:1-2, NIV).
Nonjudgmental attitude develops from forgiveness. God forgives us our sins. If we cannot forgive others, our sins cannot be forgiven. (Lord's Prayer) Once forgiven, we feel the true relief and heavenly peace in our hearts. Things simply are. Try to simply be. View peoples as they are--not as you are.
• "Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgive you" (Ephesians 4:32, NIV).
"God always give enough strength for the next step .Do you not know? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom. He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not faint" (Isaiah 40:28-31, NIV).
Life has its divine meaning:
• The meaning of life is hidden in God's creation, "...image, likeness..." (Geneses 1:26, NIV).
• "So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them (Genesis 1:27, NIV).
Life has its divine value:
• The value of life is hidden in God's family–our heavenly Father love us, for he allows us to be called his children (1 John 3:1, NIV.) "Because God is love, he treasures relationships. His very nature is relational, and he identifies himself in family terms: Father, Son, and Spirit. The Trinity is God's relationship to himself. It's the perfect pattern for relational harmony, and we should study its implication." (Warren.) "[We] are all sons of God through faith in Christ
Jesus" (Galatians 3:26, NIV).
Life has it divine purpose:
• The purpose of life is hidden in our destined mission, which comes from the Latin word for "sending".
"God wants to redeem human beings from Satan and reconcile the five purposes he created us for:
[T]o love him,
[T]o be a part of his family,
[T]o become like him,
[T]o serve him, and
[T]o tell others about him ....He saves us and then sends us out.
We are the messengers to God's love and purpose to the world." (Warren.)
Let us pray--
Heavenly Father,
Thank you for your grace. Please let us know that we ought to live lives in the presence-- accepting things as they are. Stop worrying but send out love. How often we have forgotten that you have a plan on our lives and you want us simply be. Whatever we believe that we ought to do, Lord, you will enable. In the name of Jesus Christ we pray, Amen.