Month of Thanksgiving - Day 30

啟示錄 11:15-18
15 第七位天使吹號，天上就有大聲音說：「世上的國成了我主和主基督的國，他要做王，直到永永遠遠。」 16 在神面前、坐在自己位上的二十四位長老就面伏於地，敬拜神， 17 說：「昔在、今在的主神，全能者啊！我們感謝你，因你執掌大權做王了。 18 外邦發怒，你的憤怒也臨到了！審判死人的時候也到了！你的僕人眾先知和眾聖徒，凡敬畏你名的人，連大帶小得賞賜的時候也到了！你敗壞那些敗壞世界之人的時候也就到了！」

年老的約翰在異象中看見，有一天，當耶穌基督再來的時候，世上的國成了我主和主基督的國，祂要做王，直到永永遠遠。祂不僅僅要在基督台前來賞賜每一個敬畏祂名的人，也要在白色大寶座的前面來審判每一個抵擋祂的人。為著這一個榮耀的結局，天上有感謝和讚美的聲音！

當我們真看到這個世界的結局和我們榮耀的前途的時候，我們都應該把所有的感謝都歸給這位昔在、今在的主神，全能者！也讓我們在今天每一個的環境中都歡歡喜喜盼望 神的榮耀！

Day 30
Revelation 11:15-18
15 Then the seventh angel sounded: And there were loud voices in heaven, saying, “The kingdoms of this world have become the kingdoms of our Lord and of His Christ, and He shall reign forever and ever!” 16 And the twenty-four elders who sat before God on their thrones fell on their faces and worshiped God, 17 saying: “We give You thanks, O Lord God Almighty, The One who is and who was and who is to come, Because You have taken Your great power and reigned. 18 The nations were angry, and Your wrath has come, and the time of the dead, that they should be judged, and that You should reward Your servants the prophets and the saints, and those who fear Your name, small and great, and should destroy those who destroy the earth.”

Aged John saw in vision that one day Jesus Christ would come again, and by then the kingdoms of this world would become the kingdoms of our Lord and of His Christ, and He shall reign forever and ever. Not only will He reward everyone who reveres God's name before the judgement seat of Christ, but also He will judge those who deny Him before the great white throne. Sounds of praises and thanks will be to the Lord in heaven for this glorious ending!

When our eyes are truly open to see the end of this world and our glorious future in heaven, we cannot help giving all thanks to our almighty God who was and is and is to come! May we all rejoice in hope of the glory of God today!

Month of Thanksgiving - Day 29

啟示錄 7:9-12

9 此後我觀看，見有許多的人，沒有人能數過來，是從各國、各族、各民、各方來的，站在寶座和羔羊面前，身穿白衣，手拿棕樹枝， 10 大聲喊著說：「願救恩歸於坐在寶座上我們的神，也歸於羔羊！」 11 眾天使都站在寶座和眾長老並四活物的周圍，在寶座前面伏於地，敬拜神， 12 說：「阿們！頌讚、榮耀、智慧、感謝、尊貴、權柄、大力都歸於我們的神，直到永永遠遠！阿們。」

感謝主，有一天我們會在天上看見一個超越種族、語言、身份、背景的最大敬拜聚會，這些由『各國，各族各民，各方』而來身穿白衣的聖徒，都是羔羊用自己的血所買贖回來的，他們與眾天使和廿四位長老一起， 盡情地敬拜 神。想到我們每個人都要身在其中，何等的榮耀，讓我們把一切頌讚與感恩都歸給那買贖我們的救主。

神的心意是願萬人得救，不願一人沉淪。也盼望我們的教會是個傳福音與宣教的教會，不單只是成為華人的祝福，也努力成為一個跨越種族的教會，可以在地預嘗天上敬拜的滋味。

Day 29

Revelation 7:9-12

9 After these things I looked, and behold, a great multitude which no one could number, of all nations, tribes, peoples, and tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, with palm branches in their hands, 10 and crying out with a loud voice, saying, “Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!” 11 All the angels stood around the throne and the elders and the four living creatures, and fell on their faces before the throne and worshiped God, 12 saying: “Amen! Blessing and glory and wisdom, thanksgiving and honor and power and might, be to our God forever and ever. Amen.”

Thanks be to the Lord! One day we will join in heaven the greatest worship with people of all nations, languages, and backgrounds. Those who are "of all nations, tribes, peoples, and tongues", clothed with white robes, are redeemed by the Holy Lamb. Together with all the angels and the 24 elders, they cry out to worship God. Thinking of the glorious worship awaiting us in heaven, let's give all our praises and thanks to the Savior who bought us with His precious blood today.

The Lord is not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance. How I wish that our church can be a church of mission to evangelize to not only Chinese but all nations, so that we can pre-taste the beauty of worshipping with saints across nations in heaven.

Month of Thanksgiving - Day 28

但以理書 6:10

10 但以理知道這禁令蓋了玉璽，就到自己家裡（他樓上的窗戶開向耶路撒冷），一日三次雙膝跪在他神面前禱告感謝，與素常一樣。

但以理所处的环境与今天你我的环境非常的类似，我們都非常的艱難，有很多的試探，很多的妥協，容易被同化、我們也常常落在被擄的情形裡面。但他却出淤泥而不染，刚强壮胆为主做见证。这个人怎么可以在他所处的世代站立得住，我想他得力的秘诀之一就在今天的这节经文，“稳行在高处”的禱告與感恩生活。

稳定的感恩生活—“與素常一样”。弟兄姐妹，这个不容易，一时的感恩还可以，偶尔的感恩也不难，但是与素常一样，持续性的一日三次實在不易、更何况是在要丟性命的環境裡還感恩。我們的感恩是隨著環境起伏呢，還是與素常一樣？

行动的感恩生活—“双膝跪在”。讲到了感恩需要有行动，感恩不单是一个心愿、心态而已、也是一个行动，這是對神恩典產生的一个敬拜的回應、爱的行动，它要帶出時間，金錢，才幹和一切的奉獻。當我們的生命裡面都充滿了感恩的時候，我們便要愛神過於一切了。

高处的感恩生活—“在他神面前”。我们常常无法感恩，忘记感恩、感恩的力不从心，都源于我们和神之間的關係出現了問題，忘記了我們每一天都生活在祂的恩典之下，每一個的遭遇都被放在祂的天秤上、顯出我們真實的光景。

短短一节经文却蕴藏了这么深的功夫，我實在差太遠了。弟兄姊妹們，起來，不要讓這個感恩月就這麼過去，讓這次感恩的操練成為我們日後生命的祝福。


Daniel 6:10
10 Now when Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went home. And in his upper room, with his windows open toward Jerusalem, he knelt down on his knees three times that day, and prayed and gave thanks before his God, as was his custom since early days.

The situation Daniel was in is very similar with what you and I are facing today - many difficulties, numerous temptations. If not paying attention, we can easily compromise to follow the ways of this world and find ourselves in captivity. Daniel, however, stood firm and purely for the Lord despite of all the challenges he had. As I ponder on how he made to live such a victory life in his time, I find his secret in today's verse - a life of "walk-on-high-hills" prayers and thanksgiving.

a) stable thanksgiving life: "as was his custom since early days". Brothers and sisters, to constantly give thanks to God is not an easy thing. We can all be grateful in one time, or occasionally, but what about 3 times a day as our custom? What about 3 times in days when our lives can be taken anytime? Does our gratitude to God go up and down with how our days go or it can remain unchanged no matter how good/bad our external situations are?

b) a thanksgiving life of actions: "he knelt down on his knees". True gratitude comes with actions - it is not only a wish or mentality. Time, wealth, talents, or any kind of offerings are a natural result of our gratitude in love and worship for God's grace. We will love God more than anything when we are truly filled with gratitude.

c) a thanksgiving life in high place: "gave thanks before His God". We will find it very hard to give thanks or forget thanksgiving when our relationship with God goes wrong. We will forget that we live in His grace every single day and that He has measured all the things we go through.

This short verse reflects a such deep relationship between Daniel and God, which I long to have. Brothers and sisters, let's all rise up and practise thanksgiving. Don't just let this thanksgiving month go pass without our growth. May our practice of thanksgiving be a huge blessing in our days to come.

Month of Thanksgiving - Day 27

啟示錄 21:1-5

21 我又看見一個新天新地，因為先前的天地已經過去了，海也不再有了。 2 我又看見聖城新耶路撒冷由神那裡從天而降，預備好了，就如新婦裝飾整齊等候丈夫。3 我聽見有大聲音從寶座出來說：「看哪，神的帳幕在人間！他要與人同住，他們要做他的子民，神要親自與他們同在，做他們的神。 4 神要擦去他們一切的眼淚，不再有死亡，也不再有悲哀、哭號、疼痛，因為以前的事都過去了。」 5 坐寶座的說：「看哪，我將一切都更新了！」又說：「你要寫上，因這些話是可信的，是真實的。」

“新天新地”和“天堂”大約在聖經裏提到了五百次，可見這是基督信仰的重要部分，它讓我們看見了神祂那永遠的愛，為此我們向神獻上感謝。

雖然今天我們的生活可能有難處，常常使我們腿發酸，手下垂。甚至聖經告訴我們在末日民要攻打民，國要攻打國，地要大大震動，多處有饑荒，瘟疫，並且人要起來逼迫基督徒。但是感謝耶穌，祂為我們死，為我們活，並且預備了地方，不久我們便到更美的天城，永遠與祂同住。在那裡沒眼淚，悲哀，哭號，疼痛和死亡！這是何等大的恩典。

啟示錄“新天新地”的信息已經安慰了當時落在極大難處的聖徒，盼望今天它也安慰著我們中間的每一個人。讓我們一同歡呼，在感恩和讚美中預備自己，等候新耶路撒冷。

Revelation 21:1-5

1 Now I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away. Also there was no more sea. 2 Then I, John, saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. 3 And I heard a loud voice from heaven saying, “Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people. God Himself will be with them and be their God. 4 And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away.” 5 Then He who sat on the throne said, “Behold, I make all things new.” And He said to me, “Write, for these words are true and faithful.”

"New heaven and new earth" and "heaven" are mentioned in the Bible for about 500 times. As is seen, heaven is an essential part of Christian faith, and the fact that the Lord has prepared a new heaven and a new earth for us reveals His everlasting love for us which we should all be grateful for.

Indeed, the difficulties we face in life can make our arms feeble and knees weak. Moreover, the Bible clearly tells us that in the last days nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom; there shall be famines, pestilences, and earthquakes; and people shall rise against Christians for persecution. But thanks be to Jesus: not only did He die and resurrect for us, but also He prepares the new heaven for us to arrive and stay with Him forever. In the new heaven there shall be no more tears, nor death, nor sorrow, nor crying, nor pain. How great is His grace!

The message of "new heaven and new earth" have greatly comforted the saints who suffered from great difficulties at that time. Hopefully the same message will also bring comfort to all of us today. Let's all prepare ourselves for the New Jerusalem to come with joyful praises, and thanksgiving hearts!

Month of Thanksgiving - Day 26

提摩太前書 1:12-17

12 我感謝那給我力量的我們主基督耶穌，因他以我有忠心，派我服侍他。 13 我從前是褻瀆神的、逼迫人的、侮慢人的，然而我還蒙了憐憫，因我是不信、不明白的時候而做的。 14 並且我主的恩是格外豐盛，使我在基督耶穌裡有信心和愛心。 15 「基督耶穌降世，為要拯救罪人。」這話是可信的，是十分可佩服的。在罪人中我是個罪魁！ 16 然而我蒙了憐憫，是因耶穌基督要在我這罪魁身上顯明他一切的忍耐，給後來信他得永生的人做榜樣。 17 但願尊貴、榮耀歸於那不能朽壞、不能看見、永世的君王——獨一的神，直到永永遠遠！阿們。

这段感恩以服侍开头，和我们常常想的有些不一样，我们通常首先要感谢的是神创造了我们，救赎我们，每天的保守看顾……。至于服侍，我们常会觉得这是对神的给予和付出。

保罗对自己的本相有著清楚的认识，越看到自己本相的败坏和不配，才越能由衷地对神发出赞美和感恩。保罗身为神如此重用的使徒，都能对他的晚辈提摩太说“我是罪人中的罪魁”，何况我们呢？神的恩典白白给了我们這樣的罪人，这个恩典也不只是要我们得救就完了，而是“格外丰盛”，繼續改变我們的生命，让原本罪人中的罪魁可以成為耶穌基督的见证。更加让我们感激的是，如此尊贵荣美的神，居然愿意使用我们这些原本败坏的罪人去侍奉，做祂的工，同享祂的荣耀，这是多么值得感谢的事。

好不好讓我們效法保羅，今天就開始為著我們目前的服侍禱告和发出真挚的感恩呢？

1 Timothy 1:12-17

12 And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord who has enabled me, because He counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry, 13 although I was formerly a blasphemer, a persecutor, and an insolent man; but I obtained mercy because I did it ignorantly in unbelief. 14 And the grace of our Lord was exceedingly abundant, with faith and love which are in Christ Jesus. 15 This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am chief. 16 However, for this reason I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might show all longsuffering, as a pattern to those who are going to believe on Him for everlasting life. 17 Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, to God who alone is wise,[a] be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen.

In this paragraph, Paul started expressing his gratitude for the ministry God entrusted him with. Paul's gratitude is unique in that we usually give thanks to God for His creation, salvation, protection and preservation, but not so much to the ministry as we see the service as our efforts and sacrifice offered to God.

Paul has a deep understanding of who he is, and the more he recognizes his corrupted nature, the more thanks he gives to the Lord whole-heartedly. Paul, as honorable as he is, tells his junior Timothy that he is "chief of sinners", let alone us. God gives His grace to sinners like us for free, and the grace is far more than just saving us from death - the "exceedingly abundant" grace transforms our life day by day, and make it possible for us to be the testimony of our Lord Jesus Christ. How wonderful it is that we, corrupted sinners to begin with, could serve the perfect and beautiful God and share His glory!

Let's all learn from Paul as our example to give heart-felt thanks to God for our current ministry!

Month of Thanksgiving - Day 25

詩篇 103:1-5

1 我的心哪，你要稱頌耶和華；凡在我裡面的，也要稱頌他的聖名！2 我的心哪，你要稱頌耶和華，不可忘記他的一切恩惠。3 他赦免你的一切罪孽，醫治你的一切疾病。4 他救贖你的命脫離死亡，以仁愛和慈悲為你的冠冕。5 他用美物使你所願的得以知足，以致你如鷹返老還童。

詩篇103篇是詩人大衛著名的感恩詩，是歷代選民與教會喜愛誦唱的詩歌；因為他不單是大衛的感恩，在這詩篇中，我們不單找到了共鳴，也多少受到了一些提醒。

詩人一再的對他自己的心說話，提醒「他」不要忘記神的恩惠。我們這個天然人，是一個善忘的活物。順境的時候，一切似乎都是我們努力的成果，我們會忘記了感恩，甚至認為不需要感恩；逆境的時候，困苦、缺乏、挫敗、寃屈抓住我們整個人，甚至產生了埋怨和不信，让我们忘记了感恩！這「善忘的心」需要被提醒和勸勉，而我們需要的恰恰是如大衛一般，渴望被神帶到一個屬天的生命和境界，跳出眼前的環境，想到祂已經為我們所成就的一切，對著自己的心說，要感恩，要感恩！

其實,這忘記了感恩，並非純粹是記憶力的問題，更是心態的問題。感恩，需要我們在生活中，花時間操練的。無論我們的環境有多難，心裏有多軟弱，起來，對自己的心說：你要稱頌耶和華，發出感恩的言語。不要等到明天，也不要等到下個感恩節，從今天，就開始學習感恩吧！

Psalm 103:1-5

1 Bless the Lord, O my soul; and all that is within me, bless His holy name! 2 Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits: 3 Who forgives all your iniquities, Who heals all your diseases, 4 Who redeems your life from destruction, Who crowns you with loving kindness and tender mercies, 5 Who satisfies your mouth with good things, So that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.

Psalm 103 is a famous thanksgiving psalm of David, an all-time-favorite psalm by churches and God's children throughout ages. Not only do we resonate with David's gratitude in this psalm, but also we find valuable reminders from it.

Several times in this psalm did the David say to his own heart to bless the Lord and not forget God's grace. We as human being can all be forgetful. When things go well, we tend to give credits to our own efforts and can hardly think of giving thanks. When difficulties come, we easily become overwhelmed by frustration and self-pity, which in some cases will even make us complain and disbelieve in God. Indeed, our forgetful hearts need to be reminded and encouraged to always be grateful. By prayers let's all turn our eyes from our current situations to the spiritual reality that God has made the salvation perfect for us. Just as David did, let's tell our hearts to bless the Lord, bless the Lord!

It's not really that we "forget" being thankful, but that we are not born to be grateful naturally. Therefore we need to practise thanksgiving in our daily life. No matter how difficult our days are and how much we've suffered from our weakness, let's learn to tell our hearts to bless the Lord and pour out our gratitude to God. Don't wait till next Thanksgiving and don't wait till even tomorrow, starting from today, let's all learn to be grateful!

Month of Thanksgiving - Day 24

詩篇 116:12-18

12 我拿什麼報答耶和華向我所賜的一切厚恩？13 我要舉起救恩的杯，稱揚耶和華的名。14 我要在他眾民面前向耶和華還我的願。15 在耶和華眼中，看聖民之死極為寶貴。16 耶和華啊，我真是你的僕人；我是你的僕人，是你婢女的兒子，你已經解開我的綁索。17 我要以感謝為祭獻給你，又要求告耶和華的名。18 我要在他眾民面前，在耶和華殿的院內，在耶路撒冷當中，向耶和華還我的願。你們要讚美耶和華！

這是一篇個人感恩的詩，詩人在這裡想要竭盡所能地感謝 神 -- 拯救他脫離死亡的這個偉大的救贖恩功。所以，詩人欣然地「舉起救恩的杯」，向 神獻上感謝祭，稱頌耶和華的名。感謝 神！不僅解開了我們的綁索，而且揀選我們成為祂的僕人，可以與祂的聖工有份。想到這個寶貴的特權和地位，我們忍不住要在 神的殿中，在祂眾民面前，向祂還我們所許的願，我們還要揚聲稱謝、讚美耶和華！哈利路亞！

在歲末年初，好不好，讓我們和家人一起來到 神面前，花10-15分鐘禱告並細細思想：主耶穌基督在我們身上所成就一次又永遠的救恩，對 神你當如何表達你對祂的感激呢？

Psalm 116:12-18

12 What shall I render to the Lord for all His benefits toward me? 13 I will take up the cup of salvation, and call upon the name of the Lord. 14 I will pay my vows to the Lord now in the presence of all His people.15 Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of His saints.16 O Lord, truly I am Your servant; I am Your servant, the son of Your maidservant; You have loosed my bonds.17 I will offer to You the sacrifice of thanksgiving, and will call upon the name of the Lord.18 I will pay my vows to the Lord now in the presence of all His people,

In this poem of personal thanksgiving, the poet would like to give thanks to God with all his strength for the great salvation that redeems him from destruction. Therefore, he “takes up the cup of salvation” with joy, offers to God a sacrifice of thanksgiving and bless the name of the Lord. Not only does He loose our bonds, but also chooses us as His servants that partake in His divine work. We can’t help to paying our vows to the Lord in the presence of all His people, when we think of this precious privilege and position. We also want to give thanks and praise the Lord loudly! Hallelujah!

At the turn of this year, shall we come to God with our family and spend 10-15 minutes praying and thinking carefully: how will you act as your appreciation to God for the salvation of once and for all that Jesus Christ has accomplished upon us?