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The Overseer of Your World

2026-07-09 in /by

It is not God’s will that you face every day with dread and trepidation.

I have a childhood memory that I cherish. My father loved corn bread and buttermilk. About ten o’clock each night he would meander into the kitchen and crumble a piece of corn bread into a glass of buttermilk, stand at the counter and drink it. Then he’d make the rounds to the front and back doors, checking the locks. Once everything was secure, he would step into the bedroom I shared with my brother and say something like, “Everything is secure, boys. You can go to sleep now.”

I have no inclination to believe that God loves corn bread and buttermilk, but I do believe he loves his children. He keeps everything secure. He oversees your world. And by his power you will “be anxious for nothing” and discover the “peace…that passes all understanding” (Philippians 4:4-8 RSV).

A New Chapter for Life

2026-07-08 in /by

The anxious heart says, “There’s trouble out there!” So you don’t sleep well, you don’t laugh often, misfortune lurks…it’s just a matter of time. As a result, you’re anxious.

How can this be? Our cars are safer than ever. We regulate food and water and electricity. Yet if worry were an Olympic event, we’d win the gold medal. Keep in mind anxiety is not a sin; it’s an emotion. It can, however, lead to sinful behavior.  When we numb our fears with six-packs or food binges, or when we peddle our fears to anyone who’ll buy them, we’re sinning.

Jesus gave this word: “Be careful, or your hearts will be weighed down with…the anxieties of life.” (Luke 21:34 NIV). God made you for more than a life of angst and mind-splitting worry. He has a new chapter for your life, and he is ready to write it.

得货财的力量

2026-07-08 in , /by

〈申命记〉 8:18  你要记念耶和华─你的　神，因为得货财的力量是祂给你的，为要坚定祂向你列祖起誓所立的约，像今日一样。

曾有一则新闻说到在厦门有座桥上，有许多人跪在那里低头认错。在这些人面前有一张纸，上面写着他们的姓名、年记，以及做了什么错事。有一个43岁的男人说，他没有达到销货的目标；有一个39岁的男人写：我必须在桥上跪一个小时，因为我没有完成我的工作。这些纸上没有说明他们来自哪个公司。但是用这样羞辱的方法来惩罚员工还真是少见。幸好我们的神不因为我们不守祂的诫命，就羞辱我们。圣灵的管教总是在个人的生命里进行，以建造为目的。当然，神也会把隐藏的罪显露出来，免得我们犯罪之后还洋洋得意。但祂的目的是管教，不是羞辱。

信实的神

2026-07-07 in , /by

〈申命记〉 7:9-11所以，你要知道耶和华你的神，祂是神，是信实的神：向爱祂守祂诫命的人守约施慈爱，直到千代；向恨祂的人当面报应他们，将他们灭绝——凡恨祂的人，必报应他们，决不迟延。所以，你要谨守遵行我今日所吩咐你的诫命、律例、典章。

2004年，有一个六岁的美国男孩发生了一宗可怕的车祸。当他从昏迷状态中醒过来之后，他告诉家人，他去过天堂，见到了耶稣、撒旦和天使，等等。在2009年，他的父亲帮他出了一本书：《The Boy Who Came Back from Heaven》（从天堂回来的男孩），这本书被热卖到上百万本，成为当时的畅销书之一。但是在出书后五年，他亲自写一封信给美国基督教出版商和书店：「请原谅我因为身体的限制，只能简略地说明，我并没有死去，也没有去过天堂。我说去过天堂，因为我想引起人们对我的注意。当我说我去过天堂时，那时我根本没读过《圣经》。

No Exemption for Anxiety

2026-07-07 in /by

Anxiety is a meteor shower of what-ifs. The sky is falling, and it’s falling disproportionately on you. Anxiety ain’t fun!

One would think Christians would be exempt from anxiety. But we are not. It’s enough to make us wonder if the apostle Paul was out of touch with reality when he wrote in Philippians 4:6, “Be anxious for nothing.” Is that what he meant? Not exactly. He wrote the phrase in the present active tense—implying an ongoing state. As if to say, “Don’t let anything in life leave you perpetually breathless and in angst.”

The presence of anxiety is unavoidable, but the prison of anxiety is optional. Could you use some calm? Of course you could. We all could. We all could use a word of comfort. And God is ready to give it.

Pray About Your Problems

2026-07-06 in /by

The moment you sense a problem, however large or small, take it to Christ. “Max, if I take my problems to Jesus every time I have one, I’m going to be talking to Jesus all day long.” Now you’re getting the point.

An unprayed for problem is an embedded thorn. It festers and infects the finger, then the hand, then the entire arm. Best to go straight to the person who has the tweezers. We can only wonder how many disasters would be averted if we first go to Jesus. Philippians 4:6 says, “Don’t worry about anything. Instead pray about everything.” Tell God your needs and don’t forget to thank him for his answers.

Here’s my challenge for you: every day for four weeks, pray four minutes. Then get ready to connect with God like never before.

非你所建造

2026-07-06 in , /by

〈申命记〉 6:13 你要敬畏耶和华你的神，侍奉祂，指着祂的名起誓。

每次在公路上飞驰，我总忍不住要感谢那些造路的人，以及那些工程师们。不管是不是高速公路，每条公路可以让大家如此畅通无止地奔驰，实在不容易！尤其细看那些捷运系统的连接，若不是非常细密的计算和谨慎的工作，很容易失之毫厘，差之千里。每一个转弯和连接都是那么完美，让人不能不感谢。否则高速快铁在上面运行，将是可等危险？

每次看到外子，我也是心里充满感谢。凭什么，我的公婆千辛万苦把他养育成为一个正人君子，而我就这样把他接收到我的生活中，让他成为照顾我的人？上帝很慷慨，在我们尚未懂得种树时，祂已经让我们享受到树的各样好处；在我们尚未能分辨美丑时，祂已经把闪烁的星星、柔媚的月娘挂在天上，让玫瑰花芬芳扑鼻，让悠扬的琴声使我们在母腹中跳跃，这世上有哪一件美好，是我们的成就呢？有时感到很惭愧，发现自己每天生产最多的，竟是垃圾。天天都要倒垃圾。

经文护符匣Tefillin

2026-07-05 in , /by

〈申命记〉 6:5 你要尽心、尽性、尽力爱耶和华你的神。

假如你搬新家，或是新租了一个住处，家俱和必需品之外，你一定得放什么东西在新住处呢？对于比较敬虔的犹太人，在搬到新家的卅天之内，一定得在家里的每一个门上摆设一个Mezuzah，一个放经文的漂亮盒子。当然，洗手间的门和厨柜的门就不用放了。这个盒子里装有依照犹太人的诫律做成的羊皮卷，上面写着两处经文〈申命记〉六章4-9节：「以色列啊，你要听！耶和华我们神是独一的主。你要尽心、尽性、尽力爱耶和华你的神。我今日所吩咐你的话都要记在心上，也要殷勤教训你的儿女。无论你坐在家里、行在路上，躺下、起来，都要谈论。也要系在手上为记号，戴在额上为经文。又要写在你房屋的门框上，并你的城门上。」

烈火焚山

2026-07-03 in , /by

〈申命记〉 5: 32 所以，你们要照耶和华你们神所吩咐的谨守遵行，不可偏离左右。

有人把对母亲的看法做了简单的注解：「3 岁时： 妈咪，我爱妳。10 岁时： 妈，随便啦。16 岁时： 我妈真的很烦。18 岁时： 想要离开这个家。25 岁时： 妈，妳当时是对的。30 岁时： 我想要去我妈家。50 岁时： 我不想失去我妈。70 岁时： 只要我妈还能在这，我愿意放弃一切。」这些过程我都看过了，也经历了，真是百感交集。难怪古人说，养儿方知父母恩。没有做过父母，不知道父母的心肠。从思念父母的教导到回想神给以色列人十诫的心情，真有点类似。

神实在是尽其所能地将自己显现给以色列人，祂甚至让整座何烈山（西乃山）都着火了。一个非常奇特的景象，摩西看到的只是未被烧毁的荆棘，以色列人看到的是更大更壮观的奇景。以色列人站在山下，山上有火焰冲天，并有昏黑、密云、幽暗。

Gifts From the Father

2026-07-03 in /by

James 1:17 says, “Every good and every perfect gift is from above and comes down from the father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning.”

Take this simple pocket prayer for you today: Dear Father, teach me to accept what you’ve given. I may not always understand the circumstances, but show me how they are blessings and give me gratitude for all your gifts. Rain your blessings on my friends and family today. Give them hope whatever they face. Thank you that your blessings never end. In Jesus name, amen.

Here’s my challenge for you: every day for four weeks pray four minutes. Then get ready to connect with God like never before.