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12 Ways God Loves You

Hi GAMErs,

Today’s passage is Hosea 2:14-23.  Let’s go!

On verses 14-23:  After describing in previous verses how God wanted to punish Israel for their unfaithfulness to Him, Hosea now goes on to describe the amazing, forgiving, second-chance-giving love that God extends to Israel.  From these verses we can learn 12 ways that God loves you and me.

1. God’s love takes initiative. God is a leader and, like a good leader, God takes the initiative.  God will not force Himself upon you, but He does take the first step and waits for you to respond.  He stands at the door and knocks.

哀慟的人有福了

馬太福音5:4_哀慟的人有福了

4 哀慟的人有福了!因為他們必得安慰。

4 “You’re blessed when you feel you’ve lost what is most dear to you. Only then can you be embraced by the One most dear to you.

每次讀到〈傳道書〉第四章第10節時,我總是感到迷惘:“ 我見神叫世人勞苦,使他們在其中受經練。”我不明白為何一定要勞苦才能受經練。但是最近觀察了一些剛作父母的朋友,心裡稍有體會。可能因為自己的兒子己經做父親,我己經忘了他小時候,我的不眠之夜。因此看到這些年輕父母疲乏的面容時,心裡就明白了何謂勞苦和經練。

10 Clues That You Might Be Worshiping An Idol

Today’s passage is Hosea 2:1-13.  Let’s go!

Hosea 2:1 (NIV)  “Say of your brothers, ‘My people,’ and of your sisters, ‘My loved one.’ 

Verse 1:  This verse fits in more with the contents of chapter 1 than with chapter 2.  At the end of chapter 1 Hosea describes how God will show His people amazing grace and mercy and restore them after they have cheated on Him.  Verse 1 here is part of that restoration. 

虛心的人有福了!

馬太福音5:3  虛心的人有福了!因為天國是他們的。

3 “You’re blessed when you’re at the end of your rope. With less of you there is more of God and his rule.(MSG)

當耶穌一開口教訓人的時候,祂是以一個神的角度來看眾人的需要,而不是用人的角度去揣摩人的需要或想要。當耶穌因為禁食而肚子餓時,祂還是說:『人活著不是單靠食物,乃是靠神口裡所出的一切話。』祂知道人真正的需要,因為人的生命是祂所賜。

Find Your Story in the Book of Hosea

Hi GAMErs,

Today we begin the book of Hosea, a book written by the prophet Hosea in approximately 8th century B.C.  Today’s passage is Hosea 1:1-11.  Let’s go!

Hosea 1:2-3 (NIV) 
2 When the LORD began to speak through Hosea, the LORD said to him, “Go, take to yourself an adulterous wife and children of unfaithfulness, because the land is guilty of the vilest adultery in departing from the LORD.” 3 So he married Gomer daughter of Diblaim, and she conceived and bore him a son. 

God Watches How You Treat His Other Children

Joel 3:1-21

On verses 1-21: While everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved from God’s wrath (Joel 2:32) and blessed abundantly (2:18-32), the opposite is also true: those who do not trust in the Lord, who reject the Lord as God, will suffer God’s wrath.

耶穌上山坐下

馬太福音5:1 耶穌看見這許多的人,就上了山,既已坐下,門徒到他跟前來,2 他就開口教訓他們,說:

你可能會奇怪耶穌看見的許多人是指誰?在第4章的最後一段說: 耶穌走遍加利利,在各會堂裡教訓人,傳天國的福音,醫治百姓各樣的病症。他的名聲就傳遍了敘利亞。那裡的人把一切害病的,就是害各樣疾病、各樣疼痛的和被鬼附的、癲癇的、癱瘓的,都帶了來,耶穌就治好了他們。當下,有許多人從加利利、低加波利、耶路撒冷、猶太、約旦河外來跟著他。(4:23-25)

What God Will Do For Those Who Humble Themselves

Hi GAMErs,

Today’s passage is Joel 2:18-32. Let’s go!

On verses 18-32: God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble (Proverbs 3:34; 1 Peter 5:5; James 4:6). We see that here in these verses. After urging his people to humble themselves through repentance, fasting and praying together (v12-17), Joel now describes what God will do for His people when they humble themselves that way:

– He will have pity on his people (v18)
– He will send them new grain, wine and oil that fully satisfies (v19, v24)

來跟從我

馬太福音4:18-22_來跟從我

馬太福音4:19 耶穌對他們說:「來跟從我,我要叫你們得人如得魚一樣。」

18 耶穌在加利利海邊行走,看見弟兄二人,就是那稱呼彼得的西門和他兄弟安得烈,在海裡撒網,他們本是打魚的。 19 耶穌對他們說:「來跟從我,我要叫你們得人如得魚一樣。」 20 他們就立刻捨了網,跟從了他。 21 從那裡往前走,又看見弟兄二人,就是西庇太的兒子雅各和他兄弟約翰,同他們的父親西庇太在船上補網,耶穌就招呼他們。 22 他們立刻捨了船,別了父親,跟從了耶穌。

耶穌開始了祂的傳道之旅,不是從耶路撒冷開始,而是從加利利海邊開始。那是一個普通人工作和生活的地方,不是文人學士或宗教領袖聚集之處。在加利利海邊有許多漁夫,就在這一群平凡的加利利人當中,耶穌揀選了祂的門徒。

Don’t Wait Till Tomorrow to Turn to God

Joel 2:12-17

12 That is why the LORD says, “Turn to me now, while there is time. Give me your hearts. Come with fasting, weeping, and mourning.”

On verses 12-17: The day of the Lord will be a dreadful day for those who have rejected God.

That is also why Joel implores his people to “return to the Lord your God, for He is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in love, and he relents from sending calamity.” (v13) Echoing what God has already said in verse 12, Joel calls his people to fast (v15), to gather together (v15-16) and to pray and intercede for the people (v17) and to plead for God’s mercy.