15 Jacob left Laban

1. Laban worshiped other gods. After twenty years of hard work, Jacob was finally on the way home. But he didn't know what was waiting for him. What an exciting story! Can't wait to read what's going to happen next.

2. Wow! Lots of golden verses today: “Don’t be afraid of those who want to kill your body; they cannot touch your soul. Fear only God, who can destroy both soul and body in hell.", “Everyone who acknowledges me publicly here on earth, I will also acknowledge before my Father in heaven.", "God blesses those who do not turn away because of me."

3.  "But I trust in your unfailing love.
     I will rejoice because you have rescued me.
     I will sing to the Lord
     because he is good to me."

4. "Wisdom is a tree of life to those who embrace her"

Today attended a church service. One of old my friends (we met 11 years ago) came all the way from LA to visit and preach. I was totally shocked by his life changing information. Praise the LORD!

[-凡凡-]

每日灵修 -- 01/15
http://blog.wenxuecity.com/blogview.php?date=200709&postID=33089

创世记 31:17-32:12

雅各带领妻儿和自己的所有物离开拉班逃往老家。因为拉结偷了父亲的偶像而被不知情的雅各诅咒。

下面是灵修版里一段我不曾注意到却是非常有现实意义的注释：
我工作的态度，是殷勤，还是偷懒？
31:38-31:42 雅各习惯做超越分内的工作。他牧放拉班的羊群，羊群被野兽袭击，他宁愿承担损失，也不用拉班均分负担。虽然拉班十次改了他的工价，他仍然努力工作。他殷勤工作终于获得报偿，他的羊群渐渐增多。做超出分内的工作，总不会徒劳无益的，因为这样做：（1）讨神喜悦；（2）使我们得到别人的赏识和提拔；（3）提高我们的声誉；（4）使别人对我们有信心；（5）使我们得到更多的经验和知识；（6）使我们的灵命成熟。


马太福音 10:24-11:6

1）“掩盖的事，没有不露出来的。隐藏的事，没有不被人知道的”。---- 事实就是事实，阳光之下，什么都要显明。

2) 那杀身体不能杀灵魂的，不要怕他们。惟有能把身体和灵魂都灭在地狱里的，正要怕他。 ---- 是的，除了上帝值得我们敬畏外，其他的什么都不必害怕了。我们的神已经胜了这世界，在他的爱里，我们就没有惧怕。

3）得着生命的，将要失丧生命。为我失丧生命的，将要得着生命。
--（转自灵修版）
得”与“失”之间，是一个银币的两面？有多少距离？
这节经文显示出真理的两面：抓紧生命可能使我们在今生和来生丧失从神而来最好的东西。当我们愈喜爱今生的报酬──享受、权势、受拥戴、经济保障，就愈会发现这些东西是何等虚空。因此，享受生命的最佳途径，就是放弃贪恋世上报酬的心，自由地跟从基督，这样，我们将会承受永生，并立刻开始经历跟从他的好处。


4）凡不因我跌倒的，就有福了。 --- 施洗约翰因为肉体的软弱，灵命上也变得一时的软弱，他开始怀疑耶稣基督的身份。耶稣的话对我们是个警醒： 不要被眼前的困苦吓到甚至跌倒，相信耶稣是基督，是拯救全人类脱离罪恶的独一的真神。


诗篇 13:1-13:6

耶和华我的神阿，求你看顾我，应允我，使我眼目光明，免得我沉睡至死。。。但我倚靠你的慈爱。我的心因你的救恩快乐。 --- 赞叹大卫对神的信靠之坚定，他真的是和神心意的人啊！---神啊，求你赐给我大卫那样爱慕和信靠你的心，好让你在我身上的旨意成就，阿门！


箴言 3:16-3:18
由神而来的智慧可以带来富贵、安乐、平安。

荒漠甘泉 01/15
神的启示只临到灵里没有风波的人。以撒在灵的安息里听见神的话语。--- 只有灵里得到安息，圣灵那微小的声音我们才能听见。突然想起，前几天看到马太福音6：6里耶稣对祷告的教导：“要进你的内屋，关上门，祷告你在暗中的父”，即：我们要在心灵里关闭对外的门窗，不要被外在的烦乱打搅，否则我们祷告时也听不见密室内神的声音。心灵安息---是我要学习的重要功课！！

[提摩太]

寒江雪~ :
1. Idols
2. Jacob begged for mercy, I guess :)
3. That means the LORD knows everything about us.

~蓑笠翁:
Nothing you said was wrong. Have a good rest today! :)

[~蓑笠翁]

Baptist John's had witnessed what happened when Jesus got baptized, but now he sent people to ask if Jesus was Messiah. Faith is very important! Agree with Timothy's sharing.

Psalm: David had experienced a lot of tortures. (Can I say this?) He always stated his afflictions first...but good to see he had the faith and worship God. We should do the same when we faced troubles. (too sleepy, don't know if I had said anything wrong:)

[~蓑笠翁]

I was surprised too for Laban and Rechel worshiped other gods. It is nice to see Jacob appreciated God's blessings and I like his prayer to God.

(BTW, this is the first time I read the Genesis in English. I feel I am watching a movie and can't wait to see the next chapter:))

[寒江雪~]

P.s:
Like Gustave Dore's painting/picture "The prayer of Jacob" very much!!! It is so touching!

[寒江雪~]

Genesis 31:17-32:12
Q:Rachel took Laban's "household gods" and told a lie later - Why did she steal those? What were "household gods" used for at that time?
Q:Why did Jacob call himself "servant" of Esau and call Esau "my lord"."I may find favor in your eyes.". It seemed he was so humble. I remembered Jacob got the blessing from Isaac and Esau should be the servant of Jacob. Am I wrong?
Matthew 10:24-11:6
30 And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. - I heard this sentence many times at different places.Is it a famous or important one to Christian?

Psalm 13
Like today's paslm very much:
"I trust in your unfailing love;
my heart rejoices in your salvation."
Q:Why did it say "How long, O LORD ? Will you forget me forever? How long will you hide your face from me?". I thought the God is always in the Christian's heart!

Proverbs 3:16-18
Very good reading for this proverbs!
"Her ways are pleasant ways,
and all her paths are peace.
She is a tree of life to those who embrace her;
those who lay hold of her will be blessed."

[寒江雪~]

To 提摩太: Could you please share your friend experiences with us? Thank you!!!