12. Manna issue 94 - Kept in the Hands of God 保守在神的手中－markvmax 的部落格

12. Manna issue 94 - Kept in the Hands of God 保守在神的手中

James Liu—Newcastle, UK 英國紐卡索

In the name of our Lord Jesus, I testify.

我奉我們主耶穌的名作見證。

For those of us who grow up in the True Jesus Church,
we are always taught to trust in God.
Although we may experience difficulties in life,
it is not until we face a true challenge
that we come to understand what it means to trust God fully.
Until then, trusting in God may only take the form of mentioning our hardships in prayer.

對於我們這些真耶穌教會長大的人來說，
我們總是被教導要信靠神。
儘管生活中我們可能會遇到困難，
一開始都不會，但直到我們面臨真正的挑戰，
我們才會開始明白，完全信靠神是什麼意思。
直到那時，信靠神可能只有採取這種形式，就是禱當時提及自已的困難。

My wife and I grew up in the church.
We were active as youths, taking part in many church works,
and were eventually married in church.
Having children was the natural next step for us as a couple.
After praying about this matter, my wife conceived in 2018, by God's grace.
The pregnancy was healthy, and the first six months proceeded smoothly.
We experienced the joys of all the normal milestones:
the scans, kicks, and baby movements.
As soon-to-be parents, we eagerly looked forward to our baby girl's birth.

我和妻子是教會里長大的。
我們年輕時很活躍，參加了許多教會的工作，
並最後在教會裡結婚。
成為一對夫婦之後，生孩子自然而然就是我們的下一步。
在為此事禱告之後，因著神的恩典，妻子在 2018 年懷孕了。
懷孕時很健康，前六個月進行的很順利。
我們經歷了所有正常各種階段的喜悅：
掃描、踢腿和嬰兒有動作。
作為即將成為父母的人，我很急切期盼著女兒的出生。

In May 2019, my wife started to notice
that the foetus would not move and kick as much as she used to.
Our midwife advised that it was still early in the pregnancy,
so quiet times could be expected.
It may just be that the baby is sleeping more or is in a different position.
But if we had concerns, we could request a checkup for reassurance.
Despite the midwife’s words, we still felt uneasy.
Therefore, we put this into prayer,
asking God to guide us to make the right decisions
and for God to protect the child no matter what happens.
Finally, we decided to request a checkup
in the hope that it would at least give us peace of mind.

2019 年 5 月，我的妻子開始注意到，
胎兒不會像她以前那樣活動和踢腿。
我們的助產師告訴我們，現在還是處於懷孕的初期，
因此可以預期到有安靜的時間。
這很可能只是，寶寶睡得很多，或是處於不同的姿勢。
但如果我們有疑慮的話，可以要求進行檢查得到安心。
儘管助產師這麼說，我們還是感到不安。
因此，我們將這件事放入祈禱中，
求神引導我們做出正確的決定，
無論發生什麼，求神保護這個孩子。
最後，我們決定要求檢查，
希望它至少能夠讓我們安心。

The checkup consisted of a period of monitoring the baby in the womb.
It was supposed to last twenty minutes but turned into an hour.
Suddenly, a team of doctors arrived
and explained that there were serious concerns for the baby.
An emergency cesarean section was advised.
My wife was swiftly taken into theatre,
and our baby girl was born.
She was exactly three months premature,
weighing only 810 grams (one pound and twelve ounces)
—small enough to fit into the two palms of my hands.
We were overwhelmed with uncertainty over the future.
What would happen now?
Would she have long-term health problems?
How will we take care of her?
Would our daughter even survive?
She was immediately taken into the Special Care Baby Unit (SCBU),
where she was put onto a ventilator and various other life-support equipment.
The doctors informed us
that the only abnormality they could find in the womb
was the beginning of placental abruption,
where the placenta begins to detach from the uterus.
This usually results in a failure of the placenta,
meaning the baby would no longer receive oxygen and nutrients.
If we had not requested an examination,
the problem would have become more serious.

檢查時包括有一段時間要監測子宮內的嬰兒。
本來只要經過二十分鐘，結果變成了一個小時。
突然，有一團醫生趕到了，
解釋說，他們對嬰兒有嚴重的擔憂。
並且建議進行緊急的剖腹產。
我的妻子很快就被送進了手術室，
我們的小女嬰就出生了。
她足足早產了三個月，
僅有體重 810 克（一磅十二盎司）
—小到可以裝進去我兩個合起來的手掌。
我們對未來的不確定性，受到驚嚇。
現在會發生什麼事呢？
她難道會有長期的健康問題嗎？
我們將怎麼照顧她呢？
我們的女兒還能活得下來嗎？
她立即??被帶入特殊照護嬰兒病房（SCBU），
在那裡她被放進呼吸器和各種其他維持生命的設備上。
醫生告訴我們，
他們能在子宮裡發現的唯一異常，
就是胎盤開始提早剝離，
胎盤開始與子宮分開。
這通常會導致胎盤失去生命，
這代表了，嬰兒將不再接受到氧氣和營養。
如果我們沒有要求去檢查，
問題將會變得更加嚴重。

Truly, life is in the hands of God.
In discovering the problem early, our daughter’s life was preserved.
True enough, while in SCBU we met another family in a similar situation,
they had not requested a checkup.
Their baby was in a more serious condition than our daughter.
Undeniably, God moved us to make the right decision to protect her life.
Knowing that all life is in the hands of God, gave us comfort.
Even though we faced uncertainties over the future,
we came to realize that we can be certain of God,
our immovable Rock and steadfast Refuge
(Ps 62:6–7).
He will sustain and guide our family regardless of what may come to pass.

確實，生命掌握在神的手中。
由於及早發現問題，我們女兒的性命才保住了。
確實是如此，在特殊照護嬰兒病房 SCBU 期間，我們遇到另一個有類似情況的家庭，
他們沒有要求進行檢查。
他們孩子的情況比我們的女兒更加嚴重。
不可否認的，神感動我們做出正確的決定，來保護她的生命。
知道所有生命都掌握在神的手中，這給了我們安慰。
儘管我們對未來感到不確定，
我們開始明白，自已可以深信神，
我們不動搖的磐石和堅定的避難所
（詩 62：6-7）。
無論發生什麼事，祂都會支撐指引我們的家庭。

Eventually, my daughter was diagnosed with cerebral palsy.
Although my daughter continues to have lifelong disabilities,
her condition is good for someone with her diagnosis.
Step by step, she has been able to make positive progress.
Her life is also full of wonderful testimonies of God's grace,
a few of which I will share here.

最終，我的女兒診斷出患有腦部麻痺。
雖然我的女兒仍患有終生的殘疾，
對於患有她病症的人來說，她的狀況很好。
漸漸的，她已經能夠取得正面的進步。
她的一生也充滿了神恩典的奇妙見證，
我將在這里分享其中的一些內容。

THE POWER OF INTERCESSION 代禱的力量

The SCBU is divided into three color-coded sections
to differentiate the level of support needed:
red for intensive care, blue for reduced care,
and green for minimal care in preparation for discharge.
Since her birth in May, my daughter had remained in the red area.

特殊照護嬰兒病房 SCBU 分為三種顏色編碼區域
來區分所需照護的級別：
紅色表示重症監護，藍色表示簡化照護，
而綠色表示準備出院前的低度照護。
我女兒自從五月份出生以來，都一直處於紅色區域。

In July 2019, our local church hosted the annual National Student Spiritual Convocation.
As one of the religious education coordinators,
I was assigned to oversee this convocation.
At first, I was conflicted about whether or not to continue with my responsibilities.
On one hand, I desired to be with our daughter as much as possible,
yet, on the other hand, I felt a sense of duty to the church.
Since my daughter was still in the red area of SCBU,
there was not much we could do for her except visit.
We took faith in the words of Jesus,
that if we seek God’s kingdom first,
He will provide for our needs
(Mt 6:33),
which meant He would also take care of her.
Therefore, I continued with my church duties.
In doing so, we had several opportunities to take the visiting preachers,
who were there for the convocation, to the hospital to pray for my daughter.

2019 年 7 月，我們地方教會舉辦了年度的全國學生靈恩會。
作為宗教教育的協辨的一員，
我被指派要監督這次靈恩會。
起初，我很矛盾，要不要繼續履行自已的職責。
一方面，我希望盡可能的多多陪陪女兒，
然而，另一方面，我有一種教會的責任感。
由於我女兒還在特殊照護嬰兒病房 SCBU 的紅色區域，
除了探訪之外，我們能為她做的事情並不多。
我們相信耶穌的話語，
如果我們先求神的國，
祂會滿足我們的需要
（太 6：33），
這個意思就是，祂也會照顧她。
因此，我繼續進行教會職責。
這樣做的時候，我們有幾次的機會，帶著來訪的傳道，
他們被派來協助靈恩會，去醫院為我的女兒禱告。

After one particular visit in the morning,
a preacher requested the intercession of the students for my daughter during a prayer session.
That evening, during our visit,
we discovered that our daughter had been transferred from the red to the blue area.
The sudden move showed that her condition had vastly improved during the day.
We felt immense joy and encouragement to experience God’s power.
It was also greatly encouraging for the students
to see for themselves the power of united prayer.
We praise God for fulfilling the promise of our Lord Jesus
that when
"two of you agree on earth concerning anything that they ask,
it will be done for them by [our] Father in heaven”
(Mt 18:19).

有一次早上的特別訪問之後，
有一位傳道要求學生在祈禱會的時候，為我的女兒代禱。
那天晚上，我們探訪的時候，
我們發現，我們的女兒已經轉移出紅色區域，送到藍色區域了。
這種突然的變動，表示了這一天她的病情已經有很大的好轉。
我們感受到神大能帶來的大喜樂和安慰。
這也給很多同學帶來了很大的鼓勵，
讓他們親眼目睹了同心禱告的力量。
我們感謝神，實現了我們主耶穌的應許，
當
“19若是你們中間有兩個人在地上同心合意的求甚麼事，
我[們]在天上的父必為他們成全。”
（太 18：19）。

To request intercession is not always an easy matter.
It makes us feel exposed
—as if we are confessing our weaknesses before others.
Or sometimes, we feel like our challenges are too mundane to bother the brethren with.
Yet the power of intercession is undeniable.
Having experienced it firsthand,
I have come to realize
that the benefit of intercession far outweighs the discomfort of requesting it.
I learned to forgo my feelings and reach out for intercessions whenever needed.
Through the continued prayers of our brothers and sisters,
my daughter was discharged from the SCBU altogether in October 2019,
after just over four months.
She came home with a portable oxygen tank to support her breathing,
which she was weaned off a year later.

要請求別人代禱，並不一定是一件容易的事情。
這讓我們感覺暴露了自己，
—就好像我們在別人面前承認自己的軟弱。
或者有時候，我們覺得自已的挑戰過於平凡，不值得去打擾弟兄姐妹。
然而代禱的力量是不可否認的。
親身體驗過之後，
我已經明白了，
代禱的好處，遠遠超過了請求別人代禱所帶來的不適感。
我學會了放下自己的感受，並且有需要的時候請求代禱。
通過我們弟兄姐妹不斷的代禱，
2019 年 10 月，我女兒就從特殊照護嬰兒病房 SCBU 完好出院了，
僅僅過了四個多月。
她回家時帶著便利型的氧氣瓶，來幫助呼吸，
一年之後她就斷奶了。

TO RELY ON GOD IS TO EMPTY ONESELF 依靠主謙卑自已

Throughout the first two years of my daughter’s life,
she was constantly readmitted to hospital for various reasons.
On a few occasions, she had to stay in the hospital for nearly a month.
This was particularly difficult once the COVID-19 lockdown began in March 2020.
Government-imposed restrictions meant only one parent could remain in the hospital,
while the other could not even visit.
This created a great sense of helplessness for my wife and me.
On a few occasions, our daughter was admitted to hospital
because of symptoms with unknown causes.
As parents, we could not do much for her
apart from being with her and waiting for tests and results.
This further added to the feelings of powerlessness.

在我女兒生命的頭兩年裡，
由於各種原因，她不斷地再次送去醫院。
有好幾次，她不得不住院將近一個月。
當 2020 年 3 月新冠疫情封城開始後，要這樣作尤其困難。
政府實施限制，代表只有一名父母可以留在醫院，
而另一個甚至無法探訪。
這種情況給我和妻子帶來了極大的無助感。
有好幾次，我們的女兒被送進醫院，
由於出現了不明原因的症狀。
作為父母，我們能為她做的事不多，
除了陪伴她，等待檢查和結果之外。
這樣進一步加深了無力感。

On one occasion before my daughter’s first birthday,
I remained in the hospital with her for a few weeks while my wife stayed at home.
Our daughter was struggling to feed properly,
sometimes even refusing to feed.
One evening, I talked to my wife via video call about how difficult it was.
After our conversation, I tried to feed her again;
miraculously, she drank her milk without a problem.
When I reported this to my wife,
she revealed that after our conversation,
she had knelt to pray and continued praying
until I messaged her to say that our daughter had taken her feed.

我女兒一歲生日之前有一次，
我留在醫院陪她幾個星期，而妻子則留在家裡。
我們的女兒一直掙扎不好好進食，
有時甚至拒絕餵食。
有一天晚上，我通過視訊電話與妻子談論了這件事有多困難。
我們談話結束後，我再次嘗試餵她吃東西。
奇妙的是，她毫無問題的喝了牛奶。
當我把這件事情告訴妻子的時候，
她透露了，在我們交談之後，
她跪下來禱告，並且一直禱告
直到我給她發短訊說，我們的女兒已經吃了食物。

We were completely amazed at the power of prayer.
When we came before God in our helplessness, God revealed His power.
Through this experience,
we understood what it means to trust in God.
We had previously put many matters into prayer,
but it was only when we hit rock bottom
—when we felt like we had nothing left
—that we sincerely yearned for God's help.
This is mirrored in Paul's experience,
that when we face our greatest weakness,
God's strength is manifested
(2 Cor 12:9–10).
When we empty ourselves, we truly see how much we need God.

我們對於禱告的力量，感到非常驚訝。
當我們於無助中來到神面前之時，神就彰顯祂的大能。
通過這次的經歷，
我們明白了信靠神代表了什麼。
之前我們把很多事都放在禱告裡，
但只有當我們跌入谷底的時候，
—當我們感覺自己一無所有的時候，
—我們真心渴望神的幫助。
這反應在保羅的體驗中，
當我們面對自已最大的軟弱時
神的力量就彰顯出來
（林後 12：9-10）。
當我們倒空自己的時候，才會真正看到自已有多麼需要神。

We thank God for allowing us to experience this.
As our daughter continues to grow,
she will face a range of health problems.
Yet we now know how to fully rely on our God to meet these challenges.
We have learned to fully empty ourselves before God to seek His power and grace.
Time and time again, God has revealed His great power and mercy to us.

我們感謝神，讓我們經歷這件事。
隨著女兒的不斷成長，
她將會面臨一系列的健康問題。
然而我們現在知道，要如何完全依靠我們的神，來應對這些挑戰。
我們已經學會了，在神面前要完全倒空自己，尋求祂的能力和恩典。
一次又一次，神向我們顯明了祂偉大的能力和憐憫。

BAPTISM INTO THE FOLD 受洗進入羊圈

Because of the pandemic,
no baptisms were conducted in our local church during 2020 and early 2021.
As a result, our daughter was not baptized until August 2021, at the age of two.
The two years of waiting were a period of anxiety
due to her numerous health problems.
We were constantly concerned that something might happen before she could be baptized.
But because of the pandemic,
all we could do was put the matter into prayer.
Upon reflection, we found that God's timing was good.
If the pandemic had not occurred and baptism had been possible during 2020,
it would have been challenging as my daughter’s health was weak,
and she still required oxygen support.
Having her baptism delayed meant that her body was much stronger.
On the day of her baptism, we were greatly moved.
Everything went smoothly, and my daughter experienced no complications.
We saw how precious it was for our daughter to be baptized into God’s fold.

因為疫情的原因，
在 2020 年期間和 2021 年初期，我們地方教會並沒有進行洗禮。
結果，直到 2021 年 8 月我們的女兒才受洗，當時她兩歲了。
兩年的等待是一段焦慮的時期，
由於她有許多健康的問題。
我們一直擔心，她受洗之前可能會遇到什麼事。
但是因為疫情的原故，
我們所能做的事，就是將此事放在禱告中。
如今回想起來，我們發現神的時機很美好。
2020年如果沒有發生疫情，並且是可能去洗禮的，
由於我女兒的健康狀況不佳，這將會非常困難，
她仍然需要氧氣維持生命。
拖延洗禮代表她的身體會更加強壯。
在她受洗的那一天，我們非常的感動。
一切都進行的很順利，我女兒並沒有出現任何併發症。
我們看見，自已的女兒受洗進入神的羊圈，是有多麼的珍貴。

In the True Jesus Church,
the water baptism sacrament is followed by footwashing and Holy Communion.
We were worried about the Holy Communion
because our daughter was incapable of eating solid foods,
even though she was two.
She could not swallow solids, and any attempt to do so usually resulted in vomiting.
In the weeks leading up to the day,
we sought advice from a number of ministers.
Ultimately, we were advised to do our best,
and even if she could only take a little of the bread and the cup, it would suffice.
We also put the matter into prayer.
We thank God that when the time came for Holy Communion,
we followed the ministers’ advice with faith.
By God's grace, and to our surprise,
our daughter could take a little of the bread and the cup.

在真耶穌教會裡，
大水洗禮之後接著是洗腳禮和聖餐禮。
我們很擔心聖餐禮，
因為我們的女兒還不能吃固體食物，
儘管她已經有兩歲了。
她無法吞下固體食物，任何想要吞下食物的嘗試，通常都會導致嘔吐。
快到這一天之前的幾個星期裡，
我們徵求了一些長執的意見。
最後，我們得到建議要盡力而為，
即使她只能吃一點點餅和喝一點點杯裡的葡萄汁，也就足夠了。
我們也把這件事放在禱告中。
我們感謝神，當來到領聖餐的時候，
我們懷著信心聽從了長執的建議。
靠著神的恩典，令我們驚訝的是，
我們的女兒可以拿起一點麵包和喝一些杯子的葡萄汁。

Now that she had received all three sacraments of the True Jesus Church,
we felt an overwhelming sense of relief.
Our daughter is now a child of God, with the hope of eternal life.
No matter what may come to pass in her physical life,
her soul is preserved by the heavenly Father.
All our anxieties had turned into peace and comfort.

現在她已經接受了真耶穌教會全部的三種聖禮，
讓我們感到如釋重負。
我們的女兒現在是神的孩子了，有永生的希望。
無論她肉體的生活會發生什麼事，
她的靈魂都由天父保守。
我們所有的焦慮都變成了平安和欣慰。

FINAL REFLECTIONS 最後的反思

Although the health of our daughter has provided many challenges,
my wife and I have come to understand the truth of what Elder James wrote,
that we could
"count it all joy when [we] fall into various trials,
knowing that the testing of [our] faith produces patience"
(Jas 1:2–3).
Though the trials are great,
they have become an even greater testimony,
strengthening our faith in our heavenly Father.
They are times when God has shown His abundant mercy and compassion to us.
We can only give thanks to our Lord Jesus Christ and continue to hold fast onto Him with joy,
knowing that He holds all things in His hands.

雖然女兒的身體健康給我們帶來了許多挑戰，
我和妻子已經明白了雅各長老所寫的真理，
我們可以
“2你們落在百般試煉中，都要以為大喜樂；
3因為知道你們的信心經過試驗，就生忍耐。”
（雅 1：2-3）。
雖然這個考驗很大，
它們已成為了更偉大的見證，
加強我們對天父的信心。
有好幾次，都是神向我們展現了豐富的慈愛和憐憫。
我們只能感謝我們的主耶穌基督，並繼續喜樂的緊緊抓住祂，
因為知道一切都在祂的手中。

12. James Liu and family, at Evelyn%5Cs baptism_1.jpg