Matthew 6:25, 33 “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink… But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.”
This week, Jesus’ invitation not to worry feels especially close to me. I realise again how easily I become “a woman of little faith,” when it comes to my family.
At the 9am English service last Sunday, one of our Thailand Mission Team members shared my prayer request for my mother — that she may experience God’s peace while I am away on mission. This comes from an experience during my last Thailand mission trip. Just as my plane was about to take off, my father was unsettled in the hospital, and later during the mission he was diagnosed with brain cancer. He passed away four months after. And yet, in God’s mercy, while I was overseas, a Christian couple visited him in hospital, and he asked to receive Jesus. God’s grace reaches our loved ones even when we cannot be physically present.
As next year’s mission approaches, I have been concerned for my mother, who has had an ongoing health issue for more than half a year. On Monday morning she became unwell, and I called an ambulance. She stayed in hospital till Friday. I thank God that I was able to accompany her and pray with her on admission and throughout the week. I am also grateful for the gentle and attentive care she received — the ambulance officers, the emergency nurse, and the quiet single room in emergency that allowed her to rest before the urgent procedure. The procedure was also done sooner than expected.
Looking back, I can see God’s kindness in the timing. Last week was the only window I had available between two retreats the previous week and the upcoming four-day CCCOWE conference with 150 Chinese pastors and leaders. God knew the best time for everything.
I like to plan for myself and for my family, but God gently reminds me that He alone is in control. Through this incident, I have experienced again His timely and gracious provision. He calls us to trust Him — in all that we plan and all that we do, as we seek Him first.
An Invitation: Next Sunday, please stay for church lunch to support our Thailand Mission Team. We hope to go not just as a team of six, but as the representation of the whole CPC family.
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馬太福音 6:25, 33 「所以我告訴你們，不要為生命憂慮吃甚麼，喝甚麼… 你們要先求他的國和他的義，這些東西都要加給你們了。」
這一週，耶穌「不要憂慮」的邀請對我特別真實。我再次看見，自己在家人身上容易成為「小信的人」。
上主日早上的英語崇拜中，我們泰國短宣隊的一位成員分享了我的代禱事項：請為我的母親禱告，盼望她在我出發短宣期間經歷主的平安。
這個請求源自我上一次泰國短宣的經歷。當時在飛機即將從悉尼起飛時，我父親在醫院狀態變得不穩定；在我身處泰國期間，他被診斷患上腦癌，四個月後離世。然而，在神憐憫中，就在我不在身邊的那段日子，有一對基督徒夫婦去醫院探望我父親——而他就在那時表示願意接受耶穌。神的恩典臨到我們所愛的人，即使我們不能親身陪伴。
隨著明年的短宣臨近，我也為母親擔心——她已有超過半年反覆的健康問題。星期一早上，她身體不適，我立刻召喚救護車，她一直住院到星期五。我感謝神，讓我能在她入院時和整個星期中陪伴，與她一起禱告。我也十分感恩她所得到的細心照顧——從救護員、急症室護士，到安置她在一間安靜、單人的急症室病房，讓她在緊急手術前得著休息，而且手術也比預期更早完成。
回顧整個經過，我看見神恩典的安排。剛過去的一週，是我在連續兩個退修會之後、以及即將出席包括 150 位華人牧者和領袖的四天華福會議之間，唯一能夠陪伴母親的一段時間。唯有神知道最合適的時間。
我總想為自己和家人作周全的計劃，但神溫柔地再次提醒我：掌權的只有祂。透過這次的經歷，我再次看見祂及時而豐富的預備。祂呼召我們——在一切計劃與前行中，學習信靠祂，先尋求祂。
邀請：下主日請留下享用教會午餐、支持我們泰國短宣隊。我們盼望不是六個人單獨前往，而是以教會一家人的身份被差同行。
