February 1

"This thing is from me." (1 Kings 12:24)

"Life's disappointments are veiled love's appointments."━Rev. C. A. Fox

My child, I have a message for you today; let me whisper it in your ear, that it may gild¹ with glory any storm clouds which may arise, and smooth the rough places upon which you may have to tread. It is short, only five words, but let them sink into your inmost soul; use them as a pillow upon which to rest your weary head. This thing is from ME.

Have you ever thought of it, that all that concerns you concerns Me too? For, "……he that toucheth you, toucheth the apple of mine eye" (Zech. 2:8). “…You are very precious in My sight….” (Isa.43:4) Therefore, it is My special delight to educate you.

I would have you learn when temptations assail² you, and the "…enemy comes in like a flood,…"(Is.59:19) that this thing is from Me, that your weakness needs My might, and your safety lies in letting Me fight for you

Are you in difficult circumstances, surrounded by people who do not understand you, who never consult your taste, who put you in the background? This thing is from Me. I am the God of circumstances. Thou camest not to thy place by accident, it is the very place God meant for thee.

Have you not asked to be made humble³? See then, I have placed you in the very school where this lesson is taught; your surroundings and companions are only working out My will.

Are you in money difficulties? Is it hard to make both ends meet? This thing is from Me, for I am your purse-bearer and would have you draw from and depend upon Me. My supplies are limitless (Phil.4:19). I would have you prove my promises. Let it not be said of you, "…In this thing ye did not believe the Lord your God" (Deut. 1:32).

Are you passing through a night of sorrow? This thing is from Me. I am the Man of Sorrows and acquainted with grief. I have let earthly comforters fail you, that by turning to Me you may obtain everlasting⁴ consolation⁵ (2 Thess. 2:16-17). Have you longed to do some great work for Me and instead have been laid aside on a bed of pain and weakness? This thing is from Me. I could not get your attention in your busy days and I want to teach you some of my deepest lessons. "They also serve who only stand and wait." Some of My greatest workers are those shut out from active service, that they may learn to wield⁶ the weapon of all-prayer.

This day I place in your hand this pot of holy oil. Make use of it free, my child. Let every circumstance that arises, every word that pains you, every interruption that would make you impatient, every revelation of your weakness be anointed with it. The sting will go as you learn to see Me in all things. ━Laura A. Barter⁷ Snow

"'This is from Me,' the Saviour⁸ said,

As bending low He kissed my brow,

'For One who loves you thus has led.

Just rest in Me, be patient now,

Your Father knows you have need of this,

Tho', why perchance you cannot see.━

Grieve not for things you've seemed to miss.

The thing I send is best for thee."'

"Then, looking through my tears, I plead,

'Dear Lord, forgive, I did not know,

'Twill not be hard since Thou dost tread,

Each path before me here below.

And for my good this thing must be,

His grace sufficient for each test.

So still I'll sing, "Whatever be

God's way for me is always best."'"

　二月一日

　　 “这事出于我” （王上十二：24）

　　“得意暗藏在失意之中”━福克斯牧师

　　我的孩子，今天我有一个信息传给你；好叫你上面的黑云消散，前面的岖路变平。这个信息是很短的，只有五个字，但是我要你铭刻心中；又把它当作一个枕头来安放你疲倦的头，使你真能高枕无忧。这个信息是甚么呢？就是“这事出于我”。

　　你有没有想到过：凡与你有关的事，也与我有关？因为：“……摸你们的，就是摸我眼中的瞳仁”（亚二：8）；“…我看你为宝，为尊…”（赛四十三：4）。所以，我特别喜欢训练你。

　　当试炼攻击你，“…仇敌好像急流的河水冲来…“（赛五十九：19）的时候，我要你知道“这事出于我”，你的软弱需要我的刚强，你的安全在乎让我替你争战。

　　你是不是正在艰难的环境中，四周的人都不了解你，都不遂你的心意，都看不起你？“这事出于我”。我是管理环境的神。你所处的境遇并非偶然的，都有我的美意在其中的。

　　你不是曾求我给你谦卑吗？你看，我已经把你放在一个学习谦卑的学校里了，你所接触的人和环境是被我利用来成全我的旨意的。

　　你是不是正感觉经济缺乏呢？“这事出于我”，因为我是经营你用度的，我要你向我支取，完全仰赖于我。我的供给是无限的（腓四：19）。我要你证实我的应许，我不愿意你“…在这事上却不信耶和华你们的神”（申一：32）。

　　你是不是整夜忧愁呢？“这事出于我”。我是忧患之子，常经忧患，深知怎样担当忧患的。当你向世人寻求安慰时，我故意叫他们不给你同情，好叫你转向我寻求永远的安慰（帖后二：16-17）。你是不是渴望为我作些伟大的工作，结果倒反卧病在床呢？“这事出于我”。在你忙碌的日子，我不能引起你的注意力来；我要你学习一些更深的功课。事奉不是体贴自己的热心，乃是遵行我的旨意。我有许多顶心腹的仆人，都是关于最冷僻的地方，用祷告事奉我。

　　今天我把这个信息当作一瓶香膏送在你手里。你可以自由敷用。我的孩子，不顺的环境，扎心的毁谤，无故的逼迫等等，临到你的时候，你就敷上这香膏。如果你能在一切事上看见“这事出于我”，所有的痛苦便会立时消失了。━司诺

救世主俯身吻我说：“这是出于我，

引导者故意如此安排。

爱你的，只要耐心信赖我，

天父知道你有此需要，

虽然有时你看不明了。

表面的损失，不必悲伤，

我所赐的，才对你最好。”

于是我睁开泪眼，祷告于天：

“亲爱的主，恕我无知，

前面的路，你既都曾走过，

还有什么艰难可言！

这事完全为了有益于我，

神的恩典足以应付每一试炼。

我将继续歌唱：神为我

安排任何道路，总是最好的拣选。”

1 gild   

vt.给…镀金，把…漆成金色，使呈金色

参考例句：

• The sun transform the gild cupola into dazzling point of light.太阳将这些镀金的圆屋顶变成了闪耀的光点。
• With Dimitar Berbatov and Wayne Rooney primed to flower anew,Owen can gild the lily.贝巴和鲁尼如今蓄势待发，欧文也可以为曼联锦上添花。

2 assail   

v.猛烈攻击，抨击，痛斥

参考例句：

• The opposition's newspapers assail the government each day.反对党的报纸每天都对政府进行猛烈抨击。
• We should assist parents not assail them.因此我们应该帮助父母们，而不是指责他们。

3 humble   

adj.谦卑的，恭顺的；地位低下的；v.降低，贬低

参考例句：

• In my humble opinion,he will win the election.依我拙见，他将在选举中获胜。
• Defeat and failure make people humble.挫折与失败会使人谦卑。

4 everlasting   

adj.永恒的，持久的，无止境的

参考例句：

• These tyres are advertised as being everlasting.广告上说轮胎持久耐用。
• He believes in everlasting life after death.他相信死后有不朽的生命。

5 consolation   

n.安慰，慰问

参考例句：

• The children were a great consolation to me at that time.那时孩子们成了我的莫大安慰。
• This news was of little consolation to us.这个消息对我们来说没有什么安慰。

6 wield   

vt.行使，运用，支配；挥，使用(武器等)

参考例句：

• They wield enormous political power.他们行使巨大的政治权力。
• People may wield the power in a democracy.在民主国家里，人民可以行使权力。

7 barter   

n.物物交换，以货易货，实物交易

参考例句：

• Chickens,goats and rabbits were offered for barter at the bazaar.在集市上，鸡、山羊和兔子被摆出来作物物交换之用。
• They have arranged food imports on a barter basis.他们以易货贸易的方式安排食品进口。

8 saviour   

n.拯救者，救星

参考例句：

• I saw myself as the saviour of my country.我幻想自己为国家的救星。
• The people clearly saw her as their saviour.人们显然把她看成了救星。