From the ashes I arise/ Don't cry for Rachel.
怎麼也沒料到，神在這個月，連續二次提醒我，別讓拉結影響了我往前行的步伐。
Usually when God said something twice, he gives us the chance of really reaffirming that message in our heart.
Our perspective in life is ruled by how we react in different circustance. You can name your newborn baby as the son of sorrow(便俄尼), or the son of my right hand(便雅憫). Our perspectives shall be based on faith and truth.
履歷石沉大海的這個月，隱約感覺似乎自己正在一個turning point，下一步，或許和過往，沒有關連。
更怪的是，我腦中不時想起摩西。前四十年的皇宮生涯，他所學得的技能、知識，享受的皇家待遇，在曠野毫無用處。
他會牧羊嗎??在畜牧界，摩西應該是生手吧? 從王子到牧羊人，他怎麼重新開始? 在曠野生活的每一天，他是否曾經懊悔當年的一時衝動? 他仍舊認定自己的身分，以及保守自己在當中嗎? 還是在日復一日的routine life失去了初衷，與現況妥協?
然後，神在特會中提醒我，Rachel has to be buried. Don't cry for Rachel.
There are certain things that God is dealing with us, that he wants to put behind our back. Just like the Lord allowed Rachel to die, there are things that must die in our lives. There are certain things that we are attached to in our flesh. Maybe they are not entirely bad things, but those things cost us to rely on the affection of our flesh, rather than giving God the priority in our lives. So, eventually, God will take away those attachments from us, those things that even might be dear to us, and we must learn to let it go without any regrets.
我很清楚，那些hard working 換來的 credits，讓我志得意滿；在各樣挫折、挑戰中，越挫越勇的日子，讓我引以為傲 ；在這段旅程中的革命情誼，讓我難以割捨....，太多我所引以為傲的過往，讓我緊緊抓著Rachel 不放。
Keep in our minds and hearts, if God is asking for those things, it is because they won't help you on the rest of your journey. We are walking toward the destination. There are different phases and potions of that journey. As we reach each one of them, there will be certain things God will sweep away. Ww have to pick ourself up and move on so that we won't miss out on the next destination, Ephrath.
If we choose to bring the memory of Rachel with us to Ephrath, instead of being the place of fruitfulness, Ephrath will become a place of grief and sorrow.
My flesh has to die first, so that I can receive fruits in Ephrath. There is a greater thing ahead, a birth of new thing in Ephrath. Let's bury Racheal. Let by gone be by gone. There is just a few steps to Ephrath. Stop regreting what I lost. Start to rejoice what God gives me. Start thinking of what I gained from this.
Don't cry for Rachel. Bury her and get on with your life. Move forward, because God has this time for you, a new and large place. If we learn to pick up and go on, we will learn from Jacob's examples, that Ephrath, a place of fruitfulness, is ahead of us.
We can choose what will be the next destination to us. A new beginning, a great blessing, a great fruitfulness, or just a heap of ashes in my life?
We need to embrace God's work, which is part of God's love and provisions for us. I must learn to let my past go. How much did Christ represent to Paul? What is greater than all the loss is the gaining of Christ. (腓立比書3:9-14) God is calling us to a new walk, a new result, a new determination, a new willingness. Ephrath represents the place that God reveals his son in me.
這個月，第一次聽到這首詩歌。
神透過歌詞再次提醒小信的我，祂對我的愛和保守，對我而言如此真實。祂的信實，將一路陪伴我，走這趟信心之旅。
參考了五版粵語譯詞、二版中文譯詞，以下是非專業版中文詞
At the Cross在十架前
Oh Lord You've searched me主你尋找我
You know my way你認識我
Even when I fail You在我的軟弱中
I know You love me我知你愛我
Your holy presence你聖潔同在
Surrounding me圍繞著我
In every season在每個時刻
I know You love me我知你愛我
I know You love me我知你愛我
At the cross I bow my knee屈膝在主十架前
Where Your blood was shed for me你流寶血救贖我
There's no greater love than this何等偉大奇妙愛
You have overcome the grave 主你戰勝了死亡
Your glory fills the highest place 你榮耀充滿這殿
What can separate me now 從此與主不分離
You go before me 你在我前頭
You shield my way保守護庇(指引我路)
Your hand upholds me 你手扶持我
I know You love me我知你愛我
At the cross I bow my knee屈膝在主十架前
Where Your blood was shed for me你流寶血救贖我
There's no greater love than this何等偉大奇妙愛
You have overcome the grave 主你戰勝了死亡
Your glory fills the highest place 你榮耀充滿這殿
What can separate me now 從此與主不分離
You tore the veil 幔子已裂
You made a way 新路已開
When You said that it is done(x2) 寶血十架已成就
And when the earth fades 當天地廢去
Falls from my eyes一切消逝
And You stand before me(我)主在我面前
I know You love me我知你愛我
I know You love me我知你愛我
At the cross I bow my knee屈膝在主十架前
Where Your blood was shed for me你流寶血救贖我
There's no greater love than this何等偉大奇妙愛
You have overcome the grave 主你戰勝了死亡
Your glory fills the highest place 你榮耀充滿這殿
What can separate me now 從此與主不分離
愛旅行 (58)