Tuesday
Jeremy Lin, in his Cinderella-like NBA performances and instant rise to stardom. His genuine humility, coupled with extraordinary confidence and selfless playing style and always attributing his success to God, has won the hearts of billion. Chinese athletes often and mostly excel in individual sport but very little in team sports. May the Lord grant us all humility, so we can really selflessly serve in church, not individually but in teams and submit to leadership.
Wednesday
Chinese NBA players were excellent players, but Chinese fans can hardly learn their styles, because one can't learn Yao Ming’s way of playing without his stature. Jeremy Lin is 6-foot-3-inch, 200-pound; he is much easier for most Chinese players to relate to and imitate. It can be said that this generation of young Chinese believers have no model they can imitate from. We pray the Lord will raise up many selfless men and women of God, not afraid to testify His Name, not merely in words but in their actions and accomplishment.
Thursday
When asked, "How much should a man make a month to consider dating for marriage?" a large survey shows that 80% of the women in China think a man must make 4000 yuan monthly but 63.9% of the respondents also think that feelings should be as important as how much money he earns. This survey was conducted in provinces that are more economically developed and according to the official data, the average monthly wage in Beijing and Guangzhou is over 4000 yuan monthly. The common thought of young people in all of China is that one must make sure the prospective mate is rich. We lift up all single believers in our prayers asking that they consider having the same Christian faith as the most important criterion in considering courtship. We pray, too, that they will commit their waiting time into God's hand, content to wait for His time and know that He has the best plan for them.
Friday
The number of well-educated single Chinese women who are past the "prime marriageable" age is increasing. Since they do not see any prospect for a husband they have given up and instead pour their energy into their career. Today's Chinese women, unlike those in the past who focused their entire lives on their husbands and children, are very independent and most of them take great pride in their career, finding fulfillment in their work, and self-realization. The churches in China need more female leaders and co-workers to meet the special needs of female believers. We pray for a smooth and good working relationship between male and female co-workers in the churches that together they may expand the ministry of all local churches.
Saturday
How some Chinese believers view their church still has a lot of room for improvement. Many are rather strong in theology of Trinity, Scripture and Christology. The mainstream Chinese churches are still deeply influenced by "believer's priesthood" and place great emphasis on personal devotion and prayer, but are weak in asking believers to serve in church as a body or team. Many people attend church and become a member, but are unable to commit in the local church, they refuse to be part of fellowship. May the Lord give China churches more believers who are humble and willing to devote and allow God to use their spiritual gifts to serve the Body of Christ before His glorious return.
Sunday
China is generally considered much more open to women than other East Asian countries with Taiwan somewhat behind, South Korea further back, and Japan even worse. Women in China do not come across as expecting deferential treatment but they do expect to be taken seriously. We pray for a great witness of all the sisters in their homes, especially in those where the husband is still not a believer. May the Lord grant them special tenderness and patience as they live out the love of Jesus daily. The Lord is good and faithful in giving them His special mercy and love.
Monday
In China young women have been pouring into the universities both at home and abroad, and graduating in almost the same numbers as men. Once they have negotiated the highly competitive educational system, they want to get on the career ladder and start climbing since they see great opportunities there. In all aspects of the ministry of the church in China, the sisters shoulder much of the work. Let us pray especially for the younger women that the Lord will give them godly models among older women in the church to receive friendship and encouragement in their lives and spiritual walk.
星期二
華裔基督徒林書豪在NBA精彩表現，成為美國籃壇風雲人物。他在球場上自信又不張狂、信任隊友指揮若定、樂於分享球權、更在關鍵時刻穩定抗壓，並將成就歸榮耀於上帝。中國在運動比賽上，常是個人項目得牌，少有在團隊上獲獎。求主幫助我們在教會中能學習謙卑，在團隊中放下自己來配搭事奉。
星期三
中國NBA球員在國內有極多的粉絲，但是球迷也很難模仿他們的的風格，因為沒有人擁有姚明的身材，也無法學習他的球技。但是6尺3，200磅的林書豪他卻是喜愛打球的年輕人，人人可以效法模仿的對象。這一代年輕的信徒沒有可以效法的對象，並不是太誇張的說法。求主為中國教會賜下許多虔誠愛主的，毫不懼怕在大眾面前為祂做見證，不單單是口裡說說，而是在行為和成就榮耀祂的名。
星期四
當問到「您認為男性月入多少才適合談戀愛？」，一份報告顯示，有八成女性認為「男性月入四千才適合談戀愛」。「月入四千」並不是擇偶唯一條件，63.9%的調查對象更看重感情投入。調查報告對象集中於經濟較發達地區，按統計局數據，北京和廣州的每月平均工資皆超過四千元。「一定要找個有錢的對象」是當代中國年輕人的共思。我們在禱告中記念待婚的基督徒，求主提醒他們，在考慮婚姻時，要以「共同信仰」為首位，也賜他們信心，將終身大事交託給神，信靠祂在自己身上必有最美好的計劃。
星期五
受過高等教育的大齡女青年越來越多。另一半既然始終虛無縹緲，“涼透了心”的女性也就聰明或無奈地將目光轉投於事業。現代中國女性具有強烈的獨立精神,大多數人熱愛自己的事業，不願像傳統女性一樣，將相夫教子當成唯一的使命，而是努力取得職業成就，實現自我價值。女性信徒日漸增多，求主興起更多女教牧同工，以滿足牧養女性信徒的需要；也能與男同工配搭，擴展教會的服侍領域，共建神家。
星期六
某些中國教會的信徒儘管在神學上有很好的裝備，但對教會觀的認識仍然不太成熟。他們注重操練個人的靈修、禱告，卻不明白怎樣在教會中參與團隊的服侍。很多人來到教會，成為信徒，但是不參與團契生活，彷彿就像一個自修的基督徒。求神開啟祂兒女的心靈眼睛，讓我們看見神要我們在教會裡各盡其職，好叫基督的新婦早日妝飾整齊，等候主的再臨。
星期日
中國人對女性的態度，相比其他東亞國家和地區，已屬相當開放，其次是台灣、韓國及日本。中國女性希望獲得社會重視，並不想給人低眉順眼的印象。求主賜福姊妹們，在家中有美好的見證。我們特別為丈夫仍未信主的姊妹禱告，求主額外憐恤她們，幫助她們學習仰望基督，天天經歷祂的看顧和保守，並有溫柔、忍耐的心為丈夫的得救禱告主。
星期一
女性若通過中國教育系統競爭激烈的獨木橋，便希望能找到工作，向職業階梯的上層攀爬。有了大學文憑對女性而言，意味著更好的就業及婚姻的機遇。求主使用姊妹在教會各層面服事。我們特別為教會中年輕的姊妹禱告，求主為她們在教會內能有屬靈的榜樣，在靈命能彼此鼓勵，又能分享人生的經歷。
没有评论:
发表评论