我的脸书上有些有趣的视频，内容是我的孙儿们在为我后花园的玫瑰浇水的情景。孙儿们拿着浇水软管，满脸专注和小心翼翼地沿着玫瑰花丛行走。他们熟练和喜悦地为玫瑰浇水；然而，当他们发现他们手上拿的水管不单可以用来为玫瑰浇水时，画风大变。这时，你大有可能听到视频里发出的大叫声，因为我的丈夫成了他们水管喷洒的靶子。于是园子便到处洋溢着笑声和欢乐的叫声了。
回想那些时刻，我领悟到园子能够提供教育和分享的空间，我们在周围都看到神所赐的生命。当我们发现了神对我们的爱和祂所赐的圣灵时，我们可以停下来去反思和感恩。在那一刻，我们领悟到神爱我们，这就是我们降服在衪的引领和呼召的时刻，这就是我们发现我们手上和心中所拥有的远超过我们所思所想的时刻。
今天就是我们把我们所知道的付诸行动的日子；今天就是我们到神那里和与人分享衪的慈爱和恩典的日子；今天就是我们善用神赐的恩典和资源、去把欢笑和喜乐带给神和其他人的日子。
父啊，感谢你把你的圣灵赐给我们，感谢你教导我们和呼召我们天天与你一同活在喜乐中。在我们回应你的呼召时，求你帮助我们善用你所赐的恩，并且与别人分享。阿们。
约翰一书 4:7 -19
7亲爱的弟兄啊，我们应当彼此相爱，因为爱是从神来的。凡有爱心的，都是由神而生，并且认识神。
8没有爱心的，就不认识神，因为神就是爱。
9神差他独生子到世间来，使我们藉着他得生，神爱我们的心在此就显明了。
10不是我们爱神，乃是神爱我们，差他的儿子为我们的罪做了挽回祭，这就是爱了。
11亲爱的弟兄啊，神既是这样爱我们，我们也当彼此相爱。
12从来没有人见过神，我们若彼此相爱，神就住在我们里面，爱他的心在我们里面得以完全了。
13神将他的灵赐给我们，从此就知道我们是住在他里面，他也住在我们里面。
14父差子做世人的救主，这是我们所看见且作见证的。
15凡认耶稣为神儿子的，神就住在他里面，他也住在神里面。
16神爱我们的心，我们也知道也信。神就是爱，住在爱里面的，就是住在神里面，神也住在他里面。
17这样，爱在我们里面得以完全，我们就可以在审判的日子坦然无惧；因为他如何，我们在这世上也如何。
18爱里没有惧怕，爱既完全，就把惧怕除去，因为惧怕里含着刑罚；惧怕的人在爱里未得完全。
19我们爱，因为神先爱我们。
"This is how we know that we live in him and he in us: He has given us of his Spirit." - 1 John 4:13
A fun memory on my Facebook page includes videos of my grandsons watering the roses in our backyard. The boys have intent looks on their faces as they hold the hose carefully and walk along the line of rosebushes. They water the roses well and enjoy doing this, but then something changes as they realize that what they have in their hand is useful for more than just watering roses. That is usually when you hear a loud noise on the video because my husband is getting watered instead. And there is laughter and delight all around.
Reflecting on those moments, I realize there is space in the garden for nurturing and giving. The gift of life is all around. When we discover God's love for us and the gift of the Spirit he has given us, we can stop to reflect and be grateful. In that moment we know God loves us. It is the moment we surrender to his leadership and call. It is the moment we discover we have more in our hands and hearts than we have imagined.
Today is a day to turn what we know into action. Today is a day to join God where he is and to share his love and grace with others. Today is a day to bring delight and joy to God and others as we make use of the gifts and resources we have been given.
Father, thank you for giving us your Spirit. Thank you for nourishing us and calling us to live each day in your presence and love. Help us to use the gifts you have given, sharing with others as we answer your call. Amen.
诵读: 骆云秀
片头: 张妙阳
