I am holy

Jesus is born of the Holy Spirit.

His Spirit, soul and body belongs to God, holy without sinful nature.

So am I born of God,

My spirit is holy as His.

My soul has been transformed by the truth of His Spirit and truth,

My body is disciplined through my will surrendering to God.

I put Jesus Christ before me, only acknowledge Him as my Lord.

God is faithful to grow me.

He will not allow any temptation for training purposes to be more than I can bear.

And He will show me a way out of the trial but into His promises,

So that I can endure and be hopeful always.

(1 Corinthians 10:13)

Integrity

Do what you think is right,

Don’t do what you know it’s wrong.

It’s the integrity of Christ.

However, when you cannot do what is right,

Come to ask God for help,

To be disciplined, not spoiled.

To be empowered by God,

To be instructed by Jesus Christ,

To be guided by the Holy Spirit.

God is greater in me than the one in the world.

He made me an overcomer.

Blessed is me who believes in the fulfillment of God’s word spoken to me.

這相信的女子是有福的,因為主對她所說的話都要應驗。(Luke 1:45)

主によって語られたことは必ず実現すると信じた人は、幸いです。

Die to the world

Not befriended with the world,

Nor respond to ungodly troubles,

But be eager to listen to voice above,

So I may follow His perfect, good and pleasing will.

O, God, teach me to die to the world,

And live up to your honor, glory and righteousness.

May my faith channel my weakness to Your strength of abundance.

May my eyes see through the prism of Your compassion of love and power in reign.

All I have are given from above,

I shall take root in Your heavenly truth,

Stretch my leaves into the earthly space,

Shadow the heat of lies,

And give comfort like food to the hungry mind.

(Romans 12:2)

I remember

I remember His love,

In all the tears of struggle,

Warms my heart like the heater in winter.

I recall His voice,

In unexpected time,

Encourages my soul like water in the desert.

I meditate His word,

In sleepless nights of helplessness,

Inspires me like light shining into the dark.

I remember His miracles in His mighty deeds,

Empowers me to keep going like a breeze in the scorching heat.

God leads me by the hand of Jesus Christ.

God speaks to me by the word of the Son of man.

(Psalm 77)

國家公園局年底前擬清除華府遊民營地

華府市府決心解決存在已久的遊民到處搭帳篷居住的問題,國家公園管理局(National Park Service,簡稱NPS)將負責在2023年底前清理華府的遊民營地,聯邦和市府官員承諾2023年底在全美各州首府都針對遊民執行「禁止露營」(no-camping regulation)的規定,這一規定獲得華府75%居民支持。

據福斯新聞(Fox News)報導,NPS去年初已清理聯合車站(Union Station)外的遊民營地,以及Scott Circle的遊民聚落,並發出通知將在今年4月清理麥克弗森廣場(McPherson Square)的遊民帳篷。

但NPS在驅逐雷諾堡營地(Fort Reno)的遊民時,曾引起民眾散發傳單抗議,他們抱怨NPS在寒冬中僅給遊民一周的時間撤離。

NPS發言人說,公園警察局接到該公園內有暴力和犯罪行為的報告,因此關閉公園來確保遊民和公眾的安全,該行動並為受到相關人士的攔阻。

另外,NPS將與華府的社會服務部門合作,提供寒冷天氣時的避難所、臨時和長期住房,以及毒癮和心理健康問題的治療。

據報導,華府市長包瑟(Muriel Bowser)說,無家可歸是可以解決的問題,華府擁有許多資源,但需遊民的配合,接受市府幫助並離開帳篷。

市府官網顯示,自2016年Homeward DC政策推出以來,遊民因此獲得庇護所,同時社會服務的選擇範圍增加,遊民人數也從2016年的8350人,減少到去年1月的4410個,減幅達47%。包瑟說,華府遊民人數為17年來最低,比2021年下降了約 14%,單身成年人無家可歸者減少了12%,長期無家可歸的家庭減少了26%,長期無家可歸的單身成人減少了 22%。

包瑟說,今年將斥資1億1500萬元來翻新庇護所,用3100萬元終結長期無住房問題,並為另外500人和260個家庭提供永久支持性住房券(supportive housing vouchers);華府大都會政府委員會調查顯示,提供永久性住房(permanent housing)資源和金融券(financial vouchers)幫助了許多退伍軍人。

57歲的布倫戴奇(Donald Brundage)在2020年離婚後成了遊民,他感謝華府的住房券支援系統,讓他現在可以住在屋頂有游泳池的家。

Listen and respond

“Listening means responding to what you hear.”

May God give me listening ears,

With a teachable heart so that I listen to His commands,

And obey through following them, practicing on them.

His promises shall come with His peace into my life.

No matter how correct the opinions from me or others sound like,

I choose to live in untroubled peace,

Through listening to God’s voice only.

(Proverbs 1:33)

God meets me in my weakness

Cast all your burden to God,

For He cares for you.

You can’t bear the burden of anxiety

To add your life longer

Nor are you required to bear the burden to be godly

However, you are commanded with His promise,

To let Him bear your burden

So you may receive His blessing

To be free to live in abundance of grace,

And display His love and wisdom

Be at peace in chaos

Be joyful ins suffering

Be victorious in troubles

By the power of the Holy Spirit.

***

It’s in our weakness where God meets us.

He display His power most clearly.

When I am confronted with my own weakness,

So I may experience His power.

God is not waiting for you to be strong to come to Him,

God is waiting for you to recognize that you are weak to cast off your burden to Him.

If I am anxious in controlling my life,

I haven’t really recognized my helplessness.

***

The moment you feel burdened by things,

That is the assignment God give you to pray.

And the reward is waiting for you,

To see His glory in His answer.

(1 Peter 5:7)

women’s small group

Think more about others with God’s love,

Less about what I should say.

Then I regain motivation to go online for the small group.

The result is I hear God’s word through prayer.

May God give Carrie integrity of heart to lead.

May God empower Janell to be responsible as a leader without need to know everything.

May God assure Cristy His delight in her who has freedom to make a godly decision.

Thank God for old Phyllis to be loved and taken care of by family and neighbors.

The tongue of messenger sent by the Holy Spirit is a blessing.

The small part in the body,

But plays an important role for blessing.

So don’t agree with those lies of despising,

But abiding in God’s love to preach.

Called into His blessing

Being content is not idling without pursuing novelty.

Being content brings forth wisdom of God’s peace to nurture your soul to be creative.

On the contrary,

Being fretting and coveting causes losing foothold in appreciating God

And apt to slip into death of sins.

May God create a pure heart in me.

He is my portion, the strength of my heart, all I need.

 

He encourages me through today’s devotion:

God’s commands always relate to His promises.

His command does not end with leaving behind,

But to possess and embrace what lies ahead.

“Let go of your hand so that your hand will be ready to grasp what I am about to give you.”

He is holding my right hand,

He guides me with His counsel.

May I not dwell on what I might be called to leave behind,

But fix my heart on what I will receive into my life.

(Psalm 73:3, 17)

華府動物領養減少 收容中心擬免除部分費用

由於華府動物收容所內的數百隻狗、貓、蛇和兔子等動物所能居留的空間已達到上限,為了鼓勵民眾領養,現在這個收容中心對某些動物免除領養費用,希望幫助這些動物能盡快找到新家。

華府人道救援聯盟執行副總裁梅西納(Andrea Messina)說,該收容中心將免除體重超過40磅的狗的收養費,對小型狗和其他動物仍要收取收養費,費用在10元到250元之間。

華府人道救援聯盟(HumaneRescueAlliance)負責人表示,他們安置動物的空間和寄養家庭都不足,因此目前有170多隻動物,從貓、狗到鳥類、兔子、烏龜、蛇和魚非常迫切需要找到新家,因此該非營利組織正在推廣人們領養動物,並免除部分收養費。

疫情期間宅居在家的民眾大量收養動物撫慰孤寂。根據Shelter Animals Count的資料追蹤全美500個地點的收容所和救援活動,到2020年收養寵物的數量比前一年多了2萬6000隻,成長了約15%。在華府的動物專家表示,自2001年9月11日以來,他們從未看到過這麼大的寵物領養的需求。

但現在隨著解封重新開放、通貨膨脹、寵物糧食消費價格增加,梅西納看到許多寵物主人無力承擔費用,或是因為失業、生病等問題,而不得不搬到一個不能養寵物的地方,而紛紛放棄或送回他們的寵物。

然而,跟其他地區的動物領養中心相比,在華府被放棄或送回的動物相對較少,負責單位說這可能是因為他們過去幾年擴大了幾個援助計畫:根據個案中主人和寵物的需求,提供寵物免費的食物或減免費用的醫療照護。

有興趣透過救援聯盟領養動物的民眾,可在周二至周日前往該動物中心查看領養,地址:71 Oglethorpe St. NW,或打電話202-723-5730,或上網https://adopt.adopets.com/了解更多信息。