庫克郡第二波紓困金開放申請 每人600元

由於新冠疫情傳播仍舊猖狂,造成許多家庭面臨染疫、失業困境,庫克郡長普瑞科溫可(Toni Preckwinkle)宣布,儘管10月已經發放第一次紓困金(COVID-19 Resident Cash Assistance Program),為緩解居民(芝加哥市民除外)經濟壓力,決定追加900萬紓困基金,開放給符合申請資格郡民申請,申請時間到11日截止,如獲核可,每人將可取得一次性600元的現金補助。

普瑞科溫可今年10月根據聯邦的「新型冠狀病毒援助、救濟和經濟安全法」紓困法案(CARES Act)所補貼的210萬元紓困金,補助了3000位的庫克郡居民,每人獲得600元現金。

協助發放基金的獨立家庭計畫(Family Independence Initiative)負責人史考特(Ebony Scott)說,郡民的貧窮真實存在,這些居民受到疫情衝擊,正面臨生活上嚴重的挑戰。

普瑞科溫可希望這些補貼金可以迅速送達居民手中,讓他們可以用來給付帳單、購買生活用品與負擔其他必要花費。

尚未申請第一次紓困金的民眾,即日起到11日為止可提出申請,如10月已經申請但未獲發放者,不需要再提交申請書即可列入發放可能名單。

居民可上網申請,網址:fund.uptogether.org/suburbancookcountyfund,申請時需提出所有以下的證明文件:

●居住在庫克郡的證明文件。

●政府核發的身分證件。

●2020年3月1日前的收入證明以及銀行匯款帳號。

●證明自己因新冠疫情被暫停工作且未得薪資、或正在照顧身體虛弱或染疫的親屬,或因公司或學校關閉而失去收入。

郡府目前與多個民間團體合作,協助商家、居民度過疫情,相關信息,可上網:www.cookcountyil.gov/recovery。

WONDERFUL COUNSELOR

12/10—Jesus is WONDERFUL COUNSELOR

Praise:  Isaiah 9:6: For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

Praise God for sending Jesus Christ, born in flesh, to govern the Kingdom of God. Praise Jesus Christ is the wonderful Counselor for guiding us into the truth; He is the mighty God, who has overcome the world; He is the everlasting Father, the Creator of all; and He is the Prince of Peace, reconciling the sinners with the God of righteousness. Praise God!

Intercession from Psalm 32:8: I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go;  I will counsel you with my loving eye on you.

Lord God, may You instruct and teach you (or beloved____) in the way you (or he/she) should go; counsel you (or____ ) with your loving eye on you (or him/her) for He is patient to discipline whom He loves. In Jesus Christ’s name. Amen.

 

12/10—主耶穌是奇妙策士

讚美主:以賽亞書9:6: 「因有一嬰孩為我們而生;有一子賜給我們。政權必擔在他的肩頭上;他名稱為奇妙策士、全能的神、永在的父、和平的君。

讚美上帝賜下主耶穌基督,降生為嬰孩,使祂全權掌管屬靈國度,祂是帶領人認識真理與恩典的奇妙策士;祂是已經勝過世界的全能神;祂是永遠的創造者;祂是使罪人與父神和好的和平君王。讚美主!

代禱:詩篇32:8: 「我要教導你,指示你當行的路;我要定睛在你身 上勸誡你。

願上帝教導你(或所愛的___),指示你(或___)當行的路,願上帝定睛在你(或___)身上勸誡你(他/她),因祂要耐心管教祂所愛的。奉主耶穌基督的名求。阿門。

Joyful blessing is contagious

Through the blessing of the upright a city is exalted, but by the mouth of the wicked it is destroyed. (Proverbs 11:11)

My prayer buddy from Moms in Prayer group, Kim, recently learned that my son got a concussion from a car accident and went to the same clinic where her son-in-law, Zack, works as a chiropractor too. I told her I also met Zack and he is a nice person. Then, her reply stunned me. She said, “Now I know you will become a blessing to my son-in-law.” 

Why did Kim say that? My first thought is that Kim is a very humble person who always thanks God for what she has received, including compliment. Meanwhile, Kim is so compassionate and loves to encourage others.

As a result, her word is like a driving force to motivate my heart to be thankful to God, who works through His saints to help my son recover. Therefore, I felt joyful to write down a prayer card with a little gift for the brothers and sisters working in this clinic as my appreciation.

The bible says: “Through the blessing of the upright a city is exalted.” If one saint’s good word can influence and pass blessing to another person, then imagine that joyful blessing may be spread more powerfully than virus to the whole city. 

As a matter of fact, Jesus is the first one, who came to the world to bless with His good news of forgiveness and freedom, then the salvation comes to each individual. And one by one, the whole world has been catching His fire of blessing.

Don’t underestimate the power of your word from your mouth.  Let’s choose to speak blessing to lift up ourselves, family, friends and the whole city.

Prayer: May God sanctify our lips with His truth in love to speak blessing to exalt a city, where people shall come out of darkness to glorify Jesus Christ, who is the first one to come to bless the world in the power of Creator. In Jesus Christ’s name. Amen.

喜樂的祝福帶有傳染性

城因正直人祝福便高舉,卻因邪惡人的口就傾覆。(箴言11:11)

Kim是我的禱告同伴,當她知道我兒子去看的整脊診所,當中有個診脊師是她的女婿,她便對我說:「我知道你將成為我女婿的祝福。」

我因她的話,心覺被鼓勵而向神感恩。最後一次去診所時,我寫下禱告祝福的卡片,附上一個小禮物,送給診所中的員工們。

如果一個人口中祝福的話語可以影響另一個人,因愛的感動把祝福接著傳遞出去,想像一下,我們的祝福是否可以透過一個人傳給下一個人,而傳遍整個城市呢?

事實上,主耶穌就是傳遞喜樂祝福的第一個人。祂來到世界上傳告天父神藉由主耶穌的赦罪救恩,使人得自由,能遵守神旨意而活出生命原有的光彩。這個救恩透過人的傳揚臨到另一個人,一個接一個,如同星星之火可以燎原,將喜樂的火燃燒至整個世界。

禱告:願上帝潔淨我們的口,立志說榮神、建造人得生命的真理,使城市因義人的口得到高舉,脫離黑暗,來歸榮耀給主耶穌,這位賜全世界祝福的神。奉主耶穌基督的名求。阿門。

RESURRECTION AND THE LIFE

12/9—Jesus is RESURRECTION AND THE LIFE

Praise:  John 11:25-26a: Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who  believes in me will live, even though they die; and whoever lives by believing in me will never die.”

Praise God for resurrecting Christ Jesus’ life to give all whom believe in Him the eternal life and they will not experience the second death when He comes back again. Praise God!

Intercession from Acts 4:33: With great power the apostles continued to testify to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. And God’s grace was so powerfully at work in them all.

May God fill you (or beloved ___) with the Holy Spirit to testify with His great power to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus; and you (or ___) may live a life worthy of His name. In Jesus Christ’s name. Amen.

12/9—主耶穌是復活和生命

讚美主:約翰福音11:25-26a: 耶穌對他說:復活在我,生命也在我。 信我的人雖然死了,也必復活,凡活著信我的人必永遠不死。

讚美上帝叫主耶穌死而復活,賜給凡信靠主耶穌的人永恆的生命;叫信主耶穌的人今生雖有一死,但當主耶穌再來時,就要復活不落入第二次的永死。感謝主賜下永活的生命!

代禱:使徒行傳4:33: 使徒大有能力,見證主耶穌復活;眾人也都蒙 大恩 。

願上帝以聖靈充滿你(或所愛的___),使你(或___)得力量見證主耶穌死而復活的奇妙神蹟,使你(或___)活出配得主耶穌的名的生命。奉主耶穌基督的名求。阿門。

 

1周近500死 伊長照中心疫情告急

伊利諾州第二波新冠疫情從秋季爆發以來,對州內養老院長照中心的耆老居民衝擊重大,根據統計,12月第一周居住在安養院、長照中心的居民,已經有480人死於新冠病毒,州長普立茲克表示,安養中心的居民面臨新冠疫情威脅嚴重,他重新禁止外來訪客探訪養老院和長照中心住戶,同時要求長照中心必須執行更多檢測。

目前在各長照中心確診患者約有4500個,現階段染疫人數還比春季第一波疫情的高峰確診數更多,除了州府監督的長照中心以外,還有許多私人經營的養老院裡也出現上百人染疫的情況,其中位於拉謝爾郡(Lasalle County)的一家養老院,就有超過50個人感染病毒喪生。

根據芝加哥論壇報,疫情爆發後前半年,累計多達2萬8000名長照中心居民感染新冠病毒,而染疫死亡人數則超過4000人。

當時死亡人數眾多,主要因為醫護對新冠疫情還不清楚,更未規定戴口罩,導致長照中心附近社區的疫情擴散時,中心住戶與工作人員也受到感染,此外,州府在疫情初期派遣到長照中心的檢測人力不足,也推升了無症狀帶原者將病毒傳染出去。

養老院的老人與長照中心居民原本就行動不便,加上疫情讓家人無法造訪,增添了其精神壓力,伊州樂齡會(AARP)主管蓋洛(Bob Gallo)說,過去九個月以來,養老院和長照中心的保護措施不足,才會造成新一波的感染。

長照機構Infinity Healthcare旗下員工,近日才因抗議院方防疫措施不夠而持續罷工12天,根據州府資料,Niles Nursing & Rehabilitation Center在疫情爆發初期有54人死於新冠,高居全州長照中心之冠,最近該中心又傳出12人確診。

FREEDOM

12/8—Jesus is FREEDOM

Praise:  John 8:36: So if the Son sets you free,  you will be free indeed.  

Praise God for sending the Holy Spirit to dwell in those who believe in Jesus Christ as their Savior and the Lord. Praise God for having the law of the Spirit of life setting the sinners free by grace from the law of sin and death. Praise God for setting the saints free forever.

Intercession from 2 Corinthians 3:17

May you (or beloved ___) walk in the Spirit, for where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. In Jesus Christ’s name. Amen.

12/7—主耶穌是自由

讚美主:

約翰福音8:36: 所以天父的兒子若叫你們自由,你們就真自由了 。

讚美上帝賜下聖靈住在那些相信主耶穌基督為救主與人生的主的人心中。讚美上帝讓聖徒脫離罪和死亡的轄制,進入聖靈生命的律,活在主恩典國度裡。讚美主耶穌以真理釋放聖徒永遠得自由。感謝主!

代禱:

哥林多後書3:17: 主就是那靈;主的靈在那裡 ,那裡就得以自由。

願你(或所愛的___)以信心宣告你(或___)要住在主耶穌裡,定意與聖靈同行,因為主的靈在你(他/她)裡面,你(他/她)就不再被罪與黑暗轄制,得以自由地永遠活在主恩典的國度裡。奉主耶穌基督的名求。阿門。

LION OF JUDAH

12/7—Jesus is LION OF JUDAH

Praise:  Rev. 5:5: Do not weep! See, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of  David, has triumphed.  

Praise God for sending Jesus Christ to destroy the devil’s work. Praise Jesus Christ, who has triumphed over the darkness of sins and death, has overcome the world and commanded the victory to the saints. Praise the powerful Lion of Judah, Jesus Christ!

Intercession from Hosea 5:14-15, 6:1-3: For I will be like a lion to Ephraim, like a great lion to Judah. I will tear them to pieces and go away; I will carry them off, with no one to rescue them. Then I will return to my lair until they have borne their guilt and seek my face– in their misery they will earnestly seek me. Come, let us return to the LORD. He has torn us to pieces but he will heal us; he has injured us but he will bind up our wounds. After two days he will revive us; on the third day he will restore us, that we may live in his presence. Let us acknowledge the Lordlet us press on to acknowledge him.
As surely as the sun rises, he will appear; he will come to us like the winter rains, like the spring rains that water the earth.

May Lord Jesus enlighten your (or beloved ___’s) eyes of heart to know He is as a lion, a great lion to tear your (or his/her) sinful bondage to pieces for drawing you (him/her) to seek Him. May you (or ___) seek Jesus Christ and acknowledge Him as Savior and the Lord, and He shall revive you (or ___) through His precious blood and restore you (or ___) through His resurrection. In Jesus Christ’s name. Amen.

Song: Lion of Judah and lamb

12/7—主耶穌是猶大的獅子

讚美主:

啟示錄5:5: 可是長老中有一位對我說:「不要哭了!看哪,那出於猶大支派的獅子、大衛的根已經得勝,可以打開那書卷和它的七個封印。」

讚美上帝差派主耶穌來除滅魔鬼的作為。讚美主已經勝過罪惡的黑暗與死亡,已經戰勝世界,命定聖徒得勝。讚美大能的猶大的獅子,主耶穌基督!

代禱:何西阿書5:14-15, 6:1-3 :

「我必向以法蓮如獅子,向猶大家如少壯獅子。我必撕裂而去,我要奪去,無人搭救。我要回到原處,等他們自覺有罪(或譯 :承認己罪),尋求我面;他們在急難的時候必切切尋求我」。來罷,我們歸耶和華!他撕裂我們,也必醫治;他打傷我們,也必纏裹 。過 兩天他必使我們甦醒,第三天他必使我們興起 ,我們就在他面前得 以存活。我們務要認識耶和華,竭力追求認識他。他出現確如晨光 ,他必臨到我們像甘雨,像滋潤田地的春雨。

願上帝照亮你(或所愛的___)心靈的眼睛,看見主耶穌是猶大的獅子,有大能撕裂你的(或他/她的)一切罪惡綑綁,為要吸引你(或___)來尋求上帝。願你(或___)切切尋求主耶穌,並接受祂為救主和一生的主,祂就以祂的寶血使你的靈命甦醒,因祂的復活使你復興並得勝有餘。奉主耶穌基督的名求。阿門。

歌曲: 猶大的獅子

歌曲:神羔羊配得

Facing death

My daughter’s pet rat, Oa is dying. Should we bring him to the vet who may give him a mercy death? I prayed and learned from God through prayer with a Christian lady this morning. I don’t want my daughter to learn that if we feel it’s painful to watch a creature dying, we should give him a quick death due to pity of humanism. 

Instead, we pray to God for comforting this little creature and bringing him back to Him in His way. Only God, the Creator of life has the right to give lift and take it back. So, while we are sad to see this little creature dying, we thank God for the memories this little pet has brought us. 

Likewise, when we are sad to see the old people dying, we may want to thank God for connecting their lives with ours, which I think is the most respectful way to God and to them.

May God use our prayer to support the dying people to have God’s joy and peace fill their hearts so that they know there’s a better home in heaven prepared for them. May their strength through faith in Jesus Christ equal their days. In Jesus Christ’s name. Amen.

面臨死亡的時候

女兒的寵物老鼠「芋仔」肚子長了水瘤,生命幾乎走到盡頭。女兒哭著看這曾經活蹦亂跳的生物,會聰明地聽到她聲音就跑來給她抱抱(聽到我的聲音就不會),也會學女兒教的小把戲逗得女兒開心。我問上帝,應該帶他去看醫生,給他一個「人道」的安樂死嗎?

今早與姊妹禱告時,感謝上帝透過姊妹的話告訴我:與其傷心,不如慶祝曾經有過的回憶吧。

是的,生命的賞賜與收取都從創造主而來,我們感謝上帝給予我們機會與這隻上帝也關懷的小動物相處,使我們看見上帝創造的奇妙與喜樂。

同樣地,面對長輩生命的衰退與盡頭時,我們能給予他們最大的尊重,是感謝上帝讓我們曾經擁有一段共同生活的記憶,讓這段記憶永遠活在我們的心中。

衷心祈求上帝給予信靠祂的人有平安,知道在天上有一個更美好的家鄉等著他們。願我們的禱告支持這些長輩們,讓上帝的平安喜樂充滿他們的心,使他們的日子有多長,信靠主的心靈力量也有多大。奉主耶穌基督的名求。阿門。

GLORY OF THE LORD

12/6—Jesus is GLORY OF THE LORD

Praise: Isaiah 40:5:The glory of the Lord will be revealed,  and all people will see it together. For the mouth of the Lord has spoken.

Praise God for the fulfillment of His promise–the glory of the Lord will be revealed and all people will see it together– through Jesus Christ, who has come in flesh and made the invisible Father God known to the world. Praise God!

Intercession:

1 Chronicles 16:29: Ascribe to the Lord the glory due his name; bring an offering and come before Him. Worship the Lord in the splendor of His holiness.

May you (or beloved ____) ascribe to the Lord the glory due His name, not stealing and keeping the glory for self-exaltation; bring yourself (or himself/herself) as a living sacrifice and come before Him. May you (or ___) surrender yourself (or himself/herself)and worship the Lord in the splendor of His holiness. In Jesus Christ’s name. Amen.

12/6—耶穌是主的榮耀

讚美主:

以賽亞書40:5: 「耶和華的榮耀必然顯現;凡有血氣的必一同看見;因為這是耶和華親口說的。」

讚美上帝已經實現自己親口說的承諾–耶和華的榮耀必然顯現,凡有血氣的必一同看見–透過主耶穌道成肉身,使世界都看見那位人用肉眼無法看見的天父上帝的榮耀形象。

代禱:

歷代志上16:29:「要將耶和華的名所當得的榮耀歸給他。拿供物來奉到他面前;當以聖潔的妝飾敬拜耶和華。

願你(或所愛的 ___)將耶和華所當得的榮耀歸給祂,不偷竊來自我膨脹;並降服自己來到上帝面前作為活祭,以一顆因信主而被聖靈潔淨除罪的心來感謝與敬拜祂。奉主耶穌基督的名求。阿門。

檢測避免排長龍 可循多種管道

由於疾病防治專家建議民眾在參加聚會四到五天,接受新冠肺炎病毒檢測,以防止疫情擴散,成千上萬於感恩節期間曾與家人、親友歡聚的民眾,這幾日紛紛湧入芝加哥地區各檢測站,而使排隊時間大幅拉長,有鑑於此,專家特別提出如何接受方便、可負擔的檢測管道,供民眾參考。

西北醫療急診中心(Northwestern Medicine Immediate Care)副執行長基爾南(Heather Keirnan)說,如有熟悉的家庭醫生,可先讓醫生判斷你是否需要做新冠檢測,大部分人都可在診所內直接檢測,再由診所向保險公司申請付檢測費。

基爾南說,如果沒有家庭醫生,或是該醫生不提供新冠檢測,可選擇好事多(Costco)、私人診所、或州府或郡屬的衛生局的免費檢查站受測,至於民眾若想要透過郵寄檢測工具在家自行檢測,目前此法只限於已出現症狀或有醫生轉介才適用。

公立的檢測免費但缺點是時常大排長龍,私人診所雖不用等,但花費可能從175元到300元不等,而且民眾可能需要先自掏腰包,然後才能跟保險公司申請給付。

基爾南表示,現階段很多保險公司都願意給付這筆費用,保險起見還是建議民眾先跟保險公司確認,並詢問是否要先透過醫生轉介。

究竟哪種檢測適合自己?基爾南說,已出現新冠症狀者適合做快速檢測,並迅速獲得結果;假使沒有症狀者,則建議採取準確率最高的PCR核酸檢測。

基爾南提醒,到檢測站時,別忘了戴口罩並攜帶洗手液隨時清潔雙手,此外,保險卡和身分證也應隨身,檢測後直接回家等候結果,如果檢測時已有症狀,最好先居家隔離,不要和家人接觸或共用廁所。

目前由州府設立的免費檢測站,最多人前往接受測試,各區固定檢測地點可查詢衛生廳官網,網址:http://www.dph.illinois.gov/testing,此外也有流動檢測站(mobile testing),時間與地點可查詢:https://reurl.cc/9Xmx1d。