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Welcome to our midweek devotions. Thank you for your patience as we took a break. And thank you for your prayers and your encouragement as my family and I have gone through some difficult times.

Many of you are aware that my two children's birth mom suddenly and sadly passed away. I am recording this devotion while we are on Vancouver Island and having celebrated her life at a graveside service. It has been tough. Yet through the kindness of friends and friends of friends, we've been able to stay in a lovely home. This has helped us gather our thoughts, pray, and settle our hearts.

Behind me, on the other side of the inlet, is the small coastal town of Sooke, where my two kids grew up. Being here on this beautiful day and in this lovely home reminds me of the Apostle Paul's words in Philippians 4:10-13:

I rejoiced greatly in the Lord that at last you renewed your concern for me. Indeed, you were concerned, but you had no opportunity to show it. I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need and I know what it is to have plenty. I've learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do all this through him who gives me strength.

The last verse, verse 13, is one many of us know, memorize, and turn to when we are in difficult times.

The context is fascinating. Paul is in prison. He's persecuted and he's alone. Yet, these Christians from Philippi, Christians whom he loved and who loved him, had taken time to support him in prayer and by meeting his physical needs.

Paul reflects on this. He says he has learned to be content in each situation, no matter whether it is good or bad. He's learned that God provides and that he can trust God. He knows that Jesus gives him strength to understand and face each situation.

This is a little like us on Vancouver Island, on a beautiful day with glorious views and with the blessing of a home that we've been able to use at this time. God provides and gives us the strength to face the situations we are experiencing while we’re here.

We all face difficult times. Maybe you face a difficult time now. Maybe there are difficult times ahead, of which you are unaware now. God can give you the strength to face them. He promises to. And we can trust him. We can say, “I've learned to be content no matter the circumstance because Jesus is my Lord.”

視頻大意翻譯 (video Chinese translation):

歡迎再次參加我們每週的線上靈修。在我們稍作休息時，感謝您耐心的等待。在我和我家人經歷一些困難時，也感謝您的代禱和鼓勵!

你們當中許多人都知道，我兩個孩子的生母突然且令人悲傷地去世了。我正在溫哥華島上錄製這次的靈修，並在墓邊舉行安息禮拜慶祝她的生命。這段時間很艱難，但是透過朋友和他朋友的善意，我們得以住在一個美好的家中。這幫助我們收拾心情，禱告，並安頓下來。

在我身後，海灣的另一邊，是我兩個孩子成長的海濱小鎮蘇克(Sooke)。在這美好的一天和這溫馨的家中，讓我想起使徒保羅在腓立比書 4:10-13 中的話：

“我靠主大大的喜樂、因為你們思念我的心、如今又發生．你們向來就思念我、只是沒得機會。我並不是因缺乏說這話、我無論在甚麼景況、都可以知足、這是我已經學會了．我知道怎樣處卑賤、也知道怎樣處豐富、或飽足、或飢餓、或有餘、或缺乏、隨事隨在、我都得了秘訣。”

第十三節是我們許多人都知道和背誦的，也是當我們在困境時會引用的經文。

這背景非常吸引人。保羅被囚禁，受到迫害，孤獨無助。然而，這些來自腓立比的基督徒，保羅深愛他們也被他們所愛，他們花時間透過禱告和滿足他的生活需要來支持他。

保羅反思這一切。他說他已經學會在每一種情況下都知足，無論是好是壞。他學會了神會供應，他可以信靠神。他知道耶穌賜給他力量去理解和面對每一種情況。

這有些像我們在溫哥華島上的情況，在一個美好的日子，享受著壯麗的景色，在一個我們此時能使用的家裡蒙受祝福。神供應並賜給我們力量去面對我們在這裡所經歷的處境。

我們都會面臨困難，是吧？也許你現在正面臨著困難。也許有困難即將來臨，但你現在不知道。但神可以給你力量。祂應許會這樣做。我們可以信靠祂。我們可以說：“我已經學會在任何情況都知足，因為耶穌是我的主。”

讓我們禱告。

主神啊，感謝祢的恩惠、恩典、愛和良善。主啊，無論情況如何，祢都與我們同在，賜給我們力量。祢慷慨地供應給我們，有時甚至超乎我們的期望。祢是美好的。

我祈求主在今天和未來的日子裡賜予我們力量，繼續信靠祢，因為祢賜給我們力量。我們感謝祢，主啊，我們仰望祢。我們宣告耶穌是主，祂與我們同在。我們奉祂的名稱讚美祢。阿門。

神與我們同在，無論你正在經歷什麼。主賜福給你，並感謝祢。

Grace and peace

Pastor Callum