Thanks for being chosen by God, our family became Christians. On the first day of the lunar new year, the whole family of eight gathered together and held a particular family thanksgiving party, which was an unforgettable day.
Christian faith is a heritage of my family. Before liberation, my grandfather has ordained a pastor, and my second uncle was the oldest. My mother has believed in God since she was a kid. Later my father became a Christian too. Twenty years ago, God healed his stomach cancer. Since then, he has believed in God even more. Because of my mother's praying, I became an elder, a servant of God, and my wife became a Christian too. Thanks to the grace of God, my young brother often participates in the church choir and brotherhood fellowship. My sister-in-law was not a Christian at first, but later she experienced something connecting with God; the name of God finally called her. My son and nephew were also influenced by family, following the Lord since childhood.
During a previous visit, an old sister once said her whole family would worship during the Spring Festival. I had this idea before and also prayed for this. A night in the twelfth lunar month, I was suddenly inspired by God to hold a family thanksgiving worship in Spring Festival. The theme to be shared would be New Year Updating. I already had the outline, eager to discuss my patents in the morning to get their support.
On the first day of the first lunar month, the whole family gathered together in my young brother's newly renovated house. We sat together sang praises in joy.
Then last year, we looked back, counted the grace of God, and testified God's grace. My parents are sick, but they are protected and still living by God. I've been granted the most lovely person with disabilities in the city. My family has also purchased a new mortgage house. The renovation of the new home of my brother is over. The work of his son in the province won an award. My nephew is enrolled in the baccalaureate.
Then we read Psalm 111. After that, I shared the sermon and thought of the blessing of fearing the Lord. We should set our mind in the new year; as Caleb said, "As for me and my household, we will serve the Lord. " I preached that we should follow the Lord with faith, make new aspirations, and become a new person.
Finally, we prayed for blessings. Then we served a variety of dishes which were carefully prepared and cheered for the blessing. My parents said, "This is the most meaningful Spring Festival in our family for all these years." After dinner, we sat together, drinking tea and talking about the Christian faith.
(The original article is published by Gospel Times.)
- Translated by Yuehan Jiang
蒙神拣选，我们全家成为基督化家庭。今年大年初一，全家八口欢聚一堂举办了一次特殊的家庭感恩会，度过了难忘的一天。
我的家庭有着基督信仰的传承，外祖父解放前就被按立为牧师，二舅父任长老。母亲自幼信主。父亲后来也信了主，二十多年前罹患胃癌，蒙神医治，对神更加笃信不疑。在母亲的代祷下，蒙神眷顾我成为神的仆人，成为长老,后来妻子也信了主。弟弟也蒙恩归主，还经常参加教会的诗班和弟兄会团契的服侍；弟媳原本不信，后来在几件事经历了神，也归入了耶稣基督的名下。我儿子和侄儿也受家庭影响，自幼就知道仰望依靠神。
以前探访时，一位老姊妹曾讲过，她们全家老少在春节要举行一次家庭礼拜。我也曾有过要开家庭感恩礼拜的想法，一直放在祷告中。腊月的某一天，夜间忽然得神启示，要在春节开一次家庭春节感恩礼拜，并且要分享的主题是新年更新，经文提纲有了。早上迫不及待地与父母商量，得到了他们的支持。
正月初一，我们欢聚在弟弟新装修的房屋里，全家围坐一起喜气洋洋，一起歌颂赞美。
接着都分别回顾过去一年的经历，数算了神的恩典，分享了各自蒙恩的见证：父母亲虽然有病但蒙神保守经历意外平安；我被评为全市最美残疾人，我家也按揭购买新房；弟弟家新房装修完工，儿子所写的作品在省里获奖，侄儿专升本顺利录取。
随后全家共同读了圣经诗篇111篇的经文，随后我进行了分享证道，思想了敬畏耶和华的福气，新的一年要立下心志，如同迦勒所说“至于我和我家，我们定意侍奉耶和华”，一心跟主到底，要立新志，作新人，走新路，唱新歌，蒙新恩，活出基督的馨香之气，成为神荣耀的见证。最后做了祝福祷告。
随后端上了精心准备的各色菜肴，大家共同举起祝福的杯。父母亲深有感慨地说：“这是我们家这么多年过的最有意义的一个春节。”饭后我们坐在一起，品茶谈信仰。
一次独特的家庭春节感恩礼拜
Thanks for being chosen by God, our family became Christians. On the first day of the lunar new year, the whole family of eight gathered together and held a particular family thanksgiving party, which was an unforgettable day.
Christian faith is a heritage of my family. Before liberation, my grandfather has ordained a pastor, and my second uncle was the oldest. My mother has believed in God since she was a kid. Later my father became a Christian too. Twenty years ago, God healed his stomach cancer. Since then, he has believed in God even more. Because of my mother's praying, I became an elder, a servant of God, and my wife became a Christian too. Thanks to the grace of God, my young brother often participates in the church choir and brotherhood fellowship. My sister-in-law was not a Christian at first, but later she experienced something connecting with God; the name of God finally called her. My son and nephew were also influenced by family, following the Lord since childhood.
During a previous visit, an old sister once said her whole family would worship during the Spring Festival. I had this idea before and also prayed for this. A night in the twelfth lunar month, I was suddenly inspired by God to hold a family thanksgiving worship in Spring Festival. The theme to be shared would be New Year Updating. I already had the outline, eager to discuss my patents in the morning to get their support.
On the first day of the first lunar month, the whole family gathered together in my young brother's newly renovated house. We sat together sang praises in joy.
Then last year, we looked back, counted the grace of God, and testified God's grace. My parents are sick, but they are protected and still living by God. I've been granted the most lovely person with disabilities in the city. My family has also purchased a new mortgage house. The renovation of the new home of my brother is over. The work of his son in the province won an award. My nephew is enrolled in the baccalaureate.
Then we read Psalm 111. After that, I shared the sermon and thought of the blessing of fearing the Lord. We should set our mind in the new year; as Caleb said, "As for me and my household, we will serve the Lord. " I preached that we should follow the Lord with faith, make new aspirations, and become a new person.
Finally, we prayed for blessings. Then we served a variety of dishes which were carefully prepared and cheered for the blessing. My parents said, "This is the most meaningful Spring Festival in our family for all these years." After dinner, we sat together, drinking tea and talking about the Christian faith.
(The original article is published by Gospel Times.)
- Translated by Yuehan Jiang
A Special Family Worship for New Year
