【双语灵修】与我同行STAND WITH ME

雅各书 1:22-27 6月23日

只是你们要行道，不要单单听道，自己欺哄自己。 因为听道而不行道的，就像人对着镜子看自己本来的面目， 看见，走后，随即忘了他的相貌如何。 唯有详细察看那全备、使人自由之律法的，并且时常如此，这人既不是听了就忘，乃是实在行出来，就在他所行的事上必然得福。

若有人自以为虔诚，却不勒住他的舌头，反欺哄自己的心，这人的虔诚是虚的。 在神我们的父面前，那清洁没有玷汙的虔诚就是看顾在患难中的孤儿寡妇，并且保守自己不沾染世俗。

与我同行

“在神我们的父面前，那清洁没有玷污的虔诚就是看顾在患难中的孤儿寡妇......” -雅 1:27

戒毒康复之路远比想象的艰难。当查琳、玛丽和德梅特里斯——这些在街头度过大半生的女性决心戒毒时，人们或许以为她们会被直接送进康复中心，获得房间并开始治疗。但现实远非如此，光是进入康复中心就可能耗费数周时间了。

对她们而言，当断瘾反应让双手颤抖不止，当数十年吸毒史摧毁了专注力，当扭曲的腿需要拐杖支撑，填表格这个简单步骤都成了难关。玛丽甚至因使用拐杖被某机构拒之门外。在医院等候室苦等12小时，艰难地填写表格，忍饥挨饿，补办证件——这些都只是第一道坎儿。而我们的收容所主任凯蒂·弗斯特拉特始终相伴，给予她们鼓励与支持，她的陪伴活出神恒久的爱。

我们需要随时待命的义工陪伴他们填表、办证、前往康复中心。神呼召我们看顾那些被忽视、被边缘化、处于患难中的人。凯蒂的事工真实践行了这一呼召，我感恩圣灵藉着她扶持了德梅特里斯、玛丽、查琳等许多人。

祷告

主啊，教导我们效法基督的服侍，如家人般分担他人重担，并永远倚靠你的慈爱前行。阿们。

James 1:22-27

MONDAY, JUNE 23

STAND WITH ME

“Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress. . . .” — James 1:27

Getting into drug rehab is not so simple as one might think. Charlene, Mary, and Demetris, women who had spent their adult lives on the streets, wanted to get clean. We might imagine they’d be dropped off at a facility, given a room, and soon headed on the way toward healing. But the reality is more complicated. Just getting into a facility can take weeks.

The first hurdle for these women was to fill out forms—simple, right? Not when hands shake uncontrollably from withdrawal or concentration fails due to decades of drug use. Not when you have a twisted leg and need a cane. At one facility, Mary wasn’t allowed entry because of her cane. Twelve hours in hospital waiting rooms, struggling with forms, having nothing to eat, and obtaining identification—these obstacles were just the beginning. Yet our shelter director, Kadie Verstrate, stayed with each woman, offering encouragement and support. Kadie’s presence reflected God's steadfast love.

We need volunteers who can be “on call” to sit with people as they fill out forms, gain proper identification, and go to rehab facilities. God calls us to look after people who are often disregarded, disadvantaged, and in distress. Kadie’s work truly embodies this call, and I’m grateful for the Spirit’s work through her to support Demetris, Mary, Charlene, and many others.

Lord, teach us to serve as Jesus did, bearing burdens as family, trusting your love to guide us always. Amen.