our daily bread

[Dexu Xia]

Our Powerful God
He who creates the wind, . . . the Lord God Almighty is his name. Amos 4:13
One day by the seaside, I delighted in watching some kite surfers as they bounced along the water, moved by the force of the wind. When one came to shore, I asked him if the experience was as difficult as it looked. “No,” he said, “It’s actually easier than regular surfing because you harness the power of the wind.”
Afterward as I walked by the sea, thinking about the wind’s ability not only to propel the surfers but also to whip my hair into my face, I paused to wonder at our God the Creator. As we see in the Old Testament book of Amos, He who “forms the mountains” and “creates the wind” can turn “dawn to darkness” (v. 13).
God through His love created the world. Praise Him!
Through this prophet, the Lord reminded His people of His power as He called them back to Himself. Because they had not obeyed Him, He said He would reveal Himself to them (v. 13). Although we see His judgment here, we know from elsewhere in the Bible of His sacrificial love in sending His Son to save us (see John 3:16).
The power of the wind on this breezy day in the South of England reminded me of the sheer immensity of the Lord. If you feel the wind today, why not stop and ponder our all-powerful God?
Father, thank You for Your power and love. Help us to daily rely on You. 
God through His love created the world. Praise Him!
大能的上帝
那创山造风，……祂的名是耶和华万军之上帝。-阿摩司书4章13节
有一天，我在海边兴致盎然地看着风筝冲浪者受风力的推动，在水面上忽高忽低地滑行。当一位冲浪客回到岸边时，我问他，这看起来好像很不容易，在实际操作上是否也很困难。他说：“不，这比一般冲浪其实还更容易些，因为主要是靠风力。”
后来，我在海边漫步，清风拂面，让我想到风的力量不仅能推动冲浪的人，也能吹动我的发丝。我驻足停留，思想我们的上帝，这位创造者真是奇妙。正如在旧约阿摩司书，我们看到上帝不但“创山”又“造风”，还能“使晨光变为幽暗”（13节）。
上帝呼召以色列民回转归向祂，便透过先知阿摩司，让他们思想上帝的权能。因为他们没有顺从上帝，上帝便表明要向他们显明祂自己（12-13节）。虽然我们在这里看到上帝的审判，但却有其他的经文详述上帝牺牲的爱，差派祂的独生爱子来拯救我们（约翰福音3章16节）。
在英格兰南部这凉风习习的一天，风的力量使我想起上帝的全然无限。如果你今天感觉有风吹拂，何不稍作停留并思想这位全能的上帝呢？
天父，感谢祢的大能和慈爱。
求祢帮助我们，天天倚靠祢。
上帝因着爱创造了世界。赞美祂！