The only survivor of a shipwreck was washed up on a
small, uninhabited
island.
在一場船難中，唯一的生存者隨著潮水，漂流到了一座無人島上。


He prayed feverishly for God to rescue him, and every
day he scanned
the horizon for help, but none seemed forthcoming.
他天天激動地祈禱神救他能夠早日離開此處，回到家鄉。
他還每天注視著海上有否可搭救他的人，但卻是除了汪洋一片，什麼也沒有。


Exhausted, he eventually managed to build a little hut
out of driftwood
to protect him from theelements, and to store his few
possessions.
後來，他決定用那片帶他到小島的木頭造一個簡陋的小木屋以保護他在這險惡的環境中生存，並且保存他所有剩下的東西。


But then one day, after scavenging for food, he
arrived hometo find his
little hut in flames, the smoke rolling up to the sky.

但有一天，在他捕完食物後，準備回小屋時，突然發現他的小屋竟然陷在熊熊烈火之中，大火引起的濃煙不斷向天上竄。


The worst had happened;everythingwas lost. He was
stunned with grief
and anger.
最悲慘的是：他所有的一切東西，在這一瞬間，通通化為烏有了。


"God how could you do this to me!" he cried.
悲痛的他，氣憤的對天吶喊著：「神啊！你怎么可以這樣對待我！」頓時，

眼淚從他的眼角中流出。

Early the next day, however, he was awakened by the
sound of a ship
that was approaching the island. It had come to rescue
him.
第二天一早，他被一艘正靠近小島的船隻的鳴笛聲所吵醒。是的，有人來救他了。


"How did you know I was here?" asked the weary man of
his rescuers.
到了船上時，他問那些船員說：「你怎麼知道我在這裡？」

"We saw your smoke signal," they replied.
「因為我們看到了信號般的濃煙。」他們回答說。

It is easy to get discouraged when things are going
bad. But we
shouldn't lose heart, because God is at work in our
lives, even in the midst
of pain and suffering.
人在碰到困難時，很容易會沮喪。不過，無論受到折磨或者痛苦，都不用因此失去信心，
因為上帝一直在我們心裡面做著奇妙的工作。

Remember, next time your little hut is burning to the
ground it just
may be a smoke signal that summons the grace of God.
記著：當下一次你的小木屋著火時，那可能只是上帝美妙恩典的表徵而已。


For all the negative things we have to say to
ourselves, God has a
positive answer.
在所有我們所認為負面的事情，上帝都是有正面答案的。

You say: "It's impossible"
God says: All things are possible (Luke 18:27)
你說：「那是不可能的。」
上帝說：「在人所不能的事，在神卻能。」(路 18:27)

You say: "I'm too tired"
God says: I will give you rest (Matthew 11:28-30)
你說：「我累了。」
上帝說：「我讓你休息。」(太11:28-30)

You say: "Nobody really loves me"
God says: I love you (John 3:16 & John 3:34)
你說：「沒有人愛我。」
上帝說：「我愛你。」(約 3:16 & 約 3:34)

You say: "I can't go on"
God says: My grace is sufficient (II Corinthians 12:9
& Psalm 91:15)
你說：「我做不下去了。」
上帝說：「我的恩典夠你支持下去。」(林後 12:9 & 詩
91:15)

You say: "I can't figure things out"
God says: I will direct your steps (Proverbs 3:5-6)
你說：「我想不通。」
上帝說：「我引領你前行。」(箴 3:5-6)

You say: "I can't do it"
God says: You can do all things (Philippians 4:13)
你說：「我做不到。」
上帝說：「你什麼都做得到。」(腓 4:13)

You say: "I'm not able"
God says: I am able (II Corinthians 9:8)
你說：「我不配。」
上帝說：「你配。」(林後 9:8)

You say: "It's not worth it"
God says: It will be worth it (Roman 8:28)
你說：「這麼做不值得。」
上帝說：「做了，你馬上就會覺得值得了。」 (羅 8:28)

You say: "I can't forgive myself"
God says: I Forgive you (I John 1:9 & Romans 8:1)
你說：「我無法原諒自己。」
上帝說：「我原諒你。」 (約壹 1:9 & 羅 8:1)

You say: "I'm poor"
God says: I will supply all your needs (Philippians
4:19)
你說：「我是窮苦的。」
上帝說：「我供應你一切所需。」 (腓 4:19)

You say: "I'm afraid"
God says: I have not given you a spirit of fear (II
Timothy 1:7)
你說：「我害怕。」
上帝說：「我並沒有給你一個恐懼的靈。」 (提後 1:7)

You say: "I'm always worried and frustrated"
God says: Cast all your cares on ME (I Peter 5:7)
你說：「我常常在擔憂受挫。」
上帝說：「放下你的重擔，我為你承擔。」 (彼後 5:7)

You say: "I don't have enough faith"
God says: I've given everyone a measure of
faith(Romans 12:3)
你說：「我信心不足。」
上帝說：「我給了每個人相同的信心。」(羅 12:3)

You say: "I'm not smart enough"
God says: I give you wisdom (I Corinthians 1:30)
你說：「我不夠聰明。」
上帝說：「我給你智慧。」 (林後 1:30)

You say: "I feel all alone"
God says: I will never leave you or forsake you
(Hebrews 13:5)
你說：「我是孤單的。」
上帝說：「我永遠不會捨棄你的。」 (來 13:5)