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經文：「你們要過去得為業的那地，乃是有山、有谷、雨水滋潤之地。是耶和華你神所眷顧的，從歲首到年終，耶和華你神的眼目時常看顧那地。」（申11:11-12） 親愛的讀者，今日我們站在一個新的境界上，前途茫然。擺在我們面前的新年，正等待我們經過。誰也不能預知這將來的路程中，會有甚麼遭遇、甚麼變遷、甚麼需要。可是這裡有一段從父神那裡來的信息，確實能安慰與激勵我們--「耶和華你神...眷顧...從歲首到年終，耶和華你神的眼目時常看顧那地。」 我們所有的接濟都可仰賴於神，在祂那裡有不乾的活泉、永流的江河、恩典的誓約。如果祂是我們供給的源頭，就斷無甚麼能讓我們失望。沒有熱也沒有旱，能使那道「使神的城歡喜」（詩46:4）的河乾涸。 我們要得的那地乃是有山有谷之地，不是一片光禿的平原。若是我們前面的生活只是又平又光，那將何等乏味！我們需要山和谷；山使雨水匯集谷中，使地肥沃多結果子。同樣，山對於我們的生命也是如此；山一般的難處原是催促我們到施恩座前，去得那有福的甘霖的；如此原本厭煩的山境，反使我們得福了。 多少人因為厭煩山谷的辛苦，貪戀平地的舒服，因此受風霜的摧殘倒斃在山下的平地，埋葬在黃金色的沙中。而神的山卻是祂子民的保障！ 我們不能說前面沒有損失、憂慮、試煉，我們只能信靠。父神必從今日起伸出祂大能的手，扶持我們走當走的路程。所以我們的新年，將會是一個快樂有福的新年。--選 新譯｜荒漠甘泉讀書會
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Scripture: But the land, whither ye go to possess it, is a land of hills and valleys, and drinketh water of the rain of heaven:A land which the LORD thy God careth for: the eyes of the LORD thy God are always upon it, from the beginning of the year even unto the end. Today dear friends, we stand upon the verge of the unknown. There lies before us the new year and we are going forth to possess it. Who can tell what we shall find? What new experiences, what changes shall come, what new needs shall arise? But here is the cheering, comforting, gladdening message from our Heavenly Father, "The Lord thy God careth for it." "His eyes are upon it away to the ending of the year." All our supply is to come from the Lord. Here are springs that shall never dry; here are fountains and streams that shall never be cut off. Here, anxious one, is the gracious pledge of the Heavenly Father. If He be the Source of our mercies they can never fail us. No heat, no drought can parch that river, "the streams whereof make glad the city of God." The land is a land of hills and valleys. It is not all smooth nor all down hill. If life were all one dead level the dull sameness would oppress us; we want the hills and the valleys. The hills collect the rain for a hundred fruitful valleys. Ah, so it is with us! It is the hill difficulty that drives us to the throne of grace and brings down the shower of blessing; the hills, the bleak hills of life that we wonder at and perhaps grumble at, bring down the showers. How many have perished in the wilderness, buried under its golden sands, who would have lived and thriven in the hill-country; how many would have been killed by the frost, blighted with winds, swept desolate of tree and fruit but for the hill-stern, hard, rugged, so steep to climb. God's hills are a gracious protection for His people against their foes! We cannot tell what loss and sorrow and trial are doing. Trust only. The Father comes near to take our hand and lead us on our way today. It shall be a good, a blessed new year! ｜ Mrs. Charles Cowman
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