Ivy’s Testimony Ivy 的见证

Practising Submission to My Husband 操练顺服我的丈夫 

My name is Ivy.

我的名字是 Ivy。  

In April last year, our family moved to Christchurch, and in November my husband and I were baptised together here at OTBC.

去年四月，我们一家搬到了基督城，十一月，我和我的丈夫一起在 OTBC 受洗。

Even though I said I believed in Jesus, I was still often living my own way instead of truly following God.

虽然我说我相信耶稣，但很多时候我仍然按自己的方式生活，而不是真正跟随神。

Usually my husband went to our son’s parent-teacher interviews, but this time he asked me to go instead.

通常都是我丈夫去参加我们儿子的家长会，但这一次他让我去。

My first reaction was, “Your English is better than mine, why don’t you go?”

我的第一反应是：“你的英文比我好，为什么不是你去？”

But at that moment, I remembered a verse I had read a few days earlier:

但就在那一刻，我想起了几天前读过的一节经文：

“Wives, submit yourselves to your own husbands as you do to the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife…” (Ephesians 5:22–23)

“你们作妻子的，当顺服自己的丈夫，如同顺服主。因为丈夫是妻子的头……” (弗 5:22–23)

So I decided to let go of my own preference and simply trust God and go.

所以我决定放下自己的想法，单纯地信靠神，然后就去。

To my surprise, I actually had a really good chat with the teacher, and I learned much more about how my son was doing at school.

让我惊讶的是，我其实和老师聊得非常好，也更了解了我儿子在学校的情况。

Because I was worried my English might not be good enough, I recorded the conversation on my phone so I could listen to it again later.

因为我担心自己的英文可能不够好，所以我用手机录下了这次谈话，方便之后再听一遍。

When I played it to my husband at home, he was shocked and said, “You two got on really well! You were chatting away and laughing together. Next time you can go!”

当我回家放给丈夫听的时候，他很惊讶，说：“你们两个聊得很好啊！你们一直在聊天，还一起笑。下次你可以去！”

We were both so happy.

我们俩都很开心。

I thank God that His Word guided me.

我感谢神，是祂的话语引导了我。

When I chose to put down my own way and obey Him, God allowed me to experience His goodness in such a real way.

当我选择放下自己的方式并顺服祂时，神让我如此真实地经历了祂的良善。

Learning Not to Get Angry So Easily学习不要那么容易生气

In the past, whenever my children said the food I cooked “didn’t taste nice”, I would immediately get upset and say things like:

过去，每当我的孩子们说我做的饭“不好吃”时，我就会立刻不高兴，并说这样的话：

“I’m not a professional chef! Back in China I hardly even cooked.

“我又不是专业厨师！在中国的时候，我几乎都不做饭。

I gave up a good job and now I get up early every day to cook for you, and this is the thanks I get? Well, don’t eat it then!”

我放弃了一份好工作，现在每天早起给你们做饭，这就是你们对我的感谢吗？那就别吃了！”

The whole atmosphere at home would suddenly become really tense.

整个家里的气氛就会一下子变得很紧张。

Last week, after I had just finished cooking, my son again said the food “wasn’t nice”.

上周，我刚做完饭，儿子又说饭“不好吃”。

But this time, God’s Word suddenly came to my mind:

但这一次，神的话语忽然进入我的心里：

“Love is patient, love is kind… it is not easily angered.” (1 Corinthians 13:4–5)

“爱是恒久忍耐，又有恩慈……不轻易发怒。” (林前13:4–5)

“Parents, do not embitter your children, or they will become discouraged.” (Colossians 3:21)

“你们作父亲的，不要惹儿女的气，恐怕他们失了志气。” (西 3:21)

This time I stopped myself from getting angry.

这一次，我控制住自己，没有发怒。

A little while later, my son came over, gave me a hug, patted me on the shoulder and said:

过了一会儿，儿子走过来，抱了抱我，拍了拍我的肩膀，说：

“Sorry Mum, I shouldn’t have talked to you like that. Thanks for cooking for us.”

“对不起，妈妈，我不应该那样跟你说话。谢谢你为我们做饭。”

His words really touched me.

他的话真的很触动我。

When I chose to let God’s Word lead my life, the Holy Spirit also began working in my son’s heart, bringing peace into our relationship.

当我选择让神的话语引导我的生活时，圣灵也开始在我儿子的心里工作，把平安带进我们的关系中。

Now I ask my family what they would like to eat, and I pray while I’m cooking.

现在我会问家人想吃什么，也会在做饭的时候祷告。

I try to cook with love, and somehow the food even tastes better too!

我努力带着爱去做饭，没想到饭菜好像也变得更好吃了！

I thank God for giving me wisdom and a humble heart,

我感谢神赐给我智慧和谦卑的心，

Realising I Have Nothing Apart from God

意识到离了神我什么都没有。

Over the past year in New Zealand, I often struggled to let go of my previous career.

在新西兰过去这一年里，我常常很难放下以前的事业。

Back in China, I was a doctor.

在中国的时候，我是一名医生。

I had received many honours, had social status, and was respected by others.

我曾获得许多荣誉，有社会地位，也受到别人的尊重。

But after coming here, my life became mostly caring for the children and cooking.

但来到这里之后，我的生活大多变成了照顾孩子和做饭。

The difference felt huge.

这种差别让我觉得很大。

Even though I had been trying to adjust over the past year, whenever I thought about my old life, I still felt upset and unfairly treated inside.

虽然过去一年我一直在努力适应，但每当想到以前的生活，我心里仍然感到难过，也觉得自己受了委屈。

Then one day, Vivi shared these Bible verses with me:

后来有一天，Vivi 和我分享了这些圣经经文：

“Everything comes from You, and we have given You only what comes from Your hand.” (1 Chronicles 29:14)

“万物都从你而来，我们把从你而得的献给你。”（代上29:14）

“What do you have that you did not receive? And if you did receive it, why do you boast as though you did not?” (1 Corinthians 4:7)

“你有什么不是领受的呢？若是领受的，为何自夸，仿佛不是领受的呢？”（林前4:7）

At that moment, I suddenly woke up.

就在那一刻，我忽然醒悟了。

These words completely healed my heart.

这些话完全医治了我的心。

I realised that everything I had before was also given by God.

我意识到，过去我所拥有的一切，也都是神所赐的。

Now the Lord has placed me in my family to serve them, and that itself is His grace and His loving guidance for my life.

如今主把我放在家庭中服事他们，这本身就是祂的恩典，也是祂对我生命充满爱的引导。

I thank God for everything He has given me.

我感谢神赐给我的一切。

Practising Gratitude操练感恩

Last week I was studying together with some sisters using a message Sister Jane shared in 2023 about gratitude.

上周，我和几位姐妹一起学习 Jane 姐妹在 2023 年分享的一篇关于感恩的信息。

In Matthew 11, we see that even when Jesus was rejected by His own people, He did not complain or become bitter by saying, “Why are You letting me go through this?”

在马太福音第 11 章，我们看到，即使耶稣被自己的百姓拒绝，祂也没有抱怨，也没有苦毒地说：“你为什么让我经历这些？”

Instead, Jesus said:

相反，耶稣说：

“Father, I praise You…”

 “父啊，我赞美你……”   

When I read this, I suddenly remembered the time when we first arrived in Christchurch last year.

当我读到这里时，我忽然想起去年我们刚到基督城的时候。

I constantly complained to my husband and blamed him for bringing us here.

我常常向丈夫抱怨，也责怪他把我们带到这里。

He had insisted that I leave my job and become a stay-at-home mum.

他曾坚持让我离开工作，成为全职妈妈。

Every day I felt unhappy, so I often took it out on him and spoke quite harshly to him.

我每天都觉得不开心，所以常常把情绪发泄在他身上，对他说话也很难听。

As I thought about this, tears started pouring down my face.

当我想到这些时，眼泪开始不停地流下来。

At the time, he was already under huge pressure from study, yet he also had to carry pressure from me.

那时，他已经承受着很大的学习压力，却还要承受我带给他的压力。

Back then, I didn’t understand gratitude.

那时候，我不明白什么是感恩。

I really regretted how I treated him.

我真的很后悔自己那样对待他。

When I apologised to him, he said he barely even remembered it.

当我向他道歉时，他说他几乎都不记得了。

Instead, he thanked me for supporting him and for everything I had done for the family.

相反，他感谢我支持他，也感谢我为这个家所做的一切。

Later, as I began practising gratitude more and more, I noticed things slowly changing.

后来，当我越来越多地操练感恩时，我发现事情开始慢慢改变。

I became thankful for my husband’s hard work and for how he provided for us.

我开始为丈夫的辛苦付出和他对我们的供应而感恩。

I became thankful for the joy my children brought me.

我开始为孩子们带给我的喜乐而感恩。

I became thankful that God had never given up on me.

我开始感谢神从来没有放弃我。

I realised that when gratitude increases, complaining decreases.

我意识到，当感恩增加时，抱怨就会减少。

When gratitude increases, arguments become fewer.

当感恩增加时，争吵也会变少。

And when God’s Word enters the heart, the whole atmosphere in the family changes.

当神的话语进入人心时，整个家庭的气氛都会改变。

My husband became gentler with our son.

我的丈夫对我们的儿子变得更温柔了。

My older son became gentler with his younger sister.

我的大儿子对他的妹妹也变得更温柔了。

Our home slowly stopped feeling so tense and heavy, and instead became filled with more love and laughter.

我们的家慢慢不再那么紧张和沉重，反而充满了更多的爱和笑声。

Most amazingly of all, I began to experience real peace in my heart.

最奇妙的是，我开始在心里经历真实的平安。

Before, even small things would make me anxious or angry.

以前，即使是小事也会让我焦虑或生气。

Now, although life still has spiritual battles, my heart is no longer as fearful and unsettled as before.

现在，虽然生活中仍然有属灵争战，但我的心不再像以前那样惧怕和不安。

Because now I know I am not facing life alone.

因为现在我知道，我不是独自面对生活。

The Bible says:

圣经说： 

“Peace I leave with you; My peace I give you… Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.”(John 14:27)

“我留下平安给你们；我将我的平安赐给你们……你们心里不要忧愁，也不要胆怯。” (约 14:27)

“Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.” (Joshua 1:9)

“不要惧怕，也不要惊惶；因为你无论往哪里去，耶和华你的神必与你同在。” (书 1:9)

Before, these verses were things I simply “knew”.

以前，这些经文只是我“知道”的内容。

Now, they are things I have truly experienced.

现在，它们是我真实经历过的。

I finally understand that believing in Jesus is not just a religion, not merely going to church, and not just looking spiritual on the outside.

我终于明白，相信耶稣不只是一个宗教，不只是去教会，也不只是外表看起来属灵。

It is a life that is genuinely transformed.

而是一个真实被改变的生命。

Experiencing God’s Healing经历神的医治

One morning around 5am, I suddenly woke up with really severe stomach pain.

一天早上大约五点，我突然醒来，肚子非常痛。

I’d never had stomach pain like that before, and there wasn’t any medicine at home.

我以前从来没有这样肚子痛过，家里也没有任何药。

At that moment, I suddenly thought of God.

就在那一刻，我突然想到了神。

I started reading the Bible and praying, bringing my weakness and pain before the Lord.

我开始读圣经和祷告，把自己的软弱和疼痛带到主面前。

Amazingly, the pain slowly began to ease.

奇妙的是，疼痛慢慢开始减轻。

About half an hour later, the stomach pain had completely gone.

大约半小时后，肚子痛完全消失了。

I truly experienced the truth of God’s Word:

我真实地经历了神话语的真理：

“He sent out his word and healed them; he rescued them from the grave.” — （Psalm 107:20）

“他发命医治他们；救他们脱离死亡。” （诗 107:20）

When people feel helpless, and pray, God truly hears. When people are weak, God is truly with them.

当人感到无助并祷告时，神真的垂听。当人软弱时，神真的与他们同在。

Experiencing God Together with My Son和我的儿子一起经历神

One evening, my 12-year-old son was again questioning whether God was really real.

一天晚上，我 12 岁的儿子又开始怀疑神是不是真的存在。

I said to him, “if Dad gets an interview invitation tomorrow, will you believe that God is real?”

我对他说：“如果爸爸明天收到面试邀请，你会相信神是真的吗？”

He said yes.

他说会。

So I kept praying and asking God to reveal His power so that my son could personally experience that He is real.

所以我一直祷告，求神显明祂的能力，让我的儿子可以亲自经历祂是真实的。

The next morning, my husband really did receive an interview notification email.

第二天早上，我丈夫真的收到了面试通知邮件。

Thank You, Lord, You truly are the living God!

感谢主，你真是又真又活的神！

I thank the Lord that even when I was stubborn and difficult, He never gave up on me.

我感谢主，即使我曾经固执又难相处，祂也从来没有放弃我。

Again and again, He has used His Word to remind me, shape me, and change me.

一次又一次，祂用祂的话语提醒我、塑造我、改变我。

I am willing to use my own life as a testimony:

我愿意用自己的生命作见证：

God’s Word is real.

神的话语是真实的。

God’s love is real.

神的爱是真实的。

And God’s power to transform people is also real.

神改变人的能力也是真实的。

May all glory be given to our loving Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.

愿一切荣耀都归给我们慈爱的主耶稣基督。阿们。