我们受造如同珍珠一样宝贵，上帝更视我们为他眼中的瞳仁。我们从天父那里得真自由后，是否像作者米雪女士一样时刻提醒自己：能否穿戴整齐，随时准备好参加羔羊的婚姻。d

1、在整本书中，作者通过分享自己的生命历程以及各阶段的小故事把我引领到上帝面前，并引用相应的经文告诉读者耶稣基督是宇宙万物的创造主、是生命活水的源泉，人生中的每一个问题都可以带到圣经中所诉说的上帝及教导面前来寻求答案。

2、我记忆犹新的是第十三章《默默撒种》中谈论的“全职事奉”和“属世工作”概念之解析，以及第十六章中《挫折、破碎、重建》中谈论的“爱人的荣耀”和“对上帝的敬畏”之分享。

作者在书中写道：属世工作和全职事奉之间的区别不在于你在做什么，而在于你为什么做。如果你工作是为了实现短期的目标，那便是世俗的。如果你工作是为了 实现永恒的目标，那便是全职事奉。因此，属世和属灵的本质区别在于你看重什么，是眼前还是永恒？帮助我调整自己的视力，除去心中的忧虑，将目标定睛在永恒 之事上。

在我自己的成长经历里，正如作者所说，心中对人的惧怕和受人的荣耀，消弱了我对抵御不义之事的能力。以往的生活及生命中，使我自己时常陷入爱人的荣耀过 于爱上帝的荣耀里，身心疲惫不堪。作者的坦诚及其对上帝的信靠，帮助我更加明白“惧怕人的，陷入网罗，惟有依靠耶和华的，必得安慰。-[箴言 29：25]”是上帝何等宝贵的应许。

3、在最后一章第二十一章《珍珠项链》里，作者引述耶稣基督在圣经《马可福音》8:36-37中警告我们：“人就是赚得全世界，赔上自己的生命，有什么益 处呢？人还能拿什么换生命呢？ ”。再一次提醒读者：我们受造如同珍珠一样宝贝，我们要学习去为得到永恒的生命而活、为荣耀上帝而活。

4、我虽然是一位男性读者，但对作者在贯穿全书中对其自己如果学习按照圣经里的教导去做一位妻子和母亲时，我倍受感动而且十分收益。对于服侍自己的丈夫和 抚养、教育自己的孩子，作者依靠神的话语而成长起来所分享的每一方面，让我学习到可以为未来需面对的婚恋上更好的预备自己。在未来的婚姻和家庭里，学习去 更多去的理解、体谅、保护和爱自己的妻子、孩子和家人，依靠上帝来改变自己并以此来荣耀上帝。

我们受造如同珍珠一样宝贵，上帝更视我们为他眼中的瞳仁。我们从天父那里得真自由后，是否像作者米雪女士一样时刻提醒自己：能否穿戴整齐，随时准备好参加羔羊的婚姻。

 

1. Throughout the book, the author led me before God through the sharing of her life journey and anecdotes from various stages of her life.  These are accompanied by relevant/corresponding (相应) quotations from Scripture, all pointing to the fact that Jesus Christ is the Creator of the Universe and everything in it; He is the fountain of life.  Every question we encounter in life may be brought to God and the teachings of the Bible in our quest for an answer.

2. Two things remain vivid in my mind: (1) the explanation of the concepts “full-time ministry” (全职侍奉) and “worldly job” (属世工作) in Chapter 13 “Planting Seeds Silently”; and (2) the discussion on “loving the honor of man” and “the fear of God” in Chapter 16 “Trials, Brokenness, Restoration”.

The author writes: the difference between worldly job and full-time ministry lies not in what you are doing, but in the purpose of your doing the work.  If you work to fulfill a short term goal, this is worldly; if you work towards fulfilling an eternal goal, this is full-time ministry.  Therefore, the fundamental difference between what is worldly and spiritual lies in what you view as important, whether it is temporal or eternal.  This helps me put down my worries, refocus and set my goals on things that are eternal.

My growing experience resonates with what the author says; the fear of man and the want for worldly acknowledgement weaken my ability to resist/defend myself against unrighteous things. In the past, I was entrapped in the love of man’s acknowledgement, more so than loving God’s honor, thus burning myself out both physically and psychologically. The author’s honesty and faith in God allow me to better understand how precious the promise of God is, as given in Proverbs 29:25: “[t]he fear of man brings a snare, But he who trusts in the Lord will be exalted.”

3.  In the last chapter (Chapter 21) “The Pearl Necklace”, the author quotes Jesus’ warning given in Mark 8:36-37: “For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world, and forfeit his soul? For what will a man give in exchange for his soul?” Once again, this reminds the readers: our being created is as precious as a pearl.  We need to learn to pursue a life that is eternal and God honoring.

4.  Although I am a male reader, I have benefited from and am touched by the author’s willingness to learn to be a wife and a mother according to the teachings of the Bible.  She holds on to God’s words in serving her husband, and in raising and educating her children.  In her sharing of her growth, I am able to better prepare myself for my future love and marriage life. In my future marriage and family, I will learn to better understand, protect and love my wife, children and family. I will learn to depend on God to bring about changes in myself, and in turn honoring Him with such changes.

Our creation is as precious as a pearl. God further views us as the pupil (apple) of His eye.  Upon receiving real freedom from God, do we constantly remind ourselves, like Mdm Mixue does: can we be properly attired, always being ready to attend the Lamb’s banquet?

Best，

Benjamin Bai