Farmer of Hearts - Finding Hope in God’s Kingdom

著者： 生命恩泉 Fountain of Love and Life
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  • As we navigate through the maze of life in this fast changing world, it’s easy to lose sight of the important things that keep us going and help us stay on track. In a world plagued by an epidemic of depression and hopelessness like never before, it’s clear that what the world offers is leading us in the wrong direction. On the other hand, studies consistently show that individuals with higher levels of hope report lower levels of depression and anxiety. High hope is also linked to better stress management and enhanced resilience. The benefits of having hope are endless. - How can we become more positive? - Is there a way to cultivate hope in our lives? - What role does our Christian faith play in nurturing hope? - What insights can our faith offer that the world cannot? In this Year of the Jubilee, we are reminded once again of our identity as pilgrims on earth. We have the choice to either embrace hope or fall into despair. The theme of this year’s “Farmer of Hearts” Lenten online retreat is “Finding Hope in God’s Kingdom.” You might ask, “Why do we need to find hope if we are already in God’s Kingdom? Isn’t it true that when this world passes, faith and hope will no longer be needed?” It’s important not to confuse “God’s Kingdom” with “Heaven.” Here, we refer to God’s Kingdom as His sovereignty on earth. This Lenten retreat offers reflections and practical insights on how we can become “Pilgrims of Hope” in light of the “Kingdom of God” as taught by Jesus. By using the framework of God’s Kingdom, we gain a fresh perspective to see the world, those around us, and ourselves through God’s eyes. Rather than remaining purely conceptual, Jesus provides a practical framework through which we can reshape our worldview—a new perspective that inspires hope. The hope Jesus offers is unshakable, something the world can never provide. It’s a model we can adopt here and now, not just an abstract theory or a utopia we can only reach when we enter Heaven. Life will certainly be full of challenges, but it’s through these challenges that we mature in our faith and in our relationship with God. Having hope is crucial on the road toward holiness and the Father’s house. It is certainly worth spending these 40 days of the Lenten Season reflecting on this vital theme. Pilgrimage is a journey, a process with a clear destination, and we need companions along the way. We invite you to join us on this exciting journey of hope as a community of fellow pilgrims. See you at the starting point! YouTube playlist: https://bit.ly/FOH2025Eng IG: @fll.cc | Facebook: fb.com/fll.cc
    © 2025《生命恩泉》 Fountain of Love and Life, All Rights Reserved.
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あらすじ・解説

As we navigate through the maze of life in this fast changing world, it’s easy to lose sight of the important things that keep us going and help us stay on track. In a world plagued by an epidemic of depression and hopelessness like never before, it’s clear that what the world offers is leading us in the wrong direction. On the other hand, studies consistently show that individuals with higher levels of hope report lower levels of depression and anxiety. High hope is also linked to better stress management and enhanced resilience. The benefits of having hope are endless. - How can we become more positive? - Is there a way to cultivate hope in our lives? - What role does our Christian faith play in nurturing hope? - What insights can our faith offer that the world cannot? In this Year of the Jubilee, we are reminded once again of our identity as pilgrims on earth. We have the choice to either embrace hope or fall into despair. The theme of this year’s “Farmer of Hearts” Lenten online retreat is “Finding Hope in God’s Kingdom.” You might ask, “Why do we need to find hope if we are already in God’s Kingdom? Isn’t it true that when this world passes, faith and hope will no longer be needed?” It’s important not to confuse “God’s Kingdom” with “Heaven.” Here, we refer to God’s Kingdom as His sovereignty on earth. This Lenten retreat offers reflections and practical insights on how we can become “Pilgrims of Hope” in light of the “Kingdom of God” as taught by Jesus. By using the framework of God’s Kingdom, we gain a fresh perspective to see the world, those around us, and ourselves through God’s eyes. Rather than remaining purely conceptual, Jesus provides a practical framework through which we can reshape our worldview—a new perspective that inspires hope. The hope Jesus offers is unshakable, something the world can never provide. It’s a model we can adopt here and now, not just an abstract theory or a utopia we can only reach when we enter Heaven. Life will certainly be full of challenges, but it’s through these challenges that we mature in our faith and in our relationship with God. Having hope is crucial on the road toward holiness and the Father’s house. It is certainly worth spending these 40 days of the Lenten Season reflecting on this vital theme. Pilgrimage is a journey, a process with a clear destination, and we need companions along the way. We invite you to join us on this exciting journey of hope as a community of fellow pilgrims. See you at the starting point! YouTube playlist: https://bit.ly/FOH2025Eng IG: @fll.cc | Facebook: fb.com/fll.cc
© 2025《生命恩泉》 Fountain of Love and Life, All Rights Reserved.
キリスト教 スピリチュアリティ 聖職・福音主義
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  • [Finding Hope in God’s Kingdom] Day 40 – Hope Makes Our Lives Complete

    [Finding Hope in God’s Kingdom] Day 40 – Hope Makes Our Lives Complete
    2025/04/18
    You may recall that a scribe once asked Jesus, of all the commandments, which was the greatest. Jesus replied: “The first is: ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.’ The second is this: ‘You shall love your neighbour as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.” (Mark 12:30–31) This is the greatest goal and meaning of our lives. In fact, at the Final Judgment, we will be judged according to the standard of “love”. Therefore, we should strive to increase our capacity to love and make that the primary goal of our lives.Hopefully, through this retreat, we have come to realize that aside from God Himself, what we most need is sufficient hope to fuel our love! Love is not just a fleeting impulse; it requires time, patience, sacrifice, and perseverance. It is not something that a person without hope can achieve. Thus, to fulfill the meaning of life by loving God and others, we must become people of hope. Hope plays a vital role in this mission.Our "hope index" is influenced by many internal and external factors, especially in today’s unpredictable world, where the external environment can easily affect our emotions and are difficult for us to control. When our understanding, perspectives, attitudes, and worldview are skewed, we are easily led into disappointment, or even despair.This is precisely why God has given us the theological virtue of hope: to guide and protect us in our lives. The foundation of our faith helps align our vision and will with God's, giving us the right worldview and values to face life’s trials and challenges. When faced with challenges in life, we realize how small and limited we are, and know that we need to rely on a power beyond ourselves to overcome these challenges. Unfortunately, many people rely on earthly wealth, power, and status, mistakenly believing they can control everything. But this is an illusion, a trap set by the devil to lead us to destruction. For Christians, our reliance must be on God. Our trust lies in a real, personal relationship with God and in His promises. This is the foundation and source of our hope.To strengthen our hope, we must understand the kind of relationship God desires with us and what our identity is. Jesus said He no longer calls us servants, but friends. And He entrusted us with the mission of continuing His work on earth. God wants us to follow the guidance of the Holy Spirit, cooperate with Him, aligning ourselves with the Father’s plan and participate in His work of salvation. As God once said to St. Catherine of Siena: “I created you without your help, but I will not save you without it.” This shows that God desires and needs our participation in His work of salvation. He needs us to respond, to accept His love and salvation, and to spread this gift of salvation, freely given us, so that more people may attain eternal life.God invites us to return His love by becoming channels of His love in the world, to spread His love like He did, without any conditions or expectation of return, with the same selfless spirit. Unfortunately, most people respond with indifference, rejecting His love and refusing to share this saving love with others.Since the light of Christ entered the world, God’s will is for us Christians to spread this light throughout the world. Unfortunately, our hardened hearts make us unresponsive to Him, causing Him grief. In the Book of Revelation, chapter 3, verse 15, God says: “I know your works; you are neither cold nor hot. I wish that you were either cold or hot.” We can feel God’s anger, which He continues to express in verse 16: “So, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I am about to spit you out of my mouth.” This sadly reflects the current state of many Christians. It could be said that in our generation, Christ’s light is perhaps at its dimmest. Our supposedly strong "faith" has been destroyed by worldliness and the devil, and the "hope" of Christians is about to be extinguished! Christian hope is meant to be the pillar of hope for the world. But this pillar is about to collapse. Can we afford to delay our response to God any longer? How much longer must God endure this faithless and hopeless generation? The Gospel of John, also written by John the Evangelist, says this in chapter 3, verse 16: “For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life.” God loves us this deeply, yet we treat Him with such indifference. Is this the attitude we should have? Can we bear to make God wait in pain any longer?As the Book of James, chapter 2, verse 17 says: “Faith by itself, if it has no works, is dead.” The same is true for hope. Hope is a choice. It is not passive. It calls for response and action. Christian hope without action brings no real hope to life; it becomes a self-deceiving ...
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    12 分
  • [Finding Hope in God’s Kingdom] Day 39 – Holy Spirit Stirs up Hope to Elevate Love

    [Finding Hope in God’s Kingdom] Day 39 – Holy Spirit Stirs up Hope to Elevate Love
    2025/04/17
    In our reflection on the twenty-fifth day of the retreat, we mentioned that while “hope” may seem small in the eyes of most people, it bears the important role of leading and propelling both “faith” and “love”. It has the power to move people into action. In His farewell message during the Last Supper, Jesus gave His disciples a new commandment:"Love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another." (John 13:34-35) Jesus did not only teach this with words, He acted. He got up to wash His disciples’ feet, setting an example for them, encouraging them to develop an attitude and habit of serving one another, because love without action is dead. Even as He faced suffering and the anticipated crucifixion on the cross, Jesus retained inner freedom and strength, and was able to wash His disciples' feet and patiently taught them. This not only demonstrated His deep love for His disciples but also showed how the Holy Spirit empowered Him through hope.In fact, when we possess true “faith” and “hope”, we naturally gain the capacity to “love”. We must remember that the theological virtues of faith, hope, and love are gifts from God. All actions grounded in these virtues draw their strength and motivation from the Holy Spirit. From Jesus, we witness the mighty supernatural power of the Holy Spirit.It was the power of the Holy Spirit that moved Jesus, who loves us to the end, to take up His cross and embark on the Way of the Cross towards Calvary. On the cross, He gave up His life for us, not only fulfilling the new commandment of love with His actions, but elevating its spirit to a new height.In John 15:12–14, Jesus reaffirms His command to love one another: "This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. No one has greater love than this, to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. You are my friends if you do what I command you." Jesus wasn't speaking empty words. He meant what He said. He truly sees us as His friends, His most beloved friends.However, He didn't only die for His friends, but also for His enemies and even for those who crucified Him. That is the true essence of love taught by God. This kind of love doesn’t seek its own benefit. It thinks solely of the good of others, without any conditions and without expecting anything in return. Jesus calls us to love as He did, even to love our enemies. This is what He taught in Luke 6:27–28: "Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you." So Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross was not just for His friends. It was for His enemies as well, because He loves them all.We might think, “Jesus could do that because He is the Son of God. How could we ever reach that level of love?” But we must understand that Jesus will never ask us to do something that is impossible for us. True, we cannot do it on our own. But by relying on the power of the Holy Spirit and the theological virtues of faith, hope, and love that He has given us, we can. We must remember that with God, nothing is impossible!Jesus wants us to witness from Him that, as a true man, empowered by the Holy Spirit and the virtues of faith, hope and love, He was able to fulfill the great mission entrusted to Him by the Father. In the same way, through the grace and strength given to us by the same Holy Spirit, we too can accomplish the great works that God wants to work in us.Therefore, Jesus continues in John 15:15–17: "I do not call you servants any longer, because the servant does not know what the master is doing; but I have called you friends, because I have made known to you everything that I have heard from my Father. You did not choose me but I chose you. And I appointed you to go and bear fruit, fruit that will last, so that the Father will give you whatever you ask him in my name." (John 15:12-17)Indeed, through His teachings and His role model, Jesus has revealed to us everything He heard from the Father. He wants us to continue His mission and has chosen us to bear lasting fruit, the fruits born of faith, hope, and love. And as we fulfill the mission that our Heavenly Father has given us, we can boldly ask for whatever we need in Jesus’ name, and the Father will grant them to us!ReflectionHave you ever felt overwhelmed or powerless when trying to live out the virtue of love? Reflect on the reasons behind that feeling.Learn from Jesus’ actions of love and His great love for you, expressed by His death on the cross. When you lack the motivation or strength to live out love, what can inspire you to pick up the strength and carry on?Now, in prayer, ask the Holy Spirit for inspiration and wisdom to discern how to cooperate with Him in your daily life to live out Jesus’ teachings and fulfill the mission the Father has entrusted to you.Today’s PrayerMy beloved Lord ...
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    14 分
  • [Finding Hope in God’s Kingdom] Day 38 – God’s Word is Hope

    [Finding Hope in God’s Kingdom] Day 38 – God’s Word is Hope
    2025/04/16
    God's desire is that we may be with Him not only in this life but also in eternal life, and that we may enjoy and receive all that is best. Everything He has done and arranged for us is for our greatest benefit. Since our first ancestors betrayed God, not only did God not abandon us, but for our sake, He saved us through the birth, suffering, death, and resurrection of the Lord Jesus. He also established the Church on earth for us, sent the Holy Spirit to strengthen and guide us, and instituted the sacraments to nourish and remain with us. Through Jesus, God brought the Kingdom of Heaven into the world, allowing us to have a foretaste of its sweetness, so that we may yearn for it even more and be filled with hope in our lives. The ultimate goal is to ensure that we can smoothly transition through our earthly lives and enter eternal life, to be with Him forever.In a sense, God has already done everything He could for us and He is simply waiting for our response. In Jesus’ first parable about the Kingdom of Heaven, the Parable of the Sower, He explains the mindset and attitude we should have in order to receive the word of the Kingdom into our lives, so that the Word may take root in our hearts and transform us and our lives. (Cf. Matthew 13:1–23)Unfortunately, most people do not allow the message of the Kingdom to enter their lives. Many even respond with indifference. In the parable, Jesus quotes the prophet Isaiah to describe them: “You will indeed listen, but never understand, and you will indeed look, but never perceive. For this people’s heart has grown dull, and their ears are hard of hearing, and they have shut their eyes; so that they might not look with their eyes, and listen with their ears, and understand with their heart and turn and I would heal them.” (Matthew 13:14-15) Those who do not have open hearts or space within will not listen to or accept the word of the Kingdom, nor will they have the patience to understand it.In contrast, Jesus describes in the parable that the seeds falling on good soil will bear fruit a hundredfold, sixtyfold, or thirtyfold. For the farmers of that time, such a harvest was unimaginable. This shows that for those who accept God's salvation and His Kingdom, He has prepared unexpected and unimaginable rewards and blessings! For those who seek the Kingdom and are willing to listen with open hearts and receive its message, how could this not lead to a great harvest? How could it not bring immense hope to their lives? Therefore, to be willing to listen to God's Word is to dwell in the Kingdom of Heaven. It is the key to letting the Kingdom take root in our hearts, and it is the reason we can find true hope in our lives.That is why Jesus said to His disciples: “But blessed are your eyes, for they see, and your ears, for they hear.” (Matthew 13:16) This blessing is in stark contrast to those who, because of their hardened hearts, refuse to listen. So when facing people who see but do not perceive, hear but do not understand, and whose hardened hearts keep them from turning back, how could Jesus not feel sad and helpless?Jesus is the sower who generously scatters the Word of God. But in the face of people’s indifference toward the Word and their coldness toward God, how could Jesus not feel heartbroken? No wonder He ended the parable with this plea: “Let anyone with ears listen!” (Matthew 13:9)ReflectionHow seriously do you take the Word of God? Have you put it into practice in your life, or is it just knowledge in your head?What in your life hinders you from hearing and receiving God’s Word? What actions can you take to become the fertile soil that bears fruit a hundredfold?Take a moment to savour everything God has done for you. What more do you think God needs to do for you to make you more willing to receive His Word and live it out?Today’s PrayerDear Lord Jesus, thank You for generously sowing the Word of God into my heart. I understand Your expectations of me. Through today’s reflection, I feel even more deeply Your sorrow, because of my hardened heart, I have not treated every word You speak to me with the seriousness it deserves.I understand that You have already done everything You can. You are simply waiting for my response, hoping that I will diligently cultivate the field of my heart and remove all obstacles that prevent me from bearing fruit.I don't want to cause You pain anymore! Please help me! Open my eyes to see, my ears to hear Your Word, and transform my hardened heart into one that is sensitive and discerning of Your will for me!Lord Jesus, thank You once again! I love You!--------------------Fundraising AppealThank you for participating in this 40-day Lenten spiritual journey. We hope you have been inspired and have benefitted from it! For the spiritual benefit of all of you, Fountain of Love and Life devotes a lot of time and effort in producing various spiritual projects every year, and all our ministries are sustained...
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    13 分

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