(English can be read below the Chinese version)
建堂動土一周年的再思
在建堂動土一周年聯合崇拜中，我們以「水」回顧了這段不平凡的建堂旅程。從新堂土地上的天然小溪、需要保育的小紅魚，到動土禮前的滂沱大雨；從冬季融雪後積滿水的地基，到建堂資金的需要——「水」彷彿一直伴隨着恩泉家的建堂故事。
過去一年，我們經歷了工程延誤、資金需要和銀行貸款申請所帶來的考驗；我們有等候、有掙扎，也曾經憂慮。然而，今天我們可以一同見證：銀行貸款已經獲得批准，籌款目標不但達到，更超過了百分之六，建築工程也得以重新展開。
這一切都值得感恩和慶賀。但當周年崇拜結束、掌聲過去，我們仍要思想一個更深的問題：
在這段建堂歷程中，神不只為我們成就了甚麼；祂也在我們裏面成就了甚麼？
因為神所建造的，不只是一座教堂，更是一群屬祂的子民；祂所關心的，不只是工程有沒有突破，更是我們的生命有沒有突破。
當水退去，讓神顯露生命的根基
當地基積滿水時，我們看不見下面的光景；水逐漸退去，根基才重新顯露。同樣，忙碌的事奉、明確的目標和外在的成果，有時也會遮蓋我們內心真實的光景。神容許困難和等候臨到，不只是要推動工程，更要顯露和更新我們生命的根基。
詩篇139篇23至24節提醒我們禱告：
「神啊，求你鑒察我，知道我的心思；試煉我，知道我的意念……引導我走永生的道路。」
過去一年的考驗，既顯明神的信實，也照出我們的軟弱：我們是否過於重視成果而忽略關係？是否堅持自己的意見，卻不願聆聽和接納？是否容易看見別人的不足，卻忽略自己的驕傲、埋怨和不信？
詩篇51篇17節說：
「神所要的祭，就是憂傷的靈；神啊，憂傷痛悔的心，你必不輕看。」
在我們獻上感恩以前，神先邀請我們以謙卑悔改的心回到祂面前。尼希米記8至12章正顯示了這條屬靈道路：
聆聽神的話 → 認罪悔改 → 立約更新 → 獻上自己 → 感恩慶賀
真正的慶賀，不只是為外在的成果歡呼，更是讓神的話光照我們，使我們悔改、更新，重新把自己獻給祂。
感謝神，祂沒有因我們的軟弱而離棄我們。祂藉着困難光照我們，藉着等候塑造我們，又以恩典帶領我們從懼怕走向信靠、從憂慮走向交託、從倚靠自己轉而倚靠祂。
被恩典更新，成為活水的出口
以賽亞書58章11節說：
「耶和華也必時常引導你，在乾旱之地使你心滿意足……你必像澆灌的園子，又像水流不絕的泉源。」
聖經沒有應許神的子民永遠不會經過「乾旱之地」，卻應許祂必在其中引導和供應。更重要的是，神不只要供應恩泉，也要使恩泉成為「水流不絕的泉源」。
耶穌說：
「信我的人……從他腹中要流出活水的江河來。」（約翰福音7:38）
我們祈求神供應新堂，不只是為了擁有一個更好的聚會地方，更是盼望基督的生命從這裏流出去：讓福音流進社區，讓受傷的人得着醫治，讓乾渴的心得着盼望，也讓我們的下一代在這裏遇見耶穌。
真正的「恩泉活水」，不是建築物裏的水景或供水系統，而是每一位蒙恩的人都願意成為神恩典流通的管子。因此，建堂也是神更新我們的旅程：願祂保守我們彼此相愛接納、互相守望扶持、同心合一，行在祂為恩泉家所預備的道路中。
水正在退去，恩典仍在流動
近日，我們再次經歷神具體的帶領。經過一段時間的申請和等候，感謝神讓我們取得地基排水工程所需的許可，使地基內的積水可以逐步抽走。
從照片中，我們曾看見地基滿滿的積水，彷彿一個大水池；而在最後一張照片裏，我們已能看見大部分乾涸的地基底部，預備迎接下一階段的工程。
這不只是一幅工程進展的照片，也成為我們生命的提醒：當水退去，地基重新顯露；當我們願意讓神鑒察，祂也要潔淨並堅固我們屬靈生命的根基。
水正在退去，建造即將繼續；然而，神的恩典從未停止流動。
讓我們以感恩回顧祂的作為，也以謙卑讓祂繼續建造我們。願我們不只把手中的奉獻帶到神面前，也將自己的生命、意見、計劃和將來全然獻給祂，成為蒙祂悅納的祭。
深信那位帶領我們走到今天的神，必繼續扶持我們走完前面的道路。
As the Water Recedes, Let the Lord Reveal the Foundation of Our Lives
Reflections Following the First Anniversary of Our Groundbreaking
During the dedication segment of our joint worship service marking the first anniversary of our groundbreaking last Sunday, we used “water” as a thread to look back on this extraordinary church-building journey. From the natural stream on our new property and the endangered little red fish that must be protected, to the torrential rain before the groundbreaking ceremony; from the foundation filled with melted snow to our need for building funds—water seems to have accompanied the Stouffville Grace family throughout this journey.
Over the past year, we have faced construction delays, financial needs and the challenges of securing a bank loan. We have waited, struggled and, at times, worried. Yet today, we can testify together that our bank loan has been approved, our fundraising target has not only been reached but exceeded by six per cent, and construction has resumed.
All these things are worthy of thanksgiving and celebration. However, after the anniversary service has ended and the applause has faded, we must continue to reflect on a deeper question:
Throughout this church-building journey, what has God accomplished not only for us, but also within us?
God is building more than a church building; He is forming a people who belong to Him. He is concerned not only with breakthroughs in construction, but also with breakthroughs in our lives.
As the Water Recedes, God Reveals Our Foundation
When the foundation is filled with water, we cannot see what lies beneath. Only as the water recedes does the bottom of the foundation become visible again. In the same way, busy ministry, clear objectives and visible accomplishments can sometimes conceal the true condition of our hearts. God may allow difficulties and seasons of waiting not only to move the project forward, but also to reveal and renew the foundation of our lives.
Psalm 139:23–24 teaches us to pray:
“Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts… and lead me in the way everlasting.”
The trials of the past year have revealed both God’s faithfulness and our weaknesses. Have we valued results more than relationships? Have we insisted upon our own opinions while being unwilling to listen and accept others? Have we readily noticed the shortcomings of others while overlooking our own pride, complaints and unbelief?
Psalm 51:17 says:
“My sacrifice, O God, is a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart you, God, will not despise.”
Before we offer our thanksgiving, God first invites us to return to Him with humble and repentant hearts. Nehemiah 8–12 reveals this spiritual progression:
Hearing God’s Word → Confession and repentance → Covenant renewal → Offering ourselves → Thanksgiving and celebration
True celebration is more than rejoicing over visible accomplishments. It means allowing God’s Word to illuminate our hearts, lead us to repentance and renewal, and move us to offer ourselves to Him once again.
We thank God that He has not abandoned us because of our weaknesses. Through difficulties, He has brought our hearts into the light; through waiting, He has shaped us; and by His grace, He has led us from fear to trust, from anxiety to surrender, and from self-reliance to deeper dependence upon Him.
Renewed by Grace, Becoming Channels of Living Water
Isaiah 58:11 says:
“The Lord will guide you always; he will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land… You will be like a well-watered garden, like a spring whose waters never fail.”
Scripture does not promise that God’s people will never pass through a “sun-scorched land,” but it does promise that He will guide and provide for us there. More importantly, God desires not only to provide for Stouffville Grace, but also to make us “a spring whose waters never fail.”
Jesus said:
“Whoever believes in me… rivers of living water will flow from within them.” —John 7:38
We ask God to provide this new church building not simply so that we may have a better place to gather, but so that the life of Christ may flow from here: may the gospel flow into our community, may the wounded find healing, may thirsty hearts find hope, and may the next generation encounter Jesus here.
The true meaning of “Stouffville Grace Living Water” is not found in a water feature or the plumbing system of a building. It is found in every person who has received grace and is willing to become a channel through which God’s grace can flow. Therefore, this building project is also a journey of spiritual renewal. May God help us to love and accept one another, watch over and support one another, remain united in heart, and walk together along the path He has prepared for the Stouffville Grace family.
The Water Is Receding, but Grace Continues to Flow
Recently, we have once again experienced God’s tangible guidance. After a period of applications and waiting, we thank God that we have received the necessary permits for the foundation dewatering work, allowing the accumulated water to be gradually pumped out.
In one photograph, we can see the foundation filled with water like a large swimming pool. In the final photograph, however, most of the foundation floor is now visible and dry, ready for the next phase of construction.
This is more than a picture of construction progress; it is also a reminder for our spiritual lives. As the water recedes, the foundation is revealed. In the same way, when we allow God to search our hearts, He cleanses and strengthens the spiritual foundation of our lives.
The water is receding, and construction is moving forward; yet God’s grace has never ceased to flow.
Let us look back upon His works with gratitude while humbly allowing Him to continue building us. May we bring before God not only our financial offerings, but also our lives, opinions, plans and future, surrendering them completely to Him as an offering that is pleasing in His sight.