(Note:
this was written in 2018 and is just as relevant for today!)
It
is just so amazing to me what I have on my mind when I awake most
mornings. Some thoughts stay with me all day long. Saturday morning I
was thinking of Corrie Ten Boom and what a spiritual hero she is to
me. I thought of her sufferings and her great faith. I thought how
strong she was and could I ever be that strong in the face of severe
persecution (which we may face in the near future, as Christians).
As
I went to the kitchen, Bill was asking if I wanted to get out of the
house and go to "Yard Sales." This used to be a big part of
my life. Not so much anymore. I have more than enough stuff already.
Well, we went and very quickly I found a book that I had to have. The
only one that interested me. It is Life Lessons from Corrie Ten Boom.
The Lord set me up for that one.
As
I was reading from the "Exclusive 3-in-1 Edition," of
course being of my nature, I did not start at the front of the book.
I opened it about three-fourths of the way into it. Excerpts from the
book, “It was a week after Betsie had died in Ravensbruck that I
took my place in the ranks of women prisoners standing together in
the icy cold of the early morning. ‘66730!’ That is my number, I
said weakly as we took our place for roll call. ‘Ten Boom,
Cornelia.’ That is my name. I thought how strange that they would
call me by name when they always addressed us by number! ‘Come
forward.’ We were falling in line for the roll call. Ten in a line,
every hundredth woman, one step forward. My friends looked at me
sadly. What does it mean? I asked inwardly.
Punishment...freedom...the gas chamber...sent to another
concentration camp?”
The
rest is in my words. A young German girl shouted number 66730. Corrie
stepped forward and was told where to stand. She was sent to the far
right, away from the crowd where now she could feel the bitterly cold
wind whipping through her ragged prison dress. Another girl, young
and frightened was sent to stand beside her. Roll call took 3 hours
and they were almost frozen. Corrie asked through chattering teeth,
"Why must I stand here?" The girl’s answer was barely
audible as it came from her blue lips. "Death sentence."
Corrie
turned to the Lord, "Perhaps I'll see You soon face to face like
Betsie does now Lord. Let it not be too cruel a killing. Not gas
Lord, nor hanging. I prefer shooting. It is so quick. You see
something, you hear something and it is finished." Then as she
looked at the girl, Corrie said, "Lord, this is perhaps the last
chance I will have to bring someone to you before I arrive in heaven.
Use me, Lord. Give me all the love and wisdom I need. She then asked
the girl her name. She said Tiny, and she had been there for 2 years.
Corrie asked her, “did you ever read the Bible?” Her answer was
no, she did not. Corrie asked, "do you believe God exists?”
She said she did and wished she knew more about him and asked Corrie
if she knew Him? Corrie began to tell her. "Jesus is always with
us" and about the miracle he did in taking all her hatred and
bitterness for her enemies. Jesus is willing to bring into our hearts
God's love through His Holy Spirit. Corrie said it was a miracle that
she had a chance to explain many things about Jesus. "The
prisoners behind us listened too. I felt happy. Perhaps this was my
last chance in life, but what joy!" She accepted Jesus and
Corrie told her, you now have a friend who never leaves you alone.
(continued)
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