When I was in a concentration camp during the WW II, we had to stand every day for two or three hours for roll-call - often in the icy-cold wind. Once a woman guard used these hours to demonstrate her cruelty. I could hardly bear to see and hear what happened in front of me. Suddenly a skylark started to sing high in the sky. We all looked up, and when I looked to the sky and listened to its song, I looked still higher and thought Ps. 103:11 (RSV): “For as the heavens are high above the earth, so great is his steadfast love toward those who fear him.” Suddenly I saw that this love of God was a greater reality than the cruelty that I experienced myself and saw around me.
The Lord in heaven is not surprised at what is happening now. In the Bible it says that whoever is vile will get viller, whoever is pure, purer (see Revelation 22:11). Everything is heading toward a climax.
Jesus, the Messiah, will return again. One of the most obvious signs of the Messiah’s imminent return is the return of the Jews to their country (see Is. 66:8, 20,22). One of the most important moments in the history of our times was May 10, 1948. Rees Howells, who had great love for the people of Israel for whom he seriously and faithfully prayed, said, “The rebirth of the state of Israel is the greatest act of God in 2000 years.” - Corrie ten Boom
There is an ocean of God’s love available - there is plenty for everyone. May God grant you never to doubt that victorious love - whatever the circumstances. -Corrie ten Boom
“Although the threads of my life have often seemed knotted, I know, by faith, that on the other side of the embroidery there is a crown..” - Corrie ten Boom
Do you know what hurts us very much? It’s love. Love is the strongest force in the world, and when it is blocked that means pain. There are two things we can do when this happens. We can kill that love so that it stops hurting. But then of course part of us dies, too. Or we can ask God to open up another route for that love to travel. - Corrie ten Boom, The Hiding Place
There was once a jailer in a prison in Philippi who asked a question you, too,along with many other people might share. He asked Paul (Acts 16:30-31), “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” Paul answered with a very short sentence: Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved - you and your household.”
Sometime ago I was at a large international evangelists’ congress in Lausanne. I met people from many countries, including a missionary from a country I had visited where many Christians were persecuted. I asked, How are things going with your radio station? “Oh, wonderful. The studio was closed for a year, and now we have permission to broadcast again. Day and night the gospel is heard on all sides.” That’s wonderful, “I replied, “and tell me, how are the friends I worked with? She waited for a minute. The she said, “That were all killed.” She saw how shocked I was. She put her hand on my shoulder and said, with a smile on her face. “They were promoted ahead of us.” Yes, the Spirit of glory rested on them. i saw it from God’s side.
The wonderful appearance of His being is the hour of the birth of our new self. Our new eyes must start to see other things. Our new heart has to beat, and it has a different rhythm! - Corrie ten Boom
You and I must choose for ourselves. Our sanctification is God’s will, but, do we love some sin too much to turn away from it? Then we must be careful: “For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life.” (Rom 6:23).
If at any time our lives were in real danger during WWII during the bombings or while in prison, it was as if suddenly we saw things from God’s standpoint. Our perspective was changed because we touched, in a sense, death and therefore eternity. We saw small things, small; great things, great; we saw all things in the right proportion.
Solomon’s temple was completely - not just partly dedicated to God. We all are a temple of the Holy Spirit, which is why we need to stop compromising, so that God can do blessed work through us. It is no longer what we can do, but what God can do. And often we experience that when we are weak, we are powerful, because we are relying on Him, on His power.
The birth of a child is a start, and being born again is also a beginning. It is the start of a life glorifying God - a victorious life, a life strong through the redemption, help, and presence of the Lord Jesus.