The first year I was saved, in 1978, someone put the book "The Hiding Place" by Corrie Ten Boom in my hands and said they thought I'd benefit from it. It proved to be so, over and over again. I read it, and reread it until it fell apart, and bought another one. Shortly after reading it, I also purchased "Tramp for the Lord", and wore that one out also.
Corrie, and a few other grounded Christians testimonies helped bring me through some very difficult times, and God used her and a few other's to speak to me when my path in life was full of turmoil. Her simple sound wisdom, and faith helped me make right decisions when I was being torn in many directions, by people, and circumstances. When my husband divorced me at 26 letting me know it was either Jesus or him, I chose Jesus, but the next few years afterward was a very rough road for me and my young daughter. It was testimonies such as Corrie's, prayer, and the scriptures that helped me stay in faith, and keep believing God to change the situation and bring restoration of our marriage when my family and friends were telling me to quit and find someone else. Two years after the divorce, we were remarried, but then began another series of troubles and difficulties I never could have imagined. Six months after our renewal, he suffered a major heart attack...the beginning of many years of hardships and learning to stand on God's word in faith, no matter what my eyes saw, and continuing to believe for his salvation. During the next 23 yrs., I leaned heavily on God himself, and He continued to steer me in the direction of people like Corrie, that held me steadfast; even when I wanted to run from the life I faced every day, and give up. Lynn did accept Christ nine months before his death, satan lost another soul he thought he had secured for himself.
Now in this place in my life; I find I'm still in need of her wisdom, and testimony of faith. I'm learning that no matter how long you walk with God, and how old you get; the lessons need to be relearned in our lives that Christ taught on the Mount of Olives so many years ago. He never stops bringing to the top what is in us, and making us deal with what He is seeing in our souls. It's not easy, it's not pretty, it's hard to see it. But it is because He is causing us to come to a place of making a decision to change, repent and ask for His help to bring about that change.
Forgiveness is easy to talk about, and preach about. It is not easy to actually do.
Forgiveness doesn't mean condoning sin or the wrong done. It means releasing the person who's wronged you, putting the person in the hands of God, and letting Him replace the anger and bitterness with his forgiveness, and peace. Let God deal with people; He will do what is right, in His way, in His time.
Nothing in this world is worth having something between God and I. I'm glad He corrects me, and reveals places in me that need to change. It shows me He loves me, and I belong to Him. It brings me a great sense of security. I know His eyes are on me. He wants that same relationship with you.
The wisdom and short excerpts from her on forgiveness still brings just what it takes, and shows in clear simple style, what it looks like in real life.
When we don't have the ability to forgive, we have to be honest with God and tell Him so, and ask for His help to do the impossible. He is able, when we are not, with the power of the Holy Spirit.
Perhaps you will find them a help in your life as well.
Lorna Couillard
“It was at a church service in Munich that I saw him, a former S.S. man who had stood guard at the shower room door in the processing center at Ravensbruck. He was the first of our actual jailers that I had seen since that time. And suddenly it was all there – the roomful of mocking men, the heaps of clothing, Betsie's pain-blanched face.
He came up to me as the church was emptying, beaming and bowing. “How grateful I am for your message, Fraulein.” He said. “To think that, as you say, He has washed my sins away!” His hand was thrust out to shake mine. And I, who had preached so often to the people in Bloemendaal the need to forgive, kept my hand at my side.
Even as the angry, vengeful thoughts boiled through me, I saw the sin of them. Jesus Christ had died for this man; was I going to ask for more? Lord Jesus, I prayed, forgive me and help me to forgive him. I tried to smile, I struggles to raise my hand. I could not. I felt nothing, not the slightest spark of warmth or charity. And so again I breathed a silent prayer. Jesus, I prayed, I cannot forgive him. Give me Your forgiveness.
As I took his hand the most incredible thing happened. From my shoulder along my arm and through my hand a current seemed to pass from me to him, while into my heart sprang a love for this stranger that almost overwhelmed me. And so I discovered that it is not on our forgiveness any more than on our goodness that the world's healing hinges, but on His. When He tells us to love our enemies, He gives, along with the command, the love itself.”
Corrie ten Boom -The Hiding Place
“Forgiveness is the key that unlocks the door of resentment and the handcuffs of hatred. It is a power that breaks the chains of bitterness and the shackles of selfishness.”
Corrie ten Boom -Clippings from My Notebook
“God dealt with our whole situation on the cross; there is nothing left for you to settle. Just say to Him, "Lord, I cannot forgive and I will no longer try to do it; but I trust that You in me will do it. I can't forgive and love; but I trust that You will forgive and love in my place and that You will do these things in me.”
Corrie ten Boom
Corrie, and a few other grounded Christians testimonies helped bring me through some very difficult times, and God used her and a few other's to speak to me when my path in life was full of turmoil. Her simple sound wisdom, and faith helped me make right decisions when I was being torn in many directions, by people, and circumstances. When my husband divorced me at 26 letting me know it was either Jesus or him, I chose Jesus, but the next few years afterward was a very rough road for me and my young daughter. It was testimonies such as Corrie's, prayer, and the scriptures that helped me stay in faith, and keep believing God to change the situation and bring restoration of our marriage when my family and friends were telling me to quit and find someone else. Two years after the divorce, we were remarried, but then began another series of troubles and difficulties I never could have imagined. Six months after our renewal, he suffered a major heart attack...the beginning of many years of hardships and learning to stand on God's word in faith, no matter what my eyes saw, and continuing to believe for his salvation. During the next 23 yrs., I leaned heavily on God himself, and He continued to steer me in the direction of people like Corrie, that held me steadfast; even when I wanted to run from the life I faced every day, and give up. Lynn did accept Christ nine months before his death, satan lost another soul he thought he had secured for himself.
Now in this place in my life; I find I'm still in need of her wisdom, and testimony of faith. I'm learning that no matter how long you walk with God, and how old you get; the lessons need to be relearned in our lives that Christ taught on the Mount of Olives so many years ago. He never stops bringing to the top what is in us, and making us deal with what He is seeing in our souls. It's not easy, it's not pretty, it's hard to see it. But it is because He is causing us to come to a place of making a decision to change, repent and ask for His help to bring about that change.
Forgiveness is easy to talk about, and preach about. It is not easy to actually do.
Forgiveness doesn't mean condoning sin or the wrong done. It means releasing the person who's wronged you, putting the person in the hands of God, and letting Him replace the anger and bitterness with his forgiveness, and peace. Let God deal with people; He will do what is right, in His way, in His time.
Nothing in this world is worth having something between God and I. I'm glad He corrects me, and reveals places in me that need to change. It shows me He loves me, and I belong to Him. It brings me a great sense of security. I know His eyes are on me. He wants that same relationship with you.
The wisdom and short excerpts from her on forgiveness still brings just what it takes, and shows in clear simple style, what it looks like in real life.
When we don't have the ability to forgive, we have to be honest with God and tell Him so, and ask for His help to do the impossible. He is able, when we are not, with the power of the Holy Spirit.
Perhaps you will find them a help in your life as well.
Lorna Couillard
“It was at a church service in Munich that I saw him, a former S.S. man who had stood guard at the shower room door in the processing center at Ravensbruck. He was the first of our actual jailers that I had seen since that time. And suddenly it was all there – the roomful of mocking men, the heaps of clothing, Betsie's pain-blanched face.
He came up to me as the church was emptying, beaming and bowing. “How grateful I am for your message, Fraulein.” He said. “To think that, as you say, He has washed my sins away!” His hand was thrust out to shake mine. And I, who had preached so often to the people in Bloemendaal the need to forgive, kept my hand at my side.
Even as the angry, vengeful thoughts boiled through me, I saw the sin of them. Jesus Christ had died for this man; was I going to ask for more? Lord Jesus, I prayed, forgive me and help me to forgive him. I tried to smile, I struggles to raise my hand. I could not. I felt nothing, not the slightest spark of warmth or charity. And so again I breathed a silent prayer. Jesus, I prayed, I cannot forgive him. Give me Your forgiveness.
As I took his hand the most incredible thing happened. From my shoulder along my arm and through my hand a current seemed to pass from me to him, while into my heart sprang a love for this stranger that almost overwhelmed me. And so I discovered that it is not on our forgiveness any more than on our goodness that the world's healing hinges, but on His. When He tells us to love our enemies, He gives, along with the command, the love itself.”
Corrie ten Boom -The Hiding Place
“Forgiveness is the key that unlocks the door of resentment and the handcuffs of hatred. It is a power that breaks the chains of bitterness and the shackles of selfishness.”
Corrie ten Boom -Clippings from My Notebook
“God dealt with our whole situation on the cross; there is nothing left for you to settle. Just say to Him, "Lord, I cannot forgive and I will no longer try to do it; but I trust that You in me will do it. I can't forgive and love; but I trust that You will forgive and love in my place and that You will do these things in me.”
Corrie ten Boom
