79. Wala ka sa Lolo ko. He takes courage and comfort, trusts the unknown future to a known God.
31 December 2020
Corrie ten Boom war heroine
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1 Corinthians 16
13 Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be courageous; be strong.
2 Corinthians 1
8 We do not want you to be uninformed, brothers and sisters, about the troubles we experienced in the province of Asia. We were under great pressure, far beyond our ability to endure, so that we despaired of life itself.
3 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort.
Going into the New Year, take courage and comfort, trust in the Lord Almighty.
Let me share my reflection 12 September 2017.
“Never be afraid to trust an unknown future to a known God. - Corrie ten Boom
The ten Boom family were Dutch Christians who helped many Jews escape the Nazi Holocaust during WWII.
Their home was raided and the entire family was imprisoned. Corrie (Cornelia) and her sister Betsie were sent to a concentration camp. She survived the ordeal while her sister did not.
God brought incredible healing for her horrible experience, enabling her to forgive the prison guard when she later came face to face with him.
Most famous of her books, The Hiding Place, recounts the secret place where the family hid the Jews, and in the midst of her suffering at concentration camp, the comfort of God that sustained her; You are my hiding place and my shield; I hope in Your word (Psalm 119:114 ESV).
Read more about Corrie ten boom:
In her book The Hiding Place, Corrie Ten Boom tells of a time she discovered that God was working even in the most horrific circumstances.
For us today, Corrie's words of comfort: If you look at the world, you'll be distressed. If you look within, you'll be depressed. If you look at God, you'll be at rest.
Life as a Christian? Put your faith in the Lord Jesus, that's all? To repeat, here is what Apostle Paul said: We do not want you to be uninformed, brothers and sisters, about the troubles we experienced in the province of Asia. We were under great pressure, far beyond our ability to endure, so that we despaired of life itself. (2 Corinthians 1:8).
Here are the words of consolation:
2 Corinthians 1:5 For just as we share abundantly in the sufferings of Christ, so also our comfort abounds through Christ.
And the help in suffering:
2 Corinthians 1:11 As you help us by your prayers. Then many will give thanks on our behalf for the gracious favor granted us in answer to the prayers of many.
Is prayer our steering wheel, or our spare tire? (paraphrased from Corrie ten Boom)
I have shared the story of the testing of my faith with people in suffering, we prayed together acknowledging that my suffering and theirs are nothing comparable to that of Job, who was a righteous man. God restored Job, and me, and God is the Lord Almighty, and able to restore everyone; we have to be still, and know He is God (Psalm 46:10).
“Lord, we pray for comfort for the people affected by the typhoon. Let this time be a moment that they put their trust in You; please provide for their needs and Your protection be on them. In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen.””
Personal present circumstances.
Just this November 2020, the criminal and administrative complaints against me were dismissed.
As of the moment, my retirement benefits are hanging.
Yet through such pain and anxiety, the Lord has blessed me with five (5) grandchildren between March 2017 and March 2020. The former is nothing compared to the latter; such precious blessing in my twilight years is most gratifying, my children's children are the very inspiration for the blog I do.
Job was a blameless man; I am not, I have no right to begrudge about my adversity. The words of Job are simply soothing.
Job 2
10 “Shall we accept good from God, and not trouble?”
Job 1
21 “Naked I came from my mother’s womb,
and naked I will depart.
The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away;
may the name of the Lord be praised.”
Job 19
25 I know that my redeemer lives,
and that in the end he will stand on the earth.
26 And after my skin has been destroyed,
yet in my flesh I will see God;
27 I myself will see him
with my own eyes—I, and not another.
How my heart yearns within me!
Lord, let me utter as Job did. How my heart yearns within me!
Someday my children's children will say, wala ka sa Lolo ko; he takes courage and comfort, trusts the unknown future to a known God.
May you be blessed and may you experience God's comfort in the midst of any anxiety.
Maraming salamat.
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