Fully Trusting

Corrie Ten Boom
Photo Courtesy of
Corrie ten Boomhuis Foundation, Haarlem.

        Today, one of my fellow Florida Worship Choir and Orchestra members posted something online that was quite profound. It was a quote from Corrie Ten Boom. She said, "When a train goes through a tunnel and it gets dark, you don't throw away the ticket and jump off. You sit still and trust the engineer." Likewise, we need to fully trust Jesus Christ, no matter what circumstances we may endure. Even in the darkest tunnel, Jesus Christ will be your light. Corrie knew this to be 100% true in her own life.

        Born to Dutch parents on April 15, 1892, Corrie grew up in the Netherlands as the daughter of a clock and watch shop owner, becoming a watchmaker herself in 1921. But she also grew up with something far more valuable than any acquired trade. Her parents were devout Christians, always helping others in need. Their desire to help others was so great that it ultimately resulted in their demise.

        During the Holocaust, Corrie and her family housed individuals who were fleeing from the Nazi regime. Their home became a refuge, or Hiding Place1, for these people. Along with a safe haven, the house guests who benefited from their open house policy also received knowledge of the Gospel, a priceless gift compared to the meals they shared or the roof covering their heads.

        Tragically, the Ten Booms were arrested along with 30 other people living in the house when they were betrayed. After they were transported to the concentration camp, Corrie was the sole survivor, freed on December 28, 1944, when the Ravensbrück Camp was liberated.

        The Ten Boom family could not trust the person who betrayed them on this earth, but they put their complete trust in the One who would never fail them. Just as Corrie said, even in a dark tunnel, you do not jump off the train. You trust the one who is operating the controls. Corrie knew that God would watch over her, keeping her safe from harm. All she had to do was fully trust Him.

        Proverbs 3:5-6 says, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to Him, and He will make your paths straight.” Instead of turning her back on God through her personal suffering and the loss of her loved ones, Corrie Ten Boom embarked on a ministry journey, which began when she was 53 years old. For 33 years, she traveled to over 60 countries, sharing the Good News of the Gospel. She submitted her life to God, trusting that He would lead her and guide her. Through her ministry, many people came to know Jesus Christ as their personal Savior. All because she trusted God enough to completely give her life to Him.

        What about you? Do you find it difficult to trust God in those moments when it feels as if you are stuck in a never-ending tunnel of darkness? Perhaps you are uncertain of your future, wondering where you should go or what you should do. As Corrie said, “Never be afraid to trust an unknown future to a known God.” Trust God to bring you through the darkness and into the light. The Lord said, “‘I will turn the darkness into light before them and make the rough places smooth. These are the things I will do; I will not forsake them’” (Isaiah 42:16). If you put your trust in Him, the Lord will help you. He will be your constant friend and He will give you strength when you are weary. 

        People may disappoint you, but Jesus Christ will never fail you.

There is no tunnel too long or too dark where the love of Jesus Christ cannot reach you (Romans 8:38-39). Surrender your life to Christ Jesus. Call on the name of the Lord and you shall be saved (Romans 10:13). Jesus is the Light of the world. Jesus said, “‘Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life’” (John 8:12). Don’t live in darkness any longer. Put your trust in Jesus Christ today!

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1The Hiding Place is the title of Corrie Ten Boom’s autobiography, written in 1971.

Move That Mountain!

Two Quarters

Jesus, Help: My Testimony

Everything You Do Matters!

Jesus, Help

Have you ever asked someone for a little help?  Maybe you needed your husband to move a heavy piece of furniture, or perhaps you were looking for someone to repair the leaky faucet in your kitchen.  Whether or not we like to admit it or not, we all need some help at one point or another.  Other times, the word help is not just used as a way to gain a favor, but instead, it is used during a time of crisis.  Think of a pilot who uses the “Mayday!” signal.  There are times in our lives when we feel as if we are on a plane that is running low on fuel, heading straight for the ground.  Life may seem to be spiraling out of control.  It is in these moments that we need more than a helping hand.  We need divine intervention.  In these moments of desperation, we need to cry out, “Jesus, help.”

On January 2, 1982, a premature baby girl entered this world in the midst of what seemed like a hopeless situation.  The doctors had given up hope for the little girl’s survival, since she was essentially lifeless.  Instead, they focused on doing what they could for her mother, who was also having complications from the labor and delivery.  This little girl had no chance of living a happy, normal life.  But her parents knew that God was faithful.  Struggling to cope with the situation, they didn’t rely on some eloquent prayer written with formal language.  They simply prayed, “Jesus, help.”

At that moment, the little girl began to cough, like a little kitten.  The doctors were amazed, yet some of them said that she would be no more than a vegetable even if she did survive.  Forget going to college or doing anything productive with her life.  But her parents didn’t care.  They only wanted her to live.  After spending several weeks in the neonatal center, the parents of this little girl finally were able to bring her home.  Now, at the age of 32 years old, she has since completed six years of college with honors, earning a 4.0 GPA on her Master of Science degree in English.  Obviously, the doctors were wrong.  God had other plans for this little baby.  Jesus heard her parent’s cries for help and He answered them.

That little baby was me.  I was born lifeless.  God raised me up and gave me life.  I am living proof that the same God who performed miracles in Bible times still performs miracles today.  Nothing has changed.  All of God’s promises are true, even in the year 2014.  The Bible says if we have faith as small as a mustard seed, we can move mountains.  My parents had great faith.  The medical world said that I would not live.  But through faith, my parents asked Jesus to help.  They sent up a “Mayday” call, if you will, to the King of Kings and Lord of Lords.  He heard their desperate cry for help.  Because of the miraculous power of Jesus Christ, I am here today.

There was no ceremonious prayer offered up.  It didn’t take an army of deacons or church elders.  No music was even played.  Two people prayed, “Jesus, help.”  Jesus doesn’t require pomp and circumstance.  He only requires faith.  Whatever you are going through, Jesus Christ wants to help you.  There is no situation beyond the reach of Jesus.  He can heal the sick, mend broken hearts, and restore lives.  Jesus loves you more than you could ever imagine.  Call on the name of Jesus Christ.  Ask Him for help.  He will help you, just like He helped me the very day I was born and continues to help me every day of my life.  He will hear your cry for help.  All it takes is a little faith and a simple prayer.  Your life will be changed forever.  Don’t delay.  Stop what you’re doing right now and ask Jesus to help you today.

In Christ’s Love,

Jennifer

The Starfish

I will never forget the story of the starfish.  Two people are walking along the beach.  As they are walking, they encounter a large number of starfish that have washed upon the shore.  One of them bends down, picks up a starfish, and tosses it back into the ocean.  The other person asks, “What good did that do?  Look at all of them.  That didn’t make a difference.”  The first person replies, “It made a difference to that one.”

What about you?  Would you pick up a starfish?  Maybe your starfish is not a starfish at all, but maybe God is calling you to telephone a friend who needs a word of encouragement or purchase a bag of groceries for the family next door.  Perhaps God has laid it on your heart to provide a meal for the homeless person you see on the corner each morning you drive to work, or to smile at someone who looks like they are having a bad day.  I’m sure many of us would jump at the chance to go on a mission trip to the other side of the world, or to provide clothes, household items, and food for a family whose house burned down.  While these things are certainly worthwhile, we need to make sure we do not lose sight of the daily blessing we can be to others.

When Jesus returns to this earth, the Bible says that He will say to those blessed by His Father, “‘I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me’” (Matthew 25:35-36 NIV).  The righteous will ask, “‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink?  When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you?  When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’” (Matthew 25:37-39 NIV).  Jesus will reply, “‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me’” (Matthew 25:40 NIV).

When we help someone in need, we may not even know their name.  But God knows exactly who they are.  He knows whether or not we will help them.  And if we do help them, we are helping Jesus.  For whatever we do for someone in need, we are doing for Him.  So the next time you make a phone call to check on someone, visit the local nursing home, pay for someone’s meal, or simply share a smile to brighten someone’s day, remember, you are doing it for Jesus.  It may seem insignificant to you, but it is significant to God.  Even the smallest action, like tossing a starfish back into the water, can make a huge difference in someone’s life.  In the case of the starfish, it not only changed its life, but saved it.

In Christ’s Love,

Jennifer

Fear

Have you ever been afraid?  Not just a little scared, but truly in fear for your life?  Perhaps you were in a car accident, or saw your child fall down a flight of stairs?  Maybe you were scared that you would lose your home to a fire or due to lack of funds to pay your mortgage?  Many times, fear can cause us to literally shut down, unable to live our lives as God has intended.  God knows that we will be afraid at times, and He has promised that He will help us through the most terrifying experiences of our lives, so we can enjoy the rewarding, peaceful life that He has planned for us.

Isaiah 41:13 (NIV) says, “I am the LORD your God who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, Do not fear; I will help you.”  No matter what we may be experiencing at this very moment, God is standing beside us.  Not only that, but He is holding our hand, guiding us through the rough patches of life.  He longs for us to have the peace that only He can give.  He wants us to have the reassurance that He will help us through any situation that life may bring our way, no matter how frightening it may be.  He is the calm before and after the storm.  He is the master of the wind and maker of the rain.  Put your faith in the Lord, and He will calm all of your fears.

If you feel that being afraid is a sign of weakness, I want to assure you that this is certainly not the case.  Consider Jesus’ disciples.  One night while they were out on the lake, they were literally afraid of Jesus himself, thinking that He was a ghost.  In Matthew 14:25-27 (NIV), we read: “Shortly before dawn Jesus went out to them, walking on the lake.  When the disciples saw him walking on the lake, they were terrified.  ‘It’s a ghost,’ they said, and cried out in fear.  But Jesus immediately said to them: ‘Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.’”  Even when His disciples did not recognize Him, He wants them to be at ease, unafraid at seeing Him walk across the water.  He wants them to know everything there is to know about Him, beginning with the fact that He is the King of Kings and Lord of Lords, able to walk on water.  He wanted them to trust Him completely, just like He wants us to do today.

Even the Psalmist David knew that He needed to put His trust in God in order to avoid the fears that encompass us in life.  Psalm 56:3-4 (NIV) says, “When I am afraid, I put my trust in you.  In God, whose word I praise—in God I trust and am not afraid.  What can mere mortals do to me?”  David is reminding us that we do not need to be afraid, even if trouble comes.  Even if the bill collector calls or a friend stabs us in the back, there is still no reason to be afraid.  When we put our trust in God, nothing can steal our peace.  Nothing can steal our joy.  Nothing can take away God’s hand working in our life.

Mary was afraid when she saw the angel standing before her, delivering the message that she would be the mother of Jesus.  “But the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary; you have found favor with God.” (Luke 1:30 NIV).  There are times when we may receive news that is saddening, shocking, or simply unexpected.  Regardless of whether the news is positive or negative, God is in control.  God knows that there are times when we may experience fear in order to make the journey from where we are to where we need to be.  Like Mary, we may be afraid for a season, only to find that we have been called to serve the Lord in a way in which we had never even dreamed.

Time and time again, the Bible tells us that we should not be afraid.  Psalm 118:6 says, “The LORD is with me; I will not be afraid.”  Hebrews 13:6 says, “The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can mere mortals do to me?”  Even Jesus himself tells us in Revelation 1:17 (NIV) that we should not be afraid, and He says, “I am the First and the Last.”  So, no matter what trials come and what fears may Jesus Christ has paved the way for you to live a fearless life of joy.  He has a dream for your life, void of all fear.  He wants you to experience a fearless life that is greater than anything you ever imagined.

In Christ's Love,

Jennifer