Gleanings from 'The Hiding Place" Corrie Ten Boom

"Sometimes I would slip the Bible from its little sack with 

hands that shook, so mysterious had it become to me. 

It was new; it had just been written. 

I marveled sometimes that the ink was dry. 

I had believed the Bible always, but reading it now 

had nothing to do with belief. 

It was simply a description of the way things were--

of hell and heaven, 

of how men act and how God acts. 

I had read a thousand times the story of Jesus' arrest --

how soldiers had slapped him, 

laughed at Him, 

flogged Him. 

Now such happenings had faces and voices."

~Corrie Ten Boom 

"The Hiding Place"

 

If you asked my family, they would tell you I am not an "emotional" mama.  I never have been.  They have seen me cry in church services where the Holy Spirit was moving more than the day to day moments of life.  Now my heart cries over many things...the injustices in the world, the desire for salvation to come to all my family and that they walk close to Him each day, the overwhelming awe for the mercy I receive each moment from a loving Father who knows my many faults and shortcomings yet still loves me, and more.   Even though I've read her story before, you cannot help but cry when you read "The Hiding Place".  

Your heart breaks that anyone could ignore such brutal inhumanity such as was inflicted in Europe by the Nazis.  Yet my heart wonders how many injustices I miss or am immune to each day while trying to get my daily list done and am about my own business.  

Encouragement in our God, who keeps you in His arms, is found when you read the many miracles experienced in the dark, brutally cold, crowded, flea-infested prison.  It's hard to complain about cobwebs and piles of laundry when you know how really blessed and free you are.  But you can live in a prison of your own design, if you walk in fear and miss the blessings He pours out each day for you.

If you want a quick read that will truly build your faith in our amazing God, who provides and cares for your every need, who is with you in the darkest of times, who has purposes and designs for your life this is the book for you.  Be sure to have tissues handy for the tears of heartache and the tears of thankfulness.