Kathy bought me a copy of Corrie Ten Boom's "The Hiding Place", as a gift. What an eye opener!!!  Here's a few things I learned and a few things I was reminded of...

First, it's amazing just how blessed we are.  Imagine yourself sleeping on a flea and lice infested staw pallet, with only a thin, threadbare blanket for warmth in the cold German winter.  Now, imagine sharing that rancid pallet with nine others in a stench filled room with little or no heat.  Imagine only having 8 toilets for more than one thousand people.  Makes your house or apartment seem pretty cozy doesn't it.  This was the reality for hundreds of thousands of prisoners during World War II.  Sadly, it's also reality for millions today around the world.

What did you have for supper?  For me it was McDonald's...not my favorite.  However, a quarter-pounder and fries sounds a good sight better than a cup of "thin turnip soup and a small boiled potato".  Extreme hunger was the case then as it is now for millions of people.

God has truely blessed this country and all of us who live here. Regardless of how "poor" we think we are, we should be down on our knees in thanks to the Father every day.  Not just a "thanks God", but true, heartfelt gratitude!

I have also been reminded of how God uses even horrid things for good in our lives.  For example...fleas, a retched biting creature, were welcomed in the barracks of German concentration camps.  Why?  The very presence of the vermin kept the German guards out of living quarters, because they did not wish to be infested.  We should be thankful to God for all things as he ultimately will use them for good.

We must pray for our enemies.  Regardless of how much pain someone may cause, they are in need of Jesus just as much as you and I.  As we are all sinners and we all fall short of the Glory of God, we are no better in Gods eyes than the most hideous among us.  Furthermore, we are commanded to reach out to and forgive those who hurt us, just as Jesus forgives us. How one goes about praying for blessings upon a manical SS guard, or a radical terrorist I am not sure...but again it's what He has commanded...and shown by example.  "Forgive them Father, for they know not what they do"

We should also be thankful that God is there in good times and bad.  True strength comes when we are brave enough to turn the reigns over to the Father.  If He is great enough to have created the entire universe and everything that's in it...is He not great enough to solve our problems?  Often when times are tough, we turn from God and try to fix things ourselves.These are the moments we should do just the opposite...turn to Him and pray for his wisdom.  Most importantly, pray for His will to be done.  You will find it amazing how much better life is when you let Him be in control.

I know it's easy to moan and complain about how things are...I do it all the time.  In reality however, we all have it so good.  Instead of protesting our conditions, we should be praising God daily for all that we have.

Finally, thanks to Kathy for a most wonderful gift...one that made me think, ponder, reflect and most importantly count my many blessings.  By the way, if you haven't read "The Hiding Place"...please do...it will be another blessing to add to your list!

In His grace,

Dave

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