Posts with the tag “fasting”

It is remarkable to note that the ten Booms moved approximately 800 Jews to safety through the underground network. More impressive still is the worldwide ministry Corrie launched in the months and years after her imprisonment. Had the ten Boom family remained in the safety of Haarlem, so many would have perished without the message of salvation. Instead Corrie went on to visit some 60 countries a...  Read More

Several Jews sought refuge at the ten Boom home, but there was limited space and even less resources. With a strong determination, Corrie became involved with in an underground movement that hid and transported Jews to safety.To transform their home, a “Mr. Smit” came to the door of the Beje to assess the walls in Corrie’s bedroom. He took measurements and determined where he could build a wall ov...  Read More

There were two releases in 1944. On December 16th Betsie died in prison and went home to heaven. On December 31st Corrie was released from Ravensbruck through a clerical error. Truly there are no missteps for the Christian since God orders our steps.Before Betsie passed away, she shared visions God gave her of two buildings used to rehabilitate the prisoners of war. One was a beautiful mansion on ...  Read More

 RavensbruckA knock came. There stood a man begging money for his Jewish wife’s release. His claim - an officer would take bribe money for her release. Corrie hesitated. When the man persisted she told him to come back the next day. But when he returned, he brought the Gestapo with him. He was a plant. Casper, Corrie, and Betsie were arrested and thrown into prison. They faced solitary confinement...  Read More

It came clear that the goal of Nazism was to exterminate the Jews. The minor assaults gave way to devastating violence. The National Socialist Bond (NSB) had a dangerous agenda – control the population.Ration cards for food were distributed. Radios were confiscated from all households to stop the communication flow. Newspapers reported only German statistics such as obituaries of military leaders ...  Read More

The violence toward the Jewish citizens escalated. Suddenly Jewish families began disappearing - their businesses shut down. One day on Casper and Corrie’s daily walk, they witnessed a truck loading Jewish men, women, and children into the back. Corrie’s anger was kindled. She could not comprehend the violence toward the Jews. Soon the war raged over the Holland skies. Thunderous bombs shook the B...  Read More

Theirs was a simple lifestyle in the quiet village of Haarlem. Corrie lived in a modest home with her father Casper and sister Betsie. The family-run watch shop had seen its 100th year anniversary when dark clouds invaded the Holland skies. Reports of Germany, France, and England at war flooded the family radio more and more.Dutch soldiers dotted the Haarlem streets. Though the Prime Minister repo...  Read More

Today’s scripture came after Peter’s first Spirit-filled sermon. As a result three thousand travelers were saved on that very day. And the church of Jesus Christ was launched with power. The early church in the book of Acts is the most organic framework for the church, for it fully captures Jesus’ intent for the life of believers. Jesus’ brothers, James and Jude, went on to write books that were p...  Read More

Three days and the grave gave up Jesus’ body. The beginning of Acts recounts the ascension of Jesus to heaven. How devastating the cross but how healing His final days on earth must have been! As in all things, God had a greater plan for His followers than they could have imagined. No one wanted Jesus to leave, but Jesus explained that He needed to ascend to heaven so a helper could come forth. Th...  Read More

Jesus had performed three years of sacrificial ministry when time reached its fullness. The Pharisees and Sadducees hatched a corrupt plan to arrest Him. Ironic how an insider, Judas, was the crack the religious leaders used to gain access to Jesus. They used the cover of night to satisfy their corruption. Evil finds its greatest pleasure in darkness.  Crucifixion was the path the evil religious l...  Read More

The four gospels, Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John tell the story of Jesus earthly life. The numerous miracles He performed, His incredible teachings, His exhaustive evangelist crusades, and His untimely death are thoroughly documented. Though Jesus’ teachings were unacceptable to the religious leaders, the people were being set free. Uncountable healings flooded the surrounding villages and towns. J...  Read More

A census was called by Caesar, and every man was to return to the city in which he was born. Joseph was tasked to bring his pregnant wife on a ninety mile journey to Bethlehem. Nothing in this event was convenient. Imagine a woman in the final stages of her pregnancy riding a donkey across dusty roads for ninety long miles. When they arrived she went into labor. But there were no vacancies at the ...  Read More

A pregnant virgin – what kind of ridiculousness is that? But as far fetched as that sounded, Mary was a virtuous woman. Of that Joseph was sure. So what should he do? He clearly didn’t believe Mary, but being a just man, he extended mercy and determined to put her away quietly instead of openly chastising her. But one night Joseph’s plan was intercepted. An angel visited him in a dream and confirm...  Read More

You decided to fast- or are just looking to learn more about it. What is it? Why do we do it? How do we even start? That's what we will discuss in this article.  Read More

Glorious angel with a grand announcement. No doubt Gabriel’s appearance jarred her. But it was his words that left her speechless. Highly favored…the Lord is with you…blessed among women…these were salutations of great honor! It is little wonder that Mary was bewildered and even troubled by the encounter. Her eyes had never beheld an angel. And his message was overwhelming!Once Gabriel settled Mar...  Read More

In today’s reading, Moses was on a mountain with God ~ Wow! The man who spent 40 days and 40 nights on Mount Sinai with God was the same shepherd who argued with a burning bush in the desert. In Exodus 6:2-3, God explained to Moses how Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob knew Him only as God, but Moses would experience Him as Lord, a reference to vibrant intimacy. Incredible! And Moses surely did experience...  Read More

A miracle of inexpressible proportion! Nothing logical could have explained the event Moses and the Israelites experienced! It was undeniably spectacular! Can you imagine the astonished relief of God’s people?Moses opened his mouth, and glorious praises spilled forth. His heart overflowed with unstoppable waves of gratitude. The once doubt-filled man watched as the Red Sea heard the command of the...  Read More

The final plague over Egypt was the death of the firstborn children. Pharaoh furiously ordered Moses to gather the Israelites and leave immediately. But it didn’t take long for Pharaoh’s heart to harden again, and he quickly changed his mind. He rallied all of the captains of his army and readied his best chariots to bring the Israelites back to Egypt.Picture with me some 600,000 Israelites travel...  Read More

Callouses on a hardened heart must be chipped away for tenderness to surface. This is a true statement for both Pharaoh and Moses – Pharaoh in his bolstering pride and Moses in his insecurities.Unfortunately, Pharaoh refused to be humbled. God sent ten plagues to ravage Egypt until Pharaoh was rendered completely powerless. Though he possessed a mighty army fully outfitted with horses and chariots...  Read More

Three hundred miles – that is the distance Moses traveled back to Egypt. The trip was long. Time surely added complexity to this journey since it gave Moses ample time to anticipate the coming confrontation with Pharaoh. No doubt his apprehension eclipsed his mind, setting forth wild imaginations. Nothing in the natural made sense. How could a stuttering man advanced in age convince the most power...  Read More

God’s command was met with much resistance. Moses was not an eloquent speaker.He was not a communicator by nature and understandably had great concerns that neither the Israelites nor Pharaoh would listen to him. He needed credibility. He needed a smoothdelivery. He needed to convince Pharaoh to release the captives, the very people who bore the labor workforce and helped maintain this pagan ruler...  Read More

Could life be more mundane and predictable than shepherding a flock on the backsideof the desert? Life was remote. Days were scorching hot. And the world was simple. Until Godinvaded a bush with fire, but the plant was not consumed. Moses came closer to investigatethe phenomenon. He was met by a powerful voice, “Take off your sandals for the place whereyou are standing is holy ground.” Forty years...  Read More

Anvil ~ in the world of forging an anvil is an unforgiving cold surface where the shaping process takes place. The blacksmith pounds steel that is set ablaze in the fiery coals of a furnace. At the hammer’s relentless thrashing, new shapes emerge. The metal, once formless and without purpose, becomes a new creation in the hand of its craftsman.  Read More

What does the Bible teach about fasting? Biblical fasting involves abstaining from eating (and/or drinking) for spiritual purposes. In the Old Testament, Israel celebrated certain annual fasts, the most prominent being the Day of Atonement. There were also occasional fasts tied to specific historical events, sometimes individual and sometimes corporate. Here are a few of the occasions for fasting: at a time of grief (I Sam. 31:13; Nehemiah 1:4), at a time of repentance (I Sam 7:6; I Kings 21:27), as an expression of humility (Ezra 8:21; Psalm 69:10), and as an expression of a need for God’s guidance and help. What all of these fasts share in common is that they were an expression of dependence on God. Several New Testament passages give us insight about fasting.   Read More

Fasting is voluntarily going without food—or some other regularly enjoyed gift from God—for spiritual purposes. In short, we fast from food so we can feast on God. Fasting is not our attempt to manipulate God to do what we want Him to do. Fasting does not bring God into alignment with our desires but brings our desires into alignment with God’s.   Read More