Every year I repost this story, and I do not apologize for doing so! This is a reminder for all of us that God is at work when do not see it. He is for us and not against us! I want to be a child of God who gives Him thanks every day even when I do not feel like it.

It is simple to thank God when He does miracles and answers prayers just the way we want them answered. It is easy to thank Him when we look around and see many blessings in our lives. When our situation seems awful, or we are struggling through tragedy or hard times, it can seem unbelievable that God is working for our good.

The following is one of my favorite stories about learning to give thanks, probably my favorite!

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. Corrie and her sister Betsie had been imprisoned by the Nazis for hiding Jews behind the wall of their Holland home, and Nazi prison conditions pretty well unbearable.

Corrie writes: “Barracks 8 was in the quarantine compound. Next to us–perhaps as a deliberate warning to newcomers–were located the punishment barracks. From there, all day long and often into the night, came the sounds of hell itself. They were not the sounds of anger, or of any human emotion, but of a cruelty altogether detached: blows landing in regular rhythm, screams keeping pace. We would stand in our ten-deep ranks with our hands trembling at our sides, longing to jam them against our ears, to make the sounds stop.

“It grew harder and harder. Even within these four walls there was too much misery, too much seemingly pointless suffering. Every day something else failed to make sense, something else grew too heavy.”

Yet, in the midst of the suffering, the women prisoners around Corrie and Betsie found comfort in the little Bible studies they held in the barracks. Corrie writes they gathered around the Bible “like waifs clustered around a blazing fire…The blacker the night around us grew, the brighter and truer and more beautiful burned the Word of God.”

When they were moved to Barracks 28, Corrie was horrified by the fact that their reeking, straw-bed platforms swarmed with fleas. How could they live in such a place? It was Betsie who discovered God’s answer: “Rejoice always, pray constantly, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus.”   That’s it, Corrie! That’s His answer. “Give thanks in all circumstances!”  That’s what we can do. We can start right now to thank God for every single thing about this new barracks!’

“I stared at her; then around me at the dark, foul-aired room…”

They thanked God for the fact they were together. They thanked God they had a Bible. They even thanked God for the horrible crowds of prisoners, that more people would be able to hear God’s Word. And then, Betsie thanked God for the fleas.

“The fleas! This was too much. ‘Betsie, there’s no way even God can make me grateful for a flea.’

‘” Give thanks in all circumstances,” ‘she quoted. “It doesn’t say, “in pleasant circumstances.”  Fleas are part of this place where God has put us.”

“And so, we stood between tiers of bunks and gave thanks for fleas. But this time I was sure Betsie was wrong.”    It turned out that Betsie was not wrong; the fleas were a nuisance, but a blessing after all. The women were able to have Bible studies in the barracks with a great deal of freedom, never bothered by supervisors coming in and harassing them. They finally discovered that it was the fleas that kept those supervisors out.

Through those fleas, God protected the women from abuse and harassment. Dozens of desperate women were free to hear the comforting, hope-giving Word of God. Through those fleas, God protected the women from much worse things and made sure they had their deepest, truest needs met.

We all have “fleas” in our lives. We all have those things that we can see no use for, things that are obviously horrible, unpleasant, painful things that we want gone. No life is free of “fleas.”   We all have aggravations, inconveniences, and pain. If God can use fleas to protect Corrie and Betsie, He is fully capable of using difficult things to bless us. God does care; God is working even when we are uncomfortable with or disappointed with life. As we celebrate Thanksgiving Day, lets thank God for His constant care and provision, and for His hidden blessings that come in ways we can easily overlook.

“In everything give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.”  1 Thessalonians 5:18

Times have changed through the years for this Southern Belle. I live in a large neighborhood in a quiet suburb of Birmingham, Alabama. I love living between my two neighbors that I have now. On one side is a kind widow and on the other side is a young family with two boys. We are so blessed with good neighbors.

A few years back in the same neighborhood, we were blessed to live between two precious widows, and both happened to be African American. I enjoyed standing in my yard and chatting with them.

One night as I was walking, I passed my neighbor’s home and noticed her car engine was running while the car was in the garage, yet no one was in the car. I assumed she was about to leave. After walking three miles, I returned home and noticed that the car was still running, and no one was in it. I knew that was not normal for my neighbor. I went to my neighbor Vestee’s door to check on her. It took me a while to get her to the door, but she was so glad I did. The car had not been driven in a while, and she went out to start it so that the engine could run, but she forgot about the car.

We exchanged phone numbers that day, and I told her to also give my number to her daughter, in case they needed me to check on her.

I also love talking with the neighbor on the other side. Betty was a talker! We could go on for a very long time. I had not seen Betty outside in a while, so I expressed concern to my husband. “This is just not like Betty. I know something is wrong, or she is gone away.”   Finally, I saw Betty one day, and I knew immediately she was fighting for her life. Betty had lost a lot of weight, and she shared with me that she had been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. We talked, and I assured her that she would be on our everyday prayer list. I sent her cards and stayed in touch until God called her home.

This might not seem like a big deal to most, but it is to me.

As a child growing up in the south, I saw a lot of social unrest. (I know it was in other areas as well, so let’s not get sidetracked.) My first time experiencing integration was when I was in the seventh grade, and I was twelve years old. As I look back now, I realize much of what happened was because we were raised in environments where we learned to judge people from the outside, not the inside. I certainly do not defend that position, but at the time, that is what we knew.

Thank God, I learned better, and raised children who were taught better!

God’s word shows us how Jesus dealt with the issue of judging folks from the outside. In fact, Jesus literally walked right into the issue when He dared to minister to the woman at the well. Simply because she was a Samaritan, she would have been thought of as “less than” by the Jews of her day. Samaritans were originally Jews but later intermarried with Gentiles. The intermarriage created a mixed race, and the “pure” Jew hated them.

The animosity between the two groups was so great that the Jews would bypass Samaria as they traveled between Galilee and Judea. They took a longer route in order to avoid going through Samaria. Jesus could not make everyone else do the right thing, but He could do the right thing.

My heart is saddened as I see such division in our country. People are hated simply because they are Jewish, Black, Caucasian, Republican, or Democrat. I recently read an article suggesting that it is impossible to sit at a Thanksgiving table with a family who voted differently. Hatred is on full display on social media and, at times, news organizations.

In my opinion, over the last few years, race relations in this country have taken a big step backwards. I know it is not a popular subject to discuss, but it needs to be discussed. There is a lot of anger out there. I find it sad how quickly we point the finger at each other, calling one another racists. I refuse to be drawn into that! Like Jesus, I cannot make anyone else do the right thing, but I can do the right thing. I am going to treat people like people. I do not care if they are brown, black, white, or mixed. I refuse to take a step backwards, even if others choose that path.

I loved living between my two African American neighbors. All three of us were old enough to remember the “bad” days, and all three of us remember a time when being neighbors would have been impossible. Yet, we treated each other like people. It did not matter to us what color we were or how we voted. We laughed together, cried together, prayed for each other, and leaned on one another.

I refuse to sign up or to be drafted as a soldier in the war on people. Others might, but I choose not to be in that army. I refuse to be a hater of another person.

Christian love is a bridge, not a hedge. Refuse to be in the army of hate.

Peter told them, “You know it is against our laws for a Jewish man to enter a Gentile home like this or to associate with you. But God has shown me that I should no longer think of anyone as impure or unclean.” –  Acts 10:28

Many are the people and situations on the prayer list that my husband, Gaylon, and I pray over every day. Occasionally, we stop and look at each other and one of us will say, “People are going through so much. It is unbelievable what people are facing.” 

In our prayer time, we are praying for those suffering with cancer, which includes a child diagnosed before he was one year old, Parkinson’s Disease, mental health issues, autism, financial issues, impending divorce, death of a spouse or a child. The list is long. There are so many of God’s people who are suffering in this life.

No one wants to suffer, but in a fallen world, it is unavoidable. I know many want to preach it away, but the truth is suffering will visit us all.

While there is all kind of suffering, today I want to talk about suffering for Christ. Ugh! Do we have to discuss such an unpleasant subject? Actually, yes, we do. It is much needed.

One of the ministries that have supported for years is Voice of the Martyrs, started by Richard and Sabina Wurmbrand in 1967. Richard Wurmbrand preached at bomb shelters and rescued Jews during World War II. He experienced imprisonment and torture by the Communist regime of Romania, which maintained a policy of state atheism. He was hideously tortured during his fourteen years in prison. All that torture could have been avoided, if Wurmbrand had just renounced his faith and lived like the world around him.

Wurmbrand wrote a book entitled Tortured for Christ which also became a movie. I have read the book and viewed the movie. It was not an easy read, and the movie was challenging to watch. But the story leaves one with the reality that victory comes in the end. God will have the last word.

Many believers have long forgotten the lives and testimonies of Richard and Sabina Wurmbrand, or they know nothing about them. Quite frankly, stories like theirs disturb the pleasant Christian life so many of us enjoy. Richard Wurmbrand was a man for his time. He obeyed the light he had and boldly preached Christ despite the oppression, hurt, torture, and suffering. Christ was his message.

It is improbable that any of us in America will be imprisoned and tortured for our faith in Jesus Christ. We live in the Disney World of nations as far as persecution for our faith. But make no mistake about it, many in this country have suffered simply for refusing to compromise their faith. It has cost some their businesses, their careers, their social media accounts, their friendships, and other things. While that does not come close to persecution such as Richard Wurmbrand and others have suffered, we must understand that we live in a world that is increasingly hostile toward Christianity and the truth of what the Bible teaches.

As the influence of Christianity wanes and is even ridiculed, we will be accused of being small-minded, hateful, or judgmental. We have already been. Now is the time to be freshly infused with the power and presence of the Holy Spirit. Prepare now for what is to come.

Wurmbrand had an extraordinary testimony to the sufferings that Christians were enduring in Eastern Europe. His witness is considered to have been a factor in the ultimate collapse of communism in Romania and elsewhere. Richard and Sabina Wurmbrand were ordinary people, who stood firm for Christ against evil.

First Peter 4:19 says, “Therefore let those who suffer according to the will of God commit their souls to Him in doing good, as to a faithful Creator.”

We are not promised an easy and carefree life as followers of Jesus. Rather, we are promised in First Peter that we will experience a “fiery trial;” maybe several trials. How should we respond when this happens? We must keep our eye on the reality of eternity. We will face pain in this life as followers of Jesus, but the eternal reward far outweighs the momentary sorrows.

Perhaps God will not have you endure the torture of a communist prison for His sake. Could it be that your faithfulness will not be proven in a prison cell but in your prayer closet and in the way you live your life before others?

Keep your eye on eternity. Suffering is inevitable, so is victory!

^“Be on guard. Stand firm in the faith. Be courageous. Be strong.” 1 Corinthians 16:13 NLT; ^“Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.” – Ephesians 6:11.

As I have gotten older, I will admit I think more about eternity than I did when I was younger. This year, I have lost a brother, a sister, and close friends. The truth of the matter is that unless Jesus returns, we are all going to take our last breath on this earth.

The thoughts about Heaven that get passed around are pretty convoluted. Let’s talk about Heaven.

Facts:

• The Bible teaches that the way to eternal life in Heaven is through Jesus Christ. Jesus died and paid the price for our sin, thus reconciling us to God. I know it does not always set well with people, and I expect some pushbacks. I believe the Bible. The Bible clearly teaches that we do not get to Heaven through our good works. There are quite a few verses about this in the Bible, but I shall only give one. ^“For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.” – Ephesians 2:8-9.

• Everyone does not become an angel after death. Nowhere in the Bible is there any teaching that people wake up in Heaven as an angel. God has tens of thousands of angels in Heaven. I know people are sincere in trying to ease grief. Grief is hard. We should be thrilled to know that we are higher than the angels once we stand before God in Heaven. The Bible says, “Do you not know that we will judge angels?” (1 Corinthians 6:3). This verse may be referring to the rebellious angels who chose to follow Satan, but it still shows that our status after death will be above that of the angels. I believe Hollywood has perpetuated this belief in many of their movies. Our greatest example is that Jesus rose bodily after His death. I look forward to my glorified body, how about you?

• Our loved ones are watching us from Heaven. This one is questionable, but certainly not clear. When we lost our son Bryan, he left behind a wife pregnant with their first child. Well-meaning people would tell me that he was watching over us from Heaven. If that statement is true, we must remember that Heaven does not see through the same eyes as Earth. I cannot imagine Bryan seeing his grief-stricken wife suffer, causing him to walk around under a burden of sadness, while he was in the presence of the Lord. If Bryan does see, he will see as heaven sees, that everything is going to be okay because God is at work. I am thankful that God is watching over me and my family. There is no greater watchman than God. “For now, we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.” – 1 Corinthians 13:12 NIV.

• There will be no more. Truth! There will be no more tears, no more pain, no more cancer, no more wrinkles, no more racism, no more grief, no more division. I could go on and on. I am grateful that I will spend eternity where there will be no more!

• The central focus will be on the Lamb of God. Our eyes will be focused on Jesus Christ in all of His majesty, power, and splendor! He will be worshipped and exalted. “It will be worth it all when we see Jesus. Life’s trials will seem so small when we see Christ. one glimpse of His dear face, all sorrow will erase, so, bravely run the race till we see Christ!”

• Believers preceding us in death will be there, and we will recognize them. Jesus was known to His followers after His resurrection. While I cannot give all the details of how this will look in Heaven, I do believe we will know our loved ones and friends who were saved by the work of the cross. I first want to see Jesus, and then I want to see Bryan, my mother, and others I have loved while upon the earth. It will be a glorious reunion.

• For the believer, to be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord. “So, we are always of good courage. We know that while we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord, for we walk by faith, not by sight. Yes, we are of good courage, and we would rather be away from the body and at home with the Lord. So, whether we are at home or away, we make it our aim to please him.” – 2 Corinthians 5:6-9
  
  
• There will be a new heaven and new earth when we rule and reign with Christ. That’s a blog for a different day! “But we are looking forward to the new heavens and new earth he has promised, a world filled with God’s righteousness.” – 2 Peter 3:13 NLT
  
  
• I do not know everything there is to know about Heaven and eternity. I only know it will be glorious because God prepared it.

“I can only imagine what it will be like, when I walk by Your side…
I can only imagine, what my eyes will see, when Your Face is before me!
I can only imagine. I can only imagine.

Surrounded by Your Glory, what will my heart feel?
Will I dance for you, Jesus? Or in awe of You, be still?
Will I stand in Your presence, or to my knees will I fall?
Will I sing ‘Hallelujah!’? Will I be able to speak at all?
I can only imagine! I can only imagine!”