After some thought, I am retiring both blogs for awhile. I'm just done with blogging for now.

-Beth

grace & peace are possible at the foot of Jesus.

"Be of good courage, and He shall strengthen your heart; All you who hope in the Lord."

 Psalm 31:24

Come with me, back in time. The day is February 28, 1944 around 12:30. Up till now, life was fine. Plans were working out as planned, and until this moment in time you were sure God would work all the details out. But your home is invaded, and your family arrested for "crimes." IN the days that followed, you were tried, treated, and sentenced as a criminal, and placed in a concentration camp with your sister. Here, you both faced trials and were faced and treated as nothing. Here, your sister dies. And in the midst of this heart ache, where your life was literally torn apart, you still find joy, courage, and strength. Because you Hoped in the Lord, and in His divine plan. In the midst of death and depression God granted you joy and strength to get through it: God granted you mercy and gave you grace.  

I couldn't imagine being in the shoes of Corrie Ten Boom. Her story is inspiring, and at the same time so sad that it's hard to see the light in the midst of it. She forgave the people and men who tore her family apart, and took away from her the life that she had with her family in the Netherlands at the family clock shop. Yet in the midst of the terror that Hitler spread around the world, her family found strength in the Lord. They found courage in the Lord, so much so they risked their lives to help their fellow countrymen who were hated by Hitler because of their belief: they were Jews, the chosen of the Lord.

I don't know if you have ever read or heard the story of Corrie Ten Boom, but you should take the time to read it. Or listen to the audio drama by Focus on the family radio theater: "The hiding place."  So, why did I take the few paragraphs to sum-up one of the most amazing women of all time? Well the scripture that I shared at the beginning of the post hit home for me. It made me think about all the times God has been my strength, in the midst of my weakness. He is grace- all the time. 

Yesterday two friends died in a car accident. I didn't know either of them very well, but we had hung out, talked, shopped, etc. And the fact of their death hits hard. You never expect something bad to happen to those you know. IN fact, it seems impossible to me. But they are both in heaven, praising the Lord. They are probably showing the other believers up there how to two-step. 

God has given me grace to accept it- but my prayer today is that the families and close friends find the grace that God is wanting to pour out on them. Corrie Ten Boom faced trials that I could never imagine having to go through- but in the midst of it she found grace, joy, and peace. In the midst of her doubting, and questioning she trusted in the one who she had put her faith in years before.

Grace and Peace are possible at the foot of Christ. 

Remember Corrie's story today, and remember the verse,

 "BE of good courage. And He shall strengthen your heart; all you who hope in the Lord." Psalm 31:24 

*above: KJV *below ESV

"Be strong, and let your heart take courage, all you who wait for the Lord!" Psalm 31:24

love always-

beth

I'm pretty positive that this photo speaks more than a thousand words.