Left: Lettie Cowman (1870-1960) was an American writer and author, best known for her daily devotionals Streams in the Desert, began as a missionary with her husband in the Orient. 25 years into their missionary, Mr. Cowman fell seriously ill, and they had to quickly return to America. The following 6 years was very challenging to the couple as Mr. Cowman battled against his heart illness. However, he did not give up his mission but held up a map of China in his room, praying by the hour for every home, village and city of China.
Mr. Charles Cowman passed away in 1924. He left a note to his wife to "go on with my (his) unfinished task.” For the next 30 years, Mrs. Cowman carried on his missionary work as a president of OMS not only to the orient but also to India, Africa, South America, and Europe.
On top of that, she compiled bible verses with the sermon, readings, writings, and poetry that she was touched by the Lord in her most tormenting times during her husband’s sickness and passing. This was how the all time bestseller the Streams in the Desert came by, encouraging millions to remain faithful on God in the most trying times.
Right: Corrie ten Boom (1892-1983) was a Dutch watchmaker at a clock shop ran by her family that was devoted Christians for generations. They helped save lives of the Jews (believed to be 800 direct and indirectly) during the WWI by providing a secret hiding place in Corrie's bedroom. After they were caught, Corrie’s father Casper and her sister Betsie died in the cruel concentration camp, while Corrie miraculously survived and was released.
I was moved to tears while listening to and scrolling through the ten Boom virtual house tour. Corrie’s life is too rich to conclude in a few words. One may ask why the ten Boom family had to suffer so much for doing good? Why was God so harsh on His loved ones? But still Corrie saw God’s gracious hand at work, even in the infamous Ravensbrück concentration camp:
- Corrie survived her acute bronchitis in a forced solitary confinement with no medical care and little food
- While being strip-searched, Corrie prayed to make her invisible for the day so that her precious tiny bible would not be confiscated. Her prayer was granted and she was skipped over in her turn
- Lice were everywhere so the Nazi police kept a distance from the prisoners, which allowed them to hold bible studies twice a day
- Corrie was set free on Dec 31, 1944. One week later, all prisoners her age and older were killed. It was revealed years later that she was set free due to a clerical error
She was released at age 53. Having experienced Jesus’ suffering, companionship, power and mercy, she travelled and shared the realness of Jesus, her lesson in love and forgiveness that the world desperately need. Often she used the backside of an embroidery as an illustration. When we see things from the "wrong side", everything is chaos. However, God always sees from the right side, and it is a beautiful crown of life given to those who remain faithful to God. One day we will see the big picture from the right side as God does, and we will rejoice for the answered and unanswered prayers! Corrie has demonstrated this analogy with her own life!
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信心女勇士 2
左邊: 考門夫人 (1870-1960) 是一位美國基督教宣教士，是遠東宣教會(OMS)的創始人之一，亦是一名作家，她最暢銷的作品為荒漠甘泉。
考門夫婦在日本開始25年之久的遠東宣教。他們創辦了聖經學院和 推行逐家佈道運動，達至將福音傳給六千萬日本人。這運動延伸到韓國及至到中國。但就在宣教運動進行得如火如荼的時候，考門先生突然病倒了， 需要立即回美國治療。他的心臟病日趨嚴重，可是在病重的時候仍然日夜思念廣傳福音的大使命，在書房掛著中國的地圖， 不住地為每個省份、城市、區域、村莊和家庭禱告！
病患六年，考門先生在1924年回天家。考門夫人在他留下的聖經中找到一張字條，囑咐她努力完成使命。她決心在傷痛中站起來，並在餘下三十餘年間繼續把福音傳至遠東，後更達至印度、非洲、南美、歐洲等國家。
每逢考門夫人信心低谷的時期，就是在丈夫病重的時間，神總會是透過一些金句、篇章和詩句等鼓勵和安慰她，以致最困難的事她都能靠基督跨過。本著哥林多後書1章4節的理念，她把這些經文配上短句以鼓勵同受患難的人。
右邊: 彭柯麗(1892-1983) ，她的家族數代都是開鐘錶店的，一家都是虔誠的基督徒。在二戰時期她的家庭收留避難的猶太人，估計間接拯救了800個性命。她的家安裝了通訊系統以提示軍兵的到來，和在彭柯麗家房間中改裝了一個小的秘密避難所。為了救這些猶太人他們願意如此大費周章並冒著生命危險。
最後彭柯麗，年邁的父親和姐姐都被納粹軍捉走了, 而父親和姐姐都在嚴苛的環境下離世。縱使在最恐怖的拉文斯布呂克集中營，彭安麗非但沒有變得苦毒，反而數算神所作其妙的工：
例如她中途患了急性支氣管炎而被囚禁了數月，在沒有醫療補給和缺水缺糧的情況下生還。還有她能與中間的權貴交往以致她和姐姐免了死刑的刑罰。 除此以外，進監獄前搜身時，她向神祈求監獄兵跳過她讓小聖經不被沒收, 她的禱告蒙了應允。 她和姐姐還為了到處的跳蝨而感恩，因這緣故警官不敢接近她們因而和別的囚犯都能聚在一起每日兩次的查經小組，領了很多囚犯信主！
彭柯麗1944年的最後一天被放釋放了出來。後來得知一個星期後所有和她同年的人都被殺了，並且她被釋放原來是因為一個文件上的小錯誤， 卻全是神的大能！釋放後她並不膽怯，反而到世界各地把福音和見證傳開。她常在見證中展示一塊針織的背面，驟眼看不出是什麼。比喻著現在的我們只看到混亂的背面，唯有神永遠看到正確的一面，是漂亮、代表永生的冠冕。將來我們會從神的角度看到正面，並且為每一個有應允和沒應允的禱告而感恩！這個比喻已經彭柯麗身上成就了！
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