God's Purpose in a Sporting Goods Store....Nonna Bannister

There are those times in life when we search out a particular book, and then there are the times when it is as if God puts the book into our hands, Himself.  The second method is how I came to purchase "The Secret Holocaust Diaries - The untold story of Nonna Bannister" by Nonna Bannister, Denise George and Carolyn Tomlin; available through Amazon.com via the link provided.  http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_ss_i_0_28?url=search-alias%3Dstripbooks&field-keywords=the+secret+holocaust+diaries+the+untold+story+of+nonna+bannister&sprefix=The+Secret+Holocaust+Diaries


My husband and I live in Michigan and we love to fish in the lush Upper Peninsula.  Our summer trek is an annual event the end of August as the U.P. has usually "warmed up" by then!  And so it is that we have begun to include a stop at "Jay's Sporting Goods" shop; just a short hop from the Mackinac Bridge.


What is the likelihood of finding a Christian book in a sporting goods store?  But that is exactly what happened.  "Jay's" in Gaylord, Michigan offers a wide variety of hunting, fishing, clothing and home items; devoting one very minor section to a rack of Christian books.  We've been there so often that its not unusual for us to make a beeline for our favorite sections.  He enjoys checking out guns and fish lures, and I tend toward sniffing various candle scents, checking out the Woolrich brand sales rack and "testing" hand creams.

Window shopping in my corner of the store, I made my way to the Christian book rack....My eyes fell upon Nonna's book....a brownish black and grey cover....Nonna's photo of her girlish face...haunting eyes staring out over a lined linen cloth....hair parted....pigtails decorated with bows...The title: "the secret HOLOCAUST DIARIES - The untold story of Nonna Bannister".....


.....I picked it up...looked it over...read the description on the back cover....flipped through some of the pages...and set it back neatly in the rack....Slowly twirling the rack around and perusing the other selections, I came back to Nonna's book....I felt drawn to this book....I read further....
Nonna had written an account of her life through the Holocaust and never revealed her story to her husband or family until much, much later in life.  And now after her passing, her story has been revealed for us. 

The back cover reads: "The Secret Holocaust Diaries is a haunting eyewitness account of Nonna Lisowskaja Bannister, a remarkable Russian American woman who saw and survived unspeakable evils as a young girl.  For half a century she kept her story secret while living a normal American life.  She locked all her photos, documents, diaries, and dark memories from World War II in a trunk.  Late in life she unlocked the trunk, first for herself, then for her husband, and now for the rest of the world.
     Nonna's story is one of suffering, torture, and death - but also of incredible acts of kindness that show the ultimate triumph of faith and love over despair and evil.  The Secret Holocaust Diaries is in part a tragedy, yet it's also an unforgettable true story about forgiveness, courage, and hope."


I was hooked.  A story of another over comer!  I wanted to know more.......


And then "more" happened; more than I had ever anticipated.....Throughout the past 20 years of my life, multiple people have encouraged me to write my story of adoption from Germany...finding my birth mother...and siblings...and the abuse which existed in my adoptive home and how the Lord healed me. 


This Fall was no exception....Having connected with other writers through the internet, women who had never met me personally were now encouraging me to write.  And God was letting me know that now is the time.  "Lord, I will need Your grace and mercy and strength"; for multiple times before I'd sat to write and gotten stuck in the thick sludge of memories and feelings.....How to write and not be overwhelmed?


And then I read Nonna's book....Her courage blazes across each page....Raw courage of survival....God triumphing with His goodness over all the evil which had happened in her life.  God's restoration for a past which had been ripped from her tender hands.....She hadn't signed up for this tragedy in her life.  Nobody signs up for a tragedy; for it is the result of something which is totally out of your control!  

However, God showed Himself strong on her behalf.  He gave her His beauty for the ashes.  Nonna's past did not determine her future.


I purposed anew that if Nonna Bannister could write her book.....so could I!



Thank you, Nonna Bannister; Thank you to your family for the countless hours you spent organizing, etc; Thank you Denise and Carol; but most of all, Thank You, Lord~

Tenderly yours,
Crista~

Standing the Test

I hope this photo brings a smile to your face...Been there done that...again...and will probably go through it again....(I'm talking about the cat....)...Don't know about you...but this is what testing looks like at times to me....Not real happy about the whole thing....In fact, we'd prefer watching paint dry!

Yet here we are about to see what the Apostle Paul has to say about His Brother and friend, Timothy, who is like a son to him...."But Timothy's tested worth you know...." Phil. 2:22

~Wow! What does that say about Timothy? He's been through "the stuff"...time and time again...and through all of his testing...there is now a worthiness about him that is evident to others. God has been glorified through his testing...and there is a quality about Timothy that has stood the test.

~I suspect that we would use the following adjectives to describe Timothy: Trustworthy. Faithful. Righteous and holy. A true man of God.

~This reminds me of the chemistry lab experiments in high school...The flame test...What does it smell like? What does it look like when the flame is applied? For certain elements have specific qualities that identify them only when the hot, blue flame burns deep to the core.

~So when the flame is applied to our lives...Who is seen? Self or Christ? Flesh or Christ? Yet not that I live, but Christ who lives in me. Gal. 2:20

“And those who belong to Christ Jesus (the Messiah) have crucified the flesh (the godless human nature)…” Gal. 5:24

“Consider it wholly joyful, my brethren, whenever you are enveloped in or encounter trials of any sort or fall into various temptations. Be assured and understand that the trial and proving of your faith bring out endurance and steadfastness and patience. But let endurance and steadfastness and patience have full play and do a thorough work, so that you may be [people] perfectly and fully developed [with no defects], lacking in nothing.” James 1:2-4

For those of us going through testing right now….REJOICE! LIFE UP YOUR HEADS AND REJOICE!

For Christ is being formed in and through us….The greater the darkness…the brighter the light shines….

Take heart, Beloved….take heart.

Blessings always,

Crista Simmons - http://dinnerwiththeking.blogspot.com

~In Quietness and Confidence~

Actually, this is a photo from a postcard that my friend in Germany sent me...It's a birthday card!
But as I was writing today, isn't this what we feel like we've been handed in life at times...Something that was supposed to be all good and wonderful, and instead, we get a mouthful of gravel...or a surprise plate of glop straight from the pit of hell itself. As we can tell, this poor little woman isn't too happy about her "Happy Birthday" cake....Life went terribly wrong!

And that's what happens to us. There are just those times in life that we're just plain knocked sideways into the next dimension or slam dunked in our now; whether it be a circumstance in which we find ourselves (an accident, death of a loved one, job situation)....or in dealing with people (misunderstandings or an all out frontal assault by the enemy of our soul). It happened then....It happens now....It will happen again....for we know that when the enemy came against Jesus, he left Him (Matt. 4:11), but then we know that the enemy returned at later times - especially when he thought he'd won by crucifying the Lord.

We know from Job 1:6 that Satan came before the Lord to present himself among the sons of God. And we read that the Lord asked Satan, v. 7 "From where do you come?" Then reading further in v. 8 the Lord said to Satan, "Have you considered My servant Job, that there is none like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, one who fears God and shuns evil?"

It is from then on that Satan takes Job's property and his children, but we also know that God told him (Satan) that he could not take Job's life. (v. 12)

Trouble....It's a reality of living on this earth. It is a reality of our lives as Christians. One such event for me personally, was the receipt of an item that was totally unexpected. A slew of accusations fired hailstones into my heart...WHAM!...And momentarily I found myself spinning sideways...feeling off balance...threatened....Where to go from here?

These are the times we've all experienced...but what do we do with them?

The Lord gives us His Word for these times of trouble which pursue us, but do not overtake us.

Let me share with you what He's shown me so often, that your heart will be encouraged as well. He knows that we need His tender reminders. He knows our situation....He understands....He sees it all....and He will take care of it. And all we need to do is our part...to nestle under the shadow of His wing. (Ps. 91:1)

Be Comforted Beloved with His Word:

Isaiah 30:15 "For thus said the Lord God...In returning [to Me] and resting [in Me] you shall be saved; in quietness and in [trusting] confidence shall be your strength.."

Psalm 46:10-11 "Let be and be still, and know (recognize and understand) that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations! I will be exalted in the earth! The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our Refuge (our High Tower and Stronghold). Selah [pause and calmly think of that].

Psalm 58:11 "Men will say, Surely there is a reward for the [uncompromisingly] righteous; surely there is a God Who judges on the earth."

Psalm 27:1 "The Lord is my Light and my Salvation - whom shall I fear or dread? The Lord is the Refuge and Stronghold of my life - of whom shall I be afraid?"

John 16:33 "I have told you these things, so that in Me you may have [perfect] peace and confidence. In the world you have tribulation and trials and distress and frustration, but be of good cheer [take courage; be confident, certain, undaunted!] For I have overcome the world. [I have deprived it of power to harm you and have conquered it for you.]

Romans 8:37 "Yet amid all these things we are more than conquerors and gain a surpassing victory through Him Who loved us."

In closing, precious ones....if you've been going through a trial....rest in Him right now....He has you covered....He will take care of your situation. Rest...Abide...Snuggle in....Be at peace....

God wastes none of our experiences in life or our trials~ And as Job, may we be able to say that our spiritual eye sees Him through this even more than we did before. (Job 42:5 "I had heard of You [only] by the hering of the ear, but now my [spiritual] eye sees You.") The Apostle Paul wrote it this way in Ephesians 1:17 "[For I always pray to] the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, that He may grant you a spirit of wisdom and revelation [of insight into mysteries and secrets] in the [deep and intimate] knowledge of Him."

Love always - in Him Who gave His life as a ransom for our salvation and our peace~

Crista
http://dinnerwiththeking.blogspot.com/

Hard Pressed, but Not Crushed

This photo just begged to be posted! Oh my! Do you not relate???!!! If this cat COULD talk, I think he'd be saying something like this: mmmpppggggffhhhpppp!!!!!" ~Interpretation: "Hey stupid! Get off! NOW!!! Can't you see you're seriously suffocating me??? WHAT IS UP WITH THIS!!!??? What did I ever do to you to deserve this?!?!"...Well, you get the picture. And we all know what this feels like when life throws stuff our way.
And whatever it is that has come out of the blue to "subdue" us for a season, WILL be used to produce His glory in and through us.

It's one thing to sing "Have Thine Own Way, Lord"....It's quite another to walk through it when He does have His way...The Way of the Cross...The Way of producing Christ in us, the Hope of Glory...His purpose is always far greater and far wiser than anything we can see ourselves at the time, because He puts an eternal value on hardships....one that we do not see in the natural.
Beloved, take heart....He allows afflictions and hardship for eternal purposes.
God bless you!
Love always,
Crista

2 Cor. 4:8 "We are hard-pressed on every side, yet not crushed;
v. 9 struck down, but not destroyed---
v. 10 always carrying about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body. For we who live are always delivered to death for Jesus' sake, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh."
v. 17"For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory,
v. 18 while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal."

Be Ready for My Surprise

Beloveds, I'm sharing two posts today, because they are both so apropos for many of us going through difficult things right now. I pray that in and through all your heart may be encouraged and prosper! ~First, to share what the Lord told me yesterday morning and then His word through Olivia, as they confirm each other.
Also, please be sure to read "Does God Dance on Your Potato Chips?"....another separate posting for today.

"My Dear Child, How I love you with an everlasting love. How proud I am of you when you do not abandon Me through the trials of life; for I AM refining you. I AM bringing you forth as pure gold. As you look to Me, the Author and Finisher of your faith, I will do in you what you are unable to do for yourself. Do not despise the trials which have come upon you, for I have designed this momentary affliction to bring Glory to My Name; for I tell you the Truth, when you walk through the fire, I AM with you. I AM in the fire with you. Allow My fire to refine you, My love, for the fire shall reveal My Glory, and produce what you could have never imagined - I shall give you the treasures of darkness, and you shall see the harvest! You shall see the lame walk, the blind see and the deaf hear...and all shall give Glory to My Name!

Isaiah 43:2b "...When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned or scorched, nor will the flame kindle upon you." v. 4 "Because you are precious in My sight and honored, and because I love you, I will give men in exchange for your life."

1 Peter 4:12-13 "Beloved, do not be amazed and bewildered at the fiery ordeal which is taking place to test your quality, as though something strange (unusual and alien to you and your position were befalling you. But insofar as you are sharing Christ's sufferings, rejoice, so that when His glory [full of radiance and splendor] is revealed, you may also rejoice with triumph [exultantly]."

Olivia Reitz Long has been an Internet Sister and friend for many years. I have always been encouraged by the prophetic words the Lord gives her, and the Lord sends it at just the right time. Be blessed~

BE READY FOR MY SURPRISE!
~Olivia Reitz Long ~February 28, 2009

"Even though I walk 'through' the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for You are with me..." Psalm 23:4

So many of My own are going and have been going through painful trials - you are suffering and you awake the next day, concerned of what that day might bring. You are concerned about your here and now, concerned about your future and the future of your country as well as the world. A future that appears to you to be crumbling and falling apart, but I say REJOICE, REJOICE in your sufferings looking forward to the outcome that is to follow, not only with you but in all aspects of what I AM doing.

Sufferings, Jesus suffered but He beat suffering, and how did he end up .... with Glory! Are you not connected with Him? Others say "You are a Christian, look at the sufferings and pain you are going through!" They see what is on the surface, but what they don't see is the word "through". I said you would walk "through" the shadow of death, not remain in it and when you get to the other side, you will come out as metal that was purified by the red hot fire... So when they speak these things to you, when they insult and ridicule you for your beliefs - friends, co-workers, the man on the street, even family members; it's for one reason and one reason only, it's because you live for Christ and believe in His standards and they cannot fathom even the most simplest part of your walk with Me.

Yes, hard times are upon you and much is happening in America and all over the world, but just when you believe you have it all figured out, just when you believe you have all the answers, your one and only true living God has a Surprise for you, one that no-one sees or comprehends is going to happen, will happen at just the right timing, My timing!

I spoke the universe into existence with a word and I hold that same universe in My hand even now and the God of the Universe can surprise even My own. Be ready, for shortly - perhaps not today, perhaps not tomorrow and perhaps not even a month from now, but shortly... in My timing! Just as a loved one can surprise you with the most beautiful of gifts, given in love - how much more is your Beloved able to give you a surprise gift that will rival anything you could ever think or imagine... given in My abound less Love for you!

Remain in Hope, Remain in Faith, Remain in Joy, Remain Strong - even in the most difficult of moments - Remain in all of these and Pray always - for others and yourself, to stay the course ... and ...

REJOICE, again I say REJOICE, Look Up ... and BE READY FOR MY SURPRISE!

Does God Dance on Your Potato Chips?

I just received this story from a friend of mine and thought you'd enjoy it, too! Blessings, Crista

Have we all not had this kind of a day!?!? This is an inspiring little story that is sure to change the outlook of your day ~
Author Unknown

~Does God dance on your potato chips?
~Not too long ago I had "one of those days". I was feeling pressure from a writing deadline. I had company arriving in a couple days and the toilet was clogged. I went to the bank, and the trainee tellerp rocessing my deposit had to start over three times. I swung by the supermarket to pick up a few things and the lines were serpentine. By the time I got home, I was frazzled and sweaty and in a hurry to get something on the table for dinner.
~Deciding on Campbell's Cream of Mushroom Soup, I grabbed a can opener, cranked open the can, then remembered I had forgotten to buy milk at the store. Nix the soup idea. Setting the can aside, I went to plan B, which was leftover baked beans.I grabbed a Tupperware from the fridge, popped the seal, took a look and groaned.
~My husband isn't a picky eater, but even HE won't eat baked beans that look like caterpillars. Really frustrated, now, I decided on a menu that promised to be as foolproof as it is nutrition-free: hot dogs and potato chips. Retrieving a brand new bag of chips from the cupboard, I grabbed the cellophane and gave a hearty pull. The bag didn't open. I tried again.
~Nothing happened. I took a breath, doubled my muscle, and gave the bag a hearty wrestle. With a loud pop, the cellophanes uddenly gave way, ripping wide from top to bottom. Chips flew sky high. I was left holding the bag, and it was empty.
~It was the final straw. I let out a blood curdling scream. "I CAN'T TAKE IT ANYMORE!!!"
My husband heard my unorthodox cry for help. Within minutes he was standing at the doorway to the kitchen, where he surveyed the damage:
~An opened can of soup, melting groceries, moldy baked beans, and one quivering wife standing ankle deep in potato chips. Myh usband did the most helpful thing he could think of at the moment. He took a flying leap, landing flat-footed in the pile of chips. And then he began tos tomp and dance and twirl, grinding those chips into my linoleum in the process! I stared. I fumed. Pretty soon I was working to stifle a smile. Eventually I had to laugh. And finally I decided to join him. I, too, took a leap onto the chips. And then I danced.
~Now I'll be the first to admit that my husband's response wasn't the one I was looking for. But the truth is, it was exactly what I needed. I didn't need a cleanup crew as much as I needed an attitude adjustment, and the laughter from that rather funky moment provided just that.
~So now I have a question for you, and it's simply this: Has God ever stomped on your chips? I know that, in my life, there have been plenty of times when I've gotten myself into frustrating situations and I've cried out for help, all the while hoping God would show up with a celestial broom and clean up the mess I've made of things.
~What often happens instead is that God dances on my chips, answering my prayer in a completely different manner than I hade xpected, but in the manner that is best for me after all. Sometimes I can see right away that God's response was the best one after all. Sometimes I have to wait weeks or months before I begin to understand how and why God answered a particular prayer the way he did. There are even some situations that, years later, I'm still trying to understand. I figure God will fill me in sooner or later, either this side of Heaven or beyond.
~Do I trust Him? Even when He's answering myp rayers in a way that is completely different from my expectations? Even when He's dancing and stomping instead of sweeping and mopping? Can I embrace what He's offering? Can I let His joy adjust my attitude? Am I going to stand on the sidelines and sulk, or am I willing to learn the steps of the dance He's dancin' with my needs in mind?
I'll be honest with you: Sometimes I sulk. Sometimes I dance. I'm working on doing more of the latter than the former. I guess the older I get the more I realize that He really does know what He's doing. He loves me and I can trust Him. Even when the chips are down.
Author Unknown

In the Battle, I AM YOUR HIGH TOWER

~Despise not the crucible into which I have placed you right now. It is for My purpose to be completed in you. (Rom. 8:17-18) (James 1:1-12) (Col. 3:10) Know that it is only for a season and that I AM in here with you. I have never left you nor forsaken you.
~My love, the fiery trial which you are enduring will free you as you look to Me. Look to Me, My Beloved and the things of earth shall fade in comparison.
~When you put your trust in Me, you ARE fighting the enemy for I AM your helmet of salvation; the mind of Christ. I AM your breastplate of righteousness for there is no unrighteousness in Me. I AM pure and holy. I AM your shield of faith; for I AM THE AUTHOR AND PERFECTOR OF YOUR FAITH. I AM THE SWORD OF THE SPIRIT...THE WORD, which is sharper than any two-edged sword. I AM your belt of Truth - for I AM the Way, THE TRUTH and the Life. I AM your shoes of the Gospel of Peace; for I AM THE PRINCE OF PEACE, THE MIGHTY GOD, THE EVERLASTING FATHER. (Eph. 6:10-18)
~When you are in Me, I AM your high tower. I AM your refuge. Come to Me. Let Me live and move and have My Being in you. I fight your battles. Stand in Me. I shall fight on your behalf; for if God be for you, who can be against you? It is I who vindicate you. It is I who cause your enemies to be at peace with you. For you are more than a conqueror through Me.
~I shall NEVER fail you for My love for you is unending. I know the plans I have for you. Plans for good and not for evil. Plans to give you a future and a hope. (Jer. 29:11)
~"Weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning." (Ps. 30:5)
~For in the day of trouble He will hide me in His shelter; in the secret place of His tent will He hide me; He will set me high upon a rock." (Ps. 25:5)
~"I had heard of You [only] by the hearing of the ear, but now my [spiritual] eye sees You." (Job 42:5)