Hello and welcome back to Life of Heritage Corner! It’s hard to believe February is already over! Today, I’d like to share with you some of my February favorites. Let’s Dive in!

My February Favorites…

Event: Going ice skating with my family for the very first time! Banged up my elbow and my knee, but it was still an exciting experience!

Song: I have been listening to a lot of Patch the Pirate this month! I must say my favorite song so far is God of Wonders from Time Twisters (2017). It covers the wonders of God from the Bible, like Creation, The Flood, Egypt’s Plagues and the Lions’ Den to name a few. The orchestration adds so much to the song and truly allows you to get lost in the Greatness of our God!

Snack: Homemade Chocolate Chip Cookies! We love these and my siblings enjoy making them with me when they can. Their favorite part is sifting the flour. (I like that part too 😉)

Verse: Come, and let us return unto the Lord: for he hath torn, and he will heal us; he hath smitten, and he will bind us up. (Hosea 6:1, King James Bible) I love Jude 22, but this month, this verse really stood out to me. It was the heading verse from a devotional book, Revival Time by John Goetsch and Nathan Birt. (It’s a great book, btw!) It’s so encouraging to know that God is standing by, ready to forgive when we fail Him, ready to heal our wounds and get us back on the right path. And what a joy to know that this promise holds true for our nation as well! We can have revival, if only the people of God will humble ourselves, and pray, seeking His face and turn from our wicked ways! There is hope! (II Chronicles 7:14)

Book of the Month: The Swamp Fox of the Revolution by Stewart H. Holbrook. It was a very interesting book about one of my favorite Patriot Heroes! I came across it at our local library, and loving older books, I had to check it out 😉 So glad I did!
 
Ministry Update
Now, for those of you who don’t know, my family represents the Fundamental Broadcasting Network (FBN Radio). We are an Independent Baptist ministry out of Grace Baptist Church in Newport, N.C. (click here to see our website!) We have over 40 stations around the country, in addition to 12 overseas stations (including Bagdad, Iraq)! By way of app and Internet, we have heard from 225 countries and territories to date! There are still about 13 places we haven’t been able to reach yet, but we are praying that will change soon.

Why am I telling you this?

Well, I don’t know the names of all the countries we haven’t reached, but I do know one of them: North Korea. Currently, it is impossible to reach them with FBN, because they have a closed server that is closely monitored.

I want to encourage you to join me in praying for this nation to be reached with the Gospel of Jesus Christ, if not through FBN (which would be great!), then through some other outlet. This has been a burden on my heart for the last couple of years. They need the gospel and the Christians in their country need encouragement. Will you pray for them today?

Writing Update
I have completed my physical round of edits and am currently making all those changes on my digital copy! It’s coming together quite nicely, and I appreciate your prayers and encouragement! It means a lot to me! Hopefully, I’ll be able to start team-edits with my mom this month!

A Book I am Anticipating for March:
The Hiding Place by Corrie ten Boom. I know…I love WWII and it’s embarrassing to say I have yet to read this book. But I finally have decided to read it. I know it’s going to be a hard read, but I look forward to hearing Corrie and Betsie’s story in full. (Today is the 75th Anniversary of their arrest.)

And Now for your Story Prompts!

I’ll see you next month! God Bless!
Ryana Lynn
Jude 22

Time for a history post! Y’all, today is a day you might not know is important. But it is…it is so important. Unless you are a WWII buff/enthusiast, you’ve probably never heard of The White Rose Resistance group. I know a gentleman from our church whose mother was German and he hadn’t heard of them, even though WWII is his favorite time period to study. He’s taught me most of what I know about the period. Well, today is the 76th anniversary of the death of three members of the White Rose Resistance group. And I am going to share with you 10 random facts about these amazing young people…

1. Unlike most resistance groups of WWII, The White Rose was a non-violent, intellectual resistance. This means that rather than sabotaging Nazi plans, assassinating the bad guys or going out to rescue people, they appealed to the public to turn on Hitler’s regime by writing pamphlets. They appealed to people’s morality, duty and loyalty to stand against the Nazis in any way they could. Had their resistance lasted longer, I have no doubt they eventually would have turned to rescuing internees, directly or indirectly.

2. The main members of The White Rose were: Hans and Sophie Scholl (Brother and sister), Christoph Probst, Alexander Schmorell, Willi Graf and Kurt Huber.

3. They published 5 leaflets, but 6 were written in all. Even though the papers were destroyed by the SS (Nazi Secret Police), some of the papers were smuggled to England, where they were mass-produced and spread throughout Germany, even after many of the resistance members had been executed.

4. Sophie is the indirect reason she and Hans were arrested. She pushed a stack of the papers off the ledge of their collage balcony, showering papers on the students walking below. The Janitor figured out who was responsible and everything fell apart from there.

5. Christoph was a married man with three children. His wife was ill at the time of his death. They tried to get him off the hook by claiming he had what we now call PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder), since he had indeed been a soldier and did suffer some lasting mental strain as a result.

6.And speaking of being a soldier, Hans Scholl also served in the German Army prior to becoming a resister.

7. Christoph, Hans and Sophie were all medical students! Y’all know I liked that aspect of their story!

8. The man who judged them, Roland Freisler, was known for holding staged trials. He always decided on the fate of the victim prior to the trial, giving them no chance of escaping his sentence. Freisler died almost two years later on February 3rd, 1945, when an American pilot bombed his courtroom.

9. Hans, Sophie and Christoph were sentenced to die by way of the guillotine, the very same day as the trial.

10. Just before being executed, Hans cried out, “Es Lebe Die Freiheit!” (Long Live Freedom!) May this always be the battle cry of those Resisting evil.
 
I do not know as much about these young people as I would like, but I intend to continue studying them. Take a moment today to remember the cause for which they fought and died. Thank God for His mercy in letting that cruel war end in Allied victory and for following it up with the founding of Israel (1947).

And David said, What have I now done? Is there not a cause?
1 Samuel 17:29
(King James Bible)

Until Next Time,
Es Lebe Die Freiheit!
Ryana Lynn
Jude 22

Hello and welcome to my second devotion! I’m super excited to share this with you ladies specifically. I’m still stuck on my Word of the Year, Stand, so ladies, here is a devotion just for you.

We know that our place in the home is under the man; that’s not opinion, that’s God’s Word. End of story. However, that doesn’t mean that we are not allowed to stand for what is right, in a proper, ladylike way and with the proper audience. I could do a whole devotion on that topic alone, but today, I want to point out a few things that we as women in today’s culture need to stand for.

Ladies, stand up for FEMININITY.

Ooooo…that scary word, femininity. Somehow, it often gets confused with the modern feminist movement. In reality, they are polar opposites. It’s sad, but today, we live in a world that says you are not a strong person unless you have been to college, have a successful job (extra points if it is typically reserved for men), don’t marry until you are in your 30’s (if at all) and have maximum three kids (that’s pushing it though. Or, bonus points if you decide NOT to have any).
What a sad society!

Ladies, it’s high time we stand for the calling God has placed on us: “…The young women to be sober, to love their husbands, to love their children, To be discreet, chaste, keepers at home, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God be not blasphemed.” (Titus 2:4b-5, King James Bible)

There is no shame in dressing like a woman. There is no shame in marrying a man and looking to him as your protector and your head. There is no shame in raising children. Don’t let anyone shame you into being anything less than what God has created you to be: A Woman. A Lady. An Embracer of Femininity.

Ladies, Stand up for Femininity by:
-Living femininely.
-Studying Biblical femininity. (The Bible is the best source of course, but this book and this blog are great resources!)
-Encourage others to embrace Biblical femininity!

Ladies, stand up for LIFE.

What could be more important then human life? Regardless of race, nationality or creed, everyone is born with the right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. But where does life begin? People argue about this all the time and sadly, many women will say that life begins after birth. It’s time for us Christian ladies to stand for the unborn and proclaim the truth: Life begins at conception. In fact, if you want to get technical, it actually starts before that! The Bible says, “Thine eyes did see my substance, yet being unperfect; and in thy book all my members were written, which in continuance were fashioned, when as yet there was none of them.” (Psalm 139:16, Emphasis added; King James Bible) If God knows and has our members written in a book before they are even formed, don’t you think He considers even the earliest part of the pregnancy life? Who are we to define it differently?

As Christians, we must stand up for the right of the unborn, the elderly and the handicapped. They too have a right to live. We must speak up for those who haven’t found their voice yet and may never get the chance to use it, just as the resistance, the White Rose, of WWII gave a voice to the voiceless (the Jews, handicapped, etc.). Just because the government says something is legal (Germany legalized murdering Jews; America legalized abortion; other countries legalizing euthanizing the elderly/ill) doesn’t mean it is moral or allowed by God, our Supreme Authority.

Ladies, stand up for Life by:

-Talking to others about pro-life when the topic comes up. Remember, don’t argue, but kindly explain the biblical principles of life in Christian Love.
-Do you have a website? Post a Pro-Life themed article!
-Participate in Life Chain Sunday.
(See this post for more on Pro-Life.)

Ladies, stand up for your FAITH.

For years, people have fought Christianity. People naturally push against anything that convicts them of their sin. That is no reason for us to be silent. Now, that’s also not to say that we are to mount pulpits or soap boxes and scream for our religious rights like wild animals! The Bible says, “For whosoever shall be ashamed of me and of my words, of him shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he shall come in his own glory, and in his Father's, and of the holy angels.” (Luke 9:26, King James Bible)

While we are not called to be preachers, we are called to be witnesses of the Grace of God. We should never be ashamed to speak up for our Lord and Savior and the blessings He has given us. As in everything else, there is a proper way for ladies to stand up for our Faith.

Ladies, Stand up for your Faith by:

-Sharing your testimony with saved and unsaved alike. Your personal salvation testimony may be an encouragement to others to share their testimony or it may help someone else to see how much they need God in their life.
-Are you a writer? Testify for the Lord in your writing! If you are a Christian, this is the most important qualification you have as a writer. Never hide your light for fear of man!
-Share your testimony on your website if you have one! (See mine here)
-Do you have a friend you know is unsaved? Seek them out and share the gospel with them. I know this can be hard, believe me, but there is nothing comparable with the joy of seeing someone come to Christ!

Ladies, it’s high time we Stand for the Right and let our Lights shine in the darkness of this world.

How will you choose to stand today?

Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.
Galatians 5:1 (King James Bible)

Until Next Time, God Bless!
Ryana Lynn
Jude 22

MERRY CHRISTMAS everyone! As you celebrate with family and friends on this holy day, don’t forget to take time and thank God for sending the Most Precious Gift known to mankind! (Click here for more Christmas Fun!) And now, for the conclusion of Stille Nacht!

The next morning, Christmas Day, Adler was awakened by Joey, complaining that he was cold. Adler sat up and shook his head, untangling himself from between Sarge’s rucksack and Harold’s discarded blanket.

“You look like you’re feeling better this morning,” Adler replied.

Joey grinned his boyish grin and sat up on his elbow. “Some better, but I still can’t walk on my own. Already tried. Y’all must have been unconscious not to hear me fall earlier. I had to drag myself back into bed.”

Adler yawned and adjusted Joey’s blankets. “I didn’t get just a whole lot of sleep. I think it was about 4:00 when I finally nodded off.”

“Two hours sure ain’t a lot of sleep. What kept you up?”

Adler sighed and held up the book he had tucked in his shirt pocket. “Sarge’s Bible. You know, there are an awful lot of scriptures on the Messiah…and this Jesus does seem to line up.”

Joey nodded soberly. “That’s what we’ve been trying to tell you, Micah. Even the prophet you’re named for knew who He was, before He was born.”

“Maybe. I’ve still got more reading to do.”

“Good. There’s hope for you then.”

The others rolled out of their self-made cocoons and began to mill about the room as Marta prepared breakfast. Rudi came over to change Joey’s bandage and feel his forehead. “You’re still warm, Yank. Better take it easy today. There’s no way you can walk.”

“Ain’t got a choice. Sarge can’t carry me all day on his back!”

Harold whispered something to Rudi, who smiled and nodded. “Be right back,” he called over his shoulder. He motioned to Stefan and the two hurried outside. Adler didn’t pay them any mind.

Hilde skipped around the room shouting “Frohliche Weihnachten!”

Adler smiled. “Merry Christmas.”

Marta smiled and set out bowls to fill with left over potato soup.

The door blew open, nearly knocking Lars into the wall, as Harold and Stefan trudged in with two sturdy branches. Lars shut the door behind them and pulled out his knife. When Sarge realized what they were doing he pulled out his as well. They hacked off the twigs and limbs, making two semi-smooth poles. “We need rope and a sheet,” Lars commented.

Rudi hunted through his pack and Adler reached for his. In the same moment, they pulled out a roll of sturdy cord. “Got it!”

Marta laughed as she headed to the small side room and returned with a stout looking sheet. Working quickly, Lars and Sarge tied together the sheet, branches and rope.

“And there you have it!” Harold said with a grin. “A stretcher for Joey!”

Adler half smiled. “Joey, you’re getting king treatment today.”

Marta turned back to her breakfast preparations. Hilde, still very much in the Christmas spirit, started humming a tune. Stefan smiled at her and hummed along.

Then, Marta’s lone voice began to sing.
 
Stille Nacht! Heil’ge Nacht!
Alles schlaft; einsam wacht
Nur das traute hoch heilige Paar.
Holder Knab’ im lockigen Haar,
Schlafe in himmlischer Ruh!
Schlafe in himmlischer Ruh!
 
Sarge smiled as Joey took up the song.
 
Silent Night! Holy Night!
All is calm; as is bright
‘Round yon virgin, mother and Child.
Holy Infant so tender and mild,
Sleep in Heavenly Peace!
Sleep in Heavenly Peace!
 
Hilde smiled and clapped her hands, soon joined by everyone. “Merry Christmas!”

After breakfast, Rudi helped Sarge carry Joey out on the stretcher while Lars, consulting a map and compass, showed Adler the way back to American lines. “If this is still accurate,” Lars warned. “They are probably much closer by now. And keep a sharp watch for our men.”

Adler nodded and jotted down the directions on his map. “And you for ours, though I’d guess you’d be better off than us in such a situation.”

“Ja, probably.”

They turned as Marta and Hilde came out of the cabin, bundled up and carrying their meager belongings with them. They would accompany their soldiers out of the danger zone back to their lines.

“Well, I guess this is goodbye,” Sarge said, shaking hands with each German present. “I’ll admit, I think at times I’d forgotten you fellows were humans too. Thanks for everything.”

Rudi grinned. “Thanks for proving Americans are equals as well. War paints ugly pictures.”

“Hatred too,” Adler replied. He turned to Lars. “I appreciated our talk.”

Lars smiled. “Keep hoping. They may still be out there.”

“Ja, maybe.”

The soldiers trooped to the wood shed and Stefan handed out their weapons.

“Thank you, Frau Engel, for everything,” Joey called from the stretcher.

“Yes, thank you,” the others replied.

Marta smiled. “Thank you for sharing Christmas with us. May the Lord Bless and keep you.” She turned to Lars. “Shall we go?”

“Ja, forward march!”

The Germans headed one way, the Americans another. But they were different now. Each carried memories that would last the rest of their lives. Hope for peace and healing had been lit in their hearts…all because of a Baby born in Bethlehem.

THE END

And know, for the true story that inspire Stille Nacht...

Have a very Merry Christmas! Jesus is the Reason!
Ryana Lynn
Jude 22

Merry Christmas Eve, Happy 11th Day of Christmas, and welcome to my official 100th post! Can’t believe I’ve been blogging that long! So it’s fitting to celebrate by giving you the next to last part of Stille Nacht! Thank you so much for joining me today! Let’s go star gazing! (Don’t forget to visit Stories by Firefly for more Christmas Eve Fun!)

Rudi grabbed his jacket and hat and followed the boys outside. Sarge stood and followed. “I could use some air.”

Lars and Adler remained at the table, staring into their empty bowls until Marta took them to the sink. Lars chanced a glance at Adler. “What happened to your family?”

Adler let his breath out in a rush. “They, um,” he cleared his throat. “They weren’t able to get out of Germany before the boarders closed. A friend wrote me and said they were transported to a concentration camp called Dachau.”

Lars winced and shook his head. “Do you know if they are still alive?”

Adler swallowed. “Mama died two months after arrival. Papa never made it to the camp. He was gunned down at a transport when he tried to get the others to fight back. I don’t know what happened to my siblings.”

“I…I’m so sorry,” Lars said, his voice low. “My family is gone as well. They died in the Normandy storming.”

“They were at Normandy?”

Lars nodded. “I was fortunate enough to have them stationed in France with me. But I still can’t understand why they had to die, civilians, and I still live, a soldier.”

“Was it a bombing?”

Lars nodded.

“I’m sorry.”

“I never should have gotten into all of this! If I had pushed back, taken a stand…”

“You’d be dead.”

“Maybe. But I wouldn’t have guilt plaguing me on a daily basis.”

Adler nodded slowly. He stood and walked quietly over to Joey. The young soldier looked up at him. “Why’s everybody going outside?”

“Going to look at the stars I guess.”

Joey’s face lit up. “I want to see!”

“Alright, uh…oh, there’s your stuff. Let’s get your coat on and I’ll help you outside.”
Lars put on his coat and offered to help with Joey. They went out and helped Joey get settled on a bench beside Stefan. No one said a word, just stared up at the stars, lost in thought.

Joey smiled as he located Orion, while Stefan hunted for Leo. Lars leaned up against the house determined that this time he would find the little dipper which always seemed to evade his watchful eye. Sarge and Adler gazed up at the north star, mentally trying to map their way back to their lines.

The door swung open and Marta came out, holding Hilde’s hand. “Look, Hilde! It’s the star of Bethlehem!”

Rudi translated for Sarge as the group followed Marta’s pointing. The North Star. The brightest one in the sky.

“Is that the star that shone over Baby Jesus’ house in Bethlehem, Mama?”

Marta smiled. “We don’t know for sure, dear. But we like to think so. But do you know why it shone?”

“It was for the Wisemen to follow so they could give Jesus their presents.”

“That’s right.”

Hilde paused, then asked, “Mama, I love Jesus, but why did He have to come to earth?”

Adler shifted uncomfortably. Here we go again, he thought.

Marta hesitated. Christians had been stiffly persecuted in Germany, since their teachings contradicted Hitler. Should she risk explaining everything to her daughter in front of her guests? Or should she put Hilde off until it was safer? Marta swallowed hard. I am not ashamed of You, Lord…

“Baby Jesus came to earth and was born in a manger, because He loved us enough to die for us. He knew that since we are sinners, we could never get into heaven. So He lived a sinless life and took our sins upon Himself and died in our place. After He was buried, three days later, He rose from the dead, our eternal Lord and Savior. He did all of that because He loved us.”

“Even Hitler, Mama?”

Adler smirked and crossed his arms, eager to hear this reply. “Yes, even for Hitler, darling, if he will only ask Jesus to forgive him of his sins. He died for everyone, man, woman, adult, child, black, white, German, Jewish, American, all of us.”

“What makes you so sure that Jesus is the Savior, the Messiah?” Adler challenged, though the words lacked the bite he normally intoned.

Marta smiled and quoted, “But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting. (Micah 5:2) Jesus was of Bethlehem, was He not?”

“Well, yes, I suppose so.”

“Do you know anyone else of Bethlehem that had done as great things as Jesus?”

“If what they say is true, no.”

“Isaiah 40:11 says, He shall feed his flock like a shepherd: he shall gather the lambs with his arm, and carry them in his bosom, and shall gently lead those that are with young. Wouldn’t you say Jesus fits that description? He certainly loved the weak and children. He seems like a shepherd to me.

“Isaiah 49:6 says, And he said, It is a light thing that thou shouldest be my servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob, and to restore the preserved of Israel: I will also give thee for a light to the Gentiles, that thou mayest be my salvation unto the end of the earth. Thus far, I would guess that more Gentiles have come to accept Christ than Jews. And He is our Light.”

Marta wrapped her shawl tightly about her. “There are many more verses that solidify who Jesus is, Pvt. Adler. I challenge you, get a Bible and read the Old Testament. Find the prophecy of the Messiah and see if Jesus doesn’t measure up to every one of them.”

Adler nodded slowly. “I’ll think about it.”

“I’ve got a Bible you can use,” Sarge reminded.

“I know.”

Joey shivered and winced as pain sliced through his leg. Rudi turned to him. “We’d best get him inside. He needs to rest.”

“We all do,” Marta said, opening the door. As they all entered the house, Marta entered a small room and brought out three blankets. “I’m sorry this is all I can spare.”
The soldiers pulled out their own blankets. “We should be able to make do, Frau, thank you,” Lars assured her.

“Then good night,” she said, leading Hilde into the little room.

Joey, Stefan and Harold got the extra blankets. Pallets were made by the fire and each agreed that whoever woke up during the night would chuck on another piece of wood.

As the others faded off to sleep, Rudi checked on Joey one more time. Satisfied that he was sleeping peacefully, he turned back towards their pallets. Lars was looking out the window. “Something wrong?”

Lars shook his head and grinned. “No. I just found the little dipper.”


Be sure and come back tomorrow for the conclusion of Stille Nacht! Have a very Merry Christmas!
Ryana Lynn
Jude 22