Alexander Solzhenitsyn is one of the leading Russian writers of the 20th
century. He was born in Kislovodsk on December 11, 1918. A brilliant student, he
graduated from the University of Rostov-on-Don majoring in physics and
mathematics. He served in the Red Army and rose to the rank of Captain. In 1945
he was arrested after writing critical remarks in a letter to a friend. He was
sentenced to eight years of hard labor. In 1950, he was transferred to the most
dreaded labor camp in Kazakhstan. In 1952, with less than a year to go to his
release, Alexander was losing hope. Weakened from the years of beatings and
malnutrition, he came up with a plan. He would end it all by stopping his work
and letting the guards beat him to death. Alexander leaned on his shovel, but as
he did, a Christian prisoner next to him quickly drew a cross in the dirt at
Alexander's feet. Then as just as quickly, the man erased it before a guard
could see it. Alexander was a believer, and he later wrote that he was energized
by that man's silent act of encouragement to remind him of his hope in Christ.
Are you discouraged? Look to the Lord, for He is our eternal hope! Today in
prayer, give all of your discouragements and sadness to Jesus and He will
strengthen you with hope.
"Many a time a word of praise or thanks or appreciation or cheer has kept a man
on his feet. Blessed is the man who speaks such a word." - William Barclay
God's Word: "Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in
fact you are doing." - 1 Thessalonians 5:11
By Peter Kennedy kennedy@devotional.com
The Illustrator: This daily newsletter is dedicated to encouraging
everyone to look towards Jesus as the source of all the solutions to our
problems. It contains a daily inspirational story, a Bible verse and encouraging
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The Nugget: Published three times a week, this newsletter features inspirational devotionals and mini-sermons dedicated to drawing mankind closer to each other and to Christ.