Amish Proverbs for Daily Life

Enjoy today...it won't come back. 

Live each short hour with God and the long years will take care of themselves. 

Thoughts are tax-free.

An industrious wife is the best savings account. 

It may be difficult to wait on the Lord, but it is worse to wish you had. 

You can't stumble when you are on your knees.

Walk softly, speak tenderly, and pray fervently.

A sweater is a garment worn by a child when his mother feels chilly.

Put the swing where the children want it.  The grass will grow back.

A smile is a curve that can straighten out a lot of things. 

It takes 73 muscles to frown and only 14 to smile.  No wonder grouchy people are always tired.

If you think you're too small to make a difference, you haven't been in bed with a mosquito. 

If we don't stand for something, we will fall for anything.

If you can't see the bright side, polish the dull.

Be like the teakettle; when it's up to its neck in hot water, it sings.

You can tell when you're on the right track.  It's usually uphill.

If you find a pathway with no obstacles, it probably doesn't lead anywhere. 

Happiness doens't come from doing what we like to do, but liking what we have to do.

Nothing is all wrong: even a clock that has stopped running it is right twice a day. 

Hope for the best, prepare for the worst, and take what comes with a smile.

There is one thing more exasperating than a wife who can cook and won't, and that's the wife who can't cook and will.

Nothing is quite so annoying as to have someone go right on talking when you are interrupting.

(All proverbs are taken from Amish Proverbs: Words of Wisdom from the Simple Life by Suzanne Woods Fisher)

Blessings in Christ,

 

Bread Recipie...?

This is kind of off the wall...

But...

Does anyone have a white bread (or wheat bread) recipie they like to use?  My roommate and I have been trying to make some bread, but every recipie we try (we're on our 4th one now) doesn't turn out right.  Not sure if it's the recipie, the flour, or our oven...

Thank you!

Blessings in Christ,

Day of Rest

I did a series of posts this past spring on the Ten Commandements, but I would like to come back to one.

Remember the Sabbath and keep it Holy.

As Conservative Christians, there is so much stress placed on this commandment, making sure that we do not engage in activities that would not be appropriate for a Sunday.  Some of us even going to the extent as to not take a job which would require us to work the occasional Sunday.  Some of those positions though are such a servant position that I wonder if we are actually doing a bad thing by not taking those positions (nurses, aides, doctors, vets, etc.). 

I know that Jesus cured the sick on Sundays sometimes and some criticized Him for doing so.  Given that example, how should we apply that to our lives? 

A couple months ago on my way to church Sunday morning, I passed a field where there was an Amish farmer and a vet around a downed cow.  It made me think of how the Amish (among other groups) would not think of being a vet, or at least have on-call hours for Sundays, but they will use one if they need one on a Sunday.  I wondered how our hospitals could operate without those who work on Sundays, some of who I would assume are Christians. 

I think back to the 1800's where Christianity was more common than it is now and how they lived a much more conservative lifestyle than most do today, the doctors and vets were still on call Sundays.  Just because the calendar said it was Sunday does not mean that they would not respond to a call if needed.  Should we ignore the call simply because our calendar says Sunday?   

There is one young lady at the church I had been attending who is a nurse aide and is required to work every other Sunday.  Surprisingly, the church is rather supportive of her.  I say surprisingly because so many other members would not even consider taking a nurse aide job, or any job which would require rotating Sunday work.   

I myself have applied for several jobs which would require rotating Sunday work. 

How do you view jobs which might require you to work a Sunday? 

Blessings in Christ,

 

Rules, Rules, and More Rules...

I've had some time to think.  Maybe that's not a good thing.  But it started me wondering... 

Is it worse to add rules to God's word and say it is all His, or to perhaps miss the meaning of scripture in your own personal interpreation?

The past few months...more like 5 months, I've attended a Conservative Mennonite church, but not one that is more lax with their rules.  This church has a fair number of rules, some of which I have expressed my disagreement to before.  From what I understand, these rules are ones added to what the Bible already tells us.  I suppose some of them are meant to clarify or lead the church in unison, but I've started to question many of the rules...

Why is it that some churches add so many man made rules to scripture and say that it is God's Word?  Or that it is "implied" by God's Word? 

For example, the rule that cape dresses are what is considered modest and is what should be worn by the women.  The rule that there is only one correct style/size/color of covering and the rest are wrong.  The rule that patterns (of any size/color) are immodest and therefore should not be worn.  These are just a few rules that I have encountered. 

I haven't decided what to do as far as a church yet...  I would love to find a church that does not add to God's Word, but I know that will not happen.  I also know that I need to seek God's guidance more than I have been on this subject lately.  Hopefully I will be more consistent with my prayer life and relying on God to take control of my life...telling me what He has in store for me, all in His time.  

Blessings in Christ,

 

Thought of the Day...

Christianity is not a democracy.  It is an autocracy.  With God as our one and only leader. 

God gave us the Bible as our guidebook to life.  I do not like to call it a rulebook because God cannot make each one of us do something.  He simply opens the doors for us.  If we listen to what He has to say we will follow His direction for our lives, but if we choose not to listen, He is not going to force us to go the direction He wants us to go.  Prayer and the Bible should be the two things that guide our daily Christian walks with God. 

Blessings in Christ,

 

Will we have talents in Heaven?

I was recently asked the question "do you believe we will take our talents to heaven with us?" Since this is a new thought for me, I hadn't thought of it before being asked the question, I did my best to collect my thoughts and feelings on the subject before answering. But what do you think, will we take our talents with us to heaven?

This is what I said:

I received your question about if I believe we have talents in heaven. Truthfully, I am not sure how I feel about that. Everything I have read said that we will be too busy worshipping God and glorifying Him to be concerned with other things. I am not one to really believe that. I believe we will of course be worshipping and glorifying God, but I do not think that will be the only thing occupying our time. I believe we will be able to fellowship with those who have passed before us as well. Part of worshipping and glorifying God, I believe is using our God-given talents. Will our talents stay the same when we get to heaven? I do not know. I did not think of having talents in heaven until you posed the question; however, since I started thinking about it, I feel that everyone's talents will be equal. Since heaven is not a place with tears, sorrows, grief, or any other negative emotion, it is simply supposed to be a very happy place, I do not see God giving each person a different talent. I think that would lead to jealousy which is not in heaven.

I understand not wanting to go to heaven if you will not have what make you "you" here on earth, there are certain things that would make me not want to go to heaven, but as my roommate said to me tonight... if you are simply going to heaven to see those who passed on before you (as in my case) then is that the right reason for wanting to go? Our primary reason to want to go to heaven should be to glorify God and fellowship with everyone. We should follow the saying JOY...Jesus first, others second and yourself last, even in heaven, so if God chooses to take away our earthly talents and replace them with something else, I think it would be to benefit everyone in heaven that He would do that. It's hard to say exactly what heaven will be like as there is nothing that gives us a definitive answer to a complete picture of heaven in scripture. We get bits and pieces and know enough to know that it will be a happy place where we are free of our restrictions here on earth -- whether they are physical, mental, or emotional -- and we know that it will be a much better place to reside for the rest of eternity than hell.

Blessings in Christ,

In the Middle...

I read an opinion article last week criticizing a family for how they are living. This family is a Conservative Christian family. I guess what should I expect from a liberal media site...? But there was a comment on the article that made sense...unfortunately. The comment was along the lines of why are you critizing and judging a family just because you do not agree with the way they live or their beliefs when you are out there shouting from the rooftop that we need equal rights for all (gays, straight, divorced, marrieds, single, etc.). The commentor agreed on equal rights for all, but I think her point was valid, if you are going to be criticizing one part of society, you cannot be advocating for equal rights for all. Another commentor said something like tolerance seems to be only for sinful lifestyles these days. I think that person may have just hit the nail on the head...but then again, what do I know?

What I don't understand is why, when our country was founded on the principle of religious freedom, would our nation turn towards criticizing those who still live by the Bible and have conservative beliefs. Instead of criticizing them shouldn't we be looking towards these people to see how to better ourselves as individuals? But, instead of doing that, we are out there trying to gain equal rights for everyone, redefining the word "marriage", and criticizing those who do not support those equal rights.

 I am in a personal struggle right now with the way our society has so loosely defined "marriage". My cousin who has choosen to be a lesbian, has decided that she should be allowed to get married and that it will still be a church sanctified wedding. Yes, that is right, her church is allowing her to have her wedding there and her pastor is presiding over it. At first I was told that it was open to everyone but it was not something that we should feel like we have to attend. But now, my mom is telling me I need to put aside my thoughts on the subject and be at my cousins "wedding". I am struggling to know where to draw the line. I will support my cousin in her life, but I will not support the decisions that are sinful in nature. I cannot. If I attend her "wedding" wouldn't that be supporting her sinful lifestyle? To me it is, but I don't know how to address the situation with my mom who knows that I have different views than her as she says. I have said before "love the sinner, hate the sin", and I agree with that, but the hard thing with that is where do you draw the line? How do you support the sinner without it seeming that you are supporting their sin?

Blessings in Christ,