Amish Proverbs
“A friend is like a rainbow, always there for you after a storm” ~ Amish Proverb
“We should never put a question mark where God puts a period.” ~ Amish Proverb
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A Source Of Confidence
Dear readers, I hope you enjoy reading this article! I did! Blessings, R.J.
A Source Of Confidence
By Lana Bode
Dear Sisters,
It was a late night in January. I was tired. I was cold. I felt empty. I stared across the room, pencil in hand, poised, thinking. Where is my confidence? In whose strength am I really trusting? I had just read Philippians 4:13. “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”
I thought about that verse. I pondered. Finally, I turned to my open journal and admitted, “My confidence is in myself. I rely on my strengths and talents to make me successful. This will fail. Christ is the only sure foundation.”
I turned to Philippians 3:3. “…have no confidence in the flesh.” Have no confidence in the flesh. It’s that simple. By myself, I am nothing. And based on John 15:5, I can tell you that by yourself, you are nothing. Our strength is sadly weak.
Have you ever faced a challenging situation and thought, “I can handle this”? Or “I can make it”? I do not want to say that these phrases are wrong. But too easily, they advance from casual phrases to our own philosophies. We begin to not only say, but believe, that we can handle it, that we can make it. And if things start going too badly, then we turn to God.
I have often wondered why we frequently wait to turn to God until we are desperate. Why don’t we claim His strength early on instead of waiting until disaster strikes?
Whatever the reasons may be, each of us needs to realize that God’s strength is infinitely greater than our own. We must trust God’s power in every situation. Dear sisters, I firmly believe that God wants us to draw from His power supply.
In 2 Corinthians 6:1, Paul says, “We then, as workers together with Him also plead with you not to receive the grace of God in vain.” Each of us can be a worker together with God.
We cannot survive without Him, but He can easily survive without us. Nevertheless, He wants – wants – to work together with us. What an amazing offer!
Maybe your problem is not overconfidence in yourself, but lack of confidence in God. Maybe you wonder if God is really able to work through the weak vessels we all are.
The answer is yes. (See 2 Cor. 12:9.) When Paul wrote to the Corinthians (see above), he pleaded with them not to receive the grace of God in vain. God’s grace is there. We just have to use it, and use it for His glory. He can, and will, work through you if you open your vessel, weak as it may be, and invite Him to flow through.
Maybe you have opened your vessel to God, and you don’t understand what God has chosen to do in your life. Maybe you have just experienced a painful tragedy. Maybe you are going through a tough trial.
I used to think that Christians should never ask God “why?”. Now I have begun to realize that it is okay to bring our questions, our misunderstandings, to God. That’s what the prophet Habakkuk did.
And God will answer you. Most likely, He will answer in much the same way that He answered Habakkuk. “A full answer is coming. It may be slowly coming, but you will someday understand. And in the meantime, faith in Me will carry you through.” (See Habakkuk 2:3-4.)
And God will give you the grace to respond much like Habakkuk did. “…I will rejoice in the Lord, I will joy in the God of my salvation. The Lord God is my strength; He will make my feet like deer’s feet, and He will make me walk on my high hills.” – Habakkuk 3:18-19.
And then, on dreary nights, when you feel tired, cold, empty, you can know, deep down, that God is there, and that He will perfect that which concerns you.
Used with permisson from The King’s Daughter Magazine
Articles By Others, Family Life, Life At Home, Reviews, Seasons, Siblings, Stories, Update, Virtuous Girlhood | Comments (3)Recipe #17
I know, I know, some of my readers read my other blog, and I posted this recipe on it, but today, I am being lazy, so am posting it for recipe #17.
Here is a delicious recipe that our family loves; it is perfect for a cold day! Thanks Kathryn for sharing!
Sausage Minestrone
Ingredients:
1 lb. ground beef
1 c. chopped onion 2 cloves garlic, minced
8 c. chicken or beef broth
1 can diced tomatoes
2 carrots, coined
2 c. cooked black beans
1 lb. frozen green beans
1 c. uncooked barley or quinoa
4 t. Italian seasonings
1/2 t. paprika
1/4 t. red pepper flakes
1/2 t. dried sage
1/2 t. dried parsley
1 t. fennel seed
salt and pepper
Instructions:
Brown beef, onion, and garlic in a large pot. Add all remaining ingredients except green beans. Bring to a boil, reduce heat and simmer one hour, or until barley is done. Add green beans and heat through.
Enjoy!
Blessings,
R.J.
What Do You Think?
Well, what do you all think of my new theme? This is as close to fall as I could get! Please comment and let me know!
Blessings,
R.J.
Uncategorized | Comments (5)Hello Readers!
Hello Readers,
I am so very sorry about the lack of posting! My blog crashed back in July and it took us three, almost four, months to get it back. So I am sorry about the lack of posting!
I hope you will be seeing more posts from me! But keeping up with four different blogs is very hard!
Blessings,
R.J.
Family Life, Life At Home | Comments (5)
