Drawing Near to God
Draw nigh to God, and He will draw nigh to you.
James 4:8
One of the most obvious things about the Amish way of life is their desire to yield to God and please Him by the things they say and do. They teach their children to pray before and after each meal. They attend church together and sing songs about God. They give of themselves to others.
While all these things are pleasing to God, what pleases Him more than anything is when we worship Him with our whole heart. This becomes evident when we share the love of God with others through our words and actions.
One thing I’ve noticed after being with our Amish friends is that for them, God comes first, and then their family. It should be every Christian’s desire to please God before we please anyone else. Can you think of some things you’ve done to please God this week? Are there some things you know you ought to do that will please Him, too?
God does tell us in His Word, 1 Corinthians 10:31 “Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.” God always blesses obedience. He also tells us, 2 Timothy 2:15 “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” And then we read, Romans 6:12, 13 Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof. Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God.”
Being saved is only the beginning of the Believer’s life. By reading God’s Word everyday and talking to Him in prayer daily and often we grow in grace and in the knowledge of The Lord Jesus Christ. Any who read and obey, God will bless and as maturity comes, Christ will be seen in us and through us, giving others a witness and testimony of our great God.
Thank you for these reminders, dear Wanda and may The Lord bless you!
Hi there! Things I have done this week to please my Heavenly Father are prayer, read the Bible, agree to drive a small group of people to the homeless Mission in Chicago so they and I can minister to these precious souls. Also I had a talk with my neighbor this afternoon about what to watch out for when talking with people who represent cults or a different gospel. He is a Christian man but needs counseling in this area.
I also please God with my thoughts. Keeping them on things above not on things of this earth Colossians 3:2.
I ought to be a better witness for Him. That would please Him. I also need to surrender more of my finances to him. Trust more He will take care of my family and I.
Thanks Wanda for being a blessing! I truly appreciate you and your writing talent! God’s blessings be with you.
you are truly blessed Larry ! smiles
I know that the Amish have a strong responsibility to “pleasing God in all they do”, but what about a RELATIONSHIP with Jesus Christ. This concerns me, as I have read that the Old Order Amish reject this and shun those who do!? Is this true? I love and respect the Amish life and its people I just wish for them to have it ALL.
I enjoy you books so much, I have to be on IV flluids 8 to 12 hours aday, and to pass the time I love reading Amish books. Your stories are so well written and exciting that I can’t read fast enough. My husband and I will be married 45 years on August 5, and I am hoping my husband can take me to Amish country. I am just learning to use fb, my husband just bought me a smartphone so I’m e,cited to here from Wanda. God Bless and keep on writing. Maggie Bots.
We are way down here in New Zeland, and do not have any Amish communities…. therefore I have to read and enjoy the lifestyle and God’s Love that they share between themselves through reading. We are raising our two beautiful Grand daughters, who are gifts to us, and very deeply loved and wanted by us. We, like the Amish, do not believe in acquiring treasures on earth, but prefer to show our love and lifestyle by our deeds and how we are led to live by the Lord.
We are coming to the USA to observe the Amish lifestyle in September/October 2012, and are excited to be able to share this with our girls so they may see for themselves the love that abounds with the Lord being the Leader and Guide to us all. We are so grateful that you Wanda are able to show us the Amish lifestyle and love they have, and only wish we could have that type of lifestyle in our lives. Many thanks Wanda (and Richard for all your support) for sharing with you.
Each and everyone of us should be all pleasing to God everyday. We should obey his commandments and accept Jesus Christ as our savior.
I, too wonder if they have a relationship with Christ. I sure hope so…What are your thoughts?
Lehigh series you will love them
well i have never read the book but been wanting to read it would love to win the quitlers club book and the book 2 sarah’s choice i have book one and book three to the brides of lehigh canal series i love you books i am sure you know that already lol smiles
Lehigh series are 3 great books.
I’m am always encouraged by the coments of other readers. Wanda truly has a gift from God in her writings. Also Richard with his beautiful pictures. I would love to meet them both. Since I live close to Shipsehwanna I may be able to make this a possibility. I really loved “Half-Stitched” and hopefully will take in the play in August. My daughter-in-law from North Carolina enjoyed the musical “Confessions” by Beverly Lewis. As seniors on a fixed income, these plays are mostly off limits. However, after actually experiencing one I will be putting aside funds for this purpose. What a breath of fresh air in our tumoultous times. Amish families surely know how to live simply. I was born during the great depression and was raised on a farm similarly. I continue to treasure those memories and struggle to write about them for my children and grandchildren’s information. God bless you, Wanda.
I hope I get the chance to meet you while I’m in Shipshewana. If you visit my website and click on the EVENTS page, you can see all the places I’ll be signing there.
I can not tell you the joy I get when I red your books. I am usually so busy that most days I miss the beauty that God has to offer. Since I have been reading about the Amish, I have noticed how peaceful I have been feeling. I have also slowed down. I have been sharing your books with many of my friends. I have also been looking for a new church and low and behold the new person we hired reads your books and offered totake me to her church. Last year my husband and I visited Lancaster Pa and stayed at the Red Caboose. It was wonderful. We went to see the train museum and some of the other local attractions. The most rewarding part of the trip was sitting on the front portch at the Red Caboose watching the Amish working on their farm. Such hard working people.