When my husband and I were visiting a church in our neighborhood several weeks ago, the pastor made the comment that it’s a privilege to pray, and that praying for ourselves is not being selfish. While it’s good to pray for others, each of us has special needs, and God wants us to bring our needs, as well as our wants, to Him.

In I Thessalonians 5:17 we are told to pray without ceasing. Although some of our prayers might not be answered exactly the way we would like, God answers every prayer according to His will. We should never quit praying, because there is power in prayer, and each time we pray, our faith will be strengthened.

Isn’t it great to know that we can call on God any time, day or night? He’s always waiting to hear from us, and He will answer our prayers in His own perfect timing, according to His will.

Heavenly Father: When I pray, help me remember to thank You in advance for all that You do. Amen.

When my husband and I visited the Hawaiian Island of Kauai a few months ago, I was amazed at all the beautiful sights there were to see. . .gorgeous sunsets reflecting on the water each morning; sparkling waterfalls cascading over hillsides; soft, sandy beaches with pretty shells and lots of unusual coral; leafy, green vegetation; flowers in bold and muted colors; colorful birds with melodious songs; and so much more. All that tropical beauty gave us a glimpse of what the Garden of Eden must have been like — a little taste of Paradise.

God created the earth and everything in it for our enjoyment. Like a warm fire at the end of the day, the presence of God surrounds me. I can see Him in the flowers, trees, birds, sunsets, and all the beauty that He’s created. Look around. . . God has some wonderful blessings in store for you today. Enjoy!

During a recent interview I was asked if I thought most people had misconceptions about the Amish, and if so, what are some of those misconceptions? I think one of the biggest misconceptions about the Amish is that they aren’t friendly and want nothing to do with people who aren’t Amish. I believe some think this because the Amish look different and live a different lifestyle than we “Englishers” do. So we just assume they won’t want to have anything to do with us. My husband and I have many Amish friends, and even though we dress differently and do some things in different ways, we still have many things in common. We have found the Amish to be friendly and kind. They may look different than us on the outside, but inside we are very much alike.

Unfortunately, people often judge others by the clothes they wear, their mode of transportation, the way they talk, or their lifestyle. You’ve heard the saying, “Don’t judge a book by its cover.” Well, in Matthew 7:1 God says, “Judge not, that ye be not judged.” I don’t know about you, but I’d rather not have others judging me by the way I dress, talk, or choose to live. After all, it could be just a misconception. God created each of us, and He thinks we are beautiful just the way we are. With Him, there are no misconceptions.