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Love for the Lord Jesus
| September 8, 2018I've been thinking a lot lately about what it means to love the Lord Jesus. Everyone wants to be loved, and Dwight L. Moody once said that if you can convince a man that you love him, you will win a friend for life. Think about it. If you can convince a man you care for his soul, he will be open and honest with you, but in no other way will he do so.
If I'm Deceived, How Am I Going to Know It?, By MP
| September 8, 2018Hello. Someone gave me the Amish Voice, and I thought there were some good articles in there. I really appreciated the last article that I read, “Living in the Stronghold of Deception.” It’s so easy, I think. If I’m deceived, how am I going to know it? You know, because a deceived person thinks he’s right. And you can’t just walk up to somebody and say, “You’re deceived” because it would never work that way.
Living in the Stronghold of Deception (Part 8 of 8)
| July 1, 2018In 1980, I had a dream. In the dream, I was fishing with some people I did not know. We were not catching anything. Finally, we went to a different place to fish. In this place, we caught one huge fish. It was enormous in size. This big fish had a wound that had been healed. After this, we began to catch many small fish. The small fish began to turn into people. There were all kinds of people. Many were of my own people, the Amish.
Knocking on the Wrong Door
| July 1, 2018There are many, many different beliefs in the world. There are even hundreds or thousands of different groups that all claim to be right, and they each say that they are following the Bible. How can this be? How do we know if what we believe is really right? Jesus said that many religious people will find out too late that they were not on the right path, but we never stop to consider if He might have been talking about us.
Grieving God's Heart
| July 1, 2018Psalm 78:40-42 tells us how often the Israelites provoked God in the wilderness and grieved Him in the desert! Yes, again and again they tempted God and limited the Holy One of Israel. They did not remember His power – the day He redeemed them from the enemy. Often when we are in a wilderness experience we doubt and limit God. We forget the things He has done for us and others in the past. We speak many negative things with our mouths.
Garment of Praise
| July 1, 2018This morning I felt as though I had a cloud of heaviness hanging over me. Everything looked dark and futile. My past sins and mistakes seemed to be all I could see, and I heard the enemy whisper, "This is who you will always be and know." I knew it wasn't true, but the heaviness was far too strong for me.
Shew Thyself Approved, By SL
| July 1, 2018Amish Voice, Please continue with articles based on the Word of God. I very much appreciate your Feedback and Response Section, where you try and respond back according to the Word of God. It seems in our time, a lot of people will approve of something because other people approve it. Or, they will be opposed to something because other people give a negative report. Instead, lets search the Scripture and study to shew thyself approved unto God, rightly dividing the Word of Truth.
Keep on in Hope (Part 2), By Mrs. W.S.
| July 1, 2018Amish Voice: Why do you call your paper the Amish Voice? You know that some of the things you are trying to preach aren’t in the Old Order Amish beliefs! The main thing I have an issue with is this new belief of knowing one is saved! We read a lot of die Hoffnung and know that we have to “Keep on in die Hoffnung (hope)!”
Head Covering: Should I Wear One?
| May 16, 2018My biggest question right now is about head covering. Should I? Shouldn't I? Is it a command? Does it matter? If you could help me gain clarity on this issue I would greatly appreciate it. It is the main area of contention between me and them and I really have no answer.
Forsaking All and Following Jesus
| May 1, 2018One by one, Jesus called out and said follow me. Peter and Andrew said yes. James and John said yes. So did eight others. They dropped all—their jobs, incomes and family and followed immediately.
Why Would a Good Father Punish His Children?
| May 1, 2018For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth (Hebrews 12:6).
For years I struggled with the idea of God's chastening in my life. Especially the idea of God chastening me without me knowing why. I would never punish my own children without first making sure they understand why. And yet I had to be honest, in many of the difficult things I've faced in my life, I have not had a clear reason for them. Is there a difference between trials and chastening? How can I know the difference? You cannot love and trust a God who seems to delight in hurting you. And yet scriptures are very clear on the value and need for God's chastening in our lives. This is by no means conclusive, but here are a few thoughts that have helped clear things up for me.
Fear and Control - Just Feelings?
| May 1, 2018May I talk with you about something close to my heart? There is a word I hear a lot of these days, and that word is anxiety. Anxiety, worry, and feeling scared are all the same thing. They can all be summed up in one word, and that is FEAR (false evidence appearing real!). Now don’t get me wrong, folks- I do experience fear. In fact, I recently became aware of how much fear has actually been in my life! I used to be irritated by the word “anxiety” and thought I was not much affected by it, but since my mother died, I suddenly became more aware of it and realized it was a bigger issue than I knew!
Living in the Stronghold of Deception (Part 7 of 8)
| May 1, 2018First Corinthians1:18: For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God. This unlimited power becomes a reality in a believer’s life because it is the power of God that saves us. This can never be accomplished by self-effort or human good works.
Resisting Leadership, by JG
| May 1, 2018Please take our name off your mailing list. Could you direct your energy more toward guarding the people who took the step that you have, trying to keep them from moving on out into the world. If you look at the next generations, you cannot keep from being alarmed. I have cousins that are not so sure that the “creation” is a true story. Seems if someone starts to resist leadership, soon they are in conflict, which subjects them to sin. Serve the Lord with a perfect heart.
Seven Men Sought Entrance into the Kingdom
| May 1, 2018Seven men walked up to the door of the kingdom of God to seek entrance; only one made it in.Seven men walked up to the door of the kingdom of God to seek entrance; only one made it in.
Your Church has no Rules!
| May 1, 2018This is what some local Amish have observed with regard to non-Amish churches in this area. Why, they exclaim, with no fences the sheep will all disappear! Funny they should say that, since sheep are such a good example of the difference between the Old Testament and New Testament system of governing. Also I appreciate the honest comment that permits a conversation. And my thanks to Andy who told me of this.
What is Worldliness?
| May 1, 2018In the January Amish Voice, we asked for your interpretation of I John 2:15-16: Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.
You Face Opposition, but so did Jesus, by Emma
| May 1, 2018Keep up the good work! I know you face opposition, but so did Jesus. I’m also thankful for some opposition so we know Jesus is working. If Satan would leave us alone, then he would be sure he has us in his clutches already.
Why did Jesus Come to Earth?
| May 1, 2018How would you respond if someone were to ask you the following two questions: Why do you think Jesus came to earth, and in what way did you personally benefit from it?
Former Amish Letter sent to 10,000 Amish Homes
| March 28, 2018The following letter was written and signed by a group of former Amish and mailed out to 10,000 Amish families in the Lancaster, PA area.
Keep up the Good Work, by E. T.
| March 1, 2018Good Morning, Greetings on a cold Monday morning. I would like to order one of your books, The Overcoming Life. And here is some money to help pay for your newsletter. Finally! Keep up the good work! I know you face opposition, but so did Jesus. I’m also thankful for some opposition, so we know Jesus is working. If Satan would leave us alone, then he would be sure he has us in his clutches already.
Living in the Stronghold of Deception (Part 6 of 8)
| March 1, 2018For God to take us from pride to humility is the working of the cross by the power of the Holy Spirit. This takes a lifetime of walking with the Lord. One cannot go from pride to humility by one’s own power or might. Pride came when Adam partook of the forbidden fruit in the garden of Eden. Man came into knowledge of good and evil. Man ate of the wrong fruit. The fruit of pride and every evil thing is what Satan is and represents. Pride is the opposite of humility, just as darkness is the opposite of light.
Relating to Victims (Part 2)
| March 1, 2018So now that we have established a biblical response to the perpetrators of sexual abuse, let’s think about how we should be relating to the victims.
Statistics tell us that 20.5 percent of the people in our churches are sexual abuse survivors. If you have a church of 200 people, approximately 41 of those people are struggling to heal from sexual abuse.
That is over one in five church members. Yet, we hear almost nothing about sexual abuse. We don’t talk about “such things.” Often, we don’t even know who the victims are or how to help them. And sometimes, if we do know the victims, we shame them instead of believing them. We betray their trust instead of helping them heal.
God Wants to be Best Friends with You
| March 1, 2018As our world becomes more and more selfish and godless, it becomes harder and harder to stay focused on eternity and the return of Jesus Christ. Dads, moms and single adults are to the point of wanting to give up. They feel frustrated with Americanized Christianity. While we point our fingers at them, they point their fingers at us – it's the same blame game that started in the Garden of Eden and is now devouring our government and news media. Some shout: we need another reformation! Others, are just going through the motions, hoping that somehow things will make a turn for the better or Jesus comes back and removes us from the chaos.
Follow Me
| March 1, 2018And Jesus, walking by the sea of Galilee, saw two brethren, Simon called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea: for they were fishers. And he saith unto them, Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men. And they straightway left their nets, and followed him (Matthew 4:18-20).
Imagine with me that you are in Galilee and you are a fisherman by trade. You are Jewish and know the Old Testament very well, likely having committed most or even all of it to memory. From your studies, you know that God is going to send a Savior into the world, and you know from reading the Old Testament prophets that He will be showing up someday soon.
Evangelism
| March 1, 2018‘E-van'ge-lism’: the spreading of the Christian gospel by public preaching or personal witness. To evangelize was the last commandment that Jesus gave before his departure. Go ye into all the world, and teach them to observe all the things that Jesus had taught over the last three years.
I have felt that evangelizing is a weak area with many Anabaptist-type churches. Yes, there are individuals who are active in local ministries, thank God. And many support foreign missions. But to be active in local outreach has never been very strong.
Keep on in Hope, by Mrs. W. S.
| March 1, 2018Why do you call your paper the Amish Voice? You know that some of the things you are trying to preach aren’t in the Old Order Amish beliefs! The main thing I have an issue with is this new belief of knowing one is saved! We read a lot of die Hoffnung and know that we have to “Keep on in die Hoffnung (hope)!”
God Has an Ordinance in Everything, by M.H.
| January 1, 2018Dear Writers of the Amish Voice, growing up in the Amish, I was always taught that the only way to heaven was through Jesus Christ and being born of the Spirit; I was taught that the ordinances of the church were simply a helpful set of guidelines – not the way to heaven. It sounds like the writers of your magazine grew up in churches that are different and not familiar to me.
Look around yourself. God has an ordinance in everything from the sun, moon, and stars to the seasons; the list could go on and on.
All Glory to God, By A.M.T.
| January 1, 2018Dear Friends, We are sending a donation to you. We have been on your mailing list for a couple of years, and we greatly enjoy reading the Amish Voice. It is always packed full of the truth. It brings great joy to our hearts when we see our people come to the truth, understand salvation, and be free from the stronghold of religious deception and traditions.
Love for the Lord Jesus
| January 1, 2018If any man love not the Lord Jesus Christ, let him be Anathema Maranatha. (1 Corinthians 16:22)
I've been thinking a lot lately about what it means to love the Lord Jesus. Everyone wants to be loved, and Dwight L. Moody once said that if you can convince a man that you love him, you will win a friend for life. Think about it. If you can convince a man you care for his soul, he will be open and honest with you, but in no other way will he do so. If you are in business and you demonstrate that you genuinely love your customers, they will be loyal to your business. If you show love to your children, they will readily want to listen to you and obey you – little convincing with a stick will be needed. If you genuinely love your spouse, he or she will be delighted to be in your presence, and will be your best friend forever.