"To Vote or not to Vote"

Look around you!

Disrespect for authority had probably never been greater than it is now.  It seems to grow  daily.  More than ever, our society seems to be driven by the spirit of rebellion and the pursuit of

 "personal freedoms" and "individual rights".

 

Is it true that Christians have a spiritual duty to make this world's governments better?  Does Christ want you to write your congressman about issues you want addressed?

 

What should a Christian's relationship be to our country's government?  Do we have a responsibility to reform it?  Are we free to speak evil of individuals in authority

if we do not like what they do?

 

What about Romans 13:1-7?

"Everyone must submit to governing authorities.  For all authority comes from God, and those in positions of authority have been placed there by God.  So anyone who rebels against authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and they will be punished" (KJV says they receive damnation to themselves.).  For the authorities do not strike fear in people who are doing right, but in those who are doing wrong.  Do what is right, and they will honor you.  The authorities are God's servants, sent for your good.  But if you are doing wrong, of course, you should be afraid, for they have the power to punish you.  They are God's servants sent for the very purpose of punishing those who do what is wrong.  So you must submit to them, not only to avoid punishment, but also to keep a clear conscience.  Pay your taxes, too, for these same reasons.  For governments need to be paid.  They are serving God in what they do.  Give to everyone what you owe them:  pay your taxes and government fees to those who collect them, and give respect

 and honor to those who are in authority.

 

These Scriptures contain much to consider.  They leave no question that all people--including Christians--

 are subject to the governing authorities. 

To resist them, God says, is to "resist.....God." 

 This is serious! 

 

Have you ever wondered who selects the leaders of the countries on earth?  Do men ultimately select kings, presidents, prime ministers, and other rulers?    Benjamin Franklin once said, "The longer I live, the more convincing proofs I see of this truth, that God governs the affairs of man; and if a sparrow cannot fall to the ground without His notice, is it probable that the empire can rise without His aid?" 

Daniel 4:17 states, "He (God) removes kings and sets up kings".  There is no misunderstanding this verse. 

 GOD establishes and removes kings and kingdoms. 

 If God chooses to place the weakest humans in office, because He may feel this is who the people deserve,

then it is His prerogative to do so.

Men may come to power in different ways, deceit, dishonesty, etc., but these things are allowed by God for His great, overall purpose.

 

By respecting those who hold offices through the authority and permission of God, we actually show respect to God Himself.  While their personal conduct may be far from praiseworthy, even to the point of corrupting the government they represent, they are still appointed by God to preserve order and punish law-breakers and wrong doers.  When leaders are self-serving- or even down right devilish- it is God's responsibility to remove them---not ours!

 

Peter spoke of those who "despise government. Presumptuous are they, self-willed, they are not afraid to speak evil of dignitaries". (II Peter 2:10)  Some people utter outrageous slander against those in authority-- for real or imagined wrongs.  They "presume" that it is alright to do this, lacking the fear necessary to hold them back in their attacks against dignitaries.

Paul wrote, "Put them in mind to be subject to principalities and powers, to obey magistrates, to be ready to every good work, TO SPEAK EVIL OF NO MAN, to be no brawlers, but gentle, showing meekness unto all men".  (Titus 3:1-2) 

Do you reflect cynicism, bitterness,

anger and accusation toward others? 

What about "SPEAK EVIL OF NO MAN"?

 

Peter also gave important instructions about what God expects of Christians in their responsibilty toward civil authorities. He wrote, "SUBMIT yourselves unto every ordinance of man, FOR THE LORD'S SAKE: whether it be to the king, as supreme; or unto governors, as unto them that are sent by him for the punishment of evil doers, and for the praise of them that do well. 

 For so is the will of God, that with welldoing

you may put to silence the igorance of foolish men....

Honor all men.  Love the brotherhood. 

 Fear God.  Honor the king.  (I Peter 2:13-15, 17)

 

 

The Christian's responsibility does not end with mere obedience to government authority.  Paul actually tells us to PRAY for those in authority-- and includes a secific reason.  

 He states, "I exhort therefore, that first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men; for kings, and for all those that are in authority;  that we may lead a quiet and preaceable life in all godliness and honesty." 

(I Tim. 2:1-2)

 

It is so important that we do not forget this responsibility.

Do we really believe in the power of prayer?

Can you imagine what it would be like to be a leader of a country?

You would always have people mad at you, always criticizing you, always telling you how things should be done.

You and your family's lives could be threatened at any time.

I can only imagine that it would feel so good to a leader to know that Christians are praying for  him and his family.

Sadly though, some Christians are his worst criticizers!

 

What about voting?

Please don't throw me under the bus because I don't vote. 

I believe the most powerful thing a Christian can do is PRAY!

No, I didn't say pray and vote.  God doesn't need my vote.  He has no problem putting into office who He chooses to put in. 

"He (not we) sets up kings and takes down kings."

 

I completely believe that God has already chosen

 the next president of the United States of America

and He will put him into office.

 

Several years ago a friend of ours challenged us to read the small print on Florida's Voter's Registration.

Did you know when you register to vote you take an oath?

Check out what Scripture says about oaths.

Did you also know that you swear/affirm to support and defend the Constitution of the United States?

Are you ready to defend our Constitution?

How would you defend it?

This leads into a whole new subject for another time...

 Chrisitans and Force....

are we non-resistant anymore?

 

It troubles me that many 'Christians' decide they are going to vote and defend without studying the Scriptures to see what God says about these subjects.  I'm afraid we may someday pay a high price for the decisions we are lightly making today.

 

I believe that, as Christians, we are citizens of a heavenly kingdom.  We are strangers and pilgrims only passing through this world's kingdom. We are not to become entangled with the affairs of this world. I think of it when we travel through Atlanta, Georgia or other cities.  We just travel through. We try to be Christ's ambassadors and witnesses there;

but we do not stop to see how their goverments are running. 

 We are not citizens of Atlanta....only travelers passing through.

 

Consider your attitude toward government.

Have your prayed for our leaders as Christ has commanded us to?

Or have you criticized and slandered them?

Do you think by criticizing them

somehow you can make them better? 

 

As we approach November and election,

 I challenge you to pray and ask God to put into office

the man HE has chosen to rule our country.

 

And then I challenge you further,

to PRAY for our new president like never before. 

 

November...Election...President   

God's already got it covered!



Grandparents Day

Sunday was "Grandparents Day" and Sunday night's program was focused on Grandparents.  It got me to thinking...

One of the prayers of my life is that our faith in God would be passed on to our third and fourth generations and that our children and their children would 'stand on our shoulders' and go even deeper into God's Word and in Faith. 
I like how one evangelist put it: 
 "Don't focus so much on what your parents didn't do right...stand on their shoulders (what they did right) and go higher and beyond where they did."
I find that so exciting and encouraging!

I've also think alot of the decisions we make today will have an effect on the future generations, whether for good or bad.  Many times it is the 'small' decisions that we are careless with or think will only affect us. 
 
As different ones were sharing Sunday night, my thoughts went to my grandparents.  I never knew any of my great-grandparents. My Grandpa Yoder died when my dad was only six years old, so I knew nothing of him and Grandma Yoder died when I was very young.  I have one picture of her in my mind; standing on our front porch ( a little, Amish woman) waiting for my dad to pull the car up front and pick her up for church.  Grandpa Wagler passed away when I was quite young, too, although I have some memories of him.  He always seemed a little strict to me and I was a wee bit afraid of him.  He always cleared his throat a certain way... which I still hear in the uncles, aunts, and yes, grandchildren! ha!  Grandma Wagler let us grandchildren have the run of the house and be as loud as we wished but Grandpa didn't care for that as much.  I remember when we would visit them,we would always all kneel in prayer in the living room and Grandpa would pray before we went to bed.  I remember Grandpa coming to visit us and then he would do funny things; like trying to ride my brothers' bikes!  I watched in awe because I thought Grandpas were too old to do things like that.

Mom told me that Grandpa Wagler made a decision when his children were young that his children would not practice bed courtship (which was an Amish tradition at that time). He took a stand for that and was questioned and ridiculed for it.  Grandpa had no idea then that so many years later, I, his grand daughter, and my children, his great-grandchildren, would know about his willingness to stand alone.  Bed courtship is now something completely foreign to us.  The iniquities of the fathers can be passed on to the third and fourth generations but they don't have to be!  They can be broken and stopped! We have to recognize them, acknowledge them, repent and ask God to break their strongholds on us.  One generational iniquity that our family has faced and acknowledged is....worry!  I could be the queen of worry!  I know how to do it well!! But I am commanded in God's Word not to worry or fret about tomorrow (or today!) and with God's power, I don't have to!  It's been a journey and each of our children have had to address this iniquity.  It's been so encouraging and humbling to see them rise above it.  At present, Erica is addressing it in her life but such a joy to see God replace worry with faith and trust.  I pray that the stronghold of worry will become weaker and weaker in the coming generations.

What will my great-grandchildren know about me?
I wonder how the decisions I am making today will affect them.  If I am compromising God's Word, thinking that it really doesn't matter, can I expect to have great-grandchildren who have respect and honor for God's Word?  Is it possible they could be completely heathen or even atheists?!  Sounds extreme but possible? Or will they hear of their great-grandparents who followed God faithfully in the little areas and decisions of every day life? 

 

 I wonder.......... 

and it keeps me on my knees crying out to God

 to help me realize how much I need Him

to guide my decisions every day!

 

Exodus 34:6-7  "...The LORD, The LORD God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abundant in goodness and truth, Keepin mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, and that will by no means clear the guilty;

 visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children,

and upon the children's children,

unto the third and fourth generation."

 



It's hot off the press!!!

At last....

"The Twig that would not Bend"

Approx. 12-13 years ago my  Dad began to write his life story.  One of his dreams was to see it printed. 

Taking all his manuscripts I typed it on the computer for him.  Every  winter we would spend time working on his manuscripts...adding, critiquing, correcting,

 looking for more information and details,

editing out things we didn't want after all, etc...

About five years ago I decided to play with his story and see how it would sound in story form (third person) instead of first person (I).

We all kind of liked it so on we went. 

 As a story it needed more details and more information

 so each year we would try to add more. 

 Every person really should have their life story written. 

 We each live such unique lives and have things of interest that the future generations should know about.

Here are some interesting facts about my dad:

He was born into an Amish home as the youngest of six children.  His father was an Amish minister and died when Dad was six years old.  His family house and barn burned to the ground one year and the fire threatened to burn down the entire town nearby.

Dad was drafted into the army, registered as a

Conscientious Objector to war but it was not accepted. 

He served two years of a five year sentence in state prisons. 

 Pleasant experience? No, but beyond price now.

He and Mom were married at ages 32 and 29

and welcomed eight children into their home.

  He sometimes worked two jobs to provide for his family. 

Our family lived in ....Hillsdale/Jerome, Michigan...

Seymour, Missouri and Faiview, Michigan.

(If you are from any of these areas you may be familiar with some happenings and people mentioned in the book.)

May I present to you.....

Last summer Dad spent a week in the hospital and was diagnosed with congestive heart failure.  Nagging my mind were the thoughts of how near we were to being finished with his book and how sad if he would pass on to glory before he saw it completed. 

I know in glory none of this matters anymore

but those of us left behind would regret it.

I determined that by the power and grace of God

 we would try to bring it to a close when they were here this winter.

This past winter was an exceptionally busy winter but before they left this spring.....we declared it finished!!

Dad and Mom don't know a whole lot about computer language but when they found out the files had been emailed to Carlisle Printing

they were quite happy and all of us breathed a sigh of relief and almost pinched ourselves to believe that it was actually happening.

Mom put alot of time into this book, too.

 Writing, editing, remembering, etc. 

His dream had become our dream and

has now become a reality!

Carlisle Printing from Sugarcreek, Ohio

 has been a joy to work with. 

They treated Dad and Mom with utmost respect

and were very interested in Dad's story.

The books are available for $5.00 each if you pick them up directly.

It will cost an additional $3.00 to have one mailed.

There is a limited supply of them

and they are available through:

Aaron & Sylvia Yoder (pick up only)

941.356.5573

Fairview, Michigan

(until Sept. 1st)

Brenda Troyer (pick up only)

Holmes County, Ohio

330.276.9100

To have books shipped or for pick up:

Mary Ann Weaver

2513 Wells Ave.

Sarasota, Fl. 34232

941.356.0641

dreamteam86@comcast.net

text, call, email, or facebook

We experienced several obstacles in actually getting the books sent down here and it was an emotinally moving experience for me to actually see and hold this book that we had invested so much in.

Dad sent us a personally autographed one. 

This will hopefully be a family heirloom

 for future generations in our family.

Dad and Mom's legacy will live on...

It was also moving because....

I have a dream, too!

Someday I hope to write a series on the

"DAUGHTERS OF AARON"

...beginning with my story!

I have had such an interesting life so for years

I periodically record interesting happenings in journals,

hoping to someday put them into story form.

and then maybe someday beyond that I will write the

"SONS OF AARON"

series!!

For now though...

it's just a dream!

Honoring our Men

After enjoying a pampering time on our girls' weekend away.......we wanted to share it with our men at home.  We planned a special evening at home last night.  First we served them taco salad and grilled ham and cheese sandwiches.  Then we made some cool drinks for them and popcorn. And then...


Oh my word.....did they ever eat it up!!  We didn't know how well they would receive it, as men, but they ate it right up and possibly enjoyed it more than we wanted them to.....we heard comments about maybe this being a weekly thing!!

Dustin, Duane, and Riley

Derek and Kyle

JR and Erica

(We stole JR away from his studying for a brief time)

KaShondra and I

Look at them!  Loving every bit of it!!

Even admitted how good it felt and smelled!

Look at those smiles!

The lotion station...

not to worry, it was unscented or masculine scented!

...should have taken their phones away.

Boy, will he ever be able to study anew now!

Gotta pamper the workers, too!

 RELAXED!!!!

Sure thing...men enjoy candles and nice things, too!

Dare you to try it on your men!

Spoil them a little!  They work hard!

We are blessed with men in our family who pamper us and treat us like queens and princesses (most of the time!)  :)

They work hard to provide for us, they take time to listen to us,

 are interested in what we have to say, 

are respectful to us, and love us.  

What a small way of showing honor to them!

We think of men of being tough and not enjoying the finer things in life, but their feet get weary and tired, too, and there is nothing unmasculine about a good, hot, foot soak and scrub.

Now....that was a good thing but how are we going

to get out of this being a weekly thing?!!!

Girls Weekend Away!

"Princesses"

and

"Color Me Beautiful"

For all you old-timers out there who remember the Color Me Beautiful book...

this was our theme for the weekend.

While we all know that real beauty comes from within and that a very 'beautiful' woman can appear as very unbecoming if she has an ungodly character and 'common-looking' women can appear so beautiful when they glow with Godly character, sometimes I fear we have neglected to allow ourselves to enjoy womanly beauty, in fear of becoming proud.

In hopes that we used it in balance, we had a delightful time exploring our colors: 

are we springs, summers, autumns, or falls?

Let us begin.  We sponsor ladies were planning to leave several hours ahead of the girls to prepare their rooms and get ourselves settled in before the girls arrived.  To our surprise, when the girls found out we were leaving early, they asked to come, too!  We didn't mind at all so all who could get off work early left around 3:00 p.m.  Our standing joke rule was that the 3:05er's would be coming with the 6:00 load.

We loaded up and arrived at Hampton Inn. 

Four girls to a room kept our prices very reasonable.  We assigned everyone to their rooms earlier that week so everyone knew ahead of time who they would be rooming with.  We also assigned a group/room devotions person for each room to be in charge of  a time of sharing and prayer in each room.

We made the girls stay in one room while we went into each room and added some special touches.  

By each pillow we put a personal size sparkling grape juice bottle, 

a small goblet filled with chocolates, and a glittering princess stick. 

We had a weekend of many 'blonde' moments!  

The first began when we got in the elevator to head for the third floor.  Chatting excitedly we waited and waited for the doors to open and let us out.  Alas, one of the girls finally asked if anyone had pushed the button.......No, no one had so we were still on ground level waiting to go up!  Had this happened once, no problem.....but I know of at least three times that this exact incidence happened!  Now I will try to be very discreet with names here, so I won't get in trouble for identifying which age group had the most problems with remembering things!  I did see one age group stand at the elevator doors for awhile waiting, then they knocked to see if it would open.  I also saw a  person try to open a motel door with a remote from her car keys.  I also saw tears rolling down several people's faces as they laughed themselves silly.

Bob Evans was within walking distance of our motel so after some of them swimming, cleaning up, etc. 

we had a good dinner at Bob Evans Restaurant.  

The 6:00 group arrived and settled in and by 8:30 we were ready to start our "Color Me Beautiful" session.

We purchased 1/2 yard pieces of fabric ahead of time and had four samples of each season plus a few more.  We had each girl take a turn setting on a chair in front of all the others while we held different colors of fabrics to them and enjoyed seeing the differences it made in their skin tones, eyes, and hair.  I won't show any pics of them because most of them didn't turn out too flattering! 

The first thing to discover is whether you look better in warm tones (golds, creams, etc.)

or cool tones (silvers, whites, etc.) 
 By the way, only winters can truly wear black.

The motel staff treated us very well and allowed us to use a room they normally wouldn't have allowed people to use other than for breakfast.  

We soon discovered the motel was quite understaffed, well, actually, we discovered that most of Brandon is understaffed!!  We waited and waited and waited everywhere we went.

Yep, 16 girls........one room!

We took time out to watch the high wire walker walk across Niagara Falls.

Saturday morning after waiting and waiting on breakfast...........

we left for the mall.  We shopped at Ross first,
 then Homegoods, then Brandon Mall.

So many stores........so little time!

We ate lunch together at the Food Court then spread out through out the mall until a designated time.  
Then we got lost, got lost again,
 made some loops around parking lots, 

I guess that's letting out enough secrets about how 
directionally challenged we were...

and then on to Ikea......or wait, we thought we were.....
okay, we tried.

Finally, a younger member of the group took the lead in our caravan of vehicles and at last, we see Ikea on the horizon, right off to our side, all we needed to do was exit off the express way.

How we bragged on her until...........

she flew right past the exit......... so the caravan followed!!

No problem though, she just flies right on to the next exit, makes some turns confidently(the caravan questioningly follows) 

and back on the expressway we go.

At last, we really did pull into the parking lot of Ikea.

Again so much store.....so little time!  :) 

Most of the day we ran at least three hours behind our
 suggested schedule but no one minded. 
 It was a very relaxed and flexible time for all of us.

After shopping til we almost dropped

we went home to rest just a bit before our evening dinner out.

Need I tell you that we had a fine looking bunch of young ladies

all dressed up for dinner at Olive Garden?!

Look at them in their "colors"!!

Our beverages appeared........

But because Brandon is "under staffed".....

..... later our breadsticks.......

and quite awhile later our salads........

and awhile awhile later our dinners!

One dear soul was o so hungry, she ate before she prayed!

Much chagrined at herself she quickly prayed before the next bite could jump in her mouth!!  :)

Now the stories being told at this table are all under lock and key!!

Nope, no telling!!!

Next on our 'schedule' was foot soaks and scrubs for everyone!

By this time it was about 10:30 p.m. 

and most of the girls were very tired!

Us 'older' ladies thought maybe we should just save 

the soaks and scrubs for another time 

but the vote was "No, let's do them tonight!"

Uh-huh.........16 of them!!

So after changing into p.j.'s.........

the pampering began!

Tubs filled with hot water, scented epsom salts and scrubs, 

heated rocks, warm towels......

they really were princesses!

Armed with their goblets of sparkling grape juice 

our room began to fill up....

(are you serious?! some of you knocked at the wrong door?!)

Good evening, princesses! Welcome to our salon!

For your epsom salt soak, 

would you like the eucalyptus scent or the lavender?

For the scrub, you may have your choice of lavender 

or sweet jasmine scent...

A couple of them took the 'princess' thing to heart 

and even began to demand for refills!!

Oh well, let them be real princesses for the night!!

What a sisterhood they had!!  

When the tickle became more than one could bear

all the others shared her giggles and one even held her hand!!

"....Ahhh, I could get used to this!"

From Station 1 where they got their soaks and scrubs

they moved to Station 2 where they got their feet lotioned!

and Station 3 was shoulder massages...

...and from there this zombie look came over them 

and they looked so relaxed!

Our room smelled like a salon all weekend!! 

Sunday morning we all moved down to an end room 

and two of the girls were in charge

of our worship and sharing time.

Wow!  What a time we had!  

How would I ever describe it in words?!

Wish you could have been there!

Music that gave you goosebumps.......

Prayer....

Sharing from the hearts....

more prayer and sharing....

Crying...

(out of Kleenex's (understaffed) so used a roll of toilet paper)

Hugs....

Smiles...

Love....

Bind us together, Lord, bind us together

with cords that cannot be broken!

And then it was time to clean up, pack up, load up, and leave.

I was so blessed by the girls who left tracts 

of "Steps to Peace with God" in their rooms

 along with hand scribbled Thank You notes 

and chocolates for the cleaners!

All weekend we were aware that we were not there

by coincidence but by appointment.

We knew that from staff to clerks

we were there as Christ's ambassadors.

We had lunch at Applebee's, 

one stop at McDonald's for ice cream 

and then the journey home!

I love each one of these ladies who were along this weekend

and pray God gives them the desires of their hearts 

as they continue to SEEK God and

FOLLOW Him with all their hearts!

(and by the way, they voted in the foot soaks 

and scrubs as an annual thing!)

....and as you can clearly see.......

....their behavior began to rapidly deteriorate as time went on!!!!

Time to get them back home to catch up on their sleep!!