Finding the Right Method

Posted on 26/02/2020 by Mirjam Fels

How do we differentiate between What the LORD requires of us and that which is merely following men’s traditions? 

For a young woman it might be an issue of what type of clothes are okay to wear. A homemaker could seek answers to what is the right way of doing her job. The young mother searches to find the correct way of disciplining her child. Where are the answers? Who do we ask? Does anybody know the perfect way to do things?

At some stage we all struggle with one thing or another, and we would like to get advice from other women. While searching for help we come across various traditions and suggestions — the good and the bad ones.

There is this one friend who keeps her opinion to herself. “In the end, you will have to find out what is right for you and your family.” Hm… that kind of advice is rather confusing and not helpful. Then there is the kind of woman who is convinced that her way is the best and the only way to accomplish things.

Where do we look for help? Who do we ask?

When asking women for their advice we have to keep in mind that — unless they are, without further comment, quoting directly from God’s Word — it remains their own opinion and the method they are using and suggesting.

Go to the Source

God knows best. He made us and He knows the past, the present, and the future. Imagine, He knows ALL of us people, ALL of our circumstances, ALL of the working solutions. Amazing!

Think of His advice as the perfect principle and fundamental Truth, compared to suggestions and various methods of how things can be accomplished. Humans give their best to work things out. God Almighty will work things out — for them who love Him all things will work out together for good (Romans 8:28)

What the LORD Requires Of Us

One of the first verses I memorized is Micah 6:8

He has shown you, O man, what is good; And what does the LORD require of you. But to do justly, To love mercy, And to walk humbly with your God?

This verse is giving us such a helpful guideline in putting our ways (of doing things) to the test.

Do justly. We do justly when we follow the LORD’s direction. Remember, that God’s commands are not merely suggestions.

Love mercy. Showing mercy is giving someone what s/he does not deserve — The things we run out of so quickly and therefore need the Holy Spirit at work in us: love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness (see Galatians 5:22).

Walk humbly with your God. Stand in awe that you are loved by your Creator and privileged to be a child of the living God. But remember, always, that He is God. It is He who has made us, and not we ourselves (Psalm 100:3) Due to His working, and for His glory and honor, things are made possible.

 

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The Food Which God Recommends

Posted on 24/02/2020 by Mirjam Fels

Remember my post What Goes Into Our Food? In it I shared a little bit about the fact that our family avoids certain foods. I also mentioned the dietary laws of the Old Testament. Now, before you read on, or in case you are tempted to judge, let me clarify something really important: Keeping all or some of the dietary laws of the Old Testament will not get us into Heaven! So why keep them? For health reasons? Or why else?

After discussing this with our friend from the UK the other day I was delighted that we share the same opinion. This is what he said:

I agree with you about food and the food laws etc.  It just makes sense.  I just think, if that is what the Lord recommends . . .

Guidelines — Advice I Have Found Helpful

  • Feed your body with the food that God created for you.
  • Eat the food cooked, of course, if need be, but stick mainly to its original (non-processed) form.
  • Don’t go overboard, meaning, don’t think of your body and the food more highly than you should — don’t idolize them.

It hasn’t been a quick or easy way. Our family went through quite some struggles. We didn’t want to be “too legalistic” or way out of line with God’s Word. On the other side, we were eager to find out what God says about this topic. So we searched the Scriptures. Then we read some books about it. The following contains the best advice we have come across — and from which we have drawn the three guidelines I just listed above.

Book Suggestion

What the Bible Says About Healthy Living — 3 Principles That Will Change Your Diet and Improve Your Health, by Rex Russell, M.D. is a book that has helped our family tremendously in choosing what to eat and what to avoid. The author refers to some of the laws found in the Old Testament. He emphasizes, though, that keeping these laws will not get us into heaven.

There is only one way to be saved which Titus 3 explains it in a nutshell:

4 But when the kindness and the love of God our Savior toward man appeared,
5 not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit,
6 whom He poured out on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior,
7 that having been justified by His grace we should become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.

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Writing

Posted on 21/02/2020 by Mirjam Fels

On my About page, here at MirjamFels.com, I give you a few insights into my work as a writer and translator.

Biblical Womanhood and Homemaking are subjects that are very dear to my heart and I love writing about. The term Biblical Womanhood is all too often misunderstood and/or not well explained. The same goes for Homemaking in light of what the Scripture says.

God always knows best. He has not left us — helpers/wives, homemakers, and moms — without any counsel. It’s all in the Bible. If we would only pray and ask Him for help and then read God’s Word and seek answers from the Scriptures.

Yes, I admit, sometimes I wish He would have given us more specific, more detailed advice in regard to certain areas of marriage, homemaking, and child training. Starting from scratch and finding out things through trials and errors is quite frustrating. That’s why it is so important for us — the older women — to pass on our knowledge and wisdom to the young women.

Home Education is another topic which I’m highly interested in. I’m not making a principle out of it — neither condemning nor pointing my finger at parents who chose not to homeschool their children. They surely must have their reasons. I find, however, that Christian homeschooling, is the best method to teach a child. So you will hear my heart’s cry for it on this website — especially since I believe that every Christian family should have at least heard and research about it once before they are making their (final) decision.

The Emerald Isle is truly a special place to live. My husband and I moved to Ireland in 2010. Blog visitors who are capable of the German language can read more at 4inIrland.

Dogs and their handlers capture my attention a lot. That’s why I like to read more about dog training. As a Christian I’m interested in books written from a Christian perspective. So far I haven’t found any on this particular topic. Well, the few I have found are basically non-Christian ones that might have thrown in a Bible verse here or there.

Due to the lack of available books on this subject I started to write one myself. The LORD opened my eyes to let me see what His Word has to say about dogs, their handlers, and their relationship. He has lead me unto various detours many times during my research and writing. Writing this book has been a fascinating journey for me so far. I know, that once it is completed, the book will be a blessing to some of you dog owners.

I do appreciate all the prayer support I can get for this project. Thank you for praying!

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