The One Year® Book of Amish Peace: Hearing God's Voice in the Simple Things by Tricia Goyer, ©2013

Are you looking for a new devotional for 2014?

I would like to share today's beginning page with you. Tricia Goyer shares throughout wisdom and gleanings of days spent with God.


January 1
Looking Forward
Anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person.
The old life is gone; a new life has begun!
2 Corinthians 5:17

An Amish family gathers around the kitchen table to celebrate God’s goodness in bringing a new year. Grandparents, parents, and children join together with the glow of the lantern casting rings of light upon their heads. A pot of pork and sauerkraut sits in the center of the table. True to the Swiss-German heritage, pork—more specifically, fattened pigs—symbolizes wealth and looking to the future. Interestingly, unlike most animals, which can easily turn their heads, pigs can’t look backward. We should all be so forward thinking!

When the Amish immigrated to America, they brought with them many cooking traditions. Sauerkraut, potatoes, and spaetzle are still popular on Amish tables and come from their Swiss-German roots.

     After dinner the Amish family joins in a traditional New Year song: Die Zeit ist angekommen, das freudige Jahr. Gott wolle euch geben ein gutes Neujahr. “’Tis time now to welcome the happy New Year. God grant you to live and enjoy the new year.”
     Amish families sing of fortune and blessings, but even as they look forward to the coming year, their gazes also lift to unseen eternity. The song continues, “In heaven before the great heavenly throne, God grant you reward in that heavenly home.”
     What are you looking forward to? Perhaps you smile as you anticipate family togetherness, a graduation, or a new life to come. Or perhaps, as one year rolls into the next, you’re in the midst of a season of sadness or loss. Whether you look ahead with hope or anxiety, remember Who sits on the great heavenly throne. Because we belong to Jesus, we can say, “The old life is gone; a new life has begun!” He is our reason to celebrate the new year, the days and seasons of our lives, and an endless eternity of rejoicing.

***

Heavenly Father, the newness of the year pales in comparison with the new life You give through a relationship with Jesus Christ. Help me to look ahead to eternity with a grateful heart, no matter what this year brings. Amen.


I especially like the Endnotes at the back with extended reference for a listed day.
Also, the sprinkling of Amish Proverbs throughout.
Drawing our hearts close to God, this devotional can be started afresh on any day. We may find ourselves reading further!

Tricia shares insights of Amish ways as well as questions and introspection for our own lives. I will enjoy this devotional beyond 2014!

author Tricia Goyer

***Thank you to Tricia Goyer and Litfuse Publicity Group for this devotional copy published by Tyndale. May we hear God's Voice in the simple things. This review was written in my own words. No other compensation was received.***