J.E.B. Spredemann's Blog

5/9/23

READER QUESTION:

What can a person do when they no longer feel like God is with them? When it seems that Satan is trying so so hard to get back into your life and you don't know which way to go. I try reading the Bible and it doesn't help.

SAMMY’S ANSWER:

Dear Beloved,

Your question brought to mind several things.

First off, I’m thinking of Job in the Old Testament. If anyone has ever felt abandoned by God, surely Job must have. Job lost just about everything dear to him. But God never really gave him reasons for why he suffered so many tragedies. Instead, God turned Job’s focus to Himself and His great power and sovereignty over everything.

It may sound strange to us, but God, in His infinite wisdom, knew this was exactly what Job needed. He needed to place absolute faith in the God of the universe.

Job was a wealthy man with a good, strong family. After he lost everything, Job still said, “Blessed be the name of the Lord.” He knew everything good in his life had come from God. And at the end of all Job’s trials, we read that the Lord blessed the latter end of Job even more than the beginning.

I encourage you to go outside, turn your face toward the sunshine, close your eyes, breathe deep, and consider this: God, in all His greatness and wonder, chose to make YOU His most beloved creation. Out of all His grand Creation, YOU are what matters most to Him. Not the sun, moon, and stars. Not the vast oceans. Not the stunningly beautiful birds or flowers. Not the impressive mountain ranges or gorgeous waterfalls. Not any of the other strong, powerful, magnificent creatures He created. YOU are who He sent His Son to die for. YOU are His beloved.We must not rely on our feelings; they turn every which way. We must place our faith in what God has promised us in His word:

Who shall separate us from the love of Christ?...For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Remember He said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.

How do I get back on track, you ask? How do I find that closeness with God? We can find the answer in the book of James: Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw nigh unto God, and he will draw nigh unto you. (Note: You must make that step toward God, then He will meet you. God never forces Himself into our lives but goes where He is invited.)

As far as reading the Bible goes, I suggest getting ahold of a good old-fashioned King James, and approaching God’s Word like the psalmist who said, Open thou mine eyes, that I might behold wondrous things out of thy law.

You need only ask. Ask, and it shall be given unto you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you. For he that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.

And finally, let me ask if you are saved. Do you know for sure that you are going to Heaven when you die? This is the most important question anyone will ever ask you. I realize this question isn’t one that a typical Amish person would ask, because many of our folk believe it’s prideful to say so.

But the Bible lays it out differently.

In First John, we read these words: These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.

It might just be me, but that verse sounds like John wanted folks to “know” they are saved.

And right there in that same verse it tells us how to have that assurance: by believing in the name of the Son of God. Now, if you go through and read the entire chapter, you will see what “these things” entails.

But salvation rests on the person of Jesus Christ and on Him alone. It requires simple faith and believing as a child. It is not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us. He does all the work, or rather, He did all the work. This is one of the reasons Jesus said, “It is finished.” when he hung on the cross. Our “work” is to believe, as Jesus said in John 6:28-29 KJV. And Jesus says He will not cast out anyone who comes to Him. See John 6:37 KJV.

I pray this has been encouraging to you, Beloved.

For His glory,

Sammy

If you love Amish Christmas stories, you will be over-the-moon with this binge-worthy collection of ten heart-warming stories of More Amish Christmas Miracles.

The authors in the collection are myself, along with Jennifer Beckstrand, Rachel J. Good, Serena B. Miller, Dana R. Lynn, Loree Lough, Susan Lantz Simpson, Adina Senft, Ashley Emma, and Mary Alford. We hope you will join us on Facebook tonight at 7 PM EST for a special launch party. You'll find us on the Amish Christmas Miracles group page.

My story in this collection takes place in 1965 and features a young Christopher Stoltz (Unlikely Santa) and his sweetheart Judy Mishler.

Here's what the story's about:

Unlikely Singing

A missed opportunity. A summer of regret. And a Christmas miracle.

The moment Christopher Stoltz met the mysterious young Amish woman at his cousin’s wedding, he knew there was something special about her. But they’d only spoken briefly and he’d failed to get her name—or discover which Amish district she was from, to his dismay. So when they cross paths again, he vows not to make the same mistake twice. There’s one little problem, though. She’s already in a relationship with a minister’s son.

Judy Mishler is shocked when she attends church in her beau’s new district and reconnects with the handsome mystery man she’d met over the summer. Not only is Christopher Stoltz brave, but he seems to be everything she’s dreamed about, and their chemistry—something missing with her current beau—is undeniable. But is Christopher a genuine hero, or is he just a pretender?

Will it take a Christmas miracle for them to find their happily ever after?

(For those who read my story An Unexpected Christmas Gift in the first Amish Christmas Miracles collection, does the name Mishler sound familiar? You'll find out why in this book!)

I hope to see you at the party tonight! When you've read the stories, let us know what you thought by leaving a review where you purchased your book or on Goodreads.

Happy reading, friends!

Blessings,

Jennifer Spredemann

Heart-Touching Amish Fiction

Hello, Readers!

Awhile back, I created a reader group on Facebook. If you haven’t joined, I’d love to have YOU to join us! If you enjoy reading my books, you’ll definitely want to check out this group. Here’s what the group’s all about:

**This is a place for readers (who enjoy Jennifer (JEB) Spredemann books) to gather, chat about Spredemann books, and connect with the author. We will strive to post a minimum of once a week. In this group, we plan to share exclusive content. This may include sneak peeks at upcoming books or a WIP (work in progress), first look at cover reveals, my personal thoughts/adventures in writing. This is also the place you can sign up to be an early reader or part of a launch team, subject to approval. With that said, I want this group to first and foremost bring glory to GOD!**

If this sounds like something you'd like to be a part of, please join us here. (Just be sure to answer ALL three questions.)

Blessings,

Jennifer Spredemann

Heart-Touching Amish Fiction

Do you love Christmas stories?

There's just something dreamy about the holiday season that can be captured in stories. Spending more time with family, watching snow fall outside the window, sipping on a warm beverage, or curling up by the fire with a book - all special things in their own right - but the true blessing of Christmas is the miracle that God gave to all mankind: Jesus Christ, the Saviour of the world.

In this special collection of Christmas stories, you'll get a glimpse into the life of each character and experience how they spend Christmas. How do you spend the holiday season? Do have any special traditions? Do you go caroling? Attend candlelight services? Build a snowman?

Since I grew up in central California, I never had the pleasure of a "White Christmas", although I knew the song well. We had some cold days, some sunny days, and some foggy days, but never snowy days. Moving to Indiana changed that for me. I now get to enjoy snowy winters every year! (Yes, I LOVE them!) I still have yet to experience dashing through the snow in a one-horse open sleigh, though. ;) It would be on my bucket list if I had one. (I keep bugging my hubby to go check out the red sleigh one of our Amish neighbors down the road is selling...maybe some day.)

One favorite family tradition growing up was spending a week at the coast after Christmas. Most of the family on my mother's side would load up their RVs or tents and head out to a campground along the central California coast. It was a tradition my late grandparents started when they were young. We had the time of our lives there, whether it was playing card & board games in the evening, surfing, deep sea fishing, a game of volleyball, or just hanging out by the fire making s'mores or indulging in a mouth-watering bowl of Cioppino. And there was always laughter - a lot of laughter. Precious memories I'll never forget!

But times change, loved ones pass on, and we either keep our traditions or begin new ones, or both. One new tradition we started with our immediate family is keeping a manger in our house during the season. I love the physical reminder that Jesus came some two thousand years ago and will come again soon to rescue His people and abolish evil for good. What a day that will be!

In our upcoming book, More Amish Christmas Miracles, you'll spend the season with our characters as they renew their faith in God, strengthen family ties, and, of course, fall in love.

Join me this week as I take over the Amish Christmas Miracles Facebook group. I'll be talking about my story in the collection, we'll play a game, have a giveaway or two, and I might share a snippet of my story in the collection, Unlikely Singing. I hope to connect with you there!

Blessings,

Jennifer Spredemann

Heart-Touching Amish Fiction

I've decided to repost my blog posts formerly featured on the (now defunct) Amish Fiction Authors website. I hope you enjoy them!

DIFFERENT AMISH COMMUNITIES – The Nebraska Amish

If you’ve read a lot about the Amish or studied them in depth, then you likely know there are no two Amish communities exactly alike. We’ve discussed some of the variations amongst the Amish and where they are located. This month, I’d like to explore a very distinct Plain group, known as the Nebraska Amish.

One would think that with the name ‘Nebraska’, you would likely find the group in, well, Nebraska. However, the Nebraska Amish name emerged from their founding bishop, Yost B. Yoder, who was from Nebraska. So, then, where are the Nebraska Amish located?

The Nebraska Amish are situated mostly in Pennsylvania, in the Big Valley (Kishacoquillas Valley) area of Mifflin County. Smaller groups reside in other PA counties, and there is one district in Ohio also. When our family moved from California to Indiana, it gave me an opportunity to not only live among the Amish and make friends, but to explore different Amish communities. The Nebraska Amish community is one I have never visited in person, but it is certainly on my to-do list. Have you been there?

Here are some distinctions about the Nebraska Amish that I’ve learned through my research:

They are considered one of the most conservative Anabaptist groups today.

The men dress mostly in brown (pants and vests) with white shirts.

The women’s dresses are considered the longest among the Amish groups.

Men’s hair is cut longer (to the shoulder) in the ‘William Penn’ style.

Women are not allowed to wear the traditional prayer kapp, but instead wear a black kerchief or, while working out, a flat ‘peasant-style’ straw hat.

Men are not allowed to wear suspenders or belts. Their pants are instead laced up in the back.

Young folks are only allowed to date amongst the Nebraska Amish groups. The courtship practice of bundling is allowed.

Their houses and barns remain unpainted.

Curtains are not allowed in the home, neither are window screens permitted.

No indoor plumbing.

Buggies have undyed white tops.

And that is our introduction to the Nebraska Amish. Did you learn anything new? Have you been to Big Valley or one of the other places where this special group resides? Have you had any interaction with the Nebraska Amish?

I’d love to hear your stories! Please reply to jebspredemann (at) gmail (dot) com.

Blessings,

J. Spredemann

Sources:

Amish America, Amish Culture – Nebraska Amish, March 8, 2007

Wikipedia, Nebraska Amish

John Guss, Amish and Mennonite Groups in Big Valley, Fall 2007

If this series has been on your wish list, NOW would be a good time to hint to someone that you'd like them. ;) Christmas? Birthday? Anniversary? Just Because? Gift to yourself?

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1940492416…
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The Trespasser paperback $12.99. On SALE $9.99
The Heartbreaker paperback $12.99. On SALE $9.99
The Charmer paperback $12.99. On SALE $9.99
The Drifter paperback $12.99. Preorder Special $9.99
The Drifter ebook $3.99. Preorder Special $2.99

Happy reading!

Blessings,

Jennifer Spredemann

Heart-Touching Amish Fiction

Would you like a peek at my story in the Amish Christmas Miracles Collection?

Here it is...

ONE

Janie frowned as she examined the store shelf she’d just stocked. She’d always been a stickler for neatness and organization, sometimes to a fault. She reached for the package of pancake mix to move it in line with the others, scrutinizing the Amish buggy emblazoned on the front.

A toddler rounded the corner, a fistful of honey sticks in his chubby hand. The little guy’s plump cheeks seemed to glow as he proudly offered her one of his treasures.

Janie bent down and accepted his gift. “Oh, is this for me?” She spoke in Pennsylvania German.

The young boy prattled on in gibberish, causing a smile to tug at Janie’s heart. What she wouldn’t give to have a little one of her own. But that hadn’t been Der Herr’s will for her. She knew better than to entertain thoughts of what might have been—what could have been.

She forced her attention back to her duties, but not before realizing the boy had abandoned his honey sticks on the floor. Where was the boy’s mother? She glanced down just before he reached for a bottom book on the shelf behind her, but it was too late. The books on top began to topple over so she instinctively shielded the little guy from injury, to her own regret. Not that she regretted protecting the little one—just the headache she’d surely endure for the remainder of the day.

The loud crash caused customers to look her way and an Amish man in his late twenties finally appeared to claim the boy.

“Bobby, nee!” The man shook his head and gathered up the honey sticks, sheepishly apologizing for his son’s behavior. They soon disappeared around the same corner the little one had emerged from.

A few moments later, she waved goodbye to the little guy as he exited the store with one of his suspender straps securely in his father’s grasp. She continued to watch as little Bobby, his siblings, and his father drove down the lane in their family buggy.

Bobby. Was it short for Robert? She couldn’t remember if she’d ever known an Amish bu with that name. She liked it.

***

“It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas.” Her father’s bright blue eyes held joy as he sang the words to the song. “Ain’t so, dochder?”

“Jah. We’ve been quite busy since before Thanksgiving.” Janie moved the feather duster between the toys on the shelf.

“Tourists.” He pointed through the store window to a middle-aged couple that were happily entering a vehicle with their Amish-made treasures in hand. “The best kind of shoppers. They’ve got money to spend and are always looking for special Amish-themed items. Perhaps we should order some postcards and t-shirts.”

Janie burst out laughing.

“What? What did I say?”

“T-shirts? Really, Dat?”

“Could be good for business. None of the other dry goods stores are selling them in these parts.” He scratched his grey beard. “We’re nearly out of your pot holders and dolls again. If we sold other things, we’d still turn a profit and you wouldn’t have to work so hard.”

“I don’t mind, Dat. It keeps me busy.”

After that comment, a silence fell over them and Janie knew what they were both thinking. She had to stay busy to keep her mind off of the fact that she was the only alt maedel in their community. But she’d already come to terms with the fact that she would never marry and have a family of her own. It had been difficult to accept at first, but she’d resigned herself to Gott’s will. After all, if He’d wanted her to have a husband and family of her own, He would have made that happen. But He didn’t. And she was okay with that. Gott knew what was best and He had His reasons. Who was she to question?

“Janie?”

Had her father been speaking to her? “Yes, Dat?”

“You didn’t hear a word I said, did you?”

She smiled and guessed. “T-shirts?”

“That’s what I thought. No, we were beyond t-shirts. I mentioned the wholesale souvenir catalog that came in the mail today. I want you to go over it with me tonight and we can decide which new items to purchase. Does that sound gut?”

“Jah, sure. But do you think Englischers will still want to buy the stuff if it’s not Amish made?”

“Some will, I suppose. They have all kinds of items. Key chains, pencils, dolls, stickers. They might even have an Amish tattoo.” He chuckled. “I’ve heard tell that some of the ‘Amish’ dolls in Lancaster are actually made in China, if you can believe that.”

“You’re not going to buy dolls from China. Are you, Dat?” Janie gasped. “And a tattoo?”

“Calm down, dochder. I didn’t say we will order them.” He laughed. “Oh, wouldn’t that get a rise out of Christi?”

“Dat!” Janie shook her head. “You should not egg on the deacon.”

Her father had always been of the cantankerous sort. Come to think of it, he reminded her a lot of Widow Brenneman, a lady Janie helped out several times a week. Which reminded her… “Dat, I don’t know if this evening will be a good time. I’m supposed to visit Widow Brenneman.”

“Ach, that’s right.” He frowned. “Does that mean I’m on my own for supper?”

“I made fresh bread yesterday and there’s some leftover soup in the refrigerator. All you’ll have to do is heat it up.”

“I suppose that will have to do.”

Janie didn’t miss her father’s disappointed sigh. She knew that he’d hated dining alone ever since Mamm passed on to Glory. “You could join Widow Brenneman and me for supper.”

“You don’t think she’d mind?” His bushy eyebrow moved up a hair.

“Mind?” Janie laughed. “She’d be thrilled. You know she’s taken a shine to you ever since you fixed her buggy wheel.”

“Ach, that’s just your imagination.” He swatted the air in front of himself. “No pretty young widow’s gonna take a likin’ to an old goat like me.”

“Dat, she’s only seven years younger than you. And you’re not that old.”

“She’s too young.”

Janie sighed. She sometimes wondered if her father purposely stayed unmarried because of her own singleness. Did he worry she might be lonely on her own?

Not that she wasn’t lonely. She’d be lying to herself if she said that she didn’t still long for what wasn’t meant to be.

“You still thinkin’ on that Yoder boy?” Her father’s hand squeezed hers. “No good can come from it.”

“I know.” She forced down the lump clogging her throat. “He’s not coming back. My only…” She ran to the stock room, not wanting her father to see her crying again. Elson had been dead for three years now, so why was it still so hard?

“Have you forgiven him?”

She wished her father hadn’t followed her. It was so much easier to cry when she didn’t have an audience. She soaked up a tear with her dress sleeve.

“I’ve tried.”

“I know it may be wrong to say this, dochder, but I think you might just be better off without Elson Yoder.”

“How can you say that, Dat? I loved him!”

“I know you did. But I wouldn’t want to see you hurt. If he was drinking alcohol and driving an Englischer’s vehicle, how do you know he wouldn’t have put your life in danger too?”

“Elson didn’t drink all the time, just once in a while.” When he hung out with his Englisch friends, was what he’d told her. She knew it was just a phase and he’d outgrow it or give it up before he was baptized into the church. At least, that was what she’d hoped for. “He never would have put my life in danger. He loved me.”

They’d already discussed marriage and planned a life together. But Elson, through his own foolishness, had succumbed to an early death. A preventable death. Fortunately, no one else had been in the vehicle with him when he veered off the road and into a telephone pole. He’d been pronounced dead at the scene, the EMS workers had said.

He’d been driving just a mile down the road from her home, most likely on his way to see her. When she and her father heard the sirens, they hitched up the buggy to go investigate. When they’d arrived at the scene, they hadn’t known it was him. The victim’s body had been covered with a white sheet.

Elson had already been identified by another community member, but Janie couldn’t believe it. She insisted on seeing for herself. Afterward, she wished she hadn’t.

She’d lost everything that day—her hopes and dreams and plans for her and Elson’s future. It hurt to breathe.

The leaders maintained that it had been Gott’s will, but she couldn’t wrap her mind around that thought. Surely Der Herr didn’t want Elson drinking alcohol and driving an Englisch vehicle. Surely Der Herr hadn’t wanted Elson to leave this world at such a young age. Nee, she didn’t agree with that concept. She did, however, acknowledge that Der Herr hadn’t stepped in to prevent it.

“Each man must make his own choices. Elson chose to put his own life in danger and jeopardize your future together,” Dat had succinctly put it.

Unfortunately, she’d been left to deal with the consequences of his actions—a heart broken in two and a future devoid of a husband and kinner. Unless Der Herr had other plans for her, she couldn’t see any way around those facts. And truthfully, she didn’t know if she could ever open her heart to another man again.

PREORDER your ebook copy now and get this wonderful collection of 14 stories for only $0.99! (Price will increase to $9.99) Click on picture below to purchase NOW at Barnes & Noble, Apple, or Amazon!

I'm super excited to share a few things with you!

First of all, yes, it is only 3 days until

Second, this Monday, June 29, we will be beginning a series of discussions around the

Third, if you're an ebook reader, don't forget to preorder your copy of the

Have a wonderful weekend! To GOD be the glory!

Blessings,

Jennifer Spredemann

Heart-Touching Amish Fiction

Another short video to get you in the Christmas spirit, even if it's only spring! Don't forget, the preorder price for these fourteen new stories is only 99 cents!

Enjoy this amazing video created by Jennifer Spredemann and iCreate Designs!