Faith, A Touchy Subject

I had a comment this morning that has prompted this entry. I have since deleted it as it felt scolding and not sent with concern. Perhaps I have mistaken the intent, but regardless, its no doubt time to share this anyway.
Faith is a funny thing in a way....there is a fine line between believing things will work out just fine and foolishness. We have never been ones to not do our part by living foolishly by acting irresponsible. Depending on God for things we knew were our responsibility. But, then there is lots of room for discussion on what is our responsibility. Many varied opinions. In the church we came from, insurances were seen as a bit of a gamble, actually seen as gambling....paying out money in case something went wrong, when it is really the joy of the brotherhood to chip in and pay for the needs of the congregation.

You will see in the Amish newspapers, ads for needs. Someone hospitalized, family or friends post the need and the need is met. Very simple really. It's a system that works. Someones barn burns down and they all chip in and rebuild it. Hard for those outside of this life to imagine a system like this working, but it does.

Mennonite and Amish companies do not offer medical insurance, why would they ? They take care of their people. Imagine that sort of community, that sort of brotherly love ? The world would be so different.

Not long ago we were worried about Melanie's medical bills....Casi works for a Mennonite company, wonderful company but no health insurance. We prayed about this and for whatever its worth, depending on your personal thoughts on faith/responsibility, all her bills have been paid in full. Same with the baby. Melanie had medical insurance through her company which paid the bulk of her medical bills and everything above and beyond that has been paid. We are now checking their options for her continued care. God will provide, one way or another, through a new job she will get or whatever God has planned for them. My thoughts are no doubt limited compared to what God has in store for them. We have the faith that it will all work out one way or another. Casi needs to be staying at the Mennonite company, it's where he needs to be. Its just a different job within the same company.

Not everyone has a network like we do with so many resources or the faith that things will work out and believe me, they do work out ! Yes, fear came first as is human nature I guess, but then faith found its proper place and for us, with our situation, it all worked out.

I realize that this is a post that will bring many different reactions. We all live according to our own beliefs, our own situations in life and our own needs. We do not all see scriptural teachings the same either. All I have to go on is experience and our faith has carried us through so much, God has never let us down. We have been blessed beyond what you can even imagine. Faith with belief is life changing. Faith is hard to explain, simply because it so often results in the unexplainable. I just know this post is going to be one that brings out the cynic's !

Matthew 7: 9 Which of you, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? 10 Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? 11 If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!