Lillie Ammann's Blog, page 10

An Attitude of Gratitude

Although we���re still in the Thanksgiving weekend, Thanksgiving Day has passed. On Thursday, prayers of thankfulness were lifted to Heaven, and families observed special Thanksgiving traditions. Perhaps everyone at the table was asked to state what they were most thankful for during the past year. Maybe individuals sent thank-you notes to people for services or kindnesses. Guests may have told of acts of gratitude or thanksgiving they have performed.

Having a special day to focus on showing our appreciation for our blessings is wonderful. Showing our gratitude through holiday traditions makes us consider all we have to be thankful for. However, what about the other 364 days of the year? Do we feel like we���ve fulfilled our obligation of gratitude with our Thanksgiving prayers and traditions?

Scripture tells us:

Give thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Ephesians 5:20

Oh give thanks to the Lord; call upon his name; make known his deeds among the peoples! … Oh give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; for his steadfast love endures forever!

Chronicles 16:8, 34

Pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.

1 Thessalonians 5:17-18

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.

Philippians 4:6

I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people.

Timothy 2:1

And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful.

Colossians 3:5

Note that we are told to give thanks always and for everything, in all circumstances, and for all people. We���re usually willing to give thanks for things we perceive as good, in circumstances that we find favorable, and for people we like. But if we find it difficult to give thanks for situations we consider unfavorable or for people we don���t like, we are implying that we know better than God.

If we understand that God is sovereign, we know that nothing happens to us without the Lord allowing it. He may be preparing us for something He has planned for our future. He may be teaching us a lesson, leading us to make a change in our lives, or something else that we can���t even imagine.

When I had a stroke at the age of forty-five at the hands of a chiropractor, my first impulse was not to thank God. However, since then I���ve given thanks many times: for the love showed to me by my family, friends, and staff; for every small step in therapy that led to becoming functional again after being told I could remain totally helpless for the rest of my life; for my employees keeping my company in business during my absence; for realizing that this was the ���someday��� I was waiting for to start writing. Looking back now, I see so much good that came from what I thought was terrible at the time. So sometimes maintaining an attitude of gratitude is simply acknowledging that things are better this month than last or this year than last.

However, that is not always the case. Maybe nothing seems to change���or it even gets worse. If we are observant, though, we can still find things to be grateful for: a beautiful sunshiny day, a phone call or visit from someone we miss, a kind word from a stranger, a good meal, medical treatment that may be painful but in the long term will make us better …

We can still maintain an attitude of gratitude no matter how bad things seem if we truly believe that God is good, that He loves us with an everlasting love, that He will never leave us or forsake us, that He forgives our sins, and that He gives us eternal life. One day we will join God���the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit���for eternity. We will have no pain or sorrow or fear���only love and joy and peace.

Paul tells us in Romans 8:18: ���For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us.��� If we could see a timeline of our lives, we would realize that the time we spend on earth is only a tiny dot in an endless line through eternity. When we don���t have an attitude of gratitude, we are acting as if the tiny dot is more important than the infinity to come. We are placing more importance on our difficulties and problems of today than on the glory of Heaven and eternity.

We can���t just tell ourselves to have an attitude of gratitude, but we can remind ourselves of the reasons we should be grateful and give thanks as commanded in Scripture. We can look ahead to our future forever and ever with the Lord and our brothers and sisters in Christ in the eternal Kingdom. Doing this regularly and reminding ourselves when we forget will help us to develop an attitude of gratitude.

Heavenly Father, we come to You today to give You thanks. We often come to ask something of You, but the only thing we ask today is You help us to develop an attitude of gratitude. We want to thank You for everything in all circumstances. Thank You for the blessings we recognize and appreciate���a safe and comfortable place to live, plenty of food and clothing, loving family and friends, for being able to do things we enjoy; and the Christian fellowship with our fellow believers at Timberhill and in our home churches. Thank You for the blessings we often overlook���the very air we breathe, the beauty of nature, the kindness of those around us, the time and effort of those who serve us and care for us. Thank You most of all, Lord, for the salvation that we have because of the sacrifice of Your Son Christ our Lord, for the righteousness that is imputed to us because of His righteousness, for the guidance of the Holy Spirit in our daily lives, for the access to pray directly to You and to have a personal relationship with Jesus, and for the future we look forward to with You in the eternal New Heaven and New Earth. Thank You for everything that You have allowed into our lives, even if we see these things as negative, and for everything that You have not allowed into lives, even if we think it would have been good for us to receive them. Forgive us for presuming to act like we know better when we think You should have protected us from something that You allowed us to endure or when we think You should have allowed us when You denied. We acknowledge that Your thoughts are higher than our thoughts and Your ways are higher than our ways. We know that You are a good God who loves us with an everlasting love, and we trust that whatever You allow into our lives is for our good. Believing that, Father, we will, with the help of the Holy Spirit, develop an attitude of gratitude. In the name of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior. Amen.

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Veterans Day

I’ve heard it said that a veteran is someone who at one point signed a blank check payable to the United States for an amount up to and including their life. Probably no one joins the military expecting to die or even to be injured, but that is the risk they take. Whatever their reasons for signing up, they did serve to protect our people and property and to preserve our freedoms. Today on Veterans Day, we thank them for what they have done for us.

Heavenly Father, we ask you to bless every veteran in this country. Let them feel the appreciation their fellow citizens have for their service. Heal those who have been injured���physically, emotionally, mentally, or spiritually. Restore those who are homeless or hopeless. Take away their fears and any guilt they may feel for things they were required to do in wartime and battle. Bless their families for the sacrifices they made so their loved one could serve. Please continue to raise up patriotic, brave, and committed individuals to serve in the future and let them return safely as veterans. In the name of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior. Amen.

Learn a little more about the history of Veterans Day in the following video.

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Driving a School Bus

There’s a great article on GodUpdates about a retired man who took a job as a school bus driver. He had been one of the top-rated FBI agents in the country and later the CEO of a large corporation. However, he said his job driving kids to school was as significant as those jobs, and he wants people to understand that every job is important.

The article reminds me of my husband Jack. Years after his retirement from Civil Service, he saw a sign advertising for bus drivers. He said, “I’ve always wanted to drive a bus.” He applied, was hired, and spent about five years working in a couple of different school districts. He loved the job, and the kids loved him. He was strict but loving. Once he was sick and a sub filled in for him. When Jack returned to work, the sub asked him how he’d trained the students. He said those were the best-behaved kids he’d ever seen in a school bus. And I know how much the kids loved him because of the gifts Jack received at Christmas and year end from both students and parents.

Whatever you do,��work��heartily, as for��the��Lord��and not for men, knowing that from��the��Lord��you will receive��the��inheritance as your reward. You are serving��the��Lord��Christ.

Colossians 3:23-24

Almighty God, our heavenly Father, who declarest thy glory and showest forth thy handiwork in the heavens and in the earth; Deliver us, we beseech thee, in our several callings, from the service of mammon, that we may do the work which thou givest us to do, in truth, in beauty, and in righteousness, with singleness of heart as thy servants, and to the benefit of our fellow men; for the sake of him who came among us as one that serveth, thy Son Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

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5 Common Challenges Freelance Writers Face and How to Overcome Them

Guest Post from Brenda Richardson

Many new freelance writers attempt to make a career out of their writing only to run into multiple hurdles along the way. Frankly, no profession will be free from obstacles and challenges; you just need to be persistent and deal with whatever comes your way. Today, we will be taking a look at 5 common challenges freelance writers face and how to overcome them.

1.   Overcoming writer���s block

Many writers plan out their day and set aside the time to write, only to stare at a blank screen with no way of channeling their thoughts into words. No matter how hard you try, on some days, the words just refuse to flow. That���s perfectly fine, and it���s okay to turn off the computer now and then to take a break.

As a freelancer, you are responsible for your own time, and can agree to take on more or less work based on your productivity and ability to write. Here are some useful tips to help you overcome writer���s block:

Go through writing drills and exercises.Force yourself to write. It can be about anything or nothing at all, just sit down and start writing something.Set small goals that are easy to achieve.2.   Deciding on your niche

Finding something to write about can be extremely difficult. It helps if you already have a good idea of what kind of writer you want to be. Think about what excites you and what kind of real-world experience you have. If there is already a community that gathers around your field of interest, you should do some research into what content they are craving.

3.   Finding paying jobs

This is probably the most common challenge freelance writers face, and overcoming it is one of the most discussed topics amongst writers.

Build up a portfolio that you can later use to market yourself and attempt to score better jobs. Start with websites that accept guest blog pitches from unpublished authors. Don���t be scared of rejection; it can take a while to master the art of pitches if you want to land high-paying jobs. Use social media to your advantage and create profiles on multiple networks, such as LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter.

4.   Getting paid enough

One of the things you will need to accept is that, as a freelance writer, making ends meet will be a constant struggle. Consider taking on a side job when you are just starting out, and try to have savings in case of rainy days. However, you need to be very careful to avoid burnout. Anyone who gets paid based on the amount of work they do often takes on more than they can handle.

Negotiating a wage can also be confusing to beginners. If you need help determining your worth, you can check out platforms like Fiverr and UpWork to see what other writers are charging.

5.   Dealing with clients

An invaluable skill for any aspiring writer is learning how to hold your ground and say no to pushy clients. Some of your clients will ask for endless rewrites and try to micro-manage everything you do. Try to discuss any issues and requests with your client in advance. Foster good communication and focus on establishing a healthy long-term relationship with them.

The bottom line

Now that we have covered the 5 common challenges freelance writers face and how to overcome them, you should be ready to start your writing career. Good luck with your future writing endeavors!

Author bio

Brenda Remington is a freelance writer with 5 years of experience working with Link Department in their copywriting team. She has vast knowledge of SEO and blogging, and hopes to inspire others to take the same path. In her free time, Brenda loves reading mystery novels and going swimming.

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Disability Employment Awareness Month

October is Disability Employment Awareness Month. Disability employment is a cause near to my heart because I have been disabled for nearly thirty years, since shortly after the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) passed into law. I was blessed that I didn’t have to face all the challenges that people with disabilities had to deal with before ADA.

I was also blessed that I never faced employment challenges since I owned my own business. Certainly there were work challenges, but I didn’t have to prove to a potential boss that I was capable of performing the job I was seeking.

The first time I called on a particular client of my interior landscape company after my stroke, I encountered a problem. I could get around in the atrium of the building easily in my scooter to see all of the plants. When I went to the office to call on the building manager, I could get into the office without a problem. I turned my scooter to be parallel with the door so I could get close enough to reach the handle. Once the door was open, I turned the scooter facing the door and entered. The office had a narrow hallway from the entrance that opened into the main office. The wall separated the entry hall from the supply room.

After my visit with the manager, I turned around to leave. There was no problem going down the hall to reach the door. However, there was no way I could exit. I couldn’t reach the door handle across the handlebars and controls of the scooter, and the hallway was too narrow to turn the scooter into a more accessible position. After several attempts, I backed down the hall and asked the manager to help me.

She got up from her desk, walked down the hall, opened the door, and held it for me. As I drove through the door, she shook her head and said, “If I had to use something like that to get around, I’d never go out in public.”

I responded, “Every morning when I wake up, I have the choice of deciding whether to stay in bed and feel sorry for myself or to get up and do what I must to perform my job.”

She apologized and said she meant her comment to be a compliment. I simply thanked her and left.

If I were an employee in that office, ADA would require that “reasonable accommodation” be made so I get through the door. They wouldn’t have to move the door or widen the hallway to make the door accessible, although that would be ideal. They could simply ensure that someone was available to open the door for me when I was leaving the office.

Employers may be hesitant to hire a job applicant with a disability out of concern that they would have to spend a lot of money to make major changes to accommodate the individual. But often, “reasonable accommodation” doesn’t require any significant changes. Depending on the person’s disability, accommodation could be something as simple as changing the schedule for breaks so an employee with diabetes can give herself an insulin shot when required or changing the height of a desk or the configuration of a work station so someone using an assistive device can work comfortably.

The video below is a reminder of how important working is and encouragement to employers to consider people with disabilities when hiring.

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October is Clergy Appreciation Month

October is Clergy Appreciation Month. Scripture tells us in several places to honor our spiritual leaders.

Let the elders who rule well be considered worthy of double honor, especially those who labor in preaching and teaching.

1 Timothy 5:17

We ask you, brothers,��to respect those who labor among you and��are over you in the Lord and admonish you,��and to esteem them very highly in love because of their work.

1 Thessalonians 5:12-13

We should honor and esteem our clergy all the time, but October is set aside in particular to show our appreciation. We can write a thank-you note to our priest, give our minister a gift, treat our clergyman and his family to a meal, or offer a special prayer for our pastor. Or volunteer to babysit so our preacher and his wife can enjoy a night out, invite the parson and spouse to a sporting event or concert, or surprise our cleric with a theology book or a special vestment. Clergy will be honored with simple and inexpensive recognition as much as with an elaborate and luxurious gift. What is important is to let the shepherd of the flock know how much we appreciate him.

Lord, bless and guide all ministers of your church, especially those in our local parishes. Clothe them in righteousness and grant them wisdom. Give them Your peace and comfort and wisdom. In the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.

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Domestic Violence Awareness Month

October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month. I have no personal experience with domestic violence, although one time I encountered an abuse victim and knew so little about domestic violence that I didn’t recognize the signs. Years later in retrospect I realized that the child’s actions indicated he was a victim of child abuse.

I had no intention of writing about domestic violence when I started my novel Dream or Destiny. Yet the male protagonist told me he and his sister were abused and led me to tell their story. Perhaps the greatest compliment I received on that book was when a reviewer asked if I or someone close to me had been a victim of domestic violence. She was surprised when I answered “no.” An advocate for abuse victims, she said she had never read such an accurate portrayal of an adult survivor of childhood abuse as David in my novel.

Through the years, I have posted about Domestic Violence Awareness Month a number of times. Previous posts include information and statistics about abuse, but the video below shows the impact of violence on victims. I hope it inspires you to learn more about domestic violence and become passionate about bringing an end to it.

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Praying for Missions and Ministries

When I login to Facebook, I usually have several messages as well as a number of notifications. A couple of the messages are inspirational memes from family or friends, but the others are from missionaries and ministries around the world. A large percentage of my Facebook friends are engaged in ministry. I know a few of them in person, and the others I have met as friends of friends.

Many of the messages I receive are requests for help. The needs are so great, and the resources are so limited. It breaks my heart when I get a message that the children in an orphanage are hungry, or that someone is sick or injured and can’t get medical care. My instinctive response is to want to help���but I am elderly and disabled, with limited financial resources. Desperate people say, “Even $1 will help.” However, I have learned from experience that the cost to send a small amount of money through an online money transfer service is very expensive. The service itself charges a fee, the credit card company charges a fee if you use a card, and in many cases, the government of the country or the receiving bank withholds money from what is sent.

I once sent $50 to Haiti, and my friend received only $20 after all the fees in Haiti, in addition to $5.99 I had already paid the money transfer service. And it’s hard to find a service that will send money to certain countries know to be the origins of many scams. So the difficulty and cost of sending a donation is prohibitive.

However, even if were feasible to send money to a specific ministry, I can’t afford to send money to dozens of ministries and missionaries in a given month. I contribute monthly to Love for the Least and Global Catalytic Ministries, two wonderful disciple-making movements in the Middle East. I contribute less often to other organizations that I know are working to help the needy and build the Kingdom of God, as well as tithing to my church and helping several friends and family members periodically. If I could, I would love to help everyone who serves the Lord and cares for those in need who asks for my support.

There is one thing I can do for them all, though. And that is to pray. In addition to my prayer lists for family, friends, church, and community/nation, I have a prayer list of nearly a hundred ministries and missionaries and pray for the complete list at least once a week. In addition, every time I get a message asking for prayer, I type out the prayer I pray and post it so the one who requested it knows what I prayed. Prayer is such an encouragement to individuals in ministry. Knowing that someone is approaching the Lord on behalf of them and their ministry means so much. They are always grateful when I pray.

I’m grateful when someone responds to me later and says the person we prayed for was healed or the visit to a hostile tribe was peaceful and well-received. God hears our prayers, and He answers them. He doesn’t always answer them the way we would like, but many times his answer is better than what we ask for. One missionary group has a large prayer team, and they asked for prayer because they had been denied entrance into the country they were trying to reach. Although many people prayed they would admitted, they soon found out that country was going into complete lockdown because of an increase in COVID cases. God closed that border to them so they could minister somewhere else rather than being locked down in the country where they intended to minister.

There are so many needs in the world: starving children, sex trafficking, war and violence of all kinds, sickness, and so much more. Most of us want to help, but we don’t have the resources or the knowledge of what to do, but we can all pray.

The��prayer��of a righteous person has great power as it is working.

James 5:16

Lord of all power and mercy, we lift our prayers on behalf of all those engaged in building Your Kingdom and caring for Your precious children. We beseech You for provision for the needs of the ministries and missionaries who are serving You, especially those in the underground church and those caring for widows, orphans, homeless, and others unable to care for themselves. Let all those who suffer feel Your comfort and peace. Let them experience Your provision to meet their bodily needs as well as their spiritual needs. Bless the missionaries and all who minister to share Your love and Your Gospel to make disciples of many. We give You the praise and honor and glory. In the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.

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Double Blessings

Nine years ago today, I was getting out of the shower when I heard a strange sound coming from the bedroom. I hurried in to check on my husband and discovered his breathing had changed dramatically. Once before I had heard his breathing sound like that.

About a week and a half earlier, Jack had been hospitalized but was expected to be released the next day. Our priest came for a visit, and as he reached the door on his way out, Jack started labored breathing, his breath loud and irregular, with pauses that made me anxious to hear the next breath. Father Chip recognized this as a sign of approaching death, and he returned to Jack’s bedside.

“Jack, you’re fixing to take a trip,” he said. “Do you have your bags packed? Are you ready to go?”

Jack nodded and pointed to an empty chair on the other side of the bed. “I’m ready,” he answered. “God has been sitting right there, and we’ve been talking about it.” He was totally calm and at peace. After he said that, his breathing returned to normal.

His breath did not become labored and irregular like that again until the morning I heard him from the shower. I called for my sister to come to the bedroom, then I phoned hospice to tell them about this change. The person who answered the phone said he would send a nurse right away. The nurse called and said she would be there in a few minutes but suggested we give Jack morphine in the meantime. About this time, the hard breathing stopped.

My sister reached behind her for the morphine, filled the dropper, and turned to release a drop into Jack’s mouth. “Lillie,” she said, “he’s not breathing.” He had gone to Heaven in those few minutes, so calmly and peacefully that we hadn’t been aware when it happened.

I remembered back a few days to when he had exhibited the same breathing he did just before he passed. What a blessing God had given Father Chip and me to hear from Jack’s own mouth that he was ready to meet the Lord, and indeed, had been visiting with Him already!

A blessing, a miracle, a sign and wonder of the Lord!

The second blessing came not long after Jack’s funeral. I dreamed that I was standing at the kitchen sink. Something caught my attention and caused me to look over my shoulder. There stood Jack���young, healthy, and strong with a huge smile. He radiated pure joy. Suddenly I was in bed and Jack was standing over me, smiling and handsome and oh-so-happy. He never moved or said a word, but his smile and radiant joy said it all. How can I be sad when he is so filled with joy!

Another blessing, miracle, and sign and wonder of the Lord!

I will send down the showers in their season; they shall be��showers of blessing.

Ezekiel 34:26

Does he who supplies the Spirit to you and��works miracles among you do so��by works of the law, or by hearing with faith���just as��Abraham ���believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness���?

Galatians 3:5-6

How great are��his signs,

��������how mighty his��wonders!

Daniel 4:3

Almighty God, Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, Sovereign Ruler of the Universe, thank You for blessing me with these miracles, signs and wonders. Although I still miss Jack every day, I am so happy for him to be in Heaven and filled with the joy I saw in him in that dream. His peace and readiness when You called him home have given me so much comfort. I give You praise and honor and glory for all Your blessings to me, especially giving Jack and me forty-five wonderful years together. Keep me always mindful of Your goodness; never let me take Your blessings for granted. In the name of Jesus Christ, my Lord and Savior, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Ghost, now and forever. Amen.

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Writing Customer Reviews

Customer reviews are extremely important for authors and even sellers of other products on Amazon. The number of reviews makes a big difference in how products appear in search results; the number of reviews seems to be more important than the ratings of those reviews. I have written reviews for many years and have posted more than 2,000 reviews on Amazon. I am behind posting reviews of books I’ve read during the past crazy months of COVID isolation, but I intend to catch up.

Why should you write a review of a book you read?

Your review can help other readers decide whether to purchase the book. Readers sometimes hesitate to write reviews because they don’t consider themselves good writers, and they are concerned that other readers will be critical of what they write. That is not likely to happen. Potential buyers read reviews to find out enough about the book to determine whether they would enjoy it, not to judge the reviewer.

How should you rate a book?

Rate the book you’re reviewing based on your own personal reaction; don’t even consider what other readers think. Personally, I do not like to give ratings of 1 or 2. If I start a book and find I’m not enjoying it, I abandon it and don’t review it. I don’t think it’s fair for me to make a judgment after reading only a few pages or chapters. So the only time I rate a book 1 or 2 is if I’ve been enjoying the book and something changes dramatically when I reach the end.

A book with a cliffhanger ending will probably get two stars from me if I’ve liked it to the end. I seldom rate a book 1, but I did so recently on an audiobook that has a twist at the end that I absolutely hated���the bad guys won when I was rooting for the good guys.

Three stars for me means the book was okay, pleasant enough but not something I couldn’t put down. A book that is excellent but has a few flaws, whether it be grammatical errors or minor areas of confusion, earns four stars. Five stars means I couldn’t put the book down, and I was completely satisfied with the resolution.

Obviously, these ratings are subjective. Sometimes a low rating from a reviewer will make me more inclined to read a book. For example, if the reviewer doesn’t like the book because of Christian content or because of the lack of explicit sex, I know that Christian content and wholesome stories appeal to me, so what that reviewer hated, I will probably enjoy.

What should you say in a review?

Just express what you liked and/or didn’t like about the book. What might be important for other readers to know? Writing what you didn’t like will help both readers who like what you do and readers with opposite opinions. If you didn’t like the cliffhanger ending, other readers who don’t like cliffhangers will avoid the book while readers who enjoy cliffhangers will be likely to choose it. Mention whatever is important to you, anything from the writing style/author voice to the subject matter to the characters and the plot.

Say as little or as much as needed to give your honest opinion of the book and the reasons for how you felt. I have occasionally written very long reviews if I had a lot to share about the book, but most of my reviews on Amazon or Goodreads are a few sentences.

Authors will be very grateful for your reviews as they help other readers discover their books. Other readers will also appreciate your comments as your reviews will help the readers choose books they like to read and avoid the ones that don’t interest them.

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