Lillie Ammann's Blog, page 102

Lent Day 19: Wednesday after the Third Sunday in Lent

7 All who see me sneer at me;

They separate with the lip, they wag the head, saying,

8 “Commit yourself to the Lord; let Him deliver him;

Let Him rescue him, because He delights in him.” ~ Psalm 22:7-8 (NASB)

Heavenly Father, though others may mock me and call me a loser, I will rely on You, Eternal Lord, Holy God. The sneers will cease when Jesus comes again, and those of us who rely on You will be saved and the mockers will perish. Yet You desire that no one perishes but that all will repent and be saved. Help me by the power of the Holy Spirit to live my life in such a way and share Your Gospel that mockers will come to You, repent, and be saved. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Lent Day 18: Tuesday after the Third Sunday in Lent

35 Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life; he who comes to Me will not hunger, and he who believes in Me will never thirst. 36 But I said to you that you have seen Me, and yet do not believe. 37 All that the Father gives Me will come to Me, and the one who comes to Me I will certainly not cast out. ~ John 6:35-37 (NASB)

Lord God, thank You for sending Jesus, the Bread of Life. Thank You that when I eat and drink at His table, I will never go hungry. In the name of Jesus Christ, my Lord and Savior, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, now and forever, world without end. Amen.

photo by:


tamburix

Lent Day 17: Monday after the Third Sunday in Lent

2 Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, 3 knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. 4 And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. ~ James 1:2-4 (NASB)

Heavenly Father, I am so weak. It’s not natural for me to consider it joy to encounter trials. Yet Your Word tells me that trials I endure are to test my faith, that testing will build endurance, and through endurance I will grow into a mature Christian. Lord, I don’t look forward to trials, but I welcome them for the building up of endurance, leading to a mature faith. In the name of Jesus, my Lord and Savior, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Ghost, now and forever. Amen.

photo by:


jezobeljones

The Third Sunday in Lent

12 Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal among you, which comes upon you for your testing, as though some strange thing were happening to you; 13 but to the degree that you share the sufferings of Christ, keep on rejoicing, so that also at the revelation of His glory you may rejoice with exultation. 14 If you are reviled for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you. 15 Make sure that none of you suffers as a murderer, or thief, or evildoer, or a troublesome meddler; 16 but if anyone suffers as a Christian, he is not to be ashamed, but is to glorify God in this name. ~ 1 Peter 4:12-16 (NASB)

Heavenly Father, Jesus promised us life abundant, and too often, I think that means I should have an easy life. Yet Your Word says to rejoice in trials and persecution—if we are being persecuted for following Christ. If I am persecuted as a result of my own misdeeds, I am just getting what I deserve. But if I suffer for being a Christian, I should rejoice. Help me to accept trials and sufferings as You want me to. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Lent Day 16: Saturday after the Second Sunday in Lent

8 To sum up, all of you be harmonious, sympathetic, brotherly, kindhearted, and humble in spirit; 9 not returning evil for evil or insult for insult, but giving a blessing instead; for you were called for the very purpose that you might inherit a blessing. 10 For,

“The one who desires life, to love and see good days,

Must keep his tongue from evil and his lips from speaking deceit.

11 “He must turn away from evil and do good;

He must seek peace and pursue it.

12 “For the eyes of the Lord are toward the righteous,

And His ears attend to their prayer,

But the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.”

13 Who is there to harm you if you prove zealous for what is good? 14 But even if you should suffer for the sake of righteousness, you are blessed. And do not fear their intimidation, and do not be troubled, 15 but sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts, always being ready to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you, yet with gentleness and reverence; 16 and keep a good conscience so that in the thing in which you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ will be put to shame. 17 For it is better, if God should will it so, that you suffer for doing what is right rather than for doing what is wrong. 18 For Christ also died for sins once for all, the just for the unjust, so that He might bring us to God, having been put to death in the flesh, but made alive in the spirit. ~ 1 Peter 3:8-18 (NASB)

Lord, You have not promised me that I won’t suffer in this world, but You call on me to treat others with respect and in a way to bring glory to You regardless of how others treat me or how much I might suffer. Empower me to live my life in accordance with Your will. In the name of Jesus Christ.my Lord and Savior, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, ever one God, world without end. Amen.

photo by:


tamburix

Lent Day 15: Friday after the Second Sunday in Lent

6 Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you at the proper time, 7 casting all your anxiety on Him, because He cares for you. 8 Be of sober spirit, be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. 9 But resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same experiences of suffering are being accomplished by your brethren who are in the world. 10 After you have suffered for a little while, the God of all grace, who called you to His eternal glory in Christ, will Himself perfect, confirm, strengthen and establish you. 11 To Him be dominion forever and ever. Amen. ~ 1 Peter 5:6-11 (NASB)

All Powerful, Almighty God, all power belongs to You, but rather than use Your power against me, You use Your mighty power on my behalf. The Enemy is always prowling around, trying to entice me into sin. Yet You call on me to resist the devil, and You will restore and strengthen me. Thank You for calling me to Your everlasting presence. In the name of Jesus Christ, my Lord and Savior. Amen.

Lent Day 14: Thursday after the Second Sunday after Lent

8 and though you have not seen Him, you love Him, and though you do not see Him now, but believe in Him, you greatly rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory, 9 obtaining as the outcome of your faith the salvation of your souls. 10 As to this salvation, the prophets who prophesied of the grace that would come to you made careful searches and inquiries, 11 seeking to know what person or time the Spirit of Christ within them was indicating as He predicted the sufferings of Christ and the glories to follow. 12 It was revealed to them that they were not serving themselves, but you, in these things which now have been announced to you through those who preached the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven—things into which angels long to look. 13 Therefore, prepare your minds for action, keep sober in spirit, fix your hope completely on the grace to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ. 14 As obedient children, do not be conformed to the former lusts which were yours in your ignorance, 15 but like the Holy One who called you, be holy yourselves also in all your behavior; 16 because it is written, “You shall be holy, for I am holy.” 17 If you address as Father the One who impartially judges according to each one’s work, conduct yourselves in fear during the time of your stay on earth;~ 1 Peter 1:8-17 (NASB)

God our Father, You are holy and as Your child I am called to be holy. You are perfection in Your holiness—pure, blameless, righteous above everything else that exists. When You call me to holiness, You set me apart from the world. I cannot be perfect, but when I live my life for Your glory and try to walk in Your ways, You make me righteous, holy, set apart. Father, I call on You so that I shall live in reverence and awe during my life on this earth. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

photo by:


jezobeljones

Cooking the General?

[image error]Recently in a novel I read this: “The man who had been with Mrs. Smith and her attorney left the room.” I thought two people had left: the attorney and the man who had been with Mrs. Smith.

A couple of paragraphs later, the lawyer asked a question. I stopped reading, confused because I thought the attorney left the room. After re-reading the earlier sentence several times, I finally figured out that only one person had left—the man who had been with Mrs. Smith and her attorney. The attorney didn’t leave.

Any time a reader has to stop to figure out your meaning, you risk losing a reader. An occasional confusing sentence isn’t going to cause a reader to give up on an otherwise great book, but if the reader is stopped several times, she may give up on trying to follow what the author is saying.

Many years ago, I was in a critique group of four women writers. We met at my house once a week, and we each brought three copies of the latest chapter in our work-in-progress. Each of us took the chapters from the other three home to read and critique, and we discussed the chapters we had critiqued the week before. Our motto was: “If one of us mentions something, you should consider it and decide whether or not you agree. If two of us point out the same thing, you’d better seriously consider it, and if all three of us notice it, you’d darn well better change it.”

One week, all of us pointed out the same thing to a member of the group who was working on a story of ancient Egypt. The army was traveling and trying to avoid an encounter with the enemy. “The order was given that no fires were to be lit that night, so no one cooked anything except the general.” We all laughed and asked our friend if the rest of the army was cooking the general. From then on, whenever one of us structured a sentence so that the meaning was unclear, we said, “You’re cooking the general.”

One of the most frequent problems I see in books I edit are sentences that are confusing or that say something other than what the writer intended.

These examples show how convoluted sentence structure leads to confusion and misunderstanding:

The lazy doctor’s wife … [Is the wife lazy or is she married to a lazy doctor?]
He only likes horses. [Does he only like, not love, horses or does he like only horses and not other animals?]
She lives in the blue house next to the lake, which has the bay window in the front. [Is it not the blue house, which has the bay window in the front, next to the lake rather than the lake with a bay window?]
We went to a movie and dinner that was too sad for my tastes. [Was dinner sad or was it the movie that was sad?]
The truck driver came in with Mr. Porter and told his secretary not to disturb them. [Did the truck driver tell his secretary or did Mr. Porter tell his secretary?]
He served the man who had betrayed him for the next 20 years. [Or did he serve for the next 20 years the man who had betrayed him?]

Have you encountered generals being cooked in books you’ve read? Do you have a pet peeve you see often?

 

Lent Day 13: Wednesday after the Second Sunday in Lent

5 Thus they have repaid me evil for good

And hatred for my love.

6 Appoint a wicked man over him,

And let an accuser stand at his right hand. Psalm 109:5-6 (NASB)

Lord, we read these verses and it sounds like Jesus talking when He was here on earth. But these words were written hundreds of years before the time of Jesus. You had Your plan in place when King David lived and wrote many of the Psalms. Jesus’ torture and crucifixion were no surprise to Him. He knew what He had to endure and willingly accepted His suffering and death for my sins. How much You (the Three in One) love me! I cannot fathom love that great. Give me a grateful heart to live my life for Your glory. In the name of the One who gave His life for me. Amen.

Lent Day 12: Tuesday after the Second Sunday in Lent

3 Then when Judas, who had betrayed Him, saw that He had been condemned, he felt remorse and returned the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders, 4 saying, “I have sinned by betraying innocent blood.” But they said, “What is that to us? See to that yourself!” 5 And he threw the pieces of silver into the temple sanctuary and departed; and he went away and hanged himself. ~ Matthew 27:3 (NASB)

Heavenly Father, Judas Iscariot is the ultimate sinner—his betrayal of Jesus was unimaginable. His sin was premeditated, so he had time to consider what he was doing and repent. However, he followed through and betrayed his Lord, my Lord, then when it was too late, he realized the evil of his actions and tried to undo them. He tried to give the money back to the chief priests and elders, as if returning the money would somehow undo what he had done. He learned, as I have learned, that once committed, sin can’t be undone. Thank You that because of the sacrifice of Jesus, my sin has already been paid for. There are still consequences to my action, but I am forgiven as soon as I repent and call on You. Forgive me, Lord. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

photo by:


tamburix