Lillie Ammann's Blog, page 125

Devotion for the Tenth Day of 2012 Christmas

1 John 4:7-12 (ESV)

7 Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God. 8 Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love. 9 In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent his only Son into the world, so that we might live through him. 10 In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. 11 Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. 12 No one has ever seen God; if we love one another, God abides in us and his love is perfected in us.

Lord God of Love, You love us so much that You send Jesus to live on earth and suffer and be crucified to take the punishment due us for our sins. You showed us pure and true Love beyond what we can imagine. All You want is for us to love You in return and for us to love one another. Help us to show love to You and to others. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Devotion for the Tenth Day of 2012 Christmas was first posted on January 4, 2013 at 12:34 am.
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Remembering Jack with a Book and a Birthday Party

[image error] My beloved husband Jack died on September 23, 2012.

For years I encouraged him to write his stories, but he preferred to tell them—over and over again! I occasionally wrote a blog post about Jack, perhaps including one or more of his favorite stories.

On the morning that he died, the house soon filled with family and friends. We sat around his bed telling “Jack stories.” I had always known Jack was a very special man—a remarkable character, but I realize I am just a tiny bit biased. Hearing the memories others shared about Jack, I realized he had touched many lives and left a legacy of love, laughter, and inspiration that should be shared.

Family and friends who came to the visitation or the reception after the funeral were invited to write favorite memories of Jack on the index cards provided. I contacted others who had stories to share and prayed I didn’t overlook anyone. More than fifty friends and family members contributed stories—inspirational and funny, heartwarming and humorous, short and long. I added Jack’s favorite stories he loved to tell as well as stories from my perspective.  I hope this collection of memories, anecdotes, and tributes will bring you happy memories, inspiration, and laughter, as Jack did in person throughout his life.

Before his death, we had already begun planning a party for his 80th birthday on January 3rd. We’re having the party (on Saturday, January 5th, 2- 6 PM) to celebrate Jack’s life and to introduce the book. If you’re anywhere near San Antonio, I’d love to see you at the party. Download the invitation for details.

Remembering Jack with a Book and a Birthday Party was first posted on January 3, 2013 at 12:30 am.
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Devotion for the Ninth Day of 2012 Christmas

1 John 3:16-24 (ESV)

16 By this we know love, that he laid down his life for us, and we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers. 17 But if anyone has the world’s goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him, how does God’s love abide in him? 18 Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth. 19 By this we shall know that we are of the truth and reassure our heart before him; 20 for whenever our heart condemns us, God is greater than our heart, and he knows everything. 21 Beloved, if our heart does not condemn us, we have confidence before God; 22 and whatever we ask we receive from him, because we keep his commandments and do what pleases him. 23 And this is his commandment, that we believe in the name of his Son Jesus Christ and love one another, just as he has commanded us. 24 Whoever keeps his commandments abides in God, and God in him. And by this we know that he abides in us, by the Spirit whom he has given us.

Father God, thank You for sending the Holy Spirit to guide us and help us to keep Your commandments and do what pleases You. We want to abide in You and we want You to abide in us. In the name of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Ghost, now and forevermore, world without end. Amen.

Devotion for the Ninth Day of 2012 Christmas was first posted on January 3, 2013 at 12:05 am.
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Devotion for the Eighth Day of 2012 Christmas

1 John 3:1-11 (ESV)

3 See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are. The reason why the world does not know us is that it did not know him. 2 Beloved, we are God’s children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is. 3 And everyone who thus hopes in him purifies himself as he is pure. 4 Everyone who makes a practice of sinning also practices lawlessness; sin is lawlessness. 5 You know that he appeared in order to take away sins, and in him there is no sin. 6 No one who abides in him keeps on sinning; no one who keeps on sinning has either seen him or known him. 7 Little children, let no one deceive you. Whoever practices righteousness is righteous, as he is righteous. 8 Whoever makes a practice of sinning is of the devil, for the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the works of the devil. 9 No one born of God makes a practice of sinning, for God’s seed abides in him, and he cannot keep on sinning because he has been born of God. 10 By this it is evident who are the children of God, and who are the children of the devil: whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor is the one who does not love his brother. 11 For this is the message that you have heard from the beginning, that we should love one another.

Heavenly Father, for us to be saved from our sins and have eternal life, all You require is that we confess and repent of our sins and take You into our hearts. But John tells us that we do not know You if we makes a practice of sinning. If we love You, we will repent and ask forgiveness any time we go astray. If we do not love our brother, we are not of You. Give the will to do everything we should do to live a righteous life, washed in the Blood of the Lamb, repentant, and forgiven. In the name of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior. Amen.

Devotion for the Eighth Day of 2012 Christmas was first posted on January 2, 2013 at 12:09 am.
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Happy New Year 2013!

[image error]Although I followed the tradition of eating  black-eyed peas for luck in the coming year, I know black-eyed peas aren’t lucky and the number 13 isn’t unlucky. There is no such thing as “luck”—our lives are in the hands of a loving, almighty, all-powerful, holy God.

So often we are quick to blame God if we experience “bad luck,” setbacks, disappointments, and tragedies. We know that God could have made things happen differently, and we wonder why He didn’t. We are much less apt to give Him glory when things go right. If we are successful, we like to take the credit. If life goes smoothly, we don’t notice but just expect it as our right.

This year I want to be more mindful of the work of God in my life. Yesterday, I briefly went into panic mode when I learned that because of technical problems, the printer could not deliver the book Jack Stories: Favorite Memories of Jack Jordan Ammann Jr. for the booksigning on Saturday. My first reaction was “groaning of the Spirit” prayer, much as in a similar situation when I was preparing my first book for publication.

My prayer wasn’t structured in beautiful language. I just cried out,”Lord, I don’t know what to do. You have to handle this–I can’t.”After several minutes of that, I posted a prayer request on my church’s intercessory prayer page and called a friend, a fellow Christian/author/publisher to ask her for prayer. She asked,”Did you call Patrick?”

I told her I hadn’t because his printing company did offset printing, and it would be too expensive for the small quantity of books I needed.  Besides, it took him several weeks to produce a book. However, in desperation, I called Patrick. He said, “We recently got several digital printers, so now we offer digital printing as well as offset. And I think we can fit your project in this week.” He checked with his production department and called me back with the news that the books can be ready Friday afternoon.

Hallelujah! Problem solved—and all I did was pray and ask for prayer from others. Some would call this coincidence, but coincidences are just those times God chooses to remain anonymous. The Bible tells us, “The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working.” (James 5:16, ESV)

Now, if things hadn’t turned the way I wanted, would I have blamed God? No, I would recognize that for whatever reason getting those books printed was not in His plan. I wouldn’t understand the plan, and I would feel disappointed that I had a houseful of people to get books I didn’t have. But I would know that God’s plan is perfect. Just because I don’t understand it doesn’t mean it’s not God’s perfect plan in His perfect timing.

So many of the problems we face as individuals and as a society result from we humans thinking we know more than God. In our narrow, dim vision, we decide what we think should happen. We pray, and if God answers our prayer the way we want, we’re happy. But if He answers “no” or “later,” we may complain or become resentful or question our faith. We forget that we don’t see everything in eternity, as God does. We forget what the Bible says:

8 For my thoughts are not your thoughts,

neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord.

9 For as the heavens are higher than the earth,

so are my ways higher than your ways

and my thoughts than your thoughts. ~ Isaiah 55:8-9 (ESV)

We twist His Word. We say, “MY God is loving God. He wouldn’t …” Whether it’s allowing tragedy in this life or sending unrepentant sinners to Hell, the God we create in our own minds would act the way we think He should. How arrogant of us! Who are we to think we know more than the Lord? Who are we to question our Creator?

God asked Job:

Will you even put me in the wrong?

Will you condemn me that you may be in the right?

9 Have you an arm like God,

and can you thunder with a voice like his?

We blame God to make ourselves look right. Yet we can’t do what God can do. We do not know what God knows. God is always right. His plan is always perfect.

God is good, all the time. All the time, God is good. We aren’t meant to understand everything in this life. But St. Paul tells us,

“12 For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I have been fully known. ~ 1 Corinthians 13:12

For the coming year, instead of trying to understand things far above my ways and my thoughts, I intend to focus to living my life in glory to God.

DIRECT us, O Lord, in all our doings, with thy most gracious favour, and further us with thy continual help; that in all our works begun, continued, and ended in thee, we may glorify thy holy Name, and finally, by thy mercy, obtain everlasting life; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

photo by:


silversolo

Happy New Year 2013! was first posted on January 1, 2013 at 8:21 pm.
©2012 "Lillie Ammann, Writer & Editor". Use of this feed is for personal non-commercial use only. If you are not reading this reading this article in your feed reader, then the site is guilty of copyright infringement. Please contact me at lillie@lillieammann.com

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Devotion for the Seventh Day of 2012 Christmas

On the Seventh Day of Christmas, we recognize the Circumcision of Our Lord.

Luke 2:21 (ESV)

21 And at the end of eight days, when he was circumcised, he was called Jesus, the name given by the angel before he was conceived in the womb.

Holy God, Jesus came from Heaven fully God and fully Man. He gave up His glorious throne beside You to live on earth for our salvation. While here, he submitted to all Your decrees, including circumcision. His parents named Him Jesus, following the instructions of the angel. We know that if Your Son and the Holy Family carried out all the duties and responsibilities of Your people in that time and place, we should carry out all the duties and responsibilities of Your people today, Your disciples. Give us wisdom to know what we need to do and strength to do it. We ask in the name of Jesus. Amen.

Devotion for the Seventh Day of 2012 Christmas was first posted on January 1, 2013 at 12:04 am.
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Devotion for the Sixth Day of Christmas 2012

1 John 2:22-25 (ESV)

22 Who is the liar but he who denies that Jesus is the Christ? This is the antichrist, he who denies the Father and the Son. 23 No one who denies the Son has the Father. Whoever confesses the Son has the Father also. 24 Let what you heard from the beginning abide in you. If what you heard from the beginning abides in you, then you too will abide in the Son and in the Father. 25 And this is the promise that he made to us—eternal life.

Lord God, Three-in-One, Holy Trinity, we proclaim our faith in Jesus, the Son and God, the Father. We know we cannot have One without the Other, and if we have the Father and the Son, we will also have the Comforter, the Holy Ghost, and we will have eternal life. We praise You and glorify You, Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Amen.

Devotion for the Sixth Day of Christmas 2012 was first posted on December 31, 2012 at 12:52 am.
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Devotion for the Fifth Day of Christmas 2012

Isaiah 9:2-7 (ESV)

2 The people who walked in darkness

have seen a great light;

those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness,

on them has light shone.

3 You have multiplied the nation;

you have increased its joy;

they rejoice before you

as with joy at the harvest,

as they are glad when they divide the spoil.

4 For the yoke of his burden,

and the staff for his shoulder,

the rod of his oppressor,

you have broken as on the day of Midian.

5 For every boot of the tramping warrior in battle tumult

and every garment rolled in blood

will be burned as fuel for the fire.

6 For to us a child is born,

to us a son is given;

and the government shall be upon his shoulder,

and his name shall be called

Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,

Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

7 Of the increase of his government and of peace

there will be no end,

on the throne of David and over his kingdom,

to establish it and to uphold it

with justice and with righteousness

from this time forth and forevermore.

The zeal of the Lord of hosts will do this.

Heavenly Father, we thank You for the great gift of Jesus, born as a babe who grew into the Savior of the World. We now have access directly to the Heavenly Throne. We are your beloved sons and daughters, and we love You and worship You and praise You. In the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.

Devotion for the Fifth Day of Christmas 2012 was first posted on December 30, 2012 at 12:41 am.
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Devotion of the Fourth Day of Christmas 2012

1 John 1:5-10 (ESV)

5 This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. 6 If we say we have fellowship with him while we walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. 7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin. 8 If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 10 If we say we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.

Almighty God and Everlasting God, too often we judge ourselves by the standards of the world rather than by Your holy standards. Yet Your Holy Word says that we deceive ourselves and do not have the truth in us if we don’t recognize that we are sinners, walking in the darkness, totally corrupt, until we confess our sins and ask for forgiveness and cleansing. Shine Your holy light into our hearts, wipe away the evil, and replace it with Your love. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Devotion of the Fourth Day of Christmas 2012 was first posted on December 29, 2012 at 12:23 am.
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Devotion for the Third Day of Christmas 2012

On the Third Day of Christmas, we remember the Holy Innocents, the children murdered by Herod in his attempt to kill the baby Jesus.

Matthew 2:16-18 (ESV)

6 Then Herod, when he saw that he had been tricked by the wise men, became furious, and he sent and killed all the male children in Bethlehem and in all that region who were two years old or under, according to the time that he had ascertained from the wise men. 17 Then was fulfilled what was spoken by the prophet Jeremiah:

18 “A voice was heard in Ramah,

weeping and loud lamentation,

Rachel weeping for her children;

she refused to be comforted, because they are no more.”

Heavenly Father, we know You love each and every one of Your children with a love that is greater than we can imagine. Our hearts break, O Lord, when we read of Herod murdering innocent children, babies of two years old and younger. Yet in our own land today, we stand by while millions of Your beloved children are slaughtered in the wombs of their mothers. Pierce our hears so deeply that we demand an end of the murder of children You have created, children for whom You have a loving plan. Strengthen our moral resolve and give us the courage and the love to do what is right. In the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.

Devotion for the Third Day of Christmas 2012 was first posted on December 28, 2012 at 12:14 am.
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