Lillie Ammann's Blog, page 35

Devotion for Saturday in the First Week in Advent

In those days John the Baptist came preaching in the wilderness of Judea, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” For this is he who was spoken of by the prophet Isaiah when he said,
“The voice of one crying in the wilderness:
‘Prepare the way of the Lord;
make his paths straight.'”
Now John wore a garment of camel’s hair and a leather belt around his waist, and his food was locusts and wild honey. Then Jerusalem and all Judea and all the region about the Jordan were going out to him, and they were baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins. ~ Matthew 3:1-6

John the Baptist prepared the way of Jesus by calling people to repentance and baptizing them. No one knows when Jesus will come again. He told us not even He knows—only the Father knows the day and time Jesus will appear in glory. Even though we don’t know when it will happen, we can know for sure that Jesus is coming. Each of us needs to prepare the way for Him in our own hearts and tell others about Him. We can be John the Baptist for the Second Coming.

Lord God, I want to prepare the way for Jesus to come again in my own heart and in the world around me. Show me who around me needs to know Jesus and give me the wisdom and the courage to tell them. In the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.

Devotion for Friday in the First Week in Advent

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.
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. ~ Isaiah 9:6-7

Hundreds of years before the birth of Jesus, Isaiah was prophesying of the birth of a son who would have the government upon His shoulder. The Jews were looking for a militaristic Messiah who would free the people from their Roman oppressors. They expected Him to carry the earthly government upon His shoulders and rule on earth from the throne of David. But the Kingdom of God is far greater than a worldly government. Jesus will reign in the new earth for an eternity of peace, justice, and righteousness. His Kingdom is so different from what the Jewish people were accustomed to—and so different from what we today are used to—that we can’t imagine how it will really be. No pain, no sorrow, no tears—everyone united in love under the rule of Jesus Christ, with no need for a temple because God will dwell among us.

Lord God, I can’t even begin to imagine what Your Kingdom will be like in the new earth. Guide me in Your way, Lord, so that, when the time comes, I will be with You in glory. In the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.

Image: ©Depositphotos.com/Krisdog

Devotion for Thursday in the First Week in Advent

They shall come and sing aloud on the height of Zion,

and they shall be radiant over the goodness of the Lord,

over the grain, the wine, and the oil,

and over the young of the flock and the herd;

their life shall be like a watered garden,

and they shall languish no more.

Then shall the young women rejoice in the dance,

and the young men and the old shall be merry.

I will turn their mourning into joy;

I will comfort them, and give them gladness for sorrow.

I will feast the soul of the priests with abundance,

and my people shall be satisfied with my goodness,

declares the Lord.” ~ Jeremiah 31:12-14

The Lord himself tells us of the joy that we will experience in the new earth, after Jesus comes again. We will sing, dance, and rejoice. Instead of sadness, we will have joy. We will have abundance and goodness. So often we think that what we are experiencing today is what we will always experience. During the holiday season, many people are sad and depressed because of their circumstances or attitudes. Instead we should recognize that our time in this earthly life is but a tiny speck in our eternal existence. During this Advent season, let us focus on the happy, abundant, good eternity in which we will sing and dance with joy.

Heavenly Father, too often I fail to have an eternal perspective. I focus on the circumstances in this life and forget that it is miniscule compared to the life that will come later. Those of us who believe in Jesus as our Lord and Savior will never die. We will live forever with You, and we will be filled with joy. Thank You for that promise, Lord. Help me to focus on it and not any momentary sadness I may feel in this life. In the name of Jesus Christ. Amen

Image: ©Depositphotos.com/piccola

Devotion for Wednesday in the First Week in Advent

Now muster your troops, O daughter of troops;

siege is laid against us;

with a rod they strike the judge of Israel
on the cheek.

But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah,

who are too little to be among the clans of Judah,

from you shall come forth for me

one who is to be ruler in Israel,

whose coming forth is from of old,

from ancient days.

Therefore he shall give them up until the time

when she who is in labor has given birth;

then the rest of his brothers shall return

to the people of Israel.

And he shall stand and shepherd his flock in the strength of the Lord,

in the majesty of the name of the Lord his God.

And they shall dwell secure, for now he shall be great

to the ends of the earth. ~ Micah 5:1-5

God’s planning is amazing! These words from the prophet Micah tell of the Messiah’s being born in Bethlehem and shepherding His flock in the strength of the Lord so God’s people will dwell secure. This prophecy was partially fulfilled when Jesus was born in a manger in Bethlehem and will be completed when He comes again in glory. It took thousands of years for even the first part to be fulfilled, and I’m sure people questioned and doubted—it seemed like it would never happen. But our timing is not God’s, and He is giving men chance after chance after chance to be saved. Pray that all will come to salvation.

Thank You, Lord, that You give Your people opportunity after opportunity to come to You because You don’t want any to perish. I have accepted Jesus as my Savior, so I will be dwelling secure in the new Jerusalem. In the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.

Devotion for Tuesday in the First Week in Advent

Apply your heart to instruction and your ear to words of knowledge.
Buy truth, and do not sell it; buy wisdom, instruction, and understanding. ~ Proverbs 23:12, 23

We know it’s Advent, not yet Christmas. But all around us, the world is celebrating Christmas—and has been for weeks. Christmas music sounds in our ears, holiday decorations captivate our eyes, shopping and planning occupy our minds. Instead of buying popular toys and flashy clothing, God’s Word tells us to buy truth, wisdom, instruction, and understanding—the truth about God and His Son, Jesus Christ; wisdom to focus our celebrations on Jesus rather than consumerism; instruction in the coming of Jesus in glory at the end of time; understanding of the eternal and divine.

Lord God, help me to focus on You during this Advent season. Let me take some time to ignore the chaos associated with the holiday season—shopping, parties, spending, rushing—and focus on Jesus. Let me remember His coming to earth as a tiny baby and look forward to His coming again in glory to judge the world. Fill my heart and mind with You. In the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.

Image: ©Depositphotos.com/AOosthuizen

Devotion for Monday in the First Week in Advent

“And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes and be careful to obey my rules. You shall dwell in the land that I gave to your fathers, and you shall be my people, and I will be your God. And I will deliver you from all your uncleannesses. And I will summon the grain and make it abundant and lay no famine upon you. I will make the fruit of the tree and the increase of the field abundant, that you may never again suffer the disgrace of famine among the nations. Then you will remember your evil ways, and your deeds that were not good, and you will loathe yourselves for your iniquities and your abominations. It is not for your sake that I will act, declares the Lord God; let that be known to you. Be ashamed and confounded for yourways, O house of Israel.

“Thus says the Lord God: On the day that I cleanse you from all your iniquities, I will cause the cities to be inhabited, and the waste places shall be rebuilt. And the land that was desolate shall be tilled, instead of being the desolation that it was in the sight of all who passed by. And they will say, ‘This land that was desolate has become like the garden of Eden, and the waste and desolate and ruined cities are now fortified and inhabited.’ Then the nations that are left all around you shall know that I am the Lord; I have rebuilt the ruined places and replanted that which was desolate. I am the Lord; I have spoken, and I will do it.” ~ Ezekiel 36:26-36

God is a just and righteous God, One who is concerned about the glory of His name. Anything God does for us is not because of us—we don’t deserve anything. So often we disobey God, we go our own way, we choose evil over good. Yet for the sake of His glory, He will restore the heavens and the earth. When Jesus comes again, we will live in that new Jerusalem, a new Eden. And there will be no doubt who the Lord is. Everyone will recognize that He is the Creator of the Universe, the Ruler of the Cosmos, the King of all nations. We will bow down and worship Him, the One who always does what He says.

Lord God, thank You that You always do what You say You will do. And You have said that Jesus will come again in glory and that those who love You will live in a new world with You as its King. I look for that day, O Lord, but in the meantime, help me to live righteously in this evil world. In the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.

Image: ©Depositphotos.com/stokkette

Devotion for the First Sunday in Advent

The Mighty One, God the Lord,
speaks and summons the earth
from the rising of the sun to its setting.
Out of Zion, the perfection of beauty,
God shines forth.
Our God comes; he does not keep silence;
before him is a devouring fire,
around him a mighty tempest.
He calls to the heavens above
and to the earth, that he may judge his people:
“Gather to me my faithful ones,
who made a covenant with me by sacrifice!”
The heavens declare his righteousness,
for God himself is judge! ~ Psalm 50:1-6

Especially as we think about Jesus coming to earth asa tiny baby at Christmas, we often think of God’s love and gentleness, His longsuffering and mercy. Yet He is the Mighty One, the Lord, our judge. Yes, we should think of His goodness and His grace, but we must not forget His judgment and His righteousness. He comes and does not keep silence! Jesus will again in glory to judge the world. We don’t know when, but we must be prepared for that day.

Lord, thank You for Your love and mercy, Your goodness and grace. Help me to remember that Your judgment and righteousness are just as important. You don’t want any to perish, so You give us chance after chance to repent. But someday Your patience will come to an end, and Your judgment will take over. Thank You that You will give me credit for the righteousness of Jesus. In my sinfulness, I could stand before Your justice, but because I have accepted Jesus as my Lord and Savior, I will not be cast into eternal punishment. Thank You, Father God; help me by the power of the Holy Spirit to live in Your will. In the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.

Advent 2018

As soon as Thanksgiving is over—even earlier for many, especially retailers—it’s the Christmas season. We start shopping, decorating, cooking, partying …. It’s easy to forget that we are celebrating the birth of the Savior of the World. 

That’s why many Christians observe Advent, a time of penitence and preparation leading up to Christmas. We remember the birth of Jesus in history, and we look forward to His Second Coming at the end of time. 

Each year, I do some extra Bible reading during Advent and journal my thoughts and daily prayers. Tomorrow, on the first day of Advent, I will begin posting my personal meditations from last year on this blog. The devotions, The Light of the World, are also available as a PDF download so you can print them and read them at your convenience. 

If you are a disciple of Jesus Christ, I hope these devotionals will help you prepare for Jesus’s coming—at Christmas and in the Day of the Lord. If you are not yet a believer, I invite you to read and look for the truth. Contact me if you have questions. 

ALMIGHTY God, give us grace that we may cast away the works of darkness, and put upon us the armour of light, now in the time of this mortal life, in which thy Son Jesus Christ came to visit us in great humility; that in the last day, when he shall come again in his glorious majesty to judge both the quick and the dead, we may rise to the life immortal, through him who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Ghost, now and ever. Amen. ~ Collect for Advent from the 1928 Book of Common Prayer

Light of the World Devotional

Advent begins on Sunday, December 2. Advent is a time of preparation for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ—His coming into the world at Christmas and His return in glory at the end of time. 

The way I prepare the way of the Lord in my heart is to follow a seasonal Scripture reading plan in addition to my usual daily readings. I read each day’s Bible passage, then journal a few thoughts and a prayer. The next year, I share my personal meditations from the previous Advent on my blog. Look for a daily post from the first day of Advent through Christmas and Epiphany (the coming of the Wise Men, celebrated January 6). 

I also make the devotionals available in a single PDF that is easy to print on your own printer for anyone who prefers a paper copy.

Download the devotional,  The Light of the World. 

And if you’re looking for a devotional to start the New Year, don’t forget Finding God in the Everyday. We expect to find God in church and in our private devotions. But have you ever wondered where He is the rest of the time—especially when things go wrong? In this ninety-day devotional, I share how I find God in the everyday experiences of my life.

Giving Thanks

Image: © Depositphotos.com/Shvydkova

If you’re like me and most Americans, today you will stuff yourself with turkey, ham, or prime rib and all the trimmings. You will enjoy time with family, football on TV, or games with family and friends. But in the midst of all the food, fun, and fellowship, let’s remember why we are celebrating. This day is set aside as a day of thanksgiving and praise to God for His many blessings. 

O MOST merciful Father, who hast blessed the labours of the husbandman in the returns of the fruits of the earth; We give thee humble and hearty thanks for this thy bounty; beseeching thee to continue thy loving-kindness to us, that our land may still yield her increase, to thy glory and our comfort; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

~ Thanksgiving Collect from the 1928 Book of Common Prayer

Wishing a blessed and happy Thanksgiving to you and your loved ones.