Lillie Ammann's Blog, page 46

Review: Song of The Shepherd Woman

Song of the Shepherd Woman by Carlene Havel

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I edited this book, but that’s not the reason I love it. I agree to edit books only if I love them when I read a sample, and that was certainly the case with Song of the Shepherd Woman.

The characters are so real I felt like they were my friends and neighbors. The struggles of women trying to survive in a harsh time and place seemed real. The truth of the Gospel was portrayed beautifully in the story itself, without preaching.

I recommend this book to anyone who enjoys character-driven Christian fiction.

View all my reviews

Devotion for the Fifth Day of Christmas

For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all men, instructing us to deny ungodliness and worldly desires and to live sensibly, righteously and godly in the present age, looking for the blessed hope and the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Christ Jesus, who gave Himself for us to redeem us from every lawless deed, and to purify for Himself a people for His own possession, zealous for good deeds. These things speak and exhort and reprove with all authority. Let no one disregard you. ~ Titus 2:11-15

Jesus has come. He walked on the earth and lived among and like his fellow Jews in a world ruled by the Romans 2000 years ago. He will come again with glory, and His Word tells us to live sensibly, righteously, and godly now as we wait for His glorious return. May we live the way He wants and look toward His coming with blessed hope. 

Lord God, Your timetable is different from our timetable. You have given us 2000+ years to prepare for Jesus’s coming, but we don’t always live like we’re expecting Him any minute. Forgive me, Lord, when I fall, lift me up, and guide me to live in Your will. Fill me with hope and anticipation for that great day when Jesus will appear in the clouds. Maranatha, Lord Jesus! Come quickly! Amen

Image: © Depositphotos.com/adrelina

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Devotion for the Fourth Day of Christmas (Holy Innocents)

Now when they had gone, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, “Get up! Take the Child and His mother and flee to Egypt, and remain there until I tell you; for Herod is going to search for the Child to destroy Him.”

So Joseph got up and took the Child and His mother while it was still night, and left for Egypt. He remained there until the death of Herod. This was to fulfill what had been spoken by the Lord through the prophet: “Out of Egypt I called My Son.”

Then when Herod saw that he had been tricked by the magi, he became very enraged, and sent and slew all the male children who were in Bethlehem and all its vicinity, from two years old and under, according to the time which he had determined from the magi. Then what had been spoken through Jeremiah the prophet was fulfilled:

“A voice was heard in Ramah,

Weeping and great mourning,

Rachel weeping for her children;

And she refused to be comforted,

Because they were no more.” ~ Matthew 2:13-18

We’re still celebrating the joy of Christmas, and today we encounter the Holy Innocents, all the two-year-old and younger male children in Bethlehem who were slaughtered by Herod. He was protecting his throne from the One he considered an interloper, and his power was so important to him that he wantonly murdered all the male infants in the small town. It’s hard to imagine being so selfish and cruel, yet something similar happens all the time in our society today. Mothers decide having a child would disrupt their lifestyle, so they kill the baby before the birth. Men put pressure on the women in their lives to “get rid of the problem” of an unwanted pregnancy. Sometimes even the grandparents get involved and advocate for the killing of the precious child, a creation of God. Herod’s murders were pure evil, and so are the murders of unborn babies today.

Father God, open the eyes and hearts of mothers, fathers, and grandparents who are thinking about killing precious babies. Convict them of the evil they want to do and change their hearts. Give life to every child You have formed in the womb, every child You have created, every child You have plans for. In the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.

Image: © Depositphotos.com/shalunx13

Devotion for the Third Day of Christmas

Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, magi from the east arrived in Jerusalem, saying, “Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? For we saw His star in the east and have come to worship Him.” When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him. Gathering together all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Messiah was to be born. They said to him, “In Bethlehem of Judea; for this is what has been written by the prophet:

‘And you, Bethlehem, land of Judah,

Are by no means least among the leaders of Judah;

For out of you shall come forth a Ruler

Who will shepherd My people Israel.’”

Then Herod secretly called the magi and determined from them the exact time the star appeared. And he sent them to Bethlehem and said, “Go and search carefully for the Child; and when you have found Him, report to me, so that I too may come and worship Him.” ~ Matthew 2:1-8

Herod wanted to hold on to his own power, so he used deceit and subterfuge to try to get the magi to reveal Jesus’s location to him. He knew enough to find out the prophecies of where the Messiah would be born, but he was arrogant enough to think that he could change the outcome of God’s prophecy by his human power. How often we think we are in control of our lives and circumstances, when we can do nothing on our own.

Lord God, so often I want to be in charge and think I know what’s best for myself, if not for everyone. Yet, I can do nothing without You. I am totally dependent on Your grace. Open my eyes and ears to see my dependence on You, and open my heart to glory in Your loving plan. In the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.

Image: © Depositphotos.com/Klanneke

Devotion for the Second Day of Christmas

Now in those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus, that a census be taken of all the inhabited earth. This was the first census taken while Quirinius was governor of Syria. And everyone was on his way to register for the census, each to his own city. Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the city of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and family of David, in order to register along with Mary, who was engaged to him, and was with child. While they were there, the days were completed for her to give birth. And she gave birth to her firstborn son; and she wrapped Him in cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.

In the same region there were some shepherds staying out in the fields and keeping watch over their flock by night. And an angel of the Lord suddenly stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them; and they were terribly frightened. But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of great joy which will be for all the people; for today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. This will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.” And suddenly there appeared with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying,

“Glory to God in the highest,

And on earth peace among men with whom He is pleased.”

When the angels had gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds began saying to one another, “Let us go straight to Bethlehem then, and see this thing that has happened which the Lord has made known to us.” So they came in a hurry and found their way to Mary and Joseph, and the baby as He lay in the manger. When they had seen this, they made known the statement which had been told them about this Child. And all who heard it wondered at the things which were told them by the shepherds. But Mary treasured all these things, pondering them in her heart. The shepherds went back, glorifying and praising God for all that they had heard and seen, just as had been told them. ~ Luke 2:1-20

The Christmas story in Luke has become so familiar to us that we may fail to be as amazed as we once were. Imagine a baby born in a stable, His birth announced by angels and the heavenly host to lowly shepherds. God didn’t make Jesus known to the rulers, the rich, the elite, but to the lowest class of people in the society. The message of peace on earth was proclaimed not to heads of states but to animal-herders. God orchestrated everything exactly as He wanted it, though far different than we would expect or plan if we were in charge. Praise God that He is sovereign and all-knowing, and the salvation of the world was up to Him and not us!

Thank You, Lord, that You orchestrated everything from inducing a secular ruler to declare a census to the heavenly host appearing to the shepherds. Thank You that You will orchestrate Jesus’s return just as meticulously. Maranatha, come quickly, Lord Jesus! Amen.

Image: © Depositphotos.com/zatletic

Devotion for Christmas Day

Now the birth of Jesus Christ was as follows: when His mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found to be with child by the Holy Spirit. And Joseph her husband, being a righteous man and not wanting to disgrace her, planned to send her away secretly. But when he had considered this, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife; for the Child who has been conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit. She will bear a Son; and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins.” Now all this took place to fulfill what was spoken by the Lord through the prophet: “Behold, the virgin shall be with child and shall bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel,” which translated means, “God with us.” And Joseph awoke from his sleep and did as the angel of the Lord commanded him, and took Mary as his wife, but kept her a virgin until she gave birth to a Son; and he called His name Jesus. ~ Matthew 1:18-25

Sometimes I think we don’t give Joseph enough credit for his role in the Incarnation. He had to believe the angel and take Mary for his wife even though they would be subject to public ridicule that Mary was pregnant before they married. He had to parent and protect the baby and then the child even though Jesus was not biologically his. Joseph could have refused to get involved, but instead he believed the angel and from that moment on, he was totally committed to raising the Son of God.

Lord, touch my heart and mind so that I am as willing as Joseph to do whatever You ask of me. Easy or hard, long or short, fun or tedious—whatever You ask of me, I want to respond joyfully in agreement. In the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.

Image: © Depositphotos.com/Klanneke

Merry Christmas!

Praying for many blessings for you and your loved ones on this holy day and throughout the coming year.

Image: © Depositphotos.com/TrudyWilkerson

Devotion for the Fourth Sunday in Advent

Behold, He is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see Him, even those who pierced Him; and all the tribes of the earth will mourn over Him. So it is to be. Amen. “I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, “who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.” ~ Revelation 1:7-8

Every eye will see Him when He comes again. Only His disciples saw Him leave, but everyone—billions of people—will see Him when He returns. Those who have rejected Him will see their fate, and they will mourn, but it will be too late then. Those of us who love Him and follow Him as our Lord will rejoice. He is the Alpha and the Omega—the beginning and the end, past, present, and future.

Thank You, Lord, that I will rejoice when I see Jesus coming in the clouds. I could never earn a place at His side. I am unworthy to be with Him forever. I do not deserve Your grace. Yet all it takes for me or anyone to rule with Him forever is to love Him. And that I do, Lord. Maranatha, come quickly, Lord Jesus! Amen.

 

Devotion for Saturday after Advent 3

Then a shoot will spring from the stem of Jesse,

And a branch from his roots will bear fruit.

The Spirit of the Lord will rest on Him,

The spirit of wisdom and understanding,

The spirit of counsel and strength,

The spirit of knowledge and the fear of the Lord.

And He will delight in the fear of the Lord,

And He will not judge by what His eyes see,

Nor make a decision by what His ears hear;

But with righteousness He will judge the poor,

And decide with fairness for the afflicted of the earth;

And He will strike the earth with the rod of His mouth,

And with the breath of His lips He will slay the wicked.

Also righteousness will be the belt about His loins,

And faithfulness the belt about His waist. ~ Isaiah 11:1-5

We usually think of Jesus and His Father as love—and that they are. However, we sometimes forget that justice and righteousness and faithfulness are equally important. It’s popular today to think that God is so loving He wouldn’t condemn anyone to hell, but His Word says He will “strike the earth with the rod of His mouth.” He loves us far beyond what we can imagine, and He gives us every chance to repent and turn to Him. But in the end, His justice will prevail. The evil will be destroyed forever, and those who love Him will rejoice to live with Him in righteousness and justice.

Lord God, forgive me for sometimes forgetting that You are just as well as loving, righteous as well as compassionate. Thank You that those who mistreat others will be punished if they do not repent. Thank You, also, Lord, that if I or anyone repent of my sins, my slate is wiped clean and I am forgiven. Convict me of my sin and lead me to repentance. In the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.

Image: © Depositphotos.com/Krisdog