Lillie Ammann's Blog, page 63

Advent 2016

Today is the first day of Advent, a time of penitence and preparation for the coming of Christ. We are preparing to celebrate Christmas, the time when our Lord and Savior came to earth as a tiny and helpless baby.

We remember the coming of Christ into our own hearts when we accepted Him as our Savior.

And we look forward to Christ coming again to earth, this time in power and glory. Will we be ready?

Every day during Advent, I will post a short devotion. Each year I follow a plan of Scripture reading during Advent. I journal a few thoughts and a prayer. The devotions I’m posting this year are my personal meditations from last year. I pray they are meaningful to you and help you to prepare to celebrate the coming of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, in all His manifestations.

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

Advent Conspiracy

We bemoan the commercialism of Christmas but keep on buying useless, extravagant gifts, going to parties we don’t enjoy, and rushing to and fro trying to check everything off our list. We overwhelm ourselves with places to go and things to do. This year, let’s try a better way with the Advent Conspiracy. Worship fully. Spend less. Give more. Love all. The video below explains a little more about the Advent Conspiracy.

Our church and I personally make our Advent Conspiracy gifts to Love for the Least,

a MOVEMENT born from the fifteen-year missionary work of its first field workers, dozens of church partners in America from a broad range of traditions and thousands of Believers who pray daily and invest in God’s Kingdom. The mission of L4L is to share the compassion of Christ with an unreached world.

The donations received by Love for the Least for Advent Conspiracy will be used to provide relief for Christian refugee families in Iraq. Muslims and Yezidi in the refugee camps receive help from the UN, but Christians do not. There are 1,380 Christian refugee families, and $75 will feed the whole family for a month as well as give them some treats and toys for the children. I’d love for you to support Love for the Least, as well, but there are hundreds of good causes that can use your donations more than your aunt can use another box of dusting powder.

[AC] Advent Calendar from Advent Conspiracy on Vimeo.

Thankful on Thanksgiving

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. ~ 1928 Book of Common Prayer

Corncupoia Image (preview): © Depositphotos.com/miflippo

Family Dinner Image (post): © Depositphotos.com/pressmaster

National Alzheimer’s Awareness Month and Family Caregivers Month

November is National Alzheimer’s Disease Awareness Month and National Family Caregivers Month.

I have been a caregiver for someone with Alzheimer’s twice in my life—first for my father in the late 1980s and early 1990s, then for my husband two decades later.

I was one of several caregivers for my father. One of the other caregivers was my sister, Nancy Nicholson. Nancy was so impacted by the experience that she returned to school and earned her degree as a social worker. She has worked now for many years as a social worker in nursing homes. She is wonderful with all elderly and ill people, but she is especially compassionate and talented in working with patients with dementia.

She was an incredible help to me during the years I cared for Jack. Sometimes I just needed to call her and vent. I knew she would understand exactly what I was dealing with. Sometimes, she just listened and sympathized, but oftentimes, she gave me much-needed advice. I am so blessed that I was able to care for Jack at home until the end, and Nancy’s help was important in making that happen.

Nancy has written a short, easy-to-read book for caregivers: Help! What Do I Do Now? Caring for a Loved One with Alzheimer’s. It’s a simple book, but oh-so-helpful for caregivers, especially in the early stages of caring for their loved one.

If you have a loved one with dementia, even if you aren’t the primary caregiver, I think you’ll find it enlightening. You’ll understand the disease much better and appreciate what caregivers do. And if you are a caregiver, the book will be really helpful to you.

Writing Celebrations

November 15th is I Love to Write Day.If you like to write, be sure to spend some time doing exactly that.

If you’ve ever thought of writing a novel or a memoir or a family history, today is a good day to start. But if you’d rather write in a journal, do it. Write a letter, write a poem, write an essay … whatever you write, just write.

I had always planned to write “someday,” but after I had a stroke at age forty-five, I realized “someday” might never come. So I started writing as soon as I physically able, and I’ve been writing ever since. Don’t wait for “someday” in the far-off future. Today is “someday.”

November is also National Family Stories Month and National Life Writing Month. If the family gets together for Thanksgiving, why not share favorite stories? Designate one person to write the stories down, and you have the beginning of a wonderful legacy.

You can continue to collect stories and compile them into a book. Or just type them up and print out copies for family members. You can get more ideas for writing a family history from my short ebook, Preserving Memories: How to Write a Family History . The book will be helpful for any type of life writing—memoir, autobiography, collection of family stories, family history, or anything about your life and the people in it.

Enjoy writing something today!

Image: © Depositphotos.com/petrograd99

International Day of the Bible

November 14th is International Day of the Bible.

BLESSED Lord, who hast caused all holy Scriptures to be written for our learning; Grant that we may in such wise hear them, read, mark, learn, and inwardly digest them, that by patience and comfort of thy holy Word, we may embrace, and ever hold fast, the blessed hope of everlasting life, which thou hast given us in our Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen. ~ 1928 Book of Common Prayer

Saluting Veterans

Saluting everyone who has taken the oath to serve in our military. We thank all veterans for their service to our country.

O LORD God of Hosts, stretch forth, we pray thee, thine almighty arm to strengthen, guide, and protect those who have served as soldiers, sailors, airmen, and marines of our country. As you supported them in the day of battle, provide for their needs after their service ends. Thank You that brave and selfless men and women give so much to keep our country safe; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church

November 6 and November 13 are the International Days of Prayer for the Persecuted Church.

We tend to want to pray for protection and safety, but persecuted Christians want us to pray for boldness for them to stand up for Jesus.

You’ll find some advice on praying for persecuted Christians at Campus Crusade for Christ.

Lord God, we pray for our persecuted Christian brothers and sisters. Give them strength and endurance to withstand the trials they are going through and boldness to proclaim Your Word in the midst of persecution. Let them feel Your presence, Your love, and Your peace. Give them hope and an eternal perspective on their sufferings. In the name of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior. Amen.

National Author’s Day

November 1 is National Author’s Day. Don’t ask me why it’s author’s rather than authors’. While we honor all authors on this day, maybe it’s author’s to remind us to show our appreciation to one author at a time.

You can let your favorite author know how much you appreciate her or him by sending them a message via social media, email, or snail mail.

You can also post a public message on social media with the hashtag #NationalAuthorsDay. If you mention a favorite author, be sure to tag that person so they are encouraged by your words.

Of course, buying books is a wonderful way to show your appreciation. You can find my books and those of my clients on my books page. You can find lots of other good books from my reviews on Goodreads. You can sort the list by any of the headings, so you might sort by rating, starting with 5 stars. You may not want to read all 1400+ reviews.

And speaking of reviews—there’s no better way to thank an author than to write a review of the author’s book (or books). You can post your review at the retailer where you bought the book (Amazon, B&N, or any of dozens of other sites) as well as Goodreads and other social media related to books and authors.

Writing, especially something as long and complicated as a book, requires a tremendous amount of time and effort, often in isolation. Authors, like everyone else, enjoy being appreciated and recognized. So do your part on #NationalAuthorsDay. 

Image: © Depositphotos.com/koya979

Self-Editing Workshop

This month’s session in the INFLUENCE Magazine’s Writing Workshop Series is Self-Editing. 

Finishing the first draft is just the beginning of the polishing process. Turn first draft dreck into final draft gold through the alchemy of self-editing. Learn how to make your own writing shine—make bad writing good, mediocre writing outstanding, and good writing exceptional.

WHO SHOULD ATTEND:

Writers and authors who want to produce a better book, article, or blog/social media post
Businesspeople and professionals who seek to deliver their message more effectively
Individuals who write as part of their job and need to improve the quality of their work
Anyone who desires to write better

TOPICS:

What and Why of Self-Editing; Kinds of Editing
The First Draft: Pure Green Dreck
The Editing Process and Stages
Q&A (you’re invited to submit your questions with your registration)

The workshop will take place on Thursday, November 10, 2016, 7 – 9 PM, at Wayland Baptist University in San Antonio.

Download the flyer or signup on the writers workshop registration page. 

There are discounts for groups registering together and for individuals signing up for more than one workshop.

For more information about the series and upcoming workshops, visit the workshop series page.

 

Image: © Depositphotos.com/bradcalkins