Lillie Ammann's Blog, page 66

A Decade Ago …

Do you remember what you were doing ten years ago today?

I certainly do because it was a very important date for me. I was struggling to write my very first blog post. It was all of 100 words and probably took me longer than most of the 1000+ word posts I’ve written since. I had no idea what to say and doubted anyone was interested anyway.

After months of no readers and no comments, I started getting both. I was so excited to read my first comment and to see my first subscriber!

In the early days–before the popularity of Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and other social media sites, blogging was social media. We enthusiastically followed each other’s blogs, linked to favorite posts on our own blogs, commented volubly, and built large networks of online friends. I am still in regular contact with many of the bloggers I met ten years ago, but today I’m more apt to read their Facebook posts than to visit their blogs.

I miss having comments on my blog. I loved interacting with my readers and carrying on conversations with them. However, comments dwindled as online activity moved from individual blogs to social media communities. Spam grew exponentially until it just didn’t make sense to spend the time getting rid of the spam to find the few legitimate comments. So if you want to respond to this post or any other, feel free to comment on Facebook, Goodreads, LinkedIn, Twitter, or Google+.

Like all milestones, in some ways it seems that I wrote that first post just yesterday, and in other ways, it seems like blogging has always been an important part of my life. I know for sure, I’m very glad I wrote that first post–and the almost 1900 since then. I plan to keep on doing this for a long time.

Happy blogiversary to A Writer’s Words, An Editor’s Eye!

Creating Images for Social Media

The old saying, “A picture is worth a thousand words,” surely holds true on social media. In the past couple of years, I have created more than 1700 images, mostly of Bible verses, and posted to social media. While Scripture doesn’t go viral, I always get more likes and shares for images than for plain text posts.

According to the website of the app Stencil, images generate much more attention on social media:

89% More Favorites (Source: Buffer)
150% More Retweets (Source: Buffer)
84% More Clicks (Source: Kiss Metrics)

It’s super easy to create eye-catching images with the hundreds of thousands of free background photos and icons available on Stencil. If that’s not enough for you, you can upload your own images and logos. And Stencil provides dozens of templates along with the ability to simply create your own.

I called Share As Image “my new favorite tool” when I first discovered it. The app has been improved several times since then, culminating in the recent transformation to Stencil.

I actually create my Scripture images for myself. I read ten chapters of the Bible every day (well, almost every day–occasionally I miss my reading), following Professor Horner’s Bible reading plan.

I find I pay closer attention if I discipline myself to look for verses to turn into images for social media. Of course, some of the most important things in the Bible can’t be encapsulated in a few words on an image, so I don’t expect to always select the most meaningful thing I’ve read. But just looking for quotable verses helps me focus.

I love Stencil so much that I signed up as an affiliate. If you follow the links to Stencil in this post, you can try the app for free for fourteen days to decide if you want to buy it.

Memories…

Forty-nine years today, I married the love of my life. We had forty-five years together before God called him home. I still miss him every day, but I cherish the precious memories–so much joy, so much laughter.

Anyone who knew Jack will agree that there was never a dull moment when he was around. Life is much quieter now, but I still smile and laugh at wonderful memories.

In Honor of Those Who Gave All

All gave some—some gave all.

ALMIGHTY God, our heavenly Father, in whose hands are the living and the dead; We give thee thanks for all those thy servants who have laid down their lives in the service of our country. Grant to them thy mercy and the light of thy presence, that the good work which thou hast begun in them may be perfected; through Jesus Christ thy Son our Lord. Amen.

National Military Appreciation Month

May is National Military Appreciation Month. We have a full month to show our appreciation for our military–past and present, but we need to appreciate those who keep us free every day of the year.

Without our brave soldiers, sailors, airmen, and marines risking their lives for us, our country would be vastly different (for the worse)–if it even still existed. It’s easy to forget that. We owe not only our freedom but also our country and possibly our very lives to the brave men and women who have made and who continue to make sacrifices to protect us.

Colonel Allen West posted a very interesting article on military appreciation. It should make us all stop and think and how we appreciate–or not–our military members and veterans.

O LORD God of Hosts, stretch forth, we pray thee, thine almighty arm to strengthen and protect the soldiers, sailors, airmen, and marines of our country. Support them in the day of battle, and in the time of peace keep them safe from all evil; endue them with courage and loyalty; and grant that in all things they may serve without reproach; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Image: © Depositphotos.com/Flamestar

What Are You Reading on National Readathon Day?

May 21st is National Readathon Day. The day celebrates the joy of reading and also raises money for a literacy program.

Reading brings me so much pleasure I want everyone to be able to enjoy it. So I advocate donating to help children and adults learn to read, whether it’s the specific program that is promoted by the Readathon Day organizers or a local program in your hometown.

And I certainly recommend you spend some time reading today. Of course, I read just about every day. I’ve read more than 100 books so far this year; you can see reviews of all of them on Goodreads. Join me today and spend some time with a great book!

Pentecost/Global Day of Prayer

Today is Pentecost, the occasion on which the Holy Spirit came to the disciples like tongues of fire (Acts 2:1-42). Pentecost is called the birthday of the church.

The Global Day of Prayer takes place on Pentecost.

Christians from all over the world, from different cultures and denominations, from many diverse streams will gather in their homes, or where appropriate, assemble in stadiums, public auditoriums and open squares and many will devote portions of their Sunday morning Service to united prayer.

A Prayer for the World

Almighty God – Father, Son and Holy Spirit,

We gather with believers all over the world,

to glorify You as Creator of heaven and earth.

You alone are holy and righteous.

We submit to Your authority.

We praise and adore You alone.

Father, we honour You

Lord Jesus Christ, we honour You

Holy Spirit, we honour You

Our Father in heaven,

Thank You for loving the world so much

that You gave Your only Son, Jesus Christ,

to die on the cross for our sins

so that we could be reconciled to You.

Fill us with your love as we faithfully intercede for the lost,

the hopeless, the helpless and the world.

Thank You Father, for adopting us into Your family.

Lord Jesus Christ,

You died on the cross and

redeemed us to the Father by Your blood.

You are Head of the Church

and Lord of all heaven and earth.

Let Your kingdom be established in every nation of the world

bring transformation among peoples of all tribes and languages

so that righteousness and justice will prevail.

May Your Name be great, from the rising of the sun to its setting.

Jesus Christ, You are Lord of all.

Father of mercy and grace,

We have sinned.

Our world is gripped by the power of sin.

Our hearts are grieved by injustice, hatred and violence.

We are shamed by oppression, racism and bloodshed in our land.

We mourn all loss of life in murder, war and terrorism.

Our homes are broken and our churches are divided by rebellion and pride.

Our lives are polluted by selfishness, greed, idolatry and sexual sin.

God of mercy, forgive our sins.

Pour out Your grace and heal our land.

Spirit of the living God,

Transform Your Church into the image of Jesus Christ.

Release Your power to bring healing to the sick,

freedom to the oppressed and comfort to those who mourn.

Fill us with compassion

for the homeless and the hungry

for orphans, widows and the elderly.

Give us wisdom and insight for our world’s problems

to use the resources of the earth for the well-being of all.

Holy Spirit, guide us and lead us.

Lord Jesus Christ,

You destroyed sin, conquered death and defeated Satan.

Remove the veil of darkness that covers the peoples.

Restrain the evil that promotes violence and death.

Deliver us from demonic oppression.

Break the hold of slavery, tyranny and disease.

Help us to tear down strongholds and ideologies

that resist the knowledge of God.

Almighty God, deliver us from evil.

King of Glory,

Come and finish Your work in our cities, our peoples and our nations.

From all continents and islands we cry:

Lift up your heads, O you gates!

Be lifted up ancient doors

so that the King of glory may come in!

Come fill the earth with the knowledge of Your glory as the waters cover the sea.

The Spirit and the Bride say:

Amen! Come Lord Jesus!

Image: © Depositphotos.com/Molodec

May 12th International Awareness Day

May 12th is International Awareness Day for Chronic Immunological and Neurological Diseases (CIND), including fibromyalgia.

You can find more information about the diseases in this category on the May 12th website. I described my personal experience with one of these diseases–fibromyalgia–in an earlier blog post. I hope you have no personal experience with any of these diseases, but you probably know someone (or several someones) with one or more of these conditions. Now is a good time to learn more about them.

American Stroke Month

May is American Stroke Month. If you aren’t already familiar with stroke, learn the risks (including high blood pressure) and the signs that someone is having a stroke.



F.A.S.T. is an easy way to remember the warning signs of stroke.

F – Face drooping: Ask the person to smile; a lopsided/uneven smile is a sign of stroke.
A – Arm weakness: Ask the person to raise both arms; inability to raise an arm or an arm drifting downward is a sign of stroke.
S – Speech difficulty: Ask the person to repeat a simple sentence; the inability to repeat the sentence or slurred speech is a sign of stroke.
T – Time to call 9-1-1: In case of any of the above symptoms, call 9-1-1 immediately.

I had a severe stroke twenty-four years ago at the hands of a chiropractor. Although I made a remarkable recovery after months of rehabilitation, I still have what the medical profession calls “deficits.”

The chiropractor did not call for help for me. Instead he called my husband and told him I had a bad case of flu, including severe dizziness, and I shouldn’t drive myself home. When my husband came to pick me up, the doctor got on my paralyzed side and hid my paralysis from Jack, delaying treatment. The more time that passes from the onset of stroke to treatment, the more severe the damage.

Several years ago, Jack was sitting in my office talking to me when he started slurring his speech. His smile was crooked, and he had trouble raising his right arm. I immediately called 9-1-1; the paramedics arrived quickly and got him to the hospital within a few minutes. He received prompt medical care for a TIA (transient ischemic attack, also called a “small stroke”) and was released from the hospital the next day with no residual effects. As a result of my recognizing the signs of a stroke and his getting prompt medical attention, we had several more years together before his death.

You can read about my personal stroke experience in the following posts:

National Stroke Awareness Month: My Stroke – the Beginning

National Stroke Awareness Month: My Stroke – The Next Three Days

National Stroke Awareness Month: My Stroke – the Aftermath

Image: © Depositphotos.com/flytosky11

 

Wake Up America! National Day of Prayer

Today is the National Day of Prayer, and the theme is Wake Up America!

What an appropriate theme for today. In a time when good is called evil and evil is called good, in a country where faith is distorted, hated, and ignored, we need to pray. Please join me and countless people from a wide spectrum of beliefs in praying for our country.

National Prayer:

Dear heavenly Father, we come to You today as a humble people desperate for Your supernatural intervention on behalf of our beloved nation. First, we thank You for all the blessings You have bestowed on our land, blessings that have allowed us to bring so much good and benefit to not only our own citizens but also to the rest of the world. The very ideals upon which this country was founded were based on biblical truths, no matter how some try to rewrite history to deny that very fact today.

This is why our hearts are so broken over how You continue to be marginalized and dismissed by both our people and our institutions. We are also saddened by the fact that Your people have contributed greatly to the spiritual apathy that now engulfs us. Our satisfaction in remaining religious without being fully committed to living out the truths of Your Word has caused us to become co-conspirators with the forces of evil that are destroying us as a society.

It is for this reason that we personally and collectively repent of our carnality and recommit ourselves to becoming visible and verbal disciples of Jesus Christ. Enable us, by Your Spirit, to no longer be secret agent Christians but rather to publicly declare and live out Your truth in a spirit of love so that You feel welcome in our country once again.

Thank You for Your promise to hear our prayers when we call to You with hearts of repentance and obedience, which is how we are appealing to You today, Father. On behalf of Your church, we affirm afresh the priority You are to us that You would fill every dimension of our lives as we seek to bring You glory through the advancement of Your kingdom in our personal lives, our family lives, and in the lives of our churches and our government leaders. We confidently invite heaven’s intervention into all the affairs of our nation and we praise You in advance for Your answer.

In Jesus’ name we pray.

Amen.

by Dr. Tony Evans

 

Image: © Depositphotos.com/justinkendra