Lillie Ammann's Blog, page 73
January 27, 2016
National School Choice Week
January 24-30 is National School Choice Week.
Not all kids learn in the same way or perform well in the same environment. Parents should have the choice of whether to send their kids to a public school, charter or magnet school, private school, or homeschool.
January 22, 2016
43 Years…57 Million Dead Babies
Since the Supreme Court legalized abortion in 1973, 57 million babies have been killed in the womb. No one but God knows which of those babies might have found a cure for cancer, become the greatest president in the history of our country, or saved the country from destruction as a military hero. No one but God knows who would have become a drug addict, a criminal, or a self-centered fool.
But regardless of IQ, health/physical ability, ethnicity/race, gender, or success/failure, each one of those lives had value simply he or she was created by God in His own image.
In deciding who to support for president or other political office, my first criteria is that the office-seeker first and foremost be pro-life. Even if the particular office the candidate is running for doesn’t have any involvement in decisions about the availability and funding of abortion, I want to know their position on the sanctity of life. Just as I wouldn’t vote for an advocate of slavery in the nineteenth century, I won’t vote for an advocate of abortion today.
Someone who supports abortion doesn’t support the rights of all people, and the right they want to take away is not freedom to peacefully assemble or to due process of law. They want to take the most basic of all rights: the right to life.
I’ve often written on the subjects of abortion, the right to life, and the sanctity of life because I am passionate about ending abortion and bringing a day when every child is safe from murder in the womb. The article, “When Abortion Suddenly Stopped Making Sense,” and the video below are worth reading.
O Lord Jesus Christ, who dost embrace children with the arms of thy mercy, and dost make them living members of thy Church; protect unborn children from being murdered in the womb; turn the hearts of lawmakers and people to end the evil abomination of abortion; and allow every child created by thee to fulfill thy plan for their life; through thy merits, O merciful Saviour, who with the Father and the Holy Ghost livest and reignest one God, world without end. Amen. (adapted from the 1928 Book of Common Prayer)
January 18, 2016
Martin Luther King’s Last Speech
This video shows the ending of the last speech Dr. King gave the day before his assassination.
January 17, 2016
Sanctity of Life Sunday
Today is Sanctity of Life Sunday.
I hate Sanctity of Human Life Sunday because I’m reminded that we have to say things to one another that human beings shouldn’t have to say. Mothers shouldn’t kill their children. Fathers shouldn’t abandon their babies. No human life is worthless, regardless of skin color, age, disability, economic status. The very fact that these things must be proclaimed is a reminder of the horrors of this present darkness.
But we are in that present darkness where mothers kill babies and sometimes people even seek the assistance of physicians to commit suicide. Therefore we observe Sanctity of Life Sunday to remind us that people are created in the image of God and therefore, as GotQuestions says:
…human life has an inherently sacred attribute that should be protected and respected at all times.
Although that image has indeed been marred by sin, His image is still present in humanity. We are like God, and that likeness means that human life is always to be treated with dignity and respect.
From conception to natural death, life must be protected and nurtured. All life is precious–whether a baby in the womb; a sick, elderly man; a disabled teen; a healthy adult; or (fill-in-blank). The same God created us all and loves us all.
Lord God, we ask Your protection for all Your children who are at risk. Save the unborn from abortion, the sick from neglect, the disabled from the euthanasia/assisted suicide. Open our eyes to see the sanctity and beauty in every life You have created. In the name of Jesus. Amen.
Image: © Depositphotos.com/monkeybusiness
January 16, 2016
Religious Freedom Day
January 16th is Religious Freedom Day to educate people about the religious freedom we are guaranteed under the First Amendment of the Constitution.
Today that freedom is at risk in the name of political correctness. We must defend our right to worship and live as we choose–whether we are Christian, Jew, Muslim, Hindu, pagan, agnostic, atheist, or any of the multitude of other religions in the world.
Lord, we thank You that our Constitution guarantees us the right to freedom of religion. We ask for protection of this right from the people who would force Christians to tolerate things that go against Your righteous Word. When we are faced with persecution for adhering to our beliefs, give us the strength, endurance, and courage to withstand. Guide us by Your Holy Spirit to worship You and live in a manner pleasing to You. Let us show Your love to all while standing firm in the truth. Give us the words to say when we encounter hostility or derision, and make us faithful witnesses. In the name of Jesus.
January 12, 2016
5 Ways To Keep Writing When You Feel Like Giving Up: Guest Post from Torri Myler
In the life of every writer, there will come those times when giving up and abandoning a project begins to feel like an attractive option.
But, of course, if you are writing for someone else—as in the case of freelance writers or authors with contracts—quitting may not be an option. Even if you never intend to show anyone your writing, you still want to cultivate the habit of finishing what you start.
If you look at your writing the way a body builder looks at weight lifting, then you’ll see that the true benefits from writing come over the long-term. Just as a body builder doesn’t expect to work out once or twice and have the physique he desires, a writer can’t expect to write a little here and there and build a body of work that is substantial.
So, if consistency and persistence are the keys to determining your success as a writer, how can you develop the habit of going on during those times when all you want to do is quit?
1. Set smaller goals
Sometimes the thought of completing an entire novel or writing a long paper can be overwhelming. The overwhelm can cause us to procrastinate and put off getting started.
The key to overcoming this hurdle can lie in breaking the larger project down into smaller milestones. Identify each small part of your project and mark your progress as you move through them. In this way, you are continuously experiencing small wins. Each success that you rack up gives you the momentum to carry on to the next and the next.
2. Keep track of your wins
If you track your success on a spreadsheet or a calendar, you may find yourself motivated to go on simply by watching your progress grow. Comedian Jerry Seinfeld has a simple version of this that he calls “Don’t break the chain.”
In this method, he prints an entire calendar on a single sheet of paper and for every day that he writes, he draws a bright red line through that day’s date. He swears by the motivation that he gains from seeing the red marks on the calendar grow.
3. Focus on your Why
If we don’t occasionally reconnect with our purpose for doing something, it can lead to a loss of focus and a lack of inspiration. Taking the time to remember why you wanted to write a particular project in the first place can be energizing.
For example, if you originally set out to write a nonfiction book aimed at helping people lose weight and keep it off, then taking a moment to remember the pain that you felt during your own weight loss struggle and how much it would mean to you if you could save someone else from having to experience that pain could be the motivation you need to go on.
4. Use small commitments to get started
If the thought of tackling a 20,000-word novella is keeping you from even getting started, you can use this simple mind trick to get yourself moving. The great thing about it is that it works in even the direst circumstances.
The trick is to commit to writing the smallest amount possible. Maybe that’s 150 words. Or two paragraphs. It really doesn’t have to be much at all. The idea is to just get yourself over the hurdle of starting. If you promise yourself that you can stop writing after you’ve reached your goal, you can almost feel the dread leaving your body as acceptance sets in.
Most of the time, you’ll reach your goal and feel good enough to keep going. But if you don’t, don’t force it. Take a break, then come back and commit to another 100 words. Or another paragraph. You can go on this way for as long as it takes. Eventually, you will want to keep going.
5. Let go of perfectionism
If the work that you see on the page doesn’t measure up to the vision you had in your mind of what the work would look like, that can be disheartening and make you want to give up. Don’t. Just remember that the most beautiful prose, the most helpful nonfiction, the most lyrical poetry… was not born that way.
Every piece of great writing has had to go through numerous drafts to get to the point where it is ready to be shared with the world. Many novelists boast about writing the most terrible first drafts that they can possibly come up with—because they know that writing is re-writing and that the real rewarding work can’t begin until you get those words down on the page, however awful they may seem to you.
Author’s Bio: Torri Myler is part of the team at http://www.bankopening.co.uk/ – a UK banks opening and closing times directory. She combines her experience in copywriting with her passion for words.
Image: © Depositphotos.com/nupix
5 Ways To Keep Writing When You Feel Like Giving Up
In the life of every writer, there will come those times when giving up and abandoning a project begins to feel like an attractive option.
But, of course, if you are writing for someone else—as in the case of freelance writers or authors with contracts—quitting may not be an option. Even if you never intend to show anyone your writing, you still want to cultivate the habit of finishing what you start.
If you look at your writing the way a body builder looks at weight lifting, then you’ll see that the true benefits from writing come over the long-term. Just as a body builder doesn’t expect to work out once or twice and have the physique he desires, a writer can’t expect to write a little here and there and build a body of work that is substantial.
So, if consistency and persistence are the keys to determining your success as a writer, how can you develop the habit of going on during those times when all you want to do is quit?
1. Set smaller goals
Sometimes the thought of completing an entire novel or writing a long paper can be overwhelming. The overwhelm can cause us to procrastinate and put off getting started.
The key to overcoming this hurdle can lie in breaking the larger project down into smaller milestones. Identify each small part of your project and mark your progress as you move through them. In this way, you are continuously experiencing small wins. Each success that you rack up gives you the momentum to carry on to the next and the next.
2. Keep track of your wins
If you track your success on a spreadsheet or a calendar, you may find yourself motivated to go on simply by watching your progress grow. Comedian Jerry Seinfeld has a simple version of this that he calls “Don’t break the chain.”
In this method, he prints an entire calendar on a single sheet of paper and for every day that he writes, he draws a bright red line through that day’s date. He swears by the motivation that he gains from seeing the red marks on the calendar grow.
3. Focus on your Why
If we don’t occasionally reconnect with our purpose for doing something, it can lead to a loss of focus and a lack of inspiration. Taking the time to remember why you wanted to write a particular project in the first place can be energizing.
For example, if you originally set out to write a nonfiction book aimed at helping people lose weight and keep it off, then taking a moment to remember the pain that you felt during your own weight loss struggle and how much it would mean to you if you could save someone else from having to experience that pain could be the motivation you need to go on.
4. Use small commitments to get started
If the thought of tackling a 20,000-word novella is keeping you from even getting started, you can use this simple mind trick to get yourself moving. The great thing about it is that it works in even the direst circumstances.
The trick is to commit to writing the smallest amount possible. Maybe that’s 150 words. Or two paragraphs. It really doesn’t have to be much at all. The idea is to just get yourself over the hurdle of starting. If you promise yourself that you can stop writing after you’ve reached your goal, you can almost feel the dread leaving your body as acceptance sets in.
Most of the time, you’ll reach your goal and feel good enough to keep going. But if you don’t, don’t force it. Take a break, then come back and commit to another 100 words. Or another paragraph. You can go on this way for as long as it takes. Eventually, you will want to keep going.
5. Let go of perfectionism
If the work that you see on the page doesn’t measure up to the vision you had in your mind of what the work would look like, that can be disheartening and make you want to give up. Don’t. Just remember that the most beautiful prose, the most helpful nonfiction, the most lyrical poetry… was not born that way.
Every piece of great writing has had to go through numerous drafts to get to the point where it is ready to be shared with the world. Many novelists boast about writing the most terrible first drafts that they can possibly come up with—because they know that writing is re-writing and that the real rewarding work can’t begin until you get those words down on the page, however awful they may seem to you.
Author’s Bio: Torri Myler is part of the team at http://www.bankopening.co.uk/ – a UK banks opening and closing times directory. She combines her experience in copywriting with her passion for words.
Image: © Depositphotos.com/nupix
January 10, 2016
Human Trafficking Awareness Day
According to Free the Slaves, 21 to 36 million people are enslaved around the world, 22% of them sex slaves. Trafficking doesn’t just happen in Thailand or India–it happens right here in the United States, and it happens to helpless children and vulnerable women. It’s hard to get a handle on exactly how many sex slaves there are in this country because it’s a hidden crime, but it’s estimated to be in the hundreds of thousands.
January 11th is Human Trafficking Awareness Day.
Here are a few places to learn more and to get involved to bring an end to modern-day slavery:
Alliance to End Slavery and Trafficking
Love146
National Human Trafficking Human Resource Center
The Polaris Project
Shared Hope
Heavenly Father, every single one of these millions of victims is precious in Your sight. You want Your children safe and free. Give us the wisdom and strength to bring an end to human trafficking. Bind up the wounds of those who have suffered or who are currently suffering and heal their broken hearts. Give them Your peace that passes understanding, and give us understanding and compassion for them. Convict the hearts of the traffickers and the customers that use the victims. In the name of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior. Amen.
January 8, 2016
Law Enforcement Appreciation Day
My late husband was a Master Peace Officer in the State of Texas. Although most of his time in law enforcement was volunteer work, he achieved the highest level of certification for peace officers. I have always appreciated law enforcement officers, but after his experiences showed me more about the work and the fine men and women who do it, my appreciation grew.
We hear about the occasional police officer who uses poor judgment or who actually does wrong, but we don’t often hear about the vast majority of officers who do far more to protect and serve than most of us ever realize. From comforting an accident victim to sharing a meal with a homeless man to helping an elderly couple walk home safely, law enforcement personnel perform acts of kindness in addition to facing danger and making personal sacrifices on a daily basis.
Today, on Law Enforcement Appreciation Day, I say “thank you” to the people who risk their lives every day to keep us safe and to bring criminals to justice.
January 5, 2016
Devotion for The Epiphany of Our Lord
Matthew 2:1-12 (NASB)
1 Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, magi from the east arrived in Jerusalem, saying, 2 “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.” 3 When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him. 4 Gathering together all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Messiah was to be born. 5 They said to him, “In Bethlehem of Judea; for this is what has been written by the prophet:
6 ‘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.’”
7 Then Herod secretly called the magi and determined from them the exact time the star appeared. 8 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.” 9 After hearing the king, they went their way; and the star, which they had seen in the east, went on before them until it came and stood over the place where the Child was. 10 When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy. 11 After coming into the house they saw the Child with Mary His mother; and they fell to the ground and worshiped Him. Then, opening their treasures, they presented to Him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. 12 And having been warned by God in a dream not to return to Herod, the magi left for their own country by another way.
We often think of the magi as three kings from the Orient. However, we don’t know how many there were—only that there was more than one, and we don’t exactly where they came from—other than “from the east.” The magi were wise men, not royalty, and the most significant thing about them is that they were not Jews. God revealed the birth of the Messiah to foreigners, leading them to the Holy Child by a star. We observe the visit of the Wise Men at the end of the Twelve Days of Christmas, on the Epiphany of Our Lord. Epiphany means “manifestation”—when God manifested the Messiah to the Gentiles. We don’t have to be born Jews to be part of God’s chosen people. His Kingdom includes Jews and Gentiles, rich and poor, master and slave, men and women—everyone who accepts the gift of salvation offered through the baby the magi worshiped who grew up and died for our sins.
Thank You, Lord, that You have opened Your Kingdom to everyone who loves and worships You. We praise You for Your mercy, grace, and love. We worship You and glorify You. In the name of Jesus. Amen.
Image: © Depositphotos.com/jamesgroup
