Lillie Ammann's Blog, page 75

Devotion for the Second Day of Christmas

Acts 7:55-60 (NASB)

55 But being full of the Holy Spirit, he gazed intently into heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God; 56 and he said, “Behold, I see the heavens opened up and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.” 57 But they cried out with a loud voice, and covered their ears and rushed at him with one impulse. 58 When they had driven him out of the city, they began stoning him; and the witnesses laid aside their robes at the feet of a young man named Saul. 59 They went on stoning Stephen as he called on the Lord and said, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit!” 60 Then falling on his knees, he cried out with a loud voice, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them!” Having said this, he fell asleep.

We just celebrated Christmas yesterday; we were filled with joy and awe at the birth of Jesus as a tiny babe to save us from our sins. We’re still in the Christmas season, and suddenly we’re remembering the martyrdom of St. Stephen. We may wonder why we aren’t still hearing about angelic music and worshipping shepherds on this second day of Christmas, but perhaps God wants to remind us that serving that babe isn’t all about hearing angels sing and watching shepherds worship. It’s about standing for Him when the world turns against us. We aren’t likely to be stoned to death, but in this world we will face trials and pain. Many won’t share our love of Jesus, our faith in the Lord of Lords and King of Kings. When we face those difficulties, we need to do what Stephen did–look up into Heaven to see Jesus standing at the right hand of God. We need to remember that He is no longer that weak and tiny human being. He is the Lord, and He will come again in judgment. Instead of fearing the pain we face here on earth, let us look to Heaven for our salvation.

Lord, keep us looking upward, focused on You, rather than at the circumstances of life. In the name of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior. Amen.

Image: © Depositphotos.com/kvkirillov

Merry Christmas!

May you be filled with joy at the birth of our Lord!

Hear the angel’s song of peace on earth.

Celebrate the miraculous birth.

Jesus Christ is born! Peace on earth; goodwill to men.

Image: © Depositphotos.com/zatletic

Devotion for Christmas Day

Luke 2:1-20 (NASB)

1 Now in those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus, that a census be taken of all the inhabited earth. 2 This was the first census taken while Quirinius was governor of Syria. 3 And everyone was on his way to register for the census, each to his own city. 4 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, 5 in order to register along with Mary, who was engaged to him, and was with child. 6 While they were there, the days were completed for her to give birth. 7 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. 8 In the same region there were some shepherds staying out in the fields and keeping watch over their flock by night. 9 And an angel of the Lord suddenly stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them; and they were terribly frightened. 10 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; 11 for today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. 12 This will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.” 13 And suddenly there appeared with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying,

14 “Glory to God in the highest,

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

15 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.” 16 So they came in a hurry and found their way to Mary and Joseph, and the baby as He lay in the manger. 17 When they had seen this, they made known the statement which had been told them about this Child. 18 And all who heard it wondered at the things which were told them by the shepherds. 19 But Mary treasured all these things, pondering them in her heart. 20 The shepherds went back, glorifying and praising God for all that they had heard and seen, just as had been told them.

The Christmas story is so familiar that sometimes we forget how amazing it really is—everything God orchestrated to carry out His plan of salvation for mankind from before the Fall. Jesus being born in Bethlehem wasn’t a coincidence resulting from the whim of an earthly ruler who required everyone to register in his ancestral home. God’s prophets told His people that the Messiah would come from Bethlehem, and God arranged history so Mary and Joseph would be in Bethlehem at the time He deemed for the birth of Jesus. The shepherds in the field, the angels in the sky, the animals in the stable were all there by God’s plan. God has been in control since the beginning of time, and He will be in control until the end of time—which He has already planned. Jesus will return at the end of time. Let us be in place and ready when that day arrives.

Lord, You are so amazing. You give us free will, but You know how we will use that freedom. You know that we need a Savior, and You planned for the Messiah from the very beginning. We look forward to His return. May You find us ready and in our places. In the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.

Image: © Depositphotos.com/Klanneke

Devotion for Christmas Eve

Luke 1:67-69 (NASB)

67 And his father Zacharias was filled with the Holy Spirit, and prophesied, saying:

68 “Blessed be the Lord God of Israel,

For He has visited us and accomplished redemption for His people,

69 And has raised up a horn of salvation for us

In the house of David His servant.

Zacharias recognized that God had fulfilled His promises. Zacharias saw the fulfillment of the promises even before God’s plans came to fruition. We can count on God’s promises, even when we can’t see their fulfillment. Jesus promised us that He would come again, and we can trust that He will.

Thank You, Lord, that You prepared our salvation through the life and death of Jesus. May we always love and obey Him. In His name. Amen.

Image: © Depositphotos.com/maystra

Devotion for Wednesday after Advent 4

Colossians 1:15-23 (NASB)

15 He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. 16 For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. 17 And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together. 18 And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent. 19 For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, 20 and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross. 21 And you, who once were alienated and hostile in mind, doing evil deeds, 22 he has now reconciled in his body of flesh by his death, in order to present you holy and blameless and above reproach before him, 23 if indeed you continue in the faith, stable and steadfast, not shifting from the hope of the gospel that you heard, which has been proclaimed in all creation under heaven, and of which I, Paul, became a minister.

Jesus is God—He is the Creator of everything and He holds everything together. Yet He took upon Himself human form and came to earth to reflect the perfection and purity of the Lord. He Himself told us that if we know Him, we know the Father. Indeed Jesus reconciles us to Himself through His own death and resurrection. Not only does are we reconciled to God, but we are made holy and blameless by His righteousness. We can never to be acceptable to a holy God on our own merits, so Jesus paid the penalty for our sins and washed them away with His Blood. No wonder we celebrate His coming to earth!

Thank You, Lord, that Jesus saves us from our sins. Help me to do Your will and worship and love You—Father, Son, and Holy Ghost—above all else. In the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.

Image: © Depositphotos.com/SimpleFoto

Devotion for Tuesday after Advent 4

Luke 2:21-38 (NASB)

21 And when eight days had passed, before His circumcision, His name was then called Jesus, the name given by the angel before He was conceived in the womb. 22 And when the days for their purification according to the law of Moses were completed, they brought Him up to Jerusalem to present Him to the Lord 23 (as it is written in the Law of the Lord, “Every firstborn male that opens the womb shall be called holy to the Lord”), 24 and to offer a sacrifice according to what was said in the Law of the Lord, “A pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons.” 25 And there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon; and this man was righteous and devout, looking for the consolation of Israel; and the Holy Spirit was upon him. 26 And it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord’s Christ. 27 And he came in the Spirit into the temple; and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to carry out for Him the custom of the Law, 28 then he took Him into his arms, and blessed God, and said,

29 “Now Lord, You are releasing Your bond-servant to depart in peace,

According to Your word;

30 For my eyes have seen Your salvation,

31 Which You have prepared in the presence of all peoples,

32 A Light of revelation to the Gentiles,

And the glory of Your people Israel.”

33 And His father and mother were amazed at the things which were being said about Him. 34 And Simeon blessed them and said to Mary His mother, “Behold, this Child is appointed for the fall and rise of many in Israel, and for a sign to be opposed— 35 and a sword will pierce even your own soul—to the end that thoughts from many hearts may be revealed.” 36 And there was a prophetess, Anna the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was advanced in years and had lived with her husband seven years after her marriage, 37 and then as a widow to the age of eighty-four. She never left the temple, serving night and day with fastings and prayers. 38 At that very moment she came up and began giving thanks to God, and continued to speak of Him to all those who were looking for the redemption of Jerusalem.

Mary and Joseph followed the Law of Moses to present Jesus in the Temple. Even though He was King of Kings and Lord of Lords, He grew up following the commandments and laws of God just as all children in devout Jewish families did. Simeon and Anna both recognized Him as the Messiah even at the age of eight days, but still His family followed the Law.

Lord God, thank You for the example of Jesus, who followed Your commandments and Laws from His birth. Help us to follow Your will and live the way You want us to, always looking forward to the day when He will judge both the living and the dead. May we be found righteous because of our faith in Him. In His name we pray. Amen.

Image: © Depositphotos.com/Qingwa

My Gift to You

I wish you a blessed Christmas and offer you my gift of a little inspiration to carry with you.

Download a PDF document that includes ten Scriptures on one side with corresponding prayers from the 1928 Book of Common Prayer on the back. Print on both sides of a sheet of business cards. Separate the cards, and you will have ten cards with a Bible verse on one side and a related prayer on the other side.

The image in this post is an example of a Scripture that is on the front of a card and the prayer that is on the back.

May the Lord bless you with these encouraging and inspiring words!

Devotion for Monday after Advent 4

[image error]Luke 1:39-56 (NASB)

39 Now at this time Mary arose and went in a hurry to the hill country, to a city of Judah, 40 and entered the house of Zacharias and greeted Elizabeth. 41 When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby leaped in her womb; and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. 42 And she cried out with a loud voice and said, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb! 43 And how has it happened to me, that the mother of my Lord would come to me? 44 For behold, when the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby leaped in my womb for joy. 45 And blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfillment of what had been spoken to her by the Lord.”

46 And Mary said:

“My soul exalts the Lord,

47 And my spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior.

48 “For He has had regard for the humble state of His bondslave;

For behold, from this time on all generations will count me blessed.

49 “For the Mighty One has done great things for me;

And holy is His name.

50 “And His mercy is upon generation after generation

Toward those who fear Him.

51 “He has done mighty deeds with His arm;

He has scattered those who were proud in the thoughts of their heart.

52 “He has brought down rulers from their thrones,

And has exalted those who were humble.

53 “He has filled the hungry with good things;

And sent away the rich empty-handed.

54 “He has given help to Israel His servant,

In remembrance of His mercy,

55 As He spoke to our fathers,

To Abraham and his descendants forever.”

56 And Mary stayed with her about three months, and then returned to her home.

The baby Elizabeth carried—who grew up to be John the Baptist—recognized the Messiah in the womb of His mother Mary. The baby in Elizabeth’s womb leaped for joy; the Holy Spirit filled Elizabeth; Mary praised God and rejoiced that she would bear the Savior of the world. Each had a specific role to play, and each did exactly what they were called to do. Each of us has a specific role to play in God’s Kingdom. Do we respond to God’s call with joy and obedience like Mary, Elizabeth, and even the unborn baby John did?

Heavenly Father, thank You that each of us has an important job to do in Your Kingdom. We are not likely to be called to something of the magnitude of giving birth to the Savior of the world, but make us joyful and obedient to do whatever You call us to do. In the name of Jesus. Amen.

Image: © Depositphotos.com/natis76

Devotion for the Fourth Sunday in Advent

Matthew 2:1-2 (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.”

The magi came from the east, from a foreign land. Their arrival is the first sign that the Messiah came to the whole world, not just to God’s chosen people, the Jews. The angels had announced the birth of Jesus to lowly shepherds in the fields outside Bethlehem—Jews, but those at the lowliest level of society, not royalty or religious leaders. Now God used the star to announce the birth of the Messiah to non-Jews. God is the God of all people. Jesus is the Savior of the world—people of all nations, all levels of society. That is good news for all of us. We don’t have to be a certain ethnicity; we don’t have to have money, prestige, or power. All that is required is that we give our hearts and lives to Him. As we look forward to His return, we thank God that we are welcome at the wedding feast of the King.

Thank You, Lord, that You love each of us and welcome us to spend eternity with You. We give our lives and hearts to You, repenting of our sins and asking You to guide our steps. In the name of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Ghost, now and ever, world without end. Amen.

Devotion for Saturday after Advent 3

woman hands on bible. she is reading and praying over bible in a dark space over wooden table

Luke 1:26-38 (NASB)

26 Now in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city in Galilee called Nazareth, 27 to a virgin engaged to a man whose name was Joseph, of the descendants of David; and the virgin’s name was Mary. 28 And coming in, he said to her, “Greetings, favored one! The Lord is with you.” 29 But she was very perplexed at this statement, and kept pondering what kind of salutation this was. 30 The angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary; for you have found favor with God. 31 And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall name Him Jesus. 32 He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David; 33 and He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and His kingdom will have no end.” 34 Mary said to the angel, “How can this be, since I am a virgin?” 35 The angel answered and said to her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; and for that reason the holy Child shall be called the Son of God. 36 And behold, even your relative Elizabeth has also conceived a son in her old age; and she who was called barren is now in her sixth month. 37 For nothing will be impossible with God.” 38 And Mary said, “Behold, the bondslave of the Lord; may it be done to me according to your word.” And the angel departed from her.

From the perspective of two millennia, we accept the virgin birth as historical truth. Imagine, however, what it was like for a young virgin in Israel to be told she was pregnant—and that the baby she bore would be the Son of God! It sounds crazy, impossible, unbelievable, too fantastic for words. Yet Mary never questioned God, never argued with Him, never shied away from Her God-ordained future. She accepted God’s will, as preposterous as it sounded. Yet often we don’t listen when He tells us to do things that are much easier, much more believable, much less fantastic. May we be more like Mary.

Lord, give us hearts and minds like Mary—willing to believe the unbelievable and do God’s will regardless of how difficult. Open the ears of our hearts to hear You voice and strengthen our wills to do Your will. In the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.

Image: © Depositphotos.com/4masik