Shirlee Abbott

Shelter–From or In?

Posted on May 31, 2020 by Shirlee Abbott

Disease and riots, death and destruction–
these are difficult days.

Has God has forgotten us?

Psalm 61:2-4 (NIV)
From the ends of the earth I call to you,
I call as my heart grows faint;
lead me to the rock that is higher than I.
For you have been my refuge,
a strong tower against the foe.
I long to dwell in your tent forever
and take refuge in the shelter of your wings.

Rest assured, God has not forgotten.

Lord, so often I ask You to shelter me from trouble, and I’m disappointed when hard times come my way. But no matter what happens, I know You are my shelter in the storm. I am safe, in Jesus’ name.

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Favored Hands

Posted on May 29, 2020 by Shirlee Abbott

Psalm 90:17 (NIV)
May the favor of the Lord our God rest on us;
establish the work of our hands for us—
yes, establish the work of our hands.

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Working Hands

Posted on May 28, 2020 by Shirlee Abbott

Quiet hands.
Productive hands.
Respected hands.

1 Thessalonians 4:11-12a (NIRV)
And do everything you can to live a quiet life. You should mind your own business. And work with your hands, just as we told you to. Then unbelievers will have respect for your everyday life.

Busy hands. Not a busybody.

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Dirty Hands

Posted on May 27, 2020 by Shirlee Abbott

Psalm 26:10 (VOICE)
These men hold deceit in their left hands,
and in their right hands, bribery and lies.

Handcuffs were made for such as this.

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Clean Hands

Posted on May 26, 2020 by Shirlee Abbott

Psalm 24:3-4a (GW)
Who may go up the Lord’s mountain?
Who may stand in his holy place?
The one who has clean hands and a pure heart.

Good deeds and pure thoughts. Not as simple as it sounds.

Lord, help us!

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The Right Hand

Posted on May 25, 2020 by Shirlee Abbott

Here in the USA, it’s Memorial Day. A day for remembering. Remembering loved ones who left too soon. Remembering those who gave their lives serving their country.

Remembering God. Remembering God’s right hand at work:

- - - in my nation
    - in my community
    - in my church
    - in my family

Thank God for His strong right hand.

Psalm 20:6 (MEV)
Now I know that the Lord saves His anointed;
He will answer him from His holy heaven
with the saving strength of His right hand.

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Shelter from Suicidal Thoughts

Posted on May 24, 2020 by Shirlee Abbott

I’ve heard and read that the number of suicide attempts has gone up during this time of social distancing. Young people, especially, are hit hard by the isolation.

From Psychology Today:

“The rapid increase in depression, self-harm, and suicide since COVID-19 in children and adolescents is alarming and requires our immediate attention . . . we can as parents, educators, and providers, take the initiative to re-empower our children with three vital ingredients: Hope, Creativity, and Fun.”

Hope and creativity–things I get from my faith. In the words of John Squires, Desiring God:

“That said, the only long-lasting cure to such a terrible darkness is the brilliant light of God’s unfailing grace.”

Let’s pray for those who have lost all hope during this self-sheltering season:

Creator God, we lift up the people whose desire to live is slipping away. Pour hope into their empty souls. Shine the brilliant light your grace into their terrible darkness. For those we know, show us how offer a bit of fun, lots of encouragement and a spark of bright hope. For those we don’t know, Lord, use our prayers to shelter them from hopelessness and fear, in Jesus’ name.

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Sweet Scent

Posted on May 22, 2020 by Shirlee Abbott

2 Corinthians 2:14 (ERV)
God uses us to spread his knowledge everywhere like a sweet-smelling perfume.

Truth be told, sometimes I feel more like stinky gym socks. But this isn’t about me. It’s about the knowledge of God. And that, my friends, is better than lilacs in the spring.

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Singing Birds

Posted on May 21, 2020 by Shirlee Abbott

A simple prayer from my childhood:

“Thank you for the world so sweet.
Thank you for the food we eat.
Thank you for the birds that sing.
Thank you, God, for everything.”

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Mighty Wind

Posted on May 20, 2020 by Shirlee Abbott

John 3:7b-8
The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.

Surprise us, God. Send the mighty wind of Your Spirit into every sheltered-at-home corner. Breathe new life into our isolated souls.

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