Mourning’s Morning

Posted on May 7, 2020 by Shirlee Abbott

 

Social distancing bringing you to tears?
Fear not! It won’t last forever.

 

 

Psalm 30:5b (NIV)
Weeping may stay for the night,
but rejoicing comes in the morning.

Embrace hope! Morning is coming.

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Know No

Posted on May 6, 2020 by Shirlee Abbott

 

You plead with God.
God says, “No.”

Is this a problem?

 

Know this. God isn’t trying to punish you. He knows what’s best for you.

Hebrews 4:13 (CEV)
Nothing is hidden from God!

 

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Apathetic or Empathetic

Posted on May 5, 2020 by Shirlee Abbott


Apathetic:
with no interest or concern.

Empathetic:
able to understand and share the feelings.

 

We’ve been practicing social distancing for a while now. Has it made you more empathetic towards folks who routinely live in isolation?

Hebrews 4:15 (NIV)
For we do not have a high priest [Jesus] who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are–yet he did not sin.

No apathy, more empathy–more like Christ.

 

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Multitude and Solitude

Posted on May 4, 2020 by Shirlee Abbott

 

The social distancing continues.
Are you missing the multitude?
Enjoying the solitude?

 

        • I’m delighted with the distancing
        • Too much me, not enough them

Matthew 14:13-14
When Jesus heard what had happened, he withdrew by boat privately to a solitary place. Hearing of this, the crowds followed him on foot from the towns. When Jesus landed and saw a large crowd, he had compassion on them and healed their sick.

Jesus–good in a crowd, good all alone. And you?

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Safe Shelter for the Weary

Posted on May 3, 2020 by Shirlee Abbott

 

Tired of the unending social distancing?
This old hymn speaks to our need:

 

 

“Oh, Jesus is a Rock in a weary land,
A weary land, a weary land;
Oh, Jesus is a Rock in a weary land,
A shelter in the time of storm.”
Vernon J. Charlesworth (1838-1915)

Charlesworth understood “shelter.” He served more than 40 years as the headmaster of Charles Spurgeon’s Stockwell Orphanage near London. It offered fatherless boys safe shelter, food and education in a loving, Christian environment. It was a kinder alternative to the grim workhouses where the poor did hard labor in return for inadequate food and minimal shelter.

Lord God, be our sheltering Rock in this weary time, in Jesus’ name.

 

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Protect Older Folks

Posted on May 1, 2020 by Shirlee Abbott

Leviticus 19:32 (MSG)
Show respect to the aged;
honor the presence of an elder.

Even if you’re not at risk, follow the guidelines. You owe it to your parents and grandparents.

Or perhaps your presence in their lives is the best protection you can offer.

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Keep Your Distance

Posted on April 30, 2020 by Shirlee Abbott

Proverbs 27:12 (GNT)
Sensible people will see trouble coming and avoid it, but an unthinking person will walk right into it and regret it later.

Be sensible, and keep a safe distance. 

 

Think ahead. Might be COVID-19 isn’t the only trouble you should avoid.

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Cover Your Mouth

Posted on April 29, 2020 by Shirlee Abbott

James 3:5 (CEV)
The tongue is . . . an evil power that dirties the rest of the body and sets a person’s entire life on fire.

Your mouth can be the source of nasty germs–germs with power to infect the body and spike a fever.

Might be you need more than a mask to block the bad stuff coming from your mouth.

 

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Wash Your Hands

Posted on April 28, 2020 by Shirlee Abbott

Isaiah 1:16 (MSG)
Go home and wash up.
Clean up your act.
Sweep your lives clean of your evildoings.

Go home, wash your hands, wipe your doorknobs, sanitize your counters. Clean out those germs!

Stop and think. Where have those hands been? What evil have they done? Might be you need more than sanitizer or soap.

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Biblical Precautions

Posted on April 27, 2020 by Shirlee Abbott

 


Are you following pandemic precautions?

 

 

        • I wash my hands
        • I cover my mouth
        • I keep my distance
        • I watch out for my elders

When I was out and about last week–hands washed, mouth covered–some related Bible verses popped into my head. Can you guess which ones? 

See if they match the ones I post later this week.

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