Next Up: Sheltering Vulnerable Children

Posted on April 25, 2020 by Shirlee Abbott

 


We’re anxious to get things back to normal.  For some kids, normal is forever gone.

This from Andrew Morley, President and CEO of World Vision International:

 

“We are wrong if we think this is not a children’s disease. Experience tells us that when epidemics overwhelm health systems, the impact on children is deadly. They are the most vulnerable as other diseases and malnutrition go untreated. COVID-19 has become a devastating pandemic, but the secondary impacts will likely be a lot worse for children in fragile contexts. We are called to act now.”

Show us, Lord, how to shelter our world’s most vulnerable children from the pandemic’s fallout. Don’t let us think our work is over. Open our eyes, open our hearts, in Jesus’ name.

 

 

Share
Posted in other | Tagged , | Comments Off on Next Up: Sheltering Vulnerable Children

Lost and Found

Posted on April 24, 2020 by Shirlee Abbott

 

“Lost time is never found again.”
John Hill Aughey (1828-1911)

 

 

Don’t lose time during this time of social distancing. Find good ways to put it to use.

Share
Posted in other | Tagged , , | Comments Off on Lost and Found

Now and Then

Posted on April 24, 2020 by Shirlee Abbott

In the words of Paul:

1 Corinthians 13:11 (NIV)
When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put the ways of childhood behind me.

Most of us are working our way through a new season–social distancing and self-isolation. What’s your state of mind–childlike or more mature?

This is now. Childhood was then. Is there anything you need to put behind you?

Share
Posted in other | Tagged , | Comments Off on Now and Then

Short and Simple

Posted on April 23, 2020 by Shirlee Abbott

 

Let me take a minute to remind you why I keep things short and simple. Lot’s of folks don’t like to read. It shouldn’t cut them off from Bible truths.

 

Think about Jesus:

Let your light shine.
Turn the other cheek.
Go the second mile.
(from Matthew 6)

Jesus–the Master of short and simple.

Share
Posted in other | Tagged , , , | 2 Comments

Here and There

Posted on April 21, 2020 by Shirlee Abbott


I confess, O God, that’s it’s tempting to dwell on the things I miss. I fondly remember all the best and skip right over the things I used to whine over. I’m a lot like the ancient Israelites:

 

Numbers 14:3b (NIV)
Wouldn’t it be better for us to go back to Egypt?

Lord, teach me to do my best in the here-and-now. Forgive my whining about then-and-there. Teach me to be content with my when and where.

Share
Posted in other | Tagged , | Comments Off on Here and There

Near and Far

Posted on April 20, 2020 by Shirlee Abbott

 


Social distancing continues.
How are you feeling?

 

        • Far from friends
        • Close to those nearest and dearest

Last week brought me calls with old friends from three earlier eras of my life. It was good to reconnect. We picked up right where prior conversations left off.

Proverbs 17:17a (NIV)
A friend loves at all times.

And over all distances.

Share
Posted in other | Tagged , , | Comments Off on Near and Far

China’s Unsheltered Zoom

Posted on April 19, 2020 by Shirlee Abbott

 

Like many Americans, some Chinese Christians worshiped via Zoom on Easter Sunday. Unlike the Americans, they were rudely interrupted.

From the Christian Post:

“Several members of China’s heavily persecuted Early Rain Covenant Church were arrested by communist authorities for participating in an online Easter worship service on Zoom and ordered to cease all religious activity.”

Eyes looking to China now are focused on the coronavirus. Apparently, social distancing doesn’t stop the authorities there from disrupting worship. Remember to pray for more than the virus.

Lord, watch over our Chinese brothers and sisters. Protect them not only from disease, but also from those who want to stamp out Christianity. Be their shelter and their strength, in Jesus’ name.

 

 

Share
Posted in other | Tagged , , | Comments Off on China’s Unsheltered Zoom

A Walking Worldview

Posted on April 17, 2020 by Shirlee Abbott

 

 

Psalm 119:37 (CEV)
Take away my foolish desires,
and let me find life
by walking with you.

 

Lord, teach me to walk with You, hearing with Your ears and seeing with Your eyes. Let me view my world from Your perspective, in Jesus’ name.

Share
Posted in other | Tagged , | Comments Off on A Walking Worldview

Worldview Q&A

Posted on April 16, 2020 by Shirlee Abbott

 

From the Westminster Shorter Catechism:
(written 1646-1647)

 

 

“Q. 1. What is the chief end of man?
  A. Man’s chief end is to glorify God, and to enjoy him for ever.”

That sums it up.

 

Share
Posted in other | Tagged , | Comments Off on Worldview Q&A

A Simple Worldview

Posted on April 15, 2020 by Shirlee Abbott

 

A biblical worldview–short and simple:

 

 

The beginning . . .

Genesis 1:1 (NIV)
In the beginning God created
the heavens and the earth.

And the end:

Revelation 22:20b-21
Amen. Come, Lord Jesus.
The grace of the Lord Jesus
be with God’s people. Amen.

Share
Posted in other | Tagged , , , , | Comments Off on A Simple Worldview