In Remembrance of Mercy

Posted on May 27, 2019 by Shirlee Abbott

“O beautiful for heroes proved
in liberating strife,
who more than self their country loved,
and mercy more than life!”
Katharine Lee Bates (1893)

 

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Sheltered Sadness

Posted on May 26, 2019 by Shirlee Abbott

 

Matthew 5:4
Blessed are those who mourn.

 

 

This Memorial Day weekend, our hearts hurt for those who mourn. 

Their loss–recent or long passed, family or friend, life or limb–leaves a broken place in their souls. 

Lord God, hold those who mourn safely in the palm of Your hand. Cover them with Your perfect peace. Bless their souls.

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Lord, Teach Me to Thank You

Posted on May 23, 2019 by Shirlee Abbott

 

 

My Father, who art in heaven,
Thank you for calling me by name.

 

Thank you for your coming kingdom.
Thank you for working your will in my life
here on earth as you do in heaven.
Thank you for my daily bread.
Thank you for forgiving my trespasses
(and for granting me grace to forgive others).
Thank you for leading me away from temptation
and delivering me from evil.

 

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Count Your Thank-You’s

Posted on May 23, 2019 by Shirlee Abbott

 

“Count your blessings,
name them one by one;
Count your many blessings,
see what God hath done.”
Johnson Oatman, 1897

 

Do my thank-you’s = my blessings? Might be I owe God some thank-you’s.

 

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Simple Thanks

Posted on May 22, 2019 by Shirlee Abbott

The golden rule of gratitude:

 

Be thankful to others
as you would have them
be thankful to you.

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Thanks & Circumstance

Posted on May 21, 2019 by Shirlee Abbott

 

1 Thessalonians 5:18 (NIV)
Give thanks in all circumstances;
for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.

 

“This is God’s will for you.” God’s will in my circumstances, or God’s will in my thankfulness?

Both! The circumstances aren’t a surprise to God, and a thankful attitude shouldn’t come as a shock.

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A Thankful Thought

Posted on May 20, 2019 by Shirlee Abbott

 

 

Are you thankful?

 

  • For the good stuff, yes
  • Sometimes I get in a snit and hate everything

1 Thessalonians 5:18 (NASB)
In everything give thanks.

“In everything.” All the time. Good and bad.

God sets a high bar. 

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At Risk in Iran

Posted on May 19, 2019 by Shirlee Abbott

 

Iran is in the news. Folks are afraid they’ll use nuclear weapons to bully the rest of the world. Right now, the Iranian authorities bully their own Christian citizens.

 

According to Open Doors, an organization supporting persecuted believers in more than 60 countries:

“Christians in Iran are forbidden from sharing their faith with non-Christians. Consequently, church services in Persian (Iran’s national language) are not allowed . . . Leaders of groups of Christian converts have been arrested, prosecuted and have received long prison sentences for ‘crimes against the national security.'”

Lord, we pray for your faithful followers in Iran, those who hide in their homes, those who worship in prison cells and those who risk so much to share the gospel. Shelter them with your love, strengthen them with your power, protect them with your Spirit. Grow your kingdom in the midst of persecution.

 

 

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We’ve a Story to Tell

Posted on May 17, 2019 by Shirlee Abbott

 

“We’ve a story to tell to the nations,
that shall turn their hearts to the right.”
H. Ernest Nichol, 1896

 

Mark 16:15 (NIV)
Go into all the world and
preach the gospel to all creation.

Tell the story–with your words, your actions, your prayers and your love.

 

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Tell Me the Story

Posted on May 16, 2019 by Shirlee Abbott

“Tell me the story of Jesus,
Write on my heart every word.”
Fannie Crosby, 1880

 

 

Lord Jesus, write your story on my heart.
Tell me, teach me, so I can tell others.

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