Perfect Harmony

Posted on December 19, 2018 by Shirlee Abbott

 

Acts 4:32 (NASB)
And the congregation of those who believed were of one heart and soul.

 

“Of one heart and soul.” Beautiful music to God’s ears!

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God’s Good Harmony

Posted on December 18, 2018 by Shirlee Abbott

 

Paul added this note towards the end of his letter:

 

 

Philippians 4:2 (NASB)
I urge Euodia and I urge Syntyche to live in harmony in the Lord.

I wonder about the relationship between Euodia and Syntyche? Were they friends on a tangent together? Did they constantly pick at each other? Did they giggle and pass notes during worship? Or invoke the silent treatment and stare? 

Paul didn’t tell them to get along with each other. He told them to live God’s way. Nuff said.

 

 

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The Sweet Sound of Harmony

Posted on December 17, 2018 by Shirlee Abbott

Christmas music—what do you like most?

  • Words of joy, peace and love
  • Familiar melodies
  • Angelic harmony

We are called to live in harmony.

 

1 Peter 3:8 (NET)
Finally, all of you be harmonious, sympathetic, affectionate, compassionate, and humble.

 

In harmony, not in unison. Our differences should blend together like fine music.

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A Safe Christmas for Afghan Christians

Posted on December 16, 2018 by Shirlee Abbott

 

“The government’s position (as well as that of the average Afghan) is that Afghans cannot be Christian.”

 

According to Open Doors, Afghanistan is #2 on the World Watch list for religious persecution (North Korea is #1). Anyone converting from Islam to Christianity is considered insane and can be committed to a psychiatric facility. Loss of property and livelihood is common, as are beatings and even death. There are no public Christian churches in Afghanistan.

Lord, shelter those secluded believers with your presence. May they sense our prayers on their behalf this Advent season and know they are part of a larger family of God.

 

 

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Loyal Brothers and Sisters

Posted on December 14, 2018 by Shirlee Abbott

 

Joshua 22:3 (CEV)
And you have done everything I’ve told you to do. It’s taken a long time, but you have stayed and helped your relatives.

 

Don’t give up on your spiritual brothers and sisters. Keep the faith!

 

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A Good Citizen

Posted on December 13, 2018 by Shirlee Abbott

 

Ephesians 2:19 (CEV)
You are citizens with everyone else
who belongs to the family of God.

 

Lord God, I want to be a good citizen, for your sake.

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What God Doesn’t Want

Posted on December 12, 2018 by Shirlee Abbott

Proverbs 6:16-19 (TLB)
For there are six things the Lord hates—no, seven: haughtiness, lying, murdering, plotting evil, eagerness to do wrong, a false witness, sowing discord among brothers.

“Sowing discord.” If God hates it, shouldn’t I?

 

 

 

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Good Question

Posted on December 11, 2018 by Shirlee Abbott

 

Malachi 2:10 (MSG)
Don’t we all come from one Father?
Aren’t we all created by the same God?
So why can’t we get along?

 

Why, indeed?

 

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Let There Be Peace

Posted on December 10, 2018 by Shirlee Abbott

 

 

The Christmas season can be stressful. People get on your nerves. How do you respond?

 

  • “Get out of my space!”
  • I paste on a fake smile
  • I have a long talk with God

We have an enemy who is anxious to keep things in an uproar.

“Satan always hates Christian fellowship; it is his policy to keep Christians apart. Anything which can divide saints from one another he delights in … Since union is strength, he does his best to promote separation.”
Charles Haddon Spurgeon (1834 – 1892)

Keep the peace, and cut the enemy out of the Christmas conversation.

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Safety in Anger

Posted on December 8, 2018 by Shirlee Abbott

Yellow-vested protesters take to the streets in France. They’re angry.

“Many protesters say their purchasing power has dwindled so much over the years that today they have trouble making ends meet … costs have risen and pay has not.”

God says,

Ephesians 4:26 (ESV)
Be angry and do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger.

Lord, shelter these frustrated folks from their own anger. Shelter those around them from the fallout of this anger. Teach all of us how to be angry without being consumed by our anger.

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