Who’s Your Hero?

Posted on July 12, 2018 by Shirlee Abbott

 

It’s simple:

Jesus is my hero.

 

Who is yours?

 

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Be a Hero

Posted on July 11, 2018 by Shirlee Abbott

 

Hebrews 11 gives us a list of heroes: Abel, Enoch, Noah, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, Moses (and his parents), Gideon, Barak, Samson and Jephthah, David and Samuel.

 

Hebrews 11:16 (NIV)
God is not ashamed to be called their God.

Be like one of these heroes. Go forth and do God proud.

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The Fixer-Uppers

Posted on July 10, 2018 by Shirlee Abbott


 

I see a bit of me in Jehoiada. I’ve been cleaning and painting at church, fixing it up.

 

We find Jehoiada the fixer-upper in 2 Chronicles 24. He’d helped rescue young Joash from the wicked Athaliah and set him in his rightful place as king. He taught Joash to obey God.

Joash said, “Let’s get the temple cleaned up.” And not much happened. Finally, Joash fussed to Jehoiada, “What are you waiting for?”

I’d been thinking, “Somebody should fix up this space.” Finally, God said,

What are you waiting for?

Jehoiada and me, reluctant fixer-uppers.

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Bible Character

Posted on July 9, 2018 by Shirlee Abbott

 

 

Does someone in the Bible remind you of you?

 

  • Jacob (the deceiver)
  • David (the poet)
  • Peter (the bigmouth)
  • Jehoiada (the fixer-upper)

Jehoiada? Not a name to top most lists. He reminds me of me–I’ll tell why tomorrow.

Back to you and your Bible character. Is the likeness all about strengths? Or is it that you share the same weaknesses, temptations and failures? Take heart! God worked through some questionable characters, and he can work through you.

 

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Safe Cities

Posted on July 7, 2018 by Shirlee Abbott

There are big problems in our big cities: homelessness, gangs, crime, addiction, dysfunctional schools, poverty.

Inner-city churches need our help. If you’re close by, volunteer. No matter where you are, pray.

 

Lord, shelter your houses of worship in our cities. Empower them
— to do great work with little money,
— to teach people to read and to read your Word,
— to proclaim your love to the sinners round about them, 
— to seek  justice, love mercy and walk humbly with you (Micah 6:8).

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Simply Pray

Posted on July 5, 2018 by Shirlee Abbott

 

God,
bless America.

 

 

(for my readers outside the US: God bless the land that you love)

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Free and Brave

Posted on July 5, 2018 by Shirlee Abbott

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Thank You for our Present

Posted on July 4, 2018 by Shirlee Abbott

 

“America! America!
God shed His grace on thee.”
Katharine Lee Bates, 1913
America the Beautiful

 

Today would be a good day to praise God for his gift of grace.

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Look to God from Both Sides

Posted on July 3, 2018 by Shirlee Abbott

A friend recently told me that most political arguments come because one side is all about love and the other all about justice. Which side are you on?

God is all about both.

 

Hosea 12:6 (ESV)
So you, by the help of your God, return, hold fast to love and justice, and wait continually for your God.

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Happy Birthday to US

Posted on July 1, 2018 by Shirlee Abbott

 

 

The US of A is getting older.
Are we aging graciously?

 

  • Going downhill fast
  • Somethings are improving
  • No place better

Better? In our eyes, or in God’s eyes?
In the end, God’s opinion is the only one that matters.

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