The Spirit Has Landed

Posted on May 21, 2018 by Shirlee Abbott

Genesis 1:1 (NIV)
. . . the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters.

 

Hovering? What does that mean?

  • The Spirit was somewhere “out there”
  • Watchfully waiting
  • Restrained power

 

Acts 2:1-2
When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting.

The Spirit didn’t tiptoe it’s way in. It didn’t settle gently through the cracks. It blew in like a hurricane. The power of creation, re-creating.

 

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Safe Schools

Posted on May 19, 2018 by Shirlee Abbott

Something’s broken in our schools. Something we won’t fix with fewer guns or more metal detectors. Too many young men think that destruction will transform their pain into fame. They’ve lost sight of the image of God–in themselves and in others.

Their souls are broken.

It’s a spiritual issue, and it has to be fixed at a spiritual level.

Lord, give us eyes to see these broken souls. Break our hearts on their behalf. Show us how to love them, how to pray for them, how to speak life and light into the darkness of their souls.

 

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Sometimes Blessed

Posted on May 18, 2018 by Shirlee Abbott

Psalm 1:1-2 (ESV)
Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers; but his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law he meditates day and night.

 

“Day and night.” For most of us, now and then would be closer to the truth. Which might explain why we feel blessed now and then instead of all the time.

 

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Blessed Peace

Posted on May 17, 2018 by Shirlee Abbott

Matthew 5:9 (NIV)
Blessed are the peacemakers,
for they will be called children of God.

 

Me:    Lord God, how do I go about making peace? 
           By example? By words of encouragement? 
           By being first to drop the argument?
           By praying?

God:  Yes.

 

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Bless Those Who Call You Names

Posted on May 16, 2018 by Shirlee Abbott

So much unpleasant disagreement in our world . . . devolving to name-calling on all sides.

 

Matthew 5:44 (KJV)
Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you.

 

 

No more put-downs. No more scorn and shame. Stop insulting folks who think differently.

Love them. Be nice to them. Whole-heartedly.

 

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Simply Blessed

Posted on May 15, 2018 by Shirlee Abbott

Ephesians 1:3 (ESV)
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places.

 

Bless God, and God bless.

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Mother’s Day Blessings

Posted on May 14, 2018 by Shirlee Abbott

 

Mother’s Day isn’t a happy day for everyone. There’s always someone hurting:

 

 

  • Those whose mothers have died
  • Women who want to be mothers but can’t
  • Mothers whose children have gone astray
  • Those hurt by their own mothers

Even if it isn’t a happy one for us, we can make it a better day for someone else. Even when we’re hurting, we can reach out to bless others.

Offer a kind word of encouragement, give a helping hand, pray for their well-being. In Jesus’ name.

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Sheltering Moms

Posted on May 13, 2018 by Shirlee Abbott

 

Around the world, children find safety in their mothers’ sheltering arms. World Vision tells some of their stories here.

 

Heavenly Father, bless all the moms who work hard so their children can have safe homes, tasty food and good schools. Amen.

Bless a mom this Mother’s Day. 

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Good Fun

Posted on May 11, 2018 by Shirlee Abbott

 

Thank you, Lord, for creating chuckles, giggles, chortles, hard-de-hars, hee-haws and belly laughs. You know what’s good for us.

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Bible Fun

Posted on May 10, 2018 by Shirlee Abbott

Names are important. Nowhere more than the Bible.

In Genesis 16, Hagar has an encounter with God, and she calls him God who sees. She names her son Ishmael, which means God hears.

 

Let’s use those meanings in a later verse:

Genesis 21:17
And God Who Sees heard the voice of God Hears, and the angel of God Who Sees called to Hagar from heaven and said to her, “What troubles you, Hagar? Fear not, for God Who Sees has heard the voice of God Hears where he is.

Do you see and hear the fun? God has a sense of humor.

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