Dayenu!

Posted on November 24, 2017 by Shirlee Abbott

 

If God had just saved us from our sins, it would have been enough. But he added eternal life.

Dayenu!

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Simple Thanks

Posted on November 23, 2017 by Shirlee Abbott

 

Mercy would be enough, Lord.
But you add grace.

 

 

Mercy: not giving me the punishment I deserve.
Grace: giving me blessings I don’t deserve.

 

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It Would Have Been Enough

Posted on November 22, 2017 by Shirlee Abbott

 

Lord, it would have been enough if you’d just given me children. But you added grandchildren. Thank you!

 

Lord, it would have been enough if you’d provided shelter. But you added a furnace to keep me warm. Thank you.

Lord, it would have been enough if you’d given me a job to support myself. But you added friends at work. Thank you.

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Exceedingly Abundant Blessings

Posted on November 21, 2017 by Shirlee Abbott

Ephesians 3:20-21 (NKJV)
Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.

 

All we ask would have been enough, Lord. Thank you for blessings we never thought to ask for.

 

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Twice Blessed

Posted on November 20, 2017 by Shirlee Abbott

 

 

How do you count your blessings?

 

  • One by one, like the song says
  • By category: Family, Home, Job . . .
  • Frankly, I’m not feeling very blessed

There’s a Jewish tradition, part of the Passover celebration, that thanks God twice. Dayenu means “it would have been enough.”

If you fed us in the desert for 40 years,
and never brought us to the promised land,
it would have been enough. Dayenu.

This Thanksgiving, try a little dayenu for yourself.

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Sheltering Homeless Men

Posted on November 19, 2017 by Shirlee Abbott

 

There have always been homeless men in America. My mother tells how hobos would stop by their Wisconsin farm, and my grandmother would give them a cup of soup.

 

Many cities have rescue missions that offer homeless men temporary food and shelter—like the Market Street Mission in Morristown, NJ. Since 1889 the Market Street Mission has served the needs of homeless, hopeless and often addicted men. The mission offers “a ‘hand-up’ rather than a ‘hand-out.’”

“As members of His body, the Church, we present the saving power of Jesus Christ to rescue men from the consequences and ultimate penalty of sin and disciple them for victorious Christian living.”

Lord, provide Market Street Mission, and others like it around the world, with the resources they need: workers, space, food, finances and the wisdom that comes only through your Holy Spirit.
Amen.

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Blessed Comforter

Posted on November 17, 2017 by Shirlee Abbott

John 14:26 (TLB)
But when the Father sends the Comforter instead of me—and by the Comforter I mean the Holy Spirit—he will teach you much, as well as remind you of everything I myself have told you.

 

We mourn, and the Comforter blesses us with godly wisdom and treasured memories.

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Blessed Comfort

Posted on November 16, 2017 by Shirlee Abbott

Think of the disciples, daily walking and talking with Jesus, and then . . . he was gone. Surely they mourned, as Jesus knew they would. He promised them comfort:

 

John 14:26 (AMP)
. . . the Helper (Comforter, Advocate, Intercessor—Counselor, Strengthener, Standby), the Holy Spirit . . .

 

We have the same promise, the same Comforter.

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Blessed Grief

Posted on November 15, 2017 by Shirlee Abbott

 

“The true man of God is heartsick, grieved at the worldliness of the Church, grieved at the toleration of sin in the Church, grieved at the prayerlessness in the Church.”
Leonard Ravenhill (1907-1994 )

Blessed are those who mourn over sin.

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Simple Comfort

Posted on November 14, 2017 by Shirlee Abbott

Matthew 5:4 (NIV)
Blessed are those who mourn,
for they will be comforted.

Blessed because they are comforted.

 

How sad to forever mourn and never be comforted (maybe that’s what hell is like).

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