Shirlee Abbott

Safe and Warm

Posted on October 21, 2017 by Shirlee Abbott

Open your eyes to the homeless folks among us:

Those who have no money or can’t hang on to the money they have; those with no family or are separated from their families; those who have temporarily fallen on hard times or those for whom desolation is normal; those who just can’t find their place in the world and those who are hiding from the world; those who long to be found and those who never want to be found.

As the nights become colder, Lord, bring the homeless out of their hiding places—under the bridge, in an abandoned building, a tent in the woods. Guide them to a safe shelter, a place with a warm bed. And for the rest of us, dear God, shut down our snap judgments. Open our hearts.

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Giving Friendship

Posted on October 20, 2017 by Shirlee Abbott

Have you ever had a friend who always takes and never gives? It wears thin.

The same goes for friendship with God. It isn’t just what God gives us (which is always more than we can give back). We owe God something in return.

John 15:14
You are my friends if you do what I command.

Your best friend gave his life for you. What can you do for him?

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Listening Friend

Posted on October 19, 2017 by Shirlee Abbott

Exodus 33:11 (NIV)
The LORD would speak to Moses face to face, as one speaks to a friend.

Speak, Lord. I’m listening.

Posted in other | Tagged Exodus 33:11, Moses, prayer | 2 Comments

Simply Friends

Posted on October 18, 2017 by Shirlee Abbott

James 2:23 (ESV)
“Abraham believed God . . .”
–and he was called a friend of God.

Can you be called a friend of God?

Posted in other | Tagged Friend of God, James 2:23, K.I.S.S. | 2 Comments

Proverbial Friends

Posted on October 17, 2017 by Shirlee Abbott

Long ago, I read an old African proverb:

“There are friends of the road
and friends of the heart.”

You’ll have both kinds of friends. Road friends come and go. Heart friends last.

Are you heart-friends with God?

Posted in other | Tagged friends of the heart | 2 Comments

Knitted Souls

Posted on October 16, 2017 by Shirlee Abbott

What kind of friend are you?

I’m 100% here for my friends
Let’s have fun together
I need a good friend
It depends on who I’m with

We just met up with friends from college. They live in California, we live in Jersey. We hadn’t seen each other in 45 years. But the conversation picked up right where it left off. It’s a David-Jonathon friendship.

1 Samuel 18:1 (ESV)
The soul of Jonathan was knit to the soul of David.

Are you a knitted soul? Who is the Jonathan to your David?

Posted in other | Tagged 1 Samuel 18:1, David and Jonathan, Friends | 2 Comments

Shelter from Fear

Posted on October 15, 2017 by Shirlee Abbott

In Northern California, people are leaving their homes for fear of fire. They find shelter with friends, in schools, in churches.

There are two forces of destruction at work. Flames, aided by high winds, consume everything in their path. Fear can be just as damaging, eating away at someone’s thoughts and energy. Fear can cause damage that is harder to fix than scorched land and burnt houses.

Lord, we pray for the people whose homes are at risk. Protect their property, protect those who are fighting the flames. Turn the winds to blow the fire back on itself, or send rain to douse the flames.

And we pray for the hearts of those who have been forced out of their homes. May they find their true shelter in your everlasting arms and come away from this disaster with a deeper trust in you.

Posted in other | Tagged fear, fire, Safe Shelter | 2 Comments

Prayer Request

Posted on October 12, 2017 by Shirlee Abbott

I hear someone say,
“Prayer, ha! What good is that?”

Then I sense God saying,
“Here’s someone to pray for.”

Posted in other | Tagged prayer | 2 Comments

Keep Up the Good Work

Posted on October 12, 2017 by Shirlee Abbott

You can’t pray too much.

1 Thessalonians 5:17 (ERV)
Never stop praying.

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The Power of Prayer (Congress Style)

Posted on October 11, 2017 by Shirlee Abbott

“Prayer is something that you just cannot underestimate.”
Steve Scalise, September 28, 2017
On his return to Congress after being shot
while practicing for a charity baseball game.

Posted in other | Tagged Congress, prayer, Steve Scalise | 2 Comments