Two Simple Words

Posted on August 1, 2017 by Shirlee Abbott

The young man who rear-ended my car said, “Accidents happen.” I was hoping for two different words:

 

“I’m sorry.”

Two simple, powerful words. 
The sooner said, the better.

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Unintended Trespasses

Posted on July 30, 2017 by Shirlee Abbott

A young man trespassed on my property this week. He pushed his truck over the boundary of my bumper—actually he moved my bumper into my trunk. 

He didn’t do it on purpose.

 

 

Sometimes I accidentally trespass on someone else’s property, person or feelings. How about you?

 

 

  • I’ve taken credit for someone else’s idea
  • I passed on gossip that turned out to be untrue
  • I blamed someone for something they didn’t do

Forgive us our unintended trespasses.

 

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Leave It in God’s Hands

Posted on July 28, 2017 by Shirlee Abbott

I once dreamed that I put a problem in God’s hands. After a bit, I went back and took it into my own hands. I was double-checking to make sure God was handling it right.

God knows, I’ve done that in real life. More than once.

 

Mark 9:24 (ESV)
“I believe; help my unbelief!”

 

 

 

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Skip the Details

Posted on July 26, 2017 by Shirlee Abbott

I believe that God is all-knowing.

 

So why, when I pray for others,  do I include all the details?

 

 

I’m not telling God anything he doesn’t already know.

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God Changes My Mind, Not His

Posted on July 26, 2017 by Shirlee Abbott

I can’t make God change his mind.

 

James 1:17 (ERV))
These good gifts come down from the Father who made all the lights in the sky. But God never changes like the shadows from those lights. He is always the same.

 

He isn’t a God of compromise. I won’t wear him down with my whining,

Not that I can’t argue with God. I do. But in the end, he wins me over with his better logic, infinite wisdom and unending love.

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Simple Prayer

Posted on July 25, 2017 by Shirlee Abbott

 

God doesn’t listen better or answer faster because you use fancy words.

Just talk. He’s listening.

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Captured Prayers

Posted on July 24, 2017 by Shirlee Abbott

Smoke rising from burning incense–that’s how God sees our prayers.

Revelation 5:8 (NIV)
They were holding golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of God’s people.

To us, smoke is here one moment, gone the next. But God captures the fragrant smoke of our prayers and keeps it in golden bowls.

 

If you could peek over the rim, what would you see in your heavenly golden bowl?

 

 

  • Prayers of panic
  • A bowl of blessing
  • Not much, I’m afraid

God treasures our prayers. That is how much he loves us.

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God’s Wordless Answer

Posted on July 20, 2017 by Shirlee Abbott

God doesn’t always answer us with words.

Our keys were missing. We searched everywhere. And I prayed.

In my mind’s eye, I saw our toddler pushing those keys through the grid of the laundry basket. I checked, and Praise God! There they were, nestled beside the folded clothes.

 

Much later, I realized that the little movie playing in my head didn’t come from my eye-level, about five feet from the floor. No, the viewpoint was somewhere above the ceiling, looking at the top of his little head and straight into the basket. A God’s-eye view.

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Unexpected Answers

Posted on July 20, 2017 by Shirlee Abbott

 

Jeremiah 33:3 (GW)
Call to me, and I will answer you. I will tell you great and mysterious things that you do not know.

 

You asked. You expect an answer.

The answer can be even greater and more mysterious than you expect.

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No Answer? The Answer’s No

Posted on July 19, 2017 by Shirlee Abbott

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