Shirlee Abbott

Grace and Mercy, From and To

Posted on September 22, 2017 by Shirlee Abbott

Lord, grant me grace to embrace the best from those who have gone before me and mercy to forgive the worst.

And may those who come after me grant that same grace and mercy onto me.

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Building a Legacy

Posted on September 21, 2017 by Shirlee Abbott

1 Thessalonians 5:11 (NLT)
So encourage each other
and build each other up.

I want my grandchildren to remember me for who I built up, not what I tore down.

Posted in other | Tagged 1 Thessalonians 5:11, build up, legacy | 2 Comments

A Simple Rule

Posted on September 20, 2017 by Shirlee Abbott

Do unto your forefathers
as you would have your
grandchildren do onto you.
(based on Luke 6:31)

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Lesson from a Founding Father

Posted on September 19, 2017 by Shirlee Abbott

Are we looking to learn the right lessons?

“We should not look back
unless it is to derive useful
lessons from past errors.”
George Washington

Posted in other | Tagged George Washington, history | 2 Comments

Founding Failings

Posted on September 17, 2017 by Shirlee Abbott

Lately, some of our founding fathers are being written off because of their failings. What do you think?

It’s only fair
Give ’em a break
I need to think on that

I’ve been thinking . . .

How many protesters are living up to the high ideals they’ve set for those who went before them?

John 8:7 (NLT)
Let the one who has never sinned throw the first stone!

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Safe Shelter for Vets

Posted on September 17, 2017 by Shirlee Abbott

Veterans need safe shelter. Think about it . . .

While the rest of us watch HGTV from our comfortable couches, military personnel serve in some very unsafe places. When their tour of duty is done, they come home. To what?

Some come home with special needs, physical and emotional. Some can’t find space they can afford. Habitat for Humanity’s Veterans Build program focuses on safe, decent, affordable housing. What a worthy cause.

Lord God, we pray for our vets who need safe shelter–physical and emotional. Meet that need for a comfortable home–a place without fear, a place filled with hope. Amen.

Posted in other | Tagged Habitat for Humanity, Safe Shelter, Veterans Build | 2 Comments

Best Defense

Posted on September 14, 2017 by Shirlee Abbott

“From war’s alarms, from deadly pestilence,
be Thy strong arm our ever sure defense.”
Daniel C. Roberts
God of Our Fathers, Whose Almighty Hand, 1876
(written for a Vermont Centennial celebration)

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God’s Outstretched Hand

Posted on September 14, 2017 by Shirlee Abbott

Psalm 33:12
Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord.

God’s protective hand stands between his nation and disaster.

What happens to that protective hand when the people decided that they don’t want him to be their God?

Posted in other | Tagged God's hand, Psalm 33:12 | 4 Comments

Simply Changed

Posted on September 13, 2017 by Shirlee Abbott

Prayer changes things.

Prayer changes the storm.

Prayer changes me.

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Did Prayer Work?

Posted on September 12, 2017 by Shirlee Abbott

Over the weekend, my Facebook news feed was filled with prayers. So what do you think? Did the prayers deflate Irma’s power?

James 5:16 (NLT)
The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and produces wonderful results.

Posted in other | Tagged Hurricane Irma, James 5:16, prayer | 4 Comments