Simple Obedience

Posted on August 30, 2017 by Shirlee Abbott

Come.
Stay.
Fetch.

The dogs obey their master’s voice.

 

So why is it so hard for me?

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Like a Dog

Posted on August 29, 2017 by Shirlee Abbott

 

 

Do you have a dog?

 

  • Always
  • In my dreams
  • A dog? As in only one?

Man’s best friend knows man better than man knows himself.

Take our Benny. My husband heads to the recliner, and Benny’s leap starts before there’s a lap to land on. Just think about dinner, he’s already in the kitchen.

Dog knows man almost like God knows man:

Psalm 139:2,4
You know when I sit and when I rise;
    you perceive my thoughts from afar . . .
Before a word is on my tongue
    you, Lord, know it completely.

Too bad man doesn’t know God like dog knows man.

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Sunday’s Gift

Posted on August 28, 2017 by Shirlee Abbott

 

God gave me an unexpected gift. I lay on the garden swing, half napping, half praying. A sound I couldn’t quite place caught my attention. It was a little like the chainsaw at work a few houses away, only softer and nearer. I opened my eyes and discovered, not 18 inches from my nose, a hummingbird investigating my seltzer bottle.

Seconds later, it was gone.

Thank you, Lord, for this amazing moment.

(Not my usual Monday morning post, but I had to share my Sunday moment with you all)

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Safe Shelter – Texas Style

Posted on August 27, 2017 by Shirlee Abbott

Matthew 7:27 (ERV)
 It rained hard, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house. And it fell with a loud crash.

 

Hurricane Harvey blew in, wet and wild. Houses are flooded, houses are damaged, some houses have fallen with a loud crash.

Our prayers blow in too, on the breath of the Spirit.

 

Lord, grant these folks safe shelter . . . whether in their own homes, housed with friends or family, or in temporary disaster shelters. And Lord, be their eternal safe shelter–may those who know you rest assured, and may those who didn’t know you before seek you now. May every “O my God” spoken over this disaster be a prayer, a connection to you, O Lord, our Rock and our Redeemer.

Don’t forget to pray for the many organizations, including Samaritan’s Purse,  already stepping into to offer help.

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Simply Change the World

Posted on August 25, 2017 by Shirlee Abbott

 

John 13:34 (CEV)
Love each other,
just as I have loved you.

 

 

Nine simple words. World-changing simple words.

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Watch the Words

Posted on August 24, 2017 by Shirlee Abbott

The battle is more about words than race.

 

In Genesis 11, the people got all arrogant and decided to build a tower to the heavens. God put an end to it . . . not by changing their skin color, but by changing their language.

 

Genesis 11:9 (NIV)
That is why it was called Babel—because there the Lord confused the language of the whole world.

“Babel” means confused. Lately, I’ve been hearing lots of babel.

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Reflections of Glory

Posted on August 23, 2017 by Shirlee Abbott

 

2 Corinthians 3:18 (TLB)
We can be mirrors that brightly reflect the glory of the Lord.

 

Two assignments:

  1. Be a reflection of God’s glory.
  2. See the reflection of God’s glory in others.

You can do this.

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Prejudiced Confession

Posted on August 22, 2017 by Shirlee Abbott

A big black pickup rear-ended me a few weeks ago and totaled my cute little Honda. Now I’m prejudiced against all big black pickups. My heart beats faster when I see one in the rear view mirror.

I know it isn’t rational. Big black pickups aren’t out to get me. Someday I’ll get over this.

 

Lord, give me eyes to see my other prejudices. Give me the wisdom to let them go. And when I see prejudice from others, give me the compassion to think, “There but for the grace of God go I.”

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What Color Is Your Soul?

Posted on August 21, 2017 by Shirlee Abbott

 

Skin color has been in the news. We know that God doesn’t look on our outward appearance. He looks at the state of our souls. So what color is your soul?

 

  • Down-in-the-dumps blue
  • Peaceful green
  • Black as sin
  • Bright white

God transforms our souls from dirt-dark to glorious white:

Isaiah 1:18
Though your sins are like scarlet,
they shall be as white as snow.

The only white privilege that matters is found in Christ alone. And it has nothing to do with skin color. It has everything to do with God’s grace.

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A Reliable Roof

Posted on August 19, 2017 by Shirlee Abbott

I ran across this post a few weeks back, and the phrase “reliable roof” grabbed my attention.

Safe Shelter. Reliable Roof.
Often one in the same.

 

The story here is about Haiti, a place crying for safe shelter. It’s about people with spinal-cord injury living in a land with limited resources. It’s about Hope Health Action, a British charity providing “life-saving healthcare to the world’s most vulnerable.” It’s about one person deciding to make a difference. It’s about God transforming a good plan into a better plan.

Oh Lord, there’s so much opportunity for prayer here! We pray for more reliable roofs in Haiti; deliver them from homelessness and hopelessness. We pray that your beloved children with disabilities will not have to resort to begging; place them under reliable roofs. Grant Hope Health Action the resources to build more reliable roofs–more health care and hope to more people. Show each of us ways to expand these reliable roofs: with our prayers, with our money, perhaps even with our time. Take our good plans, Lord, and transform them into your glorious plan.  Amen.

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