Shirlee Abbott

More than Kind

Posted on February 3, 2017 by Shirlee Abbott

“Love is something more stern and splendid
than mere kindness.”
C. S. Lewis
The Problem of Pain, 1940

When it comes to refugees, Lord, make us more than kind.

Posted in other | Tagged C. S. Lewis, kind, love, refugees | Comments Off

No Easy Answer

Posted on February 2, 2017 by Shirlee Abbott

It is easy to say, “Come to America. It will be fine.” But nothing is that simple.

I remember when Hmong refugees were brought to America after the Vietnam War. Thousands of churches and individuals worked tirelessly to resettle the newcomers, family by family. It was hard.*

I hope all the folks calling us to open our nation to today’s refugees are ready to roll up their sleeves and open their arms. If you think it is the right thing for America to do, then it is the right thing for you to do.

*Read more about the Hmong people here. To understand the gap between cultures, I recommend ” The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down: A Hmong Child, Her American Doctors, and the Collision of Two Cultures” — it’s a hard read that will leave you thinking that everyone is right and everyone is wrong.

Posted in other | Tagged Hmong, refugees | 2 Comments

Running . . . To or Fro?

Posted on February 1, 2017 by Shirlee Abbott

Early in our marriage, we were houseparents at a home for wayward boys. Sometimes one of them would go missing. We were taught to ask ourselves if they were running to something, or away. Running to? We knew where to look.

I wonder if this also applies to refugees. Are they running to, or running away? Those who are running to America, the ones who long for what we have to offer (flaws included)–shouldn’t we welcome them with open arms? The ones who are running away, the ones whose hearts are still firmly rooted in their homeland–maybe our resources (our money, our influence and our prayers) are better spent providing safe space closer to the land they love, and doing all we can to restore peace.

Posted in other | Tagged refugees, running away | Comments Off

A Woman’s Works

Posted on January 31, 2017 by Shirlee Abbott

Proverbs 31:31 (NIV)
Let her works bring her praise at the city gate.

Lord God, if you marched my works across the mall in Washington, would they bring me praise? More importantly, would they bring you praise?

Posted in other | Tagged Proverbs 31:31, works | Comments Off

Confusing Signs

Posted on January 29, 2017 by Shirlee Abbott

Within a single week’s time, we had the Women’s March on Washington and the March for Life. All those signs and banners! Are you feeling frustrated or confused?

What people do is their own business
I’m into doing, not marching
Some people are just crazy

Proverbs 31:30-31 (NET)
A woman who fears the Lord will be praised.
Give her credit for what she has accomplished,
and let her works praise her in the city gates.

It isn’t about the signs, people.

Posted in other | Tagged March for Life, Proverbs 31:30-31, Women's March on Washington | 2 Comments

Pray for Life

Posted on January 27, 2017 by Shirlee Abbott

Today is the March for Life. Bless all the dedicated souls who make their way to Washington to make their opinions known.

Good news: the US abortion rate has fallen to its lowest level since Roe v Wade.

Let us pray beyond the statistics.

Lord, we pray that the abortion rate will continue to fall . . . not because the laws change, but because hearts change. Amen.

Posted in other | Tagged abortion, March for Life | 4 Comments

Who Will Say, “Enough!”

Posted on January 26, 2017 by Shirlee Abbott

“All abortion is genocide.
All abortion is eugenics.
It’s designed for population control
for various reasons.”
Alveda King, Founder
National Black Pro-Life Coalition

12% of Americans are black.
28% of aborted babies are black.
16 million black babies have been aborted since 1973.

Isn’t that enough?

Posted in other | Tagged abortion, Alveda King, blacks, National Black Pro-Life Coalition | 2 Comments

Who Will Weep?

Posted on January 25, 2017 by Shirlee Abbott

Let’s turn our hearts to abortion (as thousands make their annual trek to Washington for Friday’s March for Life).

OK, I’ll say it. I think abortion is sin. But don’t paint me judgmental. The woman who chooses abortion is no worse than me, because I too am a sinner —
all have sinned (Romans 3:23).

A lot of sins can be corrected: I can repay what I stole. I can confess the error I covered up. I can make it up to the person I hurt.

What’s lost with an abortion can never be recovered. I weep for that loss.

Posted in other | Tagged abortion, Blessed are those who mourn, Romans 3:23, sin | 7 Comments

Whose Job?

Posted on January 24, 2017 by Shirlee Abbott

Scripture doesn’t tell us to care for the poor with our taxes, or to assign government to tend to the sick, or to let the courts tell us how to love one another. Nope, it’s all my job, all your job.

Matthew 5:16 (NIV)
Let your light shine before others,
that they may see your good deeds
and glorify your Father in heaven.

Don’t expect government to do for us what God is calling us to do for him.

Posted in other | Tagged government, job, Matthew 5:16 | 2 Comments

Up to the Job?

Posted on January 23, 2017 by Shirlee Abbott

We have a new President. What do you think?

I dread the next four years
Things are gonna change for the better!
Some old, same old

Time will prove whether the change at the top makes a difference, and if it does, whether the difference is an improvement. Likely, tomorrow will look a lot like yesterday.

“Real change that America needs will not come from the White House – it will come from God’s house, among Christians.”
Michael Anthony
One Thing All Christians Must Do
Townhall.com, posted 1/21/17

Are you up to the job?

Posted in other | Tagged America, Change, Michael Anthony | 5 Comments