Shirlee Abbott

Firey Wisdom

Posted on July 7, 2016 by Shirlee Abbott

From George Washington:

“Government . . . Like fire, it is a dangerous servant
and a fearful master.”

Pray that we don’t get burned.

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

Heal the Nations

Posted on July 6, 2016 by Shirlee Abbott

Revelation 22:1-2 (NIV)
Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, as clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb down the middle of the great street of the city. On each side of the river stood the tree of life, bearing twelve crops of fruit, yielding its fruit every month. And the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations.

“Healing of the nations.” Nations get sick.

When people get sick, we pray for them. Likewise, let us pray for the sick nations of our world.

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Undimmed by Tears

Posted on July 5, 2016 by Shirlee Abbott

“O beautiful for patriot dream
That sees beyond the years
Thine alabaster cities gleam
Undimmed by human tears!”
Katharine Lee Bates, 1893

Lord God, I weep for our cities–
corruption, violence, greed, addiction, neglect.
I pray for justice, peace, grace, liberty, love.

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Happy Birthday to Us!

Posted on July 4, 2016 by Shirlee Abbott

Do you pray for those in authority?

Only for the guys I like
Confuse and disrupt their plans, Lord
May they lead wisely
I pray for their spiritual well-being

America is 240 years old this year. Our congregation turns 260. Our church is 20 years older than the nation. Following biblical instructions, that young congregation probably prayed for King George.

There is a message in that: faith trumps politics. We serve Christ, first and foremost, no matter who is in the White House.

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Better than Right

Posted on July 1, 2016 by Shirlee Abbott

Posted in other | Tagged 1 Timothy 6:11, Right, righteous | Comments Off

Better or Worse

Posted on June 30, 2016 by Shirlee Abbott

Many of us hope and pray that our kids do better than us.

King David had lots of wives. His son Solomon had more–700 wives, more or less. Way more than his father.

1 Kings 11:4 (NIV)
His wives turned his heart after other gods, and his heart was not fully devoted to the Lord his God, as the heart of David his father had been.

Solomon had more wives and less devotion.

Lord God, may my children do better by you than I have, more devotion, less distraction.

Posted in other | Tagged 1 Kings 11:4, David and Solomon, parents' prayers | Comments Off

Educated Parents

Posted on June 29, 2016 by Shirlee Abbott

The Bible offers this child-rearing advice:

Ephesians 6:4 (ERV)
. . . raise them with the kind of teaching and training you learn from the Lord.

You can’t teach what you don’t know.

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Parenting, Puritan Style

Posted on June 28, 2016 by Shirlee Abbott

I just bought a my very own copy of A Puritan Golden Treasury. Those stuffy old Puritans left us some rock-solid advice.

“If you neglect to instruct them in the way of holiness, will the devil neglect to instruct them in the way of wickedness? No, if you will not teach them to pray, he will to curse, swear, and lie.”
John Flavel

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Do As I Do

Posted on June 27, 2016 by Shirlee Abbott

What do you say to your children?

Follow my example
Do as I say, not as I do
See what I do? Do the opposite

This is what Paul wrote to his “spiritual children” in Philippi:

Philippians 4:9 (NIV)
Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice.

Interesting words from Paul, who started with a mission to destroy Christianity. His do-as-I-do message says:

“Don’t let past sins hold you back.”

It’s never too late to set a better example.

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Choices and Consequences

Posted on June 24, 2016 by Shirlee Abbott

Choices have consequences.

Bad choices = tough consequences.

King David called for a census. Against advice. Against God’s instructions. God wasn’t pleased.

The sin was David’s choice. And this one time, so was the consequence.

1 Chronicles 21:11-12 (CEV)
These are the choices the Lord has given you. You may choose three years of famine, three months of destruction by the sword of your enemies, or three days of severe plague.

David picked option #3, and 70,000 people died. David (and we) learned that he wasn’t (and we aren’t) the only ones hurt by a bad choice.

Posted in other | Tagged 1 Chronicles 21, census, consequences, King David, plague | Comments Off