Shirlee Abbott

Unashamed Prayer

Posted on December 7, 2015 by Shirlee Abbott

Last week’s terrorist attack brought us a new phrase, “prayer-shaming.” What’s your response?

If I said that, I’d be very afraid
Folks who disdain God don’t expect God to “fix” anything
I am proud to pray. Prayer works!

I’m in New Jersey, and the crisis is in California. Nothing short of prayer can transcend geography in an instant. Via prayer, I come alongside those people who are terrified, hurting, grieving. They are not alone. I am with them. God is with them.

I am not ashamed to pray. I am called to pray. I am empowered to pray.

Posted in other | Tagged prayer, terrorist attack | 2 Comments

A World of Hope

Posted on December 4, 2015 by Shirlee Abbott

I hope for peace on earth.

I hope that good wins over evil in the end.

I hope that others use their free will for good and not evil.

I hope that God will work through me and make me a peacemaker.

“Let there be peace on earth,
And let it begin with me.”
Jill Jackson Miller and Sy Miller, 1955

Posted in other | Tagged hope, peace | Comments Off

Hope and Peace

Posted on December 3, 2015 by Shirlee Abbott

Lord God,
Let me spread hope and peace today. May I be a source of encouragement and reconciliation.
Amen.

Posted in other | Tagged encouragement, hope, peace, reconciliation | Comments Off

Peace Officer

Posted on December 2, 2015 by Shirlee Abbott

Peace is good. Shalom is better.

Shalom means more than peace. It implies well-being, soundness, made complete.

Isaiah 9:6
He will be called
. . .Prince of peace

Champion of well-being
Overseer of soundness
Commander of completeness
Sar-shalom

Posted in other | Tagged Isaiah 9:6, peace, shalom | Comments Off

Newborn Hope

Posted on December 1, 2015 by Shirlee Abbott

A newborn baby. A sweet face that fans the flame of hope in all of us. That applies to the babe in the manger, too.

Edward Mote got it right:

“My hope is built on nothing less
than Jesus’ blood and righteousness.”
(1834)

There is more to our hope than a newborn baby.

Posted in other | Tagged Advent, Edward Mote, hope, My Hope Is Built | Comments Off

Hope Less

Posted on November 30, 2015 by Shirlee Abbott

November 29th was the first Sunday in Advent. It comes every year, right on the tail of Thanksgiving. Why am I always so unprepared? December always seems so far off, and suddenly it is here.

Hope: that’s the theme for the first Sunday. So, what’s your hope?

I hope to be ready when December 25 rolls around
I hope to keep my focus on the true meaning of Christmas
I hope for peace on earth

We just stuffed ourselves on Thanksgiving. We’re about to spend big bucks on “stuff” to show how much we care. Maybe it’s time to hope for less–keep it simple.

Posted in other | Tagged Advent, hope | 2 Comments

Thanks Be to God!

Posted on November 27, 2015 by Shirlee Abbott

Posted in other | Tagged blessings & disaster, Psalm 34:10, Thanksgiving | Comments Off

Bless Your Grateful Heart

Posted on November 26, 2015 by Shirlee Abbott

Posted in other | Tagged grateful, Thanksgiving | 1 Comment

Unchanging Gratitude

Posted on November 25, 2015 by Shirlee Abbott

The international picture keeps changing. Alliances are shifting. I’m not sure which nations are friends and which are enemies. Even in our own country, we are sifted into ever-changing categories that don’t necessarily make sense.

James 1:17 (NIV)
Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.

Thank God!

Posted in other | Tagged gratitude, James 1:17, Thanksgiving, unchanging | Comments Off

I Can Change

Posted on November 24, 2015 by Shirlee Abbott

“It is not so true that ‘prayer changes things’ as that prayer changes me and I change things.”
Oswald Chambers (1874-1917)

Oswald Chambers’ wisdom is recorded in My Utmost for His Highest and a few other books. His words, which have changed so many people, wouldn’t be available to us if his sweet wife (a whiz at shorthand) hadn’t taken down his messages word-for-word. He became famous only after his death, when she transcribed and published her notes.

How much prayer went into his messages and her notes? I assume that prayer changed them both. And we are changed.

Posted in other | Tagged Change, Oswald Chambers | Comments Off