Shirlee Abbott

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!

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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.

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Changing Gratitude

Posted on November 23, 2015 by Shirlee Abbott

Seems like I’m surrounded by change:

New traffic patterns
Weather
Changing rules & regulations
Changing allies and enemies

And I don’t like it. Sometimes I long to be that head-in-the-sand ostrich–if I don’t see it, it isn’t happening.

Oh wait. The ostrich with her head below ground level isn’t hiding. She’s turning her eggs. It’s all about new life.

Well then,

Thank you, Lord, for change, Thank you for changes in my life. Thank you for new growth. Amen.

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Syrian Evil Meant for Good

Posted on November 20, 2015 by Shirlee Abbott

When persecution drove believers out of their familiar territory, the early Christian Church spread in new directions. I wonder: will Christianity spread as Syrian Christians make their way into unfamiliar territory?

Using evil for good purposes–it’s such a God-thing.

Genesis 50:20
As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good.

Posted in other | Tagged early Christian Church, Genesis 50:20, Syrian refugees | 2 Comments

Rebuilding Syria’s Walls

Posted on November 19, 2015 by Shirlee Abbott

I see parallels between my Foundation Studies on Nehemiah (see Rebuilding the Walls) and the situation in Syria.

Will the dispersed Syrians return to their homeland? Will God raise up a Nehemiah rebuild their infrastructure?

Your will be done in Syria, Lord, as it is in heaven.
Amen.

Posted in other | Tagged infrastructure, Nehemiah, Syria, Thy will be done | 2 Comments

Refugees on the Run

Posted on November 18, 2015 by Shirlee Abbott

Decades past, Hubby and I were houseparents at a home for wayward boys. Sometimes a child would run off. When that happened, we tried to discern whether he was

Running away
Running to

A boy running away could be anywhere. Running to, we knew where to look.

I wonder if the Syrian refugees are running away or running to. If they are simply running away from danger, any safe place will do. If they are running to, is America their destination? If so, are they running to do us harm? Or are they running to a better life in a free land?

Discerning the difference, that’s the catch.

Posted in other | Tagged running away, running to, Syrian refugees | 6 Comments

More Innocent Victims

Posted on November 17, 2015 by Shirlee Abbott

The terrorists shot innocent victims in a theater. And their deeds cast aspersions on all Syrian refugees, creating even more innocent victims.

1 Peter 5:8-9 (ESV)
Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. Resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same kinds of suffering are being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world.

Lord God, may we be cautious yet compassionate, guarded yet gracious, resistant yet realistic, watchful and wise. Amen.

Posted in other | Tagged 1 Peter 5:8-9, innocent victims, terrorists | 2 Comments

Poetic Wisdom for Paris

Posted on November 16, 2015 by Shirlee Abbott

I was praying for France, and Longfellow’s wisdom played through my thoughts:

And in despair I bowed my head;
“There is no peace on earth,” I said:
“For hate is strong,
And mocks the song
Of peace on earth, good-will to men!”

Then pealed the bells more loud and deep:
“God is not dead; nor doth he sleep!
The Wrong shall fail,
The Right prevail,
With peace on earth, good-will to men!”
Christmas Bells, 1863

Well said, Mr. Longfellow. Amen.

Posted in other | Tagged Christmas bells, Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, Paris attacks, peace on earth | 3 Comments

God’s Gates

Posted on November 13, 2015 by Shirlee Abbott

Posted in other | Tagged gates, Psalm 118:19 | 2 Comments