Shirlee Abbott

God’s Eye on the Hurricane

Posted on September 14, 2015 by Shirlee Abbott

I am reading Five Days at Memorial, how one hospital handled Hurricane Katrina. How might you respond to a disaster that seems to never end?

Denial
Keep my head down and move forward
I want to take control
Why me, Lord, why me?

This paragraph jumped out to me:

“Underlying the official response to the crisis was a lack of situational awareness–a view of the larger picture of what was happening and what needed to be done.”

What they lacked was a God’s eye view, the mind of Christ:

1 Corinthians 2:16 NLV
But we have the thoughts of Christ.

Posted in other | Tagged 1 Corinthians 2:16, Five Days at Memorial, Hurricane Katrina, the mind of Christ | 2 Comments

Prayer As Education

Posted on September 11, 2015 by Shirlee Abbott

Here’s a quote from a Civil War-era preacher who practiced what he preached and wrote what he practiced (9 books on prayer):

“Praying gives sense, brings wisdom,
and broadens and strengthens the mind.
The prayer closet is a perfect schoolteacher.”

He started each day with prayer. 4 to 7 AM. Daily.

Posted in other | Tagged E.M. Bounds, education, prayer school | 2 Comments

Wisdom’s School

Posted on September 10, 2015 by Shirlee Abbott

Posted in other | Tagged James 3:17, school, Wisdom | 2 Comments

Sound-Minded Prayer

Posted on September 9, 2015 by Shirlee Abbott

One of our sons struggled to read. The letters danced across his pages, do-si-doing into mirror images of themselves. I discussed his problem with teachers, doctors, social workers and administrators. But not God.

I prefer this verse in the king’s English:

2 Timothy 1:7 (KJB)
For God hath not given us the spirit of fear;
but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.

A sound mind. The phrase doesn’t require a diagnosis and an Individualized Education Program. Doesn’t have to wait for an appointment.

If I had it to do over again, I’d start out with God, asking him to bless my boy with a sound mind.

Posted in other | Tagged 2 Timothy 1:7, prayer, sound mind | 4 Comments

Establish the [School] Work of their Hands

Posted on September 8, 2015 by Shirlee Abbott

Psalm 90:17 (ESV)
Let the favor of the Lord our God be upon us,
and establish the work of our hands upon us;
yes, establish the work of our hands!

Establish, from the Greek kun, as in “a house set up on pillars.”

Ask God to establish the work of the teachers’ hands.
Ask God to establish the work of the students’ hands.

May it all be built on God’s firm foundation.

Posted in other | Tagged establish, Psalm 90:17, school, students, teachers | 2 Comments

Sunday’s School Prayer

Posted on September 6, 2015 by Shirlee Abbott

Back to school! What did/do you dread most?

Homework
Gym class
Eating lunch alone

Back to school. It’s a privilege. And it wasn’t always so.

In the early history of our church (our congregation is older than the nation), Sunday school was the only school for many children. Sunday morning offered a break from farm work and an opportunity for some education. The Bible was the textbook.

Let us pray for all children heading back to school:

May they eagerly study and do their utmost to present themselves to you, unashamed, correctly analyzing and accurately understanding your Truth. (from 2 Timothy 2:15-AMP)