Shirlee Abbott

Granted or Grateful (Friday)

Posted on November 14, 2014 by Shirlee Abbott

Posted in other | Tagged John 14:27, peace, Veterans Day | Comments Off

Granted or Gratitude (Thursday)

Posted on November 13, 2014 by Shirlee Abbott

Matthew 5:9
Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.

Don’t take peace for granted. Bless the peacemakers.

Posted in other | Tagged Matthew 5:9, peacemakers, Veterans Day | Comments Off

Granted or Gratitude (Wednesday)

Posted on November 12, 2014 by Shirlee Abbott

For Veterans Day, I connected with veterans I know personally to express my gratitude. There are countless more that I don’t know. Not knowing them is no reason to take them for granted.

I have a glorious opportunity to bless those I don’t know, via prayer. Prayer carries me to military and VA hospitals across the country, to counseling centers that minister to damaged souls, to hot spots and forgotten outposts round the world where our men and women serve, into homes mourning spouses and children lost in battle and into the hearts of those whose service left them somehow lacking.

It is my honor and duty to pray.

Posted in other | Tagged prayer, Veterans Day | Comments Off

Granted or Gratitude (Veterans Day)

Posted on November 11, 2014 by Shirlee Abbott

Shell shock, combat stress, PTSD–some survivors of war fight a second battle.
Let’s n0t take their sacrifice for granted.

“Gratitude changes the pangs of memory into a tranquil joy“ (Dietrich Bonhoeffer).

May our gratitude contribute to their joy.

Posted in other | Tagged Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Veterans Day | Comments Off

Granted or Gratitude

Posted on November 10, 2014 by Shirlee Abbott

What freedoms do you most take for granted?

Freedom to speak my mind
Freedom to live out my faith
Freedom to participate in my government
Freedom to own what I purchase

Hearing about the restrictions on people in communist countries, one of my sons (then about age 10) said, “If I lived in a country like that, I’d just leave.”

We have it good. Count your blessings. Don’t take it for granted.

Posted in other | Tagged Freedom | Comments Off

Vote on Your Knees (Friday)

Posted on November 7, 2014 by Shirlee Abbott

Mark 10:43 (CEV)
If you want to be great, you must be the servant of all the others.

May those we elected become true public servants.

Posted in other | Tagged Mark 10:43, vote | Comments Off

Vote on Your Knees (Thursday)

Posted on November 6, 2014 by Shirlee Abbott

The election is over. This is no time to stop praying.

Your will be done, Lord–in the White House, in legislatures, in state houses, in town councils, inboards of education–as it is in heaven.

Posted in other | Tagged vote | Comments Off

Vote on Your Knees (Wednesday)

Posted on November 5, 2014 by Shirlee Abbott

Posted in other | Tagged Colossians 4:6, vote | Comments Off

Vote on Your Knees (Tuesday)

Posted on November 4, 2014 by Shirlee Abbott

Today, consider your voting booth a sanctuary.

Start by thanking God for the opportunity and mental capacity to vote. Ask God to bless the candidates listed on the ballot–those you like and those you don’t; pray that they will be gracious in victory or defeat. Petition the Spirit to fill their meeting rooms. Express your desire for the people of your town, state and nation to lead righteous lives and dwell in peace. In your heart, sing the Doxology, with special emphasis on all creatures here below.

Make your vote an act of worship.

Posted in other | Tagged vote | Comments Off

Vote on Your Knees

Posted on November 3, 2014 by Shirlee Abbott

The Bible, I grant you, doesn’t specifically address voting. What do I do?

I vote my conscience
I vote for people who share my values
I vote for the candidates who will make life better for me

May the words of my mouth [as relate to my political views] and the meditations of my heart [as I consider the candidates] be acceptable in your sight, O Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer. May the way I go about deciding and the vote I cast tomorrow be acceptable in your sight, O Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer (from Psalm 19:14).

Posted in other | Tagged Psalm 19:14, vote | Comments Off