Shirlee Abbott

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.

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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).

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Hallowed Eve, Holy Night (Friday)

Posted on October 31, 2014 by Shirlee Abbott

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Hallowed Eve, Holy Night (Thursday)

Posted on October 30, 2014 by Shirlee Abbott

You find the time to shop for candy to give neighborhood children who come to your door on Halloween. How about a year-round gift that is better than candy? Find the time to pray for all the children you know:

(from Ephesians 3:17-18)
May they be rooted and established in love, able to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ. Amen.

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Holy Night (Wednesday)

Posted on October 29, 2014 by Shirlee Abbott

All Saints Day–a solemn day of devotion to the departed faithful.

All Hallows Eve, the night before All Saints Day. Let’s make it a holy time of prayer, devoted to the not-yet-departed faithful:

Ephesians 6:18 (NASB)
With all prayer and petition pray at all times in the Spirit, and with this in view, be on the alert with all perseverance and petition for all the saints.

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Holy Night (Tuesday)

Posted on October 28, 2014 by Shirlee Abbott

I read that some ancient cultures considered harvest time the end of their year. Thus the new year marked the start of a season of cold and dark. I wonder how they acknowledged their new year’s eve. Was it more like Mardis Gras, or Thanksgiving, or the Day of Atonement? Devil-may-care, an attitude of gratitude or somber reflection?

Our Hallowed Eve looks a little like New Year’s Eve. Don’t forget the spiritual reflection . . . add some holiness to the holiday.

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Holy Night

Posted on October 27, 2014 by Shirlee Abbott

It’s almost Halloween.

The decorations are up, the candy is ready.

Be very afraid!
Give me something good to eat
Count me out

The origins of Halloween are uncertain. It is likely rooted in the Celtic festival of Samhaim, when bonfires and costumes were thought to ward off the dead. It may have been influenced by the Roman festivals of Feralia, commemorating the passing of the dead. It has ties to Catholicism’s All Martyrs Day, later All Saints Day or Hallowmas—wherein we get its name, All Hallows Eve.

Gotta admit, it doesn’t seem holy–that is, devoted to God.

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Virus? (Friday)

Posted on October 24, 2014 by Shirlee Abbott

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Virus? (Thursday)

Posted on October 23, 2014 by Shirlee Abbott

Viral people (especially among believers) get on my nerves–the people who live under a black cloud and drag others into their darkness.

Me: Here we go again, God. I’m so tired of the negativity and the drama. Can I just go home and enjoy some peace and quiet?

God: You wouldn’t think much of a hospital that turned away sick people. What do you think about a church that turns away sick souls?

Me: Give me strength, Lord!

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Virus? (Wednesday)

Posted on October 22, 2014 by Shirlee Abbott

Wisdom out of Russian Orthodox tradition:

“A man who is wrathful with us is a sick man; we must apply a plaster to his heart – love; we must treat him kindly, speak to him gently, lovingly. And if there is not deeply-rooted malice against us within him, but only a temporary fit of anger, you will see how his heart, or his malice, will melt away through your kindness and love – how good will conquer evil.”
John of Kronstadt, Russian Orthodox archpriest. 1829-1908

Indeed, love is the cure for sick souls.

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