God’s Hand

Posted on June 6, 2024 by Shirlee Abbott

 


Isaiah paints a beautiful picture of God’s hand:

 


Isaiah 40:12 (NIV)
Who has measured the waters in the hollow of his hand,
or with the breadth of his hand marked off the heavens?

My grandmother measured flour by the handful, not the cupful. I use the span between my thumb and pinkie instead of a ruler to quickly estimate a short distance.

God’s hand is beyond the measure of my imagination.

 


Good morning, Lord. Your power is beyond my ability to imagine. You spoke the world into being. You measure the universe with Your hand. You see beyond the horizon of time and space. And yet, there are times when I question what You’re doing and doubt Your plan. Forgive my foolishness. Help my unbelief. 

You are so great, Lord, and I am so small. And yet, You care for me, watch over me and paid Your life for me. How can it be? Amazing love!

 

 

 

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A Handful

Posted on June 5, 2024 by Shirlee Abbott

 


God arranged a divine appointment between Elijah and a poor widow. He asked her for a bit of bread.

 

1 Kings 17:12 (ERV)
The woman answered, “I promise you, before the Lord your God, that I have nothing but a handful of flour in a jar and a little bit of olive oil in a jug. I came here to gather a few pieces of wood for a fire to cook our last meal. My son and I will eat it and then die from hunger.”

She took a risk and shared her handful. It was more than enough (read the full story for yourself).

 

Good morning, Lord. You are the Great Provider. Forgive me for thinking I am my own provider. All I have comes from You, and I am simply a steward of Your gifts. Grant me the wisdom to use them well, motivated less by selfishness and more by generosity. Teach me to carry what You give me with open hands. Teach me to share.

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A Hand Out

Posted on June 4, 2024 by Shirlee Abbott

I want to be like the noble woman of Proverbs 31. 

Proverbs 31:20 (AMP)
She opens and extends her hand to the poor,
And she reaches out her filled hands to the needy.


She reaches out with her hands and touches needy folks, up close and personal. What she gives goes out of her hands into theirs — no middleman, no social workers, no government agency.

Who needs the touch of your hands today? What do you have to offer them?

 


Good morning, Lord. Teach me to walk through life open-handed and willing to share. Forgive me for holding on to things with a tight fist. Transform my scarcity mindset, my desire to hoard. Teach me to trust You, to believe that You will provide what I need. Show me how to multiply my blessings by sharing them with others.

 

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A Hand Up

Posted on June 3, 2024 by Shirlee Abbott

Acts 3:6-7 (NIV)
Then Peter said, “Silver or gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk.”  Taking him by the right hand, he helped him up, and instantly the man’s feet and ankles became strong. 

Peter didn’t stop with healing words. He offered a helping hand.

Sometimes it takes more than words.

 


Good morning, Lord. Sometimes I need a hand. Sometimes I’m the one offering the hand. Teach me to be both humble and gracious — that is, to humbly ask for help when I need it and to graciously offer a helping hand when someone else needs it. Forgive me for letting pride or a judgmental attitude get in the way.

Whether I’m needing help or offering help, let my words and deeds honor You. Teach me to both offer and accept a helping hand with a heart of gratitude.

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Acts of [Your Name Here]

Posted on May 31, 2024 by Shirlee Abbott

 

Ephesians 2:10 (NLT)
For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.

 

God has good acts planned for us to do. Question is, am I doing them? Are you?

 

Good morning, Lord. What do You want me to do today? What plan do You have for me? 

Forgive me for making my to-do list in my own wisdom, filling my day with my own ideas, leaving no room for You and Your plan. Teach me to listen for Your voice. Give me eyes to see Your plan. Open my heart to Your nudge. Grant me the humility and courage to act as You direct.

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Acts of Ordinary Folks

Posted on May 30, 2024 by Shirlee Abbott


Acts of the Apostles … acts of ordinary folks:

Saul (AKA Paul) had an impressive resume even before God got his attention on the road to Damascus. But the rest of the crew featured in the book of Acts, not so much.

Acts 4:13 (NIV)
When they saw the courage of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished.

“They” who? They, “the rulers, the elders and the teachers of the law” (verse 5). The bigwigs stood in awe of ordinary folks acting in the extraordinary power of the Holy Spirit. 

So be it.

 

Good morning, Lord. Sometimes I overestimate my ability to help and cope. But even more often, I underestimate what I can do through obedience and the power of the Holy Spirit. Forgive me for thinking too highly of myself and too little of You. Teach me to call on You from the start instead of plunging ahead on my own and asking for Your help only when things start to unravel.  

Teach me to listen, obey and step out with faith in Your power at work in and through me.

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Acts of the Holy Spirit

Posted on May 29, 2024 by Shirlee Abbott

 


The book of Acts starts with the promised coming of the Holy Spirit.

 

Acts 1:5 (NLT)
“…  in just a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.”

Acts 2:3-4
Then, what looked like flames or tongues of fire appeared and settled on each of them.  And everyone present was filled with the Holy Spirit.

The rest of the book tells of the amazing things Christ’s followers accomplished in the power of the Holy Spirit.

It’s all about God. It always is.

 

Good morning, Lord. Here I am, making this prayer time all about me. I pray for my needs, the needs of my friends and loved ones, the issues I care about. I tell You what I think should be done. Turn it upside down, O God. Let’s make this all about You. Teach me to listen for Your direction, to ask You to have Your way with folks around me (those I love and those I tend to ignore). Put the issues You care about heavy on my heart.

Your will, O Lord, not mine be done.

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Acts of Luke

Posted on May 28, 2024 by Shirlee Abbott


The book of Acts is worthy of study. It was written by a man named Luke, who also wrote the gospel bearing his name. Both were the result of Luke’s careful work.

 

Luke 1:3-4 (NLT)
Having carefully investigated everything from the beginning, I also have decided to write an accurate account for you, most honorable Theophilus, so you can be certain of the truth of everything you were taught.

Maybe they should call both books “The Acts of Luke.”

Would that we all were as diligent as Luke, that we carefully investigated everything about God’s big, beautiful love story.

 

Good morning, Lord. Thank You for Your Word, for the men who wrote down what they heard from You all those years ago, and for the Holy Spirit who inspired them. Forgive me for neglecting Scripture, for thinking I’m too busy to study it. Open my eyes and ears to the wisdom contained in the Bible. Teach me to apply it to my life.

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For Memorial Day

Posted on May 27, 2024 by Shirlee Abbott


“O beautiful for heroes proved
in liberating strife,
who more than self their country loved,
and mercy more than life!

 

America! America! May God thy gold refine,
till all success be nobleness,
and every gain divine.”
Katherine Lee Bates, 1893

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See God with Us (Emmanuel)

Posted on May 24, 2024 by Shirlee Abbott


“By the light of nature we see God as a God above us, by the light of the law we see Him as a God against us, but by the light of the gospel we see Him as Emmanuel, God with us.”
Matthew Henry (1662-1714)

 

Some folks think God is too far away to care. Some folks think they aren’t good enough for God to care about them. Truth is, God is as close as the air we breathe. He absolutely cares. 

 

 

Good morning, Lord. Thank You for seeing me, for caring about me, for dying for my sins. As I go about my business today, let me see You at my side. Let me hear Your voice of instruction. Let me feel Your love filling my heart.


Teach me to love You with all my heart, soul, mind and strength. Show me how to love others as I love myself (Matthew 22:37-39).

 

 

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