Happy Birthday, USA

Posted on July 4, 2023 by Shirlee Abbott

 


May you age graciously.

 

 

Amos 5:24 (ESV)
But let justice roll down like waters,
and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream.

 

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Foolish Intelligence

Posted on July 3, 2023 by Shirlee Abbott

 

Suddenly, artificial intelligence is everywhere.

I looked up artificial in the dictionary, and this is what I found:

 

        • a copy of something that occurs naturally, manmade
        • contrived, false
        • insincere

Do I want unnatural, false, insincere intelligence? I think not. I want to aim higher.

1 Corinthians 2:14 (NASB)
But a natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually discerned.

More spiritual intelligence, less foolishness — Lord, let it be.

 

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My Story

Posted on June 30, 2023 by Shirlee Abbott

 

God is the Author of my story.

 

 

Psalm 139:16 (MEV)
. . . in Your book all my days were written,
before any of them came into being.

Hebrews 12:2
Let us look to Jesus, the author
and finisher of our faith.

I don’t know how the next chapter of my story will read, but I’m not worried. I know how the story ends — I live happily ever after.

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His Story

Posted on June 29, 2023 by Shirlee Abbott

 

Genesis to Revelation, the Bible is His story, the story of Jesus.

 

 

from
Genesis 1:1
In the beginning . . .
to
Revelation 22:20
Come, Lord Jesus!

It’s God’s big, beautiful love story.

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History

Posted on June 28, 2023 by Shirlee Abbott

The Bible records the history of the Jewish faith and the early Church. But history isn’t its primary purpose.


2 Timothy 3:16 (ESV)
All Scripture is breathed out by God
and profitable for teaching,
for reproof, for correction,
and for training in righteousness.


A chronological version of the Bible rearranges Scripture according to a timeline. It connects a prophet with the right king, fits the psalms to their time and place, puts Paul’s letters in the order he wrote them. If you haven’t read the Word chronologically at least once, give it a try. You might be surprised how much history you learn.

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Good Story

Posted on June 27, 2023 by Shirlee Abbott

The Bible is good for me.


Psalm 19:7 (ESV)
The law of the Lord is perfect,
reviving the soul;
the testimony of the Lord is sure,
making wise the simple.

 

It makes me a better person.

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True Story

Posted on June 26, 2023 by Shirlee Abbott

I believe the Bible is true.

 

Psalm 33:4 (NIV)
For the word of the Lord is right and true;
he is faithful in all he does.

 

 

There are things in the Bible I don’t understand, parts that don’t make sense to my limited mind. But I cannot imagine getting to heaven, standing at throne of grace and saying, “I knew it! The Bible isn’t true.”

I’m sure the Bible is true in countless ways I don’t yet understand. God’s never confused or mistaken.

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Know Truth

Posted on June 23, 2023 by Shirlee Abbott


Jesus said,

John 8:32 (NIV)
Then you will know the truth,
and the truth will set you free.

 

It’s hard to find truth buried amongst all the personal opinions, clickbait and fake news. Maybe that’s why I feel dragged down and tripped up.

I’m thankful for God’s Word — truth we can rely on. 

Psalm 19:7-8
The law of the Lord is perfect,
    refreshing the soul.
The statutes of the Lord are trustworthy,
    making wise the simple.
The precepts of the Lord are right,
    giving joy to the heart.

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Know the Word

Posted on June 22, 2023 by Shirlee Abbott


I’m getting older. Memorization is harder work than it used to be. I fell out of the habit of memorizing Scripture.

This familiar verse popped up in my Bible reading:


Psalm 119:11 (ESV)
I have stored up your word in my heart,
that I might not sin against you.

God had a little chat with me about it.

Do you still sin?

Lord, You know that I do.

Then why stop memorizing my word?

Why indeed? 

Teach me your Word, O Lord. I want to know it by heart.

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Know Myself, Know My God

Posted on June 21, 2023 by Shirlee Abbott

“Lord Jesus,
let me know myself
and know Thee,
and desire nothing
save only Thee.”
St. Augustine (354-430)

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