Advent: Healing

Posted on November 29, 2022 by Shirlee Abbott

Share
Posted in Advent | Tagged , , | 1 Comment

Advent: Prophecy

Posted on November 28, 2022 by Shirlee Abbott

Share
Posted in Advent | Tagged , , | 1 Comment

Advent: Hope

Posted on November 27, 2022 by Shirlee Abbott

It’s Advent, the season when we ponder God-in-us, Immanuel. A friend and I wrote an Advent prayer calendar for our congregation. I’ll share those thoughts with you every day from now till December 25.

 

Share
Posted in Advent | Tagged , , , | 2 Comments

Thanks for Reluctant Readers

Posted on November 26, 2022 by Shirlee Abbott

I am thankful for the many Christians who don’t let their struggle to read stand in the way of their relationship with Christ.  I am thankful for the easy-reader versions of the Bible that use shorter sentences and simpler words (ERV and NIRV, for example).

I’m thankful the Holy Spirit is here to help.

John 16:13 (MSG)
But when the Friend comes, the Spirit of the Truth, he will take you by the hand and guide you into all the truth there is.

Share
Posted in other | Tagged , | Comments Off on Thanks for Reluctant Readers

Great Gratitude

Posted on November 25, 2022 by Shirlee Abbott


“The greatest saint in the world is not he who prays most or fasts most; it is not he who gives alms, or is most eminent for temperance, chastity or justice. It is he who is most thankful to God.”
William Law (1686-1761)

 

 

 

When his political views prevented him from serving as a priest, William Law became a writer. If he’d become a priest, we might have missed out on his wisdom.

 

Share
Posted in Timeless Wisdom | Tagged , | 2 Comments

A Token of My Gratitude

Posted on November 24, 2022 by Shirlee Abbott

Share
Posted in Timeless Wisdom | Tagged , | Comments Off on A Token of My Gratitude

Heartfelt Gratitude

Posted on November 23, 2022 by Shirlee Abbott

 

“Thou who has given so much to me,
give one thing more: a grateful heart.”
George Herbert (1593-1633)

 

 

George Herbert was a priest in the Church of England. He’s best-known for his poetry.

Share
Posted in Timeless Wisdom | Tagged , | 1 Comment

Gratitude for All Things

Posted on November 22, 2022 by Shirlee Abbott

1 Thessalonians 5:18 (GNV)
In all things, give thanks,
for this is the will of God
in Christ Jesus toward you.

 

“Yes, give thanks for ‘all things’ for, as it has been well said ‘Our disappointments are but His appointments.'”
A. W. Pink (1886-1952)

 

Thank You, Lord, for my disappointments and your divine appointments. Forgive my doubts. Do away with my distress.
Fill me with faith.

 

 

Arthur Pink’s writings speak to larger audiences than he ever did. He is better known in death than in life.

Share
Posted in Timeless Wisdom | Tagged , , | 2 Comments

Timeless Gratitude

Posted on November 21, 2022 by Shirlee Abbott

Here in the US, it’s the week of Thanksgiving. I’m looking to minds wiser than mine to jumpstart my thankful thinking.

 

“When it comes to life the critical thing is whether you take things for granted or take them with gratitude.”
G. K. Chesterton (1874-1935)

 

Gratitude, Lord! Give me a thankful heart.

 

 

 

Gilbert Chesterton had a way with words. He wrote a hundred books, 200 short stories, more than 4000 newspaper essays, lots of poems and a few plays. He’s known for his commons sense, humor, and eloquence.

Share
Posted in Timeless Wisdom | Tagged , , | 1 Comment

Bless Those Reluctant Readers

Posted on November 19, 2022 by Shirlee Abbott

Lots of people find reading to be hard work. I call them “reluctant readers.” Many of them lack the ability to scan. They start at the top and work their way down the page, reading every word.

 

I scan without thinking. I search for a specific Bible verse, barely noticing the surrounding text. Imagine reading every word between the top of the page and the verse you’re looking for. Imagine that every word is hard work. 

Now you know why they’re reluctant.

Share
Posted in other | Tagged , , | 2 Comments