Shirlee Abbott

Simple Words of Joy

Posted on October 19, 2021 by Shirlee Abbott

The greatest commandments:

Simple words of great joy.

Posted in other | Tagged Deuteronomy 6:5, great commandments, joy, Liviticus 19:18, Luke 10:27, Mark 17:30-31, Matthew 22:27-28 | Comments Off

Famous Simple Words

Posted on October 18, 2021 by Shirlee Abbott

Some of Jesus’ simplest phrases have become part of our culture. People who don’t know and believe in Him use them.

From the Sermon on the Mount:

- - - “Turn the other cheek” (Matthew 5:39)
    - “Go the extra mile” (Matthew 5:41)

And “Good Samaritan” laws are named after Christ’s story about the stranger who helped a wounded traveler (Luke 10:25-37).

Simple words = deep and lasting thoughts.

Posted in Constructive Thought | Tagged extra mile, Good Samaritan, Luke 10:25-41, Matthew 5:41, Matthey 5:39, other cheek, short and simple | Comments Off

Not Doing Right Is Wrong

Posted on October 15, 2021 by Shirlee Abbott

James 4:17 (ESV)
So whoever knows the right thing to do and fails to do it, for him it is sin.

James makes it clear: Not doing the right thing is wrong. It’s a sin.

Lord, be merciful to me, for I have sinned.

Posted in other | Tagged Jame 4:17, right and wrong, sin | Comments Off

Two Wrongs Don’t Make a Right

Posted on October 14, 2021 by Shirlee Abbott

“Two wrongs don’t make a right.”

I heard that often as a child. It’s what my mother said every time I tried to blame my reaction on my brother’s action — every time I said, “He started it.”

It was her Mom Version of Scripture:

Romans 14:10, 12 (NIV)
You, then, why do you judge your brother or sister? Or why do you treat them with contempt? For we will all stand before God’s judgment seat . . .So then, each of us will give an account of ourselves to God.

Mom was right. No one else is to blame for our wrongs.

Posted in other | Tagged right and wrong, Romans 14:10-12 | Comments Off

Wrongs Aren’t Right

Posted on October 13, 2021 by Shirlee Abbott

You’ve heard about the “lesser of two evils.”
God may not see it that way.

Proverbs 17:15 (NIV)
Acquitting the guilty and condemning the innocent—
the LORD detests them both.

We sometimes choose the “lesser evil.” Which doesn’t automatically make it good.

Posted in Constructive Thought | Tagged Lesser of two evile, Proverbs 17:15 | Comments Off

I Was Wrong About Being Right

Posted on October 12, 2021 by Shirlee Abbott

I used to tell my children I was right 100% of the time.

I was wrong.

Romans 12:3 (NLT)
Don’t think you are better than you really are. Be honest in your evaluation of yourselves.

God is right 100% of the time. And honestly, I’m not
(my children knew it all along).

Posted in other | Tagged Right, Romans 12:3, wrong | Comments Off

Columbus Was Right — and Wrong

Posted on October 11, 2021 by Shirlee Abbott

Today is the day we Americans remember how Columbus “discovered” our land.

I offer a couple thoughts:

- - - Columbus was partly right — the world is round.
    - Columbus was partly wrong — he didn’t find a new route to Asia. He stumbled on a continent.

How often do we let our expectations define our discoveries? How often are we partly right? How often are we wrong like Columbus?

Remember this snippet of Scripture:

1 Corinthians 13:12
Now I know in part.

We don’t know it all. We could be wrong.

Posted in Constructive Thought | Tagged 1 Corinthians 13:12, America, Columbus | Comments Off

Be Grateful for All Your Blessings

Posted on October 8, 2021 by Shirlee Abbott

Don’t just notice your blessings. Be grateful.

We are blessed.

Posted in other | Tagged 1 Thessalonians 5:18, blessings | Comments Off

Basic and Bountiful Blessings

Posted on October 7, 2021 by Shirlee Abbott

Some blessings are basic, some are bountiful:

Basic: daily bread
Bountiful: daily meat, fresh veggies, coffee & chocolate

Basic: safe shelter
Bountiful: my own room in a house of many rooms

Basic: clothes on my back
Bountiful: a closet filled with the latest fashions

Either way, you are blessed.

Philippians 4:12 (MSG)
I’ve learned by now to be quite content whatever my circumstances. I’m just as happy with little as with much, with much as with little.

Posted in other | Tagged blessings, Philippians 4:12 | Comments Off

The Big Book of Blessings

Posted on October 6, 2021 by Shirlee Abbott

In search of bigger blessings?
Try the Bible.

Posted in Timeless Wisdom | Tagged Bible, blessings, Charles Haddon Spurgeon | 2 Comments