Shirlee Abbott

A Long Legacy of Blessing

Posted on September 27, 2021 by Shirlee Abbott

Remember this from the Ten Commandments:

Exodus 20:5-6 (NIV)
I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God, punishing the children for the sin of the parents to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me, but showing love to a thousand generations of those who love me and keep my commandments.

Over the years, I’ve seen children suffer the consequences of their parents’ sin. Children hurt by their parents sometimes hurt their own children.

Sin – punished to the fourth generation.
Love and obedience – blessed to a thousand.

Choose love and obedience, choose a good, long legacy.

Posted in Constructive Thought | Tagged Exodus 20:5-6, legacy, sins of the parents | Comments Off

Our Inheritance Becomes Our Legacy

Posted on September 24, 2021 by Shirlee Abbott

Psalm 78:1-4 (MEV)
Give ear, O my people, to my teaching;
incline your ears to the words of my mouth.
I will open my mouth in a parable;
I will utter insightful sayings of old,
which we have heard and known,
what our fathers have told us.
We will not hide them from their children,
but will tell the coming generation
the praises of the Lord,
and His strength, and the wonderful works that He has done.

We inherited this story of peace and light.
We must share it with the next generation.

Posted in Timeless Wisdom | Tagged H. Ernest Nichol, inheritance, legacy, Psalm 78:1-4, We've a Story to Tell to the Nations | Comments Off

Our Legacy

Posted on September 23, 2021 by Shirlee Abbott

I’m back from a family reunion. We didn’t use last week’s word, inheritance, but the concept kept coming up. We talked about our grandparents, aunts and uncles and their good (or not-so-good) genetic, emotional and spiritual legacies.

Which brings us to this week’s word: legacy.

What legacy are we leaving for the next generation?
What will the next generation remember about us?

Psalm 145:4 (NLT)
Let each generation tell its children of your mighty acts;
let them proclaim your power.

What have you told the next generation about God’s power and mighty acts? It’s not too late to start.

Posted in Constructive Thought | Tagged inheritance, legacy, Psalm 145:4 | Comments Off

Break Time!

Posted on September 16, 2021 by Shirlee Abbott

I’m spending a long weekend with family.
See you next week!

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My Treasured Inheritance

Posted on September 15, 2021 by Shirlee Abbott

More than an inheritance with Christ —
Christ IS my inheritance.

Treasure beyond all treasures!

Posted in Timeless Wisdom | Tagged Be Thou my Vision, inheritance, Mary E. Byrne | Comments Off

My Here-and-Now Inheritance

Posted on September 14, 2021 by Shirlee Abbott

I don’t have to wait for my inheritance.

Sure, I have an eternal inheritance yet to come.
But I delight in this inheritance–right here, right now.
The boundary lines for me have fallen in a pleasant
place indeed.

Posted in other | Tagged inheritance, Psalm 16:5-6 | Comments Off

Our Grand Inheritance

Posted on September 13, 2021 by Shirlee Abbott

What have you inherited from your parents and grandparents? Property, money, family treasures?

Give this some thought.

Romans 8:16-17 (NIV)
The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children. Now if we are children, then we are heirs— heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ.

We are co-heirs with Christ. His inheritance is our inheritance.

Posted in Constructive Thought | Tagged inheritance, Romans 8:15-17 | Comments Off

Write the Story for Jesus’ Sake

Posted on September 10, 2021 by Shirlee Abbott

It’s tempting to write the story so it makes me look good.
But I’m not writing it for my sake.

These words, among the thousands of words Augustine wrote,
direct us to live out our lives for Jesus’ sake and God’s glory.
In his “Confessions of Augustine,” the story of his conversion
to Christianity, Augustine explained the dramatic change from
living for himself to living for God. It’s a worthy goal for us all.

May we all humble ourselves and exalt Thee.