Shirlee Abbott

To and From

Posted on December 21, 2019 by Shirlee Abbott

You’ve got your lists, and you’re checking them twice. Who gave you what, who still to buy for.

Here’s the real from and to of Christmas:

1 John 4:14 (NIV)
The Father has sent his Son
to be the Savior of the world.

Posted in Advent | Tagged 1 John 4:14, Advent | 3 Comments

God and Man

Posted on December 20, 2019 by Shirlee Abbott

“Jesus was God and man in one person, that
God and man might be happy together again.”
George Whitefield (1714-1777)

Posted in Advent | Tagged Advent, George Whitefield, God and man | 4 Comments

Good and Bad

Posted on December 19, 2019 by Shirlee Abbott

No room in the inn, Herod’s plan to kill the baby boys—bad things happened to Mary, Joseph and the holy Child. Why would you expect only good things to come to you? Remember what Jesus said:

John 16:33 (NIV)
In this world you will have trouble.
But take heart! I have overcome the world.

Posted in Advent | Tagged Advent, John 16:33, trouble | 3 Comments

Great and Small

Posted on December 18, 2019 by Shirlee Abbott

“Your mercy reaches from the heavens, through the clouds, to the earth below. You have come to us as a small child, but you have brought us the greatest of all gifts, the gift of eternal love.”
Bernard of Clairvaux (1090-1153)

Posted in Advent | Tagged Advent, Bernard of Clairvaux | 3 Comments

Birth and Rebirth

Posted on December 17, 2019 by Shirlee Abbott

Christ was born so we can be reborn.

John 3:3 (ERV)
Jesus answered, “I assure you,
everyone must be born again.
Anyone who is not born again
cannot be in God’s kingdom.”

Posted in Advent | Tagged Advent, born again, John 3:3 | 3 Comments

Conceived and Born

Posted on December 16, 2019 by Shirlee Abbott

Isaiah 7:14 (NIV)
The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son,
and will call him Immanuel.

James 1:14-15
After desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin;
and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death.

God with Us = life.
Sin = death.
Which to choose?

Posted in Advent | Tagged conceived and born, Isaiah 7:14, James 1:14-15 | 3 Comments

War and Peace

Posted on December 15, 2019 by Shirlee Abbott

Wars and rumors of war. Political dissent. Prejudice.

“Oh, bid our sad divisions cease,
And be yourself our King of Peace.”
O Come, O Come, Emmanuel
John Mason Neale (1861) English
Psalteriolum Cantionum Catholicarum (1710) Latin

Posted in Advent | Tagged Advent, John Mason Neale, O Come O Come Emmanuel, Psalteriolum Cantionum Catholicarum | 3 Comments

True and False

Posted on December 14, 2019 by Shirlee Abbott

“Who is like you,
Jesus, sweet Jesus?
. . .
You are the guide of those
   who are bewildered by falsehood.
You are the peace of those
   who are in turmoil.
You are the prince of those
   who yearn to be led.
You are the priest of those
   who seek the truth.”
Johann Freylinghausen (1670-1739)