Shirlee Abbott

Excuse: “Not Now”

Posted on November 29, 2018 by Shirlee Abbott

“How soon ‘not now’ becomes ‘never.'”
Martin Luther (1483-1546)

Let God be the one to say, “Not now.”

Posted in other | Tagged excuses, Martin Luther, not now | 3 Comments

Excuse: “We’ve Always Done It This Way!”

Posted on November 28, 2018 by Shirlee Abbott

Remember Peter’s vision of the sheet filled with unclean animals and God’s command, “Kill and eat.”

Acts 10:14 (NLT)
“No, Lord,” Peter declared. “I have never eaten anything that our Jewish laws have declared impure and unclean.”

Find yourself saying”No, Lord” often? It’s time to rethink what the word “Lord” means.

Posted in other | Tagged Acts 10:14, Lord, Peter | 3 Comments

Excuse: “Not Me!”

Posted on November 27, 2018 by Shirlee Abbott

The Spirit nudges you, and you think you’re not up to the job.

You’re in good company. Remember Moses:

Exodus 4:13 (NIV)
But Moses said, “Pardon your servant, Lord. Please send someone else.”

God did send “someone else.” Aaron went with Moses–not instead of him. God’s got a plan. Go with it.

Posted in other | Tagged excuses, Exodus 4:13, Moses | 2 Comments

Excuses, Excuses

Posted on November 26, 2018 by Shirlee Abbott

The Spirit nudges you to take action. What do you say?

• It’s too hard
• I’m not good enough
• Not that job!
• I don’t want to

Excuses! Truth be told, sometimes I think a job is above me, and sometimes I think it is beneath me. And sometimes I don’t want to get up off the couch.

Who is the better judge of what’s good for me—me, or God?

Posted in other | Tagged excuses | 3 Comments

Sacred Safe Spaces

Posted on November 25, 2018 by Shirlee Abbott

If there’s one place people should feel safe, it’s church. American Baptist Churches of New Jersey are encouraged to be sacred safe spaces –that is, to

“create compassionate healing communities that provide a safe place for the restoration of those who have experienced violence … encourage intentional practice of healthy relationships which include mutual respect, justice, love and peace for all persons.”

Open our eyes, Lord, to see the need, and open our hearts to those who hurt. Amen.

Posted in other | Tagged ABC-NJ, sacred safe space, Safe Shelter, violence | 3 Comments

Good Work

Posted on November 23, 2018 by Shirlee Abbott

That wise saint, Brother Lawrence (1614-1691) “was content doing the smallest chore if he could do it purely for the love of God.”
from Second Conversation,
The Practice of the Presence of God

Follow the good Brother’s example.