Dignity

Posted on May 26, 2017 by Shirlee Abbott

 

Proverbs 31:25 (NIV)
She is clothed with strength and dignity.

 

 

Clothed. Not an old cloak casually thrown our worst secrets. No, dignity is God’s under-armor. 

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Fidelity

Posted on May 25, 2017 by Shirlee Abbott

 

I confess–I’ve been cheating on you, Lord, with the gods of my culture: possessions, power, popularity. I’m sorry. I want to quit. I want to be faithful to you, and you alone.

 

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Serenity

Posted on May 24, 2017 by Shirlee Abbott

I’ve used this quote before, but to my mind, there’s no better picture of true serenity.

 

“A cup brimful of sweetness cannot spill even one drop of bitter water, no matter how suddenly jarred.”
Amy Carmichael (1867-1951)

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Integrity

Posted on May 23, 2017 by Shirlee Abbott

We live in an era of spin, damage control and fake news.

 

Fake integrity?

You can’t fool God.

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Ity Words

Posted on May 21, 2017 by Shirlee Abbott

 

 

These words have been running through my head all last week. Do they describe you?

 

  • Integrity
  • Serenity
  • Fidelity
  • Dignity

Holding to high moral values. Consistently displaying a calm and unruffled nature. Being faithful in all things. Living in a manner worthy of respect.

Paul’s letter to the Philippian church comes to mind:

Philippians 4:8 (NLT)
And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.

Fix your thoughts. Think “ity.”

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What Would Jesus Like?

Posted on May 19, 2017 by Shirlee Abbott

A couple days back, we considered what Jesus would tweet. Today, imagine our Lord next to you on the couch as you scroll through your social media. Which posts would Jesus like?

The sexy pose  (doubt it)

Your profane rant (probably not)

That selfie at the slot machine (nope)

 Kids passing out cookies at the nursing home

 

Good enough for God to like (like, not love — love is a different story for another day).

 

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A Puritan’s Guide to Social Media

Posted on May 17, 2017 by Shirlee Abbott

Take a trip with me back to the 1600’s. We’re looking for advice for our texts, tweets, posts, pins and comments.

 

“The nature and end of judgment or sentence
must be corrective, not vindictive;
for healing, not destruction.”
John Owen (1616-1683)
A Puritan Golden Treasury

 

It’s simple, really.

Corrective and healing – [send]
Vindictive and destructive – [delete]

And you thought those old dudes where outdated and irrelevant. 

 

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If Jesus Wouldn’t, You Shouldn’t

Posted on May 17, 2017 by Shirlee Abbott

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Wise Words

Posted on May 16, 2017 by Shirlee Abbott

 

Proverbs 31:26 (NIV)
She speaks with wisdom,
and faithful instruction is on her tongue.

 

On her tongue, in her emails and her Facebook comments. 

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Mom’s Right

Posted on May 14, 2017 by Shirlee Abbott

 

Good advice from your mother –

 

 

  • Get out of the mud
  • Wash your hands
  • God loves you and has a plan for your life

Mom,  and God.

Psalm 40:2 (NIV)
He lifted me . . . out of the mud and mire.

Psalm 24:3-4
Who may ascend the mountain of the Lord?
. . . The one who has clean hands and a pure heart.

Jeremiah 29:11
“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”

Listen up. Mom was right. 

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