Shirlee Abbott

Count ‘Em

Posted on December 22, 2016 by Shirlee Abbott

Count Your Blessings meets Joy to the World:

“And wonders, and wonders of his love.”

Count his many wonders . . .

“Name them one by one,
and it will surprise you
what the Lord has done.”

Posted in Advent | Tagged Advent, Count Your Blessings, Joy to the World | 4 Comments

God Rest You Merry, Noble Women

Posted on December 21, 2016 by Shirlee Abbott

To my female readers—

Do you feel left out of this Christmas carol?

God rest you merry, Gentlemen,
Let nothing you dismay.

Not to worry, God’s got it covered–in the well-known description of the wife of noble character:

Proverbs 31:25 (NIV)
She is clothed with strength and dignity;
she can laugh at the days to come.

Different gender. Same attitude.

Posted in Advent | Tagged Advent, God Rest You Merry Gentlemen, Proverbs 31:25 | 2 Comments

Let’s All Sing, “Away in a Manger”

Posted on December 20, 2016 by Shirlee Abbott

OK, call me fickle. Yesterday I criticized Away in a Manger. Today, I want us to sing it. Together. Often. All the verses.

What’s with that?

Tucked away in the third verse is the best prayer ever. For everyone.

Be near me, Lord Jesus, I ask Thee to stay
Close by me forever and love me, I pray.

Posted in Advent | Tagged Advent, Away in a Manger, Jesus, prayer | 3 Comments

Away in a [Not So Pristine] Manger

Posted on December 18, 2016 by Shirlee Abbott

I gotta admit–Away in a Manger bugs me a bit. It makes the stable and manger seem sweet. Lullaby sweet. And I have second thoughts.

The only good thing about birthing a baby in a stable is that it isn’t the street. No gawking crowd of strangers.

The only good thing about settling a baby into a manger is that it’s cleaner than the stable floor.

I grew up among farmers. We took off our boots and washed our hands when we came in from the barn. For good reason.

Jesus traded the glories of heaven for this. For us.

Posted in Advent | Tagged Away in a Manger, Jesus, manger | 2 Comments

Hark! It’s the Doxology

Posted on December 16, 2016 by Shirlee Abbott

We sing the Doxology every Sunday:

“Praise Him above, ye heavenly host.”

Sing, Hark! The Herald Angels Sing–same thought, slightly different words:

“Christ, by highest heaven adored.”

And we get to sing alongside that heavenly host: Glory to God!

Posted in Advent | Tagged Advent, Doxology, Hark! The Herald Angels Sing | 2 Comments

Hark! The Words Shine Forth Today

Posted on December 15, 2016 by Shirlee Abbott

Handy Hubby hung swags of colored lights along our back fence. I look into the darkness and see a path of lights along the edge of our property.

Hark! The Herald Angels Sing is a set of beautiful phrases hung together–like my beautiful backyard decorations, they are guiding lights in our dark world.

Peace on earth, and mercy mild,
GOD and sinners reconciled . . .

Veiled in flesh, the Godhead see,
Hail the Incarnate Deity!

Mild he lays his glory by,
Born that man no more may die.

Posted in Advent | Tagged Advent, Hark! The Herald Angels Sing, light | 2 Comments

Hark! Angles Say

Posted on December 14, 2016 by Shirlee Abbott

Imagine this scene (with Charles Wesley’s attention to detail)–

Shepherds abide in the fields, keeping watch over their flocks by night. The sky explodes with ten thousand flashes of lightning.

Angels speak in the north sky:
For to us a child is born.
Thousands in the south respond:
To us a son is given.
From the east:
And the government shall be on his shoulders.
And the west:
And he will be called . . .

Ten thousand voices echo across the sky, saying:

Wonderful Counselor

Mighty God Everlasting Father

Prince of Peace

Yep, if I were a shepherd, I’d be sore afraid.

Posted in Advent | Tagged angels, Charles Wesley, Hark! The Herald Angels Sing, shepherds | 2 Comments

Hark! Angels Sing

Posted on December 13, 2016 by Shirlee Abbott

I imagine shepherds on the hillside, watching their flocks by night. Someone is playing a simple wooden flute, a quiet melody floating over men and sheep–gray shadows caught in a flicker of firelight.

BOOM! The skies open with a crack of thunder and an explosion of light. The angels split the sky with a perfect performance of Handel’s Messiah!

Beats the food court flash mob’s Hallelujah Chorus all hollow. Listen here to the flash mob, think shepherds at night.

Posted in Advent | Tagged Advent, angels, Hallelujah Chorus, Handel's Messiah, Hark! The Herald Angels Sing, shepherds | 6 Comments

Hark! How All the Welkin Rings

Posted on December 12, 2016 by Shirlee Abbott

Welkin?

According to Websters, welkin is “the vault of the sky, firmament,” or “celestial abode of God.” And when Charles Wesley penned the words of a now familiar carol, he wrote, Hark! How all the welkin rings, Glory to the King of kings.

Wesley’s colleague, George Whitefield, tweaked the first line and published the song. Wesley was furious—his carefully crafted verse was no longer biblically accurate.

Luke 2:13-14 (NIV)
Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, “Glory to God…”

Saying, not singing.

Heavens rang. Absolutely. Angels sang. Maybe not.

Posted in Advent | Tagged Charles Wesley, George Whitefield, Hark! The Herald Angels Sing, welkin | 2 Comments

Peaceful Night, Holy Night

Posted on December 9, 2016 by Shirlee Abbott

Sleep in heavenly peace.

Peace isn’t the absence of noise.

Peace is the presence of God.

John 14:27 (ESV)
Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you.
Not as the world gives do I give to you.
Let not your hearts be troubled.

Posted in Advent | Tagged Advent, John 14:27, peace, Silent Night | 2 Comments