Shirlee Abbott

Acceptable Hearts

Posted on January 10, 2017 by Shirlee Abbott

Psalm 19:14 (ESV)
Let the words of my mouth
and the meditation of my heart
be acceptable in your sight, O LORD,
my rock and my redeemer.

As noted yesterday, a grateful heart gleefully puddle-jumps through life. A resentful heart is like quicksand, pulling me further down with each step. A worried heart makes for a hard walk, breaking a path through knee-deep snow. An apathetic heart drags through hot desert sand, bored and thirsty. A hateful heart is a lava flow, first burning me, then cooling into lock-stepped stone.

Guess which heart rates God’s approving smile–

Posted in other | Tagged gratitude, Psalm 19:14 | 2 Comments

Splash of Gratitude

Posted on January 9, 2017 by Shirlee Abbott

Quick! What are the last three things you thanked God for?

Breakfast
That I woke up this morning
I cleared the latest snowfall from my sidewalk with a broom

If you had to think awhile before you answered, you may be trudging through life with an ungrateful heart.

Proverbs 4:23 (NIV)
Above all else, guard your heart,
for everything you do flows from it.

Don’t slog through mud and muck. Pull on your happy boots and puddle-jump through your day. Go ahead, splash some gratitude on your nearest and dearest. It will bless their souls–and yours!

Posted in other | Tagged gratitude, Proverbs 4:23 | 6 Comments

Good and Organized

Posted on January 6, 2017 by Shirlee Abbott

Posted in other | Tagged 1 Corinthians 14:33, balance, Mary and Martha, One Word | 2 Comments

Divine Balance

Posted on January 5, 2017 by Shirlee Abbott

We find balance in Scripture. The Bible exposes us to a kaleidoscope of views on the elements of daily life. It exposes us to divine sense.

Take parenting, for example:

Proverbs 13:24
Those who spare the rod of discipline hate their children,
but those who are quick to correct them show true love.

Colossians 3:21
Don’t infuriate your children, so their hearts won’t harbor resentment and become discouraged.

Our Father God parents us with sóphronizó, this divine sense — neither overbearing nor over-indulgent.

[sóphronizó, “living in divine moderation”]

Posted in other | Tagged balance, Colossians 3:21, divine sense, parenting, Proverbs 13:24 | 2 Comments

Balanced, for God’s Sake

Posted on January 4, 2017 by Shirlee Abbott

2017 aspirations: divine sense, blessed balance

Here’s some 17th Century wisdom to help–

“. . . our sanctification did not depend upon changing our works, but in doing that for GOD’s sake, which we commonly do for our own.”
Brother Lawrence
The Practice of the Presence of God

Whatever you do, do it for God’s sake.

Posted in other | Tagged balance, Brother Lawrence, divine sense, New Year's resolutions, The Practice of the Presence of God | 2 Comments

A Sensible Prayer

Posted on January 3, 2017 by Shirlee Abbott

Lord, grant me the common sense to seek out divine sense. Guide me into your blessed balance:

work & recreation
solitude & relationships
prayer & deeds
thrift & generosity
action & rest
the present & the eternal
Martha’s well-run household & Mary’s spiritual devotion

More sóphronizó, I pray!

[sóphronizó, “living in divine moderation”]

Posted in other | Tagged common sense, divine sense, prayer, sophronizo | Comments Off

Divine Sense

Posted on January 2, 2017 by Shirlee Abbott

We talk about common sense. What is it?

Good judgment
Knowing the right thing and doing it
Where high ideals meet real life

If only common sense were more common!

If only divine sense were more common: sóphronizó, “living in divine moderation.” We find that word in Paul’s instructions to Titus, advice about older men and women passing their wisdom to the next generation. The word is translated many ways: train, teach, admonish, encourage, urge. Perhaps the VOICE says it best:

Titus 2:4
Be a positive example, showing them . . .

Resolved for 2017: Seek divine sense, be a positive example, sóphronizó.

Posted in other | Tagged common sense, New Year's resolutions, Titus 2:4 | 2 Comments

Finished!

Posted on December 30, 2016 by Shirlee Abbott

2016 is almost over.Used up. Finished.

2017 awaits. Unstained. Full of hope.

John 19:30 (NIV)
Jesus said, “It is finished.”
With that, he bowed his head
and gave up his spirit.

The old is gone. New life, unstained, full of hope lies ahead.

2 Corinthians 5:17
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ,
the new creation has come
The old has gone, the new is here!

Posted in other | Tagged 2 Corinthians 5:17, It is finished, John 19:30, new year | 2 Comments

I’m Not Finished

Posted on December 29, 2016 by Shirlee Abbott

“He’s still working on me
To make me what I need to be.”
The Hemphills

There’s a lifetime of truth tucked into that children’s ditty.

Philippians 1:6 (NLT)
And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns.

You’re not finished. Not yet.

Posted in other | Tagged Finish It, He's Still Working on Me, Philippians 1:6, The Hemphills | 1 Comment

Unfinished

Posted on December 28, 2016 by Shirlee Abbott

When I was deep-cleaning the Christmas tree corner, I unearthed a forgotten journal. Its soft leather cover is engraved with “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord.

“I was using that for something special,” I thought. “Now what was it?”

Page 1, dated 1/12/16: “This is my journal for my 2016 ‘one-word’ — FINISH IT,” The last entry, just a few pages later, is dated 2/21/16.

10 months later, here I am, Lord–the journal forgotten. Unfinished. I too am unfinished. But not forgotten. And for that, I remember to be thankful.

Posted in other | Tagged Finish It, Jeremiah 29:11, journal, One Word | 3 Comments