Shirlee Abbott

Humble Success

Posted on September 16, 2016 by Shirlee Abbott

Posted in other | Tagged humility, Micah 6:8, obedience, Success | Comments Off

Can I Be Honest?

Posted on September 15, 2016 by Shirlee Abbott

I tend to take credit for the things I do well and blame God for my weaknesses (he could have tweaked my DNA in the better direction, right?).

Romans 12:3 (NIV)
Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought.

Thinking too highly of myself? Honestly, Lord, yes.

Posted in other | Tagged honesty, humility, Romans 12:3 | 2 Comments

Wise and Humble . . . and Really Old

Posted on September 14, 2016 by Shirlee Abbott

Let’s go back 1600 years for this week’s advice:

“If you plan to build a tall house of virtues,
you must first lay deep foundations of humility.”
St. Augustine of Hippo (354-430)

I know of a couple presidential candidates who could benefit from this advice. Come to think of it, couldn’t we all?

Posted in other | Tagged Augustine, humility, presidential candidates | 2 Comments

Humble Instructions

Posted on September 13, 2016 by Shirlee Abbott

Synonyms for “humble” include meek, submissive, unassertive. Not exactly the words folks use to describe me.

But what does God say?

Matthew 5:5 (NIV)
Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.

Ephesians 5:21
Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.

Romans 12:3
Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the faith God has distributed to each of you.

Hmmm, I’m having trouble with these instructions. I think it might be a humility problem.

Posted in other | Tagged Ephesians 5:21, humble, Matthew 5:5, meek, Romans 12:3, submissive | Comments Off

Healthy Dose of Humility

Posted on September 12, 2016 by Shirlee Abbott

What do you think? Is it good to be humble?

Humble? People will walk all over you
You gotta have high self-esteem to get ahead
Humility is good—in small doses

We Americans are scarcely known for our humility. But God says:

2 Chronicles 7:14 (NIV)
If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.

Methinks we should give humility a try.

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Grand Opening, Facebook Style

Posted on September 12, 2016 by Shirlee Abbott

Next Saturday, we’re starting a new women’s Bible study at church. We’ll meet the 1st & 3rd Saturday of each month, 9:30 AM.

For those who can’t come in real time (or for men who’ve always wondered what it is the women talk about), I’ll be posting the Bible lessons in short daily snippets on my brand new Facebook writer’s page. I hope you’ll check it out.

I aim for deep thoughts that are easy-to-read–short sentences, simple words, just two or three paragraphs at a time. But if you’d rather read it all at once, the whole lesson will be posted here under Foundation Studies.

Posted in other | Tagged Acts, Bible study, Facebook | Comments Off

Watched Over, Never Overlooked

Posted on September 9, 2016 by Shirlee Abbott

My favorite preacher, Charles Haddon Spurgeon, did a sermon on God’s plan for our future. Read his whole message here.

“I believe that nothing happens apart from divine determination and decree. Even the little things in life are not overlooked by the all-seeing eyes.”
“God’s Will about the Future”
Charles H. Spurgeon, 1892

God’s got his eye on you.

Posted in other | Tagged Charles Haddon Spurgeon, James 4:13-17 | Comments Off

Jesus Is Worth It All. Absolutely

Posted on September 8, 2016 by Shirlee Abbott

Last week we saw the movie, “The Insanity of God” (it will shown again, 7 PM on September 13, in theaters across the country–learn more about it here).

Persecuted Christians were asked: “Is Jesus worth it?”

The joy on their faces answered the question.

Yet here we are in America, land of the free, hiding our faith under a bushel lest we offend someone. We take no risk.

Here’s a question for you: is your popularity, your security, your happy-go-lucky reputation worth it? Is it worth denying Christ?

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Blessed Plans

Posted on September 7, 2016 by Shirlee Abbott

Posted in other | Tagged James 4:13-14, plans | 2 Comments

Acts, in Obedience

Posted on September 6, 2016 by Shirlee Abbott

My plans were in place for a women’s Bible study on the Trinity. First lesson ready to go. Second lesson, started, then trashed. Started over, stuck again.

I prayed. Silence.

We went to the movie, “The Insanity of God” (it was powerful). There was a passing comment about a Bible study on the book of Acts. Just one sentence, not essential to the movie.

I sensed God saying, That’s it. Acts. I nodded, and concentrated on the movie. While the credits rolled, I wondered, Acts? Really?

Again, I felt the rumble, Acts.

Acts it is.

Church under Construction, A Study of the Book of Acts.
(in person on 1st & 3rd Saturdays, starting September 17,
and posted on this website)

Posted in other | Tagged Acts, Bible study, The Insanity of God | 4 Comments