Shirlee Abbott

Painful Hope

Posted on May 26, 2016 by Shirlee Abbott

Posted in other | Tagged hope, pain, Revelation 21:4 | Comments Off

Painful Compliment

Posted on May 25, 2016 by Shirlee Abbott

Let’s see what deep thinker and writer, C. S. Lewis, says about pain. He wrote a whole book on The Problem of Pain. Here’s just one thought:

“We are . . . a Divine work of art . . . with which He will not be satisfied until it has a certain character. Here again we come up against what I have called the ‘intolerable compliment’ . . . it is natural for us to wish that God had designed for us a less glorious and less arduous destiny; but then we are wishing not for more love but for less.”

Posted in other | Tagged C. S. Lewis, pain, The Problem of Pain | 2 Comments

Painful Conversation

Posted on May 24, 2016 by Shirlee Abbott

Are you in pain?

Feel free to complain to God. You are in good company:

How long, Lord? Will you forget me forever?
(David – Psalm 13:1)

How long, Lord, must I call for help?
(Habakkuk 1:2)

How long, Sovereign Lord, holy and true, until you judge the inhabitants of the earth and avenge our blood?
(the souls of those who have been slain – Revelation 6:10)

Find comfort in Scripture. God doesn’t turn his back on complaints–even if he doesn’t immediately give the answer you want. Rest assured, he hears you. And he cares.

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Pray for Pain

Posted on May 23, 2016 by Shirlee Abbott

Last week, my friend Dean asked me about pain, “when you’ve prayed for a long time and healing doesn’t come.” How would you answer?

Keep praying
God doesn’t care
Drugs, stronger drugs

Keep praying. God does care. Drugs may help.

Whether you are the one in pain or you are praying for a loved one in pain, first pray that the pain will be a highway to a closer relationship with God, not a wall that stands in the way of that relationship.

Miraculous healing, gradual recovery or continued pain–it’s the relationship with God that matters most.

Posted in other | Tagged pain, prayer | 2 Comments

The Path of Pure Joy

Posted on May 20, 2016 by Shirlee Abbott

James 1:2 (NIV)
Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds.

When trials come, Lord God, may my words, deeds and prayers work together for joy. Don’t let me be a stumbling block on your highway to holiness.

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Smooth the Path

Posted on May 19, 2016 by Shirlee Abbott

Posted in other | Tagged Luke 3:4, smooth the path | 2 Comments

The Good Life

Posted on May 18, 2016 by Shirlee Abbott

This week’s quote comes from a fictional character–out of Dale Cramer’s Though Mountains Fall:

“Life is good,” Miriam said, “but it’s never easy.”

Bless Miriam’s wisdom! And Dale’s.

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A Troubled Path

Posted on May 17, 2016 by Shirlee Abbott

Ever meet people who who think that a smooth path is proof positive that they are doing God’s will?

Careful study of the Bible shows that people who obey God run into trouble. Poor Joseph was sold into slavery and sent to prison. Paul was harassed, beaten and jailed.

Christ had the cross.

Philippians 2:8 (ESV)
. . . he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.

Posted in other | Tagged Christ, Joseph, Paul, Philippians 2:8 | 2 Comments

Plan Ahead, Count the Cost

Posted on May 16, 2016 by Shirlee Abbott

Do you plan for the best? Or for the worst?

Things have a way of working out
Everything that can go wrong, will go wrong
Be prepared!
What, me worry?

Some people act as though nothing bad will ever happen to them. Other people assume nothing good will ever come their way. The truth is somewhere in the middle.

Christ calls us to count the cost. Plan. And step out in faith.

Posted in other | Tagged Count the cost, faith | 2 Comments

Such a Time

Posted on May 13, 2016 by Shirlee Abbott

I love the book of Esther. It’s a great story–with a none-too-bright king, an evil villain, a trusted adviser and the brave and beautiful queen. The disaster train speeds along, and the villain has the Jewish nation tied to the tracks. Our reluctant heroine, Queen Esther, is advised that she was made queen “for such a time as this” (Esther 4:14).

Is there a disaster train speeding toward America? Many people think so.

Lord, give us the hero/heroine we need “for such a time as this.” Amen.

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