Shirlee Abbott

Rock Solid Advice

Posted on March 31, 2016 by Shirlee Abbott

Posted in other | Tagged Romans14:13, stepping stone, stumbling block | 2 Comments

They Copy What You Do

Posted on March 30, 2016 by Shirlee Abbott

On my very first back-to-school night, not quite 40 years ago, the librarian asked, “What is the most important thing parents do to encourage their children to read?”

“Read to them,” was the unanimous response.

“No,” the librarian answered. “If your children see you reading for pleasure, they will want to read. They copy what you do.”

And if your children see you studying the Bible and praying, they will want to study the Bible and pray. They copy what you do.

Posted in other | Tagged Bible study, prayer, teach your children | Comments Off

Follow the Directions

Posted on March 29, 2016 by Shirlee Abbott

How do you teach your children to follow God’s commands? The Bible is your instruction manual.

Deuteronomy 11:19-20 (CEV)
Teach them to your children. Talk about them all the time—whether you’re at home or walking along the road or going to bed at night, or getting up in the morning. Write them on the door frames of your homes and on your town gates.

You live out your faith, day and night, at home and in public. You are teaching your children about your faith by your actions. If it isn’t obvious, they will think it isn’t important.

What could possibly be more important?

Posted in other | Tagged Deuteronomy 11:19-20, teach your children | Comments Off

Why Wait?

Posted on March 28, 2016 by Shirlee Abbott

Which attitude about sharing your faith with your children do you hold?

I’ll let them decide for themselves when they’re old enough
My house, my faith
I’ll drop them off at church – somebody else can teach them

Ultimately, sure, our children have to decide for themselves. But our inaction teaches every bit as much as our action.

You wouldn’t wait till your children are teenagers to introduce reading and writing. You don’t let them decide for themselves whether they should brush their teeth.

If faith is the foundation of your life, why wait a decade to mention it?

Posted in other | Tagged foundation of faith, parents and children, teach the children | Comments Off

The Horrible Beautiful Cross

Posted on March 25, 2016 by Shirlee Abbott

In 1912, George Bennard was heckled for his faith at a revival service. He was so disturbed by that event that he wrote “The Old Rugged Cross.”

“In that old rugged cross, stained with blood so divine,
A wondrous beauty I see,
For ’twas on that old cross Jesus suffered and died,
To pardon and sanctify me.”

Today, of all days, this is our song.

Posted in other | Tagged George Bennard, Good Friday, The Old Rugged Cross | Comments Off

Will Be Done

Posted on March 24, 2016 by Shirlee Abbott

I pray

Thy will be done,

because he prayed

Not my will, but Thine be done.

Posted in other | Tagged Not Thy will but Thine, Your will be done | Comments Off

Who’s the Good Guy?

Posted on March 23, 2016 by Shirlee Abbott

Simon Peter = good guy. Thief = bad guy.

Maybe not.

Luke 22:59-60 (NLT)
Someone else flatly stated, “I know this fellow is one of Jesus’ disciples, for both are from Galilee.” But Peter said, “Man, I don’t know what you are talking about.”

Luke 23:41-43
But the other criminal protested . . .“We deserve to die for our evil deeds, but this man hasn’t done one thing wrong.” Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your Kingdom.” And Jesus replied, “Today you will be with me in Paradise.”

Loved of God. Saved by grace. Both of them.

And me. And you.

Posted in other | Tagged Luke 22:59-60, Luke 23:41-43, saved by grace, Simon Peter, thief on the cross | Comments Off

The Color of Forgiveness

Posted on March 22, 2016 by Shirlee Abbott

Palm Sunday fell just three days after St. Patrick’s Day. And it was the first day of spring. Days of green, all around.

St. Patrick was enslaved by the Irish; he escaped and voluntarily returned, determined to share the good news of Jesus Christ with his former captors. Spring brings an official end to the unforgiving cold of winter. Palm Sunday put Christ on the path to die for our sins.

Some say that green is the color of envy. This green is the color of forgiveness.

Posted in other | Tagged forgiveness, green, Palm Sunday, Spring, St. Patrick | 2 Comments

Put Yourself in the Easter Story

Posted on March 21, 2016 by Shirlee Abbott

You know the Easter story. Do any of the characters remind you of yourself?

The short-sighted religious leaders
The mockers – mean words came from their lips
The disciples who ran off when it got scary

A few years ago, I read the part of Mary Magdalene for the Easter cantata.

John 20:16 (NIV)
Jesus said to her, “Mary.” She turned and said to him in Aramaic, “Rabboni!”

I carefully considered what I would have done in Mary’s place. Had I been Mary, I would have fallen to my face in front of Christ. That made sense.

Except I couldn’t. I would be wearing a wireless mike. A fall amplified throughout the sanctuary would be a show-stopper. In all the wrong ways.

Option 2: Arms up, running toward Jesus, “My Lord!”

Posted in other | Tagged Easter, John 20:16, Mary Magdaline | Comments Off

Thy Eternal Good Be Done

Posted on March 18, 2016 by Shirlee Abbott

When I pray, I want immediate answers.

Just make it so, I wail. Do it now!

But Jesus isn’t bound by time.

Revelation 22:13 (NIV)
I am the Alpha and the Omega,
the First and the Last,
the Beginning and the End.

I am focused on what seems best at this moment in time. Jesus is focused on what is best for all eternity. What I see as urgent looks very different to him. That thought gives me pause. What do I really want? The quick fix, or the eternal good?

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