Shirlee Abbott

Christmas Blessings

Posted on December 21, 2015 by Shirlee Abbott

The Lord is come,
rejoice and be glad!

(I’ll be back after Christmas)

Posted in other | Tagged Christmas | 1 Comment

My Timely Gift

Posted on December 18, 2015 by Shirlee Abbott

The wise men brought gold, frankincense and myrrh. The little drummer boy brought his talent. Let me tiptoe into the stable and quietly leave the gift of my time beside the manger.

It’s yours, Lord. I dedicate my time to your glory. Amen.

Posted in other | Tagged Advent, gift, Time | Comments Off

I Am Right and the Other Guy Is Wrong . . . NOT

Posted on December 17, 2015 by Shirlee Abbott

Luke 2:15 (NIV)
When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened.”

We just watched a row of Presidential candidates politely (for the most part) disagreeing. The shepherds, on the other hand, appear to have been in total agreement.

“Then let us all in one accord
sing praises to our heavenly Lord.”
from The First Noel, traditional English carol

At least for Christmas, let us put aside our disagreements and unite in our worship of Christ.

Posted in other | Tagged Luke 2:15, one accord, presidential candidates, The First Noel | 2 Comments

Ruler of Nature

Posted on December 16, 2015 by Shirlee Abbott

The Paris Climate Accord is big news. There’s been much praise over 195 nations pledging to lower greenhouse gas emissions and save the world from the disaster of climate change.

I think the nations would be better off praising the One who saved the world from the disaster of sin.

That would be good news indeed.

“Fairest Lord Jesus!
Ruler of all nature!
O Thou of God and man the Son!“
Written by German Jesuits as Schönster Herr Jesu, 17th Century
Translated by Joseph A. Seiss in 1873

Posted in other | Tagged Fairest Lord Jesus, Paris Climate Accord | Comments Off

Incredible Edible Gift

Posted on December 15, 2015 by Shirlee Abbott

As I made our Sunday morning French toast, I considered the egg. So simple: hard boiled, over-easy, scrambled—or whisked and soaked up by bread.

The egg: giving body to meatloaf and stuffing, essential to cake and Christmas cookies. Eggs not eaten can turn into more egg-laying chickens or meat for the dinner table. Carefully emptied of their contents, eggshells become Easter decorations.

World Vision and similar charities offer Christmas gifts of chickens, geese or ducks—a gift that keeps on giving, improving a poor family’s nutrition and income, enhancing an entire village’s economic status.

Thank you, Jesus, for eggs!

Posted in other | Tagged Christmas gift, egg, grateful, World Vision | Comments Off

Masterful Maker

Posted on December 14, 2015 by Shirlee Abbott

What part of creation intrigues you most?

The cycles: water, oxygen, “dust to dust”
Beauty: majestic mountains, delicate flowers
Food: I like it all!

We forget that the sweet baby in the manger is the mastermind behind it all:

John 1:3 (ESV)
All things were made through him,
and without him was not any thing made that was made.

Posted in other | Tagged Baby in the manger, creation, John 1:3 | 2 Comments

Conundrum

Posted on December 11, 2015 by Shirlee Abbott

Suspicious vs trusting?
Closed vs welcoming?
Profiling vs equality?

What would Jesus do?

He gave these instructions to his disciples:

Matthew 10:16 (KJV)
Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves.

It isn’t either/or. It’s both/and.

Posted in other | Tagged Matthew 10:16, wise and harmless | 2 Comments

A Seasonal Love/Hate Relationship

Posted on December 10, 2015 by Shirlee Abbott

Psalm 139:21 (ESV)
Do I not hate those who hate you, O Lord?
And do I not loathe those who rise up against you?

Matthew 5:44-45
But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven.

Ecclesiastes 3:1,8
For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven:
a time to love, and a time to hate;
a time for war, and a time for peace.

Just wondering, Lord, which season is this?

Posted in other | Tagged Ecclesiastes 3:1&8, love and hate, Matthew 5:44-45, Psalm 139:21 | 2 Comments

The Power to Fix This

Posted on December 9, 2015 by Shirlee Abbott

Posted in other | Tagged "God Isn't Fixing This", Daily News headline, Joshua 24:15 | Comments Off

Bless Those Who Curse Us

Posted on December 8, 2015 by Shirlee Abbott

I am instructed to pray for our enemies. Thus I pray for those who terrorize, and I pray for those who blaspheme.

Almighty God, just as you confronted Paul on the road to Damascus and turned his mission of destruction into a ministry of hope, confront those who oppose you—those who use guns and those who use headlines. Knock them off of their high horses and turn their worlds upside down. Light a mission of hope in their hearts, in Jesus’ name. Amen.

Posted in other | Tagged bless those who curse us, prayer | 2 Comments