Shirlee Abbott

Time to Come

Posted on November 6, 2015 by Shirlee Abbott

Posted in other | Tagged Come Lord Jesus, Revelation 22:20, Time | Comments Off

Time After Its Own Kind

Posted on November 5, 2015 by Shirlee Abbott

Genesis 1:11, 14 (NASB)
Then God said, “Let the earth sprout vegetation, plants yielding seed, fruit trees on the earth bearing fruit after their kind . . . Let there be lights in the expanse of the heavens to separate the day from the night, and let them be for signs and for seasons.”

God created the plants; we plan ahead, till the ground and plant the seeds in neat rows. God created time; we plan ahead, establish routines and work our way down our to-do lists.

Just as seeds mysteriously burst into plants after their own kind, seconds mysteriously burst into accomplishments after their own kind.

May your accomplishments be the right kind.

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My Favorite Season

Posted on November 4, 2015 by Shirlee Abbott

Ecclesiastes 3:1 (NIV)
There is a time for everything,
and a season for every activity under the heavens.

Autumn has long been my favorite season. It occurs to me that I’m in my personal autumn. Childhood was spring. Motherhood was summer. Grandmotherhood is autumn. And it is a grand season.

Posted in other | Tagged Ecclesiastes 3:1, grandchildren, seasons | 2 Comments

My Troubled Times

Posted on November 3, 2015 by Shirlee Abbott

I’ve been seeing time as my enemy: I race against time, there is never enough time, I resent interruptions to my own plans for my time.

I’ve been telling myself that if I’d been the creator, I’d have arranged things a tad more efficiently.

Seriously?

Time was created for you, Jesus tells me. It is my gift to you.

It’s time for my attitude adjustment.

Posted in other | Tagged Time | 2 Comments

Creating Time

Posted on November 2, 2015 by Shirlee Abbott

We fell back. One hour. Do you care?

It’s great—I like morning light
No matter to me
It’s the only extra hour in my life

Try as we might, humans can’t create time.

Genesis 1:14, 18-19 (NASB)
Then God said, “Let there be lights in the expanse of the heavens to separate the day from the night, and let them be for signs and for seasons and for days and years . . . and God saw that it was good. There was evening and there was morning, a fourth day.

God, who is beyond time, created time. On day 4. For us.

I’m curious. How were days 1-3 measured?

Posted in other | Tagged creation, Daylight Savings Time, Genesis 1:14, Time | 2 Comments

Praise God from Whom Sabbath Blessings Flow

Posted on October 30, 2015 by Shirlee Abbott

Posted in other | Tagged Doxology, Hebrews 4:9, Sabbath | Comments Off

Sabbath Previews of Coming Attractions

Posted on October 29, 2015 by Shirlee Abbott

Hebrews 4:9-10 (CEV)
But God has promised us a Sabbath when we will rest, even though it has not yet come. On that day God’s people will rest from their work, just as God rested from his work.

The earthly Sabbath is a foreshadow of our celestial future. Heaven will be radiant and exhilarating. Thus our Sabbath days mustn’t be drab and tedious.

Oh joy!

Posted in other | Tagged Hebrews 4:9-10, Sabbath, Sabbath rest | 2 Comments

What About “Remember the Sabbath” Don’t You Understand?

Posted on October 28, 2015 by Shirlee Abbott

Not so long ago, God and I had quite a talk about the Sabbath Day.

God: What about “Remember the Sabbath” don’t you understand?

Me: I’ve just got too much to do. There’s never enough time.

God: There’s always enough time.

Me: I need more hours in the day.

God: You have enough hours. What you need is more rest. As in every seventh day.

I stopped arguing and started embracing the Sabbath. Cleaning and shopping undone by supper on Saturday wait till after supper on Sunday. Truth be told, my house is no dirtier and my cupboards no emptier.

Posted in other | Tagged Remember the Sabbath day, Sabbath | 2 Comments

And God Said, “Don’t Work”

Posted on October 27, 2015 by Shirlee Abbott

Exodus 20:9-11 (CEV)
You have six days when you can do your work, but the seventh day of each week belongs to me, your God. No one is to work on that day.

Some of our ancestors were strict about Sabbath work. Stock was fed, but fields weren’t plowed. Meals were prepared Saturday night and slow-cooked in the wood stove. No sewing. No gardening. Church and rest were the order of their Sundays.

Perhaps they went overboard with their rules. Might we be drowning in disobedience?

Posted in other | Tagged Exodus 20:9-10, Remember the Sabbath day, Sabbath | 8 Comments

Good Morning, Sunday

Posted on October 26, 2015 by Shirlee Abbott

What’s your usual Sunday morning attitude?

Oh no, it’s halfway to Monday!
So much to do today, let’s get started
Good morning, Lord

Exodus 20:8 (NIV)
Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy.

It is tempting to think that my week will go better if I use my Sabbath day to catch up on my to-do list. This 4^th Commandment, as spelled out in God’s Word, sets the day apart for rest. Hallowed and blessed by God.

No work. With no work-arounds.

Can we follow the directions?

Posted in other | Tagged Exodus 20:8, Remember the Sabbath day, Sabbath | 2 Comments