Shirlee Abbott

Get ‘Er Done!

Posted on December 30, 2015 by Shirlee Abbott

My one-word for 2015 was “discipline.” I spent the year doing Bible studies on self-discipline. I know what I have to do.

Thus, 2015 was my least disciplined year in a long time. More procrastination, more stuff undone.

Coming up on 2016, I asked:

Lord, what’s my topic for 2016?

I got my answer.

Finish it! Stop studying and start doing. Get ‘er done!

Or Biblically:

2 Corinthians 8:10 (MSG)
So here’s what I think: The best thing you can do right now is to finish what you started last year and not let those good intentions grow stale.

Posted in other | Tagged Finish It, Get 'er done, New Year's resolutions | 4 Comments

Timely Finish

Posted on December 29, 2015 by Shirlee Abbott

Joel 2:1 (ESV)
Blow a trumpet in Zion;
sound an alarm on my holy mountain!
Let all the inhabitants of the land tremble,
for the day of the Lord is coming; it is near.

The state of our world makes me think that Christ might return sooner rather than later. When he does, I hope that he finds me finishing my God-given assignments. I fear he might find me ignoring them. Thus my New Year’s resolution: Finish it!

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Finish It!

Posted on December 28, 2015 by Shirlee Abbott

I bore easily. I am intrigued by a new project, weary of an old one. I leave a trail of unfinished tasks. What incomplete items clutter your living space?

Half done crafts
Abandoned building projects
Redecorating never quite completed
Self improvement started and then ignored

Truth be told, I procrastinate on certain assignments from God: the Rooms book, a prayer quilt, correspondence. I sense God’s nudging, yet I let other things take precedence.

My New Year’s resolution: Finish it!

Do you have any unfinished assignments from God?

Posted in other | Tagged Finish It, New Year's resolutions | 2 Comments

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.

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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

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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!

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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