Shirlee Abbott

Who-a-miah?

Posted on September 28, 2015 by Shirlee Abbott

I’m launching a new foundation study based on the book of Nehemiah. Don’t know much about Nehemiah? He was:

Cupbearer to the King
A man of prayer
Community organizer extraordinaire

What do I have in common with Nehemiah?

I’m not the head honcho, but I have influence
I try to start everything with prayer
I’m really good at telling others what to do

God gave Nehemiah a unique set of skills and experience. He had the judgment and influence to rebuild the Jerusalem’s wall.

God gave you a unique set of skills and experience. What’s your assignment?

Posted in other | Tagged Nehemiah, rebuilding the wall | 2 Comments

Love to Tell His Story

Posted on September 25, 2015 by Shirlee Abbott

Posted in other | Tagged Psalm 139:16, testify, Testimony | 2 Comments

Love to Tell Your Story

Posted on September 24, 2015 by Shirlee Abbott

Seems to me, you can tell the story of your personal experience with Christ in three ways:

How you came to Christ
Your greatest God-moments
What God has done for you lately

Your story–it can be a sentence, a few paragraphs or your cradle-to-grave biography.

“I love to tell the story,
it did so much for me;
and that is just the reason
I tell it now to thee.“

Posted in other | Tagged I Love to Tell the Story, Katherine Hankey, Testimony | 2 Comments

Prepare the Perfect Pitch

Posted on September 23, 2015 by Shirlee Abbott

You know about elevator pitches, right? A 30-90 second summary that opens doors to bigger and better opportunities?

Have you thought through a quick speech that summarizes your relationship with Christ? One that can open the door to a bigger message about God’s goodness.

1 Peter 3:15 (NIV)
Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect.

Posted in other | Tagged 1 Peter 3:15, elevator pitch, testify | 2 Comments

I Love to Tell My Story

Posted on September 22, 2015 by Shirlee Abbott

I used to say that I couldn’t remember a time when I didn’t believe in Christ. Years ago, based on a friend’s suggestion, I told God, “It doesn’t bother me. But if I need to know about this, just show me.”

My answer came in the form of a God’s eye view right through the roof of my parents’ 1949 Chevy. A little girl with her Sunday best puff sleeves and velvet ribbon prayerfully singing, Come in today, come in to stay, come into my life, Lord Jesus.

Answered prayer. Twice.

Posted in other | Tagged Testimony | 2 Comments

Testify!

Posted on September 21, 2015 by Shirlee Abbott

I just returned from my denomination’s annual regional meeting (American Baptist Churches of New Jersey). The theme was “Testify.”

Have you every testified to your first life-changing encounter with Christ?

I tell it often and joyously
I tell it rarely and nervously
Never told a soul

I brought home a little book, a compilation of the testimonies of 52 church leaders–each one just a few short paragraphs. 52 people, 52 unique stories. Never the same way twice.

Tell your story. It is as unique as you are.

Posted in other | Tagged encounters with Christ, testify | 5 Comments

Wordless Prayer

Posted on September 18, 2015 by Shirlee Abbott

Yesterday, I went through all the people on my prayer list without a single word. I played As I Survey the Wondrous Cross over and over, while I pictured each person surveying the wondrous cross.

I started with me – face to the ground.

Love so amazing, so divine,
demands my soul, my life, my all.

Posted in other | Tagged Isaac Watts, prayer, When I Survey the Wondrous Cross | 2 Comments

Nevertheless Pray!

Posted on September 17, 2015 by Shirlee Abbott

The wall-builders encountered resistance. Nevertheless . . .

Nehemiah 4:9 (KJV)
Nevertheless we made our prayer unto our God.

Spurgeon expanded on the principle behind Nehemiah’s action:

“If men make a jest of your religion, pray none the less. If they even become cruel and violent to you, pray none the less; never the less, not a word less, not a syllable less, not a desire less, and not any faith less.“

Nevertheless, pray all the more.

Posted in other | Tagged Charles Haddon Spurgeon, Nehemiah 4:9, Nevertheless, prayer | 2 Comments

Pray and Watch

Posted on September 16, 2015 by Shirlee Abbott

We are familiar with these words from Jesus to his disciples:

Matthew 26:41 (KJV)
Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation.

This Old Testament passage is similar:

Nehemiah 4:8-9 (KJV)
And conspired all of them together to come and to fight against Jerusalem, and to hinder it. Nevertheless we made our prayer unto our God, and set a watch against them day and night, because of them.

Watch (be vigilant) and pray. Pray and watch (set a guard). Meant to be done together.

Posted in other | Tagged Matthew 26:41, Nehemiah 4:9, watch and pray | 4 Comments

Communicate Without Ceasing

Posted on September 15, 2015 by Shirlee Abbott

I had a sign in my office:

Every problem is a communication problem.

Yes, indeed. My problem is that I need to communicate more. With God.

1 Thessalonians 5:17 (ESV)
Pray without ceasing.

Posted in other | Tagged 1 Thessalonians 5:17, communication, prayer | 2 Comments