Shirlee Abbott

True Promises

Posted on July 10, 2015 by Shirlee Abbott

“God never made a promise
that was too good to be true.“
D. L. Moody, 1837-1899

Smart man, our Mr. Moody.

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True Fun

Posted on July 9, 2015 by Shirlee Abbott

God has a sense of humor. I’m sure of it.

After all, he created the duck-billed, beaver-tailed, otter-footed, egg-laying platypus.

We are created to smile, giggle, chuckle, laugh, guffaw. God intends that we have fun. True fun, not mocking, teasing, heckling, ridiculing fun.

True fun, and God laughs with us.

Posted in other | Tagged fun, platypus, true fun | 3 Comments

True Confession

Posted on July 8, 2015 by Shirlee Abbott

When I confess my sin to God in prayer, I often point out what “the other guy” did first.

God: That is someone else’s story.

True confession always starts with “I . . . “

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True Worship

Posted on July 7, 2015 by Shirlee Abbott

John 4:24 (NIV)
God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in the Spirit and in truth.

I can sing, “Praise God from whom all blessings flow,” or “I love you, Lord.” But if my mind is focused on my next trip to the mall and my heart is set on getting my own way, the song is a lie. That lie, no matter how well sung, isn’t worship.

Posted in other | Tagged John 4:24, Truth, worship | 2 Comments

True Freedom

Posted on July 6, 2015 by Shirlee Abbott

How truthful are you?

I never tell a lie
Guilty of little white lies
Guilty of big black lies
I forget what truth looks like

John 8:32 (NASB)
You will know the truth,
and the truth will make you free.

4th of July resolution: Sow truth, reap freedom.

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Persecution and Blessing Defined (by God)

Posted on July 3, 2015 by Shirlee Abbott

When something happens to me that I don’t like, I complain to God that I am being persecuted. I ask God to bless me by giving me what I want.

God reminds me that what I don’t like might be his discipline or a natural consequence. Likewise, what I want may not be good for me, and his blessings are always good for me.

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Daily Blessings — I’ll Take Coffee with That

Posted on July 2, 2015 by Shirlee Abbott

From Jeremy Taylor — part preacher, part poet
(mid-1600’s):

“The labor and sweat of our brows is so far from being a curse, that without it our very bread would not be so great a blessing.“

Cleric Taylor’s wisdom still applies. I may whine about my job, but it is a blessing, not a curse. I am indeed grateful for my daily bread. And my morning coffee.

Posted in other | Tagged coffee, daily bread, Jeremy Taylor | 1 Comment

Disciplined Blessings

Posted on July 1, 2015 by Shirlee Abbott

About 35 years ago, handy hubby and I bought our first new car. It was the bottom-of-the-line model, but a big step up for us. We were elated. At the same time, an acquaintance bought his daughter a nicer new car for high school graduation. “I feel sorry for her,” hubby commented, “because she’ll never feel like we do right now.”

We don’t properly appreciate blessings that come too easily. Disciplined blessings are the best.

Posted in other | Tagged blessings, discipline, new car | 4 Comments

Less Blessed

Posted on June 30, 2015 by Shirlee Abbott

Let us remember those who are persecuted for their faith.

Matthew 5:10 (NIV)
Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

And all this time I’ve been thinking I am blessed because I don’t face persecution.

Posted in other | Tagged Matthew 5:10, persecuted Christians | 2 Comments

Costly Faith

Posted on June 29, 2015 by Shirlee Abbott

We mourn for the nine godly souls who died in the Charleston church shooting.

Here in America, church is usually a safe place to praise, pray and study the Bible. Elsewhere, these activities end in financial loss, imprisonment or death.

How do we respond?

We wish for better news coverage
We look to our government for sanctions
We contribute money to their cause
We devote a few minutes to prayer on their behalf

When it happens here in America, we are outraged. When it happens on the other side of the world, we accept it as a cost of discipleship–the cost of someone else’s discipleship.

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