Shirlee Abbott

Another Horizontal / Vertical Intersection

Posted on August 18, 2015 by Shirlee Abbott

1 Peter 1:13 (KJB)
Gird up the loins of your mind.

Who knew? Another verse demonstrating the intersection of the horizontal and vertical planes.

Gird up, anazónnumi in Greek: from aná, “up to down” and zṓnnymi, “gird,” as in take out the slack, get ready to move quickly.

Mind, dianoia: diá, “from side-to-side,” and noús, “mind,” as in considering a matter from one side of an issue to the other to reach a balanced conclusion.

Unencumbered and ready for intense concentration. Sounds like the mind of Christ to me.

Posted in other | Tagged 1 Peter 1:13, cross, horizontal, mind of Christ, vertical | 2 Comments

Forgiving or Forgiven?

Posted on August 17, 2015 by Shirlee Abbott

Which is easier for you: accepting forgiveness or offering forgiveness?

I like my grudges and I want to keep them
I’ve had lots of practice accepting forgiveness
What if I’m not sorry?

Forgive us our trespasses – that’s about our relationship with God, the vertical axis. As we forgive those who trespass against us – that’s about our relationship with others, the horizontal.

The horizontal and vertical relationships intersect at the cross.
That’s where we find forgiveness.

Posted in other | Tagged cross, forgiven, forgiving, horizontal, The Lord's Prayer, vertical | 2 Comments

Day 5: Amen. Full Circle

Posted on August 14, 2015 by Shirlee Abbott

Final lesson on The Lord’s Prayer:

Lead us not into temptation.

He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.
Psalm 23:3 (ESV)

Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name.

Amen. Full circle.

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Attention Beyond My Control

Posted on August 13, 2015 by Shirlee Abbott

Day 4: Due to circumstances beyond our control, we had only half as many children at VBS. Disappointing?

Truth be told, I liked it. I could give each child some undivided attention.

God is never overwhelmed by the multitudes vying for his attention. I don’t have to wait my turn. He never says, “Just a second, hold that thought.” I always have his undivided attention. As do you.

Posted in other | Tagged undivided attention, Vacation Bible School, Vacation Prayer School | 2 Comments

What Will Be Done?

Posted on August 12, 2015 by Shirlee Abbott

Thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.

Day 3: I had to clarify Day 2’s lesson. I realized that the children didn’t understand the word “will” in this context. To them, “will” is a verb. How, then, do I explain it?

Thy wants be done.
Thy desires be done.
Thy plans be done.

Not what I want, Lord, but what you want.

Which was actually a nice segue into Day Three’s lesson on wants and needs: Give us this day our daily bread. I love it when a plan comes together. Nice work, God.

Posted in other | Tagged Thy will be done, Vacation Bible School, Vacation Prayer School | 2 Comments

High Flying Prayers

Posted on August 11, 2015 by Shirlee Abbott

We are giving the children opportunities to pray individually and corporately. Some have been bold enough to pray out loud with the whole group.

One of the boys prayed that our Operation Christmas Child boxes would safely get to the right children. “Dear God, don’t let any boxes fall out of the airplane.“

Journey mercies, shoeboxes!

Posted in other | Tagged Operation Christmas Child, Vacation Bible School, Vacation Prayer School | 4 Comments

Teach Us to Pray School

Posted on August 10, 2015 by Shirlee Abbott

This is Vacation Bible School week. I will rush out from work, drive straight to church, get my thoughts together and teach the lesson. It is crazy exhausting, but I love it. This week I’ll share a highlight from each evening. Welcome to my world.

Preregistration has never worked for us. We have no idea who is coming. I always think, Dear God, what if no children come? Silly me. There are always children.

We are collecting items for Operation Christmas Child shoeboxes. Toys, yes, but no war toys. One of the boys asked, “Are wrestlers war toys?”

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The Lord’s Prayer Prayed Out in the Life of Jesus

Posted on August 7, 2015 by Shirlee Abbott

I have been working on the Bible lessons for our Vacation Prayer School, based on the Lord’s Prayer.

Our Father . . . I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth (Matthew 11:25, NIV).

Thy will be done . . . Not my will, but yours be done (Luke 22:42).

Give us this day . . . Jesus then took the loaves, gave thanks, and distributed to those who were seated as much as they wanted (John 6:11).

As we forgive those who sin against us . . . Father, forgive them (Luke 23:34).

Deliver us from evil . . . Protect them by the power of your name (John 17:11).

Jesus prayed what he preached.

Posted in other | Tagged John 17:11, John 6:11, Luke 22:42, Luke 23:34, Matthew 11:25, The Lord's Prayer, Vacation Prayer School | Comments Off

Prayer Is Fun (God Has a Sense of Humor)

Posted on August 6, 2015 by Shirlee Abbott

Ever notice how people get all somber when they pray? Like God won’t listen if they smile?

Our Vacation Prayer School will include games, snacks, jokes and silliness. We can talk with God and laugh at the same time (seriously, God had a sense of humor long before the rest of us).

Laughing is good for the soul!

Posted in other | Tagged fun, Smile, Vacation Prayer School | 4 Comments

Five Days of Prayer School

Posted on August 5, 2015 by Shirlee Abbott

Our Vacation Prayer School lessons are based on the Lord’s Prayer.

Henry Ward Beecher said this of the Lord’s Prayer:

“I used to think the Lord’s Prayer was a short prayer; but as I live longer, and see more of life, I begin to believe there is no such thing as getting through it. If man, in praying that prayer, were to be stopped by every word until he had thoroughly prayed it, it would take him a lifetime.‘

Our Vacation Prayer School is just five days, Sunday through Thursday. That’s a good start.

Posted in other | Tagged Henry Ward Beecher, The Lord's Prayer, Vacation Prayer School | Comments Off