Shirlee Abbott

Battles of Home

Posted on June 3, 2015 by Shirlee Abbott

God and I don’t always agree when it comes to my home.

Me: We just need to buy a few more things and the house will be perfect.
God: Money buys perfection? Really?

Me: Gotta clean. Company’s coming, and I don’t want them to think we live like this.
God: You do live like this. What happened to honesty?

God: Invite them over. Exercise hospitality.
Me: It’s MY house. I want to enjoy it. ALONE.
God: What happened to sharing and an attitude of gratitude?

Of course, this is just me. You’re never like this.

Posted in other | Tagged cleaning, Home, hospitality | 2 Comments

Treasure of Home

Posted on June 2, 2015 by Shirlee Abbott

Handy Hubby and I spent a lot of time and money renovating the barn we call home (you can read more about it here).

Matthew 6:19-21 (NIV)
Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

I’m trying to keep my heart in the right place.

Posted in other | Tagged heart and home, Matthew 6:19-21, treasure | 1 Comment

Heart’s Home

Posted on June 1, 2015 by Shirlee Abbott

Where would we find you at home?

Tinkering in my workshop
In the kitchen
Out in the garden

“Home is where the heart is.” Pliny the Elder

“Home is the nicest word there is.” Laura Ingalls Wilder

“Love begins at home.” Mother Teresa

Not all homes are filled with love. All homes are filled with imperfect people—at best, sinners saved by grace.

And this is the ultimate saving grace,

“This world is not my home,
I’m just passing through;
my treasures are laid up
somewhere beyond the blue.”
Albert E. Brumley

Heaven is the place of true love. And yes, Your home is where your heart is.

Posted in other | Tagged Albert E Brumley, heart, Home, Home is where the heart is, Laura Ingalls Wilder, Mother Teresa, Pliny the Elder | Comments Off

Spirit Filled? Or Spirit Emptied?

Posted on May 29, 2015 by Shirlee Abbott

1 Thessalonians 5:19 (NIV)
Do not quench the Spirit.

I always thought that verse was second person singular: “Don’t you quench the Spirit in yourself.” I was wrong.

God: Criticizing someone filled with the Spirit is like throwing a bucket of water on a flame. It leaves them cold and empty.

Me: Been there. Done that. I’m sorry.

Posted in other | Tagged 1 Thessalonians 5:19, Filled with the Spirit, Quench the Spirit | Comments Off

This Space Is Spirit-Filled

Posted on May 28, 2015 by Shirlee Abbott

Watchman Nee gives us a very good reason to be filled with the Spirit.

“Let God but occupy all the space himself, and what room is left for the evil one?“

Watchman Nee was a 20th century Chinese author and church leader. After the Communist revolution, he was persecuted for his faith. He was imprisoned the year I was born. He died, still in prison, the year I was married.

Rock-solid advice from the pen of a godly man.

Posted in other | Tagged Filled with the Spirit, Holy Spirit, Watchman Nee | Comments Off

Spirit Filled. Not.

Posted on May 27, 2015 by Shirlee Abbott

This might explain why folks hesitate to speak up about their faith.

Posted in other | Tagged Acts 4:31, Filled with the Spirit, Holy Spirit | Comments Off

Spirit-Filled Women . . . and Men

Posted on May 26, 2015 by Shirlee Abbott

Joel 2:28-29 (NIV)
I will pour out my Spirit on all people.
Your sons and daughters will prophesy,
your old men will dream dreams,
your young men will see visions.
Even on my servants, both men and women,
I will pour out my Spirit in those days.

I am grateful that God poured out his Spirit on women as well as men. I wouldn’t want men to have all the fun (and excitement, and work, and challenge, and adventure, and reward). I am humbled and honored to share the opportunity.

Posted in other | Tagged Holy Spirit, Joel 2:28-29, Pentecost | Comments Off

Something to Remember

Posted on May 25, 2015 by Shirlee Abbott

Yesterday was Pentecost Sunday? What is Pentecost?

A traditional Jewish festival
The birthday of the Christian church
All of the above

The Holy Spirit descended on the believers during the Feast of Pentecost, and thus started the Christian Church.

Without Pentecost, we wouldn’t be in church each week. That’s something to remember on Memorial Day weekend, when we honor those who died for the freedom we enjoy—including the freedom to be in church.

Posted in other | Tagged Memorial Day, Pentecost | Comments Off

Submissive Reflections

Posted on May 22, 2015 by Shirlee Abbott

Ephesians 5:22-23 (CEV)
A wife should put her husband first, as she does the Lord. A husband is the head of his wife, as Christ is the head and the Savior of the church, which is his own body.

Suppose you were someone who knew very little about Christianity and Scripture. Imagine that you stumbled on this passage and thought, “The Church submits to Christ the way Shirlee submits to Wade. Christ loves us the way Wade loves Shirlee” (fill in your own names or the names of other married couples).

[Hmm, Honey? I think our relationship might need some help.]

Posted in other | Tagged Ephesians 5:22-23, husbands and wives, submission | 2 Comments

Submit to Whom?

Posted on May 21, 2015 by Shirlee Abbott

James 4:7 (ESV)
Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.

Charles Spurgeon preached a sermon on this verse, January 30th, 1876. Here are a few words from that sermon.

“I desire to whisper one little truth in your ear, and I pray that it may startle you: You are submitting even now. You say, ‘Not I; I am lord of myself.’ I know you think so, but all the while you are submitting to the devil.“

Words worth pondering.

Posted in other | Tagged Charles Haddon Spurgeon, James 4:7, submission | Comments Off