Shirlee Abbott

Lent Us Pray

Posted on February 24, 2015 by Shirlee Abbott

Let started last Wednesday. It continues until Easter.

Posted in other | Tagged 1 Samuel 15:22, Lent, prayer | Comments Off

Virtual Warriors

Posted on February 23, 2015 by Shirlee Abbott

What’s your take on video games?

What fun!
What a waste of time!
All that violence can’t be good

Gaming has become a national pastime. It’s blamed for obesity, damage to relationships and increasing violence. And thousands enjoy it with no evidence of the downsides.

There’s an ancient godly version of virtual warfare. It’s called prayer.

Via prayer, we can be on the battle lines in a war on the other side of the world, on the scene of natural disaster, at the bedside of the cancer patient, in the classroom, in the courtroom and in the state house.

And there is no downside to prayer (unless you are the enemy). Try it!

Posted in other | Tagged prayer, video games, virtual warfare | Comments Off

A Serious Question: Fifty Shades of Grey

Posted on February 20, 2015 by Shirlee Abbott

How many people who enthusiastically embrace Fifty Shades of Grey also embrace the message in this verse?

Ephesians 5:22 (ESV)
Wives, submit to your own husbands,
as to the Lord.

Take note of the parallel message for husbands:

Ephesians 5:25
Husbands, love your wives,
as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her.

I’ll take the committed marital relationship that treasures the partner, putting the other person’s well-being ahead of your own. I’ll pass on the the consensual sexual relationship that demeans the partner, putting your pleasure ahead of the other person’s well-being.

Just sayin’.

Posted in other | Tagged Ephesian:25s 5:22, Ephesians 5, Fifty shades of grey | 1 Comment

Fifty Shades of Glory

Posted on February 19, 2015 by Shirlee Abbott

Posted in other | Tagged :, glories of heaven, Revelation 43 | Comments Off

Fifty Shades of Black & White

Posted on February 18, 2015 by Shirlee Abbott

It was a stormy morning commute–dreary sky fading into the distant horizon, bold lines of telephone poles and trees punctuating dark hulks of evergreens and buildings. Even the stripes on the road were grayed over with salt and slush. My world was a faded black and white photograph.

Cone cells are necessary for color vision. I understand that sharks have no cone cells; their world is always black and white. God created humans with cone cells, so we can see the world in color.

Genesis 1:31 (NIV)
God saw all that he had made,
and it was very good.

Very good indeed.

Posted in other | Tagged black and white, color vision, cone cells, Genesis 1:31 | Comments Off

Fifty Shades of Sin

Posted on February 17, 2015 by Shirlee Abbott

There is a stark contrast between white snow on the fields and dirty snow along the roadside. Fresh flakes are quickly transformed into at least fifty shades of gray (that’s not original with me; I heard it on the radio).

On the Biblical side–I am forgiven, washed white as snow, snow that I sully with my sin: soft grey for bad habits, charcoal tones for my willfulness and the deep black of my secret sins.

Psalm 19:11-12
Forgive my hidden faults.
Keep your servant also from willful sins;
may they not rule over me.

Posted in other | Tagged Fifty shades of grey, Psalm 19:11-12, roadside snow | Comments Off

Fifty Shades of Snow

Posted on February 16, 2015 by Shirlee Abbott

Fifty Shades of Grey. I didn’t read the book, and I’m not going to the movie. But it got me thinking about color.

Suppose you need some white paint. What to choose?

creamy white
white sand
sun washed
ecru

(colors straight from Benjamin Moore–and many more whites to choose from)

I’ve been studying the snowscapes as I drive to work. The variety of white delights me: sunrise blush, blue shadows, golden sunset glow, even the dirty gray of the road side (a topic for another day).

Thank you, Lord, for the infinite range of color.

Posted in other | Tagged color, Fifty Shades of, snow, white | Comments Off

Valentine Friend

Posted on February 13, 2015 by Shirlee Abbott

The name Valentine comes from the Latin valens, which means “strong and healthy.”

Certainly, I want strong and healthy friendships. I don’t want to be a weak and wimpy friend.

Happy strong and healthy friendship day!

Posted in other | Tagged friendship, strong and healthy, Valentine's Day | Comments Off

Jesus and Me–BFF

Posted on February 12, 2015 by Shirlee Abbott

Posted in other | Tagged Exodus 33:11, Friends | Comments Off

Jesus, My Best Friend

Posted on February 11, 2015 by Shirlee Abbott

Does it seem a little sacrilegious to call Jesus my BFF? Selfish, maybe?

After all, Jesus has a whole world to watch over.

Here’s a thought from D. L. Moody (1837-1899):

“A rule I have had for years is: to treat the Lord Jesus Christ as a personal friend. His is not a creed, a mere doctrine, but it is He Himself we have.“

That friendship worked out well–for Mr. Moody and for God.

Posted in other | Tagged BFF, D. L. Moody, friend | Comments Off