Shirlee Abbott

It’s All about Me – NOT

Posted on February 26, 2015 by Shirlee Abbott

In another place and time, a coworker suggested that our mutual boss needed prayer. It was true. He was acting more like a teenager than a manager. He was moody, arrogant and distracted.

I took her suggestion to heart. But I didn’t seem to be connecting with God.

God: You are praying that he will change and be easier to work for.

Me: That’s a problem how?

God: Only when you pretend that you are praying it for his own good.

A humbled me: Bring him into a better place spiritually, Lord, even if it makes it harder for me to work for him. ‘Cause it isn’t about me.

Posted in other | Tagged humility, manager, prayer | Comments Off

A True Lenten Sacrifice

Posted on February 25, 2015 by Shirlee Abbott

Give up a bit of yourself for Lent. Pray daily for someone who annoys you, aggravates you, drives you crazy.

Matthew 5:44-45 (CEV)
I tell you to love your enemies
and pray for anyone who mistreats you.
Then you will be acting like your Father in heaven.
He makes the sun rise on both good and bad people.

It may or may not change the other guy, but it will change you. For the better.

Posted in other | Tagged Lent, Matthew 5:44-45, pray | Comments Off

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.

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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