Shirlee Abbott

Us)e Your Imagination! (Friday

Posted on September 19, 2014 by Shirlee Abbott

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Use Your Imagination! (Thursday)

Posted on September 18, 2014 by Shirlee Abbott

Not all prayers have to be in words.

Sometimes I settle on an image to convey my prayer: the exhausted mom soundly sleeping, a friendly handshake between quarreling friends, the unemployed teacher in a classroom filled with students.

Sometimes God responds in kind, speaking in images rather than words: the face of a person who needs prayer, the layout of a VBS lesson, a change in my morning routine.

Use your imagination!

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Use Your Imagination (Wednesday)

Posted on September 17, 2014 by Shirlee Abbott

Have you noticed how almost every news article and blog post has a picture attached? Sometimes it enhances the story. And sometimes it is just an obligatory filler, a random image that carries little connection to the content. I’m annoyed by the same taped-off crime scene photo my local paper attaches to numerous unrelated reports.

I don’t want to use images that way. It’s not that I lack the imagination–actually, I’m very good at picking a photo that matches the message. But I want you to use your imagination, not mine.

Exercise this gift to you from God.

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Use Your Imagination (Tuesday)

Posted on September 16, 2014 by Shirlee Abbott

“Imagination is the greatest gift God has given us . . . it will be one of the greatest assets to faith when the time of trial comes, because your faith and the Spirit of God will work together . . . your imagination will never be at the mercy of your impulses, but will always be at the service of God.”
Oswald Chambers, My Utmost for His Highest, Feb 11

Lord, let me put my imagination to good use in your service. Amen.

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Use Your Imagination

Posted on September 15, 2014 by Shirlee Abbott

Imagination.

What is it?

Child’s play
Unproductive day dreaming
Unleashed creativity

Is it far fetched to consider my imagination not just a gift from God, but also a reflection of God?

Take the creation account from Genesis 1. God spoke and our world came into being. Doesn’t that make us products of God’s imagination? When you use your imagination, are you demonstrating how you are created in the image of God?

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Restoring My Soul

Posted on September 7, 2014 by Shirlee Abbott

Taking a break from Souls Under Construction to visit family and restore my own soul. I’ll be back!

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Why Work? (Friday)

Posted on September 5, 2014 by Shirlee Abbott

Here’s the thing, Lord. I try to do things well–on my job, for our church and at home. I’d like to say that I do this good work for you, but I can’t lie (at least not to you, God). Most of the time, I do it for myself–so that people will think highly of me. I confess, it’s usually more about me than it is about you. And I’m sorry.

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Why Work? (Thursday)

Posted on September 4, 2014 by Shirlee Abbott

An unashamed worker–that’s a worthy goal:

2 Timothy 2:15 (NIV)
Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth.

Typical me, I start thinking, “am I ashamed of my work?” I make it about me.

The better question is “does God approve?” It’s all about God.

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Why Work? (Wednesday)

Posted on September 3, 2014 by Shirlee Abbott

“Fear God and work hard.”

Wise advice from a guy who started working at age 10, earned enough to pay for college, completed medical school, practiced his own brand of medicine in the remotest of places, explored the rivers of Africa, wrote prolifically on tropical diseases and sought to end the slave trade.

Who? Dr. Livingstone, I presume.

Indeed.

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Why Work? (Tuesday)

Posted on September 2, 2014 by Shirlee Abbott

Colossians 3:23 (ESV)
Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord.

Surprise! My work isn’t all about me. It isn’t even about my employer.

My work is all about God.

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