Shirlee Abbott

Why Work?

Posted on September 1, 2014 by Shirlee Abbott

Why work?

To pay the rent
To change the world for the better
Somebody’s gotta do it

Our culture sends the message that not having to work is great—retiring early, inheriting a fortune, winning the lottery, paying someone else to do our work. God has a different take:

Genesis 2:25 (ESV)
The Lord God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to work it and keep it.

We are created to work.

Ecclesiastes 9:10
Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with your might.

We are created to work enthusiastically.

Happy Labor Day.

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We Gather Together (Friday)

Posted on August 29, 2014 by Shirlee Abbott

Which spiritual discipline goes with gather together?

Hospitality! Let them gather together in your own home.

2 Peter 4:3 (ESV)
Show hospitality to one another without grumbling.

Yep, I grumble about it:

The house is a mess.
What am I going to feed them?
Put your stuff away! Don’t you know we have company coming!

How about this instead:

Lord, thank you for the home and food you have given me, I’m happy to share it with your people. Bless our fellowship. Amen.

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We Gather Together (Thursday)

Posted on August 28, 2014 by Shirlee Abbott

Spurgeon says what I should have figured out all by myself (that happens a lot):

Those who belong to Christ are sheep in this respect, that they love to get together. Sheep go in flocks, and so do God’s people.
Charles Haddon Spurgeon (1834-1892)

Count me in. Ewe coming along?

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We Gather Together (Wednesday)

Posted on August 27, 2014 by Shirlee Abbott

I listen to the news reports, and I think the end of the world is fast approaching. Makes me want to run to my home, close the door and hide.

Hebrews 10:24-25
And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.

God says, “If you really think the end is nigh, reach out and connect with others more than ever.”

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We Gather Together (Tuesday)

Posted on August 26, 2014 by Shirlee Abbott

I wonder . . .

. . . were there people who got on Jesus’ nerves? Other than the Pharisees and religious leaders? Out of the thousands of hangers-on, not even one who constantly interrupted, or one with a whiney voice, or one who had to have the last word who brought Jesus to the edge: “Sheesh! Give me some space already!”

Dear Lord, grant me eyes to see the beautiful humans behind the annoying behaviors–and the heart to include them in our gatherings. Amen.

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We Gather Together

Posted on August 25, 2014 by Shirlee Abbott

What’s your social calendar look like?

Empty, wanna get together?
Overbooked, no time to meet up this week
Always have time for friends and family

Note the social calendar of the early Christians:

Acts 2:42 (NIV)
They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.

Our to-do lists and our calendars reveal our priorities. Does yours prove your devotion to prayer, study and fellowship?

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War on Women (Friday)

Posted on August 22, 2014 by Shirlee Abbott

Our culture says random sex is good and unwanted babies are disposable.

Seems to me that abortion hardens the heart and random sex corrodes the soul. This is a subtle war on women’s hearts and souls.

Lord God, preserve their mother-hearts and restore their helpmate-souls. Amen.

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War on Women (Thursday)

Posted on August 21, 2014 by Shirlee Abbott

Galatians 3:26-28
So in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith, for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.

“All one in Christ.” No war on women here.

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War on Women? (Wednesday)

Posted on August 20, 2014 by Shirlee Abbott

There are those (not me!) who think that Christianity denigrates women. I am intrigued by this quote from Owen Feltham (1602-1668):

“Some are so uncharitable as to think all women bad, and others are so credulous as to believe they are all good. All will grant her corporeal frame more wonderful and more beautiful than man’s. And can we think God would put a worse soul into her better body?”

I like the way old Mr. Feltham thinks.

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War on Women? (Tuesday)

Posted on August 19, 2014 by Shirlee Abbott

I doubt they’d think of themselves this way, but my grandmother and mother were quiet soldiers in the war for work equality.

Grandma was hired as a full-time department store clerk during World War II. She was told it was just till the male clerks came home. Management wondered if men would buy underwear from a woman. They did, and Grandma kept her job until she retired years later.

My mother crossed the equal pay for equal work barrier when I was in college.

They didn’t fight with rhetoric and grandstanding. They showed up and worked hard–a victory for consistency and trustworthiness.

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