Shirlee Abbott

It’s My Father’s World (Monday)

Posted on May 12, 2014 by Shirlee Abbott

Climate change is back in the news: I’ve lived through talk of global cooling in the 1970’s, followed by global warming and now, climate disruption. What do you think?

much ado about nothing
it’s something, but I don’t think it is man-made
we’re ruining the earth

The phrase “fragile planet” grates on me. Our earth is tough, surviving volcanoes, ice ages, even the atom bomb. I am impressed–all the changes man has wrought on earth, and we’re arguing about a degree or two? I’m thinking we should give our Creator more credit for a job well done.

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My Mother’s Legacy (by Shirlee Abbott)

Posted on May 9, 2014 by Shirlee Abbott

Mom’s wisdom:

God loves you and has a plan for your life
treat others as you want to be treated
two wrongs don’t make a right
wash your hands
if you can’t say something nice, don’t say anything at all
play fair
pray
sleep on it, and
a great fudge recipe

What have you learned from my mother?

Posted in other | Tagged Mother's Day, Wisdom | 1 Comment

Building My Legacy (Thursday)

Posted on May 8, 2014 by Shirlee Abbott

Intimacy with God takes time. It requires quiet time, solitude, perseverance. In this day of instant messages and short attention spans, people lack the skills to experience God’s best.

I want my children and grandchildren to experience the manifest presence of God. I can model what A.W. Tozer (The Pursuit of God) called “spiritual receptivity . . . the lifelong habit of spiritual response.”

Psalm 27:4 (MSG)
I’m asking God for one thing, only one thing:
To live with him in his house my whole life long.
I’ll contemplate his beauty; I’ll study at his feet.

May this be my legacy.

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Building My Legacy (Wednesday)

Posted on May 7, 2014 by Shirlee Abbott

I can think of no greater privilege than praying a legacy of hope into my children’s and grandchildren’s future:

Ephesians 1:17-19 (NIV)
I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people,and his incomparably great power for us who believe.

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Building My Legacy (Tuesday)

Posted on May 6, 2014 by Shirlee Abbott

Exodus 34:6-7 (NASB)
The Lord, the Lord God, compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in lovingkindness and truth; who keeps lovingkindness for thousands, who forgives iniquity, transgression and sin; yet He will by no means leave the guilty unpunished, visiting the iniquity of fathers on the children and on the grandchildren to the third and fourth generations.

Even though God forgives me, my consequences travel beyond me and affect those who follow. Can I live in such a way that God visits blessings on my children and grandchildren, to the third and fourth generation?

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Building My Legacy (Monday)

Posted on May 5, 2014 by Shirlee Abbott

What legacy do you hope to leave your children and grandchildren?

Money
Real estate
Possessions

Do you have a will telling who gets what? We draw up plans to divvy up our bank accounts and investments. Possessions will be divided and distributed.

When I get to heaven and stand before our Lord, what will he say about the legacy I leave behind? What gets his approval, his “well done, my good and faithful servant”?

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God, Bless America, I Pray (Friday)

Posted on May 2, 2014 by Shirlee Abbott

Irving Berlin got it right:

Let us all be grateful for a land so fair,
As we raise our voices in a solemn prayer.
God bless America, Land that I love,
Stand beside her, and guide her
Through the night with a light from above.

So be it, dear Lord, Amen.

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God, Bless America, I Pray (Thursday)

Posted on May 1, 2014 by Shirlee Abbott

Today is the National Day of Prayer. Christians across the country will gather to pray for our nation, and that’s a good thing. But think how much better it would be if we all prayed for our nation every day.

1 Thessalonians 5:17
Pray without ceasing.

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God, Bless America, I Pray (Wednesday)

Posted on April 30, 2014 by Shirlee Abbott

I am reminded on my drive to work to pray for my government and those in authority.

By the courthouse:
Let justice and righteousness flood this place (from Amos 5:24).

As I pass the police barracks:
Bless these peacemakers, dear Lord (from Matthew 5:9).

At Borough Hall:
May our Council members act justly and love mercy (from Micah 6:8).

As I enjoy the beauty of our hills and valleys:
God, bless America.

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God, Bless America, I Pray (Tuesday)

Posted on April 29, 2014 by Shirlee Abbott

1 Timothy 2:1-3 (MSG)
The first thing I want you to do is pray. Pray every way you know how, for everyone you know. Pray especially for rulers and their governments to rule well so we can be quietly about our business of living simply, in humble contemplation. This is the way our Savior God wants us to live.

Notice the goal here: to quietly go about our business and live simply. I’m afraid I live complexly. Don’t we all? Should we add “simple living” to our prayer list?

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