Shirlee Abbott

May Your Blessings Outnumber the Shamrocks (Monday)

Posted on March 17, 2014 by Shirlee Abbott

What do you know about St. Patrick?

I’m guessing he was Irish
He used a shamrock to describe God
He drove the snakes out of Ireland

Patrick of Ireland was born in Great Britain. At age sixteen, he was captured by Irish pirates. For six years he was a slave, working as a shepherd. During this time, he developed a personal relationship with God through prayer. He escaped and returned to his family. He later returned to Ireland as a Christian missionary. He might have used a shamrock to describe the Trinity. And the snakes? Probably just legend.

Forget the parades and green beer. Honor Patrick by forgiving someone who’s done you wrong.

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Let Your Light Shine (Friday)

Posted on March 14, 2014 by Shirlee Abbott

I was fortunate to work with Dr. John S. Madara. He was an old-school general practitioner, a shining ray of medical and spiritual wisdom.

It wasn’t unusual for someone to grasp his hand and say, “I’ll never forget what you did for me, Doc.” Interesting thing, Dr. Madara had long forgotten what it was. He’d tell me later, “I’ve no idea what that was about.” My best guess? It was all about house calls, kind words, long nights and reduced fees.

Dear God, make me a light that shines and immediately forgets the deed.

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Let Your Light Shine (Thursday)

Posted on March 13, 2014 by Shirlee Abbott

God says Let your light shine at the oddest moments.

God: See that car? Let her into traffic.

Help him pick up the coins he dropped.

Let them go through the check-out line first.

I expected a bigger assignment. I’m thinking spotlight, God is thinking penlight.

Luke 16:10 (NLT)
If you are faithful in little things . . .

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Let Your Light Shine (Wednesday)

Posted on March 12, 2014 by Shirlee Abbott

“We are told to let our light shine, and if it does, we won’t need to tell anybody it does. Lighthouses don’t fire cannons to call attention to their shining–they just shine.”
D. L. Moody (1837-1899)

Mr. Moody practiced what he preached. What started out as good deeds after work soon became his full-time occupation. We’d do well to follow his advice and his example.

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Let Your Light Shine (Tuesday)

Posted on March 11, 2014 by Shirlee Abbott

Matthew 5:14 (ESV)
You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden.

Don’t hide your light. And don’t try to rearrange it a la Daylight Savings Time. Don’t save up all your good deeds for a flashy photo-op. God is into good deeds, not good press.

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Let the Light Shine (Monday)

Posted on March 10, 2014 by Shirlee Abbott

Take an hour from front end of the day, tack it on the back end and call it daylight savings. Does that make any sense?

Does it have to make sense for me to like it?
I hate spring forward, but fall back is good
Can’t we just change our time zone and have daylight savings year round?
Dark mornings again, yuck!

Daylight SAVINGS? Like I can put the light in my piggy bank and save it for a rainy day? Nice concept, if only it worked.

Matthew 5:16 (NIV)
In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.

I don’t suppose I get to save up my good deeds and let them shine in one brief blaze of glory.

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What’s in Your Closet? (Friday)

Posted on March 7, 2014 by Shirlee Abbott

South African writer, teacher and pastor Andrew Murray (1828-1917) gets the final word on this week’s topic.

“Let it be your business every day, in the secrecy of the inner chamber, to meet the holy God. You will be repaid for the trouble it may cost you. The reward will be sure and rich.”

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What’s in Your Closet? (Thursday)

Posted on March 6, 2014 by Shirlee Abbott

God helps me spring-clean my spiritual closet.

God: What’s hanging here? Looks like sarcasm and rush to judgment..

Me: Hey! They used to be my favorites. I might want them someday.

God: You outgrew these years ago. Think good will.

My God is so clever. Every time I see this logo, I’m reminded that God cleared sarcasm and rush to judgment from my sacred space and replaced them with good will.

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What’s in Your Closet? (Ash Wednesday)

Posted on March 5, 2014 by Shirlee Abbott

It’s Ash Wednesday, the beginning of Lent. It’s time to prepare our souls for Easter. Traditionally, folks give up something for Lent; that is, they sacrifice something for a few weeks in recognition of the sacrifice Christ made on our behalf.

So make your own sacrifice. Clean the old junk out of your spiritual closet, and don’t add any new junk. It’s spring cleaning for your soul!

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What’s in Your Closet (Tuesday)

Posted on March 4, 2014 by Shirlee Abbott

What lurks in the dark corners of the closet of your soul? Old secrets, hidden sins, false belief?

2 Corinthians 4:6 (KJV)
For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.

Proverbs 24:4
And by knowledge shall the chambers be filled with all precious and pleasant riches.

With the light of God in my prayer closet, there are no dark corners. The scary stuff has no place to hide. It’s a delightful place, filled with knowledge and riches.

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