Shirlee Abbott

Right to Choose (Tuesday)

Posted on January 21, 2014 by Shirlee Abbott

My husband is heading to Washington tomorrow (God willing and no snow) to join the March for Life. The right to choose will make the news.

We have four grown sons, two by birth, two by adoption. The adoptions were planned; the pregnancies were inconvenient surprises. I whined to God, “the timing is all wrong.”

Now I can barely remember why it was a problem. What loomed large then were just temporary trials.

James 1:2-4
Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete.

I suppose I could have chosen “immature and incomplete.” I’m glad I didn’t.

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Right to Choose (Monday)

Posted on January 20, 2014 by Shirlee Abbott

Inalienable rights: what does that mean?

God given
Equal to everyone
The way it should be

Per the dictionary: incapable of being conveyed, surrendered, sold or transferred.

Joshua 24:15 (NLV)
Choose today whom you will serve.

God’s people came into the Promised Land. Joshua gave them a choice, adding:

As for me and my family,
we will serve the Lord.

Hundreds of years later, James succinctly described our recurring choice:

James 4:17
If you know what is right to do
but you do not do it, you sin.

God gave us the inalienable right to choose. It’s called free will. Use it wisely.

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Restoring My Soul (Friday)

Posted on January 17, 2014 by Shirlee Abbott

From a 1970s TV ad: “You’re not getting older, you’re getting better.”

We live in a barn that was turned into a home about the same timeframe as that TV ad. It was a mess when we bought it. We restored it and moved in. But it isn’t finished. 2013 was the year of closet doors. 2014 might be the year of the new kitchen sink. Our house is getting older, and it’s getting better.

I’m getting older. And I’m getting better.

Psalm 23:3 (KJV)
He restoreth my soul.

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Restoring My Soul (Thursday)

Posted on January 16, 2014 by Shirlee Abbott

“Mold me and make me after thy will,
while I am waiting, yielded and still.”
Have Thine Own Way, Lord!
Adelaide A. Pollard, 1906

I can’t promise to be still (you know my propensity to complain, Lord), but I’m ready and waiting. Bring on the restoration!

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Restoring My Soul (Wednesday)

Posted on January 15, 2014 by Shirlee Abbott

Restoration is a process of tearing down and rebuilding. It is messy, sometimes painful. When the destruction and construction hurt, it’s tempting to scream at God, “Just stop it!”

Ages ago, I started a workbook on prayer. The first lessons were great. Then I got uncomfortable . . . this was going to change my life. I put the workbook on a shelf and ignored it for six months Thankfully, God refused to leave the renovation of my soul half done.

Intimacy in prayer cost me. God ripped out some worldly habits and commitments. My only regret–that it took so long.

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Restoring My Soul (Tuesday)

Posted on January 14, 2014 by Shirlee Abbott

The Old Testament describes how King Joash rebuilt the Temple.

2 Chronicles 24:13 (NLT)
They restored the Temple of God according to its original design.

The Temple had been neglected and misused. The people had fallen away from genuine worship. The Temple was a mess! Restoring it required the talents of many skilled workman.

My soul fell into disrepair. I neglected it. I was a mess! The Master Craftsman restores my soul according to his original design.

1 Corinthians 3:15
Don’t you realize that all of you together are the temple of God?

Restore us, Lord!

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Restoring My Soul (Monday)

Posted on January 13, 2014 by Shirlee Abbott

Have you ever renovated a house—while you were living in it?
How did it go?

Fun, in a crazy way
Couldn’t stand the confusion and the mess
Loved the outcome, hated the process

Psalm 23:3 (KJV)
He restoreth my soul.

We’ve renovated houses: torn out walls, built closets, laid new tile, installed windows, redecorated. Likewise, God tears down our walls of false belief, fills us with knowledge of his word and will, lays a firm foundation of faith, gives us new perspectives on the needs and motivations of others and robes us with his righteousness.

You are God’s renovation in progress.

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Building Resolve (Friday)

Posted on January 10, 2014 by Shirlee Abbott

“Take my hands, and let them move
At the impulse of Thy love;
Take my feet and let them be
Swift and beautiful for Thee.”
Frances Ridley Havergal, Take My Life and Let It Be, 1874

RESOLVED: to use my hands and feet to do the good works, which God prepared in advance for me to do (Ephesians 2:10).

For more detail on the thoughts in this week’s blog posts, see Lesson 6, All in Good Time, in the Christian Life Study on Ephesians.

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Building Resolve (Thursday)

Posted on January 9, 2014 by Shirlee Abbott

Have you heard about “one word” for the year?

You pick one word to represent your focus for an entire year. Next year: new word, new focus. Very simple and very effective.

For 2014, my one word is two words: Good Work.

I will focus my energy on good works, which God prepared in advance for me to do (Ephesians 2:10).

All year long, I’ll ask:

Is this a good work God prepared in advance for me?
What good work does God have for me today, this week, this year?
Is this a good work that brings glory to God?

What’s your one word?

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Building Resolve (Wednesday)

Posted on January 8, 2014 by Shirlee Abbott

RESOLVED: to do the good works God prepared in advance for me to do.

But how do I know which good works are in God’s plan for me? It’s time for a talk with God.

Often, a bit at a time: Lord, you gave me the vision for a book. How do I make that happen? What times should I set aside to write–a little every day, a retreat devoted to writing, a schedule?

Daily: Dear God, what good works do you have in store for me today?

In the moment (as a friend pours out her heart): Oh God, what should I say–or not say–to help her?

Ask. Listen for the answer.

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