Shirlee Abbott -Shirlee Abbott

See You Next Week

Posted on April 22, 2025 by Shirlee Abbott

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Let’s Take Easter Personally

Posted on April 21, 2025 by Shirlee Abbott

“Bearing shame and scoffing rude,
in my place condemned he stood,
sealed my pardon with his blood:
Hallelujah, what a Savior!”
Philip P. Bliss, 1875

Jesus stood in my place. Jesus died in my place.

Good morning, Lord. Thank You for loving the world. But on a personal note, thank You for loving me, for dying for me, for granting me eternal life. Teach me to look at Easter from both a corporate and an individual perspective: You pour your grace on me … and on a world of others. Grace isn’t a limited resource — there’s more than enough for everyone!

Posted in Morning Prayer, Timeless Wisdom | Tagged Easter, grace, Man of Sorrows, Philip P. Bliss | Leave a comment

Heaven and Earth Meet

Posted on April 18, 2025 by Shirlee Abbott

The cross — where heaven meets earth.

John 3:16 (NIV)
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.

Jesus left heaven to die on earth so that earthly beings can live in heaven.

Good morning, Lord Jesus. Thank You for the cross. Thank You for stepping out of heaven and dying so that I can step into heaven and live … forever and ever, time without end, amen.

Posted in Constructive Thought, Lent, Morning Prayer | Tagged cross, heaven and earth, John 3:16 | Leave a comment

Centered on Love

Posted on April 17, 2025 by Shirlee Abbott

The cross is all about love.

John 3:16 (NIV)
For God so loved the world …

John 13:34
… Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.

God loves. I love.

Good morning, Lord. I cannot love others as much as You love me … but I can try. Teach me to see (and love) Your image stamped on every person I meet. Grant me power to look beyond the moment and envision them with You in eternity. Even (especially) when they rub me wrong, put a prayer in my heart and kind words in my mouth.

Posted in Constructive Thought, Lent, Morning Prayer | Tagged cross, John 13:24, John 3:16, love | 2 Comments

Forgiven and Forgiving

Posted on April 16, 2025 by Shirlee Abbott

Matthew 6:12 (NLV)
Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us.

Picture the cross:

Forgive us our sins is the upright beam,
representing our relationship with God.

As we forgive is the crossbeam,
representing our relationship with others.

Good morning, Lord. May I be as quick to forgive others as You are to forgive me.

Posted in Constructive Thought, Lent, Morning Prayer | Tagged cross, forgiven, forgiving, Matthew 6:12 | Leave a comment

Guilt and Shame Meet Mercy and Grace

Posted on April 15, 2025 by Shirlee Abbott

These parallel thoughts meet at the cross:

Guilt: I have done something bad, committed an offence.
Shame: I am a bad person, unworthy and unlovable.

Mercy: God is not giving me the punishment I deserve.
Grace: God is giving me blessings I don’t deserve.

Hebrews 12:2 (NIV)
For the joy set before him [Jesus] he endured the cross, scorning its shame.

Let go of guilt, scorn the shame.
Be grateful for mercy, embrace grace.

Good morning, Lord. That messy and painful cross is the source of mercy and grace. Once again, O God, You take what is ugly and turn it to beauty, what is unlovable in me and transform it into a reflection of You. There is nothing on earth to compare with the power of Your holy love. I stand in awe of You, I praise and thank You.

Posted in Constructive Thought, Lent, Morning Prayer | Tagged guilt and shame, Hebrews 12:2, mercy and grace | 4 Comments

Intersection of Sin and Salvation

Posted on April 14, 2025 by Shirlee Abbott

John 3:17 (EASY)
God did not send his Son into the world because he wanted to punish people. He sent his Son to save the people in the world from punishment.

Calvary’s cross — the intersection of sin and salvation. We bring the sin, Christ brings the salvation.

Good morning, Lord. My sins nailed You to the cross, Your death opened the door to my salvation. You didn’t deserve death, I don’t deserve eternal life. Your plan for the world — bigger and better than I can ask or think! “Thank You” isn’t enough.

Posted in Constructive Thought, Lent, Morning Prayer | Tagged John 3:17, salvation, sin | 4 Comments

The Reason for the Right Road

Posted on April 11, 2025 by Shirlee Abbott

This is the reason for this Lenten season:

Matthew 20:17-19 (NIV)
Now Jesus was going up to Jerusalem. On the way, he took the Twelve aside and said to them, “We are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be delivered over to the chief priests and the teachers of the law. They will condemn him to death and will hand him over to the Gentiles to be mocked and flogged and crucified. On the third day he will be raised to life!”

Good morning, Lord. I look forward to Easter, the celebration of Your resurrection. But without the crucifixion there would have been no resurrection. Sometimes my mind skips right over the betrayal, mockery, pain and suffering You experienced — for our sakes. Teach me to count the cost of my salvation. Fill me with gratitude.

Posted in Constructive Thought, Lent, Morning Prayer | Tagged crucifixion, Matthew 20:17-19, Resurrection, the right road | Comments Off

Tears on the Right Road

Posted on April 10, 2025 by Shirlee Abbott

Luke 19: 41-42 (NIV)
As he [Jesus] approached Jerusalem and saw the city, he wept over it and said, “If you, even you, had only known on this day what would bring you peace—but now it is hidden from your eyes.

Jesus wept. It’s OK to cry.

Some things are just so sad.

Good morning, Lord. Let’s be honest … I get frustrated with the chaos, I don’t like it when things don’t go my way. My thoughts hover over my own self, how it impacts me. Forgive my self-centeredness. Give me eyes to see what is happening to others and a heart that shares their pain. Teach me to seek their wellbeing — in prayer and deed — as much as my own.

Posted in Constructive Thought, Lent, Morning Prayer | Tagged Jesus wept, Luke 19:41-42, the right road | 2 Comments

Joy on the Right Road

Posted on April 9, 2025 by Shirlee Abbott

Luke 19:37-38 (NIV)
When he [Jesus] came near the place where the road goes down the Mount of Olives, the whole crowd of disciples began joyfully to praise God in loud voices for all the miracles they had seen:

“Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord!”

Did the crowd of disciples understand where Jesus was headed?
Probably not.

Do we have to understand what lies ahead before we joyfully praise God?
I don’t think so.

Good morning, Lord. As I look back on my life journey, I’m grateful I didn’t know about all the speedbumps and dangerous curves before I started. And yet, I keep wishing for complete knowledge of the road ahead. Teach me to step out joyfully, trusting Your plan and not my own wisdom. As the song says, “We’ve come this far by faith, leaning on the Lord.”

Posted in Constructive Thought, Lent, Morning Prayer | Tagged Luke 19:37-38, Palm Sunday, the right road, the triumphal entry, we've come this far by faith | Comments Off

Shirlee Abbott