Shirlee Abbott

Remember the Heroes

Posted on May 25, 2026 by Shirlee Abbott

Posted in USA | Tagged America the Beautiful, Katherine Lee Bates, Memorial Day | 3 Comments

Strife of Tongues

Posted on May 22, 2026 by Shirlee Abbott

God is the antidote to the strife of tongues.

Psalm 31:19-20 (ESV)
Oh, how abundant is your goodness,
which you have stored up for those who fear you
and worked for those who take refuge in you,
in the sight of the children of mankind!
In the cover of your presence you hide them
from the plots of men;
you store them in your shelter
from the strife of tongues.

God is our safe space.

Good morning, Lord. I need less strife and stress in my life. Teach me to step into Your presence, where I will find peace of mind. You are my refuge and shield (Psalm 119:114). You are my safe space, ever and always.

Posted in Constructive Thought, Morning Prayer | Tagged peace of mind, Psalm 119:114, Psalm 31:19-20, safe space, strife of tongues | Leave a comment

Blessings and Curses

Posted on May 21, 2026 by Shirlee Abbott

James 3:9-10 (ESV)
With it [the tongue] we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse people who are made in the likeness of God. From the same mouth come blessing and cursing. My brothers, these things ought not to be so.

As I read the news and scroll through social media, curses seem to outweigh blessings. That’s not how it should work.

Good morning, Lord. Keep watch over the words I speak. Put a stop to my curses, inspire more blessings. As much as it depends on me, let me live in peace with everyone (Romans 12:18). Show me how to love those who don’t love me, those who disagree with me and those who walk the wayward path. Teach me to reach out to them with godly grace.

Posted in Constructive Thought, Morning Prayer | Tagged blessings and curses, James 3:1-10, Romans 12:18 | 4 Comments

War of Words

Posted on May 20, 2026 by Shirlee Abbott

Proverbs 15:1 (NLT)
A gentle answer deflects anger,
but harsh words make tempers flare.

A war of words requires at least two people.

Good morning, Lord. When someone shoots angry words at me, I want to shoot angrier words back. When taunts and curses fly to-and-fro like flaming arrows, grant me wisdom to step away from the war of hurtful words. I want to be a peacemaker who speaks gentle words of healing, comfort and encouragement. Make it so, in Jesus’ name.

Posted in Constructive Thought, Morning Prayer | Tagged gentle words, Proverbs 15:1, war of words | Leave a comment

The Con and the Grace

Posted on May 19, 2026 by Shirlee Abbott

Scripture describes a clever con that resulted in an undeserved peace treaty.

Joshua 9:3-6 (NLT)
But when the people of Gibeon heard what Joshua had done to Jericho and Ai, they … put on worn-out, patched sandals and ragged clothes. And the bread they took with them was dry and moldy …. they told Joshua and the men of Israel, “We have come from a distant land to ask you to make a peace treaty with us.”

Joshua made the treaty with these nearby neighbors, the Bible says, without inquiring of the Lord. In the end (Joshua 10) he graciously honored the treaty.

Good morning, Lord. Despite my best intentions, I make mistakes. Grant me the grace to own up to my errors, even when someone else shares the blame. Show me the right thing to do and empower me to do it.

Posted in Constructive Thought, Morning Prayer | Tagged con, Gibeonites, grace, Joshua, Joshua 9:3-6 | Leave a comment

Hurting and Healing Words

Posted on May 18, 2026 by Shirlee Abbott

“Cold words freeze people, and hot words scorch them, and bitter words make them bitter, and wrathful words make them wrathful.”
Blaise Pascal (1623-1662)

I often feel like I live in the flow of freezing and scorching words. It’s an uncomfortable place. I don’t want to join the bitter, angry stream.

The book of Proverbs offers an alternative:

Proverbs 12:18 (NIV)
The words of the reckless pierce like swords,
but the tongue of the wise brings healing.

Good morning, Lord. Fill my mouth with healing words. Keep me from speaking without thinking, deliver me from the temptation to respond in anger or bitterness. Show me when to be silent. Teach me when and how to respond to all the hot and cold words that come my way. Make me a fount of warmth and comfort, in Jesus’ name.

Posted in Morning Prayer, Timeless Wisdom | Tagged Blaise Pascal, cold and hot words, hurting and healing words, Proverbs 12:18 | 2 Comments

The People of Heaven

Posted on May 15, 2026 by Shirlee Abbott

Usually, I’m not a fan of crowds.
But heaven’s great multitude —
count me in!

Revelation 7:9-10 (NIV)
After this I looked, and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and before the Lamb. They were wearing white robes and were holding palm branches in their hands. And they cried out in a loud voice:

“Salvation belongs to our God,
who sits on the throne,
and to the Lamb.”

Good morning, Lord. I want to be part of heaven’s great multitude, to praise You alongside people I’ve known and loved, ancestors I’ve seen only in photos, folks I prayed for (and those who prayed for me), even some people I didn’t expect to see there (and ones surprised to see me). In perfect unity, we’ll rejoice together, so be it, amen.

Posted in Constructive Thought, Morning Prayer | Tagged Revelation 7:9-10, the great multitude, unity | 2 Comments

The Music of Heaven

Posted on May 14, 2026 by Shirlee Abbott

“Every soul there [in heaven] is as a note in some concert of delightful music that sweetly harmonizes with every other note, and all together blend in the most rapturous strains in praising God and the Lamb forever.” Jonathan Edwards (1703-1728)

I look forward to heaven, where you and I will make beautiful music.

Good morning, Lord. Surely heaven is the best of everything: the sweetest fragrances, the most colorful landscapes, the tastiest fruit, the most glorious music. Wonder of wonders, I will be part of it all! Thank You.

Posted in Constructive Thought, Timeless Wisdom | Tagged Heaven, Johnathan Edwards, music | 2 Comments

The Fruit of Heaven

Posted on May 13, 2026 by Shirlee Abbott

This passage from John’s description of heaven intrigues me.

Revelation 22:1-2 (NIV)
Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, as clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb … On each side of the river stood the tree of life, bearing twelve crops of fruit, yielding its fruit every month.

A monthly harvest of fruit? Does heaven cycle through all four seasons in a month? Time works differently there.

Good morning, Lord. I imagine the best of everything here on earth is a poor reflection of the glories of heaven. The most delicate spring flowers, the most colorful autumn vistas, the tastiest fruit are previews of the coming attractions of heaven — abundantly bigger, brighter and sweeter than I can ask or think (Ephesians 2:20). All that, plus You, I look forward to it.

Posted in Constructive Thought, Morning Prayer | Tagged Ephesians 2:20, fruit of heaven, Revelation 22:1-2, time in heaven | Leave a comment

Heaven: Our Happy Place

Posted on May 12, 2026 by Shirlee Abbott

The next time I stub my toe or burn my finger, I’ll think about this verse:

Revelation 21:3-4 (NLT)
… Look, God’s home is now among his people! He will live with them, and they will be his people. God himself will be with them. He will wipe every tear from their eyes, and there will be no more death or sorrow or crying or pain. All these things are gone forever.

Let’s put it in perspective — not just the quick cry or the short-term pain. No deep grief, no devastating diagnoses, no raging fevers, no aching joints. Forever and ever!

Good morning, Lord. When my body hurts, I look to the medicine cabinet for relief. In heaven, I’ll need no pain relievers, no tissue boxes, no ice packs or heating pads. No tears no pain, it’s all good. Hallelujah!

Posted in Constructive Thought, Morning Prayer | Tagged Heaven, no tears and pain, Revelation 21:3-4 | Leave a comment