Shirlee Abbott

Scope of Time

Posted on September 17, 2024 by Shirlee Abbott

Ecclesiastes 3:11 (NLT)
Yet God has made everything beautiful for its own time. He has planted eternity in the human heart, but even so, people cannot see the whole scope of God’s work from beginning to end.

I’m surrounded by beauty here and now. The scope of God’s glory, beginning to end, is more than I can think or dream.

Good morning, Lord. I thank You for the beauty around me — from the changing colors of the sky to the iridescent wings of the dragonfly, from forested hills to garden abundance, from the skittering chipmunk to the soaring eagle. If this earth is a preview of the glories of heaven, I can’t begin to imagine the wonders of eternity.

Posted in Constructive Thought, Morning Prayer | Tagged Ecclesiastes 3:11, eternity, glories of heaven, Time | Comments Off

God’s on Time

Posted on September 16, 2024 by Shirlee Abbott

God is never early, never late. He does, however, run by a different clock.

2 Peter 3:8 (NLT)
But you must not forget this one thing, dear friends: A day is like a thousand years to the Lord, and a thousand years is like a day.

Heaven sits in an eternal time zone.

Good morning, Lord. So often, I question Your timing. I’m anxious for You to act according to my schedule, and I’m disappointed when You don’t. Forgive me.

Teach me to trust Your timing, the long view that sees through the here-and-now to the now-and-forever. Your will be done, O God, on Your schedule.

Posted in Constructive Thought, Morning Prayer | Tagged 2 Peter 3:8, Time | Comments Off

I Can’t Lie to God

Posted on September 13, 2024 by Shirlee Abbott

God sees it all and knows the facts. There’s no chance I’ll convince Him that I’m right and He’s wrong.

Numbers 23:19 (NLT)
God is not a man, so he does not lie.
He is not human, so he does not change his mind.

Lying to God, what’s the point? He knows better, and so should I.

Good morning, Lord. You are truth. You are right 100% of the time. Lying to You will never change the facts or the outcome. Teach me to be completely honest with You — about my actions, my desires, my feelings, my hopes and my hurts. Teach me to trust Your words. Teach me to sort Your truth from the world’s lies. Teach me to speak the truth to You, to myself and to others.

Posted in Constructive Thought, Morning Prayer | Tagged lying, Numbers 23:19, Truth | Comments Off

I Lie to Others

Posted on September 12, 2024 by Shirlee Abbott

I lie, and I shouldn’t. The Bible tells me so.

Ephesians 4:55 (TLB)
Stop lying to each other; tell the truth, for we are parts of each other and when we lie to each other we are hurting ourselves.

My lies – not good for me, not good for them, not good for us.

Lying is good for nothing.

Good morning, Lord. I sometimes lie because it is convenient, it makes things easier in the moment. Forgive me. Give me eyes to see how truth works for the good of everyone over the long haul. Help me speak the truth in love (Ephesians 4:15), as does Jesus Christ, to help and not hurt, to serve others more than myself, for Your glory and not my own.

Posted in Constructive Thought, Morning Prayer | Tagged Ephesians 4:15, Ephesians 4:25, lying, truth in love | Comments Off

I Lie to Myself

Posted on September 11, 2024 by Shirlee Abbott

I’m rude. I yell. I say something mean.

I tell myself:

“He started it.”
“They deserved it.”
“Nobody would put up with that!”

Jesus has an answer.

Matthew 7:3 (ESV)
Why do you see the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye?

God uses that log to knock some sense into me.

Good morning, Lord. Forgive me for lying to myself, for telling myself I couldn’t help it, that it wasn’t my fault. Teach me to be honest about my sin — my motivation, my loss of control, my desire to get even. Likewise, Lord, teach me to be honest about the other guy’s sin — not excusing it, not blaming myself for it, but leaving it in Your hands.

Teach me true confession and true repentance. Fill my heart with the desire to honor you with my words and deeds.

Posted in Constructive Thought, Morning Prayer | Tagged confession, lie to myself, log in your own eye, Matthew 7:3, repentance | Comments Off

No Lies

Posted on September 10, 2024 by Shirlee Abbott

Isaiah 53 is an Old Testament description of Jesus.

Isaiah 53:9 (NIV)
… though he had done no violence,
nor was any deceit in his mouth.

No deceit. No lies. No exaggeration. No embellishment. No half-truths. No spin.

Only Jesus.

Good morning, Lord. Seems like truth, the whole truth, nothing but the truth is hard to come by in our world. Facts come with a spin, distorted to fit the speaker’s personal agenda. Sometimes I doubt the truth when I hear it … help me. Sometimes I twist the truth when I speak it … forgive me. Make me more like Jesus, with no deceit in my mouth.

Posted in Constructive Thought, Morning Prayer | Tagged deceit, Isaiah 53:9, lies, Truth | Comments Off

I Lie

Posted on September 9, 2024 by Shirlee Abbott

I lie. You lie. We all lie.

Romans 3:23 (my own version)
All have lied and fall short of the glory of God.

Why lie?

John 8:33 (CEV)
… everything he [the devil] says is a lie. Not only is he a liar himself, but he is also the father of all lies.

I lie because I’m hanging out with the wrong guy.

Good morning, Lord. Forgive me for lying — to avoid the consequences of my actions, to impress others, even to convince myself that I’m not so bad. Forgive me for listening to the enemy’s lies, his whispers telling me lying will be good for me.

Teach me to own up to my own mistakes, to be honest but not hurtful, to tell the truth without exaggerating. Remind me that You’ve seen it all, and You’re always listening.

Posted in Constructive Thought, Morning Prayer | Tagged John 8:33, lies, lying, Romans 3:23 | Comments Off

Teach Your Children … for Your Own Good

Posted on September 6, 2024 by Shirlee Abbott

Want the key to a good, long life?

Deuteronomy 6:1-2 (NIV)
These are the commands, decrees and laws the Lord your God directed me to teach you to observe in the land that you are crossing the Jordan to possess, so that you, your children and their children after them may fear the Lord your God as long as you live by keeping all his decrees and commands that I give you, and so that you may enjoy long life.

Do it God’s way … good for you, good for your children.

Good morning, Lord. Your rules for living work — makes sense: You created the world, You created me, You see the big plan and the little details. And yet, so often I think I know better; forgive my foolishness. I complain when things don’t go my way; forgive my selfishness. I try even harder to control things; forgive my arrogance.

Grant me the faith to trust Your plan, the self-discipline to walk in obedience, the assurance that Your way is best for me personally, for those around me and for those who come after me … a win-win-win all around, for now and forever, amen.

Posted in Constructive Thought, Morning Prayer | Tagged Deuteronomy 6:1-2, long life, teach the children | Comments Off

Teach Your Children … the Holy Scriptures

Posted on September 5, 2024 by Shirlee Abbott

Paul praised the important lessons Timothy learned as a child.

2 Timothy 1:5, 3:15 (NLT)
… you share the faith that first filled your grandmother Lois and your mother, Eunice. And I know that same faith continues strong in you …

You have been taught the holy Scriptures from childhood, and they have given you the wisdom to receive the salvation that comes by trusting in Christ Jesus.

Be like Lois and Eunice. Share your faith and God’s Word with the children you love.

Good morning, Lord. Thank You for Your Word. Forgive me for neglecting it, for letting my Bible sit on the shelf untouched for days at a time. Forgive me for giving it a quick look and then forgetting what I read. Forgive me for paying more attention to social media than I do to Scripture.

Teach me to diligently study Your Word, to make it my primary source of wisdom. When I read, let me hear Your voice. Fill me with Your light. Make me a reflection of Your glory. Empower me to share what I learn with others.

Posted in Constructive Thought, Morning Prayer | Tagged 2 Timothy 1:5, 2 Timothy 3:15, Bible, God's Word, Lois and Eunice, teach the children | Comments Off

Teach Your Children … about God’s Power

Posted on September 4, 2024 by Shirlee Abbott

Faith — pass it on. Don’t keep it secret.

Psalm 78:4 (NLT)
We will not hide these truths from our children;
we will tell the next generation
about the glorious deeds of the Lord,
about his power and his mighty wonders.

Teach your children what God did, is doing and will do. Teach them Bible stories. Tell them your story. Point them toward eternity in heaven. Leave a legacy of faith.

Good morning, Lord. Forgive me for keeping my faith to myself. Forgive me for pretending that I get through each day in my own strength and wisdom. Forgive me for hiding my light under a basket (Matthew 5:15).

Teach me to speak up. Nudge me to tell Your story. Grant me the words to tell not only Bible stories, but also the story of my own faith journey. Guide my steps, and let me leave a set of steppingstones for the next generation.

Posted in Constructive Thought, Morning Prayer | Tagged legacy of faith, Matthew 5:15, Psalm 78:4, teach the children, tell the story | Comments Off