Shirlee Abbott

A Big Fat Thank-You

Posted on February 17, 2026 by Shirlee Abbott

It’s Fat Tuesday, a time set aside for over-indulgence.

If I have the time, money and opportunity to over-indulge, I owe God a big fat thank-you.

1 Thessalonians 5:18 (NIV)
Give thanks in all circumstances …

“All circumstances” covers Fat Tuesday.

Good morning, Lord. Thank You, thank You, thank You! I have a cozy home, more than enough food, a reliable car and a job I enjoy. I have friends and family to love and the beauty of nature to enjoy. Forgive me for taking my daily blessings for granted. “The boundary lines have fallen for me in pleasant places” (Psalm 16:6), and I am grateful.

Posted in Constructive Thought, Morning Prayer | Tagged 1 Thessalonians 5:18, Fat Tuesday, gratitude, Psalm 16:6 | 2 Comments

True Love Does No Harm

Posted on February 16, 2026 by Shirlee Abbott

The long Valentine’s weekend inspired today’s constructive thought.

True love isn’t measured in one day or even one weekend.

Proverbs 31:12 (NIV)
She [the noble wife] brings him [her husband] good,
not harm, all the days of her life.

True love does my loved one no harm — every single day. Love isn’t being a doormat and putting up with hurtful behavior. It involves constructive conversations, problem-solving and healthy boundaries. It changes both partners for the better.

Good morning, Lord. A noble spouse brings good and not harm to their relationship every single day. I miss the mark. I nag, I pout, I say mean things. Teach me to love like You do, with grace and mercy. Grant me the wisdom to know where to draw the line, and when and how to speak. Show me how to forgive as I have been forgiven.

Posted in Constructive Thought, Morning Prayer | Tagged do no harm, good not harm, Proverbs 31:12, Valentine's Day | 4 Comments

Praying Hearts

Posted on February 13, 2026 by Shirlee Abbott

“God shapes the world by prayer. Prayers are deathless. The lips that uttered them may be closed to death, the heart that felt them may have ceased to beat, but the prayers live before God, and God’s heart is set on them and prayers outlive the lives of those who uttered them; they outlive a generation, outlive an age, outlive a world.” E. M. Bounds (1835-1913)

Prayer warms our hearts … and God’s.

Good morning, Lord. Warm my heart with Your love, open my eyes to Your words of wisdom, open my arms to those who need a helping hand. Above all, O God, teach me to pray, show me how to live in constant conversation with You. Fill my soul with praise, gratitude, compassion and grace.

Posted in Morning Prayer, Timeless Wisdom | Tagged E.M. Bounds, God's heart, praying hearts | Comments Off

Thawed Hearts

Posted on February 12, 2026 by Shirlee Abbott

1 Peter 4:12-13 (NIV)
Dear friends, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal that has come on you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice inasmuch as you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed.

God can use a hot mess to thaw the coldest of hearts.

Good morning, Lord. Hard times have made me a better person — this I know. But when I’m in the middle of a trial, Lord God, it’s hard to count it as joy (James 1:2). Teach me to trust You to bring good out of the worst situations.

Posted in Constructive Thought, Morning Prayer | Tagged 1 Peter 4:12-13, fiery trials, James 1:2, thawed heart | 2 Comments

Cold Hearts

Posted on February 11, 2026 by Shirlee Abbott

“Hot heads and cold hearts
never solved anything.”
Billy Graham (1918-2018)

Good morning, Lord. Grant me a cool head — the ability to think clearly and consider the facts before I speak and act. Warm my heart with a flame of love — for You, for my neighbor and for myself (Mark 12:30-31). Fill me with godly wisdom, teach me to be gracious and merciful, in Jesus’ name.

Posted in Morning Prayer, Timeless Wisdom | Tagged Billy Graham, cold heart, hot heads, Mark 12:30-31 | Comments Off

Melting Hearts

Posted on February 10, 2026 by Shirlee Abbott

Ezekiel 36:26 (ISV)
I’m going to give you a new heart, and I’m going to give you a new spirit within all of your deepest parts. I’ll remove that rock-hard heart of yours and replace it with one that’s sensitive to me.

I always envisioned this change of heart as God chiseling the hard edges off a stony heart. But God works in more than one way. The warmth of His love can melt the iciest of hearts, one drip at a time.

Good morning, Lord. Warm the cockles of my heart. Melt away any bitterness or envy. Light a flame in my soul, one that reflects Your grace to everyone around me.

Posted in Constructive Thought, Morning Prayer | Tagged Ezekiel 36:26, hard heart, melting heart | Comments Off

Frozen Hearts

Posted on February 9, 2026 by Shirlee Abbott

I drove to church Sunday on pavement edged with frozen snowbanks. This verse came to mind.

Matthew 24:12 (NIV)
Because of the increase of wickedness,
the love of most will grow cold.

Reading the news is like walking a path wedged between banks of frozen-hearted folks faced off against each other.

Good morning, Lord. I wear a fluffy jacket, comfy hat and fuzzy gloves to keep my body warm. But You, O God, are the one who warms my heart. Don’t let the world’s wickedness chill my soul. Teach me to love the way You do.

Posted in Constructive Thought, Morning Prayer | Tagged cold heart, cold love, Matthew 24:12 | Comments Off

Sacred Shelter

Posted on February 6, 2026 by Shirlee Abbott

Psalm 27:5 (NIV)
For in the day of trouble
he will keep me safe in his dwelling;
he will hide me in the shelter
of his sacred tent …

God’s sacred tabernacle, the heavenly House of the Lord — it’s my eternal home, thanks be to God.

Good morning, Lord. Thank You for the hope of heaven — eternal life in the sacred shelter of Your presence. And when I’ve been there ten thousand years, bright shining as the sun, I’ll have no less days to to sing Your praise than when I’d first begun. [from “Amazing Grace,” John Newton, 1779]

Posted in Constructive Thought, Morning Prayer | Tagged Amazing Grace, God's tabernacle, John Newton, Psalm 27:5, sacred shelter | 2 Comments

Storm Shelter

Posted on February 5, 2026 by Shirlee Abbott

In extreme weather, public service announcements remind us to check on our neighbors. And yes, I need to be reminded that I’m not the only one who might need help.

Psalm 91:1-2 (NIV)
You have been a refuge for the poor,
a refuge for the needy in their distress,
a shelter from the storm
and a shade from the heat.

Good morning, Lord. Give me eyes to see when others have a need that I can meet and grant me the strength to follow through. Show me when to speak a word of comfort, when to give a helping hand and when to pray for the state of their souls. Empower me to be the windbreak others need in stormy times.

Posted in Constructive Thought, Morning Prayer | Tagged extreme weather, Psalm 91:1-2, refuge for the needy, shelter from the storm | Comments Off

Shaded Shelter

Posted on February 4, 2026 by Shirlee Abbott

Extreme weather calls for a safe place of refuge — in winter, a warming center; in summer, a shaded shelter.

Isaiah 25:4 (NIV)
You have been a refuge for the poor,
a refuge for the needy in their distress,
a shelter from the storm
and a shade from the heat.

In times of extreme stress, we need the safe refuge of God’s presence.

Good morning, Lord. When the thermometer says it’s below zero, I long for a heat wave. In triple digits, I wish for freezing weather. What I really need is Your presence. You are my warm place when I am cold, my cooling shade in the heat. Even when I don’t realize it, You are the refuge I seek. Teach me to obey the inner nudge of the Spirit and step close to You.

Posted in Constructive Thought, Morning Prayer | Tagged extreme stress, Isaiah 25:4, refuge, shade from the heat | Comments Off