Safe Shelter

Posted on February 3, 2026 by Shirlee Abbott


“The raging storms may round us beat,
A shelter in the time of storm;
We’ll never leave our safe retreat,
A shelter in the time of storm.”
Vernon J. Charlesworth, 1880

My need for shelter may be weather-related or, more often, my reaction to the troubles of daily living. Either way, I picture myself as a child, snug under the arm of my loving Heavenly Father. It’s my safe place — physically, mentally, spiritually.

 

Good morning, Lord. You are my safe shelter in a confusing, chaotic world. As the bitter winds of anger blow around me, You wrap me in the security blanket of Your love. When arguments rage, I seek Your still small voice. As evil plans are laid out like snares, You are my guiding light. Your powerful presence is my protection — thank You!

 

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Strong Shelter

Posted on February 2, 2026 by Shirlee Abbott

 

January brought big storms to a broad swath of our nation. Folks were snowed in, cut off from others. 

 


It brought to my mind a blizzard from my childhood. Snow drifted deeper than I was tall. My father helped my brother and me scoop out a snow cave big enough for the three of us. It was a quiet, cozy shelter from the cold winds.

Isaiah 32:1-2 (MSG)
But look! A king will rule in the right way, and his leaders will carry out justice. Each one will stand as a shelter from high winds, provide safe cover in stormy weather.

 


Good morning, Lord. Raise up leaders in our churches and our communities to guide us with justice and mercy — godly mentors who stand as strong shelters from the world’s storms. But You, O God, are my personal refuge, my safe place in these tumultuous times.

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The Word of God

Posted on January 30, 2026 by Shirlee Abbott

Thus says the Lord.

You’ll find this phrase throughout the Old Testament: from Moses to Pharaoh, from Joshua to the people, from the prophet Nathan to King David, from Elijah to Jehoram, from Isaiah to nations and people groups.

Words … from God, through the mouth of His spokesmen to His people. Words written in God’s Word … for us.

The Word of God for the people of God.

 


Good morning, Lord. Thank You for the words in Your Word, the Bible. They are words to live by, to love by, to be loved by. Engrave those words on my heart, and show me how to put them into action today and every day.

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Sweet Words

Posted on January 29, 2026 by Shirlee Abbott

GIGO. Garbage in, Garbage out. It applies to computers — and more.

 

“A cup brimful of sweetness cannot spill even one drop of bitter water, no matter how suddenly jarred.”
Amy Carmichael, 1867-1951

 

Garbage words in, garbage words out. Sweet words in, sweet words out.

The words we hear, read and ponder impact the words we speak and write.

 


Good morning, Lord. Teach me to watch the words I take in as much or more than the words I put out. Fill my heart with Your Word — and fill my mouth with wise words, true words, kind words, healing words, sweet words.

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Healing Words

Posted on January 28, 2026 by Shirlee Abbott

Do you remember words that hurt more clearly than words that help?  I do.

Five people say something nice, one says something cruel. Guess which one follows me everywhere. Yep, the hurtful words.

Proverbs 16:24 (NIV)
Gracious words are a honeycomb,
sweet to the soul and healing to the bones.

And yet, I have a precious collection of remembered words, spoken at the right moment, that healed my hurting heart.

 


Good morning, Lord. I want to leave a trail of healing words. Teach me to choose my words carefully, to speak the truth in love (Ephesians 4:15), to respect and encourage others, to seek their wellbeing more than my own. 

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Powerful Words

Posted on January 27, 2026 by Shirlee Abbott

 

Words are important, powerful. We think in words. We categorize with words. We remember in words.

It goes all the way back to Adam.


Genesis 2:19 (NLT)
So the Lord God formed from the ground all the wild animals and all the birds of the sky. He brought them to the man to see what he would call them, and the man chose a name for each one.

God created, Adam named — using words. From the beginning, words matter.

 

Good morning, Lord. Thank You for words — the words I use to think, the words I use to solve problems, the words I use to plan. The words in my journal, the words on my to-do list, the words I read, the words I speak, the words in my prayers. Without words, where would I be? I would be lost, disconnected from others — and from You.

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God’s Words

Posted on January 26, 2026 by Shirlee Abbott

 


God is all about language. Think about it.

 


Genesis 1:3
And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light.

Our world started with words. God’s words.

John 1:1 (NIV)
In the beginning was the Word …

No God, no words. No God, no Word. No God, no language.

 


Good morning, Lord. You are “the Word,” You are the source of all words. Without You, there would be no connection, no communication. No relationship. I can’t wrap my mind around the intelligence that created language. Thank You for the gift of words.

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Excellent Self-Talk

Posted on January 23, 2026 by Shirlee Abbott

 

The Bible sets a high standard for what I think and say to myself;

 

 

Philippians 4:8 (NIV)
Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.

My self-talk should be true and honest, but also pure and noble. I can look for the good, acknowledge the bad and strive for the best, knowing that God is always listening.

 

Good morning, Lord. Focus my thoughts and words on what is right and good — forgive me for my negativity. Teach me to speak encouragement to myself and others, fill my mouth with excellent and admirable ideas. Keep me honest, Lord, able to acknowledge my sin without getting stuck in it. Let me put off what drags me down and concentrate on what builds me up.

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Bitter Self-Talk

Posted on January 22, 2026 by Shirlee Abbott


Envy sneaks into my self-talk. I compare myself to others, and it doesn’t look good.

“It’s not fair.”
“She doesn’t deserve it.”
“I’m better than she is.”

Instead of rejoicing in someone else’s success, I plant seeds of bitterness.

Hebrews 12:15 (TLB)
… Watch out that no bitterness takes root among you, for as it springs up it causes deep trouble, hurting many in their spiritual lives.

Like weeds taking over the garden, that bitterness looks bad and stunts the harvest — hurting me and those around me.

 

Good morning, Lord. Your grace is not a limited resource — there’s more than enough for everyone everywhere for eternity. And yet, I act like it’s a pie being sliced into ever-smaller pieces. Forgive me for thinking the bigger someone else’s slice, the smaller my own. It’s not a competition, and my piece will always be more than I deserve. I am grateful; help my ingratitude!

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Encouraging Self-Talk

Posted on January 21, 2026 by Shirlee Abbott


I make a mistake. I tell myself:

“Oops!”
“That was dumb.”
“I can’t do anything right.”

My self-talk drags me down, moving from a statement of fact to a declaration of hopelessness. The Bible offers a different approach:

1 Thessalonians 5:11 (NIV)
Therefore encourage one another
and build each other up …

And why not start by encouraging myself?

 


Good morning, Lord. I can speak despair or encouragement to myself. Teach me to choose well. I want my own words to reflect Your Word, to build me up, to align my self-talk with Your glorious plan.

 

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