Autumn’s Testimony

Posted on September 30, 2025 by Shirlee Abbott

 


Autumn testifies to God’s good and glorious plan.

 


Genesis 8:22 (NIV)
As long as the earth endures,
seedtime and harvest,
cold and heat,
summer and winter,
day and night
will never cease.

For my whole life, autumn has come after summer and before winter … every year. Exactly as God designed in the beginning.

 

Good morning, Lord. The seasons testify to Your power and plan. From year to year, century to century, millennium to millennium, the seasons march by in order. The weather changes day to day, but seasons pass in the order You established from the beginning. Like You, they do not change like shifting shadows (James 1:17). Thanks be to You, O God, for Your indescribable gift of time.

 

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Autumn Sings

Posted on September 29, 2025 by Shirlee Abbott

 

I’m a four-season gal. My soul is grounded in transition from winter to spring to summer to fall. But autumn is my favorite. I love the changing colors, the crisp air and the crackle of dry leaves.


Psalm 96:1, 6 (NIV)
Sing to the Lord a new song;
sing to the Lord, all the earth …
let all the trees of the forest sing for joy.

Can you hear the mystical melody of dogwoods waving their bright berries, the praise the Lord of crimson maples, the hallelujah of rustling oaks, and the resounding amen of soaring pines? Come, join the chorus!

 


Good morning, Lord. Give me ears to hear Creation’s song of praise. Tune my heart to sing along.

You have made this beautiful autumn day, let me rejoice and be glad in it (Psalm 118:24).

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Go: Shine and Speak

Posted on September 26, 2025 by Shirlee Abbott


Isaiah 6:8 (NIV)
 Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying,
“Whom shall I send?
And who will go for us?”
And I said, “Here am I. Send me!”


Is God calling you to shine and speak on His behalf?
Are you ready and willing?

 


Good morning, Lord. The world desperately needs Your light and wisdom. Empower me to let my light shine in the darkness and to speak of Your goodness and love. When You open a door of opportunity, grant me the strength and confidence to go in Your name and share the good news of Jesus Christ with the world.

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Speak Up

Posted on September 25, 2025 by Shirlee Abbott

 


Speak up for the sake of the kingdom. 

 


Colossians 3:16 (NLT)
Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly,
teaching and exhorting one another …

 


Good morning, Lord. I’m grateful for Your Word dwelling in me. Let it flow out of me and into others — give me the right words to share with those around me. Make me a well of godly wisdom, refreshing and encouraging the folks I encounter today. Speak through me, in Jesus’ name.

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The Right Light

Posted on September 24, 2025 by Shirlee Abbott

 

Ephesians 5:8-9 (NLT)
… So live as people of light! For this light within you produces only what is good and right and true.

 

Your light is God’s light — His good, right and true light. Let it shine!

 

 

Good morning, Lord. Shine Your light on me. Shine Your light through me. Make me a beacon of your good, right and true light.

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Sight and Sound, à la Spurgeon

Posted on September 23, 2025 by Shirlee Abbott

A bit of wisdom regarding sight and sound from Charles Spurgeon (based on the story of Gideon).

“Gideon commanded his small army to do two things: First, after hiding the light of the soldiers’ torches in clay pots, they were to break those pots at the appointed signal and let their lights shine openly. And then, secondly, they were to blow their trumpets and shout … This is precisely what all Christians must do. First, you must shine … secondly, there must be the sound: the blowing of the trumpet … proclaiming the message of Christ ”
Morning and Evening, September 20 – Morning

Read about Gideon in Judges 6 & 7; read Spurgeon’s entire devotion here.

 


Good morning, Lord. You call me to shine in this dark world and share our eternal hope with those who are lost. Forgive me for hiding my light and avoiding certain conversations. May my words and deeds be helpful to others and acceptable in Your sight (Psalm 19:14)

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Shine and Speak

Posted on September 22, 2025 by Shirlee Abbott


Last week, we focused on seeing and hearing God ourselves.

This week we’ll consider how others see and hear God through us.

 

Matthew 5:16 (NIV)
… let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.

Mark 16:15 
… Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation.

Shine and speak — for the sake of the kingdom and the glory of the Lord.

 


Good morning, Lord. Shine though me today, as I work at home and when I step out into the world. Speak through me today — encouraging a coworker, affirming a fellow believer, sharing the hope that is within me (1 Peter 3:15). Nudge me out of my self-centered bubble and connect me with those who need a glimpse of You.

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Rebellious Ears

Posted on September 19, 2025 by Shirlee Abbott

Ezekiel 12:1-2 (NIV)
The word of the Lord came to me:  “Son of man, you are living among a rebellious people. They have eyes to see but do not see and ears to hear but do not hear, for they are a rebellious people.


Do I count myself among the rebellious people who cannot hear the Word of the Lord? Possibly. I’m surrounded by competing messages. Am I listening to the right words? 

 

Good morning, Lord. I hear and read mixed messages. I try to make sense of them, but it’s hard to sort right from wrong. Teach me to use the wisdom of Your Word and the nudge of Your Spirit to identify what is right and good. Lead me away from things that sound fine but don’t line up with Your truth. Give me ears to hear Your voice above the clamor of our culture.

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Blind Sight

Posted on September 18, 2025 by Shirlee Abbott

 

John’s gospel applied words from an Old Testament prophet to the people of Jesus’ day. Certainly, these words apply to us too.

 

John 12:30 (NIV)
He has blinded their eyes
and hardened their hearts,
so they can neither see with their eyes,
nor understand with their hearts,
nor turn—and I would heal them.
(from Isaiah 6:10)

What am I not seeing? Have I let any worldly wisdom harden my heart?

As a nation, what are we not seeing? What worldly wisdom hardens our hearts?

 

Good morning, Lord. Open my eyes to the truth of Your Word and the lies of the enemy. Grant me the insight to know which is which.

As a nation, open our eyes to Your wisdom and the world’s foolishness. May we turn to You and find healing.

 

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Sight and Sound

Posted on September 17, 2025 by Shirlee Abbott

 

Proverbs 20:12 (AMPC)
The hearing ear and the seeing eye—
the Lord has made both of them.

 

Sight and sound — gifts from God.

 


Good morning, Lord. Thank You for my eyes that see and my ears that hear. Teach me to use them well, just as You intended from the beginning. Open my eyes to read Your Word and see You at work in this world. Open my ears to hear the nudge of Your Spirit over the clamor of my culture. I want to hear and see You, O God, above all else.

 

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