Shirlee Abbott

God Is Inclusive

Posted on August 20, 2024 by Shirlee Abbott

Revelation 7:9-10 (NLT)
… I saw a vast crowd, too great to count, from every nation and tribe and people and language, standing in front of the throne and before the Lamb. They were clothed in white robes and held palm branches in their hands.

Every nation, every tribe, every people, every language — all in one place at the same time, getting along. He who brings us together is greater than what sets us apart.

Good morning, Lord. When I’m inclined to make snap judgments about others, remind me that I may find myself standing beside them before Your throne in heaven. Our differences won’t matter then — don’t let them matter to me now.

Forgive my sense of superiority, create in me a humble heart. Forgive my arrogance, fill me with modesty and compassion. Teach me to see everyone with eyes of love, finding Your image stamped on their souls.

Posted in Constructive Thought, Morning Prayer | Tagged eyes of love, inclusion, Revelation 7:9-10, unity | Comments Off

I’m Back!

Posted on August 19, 2024 by Shirlee Abbott

I’m back from a long and pleasant road trip. I did some of my morning Bible reading in the car, hubby at the wheel, cruise control at 70 mph. Along the way, God was with me.

Psalm 139:3
You see me when I travel
and when I rest at home.

This I know: from the mountains of Pennsylvania to the flatlands of Indiana to the bridge over the wide Mississippi and back at home, God was and is and will be there.

Good morning, Lord. Everywhere I am, You are — thank You. Your creation declares Your glory: in waves of corn, on rocky cliffs, through rushing waters, over rolling hills, in sunny days, stormy evenings and moonlit nights. You reveal Yourself around me, everywhere, all the time.

Give me eyes to see, the mind to understand and a voice that sings Your praise.

Posted in Constructive Thought, Morning Prayer | Tagged omnipresent, praise the Lord, Psalm 139:3 | 2 Comments

To My Writer Friends

Posted on August 6, 2024 by Shirlee Abbott

Are you in a critique group? Would you like to be? It’s worth your while.

Here are three reasons — in a blog post published by COMPEL Training.

Posted in Constructive Thought | Tagged COMPEL Training, critique groups | Comments Off

I’ll Be Away from this Blog

Posted on August 2, 2024 by Shirlee Abbott

See you in a couple weeks!

Posted in other | Tagged vacation | 1 Comment

God’s Goads and the Devil’s Darts

Posted on August 1, 2024 by Shirlee Abbott

You feel a heart-stab. Beware … it may not be coming from God.

Ephesians 6:16 (ESV)
In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one.

God pricks our hearts for our good. The enemy does it for our destruction.

Good morning, Lord. I know the enemy has an evil version of everything that is godly and good. Show me the difference between the poke of the Shepherd’s goad and Satan’s destructive darts. You pierce my heart to draw me closer to You. The enemy pierces my heart to put distance between You and me. Make me wise to his schemes, keep me true to Your Word.

Guide me in the paths of righteousness for Your name’s sake, O Lord (Psalm 23:3).

Posted in Constructive Thought, Morning Prayer | Tagged Ephesians 6:16, flaming darts, goads, Psalm 23:3 | Comments Off

Goaded onto the Right Path

Posted on July 31, 2024 by Shirlee Abbott

Psalm 23:6 (ESV)
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever.

Decades ago, I heard a pastor describe Psalm 23’s Goodness and Mercy as two sheepdogs. Their job is to keep us on the right path. Sometimes they bark, sometimes they stand in our way, sometimes they snarl, sometimes they nip at our heels. They might even draw blood. Sharp goads, for our own good.

Good morning, Lord. As I look in the rearview mirror of my journey, I’m grateful that You’ve kept me on the right path. Looking through the windshield, I sometimes wonder which way to go and I sometimes wander the wrong way. Based on past experience, I should trust You to lead. Truth is, I don’t always. Forgive me.

Show me the right way, O Lord. And when I get off-track, do what it takes to set me right.

Posted in Constructive Thought, Morning Prayer | Tagged goads, Goodness and Mercy, Psalm 23:6, sheepdogs | Comments Off

Goaded Hearts

Posted on July 30, 2024 by Shirlee Abbott

God’s sharp goads were at work when Peter spoke to the crowd at Pentecost:

Acts 2:37 (NASB)
Now when they heard this, they were pierced to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Brothers, what are we to do?”

God poked, and people were eager to get in line.

Good morning, Lord. When I get out of line, as I too often do, pierce my heart. Shepherd me back to the right path. If the process is painful, I know it’s my fault and not Yours. I can be stubborn and rebellious, determined to go my own way — forgive me. Thank You for Your persistent, persevering love.

Posted in Constructive Thought, Morning Prayer | Tagged Acts 2:37, God's goads, pierced hearts, the right path | Comments Off

Kicking Against the Goads

Posted on July 29, 2024 by Shirlee Abbott

Saul described his encounter with Christ on the road to Damascus:

Acts 26:14 (ESV)
And when we had all fallen to the ground, I heard a voice saying to me in the Hebrew language, Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me? It is hard for you to kick against the goads.’

God used goads (sharp sticks for herding animals) to get Saul’s attention. Apparently, Saul not only ignored these spiritual goads, he kicked back.

Picture this: the Spirit “herds” me in the right direction. Sometimes He uses a sharp stick. I have a choice — do I change direction or kick back?

Good morning, Lord. Saul missed the goad of Stephen’s final words (Acts 7), thinking he was right and Stephen was wrong. Forgive me for the many times I’ve been so sure I was right that I missed the nudge of Your Spirit. Teach me to listen with an open mind and heart, to check what I hear against Your Word, to follow Your lead in all things.

Posted in Constructive Thought, Morning Prayer | Tagged Acts 26:14, Acts 7, goads, Stephen's death | Comments Off

Sustaining the Soul

Posted on July 26, 2024 by Shirlee Abbott

Jeremiah 15:16 (TLB)
Your words are what sustain me; they are food to my hungry soul.

Sustain — to keep up and keep going. My soul is sustained by the power of God’s Word, nothing more, nothing less.

“Just as you feed me day by day with the food that sustains my body, keeping me alive on earth, I pray that you will feed my soul with the spiritual bread of eternity, making me ready for heaven.”
Basil of Caesarea (330-379)

Posted in Constructive Thought, Morning Prayer | Tagged Basil of Caesarea, food for the soul, Jeremiah 15:16 | Comments Off

Daily Bread for the Soul

Posted on July 25, 2024 by Shirlee Abbott

Matthew 6:11 (ESV)
Give us this day our daily bread.

Food for our bodies, daily.

Food for our souls, also daily. Not an hour on Sunday and we’re good for the week. Not Christmas and Easter and we’re good for the year.

God’s Word, food for our souls — 365 days a year.

Good morning, Lord. Teach me to study Your Word … not just now and then, but daily. Fill my soul with Your encouragement, correction and wisdom. Even if it’s one short verse, grant me new insight every time. Show me how words written so long ago apply to me, right here and right now. Train me to weave this divine knowledge into my every-day prayers for myself and others.

Posted in Constructive Thought, Morning Prayer | Tagged Bible study, daily bread, food for the soul, Matthew 6:11, prayer | Comments Off