The Rest of the Week

Posted on October 6, 2025 by Shirlee Abbott

Today is my back-to-work day. Yesterday was my Sabbath, my day of rest. 

Exodus 20:9-10 (NIV)
Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is a sabbath to the Lord your God. On it you shall not do any work …

Many of us go to church on Sunday and devote the remaining hours to unfinished chores. But God’s command wasn’t “worship, then work.” 

There are times when working on the Sabbath is necessary. But God’s command is clear: we’re designed for one day of rest each week.

 


Good morning, Lord. Forgive me for thinking I know better than You how to spend my Sabbath hours. Teach me to let go of my to-do list for this one day of the week. I want to work — and rest — in rhythm with Your plan. Fill my Sabbath with praise and peace.

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Autumn’s Applause

Posted on October 3, 2025 by Shirlee Abbott

 

We walk with the Lord.

Creation sings.

 

Isaiah 55:12 (NIV)
You will go out in joy
and be led forth in peace;
the mountains and hills
will burst into song before you,
and all the trees of the field
will clap their hands. 

And the trees give us a standing ovation.

 


Good morning, Lord. Lead me, fill me with joy and peace. Open my eyes to the goodness around me. Let me see it in the beauty of nature and the kindness of strangers. I want to walk in rhythm with Your glorious universe. Teach me to step out in obedience, marching to Your melody of mercy and grace.

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Autumn Leaves Tell a Story

Posted on October 2, 2025 by Shirlee Abbott

Driving to work one cloudy autumn day, I found myself in a flurry of fat flakes. Stopped for a traffic light, I studied the maple trees lining the road. Each crimson leaf carried a bright white covering of snow.

The leaves and snow reminded me of a Bible verse.


Isaiah 1:18 (NIV)
Though your sins are like scarlet,
they shall be as white as snow;
though they are red as crimson,
they shall be like wool.

 


Good morning, Lord. Though my sins are as red as a crimson maple leaf, through the power of Christ’s sacrifice they become white as snow … amazing! Thank You, O God, for the beauty of the seasons and the glory of Your grace.

 

 

 

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Autumn’s Transformation

Posted on October 1, 2025 by Shirlee Abbott


Autumn is a season of transformation. I focus on green leaves transformed into glorious colors. But in the life of a tree, it’s a minor and repeated change. The big transformation is the slow change from a small seed to an established, sturdy tree.


Romans 12:1 (NIV)
… be transformed by the renewing of your mind …

The renewing of my mind isn’t a quick autumn change. It’s a lifetime of spiritual growth.

 

Good morning, Lord. I’m grateful for those sudden moments of glorious transformation — times of spiritual breakthrough that brought immediate change. I’m also thankful for gradual transformation, the step-by-step spiritual growth over the years. Altogether, You’ve renewed my mind, changed my attitude and redirected my life. And You’re not done … thank You for not giving up on me. 

 

 

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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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