Preview of Heavenly Joy

Posted on August 21, 2025 by Shirlee Abbott

 

In the parable of the lost sheep, there’s a big celebration when the shepherd finds his wayward sheep.

 


Luke 15:6-7 (NIV)
Then he calls his friends and neighbors together and says, ‘Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep.’  I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent.

I posted a photo of our lost dog on social media. Once she was back home, I updated those posts. A host of folks I don’t even know responded with joy — an earthly peek into a heavenly reality.

 

Good morning, Lord. Scripture says the heavenly host rejoices when a sinner repents. Once upon a time, saints and angels sang and danced on my behalf. Wow!

Likewise, O God, may I rejoice whenever I hear that one who was lost has been found.

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Lost and Found

Posted on August 20, 2025 by Shirlee Abbott

 

Our pup, a 5-year-old rescue, seemed to have settled into our household. And yet, she ran away.

 


Matthew 18:10 (NIV)
… If a man owns a hundred sheep, and one of them wanders away, will he not leave the ninety-nine on the hills and go to look for the one that wandered off?

We canceled our vacation and devoted five days to the (ultimately successful) search. Why? Surely, there are a hundred more dogs awaiting homes. We could have said, “Well, that one’s gone, let’s get another.”

But that’s not the way love works.

 


Good morning, Lord. There are billions of people in the world, and You care for each one — none are ignored or discarded, considered worthless by You. You love each one of us as though we were Your only child. As the hymn says, “Amazing love! How can it be … O my God, it found out me!” (Charles Wesley, 1738).

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Vacation Plans … Interrupted

Posted on August 19, 2025 by Shirlee Abbott


As Day 1 of our vacation drew to a close, we got bad news from home. Our pup escaped from the dogsitter, disappearing into the woods. Our plans changed. We turned around.

 

Luke 15:4 (NIV)
Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Doesn’t he leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it?

Suddenly, the parable of the lost sheep applied to me personally. As the week moves forward, I’ll share my lessons learned.

**spoiler alert** all’s well that ends well.

 

Good morning, Lord. Your Word is, as Scripture says, living and powerful (Hebrews 12:2). You can take a familiar passage and pop it in front of me like a giant stop sign, making me bow down in awe of Your wisdom. Words used more than two thousand years ago are suddenly spoken straight to my ears. And to think, Lord Jesus, that You knew about me back when You said it — I am amazed. 

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Vacation Time

Posted on August 5, 2025 by Shirlee Abbott

 

Be back in two weeks!

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Follow the Light

Posted on August 4, 2025 by Shirlee Abbott

I will be on vacation for a couple weeks, so I’ll leave you with this thought to ponder while I’m away:


“Light in Scripture is the emblem of joy …
Light is also the cause of beauty …
Light is also the emblem of knowledge.”
Charles Spurgeon
Morning & Evening
August 3 – Morning.


Jesus is the light of the world (John 8:12). Jesus is the source of all joy, beauty and knowledge. Follow the light!

 


Good morning, Lord. I write this as the morning light creeps above the horizon — thank You for the beauty of the sunrise. Thank You for Your Word — I rejoice in the wisdom I find there; it is my strength for today and my hope for tomorrow. I praise You for the radiance of Your creation, for the lights in the sky and the beauty of the earth.

As I walk through my world, Lord, let Your light shine on me and through me, in Jesus’ name, amen.

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A Tool in God’s Hands

Posted on August 1, 2025 by Shirlee Abbott

Romans 6:13 (TLB)
Do not let any part of your bodies become tools of wickedness, to be used for sinning; but give yourselves completely to God—every part of you—for you are back from death and you want to be tools in the hands of God, to be used for his good purposes.

Which do I want to be: a tool for wickedness or a tool in God’s hands?

 


Good morning, Lord. Use me for Your good purposes. Sometimes it may not feel good; sometimes I don’t understand. But this I know: You are a good God, and You see the big eternal picture. I can trust You to work it together for good (Romans 8:28).

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Humble-Hearted Before God

Posted on July 31, 2025 by Shirlee Abbott


Psalm 51:17 (ERV)
The sacrifice that God wants is a humble spirit. God, you will not turn away someone who comes with a humble heart and is willing to obey you.


Humble heart, humble soul, humble spirit — I’m not there yet. I’m still a work in progress.

 

 

Good morning, Lord. You call for humility — pride and arrogance get in my way. Pride takes personal credit for what I accomplish, overlooking Your role in my life’s journey. Arrogance thinks my way is the right way.


Teach me not to think too highly of myself. Fill me with gratitude for the skills and opportunities You have sent my way. Grant me faith to do things Your way.

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A Living Sacrifice for God

Posted on July 30, 2025 by Shirlee Abbott

 

How do I know God’s will for me? 

By letting go.

 

Romans 12:1-2 (ESV)
I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.

When I was young, this was a common saying: “Let go and let God. ” It’s still good advice.

 


Good morning, Lord. There are things I’ll never know and understand this side of heaven. But I don’t have to know it all to know that You are good. Teach me to lay aside my plans and trust You. I want to let go and let You take charge.

 

 

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Set Apart for God

Posted on July 29, 2025 by Shirlee Abbott

 

Consecrated (in Hebrew, qadash) means sanctified, set apart, dedicated. 

 


Leviticus 20:7-8 (NLT)
So set yourselves apart to be holy, for I am the Lord your God. Keep all my decrees by putting them into practice, for I am the Lord who makes you holy.

I set myself apart from the world and dedicate my life to God. Then, He makes me holy.

 


Good morning, Lord. I want to set myself apart from the world around me — not just a few minutes here or a worship service there, but all the time. I want to be fully dedicated to You. Teach me to be in the world but not of the world. Keep me looking to heaven as I’m walking on earth.

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All In for God

Posted on July 28, 2025 by Shirlee Abbott

“Take my life and let it be
consecrated, Lord, to Thee …
Take myself, and I will be
ever, only, all for Thee.”
Frances Havergal, 1874.
From the hymn “Take My Life and Let It Be”


All for God and not myself — all the time.

 

Good morning, Lord. I say I’m all in for You, and yet temptation calls. I chase after the world’s glitter and glamor, I envy someone else’s success, I hold tight to an old grudge, pride rears its arrogant head. Forgive me! Lead me away from temptation, keep my feet safely on the path of righteousness. Set my eyes and heart on what is right and good in Your sight, in Jesus’ name, amen.

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