Shirlee Abbott

The Way Home

Posted on April 4, 2025 by Shirlee Abbott

“We are like little children strayed from home, and God is now fetching us home; and we are ready to turn into any house, stay and play with everything in our way, and sit down on every green bank, and much ado there is to get us home.”
Richard Baxter (1615-1691)
A Puritan Goden Treasury

400 years ago, and still today — believers lose sight of their forever home.

Good morning, Lord. I’m like a child, always on the lookout for the next new thing to see and do. All these things distract me from my final destination — my heavenly home with You. I want to enjoy my time here on earth, yes, but also keep eternity in view. Grant me a simple, practical life on earth while I await my future in the glories of heaven.

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The Best Place to Be

Posted on April 3, 2025 by Shirlee Abbott

They say real estate is all about location, location, location.

Psalm 23:6 (NLT)
I will live in the house of the Lord forever.

My permanent address is the house of the Lord … no better location!

Good morning, Lord. You so loved the world that You gave Your one and only Son so whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have eternal life (John 3:16).

I believe! My eternal home is in heaven. Thank You.

Posted in Constructive Thought, Morning Prayer | Tagged House of the Lord, John 3:16, Psalm 23:6 | 2 Comments

Forever Home

Posted on April 2, 2025 by Shirlee Abbott

Psalm 27:4 (NIV)
One thing I ask from the Lord, this only do I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to gaze on the beauty of the Lord and to seek him in his temple.

I won’t find my forever home on Zillow or any other real estate listing. I’ll find it in the Word of God.

Good morning, Lord. Thank You for the glimpses of heaven written in Your Word. It’s more than I can imagine, but I know it will be beautiful … because You are there. Set my feet on the earthly path You’ve ordained for me here and set my heart on the glorious hope of heaven.

Posted in Constructive Thought, Morning Prayer | Tagged forever home, hope of heaven, House of the Lord, Psalm 27:4 | Comments Off

Trading Spaces

Posted on April 1, 2025 by Shirlee Abbott

John 14:2 (NKJV)
In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.

Mansions, rooms — moné in Greek, meaning dwellings or permanent residences.

“The house itself is lasting; our estate in it is not for a term of years, but a perpetuity. Here we are as in an inn; in heaven we shall gain a settlement.” Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible, 1706

I’ll trade my temporary space on earth for a permanent place in heaven.

Good morning, Lord. I’m grateful for my cozy house here on earth and even more grateful for my permanent home in heaven. It would have been enough that You saved me from my sins. Eternity in heaven with You … more than enough! Thank You.

Posted in Constructive Thought, Morning Prayer, Timeless Wisdom | Tagged John 14:2, mansions, Matthew Henry, rooms | Comments Off

Rooms Under Construction

Posted on March 31, 2025 by Shirlee Abbott

John 14:2 (ESV)
In my Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you?

As I sleep, eat and clean in my rooms here on earth, I imagine Jesus preparing the perfect place for me in heaven.

Good morning, Lord. Thank You for the hope of heaven, for the assurance that I will dwell there eternally. I don’t need a mansion … a tiny closet is more than I deserve. By Your grace, You grant me more than I deserve — today, tomorrow and forever, amen.

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Timeless Repentance

Posted on March 28, 2025 by Shirlee Abbott

This ancient prayer of repentance says it well.

“O Lord, forgive me my sins, the sins of my youth, and my present sins, the sin that my parents cast upon me, original sin, and the sins that I cast upon my children in an ill example; actual sins, sins which are manifest to all the world, and sins which I have so labored to hide from the world, as that now they are hid from mine own conscience, and mine own memory … Forgive me, O Lord.” — John Donne (1571-1631

Good morning, Lord. Sometimes I gloss over my sins, pretending they don’t exist. Other times, my thoughts are stuck on one sin, rehashing it endlessly and refusing to forgive myself. Teach me to make an honest inventory of my thoughts, motivations and actions, to admit my sin to myself and You, and to accept Your forgiveness and forgive myself.

Posted in Lent, Morning Prayer, Timeless Wisdom | Tagged forgiveness, John Donne, repentance | Comments Off

Repentant People

Posted on March 27, 2025 by Shirlee Abbott

Daniel repented for his own actions and those of all God’s people hither and yon:

Daniel 9:4-5 (MEV)
Alas, O Lord, the great and dreadful God, keeping His covenant and mercy to those who love Him, and to those who keep His commandments. We have sinned and have committed iniquity and have done wickedly and have rebelled, even by departing from Your precepts and from Your judgments.

Lent is a good time for some after-the-fact thinking about our community, our congregation and our nation. Do we — individually and collectively — need a change of heart?

Good morning, Lord. Teach me to judge my actions not by group consensus, but by Your Word. When “everybody’s doing it,” it is easy to think we are all right. And yet, O God, we can be all wrong. Forgive us our groupthink and show us the right way. Direct our paths, in Jesus’ name.

Posted in Constructive Thought, Lent, Morning Prayer | Tagged corporate reprentance, Daniel 9:4-5, Lent, repent | Comments Off

Self-Righteous Child

Posted on March 26, 2025 by Shirlee Abbott

There’s a second son in the parable of the prodigal son. He seems stuck in the moment. No somber reflection, no change of heart.

Luke 15:28 (MSG)
The older brother stomped off in an angry sulk and refused to join in. His father came out and tried to talk to him, but he wouldn’t listen.

In his mind, this son had consistently been right with his father. He was offended when his wayward brother was welcomed back into the family. Would he really prefer his brother be lost forever?

Good morning, Lord. Sometimes I’m so sure I’m right that I’m wrong. My self-righteousness becomes my stumbling block. Forgive me!

You love is not finite — that is, more love for one person doesn’t mean less for someone else. Your love and grace are always and infinitely more than enough. Thank You, and praise Your holy name..

Posted in Constructive Thought, Lent, Morning Prayer | Tagged Luke 15:28, Prodigal Son, self-righteous | 4 Comments

Repentant Child

Posted on March 25, 2025 by Shirlee Abbott

Luke 15:21 (NIV)
The son said to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.”

Jesus told the well-known parable of the prodigal son. This rebellious young man foolishly claimed his inheritance and blew it on wild living. When his money disappeared, so did his friends. Alone and hungry, he engaged in somber after-the-fact thinking and changed his mind. That is, he repented.

During this Lenten season, be like this young man. Think … repent, change (the Father is waiting).

Good morning, Lord. I can be so rebellious and stubbornly follow my own way, even though I know I shouldn’t. Later, when I’m stuck in a mess of my own making, I call, “Help me, God!” You’d be justified in turning Your back, but no! You embrace me and help me untangle the web of trouble I created. You are merciful, and I am grateful. Thank You for loving me when I least deserve it.

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Repent for Lent

Posted on March 24, 2025 by Shirlee Abbott

Acts 3:19 (NIV)
Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord.

Repent — metanoeó in Greek, from the words meta (after or beyond) and noeo (to think) — to think after the fact or beyond the moment. To change my mind.

Lent is a perfect time to think carefully about what I’m saying and doing. Is it bringing me nearer to God or moving me further away? Is it time to change my mind, change my plan, change my heart?

Good morning, Lord. I want to learn from my mistakes, not repeat them. But first, I have to admit my missteps … to myself and to You. Teach me to think after the fact and recognize the error of my ways — not to be stuck in regret, but to change my motivation or behavior. Then I can move forward, forgiven and refreshed.

Posted in Constructive Thought, Lent, Morning Prayer | Tagged Acts 3:19, change my mind, Lent, repent | Comments Off