Shirlee Abbott

With and In

Posted on April 5, 2024 by Shirlee Abbott

“Christ with me,
Christ before me, Christ behind me,
Christ in me,
Christ beneath me, Christ above me,
Christ on my right, Christ on my left.”
St. Patrick (5th century)

Christ in me. Christ around me. I am never alone.

Good morning, Lord. “Christ in me,” like the air I breathe. Everywhere I go, You go. And yet, I am not in charge. Sometimes, I confess, I try to push You into a dark corner, simply because I want to think or do something You wouldn’t. Silly me, thinking I can push God around. Forgive my foolishness!

Shine Your light into all the dark places of my soul, Lord. Shine, Jesus, shine.

Posted in Morning Prayer, Timeless Wisdom | Tagged Christ in me, St. Patrick | Comments Off

More or Less

Posted on April 4, 2024 by Shirlee Abbott

John 3:30 (NLT)
He must become greater and greater,
and I must become less and less.

Less me, more God. Less self-centered, more God-centered.

Good morning, Lord. I know the world doesn’t revolve around me, but sometimes I act like it does. I ask You to rearrange things for my benefit, without stopping to think how it would impact others. Give my eyes to see the wide view. Teach me to think less about myself, more about others and most about You.

Posted in Constructive Thought, Morning Prayer | Tagged John 3:30, self-centered | Comments Off

Up and Down

Posted on April 3, 2024 by Shirlee Abbott

Psalm 139:7-8 (NIV)
Where can I go from your Spirit?
Where can I flee from your presence?
If I go up to the heavens, you are there;
if I make my bed in the depths, you are there.

Up or down … God is there. God is everywhere.

Good morning, Lord. I know You are with me in the mountaintop moments. But “even when I walk through the darkest valley … You are with me” (Psalm 23:4). I am never alone. I don’t have to see You to know it is true. Thank You.

Posted in Constructive Thought, Morning Prayer | Tagged Psalm 139:7-8, Psalm 23:4, up and down | Comments Off

Magnify!

Posted on April 2, 2024 by Shirlee Abbott

Psalm 34:3 (ESV)
Oh, magnify the Lord with me,
and let us exalt his name together!

Magnify the Lord? He’s already the greatest, kindest, strongest, holiest One in the universe. He needs no magnification. It’s us … we need to magnify our understanding, our reverence, our devotion, our worship.

Good morning, Lord. Let me start my day by meditating on You: Your power, grace, mercy, righteousness, goodness, wisdom, love. I consider Your holiness and perfection, and I cannot find the words to properly describe You. My best thought is only a poor reflection of all that You are. I fall to my knees in amazement and awe.

Posted in Morning Prayer, other | Tagged magnify, psalm 34:3 | Comments Off

From Easter to Pentecost

Posted on April 1, 2024 by Shirlee Abbott

Today is the first of the 50 days between Resurrection and Pentecost Sunday.

“Prone to wander, Lord, I feel it,
prone to leave the God I love;
here’s my heart, O take and seal it;
seal it for thy courts above.”
Robert Robinson, 1758

Good morning, Lord. Yesterday we celebrated Your victory of death — hallelujah! Today and in the days to come, there will be moments when I forget about Your victory, moments when I forget about You, moments when I rebel. Yes indeed, I am “prone to wander.”

Holy Spirit, bind my heart to You. Fix my eyes and ears on You. Seal my relationship with You for all eternity.

Posted in Constructive Thought, Morning Prayer, Timeless Wisdom | Tagged Come Thou Fount, Pentecost, Robert Robinson, seal my heart | Comments Off

Holy Week: Dark and Light

Posted on March 29, 2024 by Shirlee Abbott

Friday … the crucifixion … darkness.

Luke 23:44 (AMP)
It was now about the sixth hour (noon), and darkness came over the whole land until the ninth hour (3:00 p.m.)

The sun couldn’t keep watch. But in the end, we know, the Light of the world prevailed.

Good morning, Lord. Thank You for the darkness of the crucifixion. Thank You for the light of the resurrection. Thank You for opening the way from death to eternal life. I cannot understand it, I do not deserve it — the kind of love that gives till it hurts, that gives unto death, that gives up the glories of heaven to become servant and Savior.

Mere gratitude is not enough, I owe You my life, my time, my talents, my all.

Posted in Constructive Thought, Lent, Morning Prayer | Tagged crucifixion, darkness, Light of the world, Luke 22:44 | Comments Off

Holy Week: Old and New

Posted on March 28, 2024 by Shirlee Abbott

Today, Thursday, we remember how Jesus gathered with his disciples to celebrate the old and usher in the new:

Luke 22:20 (NLT)
After supper he took another cup of wine and said, “This cup is the new covenant between God and his people—an agreement confirmed with my blood, which is poured out as a sacrifice for you.”

The old, the Passover meal, recognized how in the past God brought His people out of slavery in Egypt. The new, confirmed through the blood of Christ, looked forward to our salvation.

Good morning, Lord. I thank You for all You have done for me in the past, what You are doing for me right now, and what You will do for me in the future. You saved me from my sin, You protect and lead me, You promise me eternity in heaven. All that is more than enough.

And yet, You also hear my every prayer, You are always at my side, You call me friend. My cup runneth over!

Posted in Constructive Thought, Morning Prayer | Tagged Last Supper, Luke 22:20, new covenant, old and new, salvation | Comments Off

Holy Week: God and Man

Posted on March 27, 2024 by Shirlee Abbott

God and man, the Creator and the created:

“Well might the sun in darkness hide,
and shut its glories in,
when God, the mighty maker, died
for his own creature’s sin.”
Isaac Watts, 1702

Good morning, Lord. You made me, You sustain me, You protect me, You provide for me. You died for me … how is that even possible? I cannot thank You enough. As the old hymn says, “All to You I owe.” And yet, hours go by when I don’t give You a thought or a prayer. I do what I want, when I want. I behave foolishly and recklessly.

Have mercy on me, Jesus, Messiah, Son of God and Son of Man.

Posted in Lent, Morning Prayer, Timeless Wisdom | Tagged Alas and Did My Savior Bleed, Isaac Watts, Lent, morning prayer | Comments Off

Holy Week Highs and Lows

Posted on March 26, 2024 by Shirlee Abbott

As only God can do, Christ’s last week on earth turned things upside down.

- - - He entered the city in a noisy and joyful parade
    - He chased the moneychangers out of the Temple
    - He celebrated the Passover with His dearest friends
    - He put up with a sham trial
    - He died on a cross

What were the high points? The lows? For whom?

As Joseph said to his brothers about their plan to sell him into slavery:

Genesis 50:20 (NLT)
God intended it all for good.

It’s a roller-coaster of a week. And in the end, it’s all good.

Good morning, Lord. How did You feel during the last week of Your earthly life? Did You want to hurry up and get it over and done? Or did You want to stretch it out, make it last? My time is in Your hands — how should I feel about time? Forgive me for thinking it is my enemy, for feeling like it’s not enough.

Teach me to accept it as a gift from You, to use it wisely and joyfully. Teach me to use it all for good.

Posted in Constructive Thought, Morning Prayer | Tagged Genesis 50:20, highs and lows, Holy Week, morning prayer, Time | Comments Off

Holy Week: From Colt to Cross

Posted on March 25, 2024 by Shirlee Abbott

Yesterday, we celebrated Palm Sunday, remembering how Jesus rode into Jerusalem on the colt of a donkey. On Friday, we’ll focus on His death on the cross. A few days, an extreme change.

What do I have planned for the same span of time? Work, cook, clean — routine stuff.

James 4:14-15 (MSG)
You don’t know the first thing about tomorrow …. make it a habit to say, “If the Master wills it and we’re still alive, we’ll do this or that.”

Extreme or routine, as “the Master wills it.”

Good morning, Lord. It’s Holy Week, when we focus on the events that led to the cross. In everything, You obeyed Your Father in heaven. This week, even more than usual, I should be willing and obedient. If (when) I stray, nudge me back on the path of righteousness. When I’m tempted, give me the strength to just say no.

When things don’t go my way, teach me to say, “Your will be done.”

Posted in Constructive Thought | Tagged God's timing, Good Friday, James 4:14-15, Palm Sunday | Comments Off