Shirlee Abbott

Resolution: Remember

Posted on December 31, 2024 by Shirlee Abbott

Psalm 103:2 (NIV)
Praise the Lord, my soul,
and forget not all his benefits.

Good morning, Lord. I forget to be grateful, forgive me. Open my eyes to the many blessings You poured out on me this year: good home and good health, safe travels near and far, abundant food, people who love me, a job I enjoy, Your constant presence and the hope of heaven. The list goes on … thank You.

I remember the little things too: unexpected words of encouragement, surprising delights of nature, small successes that made me smile. Your goodness and mercy have followed me all the days of my life, and my cup overflows (Psalm 23) … thank You.

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Resolutions for 2025

Posted on December 30, 2024 by Shirlee Abbott

This week, we cross the threshold to a new year. Many of us make New Year’s resolutions. Hopefully, we will live up to our resolutions as well as Barnabas and the believers in Antioch did.

Acts 11:23 (EXB)
Barnabas was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and full of faith … He encouraged [exhorted; urged] all the believers in Antioch always to obey [or remain true to] the Lord with all their hearts [resolved/resolute hearts], and many people ·became followers of [were added to] the Lord.

Good morning, Lord. I resolve to set my heart on You this coming year and forever. I want to obey — may my deeds line up with this desire. Empower me, Holy Spirit, fill me with the faith, humility and discernment … Your will, not mine, be done.

Posted in Constructive Thought, Morning Prayer | Tagged Acts 11:23, New Year's resolutions, resolute heart, Your will be done | Comments Off

Coming Glory

Posted on December 27, 2024 by Shirlee Abbott

“How divinely full of glory and pleasure shall that hour be when all the millions of mankind that have been redeemed by the blood of the Lamb of God shall meet together and stand around Him, with every tongue and every heart full of joy and praise!”
Isaac Watts (1674-1748)

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Thank You, Jesus

Posted on December 26, 2024 by Shirlee Abbott

“You gave us so many gifts
on the day of your birth:
A treasure chest of spiritual medicines for the sick;
Spiritual light for the blind;
The cup of salvation for the thirsty;
The bread of life for the hungry.”
Ephrem the Syrian (306-373)

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Happy Christmas to All

Posted on December 25, 2024 by Shirlee Abbott

“May the Christmas morning
make us happy to be thy children,
and Christmas evening
bring us to our beds
with grateful thoughts,
forgiving and forgiven,
for Jesus’ sake.”
Robert Louis Stevenson (1850-1894)

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Rejoice! Jesus Christ Is Born

Posted on December 24, 2024 by Shirlee Abbott

Augustine got it right.
Jesus is exactly what
each of us needs.

“Let the just rejoice,
for their Justifier is born.
Let the sick and infirm rejoice,
For their Saviour is born.
Let the captives rejoice,
For their Redeemer is born.
Let slaves rejoice,
for their Master is born.
Let free men rejoice,
For their Liberator is born.
Let All Christians rejoice,
For Jesus Christ is born.”
St. Augustine of Hippo (354-430)

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Advent Prayer

Posted on December 23, 2024 by Shirlee Abbott

“Stir our hearts, we beseech you, to prepare ourselves to receive your Son. When he comes and knocks, may he find us not sleeping in sin, but awake to righteousness, ceaselessly rejoicing in his love. May our hearts and minds be so purified, that we may be ready to receive his promise of eternal life.” — The Gelasian Sacramentary (500)

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Count It as Joy

Posted on December 20, 2024 by Shirlee Abbott

Psalm 126:2-3 (NIV)
Our mouths were filled with laughter,
our tongues with songs of joy.
Then it was said among the nations,
“The Lord has done great things for them.”
The Lord has done great things for us,
and we are filled with joy.

Let’s count:

What great things has God done for us collectively?
What great things has God done for you personally?

Long list = great joy.

Good morning, Lord. You have showered blessings on us, on me — more than I can count. Thank You! Forgive me for collecting the hurts, focusing on unhappy events, tracking what I wish I had. Teach me to look for the good, to focus on the positive, to count my blessings … and to give You the glory for all the joy in my world.

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Healthy Joy

Posted on December 19, 2024 by Shirlee Abbott

“Begin to rejoice in the Lord, and your bones will flourish like an herb, and your cheeks will glow with the bloom of health and freshness. Worry, fear, distrust, care-all are poisonous! Joy is balm and healing, and if you will but rejoice, God will give power.” A. B. Simpson (1843-1919)

Joy may not cure everything, but joy makes everything better.

Good morning, Lord. Joy is comfort to my aching heart, fresh energy to my tired body, balm for my weary soul. Thank You for the joy you’ve brought to the world. Let it fill me, enlighten me, empower me, transform me. Sweep away my cynicism and negativity. Flood me — mind, heart and soul– with holy joy.

Posted in Advent, Morning Prayer, Timeless Wisdom | Tagged A. B. Simpson, balm, joy | 2 Comments

Comfort and Joy

Posted on December 18, 2024 by Shirlee Abbott

Philemon 1:7 (ESV)
For I have derived much joy and comfort from your love, my brother, because the hearts of the saints have been refreshed through you.

Tidings of comfort and joy, from heaven to earth, from angles to shepherds, from one believer to another.

Good morning, Lord. Advent is a season of joy, yes, but also of comfort — comfort in our grief and pain, knowing You will wipe away every tear (Revelation 21:4); comfort in our doubts, knowing You stand firm; comfort in our struggles, knowing You have a plan for our wellbeing; comfort in our weakness, knowing You are strong. Comfort refreshes my heart and fills me with joy.

Tidings of comfort and joy — teach me to share this good news with those around me.

Posted in Advent, Constructive Thought, Morning Prayer | Tagged comfort and joy, joy, Philemon 1:7, Revelation 21:4 | Comments Off