Remember and Stand Firm

Posted on March 22, 2024 by Shirlee Abbott


2 Peter 1:12 (NLT)
Therefore, I will always remind you about these things—even though you already know them and are standing firm in the truth you have been taught.

 

Nothing like an internet and cellphone outage to remind me that God’s Word in my heart is better than God’s Word on my phone.

 

Good morning, Lord. It’s shocking how much I missed the internet yesterday: how often I reached for my phone, how many times I wanted to look up something and didn’t, how many times I checked to see if access was restored.


Apparently, I’m more attached to technology than I thought–forgive me for holding anything other than You in such high esteem. Dear God, may I be as quick to notice a broken connection with You and as eager to get it fixed. Teach me to keep my line to You unobstructed by worldly desires.

Share
Posted in Constructive Thought, Morning Prayer | Tagged , , , | Comments Off on Remember and Stand Firm

Morning Prayer: Never Forget

Posted on March 21, 2024 by Shirlee Abbott

Good morning, Lord. You know everything, and I know so little. You never forget, and so much slips my mind. When I forget Your rules for living and do wrong, You remember the blood on the cross and forgive my sin. Amazing love! Awesome grace! May I never forget. May I never take grace for granted.


Let every step I take, everything I do be done in remembrance of Christ’s sacrifice on my behalf.

Share
Posted in Morning Prayer | Tagged , , , | Comments Off on Morning Prayer: Never Forget

Remember: God and Us

Posted on March 21, 2024 by Shirlee Abbott

Luke 22:19 (NLT)
He [Jesus] took some bread and gave thanks to God for it. Then he broke it in pieces and gave it to the disciples, saying, “This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.”


Do and remember. Remember and do.

God remembered man’s hopelessness and gave His Son.
We remember our sin and repent.
God sees our sin and remembers the blood.
We do good in remembrance of Christ.

Share
Posted in other | Tagged , | 2 Comments

Morning Prayer: God with Me

Posted on March 20, 2024 by Shirlee Abbott

Good morning, Lord. Even after all these years, there are times when doubts sneak into my thoughts. I find myself in a pickle and the enemy whispers, “If God was real, you wouldn’t be in this mess.” Or the world seems chaotic and I think, “Obviously, there’s no Great Mind at work here.”


But then, like the psalmist, I remember all my personal God-moments — the rescues, the beauty, the comfort, the divine appointments, the peace — and I think “God has been with me every step.”

Share
Posted in Morning Prayer | Tagged , , | Comments Off on Morning Prayer: God with Me

Remember Your Ebenezers

Posted on March 20, 2024 by Shirlee Abbott

 

After a miraculous victory over their enemy, Samuel gave the people of Israel a memorial to help them remember the day.

 

1 Samuel 7:12 (NLT)
Samuel then took a large stone and placed it between the towns of Mizpah and Jeshanah. He named it Ebenezer (which means “the stone of help”), for he said, “Up to this point the Lord has helped us!”

I have a few Ebenezer memorials of my own, treasures to remind me “thus far, the Lord has helped me.”

How about you? Any “stones of help” in your collection of treasured memories?

Share
Posted in Constructive Thought | Tagged , , , | Comments Off on Remember Your Ebenezers

Morning Prayer: Awe and Gratitude

Posted on March 19, 2024 by Shirlee Abbott

Good morning, Lord. I thank You for this Lenten season, when we remember Your sacrifice on the cross. It’s so easy, in the busyness of my daily routine, to forget the biggest event in human history. Engrave the truth of Your death and resurrection on my soul as a permanent reminder of my sinfulness and Your grace.

May every breath I take be filled with awe and humble gratitude.

Share
Posted in Lent, Morning Prayer | Tagged , , , , | Comments Off on Morning Prayer: Awe and Gratitude

Remember the Passover

Posted on March 19, 2024 by Shirlee Abbott

 

God knows us. He knows we tend to forget. So he helps us remember.

 


Exodus 12:25-27 (NLT)
 When you enter the land the Lord has promised to give you, you will continue to observe this ceremony. Then your children will ask, “What does this ceremony mean?’ And you will reply, ‘It is the Passover sacrifice to the Lord, for he passed over the houses of the Israelites in Egypt. And though he struck the Egyptians, he spared our families.”

God provided ceremonies, traditions and memorials as reminders. Like the Passover celebration.

Share
Posted in Constructive Thought | Tagged , , | Comments Off on Remember the Passover

Morning Prayer: Bless My Enemies

Posted on March 18, 2024 by Shirlee Abbott

Good morning, Lord. Unlike St. Patrick, I’ve never been stolen away and forced into slavery. Like Patrick, I’ve had people do me wrong. Let me follow his example and be quick to forgive those who made me feel unsafe, disrespected and isolated. He followed Your lead, dear Jesus — teach me to do the same.

Teach me to love my enemies and bless those who hurt me (Matthew 5:44).

Share
Posted in Morning Prayer | Tagged , , , | Comments Off on Morning Prayer: Bless My Enemies

Remember St. Patrick

Posted on March 18, 2024 by Shirlee Abbott

 

We celebrate St. Patrick with parades and green beer. Doesn’t seem right.

 

 

Long ago (fifth century), 16-year-old Patrick was captured by raiders and taken from his British homeland to serve as a slave in Ireland. He later escaped and made his way back to the safety of home. He returned to Ireland to share the good news of salvation in Christ. He went above and beyond Jesus’ command:

Matthew 5:44 (NLT)
But I say, love your enemies! Pray for those who persecute you! 

Be like Patrick.

Share
Posted in Constructive Thought | Tagged , , | Comments Off on Remember St. Patrick

Morning Prayer: Body and Blood

Posted on March 15, 2024 by Shirlee Abbott

Good morning, Lord. Here in the midst of plenty to eat and drink, it is easy for me to take the sacrifice of Your body and blood for granted. It is easy for me to start taking credit for all I have and enjoy. Forgive me, O God, for minimizing Your grace. Teach me to magnify Your goodness and maximize my gratitude. Grant me a spirit of humility.

Remind me that without You, I have nothing of value.

Share
Posted in Morning Prayer | Tagged , | Comments Off on Morning Prayer: Body and Blood