Thursday, April 30, 2009

Thought for Friday May 1

Go out to all the world and tell the Good News.
For steadfast is his kindness toward us,
and the fidelity of the LORD endures forever.
Go out to all the world and tell the Good News.

John 6: 52 – 59 Just as the living Father sent me and I have life because of the Father, so also the one who feeds on me will have life because of me.

Where does my life come from? Am I conscious of living with and in Jesus?

Action: Make a list of things you would do if you were “feeding” on Jesus; i.e. If you could use his energy, wisdom, and understanding along with your own.
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Wednesday, April 29, 2009

Thought for Thursday April 30

Let all the earth cry out to God with joy.
Bless our God, you peoples,
loudly sound his praise;
He has given life to our souls,
and has not let our feet slip.
Let all the earth cry out to God with joy.

John 6: 44 – 50 Jesus said to the crowds: "No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draw him”

How has God drawn me? What have I done in response to God’s call to me?

Action: Do something to thank God for drawing you to him.

Tuesday, April 28, 2009

Thought for Wednesday April 29

Let all the earth cry out to God with joy.
Shout joyfully to God, all the earth,
sing praise to the glory of his name;
proclaim his glorious praise.
Say to God, "How tremendous are your deeds!"
Let all the earth cry out to God with joy.

John 6: 35 - 40 Jesus said to the crowds, But I told you that although you have seen me, you do not believe.

Do I believe that Jesus is alive and active in the world? Do I see him acting in other people?

Action: Let other people see Jesus acting in you; you don’t have to preach or talk about it, just do things that make no sense unless you believe in Christ.
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Monday, April 27, 2009

Thought for Tuesday April 28

Into your hands, O Lord, I commend my spirit.
Be my rock of refuge,
a stronghold to give me safety.
You are my rock and my fortress;
for your name's sake you will lead and guide me.
Into your hands, O Lord, I commend my spirit.


June 6: 30 – 35 Jesus said to them, "I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me will never hunger, and whoever believes in me will never thirst."

What does it mean to “come to Jesus”? Do I ever hunger for spiritual things?

Action: The next time you are hungry or thirsty, ask yourself what you can do to “come to Jesus” and then do it.
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Sunday, April 26, 2009

Thought for Monday April 27

Blessed are they who follow the law of the Lord!
I declared my ways, and you answered me;
teach me your statutes.
Make me understand the way of your precepts,
and I will meditate on your wondrous deeds.
Blessed are they who follow the law of the Lord!

John 6: 22 – 29 Do not work for food that perishes but for the food that endures for eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you.

What am I working for? Do I expect to see the final results of all of my work in my lifetime?

Action: Make a change in your life that you know bears witness to Christ even though you know you won’t actually be able to see the results.
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Thursday, April 23, 2009

Thought for Friday April 24

One thing I seek: to dwell in the house of the Lord.
One thing I ask of the LORDthis I seek:
To dwell in the house of the LORD
all the days of my life,
That I may gaze on the loveliness of the LORD
and contemplate his temple.
One thing I seek: to dwell in the house of the Lord.

John 6: 1 – 15 Andrew, the brother of Simon Peter, said to him, "There is a boy here who has five barley loaves and two fish; but what good are these for so many?"

Do I ever think that what I have to offer isn’t enough to make a difference? Have I ever seen my efforts multiplied into something great?

Action: Give whatever you can and trust in God to multiply it.
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Wednesday, April 22, 2009

Thought for Thursday April 23

The Lord hears the cry of the poor.
I will bless the LORD at all times;
his praise shall be ever in my mouth.
Taste and see how good the LORD is;
blessed the man who takes refuge in him.
The Lord hears the cry of the poor.

John 3: 31 – 36 For the one whom God sent speaks the words of God. He does not ration his gift of the Spirit.

Is there any limit to the gifts of the spirit? Do I ever feel like I have to ration my gifts; like I could burnout?

Action: Examine your gifts and find one that gives you energy. Make a plan to nourish that gift.
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Tuesday, April 21, 2009

Thought for Wednesday April 22

The Lord hears the cry of the poor.
Look to him that you may be radiant with joy,
and your faces may not blush with shame.
When the poor one called out, the LORD heard,
and from all his distress he saved him.
The Lord hears the cry of the poor.

John 3: 16 - 21 God so loved the world that he gave his only-begotten Son, so that everyone who believes in him might not perish but might have eternal life.

Am I inspired when I see signs that read “John 3:16”? Or is “John 3: 16” so overused that I lose the really meaning of the passage?

Action: The next time you see “John 3: 16” at a sporting event, or painted on a wall, or on a business card or company logo, come up with one way to bear witness to Christ through your actions.
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Monday, April 20, 2009

Thought for Tuesday April 21

The Lord is king; he is robed in majesty.
The LORD is king, in splendor robed;
robed is the LORD and girt about with strength.
The Lord is king; he is robed in majesty.

John 3: 7 – 13 Amen, amen, I say to you, we speak of what we know and we testify to what we have seen, but you people do not accept our testimony.

When I make choices that bear witness to Jesus, but are contrary to the prevailing culture, do people sometimes treat me like I am an outcast? Do I ever get frustrated when people don’t accept my testimony?

Action: Keep bearing witness even though people may treat you like a nut.
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Sunday, April 19, 2009

Thought for Monday April 20

Blessed are all who take refuge in the Lord.
Why do the nations rage
and the peoples utter folly?
The kings of the earth rise up,
and the princes conspire together
against the LORD and against his anointed:
"Let us break their fettersand cast their bonds from us!"
Blessed are all who take refuge in the Lord.

John 3: 1 – 8 Nicodemus said to him, "How can a man once grown old be born again?

Have I ever wondered if I am too old to change? Is it ever too late to begin bearing witness to Jesus?

Action: Take the first step toward changing one of your oldest “bad habits” – something you do that really isn’t consistent with Jesus’ message.
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Thursday, April 16, 2009

Thought for Friday April 17

The stone rejected by the builders has become the cornerstone.
O LORD, grant salvation!
O LORD, grant prosperity!
Blessed is he who comes in the name of the LORD;
we bless you from the house of the LORD.
The LORD is God, and he has given us light.
The stone rejected by the builders has become the cornerstone.

John 21: 1 – 14 Simon Peter said to them, "I am going fishing." They said to him, "We also will come with you."

Do I ever do something recreational when I am trying to sort through spiritual thoughts? Do I value recreation?

Action: Let God run the world this weekend while you take some time off to enjoy your life.
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Wednesday, April 15, 2009

Thought for Thursday April 16

O Lord, our God, how wonderful your name in all the earth!
O LORD, our Lord,
how glorious is your name over all the earth!
What is man that you should be mindful of him,
or the son of man that you should care for him?
O Lord, our God, how wonderful your name in all the earth!

Luke 24: 35 – 48 Then he said to them, "Why are you troubled? And why do questions arise in your hearts?

What troubles me? What questions keep me up at night?

Action: The next time you are faced with a disturbing question, first spend some time asking why the question bothers you. Sometimes God speaks to us by first “troubling” us.

Tuesday, April 14, 2009

Thought for Wednesday April 15

Rejoice, O hearts that seek the Lord.
Give thanks to the LORD, invoke his name;
make known among the nations his deeds.
Sing to him, sing his praise,p
roclaim all his wondrous deeds.
Rejoice, O hearts that seek the Lord.

Luke 24: 13 – 35 Jesus the Nazarene, who was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people

Am I doing my part to carry on Jesus’ work as a prophet? Do I ever go against the grain at home, school, church, work or around my friends?

Action: If something has been bugging you, something you think isn’t really consistent with gospel values, do something to change the way you may contribute to the problem.

Monday, April 13, 2009

Thought for Tuesday April 14

The earth is full of the goodness of the Lord.
Upright is the word of the LORD,
and all his works are trustworthy.
He loves justice and right;
of the kindness of the LORD the earth is full.
The earth is full of the goodness of the Lord.

John 20: 11 – 18 Mary Magdalene stayed outside the tomb weeping.

Have I ever been afraid to allow myself to feel the real pain of loss? Am I confident that I will always find consolation?

Action: The next time you lose someone (or something) let yourself grieve confident that you will find consolation.
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Sunday, April 12, 2009

Thought for Monday April 13

Keep me safe, O God; you are my hope.
I bless the LORD who counsels me;
even in the night my heart exhorts me.
I set the LORD ever before me;
with him at my right hand I shall not be disturbed.
Keep me safe, O God; you are my hope.

Matthew 28: 8 – 15 They gave a large sum of money to the soldiers, telling them, "You are to say, His disciples came by night and stole him while we were asleep.'

Would I ever lie for money? Does lying seem worse when I think of Jesus dying on the cross for me?

Action: Think of Jesus’ sacrifice every time you are faced with a tough decision.
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Thursday, April 9, 2009

Thought for Good Friday April 10

Father, into your hands I commend my spirit.
Let your face shine upon your servant;
save me in your kindness.
Take courage and be stouthearted,
all you who hope in the LORD.
Father, into your hands I commend my spirit.

John 18: 1 – 19: 42 When Jesus had taken the wine, he said, "It is finished." And bowing his head, he handed over the spirit.

Does this sink in? Can I really “be in the moment” of Jesus death?

Action: Spend some time between noon and three today contemplating Jesus death.
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Wednesday, April 8, 2009

Thought for Holy Thursday April 9

Our blessing-cup is a communion with the Blood of Christ.
How shall I make a return to the LORD
for all the good he has done for me?
The cup of salvation I will take up,
and I will call upon the name of the LORD.
Our blessing-cup is a communion with the Blood of Christ.

John 13: 1 – 15 He [Jesus] said to them, "Do you realize what I have done for you?

Do I realize what Jesus has done for me?

Action: Eat dinner today and try to appreciate the food (were it comes from, how it is prepared, who cooked it, etc) and the company. Try to picture Jesus eating the Passover with his friends.

Tuesday, April 7, 2009

Thought for Wednesday April 8

Lord, in your great love, answer me.
I will praise the name of God in song,
and I will glorify him with thanksgiving:
"See, you lowly ones, and be glad;
you who seek God, may your hearts revive!
For the LORD hears the poor,
and his own who are in bonds he spurns not."
Lord, in your great love, answer me.

Matthew 26: 14 – 25 On the first day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread, the disciples approached Jesus and said, "Where do you want us to prepare for you to eat the Passover?"

What am I preparing for Jesus? Do I have anything I want to do during Easter that I am still preparing for?

Action: Plan something to celebrate Holy Week or Easter.
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Monday, April 6, 2009

Thought for Tuesday April 7

I will sing of your salvation.
Be my rock of refuge,
a stronghold to give me safety,
for you are my rock and my fortress.
O my God, rescue me from the hand of the wicked.
I will sing of your salvation.

John 13: 21 – 38 Reclining at table with his disciples, Jesus was deeply troubled and testified, "Amen, amen, I say to you, one of you will betray me."

Have I ever been betrayed (by a friend, family member, government, Church or other respected institution)? Does a betrayal negate forever all of the good someone does?

Action: If you have ever been betrayed and are still upset about it, make a list of all the good your betrayer has done and try to show them as much compassion as Jesus showed Judas.
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Sunday, April 5, 2009

Thought for Monday April 6

The Lord is my light and my salvation.
I believe that I shall see the bounty of the LORD
in the land of the living.
Wait for the LORD with courage;
be stouthearted, and wait for the LORD.
The Lord is my light and my salvation.

John 12: 1 – 11 He [Judas Iscariot] said this not because he cared about the poor but because he was a thief and held the money bag and used to steal the contributions.

Why would Jesus have such a low-life among his Apostles? Doesn’t Jesus only call people who are good and holy to do his work?

Action: Examine your conscience. Is there anything you do that would make other people wonder why Jesus would want you around? Work to change that and know that Jesus loves you anyway.

Thursday, April 2, 2009

Thought for Friday April 3

In my distress I called upon the Lord, and he heard my voice.
My God, my rock of refuge,
my shield, the horn of my salvation, my stronghold!
Praised be the LORD, I exclaim,
and I am safe from my enemies.
In my distress I called upon the Lord, and he heard my voice.

John 10: 31 – 42 The Jews answered him, "We are not stoning you for a good work but for blasphemy.”

Do I place more value on works or words? Is it easier to misunderstand works or words?

Action: Try doing something good without talking about it and see if your work speaks for itself.
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Wednesday, April 1, 2009

Thought for Thursday April 2

The Lord remembers his covenant for ever.
Look to the LORD in his strength;
seek to serve him constantly.
Recall the wondrous deeds that he has wrought,
his portents, and the judgments he has uttered.
The Lord remembers his covenant for ever.

John 8: 51 – 59 Jesus answered, "If I glorify myself, my glory is worth nothing; but it is my Father who glorifies me, of whom you say, 'He is our God.'

Is “child of God” a central part of my identity? Do I use that phrase to describe other people?


Action: Think of the 5 people that annoy you the most and for each one say, “____________ is a child of God.” Repeat to yourself as often as necessary.