Thursday, October 29, 2009

Thought for Friday October 30

Praise the Lord, Jerusalem.
He has granted peace in your borders;
with the best of wheat he fills you.
He sends forth his command to the earth;
swiftly runs his word!
Praise the Lord, Jerusalem.

Luke 14: 1 – 6 On a sabbath Jesus went to dine at the home of one of the leading Pharisees, and the people there were observing him carefully. In front of him there was a man suffering from dropsy.

How often do I invite people who are suffering to dinner in my home? Does it make me uncomfortable to eat with someone with a “visible” disease?

Action: Start thinking about your plans for the upcoming holiday season. Consider spending part of your time serving those who are “visibly” suffering instead of just the usual insufferable relatives. [My family of course has none of these.]

Wednesday, October 28, 2009

Thought for Thursday October 29

Save me, O Lord, in your mercy.
I will speak my thanks earnestly to the LORD,
and in the midst of the throng I will praise him,
For he stood at the right hand of the poor man,
to save him from those who would condemn his soul.
Save me, O Lord, in your kindness.

Luke 13: 31 – 35 Behold, I cast out demons and I perform healings today and tomorrow, and on the third day I accomplish my purpose.

What did Jesus accomplish on the third day? Does my life bear witness to his accomplishment?

Action: Consider wearing a Halloween costume of someone whose life bears [bore] witness to Jesus.

Tuesday, October 27, 2009

Thought for Wednesday October 28

Their message goes out through all the earth.
The heavens declare the glory of God,
and the firmament proclaims his handiwork.
Day pours out the word to day,
and night to night imparts knowledge.
Their message goes out through all the earth.


Luke 6: 12 – 16 When day came, he called his disciples to himself, and from them he chose Twelve, whom he also named Apostles:

How many people would I choose to be with me all the time, through my worst times, and to carry on for me after I died? How would I choose them?


Action: Do something this week to show that you are worthy of being chosen.

Monday, October 26, 2009

Thought for Tuesday October 27

The Lord has done marvels for us.
Then they said among the nations,
“The LORD has done great things for them.”
The LORD has done great things for us;
we are glad indeed.
The Lord has done marvels for us.

Luke 13: 18 – 21 Jesus said, “What is the Kingdom of God like? It is like a mustard seed that a man took and planted in the garden. When it was fully grown, it became a large bush and the birds of the sky dwelt in its branches.”

What strikes me most about this description of the Kingdom of God? Do I have a role/place in this kingdom?


Action: Do something to make someone’s day.

Sunday, October 25, 2009

Thought for Monday October 26

Our God is the God of salvation.
God arises; his enemies are scattered,
and those who hate him flee before him.
But the just rejoice and exult before God;
they are glad and rejoice.
Our God is the God of salvation.

Luke 13: 10 – 17 And a woman was there who for eighteen years had been crippled by a spirit; she was bent over, completely incapable of standing erect. When Jesus saw her, he called to her and said, “Woman, you are set free of your infirmity.” He laid his hands on her, and she at once stood up straight and glorified God.

Are there any infirmities I would like to be free from? What infirmities is my local society suffer from?

Action: Work to free yourself from the infirmities society is imposing on you.

Thursday, October 22, 2009

Thought for Friday October 23

Lord, teach me your statutes.
Teach me wisdom and knowledge,
for in your commands I trust.
Lord, teach me your statutes.

Luke 12: 54 – 59 “Why do you not judge for yourselves what is right?”

How often have I judged something to be wrong even though there was no rule, law or authority telling me it was wrong? What did I do about it?

Action: Bring an injustice you see to the attention of authority, but expect to have to do something about it yourself.

Wednesday, October 21, 2009

Thought for Thursday October 22

Blessed are they who hope in the Lord.
He is like a tree
planted near running water,
That yields its fruit in due season,
and whose leaves never fade.
Whatever he does, prospers.
Blessed are they who hope in the Lord.

Luke 12: 49 – 53 Jesus said, “Do you think that I have come to establish peace on the earth? No, I tell you, but rather division.”

So is Jesus happy that there is such division in the world? Is he expressing a wish or a prediction or …?


Action: Divide 435954824 by 98342. [Just kidding.] Answer the questions above.

Tuesday, October 20, 2009

Thought for Wednesday October 21

Our help is in the name of the Lord.
We were rescued like a bird
from the fowlers’ snare;
Broken was the snare,
and we were freed.
Our help is in the name of the LORD,
who made heaven and earth.
Our help is in the name of the Lord.

Luke 12: 39 – 48 And the Lord replied, “Who, then, is the faithful and prudent steward whom the master will put in charge of his servants to distribute the food allowance at the proper time? Blessed is that servant whom his master on arrival finds doing so.”

What am I in charge of? If the master checks on me today would he find me doing what I am supposed to be doing?


Action: Do your job. If you don’t know what it is, you need to schedule time for serious reflection to figure it out.

Monday, October 19, 2009

Thought for Tuesday October 20

Here I am, Lord; I come to do your will.
May all who seek you
exult and be glad in you,
And may those who love your salvation
say ever, “The LORD be glorified.”
Here I am, Lord; I come to do your will.

Luke 12: 35 – 38 Jesus said to his disciples: “Gird your loins and light your lamps and be like servants who await their master’s return from a wedding, ready to open immediately when he comes and knocks.”

What am I waiting for? Do I stand ready to do the Father’s will?

Action: Stay up 15 minutes later tonight and ask God if there is anything he wants you to do.

Sunday, October 18, 2009

Thought for Monday October 19

Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel; he has come to his people.
He has come to his people and set them free.
He has raised up for us a mighty savior,
born of the house of his servant David.
Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel; he has come to his people.


Luke 12: 13 – 21 Then Jesus said to the crowd, “Take care to guard against all greed, for though one may be rich, one’s life does not consist of possessions.”

Am I greedy? Even just a little? Have I ever put possessions ahead of God or other people?


Action: Give away something you don’t really need.

Thursday, October 15, 2009

Thought for Friday October 16

I turn to you, Lord, in time of trouble, and you fill me with the joy of salvation.
Be glad in the LORD and rejoice, you just;
exult, all you upright of heart.
I turn to you, Lord, in time of trouble, and you fill me with the joy of salvation.

Luke 12: 1 – 7 Therefore whatever you have said in the darkness will be heard in the light, and what you have whispered behind closed doors will be proclaimed on the housetops.


What have I said that I would not want proclaimed from the housetops? Is it good to be reminded of this every year?

Action: Do something nice for someone you have privately said something bad about.

Wednesday, October 14, 2009

Thought for Thursday October 15

With the Lord there is mercy, and fullness of redemption.
I trust in the LORD;
my soul trusts in his word.
My soul waits for the LORD
more than sentinels wait for the dawn.
With the Lord there is mercy, and fullness of redemption.

Luke 11: 47 – 54 Yes, I tell you, this generation will be charged with their blood!

Can I think of any sin of the past that current generations are still being held accountable for? What can we learn from examining those past misdeeds?

Action: Read a book or an article or watch a movie about past injustices and look to see if any of the same things that led up to them are still happening. If you notice anything you can work to fix, do it.

Tuesday, October 13, 2009

Thought for Wednesday October 14

Lord, you give back to everyone according to his works.
Only in God is my soul at rest;
from him comes my salvation.
He only is my rock and my salvation,
my stronghold; I shall not be disturbed at all.
Lord, you give back to everyone according to his works.

Luke 11: 42 – 46 “Woe also to you scholars of the law! You impose on people burdens hard to carry, but you yourselves do not lift one finger to touch them.”

Does being right absolve me from my duty to be compassionate? Do I think God has ever given my a burden and not been there to help?

Action: The next time you tell someone else what he “should do,” find a way to help him do it.

Monday, October 12, 2009

Thought for Tuesday October 13

The heavens proclaim the glory of God.
The heavens declare the glory of God,
and the firmament proclaims his handiwork.
Day pours out the word to day,
and night to night imparts knowledge.
The heavens proclaim the glory of God.

Luke 11: 37 – 41 After Jesus had spoken, a Pharisee invited him to dine at his home. He entered and reclined at table to eat. The Pharisee was amazed to see that he did not observe the prescribed washing before the meal.

Why couldn’t Jesus have been a gracious guest and honored the host’s beliefs/practices? Would it have annoyed me if he used dinner at my house to make a point?


Action: Invite someone who is lonely to dinner, or lunch, or coffee, or somewhere else.

Thought for Monday October 12

The Lord has made known his salvation.
All the ends of the earth have seen
the salvation by our God.
Sing joyfully to the LORD, all you lands;
break into song; sing praise.
The Lord has made known his salvation.

Luke 11: 29 – 32 At the judgment the men of Nineveh will arise with this generation and condemn it, because at the preaching of Jonah they repented, and there is something greater than Jonah here.

What have past generations done that we can’t seem to do today? What would they condemn us for?

Action: Take the time to study a sin of past generations and how we solved it or grew out of it.

Sunday, October 11, 2009

Thought for Monday October 12

The Lord has made known his salvation.
All the ends of the earth have seen
the salvation by our God.
Sing joyfully to the LORD, all you lands;
break into song; sing praise.
The Lord has made known his salvation.

Luke 11: 29 – 32 At the judgment the men of Nineveh will arise with this generation and condemn it, because at the preaching of Jonah they repented, and there is something greater than Jonah here.

What have past generations done that we can’t seem to do today? What would they condemn us for?

Action: Take the time to study a sin of past generations and how we solved it or grew out of it.

Thursday, October 8, 2009

Thought for Friday October 9

The Lord will judge the world with justice.
I will give thanks to you, O LORD, with all my heart;
I will declare all your wondrous deeds.
I will be glad and exult in you;
I will sing praise to your name, Most High.
The Lord will judge the world with justice.

Luke 11: 15 – 26 “Every kingdom divided against itself will be laid waste and house will fall against house.”

What divisions do I see in the world around me? Can I do anything about them?

Action: Be an undivider – work to heal divisions at home, at work, at school, in the community, etc.

Wednesday, October 7, 2009

Thought for Thursday October 8

Blessed are they who hope in the Lord.
He is like a tree
planted near running water,
That yields its fruit in due season,
and whose leaves never fade.
Whatever he does, prospers.
Blessed are they who hope in the Lord.


Luke 11: 5 – 13 And I tell you, ask and you will receive; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.

Do I ask for what I want; do I seek it; do I knock? What do I want?

Action: Set a new goal [or just a wish] for something you want to be, get, do, or give and start working on it.

Tuesday, October 6, 2009

Thought for Wednesday October 7

Lord, you are merciful and gracious.
All the nations you have made shall come
and worship you, O Lord,
and glorify your name.
For you are great, and you do wondrous deeds;
you alone are God.
Lord, you are merciful and gracious.


Luke 11: 1 – 4 “Lord, teach us to pray just as John taught his disciples.” He said to them, “When you pray, say:
Father, hallowed be your name, your Kingdom come. Give us each day our daily bread and forgive us our sins for we ourselves forgive everyone in debt to us, and do not subject us to the final test.”

Is there a part of this prayer that really strikes me? Is there anything I wouldn’t dare say unless Jesus told me to?

Action: Pray the Our Father slowly, pausing to think about what every word means.

Monday, October 5, 2009

Thought for Tuesday October 6

If you, O Lord, mark iniquities, who can stand?
Out of the depths I cry to you, O LORD
LORD, hear my voice!
Let your ears be attentive
to my voice in supplication.
If you, O Lord, mark iniquities, who can stand?

Luke 10: 38 – 42 Jesus entered a village where a woman whose name was Martha welcomed him.

Have I welcomed Jesus into my life or just tolerated his presence? What is the difference?


Action: Do something welcoming for someone you think needs it.

Sunday, October 4, 2009

Thought for Monday October 5

You will rescue my life from the pit, O Lord.
When my soul fainted within me,
I remembered the LORD;
My prayer reached you
in your holy temple.
You will rescue my life from the pit, O Lord.

Luke 10: 25 – 37 Jesus replied, “A man fell victim to robbers as he went down from Jerusalem to Jericho. They stripped and beat him and went off leaving him half-dead. A priest happened to be going down that road, but when he saw him, he passed by on the opposite side.

How do I respond to people in need? Do I ever pass by on the opposite side?

Action: Be a good samaritan this week.

Thursday, October 1, 2009

Thought for Friday October 2

For the glory of your name, O Lord, deliver us.
Help us, O God our savior,
because of the glory of your name;
Deliver us and pardon our sins
for your name’s sake.
For the glory of your name, O Lord, deliver us.

Matthew 18: 1 – 5, 10 Amen, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will not enter the Kingdom of heaven.

What do I miss most about being a child? Is there anything about my younger self I would like to recapture?

Action: Just for fun, do something you think you are too old to do this weekend. [Within reason. I am not responsible for skateboarding accidents.]