Thursday, April 29, 2010

Thought for Friday April 30

You are my Son; this day I have begotten you.
And now, O kings, give heed;
take warning, you rulers of the earth.
Serve the LORD with fear, and rejoice before him;
with trembling rejoice.
You are my Son; this day I have begotten you.

John 14: 1 – 6 In my Father’s house there are many dwelling places. If there were not, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you?
Do I ever think about what heaven will be like? Am I content knowing Jesus has prepared a place for me?
Action: Have a heavenly weekend.

Wednesday, April 28, 2010

Thought for Thursday April 29

For ever I will sing the goodness of the Lord.
The favors of the LORD I will sing forever;
through all generations my mouth shall proclaim your faithfulness.
For you have said, "My kindness is established forever";
in heaven you have confirmed your faithfulness.
For ever I will sing the goodness of the Lord.

John 13: 16 – 20 Amen, amen, I say to you, no slave is greater than his master nor any messenger greater than the one who sent him.

Have I ever seen someone who was claiming to spread Jesus’ message, but really calling more attention to himself than the message? How can I avoid doing that?


Action: Do your best to spread the message without calling attention to yourself.

Tuesday, April 27, 2010

Thought for Wednesday April 28

O God, let all the nations praise you!
May the peoples praise you, O God;
may all the peoples praise you!
May God bless us,
and may all the ends of the earth fear him!
O God, let all the nations praise you!


John 12: 44 – 50 I came into the world as light, so that everyone who believes in me might not remain in darkness.

Isn’t it sometimes easier to stay in the dark? Do I pick and choose what I “shine the light on”?

Action: Shine the light on something in your life or community that you have been avoiding.

Monday, April 26, 2010

Thought for Tuesday April 27

All you nations, praise the Lord.
They shall note, when the peoples are enrolled:
“This man was born there.”
And all shall sing, in their festive dance:
“My home is within you.”
All you nations, praise the Lord.

John 10: 22 – 30 “How long are you going to keep us in suspense? If you are the Christ, tell us plainly.” Jesus answered them, “I told you and you do not believe.”

Can I imagine being in suspense about Jesus’ revelation of himself, or do I just take him for granted? Do I still have trouble believing what he tells me?

Action: Try beginning your prayer with, “Oh Wow Jesus, I just realized you …”

Sunday, April 25, 2010

Thought for Monday April 26

Athirst is my soul for the living God.
As the hind longs for the running waters,
so my soul longs for you, O God.
Athirst is my soul for God, the living God.
When shall I go and behold the face of God?
Athirst is my soul for the living God.

John 10: 1 – 10 Although Jesus used this figure of speech, they did not realize what he was trying to tell them.

Have I ever had the experience of not knowing what Jesus meant? Is what I should do always clear?

Action: The next time you are puzzled about what Jesus is asking of you, relax and think about his disciples who sometimes couldn’t figure it out either.



Thursday, April 22, 2010

Thought for Friday April 23

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 Amen, amen, I say to you, unless you eat the Flesh of the Son of Man and drink his Blood, you do not have life within you. Whoever eats my Flesh and drinks my Blood has eternal life, and I will raise him on the last day.

Do I have life within me? Have I accepted the Flesh and Blood of Jesus?

Action: Go to church this weekend and worship God for all he has given you.

Wednesday, April 21, 2010

Thought for Thursday April 22

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 – 51 I am the living bread that came down from heaven; whoever eats this bread will live forever; and the bread that I will give is my Flesh for the life of the world.



Why is Jesus talking about bread? What is so special about bread?



Action: Break bread with someone you wouldn’t normally eat with; sometime in the next week or so.

Tuesday, April 20, 2010

Thought for Wednesday April 21

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 Everything that the Father gives me will come to me, and I will not reject anyone who comes to me, because I came down from heaven not to do my own will but the will of the one who sent me.


Do I sometimes like to think that Jesus would reject some people? Am I glad that he doesn’t?


Action: The next time you see or hear about someone doing something that really bothers you, do something specific to counteract the bad effect.

Monday, April 19, 2010

Thought for Tuesday April 20

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.


John 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 do I hunger and thirst for? Are my needs satisfied in Jesus?


Action: Start working on something your community is really hungering for, and ask Jesus to help you.

Sunday, April 18, 2010

Thought for Monday April 19

Blessed are they who follow the law of the Lord!
Remove from me the way of falsehood,
and favor me with your law.
The way of truth I have chosen;
I have set your ordinances before me.
Blessed are they who follow the law of the Lord!

John 6: 22 – 29 Jesus answered them and said, “Amen, amen, I say to you, you are looking for me not because you saw signs but because you ate the loaves and were filled.”


Why am I looking for Jesus? What do I expect from him?


Action: Keep looking.

Thursday, April 15, 2010

Thought for Friday April 16

One thing I seek: to dwell in the house of the Lord.
One thing I ask of the LORD
this 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 “There is a boy here who has five barley loaves and two fish; but what good are these for so many?”

What did the boy think would happen when he gave away his food? Would I have been as generous as this boy?
Action: Be generous.

Wednesday, April 14, 2010

Thought for Thursday April 15

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 The one who comes from above is above all. The one who is of the earth is earthly and speaks of earthly things.


How often do I rise above being “earthly”? What do I do that makes no sense if I am not united with the one who is from above?


Action: Rise above. Pray for knowledge, wisdom, understanding, honesty, charity, and love for all of the elected officials and civil servants who are charged with making good use of your tax dollars.

Tuesday, April 13, 2010

Thought for Wednesday April 14

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 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world might be saved through him.


How often do I hear condemnations “in the name of God”? Am I working to save the world from things others will only condemn it for?


Action: Absolve and liberate are both antonyms of condemn. Start working on ways to absolve or liberate our society from the sins other Christians condemn it for.

Thought for Tuesday April 13

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.

Sunday, April 11, 2010

Thought for Monday April 12

Blessed are all who take refuge in the Lord.The LORD said to me, “You are my Son;
this day I have begotten you.
Ask of me and I will give you
the nations for an inheritance
and the ends of the earth for your possession.
You shall rule them with an iron rod;
you shall shatter them like an earthen dish.”
Blessed are all who take refuge in the Lord.


John 3: 1 – 8 Amen, amen, I say to you, unless one is born of water and Spirit he cannot enter the Kingdom of God.


Do I know what day I was baptized? Do I celebrate the anniversary of my baptism?


Action: Find the date of your baptism, put it on your calendar, and party like it is 33AD.

Thursday, April 8, 2010

Thought for Friday April 9

The stone rejected by the builders has become the cornerstone.
The stone which the builders rejected
has become the cornerstone.
By the LORD has this been done;
it is wonderful in our eyes.
This is the day the LORD has made;
let us be glad and rejoice in it.
The stone rejected by the builders has become the cornerstone.

 

John 21: 1 – 14 Jesus revealed himself again to his disciples at the Sea of Tiberias.


How many times has Jesus revealed himself to me? Do I want to “see” him often?


Action: Enjoy your weekend.

Wednesday, April 7, 2010

Thought for Thursday April 8

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 opened their minds to understand the Scriptures.


Is my mind open? What is the most important thing I understand from the Bible?


Action: If you have closed your mind to anything in scripture (something you reject or avoid), try to open your mind and deal with it.

Tuesday, April 6, 2010

Thought for Wednesday April 7

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,
proclaim all his wondrous deeds.
Rejoice, O hearts that seek the Lord.


Luke 24: 13 - 35 “Were not our hearts burning within us while he spoke to us on the way and opened the Scriptures to us?”
Has my heart ever burned within me? Is the scripture real to me?


Action: Read scripture until your heart burns within you.

Monday, April 5, 2010

Thought for Tuesday April 6

The earth is full of the goodness of the Lord.
Our soul waits for the LORD,
who is our help and our shield.
May your kindness, O LORD, be upon us
who have put our hope in you.
The earth is full of the goodness of the Lord.

John 20: 11 – 18 When she had said this, she turned around and saw Jesus there, but did not know it was Jesus.


Is it possible I have “seen” Jesus and not recognized him? How do I recognize him?


Action: Pick an action to celebrate the Easter season like you observed Lent. For example, if you gave up sweets for Lent, during Easter bake cookies for people.

Thought for Monday April 5

Keep me safe, O God; you are my hope.Keep me, O God, for in you I take refuge;
I say to the LORD, “My Lord are you.”
O LORD, my allotted portion and my cup,
you it is who hold fast my lot.
Keep me safe, O God; you are my hope.


Matthew 28: 8 – 15 Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid.”


What am I afraid of? Can it really cause me harm?


Action: Do not be afraid.

Thursday, April 1, 2010

Thought for Friday April 2

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 An eyewitness has testified, and his testimony is true; he knows that he is speaking the truth, so that you also may come to believe.
Do I believe? Have I given testimony?
Action: Testify with your actions.
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