Thought for Friday December 31

Let the heavens be glad and the earth rejoice!

Let the heavens be glad and the earth rejoice;

let the sea and what fills it resound;

let the plains be joyful and all that is in them!

Then shall all the trees of the forest exult before the LORD.

Let the heavens be glad and the earth rejoice!

John 1: 1 – 18 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.


Am I planning a new beginning? What do I want to carry into the new year and what do I want to leave behind?


Happy New Year!

Thought for Thursday December 30

Let the heavens be glad and the earth rejoice!

Bring gifts, and enter his courts;

worship the LORD in holy attire.

Tremble before him, all the earth.

Let the heavens be glad and the earth rejoice!

Luke 2: 36 – 40 The child grew and became strong, filled with wisdom; and the favor of God was upon him.


Does it comfort me to know that Jesus wasn’t born knowing everything? How important is learning as part of the human experience?


Action: Learn something new today.

Thought for Wednesday December 29

Let the heavens be glad and the earth rejoice!

Announce his salvation, day after day.

Tell his glory among the nations;

among all peoples, his wondrous deeds.

Let the heavens be glad and the earth rejoice!

Luke 2: 22 – 35 “Lord, now let your servant go in peace; your word has been fulfilled: my own eyes have seen the salvation which you prepared in the sight of every people, a light to reveal you to the nations and the glory of your people Israel.”


What would I need to see to be at peace? How often am I at peace?


Action: Pay attention to what you are reading, watching on TV, listening to on the radio, etc and ask yourself if these make you feel at peace, challenge you to do better, or just make you mad.

Thought for Tuesday December 28

Our soul has been rescued like a bird from the fowler’s snare.

Broken was the snare,

and we were freed.

Our help is in the name of the LORD,

who made heaven and earth.

Our soul has been rescued like a bird from the fowler’s snare.

Matthew 2: 13 – 18 The angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, “Rise, take the child and his mother, flee to Egypt, and stay there until I tell you. Herod is going to search for the child to destroy him.”


How would I feel if I were Joseph and God’s advice was “run away and hide”? Can I imagine God giving me that advice?


Action: Listen carefully to God’s advice even if it isn’t what you expect.

Thought for Monday December 27

Rejoice in the Lord, you just!

The mountains melt like wax before the LORD,

before the LORD of all the earth.

The heavens proclaim his justice,

and all peoples see his glory.

Rejoice in the Lord, you just!

John 20: 1 – 8 Mary Magdalene ran and went to Simon Peter and to the other disciple whom Jesus loved, and told them, “They have taken the Lord from the tomb, and we do not know where they put him.”


Why do we read this right after Christmas? Does it seem strange?


Action: Celebrate the entire Christmas season.

Thought for Christmas Eve

Luke 2: 1 – 14

Now there were shepherds in that region living in the fields

and keeping the night watch over their flock.

The angel of the Lord appeared to them

and the glory of the Lord shone around them,

and they were struck with great fear.

The angel said to them,

“Do not be afraid;

for behold, I proclaim to you good news of great joy

that will be for all the people.

For today in the city of David

a savior has been born for you who is Christ and Lord.

And this will be a sign for you:

you will find an infant wrapped in swaddling clothes

and lying in a manger.”

And suddenly there was a multitude of the heavenly host with the angel,

praising God and saying:

“Glory to God in the highest

and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.

Merry Christmas to all and to all a Good Day!

Thought for Thursday December 23

Lift up your heads and see; your redemption is near at hand.

All the paths of the LORD are kindness and constancy

toward those who keep his covenant and his decrees.

The friendship of the LORD is with those who fear him,

and his covenant, for their instruction.

Lift up your heads and see; your redemption is near at hand.

Luke 1: 57 – 66 Her neighbors and relatives heard that the Lord had shown his great mercy toward her, and they rejoiced with her.


With whom will I be rejoicing this Christmas? If I had my pick of anyone to rejoice with, who would it be?


Action: Get ready to rejoice with whomever you are spending Christmas.

Thought for Wednesday December 22

My heart exults in the Lord, my Savior.

“My heart exults in the LORD,

my horn is exalted in my God.

I have swallowed up my enemies;

I rejoice in my victory.”

My heart exults in the Lord, my Savior.

Luke 1: 46 – 56 “My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord; my spirit rejoices in God my savior.

Am I rejoicing in God? What am I feeling as Christmas draws near?

Action: Start relaxing now so you can enjoy Christmas.

Thought for Tuesday December 21

Exult, you just, in the Lord! Sing to him a new song.

Our soul waits for the LORD,

who is our help and our shield,

For in him our hearts rejoice;

in his holy name we trust.
Exult, you just, in the Lord! Sing to him a new song.

Luke 1: 39 – 45 For at the moment the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the infant in my womb leaped for joy.


When was the last time I leaped for joy? Is there enough joy in my life?


Action: Plan some joy in your life.

Thought for Monday December 20

Let the Lord enter; he is the king of glory.

The LORD’s are the earth and its fullness;

the world and those who dwell in it.

For he founded it upon the seas

and established it upon the rivers.

Let the Lord enter; he is the king of glory.

Luke 1: 26 – 38 …for nothing will be impossible for God.

Do I believe that nothing is impossible for God? Do I believe he can do great things through me?

Action: Take on something that is a little over your head and trust that God will help you.

Thought for Friday December 17

Justice shall flourish in his time, and fullness of peace for ever.

Justice shall flower in his days,

and profound peace, till the moon be no more.

May he rule from sea to sea,

and from the River to the ends of the earth.

Justice shall flourish in his time, and fullness of peace for ever.

Matthew 1: 1 – 17 Asaph became the father of Jehoshaphat, Jehoshaphat the father of Joram, Joram the father of Uzziah. Uzziah became the father of Jotham, Jotham the father of Ahaz, Ahaz the father of Hezekiah.

Who cares?

Action: Send a Christmas card to your most distantly related, shirttail cousin or acquaintance just to acknowledge that we are all one family in Christ.

Thought for Thursday December 16

I will praise you, Lord, for you have rescued me.

“Hear, O LORD, and have pity on me;

O LORD, be my helper.”

You changed my mourning into dancing;

O LORD, my God, forever will I give you thanks.

I will praise you, Lord, for you have rescued me.

Luke 7: 24 – 30 All the people who listened, including the tax collectors, who were baptized with the baptism of John, acknowledged the righteousness of God; but the Pharisees and scholars of the law, who were not baptized by him, rejected the plan of God for themselves.

Do I acknowledge the righteousness of God or do I reject God’s plan for me?


Action: Work to fulfill God’s plan for you.

Thought for Wednesday December 15

Let the clouds rain down the Just One, and the earth bring forth a Savior.

Kindness and truth shall meet;

justice and peace shall kiss.

Truth shall spring out of the earth,

and justice shall look down from heaven.

Let the clouds rain down the Just One, and the earth bring forth a Savior.

Luke 7: 18 – 23 John summoned two of his disciples and sent them to the Lord to ask, “Are you the one who is to come, or should we look for another?”


Is Jesus enough for me or am I looking for something more? Do I live like Jesus is “The One”?


Action: Put Jesus at the center of your holiday preparations.

Thought for Tuesday December 14

The Lord hears the cry of the poor.

I will bless the LORD at all times;

his praise shall be ever in my mouth.

Let my soul glory in the LORD;

the lowly will hear me and be glad.

The Lord hears the cry of the poor.

Matthew 21: 28 Son, go out and work in the vineyard today.’ The son said in reply, ‘I will not,’ but afterwards he changed his mind and went. The man came to the other son and gave the same order. He said in reply, ‘Yes, sir,’ but did not go.


Which one sounds more like me? How would I deal with this if I were the father in the story?


Action: Do your work willingly.

Thought for Monday December 13

Teach me your ways, O Lord.

Remember that your compassion, O LORD,

and your kindness are from of old.

In your kindness remember me,

because of your goodness, O LORD.

Teach me your ways, O Lord.

Matthew 21: 23 – 27 Jesus said to them in reply, “I shall ask you one question, and if you answer it for me, then I shall tell you by what authority I do these things.”


Would I be nervous if Jesus said he was going to ask me a question? How confident am I that I could answer his question?


Action: Study something you think Jesus would want you to know about.

Thought for Friday December 10

Those who follow you, Lord, will have the light of life.

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.

Those who follow you, Lord, will have the light of life.

Matthew 11: 16 – 19 Jesus said to the crowds: “To what shall I compare this generation?

How would I describe my generation? What do I want my generation to be known for?
Action: Work for what you want to be known for.

Thought for Thursday December 9

The Lord is gracious and merciful; slow to anger, and of great kindness.

Let all your works give you thanks, O LORD,

and let your faithful ones bless you.

Let them discourse of the glory of your Kingdom

and speak of your might.

The Lord is gracious and merciful; slow to anger, and of great kindness.

Matthew 11: 11 – 15 From the days of John the Baptist until now, the Kingdom of heaven suffers violence, and the violent are taking it by force.


We still have violence, but is it different than it would be if Jesus had not come? How does Jesus help me “survive” the violence that is around me and in my own heart?


Action: The next time you have a violent thought ask Jesus to help you resist the temptation and then do something nice for the next person you see.

Thought for Wednesday December 8

Sing to the Lord a new song, for he has done marvelous deeds.

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.

Sing to the Lord a new song, for he has done marvelous deeds.

Ephesians 1: 3- 6, 11 – 12 In him we were also chosen, destined in accord with the purpose of the One who accomplishes all things according to the intention of his will, so that we might exist for the praise of his glory, we who first hoped in Christ.


Do I believe I was chosen and destined for the glory of God? Do I hope in Christ?


Action: Live like you are chosen.

Thought for Tuesday December 7

The Lord our God comes with power.

Let the heavens be glad and the earth rejoice;

let the sea and what fills it resound;

let the plains be joyful and all that is in them!

Then let all the trees of the forest rejoice.

The Lord our God comes with power.

Matthew 18: 12 – 14 If a man has a hundred sheep and one of them goes astray, will he not leave the ninety-nine in the hills and go in search of the stray?


Have I ever been the stray? If so, who came looking for me?


Action: Go out on a limb to help someone who really needs it.

Thought for Monday December 6

Our God will come to save us!

The LORD himself will give his benefits;

our land shall yield its increase.

Justice shall walk before him,

and salvation, along the way of his steps.

Our God will come to save us!

Luke 5: 17 – 26 Then astonishment seized them all and they glorified God, and, struck with awe, they said, “We have seen incredible things today.”


When was the last time I was astonished? Has God ever shown me incredible things?


Action: It is the feast of St. Nicholas; give yourself a little gift.

Thought for Friday December 3

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.

Matthew 9: 27 – 31 When he entered the house, the blind men approached him and Jesus said to them, “Do you believe that I can do this?” “Yes, Lord,” they said to him.


Did Jesus really think they would say, “No”? What do I believe Jesus can do for me?


Action: Tell someone you love/care about them even if you think it is so ridiculously obvious that you don’t need to say it.

Thought for Thursday December 2

Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.

Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good,

for his mercy endures forever.

It is better to take refuge in the LORD

than to trust in man.

It is better to take refuge in the LORD

than to trust in princes.

Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.

Matthew 7: 21 – 27 And everyone who listens to these words of mine but does not act on them will be like a fool who built his house on sand. The rain fell, the floods came, and the winds blew and buffeted the house. And it collapsed and was completely ruined.

Do I act on Jesus’ words? Have I ever felt like a fool when I didn’t?


Action: Listen to Jesus and act on one thing he said.