Thought for Friday December 30

Blessed are they who dwell in your house, O Lord.

How lovely is your dwelling place, O LORD of hosts!

My soul yearns and pines for the courts of the LORD.

My heart and my flesh cry out for the living God.

Blessed are they who dwell in your house, O Lord.

Luke 2: 22 – 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 Thursday December 29

Let the heavens be glad and the earth rejoice!

Sing to the LORD a new song;

sing to the LORD, all you lands.

Sing to the LORD; bless his name.

Let the heavens be glad and the earth rejoice!

Luke 2: 22 – 35 The parents of Jesus took him up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord,

How do I think Mary and Joseph felt while presenting Jesus to the Lord? How do I think the God felt?

Action: Present yourself to God with some real gesture and words – for example kneel and offer God your mind and body.

Thought for Wednesday 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.”

Is “run away and hide” the advice I would expect from the God who sent plagues to Egypt, wiped out the Amalekites, and destroyed Jericho? Does the birth of Jesus seem to usher in a new era in God’s dealings with his people?

Action: Make a point of doing something nice for the “innocent” people around you.

Thought for Tuesday December 27

Rejoice in the Lord, you just!

The LORD is king; let the earth rejoice;

let the many isles be glad.

Clouds and darkness are around him,

justice and judgment are the foundation of his throne.

Rejoice in the Lord, you just!

John 20: 1 – 8 They have taken the Lord from the tomb, and we do not know where they put him.

Do I ever feel like Jesus is missing? Do I ever wonder where he is?

Action: This is the Christmas Season keep celebrating even though most of society is putting away Christmas.

Thought for Monday December 26

Into your hands, O Lord, I commend my spirit.

Rescue me from the clutches of my enemies and my persecutors.

Let your face shine upon your servant;

save me in your kindness.

Into your hands, O Lord, I commend my spirit.

Matthew 10: 17 – 22 You will be given at that moment what you are to say. For it will not be you who speak but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you.


Am I comfortable with the idea of God speaking through me? Do I accept that there may be times when the only way God’s voice will be heard is if I speak it?


Action: Enjoy the Christmas season, but be prepared to stand up and speak the truth.

Thought for Friday 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.


What do I see god doing for other people? Do I rejoice with them?

Action: Rejoice with your family and friends for the next week or so – eat great food, sing carols, cheer on your favorite teams and don’t forget to thank God for everything he has done for you and them.

Thought for Thursday 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 Wednesday December 21

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

Give thanks to the LORD on the harp;

with the ten-stringed lyre chant his praises.

Sing to him a new song;

pluck the strings skillfully, with shouts of gladness.

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

Zephaniah 3: 14 – 18 The LORD, your God, is in your midst, a mighty savior; He will rejoice over you with gladness, and renew you in his love, He will sing joyfully because of you, as one sings at festivals.
Am I ready to let go of all my plans and preparations and really rejoice in the Lord? Can I imagine God singing joyfully?
Action: Pick your favorite, joyful Christmas song and sing it at the top of your lungs (and to the one person who needs a warning – don’t call me at 0430 singing).

Thought for Tuesday 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 And of his Kingdom there will be no end.

What does Jesus’ kingdom have to do with me? Do I focus on what his Kingdom can do for me, or what I can do for his kingdom?

Action: Do something for the kingdom on the shortest day of the year.

Thought for Monday December 19

My mouth shall be filled with your praise, and I will sing your glory!

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.

My mouth shall be filled with your praise, and I will sing your glory!

Luke 1: 5 – 25 And you will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth, for he will be great in the sight of the Lord.

Does the way I live my life bring joy and gladness to my parents? What could I do to make people rejoice over my existence?

Action: Do something today your Mom & Dad and God the Father would be proud of you for.

Thought for Friday December 16

O God, let all the nations praise you!

The earth has yielded its fruits;

God, our God, has blessed us.

May God bless us,

and may all the ends of the earth fear him!

O God, let all the nations praise you!

John 5: 33 – 36 The works that the Father gave me to accomplish, these works that I perform testify on my behalf that the Father has sent me.
What has God given me to do? How am I doing?

Action: Do some work for God this weekend.

Thought for Thursday December 15

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

I will extol you, O LORD, for you drew me clear

and did not let my enemies rejoice over me.

O LORD, you brought me up from the nether world;

you preserved me from among those going down into the pit.

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

Luke 7: 24 - Jesus began to speak to the crowds about John. Then what did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet. This is the one about whom Scripture says: Behold, I am sending my messenger ahead of you he will prepare your way before you.


What prophets do I see working today? How would I like the job of preparing the way for Jesus?

Action: Help someone prepare (physically, emotionally, spiritually, etc) to do the work Jesus is calling him/her to.

Thought for Wednesday December 14

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.

Isaiah 45: 6 – 25 I am the LORD, there is no other; I form the light, and create the darkness, I make well-being and create woe; I, the LORD, do all these things.

Do I ever take credit for something God did? How important is it to acknowledge that God is God?

Action: When you light your Advent candles, take a moment to thank God for creating the light.

Thought for Tuesday December 13

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 of these am I more likely to do? What interferes with my ability to do what I should do willingly

Action: Pick something you have been avoiding doing and do it happily.

Thought for Monday December 12

You are the highest honor of our race.

Your deed of hope will never be forgotten

by those who tell of the might of God.

You are the highest honor of our race.

Luke 1: 39 - 47 And Mary said: “My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord; my spirit rejoices in God my savior.”


What does my soul proclaim? What does my mouth proclaim?


Action: Do something today to rejoice in God’s greatness.

Thought for Thursday 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.

Luke 1: 26 – 38 Mary said, “Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord. May it be done to me according to your word.”

How hard is it to say yes to God? Would I ever give God such an open-ended yes as Mary did, or do I want more control?

Action: Say yes to something God has been trying to get you to do.

And wish a happy feast day or birthday to all of the Marys you know no matter how annoying they are.

Thought for Wednesday December 7

O bless the Lord, my soul!

Bless the LORD, O my soul;

and all my being, bless his holy name.

Bless the LORD, O my soul,

and forget not all his benefits.

O bless the Lord, my soul!

Matthew 11: 28 – 30 Jesus said to the crowds: “Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest.

How tired am I? How important are the things I have accepted as burdens?

Action: Let go of some burden that wasn’t really important anyway.

Thought for Tuesday December 6

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?


Am I more likely to stay with the safe crowd or go looking for the one stray? What will I risk to help one person?


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

Thought for Monday December 5

Our God will come to save us!

Kindness and truth shall meet;

justice and peace shall kiss.

Truth shall spring out of the earth,

and justice shall look down from heaven.

Our God will come to save us!

Luke 5: 17 – 26 But not finding a way to bring him in because of the crowd, they went up on the roof and lowered him on the stretcher through the tiles into the middle in front of Jesus.
What do I do when there are obstacles in my path to God? How hard will I try to find another way?
Action: If there is some good thing you have wanted to do but haven’t been able to do, try to find a different way.

Thought for Friday December 2

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 Then he touched their eyes and said, "Let it be done for you according to your faith."

Do I really want something done to me according to my faith? Does God care for me based on my faith or his love?

Action: Treat people better than they treat you.