Thought for Friday March 30

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  Jesus answered them, "I have shown you many good works from my Father. For which of these are you trying to stone me?" The Jews answered him, "We are not stoning you for a good work but for blasphemy. You, a man, are making yourself God."

When I judge a person, do I take the good and the bad into consideration?  How careful am I to insure that the bad things I believe about someone are true?

Action:  Pay close attention to the bad things you hear about someone – are they true, what was the motivation behind them, etc?

Thought for Thursday March 29

The Lord remembers his covenant forever.
He remembers forever his covenant
which he made binding for a thousand generations,
Which he entered into with Abraham
and by his oath to Isaac.
The Lord remembers his covenant forever

Genesis 17: 3 – 9  I will maintain my covenant with you and your descendants after you throughout the ages as an everlasting pact, to be your God and the God of your descendants after you.

Have I even considered that God could choose to not be my God?  Is it enough to just believe that God exists?

Action:  List 3 things that would be really different in your life if God existed, but didn’t choose to be your God.

Thought for Wednesday March 28

Glory and praise for ever!
"Blessed are you, O Lord, the God of our fathers,
praiseworthy and exalted above all forever;
And blessed is your holy and glorious name,
praiseworthy and exalted above all for all ages."
Glory and praise for ever!

John 8: 31 – 42  Jesus said to those Jews who believed in him, "If you remain in my word, you will truly be my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free."

What does truth free me from?  Do I believe truth is important in society today?

Action:  Don’t pass on information unless you are pretty sure it expresses truth.

Thought for Tuesday March 27

O Lord, hear my prayer, and let my cry come to you.
O LORD, hear my prayer,
and let my cry come to you.
Hide not your face from me
in the day of my distress.
Incline your ear to me;
in the day when I call, answer me speedily.
O Lord, hear my prayer, and let my cry come to you.

John 8: 21 – 30  He said to them, "You belong to what is below, I belong to what is above.  You belong to this world, but I do not belong to this world.”

 Where do I belong?  Do the things of this world own me?

Action:  If something in this world has a real hold on you, do something to loosen its grip.

Thought for Monday March 26

Here I am, Lord; I come to do your will.
Your justice I kept not hid within my heart;
your faithfulness and your salvation I have spoken of;
I have made no secret of your kindness and your truth
in the vast assembly.
Here I am, Lord; I come to do your will.

Luke 1: 26 – 38  Then the angel said to her, "Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. Behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall name him Jesus.”

Can I imagine what it was like for Mary to go 9 months waiting for the birth of the son of God?  Can I imagine what it was like for Mary to watch her son be persecuted and crucified?

Action:  Think about what you would like to accomplish in the next nine months and get to work on it.

Thought for Friday March 23

The Lord is close to the brokenhearted.
The LORD is close to the brokenhearted;
and those who are crushed in spirit he saves.
Many are the troubles of the just man,
but out of them all the LORD delivers him.
The Lord is close to the brokenhearted.

John 7: 1 - 12, 10, 25 - 30    Jesus moved about within Galilee; he did not wish to travel in Judea, because the Jews were trying to kill him. But the Jewish feast of Tabernacles was near.

Are there things I don’t want to do?  What things will I do even when I don’t want to?

Action:  Do something you should do but don’t want to do this weekend.

Thought for Thursday March 22

Remember us, O Lord, as you favor your people.
Our fathers made a calf in Horeb
and adored a molten image;
They exchanged their glory
for the image of a grass-eating bullock.
Remember us, O Lord, as you favor your people.

John 5: 31 – 47  Jesus said to the Jews: "If I testify on my own behalf, my testimony is not true.  But there is another who testifies on my behalf, and I know that the testimony he gives on my behalf is true.

Who would testify on my behalf?  If Jesus were called to testify for me, what would he say?

Action:  Stand up for somebody who is being slandered – even if it is just gossip.

Thought for Wednesday March 21

The Lord is gracious and merciful.
The LORD is gracious and merciful,
slow to anger and of great kindness.
The LORD is good to all
and compassionate toward all his works.
The Lord is gracious and merciful.

Isaiah 49: 8 – 15  Thus says the LORD:  In a time of favor I answer you, on the day of salvation I help you; and I have kept you and given you as a covenant to the people, To restore the land and allot the desolate heritages, Saying to the prisoners: Come out!

Have I witnessed God deliver on his promises?   Am I still waiting for him to do something?

Action:  Do a favor for someone.

Thought for Tuesday March 20

The Lord of hosts is with us; our stronghold is the God of Jacob.
There is a stream whose runlets gladden the city of God,
the holy dwelling of the Most High.
God is in its midst; it shall not be disturbed;
God will help it at the break of dawn.
The Lord of hosts is with us; our stronghold is the God of Jacob.

John 5: 1 - 16  When Jesus saw him lying there and knew that he had been ill for a long time, he said to him, "Do you want to be well?"

Is that a dumb question?  Am I willing to give up the life I am comfortable with to be well physically, emotionally & spiritually?

 Action:  Do something to improve your physical, mental or spiritual health.

Thought for Monday March 19

The son of David will live forever.
The promises 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.
The son of David will live forever.

  

Matthew 1: 16 – 24  Joseph her husband, since he was a righteous man,

Would people describe me as a righteous person?  What is the difference between being righteous and being self-righteous?

Action:  Pick a righteous person to be your role model for the week; ask yourself what that person would do in the various situations you encounter.

Thought for Friday March 16

I am the Lord your God: hear my voice.
"If only my people would hear me,
and Israel walk in my ways,
I would feed them with the best of wheat,
and with honey from the rock I would fill them."
 I am the Lord your God: hear my voice.

Mark 12:  28 – 34  "Which is the first of all the commandments?" Jesus replied, "The first is this: Hear, O Israel!  The Lord our God is Lord alone!  You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul,  with all your mind, and with all your strength.  The second is this: You shall love your neighbor as yourself.

Do I put God first?  Do I put love of neighbor second only to God?

Action:  Do something loving for someone this weekend.

Thought for Thursday March 15

If today you hear his voice, harden not your hearts.
Come, let us sing joyfully to the LORD;
let us acclaim the Rock of our salvation.
Let us come into his presence with thanksgiving;
let us joyfully sing psalms to him.
If today you hear his voice, harden not your hearts.

Luke 11: 14 – 23  Jesus was driving out a demon that was mute, and when the demon had gone out, the mute man spoke and the crowds were amazed.

Do I ever feel like there is a demon that keeps me from speaking up when I should?  What impact does it have when I do speak up for what is right and just?
 

Action:  Speak for someone who can’t.

Thought for Tuesday March 14

Praise the Lord, Jerusalem.
He sends forth his command to the earth;
swiftly runs his word!
He spreads snow like wool;
frost he strews like ashes.
Praise the Lord, Jerusalem.

Matthew 5: 17 - 19  Therefore, whoever breaks one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do so will be called least in the Kingdom of heaven.

Do I pick and choose what commandments or teachings I will follow?   Am I bearing witness to everything I believe in?

Action:  Don’t break a commandment.

Thought for Tuesday March 13

Remember your mercies, O Lord.
Your ways, O LORD, make known to me;
teach me your paths,
Guide me in your truth and teach me,
for you are God my savior.
Remember your mercies, O Lord.

Matthew 18: 21 – 35  Peter approached Jesus and asked him, "Lord, if my brother sins against me, how often must I forgive him?  As many as seven times?"

Was seven Peter’s limit?  What’s my limit?

Action:  Start anew with someone who has exceeded your limit, but don’t expect to much.

Thought for Monday March 12

Athirst is my soul for the living God.
When shall I go and behold the face of God?
Send forth your light and your fidelity;
they shall lead me on
And bring me to your holy mountain,
to your dwelling-place.

Athirst is my soul for the living God.
When shall I go and behold the face of God?

Luke 4: 24 – 30  Again, there were many lepers in Israel during the time of Elisha the prophet; yet not one of them was cleansed, but only Naaman the Syrian.

Do I believe there are specific things that I have been sent to do?  Do I feel like I am doing exactly what I should be doing or am I just winging it?

Action:  Spend some time discerning what you are specifically called to do?

Thought for Friday March 9

Remember the marvels the Lord has done.
The king sent and released him,
the ruler of the peoples set him free.
He made him lord of his house
and ruler of all his possessions.
Remember the marvels the Lord has done.

Matthew 21: 33 – 46  Therefore, I say to you, the Kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a people that will produce its fruit.

Am I bearing fruit?  Does professing faith have value if it doesn’t produce real results?

Action:  Get involved with an action that will produce a positive change in your community.

Thought for Thursday March 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 16: 19 - 31  Jesus said to the Pharisees: "There was a rich man who dressed in purple garments and fine linen and dined sumptuously each day. And lying at his door was a poor man named Lazarus, covered with sores, who would gladly have eaten his fill of the scraps that fell from the rich man's table.”

Am I aware of the people around me who are not as fortunate as I am?  Does it matter how they ended up needing help?

Action:  Look at the people you pass by every day and see who needs help and then do what you can.

Thought for Wednesday March 7

Save me, O Lord, in your kindness.
You will free me from the snare they set for me,
for you are my refuge.
Into your hands I commend my spirit;
you will redeem me, O LORD, O faithful God.
Save me, O Lord, in your kindness.

Matthew 20: 17 - 28    Then the mother of the sons of Zebedee approached Jesus with her sons and did him homage, wishing to ask him for something.  He said to her, "What do you wish?"  She answered him, "Command that these two sons of mine sit, one at your right and the other at your left, in your kingdom."

Did my mother ever do anything to embarrass me?  How do parents try to help their kids?

Action:  Follow the example of the best parent you know and help someone.

Thought for Tuesday March 6

To the upright I will show the saving power of God.
"Why do you recite my statutes,
and profess my covenant with your mouth,
Though you hate discipline
and cast my words behind you?"
To the upright I will show the saving power of God.

Matthew 23: 1 – 12  They tie up heavy burdens hard to carry and lay them on people's shoulders, but they will not lift a finger to move them.

Do I ever feel like authorities are laying a burden on me?   Am I laying a burden on anyone else?

Action:  Help someone carry his burden.

Thought for Monday March 5

Lord, do not deal with us according to our sins.
Help us, O God our savior,
because of the glory of your name;
Deliver us and pardon our sins
for your name's sake. .
Lord, do not deal with us according to our sins

Luke 6: 36 – 38  Give and gifts will be given to you; a good measure, packed together, shaken down, and overflowing, will be poured into your lap.

What am I giving?  What am I getting?

Action:  Give to someone who could use a little boost.

Thought for Friday March 2

If you, O Lord, mark iniquities, who can stand?
For with the LORD is kindness
and with him is plenteous redemption;
And he will redeem Israel
from all their iniquities.
If you, O Lord, mark iniquities, who can stand?

Matthew  5: 20 – 26  But I say to you, whoever is angry with his brother will be liable to judgment, and whoever says to his brother, Raqa,  will be answerable to the Sanhedrin, and whoever says, 'You fool,' will be liable to fiery Gehenna.

Do I see a lot of anger in the world today?  Am I angry at any person or situation?

Action:  Find a way to let go of your anger.