Monday, April 30, 2012

Thought for Tuesday May 1


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 29, 2012

Thought for Monday April 30


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  But they will not follow a stranger; they will run away from him, because they do not recognize the voice of strangers.


Can I recognize Jesus’ voice?  Do I know when the “voice I am hearing” (temptation) is not from Jesus?


Action:  If Jesus has been trying to get you to do something, do it.  Follow his voice.

Wednesday, April 25, 2012

Thought for Thursday April 26


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 24, 2012

Thought for Wednesday April 25


Forever 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.
Forever I will sing the goodness of the Lord.





Mark 16: 15 – 20  Jesus appeared to the Eleven and said to them: "Go into the whole world and proclaim the Gospel to every creature.  Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved; whoever does not believe will be condemned.



Am I proclaiming the Gospel?  Do I believe the whole world deserves to be saved?



Action:  If you have ever used the phrase “Go to Hell” even in jest, pray for whoever you said it to.

Monday, April 23, 2012

Thought for Tuesday April 24


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.

Thursday, April 19, 2012

Thought for Friday April 20

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  Andrew, the brother of Simon Peter, said to him, "There is a boy here who has five barley loaves and two fish; but what good are these for so many?"


Do I ever think that what I have to offer isn’t enough to make a difference?  Have I ever seen my efforts multiplied into something great?


Action:  Give whatever you can and trust in God to multiply it.

Wednesday, April 18, 2012

Thought for Thursday April 19

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.

Tuesday, April 17, 2012

Thought for Wednesday April 18

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: Start working on ways to liberate our society from the sins other Christians condemn it for.

Monday, April 16, 2012

Thought for Tuesday April 17

The Lord is king; he is robed in majesty.
And he has made the world firm,
not to be moved.
Your throne stands firm from of old;
from everlasting you are, O LORD.
The Lord is king; he is robed in majesty.



Acts 4: 32 – 37  There was no needy person among them, for those who owned property or houses would sell them, bring the proceeds of the sale, and put them at the feet of the Apostles, and they were distributed to each according to need.

Do Christians still do this?  Do I ever hear Christians make fun of people who are less fortunate – physically,  intellectually, monetarily or otherwise?

Action:  Follow the example of the Apostles.

Sunday, April 15, 2012

Thought for Monday April 16

Blessed are all who take refuge in the Lord.
Why do the nations rage
and the peoples utter folly?
The kings of the earth rise up,
and the princes conspire together
against the LORD and against his anointed:
"Let us break their fetters
and cast their bonds from us!"
Blessed are all who take refuge in the Lord.


John 3: 1 – 8 Nicodemus said to him, "How can a man once grown old be born again?

Have I ever wondered if I am too old to change?  Is it ever too late to begin bearing witness to Jesus?

Action:  Take the first step toward changing one of your oldest “bad habits” – something you do that really isn’t consistent with Jesus’ message.


Thursday, April 12, 2012

Thought for Friday April 13

The stone rejected by the builders has become the cornerstone.
O LORD, grant salvation!
O LORD, grant prosperity!
Blessed is he who comes in the name of the LORD;
we bless you from the house of the LORD.
The LORD is God, and he has given us light.
The stone rejected by the builders has become the cornerstone.

John 21: 1 – 14  Simon Peter said to them, "I am going fishing." They said to him, "We also will come with you."

Do I ever do something recreational when I am trying to sort through spiritual thoughts?  Do I value recreation?

Action:   Let God run the world this weekend while you take some time off to enjoy your life.

Wednesday, April 11, 2012

Thought for Thursday April 12

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 said to them, "Why are you troubled? And why do questions arise in your hearts?


What troubles me?  What questions keep me up at night?

Action:  The next time you are faced with a disturbing question, first spend some time asking why the question bothers you.  Sometimes God speaks to us by first “troubling” us.

Tuesday, April 10, 2012

Thought for Wednesday April 11

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  Jesus the Nazarene, who was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people

Am I doing my part to carry on Jesus’ work as a prophet?  Do I ever go against the grain at home, school, church, work or around my friends?

Action:  If something has been bugging you, something you think isn’t really consistent with gospel values, do something to change the way you may contribute to the problem.

Monday, April 9, 2012

Thought for Tuesday April 10

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.

Sunday, April 8, 2012

Thought for Monday April 9

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 5, 2012

Thought for Good Friday April 6

Father, into your hands I commend my spirit.
In you, O LORD, I take refuge;
let me never be put to shame.
In your justice rescue me.
Into your hands I commend my spirit;
you will redeem me, O LORD, O faithful God.
Father, into your hands I commend my spirit.



John 18: 1 – 19  When Jesus had taken the wine, he said, "It is finished."  And bowing his head, he handed over the spirit.


Wednesday, April 4, 2012

Thought for Holy Thursday April 5

Our blessing-cup is a communion with the Blood of Christ.
How shall I make a return to the LORD
for all the good he has done for me?
The cup of salvation I will take up,
and I will call upon the name of the LORD.
Our blessing-cup is a communion with the Blood of Christ.



1 Corinthians 11: 23 – 26  Brothers and sisters: I received from the Lord what I also handed on to you, that the Lord Jesus, on the night he was handed over, took bread, and, after he had given thanks, broke it and said, "This is my body that is for you.  Do this in remembrance of me."

Tuesday, April 3, 2012

Thought for Wednesday April 4

Lord, in your great love, answer me.
Insult has broken my heart, and I am weak,
I looked for sympathy, but there was none;
for consolers, not one could I find.
Rather they put gall in my food,
and in my thirst they gave me vinegar to drink.
Lord, in your great love, answer me.


Matthew 26: 14 – 25  One of the Twelve, who was called Judas Iscariot, went to the chief priests and said, "What are you willing to give me if I hand him over to you?" They paid him thirty pieces of silver…


Have I ever sold out a friend for personal gain?  Has anyone ever done it to me?


Action:  It’s Holy Week – Be Holy!

Monday, April 2, 2012

Thought for Tuesday April 3

I will sing of your salvation.
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.
I will sing of your salvation.



John 13: 21 – 38  So he dipped the morsel and took it and handed it to Judas, son of Simon the Iscariot.  After Judas took the morsel, Satan entered him.  So Jesus said to him, "What you are going to do, do quickly."


Doesn’t it seem like Jesus should have tried to stop Judas?  Do I expect Jesus to help me to not sin?


Action:  Ask Jesus to help you not sin.

Sunday, April 1, 2012

Thought for Monday April 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.


John 12: 1 – 11  Then Judas the Iscariot, one of his disciples, and the one who would betray him, said, "Why was this oil not sold for three hundred days' wages and given to the poor?"


How do I decide how much money to give to the poor?    Do I agree with Judas’ point?


Action:  The next time you are asked for a donation – make a specific decision about how much to give.