Thought for Monday July 1

Remember this, you who never think 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?”
Remember this, you who never think of God.

Matthew 8: 18 – 22  “Teacher, I will follow you wherever you go.”

Have I been led to anywhere I wasn’t planning to go?  Have I resisted going somewhere Jesus was trying to lead me?

Action:  Next time you are asked to go somewhere you hadn’t planned,  go.  Ask Jesus to be with you and when it is over, ask yourself if it was really all that bad.

Thought for Friday June 28

The angel of the Lord will rescue those who fear him.
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 angel of the Lord will rescue those who fear him.

 

Acts 12: 1 – 11  Peter thus was being kept in prison, but prayer by the Church was fervently being made to God on his behalf.

Am I fervently praying for anything with the whole Church?

 

2 Timothy 4: 6 – 8, 17 – 18  I, Paul, am already being poured out like a libation, and the time of my departure is at hand. I have competed well; I have finished the race; I have kept the faith.

Is it important to me to finish the race and keep the faith?

 

Action:  Peter and Paul kept the Church united in spite of their own conflicts.  Find a way to stay united with the people you are working with in spite of your conflicts.

Thought for Thursday June 27

For the glory of your name, O Lord, deliver us.
Help us, O God our savior,
because of the glory of your name;
Deliver us and pardon our sins
for your name’s sake.
For the glory of your name, O Lord, deliver us.

 

Matthew 7: 21 – 29  Everyone who listens to these words of mine and acts on them will be like a wise man who built his house on rock. 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.

 

What in my life is built on rock and what on sand?

Action:  Think of something in your life that is built on sand, and make a plan for rebuilding it on rock. 

Thought for Wednesday June 26

Teach me the way of your decrees, O Lord.
Give me discernment, that I may observe your law
and keep it with all my heart.
Teach me the way of your decrees, O Lord.

 Matthew 7: 15 – 20  So by their fruits you will know them.

 Do I ever judge things just by their appearances and not their fruits?  Am I careful to look for the fruits of my prayer life and not just the piety of the practices?

Action:  Notice what fruit the people you know are producing and complement them for it.

Thought for Tuesday June 25

He who does justice will live in the presence of the Lord.
Who lends not his money at usury
and accepts no bribe against the innocent.
He who does these things
shall never be disturbed.
He who does justice will live in the presence of the Lord.

Matthew 7: 6, 12 – 14  Do to others whatever you would have them do to you.

How do I want to be treated?  Do I think I have earned the right to be treated perfectly?

Action:  Think of someone you know who deserves to be treated well, and treat the biggest jerk you know the same way.

Thought for Monday June 24

I praise you, for I am wonderfully made.
O LORD, you have probed me, you know me:
you know when I sit and when I stand;
you understand my thoughts from afar.
My journeys and my rest you scrutinize,
with all my ways you are familiar.
I praise you for I am wonderfully made.

Luke 1: 57 – 66  So they made signs, asking his father what he wished him to be called.  He asked for a tablet and wrote, "John is his name," and all were amazed.

How important is my name to me?  What name do I call God when I pray?

Action:   Try praying using a different name for God – Father, Abba, Yahweh, Creator, Almighty, etc.

Thought for Friday June 21

From all their distress God rescues the just.
Glorify the LORD with me,
let us together extol his name.
I sought the LORD, and he answered me
and delivered me from all my fears.
From all their distress God rescues the just.

Matthew 6: 19 – 23  Jesus said to his disciples: “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and decay destroy, and thieves break in and steal.”

What do I treasure?  Am I holding on to anything that I should let go of?

Action:  Learn to treasure something that is eternal.

Thought for Thursday June 20

Your works, O Lord, are justice and truth.
Majesty and glory are his work,
and his justice endures forever.
He has won renown for his wondrous deeds;
gracious and merciful is the LORD.
Your works, O Lord, are justice and truth.

Matthew 6: 7 – 15  If you forgive others their transgressions, your heavenly Father will forgive you. But if you do not forgive others, neither will your Father forgive your transgressions.

Are there things that have been done to me that I just won’t forgive?  Have I ever done anything I think I will never be forgiven?

Action:  Forgive someone for something even if they have never apologized or shown any remorse.

Thought for Wednesday June 19

Blessed the man who fears the Lord.
Wealth and riches shall be in his house;
his generosity shall endure forever.
Light shines through the darkness for the upright;
he is gracious and merciful and just.
Blessed the man who fears the Lord.

Matthew 6: 1 – 18  Jesus said to his disciples: "Take care not to perform righteous deeds in order that people may see them; otherwise, you will have no recompense from your heavenly Father.”

Do I like to get a little credit for doing good things?  Does Jesus want me to hide all of my good deeds?

Action:  Secretly do something good for someone.

Thought for Tuesday June 18

Praise the Lord, my soul!
Praise the LORD, my soul!
I will praise the LORD all my life;
I will sing praise to my God while I live.
Praise the Lord, my soul!

Matthew 5: 43 – 48  Jesus said to his disciples: "You have heard that it was said, You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy. But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your heavenly Father, for he makes his sun rise on the bad and the good, and causes rain to fall on the just and the unjust.

How am I supposed to love an enemy?  Can I just ignore this because Jesus said it two thousand years ago and had no concept of the complexities of the modern world?

Action:  Do something loving for someone you can’t stand; for example bake your boss a pie.

Thought for Monday June 17

The Lord has made known his salvation.
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.
The Lord has made known his salvation.

Matthew 5: 38 – 42  Jesus said to his disciples: "You have heard that it was said, An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth. But I say to you, offer no resistance to one who is evil.  When someone strikes you on your right cheek, turn the other one to him as well.

 

What am I more likely to use as my guideline “an eye for an eye” or “offer on resistance”?  Was Jesus serious when he said this?

Action:  Identify some evil in your local community and find a way to address it without “fighting back.”

Thought for Friday June 14

To you, Lord, I will offer a sacrifice of praise.
To you will I offer sacrifice of thanksgiving,
and I will call upon the name of the LORD.
My vows to the LORD I will pay
in the presence of all his people.

To you, Lord, I will offer a sacrifice of praise.

 

2 Corinthians 4: 7 – 15  Brothers and sisters:  We hold this treasure in earthen vessels,  that the surpassing power may be of God and not from us.  We are afflicted in every way, but not constrained; perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed; always carrying about in the Body the dying of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our body.

Why is it a treasure to know that the “surpassing” power lies with God and not with us?   Do I ever feel afflicted, perplexed, or persecuted?

Action:  Remember that Jesus can save you from being constrained, driven to despair, or abandoned.

Thought for Thursday June 13

The Lord has revealed to the nations his saving power.
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.
The Lord has revealed to the nations his saving power.

Matthew 5: 20 – 26  You have heard that it was said to your ancestors, You shall not kill; and whoever kills will be liable to judgment. But I say to you, whoever is angry with his brother will be liable to judgment,

Do I see a lot of anger in the world/people around me?   What do I get angry about?

Action: The next time you get angry or annoyed about something (politics, economy, clothing styles, music, emails, etc), do something nice for someone.

Thought for Wednesday June 12

Holy is the Lord our God.
Extol the LORD, our God,
and worship at his holy mountain;
for holy is the LORD, our God.
Holy is the Lord our God.

Matthew 5: 17 – 19  But whoever obeys and teaches these commandments will be called greatest in the Kingdom of heaven.

How do I teach and enforce laws (policies, regulations, rules, etc)?  Do I do it in a positive way, or just as an obligation?

Action:  Teach someone a law that you have found to be helpful.

Thought for Tuesday June 11

Lord, let your face shine on me.
Steady my footsteps according to your promise,
and let no iniquity rule over me.
Lord, let your face shine on me.

Matthew 5: 13 – 16  Jesus said to his disciples: "You are the salt of the earth. But if salt loses its taste, with what can it be seasoned?

What do I bring to the table?  What would be lost if I quit doing my part?

Action:  The next time you hear someone referred to as “the salt of the earth” try and emulate something good that he or she does to earn that accolade.

Thought for Monday June 10

Taste and see the goodness of the Lord.
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.
Taste and see the goodness of the Lord.

 

Matthew 5: 1 – 12  Blessed are the poor in spirit… Blessed are they who mourn… Blessed are the meek… Blessed are they who hunger and thirst for righteousness… Blessed are the merciful… Blessed are the clean of heart… Blessed are the peacemakers… Blessed are they who are persecuted for the sake of righteousness…

Am I any of these things?  Which of these can I control?

Action:  Work for righteousness, show mercy, clean your heart, or make peace today.   

Thought for Friday June 7

The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want.
The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.
In verdant pastures he gives me repose;
beside restful waters he leads me;
he refreshes my soul.

The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want.

 

Ezekiel 34: 11 - 16    I myself will pasture my sheep; I myself will give them rest, says the Lord GOD. The lost I will seek out, the strayed I will bring back, the injured I will bind up, the sick I will heal, but the sleek and the strong I will destroy, shepherding them rightly.
 

Do I accept God’s shepherding?  Have I ever needed God to bring me back after I strayed?

 

Action:  Ewe should try to relax this weekend and ramember God is the Shepherd.

Thought for Thursday June 6

Blessed are those who fear the Lord.
Blessed are you who fear the LORD,
who walk in his ways!
For you shall eat the fruit of your handiwork;
Blessed shall you be, and favored.
Blessed are those who fear the Lord.

Mark 12: 28 – 34  The second is this: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. There is no other commandment greater than these.

How am I doing?   Is there anyone I treat as something other than a neighbor?

Action:  Do something for a “neighbor” you usually ignore.

Thought for Wednesday June 5

To you, O Lord, I lift up my eyes.
To you I lift up my eyes
who are enthroned in heaven.
Behold, as the eyes of servants
are on the hands of their masters.
To you, O Lord, I lift up my eyes.

 

Mark 12: 18 – 27  He is not God of the dead but of the living.  You are greatly misled.

Who have I lost that I still mourn for?  Does it comfort me to know that my dead friends and family are really living with the living God? 

                                                                      

Action:  If you know someone who has recently lost someone, call to say hi, how are you.

Thought for Monday June 3

Blessed the man who fears the Lord.
Blessed the man who fears the LORD,
who greatly delights in his commands.
His posterity shall be mighty upon the earth;
the upright generation shall be blessed.
Blessed the man who fears the Lord.

 

Mark 12: 1 – 12  Jesus began to speak to the chief priests, the scribes, and the elders in parables.

In what ways are parables more useful than rules?  Am I more likely to follow the letter of the law or to try and follow the example of a parable?

Action:  Write your own parable explaining one of your personal “rules” for living.

Thought for Tuesday June 4

The heart of the just one is firm, trusting in the Lord.
Lavishly he gives to the poor;
his generosity shall endure forever;
his horn shall be exalted in glory.
The heart of the just one is firm, trusting in the Lord.

Mark 12: 13 – 17  So Jesus said to them, "Repay to Caesar what belongs to Caesar and to God what belongs to God."

Do I ever get confused about the role of civil and Church authorities?  Have I ever seen those authorities confuse their roles?

Action:  The next time you hear of an argument or debate that involves both religious and civil dimensions, try to analyze the situation from both points of view and then look for the common ground.