Monday, September 30, 2013

Thought for Tuesday October 1


Let my prayer come before you, Lord.
O LORD, my God, by day I cry out;
at night I clamor in your presence.
Let my prayer come before you;
incline your ear to my call for help.
Let my prayer come before you, Lord.


Luke 9: 51 – 56  When the disciples James and John saw this [Jesus’ rejection] they asked, “Lord, do you want us to call down fire from heaven to consume them?”

Do I ever feel frustrated when I meet people who reject Jesus and his teaching?   What do I do about it?

Action:  If you know someone who doesn’t take spirituality/God seriously, get involved in a project that is trying to help your community and invite that person to join you.

Sunday, September 29, 2013

Thought for Monday September 30


The Lord will build up Zion again, and appear in all his glory.
Let this be written for the generation to come,
and let his future creatures praise the Lord:
“The LORD looked down from his holy height,
from heaven he beheld the earth,
To hear the groaning of the prisoners,
to release those doomed to die.”
The Lord will build up Zion again, and appear in all his glory.

Luke 9: 46 – 50   Then John said in reply,  “Master, we saw someone casting out demons in your name  and we tried to prevent him because he does not follow in our company.” Jesus said to him,  “Do not prevent him, for whoever is not against you is for you.”
 

Who is for Jesus and who is against?  How do I tell the difference?

Action:  Show your support to someone who is trying to do good.

Thursday, September 26, 2013

Thought for Friday September 27


Hope in God; I will praise him, my savior and my God.
Send forth your light and your fidelity;
they shall lead me on
And bring me to your holy mountain,
to your dwelling place.
Hope in God; I will praise him, my savior and my God.


Luke 9: 18 – 22  He said, “The Son of Man must suffer greatly and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests, and the scribes, and be killed and on the third day be raised.”


Why was this God’s plan for saving humanity?  What are the advantages of this plan?

Action:  If you know someone who is frequently rejected, see if you can find a way to support him/her.

Wednesday, September 25, 2013

Thought for Thursday September 26


The Lord takes delight in his people.
Let the faithful exult in glory;
let them sing for joy upon their couches;
Let the high praises of God be in their throats.
This is the glory of all his faithful. Alleluia.
The Lord takes delight in his people.

 
Luke 9: 7 – 9  Herod the tetrarch heard about all that was happening, and he was greatly perplexed


Have I ever done anything that perplexed other people?  Have someone else’s actions perplexed me?

Action:  Do something to express your faith that will perplex other people.

Tuesday, September 24, 2013

Thought for Wednesday September 25


Your word, O Lord, is a lamp for my feet.
From every evil way I withhold my feet,
that I may keep your words.
Your word, O Lord, is a lamp for my feet.

 
Luke 9: 1 – 6  Jesus summoned the Twelve and gave them power and authority over all demons and to cure diseases, and he sent them to proclaim the Kingdom of God and to heal the sick.


Who do I believe now has this power and this responsibility?  What is my responsibility?

Action:  Exercise whatever power you have to make someone else’s life better.

Monday, September 23, 2013

Thought for Tuesday September 24


Let us go rejoicing to the house of the Lord.
I rejoiced because they said to me,
“We will go up to the house of the LORD.”
And now we have set foot
within your gates, O Jerusalem.
Let us go rejoicing to the house of the Lord.


Luke 8: 19 – 21  He said to them in reply, “My mother and my brothers are those who hear the word of God and act on it.”


Is this as easy as it sounds?  How am I doing?


Action:  Hear the word of God and act on it.

Sunday, September 22, 2013

Thought for Monday September 23


The just one shall live on your holy mountain, O Lord.
Who harms not his fellow man,
nor takes up a reproach against his neighbor;
By whom the reprobate is despised,
while he honors those who fear the LORD.
The just one shall live on your holy mountain, O Lord.

 
Luke 8: 16 – 18 To anyone who has, more will be given, and from the one who has not, even what he seems to have will be taken away.

Does this sound fair?   Does it sound fair if what you have is faith, hope, and love?

Action:  Find a concrete way to express love (or faith or hope) and see if your love increases.

Thursday, September 19, 2013

Thought for Friday September 20


Blessed the poor in spirit; the Kingdom of heaven is theirs!
Yet in no way can a man redeem himself,
or pay his own ransom to God;
Too high is the price to redeem one’s life; he would never have enough
to remain alive always and not see destruction.
Blessed the poor in spirit; the Kingdom of heaven is theirs!

 
Luke 8: 1 – 3  Jesus journeyed from one town and village to another, preaching and proclaiming the good news of the Kingdom of God.

In how many different places have I experienced the word of God being proclaimed?  Do I see it proclaimed more in preaching or in action?

Action:  Proclaim the word of God everywhere you go in words or in actions.

Wednesday, September 18, 2013

Thought for Thursday September 19


Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good.
You are my God, and I give thanks to you;
O my God, I extol you.
Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good.

Luke 7: 36 – 50  “So I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven; hence, she has shown great love. But the one to whom little is forgiven, loves little.”


Do I see the connection between forgiveness and love?  Am I able to show great love?


Action:  Do something loving for someone today.

Tuesday, September 17, 2013

Thought for Wednesday September 18


How great are the works of the Lord!
I will give thanks to the LORD with all my heart
in the company and assembly of the just.
Great are the works of the LORD,
exquisite in all their delights.
How great are the works of the Lord!

Luke 7: 31 – 35  For John the Baptist came neither eating food nor drinking wine, and you said, ‘He is possessed by a demon.’ The Son of Man came eating and drinking and you said, ‘Look, he is a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners.’

Do I often find fault with the messengers of the Gospel?  Is it easier to reject the message if I can reject the messengers?

Action:  Spend a little time listening to [or reading] someone you typically reject and see what value you can find in the message.

Monday, September 16, 2013

Thought for Tuesday September 17


We are his people: the sheep of his flock.
Know that the LORD is God;
he made us, his we are;
his people, the flock he tends.
We are his people: the sheep of his flock.

Luke 7: 11 – 17 He stepped forward and touched the coffin; at this the bearers halted, and he said, “Young man, I tell you, arise!”  The dead man sat up and began to speak, and Jesus gave him to his mother.


What would I do if Jesus raised me to a new life?  Would I go back to doing what I had always done?

Action:  Do something this week that you have never done before – go skydiving, read a different book, go to something at a church, eat different food, plan a trip, tell someone you love him/her – and rise to new possibilities in your  life.

Thought for Monday September 16


Proclaim the death of the Lord until he comes again.
May all who seek you
exult and be glad in you
And may those who love your salvation
say ever, "The LORD be glorified."
Proclaim the death of the Lord until he comes again.


Luke 7: 1 – 10   A centurion there had a slave who was ill and about to die, and he was valuable to him. When he heard about Jesus, he sent elders of the Jews to him, asking him to come and save the life of his slave.

Who is valuable to me?   What do I want Jesus to do for that person?

Action:   Do something to make yourself valuable to someone else.

Thursday, September 12, 2013

Thought for Friday September 13


How lovely is your dwelling place, Lord, mighty God!
Blessed they who dwell in your house!
continually they praise you.
Blessed the men whose strength you are!
their hearts are set upon the pilgrimage.
How lovely is your dwelling place, Lord, mighty God!

Luke 6: 39 – 42  Jesus told his disciples a parable: "Can a blind person guide a blind person? Will not both fall into a pit?

 
What is my blindness?   Who is my guide?


Action:  Gently help someone who is blind to something Jesus has helped you see.

Wednesday, September 11, 2013

Thought for Thursday September 12


Guide me, Lord, along the everlasting way.
O LORD, you have probed me and 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.
Guide me, Lord, along the everlasting way.

Luke 6: 27 – 38  Jesus said to his disciples: "To you who hear I say, love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you.”

Do I see a lot of love for enemies these days?   How am I doing?

Action:  When you see people promoting hate, stand up to them and remind them that Jesus said, “Love your enemies.”

Tuesday, September 10, 2013

Thought for Wednesday September 11


Listen to me, daughter; see and bend your ear.
They are borne in with gladness and joy;
they enter the palace of the king.
The place of your fathers your sons shall have;
you shall make them princes through all the land.
Listen to me, daughter; see and bend your ear.

 
Luke 6: 20 – 26  Blessed are you who are now hungry, for you will be satisfied.     
                            But woe to you who are filled now, for you will be hungry.

What sounds better to me, being hungry with the promise of being satisfied or being full with the promise of being hungry?   What’s better, the anticipation of a great meal or eating a great meal?

Action:  Fast just until you get a little hungry and pray for peace before you eat.

Monday, September 9, 2013

Thought for Tuesday September 10


The Lord takes delight in his people.
Let them praise his name in the festive dance,
let them sing praise to him with timbrel and harp.
For the LORD loves his people,
and he adorns the lowly with victory.
The Lord takes delight in his people.


Luke 6: 12 – 19  When day came, he called his disciples to himself, and from them he chose Twelve, whom he also named Apostles:

How do I think the disciples who were not chosen to be Apostles felt?   Do I want Jesus to choose me for a special assignment?

Action:  Accept the work Jesus is asking you to do.

Sunday, September 8, 2013

Thought for Monday September 9


Lead me in your justice, Lord.
But let all who take refuge in you
be glad and exult forever.
Protect them, that you may be the joy
of those who love your name.
Lead me in your justice, Lord.

Luke 6: 6 – 11   The scribes and the Pharisees watched him closely to see if he would cure on the Sabbath so that they might discover a reason to accuse him.
 
Do I look for reasons to dislike people I disagree with?  Do I ever make a point of finding reasons to like someone I disagree with?


Action:  Think of the person with whom you most disagree and find 3 things you can appreciate in him or her.

Thursday, September 5, 2013

Thought for Friday September 6


Come with joy into the presence of the Lord.
Sing joyfully to the LORD, all you lands;
serve the LORD with gladness;
come before him with joyful song.
Come with joy into the presence of the Lord.

 
Colossians 1: 15 – 20  For in him all the fullness was pleased to dwell, and through him to reconcile all things for him, making peace by the Blood of his cross through him, whether those on earth or those in heaven.

Luke 5: 33 – 39  The scribes and Pharisees said to Jesus, “The disciples of John the Baptist fast often and offer prayers, and the disciples of the Pharisees do the same; but yours eat and drink.”  Jesus answered them, “Can you make the wedding guests fast while the bridegroom is with them?  But the days will come, and when the bridegroom is taken away from them, then they will fast in those days.”  


Action:  Fast for Syria.  Pray for Peace.

Wednesday, September 4, 2013

Thought for Thursday September 5


To the Lord belongs the earth and all that fills it.
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.
To the Lord belongs the earth and all that fills it.

Luke 5: 1 – 11 After he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Put out into deep water and lower your nets for a catch.” Simon said in reply, “Master, we have worked hard all night and have caught nothing, but at your command I will lower the nets.”

What do I “fish” for in my daily life?  Would I be willing to give it up if Jesus asked me to?

Action:  Let go of something that is interfering with your spiritual life. 

Tuesday, September 3, 2013

Thought for Wednesday September 4


I trust in the mercy of God forever.
I, like a green olive tree
in the house of God,
Trust in the mercy of God
forever and ever.
I trust in the mercy of God forever.

Luke 4: 38 – 44  At sunset, all who had people sick with various diseases brought them to him. He laid his hands on each of them and cured them.


If Jesus cured me with a touch of his hand, how would I feel the next time I got sick?  Would I really appreciate the gift of healing?


Action:  Do something for your health today in thanksgiving for everything Jesus does for you.

Monday, September 2, 2013

Thought for Tuesday September 3


I believe that I shall see the good things of the Lord in the land of the living.
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.
I believe that I shall see the good things of the Lord in the land of the living.


Luke 4: 31 – 37  Jesus went down to Capernaum, a town of Galilee.

Does where I am have much effect on me?  Am I inspired to do special things in some places?

Action:  Do something in the place you are in today to make it better.

Sunday, September 1, 2013

Thought for Monday September 2


The Lord comes to judge the earth.
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.
The Lord comes to judge the earth.

Luke 4: 16 – 30  He unrolled the scroll and found the passage where it was written: The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to bring glad tidings to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free, and to proclaim a year acceptable to the Lord.

Am I a captive of anything [society, bad habits, addictions, insecurities, sins]?  Do I believe Jesus can liberate me?

Action: Try to free yourself from something that is interfering with your spiritual life.