Tuesday, November 26, 2013

Thought for Wednesday November 27


Great and wonderful are all your works, Lord, mighty God!
Let the sea and what fills it resound,
the world and those who dwell in it;
Let the rivers clap their hands,
the mountains shout with them for joy.
Great and wonderful are all your works, Lord, mighty God!


Luke 21: 12 - 19 For I [Jesus] myself shall give you a wisdom in speaking.


Has Jesus ever helped me find just the right words when I didn’t know what to say?  Have I ever heard Jesus speak to me through someone else?


Action:  Trust Jesus to help you speak to all of the annoying relatives and acquaintances you will run into for the next month or so.

Monday, November 25, 2013

Thought for Tuesday November 26


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 21: 5 – 11  While some people were speaking about how the temple was adorned with costly stones and votive offerings, Jesus said, “All that you see here– the days will come when there will not be left a stone upon another stone that will not be thrown down.”

What do I most like or not like to see in churches?   What kinds of things help me to worship and pray?


Action:  Decorate your house for Advent in a way that will really help you focus on the season.

Sunday, November 24, 2013

Thought for Monday November 25


Lord, this is the people that longs to see your face.
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.
Lord, this is the people that longs to see your face.


Luke 21: 1 – 4  He said, “I tell you truly, this poor widow put in more than all the rest; for those others have all made offerings from their surplus wealth, but she, from her poverty, has offered her whole livelihood.”


If I won the lottery, would I give a large donation to charity?  If I did, would that donation be better than what I am giving now?

Action:  Give until it hurts – make a donation that is a little more than is easy for you.  It doesn’t have to be money – blood is in great demand at this time of year, plenty of cats and dogs need homes, shelters need volunteers…

Thursday, November 21, 2013

Thought for Friday November 22


We praise your glorious name, O mighty God.
“Yours, O LORD, are grandeur and power,
majesty, splendor, and glory.
For all in heaven and on earth is yours.”
We praise your glorious name, O mighty God.

 
Luke 19: 45 – 48  The chief priests, the scribes, and the leaders of the people, meanwhile, were seeking to put him to death, but they could find no way to accomplish their purpose because all the people were hanging on his words.
 
Doesn’t “put him to death” seem like a pretty extreme way of responding to someone you disagree with?  Am I violent about any issue?


Action:  Pray for the people of the Philippines.

Wednesday, November 20, 2013

Thought for Thursday November 21


To the upright I will show the saving power of God.
“Offer to God praise as your sacrifice
and fulfill your vows to the Most High;
Then call upon me in time of distress;
I will rescue you, and you shall glorify me.”
To the upright I will show the saving power of God.


Luke 19: 41 – 44  As Jesus drew near Jerusalem, he saw the city and wept over it, saying, “If this day you only knew what makes for peace–  but now it is hidden from your eyes.”

How peaceful is my city?  Do I have any idea what would make for peace in my city?

Action:  Do something to make your neighborhood a little more peaceful.

Tuesday, November 19, 2013

Thought for Wednesday November 20


Lord, when your glory appears, my joy will be full.
My steps have been steadfast in your paths,
my feet have not faltered.
I call upon you, for you will answer me, O God;
incline your ear to me; hear my word.
Lord, when your glory appears, my joy will be full.


Luke 19: 11 – 28  Then the other servant came and said, ‘Sir, here is your gold coin; I kept it stored away in a handkerchief,’
 

Is there anything God has given me that he wants me to keep hidden away?  Has God given me anything that I am hiding?


Action:  Invest your talents in changing the world, or at least the part of it that is around you.

Monday, November 18, 2013

Thought for Tuesday November 19


The Lord upholds me.
When I lie down in sleep,
I wake again, for the LORD sustains me.
I fear not the myriads of people
arrayed against me on every side.
The Lord upholds me.

Luke 19: 1 – 10  Now a man there named Zacchaeus, who was a chief tax collector and also a wealthy man,  was seeking to see who Jesus was; but he could not see him because of the crowd, for he was short in stature.  So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore tree in order to see Jesus, who was about to pass that way.


What keeps me from seeing who Jesus really is?  What am I going to do about it?


Action:  Do whatever you have to do to see Jesus.

Sunday, November 17, 2013

Thought for Monday November 18


Give me life, O Lord, and I will do your commands.
Though the snares of the wicked are twined about me,
your law I have not forgotten.
Give me life, O Lord, and I will do your commands.


Luke 18: 35 – 43  He immediately received his sight and followed him, giving glory to God. When they saw this, all the people gave praise to God.


Have I seen a miracle?  What miracle would I most like to see happen?


Action:  Work to improve some situation that “would need a miracle to fix.”

Thursday, November 14, 2013

Thought for Friday November 15


Blessed are they who follow the law of the Lord!
Within my heart I treasure your promise,
that I may not sin against you.
Blessed are they who follow the law of the Lord!

 
Luke 17: 26 – 37  Whoever seeks to preserve his life will lose it, but whoever loses it will save it.

What about my life am I set on preserving?   What would I like to lose?

Action:  Examine your life for something you do frequently/consistently that bears no fruit and quit doing it.

Wednesday, November 13, 2013

Thought for Thursday November 14


Your word is forever, O Lord.
The revelation of your words sheds light,
 giving understanding to the simple.
Your word is forever, O Lord.

 
Luke 17: 20 – 25  “The coming of the Kingdom of God cannot be observed, and no one will announce, ‘Look, here it is,’ or, ‘There it is.’ For behold, the Kingdom of God is among you.”


If I can’t observe the kingdom of God, how am I supposed to know it is really here?  What difference does it make?


Action:  Think for yourself and don’t get wrapped up in mob mentality.

 

Tuesday, November 12, 2013

Thought for Wednesday November 13


Rise up, O God, bring judgment to the earth.
Defend the lowly and the fatherless;
render justice to the afflicted and the destitute.
Rescue the lowly and the poor;
from the hand of the wicked deliver them.
Rise up, O God, bring judgment to the earth.

 

Luke 17: 11 – 19  As they were going they were cleansed.   And one of them, realizing he had been healed, returned, glorifying God in a loud voice; and he fell at the feet of Jesus and thanked him.

 
Am I so used to my afflictions that I wouldn’t even notice if I were cured?   Have you ever thought, “I would do more “good” if I didn’t have [some particular problem].”?


Action:  Start trying to do something that you think you can’t do – ask Jesus to help.

Monday, November 11, 2013

Thought for Tuesday November 12


I will bless the Lord at all times.
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.
I will bless the Lord at all times.

 
Luke 17: 7 – 10 When you have done all you have been commanded, say, ‘We are unprofitable servants; we have done what we were obliged to do.’


Do I think I am special because I do some good things?  Do I expect to do all I have been commanded to do?


Action:  Do what God has commanded you to do.

Sunday, November 10, 2013

Thought for Monday November 11


Lord, this is the people that longs to see your face.
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.
Lord, this is the people that longs to see your face.

 
Luke 17: 1 – 6  Jesus said to his disciples, “Things that cause sin will inevitably occur, but woe to the one through whom they occur.”


Have I noticed that causes of sin frequently occur in my life?  Have I ever noticed myself causing someone else to sin?

Action:  Make a plan to change if  you have been a bad example (cursing, drinking, careless driving, gossiping, goofing off, etc.).

Thursday, November 7, 2013

Thought for Friday November 8


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 16: 1 – 8  Jesus said to his disciples, “A rich man had a steward who was reported to him for squandering his property.”

What am I squandering?  Am I a good steward of the resources entrusted to me?
 
Action:  Pick something you tend to waste (time, food, money, energy) and make a real effort to conserve it and put it to a positive use.

Wednesday, November 6, 2013

Thought for Thursday November 7


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 15: 1 – 10  So Jesus addressed this parable to them. “What man among you having a hundred sheep and losing one of them would not leave the ninety-nine in the desert and go after the lost one until he finds it?


Would I leave the 99 and go after the one?  Does this sound like a good business decision?

Action:  Work on a lost cause.

Tuesday, November 5, 2013

Thought for Wednesday November 6


The Lord is my light and my salvation.
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.
The Lord is my light and my salvation.


Luke 14: 25 – 43  Whoever does not carry his own cross and come after me cannot be my disciple. Which of you wishing to construct a tower does not first sit down and calculate the cost to see if there is enough for its completion?

What cross am I carrying?  Am I planning to carry it to the completion of my mission?

Action:  Do something to energize yourself so you can continue to carry your cross.
 
 
 

Monday, November 4, 2013

Thought for Tuesday November 5


In you, O Lord, I have found my peace.
O LORD, my heart is not proud,
nor are my eyes haughty;
I busy not myself with great things,
nor with things too sublime for me.
In you, O Lord, I have found my peace.


Romans 12: 5 – 16  Brothers and sisters: We, though many, are one Body in Christ and individually parts of one another.  Since we have gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us exercise them:


What are  my gifts?  Am I exercising them?


Action:  Use your gifts.

Sunday, November 3, 2013

Thought for Monday November 4


In you, O Lord, I have found my peace.
O LORD, my heart is not proud,
nor are my eyes haughty;
I busy not myself with great things,
nor with things too sublime for me.
In you, O Lord, I have found my peace.

Luke 14: 12  - 14  Rather, when you hold a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind;  blessed indeed will you be because of their inability to repay you.

Would the world be different if people were less focused on what they can get out of a situation?  How would I be different if I were?

Action:   Do something really special for someone anonymously.