Thought for Friday February 1

Be merciful, O Lord, for we have sinned.
Have mercy on me, O God, in your goodness;
in the greatness of your compassion wipe out my offense.
Thoroughly wash me from my guilt
and of my sin cleanse me.
Be merciful, O Lord, for we have sinned.

 

Mark 4: 26 – 34  It is like a mustard seed that, when it is sown in the ground, is the smallest of all the seeds on the earth. But once it is sown, it springs up and becomes the largest of plants and puts forth large branches, so that the birds of the sky can dwell in its shade.

 

What things can I think of that started small and grew into something great?  Have I ever planted a “mustard seed”?

 

Action:  Plant a small seed – do something good that you think could grow into something great.

Thought for Thursday January 31

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.

 

Mark 4: 21 – 25  To the one who has, more will be given;  from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away.

 

Am I a “have” or a “have not”?  Am I excited about what I may be given or worried about what might be taken away?

 Action:  Thank God for what you have.

Thought for Wednesday January 30

You are a priest forever, in the line of Melchizedek.
“Yours is princely power in the day of your birth, in holy splendor;
before the daystar, like the dew, I have begotten you.”
You are a priest forever, in the line of Melchizedek.

Mark 4: 1 – 20  A sower went out to sow. And as he sowed, some seed fell on the path, and the birds came and ate it up.

 

What in my life “eats” the word of God before it can even begin to take root?  What can I do about it?

 

Action:  Identify something in your life that steals your attention from God and work to get more control over it.  For example: turn off your computer, cell phone, TV, ipod or put away your romance, spy, western or mystery novel for a little while every day.

Thought for Tuesday January 29

Here am I 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 am I Lord; I come to do your will.

 

Mark 3: 31 – 35  A crowd seated around him told him, “Your mother and your brothers and your sisters are outside asking for you.”  But he said to them in reply, “Who are my mother and my brothers?”

 

What do I think Mary would have said in response to this?  Does my relationship with my family help me to be a more faithful, loving and spiritual person?

 

Action:  Write, call, text, email or visit someone in your family today.

Thought for Monday January 28

Proclaim God's marvelous deeds to all the nations.
Sing to the Lord a new song;
sing to the Lord, all you lands.
Sing to the Lord; bless his name.

Proclaim God's marvelous deeds to all the nations.

 

Mark 3: 22 – 30  If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand.

 

Is there division in my society?  Is that division slowing progress toward establishing the Kingdom of God?

 

Action:  Join in with a project you believe transcends petty divisions to focus on solutions.

Thought for Friday January 25

Go out to all the world and tell the Good News.
Praise the Lord, all you nations;
glorify him, all you peoples!
Go out to all the world, and tell the Good News.

Mark 16: 15 – 18  These signs will accompany those who believe: in my name they will drive out demons, they will speak new languages. They will pick up serpents with their hands, and if they drink any deadly thing, it will not harm them.  They will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover.

Have I ever done any of these things?  Have I ever tried?

Action:  Make a specific effort to do one of these things: find a way to communicate with someone who seems isolated, be brave enough to deal with some evil head-on, help heal someone who is hurting, (please don’t try drinking poison).

Thought for Thursday January 24

Here am I, Lord; I come to do your will.
“In the written scroll it is prescribed for me,
To do your will, O my God, is my delight,
and your law is within my heart!”
Here am I, Lord; I come to do your will.

 

Mark 3: 7 – 12  He had cured many and, as a result, those who had diseases were pressing upon him to touch him.

Why didn’t Jesus cure everybody?  Why don’t I invest all of my time to relieve human suffering?

Action: Do one thing to relieve the suffering in your community.

Thought for Wednesday Janaury 23

You are a priest forever, in the line of Melchizedek.
“Yours is princely power in the day of your birth, in holy splendor;
before the daystar, like the dew, I have begotten you.”
You are a priest forever, in the line of Melchizedek.

 

Mark 3: 1 – 6  “Is it lawful to do good on the sabbath rather than to do evil, to save life rather than to destroy it?”

 

Are good and evil my only choices?  What do I do that is evil?  What do I do that is good?

Action:  Honestly examine your life and identify an evil that you do or are at least involved in and quit.

Thought for Tuesday January 22

The Lord will remember his covenant forever.
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.
 The Lord will remember his covenant forever.

 

Hebrews 6: 10 – 20  Brothers and sisters:  God is not unjust so as to overlook your work and the love you have demonstrated for his name by having served and continuing to serve the holy ones.

 

Do I think my work is sometimes overlooked?  Do I ever take fir granted the love people show for me?

 

Action:  Let someone know how much you appreciate what he/she does.

Thought for Monday January 21

You are a priest for ever, in the line of Melchizedek.
“Yours is princely power in the day of your birth, in holy splendor;
before the daystar, like the dew, I have begotten you.”
You are a priest for ever, in the line of Melchizedek.

 

Mark 2: 18 – 22  People came to Jesus and objected, “Why do the disciples of John and the disciples of the Pharisees fast, but your disciples do not fast?”

Do the people who are complaining fast?  Do I pay more attention to what other people do or to what I am doing?

 

Action:  Fast when no one else is.

Thought for Friday January 18

Forever I will sing the goodness of the Lord.
Blessed the people who know the joyful shout;
in the light of your countenance, O LORD, they walk.
At your name they rejoice all the day,
and through your justice they are exalted.
Forever I will sing the goodness of the Lord.

 

Mark 2: 1 -12  Unable to get near Jesus because of the crowd, they opened up the roof above him.

Do the “crowds” ever block me from getting to Jesus?  Do crowds ever bring me to Jesus?

 

Action:  Before you get caught up in a crowd, make sure they are taking you toward something good.

Thought for Thursday January 17

Redeem us, Lord, because of your mercy.
Yet now you have cast us off and put us in disgrace,
and you go not forth with our armies.
You have let us be driven back by our foes;
those who hated us plundered us at will.
Redeem us, Lord, because of your mercy.

Mark 1: 40 – 45  A leper came to him and kneeling down begged him and said, “If you wish, you can make me clean.” Moved with pity, he stretched out his hand, touched the leper, and said to him,  “I do will it. Be made clean.”

Would Jesus have healed this man even if he didn’t pity him?  Am I more inclined to help someone for whom I feel pity?

Action:  Do something for someone for whom you feel no pity.

Thought for Wednesday January 16

The Lord remembers his covenant for ever.
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.
The Lord remembers his covenant for ever.

Mark 1: 29 – 39  He approached, grasped her hand, and helped her up.  Then the fever left her and she waited on them.

If Jesus cured me, would I immediately jump up and serve him?  What excuses do I give for not serving him?

Action:  Face one of your excuses head on and try to overcome it.

Thought for Monday January 14

Let all his angels worship him.
The heavens proclaim his justice,
and all peoples see his glory.
Let all his angels worship him.
Let all his angels worship him.

 

Mark 1: 14 – 20  Jesus said to them, “Come after me, and I will make you fishers of men.” Then they left their nets and followed him.

What would Jesus have to offer me for me to give up everything I know?  What am I willing to leave behind?

Action:  If there is something you are holding on to that is getting in the way of living your faith, make a plan to give it up.

Thought for Friday January 11

Praise the Lord, Jerusalem.
He has granted peace in your borders;
with the best of wheat he fills you.
He sends forth his command to the earth;
swiftly runs his word!
Praise the Lord, Jerusalem.

1John 5: 5 – 13  Beloved: Who indeed is the victor over the world but the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?

Do I feel like a victor over all the world?  Do I ever feel like the world has beaten me?

Action:  Celebrate your victory, even if you feel like a loser.

Thought for Thursday January 10

Lord, every nation on earth will adore you.
May his name be blessed forever;
as long as the sun his name shall remain.
In him shall all the tribes of the earth be blessed;
all the nations shall proclaim his happiness.
Lord, every nation on earth will adore you.

 

1 John 4: 19 – 5: 4  If anyone says, “I love God,” but hates his brother, he is a liar; for whoever does not love a brother whom he has seen cannot love God whom he has not seen.

 

Do I hate anyone?   What is the effect of hate in my society?

 

Action:  If you catch yourself talking to or about someone hatefully, stop and find one good thing to say to or about that person.

Thought for Wednesday January 9

Lord, every nation on earth will adore you.
O God, with your judgment endow the king,
and with your justice, the king’s son;
He shall govern your people with justice
and your afflicted ones with judgment.
Lord, every nation on earth will adore you.

 

Mark 6: 45 – 52  But at once he spoke with them, “Take courage, it is I, do not be afraid!”

 

What do I need courage to do?  Do I find that courage in Jesus?

 

Action:  Ask Jesus to give you the courage to do something you have been afraid to do and take a step toward doing it.

Thought for Tuesday January 8

Lord, every nation on earth will adore you.
The mountains shall yield peace for the people,
and the hills justice.
He shall defend the afflicted among the people,
save the children of the poor.

Lord, every nation on earth will adore you.

 

1 John 4: 7 – 10  Beloved, let us love one another, because love is of God; everyone who loves is begotten by God and knows God. Whoever is without love does not know God, for God is love.

How do I express love?  Am I growing in love?

Action:  Try to be loving to at least 3 people today.

Thought for Monday January 7

I will give you all the nations for an inheritance.
The LORD said to me, “You are my Son;
this day I have begotten you.
Ask of me and I will give you
the nations for an inheritance
and the ends of the earth for your possession.”

I will give you all the nations for an inheritance.

1 John 3:22 – 4:6    Beloved, do not trust every spirit but test the spirits to see whether they belong to God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world.

Whom do I trust?  Do I routinely “test” the spirits I am listening to?

Action:  The next time you hear some prophetic news, check it out carefully and test the spirit that sent it before you pass it on.

Thought for Friday January 4

All the ends of the earth have seen the saving power of 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 before the LORD.
All the ends of the earth have seen the saving power of God.

 

John 1: 35 – 42 Jesus turned and saw them following him and said to them, “What are you looking for?”

Is there something I would like to find?  When is the last time I found what I was looking for?

Action:  Resolve to spend some time looking for and working for what you really want.

Thought for Thursday January 3

All the ends of the earth have seen the saving power of God.
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.
All the ends of the earth have seen the saving power of God.

 

John 1: 29 - 34  John the Baptist saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world.”

 

Is this any way to introduce your cousin?  Does John’s introduction of Jesus make him seen friendly/approachable or distant?

 

Action:  The next time you are talking to someone about God, be aware that you can make him seem friendly, scary, powerful, overwhelming, patient, vengeful, etc.

Thought for Wednesday January 2

All the ends of the earth have seen the saving power of God.
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.
All the ends of the earth have seen the saving power of God.

John 1: 19 – 28  When the Jews from Jerusalem sent priests and Levites to him to ask him, “Who are you?”

What is my most honest answer for “Who are you?”?  Who do I really want to be?

Action:  If there is a difference between who you are and who you want to be, make a New Year’s resolution to close the gap.