Thought for Tuesday December 30

Let the heavens be glad and the earth rejoice!
Bring gifts, and enter his courts;
worship the LORD in holy attire.
Tremble before him, all the earth.
Let the heavens be glad and the earth rejoice!

 

Luke 2: 36 – 40  The child grew and became strong, filled with wisdom; and  the favor of God was upon him.

Does it comfort me to know that Jesus wasn’t born knowing everything?  How important is learning as part of the human experience?

Action:  Learn something new today.

Thought for Thursday January 1

May God bless us in his mercy.
May the peoples praise you, O God;
   may all the peoples praise you!
May God bless us,
   and may all the ends of the earth fear him!
May God bless us in his mercy.

Luke 2: 16 – 21  Then the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen,  just as it had been told to them.

How often did I give glory to God in the last year?  Was it enough?

Action: Resolve to glorify God for one thing each day of the new year.

Thought for Friday December 26

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.

 

Matthew 10: 17 – 22  Jesus said to his disciples: “Beware of men, for they will hand you over to courts and scourge you in their synagogues, and you will be led before governors and kings for my sake as a witness before them and the pagans.

Is this really what I wanted to hear the day after Christmas?  Is it something I need to hear?

Action:  Remember Christmas is a season, not just a day.  Keep celebrating.

Thought for Christmas 2014

A light will shine on us this day: the Lord is born for us.
The LORD is king; let the earth rejoice;
   let the many isles be glad.
The heavens proclaim his justice,
   and all peoples see his glory.
A light will shine on us this day: the Lord is born for us.

 

Luke 2: 15 – 20  So they went in haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the infant lying in the manger.

 

Merry Christmas Everyone!

Thought for Christmas Eve 2014

Forever I will sing the goodness of the Lord.
He shall say of me, “You are my father,
   my God, the rock, my savior.”
Forever I will maintain my kindness toward him,
   and my covenant with him stands firm.

Forever I will sing the goodness of the Lord.

Matthew 1: 1 – 25  Such was his intention when, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said,

How would I feel if an “angel of the Lord” appeared to me?  Scared, annoyed, excited, apprehensive?

Action:  Don’t do anything today that isn’t intended to bring joy to yourself or others.

Thought for Tuesday December 23

Lift up your heads and see; your redemption is near at hand.
All the paths of the LORD are kindness and constancy
toward those who keep his covenant and his decrees.
The friendship of the LORD is with those who fear him,
and his covenant, for their instruction.
 Lift up your heads and see; your redemption is near at hand.

 

Luke 1: 57 – 66  Her neighbors and relatives heard that the Lord had shown his great mercy toward her, and they rejoiced with her.

What do I see God doing for other people?  Do I rejoice with them?

Action:  Rejoice with your family and friends for the next week or so – eat great food, sing carols, cheer on your favorite teams and don’t forget to thank God for everything he has done for you and them.

Thought for Monday December 22

My heart exults in the Lord, my Savior.
“The bows of the mighty are broken,
while the tottering gird on strength.
The well-fed hire themselves out for bread,
while the hungry batten on spoil.
The barren wife bears seven sons,
while the mother of many languishes.”
My heart exults in the Lord, my Savior.

Luke 1: 46 – 56  He has filled the hungry with good things, and the rich he has sent away empty.

What do I hunger for?  Do I believe God can satisfy my hunger?

Action:  Tell God what you are most hungry for with confidence that he can satisfy that hunger.

Thought for Friday December 19

My mouth shall be filled with your praise, and I will sing your glory!
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.
My mouth shall be filled with your praise, and I will sing your glory!

Luke 1: 5 – 25  And you will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth, for he will be great in the sight of the Lord.

Does the way I live my life  bring joy and gladness to my parents?  What could I do to make many people rejoice over my existence?

Action:  Do something today your Mom & Dad and God the Father would be proud of you for.

Thought for Thursday December 18

Justice shall flourish in his time, and fullness of peace forever.
Blessed be the LORD, the God of Israel,
who alone does wondrous deeds.
And blessed forever be his glorious name;
may the whole earth be filled with his glory.
Justice shall flourish in his time, and fullness of peace forever.

Matthew 1: 18 – 25  She will bear a son and you are to name him Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.

How do my actions give my name meaning?   What do I want my name to mean?

Action:  Make a point of calling people by their names today, conscious that we are all still creating ourselves as persons.

Thought for Wednesday December 17

Justice shall flourish in his time, and fullness of peace for ever.
Justice shall flower in his days,
and profound peace, till the moon be no more.
May he rule from sea to sea,
and from the River to the ends of the earth.
Justice shall flourish in his time, and fullness of peace for ever.

Matthew 1: 1 – 17  Perez became the father of Hezron, Hezron the father of Ram, Ram the father of Amminadab.  Amminadab became the father of Nahshon, Nahshon the father of Salmon, Salmon the father of Boaz, whose mother was Rahab.

Who cares?  Why are people interested in genealogy?  Is it important to see ourselves as a product of a long line of people even if we don’t who they are?

Action:  Send a Christmas card to your most distantly related, shirttail cousin or friend just to acknowledge that we are all one family in Christ.

Thought for Tuesday December 16

The Lord hears the cry of the poor.
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 Lord hears the cry of the poor.

Matthew 21: 28  Son, go out and work in the vineyard today.’  The son said in reply, ‘I will not,’ but afterwards he changed his mind and went.  The man came to the other son and gave the same order.  He said in reply, ‘Yes, sir,’ but did not go.

Which of these am I more likely to do?  What interferes with my ability to do what I should do willingly?

Action:  Pick something you have been avoiding doing and do it happily.

Thought for Monday December 15

Teach me your ways, O Lord.
Your ways, O LORD, make known to me;
teach me your paths,
Guide me in your truth and teach me,
for you are God my savior.
Teach me your ways, O Lord.

Matthew 21: 23 – 27  “By what authority are you doing these things?  And who gave you this authority?”

Do I respect God’s authority over his creation?  Can I think of any examples of his authority being dismissed?

Action:  Look around you for something that seems to be out of kilter with God’s intent, and take  step toward fixing it.

Thought for Friday December 12

You are the highest honor of our race.
Your deed of hope will never be forgotten
by those who tell of the might of God.
You are the highest honor of our race.

 

Luke 1: 39 -  47  And Mary said:  “My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord;  my spirit rejoices in God my savior.”

What does my soul proclaim?  What does my mouth proclaim?

Action:  Do something today to rejoice in God’s greatness.

Thought for Thursday December 11

The Lord is gracious and merciful; slow to anger, and of great kindness.
Let all your works give you thanks, O LORD,
and let your faithful ones bless you.
Let them discourse of the glory of your Kingdom
and speak of your might.
The Lord is gracious and merciful; slow to anger, and of great kindness.

Matthew 11: 11 – 15  From the days of John the Baptist until now, the Kingdom of heaven suffers violence, and the violent are taking it by force.

We still have violence, but is it different than it would be if Jesus had not come?  How does Jesus help me “survive” the violence that is around me and in my own heart?

Action:  The next time you have a violent thought (like slamming into the guy who just cut you off in traffic) ask Jesus to help you resist the temptation and then do something nice for the next person you see.

Thought for Wednesday December 10

O bless the Lord, my soul!
Merciful and gracious is the LORD,
slow to anger and abounding in kindness.
Not according to our sins does he deal with us,
nor does he requite us according to our crimes.
O bless the Lord, my soul!

Matthew 11: 28 – 31  “Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest.”

What burden would you like taken from you?  Do you trust Jesus enough to give it to him?

Action:  Ask Jesus to help you with some task that has been bothering you.

Thought for Tuesday December 9

The Lord our God comes with power.
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 let all the trees of the forest rejoice.
The Lord our God comes with power.

Matthew 18: 12 – 14  If a man has a hundred sheep and one of them goes astray, will he not leave the ninety-nine in the hills  and go in search of the stray?

Am I more likely to stay with the safe crowd or go looking for the one stray?  What will I risk to help one person?

Action:  Go out on a limb to help someone who really needs it.

Thought for Monday December 8

Sing to the Lord a new song, for he has done marvelous deeds.
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.
Sing to the Lord a new song, for he has done marvelous deeds.

Luke 1: 26 – 38  Mary said, “Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord. May it be done to me according to your word.”

How hard is it to say yes to God?   Would I ever give God such an open-ended yes as Mary did, or do I want more control?

Action:  Say yes to something God has been trying to get you to do.  And wish a happy feast day or birthday to all of the Marys you know.

Thought for Friday December 5

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.

Matthew 9: 27 – 31  When he entered the house, the blind men approached him and Jesus said to them, “Do you believe that I can do this?”  “Yes, Lord,” they said to him.

Did Jesus really think they would say, “No”?   How important is it to proclaim your faith?

Action:  Tell someone you love/care about them even if you think it is so ridiculously obvious that you don’t need to say it.

Thought for Thursday December 4

Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.
Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good,
for his mercy endures forever.
It is better to take refuge in the LORD
than to trust in man.
It is better to take refuge in the LORD
than to trust in princes.
Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.

Matthew 7: 21, 24 – 27  Everyone who listens to these words of mine and acts on them will be like a wise man who built his house on rock.

How often do I act on something I have read in the bible? 

Action:  Do something this week that was directly inspired by Jesus’ words.

Thought for Wednesday December 3

I shall live in the house of the Lord all the days of my life.
You spread the table before me
in the sight of my foes;
You anoint my head with oil;
my cup overflows.
I shall live in the house of the Lord all the days of my life.

 

Matthew 15: 29 – 37  Great crowds came to him, having with them the lame, the blind, the deformed, the mute, and many others.

Is Jesus so inspiring to me that I try to bring other people to him?  Do I ever make a conscious effort to be Christ to someone in need?

Action:  Be Christ for someone today: smile, encourage, help, give …

Thought for Tuesday December 2

Justice shall flourish in his time, and fullness of peace forever.
Justice shall flower in his days,
and profound peace, till the moon be no more.
May he rule from sea to sea,
and from the River to the ends of the earth.
Justice shall flourish in his time, and fullness of peace forever.

Luke 10: 21 – 24   No one knows who the Son is except the Father, and who the Father is except the Son and anyone to whom the Son wishes to reveal him.

What has Jesus revealed to me about the Father?  Do I look to Jesus to learn the mind and heart of God?

Action:  Look around today and see if you can find one small thing you know God would want changed and change it.

Thought for Monday December 1

Let us go rejoicing to the house of the Lord.
Because of my relatives and friends
I will say, “Peace be within you!"
Because of the house of the LORD, our God,
I will pray for your good.
Let us go rejoicing to the house of the Lord.

Matthew 8: 5 - 11  “Lord, I am not worthy to have you enter under my roof; only say the word and my servant will be healed.”

Do I feel worthy of asking Jesus for a favor?  Do I ever ask Jesus to do things for me just out of friendship?

Action:  Ask Jesus for 4 favors today. 

Thought for Friday November 28

Here God lives among his people.
Even the sparrow finds a home,
and the swallow a nest
in which she puts her young–
Your altars, O LORD of hosts,
my king and my God!
Here God lives among his people.

Luke 21: 29 – 33  “Consider the fig tree and all the other trees. When their buds burst open,  you see for yourselves and know that summer is now near;  in the same way, when you see these things happening, know that the Kingdom of God is near.

Do I see any signs that the Kingdom of God is near?   What would I like to see happening?

Action:  Get involved with or start your own project to make the Kingdom of God a little more present here and now.

Thought for Thanksgiving

Lord, I thank you for your faithfulness and love.
I will give thanks to your name,
Because of your kindness and your truth.
When I called, you answered me;
you built up strength within me.
Lord, I thank you for your faithfulness and love.

Luke 17: 11 – 19  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.

What am I most thankful for?   What do I take for granted?

Action:  Count your blessings and give thanks for all that you have.

Thought for Wednesday November 26

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.

Thought for Tuesday November 25

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 (the buildings only)?   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.

Thought for Monday November 24

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.

Thought for Friday November 21

How sweet to my taste is your promise!
How sweet to my palate are your promises,
sweeter than honey to my mouth!
How sweet to my taste is your promise!

 

Luke 19: 45 – 48  … all the people were hanging on his words.

Which words of Jesus am I hanging on?   What would be different if the whole world lived out my favorite passage from the Gospel?

Action:  Give yourself a treat today for all of the work you put into reading and thinking about Jesus’ words.

Thought for Thursday November 20

The Lamb has made us a kingdom of priests to serve our God.
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 Lamb has made us a kingdom of priests to serve our 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.”

Do I believe that peace is possible in the world, my country, my community or even just in my own family?  What do I imagine it looks like?

Action:  Make a gesture of peace to someone with whom you have been “at war.”

Thought for Wednesday November 19

Holy, holy, holy Lord, mighty God!
Praise him with sounding cymbals,
praise him with clanging cymbals.
Let everything that has breath
praise the LORD! Alleluia.
Holy, holy, holy Lord, mighty God!

Luke 19: 11 – 28  While people were listening to Jesus speak, he proceeded to tell a parable because he was near Jerusalem and they thought that the Kingdom of God would appear there immediately.

Do I expect the Kingdom of God to just appear?  Am I working to make it happen?

Action:  Change one thing in your surroundings that is not consistent with the presence of the Kingdom of God.

Thought for Tuesday November 18

I will seat the victor beside me on my throne.
He who walks blamelessly and does justice;
who thinks the truth in his heart
and slanders not with his tongue.
I will seat the victor beside me on my throne.

Luke 19: 1 – 10  So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore tree in order to see Jesus, who was about to pass that way.

What am I willing to do to see Jesus better?

Action:  Start now making a plan for getting to know Jesus better during Advent.

Thought for Monday November 17

Those who are victorious I will feed from the tree of life.
He is like a tree
planted near running water,
That yields its fruit in due season,
and whose leaves never fade.
Whatever he does, prospers.
Those who are victorious I will feed from the tree of life.

Luke 18: 35 – 43  He shouted, “Jesus, Son of David, have pity on me!”

Would I ever want to be pitied, even by Jesus?   How about self-pity?

Action:  Have pity for someone and help them out – without making him feel pitied.

Thought for Friday November 14

 

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.

Thought for Thursday November 13

Blessed is he whose help is the God of Jacob.
The LORD gives sight to the blind.
The LORD raises up those who were bowed down;
the LORD loves the just.
The LORD protects strangers.
Blessed is he whose help is the God of Jacob.

 

Luke 17: 20 – 25  For just as lightning flashes and lights up the sky from one side to the other, so will the Son of Man be in his day.

 

Do I see the Son of Man lighting up the world?  Have I ever had the experience of bringing new light to some situation?

 

Action:  Storm into the gloomiest situation you encounter on a frequent basis and do something to light it up, even if it only lasts for a second.

Thought for Wednesday November 12

The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want.
Only goodness and kindness follow me
all the days of my life;
And I shall dwell in the house of the LORD
for years to come.
The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want.

Luke 17: 11 – 19  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.

How often do I say “Thank You” to people who have helped me?  Do I sometimes take help for granted?

Action:  Think back in your life and pick out something someone did for you that has had a great impact on your life, especially if you didn’t notice at the time; contact the person who helped you and thank him or her.

Thought for Tuesday November 11

The salvation of the just comes from the Lord.
Trust in the LORD and do good,
that you may dwell in the land and be fed in security.
Take delight in the LORD,
and he will grant you your heart’s requests.
The salvation of the just comes from the Lord.

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.’

Have I done what I was commanded to do?  Have I done anything more than what I was obligated to do?

Action:  Go do something you were commanded to do and maybe a little bit more.

Thought for Monday November 10

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 for change with someone to whom you have been a bad example (cursing, drinking, careless driving, gossiping, goofing off, etc).

Thought for Friday November 7

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.

Thought for Thursday November 6

Let hearts rejoice who search for the Lord.
Sing to him, sing his praise,
proclaim all his wondrous deeds.
Glory in his holy name;
rejoice, O hearts that seek the LORD!
Let hearts rejoice who search for the Lord.

Luke 15: 1 – 10  In just the same way, I tell you, there will be rejoicing among the angels of God over one sinner who repents.

In this big, complicated world, does the repentance of just one sinner seem like something worth celebrating?   Do I believe God is happy when I repent?

Action:  Repent of one of your sins and celebrate the great effect that repentance will have.

Thought for Wednesday November 5

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?

Have I calculated the cost of carrying my cross with Jesus?  Do I have what it takes to complete the job?

Action:  Find something in your life (time, money, talent) that you are not investing in the Kingdom of God and make the decision to reallocate it to some task you have been putting off.

Thought for Tuesday November 4

I will praise you, Lord, in the assembly of your people.
To him my soul shall live;
my descendants shall serve him.
Let the coming generation be told of the LORD
that they may proclaim to a people yet to be born
the justice he has shown.
I will praise you, Lord, in the assembly of your people.

Luke 14: 15  - 24  A man gave a great dinner to which he invited many.  But one by one, they all began to excuse themselves.  The first said to him, ‘I have purchased a field and must go to examine it.‘

What invitations have I ignored?  What’s my excuse for not accepting everything God offers me?

Action:  Accept an invitation.

Thought for Monday November 3

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.

Thought for Friday October 31

How great are the works of the Lord!
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.
How great are the works of the Lord!

 

Luke 14: 1 – 6  On a sabbath Jesus went to dine at the home of one of the leading Pharisees, and the people there were observing him carefully.

Why did Jesus go to eat with people whom seem to always oppose him?  Would I rather eat with people I agree with or those with whom I know I disagree?

Action:  List 2 good ideas from the political candidates you chose not to vote for,  and commit to working for those goals no matter how the election comes out.

Thought for Thursday October 30

Blessed be the Lord, my Rock!
O God, I will sing a new song to you;
with a ten‑stringed lyre I will chant your praise,
You who give victory to kings,
and deliver David, your servant from the evil sword.
Blessed be the Lord, my Rock!

 

Luke 13: 31 – 35  Yet I must continue on my way today, tomorrow, and the following day, for it is impossible that a prophet should die outside of Jerusalem.

Do I have the perseverance to continue doing what I know I should even when I know it will be hard?  Where do I look for the strength to keep going?

Action:  If there is something you have given up on doing even though you know you should, take one step toward doing it again.  If you are perfect and never give up, go to dinner and celebrate.

Thought for Wednesday October 29

The Lord is faithful in all his words.
Let all your works give you thanks, O LORD,
and let your faithful ones bless you.
Let them discourse of the glory of your Kingdom
and speak of your might.
The Lord is faithful in all his words.

 

Luke 13: 22 – 30  Someone asked Jesus, “Lord, will only a few people be saved?”

What do I want the answer to this question to be?  Do I want everyone to be saved, or do I prefer to think of heaven as a very exclusive club?

Action:  Think of someone (contemporary, historical or even fictional) that you believe is not going to heaven, and find a way to work against whatever sin he or she was/is committing.

Thought for Tuesday October 28

Their message goes out through all the earth.
The heavens declare the glory of God,
and the firmament proclaims his handiwork.
Day pours out the word to day,
and night to night imparts knowledge.
Their message goes out through all the earth.

 

Luke 6: 12 – 16  Jesus went up to the mountain to pray, and he spent the night in prayer to God.

Did Jesus have more to talk to God about than I do?  What did they talk about all night?

Action:  The next time you can’t sleep, ask God what he wants to talk about.

Thought for Monday October 27

Behave like God as his very dear children.
He is like a tree
planted near running water,
That yields its fruit in due season,
and whose leaves never fade.
Whatever he does, prospers.
Behave like God as his very dear children.

Luke 13: 10 – 17  This daughter of Abraham, whom Satan has bound for eighteen years now, ought she not to have been set free on the sabbath day from this bondage?”

Do I feel free on the Sabbath?  Do I even celebrate the Sabbath?

Action:  Plan to make the next Sabbath different from every other day of the week.  If you can’t celebrate the Sabbath on Sunday, pick some other day and make it your Sabbath.