Thought for Friday January 31

The salvation of the just comes from the Lord.
Commit to the LORD your way;
trust in him, and he will act.
He will make justice dawn for you like the light;
bright as the noonday shall be your vindication.
The salvation of the just comes from the Lord.

Mark 4: 26 – 34  To what shall we compare the Kingdom of God, or what parable can we use for it? 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.

Does this give me hope that my faith will grow?  Does it give me hope that my society can grow toward God from the smallest seeds of good?

Action:  Do something really small to help establish the Kingdom of God and believe that your action will grow.

Thought for Thursday Janaury 30

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 29

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, and iPad or put away your romance, spy, western or mystery novel for a little while every day.

Thought for Tuesday January 28

 

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 27

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 24

Kindness and truth shall meet.
Kindness and truth shall meet;
justice and peace shall kiss.
Truth shall spring out of the earth,
and justice shall look down from heaven.
Kindness and truth shall meet.

Mark 3: 13 – 19  Jesus went up the mountain and summoned those whom he wanted and they came to him.

Do I feel  like Jesus wants me?  Do I want relationship with him?

Action:  Make a list of five things Jesus would like about you.  

Thought for Thursday January 23

In God I trust; I shall not fear.
Now I know that God is with me.
In God, in whose promise I glory,
in God I trust without fear;
what can flesh do against me?
In God I trust; I shall not fear.

 

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 January 22

Blessed be the Lord, my Rock!
My refuge and my fortress,
my stronghold, my deliverer,
My shield, in whom I trust,
who subdues my people under me.
Blessed be the Lord, my Rock!

 Mark 3: 1 – 6  Then he said to the Pharisees, “Is it lawful to do good on the sabbath rather than to do evil, to save life rather than to destroy it?” But they remained silent.  Looking around at them with anger and grieved at their hardness of heart,

Where does my hardness of heart show itself?  Are there sad situations for which I have no compassion?

Action:  Take on (volunteer, donate, campaign, support, etc) a new cause; one which you have ignored in the past.

Thought for Tuesday January 21

The Lord will remember his covenant for ever.
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 for ever.

 

Mark 2: 23 – 28  The sabbath was made for man, not man for the sabbath.

What is the value of the Sabbath?  Does my society value the Sabbath?

Action:  Make a plan to celebrate the Sabbath in a way that honors its true value.

Thought for Monday January 20

To the upright I will show the saving power 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?”
To the upright I will show the saving power of God.

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 17

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 16

If today you hear his voice, harden not your hearts.
Come, let us bow down in worship;
let us kneel before the LORD who made us.
For he is our God,
and we are the people he shepherds, the flock he guides.
If today you hear his voice, harden not your hearts.

 

Mark 1: 40 – 45   The man went away and began to publicize the whole matter.  He spread the report abroad so that it was impossible for Jesus to enter a town openly.

What effect does publicity have?  How much do I let publicity affect me?

Action:  When you are exposed to any kind of publicity choose to let it have a positive effect on you even if it is designed to cause negative feelings.

Thought for Wednesday January 15

Here am I, Lord; I come to do your will.
I have waited, waited for the LORD,
and he stooped toward me and heard my cry.
Blessed the man who makes the LORD his trust;
who turns not to idolatry
or to those who stray after falsehood.
Here am I, Lord; I come to do your will.

Mark 1: 29 – 39  Simon’s mother-in-law lay sick with a fever. They immediately told him about her. He approached, grasped her hand, and helped her up. Then the fever left her and she waited on them.

 

Do I ever think that maybe Jesus cured her just so she would fix him dinner?  Do I think it is shocking or wrong to think of Jesus being so simply human?

Action:  Serve somebody today.

Thought for Tuesday January 14

You have given your Son rule over the works of your hands.
All sheep and oxen,
yes, and the beasts of the field,
The birds of the air, the fishes of the sea,
and whatever swims the paths of the seas.
You have given your Son rule over the works of your hands.

Mark 1: 21 – 28  All were amazed and asked one another, “What is this? A new teaching with authority.

What is the difference between authoritative teaching and judgementalism?  Who has the right to impose their teachings on others?

Action:   When you hear somebody offer “teaching” about something, ask yourself if it really expresses the values Jesus taught before you take it too seriously.

Thought for Monday January 13

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 10

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.

Luke 5: 12 – 16  It happened that there was a man full of leprosy in one of the towns where Jesus was; and when he saw Jesus, he fell prostrate, pleaded with him, and said, “Lord, if you wish, you can make me clean.”

Is there something I want Jesus to do for me?  When was the last time I asked him?

Action:   Ask Jesus to do something for you today.

Thought for Thursday January 9

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.

Luke 4: 14 – 22  He came to Nazareth, where he had grown up, and went according to his custom into the synagogue on the sabbath day.

Does the church where I grew up hold special meaning for me?  What church do I most consider to be my home?

Action:  If you are not “at home” in your current church, make a change – get more involved, switch services, go to special events or as a last resort, find a new church.

Thought for Wednesday January 8

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 Monday January 6

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.

Matthew 4: 12 – 25  From that time on, Jesus began to preach and say, “Repent, for the Kingdom of heaven is at hand.”

Does celebrating Christmas make me feel like the Kingdom of God is at hand?  If it is at hand, is there something of which I should repent?

Action:  Begin the new year by repenting of a sin or bad habit.

Thought for Friday 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 Now I have seen and testified that he is the Son of God.”

Have I seen enough in my experience of Jesus to testify that he is the Son of God?  What else would I like to see?

Action:  Testify to what you have seen.

Thought for Thursday 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 change in your life to close the gap.