Sunday, August 31, 2014

Thought for Monday September 1


Lord, I love your commands.
I have more understanding than all my teachers
when your decrees are my meditation.
Lord, I love your commands.


Luke 4: 16 – 30  Jesus came to Nazareth, where he had grown up, and went according to his custom into the synagogue on the sabbath day.


What is my Sabbath day custom?  Is it something I look forward to?


Action:  Share your Sabbath custom with someone; your spouse, children, family, friends or anyone you think needs a little encouragement to observe the Sabbath.

Friday, August 29, 2014

Thought for Friday August 29


The earth is full of the goodness of the Lord.
The LORD brings to nought the plans of nations;
he foils the designs of peoples.
But the plan of the LORD stands forever;
the design of his heart, through all generations.
The earth is full of the goodness of the Lord.
 

Mark 6: 17 – 29  Herod feared John, knowing him to be a righteous and holy man, and kept him in custody.  When he heard him speak he was very much perplexed, yet he liked to listen to him.

What prophets do I listen to?  Do I sometimes avoid listening to people because I am afraid they will challenge my beliefs?

Action:  Listen to a viewpoint or opinion that is different from your own and see if you can recognize any similar values. 

Wednesday, August 27, 2014

Thought for Thursday August 28


I will praise your name for ever, Lord.
Every day will I bless you,
and I will praise your name forever and ever.
Great is the LORD and highly to be praised;
his greatness is unsearchable.
I will praise your name for ever, Lord.

 Matthew 24: 42 – 51  Jesus said to his disciples: “Stay awake!

 
Do I ever “doze off” spiritually?   What wakes me up?
 

Action:  Do something different in your spiritual life (different kind of prayer, different mass, retreat, class, etc) and see if you wake up to something new.

Tuesday, August 26, 2014

Thought for Wednesday August 27


Blessed are those who fear the Lord.
Blessed are you who fear the LORD,
who walk in his ways!
For you shall eat the fruit of your handiwork;
blessed shall you be, and favored.
Blessed are those who fear the Lord.


Matthew 23: 27 – 32  You build the tombs of the prophets and adorn the memorials of the righteous,  and you say, ‘If we had lived in the days of our ancestors, we would not have joined them in shedding the prophets’ blood.’


What things have my ancestors (social, cultural, or familial) done that I believe was bad?  Do I think there are things that I am doing now that some future generation will see as bad?


Action:  Think of something that was done in the past that is still having negative ramifications and do something to try and make it better.

 

Monday, August 25, 2014

Thought for Tuesday August 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.


Matthew 23: 23 – 26  Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites.  You pay tithes of mint and dill and cummin,  and have neglected the weightier things of the law:  judgment and mercy and fidelity.

 
How often do I show mercy?  In what areas of my life is fidelity important?


Action:  The next time you have the chance to put someone in their place, show a little mercy.

Sunday, August 24, 2014

Thought for Monday August 25


Proclaim God’s marvelous deeds to all the nations.
Announce his salvation, day after day.
Tell his glory among the nations;
among all peoples, his wondrous deeds.
Proclaim God’s marvelous deeds to all the nations.

 
Matthew 23: 13 – 22  You traverse sea and land to make one convert, and when that happens you make him a child of Gehenna twice as much as yourselves.

 
What responsibility do I have to lead others in living a good life?  How am I doing?
 

Action:  Set a good example.

Thursday, August 21, 2014

Thought for Friday August 22


Give thanks to the Lord; his love is everlasting.
They cried to the LORD in their distress;
from their straits he rescued them.
And he led them by a direct way
to reach an inhabited city.
Give thanks to the Lord; his love is everlasting.

Matthew 22: 34 – 40  He said to him, “You shall love the Lord, your God, with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the greatest and the first commandment. The second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”

Has trying to obey these two commandments ever affected any real decision in my life?  Do I see these commandments as true rules for living or as nice platitudes?
 
Action:  Do something for someone specifically to live out this second commandment.

Wednesday, August 20, 2014

Thought for Thursday August 21


I will pour clean water on you and wash away all your sins.
Give me back the joy of your salvation,
and a willing spirit sustain in me.
I will teach transgressors your ways,
and sinners shall return to you.
I will pour clean water on you and wash away all your sins.


Matthew 22: 1 – 14  “The Kingdom of heaven may be likened to a king who gave a wedding feast for his son.  He dispatched his servants to summon the invited guests to the feast, but they refused to come.
 
Do I ever decline invitations even though the event might be fun?  Do I ever refuse the good things God offers me? 

Action:  Accept an invitation you would normally decline and try to see God in the experience.

Tuesday, August 19, 2014

Thought for Wednesday August 20


The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want.
Only goodness and kindness will 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.


Matthew 20: 1 – 16  Going out about five o’clock, he found others standing around, and said to them, ‘Why do you stand here idle all day?’ They answered, ‘Because no one has hired us.’

Am I standing around doing less than I could be doing?  Is it too late for me to get started working for the Kingdom of God?

Action:  Start working on something you keep putting off.

Monday, August 18, 2014

Thought for Tuesday August 19


It is I who deal death and give life.
Close at hand is the day of their disaster,
and their doom is rushing upon them!
Surely, the LORD shall do justice for his people;
on his servants he shall have pity.
It is I who deal death and give life.

 
Matthew 19: 23 – 30  When the disciples heard this, they were greatly astonished and said, “Who then can be saved?”  Jesus looked at them and said, “For men this is impossible,  but for God all things are possible.”
 

Do I deserve to be saved?  Why or why not?


Action:  Make a list of problems that you believe can only be solved by people who are saved.  Pick one and start working on it.

Sunday, August 17, 2014

Thought for Monday August 18


You have forgotten God who gave you birth.
“Since they have provoked me with their ‘no-god’
and angered me with their vain idols,
I will provoke them with a ‘no-people’;
with a foolish nation I will anger them.”
You have forgotten God who gave you birth.

 
Matthew 19: 16 – 22  “Teacher, what good must I do to gain eternal life?” He answered him, “Why do you ask me about the good?  There is only One who is good.”
 

What is the value of the good that I do?  Do I do anything good that doesn’t come from God?
 

Action:  Let God do something good through you today.

Thursday, August 14, 2014

Thought for Friday August 15


The queen stands at your right hand, arrayed in gold.
They are borne in with gladness and joy;
they enter the palace of the king.
The queen stands at your right hand, arrayed in gold.
 
Luke 1: 39 – 56  My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord; my spirit rejoices in God my Savior

Does this proclamation move me?  Does my faith in the Lord cause me to rejoice?

Action:  Do something today to celebrate your faith.

Wednesday, August 13, 2014

Thought for Thursday August 14


Do not forget the works of the Lord!
They tempted and rebelled against God the Most High,
and kept not his decrees.
They turned back and were faithless like their fathers;
they recoiled like a treacherous bow.
Do not forget the works of the Lord!


Matthew 18: 21 – 19: 1  Peter approached Jesus and asked him, “Lord, if my brother sins against me, how often must I forgive him?”


How hard is it to forgive someone?   Is it easy to accept forgiveness?


Action:   Forgive someone.

Tuesday, August 12, 2014

Thought for Wednesday August 13


The glory of the Lord is higher than the skies.
From the rising to the setting of the sun
is the name of the LORD to be praised.
High above all nations is the LORD;
above the heavens is his glory.
The glory of the Lord is higher than the skies.


Matthew 18: 15 – 20 For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.

Do I experience God’s presence differently when I am gathered with others for worship?  Is gathering with others important to me?

Action:  Go to church.  Don’t forget Friday is the Feast of the Assumption.

Monday, August 11, 2014

Thought for Tuesday August 12


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!
 

Matthew 18: 1 – 5, 10, 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?

Would I leave the 99 and go after the one?  If I found the one that had gone astray, would I barbeque it?

Action:  Leave your comfort zone of the 99, and take a risk reaching out to one who has gone astray.

Sunday, August 10, 2014

Thought for Monday August 11


Heaven and earth are filled with your glory.
Praise the LORD from the heavens;
praise him in the heights;
Praise him, all you his angels;
praise him, all you his hosts.
Heaven and earth are filled with your glory.

Matthew 17: 22 – 27  “Does not your teacher pay the temple tax?”

Do we owe a “temple tax” for the upkeep of the Church?   Is the tax monetary?  Is the Church a building?

Action:  Do something today to help maintain the Church – call someone who is lonely, run an errand for someone who is overburdened, compliment someone who seems down, forward this email to someone who might get something out of it.

Wednesday, August 6, 2014

Thought for Thursday August 7


Create a clean heart in me, O God.
A clean heart create for me, O God,
and a steadfast spirit renew within me.
Cast me not out from your presence,
and your Holy Spirit take not from me.
Create a clean heart in me, O God.


Matthew 16: 13 – 23  Then Peter took Jesus aside and began to rebuke him,


When I disagree with something Jesus says, do I argue with him or just ignore it?  Which one is better?


Action:  If there is something Jesus teaches that you just cannot accept, argue with him about it and see what happens.

Tuesday, August 5, 2014

Thought for Wednesday August 6


Remember us, O Lord, as you favor your people.
But soon they forgot his works;
they waited not for his counsel.
They gave way to craving in the desert
and tempted God in the wilderness.
Remember us, O Lord, as you favor your people.


Matthew 15: 21 – 28  She said, “Please, Lord, for even the dogs eat the scraps that fall from the table of their masters.”

Do I have enough dignity to ask for more than scraps?  Do I have enough humility to accept scraps?

Action:  Adopt a dog (or a kitten) today.  – Just kidding.   Give the best you have to offer today even if it is only scraps.


Monday, August 4, 2014

Thought for Tuesday August 5


The Lord will build up Zion again, and appear in all his glory.
The nations shall revere your name, O LORD,
and all the kings of the earth your glory,
When the LORD has rebuilt Zion
and appeared in his glory;
When he has regarded the prayer of the destitute,
and not despised their prayer.
The Lord will build up Zion again, and appear in all his glory.

 
Matthew 15: 1 – 2, 10 – 14  He summoned the crowd and said to them, “Hear and understand.  It is not what enters one’s mouth that defiles the man; but what comes out of the mouth is what defiles one.”

What words do I use that defile me?  Are they curse words, hate speech, expressions of apathy, cynicism or hopelessness?

Action:  Build a vocabulary list of words that build you up – words of love, joy, peace, hope and glory.  Try to use at least ten of these every day.

Sunday, August 3, 2014

Thought for Monday August 4


Lord, teach me your statutes.
Take not the word of truth from my mouth,
for in your ordinances is my hope.
Lord, teach me your statutes.


Matthew 14; 13 – 21  When Jesus heard of the death of John the Baptist, he withdrew in a boat to a deserted place by himself. The crowds heard of this and followed him on foot from their towns.

Doesn’t it sound like Jesus wanted to be alone?  Why didn’t he just tell these people to go away?

Action:  Make an effort to put up with people who need love even when you feel like you have nothing left to give.