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.