Thought for Friday February 27

If you, O Lord, mark iniquities, who can stand?
I trust in the LORD;
my soul trusts in his word.
My soul waits for the LORD
more than sentinels wait for the dawn.
Let Israel wait for the LORD.
If you, O Lord, mark iniquities, who can stand?

 

Matthew 5: 20 – 26  You have heard that it was said to your ancestors, You shall not kill; and whoever kills will be liable to judgment.  But I say to you, whoever is angry with his brother will be liable to judgment,

Is Jesus’ standard too high for me?  Would I prefer a simpler Old Testament set of rules?

Action:  Pick a number between one and ten (inclusive).  Got your number?  Now, read the commandment that goes with that number and ask yourself how Jesus would ask you to live it.

Thought for Thursday February 26

Lord, on the day I called for help, you answered me.
Because of your kindness and your truth;
for you have made great above all things
your name and your promise.
When I called, you answered me;
you built up strength within me.
Lord, on the day I called for help, you answered me.

 

Matthew 7: 7 – 12  Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.

What am I looking for in life?  Are there any spiritual doors I don’t want to have opened for me?

Action:  Start asking, seeking and knocking for a new spiritual insight – you might have to take a class, join a prayer group, attend a retreat, read a book, volunteer for a service project or talk to someone about God (children often have excellent insight).

Thought for Wednesday February 25

A heart contrite and humbled, O God, you will not spurn.
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.
A heart contrite and humbled, O God, you will not spurn.

Luke 11: 29 – 32  she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon, and there is something greater than Solomon here.

Where do I look for wisdom?  Do I think of Jesus as wise?

Action:  Identify some situation in your life which you have not handled with wisdom and try to fix it.

Thought for Tuesday February 24

From all their distress God rescues the just.
Look to him that you may be radiant with joy,
and your faces may not blush with shame.
When the poor one called out, the LORD heard,
and from all his distress he saved him.
From all their distress God rescues the just.

Matthew 6: 7 – 13  Our Father who art in heaven,

Who do I include in “our”?  Who does Jesus include?

Action:  Pray the Our Father slowly and think about the meaning of every word from Jesus’ point of view.  What did he mean by Father, Heaven, Kingdom, Bread, Temptation, etc.?

Thought for Monday February 23

Your words, Lord, are Spirit and life.
The law of the LORD is perfect,
refreshing the soul.
The decree of the LORD is trustworthy,
giving wisdom to the simple.
Your words, Lord, are Spirit and life.

 

Matthew 25: 21 – 46  For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, a stranger and you welcomed me, naked and you clothed me, ill and you cared for me, in prison and you visited me.

Are these the things that define my practice of the faith?  How often do I do these?

Action:  Adopt someone or something and find ways to care for it.  [Not necessarily a legal adoption.  It could be a child or a new pet, or the birds in your yard, the homeless man you pass on the way to work,  a lonely co-worker, a bored child, a nursing home patient, a prisoner …]

Thought for Friday February 20

A heart contrite and humbled, O God, you will not spurn.
For you are not pleased with sacrifices;
should I offer a burnt offering, you would not accept it.
My sacrifice, O God, is a contrite spirit;
a heart contrite and humbled, O God, you will not spurn.
A heart contrite and humbled, O God, you will not spurn.

Matthew 9: 14 – 15  The days will come when the bridegroom is taken away from them, and then they will fast.

Do I fast and abstain?  If so, does it help me appreciate Jesus?

Action:  Pick 3 times during the day and try to imagine what you would be doing different at each of those moments if Jesus were not in your life.

Thought for Thursday February 19

Blessed are they who hope in the Lord.
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.
 Blessed are they who hope in the Lord.

Luke 9: 22 – 25  Jesus said to his disciples: "The Son of Man must suffer greatly and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests, and the scribes, and be killed and on the third day be raised."

What insight about Jesus do I get from hearing that he knew he had to suffer?  Can I relate to his decision to persevere?

Action:  Do something for someone you know who is suffering.

Thought for Ash Wednesday February 18

Be merciful, O Lord, for we have sinned.
Give me back the joy of your salvation,
and a willing spirit sustain in me.
O Lord, open my lips,
and my mouth shall proclaim your praise.
Be merciful, O Lord, for we have sinned.

Matthew 6: 1 – 18  When you fast, do not look gloomy like the hypocrites

What sacrifices do I make for the Kingdom of God?  Do I bear sacrifice well?

Action:  Act happy while you fast and abstain.

Thought for Tuesday February 17

The Lord will bless his people with peace.
The voice of the LORD is over the waters,
the LORD, over vast waters.
The voice of the LORD is mighty;
the voice of the LORD is majestic.
The Lord will bless his people with peace.

 

Mark 8: 14 - 21  The disciples had forgotten to bring bread, and they had only one loaf with them in the boat.

What do I forget when I go out to do the work of Jesus?  What do I always take with me?

Action:  Make a list of things (spiritual, emotional, & physical) that you need to do the work of the Kingdom.

Thought for Friday February 13

Blessed are those whose sins are forgiven.
You are my shelter; from distress you will preserve me;
with glad cries of freedom you will ring me round.
Blessed are those whose sins are forgiven.

Mark 7: 31 – 37  And people brought to him a deaf man who had a speech impediment and begged him to lay his hand on him.

What do I hear every day that I would rather be deaf to?  What would I miss most if I were deaf?

Action:  Pick 5 words that you believe shouldn’t be in your vocabulary (e.g. hate, stupid, can’t, Texas, ugly, @#$%^) and try to stop saying them.

Thought for Thursday February 12

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.

Mark 7: 24 – 30  He [Jesus] entered a house and wanted no one to know about it, but he could not escape notice.

Have I ever wanted people to not notice that Jesus was in my life?  Do people notice that Jesus is in my life?

Action:  Try and notice Jesus in the life of someone you know who has never mentioned faith, religion, spirituality, etc.

Thought for Wednesday February 11

O bless the Lord, my soul!
All creatures look to you
to give them food in due time.
When you give it to them, they gather it;
when you open your hand, they are filled with good things.
O bless the Lord, my soul!

Mark 7: 14 – 23  From within the man, from his heart, come evil thoughts, unchastity, theft, murder, adultery, greed, malice, deceit, licentiousness, envy, blasphemy, arrogance, folly. All these evils come from within and they defile.

How am I doing?  What defiles me?

Action:  Pick one thing you do that “defiles” you and quit doing it – for as long as you can.

Thought for Tuesday February 10

O Lord, our God, how wonderful your name in all the earth!
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.
O Lord, our God, how wonderful your name in all the earth!

Mark 7: 1 – 13  "Why do your disciples not follow the tradition of the elders but instead eat a meal with unclean hands?"

What do I do based mostly on familial or societal tradition?  Is following tradition having a positive effect on my life?

Action:  Adopt a new tradition (for Valentine’s Day, Lent, Spring, President’s Day, etc) that you think will have a positive effect on your life.  To get started you could ask others what they do or research different cultures.

Thought for Monday February 9

May the Lord be glad in his works.
You send forth springs into the watercourses
that wind among the mountains.
Beside them the birds of heaven dwell;
from among the branches they send forth their song.
May the Lord be glad in his works.

 

Mark 6: 53 – 56  As they were leaving the boat, people immediately recognized him [Jesus].

How do I recognize Jesus?  Do I see him working in the world?

Action:  Look for Jesus this week in places where you have never noticed him being.

Thought for Friday February 6

The Lord is my light and my salvation.
The LORD is my light and my salvation;
whom should I fear?
The LORD is my life's refuge;
of whom should I be afraid?
The Lord is my light and my salvation.

 

Mark 6: 14  - 29  When he [Herod] heard him [John] speak he was very much perplexed, yet he liked to listen to him.

Do I like to listen to things that challenge me?  Do I ever find scripture perplexing?

Action:  Read (or otherwise face) something spiritual you have been avoiding because you find it too challenging.

Thought for Thursday February 5

O God, we ponder your mercy within your temple.
Great is the LORD and wholly to be praised
in the city of our God.
His holy mountain, fairest of heights,
is the joy of all the earth.
O God, we ponder your mercy within your temple.

Mark 6: 7 – 13  Jesus summoned the Twelve and began to send them out two by two and gave them authority over unclean spirits.

If Jesus were to send me out like this (two by two) whom would I want to go with?  Who most helps me do the work of God?

Action:  If you have someone you would want to go with, do something nice for him or her today.  If you don’t know someone you would want to go with, treat yourself to a “rugged individualist” special treat.

Thought for Wednesday February 4

The Lord's kindness is everlasting to those who fear him.
Bless the LORD, O my soul;
and all my being, bless his holy name.
Bless the LORD, O my soul,
and forget not all his benefits.
The Lord's kindness is everlasting to those who fear him.

 

Mark 6: 1 – 6  Jesus said to them, "A prophet is not without honor except in his native place and among his own kin and in his own house." So he was not able to perform any mighty deed there,

Do I ever pigeonhole people based on my first impression or experience of them?  Do I stereotype people in a way that limits their ability to “perform mighty deeds” around me?

Action:  Take a fresh look at 3 people in your life and see if you can notice how God is working through them in ways you haven’t noticed.

Thought for Tuesday February 3

They will praise you, Lord, who long for you.
I will fulfill my vows before those who fear him.
The lowly shall eat their fill;
they who seek the LORD shall praise him:
"May your hearts be ever merry!"
They will praise you, Lord, who long for you.

 

Mark 5: 21 – 43  But his disciples said to him, "You see how the crowd is pressing upon you, and yet you ask, Who touched me?"

In the crowd of people that has surrounded me throughout my life, who has touched me?  How have I touched others?

Action:  Make it your goal to help (touch) as many people as have helped you, but don’t overburden yourself with a schedule.

Extra Credit:  Pay it forward and try to touch the lives of 3 people for every 1 that has touched you.

Thought for Monday February 2

Who is this king of glory? It is the Lord!
Who is this king of glory?
The Lord, strong and mighty,
the Lord, mighty in battle.
Who is this king of glory? It is the Lord!

Luke 2: 22 – 40  Now, Master, you may let your servant go in peace, according to your word, for my eyes have seen your salvation, which you prepared in the sight of all the peoples:

Have my eyes seen the salvation prepared for all peoples?  What does salvation look like?

Action:  See if you can spot 10 things (or 3 people)in your everyday environment that you have never “seen” before.