Thought for Thursday April 30

Forever I will sing the goodness of the Lord.
The favors of the LORD I will sing forever;
through all generations my mouth shall proclaim your faithfulness.
For you have said, "My kindness is established forever";
in heaven you have confirmed your faithfulness.
 Forever I will sing the goodness of the Lord.

John 13: 16 – 20  Amen, amen, I say to you, no slave is greater than his master nor any messenger greater than the one who sent him.

Do I see myself as a messenger of Jesus’ words?  What am I doing to spread his message?

Action:  Tell somebody that the message of Jesus is important to you and that you are trying to live by it.

Thought for Tuesday April 28

All you nations, praise the Lord.
His foundation upon the holy mountains
the LORD loves:
The gates of Zion,
more than any dwelling of Jacob.
Glorious things are said of you,
O city of God!
All you nations, praise the Lord.

 

John 10: 22 – 30  "How long are you going to keep us in suspense?  If you are the Christ, tell us plainly."

Do I ever wish Jesus would speak more plainly to me?  Have I ever been in suspense waiting for him to show me something I should be doing?

Action:  Quit stalling.  Do something you know Jesus wants you to do even if he hasn’t spoken “plainly.”

Thought for Monday April 27

Athirst is my soul for the living God.
As the hind longs for the running waters,
so my soul longs for you, O God.
Athirst is my soul for God, the living God.
When shall I go and behold the face of God?
Athirst is my soul for the living God.

John 10: 1 – 10  But they will not follow a stranger; they will run away from him, because they do not recognize the voice of strangers.

Can I recognize Jesus’ voice?  Do I know when the “voice I am hearing” (temptation) is not from Jesus?

Action:  If Jesus has been trying to get you to do something, do it.  Follow his voice.

Thought for Friday April 24

Go out to all the world and tell the Good News.
For steadfast is his kindness toward us,
and the fidelity of the LORD endures forever.
Go out to all the world and tell the Good News.

 

John 6: 52 – 59  Just as the living Father sent me and I have life because of the Father, so also the one who feeds on me will have life because of me.

Where does my life come from?  Am I conscious of living with and in Jesus?

Action:  Make a list of things you would do if you were “feeding” on Jesus; i.e.  If you could use his energy, wisdom, and understanding along with your own.

Thought for Thursday April 23

Let all the earth cry out to God with joy.
Bless our God, you peoples,
loudly sound his praise;
He has given life to our souls,
and has not let our feet slip.
Let all the earth cry out to God with joy.

John 6: 44 – 51  Jesus said to the crowds: "No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draw him”

How has God drawn me?  What have I done in response to God’s call to me?

Action:  Do something to thank God for drawing you to him.

Thought for Wednesday April 22

Let all the earth cry out to God with joy.
Shout joyfully to God, all the earth,
sing praise to the glory of his name;
proclaim his glorious praise.
Say to God, "How tremendous are your deeds!"
Let all the earth cry out to God with joy.

John 6: 35 - 40  Jesus said to the crowds,  But I told you that although you have seen me,  you do not believe.

Do I believe that Jesus is alive and active in the world?  Do I see him acting in other people?

Action:  Let other people see Jesus acting in you; you don’t have to preach or talk about it, just do things that make no sense unless you believe in Christ.

Thought for Tuesday April 21

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.

June 6: 30 – 35  Jesus said to them, "I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me will never hunger, and whoever believes in me will never thirst."

What does it mean to “come to Jesus”?  Do I ever hunger for spiritual things?

Action:  The next time you are hungry or thirsty, ask yourself what you can do to “come to Jesus” and then do it.

Thought for Monday April 20

Blessed are they who follow the law of the Lord!
I declared my ways, and you answered me;
teach me your statutes.
Make me understand the way of your precepts,
and I will meditate on your wondrous deeds.
Blessed are they who follow the law of the Lord!

 John 6: 22 – 29  Do not work for food that perishes but for the food that endures for eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you.

What am I working for? Do I expect to see the final results of all of my work in my lifetime?

Action:  Make a change in your life that you know bears witness to Christ even though you know you won’t actually be able to see the results.

Thought for Friday April 17

One thing I seek: to dwell in the house of the Lord.
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.
One thing I seek: to dwell in the house of the Lord.

John 6: 1 – 15  Andrew, the brother of Simon Peter, said to him, "There is a boy here who has five barley loaves and two fish; but what good are these for so many?"

Do I ever think that what I have to offer isn’t enough to make a difference?  Have I ever seen my efforts multiplied into something great?

Action:  Give whatever you can and trust in God to multiply it.

Thought for Thursday April 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.
Taste and see how good the LORD is;
blessed the man who takes refuge in him.
The Lord hears the cry of the poor.

John 3: 31 – 36  For the one whom God sent speaks the words of God.  He does not ration his gift of the Spirit.

Is there any limit to the gifts of the spirit?  Do I ever feel like I have to ration my gifts; like I could burnout?

Action:  Examine your gifts and find one that gives you energy.  Make a plan to nourish that gift.

Thought for Wednesday April 15

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

John 3: 16 - 21  God so loved the world that he gave his only-begotten Son, so that everyone who believes in him might not perish but might have eternal life.

Am I inspired when I see signs that read “John 3:16”? Or is “John 3: 16” so overused that I lose the real meaning of the passage? 

Action:  The next time you see “John 3: 16” at a sporting event, or painted on a wall, or on a business card or company logo, come up with one way to bear witness to Christ through your actions.

Thought for Tuesday April 14

The Lord is king; he is robed in majesty.
The LORD is king, in splendor robed;
robed is the LORD and girt about with strength.
The Lord is king; he is robed in majesty.

 John 3: 7 – 13  Amen, amen, I say to you, we speak of what we know and we testify to what we have seen, but you people do not accept our testimony.

When I make choices that bear witness to Jesus, but are contrary to the prevailing culture, do people sometimes treat me like I am an outcast?  Do I ever get frustrated when people don’t accept my testimony?

Action:  Keep bearing witness even though people may treat you like a nut.

Thought for Monday April 13

Blessed are all who take refuge in the Lord.
Why do the nations rage
and the peoples utter folly?
The kings of the earth rise up,
and the princes conspire together
against the LORD and against his anointed:
"Let us break their fetters
and cast their bonds from us!"
Blessed are all who take refuge in the Lord.

John 3: 1 – 8 Nicodemus said to him, "How can a man once grown old be born again?

Have I ever wondered if I am too old to change?  Is it ever too late to begin bearing witness to Jesus?

Action:  Take the first step toward changing one of your oldest “bad habits” – something you do that really isn’t consistent with Jesus’ message.

Thought for Friday April 10

The stone rejected by the builders has become the cornerstone.
O LORD, grant salvation!
O LORD, grant prosperity!
Blessed is he who comes in the name of the LORD;
we bless you from the house of the LORD.
The LORD is God, and he has given us light.
The stone rejected by the builders has become the cornerstone.

John 21: 1 – 14  Simon Peter said to them, "I am going fishing." They said to him, "We also will come with you."

Do I ever do something recreational when I am trying to sort through spiritual thoughts?  Do I value recreation?

Action:   Let God run the world this weekend while you take some time off to enjoy your life.  Go fishing, the crappie should be biting.

Thought for Thursday April 9

O Lord, our God, how wonderful your name in all the earth!
O LORD, our Lord,
how glorious is your name over all the earth!
What is man that you should be mindful of him,
or the son of man that you should care for him?
O Lord, our God, how wonderful your name in all the earth!

Luke 24: 35 – 48  Then he opened their minds to understand the Scriptures.

Is my mind open?  What is the most important thing I understand from the Bible?

Action:  If you have closed your mind to anything in scripture (something you reject or avoid), try to open your mind and deal with it.

Thought for Wednesday April 8

Rejoice, O hearts that seek the Lord.
Give thanks to the LORD, invoke his name;
make known among the nations his deeds.
Sing to him, sing his praise,
proclaim all his wondrous deeds.
 Rejoice, O hearts that seek the Lord.

Luke 24: 13 – 35  Jesus the Nazarene, who was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people

Am I doing my part to carry on Jesus’ work as a prophet?  Do I ever go against the grain at home, school, church, work or around my friends?

Action:  If something has been bugging you, something you think isn’t really consistent with gospel values, do something to change the way you may contribute to the problem.

Thought for Tuesday April 7

The earth is full of the goodness of the Lord.
Upright is the word of the LORD,
and all his works are trustworthy.
He loves justice and right;
of the kindness of the LORD the earth is full.
The earth is full of the goodness of the Lord.

John 20: 11 – 18 Mary Magdalene stayed outside the tomb weeping.

Have I ever been afraid to allow myself to feel the real pain of loss?  Am I confident that I will always find consolation?

Action:  The next time you lose someone (or something) let yourself grieve confident that you will find consolation.

Thought for Monday April 6

Keep me safe, O God; you are my hope.
I bless the LORD who counsels me;
even in the night my heart exhorts me.
I set the LORD ever before me;
with him at my right hand I shall not be disturbed.
Keep me safe, O God; you are my hope.

 

Matthew 28: 8 – 15  They gave a large sum of money to the soldiers, telling them, "You are to say, His disciples came by night and stole him while we were asleep.'

Would I ever lie for money?  Does lying seem worse when I think of Jesus dying on the cross for me?

Action:  Think of Jesus’ sacrifice every time you are faced with a tough decision.

Thought for Good Friday April 3

Father, into your hands I commend my spirit.
Let your face shine upon your servant;
save me in your kindness.
Take courage and be stouthearted,
all you who hope in the LORD.
Father, into your hands I commend my spirit.

 

John 18: 1 – 19: 42  When Jesus had taken the wine, he said, "It is finished." And bowing his head, he handed over the spirit.

Does this sink in?  Can I really “be in the moment” of Jesus death?

Action:  Spend some time between noon and three today contemplating Jesus death.

Thought for Holy Thursday April 2

Our blessing-cup is a communion with the Blood of Christ.
How shall I make a return to the LORD
for all the good he has done for me?
The cup of salvation I will take up,
and I will call upon the name of the LORD.
Our blessing-cup is a communion with the Blood of Christ.

John 13: 1 – 15  He [Jesus] said to them, "Do you realize what I have done for you?

Do I realize what Jesus has done for me?

Action:  Eat dinner today and try to appreciate the food (where it comes from, how it is prepared, who cooked it, etc.) and the company.   Try to picture Jesus eating the Passover with his friends.