Thought for Friday April 29

I will give you thanks among the peoples, O Lord.

I will give thanks to you among the peoples, O LORD,

I will chant your praise among the nations.

For your mercy towers to the heavens,

and your faithfulness to the skies.

Be exalted above the heavens, O God;

above all the earth be your glory!

I will give you thanks among the peoples, O Lord.

 

John 15: 12 – 17  I have called you friends, because I have told you everything I have heard from my Father.

What do I call friendship?  Am I friends with Jesus?

Action:  Spend time with a friend this weekend.

Thought for Thursday April 28

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.

John 15: 9 – 11  “I have told you this so that my joy might be in you and your joy might be complete.”

Do I have Jesus’ joy in me?  Is my joy complete?

Action:  Find something in the next couple of weeks that you can celebrate with great joy.

Thought for Wednesday April 27

Let us go rejoicing to the house of the Lord.

I rejoiced because they said to me,

“We will go up to the house of the LORD.”

And now we have set foot

within your gates, O Jerusalem.

Let us go rejoicing to the house of the Lord.

 

John 15: 1 – 8  Jesus said to his disciples: “I am the true vine, and my Father is the vine grower. He takes away every branch in me that does not bear fruit, and everyone that does he prunes so that it bears more fruit. You are already pruned because of the word that I spoke to you.”

Do I feel like the words of Jesus have made me more productive?  What in my life could use a little pruning?

Action:  Prune an activity out of your life (temporarily) and use the time to do something for someone else.

Thought for Tuesday April 26

Your friends make known, O Lord, the glorious splendor of your kingdom.
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.
Your friends make known, O Lord, the glorious splendor of your kingdom.

John 14: 27 – 31  Jesus said to his disciples: “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give it to you. Do not let your hearts be troubled or afraid.”

Am I at peace?   What troubles me?

Action:  Don’t ignore what troubles you.  Take one action to improve a bad situation.

Thought for Monday April 25

For ever 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.
For ever I will sing the goodness of the Lord.

1 Peter 5: 5 – 14  The God of all grace who called you to his eternal glory through Christ Jesus will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you after you have suffered a little.

How much suffering is “a little?”  Do I feel like I have suffered enough or does it seem like there is more  on the way for me?

Action:  Do something for someone who is suffering.

Thought for Friday April 22

You are my Son; this day I have begotten you.
And now, O kings, give heed;
take warning, you rulers of the earth.
Serve the LORD with fear, and rejoice before him;
with trembling rejoice.
You are my Son; this day I have begotten you.

 

John 14: 1 – 6  Jesus said to his disciples: “Do not let your hearts be troubled.  You have faith in God; have faith also in me.  In my Father’s house there are many dwelling places.  If there were not, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you?

Am I confident in my faith and the place Jesus has prepared for me?  What does trouble me?

Action:  Have a great weekend.

Thought for Thursday April 21

For ever 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.
For ever I will sing the goodness of the Lord.

 
Acts 13: 13 -25  On the sabbath they entered into the synagogue and took their seats.   After the reading of the law and the prophets, the synagogue officials sent word to them, “My brothers, if one of you has a word of exhortation for the people, please speak.”
 
Would I be prepared if someone asked me to share a word of exhortation?  What would I want to say even if I weren’t able to get up on the spur of the moment and speak to a room full of people?
 
Action:  Prepare a word of exhortation, but instead of sharing it in words, live it.

Thought for Wednesday April 20

O God, let all the nations praise you!
May the nations be glad and exult
because you rule the peoples in equity;
the nations on the earth you guide.
O God, let all the nations praise you!

Acts 12: 23 – 13: 5  Now there were in the Church at Antioch prophets and teachers:  Barnabas, Symeon who was called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen who was a close friend of Herod the tetrarch, and Saul.  While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.”  Then, completing their fasting and prayer, they laid hands on them and sent them off.

How would I feel about being singled out like Saul and Barnabas?  How would I feel if I were not one of the ones God called for his special job?

Action:  Do the work God is calling you to do – even if it is really dull.

Thought for Tuesday April 19

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.

Acts 11: 19 – 26  The  news about them reached the ears of the Church in Jerusalem, and they sent Barnabas to go to Antioch. When he arrived and saw the grace of God, he rejoiced and encouraged them all to remain faithful to the Lord in firmness of heart, for he was a good man, filled with the Holy Spirit and faith.  And a large number of people was added to the Lord.  Then he went to Tarsus to look for Saul, and when he had found him he brought him to Antioch.  For a whole year they met with the Church and taught a large number of people, and it was in Antioch that the disciples were first called Christians.

What is the first thing I can remember doing that would make someone say I was Christian?  Would anyone notice if I were no longer Christian?

Action:  Be a Christian today – in thought, in word, in deed.

Thought for Monday April 18

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 whoever enters through the gate is the shepherd of the sheep.  The gatekeeper opens it for him, and the sheep hear his voice, as he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. When he has driven out all his own, he walks ahead of them, and the sheep follow him, because they recognize his voice. But they will not follow a stranger; they will run away from him, because they do not recognize the voice of strangers.

Whose voice (could be a pet’s) do I most want to hear at the end of a long day?  What makes me rust someone enough to follow?

Action:  Call someone who needs to hear a friendly voice today.

Thought for Friday April 15

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.

Acts 9: 1 – 20  On his journey, as he was nearing Damascus, a light from the sky suddenly flashed around him.  He fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?”

What does it take to get my attention?  Am I ever so involved in myself, my job, or things of this world that I miss what God is trying to tell me?

Action: Set aside some time every day to pray, think and be aware of your surroundings so God doesn’t have to blast you off of your horse.

 

 

 

Thought for Thursday April 14

 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, and I will raise him on the last day.

Am I drawn to God?  Is the promise of being raised up on the last day important to me?

Action:  Be aware that God may draw people to himself through your actions – do your best.

Thought for Wednesday April 13

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  Everything that the Father gives me will come to me, and I will not reject anyone who comes to me, because I came down from heaven not to do my own will but the will of the one who sent me.

Do I ever have a battle of wills with God?  What happens when I don’t accept God’s will?

Action:   Do what God wants you to do.

Thought for Tuesday April 12

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.

John 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 do I hunger and thirst for?  Are my needs satisfied in Jesus?

Action:  Start working on something your community is really hungering for, and ask Jesus to help you.

Thought for Monday April 11

Blessed are they who follow the law of the Lord!
Remove from me the way of falsehood,
and favor me with your law.
The way of truth I have chosen;
I have set your ordinances before me.
Blessed are they who follow the law of the Lord!

 

John 6: 22 – 29  Jesus answered them and said, “Amen, amen, I say to you, you are looking for me not because you saw signs but because you ate the loaves and were filled.”

Why am I looking for Jesus?  What do I expect from him?

Action:  Keep looking.

Thought for Friday April 8

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

John 6: 1 – 15  One of his disciples, 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 assume that what I have to give isn’t enough to do any good?  Why are children so willing to offer what they have?

Action:  Give whatever you have and let God make it enough.

Thought for Thursday April 7

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.

Acts 5: 27- 33 But Peter and the Apostles said in reply, “We must obey God rather than men.  The God of our ancestors raised Jesus, though you had him killed by hanging him on a tree. God exalted him at his right hand as leader and savior to grant Israel repentance and forgiveness of sins. We are witnesses of these things, as is the Holy Spirit whom God has given to those who obey him.”

Am I obeying God or men?  How often do I stop and think about it?

Action:  Make it a practice to stop in the middle of your activities and remind yourself that you are in the holy presence of God and invite him to live in your heart forever.

Thought for Wednesday April 6

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  For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world might be saved through him.

Do I see God as one who condemns or one who saves?  Why don’t people hold up John 3:17 (the verse above) signs at football games? 

Action:  Be the savior in a situation that seems condemned to just get worse.

Thought for Tuesday April 5

The Lord is king; he is robed in majesty.
And he has made the world firm,
not to be moved.
Your throne stands firm from of old;
from everlasting you are, O LORD.
The Lord is king; he is robed in majesty.

Acts 4: 32 -  37  The community of believers was of one heart and mind, and no one claimed that any of his possessions was his own, but they had everything in common.  With great power the Apostles bore witness to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and great favor was accorded them all.  There was no needy person among them, for those who owned property or houses would sell them, bring the proceeds of the sale, and put them at the feet of the Apostles, and they were distributed to each according to need.

Sounds nice, how long do I think this lasted?  Why isn’t the Christian community like this now?

Action:  Give to help someone in need.

Thought for Monday April 4

Here I am, 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 I am, Lord; I come to do your will.

 

Luke 1: 26 – 38  And coming to her, he said, “Hail, full of grace! The Lord is with you.”  But she was greatly troubled at what was said and pondered what sort of greeting this might be.

 

Have I ever had the experience of an enthusiastic greeting putting me on edge?   Has God ever asked me to do more than I thought I could do?

 

Action:  Do something this week to start preparing yourself (physically, intellectually, emotionally, financially, spiritually) for whatever God is going to ask you to do next.