Thought for Wednesday June 1

To you, O Lord, I lift up my eyes.
To you I lift up my eyes
who are enthroned in heaven.
Behold, as the eyes of servants
are on the hands of their masters.
To you, O Lord, I lift up my eyes.

 

2 Timothy 1:  1 – 12   For this reason, I remind you to stir into flame the gift of God that you have through the imposition of my hands. For God did not give us a spirit of cowardice but rather of power and love and self-control.

Are my gifts stirred into flames or just smoldering?    Am I brave?

Action:  Be brave, powerful, loving and self-controlled while you use your gifts.

Thought for Tuesday May 31

Among you is the great and Holy One of Israel.
God indeed is my savior;
I am confident and unafraid.
My strength and my courage is the LORD,
and he has been my savior.
With joy you will draw water
at the fountain of salvation.
Among you is the great and Holy One of Israel.

Romans 12: 9 – 16  Brothers and sisters: Let love be sincere; hate what is evil, hold on to what is good; love one another with mutual affection; anticipate one another in showing honor.

Do I hold on to what is good?  Am I good at anticipating others desires or needs?

Action:  Be sincere.

Thought for Monday May 30

In you, my God, I place my trust.
Because he clings to me, I will deliver him;
I will set him on high because he acknowledges my name.
He shall call upon me, and I will answer him;
I will be with him in distress.

In you, my God, I place my trust.

Mark 12: 1 – 12  “A man planted a vineyard, put a hedge around it, dug a wine press, and built a tower. Then he leased it to tenant farmers and left on a journey.  At the proper time he sent a servant to the tenants to obtain from them some of the produce of the vineyard. But they seized him, beat him, and sent him away empty-handed. Again he sent them another servant. And that one they beat over the head and treated shamefully. He sent yet another whom they killed.  So, too, many others; some they beat, others they killed. He had one other to send, a beloved son.  He sent him to them last of all, thinking, ‘They will respect my son.’

How would I feel about being sent after the first several had been beaten or killed?  Why do I think the son went – duty, loyalty, courage, selfless service, honor, respect, integrity?

Action:  Watch for people exhibiting these  values this week and do something to acknowledge your appreciation.

 

Thought for Friday May 27

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.

 

Mark 11: 11 – 26  Seeing from a distance a fig tree in leaf, he went over to see if he could find anything on it. When he reached it he found nothing but leaves; it was not the time for figs. And he said to it in reply, “May no one ever eat of your fruit again!”

Why did Jesus get mad at the fig tree?  Do I understand his frustration?

Action:  Every time you notice you are frustrated, set aside one dollar (or any amount you want) for people who are in a situation more frustrating than your own. 

Remember to actually give that money to some charity that will use it to help them.

If a frustrating situation gets resolved (almost magically) accept the gift and give $10.

Thought for Thursday May 26

Come with joy into the presence of the Lord.

Enter his gates with thanksgiving,

his courts with praise;

Give thanks to him;

bless his name.

Come with joy into the presence of the Lord.

 

Mark 10: 46 – 52  Jesus told him, “Go your way; your faith has saved you.” Immediately he received his sight and followed him on the way.

If Jesus told me to “Go your way,” would I follow him on the way?  Is ‘my way’ different than ‘the way’?

Action:  Go a different way today.

Thought for Wednesday May 25

Praise the Lord, Jerusalem.
He has granted peace in your borders;
with the best of wheat he fills you.
He sends forth his command to the earth;
swiftly runs his word!
Praise the Lord, Jerusalem.

Mark 10: 32 – 45   The disciples were on the way, going up to Jerusalem, and Jesus went ahead of them. They were amazed, and those who followed were afraid.

Am I amazed at Jesus or afraid?   Which one inspires action?

Action:  Pick one characteristic of Jesus or his teaching that scares you and find a way to move past your fear and take action.

Thought for Tuesday May 24

The Lord has made known his salvation.

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.

The Lord has made known his salvation.

Mark 10: 28 – 31  Peter began to say to Jesus, “We have given up everything and followed you.”

What did Peter give up to follow Jesus?  What have I given up?

Action:  Give thanks for the “everything” that you have.

Thought for Monday May 23

The Lord will remember his covenant forever.

I will give thanks to the LORD with all my heart

in the company and assembly of the just.

Great are the works of the LORD,

exquisite in all their delights.

The Lord will remember his covenant forever.

Mark 10: 17 – 27  As Jesus was setting out on a journey, a man ran up, knelt down before him, and asked him, “Good teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?”

What does it mean to “inherit” something?  What does it say about our relationship with God if we hope to “inherit” eternal life?

Action:  Think of one element of your faith that you have inherited, and make a plan to pass it on to as many people as you can.

Thought for Friday May 20

The Lord is kind and merciful.
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 is kind and merciful.

James 5: 9 – 12  But above all, my brothers and sisters, do not swear, either by heaven or by earth or with any other oath, but let your “Yes” mean “Yes” and your “No” mean “No,” that you may not incur condemnation.

Why are yes and no sometimes so hard to say?  Am I more likely to say one instead of the other?

Action:  Say yes to the next good thing that comes by and no to the next bad temptation.

Thought for Thursday May 19

Blessed are the poor in spirit; the Kingdom of heaven is theirs!
This is the way of those whose trust is folly,
the end of those contented with their lot:
Like sheep they are herded into the nether world;
death is their shepherd and the upright rule over them.
Blessed are the poor in spirit; the Kingdom of heaven is theirs!

Mark 9: 41 - 50  If your hand causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter into life maimed  than with two hands to go into Gehenna, into the unquenchable fire.

What am I willing to do to avoid sin?  Have I ever given up a hobby, an acquaintance, a job, (or a limb) because it caused me to sin?

Action:  Use your hands today to do some good in the world – dial the phone to talk to someone who is lonely, write a letter, bake some cookies, repair something, pet a dog …

Thought for Wednesday May 18

Blessed are the poor in spirit; the Kingdom of heaven is theirs!
Hear this, all you peoples;
hearken, all who dwell in the world,
Of lowly birth or high degree,
rich and poor alike.
Blessed are the poor in spirit; the Kingdom of heaven is theirs!

James 4: 13 – 17  So for one who knows the right thing to do and does not do it, it is a sin.

Do I ever just walk away (or run away) from a situation when I know I should do something?  Who do I know that always seems to do the right thing?

Action:  Make a point of doing the little things right – pick up litter, hold the door for people, drive politely – make a habit of the little things and the big ones will follow.

Thought for Tuesday May 17

Throw your cares on the Lord, and he will support you.
And I say, “Had I but wings like a dove,
I would fly away and be at rest.
Far away I would flee;
I would lodge in the wilderness.”
Throw your cares on the Lord, and he will support you.

James 4: 1 – 10  Beloved: Where do the wars and where do the conflicts among you come from? Is it not from your passions that make war within your members? You covet but do not possess.  You kill and envy but you cannot obtain; you fight and wage war.  You do not possess because you do not ask.  You ask but do not receive, because you ask wrongly, to spend it on your passions.

What do I covet?  Does it get me into trouble?

Action:  Thou shalt not covet.

Thought for Monday May 16

The precepts of the Lord give joy to the heart.
Let the words of my mouth and the thought of my heart
find favor before you,
O LORD, my rock and my redeemer.
The precepts of the Lord give joy to the heart.

 

 James 3: 13 -18  Who among you is wise and understanding?  But the wisdom from above is first of all pure, then peaceable, gentle, compliant, full of mercy and good fruits, without inconstancy or insincerity.

 

Who do I know that has wisdom from above?  Do I pray for and seek this kind of wisdom?

 

 Action: Be wise this week.

Thought for Friday May 13

The Lord has established his throne in heaven.

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 has established his throne in heaven.

John 21: 15 – 19  “Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?”  Simon Peter answered him, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.”  Jesus said to him, “Feed my lambs.”

What other commands did Jesus give Peter (or any of his disciples)?  What advice would you give Peter and his successors about how to carry out Jesus’ command?

Action:  Feed some lambs.

Thought for Thursday May 12

Keep me safe, O God; you are my hope.

Therefore my heart is glad and my soul rejoices,

my body, too, abides in confidence;

Because you will not abandon my soul to the nether world,

nor will you suffer your faithful one to undergo corruption.

Keep me safe, O God; you are my hope.

 

John 17: 20 – 26  And I have given them the glory you gave me, so that they may be one, as we are one, I in them and you in me, that they may be brought to perfection as one, that the world may know that you sent me, and that you loved them even as you loved me.

Am I getting closer to being perfect?  Does being perfect sound good?

Action:  Do one thing to be more perfect today.

Thought For Wednesday 11

Sing to God, O Kingdoms of the earth.

You kingdoms of the earth, sing to God,

chant praise to the Lord

who rides on the heights of the ancient heavens.

Behold, his voice resounds, the voice of power:

“Confess the power of God!”

Sing to God, O kingdoms of the earth.

John 17: 11 – 19  I gave them your word, and the world hated them, because they do not belong to the world any more than I belong to the world.  I do not ask that you take them out of the world but that you keep them from the Evil One.

Do I belong to this world?  How does God keep me from the Evil One?

Action:  The next time you find yourself getting wrapped up in the things of this world, go the extra mile for someone who has nothing in this world.

 

Thought for Tuesday May 10

Sing to God, O kingdoms of the earth.

Blessed day by day be the Lord,

who bears our burdens; God, who is our salvation.

God is a saving God for us;

the LORD, my Lord, controls the passageways of death.

Sing to God, O kingdoms of the earth.

John 17: 1 – 11  Now this is eternal life, that they should know you, the only true God, and the one whom you sent, Jesus Christ.

Does this explain eternal life well enough for me?  Is this something I want?

Action:   Come up with your own action for today; and don’t forget to make it eternal.

Thought for Monday May 9

Sing to God, O kingdoms of the earth.
God arises; his enemies are scattered,
and those who hate him flee before him.
As smoke is driven away, so are they driven;
as wax melts before the fire.
Sing to God, O kingdoms of the earth.

Acts 19: 1 – 8   “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you became believers?”  They answered him,  “We have never even heard that there is a Holy Spirit.”

Is my answer much better than this?  What does the Holy Spirit do for me?

 
Action:  When you pray, ask the holy Spirit to help you understand and remember Jesus’ words.

Thought for Friday May 6

God is king of all the earth.
All you peoples, clap your hands,
shout to God with cries of gladness,
For the LORD, the Most High, the awesome,
is the great king over all the earth.
God is king of all the earth.

John 16: 20 – 23  So you also are now in anguish. But I will see you again, and your hearts will rejoice, and no one will take your joy away from you.

Am I in anguish?   Can I even begin to imagine the joy of being in the presence of God?

Action:  Do something joyful this weekend; or at least try to make it joyful for someone else.

Thought for Thursday May 5

The Lord has revealed to the nations his saving power.
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.
The Lord has revealed to the nations his saving power.

John 16: 16 – 20  Amen, amen, I say to you, you will weep and mourn, while the world rejoices; you will grieve, but your grief will become joy.

Isn’t it better to rejoice while everyone else rejoices?  What does the world rejoice about?

Action:   Learn to look for the good in everything and rejoice about it.

Thought for Wednesday May 4

Heaven and earth are full of 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 full of your glory.

Acts 17: 15, 22 -18:1    The God who made the world and all that is in it, the Lord of heaven and earth, does not dwell in sanctuaries made by human hands, nor is he served by human hands because he needs anything. Rather it is he who gives to everyone life and breath and everything.

Do I appreciate that God has given me life and breath and everything?   Do I serve God because he needs my help or because he called me to help?

Action:  Answer the call and serve God because he has given you everything.

Thought for Tuesday May 3

Their message goes out through all the earth.
The heavens declare the glory of God;
and the firmament proclaims his handiwork.
Day pours out the word to day;
and night to night imparts knowledge.
Their message goes out through all the earth.

1 Corinthians 15: 1 – 8  For I handed on to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures; that he was buried; that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures; that he appeared to Cephas, then to the Twelve.  After that, he appeared to more than five hundred brothers and sisters at once, most of whom are still living, though some have fallen asleep. After that he appeared to James, then to all the Apostles.  Last of all, as to one born abnormally, he appeared to me.

Do I ever feel like I am the last to know or understand some things?  Is it ever too late to develop a relationship with Jesus?

Action:  Ask the Holy Spirit to help you develop a better relationship with Jesus.

 

Thought for Monday May 2

The Lord takes delight in his people.
Let the faithful exult in glory;
let them sing for joy upon their couches.
Let the high praises of God be in their throats.
This is the glory of all his faithful. Alleluia.
The Lord takes delight in his people.

John 15: 26 – 16: 4  And you also testify, because you have been with me from the beginning.

Does my life and lifestyle testify to me relationship with Jesus?  What evidence does my life give about Jesus?

Action:  Do something today that could be used as proof that Jesus is having a positive influence in your life.