Wednesday, November 30, 2016

Thought for Thursday December 1


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 – 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.  The rain fell, the floods came, and the winds blew and buffeted the house.  But it did not collapse; it had been set solidly on rock.

Am I solid enough to withstand life’s storms?  Where are the weaknesses in my foundation?

Action:  Work to get stronger.

Tuesday, November 29, 2016

Thought for Wednesday November 30


Your words, Lord, are Spirit and life.
They are more precious than gold,
than a heap of purest gold;
Sweeter also than syrup
or honey from the comb.
Your words, Lord, are Spirit and life.


Romans 10: 9 – 18  But how can they call on him in whom they have not believed?  And how can they believe in him of whom they have not heard?  And how can they hear without someone to preach?  And how can people preach unless they are sent?


Do I appreciate the Church’s role in preparing and sending people to preach?  Has the Church prepared and sent me to preach – in words or actions?


Action:  Thank or pray for the best preachers you have ever met.

Monday, November 28, 2016

Thought for Tuesday November 29


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.

Isaiah 11: 1 – 10  Then the wolf shall be a guest of the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid;  The calf and the young lion shall browse together, with a little child to guide them.  The cow and the bear shall be neighbors, together their young shall rest; the lion shall eat hay like the ox. The baby shall play by the cobra’s den, and the child lay his hand on the adder’s lair.

Am I a wolf, leopard, lion, bear or cobra or am I the lamb, kid, calf, baby?  Do the strong want to be with the vulnerable?

Action:  Work on being strong in partnership with the weak.

Sunday, November 27, 2016

Thought for Monday November 28


Let us go rejoicing to the house of the Lord.
Because of my relatives and friends
I will say, “Peace be within you!"
Because of the house of the LORD, our God,
I will pray for your good.
Let us go rejoicing to the house of the Lord.


Matthew 8: 5 – 11  When Jesus entered Capernaum, a centurion approached him and appealed to him, saying, “Lord, my servant is lying at home paralyzed, suffering dreadfully.”

Have I ever been paralyzed – physically, emotionally, spiritually, mentally?  What motivates me to keep going when I just want to quit?

Action:  Advent is a new beginning.  Use this time to reset your physical, mental, spiritual and emotional health and increase your resilience to be ready for whatever is coming.

Thursday, November 24, 2016

Thought for Friday November 25


Here God lives among his people.
Even the sparrow finds a home,
and the swallow a nest
in which she puts her young–
Your altars, O LORD of hosts,
my king and my God!
Here God lives among his people.

Luke 21: 29 – 33  “Consider the fig tree and all the other trees. When their buds burst open,  you see for yourselves and know that summer is now near;  in the same way, when you see these things happening, know that the Kingdom of God is near.

Do I see any signs that the Kingdom of God is near?   What would I like to see happening?

Action:  Get involved with or start your own project to make the Kingdom of God a little more present here and now.

Wednesday, November 23, 2016

Thought for Thursday November 24


I will praise your name forever, Lord.
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.
I will praise your name forever, Lord.

 
Sirach 50: 22 – 24  And now, bless the God of all, who has done wondrous things on earth;  Who fosters people’s growth from their mother’s womb, and fashions them according to his will!  May he grant you joy of heart and may peace abide among you; May his goodness toward us endure in Israel to deliver us in our days.

1 Corinthians 1: 3 – 9  Brothers and sisters:  I give thanks to my God always on your account for the grace of God bestowed on you in Christ Jesus.

Luke 17: 11 – 19  And one of them, realizing he had been healed, returned, glorifying God in a loud voice; and he fell at the feet of Jesus and thanked him.

Action:  Be thankful and offer thanks.

Tuesday, November 22, 2016

Thought for Wednesday November 23


Great and wonderful are all your works, Lord, mighty God!
Let the sea and what fills it resound,
the world and those who dwell in it;
Let the rivers clap their hands,
the mountains shout with them for joy.
Great and wonderful are all your works, Lord, mighty God!
 

Luke 21: 12 - 19 For I [Jesus] myself shall give you a wisdom in speaking.


Has Jesus ever helped me find just the right words when I didn’t know what to say?  Have I ever heard Jesus speak to me through someone else?


Action:  Trust Jesus to help you speak to all of the annoying relatives and acquaintances you will run into for the next month or so.

Monday, November 21, 2016

Thought for Tuesday November 22


Give glory and eternal praise to him.
“Bless the Lord, all you works of the Lord,
praise and exalt him above all forever.”
Give glory and eternal praise to him.

Luke 21: 5 – 11  Then they asked him, “Teacher, when will this happen?  And what sign will there be when all these things are about to happen?”


Wouldn’t it be nice to know when something bad is about to happen?  Do I spend much time preparing myself  for disasters – natural, personal or spiritual?


Action:  Make a list of five things you need to do to prepare yourself for the worst — and then start working on them.

Sunday, November 20, 2016

Thought for Monday November 21


Lord, this is the people that longs to see your face.
The LORD’s are the earth and its fullness;
the world and those who dwell in it.
For he founded it upon the seas
and established it upon the rivers.
Lord, this is the people that longs to see your face.

Luke 21: 1 – 4  He said, “I tell you truly, this poor widow put in more than all the rest; for those others have all made offerings from their surplus wealth, but she, from her poverty, has offered her whole livelihood.”

What have I given in the last year?   What do I plan to give in the year ahead?

Action:  Give thanks for what you have and give what you can.

Thursday, November 17, 2016

Thought for Friday November 18


We praise your glorious name, O mighty God.
"Yours, O LORD, are grandeur and power,
majesty, splendor, and glory.
For all in heaven and on earth is yours."
We praise your glorious name, O mighty God.


Luke 19: 43 – 45  Jesus entered the temple area and proceeded to drive out those who were selling things, saying to them, "It is written, My house shall be a house of prayer, but you have made it a den of thieves."

 
What do I want Jesus to drive out of my church?   Does anything at church distract me from prayer?

 
Action:   Go to church this weekend and focus on all the things that encourage prayer.

Wednesday, November 16, 2016

Thought for Thursday November 17


To the upright I will show the saving power of God.
“Offer to God praise as your sacrifice
and fulfill your vows to the Most High;
Then call upon me in time of distress;
I will rescue you, and you shall glorify me.”
To the upright I will show the saving power of God.

 
Luke 19: 41 – 44  If this day you only knew what makes for peace – but now it is hidden from your eyes.

If I did know what “makes for peace” would I have the courage to stand up and push for it?  What do I see people courageously pushing for today?

Action:  Be peacefully courageous.

Tuesday, November 15, 2016

Thought for Wednesday November 16


Lord, when your glory appears, my joy will be full.
My steps have been steadfast in your paths,
my feet have not faltered.
I call upon you, for you will answer me, O God;
incline your ear to me; hear my word.
Lord, when your glory appears, my joy will be full.
 

Luke 19: 11 – 28  Then the other servant came and said, ‘Sir, here is your gold coin; I kept it stored away in a handkerchief,’

Is there anything God has given me that he wants me to keep hidden away?  Has God given me anything that I am hiding?

Action:  Invest your talents in changing the world, or at least the part of it that is around you.

Monday, November 14, 2016

Thought for Tuesday November 15


I will seat the victor beside me on my throne.
He who walks blamelessly and does justice;
who thinks the truth in his heart
and slanders not with his tongue.
I will seat the victor beside me on my throne.

 
Luke 19: 1 – 10  So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore tree in order to see Jesus, who was about to pass that way.

Have I ever gone out on a limb to see or know Jesus better?  How important is convenience in my practice of faith?

Action:  Start now making a plan for getting to know Jesus better during Advent.

Sunday, November 13, 2016

Thought for Monday November 14


Give me life, O Lord, and I will do your commands.
Indignation seizes me because of the wicked
who forsake your law.
Give me life, O Lord, and I will do your commands.


Luke 18: 35 – 43  Then Jesus stopped and ordered that he be brought to him; and when he came near, Jesus asked him, "What do you want me to do for you?"  He replied, "Lord, please let me see."

Why did Jesus ask the blind man what he wanted; wouldn’t it be obvious he wanted to see?  What do I want Jesus to do for me?

Action:   Ask Jesus to do one specific thing for you today.

Thursday, November 10, 2016

Thought for Friday November 11


Blessed are they who follow the law of the Lord!
Within my heart I treasure your promise,
that I may not sin against you.
Blessed are they who follow the law of the Lord!


Luke 17: 26 – 37  Whoever seeks to preserve his life will lose it, but whoever loses it will save it.

Who do I know who was willing to lose his life to save others?   What am I willing to lose my life for?

Action:  Thank someone who has given up something in his or her life for you.  (Hint:  It’s Veterans Day)

Wednesday, November 9, 2016

Thought for Thursday November 10


Blessed is he whose help is the God of Jacob.
The LORD gives sight to the blind.
The LORD raises up those who were bowed down;
the LORD loves the just.
The LORD protects strangers.
Blessed is he whose help is the God of Jacob.


Luke 17: 20 – 25  For just as lightning flashes and lights up the sky from one side to the other, so will the Son of Man be in his day.  But first he must suffer greatly and be rejected by this generation

Do I see the Son of Man lighting up the world?  Why must he suffer?

Action:  Storm into the gloomiest situation you encounter on a frequent basis and do something to light it up, even if it only lasts for a second.

Tuesday, November 8, 2016

Thought for Wednesday November 9


The waters of the river gladden the city of God, the holy dwelling of the Most High!
There is a stream whose runlets gladden the city of God,
the holy dwelling of the Most High.
God is in its midst; it shall not be disturbed;
God will help it at the break of dawn.
The waters of the river gladden the city of God, the holy dwelling of the Most High!

1st Corinthians 3: 9 – 11, 16 – 17  Brothers and sisters: You are God's building.

Do I spend more time and energy on my exterior or my interior?   What do I want to experience when I walk into a church?

Action:   Next time you go to church be aware that your presence, attitude, and actions can have as much impact on other people’s experience as all of the art, architecture and decorations.

Monday, November 7, 2016

Thought for Tuesday November 8


I will bless the Lord at all times.
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.
I will bless the Lord at all times.


Luke 17: 7 – 10 When you have done all you have been commanded, say, ‘We are unprofitable servants; we have done what we were obliged to do.’

Do I think I am special because I do some good things?  Do I expect to do all I have been commanded to do?

Action:  Do what God has commanded you to do.

Sunday, November 6, 2016

Thought for Monday November 7


Lord, this is the people that longs to see your face.
The LORD’s are the earth and its fullness;
the world and those who dwell in it.
For he founded it upon the seas
and established it upon the rivers.
Lord, this is the people that longs to see your face.

Luke 17: 1 – 6  And the Apostles said to the Lord, “Increase our faith.” The Lord replied, “If you have faith the size of a mustard seed, you would say to this mulberry tree  ‘Be uprooted and planted in the sea,’ and it would obey you.”

How much faith do I have?   Do I want the responsibility that comes with being able to tell a tree to move?

Action:  Pray for an increase of your faith, even if you are not sure you want it.

Thursday, November 3, 2016

Thought for Friday November 4


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.

Luke 16: 1 – 8  Jesus said to his disciples, "A rich man had a steward who was reported to him for squandering his property.

Have I squandered anything?  Am I squandering any of the gifts God has given me?

Action:  Make a conscious effort to use your gifts today.

Wednesday, November 2, 2016

Thought for Thursday November 3


I believe that I shall see the good things of the Lord in the land of the living.
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.
 I believe that I shall see the good things of the Lord in the land of the living.

 
Luke 15: 1 – 10  So Jesus addressed this parable to them. “What man among you having a hundred sheep and losing one of them would not leave the ninety-nine in the desert and go after the lost one until he finds it?


Would I leave the 99 and go after the one?  Does this sound like a good business decision?

Action:  Work on a lost cause.

Tuesday, November 1, 2016

Thought for Wednesday November 2


Though I walk in the valley of darkness, I fear no evil, for you are with me.
He guides me in right paths
for his name’s sake.
Even though I walk in the dark valley
I fear no evil; for you are at my side
with your rod and your staff
that give me courage.
The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want.

 
Romans 5: 5 - 11   Brothers and sisters: Hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit that has been given to us.

What hopes do  I have for myself?  For my family and friends?  For my city, nation, the world? 

Action:  Invest some time, energy, or money into making someone’s hopes come true.