Tuesday, February 28, 2017

Thought for Ash Wednesday March 1


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.

Joel 2: 12 – 18  Even now, says the LORD, return to me with your whole heart, with fasting, and weeping, and mourning; Rend your hearts, not your garments, and return to the LORD, your God.

Do I really need to be reminded to return to God every year?  Do I have a plan for this year?

Action:  Take Lent seriously.

 

Monday, February 27, 2017

Thought for Tuesday February 28


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.
He that offers praise as a sacrifice glorifies me;
and to him that goes the right way I will show the salvation of God.”
To the upright I will show the saving power of God.


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

What is the “everything” Peter gave up?  What “everything” would I have to give up to follow Jesus completely?

Action:  Give up something that keeps you from following Jesus. 

Sunday, February 26, 2017

Thought for Monday February 27


Let the just exult and rejoice in the Lord.
For this shall every faithful man pray to you
in time of stress.
Though deep waters overflow,
they shall not reach him.
Let the just exult and rejoice in the Lord.


Sirach 17: 20 – 24  To the penitent God provides a way back, he encourages those who are losing hope and has chosen for them the lot of truth.  Return to him and give up sin, pray to the LORD and make your offenses few. Turn again to the Most High and away from your sin, hate intensely what he loathes, and know the justice and judgments of God, Stand firm in the way set before you, in prayer to the Most High God.


Have I ever really felt like I needed a way back?  Am I penitent?


Action:  Quit sinning.

Thursday, February 23, 2017

Thought for Friday February 24


Guide me, Lord, in the way of your commands.
Make me understand the way of your precepts,
and I will meditate on your wondrous deeds.
Guide me, Lord, in the way of your commands.

Sirach 6:  5 - 17  Let your acquaintances be many, but one in a thousand your confidant.  When you gain a friend, first test him, and be not too ready to trust him. For one sort is a friend when it suits him, but he will not be with you in time of distress.  Another is a friend who becomes an enemy, and tells of the quarrel to your shame.  Another is a friend, a boon companion, who will not be with you when sorrow comes. When things go well, he is your other self,  and lords it over your servants;  But if you are brought low, he turns against you and avoids meeting you.


Is this good advice?  Do I have a good friend?


Action:  Be a good friend.

Wednesday, February 22, 2017

Thought for Thursday February 23


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.

Sirach 5: 1 – 8  Rely not on your wealth; say not: "I have the power."  Rely not on your strength in following the desires of your heart.

On what do I rely?  How much effort do I put into maintaining my wealth and strength?

Action:  Learn to rely on something other than wealth, strength and power.

Tuesday, February 21, 2017

Thought for Wednesday February 22


The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want.
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.

 
Matthew 16: 13 – 19  And so I say to you, you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build my Church, and the gates of the netherworld shall not prevail against it. I will give you the keys to the Kingdom of heaven.

Would I have accepted the responsibility Jesus gave Peter?  If I were a friend of Peter’s, would I have supported him?

Action:  Support someone who has taken on a big responsibility.

Monday, February 20, 2017

Thought for Tuesday February 21


Commit your life to the Lord, and he will help you.
Trust in the LORD and do good,
that you may dwell in the land and be fed in security.
Take delight in the LORD,
and he will grant you your heart's requests.
Commit your life to the Lord, and he will help you
.

Sirach 2: 1 – 11  My son, when you come to serve the LORD, stand in justice and fear, prepare yourself for trials.  Be sincere of heart and steadfast, incline your ear and receive the word of understanding, undisturbed in time of adversity. Wait on God, with patience, cling to him, forsake him not; thus will you be wise in all your ways. Accept whatever befalls you, when sorrowful, be steadfast, and in crushing misfortune be patient;

Am I prepared to serve the Lord?  Am I patient with God?

Action:  Do what Sirach says.

Sunday, February 19, 2017

Thought for Monday February 20


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.


Sirach 1: 1 – 10  All wisdom comes from the LORD and with him it remains forever, and is before all time.  The sand of the seashore, the drops of rain, the days of eternity: who can number these? Heaven's height, earth's breadth, the depths of the abyss: who can explore these?  Before all things else wisdom was created;  and prudent understanding, from eternity.

Do I believe in wisdom?  Do I trust wisdom?

Action:  Be wise and prudent.

Thursday, February 16, 2017

Thought for Friday February 17


Blessed the people the Lord has chosen to be his own.
From his fixed throne he beholds
all who dwell on the earth,
He who fashioned the heart of each,
he who knows all their works.
 Blessed the people the Lord has chosen to be his own.


Genesis 11: 1 – 9  Then the LORD said: "If now, while they are one people, all speaking the same language, they have started to do this, nothing will later stop them from doing whatever they presume to do. Let us then go down and there confuse their language, so that one will not understand what another says."


Have I ever had trouble working with someone because we “spoke a different language” – technical, emotional, intellectual, experiential?  What have I done to learn to communicate with people who are from different backgrounds or cultures, or have different values or perspectives from my own?


Action:  Learn a few words in a new language – American Sign Language, Polish, Teenager, French, Geek, German, Hipster, Spanish, Millennial, Italian, Hippy …

Wednesday, February 15, 2017

Thought for Thursday February 17


From heaven the Lord looks down on the earth.
Let this be written for the generation to come,
and let his future creatures praise the LORD:
"The LORD looked down from his holy height,
from heaven he beheld the earth,
To hear the groaning of the prisoners,
to release those doomed to die."
From heaven the Lord looks down on the earth.
 

Mark 8: 27 – 33  He began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer greatly and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests, and the scribes, and be killed, and rise after three days.
 

Do I really want to work for someone who predicts this kind of outcome?  What did the disciples know that kept them going in spite of this prediction?
 

Action:  Work hard for the next three days.

Tuesday, February 14, 2017

Thought for Wednesday February 15


To you, Lord, I will offer a sacrifice of praise.
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.
To you, Lord, I will offer a sacrifice of praise.


Mark 8: 22 – 26  When Jesus and his disciples arrived at Bethsaida, people brought to him a blind man and begged Jesus to touch him. He took the blind man by the hand and led him outside the village.
 

If I had brought someone to Jesus for healing, how would I feel if I didn’t get to see it?  Do I ever do really good things for less than perfect reasons?

Action:  Do good things even if your motives aren’t perfect.

Monday, February 13, 2017

Thought for Tuesday February 14


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.
 

Am I usually more prepared than the disciples were?  Do I trust Jesus to help me through situations I am not prepared for?
 

Action:  Reach out to someone who may feel forgotten on Valentine’s Day.

Sunday, February 12, 2017

Thought for Monday February 13


Offer to God a sacrifice of praise.
"You sit speaking against your brother;
against your mother's son you spread rumors.
When you do these things, shall I be deaf to it?
Or do you think that I am like yourself?
I will correct you by drawing them up before your eyes."
Offer to God a sacrifice of praise.

Genesis 4: 1 – 15  Then the LORD asked Cain, "Where is your brother Abel?" He answered, "I do not know.   Am I my brother's keeper?"

Do I show care and concern for others?  Does jealousy ever drive me to be unloving?

Action:  Be your brother’s keeper.

Thursday, February 9, 2017

Thought for Friday February 10


Blessed are those whose sins are forgiven.
For this shall every faithful man pray to you
in time of stress.
Though deep waters overflow,
they shall not reach him.
Blessed are those whose sins are forgiven.

Genesis 3: 1  - 8  Now the serpent was the most cunning of all the animals that the LORD God had made. The serpent asked the woman, "Did God really tell you not to eat from any of the trees in the garden?"

Do I ever get suckered like this – somebody starts with an absurd statement to convince me of something that is wrong, but not quite as ridiculous?  Do I ask for Jesus’ help to see clearly when I am faced with a serpent?

Action:  Watch out for serpents.

Wednesday, February 8, 2017

Thought for Thursday February 9


Remember us, O Lord, as you favor your people.
Blessed are they who observe what is right,
who do always what is just.
Remember us, O LORD, as you favor your people;
visit us with your saving help.
Remember us, O Lord, as you favor your people.

 
Mark 7: 24 – 30  Jesus went to the district of Tyre. He entered a house and wanted no one to know about it, but he could not escape notice.

Are there times when I don’t want to be disturbed?  How do I respond when I am interrupted?

Action:  The next time someone interrupts you when you want to be alone, muster all of your energy and be gracious.

Tuesday, February 7, 2017

Thought for Wednesday February 8


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!

 
Genesis 2: 4 – 17  The LORD God gave man this order: "You are free to eat from any of the trees of the garden except the tree of knowledge of good and evil.  From that tree you shall not eat; the moment you eat from it you are surely doomed to die."

 
Would the world be better if God had said, “Do whatever you want.”?  Why did God give us a limitation?

 
Action:   Learn something new today with the intent of using that knowledge to do good in the world.

Monday, February 6, 2017

Thought for Tuesday February 7


O Lord, our God, how wonderful your name in all the earth!
When I behold your heavens, the work of your fingers,
the moon and the stars which you set in place—
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!

Genesis 1: 20 – 2: 4  God said, "Let the water teem with an abundance of living creatures, and on the earth let birds fly beneath the dome of the sky." And so it happened: God created the great sea monsters and all kinds of swimming creatures with which the water teems, and all kinds of winged birds.

Do I think God had fun creating the world?   Do I take time to appreciate the beauty and diversity of God’s creation?
 
Action:  Pay attention to God’s expression of himself in all that he created and share it with someone else, e.g. post a picture of a fish on Facebook, Tweet a picture of a bird, Snapchat a sunset, email a mountain picture, text msg a picture of your dog, or go outside with an actual living person and take a walk.

Sunday, February 5, 2017

Thought for Monday February 6


May the Lord be glad in his works.
You fixed the earth upon its foundation,
not to be moved forever;
With the ocean, as with a garment, you covered it;
above the mountains the waters stood.
May the Lord be glad in his works.

Genesis 1: 1 – 19  In the beginning, when God created the heavens and the earth, the earth was a formless wasteland, and darkness covered the abyss, while a mighty wind swept over the waters.
Do I give God enough credit for the great job he did creating the world and everything in it?   What does creation – mountains, rocks, animals, plants, rivers, etc. express about God?

Action:  Pay attention to God’s expression of himself in all that he created and show that creation some respect.

Thursday, February 2, 2017

Thought for Friday February 3


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.

Hebrews 13: 1 – 8  Let brotherly love continue. Do not neglect hospitality, for through it some have unknowingly entertained angels.

Am I a good host?  Have I ever entertained an angel?

Action:  It’s Superbowl weekend – be a good host or a good guest.

Wednesday, February 1, 2017

Thought for Thursday 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: a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and glory for your people Israel.”

What is peace?  Where do I find peace?

Action:  Be the peaceful person in the midst of bad situations.