Sunday, April 30, 2017

Thought for Monday May 1


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  So they said to him, "What can we do to accomplish the works of God?" Jesus answered and said to them, "This is the work of God, that you believe in the one he sent."

How hard is it to believe in Jesus?  Can you just believe in Jesus and live life by the usual rules of society?

Action:  Live joyfully and courageously in the Christian faith

 

Thursday, April 27, 2017

Thought for Friday April 28


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  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?"

This boy doesn’t get any real notice for his contribution; what kind of faith did it take for him to give up everything he had and trust Jesus?   Do I sometimes overlook people like him?

Action:  Bake five loaves and give them to people who are hungry.  Next time you go fishing, share two fish with someone who likes fresh fish, but maybe can’t go fishing anymore.  Plant a ruby red and white rose bush this weekend.

Wednesday, April 26, 2017

Thought for Thursday April 27


 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:  If there is someone in your life who tests the limits of your spiritual gifts, make a plan to take care of yourself when you have to “dig a little deeper.”

Tuesday, April 25, 2017

Thought for Wednesday April 26


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 everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come toward the light, so that his works might not be exposed.  But whoever lives the truth comes to the light, so that his works may be clearly seen as done in God.

Are all works either wicked or good?  Am I living in the light or the dark?

Action:  Live the truth and do works that may be clearly seen as done in God.

Monday, April 24, 2017

Thought for Tuesday April 25


Forever I will sing the goodness of the Lord..
The heavens proclaim your wonders, O LORD,
and your faithfulness, in the assembly of the holy ones.
For who in the skies can rank with the LORD?
Who is like the LORD among the sons of God?
Forever I will sing the goodness of the Lord.

Mark 16: 15 – 20   Jesus appeared to the Eleven and said to them: "Go into the whole world and proclaim the Gospel to every creature.”

Did he say “every creature” so people would preach to dogs or was Jesus just making the point to not exclude anyone?   Does proclaiming the Gospel mean preaching or is there more to it?

Action:  Go ahead and proclaim the Gospel to your pets.

 

Sunday, April 23, 2017

Thought for Monday April 24


Blessed are all who take refuge in the Lord.
The LORD said to me, “You are my Son;
this day I have begotten you.
Ask of me and I will give you
the nations for an inheritance
and the ends of the earth for your possession.
You shall rule them with an iron rod;
you shall shatter them like an earthen dish.”
Blessed are all who take refuge in the Lord.


John 3: 1 – 8  The wind blows where it wills, and you can hear the sound it makes, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes; so it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.

Do the people who see my works and hear my words know that I am born of the Spirit?   Do I see others who are obviously born of the Spirit?

Action:  Do something for someone who is suffering from windstorms, floods or other problems.

Thursday, April 20, 2017

Thought for Friday April 21


The stone rejected by the builders has become the cornerstone.
The stone which the builders rejected
has become the cornerstone.
By the LORD has this been done;
it is wonderful in our eyes.
This is the day the LORD has made;
let us be glad and rejoice in it.
The stone rejected by the builders has become the cornerstone.

John 21: 1 – 14  Together were Simon Peter, Thomas called Didymus, Nathanael from Cana in Galilee, Zebedee’s sons, and two others of his disciples.

Would I want to be identified and recognized by name or am I more comfortable being invisible as part of the “others”?  Am I willing to step into the opposite role if needed?

Action:  Do something special for one of the “others” who often gets overlooked.

Wednesday, April 19, 2017

Thought for Thursday April 20


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 said to them, "Why are you troubled? And why do questions arise in your hearts?


What troubles me?  What questions keep me up at night?


Action:  The next time you are faced with a disturbing question, first spend some time asking why the question bothers you.  Sometimes God speaks to us by first “troubling” us.

Tuesday, April 18, 2017

Thought for Wednesday April 19


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.

Acts 3: 1 – 10  And a man crippled from birth was carried and placed at the gate of the temple called "the Beautiful Gate" every day  to beg for alms from the people who entered the temple. When he saw Peter and John about to go into the temple, he asked for alms. But Peter looked intently at him, as did John, and said, "Look at us." He paid attention to them, expecting to receive something from them. Peter said, "I have neither silver nor gold, but what I do have I give you:  in the name of Jesus Christ the Nazorean, rise and walk." Then Peter took him by the right hand and raised him up, and immediately his feet and ankles grew strong.

After the initial joy wore off, how much of this man’s life had to change?  Am I ready to accept a complete change in my life’s circumstances?  

Action:  Spend a little time each day envisioning yourself being healed from whatever holds you back the most – despair, frustration, illness, loneliness, estrangement, anger, greed, jealousy, etc.

Monday, April 17, 2017

Thought for Tuesday April 18


The earth is full of the goodness of the Lord.
Our soul waits for the LORD,
who is our help and our shield.
May your kindness, O LORD, be upon us
who have put our hope in you.
The earth is full of the goodness of the Lord.


John 20: 11 – 18  Jesus said to her, “Mary!” She turned and said to him in Hebrew, “Rabbouni,”  which means Teacher. Jesus said to her, “Stop holding on to me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father. But go to my brothers and tell them, ‘I am going to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.’”

Jesus just rose from the dead; does this conversation seem a little awkward?  What do you say to someone who just rose from the dead? 

Action:    The next time you don’t know what to say to someone in a tough situation, think of Mary Magdalene and do your best.

Sunday, April 16, 2017

Thought for Monday April 17


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.

Matthew 28:  8 - 15   Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went away quickly from the tomb, fearful yet overjoyed, and ran to announce the news to his disciples.

Is there any event I am looking forward to that might bring both joy and fear?  Does joy just happen or do I have to invest something to make it happen?

Action:  Search for joy and work to make it grow.

 

Friday, April 14, 2017

Thought for Good Friday April 14


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.

Wednesday, April 12, 2017

Thought for Holy Thursday April 13


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.

1 Corinthians 11: 23 – 26   Brothers and sisters: I received from the Lord what I also handed on to you,  that the Lord Jesus, on the night he was handed over,  took bread, and, after he had given thanks, broke it and said, "This is my body that is for you. Do this in remembrance of me." In the same way also the cup, after supper, saying,  "This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me."  For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup,  you proclaim the death of the Lord until he comes.

Tuesday, April 11, 2017

Thought for Wednesday April 12


Lord, in your great love, answer me.
Insult has broken my heart, and I am weak,
I looked for sympathy, but there was none;
for consolers, not one could I find.
Rather they put gall in my food,
and in my thirst they gave me vinegar to drink.
Lord, in your great love, answer me.

Matthew 26: 14 – 25  One of the Twelve, who was called Judas Iscariot,  went to the chief priests and said, "What are you willing to give me if I hand him over to you?" They paid him thirty pieces of silver, and from that time on he looked for an opportunity to hand him over.

Why would anyone betray a friend?  Did Judas really want money (greed); or was he tired of following Jesus (sloth); or frustrated that Jesus wasn’t using power to change the world (anger); or disappointed at his own role (pride); or upset that Peter was getting all of the attention even though he wasn’t that bright (envy); or unwilling to live simply (gluttony); or did he just want to spend more time with his girlfriend (lust)?  Which of these might drive me to betray someone?

Action:  Examine your own conscience this week.

 

Monday, April 10, 2017

Thought for Tuesday April 11


I will sing of your salvation.
For you are my hope, O Lord;
my trust, O God, from my youth.
On you I depend from birth;
from my mother's womb you are my strength.
I will sing of your salvation.


Isaiah 49: 1 – 6  The LORD called me from birth, from my mother's womb he gave me my name.  He made of me a sharp-edged sword and concealed me in the shadow of his arm. He made me a polished arrow, in his quiver he hid me. You are my servant, he said to me, Israel, through whom I show my glory.  Though I thought I had toiled in vain, and for nothing, uselessly, spent my strength, Yet my reward is with the LORD, my recompense is with my God.

Do I feel like God made me for a specific purpose?  Do I think I am useful to God?

Action:  Spend some time this week thinking of yourself as a “sharp-edged sword” or “polished arrow” doing the work God created you to do.

 

Thought for Monday April 10


My God, my God, why have you abandoned me?
Indeed, many dogs surround me,
a pack of evildoers closes in upon me;
They have pierced my hands and my feet;
I can count all my bones.
My God, my God, why have you abandoned me?


Isaiah 50: 4 – 7 The Lord GOD has given me a well-trained tongue, that I might know how to speak to the weary a word that will rouse them. Morning after morning he opens my ear that I may hear; and I have not rebelled, have not turned back.

Do I use my well-trained tongue for good or…?  Do I keep my ears open to hear God speaking to me?

Action:  Talk (or write) to someone who is weary, discouraged, depressed, frustrated, or etc.

 

Thursday, April 6, 2017

Thought for Friday April 7


In my distress I called upon the Lord, and he heard my voice.
My God, my rock of refuge,
my shield, the horn of my salvation, my stronghold!
Praised be the LORD, I exclaim,
and I am safe from my enemies.
In my distress I called upon the Lord, and he heard my voice.


John 10: 31 – 42  The Jews answered him, "We are not stoning you for a good work but for blasphemy.”

Do I place more value on works or words?  Is it easier to misunderstand works or words?

Action:  Try doing something good without talking about it and see if your work speaks for itself.

 

Wednesday, April 5, 2017

Thought for Thursday April 6


The Lord remembers his covenant for ever.
Look to the LORD in his strength;
seek to serve him constantly.
Recall the wondrous deeds that he has wrought,
his portents, and the judgments he has uttered.
The Lord remembers his covenant for ever.

 
John 8: 51 – 59  Jesus said to them, “Amen, amen, I say to you, before Abraham came to be, I AM.” So they picked up stones to throw at him; but Jesus hid and went out of the temple area.


Have I ever said anything that was perfectly true but still made people mad?  Have I ever gotten mad at what someone else said?


Action:  The next time you see someone get mad, do something nice for him.

Monday, April 3, 2017

Thought for Tuesday April 4


O Lord, hear my prayer, and let my cry come to you.
O LORD, hear my prayer,
and let my cry come to you.
Hide not your face from me
in the day of my distress.
Incline your ear to me;
in the day when I call, answer me speedily.
O Lord, hear my prayer, and let my cry come to you.

John 8: 21 – 30  So they said to him, "Who are you?"

Who am I?  Who is Jesus?

Action:  Whatever happens this week, be true to who you are.

Sunday, April 2, 2017

Thought for Monday April 3


Even though I walk in the dark valley I fear no evil; for you are at my side.
The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.
In verdant pastures he gives me repose;
Beside restful waters he leads me;
he refreshes my soul.
Even though I walk in the dark valley I fear no evil; for you are at my side.

John 8: 12 – 20  Jesus spoke to them again, saying, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”

Am I ever walking in darkness?  What has Jesus shined the light on for me?

Action:  Take a walk and pay attention to the signs of spring; flowers blooming, warmer temperatures, more sunlight, etc.