Thought for Wednesday 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.

What is sincere love?  How do I show honor?

Action:  Be sincere and loving and anticipate others’ needs.

 

Thought for Tuesday May 30

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 definition of eternal life satisfy my curiosity?  What would be my ideal of eternal life?

Action:  Do something today that will help someone else know God.

 

Thought for Friday May 26

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 Ascension Thursday May 25

God mounts his throne to shouts of joy: a blare of trumpets for the Lord.
For king of all the earth is God;
sing hymns of praise.
God reigns over the nations,
God sits upon his holy throne.
God mounts his throne to shouts of joy: a blare of trumpets for the Lord.

Acts 1: 1 – 11 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, throughout Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”  When Jesus had said this, as they were looking on, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him from their sight.

How do I feel about Jesus leaving and telling me to witness for him?   What does being a witness for Jesus involve?

Action:  Bear witness to Jesus.

 

Thought for Wednesday May 24

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.

John 16: 12 – 15  Jesus said to his disciples: “I have much more to tell you, but you cannot bear it now.”

Am I excited about the possibility of Jesus telling me something new or does it scare me?  Have I accepted everything that Jesus will teach me?

Action:   Identify those things in your life that could inhibit you from accepting a new mission from Jesus and work to free yourself from the hold those things have over you.

Thought for Tuesday May 23

Your right hand saves me, O Lord.
Because of your kindness and your truth,
you have made great above all things
your name and your promise.
When I called, you answered me;
you built up strength within me.
Your right hand saves me, O Lord.

John 16: 5 – 11  Jesus said to his disciples: "Now I am going to the one who sent me, and not one of you asks me, 'Where are you going?' But because I told you this, grief has filled your hearts.”

When have I experienced grief?  Was it healthy; did it help me move on?

Action:  When you make a change in your life to more closely bear witness to Jesus, go ahead and take the time to grieve for whatever you are giving up.

Thought for Monday May 22

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  They will expel you from the synagogues; in fact, the hour is coming when everyone who kills you will think he is offering worship to God.

Would I be willing to give me life for what I believe in?  Am I investing my life working for what I believe in?

Action:  Spend some time today thinking of all those who gave their lives to preserve what they believed in and all of those who spent their lives working to make your life better.

Thought for Friday May 19

I will give you thanks among the peoples, O Lord.
My heart is steadfast, O God; my heart is steadfast;
I will sing and chant praise.
Awake, O my soul; awake, lyre and harp!
I will wake the dawn.
I will give you thanks among the peoples, O Lord.

John 5: 12 – 17  Jesus said to his disciples: "This is my commandment: love one another as I love you. No one has greater love than this, to lay down one's life for one's friends.

In what ways do I lay down my life for my friends?  How often do I refuse to do so?

Action:  Love one another.

Thought for Thursday May 18

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.”

When was the last time I expressed joy?  Do I ever feel guilty expressing joy around others who may be experiencing sorrow?

 

Action:  Find a way to express joy in a way that lifts up those around you.

Thought for Wednesday May 17

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  Just as a branch cannot bear fruit on its own unless it remains on the vine, so neither can you unless you remain in me.

What good am I doing in my community?  Have I ever tried to change the world, or even a small corner of it, without Jesus and the community of believers? 

Action:  Remain in Jesus and bear some fruit.

Thought for Tuesday May 16

Your friends make known, O Lord, the glorious splendor of your kingdom.
May my mouth speak the praise of the LORD,
and may all flesh bless his holy name forever and ever.
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.”

How does the world try to give peace?  How is the Peace of Christ different?

Action:  Bring peace into your interactions with others this week.

Thought for Monday May 15

Not to us, O Lord, but to your name give the glory.
May you be blessed by the LORD,
who made heaven and earth.
Heaven is the heaven of the LORD,
but the earth he has given to the children of men.
Not to us, O Lord, but to your name give the glory.

John 14: 21 – 26  Whoever does not love me does not keep my words; yet the word you hear is not mine but that of the Father who sent me.

Do I love Jesus?  Do I keep his words?

Action:  Spend some time thinking about how you can love Jesus more and keep his words better.

Thought for Thursday May 11

 

Forever I will sing the goodness of the Lord.
"My faithfulness and my mercy shall be with him,
and through my name shall his horn be exalted.
He shall say of me, 'You are my father,
my God, the Rock, my savior.'"
Forever 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."

Do I have a word of exhortation I would like to share with people?  In what ways do my actions and choices express my faith?

Action:  Encourage someone who needs a little boost.

Thought for Wednesday May 10

O God, let all the nations praise you!
May the peoples praise you, O God;
may all the peoples praise you!
May God bless us,
and may all the ends of the earth fear him!
O God, let all the nations praise you!

 

John 12: 44 – 50  Jesus cried out and said,  "I came into the world as light, so that everyone who believes in me might not remain in darkness.”

How important is light in our daily lives?  Have I ever been in complete darkness?

Action:  Replace that burned out bulb that you have been putting off – if you don’t have any, check the lights, brake lights and turn signals on your vehicles.  And make sure you use your turn signals.

Thought for Tuesday May 9

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.

John 10: 22 – 30  But you do not believe, because you are not among my sheep. My sheep hear my voice; I know them, and they follow me.  I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish.  No one can take them out of my hand.  My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, and no one can take them out of the Father's hand.

Do I accept to be a sheep if Jesus is my shepherd?   What does it take to be a good sheep?

Action:  Learn to accept the leadership of a shepherd who recognizes wolves.

Thought for Monday May 8

Athirst is my soul for the living God.
Send forth your light and your fidelity;
they shall lead me on
And bring me to your holy mountain,
to your dwelling-place.
Athirst is my soul for the living God.

John 10: 11 – 18  Jesus said: "I am the good shepherd.  A good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. A hired man, who is not a shepherd and whose sheep are not his own, sees a wolf coming and leaves the sheep and runs away, and the wolf catches and scatters them.

Am I a good shepherd or do I run from wolves?  What sheep are in my care?

Action:  Learn to recognize wolves – the ones who seek power or money, those who bully others, those who preach falsehood, et al. – and learn to face them with courage.

Thought for Friday May 5

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?" He said, "Who are you, sir?"  The reply came, "I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting.  Now get up and go into the city and you will be told what you must do."

How would I answer Jesus if he asked me this?  Am I ready to go into the city and be told what I must do?

Action:  Do what God wants you to do.

Thought for Thursday May 4

 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”

How has God drawn me?  What have I done in response to God’s call to me?

Action:  Do something to thank God for drawing you to him.

Thought for Wednesday 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.

John 14: 6 – 14  Jesus said to Thomas, "I am the way and the truth and the life.”

What way would I go if it were not for Jesus?  How does my life differ from that of someone who does not look to Jesus?

Action:  Trust Jesus.

Thought for Tuesday May 2

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.

Acts 7:51 – 8:1  Stephen said to the people, the elders, and the scribes: "You stiff-necked people, uncircumcised in heart and ears, you always oppose the Holy Spirit; you are just like your ancestors.  Which of the prophets did your ancestors not persecute? They put to death those who foretold the coming of the righteous one, whose betrayers and murderers you have now become. You received the law as transmitted by angels, but you did not observe it."

Why is change so hard?  What excuses do I use to reject “prophets” who are calling me to be and do better?

Action:  Observe the law and the prophets.