Thought for Friday June 30

Let my tongue be silenced, if I ever forget you!

By the streams of Babylon

we sat and wept

when we remembered Zion.

On the aspens of that land

we hung up our harps.

Let my tongue be silenced, if I ever forget you!

Matthew 8: 1 – 14  And then a leper approached, did him homage, and said, “Lord, if you wish, you can make me clean.”

What tells me more about who this man was; that he is described as a leper or the way he spoke to Jesus?  Do I define myself more by my infirmities (or abilities) or by my relationship with Jesus?

Action:  Think of one thing in your life that would change if you saw yourself only in terms of your relationship with Jesus, and then start making that change.

 

Thought for Wednesday June 28

The Lord remembers his covenant forever.
Glory in his holy name;
rejoice, O hearts that seek the LORD!
Look to the LORD in his strength;
seek to serve him constantly.
The Lord remembers his covenant forever.

Matthew 7: 15 – 20  By their fruits you will know them. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles?

Do I ever spend time looking for things (answers, advice, love, help) in the wrong places?  Do I do my best to guide others to the trees that bear good fruit?

Action:  Lead other people to the trees that bear good fruit.

Thought for Tuesday June 27

He who does justice will live in the presence of the Lord.
Who lends not his money at usury
and accepts no bribe against the innocent.
He who does these things
shall never be disturbed.
He who does justice will live in the presence of the Lord.

Genesis 13: 2 – 18  Abram was very rich in livestock, silver, and gold. Lot, who went with Abram, also had flocks and herds and tents, so that the land could not support them if they stayed together; their possessions were so great that they could not dwell together. There were quarrels between the herdsmen of Abram's livestock and those of Lot's.

 

What “problems” do I have that others would love to have (i.e. first world problems)?  Do I know people who are so rich it has created problems for them?

Action:  Turn one of your problems (too much stuff, too much spare time, loneliness, too much smartness) into something good for someone else (donate, volunteer, etc.).

 

Thought for Monday June 26

Help us with your right hand, O Lord, and answer us.

You have rocked the country and split it open;

repair the cracks in it, for it is tottering.

You have made your people feel hardships;

you have given us stupefying wine.

Help us with your right hand, O Lord, and answer us.

Matthew 7: 1 – 5  Why do you notice the splinter in your brother's eye, but do not perceive the wooden beam in your own eye?  How can you say to your brother, 'Let me remove that splinter from your eye,' while the wooden beam is in your eye? You hypocrite, remove the wooden beam from your eye first; then you will see clearly to remove the splinter from your brother's eye."

Why does the splinter in my brother’s eye bother me?  Am I more inclined to help others with their splinters or work on the beam in my own eye? 

Action:  Give someone with a splinter a break and do something nice for him or her.

Thought for Friday June 23

The Lord's kindness is everlasting to those who fear him.
Merciful and gracious is the LORD,
slow to anger and abounding in kindness.
Not according to our sins does he deal with us,
nor does he requite us according to our crimes.
The Lord's kindness is everlasting to those who fear him.

Matthew 11: 25 – 30  "Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am meek and humble of heart; and you will find rest for yourselves.  For my yoke is easy, and my burden light.

What burdens am I carrying?  Does Jesus lighten the load for me?

Action: Get a little rest this weekend.

 

 

Thought for Thursday June 22

Your works, O Lord, are justice and truth.
Majesty and glory are his work,
and his justice endures forever.
He has won renown for his wondrous deeds;
gracious and merciful is the LORD.
Your works, O Lord, are justice and truth.

2 Corinthians 11: 1 – 11 Brothers and sisters:  If only you would put up with a little foolishness from me! Please put up with me.

Am I foolish enough to live the Gospel in a world that seems to reject much of it?  Does fear of looking foolish hold me back from doing some things?

Action:  Give a fool a break today.

Thought for Wednesday June 21

Blessed the man who fears the Lord.
Lavishly he gives to the poor;
his generosity shall endure forever;
his horn shall be exalted in glory.
Blessed the man who fears the Lord.

2 Corinthians 9: 6 – 11 Brothers and sisters, consider this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully.  Each must do as already determined, without sadness or compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.

Am I a cheerful giver or a bit of a grouch?  What am I sowing?

Action:  Slap on a smile and do something good for as many people as you can.

Thought for Tuesday June 20

Praise the Lord, my soul!
Praise the LORD, my soul!
I will praise the LORD all my life;
I will sing praise to my God while I live.
Praise the Lord, my soul!

 

Matthew 5: 43 – 48  Jesus said to his disciples: "You have heard that it was said, You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy. But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your heavenly Father, for he makes his sun rise on the bad and the good, and causes rain to fall on the just and the unjust.

Do I believe my enemies can change? Would it be hard for me to admit that they had changed for the better?

Action:  Pray for the redemption and conversion of your enemies (and your neighbors, they ain’t perfect either).

Thought for Monday June 19

The Lord has made known his salvation.
Sing to the LORD a new song,
for he has done wondrous deeds;
His right hand has won victory for him,
his holy arm.
The Lord has made known his salvation.

2 Corinthians 6: 1- 10  We cause no one to stumble in anything, in order that no fault may be found with our ministry; on the contrary, in everything we commend ourselves as ministers of God, through much endurance, in afflictions, hardships, constraints, beatings, imprisonments, riots, labors, vigils, fasts; by purity, knowledge, patience, kindness, in the Holy Spirit, in unfeigned love, in truthful speech, in the power of God; with weapons of righteousness at the right and at the left; through glory and dishonor, insult and praise.

What causes people to stumble?  Do I believe acting with purity, knowledge, patience, kindness, unfeigned love and truthful speech has any power in today’s world?

Action:  Don’t sink to the level of what is happening around you – be pure, seek knowledge, be patient, be kind, be loving, be truthful.

Thought for Friday June 16

To you, Lord, I will offer a sacrifice of praise.
Precious in the eyes of the LORD
is the death of his faithful ones.
O LORD, I am your servant;
I am your servant, the son of your handmaid;
you have loosed my bonds.
To you, Lord, I will offer a sacrifice of praise.

 

2 Corinthians 4: 7 – 15  Brothers and sisters: We hold this treasure in earthen vessels,  that the surpassing power may be of God and not from us. We are afflicted in every way, but not constrained; perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed; always carrying about in the Body the dying of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our body.

Do I feel afflicted, perplexed, persecuted, or struck down?  Do I see myself manifesting the life of Jesus?

Action:   Be a friend to someone who is in despair or feels abandoned.

Thought for Thursday June 15

The glory of the Lord will dwell in our land.
Kindness and truth shall meet;
justice and peace shall kiss.
Truth shall spring out of the earth,
and justice shall look down from heaven.
The glory of the Lord will dwell in our land.

Matthew 5: 20 – 26  You have heard that it was said to your ancestors, You shall not kill; and whoever kills will be liable to judgment. But I say to you, whoever is angry with his brother will be liable to judgment,

Do I see a lot of anger in the world/people around me?   What do I get angry about?

Action: The next time you get angry or annoyed about something (politics, economy, clothing styles, music, emails, etc.), do something nice for someone.

Thought for Wednesday June 14

 

Holy is the Lord our God.
Extol the LORD, our God,
and worship at his holy mountain;
for holy is the LORD, our God.
Holy is the Lord our God.

 

Matthew 5: 17 – 19  Therefore, whoever breaks one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do so
will be called least in the Kingdom of heaven.

Am I a bad influence on anyone?  Who has a bad influence on me?

Action:  Be a good role model today.

 

 

Thought for Tuesday June 13

Lord, let your face shine on me.
Wonderful are your decrees;
therefore I observe them.
Lord, let your face shine on me.

2 Corinthians 1:18 – 22 Brothers and sisters: As God is faithful, our word to you is not "yes" and "no." For the Son of God, Jesus Christ, who was proclaimed to you by us, Silvanus and Timothy and me, was not "yes" and "no," but "yes" has been in him. For however many are the promises of God, their Yes is in him; therefore, the Amen from us also goes through him to God for glory.

How does it feel to say “yes”?  How often do I say “maybe” because I don’t want the responsibility of saying “yes”?

Action:  Try saying “yes” this week.

Thought for Monday June 12

Taste and see the goodness of the Lord.
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.
Taste and see the goodness of the Lord.

Matthew 5: 1 – 12  Blessed are the poor in spirit… Blessed are they who mourn… Blessed are the meek… Blessed are they who hunger and thirst for righteousness… Blessed are the merciful… Blessed are the clean of heart… Blessed are the peacemakers… Blessed are they who are persecuted for the sake of righteousness…

Am I any of these things?  Which of these can I control?

Action:  Work for righteousness, show mercy, clean your heart, or make peace today.   

Thought for Thursday June 8

Blessed are those who fear the Lord.
Blessed are you who fear the LORD,
who walk in his ways!
For you shall eat the fruit of your handiwork;
Blessed shall you be, and favored.
Blessed are those who fear the Lord.

Mark 12: 28 – 34  "Which is the first of all the commandments?" Jesus replied, "The first is this: Hear, O Israel!  The Lord our God is Lord alone!  You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind,  and with all your strength. The second is this: You shall love your neighbor as yourself.

What is my first priority?  What is my second?

Action: Make love your first priority.

 

Thought for Wednesday June 7

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.

 

Mark 12: 18 – 27  He is not God of the dead but of the living.  You are greatly misled.

Who have I lost that I still mourn?  Does it comfort me to know that my dead friends and family are really living with the living God? 

                                                                      

Action:  If you know someone who has recently lost someone, call to say hi, how are you.

 

Thought for Tuesday June 6

The heart of the just one is firm, trusting in the Lord.
Lavishly he gives to the poor;
his generosity shall endure forever;
his horn shall be exalted in glory.
The heart of the just one is firm, trusting in the Lord.

 

Mark 12: 13 – 17  So Jesus said to them, "Repay to Caesar what belongs to Caesar and to God what belongs to God."

Do I ever get confused about the role of civil and Church authorities?  Who has the most influence on my life – God or Caesar?

Action:   Be a good citizen this week.

Thought for Monday June 5

Blessed the man who fears the Lord.
His generosity shall endure forever.
Light shines through the darkness for the upright;
he is gracious and merciful and just.
Blessed the man who fears the Lord.

 

Tobit 1:3 – 2:1   I, Tobit, have walked all the days of my life on the paths of truth and righteousness. I performed many charitable works for my kinsmen and my people who had been deported with me to Nineveh, in Assyria. On our festival of Pentecost, the feast of Weeks,  a fine dinner was prepared for me… I said to my son Tobiah: "My son, go out and try to find a poor man from among our kinsmen exiled here. If he is a sincere worshiper of God, bring him back with you, so that he can share this meal with me.

What do I think of Tobit’s example?  Is this the way I want to live and conduct myself?

Action:  Walk on the path of truth and righteousness and perform charitable works.

 

 

Thought for Friday June 2

The Lord has established his throne in heaven.
For as the heavens are high above the earth,
so surpassing is his kindness toward those who fear him.
As far as the east is from the west,
so far has he put our transgressions from us.
The Lord has established his throne in heaven.

 

John 21: 15 – 19 Simon, son of John, do you love me?"  Simon Peter answered him, "Yes, Lord, you know that I love you."   He said to him, "Tend my sheep."

Do I love Jesus?  Am I tending his sheep?

 

Action:  Provide some gentle leadership to someone who seems to be wandering

Thought for Thursday June 1

Keep me safe, O God; you are my hope.
I bless the LORD who counsels me;
even in the night my heart exhorts me.
I set the LORD ever before me;
with him at my right hand I shall not be disturbed.
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.

Do I see perfection in my future?  Do I like the idea of being perfect?

Action:  Show one person perfect love today (for as long as you can stand it).