Thursday, September 28, 2017

Thought for Friday September 29


In the sight of the angels I will sing your praises, Lord.
Because of your kindness and your truth;
for you have made great above all things
your name and your promise.
When I called, you answered me;
you built up strength within me.
In the sight of the angels I will sing your praises, Lord.

John 1: 47 – 51  Jesus saw Nathanael coming toward him and said of him, “Here is a true child of Israel. There is no duplicity in him.”

What would Jesus say about me?  What would I want him to say?

Action:  Work on closing the gap between the two questions above. 



 

Wednesday, September 27, 2017

Thought for Thursday September 28


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.

 
Haggai 1: 1- 8  Now thus says the LORD of hosts: Consider your ways! You have sown much, but have brought in little; you have eaten, but have not been satisfied; You have drunk, but have not been exhilarated; have clothed yourselves, but not been warmed; And whoever earned wages earned them for a bag with holes in it.

Do I sometimes notice a little futility in my life?  Do I put too much time, effort, or energy into things that just are not worth it?

Action:  Consider your ways!  Identify one thing in your life that really isn’t worth your time?

 

 

 

Tuesday, September 26, 2017

Thought for Wednesday September 27


Your word, O Lord, is a lamp for my feet.
From every evil way I withhold my feet,
that I may keep your words.
Your word, O Lord, is a lamp for my feet.

Luke 9: 1 – 6  Jesus summoned the Twelve and gave them power and authority over all demons and to cure diseases, and he sent them to proclaim the Kingdom of God and to heal the sick.

Who do I believe now has this power and this responsibility?  Do I have any responsibility to battle demons, heal the sick or proclaim the Kingdom of God.

Action:  Exercise whatever power you have to make someone else’s life better.

 

 

 

 

 

Monday, September 25, 2017

Thought for Tuesday September 26


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.

Luke 8: 19 – 21  He said to them in reply, “My mother and my brothers are those who hear the word of God and act on it.”

Is this as easy as it sounds?  How am I doing?

Action:  Hear the word of God and act on it – it’s that easy.


 

Sunday, September 24, 2017

Thought for Monday September 25


The just one shall live on your holy mountain, O Lord.
Who lends not his money at usury
and accepts no bribe against the innocent.
He who does these things
shall never be disturbed.
The just one shall live on your holy mountain, O Lord.

Luke 8: 16 – 18  No one who lights a lamp conceals it with a vessel or sets it under a bed; rather, he places it on a lampstand so that those who enter may see the light.

Do I sometimes hide my “light” because I am afraid of revealing too much of myself?  Who sees my light even when I am trying to hide it?

Action:  Be the bright spot in someone’s day.

 

 

 

Wednesday, September 20, 2017

Thought for Thursday September 21


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.


Ephesians 4: 1 - 13  Brothers and sisters: I, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to live in a manner worthy of the call you have received, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another through love, striving to preserve the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace: one Body and one Spirit, as you were also called to the one hope of your call; one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.
 

Am I doing any of this well?  How important is one Lord, one faith, one faith, one God to me?

Action:  Pick one thing from this passage – humility, gentleness, patience, bearing others with love, striving for unity, peacefulness – and focus on getting better at it.

Tuesday, September 19, 2017

Thought for Wednesday September 20


How great are the works of the Lord!
I will give thanks to the LORD with all my heart
in the company and assembly of the just.
Great are the works of the LORD,
exquisite in all their delights.
How great are the works of the Lord!

Luke 7: 31 – 35  For John the Baptist came neither eating food nor drinking wine, and you said, ‘He is possessed by a demon.’ The Son of Man came eating and drinking and you said, ‘Look, he is a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners.’

Do I often find fault with the messengers of the Gospel?  Is it easier to reject the message if I can reject the messengers?

Action:  Be the kind of person people want to believe – honest, loving, helpful, moral

 

Monday, September 18, 2017

Thought for Tuesday September 19


I will walk with blameless heart.
My eyes are upon the faithful of the land,
that they may dwell with me.
He who walks in the way of integrity
shall be in my service.
I will walk with blameless heart.


Luke 7: 11 – 17 He stepped forward and touched the coffin; at this the bearers halted, and he said, “Young man, I tell you, arise!”  The dead man sat up and began to speak, and Jesus gave him to his mother.

What would I do if Jesus raised me from the dead?  Would I go back to doing what I had always done?

Action:  Do something this week that you have never done before – go skydiving, read a different book, go to something at a church, eat different food, plan a trip, tell someone you love him/her – and rise to new possibilities in your  life.

Sunday, September 17, 2017

Thought for Monday September 18


Proclaim the death of the Lord until he comes again.
May all who seek you
exult and be glad in you
And may those who love your salvation
say ever, "The LORD be glorified."
Proclaim the death of the Lord until he comes again.

Luke 7: 1 – 10   A centurion there had a slave who was ill and about to die, and he was valuable to him. When he heard about Jesus, he sent elders of the Jews to him, asking him to come and save the life of his slave.


Who is valuable to me?   What do I want Jesus to do for that person?


Action:   Do something to make yourself valuable to someone else.

Thursday, September 14, 2017

Thought for Friday September 15


Blessed the people the Lord has chosen to be his own.
For upright is the word of the LORD,
and all his works are trustworthy.
He loves justice and right;
of the kindness of the LORD the earth is full.
Blessed the people the Lord has chosen to be his own.


John 19:  25 – 27  Standing by the cross of Jesus were his mother and his mother's sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene.

How do I deal with the pain of losing someone I love?  Was the sorrow at the end worth the love?

Action:  Reminisce about the people you have lost and what they taught you about love.

Wednesday, September 13, 2017

Thought for Thursday September 14


Do not forget the works of the Lord!
Hearken, my people, to my teaching;
incline your ears to the words of my mouth.
I will open my mouth in a parable,
I will utter mysteries from of old.
 Do not forget the works of the Lord!


John 3: 13 – 17  For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world might be saved through him.

Do I spend my time working to fix [save] bad situations or just complaining about [condemning] them?   Do I see a lot of condemning in my society?


Action: Quit complaining about everyone else and go do something good.



 

Tuesday, September 12, 2017

Thought for Wednesday September 13


The Lord is compassionate toward all his works.
Every day will I bless you,
and I will praise your name forever and ever.
Great is the LORD and highly to be praised;
his greatness is unsearchable.
The Lord is compassionate toward all his works.


Colossians 3: 1 – 11  Put to death, then, the parts of you that are earthly: immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and the greed that is idolatry… But now you must put them all away: anger, fury, malice, slander, and obscene language out of your mouths.  Stop lying to one another, since you have taken off the old self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed, for knowledge, in the image of its creator.

Which parts of me are earthly?  How often do I lie, use obscene language, or say bad things about others?

Action:  Do something new today – something that is not immoral, impure, evil, or greedy.

Monday, September 11, 2017

Thought for Tuesday September 12


The Lord is compassionate toward all his works.
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.
The Lord is compassionate toward all his works.


Colossians 2: 6 – 15  See to it that no one captivate you with an empty, seductive philosophy according to the tradition of men, according to the elemental powers of the world and not according to Christ.

How much time do I spend in empty pursuits?   What “seductive philosophies” have I rejected?

Action:   If you know you are captivated by some things that are not according to Christ, make a special effort to insure you don’t drag anyone else down with you before you can free yourself.


 

Sunday, September 10, 2017

Thought for Monday September 11


In God is my safety and my glory.
Only in God be at rest, my soul,
for from him comes my hope.
He only is my rock and my salvation,
my stronghold; I shall not be disturbed.
In God is my safety and my glory.

Colossians 1: 23 – 2:3  For I want you to know how great a struggle I am having for you and for those in Laodicea and all who have not seen me face to face, that their hearts may be encouraged as they are brought together in love, to have all the richness of assured understanding, for the knowledge of the mystery of God, Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.


Am I struggling for anyone with whom I am not face to face?  What do I want for them?

Action:  Hold the people you love, the people you do not love, the people who love you and the people you know do not love you all in your heart today and every day.

Thursday, September 7, 2017

Thought for Friday September 8


With delight I rejoice in the Lord.
Let me sing of the LORD, "He has been good to me."
With delight I rejoice in the Lord.


Romans 8: 28 – 30  Brothers and sisters: We know that all things work for good for those who love God, who are called according to his purpose.

Do I accept that I am called according to God’s purpose?   How much time and energy do I devote to trying to understand what God is calling me to do and be?

Action:  Love God – actively.

 

Wednesday, September 6, 2017

Thought for Thursday September 7


The Lord has made known his salvation.
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 made known his salvation.

Luke 5: 1 – 11  After he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, "Put out into deep water and lower your nets for a catch." Simon said in reply, "Master, we have worked hard all night and have caught nothing, but at your command I will lower the nets."

How do I respond when God asks me to work more when I am already exhausted and nothing is going well anyway?  What did Simon expect when he agreed to go back out?

Action:  Do the work Jesus asks of you and have faith that you will catch some fish … someday.

Tuesday, September 5, 2017

Thought for Wednesday September 6


I trust in the mercy of God for ever.
I, like a green olive tree
in the house of God,
Trust in the mercy of God
forever and ever.
I trust in the mercy of God for ever.


Luke 4: 38 – 44  At sunset, all who had people sick with various diseases brought them to him. He laid his hands on each of them and cured them.


If Jesus cured me with a touch of his hand, how would I feel the next time I got sick?  Would I really appreciate the gift of healing?


Action:  Do something for your health today in thanksgiving for everything Jesus does for you.

Monday, September 4, 2017

Thought for Tuesday September 5


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

1 Thessalonians 5: 1- 11   For God did not destine us for wrath, but to gain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us, so that whether we are awake or asleep we may live together with him.
Therefore, encourage one another and build one another up, as indeed you do.

Do I make it a point to build others up?   Who encourages me?

Action:  Encourage somebody.

 

Sunday, September 3, 2017

Thought for Monday September 4


The Lord comes to judge the earth.
Let the heavens be glad and the earth rejoice;
let the sea and what fills it resound;
let the plains be joyful and all that is in them!
Then shall all the trees of the forest exult.
The Lord comes to judge the earth.
 

Luke 4: 16 – 30  "Today this Scripture passage is fulfilled in your hearing." And all spoke highly of him and were amazed at the gracious words that came from his mouth.  They also asked, "Is this not the son of Joseph?"  He said to them, "Surely you will quote me this proverb, 'Physician, cure yourself,' and say, 'Do here in your native place the things that we heard were done in Capernaum.'" And he said,  "Amen, I say to you, no prophet is accepted in his own native place.”


Does Jesus seem to be picking a fight here?  Do people sometimes expect something from me that I am not prepared to give?


Action:  Enjoy Labor Day.