Thought for Wednesday December 27

Rejoice in the Lord, you just!
The LORD is king; let the earth rejoice;
let the many isles be glad.
Clouds and darkness are around him,
justice and judgment are the foundation of his throne.
Rejoice in the Lord, you just!

1 John 1:1-4 Beloved: What was from the beginning, what we have heard, what we have seen with our eyes, what we looked upon and touched with our hands concerns the Word of life — for the life was made visible; we have seen it and testify to it and proclaim to you the eternal life that was with the Father and was made visible to us—  what we have seen and heard we proclaim now to you, so that you too may have fellowship with us; for our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ.

Does Christmas make Jesus more visible?  Do I make him visible through my actions in the world?

Action:   Make your faith visible to others through action.

Thought for Tuesday December 26

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.

Matthew 10: 17 – 22  Jesus said to his disciples: “Beware of men, for they will hand you over to courts and scourge you in their synagogues, and you will be led before governors and kings for my sake as a witness before them and the pagans.

Is this really what I wanted to hear the day after Christmas?  Did I use the four weeks before Christmas to prepare myself for the reality of  the Incarnation and the responsibility of being the body of Christ on earth?

Action:  Don’t quit.  Christmas is a season too.

Thought for Friday December 22

My heart exults in the Lord, my Savior.
“The bows of the mighty are broken,
while the tottering gird on strength.
The well-fed hire themselves out for bread,
while the hungry batten on spoil.
The barren wife bears seven sons,
while the mother of many languishes.”
My heart exults in the Lord, my Savior.

Luke 1: 46 – 56  He has filled the hungry with good things, and the rich he has sent away empty.

What do I hunger for?  Do I believe God can satisfy my hunger?

Action:  Tell God what you are most hungry for with confidence that he can satisfy that hunger.

 

 

Thought for Wednesday December 20

Let the Lord enter; he is the king of glory.
The LORD’s are the earth and its fullness;
the world and those who dwell in it.
For he founded it upon the seas
and established it upon the rivers.
Let the Lord enter; he is the king of glory.

Luke 1: 26 – 38  …for nothing will be impossible for God.

Do I believe that nothing is impossible for God even if he has to work through me?  What is the most impossible thing I have ever done?

Action:  Take on something that is a little over your head and trust that God will help you.

Thought for Tuesday December 19

My mouth shall be filled with your praise, and I will sing your glory!
Be my rock of refuge,
a stronghold to give me safety,
for you are my rock and my fortress.
O my God, rescue me from the hand of the wicked.
My mouth shall be filled with your praise, and I will sing your glory!

Luke 1: 5 – 25  And you will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth, for he will be great in the sight of the Lord.

Does the way I live my life  bring joy and gladness to my parents?  What could I do to make many people rejoice over my existence?

Action:  Do something today your Mom & Dad and God the Father would be proud of you for.

Thought for Monday December 18

Justice shall flourish in his time, and fullness of peace forever.
Blessed be the LORD, the God of Israel,
who alone does wondrous deeds.
And blessed forever be his glorious name;
may the whole earth be filled with his glory.
Justice shall flourish in his time, and fullness of peace forever.

 Matthew 1: 18 – 25  She will bear a son and you are to name him Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.

How do my actions give my name meaning?   What do I want my name to mean?

 

Action:  Learn the names of some of the “nameless” people you see every day.

Thought for Friday December 15

Those who follow you, Lord, will have the light of life.
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.
Those who follow you, Lord, will have the light of life.

 

 

Matthew 11: 16 – 19  But wisdom is vindicated by her works.

 

What works have I seen wisdom produce?  Do I respect wisdom?

 

Action:  Talk to three wise people this weekend and heed what they say.

Thought for Thursday December 14

The Lord is gracious and merciful; slow to anger, and of great kindness.
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 gracious and merciful; slow to anger, and of great kindness.

Isaiah 41: 13 – 20  The afflicted and the needy seek water in vain, their tongues are parched with thirst. I, the LORD, will answer them; I, the God of Israel, will not forsake them. I will open up rivers on the bare heights, and fountains in the broad valleys; I will turn the desert into a marshland, and the dry ground into springs of water.

If God is going to do everything, can I just ignore the needy?  So when is God going to get to work and get this all done?

Action:  Thank God every time you drink water today.

Thought for Wednesday December 13

O bless the Lord, my soul!
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.
O bless the Lord, my soul!

Matthew 11: 28 – 30  “Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest.”

What burden would you like taken from you?  Do you trust Jesus enough to give it to him?

Action:  Help someone who is carrying a heavy burden.

Thought for Tuesday December 12

You are the highest honor of our race.
Blessed are you, daughter, by the Most High God,
above all the women on earth;
and blessed be the LORD God,
the creator of heaven and earth.
You are the highest honor of our race.

Luke 1: 26 – 38  The angel Gabriel was sent from God to a town of Galilee called Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man named Joseph, of the house of David, and the virgin's name was Mary.  And coming to her, he said, "Hail, full of grace! The Lord is with you." But she was greatly troubled at what was said and pondered what sort of greeting this might be.

Would I be suspicious of a greeting like this?  Am I ready to accept the responsibility that comes with my gifts?

Action:  Next time you think you are being asked for too much – think of Mary.

Thought for Monday December 11

Our God will come to save us!
Kindness and truth shall meet;
justice and peace shall kiss.
Truth shall spring out of the earth,
and justice shall look down from heaven.
Our God will come to save us!

 

Luke 5: 17 – 26  But not finding a way to bring him in because of the crowd, they went up on the roof and lowered him on the stretcher through the tiles into the middle in front of Jesus.

 

What do I do when there are obstacles in my path to following God?  How hard will I try to find another way?

 

Action:  If there is some good thing you have wanted to do but haven’t been able to do, try to find a different way.

Thought for Friday December 8

Sing to the Lord a new song, for he has done marvelous deeds.
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.
Sing to the Lord a new song, for he has done marvelous deeds.

 

 

Luke 1: 26 – 38  Mary said, “Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord. May it be done to me according to your word.”

 

 

How hard is it to say yes to God?   Would I ever give God such an open-ended yes as Mary did, or do I want more control?

 

 

Action:  Say yes to something God has been trying to get you to do. 

Thought for Thursday December 7

Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.
Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good,
for his mercy endures forever.
It is better to take refuge in the LORD
than to trust in man.
It is better to take refuge in the LORD
than to trust in princes.
Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.

Matthew 7: 21, 24 – 27  Everyone who listens to these words of mine and acts on them will be like a wise man who built his house on rock.

How often do I act on a new idea or opportunity?  How much of my time and energy is exhausted in just keeping up with the status quo?

Action:  Use Advent to examine how you use your time and find a way to reduce the load of incessant tasks so you have time and energy to take on new opportunities. [Unless you are like me and need to find a way to be less lazy and actually take on more.]

Thought for Wednesday December 6

I shall live in the house of the Lord all the days of my life.
You spread the table before me
in the sight of my foes;
You anoint my head with oil;
my cup overflows.

I shall live in the house of the Lord all the days of my life.

 

Isaiah 25: 6 – 10  On this mountain the LORD of hosts will provide for all peoples. A feast of rich food and choice wines, juicy, rich food and pure, choice wines. On this mountain he will destroy the veil that veils all peoples, The web that is woven over all nations; he will destroy death forever.

 

Does this sound good to me?   Do I really expect God to provide this?

 

Action:  Do what you can to provide a meal (donate, invite, volunteer) to someone who has no idea what juicy, rich food and choice wine are like.

Thought for Tuesday December 5

Justice shall flourish in his time, and fullness of peace for ever.
Justice shall flower in his days,
and profound peace, till the moon be no more.
May he rule from sea to sea,
and from the River to the ends of the earth.
Justice shall flourish in his time, and fullness of peace for ever.

Isaiah 11: 1 – 10  Then the wolf shall be a guest of the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid; The calf and the young lion shall browse together, with a little child to guide them. The cow and the bear shall be neighbors, together their young shall rest; the lion shall eat hay like the ox. The baby shall play by the cobra's den, and the child lay his hand on the adder's lair.

Who am I afraid of?  Who would be afraid to hang out with me?

Action:  Spend some time with someone you usually avoid.

Thought for Monday December 4

Let us go rejoicing to the house of the Lord.
Because of my relatives and friends
I will say, "Peace be within you!"
Because of the house of the LORD, our God,
I will pray for your good.
Let us go rejoicing to the house of the Lord.

 

Isaiah 2: 1 – 5  In days to come, They shall beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks; One nation shall not raise the sword against another, nor shall they train for war again.

 

Do I trust in the power of this world or the promise of God?  Am I ready for peace?

 

Action:  Let go of some of your dependence on power to change the world.