Thought for Friday March 31

The Lord is close to the brokenhearted.
The LORD is close to the brokenhearted;
and those who are crushed in spirit he saves.
Many are the troubles of the just man,
but out of them all the LORD delivers him.

The Lord is close to the brokenhearted.

 Wisdom 2: 1 – 22  The wicked said among themselves, thinking not aright: "Let us beset the just one, because he is obnoxious to us; he sets himself against our doings, reproaches us for transgressions of the law and charges us with violations of our training.

Do I sometimes resent people for holding me accountable?  Do people resent me for standing up for what is right and setting a challenging example?

Action:  Set a good example for others even if it annoys them.

Thought for Thursday March 30

Remember us, O Lord, as you favor your people.
They forgot the God who had saved them,
who had done great deeds in Egypt,
Wondrous deeds in the land of Ham,
terrible things at the Red Sea.
Remember us, O Lord, as you favor your people.

John 5: 31 – 47  How can you believe, when you accept praise from one another and do not seek the praise that comes from the only God?

Is it important for me to get praise from other people?  What is praise from God like?

Action:  Praise somebody for doing something that you normally take for granted.

Thought for Wednesday March 29

The Lord is gracious and merciful.
The LORD is just in all his ways
and holy in all his works.
The LORD is near to all who call upon him,
to all who call upon him in truth.
The Lord is gracious and merciful.

John 5: 17 – 30  “I cannot do anything on my own; I judge as I hear, and my judgment is just, because I do not seek my own will but the will of the one who sent me.”

What can I do on my own?  Whose will do I seek?

Action:  Try to do something good that you have not done before because you thought you just weren’t up to it. 

Thought for Tuesday March 28

The Lord of hosts is with us; our stronghold is the God of Jacob.
God is our refuge and our strength,
an ever-present help in distress.
Therefore we fear not, though the earth be shaken
and mountains plunge into the depths of the sea.
The Lord of hosts is with us; our stronghold is the God of Jacob.

 

John 5: 1 – 16  When Jesus saw him lying there and knew that he had been ill for a long time, he said to him, “Do you want to be well?”

 

Do I want to be well or am I comfortable with my infirmities?  Could I do more if I took better care of myself?

 

Action:  Do something that is good for you (mind, body or soul) every day.

Thought for Monday March 27

I will praise you, Lord, for you have rescued me.
Sing praise to the LORD, you his faithful ones,
and give thanks to his holy name.
For his anger lasts but a moment;
a lifetime, his good will.
At nightfall, weeping enters in,
but with the dawn, rejoicing.
I will praise you, Lord, for you have rescued me.

John 4: 43 – 54  The man believed what Jesus said to him and left.

Do I believe Jesus will do what he promised without first seeing proof?  Do I ever ask Jesus for things I know I won’t be able to see done?

Action:  Think back on some things you have asked Jesus to do and try to decide if he has done them yet.

Thought for Friday March 24

I am the Lord your God: hear my voice.
“If only my people would hear me,
and Israel walk in my ways,
I would feed them with the best of wheat,
and with honey from the rock I would fill them.”
I am the Lord your God: hear my voice.

Mark 12: 28 – 34  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.

Do I live by this?  With all of my life experience, would I add anything to this?

Action:  Do something for a neighbor.

Thought for Thursday March 23

If today you hear his voice, harden not your hearts.
Come, let us sing joyfully to the LORD;
let us acclaim the Rock of our salvation.
Let us come into his presence with thanksgiving;
let us joyfully sing psalms to him.
If today you hear his voice, harden not your hearts.

 

Luke 11: 14 – 23  Jesus was driving out a demon that was mute, and when the demon had gone out, the mute man spoke and the crowds were amazed.

Do I ever feel like there is a demon that keeps me from speaking up when I should?  What impact does it have when I do speak up for what is right and just?

Action:  Speak for someone who can’t.

Thought for Wednesday March 22

Praise the Lord, Jerusalem.
He sends forth his command to the earth;
swiftly runs his word!
He spreads snow like wool;
frost he strews like ashes.
Praise the Lord, Jerusalem.

 

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.

Do I pick and choose what commandments or teachings I will follow?   Am I bearing witness to everything I believe in?

Action:  Don’t break a commandment.

Thought for Tuesday March 21

Remember your mercies, O Lord.
Your ways, O LORD, make known to me;
teach me your paths,
Guide me in your truth and teach me,
for you are God my savior.
Remember your mercies, O Lord.

Matthew 18: 21 – 35  Peter approached Jesus and asked him, "Lord, if my brother sins against me, how often must I forgive him?  As many as seven times?"

Was seven Peter’s limit?  What’s my limit?

Action:  Start anew with someone who has exceeded your limit, but don’t expect too much.

Thought for Monday March 20

The son of David will live forever.
“He shall say of me, ‘You are my father,
my God, the Rock, my savior.’
Forever I will maintain my kindness toward him,
and my covenant with him stands firm.”
The son of David will live forever.

Luke 2: 41 – 51  His mother said to him, “Son, why have you done this to us?  Your father and I have been looking for you with great anxiety.”

 

Do I sometimes forget that Jesus was human and sometimes annoyed his parents?  Why is it important to remember that he was fully human?

 

Action:  Call your father and apologize for some stupid thing you did when you were a kid.  If you father is gone, do something useful around the house.

Thought for Friday March 17

Remember the marvels the Lord has done.
The king sent and released him,
the ruler of the peoples set him free.
He made him lord of his house
and ruler of all his possessions.
Remember the marvels the Lord has done.

Genesis 37:  3 – 28  Israel loved Joseph best of all his sons, for he was the child of his old age; and he had made him a long tunic. When his brothers saw that their father loved him best of all his sons, they hated him so much that they would not even greet him.

Do I think there are people who are  jealous of me?  How do I handle it when I feel jealous of someone else?

Action:  Be thankful for what you have and be happy for others who seem to have more.

Thought for Thursday March 16

Blessed are they who hope in the Lord.
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.
Blessed are they who hope in the Lord.

 

Luke 16: 19 - 31  Jesus said to the Pharisees: "There was a rich man who dressed in purple garments and fine linen and dined sumptuously each day. And lying at his door was a poor man named Lazarus, covered with sores, who would gladly have eaten his fill of the scraps that fell from the rich man's table.”

 

Am I aware of the people around me who are not as fortunate as I am?  Does it matter how they ended up needing help?

Action:  Look at the people you pass by every day and see who needs help and then do what you can.

Thought for Wednesday March 15

Save me, O Lord, in your kindness.
You will free me from the snare they set for me,
for you are my refuge.
Into your hands I commend my spirit;
you will redeem me, O LORD, O faithful God.
Save me, O Lord, in your kindness.

Matthew 20: 17 - 28    Then the mother of the sons of Zebedee approached Jesus with her sons and did him homage, wishing to ask him for something.  He said to her, "What do you wish?"  She answered him, "Command that these two sons of mine sit, one at your right and the other at your left, in your kingdom."

Did my mother ever do anything to embarrass me?  What do you wish your parents had done for you?

Action:  Follow the example of the best parent you know and help someone.

Thought for Tuesday March 14

To the upright I will show the saving power of God.
"Why do you recite my statutes,
and profess my covenant with your mouth,
Though you hate discipline
and cast my words behind you?"
To the upright I will show the saving power of God.

 

Matthew 23: 1 – 12  They tie up heavy burdens hard to carry and lay them on people's shoulders, but they will not lift a finger to move them.

 

Do I ever feel like authorities are laying a burden on me?   Am I laying a burden on anyone else?

 

Action:  Help someone carry his burden.

Thought for Monday March 13

Lord, do not deal with us according to our sins.
Help us, O God our savior,
because of the glory of your name;
Deliver us and pardon our sins
for your name's sake. .
Lord, do not deal with us according to our sins

Luke 6: 36 – 38  Give and gifts will be given to you; a good measure, packed together, shaken down, and overflowing, will be poured into your lap.

What am I giving?  What am I getting?

Action:  Give to someone who could use a little boost.

 

Thought for Friday March 10

If you, O Lord, mark iniquities, who can stand?
For with the LORD is kindness
and with him is plenteous redemption;
And he will redeem Israel
from all their iniquities.
If you, O Lord, mark iniquities, who can stand?

Matthew  5: 20 – 26  But I say to you, whoever is angry with his brother will be liable to judgment, and whoever says to his brother, Raqa,  will be answerable to the Sanhedrin, and whoever says, 'You fool,' will be liable to fiery Gehenna.

Do I see a lot of anger in the world today?  Am I angry at any person or situation?

Action:  Find a way to let go of your anger.

Thought for Thursday March 9

Lord, on the day I called for help, you answered me.
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.
Lord, on the day I called for help, you answered me.

Matthew 7: 7 – 12  Jesus said to his disciples: "Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks, receives; and the one who seeks, finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.

What do you want given to you?  What door do you want opened?

Action:  Ask, seek, knock.

 

Thought for Wednesday March 8

A heart contrite and humbled, O God, you will not spurn.
A clean heart create for me, O God,
and a steadfast spirit renew within me.
Cast me not out from your presence,
and your Holy Spirit take not from me.

A heart contrite and humbled, O God, you will not spurn.

Jonah 3: 1 – 10  The word of the LORD came to Jonah a second time: "Set out for the great city of Nineveh, and announce to it the message that I will tell you."

Has good ever given me a second chance (after leaving me in the belly of a whale for 3 days)?  How do I respond when I am given a second chance?

Action:  Give a stubborn idiot a second chance. 

Thought for Tuesday March 7

From all their distress God rescues the just.
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.
From all their distress God rescues the just.

Matthew 6: 7 – 15  Jesus said to his disciples: "In praying, do not babble like the pagans, who think that they will be heard because of their many words.  Do not be like them.”

Have I ever worried that I am not good at praying?  Is praying hard?

Action:  Pray.

 

Thought for Monday March 6

Your words, Lord, are Spirit and life.
Let the words of my mouth and the thought of my heart
find favor before you,
O LORD, my rock and my redeemer.

Your words, Lord, are Spirit and life.

 

Matthew 25: 31 – 46  For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, a stranger and you welcomed me, naked and you clothed me, ill and you cared for me, in prison and you visited me.

Which of these have I done in the last week?  Do I ever have that nagging feeling that I should have done more?

Action:  Do your best.

Thought for Friday March 3

A heart contrite and humbled, O God, you will not spurn.
For you are not pleased with sacrifices;
should I offer a burnt offering, you would not accept it.
My sacrifice, O God, is a contrite spirit;
a heart contrite and humbled, O God, you will not spurn.

A heart contrite and humbled, O God, you will not spurn.

Isaiah 58: 1 – 9  This, rather, is the fasting that I wish: releasing those bound unjustly, untying the thongs of the yoke;  Setting free the oppressed, breaking every yoke; Sharing your bread with the hungry, sheltering the oppressed and the homeless; Clothing the naked when you see them, and not turning your back on your own.

If this is what God wants, why do we just not eat meat on Fridays?   Is my fasting, penance, abstinence enough?

Action:  Fast like God wants you to.

Thought for Thursday March 2

Blessed are they who hope in the Lord.
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.
Blessed are they who hope in the Lord.

Deuteronomy 30: 15 – 20  Moses said to the people: "Today I have set before you life and prosperity, death and doom. If you obey the commandments of the LORD, your God, which I enjoin on you today, loving him, and walking in his ways, and keeping his commandments, statutes and decrees, you will live and grow numerous, and the LORD, your God, will bless you in the land you are entering to occupy.

Do I love God?  What do I want from God?

Action:  Keep his commandments, statutes and decrees.