Thought for Thursday March 1

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.”

Could I dine sumptuously if I knew there was a poor man lying at my door?  Do I ever ignore the plight of others?

Action:  Donate to a Food Bank or a group that feeds the hungry.

Thought for Wednesday February 28

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  Rather, whoever wishes to be great among you shall be your servant; whoever wishes to be first among you shall be your slave.

Do I serve?  Do I treat people in high level positions differently than people who do “menial” work?

Action:  Do something special for someone who normally provides service to you.

Thought for Tuesday February 27

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  Jesus spoke to the crowds and to his disciples, saying, “The scribes and the Pharisees have taken their seat on the chair of Moses. Therefore, do and observe all things whatsoever they tell you, but do not follow their example.”

 

Have I seen many people who say the right things, but don’t actually do them?  Have I ever set the same example?

 

Action:  Practice what you preach.

Thought for Monday February 26

Lord, do not deal with us according to our sins.
Remember not against us the iniquities of the past;
may your compassion quickly come to us,
for we are brought very low.
Lord, do not deal with us according to our sins.

Luke 6: 36 – 38  "Stop judging and you will not be judged. Stop condemning and you will not be condemned. Forgive and you will be forgiven. Give and gifts will be given to you; a good measure, packed together, shaken down, and overflowing, will be poured into your lap. For the measure with which you measure will in return be measured out to you."

If I take a good look at my life, have I given more than I received or vice versa?  What have I done that others might condemn me for (if they knew)?

Action:  Be understanding, forgiving, and generous.

Thought for Friday February 23

If you, O Lord, mark iniquities, who can stand?
I trust in the LORD;
my soul trusts in his word.
My soul waits for the LORD
more than sentinels wait for the dawn.
Let Israel wait for the LORD.
If you, O Lord, mark iniquities, who can stand?

Matthew 5: 20 – 26  Jesus said to his disciples:  “I tell you, unless your righteousness surpasses that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will not enter into the Kingdom of heaven.”

 

Was Jesus saying the scribes and Pharisees were going to hell or just setting a higher standard for us?  What standard of righteousness have I set for myself?

 

Action:  Raise the bar for yourself – raise one goal for your behavior and then start trying to live up to it.

 

Thought for Thursday February 22

The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want.
Even though I walk in the dark valley
I fear no evil; for you are at my side
With your rod and your staff
that give me courage.
The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want.

1 Peter 5: 1 – 4  Tend the flock of God in your midst, overseeing not by constraint but willingly, as God would have it, not for shameful profit but eagerly. Do not lord it over those assigned to you, but be examples to the flock.

 

When am I a sheep and when am I the shepherd?  Do I try to emulate the best shepherds I know?

Action:  Lead when you need to, follow when you should, and stay out of the way if you can’t do the others.

Thought for Wednesday February 21

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." So Jonah made ready and went to Nineveh, according to the LORD's bidding.

How many times does God have to tell me to do something before I do his bidding?  What has he done to get my attention?

Action:  Prepare yourself – mind, spirit and body – to accept whatever God will ask of you.

Thought for Tuesday February 20

From all their distress God rescues the just.
When the just cry out, the LORD hears them,
and from all their distress he rescues them.
The LORD is close to the brokenhearted;
and those who are crushed in spirit he saves.
From all their distress God rescues the just.

Matthew 6: 7 – 15   "If you forgive men their transgressions, your heavenly Father will forgive you. But if you do not forgive men, neither will your Father forgive your transgressions."

Who have I not forgiven?  Is there anyone who hasn’t forgiven me for something?

Action:  Make forgiveness a habit.

Thought for Monday February 19

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  Then he will say to those on his left, 'Depart from me, you accursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the Devil and his angels. For I was hungry and you gave me no food, I was thirsty and you gave me no drink, a stranger and you gave me no welcome, naked and you gave me no clothing, ill and in prison, and you did not care for me.' Then they will answer and say, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or ill or in prison, and not minister to your needs?' He will answer them, 'Amen, I say to you, what you did not do for one of these least ones, you did not do for me.'

Do I see the Lord in the least of his people?  How do I feel about my chances of being in the group that did not do for God?

Action:  Do what you can for the least ones.

Thought for Friday February 16

A heart contrite and humbled, O God, you will not spurn.
Have mercy on me, O God, in your goodness;
in the greatness of your compassion wipe out my offense.
Thoroughly wash me from my guilt
and of my sin cleanse me.
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.

It is the first Friday of Lent; am I doing any of these things?   Which of the actions Isaiah mentions seems like the hardest?

 
Action:  Try doing one of the actions mentioned in Isaiah.

Thought for Thursday February 15

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 9: 22 – 25  Jesus said to his disciples: "The Son of Man must suffer greatly and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests, and the scribes, and be killed and on the third day be raised."

What insight about Jesus do I get from hearing that he knew he had to suffer?  Can I relate to his decision to persevere?

 
Action:  Do something for someone you know who is suffering

Thought for Ash Wednesday February 14

Be merciful, O Lord, for we have sinned.
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.
Be merciful, O Lord, for we have sinned.

Joel 2: 12  - 18  Even now, says the LORD, return to me with your whole heart, with fasting, and weeping, and mourning; Rend your hearts, not your garments, and return to the LORD, your God.

Am I ready for Lent?  Am I serious about repenting from any of my sins?

Action:  Return to God with your whole heart, with fasting, and weeping, and mourning; Rend your hearts, not your garments, and return to the LORD, your God.

Thought for Tuesday February 13

Blessed the man you instruct, O Lord.
Blessed the man whom you instruct, O LORD,
whom by your law you teach,
Giving him rest from evil days.
Blessed the man you instruct, O Lord.

James 1: 12 – 18  No one experiencing temptation should say, "I am being tempted by God"; for God is not subject to temptation to evil, and he himself tempts no one.  Rather, each person is tempted when lured and enticed by his desire. Then desire conceives and brings forth sin, and when sin reaches maturity it gives birth to death.

What tempts me?   What kind of trouble have my weaknesses caused for me and for the people around me?

Action:  Pick something that tempts you and give it up for Lent.

Thought for Monday February 12

Be kind to me, Lord, and I shall live.
Let your kindness comfort me
according to your promise to your servants.

Be kind to me, Lord, and I shall live.

James 1:1- 11  Consider it all joy, my brothers and sisters, when you encounter various trials, for you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. And let perseverance be perfect, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.

Do I look joyfully upon my trials?   How well do I persevere?

Action:  If you have found anything in yourself to be “lacking”- work on it.

Thought for Friday February 9

I am the Lord, your God: hear my voice.
"If only my people would hear me,
and Israel walk in my ways,
Quickly would I humble their enemies;
against their foes I would turn my hand."

 I am the Lord, your God: hear my voice.

Mark 7:31-37   People said of Jesus, "He has done everything well; he even makes the deaf to hear and the mute to speak."

Am I deaf to Christ’s words and mute in speaking them sometimes?  Have I asked to be cured?

Action:  Speak up for those who can’t or won’t speak for themselves.

Thought for Thursday February 8

Remember us, O Lord, as you favor your people.
Blessed are they who observe what is right,
who do always what is just.
Remember us, O LORD, as you favor your people;
visit us with your saving help.
Remember us, O Lord, as you favor your people.

 

Mark 7: 24 – 30  Jesus went to the district of Tyre. He entered a house and wanted no one to know about it, but he could not escape notice.

Are there times when I don’t want to be disturbed?  How do I respond when I am interrupted?

Action:  The next time someone interrupts you when you want to be alone, muster all of your energy and be gracious.

 

Thought for Wednesday February 7

The mouth of the just murmurs wisdom.
Commit to the LORD your way;
trust in him, and he will act.
He will make justice dawn for you like the light;
bright as the noonday shall be your vindication.
The mouth of the just murmurs wisdom.

 

Mark 7: 14 – 23  Nothing that enters one from outside can defile that person; but the things that come out from within are what defile…. From within the man, from his heart, come evil thoughts, unchastity, theft, murder, adultery, greed, malice, deceit, licentiousness, envy, blasphemy, arrogance, folly. All these evils come from within and they defile.

 

Do I worry more about the bad things in the world around me or the bad things within me?  Can a good person still have evil thoughts?

Action:  Work on overcoming some of the evil within.

Thought for Tuesday February 6

How lovely is your dwelling place, Lord, mighty God!
I had rather one day in your courts
than a thousand elsewhere;
I had rather lie at the threshold of the house of my God
than dwell in the tents of the wicked.
How lovely is your dwelling place, Lord, mighty God!

 

Mark 7: 1 – 13  So the Pharisees and scribes questioned him, “Why do your disciples not follow the tradition of the elders but instead eat a meal with unclean hands?”

 

Is there really any excuse for not washing your hands before you eat?  Does unclean mean more than just dirty?

 

Action:  Every time you wash your hands, pick one thing your “hands” can do to make things better.

Thought for Monday February 5

Lord, go up to the place of your rest!
Advance, O LORD, to your resting place,
you and the ark of your majesty.
May your priests be clothed with justice;
let your faithful ones shout merrily for joy.
For the sake of David your servant,
reject not the plea of your anointed.
Lord, go up to the place of your rest!

 

Mark 6: 53 – 56  They scurried about the surrounding country and began to bring in the sick on mats to wherever they heard he was.

 

Why did these people go out to bring the sick to Jesus without first asking for anything for themselves?  Is it hard for me to put myself first or face my own problems?

 

Action:  Do something nice for the person you would be most likely to bring to Jesus on a mat.