Thought for Wednesday August 1

God is my refuge on the day of distress.
Rescue me from my enemies, O my God;
from my adversaries defend me.
Rescue me from evildoers;
from bloodthirsty men save me.
God is my refuge on the day of distress.

Matthew 13: 34 – 36  The Kingdom of heaven is like a merchant searching for fine pearls. When he finds a pearl of great price, he goes and sells all that he has and buys it.

What would I sell for the Kingdom of heaven?  What “fine pearl” am I searching for?

Action:  Pay attention to the things that have real value this week.

Thought for Tuesday July 31

For the glory of your name, O Lord, deliver us.
Help us, O God our savior,
because of the glory of your name;
Deliver us and pardon our sins
for your name's sake.
For the glory of your name, O Lord, deliver us.

Matthew 13: 36 – 43  Jesus dismissed the crowds and went into the house.

Does it comfort me to know that Jesus recognized that there were times to stop preaching and expecting the people to respond?   Do I give myself a break from time to time?

Action:  Give yourself a rest once in a while.

Thought for Monday July 30

You have forgotten God who gave you birth.
You were unmindful of the Rock that begot you,
You forgot the God who gave you birth.
When the LORD saw this, he was filled with loathing
and anger toward his sons and daughters.
You have forgotten God who gave you birth.

Matthew 13: 31 – 35  He spoke to them another parable. "The Kingdom of heaven is like yeast that a woman took and mixed with three measures of wheat flour until the whole batch was leavened."

Do I wonder what the kingdom of heaven is like?  Am I yeast or flour?

Action:  Do something to make your world a little bit more like the Kingdom of heaven.

Thought for Friday July 27

The Lord will guard us as a shepherd guards his flock.
Hear the word of the LORD, O nations,
proclaim it on distant isles, and say:
He who scattered Israel, now gathers them together,
he guards them as a shepherd his flock.
The Lord will guard us as a shepherd guards his flock.

  

Matthew 13: 18 – 23  But the seed sown on rich soil is the one who hears the word and understands it, who indeed bears fruit and yields a hundred or sixty or thirtyfold.

What kind of soil am I for the word of God?   What can I do to get better?

Action:  Do something to make yourself better prepared to hear the word of God and act on it.

Thought for Thursday July 26

With you is the fountain of life, O Lord.
How precious is your mercy, O God!
The children of men take refuge in the shadow of your wings.
They have their fill of the prime gifts of your house;
from your delightful stream you give them to drink.
With you is the fountain of life, O Lord.

 Matthew 13: 10 – 17  To anyone who has, more will be given and he will grow rich; from anyone who has not, even what he has will be taken away.

In what ways am I rich?  Do I rejoice in what I do have or whine about what I don’t have?

Action:  Share what you have and don’t worry about what you lack.

Thought for Wednesday July 25

Those who sow in tears shall reap rejoicing.
Restore our fortunes, O LORD,
like the torrents in the southern desert.
Those that sow in tears
shall reap rejoicing.
Those who sow in tears shall reap rejoicing.

Matthew 20: 20 – 28   Jesus said in reply, “You do not know what you are asking.  Can you drink the chalice that I am going to drink?”   They said to him, “We can.”

Am I living out the challenge of being Christian?    How do I think I would respond if I were asked to make a huge sacrifice for the Kingdom of God?

Action:  Be honest and identify those things you would not be willing to sacrifice.  Don’t worry about doing anything about it yet.

Thought for Tuesday July 24

Lord, show us your mercy and love.
You have favored, O LORD, your land;
you have brought back the captives of Jacob.
You have forgiven the guilt of your people;
you have covered all their sins.
You have withdrawn all your wrath;
you have revoked your burning anger. 
Lord, show us your mercy and love.

Micah 7: 14 – 20  Who is there like you, the God who removes guilt and pardons sin for the remnant of his inheritance; Who does not persist in anger forever, but delights rather in clemency, And will again have compassion on us, treading underfoot our guilt?

Do I take God’s mercy for granted?  Do I show others mercy?

Action:  Show mercy to someone in your life.

Thought for Monday July 23

To the upright I will show the saving power of God.
“Gather my faithful ones before me,
those who have made a covenant with me by sacrifice.”
And the heavens proclaim his justice;
for God himself is the judge.
To the upright I will show the saving power of God.

Matthew 12: 38 – 42  At the judgment, the men of Nineveh will arise with this generation and condemn it, because they repented at the preaching of Jonah; and there is something greater than Jonah here.

Do I really acknowledge that I need to repent?   What things have I repented of in my life?

Action:  Challenge yourself to change.  Do something new this week.

Thought for Friday July 20

You saved my life, O Lord; I shall not die.
My dwelling, like a shepherd's tent,
is struck down and borne away from me;
You have folded up my life, like a weaver
who severs the last thread.
You saved my life, O Lord; I shall not die.

Matthew 12: 1 – 8  When the Pharisees saw this, they said to him,  "See, your disciples are doing what is unlawful to do on the sabbath."

Do I often point out others “sins”?  How do I feel when someone else does it to me?

Actions:  Lighten up on others.

Thought for Thursday July 19

From heaven the Lord looks down on the earth.
You, O LORD, abide forever,
and your name through all generations.
You will arise and have mercy on Zion,
for it is time to pity her.
For her stones are dear to your servants,
and her dust moves them to pity.
From heaven the Lord looks down on the earth.

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

Where do I find rest?  How burdened am I?

Action:  Get some rest.

Thought for Wednesday July 18

The Lord will not abandon his people.
Shall he who shaped the ear not hear?
or he who formed the eye not see?
Shall he who instructs nations not chastise,
he who teaches men knowledge?
The Lord will not abandon his people

Matthew 11: 25 – 27  At that time Jesus exclaimed:  "I give praise to you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, for although you have hidden these things from the wise and the learned you have revealed them to the childlike.

Would I rather be wise and learned or childlike?  How do I respond when someone points out something that had been hidden to me?

Action:  Seek out the childlike.

Thought for Tuesday July 17

God upholds his city forever.
Great is the LORD and wholly to be praised
in the city of our God.
His holy mountain, fairest of heights,
is the joy of all the earth.
God upholds his city forever.

Matthew 11: 20 – 24  Jesus began to reproach the towns where most of his mighty deeds had been done, since they had not repented.

What does it take for me to repent?  Do mighty deeds inspire me?

Action:  Your choice – perform a mighty deed or repent.

Thought for Monday July 16

To the upright I will show the saving power of God.
"When you do these things, shall I be deaf to it?
Or do you think you that I am like yourself?
I will correct you by drawing them up before your eyes.
He that offers praise as a sacrifice glorifies me;
and to him that goes the right way I will show the salvation of God."
To the upright I will show the saving power of God.

Matthew 10: 34 – 11: 1   Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.

Is it possible that I could discover some new things in my life if I were willing to give up something?  For what would I lose my life?

Action:  Lose something in your life that is really just holding you back from a better life.

Thought for Friday July 13

My mouth will declare your praise.
Behold, you are pleased with sincerity of heart,
and in my inmost being you teach me wisdom.
Cleanse me of sin with hyssop, that I may be purified;
wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.
My mouth will declare your praise.

Matthew 10: 16 – 23  You will be given at that moment what you are to say.

Have I ever found the right words when I didn’t know what to say?  Do I trust God to help me express his love?

Action:  If you have been putting off talking to someone because you don’t know what to say; go ahead and call and trust God to help you.

Thought for Thursday July 12

Let us see your face, Lord, and we shall be saved.
Once again, O LORD of hosts,
look down from heaven, and see:
Take care of this vine,
and protect what your right hand has planted,
the son of man whom you yourself made strong.
Let us see your face, Lord, and we shall be saved.

Matthew 10: 7 – 15  Without cost you have received; without cost you are to give.

Do I give and receive freely or do I keep score?  How did I get the things that are most valuable to me?

Action:  Do something for someone in honor of someone who really helped you out.  

Thought for Wednesday July 11

Seek always the face of the Lord.
Sing to him, sing his praise,
proclaim all his wondrous deeds.
Glory in his holy name;
rejoice, O hearts that seek the LORD!
Seek always the face of the Lord.

Matthew 10: 1 – 7  Jesus summoned his Twelve disciples and gave them authority over unclean spirits to drive them out and to cure every disease and every illness.

What has Jesus given me authority to do?   What problems am I working to cure in my community?

Action:  Exercise some authority in your community and work to make things better.

Thought for Tuesday July 10

The house of Israel trusts in the Lord.
Our God is in heaven;
whatever he wills, he does.
Their idols are silver and gold,
the handiwork of men.
The house of Israel trusts in the Lord.

Matthew 9: 32 – 38  At the sight of the crowds, his heart was moved with pity for them because they were troubled and abandoned, like sheep without a shepherd.

Have I ever felt abandoned?  Do I know anyone who feels abandoned?

Action:  Be a leader for someone who seems to be wandering aimlessly.

Thought for Monday July 9

Lord is gracious and merciful.
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 gracious and merciful.

Matthew 9: 18- 26  She said to herself, "If only I can touch his cloak, I shall be cured." Jesus turned around and saw her, and said, "Courage, daughter!  Your faith has saved you."  And from that hour the woman was cured.

If her faith saved her, why wasn’t she cured until Jesus spoke to her?   What healing do I seek?

Action:  Pray for someone’s healing.

Thought for Friday July 6

One does not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.
The way of truth I have chosen;
I have set your ordinances before me.
One does not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.

Matthew 9: 9 – 13  As Jesus passed by, he saw a man named Matthew sitting at the customs post. He said to him, "Follow me." And he got up and followed him.

Is it really that easy?  When was the last time I just got up and changed my life?

Action:   Get up this weekend and do something different.

Thought for Thursday July 5

The judgments of the Lord are true, and all of them are just.
They are more precious than gold,
than a heap of purest gold;
Sweeter also than syrup
or honey from the comb.
The judgments of the Lord are true, and all of them are just.

Matthew 9: 1 – 8  And there people brought to him a paralytic lying on a stretcher.  When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic,  “Courage, child, your sins are forgiven.”

Do I ever wonder how this man was paralyzed;  do I sometimes miss the humanity in the stories of Jesus’ miracles?  Does it take courage to rise from infirmity?

Action: Be faithful and courageous.

Thought for Wednesday July 4

To the upright I will show the saving power of God.

“For mine are all the animals of the forests,

beasts by the thousand on my mountains.

I know all the birds of the air,

and whatever stirs in the plains, belongs to me.”

To the upright I will show the saving power of God.

Matthew 8:28 – 34  They cried out, “What have you to do with us, Son of God? Have you come here to torment us before the appointed time?”

What does the Son of God have to do with me?  Is there an appointed time for being tormented?

Action:   Be supportive of someone who is feeling tormented or at least having a bad time.

Thought for Tuesday July 3

Go out to all the world and tell the Good News.
For steadfast is his kindness for us,
and the fidelity of the LORD endures forever. 
Go out to all the world and tell the Good News.

Ephesians 2: 19 – 22  Brothers and sisters: You are no longer strangers and sojourners, but you are fellow citizens with the holy ones and members of the household of God,  built upon the foundation of the Apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the capstone.

Do I feel like I am part of something big?  What does it mean to be a citizen?

Action:   Celebrate.

Thought for Monday July 2

Remember this, you who never think of God.

“Consider this, you who forget God,

lest I rend you and there be no one to rescue you.

He that offers praise as a sacrifice glorifies me;

and to him that goes the right way I will show the salvation of God.”

Remember this, you who never think of God.

Matthew 8: 18 – 22  Jesus answered him, “Foxes have dens and birds of the sky have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to rest his head.”

What makes me feel “at home” when I am away from home?  What can I do to make others feel at home?

Action:  Do something to support the people who give their time and energy to help people who are homeless.