Thought for Friday August 31

The earth is full of the goodness of the Lord.
The LORD brings to nought the plans of nations;
he foils the designs of peoples.
But the plan of the LORD stands forever;
the design of his heart, through all generations.
The earth is full of the goodness of the Lord.

Matthew 25: 1 – 13  Five of them were foolish and five were wise.  The foolish ones, when taking their lamps, brought no oil with them, but the wise brought flasks of oil with their lamps.

Am I wise or foolish?  Am I spiritually prepared for the times when things don’t go well?

Action:  Imagine something really bad happens to you a year from now; start spiritually preparing yourself for that event.

Thought for Thursday August 30

I will praise your name for ever, Lord.
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.
I will praise your name for ever, Lord.

Matthew 24: 41 – 53  “Who, then, is the faithful and prudent servant, whom the master has put in charge of his household to distribute to them their food at the proper time?

What am I in charge of?  Am I faithful and prudent?

Action:  Spend one whole day being prudent about everything – time, money, food, activities, work, etc. 

Thought for Wednesday August 29

Blessed are those who fear the Lord.
Blessed are you who fear the LORD,
who walk in his ways!
For you shall eat the fruit of your handiwork;
blessed shall you be, and favored.
Blessed are those who fear the Lord.

Mark 6: 17 – 29  The king said to the girl, "Ask of me whatever you wish and I will grant it to you."  He even swore many things to her,  "I will grant you whatever you ask of me, even to half of my kingdom." She went out and said to her mother,  "What shall I ask for?"

What would I ask for if offered up to half of a kingdom?  What would I advise my child to ask for?

Action:  Ask God for what you want, and give thanks for what you have.

Thought for Tuesday August 28

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.

Matthew 23: 23 – 26  Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites.  You pay tithes of mint and dill and cumin,  and have neglected the weightier things of the law:  judgment and mercy and fidelity.

How often do I show mercy?  In what areas of my life is fidelity important?

Action:  The next time you have the chance to put someone in their place, show a little mercy.

Thought for Monday August 27

Proclaim God’s marvelous deeds to all the nations.
Announce his salvation, day after day.
Tell his glory among the nations;
among all peoples, his wondrous deeds.
Proclaim God’s marvelous deeds to all the nations.

Matthew 23: 13 – 22  You traverse sea and land to make one convert, and when that happens you make him a child of Gehenna twice as much as yourselves.

What responsibility do I have to lead others in living a good life?  How am I doing?

Action:  Set a good example.

Thought for Friday August 24

Your friends make known, O Lord, the glorious splendor of your Kingdom.
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.

Your friends make known, O Lord, the glorious splendor of your Kingdom.

John 1: 45 – 51  Philip found Nathanael and told him, “We have found the one about whom Moses wrote in the law, and also the prophets, Jesus son of Joseph, from Nazareth.” But Nathanael said to him, “Can anything good come from Nazareth?”

If someone shares good news with me, am I inclined to be skeptical?   What good news would I receive most joyfully?

Action:  Search a newspaper or news broadcast for good news and celebrate the good things that are happening.

Thought for Thursday August 23

I will pour clean water on you and wash away all your sins.
Give me back the joy of your salvation,
and a willing spirit sustain in me.
I will teach transgressors your ways,
and sinners shall return to you.

I will pour clean water on you and wash away all your sins.

Matthew 22: 1 – 14  “The Kingdom of heaven may be likened to a king who gave a wedding feast for his son.  He dispatched his servants to summon the invited guests to the feast, but they refused to come.

Do I ever decline invitations even though the event might be fun?  Do I ever refuse the good things God offers me? 

Action:  Accept an invitation you would normally decline and try to see God in the experience.

Thought for Wednesday August 22

The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want.
He guides me in right paths
for his name’s sake.
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.

Matthew 20: 1 – 16  The Kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out at dawn to hire laborers for his vineyard. After agreeing with them for the usual daily wage, he sent them into his vineyard.

Am I ready to do the work of the kingdom?  Do I expect any ‘special’ compensation for doing God’s work?

Action:  Work hard.

Thought for Tuesday August 21

It is I who deal death and give life.
“How could one man rout a thousand,
or two men put ten thousand to flight,
Unless it was because their Rock sold them
and the LORD delivered them up?”
It is I who deal death and give life.

Matthew 19: 23 – 30  Jesus said to his disciples: “Amen, I say to you, it will be hard for one who is rich to enter the Kingdom of heaven.”

Am I rich or do I want to be?  Do I see being rich as a problem?

Action:  Use some of your riches (money, talent, time, etc.) to help someone who is poor.

Thought for Monday August 20

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 19: 16 – 22  The young man said to him, “All of these I have observed. What do I still lack?”

How many people strive for the maximum instead of the minimum?  Do I seek to do more than observe the commandments?

Action:  Try to be perfect – pray perfectly, study scripture perfectly, witness perfectly, love perfectly, lead perfectly. 

Thought for Friday August 17

You have turned from your anger.
God indeed is my savior;
I am confident and unafraid.
My strength and my courage is the LORD,
and he has been my savior.
With joy you will draw water
at the fountain of salvation.
You have turned from your anger.

Matthew 19: 3 – 12  So they are no longer two, but one flesh.  Therefore, what God has joined together, man must not separate.

How do I show respect for marriage?  How can I support other people’s marriages?

Action:  Be supportive of people who are getting married soon.

Thought for Thursday August 16

Do not forget the works of the Lord!
And he surrendered his strength into captivity,
his glory in the hands of the foe.
He abandoned his people to the sword
and was enraged against his inheritance.
Do not forget the works of the Lord!

Matthew 18: 21 – 19: 1  Peter approached Jesus and asked him, “Lord, if my brother sins against me, how often must I forgive him?

What will happen to me if I refuse to forgive?  Is there anyone who refuses to forgive me?

Action:  Forgive.

Thought for Wednesday August 15

The queen stands at your right hand, arrayed in gold.
They are borne in with gladness and joy;
they enter the palace of the king.
The queen stands at your right hand, arrayed in gold.

1 Corinthians 15: 20 - 27   The last enemy to be destroyed is death, for "he subjected everything under his feet.”

Is death my enemy?  How do I plan to defeat death?

Action:   Defeat death today by celebrating being alive.

Thought for Tuesday August 14

How sweet to my taste is your promise!
How sweet to my palate are your promises,
sweeter than honey to my mouth!

How sweet to my taste is your promise!

Matthew 18: 1 – 5, 10, 12 - 14     If a man has a hundred sheep and one of them goes astray, will he not leave the ninety-nine in the hills and go in search of the stray?

Would I leave the 99 and go after the one?  If I found the one that had gone astray, would I be happy or mad at it for straying?

Action:  Leave your comfort zone of the 99, and take a risk reaching out to one who has gone astray.

Thought for Monday August 13

Heaven and earth are filled with your glory.
Praise the LORD from the heavens;
praise him in the heights;
Praise him, all you his angels;
praise him, all you his hosts.
Heaven and earth are filled with your glory.

Matthew 17: 22 – 27  Open its mouth and you will find a coin worth twice the temple tax. Give that to them for me and for you.

What does it mean that Jesus paid for Peter too?  Do I feel like Jesus has paid for me too?

Action:  Do a little extra to cover someone who can’t contribute his “fair share.”

Thought for Friday August 10

Blessed the man who is gracious and lends to those in need.
Blessed the man who fears the LORD,
who greatly delights in his commands.
His posterity shall be mighty upon the earth;
the upright generation shall be blessed.
Blessed the man who is gracious and lends to those in need.

John 12: 24 – 26  Jesus said to his disciples: “Amen, amen, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains just a grain of wheat; but if it dies, it produces much fruit.”

What have I seen other people give up for the sake of bearing fruit for others?  What am I willing to give in order to bear more fruit? 

Action:  Give up something (an hour of TV, one Saturday a month, an hour of cleaning your house, social networking one evening a week, etc.) so you can bear more fruit.

Thought for Thursday August 9

Create a clean heart in me, O God.
Give me back the joy of your salvation,
and a willing spirit sustain in me.
I will teach transgressors your ways,
and sinners shall return to you.

Create a clean heart in me, O God.

  

Matthew 16: 13 – 23  And so I say to you, you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build my Church, and the gates of the netherworld shall not prevail against it.

Would I want to be Peter?  Would Jesus’ promise have given me confidence?

Action:  Only promise what you can deliver.

Thought for Wednesday August 8

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 15: 21 – 28  His disciples came and asked him, “Send her away, for she keeps calling out after us.”

Is there someone I think Jesus should not help?  How do I deal with people who are always asking for help?

Action:  Do something loving for someone who bugs the daylights out of you.

Thought for Tuesday August 7

The Lord will build up Zion again, and appear in all his glory.
Let this be written for the generation to come,
and let his future creatures praise the LORD:
“The LORD looked down from his holy height,
from heaven he beheld the earth,
To hear the groaning of the prisoners,
to release those doomed to die.”
The Lord will build up Zion again, and appear in all his glory.

Matthew 14: 22 – 36  Peter got out of the boat and began to walk on the water toward Jesus.  But when he saw how strong the wind was he became frightened; and, beginning to sink, he cried out, “Lord, save me!”

Have I ever started something with great enthusiasm and then lost confidence (or nerve, or energy) and given up?  If so, did I call out to Jesus for help or just sink?

Action:  If there is something you have given up on doing, pick it up again and ask Jesus to help you carry on.

Thought for Monday August 6

The Lord is king, the Most High over all the earth.
The LORD is king; let the earth rejoice;
let the many islands be glad.
Clouds and darkness are round about him,
justice and judgment are the foundation of his throne.
The Lord is king, the Most High over all the earth.

Mark 9: 2 – 10  Then a cloud came, casting a shadow over them;  from the cloud came a voice,  “This is my beloved Son. Listen to him.”

What would I like a voice from the cloud to say to people about me?  Is God the only one who knows how great I am?

Action:  Don’t expect God to tell everybody how great you are; live in such a way that you can’t be ignored.

Thought for Friday August 3

Lord, in your great love, answer me.
But I pray to you, O LORD,
for the time of your favor, O God!
In your great kindness answer me
with your constant help.
Lord, in your great love, answer me.

Matthew 13: 54 – 58  Jesus came to his native place and taught the people in their synagogue.  Where did this man get all this?" And they took offense at him.

Were they offended at what he said or just offended because they didn’t think he should be preaching to them at all?  What offends me?

Action:  The next time something offends you, make a special effort to meet that offense with grace and love.

Thought for Thursday August 2

Blessed is he whose help is the God of Jacob.
Praise the LORD, O my soul;
I will praise the LORD all my life;
I will sing praise to my God while I live.
Blessed is he whose help is the God of Jacob.

Matthew 13: 47 – 53  Jesus said to the disciples: “The Kingdom of heaven is like…”

Why does Jesus want me to know what the Kingdom of heaven is like?  Why doesn’t he just say, “Be good and you will go somewhere good.”?

Action:  Notice how often people use the word heaven – “in heaven’s name”, “oh good heavens”, “heaven sent”, “heavens to Betsy”, etc. and think about how those phrases came into our language and how important the promise of heaven is to us.