Thought for Friday November 30

Your words, Lord, are Spirit and life.
They are more precious than gold,
than a heap of purest gold;
Sweeter also than syrup
or honey from the comb.

Your words, Lord, are Spirit and life.

Matthew 4: 18 – 22  As Jesus was walking by the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers,  Simon who is called Peter, and his brother Andrew, casting a net into the sea; they were fishermen.

How do I identify myself?  What job does Jesus see me doing?

Action:  This weekend, do something you want Jesus to see you doing.

Thought for Thursday November 29

Blessed are they who are called to the wedding feast of the Lamb.
Sing joyfully to the LORD, all you lands;
serve the LORD with gladness;
come before him with joyful song.
Blessed are they who are called to the wedding feast of the Lamb.

Revelations 18:1-2, 21-23; 19:1-3, 9  Then the angel said to me, "Write this: Blessed are those who have been called to the wedding feast of the Lamb."

What does it mean to me to be invited to a wedding?  Do I feel like I have been called to the wedding feast of the Lamb?

Action:  Spend as much time preparing for mass this Sunday (first Sunday of Advent) as you do preparing to go to a wedding.

Thought for Wednesday November 28

Great and wonderful are all your works, Lord, mighty God!
Let the sea and what fills it resound,
the world and those who dwell in it;
Let the rivers clap their hands,
the mountains shout with them for joy.
Great and wonderful are all your works, Lord, mighty God!

Luke 21: 12 – 19  By your perseverance you will secure your lives.

Through what have I persevered?  What have I given up on finishing?

Action:  Make an effort to accomplish something you have given up on doing.

Thought for Tuesday November 27

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.

Luke 21: 5 – 11  While some people were speaking about how the temple was adorned with costly stones and votive offerings, Jesus said, “All that you see here– the days will come when there will not be left a stone upon another stone that will not be thrown down.”

How does the art, architecture and decoration of a church affect me?  What makes a church a church?

Action:  Be thankful for your church community and participate in something they are doing during the holiday season.

Thought for Monday November 26

Lord, this is the people that longs to see your face.
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.
Lord, this is the people that longs to see your face.

Luke 21: 1 – 4  He said, “I tell you truly, this poor widow put in more than all the rest; for those others have all made offerings from their surplus wealth, but she, from her poverty, has offered her whole livelihood.”

What have I given in the last year?   What do I plan to give in the year ahead?

Action:  Give thanks for what you have and give what you can.

Thought for Friday November 23

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!

Luke 19: 45 – 48  Jesus entered the temple area and proceeded to drive out those who were selling things, saying to them, “It is written, My house shall be a house of prayer, but you have made it a den of thieves.”

Do I shop for the love of the things I can buy (and the deals I can get)?    How much time do I spend praying for the people I buy presents for?

Action:  Shop with love for the recipients of gifts, the retail workers, the other shoppers, and all of the people who had a role in manufacturing and delivering the projects.  AND don’t be a Parking Lot jerk. 

Thought for Thursday November 22 - Thanksgiving

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

Sirach 50: 22 - 24  And now, bless the God of all, who has done wondrous things on earth;  Who fosters people's growth from their mother's womb, and fashions them according to his will!  May he grant you joy of heart and may peace abide among you;  May his goodness toward us endure in Israel to deliver us in our days.

For what are you thankful?

Action:  Spend a few minutes today away from the TV and the kitchen and the food and write down five things you are thankful for and put it someplace where you will see it often.

Thought for Wednesday November 21

Holy, holy, holy Lord, mighty God!
Praise him with the blast of the trumpet,
praise him with lyre and harp,
Praise him with timbrel and dance,
praise him with strings and pipe.
Holy, holy, holy Lord, mighty God!

Luke 19: 11 – 28  So he said, "A nobleman went off to a distant country to obtain the kingship for himself and then to return.  He called ten of his servants and gave them ten gold coins and told them, 'Engage in trade with these until I return.'

What has Jesus given to me to invest?  Is it my responsibility to help Jesus grow his wealth?

Action:  Give thanks for what Jesus has given you and help him share it with the rest of the world.

Thought for Tuesday November 20

I will seat the victor beside me on my throne.
Who lends not his money at usury
and accepts no bribe against the innocent.
He who does these things
shall never be disturbed.
I will seat the victor beside me on my throne.

Luke 19: 1 – 10  When he reached the place, Jesus looked up and said,   "Zacchaeus, come down quickly, for today I must stay at your house."   And he came down quickly and received him with joy. 

Is my home ready for Jesus to just drop in for the night?  Do I think Jesus would like my dogs, furniture, art, etc.?

Action:  Look around your house and make any changes you think would be necessary for Jesus to be comfortable there.

Thought for Monday November 19

Those who are victorious I will feed from the tree 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 are victorious I will feed from the tree of life.

Luke 18: 35 – 43  Then Jesus stopped and ordered that he be brought to him; and when he came near, Jesus asked him, "What do you want me to do for you?"  He replied, "Lord, please let me see."

What do I want Jesus to do for me?  Would I want to see the world more clearly?

Action:  Ask Jesus for what you want.

Thought for Friday November 16

Blessed are they who follow the law of the Lord!
Within my heart I treasure your promise,
that I may not sin against you.
Blessed are they who follow the law of the Lord!

Luke 17: 26 – 37  Whoever seeks to preserve his life will lose it, but whoever loses it will save it.

What about my life am I set on preserving?   What would I like to lose?

Action:  Examine your life for something you do frequently/consistently that bears no fruit and quit doing it.

Thought for Thursday November 15

Blessed is he whose help is the God of Jacob.
The LORD gives sight to the blind.
The LORD raises up those who were bowed down;
the LORD loves the just.
The LORD protects strangers.
Blessed is he whose help is the God of Jacob.

Luke 17: 20 – 25  For just as lightning flashes and lights up the sky from one side to the other, so will the Son of Man be in his day.

Do I see the Son of Man lighting up the world?  Have I ever had the experience of bringing new light to some situation?

Action:  Storm into the gloomiest situation you encounter on a frequent basis and do something to light it up, even if it only lasts for a second.

Thought for Wednesday November 14

The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want.
Only goodness and kindness follow me
all the days of my life;
And I shall dwell in the house of the LORD
for years to come.
The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want.

Luke 17: 11 – 19  And one of them, realizing he had been healed, returned, glorifying God in a loud voice; and he fell at the feet of Jesus and thanked him.

How often do I say “Thank You” to people who have helped me?  Do I sometimes take help for granted?

Action:  Think back in your life and pick out something someone did for you that has had a great impact on your life, especially if you didn’t notice at the time; contact the person who helped you and thank him or her.

Thought for Tuesday November 13

The salvation of the just comes from the Lord.
Trust in the LORD and do good,
that you may dwell in the land and be fed in security.
Take delight in the LORD,
and he will grant you your heart’s requests.
The salvation of the just comes from the Lord.

Luke 17: 7 – 10 When you have done all you have been commanded, say, ‘We are unprofitable servants; we have done what we were obliged to do.’

Have I done what I was commanded to do?  How often do I do more than what I was obligated to do?

Action:  Go do something you were commanded to do and maybe a little bit more.

Thought for Monday November 12

Lord, this is the people that longs to see your face.
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.
Lord, this is the people that longs to see your face.

Luke 17: 1 – 6  And the Apostles said to the Lord, “Increase our faith.”

Would greater faith make my life easier or harder?  Do I want to grow in faith?

Action:  Launch in to some project that will require greater faith than you actually have.

Thought for Friday November 9

The waters of the river gladden the city of God, the holy dwelling of the Most High!
There is a stream whose runlets gladden the city of God,
the holy dwelling of the Most High.
God is in its midst; it shall not be disturbed;
God will help it at the break of dawn.
The waters of the river gladden the city of God, the holy dwelling of the Most High!

1 Corinthians 3: 9 – 11, 16 - 17  Do you not know that you are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwells in you?

Do I treat myself with as much respect as I show for Church buildings?  What do I do to build up and maintain my temple?

Action:  Invest some time in maintaining your temple.

Thought for Thursday November 8

Let hearts rejoice who search for 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!
Let hearts rejoice who search for the Lord.

  

Luke 15: 1 – 10  In just the same way, I tell you, there will be rejoicing among the angels of God over one sinner who repents.

In this big, complicated world, does the repentance of just one sinner seem like something worth celebrating?   Have I ever thought that my sin was so minor compared to what is going on in the world that I didn’t need to repent?

Action:  Repent of one of your sins and celebrate the great effect that repentance will have.

Thought for Wednesday November 7

The Lord is my light and my salvation.
One thing I ask of the LORD;
this I seek:
To dwell in the house of the LORD
all the days of my life,
That I may gaze on the loveliness of the LORD
and contemplate his temple.
The Lord is my light and my salvation.

Luke 14: 25 – 43  Whoever does not carry his own cross and come after me cannot be my disciple. Which of you wishing to construct a tower does not first sit down and calculate the cost to see if there is enough for its completion?

Have I calculated the cost of carrying my cross with Jesus?  Do I have what it takes to complete the job?

Action:  Invest in yourself, your physical, emotional, intellectually and spiritual fitness, so you are prepared to carry your cross well when the time comes.

Thought for Tuesday November 6

I will praise you, Lord, in the assembly of your people.
I will fulfill my vows before those who fear him.
The lowly shall eat their fill;
they who seek the LORD shall praise him:
"May your hearts be ever merry!"
I will praise you, Lord, in the assembly of your people.

Luke 14: 15 - 24   One of those at table with Jesus said to him, "Blessed is the one who will dine in the Kingdom of God."

Doesn’t this statement seem pretty obvious?  Why would anyone refuse an invitation to dine in the Kingdom of God?

Action:  Accept a dinner invitation this week or extend one to someone.

Thought for Monday November 5

In you, O Lord, I have found my peace.
O LORD, my heart is not proud,
nor are my eyes haughty;
I busy not myself with great things,
nor with things too sublime for me.
In you, O Lord, I have found my peace.

Luke 14: 12  - 14  Rather, when you hold a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind;  blessed indeed will you be because of their inability to repay you.

Would the world be different if people were less focused on what they can get out of a situation?  How would I be different if I were?

Action:   Do something really special for someone anonymously.

Thought for Friday November 2

The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want.
The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.
In verdant pastures he gives me repose;
beside restful waters he leads me;
he refreshes my soul.
The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want.

John 6: 37 – 40  For this is the will of my Father, that everyone who sees the Son and believes in him may have eternal life, and I shall raise him on the last day.

Who am I praying for today?  Who am I looking forward to seeing in heaven?

Action:  Pray for your loved ones who have already died.