Thought for Christmas Eve

Luke 2: 1 – 14

Now there were shepherds in that region living in the fields
and keeping the night watch over their flock.
The angel of the Lord appeared to them
and the glory of the Lord shone around them,
and they were struck with great fear.
The angel said to them,
“Do not be afraid;
for behold, I proclaim to you good news of great joy
that will be for all the people.
For today in the city of David
a savior has been born for you who is Christ and Lord.
And this will be a sign for you:
you will find an infant wrapped in swaddling clothes
and lying in a manger.”
And suddenly there was a multitude of the heavenly host with the angel,
praising God and saying:
“Glory to God in the highest
and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.

Merry Christmas to all and to all a Good Day!

Thought for Monday December 23

Lift up your heads and see; your redemption is near at hand.
All the paths of the LORD are kindness and constancy
toward those who keep his covenant and his decrees.
The friendship of the LORD is with those who fear him,
and his covenant, for their instruction.
 Lift up your heads and see; your redemption is near at hand.

Luke 1: 57 – 66  Her neighbors and relatives heard that the Lord had shown his great mercy toward her, and they rejoiced with her.

What do I see god doing for other people?  Do I rejoice with them?

Action:  Rejoice with your family and friends for the next week or so – eat great food, sing carols, cheer on your favorite teams and don’t forget to thank God for everything he has done for you and them.

Thought for Wednesday December 18

Justice shall flourish in his time, and fullness of peace forever.
Blessed be the LORD, the God of Israel,
who alone does wondrous deeds.
And blessed forever be his glorious name;
may the whole earth be filled with his glory.
Justice shall flourish in his time, and fullness of peace forever.

Matthew 1: 18 – 25  She will bear a son and you are to name him Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.

How do my actions give my name meaning?   What do I want my name to mean?

  

Action:  Make a point of calling people by their names today, conscious that we are all still creating ourselves as persons.

Thought for Tuesday December 17

Justice shall flourish in his time, and fullness of peace forever.
Justice shall flower in his days,
and profound peace, till the moon be no more.
May he rule from sea to sea,
and from the River to the ends of the earth.
Justice shall flourish in his time, and fullness of peace forever.

Matthew 1: 1 – 17  Perez became the father of Hezron, Hezron the father of Ram, Ram the father of Amminadab.  Amminadab became the father of Nahshon, Nahshon the father of Salmon, Salmon the father of Boaz, whose mother was Rahab.

Who cares?  Why are people interested in genealogy?  Is it important to see ourselves as a product of a long line of people even if we don’t who they are?

Action:  Send a Christmas card to your most distantly related, shirttail cousin or friend just to acknowledge that we are all one family in Christ.

Thought for Monday December 16

Teach me your ways, 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.
Teach me your ways, O Lord.

Matthew 21: 23 – 27  “By what authority are you doing these things?  And who gave you this authority?”

Do I respect God’s authority over his creation?  Can I think of any examples of his authority being dismissed?

  

Action:  Look around you for something that seems to be out of kilter with God’s intent, and take  step toward fixing it.

Thought for Friday December 13

Those who follow you, Lord, will have the light 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 follow you, Lord, will have the light of life.

Matthew 11: 16 – 19  But wisdom is vindicated by her works.

What works have I seen wisdom produce?  Do I respect wisdom?

Action:  Talk to three wise people this weekend and heed what they say.

Thought for Thursday December 12

You are the highest honor of our race.
Your deed of hope will never be forgotten
by those who tell of the might of God.
You are the highest honor of our race.

  

Luke 1: 39 -  47  And Mary said:  “My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord;  my spirit rejoices in God my savior.”

  

What does my soul proclaim?  What does my mouth proclaim?

  

Action:  Do something today to rejoice in God’s greatness.

Thought for Wednesday December 11

O bless the Lord, my soul!
Merciful and gracious is the LORD,
slow to anger and abounding in kindness.
Not according to our sins does he deal with us,
nor does he requite us according to our crimes.
O bless the Lord, my soul!

Matthew 11: 28 – 31  “Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest.”

  

What burden would you like taken from you?  Do you trust Jesus enough to give it to him?

  

Action:  Ask Jesus to help you with some task that has been bothering you.

Thought for Tuesday December 10

The Lord our God comes with power.
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 let all the trees of the forest rejoice.
The Lord our God comes with power.

Matthew 18: 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?

Am I more likely to stay with the safe crowd or go looking for the one stray?  What will I risk to help one person?

 Action:  Go out on a limb to help someone who really needs it; or adopt a stray dog or cat.

Thought for Monday December 9

Sing to the Lord a new song, for he has done marvelous deeds.
All the ends of the earth have seen
the salvation by our God.
Sing joyfully to the LORD, all you lands;
break into song; sing praise.
Sing to the Lord a new song, for he has done marvelous deeds.

Luke 1: 26 – 38  Mary said, “Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord. May it be done to me according to your word.”

 

How hard is it to say yes to God?   Would I ever give God such an open-ended yes as Mary did, or do I want more control?

Action:  Say yes to something God has been trying to get you to do. 

Thought for Friday December 6

The Lord is my light and my salvation.
I believe that I shall see the bounty of the LORD
in the land of the living.
Wait for the LORD with courage;
be stouthearted, and wait for the LORD.
The Lord is my light and my salvation.

Matthew 9: 27 – 31  When he entered the house, the blind men approached him and Jesus said to them, “Do you believe that I can do this?”  “Yes, Lord,” they said to him.

Did Jesus really think they would say, “No”?   How important is it to proclaim your faith?

Action:  Tell someone you love/care about them even if you think it is so ridiculously obvious that you don’t need to say it.

Thought for Thursday December 5

Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.
Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good,
for his mercy endures forever.
It is better to take refuge in the LORD
than to trust in man.
It is better to take refuge in the LORD
than to trust in princes.
Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.

Matthew 7: 21 – 27  Everyone who listens to these words of mine and acts on them will be like a wise man who built his house on rock.  The rain fell, the floods came, and the winds blew and buffeted the house.  But it did not collapse; it had been set solidly on rock.

What is my house built on?  What kind of foundation is necessary to live your faith in modern society?

Action:  If there are in soft/sandy spots in your foundation, make a plan for shoring them up.

Thought for Wednesday December 4

I shall live in the house of the Lord all the days of my life.
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.
 I shall live in the house of the Lord all the days of my life.

Matthew 15: 29 – 37  The crowds were amazed when they saw the mute speaking, the deformed made whole,  the lame walking,  and the blind able to see, and they glorified the God of Israel.

Do I acknowledge that people I know have changed or do I still think of them the way I always have?  Do I want people to let me grow and change?

Action:  Thank God for all of the infirmities he has helped you overcome.

Thought for Tuesday December 3

Justice shall flourish in his time, and fullness of peace for ever.
Justice shall flower in his days,
and profound peace, till the moon be no more.
May he rule from sea to sea,
and from the River to the ends of the earth.
Justice shall flourish in his time, and fullness of peace for ever.

Luke 10: 21 – 24  Turning to the disciples in private he said, “Blessed are the eyes that see what you see.  For I say to you, many prophets and kings desired to see what you see, but did not see it, and to hear what you hear, but did not hear it.”

What do I see and hear that prophets and kings missed?  What have others seen that I missed?

  

Action:  Share something you have seen or heard with someone who has not seen or heard.

Thought for Monday December 2

Let us go rejoicing to the house of the Lord.
Because of my relatives and friends
I will say, “Peace be within you!"
Because of the house of the LORD, our God,
I will pray for your good.
Let us go rejoicing to the house of the Lord.

Matthew 8: 5 - 11  “Lord, I am not worthy to have you enter under my roof; only say the word and my servant will be healed.”

This line replaced, “Lord I am not worthy to receive you…,” in the Mass.  What is the difference between receiving something and receiving someone in your home?  Does this sentence change your understanding of receiving Communion?

Action: Receive someone new into your home (or office or social circle or etc.).  If you just had 20 people at your house for Thanksgiving, you can skip this one.

Thought for Wednesday November 27

Give glory and eternal praise to him.

"Every shower and dew, bless the Lord;

praise and exalt him above all forever."

Give glory and eternal praise to him.

Luke 21: 12 - 19 For I [Jesus] myself shall give you a wisdom in speaking.

  

Has Jesus ever helped me find just the right words when I didn’t know what to say?  Have I ever heard Jesus speak to me through someone else?

  

Action:  Trust Jesus to help you speak to all of the annoying relatives and acquaintances you will run into for the next month or so.

Thought for Tuesday November 26

Give glory and eternal praise to him.

"All you waters above the heavens, bless the Lord,

praise and exalt him above all forever."

Give glory and eternal praise to him.

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.”

What do I most like or not like to see in churches?   What kinds of things help me to worship and pray?

  

Action:  Decorate your house for Advent in a way that will really help you focus on the season.

Thought for Monday November 25

Glory and praise for ever!

"Blessed are you, O Lord, the God of our fathers,

praiseworthy and exalted above all forever;

And blessed is your holy and glorious name,

praiseworthy and exalted above all for all ages."

Glory and praise for ever!

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.”

If I won the lottery, would I give a large donation to charity?  If I did, would that donation be better than what I am giving now?

Action:  Give until it hurts – make a donation that is a little more than is easy for you.  It doesn’t have to be money – blood is in great demand at this time of year, plenty of cats and dogs need homes, shelters need volunteers…

Thought for Friday November 22

We praise your glorious name, O mighty God.
“Yours, O LORD, are grandeur and power,
majesty, splendor, and glory.
For all in heaven and on earth is yours.”
We praise your glorious name, O mighty God.

Luke 19: 45 – 48  The chief priests, the scribes, and the leaders of the people, meanwhile, were seeking to put him to death, but they could find no way to accomplish their purpose because all the people were hanging on his words.

Doesn’t “put him to death” seem like a pretty extreme way of responding to someone you disagree with?  Am I violent about any issue?

Action:  Pray for the people who turn to violence because they can't imagine another solution.

Thought for Wednesday November 20

Lord, when your glory appears, my joy will be full.
My steps have been steadfast in your paths,
my feet have not faltered.
I call upon you, for you will answer me, O God;
incline your ear to me; hear my word.
Lord, when your glory appears, my joy will be full.

  

Luke 19: 11 – 28  Then the other servant came and said, ‘Sir, here is your gold coin; I kept it stored away in a handkerchief,’

Is there anything God has given me that he wants me to keep hidden away?  Has God given me anything that I am hiding?

Action:  Invest your talents in changing the world, or at least the part of it that is around you.

Thought for Tuesday November 19

The Lord upholds me.
When I lie down in sleep,
I wake again, for the LORD sustains me.
I fear not the myriads of people
arrayed against me on every side.
The Lord upholds me.

Luke 19: 1 – 10  Now a man there named Zacchaeus, who was a chief tax collector and also a wealthy man,  was seeking to see who Jesus was; but he could not see him because of the crowd, for he was short in stature.  So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore tree in order to see Jesus, who was about to pass that way.

What keeps me from seeing who Jesus really is?  What am I going to do about it?

Action:  Do whatever you have to do to see Jesus.

Thought for Monday November 18

Give me life, O Lord, and I will do your commands.
Though the snares of the wicked are twined about me,
your law I have not forgotten.
Give me life, O Lord, and I will do your commands.

Luke 18: 35 – 43  He immediately received his sight and followed him, giving glory to God. When they saw this, all the people gave praise to God.

Have I seen a miracle?  What miracle would I most like to see happen?

Action:  Work to improve some situation that “would need a miracle to fix.”

Thought for Thursday November 14

Your word is forever, O Lord.
The revelation of your words sheds light,
 giving understanding to the simple.
Your word is forever, O Lord.

Luke 17: 20 – 25  “The coming of the Kingdom of God cannot be observed, and no one will announce, ‘Look, here it is,’ or, ‘There it is.’ For behold, the Kingdom of God is among you.”

If I can’t observe the kingdom of God, how am I supposed to know it is really here?  What difference does it make?

Action:  Look for signs of the Kingdom of God and point them out to others.

Thought for Wednesday November 13

Rise up, O God, bring judgment to the earth.
Defend the lowly and the fatherless;
render justice to the afflicted and the destitute.
Rescue the lowly and the poor;
from the hand of the wicked deliver them.
Rise up, O God, bring judgment to the earth.

Luke 17: 11 – 19  As they were going they were cleansed.   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.

Am I so used to my afflictions that I wouldn’t even notice if I were cured?   Have you ever thought, “I would do more “good” if I didn’t have [some particular problem].”?

 Action:  Start trying to do something that you think you can’t do – ask Jesus to help.

Thought for Tuesday November 12

I will bless the Lord at all times.
I will bless the LORD at all times;
his praise shall be ever in my mouth.
Let my soul glory in the LORD;
the lowly will hear me and be glad.
I will bless the Lord at all times.

  

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.’

Do I think I am special because I do some good things?  Do I expect to do all I have been commanded to do?

Action:  Do what God has commanded you to do.

Thought for Friday November 8

The Lord has revealed to the nations his saving power.

All the ends of the earth have seen

the salvation by our God.

Sing joyfully to the LORD, all you lands;

break into song; sing praise.

The Lord has revealed to the nations his saving power. 

Luke 16: 1 – 8  Jesus said to his disciples, “A rich man had a steward who was reported to him for squandering his property.”

What am I squandering?  Am I a good steward of the resources entrusted to me?

Action:  Pick something you tend to waste (time, food, money, energy) and make a real effort to conserve it and put it to a positive use.

Thought for Wednesday November 6

Blessed the man who is gracious and lends to those in need.

He dawns through the darkness, a light for the upright;

he is gracious and merciful and just.

Well for the man who is gracious and lends,

who conducts his affairs with justice.

Blessed the man who is gracious and lends to those in need.

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?

  

What cross am I carrying?  Am I planning to carry it to the completion of my mission?

  

Action:  Do something to energize yourself so you can continue to carry your cross.

Thought for Tuesday 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.

Romans 12: 5 – 16  Let love be sincere.

What does sincere mean?  How sincere am I in my day-to-day dealings with people?

Action:  Pick something:

Let love be sincere;
hate what is evil,
hold on to what is good;
love one another with mutual affection;
anticipate one another in showing honor.
Do not grow slack in zeal,
be fervent in spirit,
serve the Lord.
Rejoice in hope,
endure in affliction,
persevere in prayer.
Contribute to the needs of the holy ones,
exercise hospitality.
Bless those who persecute you,
bless and do not curse them.
Rejoice with those who rejoice,
weep with those who weep.
Have the same regard for one another;
do not be haughty but associate with the lowly.

Thought for Monday November 4

Lord, in your great love, answer me.

But I am afflicted and in pain;

let your saving help, O God, protect me.

I will praise the name of God in song,

and I will glorify him with thanksgiving.

Lord, in your great love, answer me.

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 1

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.

Matthew 5: 1 – 12  Blessed are they who mourn, for they will be comforted.

For whom do I mourn?  Do I find comfort in the feast of All Saints (and Halloween and All Souls)?

Action:  Do something fun this weekend that you used to do with someone you have lost and let it bring you comfort.

Thought for Thursday October 31

Save me, O Lord, in your mercy.

I will speak my thanks earnestly to the LORD,

and in the midst of the throng I will praise him,

For he stood at the right hand of the poor man,

to save him from those who would condemn his soul.

Save me, O Lord, in your mercy.

Luke 13: 31 – 35  Yet I must continue on my way today, tomorrow, and the following day, for it is impossible that a prophet should die outside of Jerusalem.

Do I have the perseverance to continue doing what I know I should even when I know it will be hard?  Where do I look for the strength to keep going?

Action:  If there is something you have given up on doing even though you know you should, take one step toward doing it again.  If you are perfect and never give up, go to dinner and celebrate.

Thought for Wednesday October 30

My hope, O Lord, is in your mercy.

Look, answer me, O LORD, my God!

Give light to my eyes that I may not sleep in death

lest my enemy say, "I have overcome him";

lest my foes rejoice at my downfall.

My hope, O Lord, is in your mercy.

Luke 13: 22 – 30  Someone asked Jesus, “Lord, will only a few people be saved?”

What do I want the answer to this question to be?  Do I want everyone to be saved, or do I prefer to think of heaven as a very exclusive club?

  

Action:  Think of someone (contemporary, historical or even fictional) that you believe is not going to heaven, and find a way to work against whatever sin he or she was/is committing.

Thought for Tuesday October 29

The Lord has done marvels for us.
Then they said among the nations,
“The LORD has done great things for them.”
The LORD has done great things for us;
we are glad indeed.
The Lord has done marvels for us.

  

Luke 13: 18 – 21  Jesus said, “What is the Kingdom of God like?  It is like a mustard seed that a man took and planted in the garden.  When it was fully grown, it became a large bush and the birds of the sky dwelt in its branches.”

What strikes me most about this description of the Kingdom of God?  Do I have a role/place in this kingdom?

Action:   Do something to make someone’s day.

Thought for Friday October 25

Lord, teach me your statutes.
Teach me wisdom and knowledge,
for in your commands I trust.
Lord, teach me your statutes.

 Luke 12: 54 – 59  “Why do you not judge for yourselves what is right?”

How often have I judged something to be wrong even though there was no rule, law or authority telling me it was wrong?  What did I do about it?

Action:  Bring an injustice you see to the attention of authority, but expect to have to do something about it yourself.

Thought for Thursday October 24

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 12: 49 – 53 Jesus said,  “Do you think that I have come to establish peace on the earth?  No, I tell you, but rather division.”

So is Jesus happy that there is such division in the world?   Is he expressing a wish or a prediction or …?

  

Action:  Find some common ground with everyone you encounter today.

Thought for Wednesday October 23

Our help is in the name of the Lord.
We were rescued like a bird
from the fowlers’ snare;
Broken was the snare,
and we were freed.
Our help is in the name of the LORD,
who made heaven and earth.
Our help is in the name of the Lord.

Luke 12: 39 – 48  And the Lord replied, “Who, then, is the faithful and prudent steward whom the master will put in charge of his servants to distribute the food allowance at the proper time?  Blessed is that servant whom his master on arrival finds doing so.”

What am I in charge of?  If the master checks on me today would he find me doing what I am supposed to be doing?

  

Action:  Do your job.  If you don’t know what it is, you need to schedule time for serious reflection to figure it out.

Thought for Tuesday October 22

Here I am, Lord; I come to do your will.
May all who seek you
exult and be glad in you,
And may those who love your salvation
say ever, “The LORD be glorified.”
Here I am, Lord; I come to do your will.

Luke 12: 35 – 38  Jesus said to his disciples:  “Gird your loins and light your lamps and be like servants who await their master’s return from a wedding, ready to open immediately when he comes and knocks.”

What am I waiting for?  Do I stand ready to do the Father’s will?

Action:  Stay up 15 minutes later tonight and ask God if there is anything he wants you to do.

Thought for Thursday October 17

 With the Lord there is mercy, and fullness of redemption.

I trust in the LORD;

my soul trusts in his word.

My soul waits for the LORD

more than sentinels wait for the dawn.

With the Lord there is mercy, and fullness of redemption.

Luke 11: 47 – 54  Woe to you, scholars of the law!  You have taken away the key of knowledge.  You yourselves did not enter and you stopped those trying to enter.

Do I believe I am getting the keys to understanding important issues in our society?  Does God offer me the key of knowledge?

Action:  Look for the keys of knowledge, and don’t be satisfied with rumors.

Thought for Wednesday October 16

Lord, you give back to everyone according to his works.
Only in God is my soul at rest;
from him comes my salvation.
He only is my rock and my salvation,
my stronghold; I shall not be disturbed at all.
Lord, you give back to everyone according to his works.

Luke 11: 42 – 46  “Woe also to you scholars of the law! You impose on people burdens hard to carry, but you yourselves do not lift one finger to touch them.”

Does being right absolve me from my duty to be compassionate?  Do I think God has ever given my a burden and not been there to help?

Action:  The next time you tell someone else what he “should do,”  find a way to help him do it.

Thought for Tuesday October 15

Let your mercy come to me, O Lord.
And I will walk at liberty,
because I seek your precepts.
Let your mercy come to me, O Lord.

Luke 11: 37 – 41  After Jesus had spoken, a Pharisee invited him to dine at his home.

Would I have invited Jesus to dinner after all of the “challenging” things he said over the last week?  Do you think anyone who had just heard Jesus preach envied the Pharisee who invited Jesus?

Action:  Pay attention to the people around you.  If anyone seems intimidated because of your position, size, demeanor, etc., make an effort to be more approachable.   If there is someone who intimidates you, make the effort  to speak up in his or her presence.

Thought for Monday October 14

The Lord has made known his salvation.
All the ends of the earth have seen
the salvation by our God.
Sing joyfully to the LORD, all you lands;
break into song; sing praise.
The Lord has made known his salvation.

Luke 11: 29 – 32  At the judgment the men of Nineveh will arise with this generation  and condemn it, because at the preaching of Jonah they repented, and there is something greater than Jonah here.

What have past generations done that we can’t seem to do today?  What would they condemn us for?

Action:  Take the time to study a sin of past generations and how we solved it or grew out of it. 

Thought for Friday October 11

 The Lord will judge the world with justice.

I will give thanks to you, O LORD, with all my heart;

I will declare all your wondrous deeds.

I will be glad and exult in you;

I will sing praise to your name, Most High.

 The Lord will judge the world with justice.

Luke 11: 15 – 26  “Every kingdom divided against itself will be laid waste and house will fall against house.”

What divisions am I part of?  Would I give up fighting to be “right” if it could heal a division?

Action:  Get involved in healing a division in your family, neighborhood, community or country.  You can start with something simple like inviting the “black sheep” in your family to a get together he would normally be excluded from.

Thought for Thursday October 10

 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 11: 5 – 13  Jesus said to his disciples: “Suppose one of you has a friend to whom he goes at midnight and says, ‘Friend, lend me three loaves of bread…”

  

Do you have a friend you could do this to?  Is Jesus this kind of a friend for you?

  

Action:  Donate three loaves of bread to a local soup kitchen, food bank, shelter or family in need.

Thought for Wednesday October 9

Lord, you are merciful and gracious.
All the nations you have made shall come
and worship you, O Lord,
and glorify your name.
For you are great, and you do wondrous deeds;
you alone are God.
Lord, you are merciful and gracious.

Luke 11: 1 – 4  “Lord, teach us to pray just as John taught his disciples.” He said to them, “When you pray, say:
Father, hallowed be your name, your Kingdom come. Give us each day our daily bread and forgive us our sins for we ourselves forgive everyone in debt to us, and do not subject us to the final test.”

Is there a part of this prayer that really strikes me?  Is there anything I wouldn’t dare say unless Jesus told me to?

Action:  Pray the Our Father slowly, pausing to think about what every word means.

Thought for Tuesday October 8

If you, O Lord, mark iniquities, who can stand?
Out of the depths I cry to you, O LORD
LORD, hear my voice!
Let your ears be attentive
to my voice in supplication.

If you, O Lord, mark iniquities, who can stand?

Luke 10: 38 – 42  Jesus entered a village where a woman whose name was Martha welcomed him.

Have I welcomed Jesus into my life or just tolerated his presence?  What is the difference?

Action:  Do something welcoming for someone you think needs it.

Thought for Friday October 4

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.

Luke 10: 13 – 16  Jesus said, “Whoever listens to you listens to me.”

Do I want that responsibility?  Am I conscious of this responsibility when I speak?

Action:  Speak out against and work to change something in your community that is not consistent with Jesus’ teaching.

Thought for Wednesday October 2

Let my tongue be silenced if I ever forget you!

By the streams of Babylon

we sat and wept

when we remembered Zion.

On the aspens of that land

we hung up our harps.

Let my tongue be silenced if I ever forget you!

Matthew 18: 1 – 5, 10  He called a child over, placed it in their midst, and said, “Amen, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will not enter the Kingdom of heaven.

What’s so great about kids?  What qualities have I lost as I have gotten older?

Action:  Approach a serious problem facing your family or society with the optimism and idealism of youth and see what you can do to make things better when you are not hindered by the cynicism of age.

Thought for Tuesday October 1

God is with us.
I tell of Egypt and Babylon
among those that know the LORD;
Of Philistia, Tyre, Ethiopia:
"This man was born there."
And of Zion they shall say:
"One and all were born in her;
And he who has established her
is the Most High LORD."
God is with us.

Zechariah 8: 20 - 23   In those days ten men of every nationality, speaking different tongues, shall take hold, yes, take hold of every Jew by the edge of his garment and say, "Let us go with you, for we have heard that God is with you."

Do I feel responsible for sharing my faith with people of other cultures?  Have I learned anything from people who are different than me?

Action:  Spend some time learning about another culture and how the people express their faith.

Thought for Monday September 30

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.

Luke 9: 46 – 50   Then John said in reply,  “Master, we saw someone casting out demons in your name  and we tried to prevent him because he does not follow in our company.” Jesus said to him,  “Do not prevent him, for whoever is not against you is for you.”

Who is for Jesus and who is against?  How do I tell the difference?

  

Action:  Show your support to someone who is trying to do good.                 

Thought for Friday September 27

Hope in God; I will praise him, my savior and my God.
Send forth your light and your fidelity;
they shall lead me on
And bring me to your holy mountain,
to your dwelling place.
Hope in God; I will praise him, my savior and my God.

Luke 9: 18 – 22  He said, “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.”

  

Why was this God’s plan for saving humanity?  What are the advantages of this plan?

  

Action:  If you know someone who is frequently rejected, see if you can find a way to support him/her.

Thought for Thursday September 26

The Lord takes delight in his people.
Let the faithful exult in glory;
let them sing for joy upon their couches;
Let the high praises of God be in their throats.
This is the glory of all his faithful. Alleluia.
The Lord takes delight in his people.

  

Luke 9: 7 – 9  Herod the tetrarch heard about all that was happening, and he was greatly perplexed

Have I ever done anything that perplexed other people?  Have someone else’s actions perplexed me?

Action:  Do something to express your faith that will perplex other people.