Thought for Friday February 1

The salvation of the just comes from the Lord.
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 salvation of the just comes from the Lord.

  

Mark 4: 26 – 34  To what shall we compare the Kingdom of God, or what parable can we use for it? It is like a mustard seed that, when it is sown in the ground, is the smallest of all the seeds on the earth. But once it is sown, it springs up and becomes the largest of plants and puts forth large branches, so that the birds of the sky can dwell in its shade.

Does this give me hope that my faith will grow?  Does it give me hope that my society can grow toward God from the smallest seeds of good?

Action:  Do something really small to help establish the Kingdom of God and believe that your action will grow.

Thought for Thursday January 31

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.

  

Mark 4: 21 – 25  To the one who has, more will be given;  from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away.

Am I a “have” or a “have not”?  Am I excited about what I may be given or worried about what might be taken away?

  

Action:  Thank God for what you have.

Thought for Wednesday January 30

You are a priest for ever, in the line of Melchizedek.
“Yours is princely power in the day of your birth, in holy splendor;
before the daystar, like the dew, I have begotten you.”
You are a priest for ever, in the line of Melchizedek.

Mark 4: 1 – 20  A sower went out to sow. And as he sowed, some seed fell on the path, and the birds came and ate it up.

What in my life “eats” the word of God before it can even begin to take root?  What can I do about it?

Action:  Identify something in your life that steals your attention from God and work to get more control over it.  For example: turn off your computer, cell phone, TV,  or put away your romance, spy, western or mystery novel or a little while every day.

Thought for Tuesday January 29

Here am I Lord; I come to do your will.
Your justice I kept not hid within my heart;
your faithfulness and your salvation I have spoken of;
I have made no secret of your kindness and your truth
in the vast assembly.

Here am I Lord; I come to do your will.

Mark 3: 31 – 35  A crowd seated around him told him, “Your mother and your brothers and your sisters are outside asking for you.”  But he said to them in reply, “Who are my mother and my brothers?”

What do I think Mary would have said in response to this?  Does my relationship with my family help me to be a more faithful, loving and spiritual person?

Action:  Write, call, text, email or visit someone in your family today.

Thought for Monday January 28

Proclaim God's marvelous deeds to all the nations.
Sing to the Lord a new song;
sing to the Lord, all you lands.
Sing to the Lord; bless his name.

Proclaim God's marvelous deeds to all the nations.

  

Mark 3: 22 – 30  If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand.

What division do I see today?  Is that division slowing progress toward establishing the Kingdom of God?

Action:  Join in with a project you believe transcends divisions to focus on solutions.

Thought for Friday January 25

Go out to all the world and tell the Good News.
Praise the Lord, all you nations;
glorify him, all you peoples!
Go out to all the world, and tell the Good News.

  

Mark 16: 15 – 18  These signs will accompany those who believe: in my name they will drive out demons, they will speak new languages. They will pick up serpents with their hands, and if they drink any deadly thing, it will not harm them.  They will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover.

Have I ever tried to do any of these things?  Do I know someone who does these things?

Action:  Leave snakes alone and don't drink poison.  Find a way to communicate with someone who seems isolated, be brave enough to deal with some evil head-on, help heal someone who is hurting.

Thought for Thursday January 24

Here am I, 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 am I, Lord; I come to do your will.

Mark 3: 7 – 12  A large number of people followed from Galilee and from Judea.  Hearing what he was doing,  a large number of people came to him also from Jerusalem,  from Idumea, from beyond the Jordan,  and from the neighborhood of Tyre and Sidon.

What did these people have to invest in order to follow Jesus?  What am I willing to invest?

Action:  Invest something (time, energy, attention) to get to know Jesus better.

Thought for Wednesday January 23

You are a priest for ever, in the line of Melchizedek.
“Yours is princely power in the day of your birth, in holy splendor;
before the daystar, like the dew, I have begotten you.”
You are a priest for ever, in the line of Melchizedek.

Mark 3: 1 – 6  “Is it lawful to do good on the sabbath rather than to do evil, to save life rather than to destroy it?”

Do I believe I have done or been involved in things that are actually evil?  What evils are obvious in today's world?  

  

Action:  Honestly examine your life and identify an evil that you do or are at least involved in and quit.

Thought for Tuesday January 22

The Lord will remember his covenant for ever.
I will give thanks to the LORD with all my heart
in the company and assembly of the just.
Great are the works of the LORD,
exquisite in all their delights.
The Lord will remember his covenant for ever.

  

Mark 2: 23 – 28  As Jesus was passing through a field of grain on the sabbath, his disciples began to make a path while picking the heads of grain.  At this the Pharisees said to him,  “Look, why are they doing what is unlawful on the sabbath?”

Were the Pharisees really upset at what the disciples were doing or were they just looking for a reason to be annoyed?  Do I ever catch myself looking for a reason to be annoyed?

Action:  The next time you find yourself being annoyed, ask yourself if it is something important or just an excuse to be mad.

Thought for Monday January 21

You are a priest forever, in the line of Melchizedek.
“Yours is princely power in the day of your birth, in holy splendor;
before the daystar, like the dew, I have begotten you.”
You are a priest forever, in the line of Melchizedek.

 Mark 2: 18 – 22  People came to Jesus and objected, “Why do the disciples of John and the disciples of the Pharisees fast, but your disciples do not fast?”

Do I pay more attention to what other people do or to what I am doing?  What is my experience of fasting?

Action:  Fast when no one else is.

Thought for Friday January 18

Do not forget the works of the Lord!
What we have heard and know,
and what our fathers have declared to us,
we will declare to the generation to come
The glorious deeds of the LORD and his strength.
Do not forget the works of the Lord!

 Mark 2: 1 – 12  They came bringing to him a paralytic carried by four men. Unable to get near Jesus because of the crowd, they opened up the roof above him.

How hard do I work to bring people to Jesus?  Do I give up easily?

Action:  If you have been working to bring someone to Jesus, keep trying.

Thought for Thursday January 17

If today you hear his voice, harden not your hearts.
Come, let us bow down in worship;
let us kneel before the LORD who made us.
For he is our God,
and we are the people he shepherds, the flock he guides.
If today you hear his voice, harden not your hearts.

  

Mark 1: 40 – 45   The man went away and began to publicize the whole matter.  He spread the report abroad so that it was impossible for Jesus to enter a town openly.

Am I so overwhelmed with news that I just tune out the good with the bad?   How would I get the word out about something good that happened?

Action:  Share good news.

Thought for Wednesday January 16

The Lord remembers his covenant for ever.
Give thanks to the LORD, invoke his name;
make known among the nations his deeds.
Sing to him, sing his praise,
proclaim all his wondrous deeds.
The Lord remembers his covenant for ever.

Mark 1: 29 – 39  He approached, grasped her hand, and helped her up.  Then the fever left her and she waited on them.

If Jesus cured me, would I immediately jump up and serve him?  What excuses do I give for not serving him?

Action:  Face one of your excuses head on and try to overcome it.

Thought for Tuesday January 15

You have given your Son rule over the works of your hands.
All sheep and oxen,
yes, and the beasts of the field,
The birds of the air, the fishes of the sea,
and whatever swims the paths of the seas.
You have given your Son rule over the works of your hands.

Mark 1: 21 – 28  All were amazed and asked one another, “What is this? A new teaching with authority.

Do I look respect authority?  Am I willing to accept that God has authority and that there is right and wrong?

Action:  Try to go for one day without using relative terms (in some cases, it depends, usually, maybe,  agree to disagree) when you are talking about what you believe.

Thought for Monday January 14

Let all his angels worship him.
The heavens proclaim his justice,
and all peoples see his glory.
Let all his angels worship him.
Let all his angels worship him.

  

Mark 1: 14 – 20  Jesus said to them, “Come after me, and I will make you fishers of men.” Then they left their nets and followed him.

What would Jesus have to offer me for me to give up everything I know?  What am I willing to leave behind?

  

Action:  If there is something you are holding on to that is getting in the way of living your faith, make a plan to give it up.

Thought for Friday January 11

Praise the Lord, Jerusalem.
He has granted peace in your borders;
with the best of wheat he fills you.
He sends forth his command to the earth;
swiftly runs his word!
Praise the Lord, Jerusalem.

1 John 5: 5 – 13  Beloved: Who indeed is the victor over the world but the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?

Do I feel like a victor over all the world?  Do I ever feel like the world has beaten me?

  

Action:  Celebrate the small victories in your life.

Thought for Thursday January 10

Lord, every nation on earth will adore you.
May his name be blessed forever;
as long as the sun his name shall remain.
In him shall all the tribes of the earth be blessed;
all the nations shall proclaim his happiness.
Lord, every nation on earth will adore you.

Luke 4: 14 – 22  Jesus returned to Galilee in the power of the Spirit, and news of him spread throughout the whole region.  He taught in their synagogues and was praised by all.

Does everyone who praises Jesus’ teaching change their lives?  Am I changing my life because of his teaching?

Action:  Do something in response to Jesus’ teaching.

Thought for Wednesday January 9

Lord, every nation on earth will adore you.
For he shall rescue the poor when he cries out,
and the afflicted when he has no one to help him.
He shall have pity for the lowly and the poor;
the lives of the poor he shall save.
Lord, every nation on earth will adore you.

Mark 6: 45 – 52  About the fourth watch of the night, he came toward them walking on the sea.  He meant to pass by them.  But when they saw him walking on the sea, they thought it was a ghost and cried out.

Have I ever wondered where Jesus meant to go?  Have I ever wondered where I am going?

Action:  Go somewhere - physically, spiritually, emotionally, geographically - this year.

Thought for Tuesday January 8

Lord, every nation on earth will adore you.
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.
Lord, every nation on earth will adore you.

Mark 6: 34 – 44  When Jesus saw the vast crowd, his heart was moved with pity for them, for they were like sheep without a shepherd;

Do I accept Jesus’ leadership or do I prefer to be my own shepherd?  How well is my choice working for me?

 Action:  If there is some aspect of your life that isn’t going well, look for a new shepherd – starting with Jesus.

Thought for Monday January 7

I will give you all the nations for an inheritance.
The LORD said to me, “You are my Son;
this day I have begotten you.
Ask of me and I will give you
the nations for an inheritance
and the ends of the earth for your possession.”
I will give you all the nations for an inheritance.

Matthew 4: 12 – 25  From that time on, Jesus began to preach and say, “Repent, for the Kingdom of heaven is at hand.”

Does celebrating Christmas make me feel like the Kingdom of God is at hand?  If the kingdom is at hand, is there something of which I should repent?

Action:  Begin the new year by repenting of a sin or bad habit.

Thought for Friday January 4

All the ends of the earth have seen the saving power of 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 before the LORD.
All the ends of the earth have seen the saving power of God.

John 1: 35 – 42 Jesus turned and saw them following him and said to them, “What are you looking for?”

  

Am I looking for anything?  Is there something I really don’t want to find?

Action:  Figure out what you are looking for in life and come up with a plan to find it.

Thought for Thursday January 3

All the ends of the earth have seen the saving power of God.
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.
All the ends of the earth have seen the saving power of God.

John 1: 29 - 34  John the Baptist saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world.”

Is this any way to introduce your cousin?  Does John’s introduction of Jesus make him seen friendly/approachable or distant?

Action:  The next time you are talking to someone about God, be aware that you can make him seem friendly, scary, powerful, overwhelming, patient, vengeful, etc.

Thought for Wednesday January 2

All the ends of the earth have seen the saving power of God.
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.
All the ends of the earth have seen the saving power of God.

John 1: 19 – 28  When the Jews from Jerusalem sent priests and Levites to him to ask him, “Who are you?”

What is my most honest answer for “Who are you?”?  Who do I really want to be?

Action:  If there is a difference between who you are and who you want to be, make a change in your life to close the gap.