Thought for Monday July 1

 The Lord is kind and merciful.

Merciful and gracious is the LORD,

slow to anger and abounding in kindness.

He will not always chide,

nor does he keep his wrath forever.

The Lord is kind and merciful.

Matthew 8: 18 – 22  “Teacher, I will follow you wherever you go.”

Have I been led to anywhere I wasn’t planning to go?  Have I resisted going somewhere Jesus was trying to lead me?

Action:  Next time you are asked to go somewhere you hadn’t planned,  go.  Ask Jesus to be with you and when it is over, ask yourself if it was really all that bad.

Thought for Friday June 28

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.

Ezekiel 34: 11- 16  I myself will pasture my sheep; I myself will give them rest, says the Lord GOD.  The lost I will seek out, the strayed I will bring back, the injured I will bind up, the sick I will heal, but the sleek and the strong I will destroy, shepherding them rightly.

What do I need God to do for me?  Will I accept his help?

Action:  Be a good sheep and let the shepherd lead you.

Thought for Thursday June 27

Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good.
Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good,
for his mercy endures forever.
Who can tell the mighty deeds of the LORD,
or proclaim all his praises?
Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good.

Matthew 7: 21 – 29  Everyone who listens to these words of mine and acts on them will be like a wise man who built his house on rock. And everyone who listens to these words of mine but does not act on them will be like a fool who built his house on sand.

Am I a fool?  What is my moral/spiritual foundation?

Action:  Add something solid to your foundation. 

Thought for Wednesday June 26

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.

Matthew 7: 15 – 20  A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a rotten tree bear good fruit.  So by their fruits you will know them.

Is it really so simple to tell the good from the bad?  Is a good person always good and a bad one always bad?

Action:  Do what you can to produce good fruit.

Thought for Tuesday June 25

He who does justice will live in the presence of the Lord.
Who lends not his money at usury
and accepts no bribe against the innocent.
He who does these things
shall never be disturbed.
He who does justice will live in the presence of the Lord.

Matthew 7: 12 – 14  Do to others whatever you would have them do to you.

How do I want to be treated?  Do I think I have earned the right to be treated perfectly?

Action:  Think of someone you know who deserves to be treated well, and treat the biggest jerk you know the same way (for a little while).

Thought for Monday June 24

I praise you, for I am wonderfully made.
O LORD, you have probed me, you know me:
you know when I sit and when I stand;
you understand my thoughts from afar.
My journeys and my rest you scrutinize,
with all my ways you are familiar.
I praise you for I am wonderfully made.

Luke 1: 57 – 66  So they made signs, asking his father what he wished him to be called.  He asked for a tablet and wrote, "John is his name," and all were amazed.

How important is my name to me?  Do people ever call me by a name I don't like?

Action:   Spend the week doing things you want associated with your name.

Thought for Thursday June 20

Your works, O Lord, are justice and truth.

Majesty and glory are his work,

and his justice endures forever.

He has won renown for his wondrous deeds;

gracious and merciful is the LORD.

Your works, O Lord, are justice and truth.

Matthew 6: 7 – 15  If you forgive others their transgressions, your heavenly Father will forgive you. But if you do not forgive others, neither will your Father forgive your transgressions.

Are there things that have been done to me that I just won’t forgive?  Have I ever done anything I think I will never be forgiven?

Action:  Forgive someone for something even if they have never apologized or shown any remorse.

Thought for Wednesday June 19

Blessed the man who fears the Lord.

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 fears the Lord.

2 Corinthians 9: 6 - 11   Brothers and sisters, consider this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. Each must do as already determined, without sadness or compulsion,  for God loves a cheerful giver. Moreover, God is able to make every grace abundant for you, so that in all things, always having all you need, you may have an abundance for every good work.

Am I sowing abundantly?   Do I have all I need?

Action:  Give cheerfully and trust you already have what you need.

Thought for Tuesday June 18

Praise the Lord, my soul!
Praise the LORD, my soul!
I will praise the LORD all my life;
I will sing praise to my God while I live.
Praise the Lord, my soul!

Matthew 5: 43 – 48  Jesus said to his disciples: "You have heard that it was said, You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy. But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your heavenly Father, for he makes his sun rise on the bad and the good, and causes rain to fall on the just and the unjust.

How am I supposed to love an enemy?  Can I just ignore this because Jesus said it two thousand years ago and had no concept of the complexities of the modern world?

Action:  Do something loving for someone you can’t stand; for example bake your boss a pie.

Thought for Monday June 17

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.

2 Corinthians 6:1 - 10  Brothers and sisters:  As your fellow workers, we appeal to you not to receive the grace of God in vain. ...  We are treated as deceivers and yet are truthful; as unrecognized and yet acknowledged; as dying and behold we live; as chastised and yet not put to death; as sorrowful yet always rejoicing; as poor yet enriching many; as having nothing and yet possessing all things.

Have I experienced this kind of treatment?   What helps me endure?

Action:  Support someone who is experiencing this kind of treatment.

Thought for Thursday June 13

The glory of the Lord will dwell in our land.

Kindness and truth shall meet;

justice and peace shall kiss.

Truth shall spring out of the earth,

and justice shall look down from heaven.

 The glory of the Lord will dwell in our land.

Matthew 5: 20 – 26  You have heard that it was said to your ancestors, You shall not kill; and whoever kills will be liable to judgment. But I say to you, whoever is angry with his brother will be liable to judgment,

Do I see a lot of anger in the world/people around me?   What do I get angry about?

Action: The next time you get angry or annoyed about something (politics, economy, clothing styles, music, emails, etc), do something nice for someone.

Thought for Wednesday June 12

Holy is the Lord our God.

Extol the LORD, our God,

and worship at his holy mountain;

for holy is the LORD, our God.

 Holy is the Lord our God.

2 Corinthians 3:4 - 11  Brothers and sisters:  Such confidence we have through Christ toward God.  Not that of ourselves we are qualified to take credit for anything as coming from us; rather, our qualification comes from God, who has indeed qualified us as ministers of a new covenant, not of letter but of spirit; for the letter brings death, but the Spirit gives life.

Do I feel qualified to be a minister of the new covenant?  What does it mean that the "letter brings death"?

Action:  Be confident in your ability to minister to others, i.e. show them the love of God.

Thought for Tuesday June 11

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.

Matthew 5: 13 – 16  Jesus said to his disciples: "You are the salt of the earth. But if salt loses its taste, with what can it be seasoned?

What do I bring to the table?  What would be lost if I quit doing my part?

Action:  The next time you hear someone referred to as “the salt of the earth” try and emulate something good that he or she does to earn that accolade.

Thought for Monday June 10

Glorious things are told of you, O city of God.

They shall note, when the peoples are enrolled:

"This man was born there."

And all shall sing, in their festive dance:

"My home is within you."

Glorious things are told of you, O city of God.

John 19:25-34  Standing by the cross of Jesus were his mother and his mother's sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary of Magdala.

Who is Mary for me?  Can I understand her as just a mother in the human sense or does she she seem almost mystical?

Action:  Celebrate Mary today as a mother who saw her son grow up, preach, teach,heal, and then get crucified, resurrected and ascended.

Thought for Friday June 7

The Lord has established his throne in heaven.
For as the heavens are high above the earth,
so surpassing is his kindness toward those who fear him.
As far as the east is from the west,
so far has he put our transgressions from us.
The Lord has established his throne in heaven.

John 21: 15 – 19 Simon, son of John, do you love me?"  Simon Peter answered him, "Yes, Lord, you know that I love you."   He said to him, "Tend my sheep."

Do I love Jesus?  Am I tending his sheep?

Action:  Provide some gentle leadership to someone who seems to be wandering.

Thought for Thursday June 6

Keep me safe, O God; you are my hope.

Therefore my heart is glad and my soul rejoices,

my body, too, abides in confidence;

Because you will not abandon my soul to the nether world,

nor will you suffer your faithful one to undergo corruption.

Keep me safe, O God; you are my hope.

John 17: 20 – 26  And I have given them the glory you gave me, so that they may be one, as we are one, I in them and you in me, that they may be brought to perfection as one, that the world may know that you sent me, and that you loved them even as you loved me.

Am I getting closer to being perfect?  Does being perfect sound good?

Action:  Do one thing to be more perfect today.

Thought for Wednesday June 5

Sing to God, O Kingdoms of the earth.

You kingdoms of the earth, sing to God,

chant praise to the Lord

who rides on the heights of the ancient heavens.

Behold, his voice resounds, the voice of power:

“Confess the power of God!”

Sing to God, O kingdoms of the earth.

  

John 17: 11 – 19  I gave them your word, and the world hated them, because they do not belong to the world any more than I belong to the world.  I do not ask that you take them out of the world but that you keep them from the Evil One.

  

Do I belong to this world?  How does God keep me from the Evil One?

  

Action:  The next time you find yourself getting wrapped up in the things of this world, go the extra mile for someone who has nothing in this world.

Thought for Tuesday June 4

Sing to God, O kingdoms of the earth.
A bountiful rain you showered down, O God, upon your inheritance;
you restored the land when it languished;
Your flock settled in it;
in your goodness, O God, you provided it for the needy.
Sing to God, O kingdoms of the earth.

John 17: 1 – 11  I glorified you on earth by accomplishing the work that you gave me to do.

What work has God given me to do?  Do I hope doing what God wants me to do will bring me fame, fortune, pleasure or any other earthly prize?

Action:  Make a list of things God wants you to accomplish and get to work on it.

Thought for Monday June 3

Sing to God, O kingdoms of the earth.
But the just rejoice and exult before God;
they are glad and rejoice.
Sing to God, chant praise to his name;
whose name is the LORD.
Sing to God, O kingdoms of the earth.

John 16: 29 – 33  The disciples said to Jesus, "Now you are talking plainly, and not in any figure of speech. Now we realize that you know everything and that you do not need to have anyone question you.”

Do I believe Jesus knows everything?  Does it comfort me or annoy me to think of Jesus as a know-it-all?

Action:  Think of some issue you are sure you are right about and then think about how Jesus would express his moral certitude.  If there is a difference between what you do and what he would do, make a plan to change your approach.