Thought for Thursday August 1

How lovely is your dwelling place, O Lord, mighty God!
Blessed they who dwell in your house!
continually they praise you.
Blessed the men whose strength you are!
They go from strength to strength.
How lovely is your dwelling place, O Lord, mighty God!

 Matthew 13: 47 – 53  Jesus said to the disciples: “The Kingdom of heaven is like a net thrown into the sea, which collects fish of every kind.  When it is full they haul it ashore and sit down to put what is good into buckets. What is bad they throw away.”

Do I carp about problems in my society?  Am I breaming with ideas to help?   

Action:  Be a good fish - wade into a roughy situation and see if you can make a reel difference.

Thought for Wednesday July 31

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. 

Matthew 13: 44 – 46  The Kingdom of heaven is like a treasure buried in a field, which a person finds and hides again, and out of joy goes and sells all that he has and buys that field.

 Would I joyfully give up everything for the Kingdom of heaven? 

  

Action:  Give away something you don't use, but were sure you needed.

Thought for Tuesday July 30

The Lord is kind and merciful.
As far as the east is from the west,
so far has he put our transgressions from us.
As a father has compassion on his children,
so the LORD has compassion on those who fear him.
The Lord is kind and merciful.

Matthew 13: 36 – 43  Jesus dismissed the crowds and went into the house.  His disciples approached him and said, “Explain to us the parable of the weeds in the field.”

Were the disciples were being intentionally obstinate, were they too lazy to figure it out or were they really that dumb?  Do I ever pretend to not understand something I don't want to deal with?

Action:   Try a little harder to understand what Jesus is trying to tell you.

Thought for Monday July 29

Blessed is he whose help is the God of Jacob. Blessed he whose help is the God of Jacob, whose hope is in the LORD, his God. Who made heaven and earth, the sea and all that is in them.Blessed is he whose help is the God of Jacob. 

John 11: 19 – 27  Many of the Jews had come to Martha and Mary to comfort them about their brother [Lazarus, who had died].When Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went to meet him; but Mary sat at home.

 

 

Do I go to Jesus when I experience loss?  How do I support people who are going through a hard time?

 

 

Action:  Go to Jesus when you need help.

Thought for Friday July 26

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

Matthew 13: 18 – 23  The seed sown among thorns is the one who hears the word, but then worldly anxiety and the lure of riches choke the word and it bears no fruit.

What anxieties am I facing?  What “riches” are luring me away from the word of God?

Action:  This weekend focus on the word of God with the specific intent of making it bear fruit in your life.

Thought for Thursday July 25

Those who sow in tears shall reap rejoicing.
Restore our fortunes, O LORD,
like the torrents in the southern desert.
Those that sow in tears
shall reap rejoicing.
Those who sow in tears shall reap rejoicing.

  

Matthew 20: 20 – 28   Jesus said in reply, “You do not know what you are asking.  Can you drink the chalice that I am going to drink?”   They said to him, “We can.”

Am I living out the challenge of being Christian?    How do I think I would respond if I were asked to make a huge sacrifice for the Kingdom of God?

Action:  Take up a new challenge this week.

Thought for Wednesday July 24

The Lord gave them bread from heaven.
Man ate the bread of angels,
food he sent them in abundance.
He stirred up the east wind in the heavens,
and by his power brought on the south wind.
The Lord gave them bread from heaven.

Matthew 13: 1 – 9   A sower went out to sow. And as he sowed, some seed fell on the path, and birds came and ate it up.  Some seed fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked it.

If words are like seed, is our culture careful about what we sow?  Has the soil hardened against the word of God?

Action:   Make sure the words you are using and the ones you are reading and hearing are worthy of good soil.

Thought for Tuesday July 23

Taste and see the goodness of the Lord.

Look to him that you may be radiant with joy,

and your faces may not blush with shame.

When the poor one called out, the LORD heard,

and from all his distress he saved him.

Taste and see the goodness of the Lord.

John  15: 1 - 8  If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask for whatever you want and it will be done for you.

What do I want Jesus to do for me now?  If I remain in Christ, what is it I would want?  

Action:  Ask for what you want, but learn to want what you have.

Thought for Monday July 22

My soul is thirsting for you, O Lord my God.

Thus will I bless you while I live;

lifting up my hands, I will call upon your name.

As with the riches of a banquet shall my soul be satisfied,

and with exultant lips my mouth shall praise you.

My soul is thirsting for you, O Lord my God.

John 20: 1 – 2, 11 - 20   When she had said this, she turned around and saw Jesus there, but did not know it was Jesus. Jesus said to her, “Mary!”  She turned and said to him in Hebrew, “Rabbouni,” which means Teacher.

Have I ever not recognized someone who called me by name?  How important is it to call people by name?

Action:   Do something for someone today that you would normally only do for someone who calls you by your name.

Thought for Friday July 19

I will take the cup of salvation, and call on the name of the Lord.
How shall I make a return to the LORD
for all the good he has done for me?
The cup of salvation I will take up,
and I will call upon the name of the LORD.
I will take the cup of salvation, and call on the name of the Lord.

Matthew 12: 1 – 8  When the Pharisees saw this, they said to him, "See, your disciples are doing what is unlawful to do on the sabbath."

Do I ever judge people about their observance of the Sabbath?  Do I ever criticize people (in my mind or to others) at church because of the way they are dressed, or when they arrive, or how their kids act, or whether they receive Communion?

Action:  Make a point of going to church this weekend and appreciating the presence of everyone who is there without judging anyone.

Thought for Thursday July 18

The Lord remembers his covenant forever.
Give thanks to the LORD, invoke his name;
make known among the nations his deeds.
Recall the wondrous deeds that he has wrought,
his portents, and the judgments he has uttered.
The Lord remembers his covenant forever.

Matthew 11: 28 – 30  Jesus said: "Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest.”

What burdens am I carrying?  What could I do if I laid them down?

Action:  Lay down your burdens and open up your heart.  Trust Jesus to do the heavy lifting for a little while.

Thought for Wednesday July 17

The Lord is kind and merciful.

Bless the LORD, O my soul;

and all my being, bless his holy name.

Bless the LORD, O my soul,

and forget not all his benefits.

The Lord is kind and merciful.

Exodus 3: 1 - 12 I am the God of your father," he continued, "the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, the God of Jacob.  The cry of the children of Israel has reached me, and I have truly noted that the Egyptians are oppressing them.  Come, now!  I will send you to Pharaoh to lead my people, the children of Israel, out of Egypt."

How would I feel if God just appeared to me one day and asked me to lead my whole community?  In what ways am I called to serve my community?

Action:  Be a leader -of big things or little things - the world needs leaders.

Thought for Tuesday July 16

Turn to the Lord in your need, and you will live.
I am sunk in the abysmal swamp
where there is no foothold;
I have reached the watery depths;
the flood overwhelms me.
Turn to the Lord in your need, and you will live.

Matthew 11: 20 – 24  Jesus began to reproach the towns where most of his mighty deeds had been done, since they had not repented.

What great things have I seen that had no real effect on my life?  Do I resist change even in the face of overwhelming evidence that I should?

Action:  Change - stop doing something bad, start doing something good or just just pay more attention to what you are doing. 

Thought for Monday July 15

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.

Matthew 10: 34 – 11: 1  Whoever receives a prophet because he is a prophet will receive a prophet's reward, and whoever receives a righteous man because he is righteous will receive a righteous man's reward.

Do I really want to hear what prophets have to say?   What reward do I expect for doing so?

Action:  Look for prophets (even if what they say bothers you) this week at work, in the news, at church, at home, and try to learn more about what they are talking about.  Challenge yourself to make one change because of what they are saying.

Thought for Friday July 12

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.

Matthew 10: 16 – 23  You will be given at that moment what you are to say.

Have I ever found the right words when I didn’t know what to say?  Do I trust God to help me express his love?

Action:  If you have been putting off talking to someone because you don’t know what to say; go ahead and call and trust God to help you.

Thought for Thursday July 11

Remember the marvels the Lord has done.
The king sent and released him,
the ruler of the peoples set him free.
He made him lord of his house
and ruler of all his possessions.
Remember the marvels the Lord has done

Matthew 10: 7 – 15  The laborer deserves his keep.

Do I do enough to deserve everything I have?  Are there people who do not deserve their keep?

Action:  Do some good work today – Nose to the grindstone sort of stuff.

Thought for Wednesday July 10

Lord, let your mercy be on us, as we place our trust in you.
Give thanks to the LORD on the harp;
with the ten-stringed lyre chant his praises.
Sing to him a new song;
pluck the strings skillfully, with shouts of  gladness.
Lord, let your mercy be on us, as we place our trust in you.

Matthew 10: 1 – 7  Jesus summoned his Twelve disciples and gave them authority over unclean spirits to drive them out and to cure every disease and every illness. The names of the Twelve Apostles are these: first, Simon called Peter, and his brother Andrew; James, the son of Zebedee, and his brother John; Philip and Bartholomew, Thomas and Matthew the tax collector; James, the son of Alphaeus, and Thaddeus; Simon the Cananean, and Judas Iscariot who betrayed Jesus.

Do I feel that Jesus has chosen me for something special?   What special gifts do I have?

  

Action:  Make a list of 12 things you want to do for other people and start doing them.

Thought for Tuesday July 9

In justice, I shall behold your face, O Lord.
Hide me in the shadow of your wings.
I in justice shall behold your face;
on waking, I shall be content in your presence.
In justice, I shall behold your face, O Lord.

Matthew 9: 32 – 38  A demoniac who could not speak was brought to Jesus, and when the demon was driven out the mute man spoke.

Do I take being able to speak for granted or do I recognize it as a gift?  Do I use the power of speech as a gift from God or …?

Action:  Learn a couple of new words today - in Spanish or German or American Sign or Polish or Portuguese.  Hello, please and thank you is a good place to start.

Thought for Monday July 8

 In you, my God, I place my trust.

You who dwell in the shelter of the Most High,
who abide in the shadow of the Almighty,
Say to the LORD, “My refuge and my fortress,
my God, in whom I trust.”
In you, my God, I place my trust.

Genesis 28: 10 - 22  Jacob then made this vow: “If God remains with me, to protect me on this journey I am making and to give me enough bread to eat and clothing to wear, and I come back safe to my father’s house, the LORD shall be my God.”

What life journey am I on now?  How do I honor God for all he has done for me?

Action:  Review the progress you have made on your journey and if you think you need to adjust your path, do it.

Thought for Wednesday July 3

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.

John 20: 24 – 29  So the other disciples said to him, "We have seen the Lord." But Thomas said to them, "Unless I see the mark of the nails in his hands and put my finger into the nail marks and put my hand into his side, I will not believe."

Do I think Thomas was justified in doubting the other disciples?   Do people believe my testimony?

Action:  Be honest so that people will believe the important things you say.

Thought for Tuesday July 2

O Lord, your mercy is before my eyes.
But I walk in integrity;
redeem me, and have mercy on me.
My foot stands on level ground;
in the assemblies I will bless the LORD.
O Lord, your mercy is before my eyes.

Matthew 8: 23 – 27  As Jesus got into a boat, his disciples followed him.  Suddenly a violent storm came up on the sea, so that the boat was being swamped by waves; but he was asleep.

Staying calm is one thing, but did Jesus really need to sleep during a violent storm?  Was Jesus just tired or was he trying to make a point?

Action:  The next time you are in a chaotic or stressful situation, try to go beyond calm and be the one who sees the irrelevance of the situation in light of eternity.