Thought for Thursday August 29

Fill us with your love, O Lord, and we will sing for joy!

Fill us at daybreak with your kindness,

that we may shout for joy and gladness all our days.

And may the gracious care of the LORD our God be ours;

prosper the work of our hands for us!

Prosper the work of our hands!

Fill us with your love, O Lord, and we will sing for joy!

1 Thessalonians 3: 7  - 13  What thanksgiving, then, can we render to God for you, for all the joy we feel on your account before our God?

How often do I thank God for the awesome people in my life?  More or less often than i complain to him about the jerks?

Action:  Thank God for your friends and let them know you appreciate them.

Thought for Wednesday August 28

You have searched me and you know me, Lord.

If I take the wings of the dawn,

if I settle at the farthest limits of the sea,

Even there your hand shall guide me,

and your right hand hold me fast.

You have searched me and you know me, Lord.

Matthew 23: 27 - 32  Jesus said, "Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites. You are like whitewashed tombs, which appear beautiful on the outside, but inside are full of dead men's bones and every kind of filth.  Even so, on the outside you appear righteous, but inside you are filled with hypocrisy and evildoing."

Do I have the wisdom to recognize the evil on the inside or do I get fooled by external appearances?  Are there times I don't look below the surface because I just don't want to deal with the truth?

Action:  Be honest about the hypocrisy you see and don't get drawn into it.

Thought for Tuesday August 27

 You have searched me and you know me, Lord.

O LORD, you have probed me and 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.

You have searched me and you know me, Lord.

Matthew 23: 23 – 26  You pay tithes of mint and dill and cummin, and have neglected the weightier things of the law: judgment and mercy and fidelity.

How much does my society value mercy?  What is the difference between good judgment and judgmentalism?

Action:  Pay close attention to the emails you forward to others and insure they demonstrate fidelity to the mind and heart of Jesus, are merciful to others, and that you judge that sending them along will have positive uplifting affects on those who read them.

Thought for Monday August 26

The Lord takes delight in his people.

Let them praise his name in the festive dance,

let them sing praise to him with timbrel and harp.

For the LORD loves his people,

and he adorns the lowly with victory. 

The Lord takes delight in his people.

Matthew 23: 13 – 22  You traverse sea and land to make one convert, and when that happens you make him a child of Gahanna twice as much as yourselves.

What responsibility do I have to lead others in living a good life?  How am I doing?

Action:  Make a point of doing something to model Christ to someone who needs a good example.

Thought for Friday August 23

Praise the Lord, my soul!

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.

 Praise the Lord, my soul!

Matthew 22: 34 – 40  He said to him, “You shall love the Lord, your God, with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the greatest and the first commandment. The second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”

  

Has trying to obey these two commandments ever affected any real decision in my life?  Do I see these commandments as true rules for living or as nice platitudes?

  

Action:  Do something for someone specifically to live out this second commandment.

Thought for Thursday August 22

Here I am, Lord; I come to do your will.
I announced your justice in the vast assembly;
I did not restrain my lips, as you, O LORD, know.
Here I am, Lord; I come to do your will.

 Matthew 22: 1 – 14  “The Kingdom of heaven may be likened to a king who gave a wedding feast for his son.  He dispatched his servants to summon the invited guests to the feast, but they refused to come.

Do I ever decline invitations even though the event might be fun?  Do I ever refuse the good things God offers me? 

Action:  Accept an invitation you would normally decline and try to see God in the experience.  

Thought for Wednesday August 21

Lord, in your strength the king is glad.

Great is his glory in your victory;

majesty and splendor you conferred upon him.

You made him a blessing forever,

you gladdened him with the joy of your face.

 Lord, in your strength the king is glad.

Matthew 20: 1 – 16  Going out about five o’clock, he found others standing around, and said to them, ‘Why do you stand here idle all day?’ They answered, ‘Because no one has hired us.’

Am I standing around doing less than I could be doing?  Is it too late for me to get started working for the Kingdom of God?

Action:  Start working on something you keep putting off.

Thought for Tuesday August 20

The Lord speaks of peace to his people.
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 Lord speaks of peace to his people.

Matthew 19: 23 – 30  Then Peter said to him in reply, “We have given up everything and followed you. What will there be for us?”

What have I given up?  What do I expect in return?

Action:  Give up something, at least temporarily, so that you can follow Jesus.

Thought for Monday August 19

Remember us, O Lord, as you favor your people.
Many times did he rescue them,
but they embittered him with their counsels.
Yet he had regard for their affliction
when he heard their cry.
Remember us, O Lord, as you favor your people.

Matthew 19: 16 – 22  “If you wish to enter into life, keep the commandments.”  He asked him, “Which ones?” And Jesus replied, “You shall not kill; you shall not commit adultery; you shall not steal; you shall not bear false witness; honor your father and your mother; and you shall love your neighbor as yourself.”

How am I doing?  Is this simple list really that simple?

Action:  Don’t kill, cheat, steal, lie or dishonor your family and, if you have time, do something loving for your neighbor.

Thought for Friday August 16

His mercy endures forever.
Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good,
for his mercy endures forever;
Give thanks to the God of gods,
for his mercy endures forever;
Give thanks to the LORD of lords,
for his mercy endures forever.
His mercy endures forever.

Matthew 19: 3 – 12  Some are incapable of marriage because they were born so; some, because they were made so by others; some, because they have renounced marriage for the sake of the Kingdom of heaven.

If some people are incapable of marriage for these reasons, does it follow that some are capable for the same reasons?  What makes me capable/incapable of marriage?  Am I joyful in my vocation ?

Action:  If you are married, take your spouse on a date.  If you are single, enjoy a special night out alone or with friends.

Thought for Thursday August 15

The queen stands at your right hand, arrayed in gold.
They are borne in with gladness and joy;
they enter the palace of the king.
The queen stands at your right hand, arrayed in gold.

1 Corinthians 15: 20 - 27   The last enemy to be destroyed is death, for "he subjected everything under his feet.”

Is death my enemy?  How do I plan to defeat death?

Action:   Defeat death today by celebrating being alive.

Thought for Wednesday August 14

Blessed be God who filled my soul with fire!
Shout joyfully to God, all the earth;
sing praise to the glory of his name;
proclaim his glorious praise.
Say to God: “How tremendous are your deeds!”
Blessed be God who filled my soul with fire!

Matthew 18: 15 – 20  Jesus said to his disciples: “If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault between you and him alone.”

How often do I try to resolve things privately?  Would I rather heal a relationship or be affirmed in righteous anger?

Action:  Resolve not to gripe about what someone else has done to you for one week.  Instead, put your energy into working out your differences or learning to live with it.

Thought for Tuesday August 13

The portion of the Lord is his people.
For I will sing the LORD's renown.
Oh, proclaim the greatness of our God!
The Rock–how faultless are his deeds,
how right all his ways!

The portion of the Lord is his people.

Matthew 18: 1 – 5, 10, 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?

Would I leave the 99 and go after the one?  If I found the one that had gone astray, would I barbecue it?

Action:  Leave your comfort zone of the 99, and take a risk reaching out to one who has gone astray.

Thought for Monday August 12

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.

Matthew 17: 22 – 27  Jesus asked him, “What is your opinion, Simon?  From whom do the kings of the earth take tolls or census tax?  From their subjects or from foreigners?”  When he said, “From foreigners,” Jesus said to him,  “Then the subjects are exempt.

What are the 10 best things taxes have been used to pay for?  What are the 10 worst things taxes are used for?

Action:  Use your time, talent and/or treasure to improve a situation that tax money just can’t help.

Thought for Friday August 9

 I remember the deeds of the Lord.

O God, your way is holy;

what great god is there like our God?

You are the God who works wonders;

among the peoples you have made known your power.

 I remember the deeds of the Lord.

Matthew 16: 24 – 28  For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.

Is there a part of my life I would do well to lose?   What would I like to find for my life?

Action:  If you are missing something in your life, start looking for it.

Thought for Thursday August 8

If today you hear his voice, harden not your hearts.
Come, let us sing joyfully to the LORD;
let us acclaim the Rock of our salvation.
Let us come into his presence with thanksgiving;
let us joyfully sing psalms to him.

If today you hear his voice, harden not your hearts.

Matthew 16: 13 – 23    “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?”  They replied, “Some say John the Baptist, others Elijah, still others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.”

Have I ever seen Christians disagree about something I thought was perfectly clear?  Are Christians good at resolving differences of  opinion?

Action:  When you find yourself disagreeing with someone about an issue, try to work back down to something you do agree on and build from there.

Thought for Wednesday August 7

Remember us, O Lord, as you favor your people.
But soon they forgot his works;
they waited not for his counsel.
They gave way to craving in the desert
and tempted God in the wilderness.
Remember us, O Lord, as you favor your people.

Matthew 15: 21 – 28  She said, “Please, Lord, for even the dogs eat the scraps that fall from the table of their masters.”

Do I have enough dignity to ask for more than scraps?  Do I have enough humility to accept scraps?

Action:  Learn to appreciate things like a dog (Dog food! My favorite thing! A car ride! My favorite thing! A walk in the park! My favorite thing! Got rubbed and petted! My favorite thing! Milk bones! My favorite thing! Played in the yard! My favorite thing! Wagged my tail! My favorite thing!)  and if you can, consider adopting one.

Thought for Tuesday August 6

The Lord is king, the Most High over all the earth.
The mountains melt like wax before the LORD,
before the LORD of all the earth.
The heavens proclaim his justice,
and all peoples see his glory.
The Lord is king, the Most High over all the earth.

Luke 9: 28 – 36  Then from the cloud came a voice that said,  “This is my chosen Son; listen to him.” After the voice had spoken, Jesus was found alone.  They fell silent and did not at that time  tell anyone what they had seen.

What would I want to hear from a voice in the cloud to say about me?  What do I think God would really say about me? 

Action:  Pay someone a compliment today.

Thought for Monday August 5

Sing with joy to God our help.
“My people heard not my voice,
and Israel obeyed me not;
So I gave them up to the hardness of their hearts;
they walked according to their own counsels.”
Sing with joy to God our help.

Matthew 14; 13 – 21  When Jesus heard of the death of John the Baptist, he withdrew in a boat to a deserted place by himself. The crowds heard of this and followed him on foot from their towns.

Doesn’t it sound like Jesus wanted to be alone?  Why didn’t he just tell these people to go away?

Action:  Make an effort to put up with people who need love even when you feel like you have nothing left to give.

Thought for Friday August 2

Sing with joy to God our help.

Take up a melody, and sound the timbrel,

the pleasant harp and the lyre.

Blow the trumpet at the new moon,

at the full moon, on our solemn feast.

Sing with joy to God our help.

Matthew 13: 54 – 58  Jesus came to his native place and taught the people in their synagogue.  Where did this man get all this?" And they took offense at him.

Were they offended at what he said or just offended because they didn’t think he should be preaching to them at all?  What offends me?

Action:  Make an effort to understand why certain things offend people instead of just being offended by their offendedness.