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.

Thought for Wednesday September 25

Blessed be God, who lives for ever.

So now consider what he has done for you,

and praise him with full voice.

Bless the Lord of righteousness,

and exalt the King of ages.

Blessed be God, who lives for ever.

Luke 9: 1 – 6  Jesus summoned the Twelve and gave them power and authority over all demons and to cure diseases, and he sent them to proclaim the Kingdom of God and to heal the sick.

 Who do I believe now has this power and this responsibility?  What is my responsibility?

  

Action:  Exercise whatever power you have to make someone else’s life better.

Thought for Tuesday September 24

Let us go rejoicing to the house of the Lord.
I rejoiced because they said to me,
“We will go up to the house of the LORD.”
And now we have set foot
within your gates, O Jerusalem.

Let us go rejoicing to the house of the Lord.

Luke 8: 19 – 21  He said to them in reply, “My mother and my brothers are those who hear the word of God and act on it.”

Is this as easy as it sounds?  How am I doing?

Action:  Hear the word of God and act on it.

Thought for Monday September 23

The Lord has done marvels for us.

Although they go forth weeping,

carrying the seed to be sown,

They shall come back rejoicing,

carrying their sheaves.

The Lord has done marvels for us.

Luke 8: 16 – 18  No one who lights a lamp conceals it with a vessel or sets it under a bed; rather, he places it on a lampstand so that those who enter may see the light.

Do I sometimes hide my “light” because I am afraid of revealing too much of myself?  Who sees my light even when I am trying to hide it?

Action:  Share an insight you have had with someone you think can benefit from it.

Thought for Friday September 20

Blessed the poor in spirit; the Kingdom of heaven is theirs!

Fear not when a man grows rich,

when the wealth of his house becomes great,

For when he dies, he shall take none of it;

his wealth shall not follow him down.

Blessed the poor in spirit; the Kingdom of heaven is theirs!

1 Timothy 6: 2 - 12  If we have food and clothing, we shall be content with that.   For the love of money is the root of all evils,  and some people in their desire for it have strayed from the faith and have pierced themselves with many pains.

But you, man of God, avoid all this. Instead, pursue righteousness, devotion, faith, love, patience, and gentleness. Compete well for the faith.

Do I see money as just a tool to exchange goods and services or is there more to it than that? Do I use money to try and buy contentment, happiness, influence, or power?  

Action: Be content with what you have this weekend and use the money you have wisely.

Thought for Thursday September 19

How great are the works of the Lord!
The works of his hands are faithful and just;
sure are all his precepts,
Reliable forever and ever,
wrought in truth and equity.
How great are the works of the Lord!

Luke 7: 36 – 50  Bringing an alabaster flask of ointment, she stood behind him at his feet weeping and began to bathe his feet with her tears.  Then she wiped them with her hair, kissed them, and anointed them with the ointment.

Am I gracious enough to let people express their love?  Could I ever be passionate enough to do this for someone?

Action:  Do something loving today.

Thought for Wednesday September 18

How great are the works of the Lord!
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.
How great are the works of the Lord!

Luke 7: 31 – 35  For John the Baptist came neither eating food nor drinking wine, and you said, ‘He is possessed by a demon.’ The Son of Man came eating and drinking and you said, ‘Look, he is a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners.’

Do I often find fault with the messengers of the Gospel?  Is it easier to reject the message if I can reject the messengers?

Action:  Spend a little time listening to [or reading] someone you typically reject and see what value you can find in the message.

Thought for Tuesday September 17

I will walk with blameless heart.

My eyes are upon the faithful of the land,

that they may dwell with me.

He who walks in the way of integrity

shall be in my service.

 I will walk with blameless heart.

Luke 7: 11 – 17 He stepped forward and touched the coffin; at this the bearers halted, and he said, “Young man, I tell you, arise!”  The dead man sat up and began to speak, and Jesus gave him to his mother.

What would I do if Jesus raised me to a new life?  Would I go back to doing what I had always done?

Action:  Do something this week that you have never done before – go skydiving, read a different book, go to something at a church, eat different food, plan a trip, tell someone you love him/her – and rise to new possibilities in your  life.

Thought for Monday September 16

Blessed be the Lord, for he has heard my prayer.

The LORD is the strength of his people,

the saving refuge of his anointed.

Save your people, and bless your inheritance;

feed them, and carry them forever!

Blessed be the Lord, for he has heard my prayer.

1 Timothy 2: 1 – 8 Beloved:  First of all, I ask that supplications, prayers, petitions, and thanksgivings be offered for everyone, for kings and for all in authority, that we may lead a quiet and tranquil life in all devotion and dignity.   This is good and pleasing to God our savior, who wills everyone to be saved and to come to knowledge of the truth. 

Do I pray for everyone?  Do I want everyone to be saved?

Action:   The next time you feel disdain, contempt or even hatred for someone, thank God for creating him.

Thought for Friday September 13

You are my inheritance, O Lord.
You will show me the path to life,
fullness of joys in your presence,
the delights at your right hand forever.
 You are my inheritance, O Lord.

1 Timothy 1: 1 – 2; 12 – 14  Paul, an Apostle of Christ Jesus by command of God our savior and of Christ Jesus our hope, to Timothy, my true child in faith: grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.

How do I introduce myself?  Could I introduce myself like Paul does?

Action:   Introduce yourself to someone new today.

Thought for Thursday September 12

Let everything that breathes praise the Lord!

Praise the LORD in his sanctuary,

praise him in the firmament of his strength.

Praise him for his mighty deeds,

praise him for his sovereign majesty.

Let everything that breathes praise the Lord! 

Luke 6: 27 – 38  Jesus said to his disciples: "To you who hear I say, love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you.”

Do I see a lot of love for enemies these days?   How am I doing?

Action:  When you see people promoting hate, stand up to them and remind them that Jesus said, “Love your enemies.”

Thought for Wednesday September 11

Listen to me, daughter; see and bend your ear.
They are borne in with gladness and joy;
they enter the palace of the king.
The place of your fathers your sons shall have;
you shall make them princes through all the land.
Listen to me, daughter; see and bend your ear.

Luke 6: 20 – 26  Blessed are you who are now hungry, for you will be satisfied.     

                            But woe to you who are filled now, for you will be hungry.

What sounds better to me, being hungry with the promise of being satisfied or being full with the promise of being hungry?   What’s better, the anticipation of a great meal or eating a great meal?

Action:  Fast just until you get a little hungry and pray for peace before you eat.

Thought for Tuesday September 10

The Lord is compassionate toward all his works.
Let all your works give you thanks, O LORD,
and let your faithful ones bless you.
Let them discourse of the glory of your Kingdom
and speak of your might.
The Lord is compassionate toward all his works.

 Colossians 2: 6 – 15  See to it that no one captivate you with an empty, seductive philosophy according to the tradition of men, according to the elemental powers of the world and not according to Christ.

How much time do I spend in empty pursuits?   What “seductive philosophies” have I rejected?

Action:   If you know you are captivated by some things that are not according to Christ, make a special effort to insure you don’t drag anyone else down with you before you can free yourself.

Thought for Monday September 9

In God is my safety and my glory.
Only in God be at rest, my soul,
for from him comes my hope.
He only is my rock and my salvation,
my stronghold; I shall not be disturbed.
In God is my safety and my glory.

  

Luke 6: 6 – 11  On a certain sabbath Jesus went into the synagogue and taught,  and there was a man there whose right hand was withered.

Do I appreciate the gift of my hands and use them to do the work of God?    Have I noticed anyone who struggles because his hands are weak, or injured or arthritic?

Action:  Do some good with your hands today and pray for those whose hands don’t work well.

Thought for Friday September 6

Come with joy into the presence of the Lord.
Sing joyfully to the LORD, all you lands;
serve the LORD with gladness;
come before him with joyful song.

Come with joy into the presence of the Lord.

Colossians 1: 15 – 20  For in him all the fullness was pleased to dwell, and through him to reconcile all things for him, making peace by the Blood of his cross through him, whether those on earth or those in heaven.

Luke 5: 33 – 39  The scribes and Pharisees said to Jesus, “The disciples of John the Baptist fast often and offer prayers, and the disciples of the Pharisees do the same; but yours eat and drink.”  Jesus answered them, “Can you make the wedding guests fast while the bridegroom is with them?  But the days will come, and when the bridegroom is taken away from them, then they will fast in those days.”  

Action:  Fast for everyone affected by opioid addiction.  Pray for the Bahamas.

Thought for Thursday September 5

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.

Colossians 1: 9 – 14  Brothers and sisters:  From the day we heard about you, we do not cease praying for you and asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of God's will through all spiritual wisdom and understanding to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, so as to be fully pleasing, in every good work bearing fruit and growing in the knowledge of God, strengthened with every power, in accord with his glorious might, for all endurance and patience, with joy giving thanks to the Father, who has made you fit to share in the inheritance of the holy ones in light.

Do I have all of the gifts mentioned here?  Are they what I ask God to give me?

Action:  Give somebody a gift today, even if he/she doesn’t recognize it as such.

Thought for Wednesday September 4

I trust in the mercy of God forever.
I, like a green olive tree
in the house of God,
Trust in the mercy of God
forever and ever.
I trust in the mercy of God forever.

Luke 4: 38 – 44  At sunset, all who had people sick with various diseases brought them to him. He laid his hands on each of them and cured them.

If Jesus cured me with a touch of his hand, how would I feel the next time I got sick?  Would I really appreciate the gift of healing?

Action:  Do something for your health today in thanksgiving for everything Jesus does for you.

Thought for Tuesday September 3

I believe that I shall see the good things of the Lord in the land of the living.
One thing I ask of the LORD;
this I seek:
To dwell in the house of the LORD
all the days of my life,
That I may gaze on the loveliness of the LORD
and contemplate his temple.
I believe that I shall see the good things of the Lord in the land of the living.

Luke 4: 31 – 37  Jesus went down to Capernaum, a town of Galilee.

Does where I am have much effect on me?  Am I inspired to do special things in some places?

Action:  Do something to make the place you are in today better.

Thought for Monday September 2

The Lord comes to judge the earth.
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 shall all the trees of the forest exult.
The Lord comes to judge the earth.

Luke 4: 16 – 30  He unrolled the scroll and found the passage where it was written: The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to bring glad tidings to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free, and to proclaim a year acceptable to the Lord.

Am I a captive of anything [society, bad habits, addictions, insecurities, sins]?  Do I believe Jesus can liberate me?

Action: Try to free yourself from something that is interfering with your spiritual life.