Thought for Tuesday May 1

Your friends make known, O Lord, the glorious splendor of your kingdom.
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.
Your friends make known, O Lord, the glorious splendor of your kingdom.

Acts 14: 19 – 28  They stoned Paul and dragged him out of the city, supposing that he was dead.  But when the disciples gathered around him, he got up and entered the city. 

Do I ever fight back through illness, injury, exhaustion to do things that are important?   Who do I know that seems to be able to survive through everything that is thrown at him/her?

Action:  Gather around and support the people you know who are battling through hard times.

Thought for Monday April 30

Not to us, O Lord, but to your name give the glory.
May you be blessed by the LORD,
who made heaven and earth.
Heaven is the heaven of the LORD,
but the earth he has given to the children of men.
Not to us, O Lord, but to your name give the glory.

John 14: 21 – 26  The Advocate, the Holy Spirit  whom the Father will send in my name  he will teach you everything and remind you of all that I told you.

Have I ever felt the Holy Spirit remind me of something Jesus said?  What do I do when I am reminded of Jesus while doing something I realize isn’t quite consistent with his message?

Action:  Set up reminders so you don’t forget about Jesus’ message during your day; e.g. every time you pull out your credit card, whenever you get in your car, when your phone rings…

Thought for Friday April 27

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.
You shall rule them with an iron rod;
you shall shatter them like an earthen dish."
You are my Son; this day I have begotten you.

John 14: 1 – 6  In my Father's house there are many dwelling places. If there were not, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you?  And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back again and take you to myself, so that where I am you also may be.

What do I think Jesus is preparing for me?  How am I working to prepare my own place?

Action:  Prepare your home or office so other people feel welcome there.

Thought for Thursday April 26

Forever I will sing the goodness of the Lord.
The favors of the LORD I will sing forever;
through all generations my mouth shall proclaim your faithfulness.
For you have said, "My kindness is established forever";
in heaven you have confirmed your faithfulness.
 Forever I will sing the goodness of the Lord.

John 13: 16 – 20  Amen, amen, I say to you, no slave is greater than his master nor any messenger greater than the one who sent him.

Do I see myself as a messenger of Jesus’ words?  If Jesus had had Twitter, would he have needed messengers?

Action:   Share Jesus message (in deeds or words) as only you can.

Thought for Wednesday April 25

Forever I will sing the goodness of the Lord.
Blessed the people who know the joyful shout;
in the light of your countenance, O LORD, they walk.
At your name they rejoice all the day,
and through your justice they are exalted.
Forever I will sing the goodness of the Lord.

1 Peter 5: 5 – 14  Be sober and vigilant. Your opponent the Devil is prowling around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.  Resist him, steadfast in faith, knowing that your brothers and sisters throughout the world undergo the same sufferings.

What stupid  things am I prone to fall into if I do not remain sober and vigilant?   Does it help me to know that others are undergoing the same struggles?  

Action:   Be sober and vigilant.

Thought for Tuesday April 24

All you nations, praise the Lord.
His foundation upon the holy mountains
the LORD loves:
The gates of Zion,
more than any dwelling of Jacob.
Glorious things are said of you,
O city of God!
All you nations, praise the Lord.

John 10: 22 – 30  But you do not believe, because you are not among my sheep.  My sheep hear my voice; I know them, and they follow me.  Do I accept to be a sheep?  Do I often resist being shepherded? Action:  Work on being a good sheep.

Thought for Monday April 23

Athirst is my soul for the living God.
Send forth your light and your fidelity;
they shall lead me on
And bring me to your holy mountain,
to your dwelling-place.
Athirst is my soul for the living God.

John 10: 11 – 18  A hired man, who is not a shepherd and whose sheep are not his own, sees a wolf coming and leaves the sheep and runs away, and the wolf catches and scatters them.  This is because he works for pay and has no concern for the sheep.

Do I approach my work as hired help or as a shepherd who cares?  Do I look to Jesus as my personal shepherd or as someone God assigned to do a job?

Action:   Invest your time working for things you care about.

Thought for Friday April 20

Go out to all the world and tell the Good News.
For steadfast is his kindness toward us,
and the fidelity of the LORD endures forever.
Go out to all the world and tell the Good News.

John 6: 52 – 59  Whoever eats my Flesh and drinks my Blood has eternal life, and I will raise him on the last day.  For my Flesh is true food, and my Blood is true drink.  Whoever eats my Flesh and drinks my Blood remains in me and I in him.

How much sense would this make if I didn’t know the whole story, i.e. incarnation, crucifixion, resurrection?   Am I appreciative of the generations of believers before me who helped me understand?

Action:  Eat, drink and enjoy the weekend.

Thought for Thursday April 19

Let all the earth cry out to God with joy.
Bless our God, you peoples,
loudly sound his praise;
He has given life to our souls,
and has not let our feet slip.
Let all the earth cry out to God with joy.

John 6: 44 – 51  Jesus said to the crowds: "No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draw him”

How has God drawn me?  What have I done in response to God’s call to me?

Action:  Do something to thank God for drawing you to him.

Thought for Wednesday April 18

Let all the earth cry out to God with joy.
"Let all on earth worship and sing praise to you,
sing praise to your name!"
Come and see the works of God,
his tremendous deeds among the children of Adam.
Let all the earth cry out to God with joy.

Acts 8: 1 – 8  Thus Philip went down to the city of Samaria and proclaimed the Christ to them.  With one accord, the crowds paid attention to what was said by Philip when they heard it and saw the signs he was doing. For unclean spirits, crying out in a loud voice, came out of many possessed people, and many paralyzed and crippled people were cured. There was great joy in that city.

What is the greatest source of joy in my City?  Who do I pay attention to?

Action:  Celebrate the good things going on around you.

Thought for Tuesday April 17

Into your hands, O Lord, I commend my spirit.
Be my rock of refuge,
a stronghold to give me safety.
You are my rock and my fortress;
for your name's sake you will lead and guide me.
Into your hands, O Lord, I commend my spirit.

Acts 7: 51 – 8: 1  Stephen said to the people, the elders, and the scribes: "You received the law as transmitted by angels, but you did not observe it."  When they heard this, they were infuriated, and they ground their teeth at him.

What comes to mind when I think of the “law”?   Would I get mad if someone told me I wasn’t really observing God’s law even though I talk about it a lot?

Action:  Follow the law.

Thought for Monday April 16

Blessed are they who follow the law of the Lord!
I declared my ways, and you answered me;
teach me your statutes.
Make me understand the way of your precepts,
and I will meditate on your wondrous deeds.
Blessed are they who follow the law of the Lord!

John 6: 22 – 29  Do not work for food that perishes but for the food that endures for eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you.

What am I working for? Do I expect to see the final results of all of my work in my lifetime?

Action:  Make a change in your life that you know bears witness to Christ even though you know you won’t actually be able to see the results.

Thought for Friday April 13

One thing I seek: to dwell in the house of the Lord.
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.
One thing I seek: to dwell in the house of the Lord.

John 6: 1 – 15  “There is a boy here who has five barley loaves and two fish; but what good are these for so many?”

What did the boy think would happen when he gave away his food?  Would I have been as generous as this boy?

Action:  Be generous.

Thought for Thursday April 12

The Lord hears the cry of the poor.
I will bless the LORD at all times;
his praise shall be ever in my mouth.
Taste and see how good the LORD is;
blessed the man who takes refuge in him.
The Lord hears the cry of the poor.

 

 

John 3: 31 – 36  The one who comes from above is above all. The one who is of the earth is earthly and speaks of earthly things.

 

How often do I rise above being “earthly”?  What do I do that makes no sense if I am not united with the one who is from above?

 

Action:  Rise above.  Pray for knowledge, wisdom, understanding, honesty, charity, and love for all of the elected officials and civil servants who are charged with making good use of your tax dollars.

Thought for Wednesday April 11

The Lord hears the cry of the poor.

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.
The Lord hears the cry of the poor.

 

John 3: 16 – 21  For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world might be saved through him.

 

How often do I hear condemnations “in the name of God”?   Am I working to save the world from things others will only condemn it for?

 

Action: Absolve and liberate are both antonyms of condemn. Start working on ways to absolve or liberate our society from the sins other Christians condemn it for.

Thought for Tuesday April 10

The Lord is king; he is robed in majesty.
The LORD is king, in splendor robed;
robed is the LORD and girt about with strength.
The Lord is king; he is robed in majesty.

John 3: 7 – 13  Amen, amen, I say to you, we speak of what we know and we testify to what we have seen, but you people do not accept our testimony.

When I make choices that bear witness to Jesus, but are contrary to the prevailing culture, do people sometimes treat me like I am an outcast?  Do I ever get frustrated when people don’t accept my testimony?

Action:  Keep bearing witness even though people may treat you like a nut.

Thought for Monday April 9

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

  

Luke 1: 26 – 38  The angel Gabriel said, "Hail, full of grace! The Lord is with you." But she was greatly troubled at what was said and pondered what sort of greeting this might be. Then the angel said to her, "Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. Behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall name him Jesus. He will be great and will be called Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give him the throne of David his father, and he will rule over the house of Jacob forever, and of his Kingdom there will be no end."

 

Can I imagine Mary sitting with a cup of coffee (or tea or glass of wine) smiling as she reminisced about this a week after the resurrection?   Would I have been a good friend to Mary – listening to her very unique worries, joys and experiences raising the Son of God?

 

Action:  Be a good friend.

Thought for Friday April 6

The stone rejected by the builders has become the cornerstone.
O LORD, grant salvation!
O LORD, grant prosperity!
Blessed is he who comes in the name of the LORD;
we bless you from the house of the LORD.
The LORD is God, and he has given us light.
The stone rejected by the builders has become the cornerstone.

 

John 21: 1 – 14  Simon Peter said to them, "I am going fishing." They said to him, "We also will come with you."

 

Was Peter just planning to go back to his regular job after the resurrection?   Do I sometimes do tasks to avoid doing real work?

 

Action:  Go fishing.

Thought for Thursday April 5

O Lord, our God, how wonderful your name in all the earth!
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.
O Lord, our God, how wonderful your name in all the earth!

Acts 3: 11 – 26  When Peter saw this, he addressed the people,  "… The God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, the God of our fathers, has glorified his servant Jesus whom you handed over and denied in Pilate's presence, when he had decided to release him.  You denied the Holy and Righteous One and asked that a murderer be released to you. The author of life you put to death, but God raised him from the dead; of this we are witnesses….”

Has Peter forgotten that he denied Jesus?    Does he have any right to chastise others for their role without acknowledging his?

Action:  Own up to your failings.

Thought for Wednesday April 4

Rejoice, O hearts that seek the Lord.
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.
Rejoice, O hearts that seek the Lord.

 

Acts 3: 1 – 10  When he saw Peter and John about to go into the temple, he asked for alms. But Peter looked intently at him, as did John, and said, "Look at us." He paid attention to them, expecting to receive something from them.  Peter said, "I have neither silver nor gold, but what I do have I give you:  in the name of Jesus Christ the Nazorean, rise and walk." Then Peter took him by the right hand and raised him up, and immediately his feet and ankles grew strong.

 

How did Peter go from failing to walk on water, to denying Jesus three times, to having the confidence in his own faith to heal someone?  Can I relate to Peter’s struggles with his faith?

 

Action:  Be confident in your faith.

Thought for Tuesday April 3

The earth is full of the goodness of the Lord.
Our soul waits for the LORD,
who is our help and our shield.
May your kindness, O LORD, be upon us
who have put our hope in you.
The earth is full of the goodness of the Lord.

 

John 20: 11 – 18  Mary Magdalene stayed outside the tomb weeping.  And as she wept, she bent over into the tomb and saw two angels in white sitting there, one at the head and one at the feet where the Body of Jesus had been.  And they said to her, "Woman, why are you weeping?"  She said to them, "They have taken my Lord, and I don't know where they laid him."

Have I ever experienced a time when I couldn’t find Jesus?   What must it have been like for Mary Magdalene to go from the depths of this despair to the knowledge that Jesus had risen from the dead?

Action:  Look for Jesus and be overjoyed when you find him.

Thought for Monday April 2

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.

 

Matthew 28: 8 – 15  Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went away quickly from the tomb, fearful yet overjoyed, and ran to announce the news to his disciples.

Am I overjoyed more often than I am fearful? 

Action:  It’s Easter, remember to be overjoyed.

 

Thought for Good Friday March 30

Father, into your hands I commend my spirit.
Let your face shine upon your servant;
save me in your kindness.
Take courage and be stouthearted,
all you who hope in the LORD.
Father, into your hands I commend my spirit.

John 18: 1 – 19: 42  “It is finished.”

With all of the thoughts that had to have been running through Jesus’s mind, how did he come up with that single, final thought?

Action:  Surrender.

Thought for Holy Thursday March 29

Our blessing-cup is a communion with the Blood of Christ.
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.
Our blessing-cup is a communion with the Blood of Christ.

 1 Corinthians 11: 23 – 26  I received from the Lord what I also handed on to you,  that the Lord Jesus, on the night he was handed over,  took bread, and, after he had given thanks, broke it and said, "This is my body that is for you. Do this in remembrance of me." In the same way also the cup, after supper, saying,  "This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me."

 

John 13: 1 – 15  He loved his own in the world and he loved them to the end.

Is there anything Jesus could have done for me that is more loving than what he did?

Action: Love.

Thought for Wednesday March 28

Lord, in your great love, answer me.
Insult has broken my heart, and I am weak,
I looked for sympathy, but there was none;
for consolers, not one could I find.
Rather they put gall in my food,
and in my thirst they gave me vinegar to drink.
Lord, in your great love, answer me.

Matthew 26: 14 – 25  One of the Twelve, who was called Judas Iscariot,  went to the chief priests and said, "What are you willing to give me if I hand him over to you?"  They paid him thirty pieces of silver, and from that time on he looked for an opportunity to hand him over.

What price do I put on loyalty, love, and friendship?   Have I ever been rewarded for doing something I now regret?

Action:  As every year at this time, all our attention is turned to the passion of Our Lord, and the Holy Church covers with a veil of mourning crosses and statues of saints who mourned in their time the death of Jesus.  Let us walk with Him from the palms to the cross, to be his consolation in the ordeal.

Thought for Tuesday March 27

I will sing of your salvation.
Be my rock of refuge,
a stronghold to give me safety,
for you are my rock and my fortress.
O my God, rescue me from the hand of the wicked.

I will sing of your salvation.

John 13: 21 - 38  Reclining at table with his disciples, Jesus was deeply troubled and testified, "Amen, amen, I say to you, one of you will betray me."

Have I ever betrayed anyone?  What does it take to forgive and be forgiven for betrayal?

Action:  As every year at this time, all our attention is turned to the passion of Our Lord, and the Holy Church covers with a veil of mourning crosses and statues of saints who mourned in their time the death of Jesus.  Let us walk with Him from the palms to the cross, to be his consolation in the ordeal.

 

Thought for Monday March 26

The Lord is my light and my salvation.
I believe that I shall see the bounty of the LORD
in the land of the living.
Wait for the LORD with courage;
be stouthearted, and wait for the LORD.
The Lord is my light and my salvation.

John 12: 1 – 11  Six days before Passover Jesus came to Bethany, where Lazarus was, whom Jesus had raised from the dead.  They gave a dinner for him there, and Martha served, while Lazarus was one of those reclining at table with him.

Have I ever had an experience a little bit like Lazarus – have I ever been given a second chance?  Have I used Lent to rethink some things and start over?

Action:  As every year at this time, all our attention is turned to the passion of Our Lord, and the Holy Church covers with a veil of mourning crosses and statues of saints who mourned in their time the death of Jesus.  Let us walk with Him from the palms to the cross, to be his consolation in the ordeal.

Thought for Friday March 23

In my distress I called upon the Lord, and he heard my voice.
My God, my rock of refuge,
my shield, the horn of my salvation, my stronghold!
Praised be the LORD, I exclaim,
and I am safe from my enemies.
In my distress I called upon the Lord, and he heard my voice.

 

John 10: 31 – 42  If I do not perform my Father’s works, do not believe me; but if I perform them, even if you do not believe me, believe the works, so that you may realize and understand that the Father is in me and I am in the Father.

What is the Father’s work?  Does God the Father still do “work”?

Action:   Do some good work today.

Thought for Thursday March 22

The Lord remembers his covenant forever.
Look to the LORD in his strength;
seek to serve him constantly.
Recall the wondrous deeds that he has wrought,
his portents, and the judgments he has uttered.
The Lord remembers his covenant forever.

John 8: 51 – 59  Jesus said to them, “Amen, amen, I say to you, before Abraham came to be, I AM.” So they picked up stones to throw at him; but Jesus hid and went out of the temple area.

Have I ever said anything that was perfectly true but still made people mad?  Do I ever hide who I am to avoid conflict?

Action:  Be who you are and speak the truth you know.

Thought for Wednesday March 21

Glory and praise forever!
“Blessed are you, O Lord, the God of our fathers,
praiseworthy and exalted above all forever;
And blessed is your holy and glorious name,
praiseworthy and exalted above all for all ages.”
Glory and praise forever!

John 8: 31 – 42  Jesus said to those Jews who believed in him, “If you remain in my word, you will truly be my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”

If the truth sets me free, what does a lie do?  Is there something I would like to be freed from?

 
Action:  Tell the truth about something that has been bothering you.

Thought for Tuesday March 20

O Lord, hear my prayer, and let my cry come to you.
O LORD, hear my prayer,
and let my cry come to you.
Hide not your face from me
in the day of my distress.
Incline your ear to me;           
in the day when I call, answer me speedily.
O Lord, hear my prayer, and let my cry come to you.

 

John 8: 21 – 30  The one who sent me is with me.  He has not left me alone, because I always do what is pleasing to him.

 

Do I always do what is pleasing to God?  How often do I feel alone?

 

Action:  Do something pleasing to God today.

Thought for Monday March 19

The son of David will live forever.
“He shall say of me, ‘You are my father,
my God, the Rock, my savior.’
Forever I will maintain my kindness toward him,
and my covenant with him stands firm.”
The son of David will live forever.

Luke 2: 41 – 51  His mother said to him, “Son, why have you done this to us?  Your father and I have been looking for you with great anxiety.”

 

Do I sometimes forget that Jesus was human and sometimes annoyed his parents?  Why is it important to remember that he was fully human?

 

Action:  Call your father and apologize for some stupid thing you did when you were a kid.  If you father is gone, do something to help out parents who are being annoyed by their kids now.

Thought for Friday May 16

The Lord is close to the brokenhearted.
The LORD is close to the brokenhearted;
and those who are crushed in spirit he saves.
Many are the troubles of the just man,
but out of them all the LORD delivers him.
he Lord is close to the brokenhearted.

 

Wisdom 2: 1, 12 – 22  The wicked said among themselves,  thinking not aright: "Let us beset the just one, because he is obnoxious to us; he sets himself against our doings, Reproaches us for transgressions of the law and charges us with violations of our training.

 

Am I just?   How do I react when someone reproaches me?

 

Action:  Be obnoxious.

Thought for Thursday March 15

Remember us, O Lord, as you favor your people.
They forgot the God who had saved them,
who had done great deeds in Egypt,
Wondrous deeds in the land of Ham,
terrible things at the Red Sea.
Remember us, O Lord, as you favor your people.

John 5: 31 – 47  How can you believe, when you accept praise from one another and do not seek the praise that comes from the only God?

Is it important for me to get praise from other people?  What is praise from God like?

 

Action:  Praise somebody for doing something that you normally take for granted.

Thought for Wednesday March 14

The Lord is gracious and merciful.
The LORD is just in all his ways
and holy in all his works.
The LORD is near to all who call upon him,
to all who call upon him in truth.
The Lord is gracious and merciful.

John 5: 17 – 30  “I cannot do anything on my own; I judge as I hear, and my judgment is just, because I do not seek my own will but the will of the one who sent me.”

Whose will do I seek?  Am I good at setting aside my own will and judging fairly?

Action:  The next time you are asked to “judge” something, honestly admit to yourself what would be best for you, so that you are aware of your own potential to be unjust.

 

Thought for Tuesday March 13

The Lord of hosts is with us; our stronghold is the God of Jacob.
God is our refuge and our strength,
an ever-present help in distress.
Therefore we fear not, though the earth be shaken
and mountains plunge into the depths of the sea.
The Lord of hosts is with us; our stronghold is the God of Jacob.

John 5: 1 – 16  One man was there who had been ill for thirty-eight years.  When Jesus saw him lying there and knew that he had been ill for a long time, he said to him, “Do you want to be well?”

 

What would it be like to suddenly be well after 38 years of being sick?  Would I be grateful for the new life or resentful of all of the years I was sick?

 

Action:  Work to improve your life so that you can do more for the Kingdom of God.

Thought for Monday March 12

I will praise you, Lord, for you have rescued me.
Sing praise to the LORD, you his faithful ones,
and give thanks to his holy name.
For his anger lasts but a moment;
a lifetime, his good will.
At nightfall, weeping enters in,
but with the dawn, rejoicing.
 I will praise you, Lord, for you have rescued me.

John 4: 43 – 54  Then he returned to Cana in Galilee, where he had made the water wine.

Do I think Cana had changed as a result of the miracle that Jesus worked there?  Have I changed because of the little miracles I have witnessed?

Action:   We are halfway through Lent; if you haven’t made any changes yet start now.

Thought for Friday March 9

I am the Lord your God: hear my voice.
“If only my people would hear me,
and Israel walk in my ways,
I would feed them with the best of wheat,
and with honey from the rock I would fill them.”
I am the Lord your God: hear my voice.

Mark 12: 28 – 34  Jesus replied, “The first is this: Hear, O Israel!  The Lord our God is Lord alone!  You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength. The second is this:  You shall love your neighbor as yourself.

Do I live by this?  With all of my life experience, would I add anything to this?

Action:  Think of and do one concrete action to show your love for God or a neighbor.

Thought for Thursday March 8

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.

Luke 11: 14 – 23  Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters.

What does it mean to be with Jesus?  Am I with Jesus all of the time? 

Action:  Pick reminders to help you remember to be with Jesus.  For example, every time your cell phone rings, or anytime you smell bread baking, or whenever you put on socks, remind yourself to be with Jesus in whatever you are doing or are about to do.

 

Thought for Wednesday March 7

Praise the Lord, Jerusalem.
He sends forth his command to the earth;
swiftly runs his word!
He spreads snow like wool;
frost he strews like ashes.
Praise the Lord, Jerusalem.

Matthew 5: 17 – 19  Therefore, whoever breaks one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do so will be called least in the Kingdom of heaven.  But whoever obeys and teaches these commandments will be called greatest in the Kingdom of heaven.

Which is the least important of all of God’s commandments, i.e which one do I think it is OK to break?  Who do I call the greatest in the Kingdom?

Action:  Be a commandment role model – obey them, teach them, celebrate them.

Thought for Tuesday March 6

Remember your mercies, O Lord.
Your ways, O LORD, make known to me;
teach me your paths,
Guide me in your truth and teach me,
for you are God my savior.
Remember your mercies, O Lord.

Matthew 18: 21 – 35  Be patient with me, and I will pay you back in full.

What debts do I owe?  Are there things I will never be able to pay back?

Action:  Pay a debt forward.

Thought for Monday March 5

Athirst is my soul for the living God.
When shall I go and behold the face of God?
Athirst is my soul for God, the living God.
When shall I go and behold the face of God?
Athirst is my soul for the living God.
When shall I go and behold the face of God?

Luke 4: 24 – 30  Amen, I say to you, no prophet is accepted in his own native place.

Why is it so hard to hear the truth from someone we know well?  What truth should I be telling in my native place?

Action:  Tell the truth even if you know it will be ignored.

Thought for Friday March 2

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 21: 33 – 46  Therefore, I say to you, the Kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a people that will produce its fruit.

What fruit am I producing for the Kingdom of God?  How often do I examine the ways I pray, worship and serve God to see if they are bearing fruit?

Action:  If you are doing something that isn’t bearing fruit, stop and try something new.