Less of Me

Can I live up to my purpose? Every year I make New Year’s resolutions and every year I break them, so this year I’m trying something different. Instead of hoping I’ll change my habits for twelve months I’m going for one month: January. For just this month I’m doing my best to focus more on the needs of others and less on me. I call it, Less of Me Month. Remember the song, “Less of Me,” by Glen Campbell. The words are as follows: Let me be a little kinder Let me be a little blinder To the faults of those about me Let me praise a little more Let me be when I am weary Just a little bit more cheery Think a little more of others And a little less of me Let me be a little braver When temptation bids me waver Let me strive a little harder To be all that I should be Let me be a little meeker With the brother that is weaker Let me think more of my neighbor And a little less of me Every day I’m thinking about the words to this song – I tried to make it my ringtone on my cell phone but I’m not smart enough to figure out how to do it. I’m beginning my day with Bible reading and prayer. Next I write about “Less of Me Month” on my blog (www.nanahood.com) and then during the day I find at least one random act of kindness I can do for someone else. The month is half over and so far, so good. This experiment has taught me a few things. First, if ever there was a perfect example of someone who thought solely of others it would have to be Jesus. Because of Him … … the blind see, the lame walk, the lepers are cured, the deaf hear, the dead are raised to life, and the Good News is being preached to the poor (Matthew 11:5 NLT). The things we worry about simply didn’t matter to him because he knew God would take care of all his needs and he tells us that we will be treated the same way (Matthew 6:25-34). The more I study the Bible and read about Jesus and see how selfless he was, the more I realize that I was not made to serve myself. I was created to serve Him. I’m taking baby steps to get there and I’m sure sooner or later I will stumble and fall but if I walk with Jesus, together we can win the race. Another thing I’ve learned is that thinking of others, at least for me, is something I have to do intentionally. In the course of a day I go about my business focused on my home, my husband, my children and my grandchild. I have to set aside a time – my morning Bible study and prayer time – to concentrate on the needs of others. If I leave it to chance and my random thought process, it may not happen. Jesus’ brother, James, reminds us to put our thoughts and good intentions to work: Dear brothers and sisters, what’s the use of saying you have faith if you don’t prove it by your actions? That kind of faith can’t save anyone. Suppose you see a brother or sister who needs food or clothing, and you say, “Well, good-bye and God bless you; stay warm and eat well” – but then you don’t give that person any food or clothing. What good does that do? So you see, it isn’t enough just to have faith. Faith that doesn’t show itself by good deeds is no faith at all – it is dead and useless. Now someone may argue, “Some people have faith; others have good deeds.” I say, “I can’t see your faith if you don’t have good deeds, but I will show you my faith through my good deeds.” Do you still think it’s enough just to believe that there is one God? Well, even the demons believe this, and they tremble in terror! Fool! When will you ever learn that faith that does not result in good deeds is useless? (James 2:14-20) The world is full of people in need. Jesus knows that and he wants us to tell them about him, about the Good News of everlasting life, about a place where there is no poverty, hunger, sickness or tears. We can’t save the world, but He can. He was the master of thinking more of others. I am his apprentice. When I look at his life, I can’t help but feel inadequate; but then I remember that it isn’t the size of the good deed that matters. And if you give even a cup of cold water to one of the least of my followers, you will surely be rewarded (Matthew 10:42). About the author: Teresa is an accomplished author, speaker, mother, and grandmother. Teresa has been married to Bill for a lifetime of family, faith, and love. They are members of Pleasant Hill Church of Christ in Kentucky. They have 5 children and 4 grandchildren. Teresa is also the author of the popular women’s blog called “NanaHood”!

Someone for Us

We all need a ‘Someone-For-Us’ Friend! Jesus said it as clearly as humanly possible: Jesus called [his disciples] together and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant… just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many” (Matthew 20:25-28). So often, we read Jesus’ words to mean, “When we stand before God in judgment, the greatest person will be determined by who has been the best servant.” We make Jesus’ words into a future promise; something recognized by God about our lives at the end of time. This way, we can go ahead and strive for greatness by our own – or worse, by the world’s – definition of greatness. If we listen, we can catch ourselves thinking, “Those sweet ‘little people’ who do all those menial ministries will be rewarded in the end, but I want to do something great for God, now!” Jesus, however, defines greatness in our world – in our now – as being a servant to others. His example is the supreme example. Jesus wasn’t just great when he ascended triumphantly to God, victorious over death. He was great when he touched the leper, held little children, gave the widow at Nain back her husband, and washed the disciples’ feet. He was great when he humbled himself in the wilderness, protected the woman caught in adultery, privately raised the little girl who had died, and affirmed the sinful woman of the city for her extravagant display of love. Greatness now is being a servant now. The greatest among us – in our churches, our families, our communities – are those who quietly serve to bless others and honor their Savior by serving as he did. This promise isn’t just a future tense reward: it’s a right now reality. Even though most in the world do not usually recognize those who serve, God does. These servants are the great ones. Not the ones who command huge stipends to speak. Not those who stand before large churches or command a great TV audience. The ones who quietly bless, care, toil, and serve behind the scenes right now are the great ones. One of my favorite people in the Bible is Onesiphorus. I like to refer to him with a play on his name – “Someone-For-Us”! That’s because we all need someone like him in our lives. Even more, there are people all around us who need us to be Onesiphorus for them – to be their “Someone-For-Us” friend. In the apostle Paul’s dark night of the soul during his next to last imprisonment, Onesiphorus was there for him. Look how Paul describes his “Someone-For-Us” friend: You know that everyone in the province of Asia has deserted me… May the Lord show mercy to the household of Onesiphorus, because he often refreshed me and was not ashamed of my chains. On the contrary, when he was in Rome, he searched hard for me until he found me. May the Lord grant that he will find mercy from the Lord on that day! You know very well in how many ways he helped me in Ephesus (2 Timothy 1:15-18). If we are going to be truly great, Paul’s “Someone-For-Us” friend is a fine example. Notice what Onesiphorus did: He was Paul’s oasis of refreshment when everyone else was deserting Paul: he was a friend in the toughest times. He was not ashamed to be identified with Paul even though Paul was possibly facing death for his faith. He wasn’t just a fair weather friend but was a friend when it was personally dangerous. He searched and worked hard to find Paul to bless him: his service to Paul required devoted attention, not just an opportune moment to serve. He served Paul in the day-to-day grind of life, not just when things were especially challenging or noteworthy. His service was consistent and faithful through all circumstances. What strikes me about Onesiphorus’ greatness is that he is so little known among those who claim to follow Jesus. He is not held up as a hero despite being a “wind beneath my wings” kind of hero. I believe this is because so many of us would like to be grand servants of God that make a world of difference like the apostle Paul. I believe the great apostle would tell us that without people in his life like Onesiphorus, he would not have been as great a world-changer. Instead, he would have been someone who died alone, without friends, and with a much more limited mission. Jesus said greatness must mean service. So, the question for us is not, “Who do I want to be?” Instead, it is this: “Who has God put in my life who needs an Onesiphorus – a ‘Someone-Who-Is-For-Us’ friend?” Greatness is at our fingertips. Will we choose to be a servant – a ‘Someone-For-Us’ friend – or will we pursue our self-aggrandizing version of greatness? Final Note:I want to dedicate this article to the “Someone-For-Us” person in my life: my wife of nearly forty years, Donna. Over the last two years of transition, she has tirelessly served our daughter and me in far too many ways to count. She believes this is her call from God at this time in our lives. Without her efforts, our work with Heartlight.org and Verse of the Day as well my work with missionary renewals and serving churches in their interim seasons would not be possible. I am thankful to God for this bright and talented woman who has chosen to serve so sacrificially. On top of that, she has been the beauty in my life all these years! About the author: Phil Ware has authored 11 years of daily devotionals, including VerseoftheDay.com, read by

What You Need to Move Ahead

Does the New Year already seem like an old one? You try to leave them behind on December 31 so you don’t have to carry them with you into January 1. But for many of us, after waking up for several weeks into the New Year, we find ourselves surrounded by the same old noise. For many, the noise comes in the form of tapes played out in the surround sound of the mind. A pre-set, automatic, “play” button is pressed and we hear that same old noise again. One noise reminds you of past mistakes. Another noise replays a recent failure. At times, it seems, we have a never-ending playlist of uninvited noise. And when we think we are finally silencing the recorded noise, noise comes at us live. A friend or a boss or a family member believes it is his or her duty to remind us of our failings and frailty. As a result, we feel incompetent or inferior or incapable – or maybe all three. We feel condemned. I’d like to point out that “condemned” is exactly where the Enemy would like us to be. He wants us to hear those voices. He wants to fill us with enough noise that we begin to believe what we are hearing and render our lives ineffective. This Enemy has a clear job description: “accuse” and “deceive.” He does his job very well. We’ve heard the noise in our head and we’ve heard the noise from others. But, do you think we might find enough quiet space to hear from Him – Father of Jesus instead of the Father of lies? Through the Apostle Paul, Jesus sent some words our way that we need to hear … a recording that needs to become the dominant song on our playlist. There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus (Romans 8:1). Notice, the apostle doesn’t say there is “some” condemnation or just a “little” condemnation. He says there is “no” condemnation. How can that be? Don’t miss that Paul says this is a reality for those who are “in” Christ Jesus. That small preposition is powerful. You see, when one is “in” Christ, then God sees Christ when he looks at that person. Does he condemn Christ? Then neither does he condemn you. That’s his invitation to you this New Year, too. Yes, I know New Year’s Day is over and most of us have already blown a resolution or two … maybe even given up on them altogether. So now, right this minute, on this day, when old habits, patterns, and noises crowd in on us, we need to hear the Father’s message, and not the Enemy’s lies. Christ wants to free us from the constant accusations from the Enemy, whether he uses the voices from the past or the voices from the present. He wants us to realize that we are in Christ and that Christ is in us. He wants us to play the song of freedom in our minds so we can live a life of freedom for Him in our world. So read them again. There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. Mark them. Memorize them. Drown out the noise with the Father’s truth! Then, move ahead with them in this New Year … even though the “new” may already have already begun to feel like something old … because you know God’s always new truth: There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. About the author: Rick Brown is the preaching minister for ChristBridge Fellowship in Tomball, Texas. He loves his wife Karen and two sons. Rick is also the author of The ME Addiction.

How People Will Remember You

What counts most in the life you live today? The death of Gerald R. Ford was not the lead story on the newscast I happened to catch on the Sunday closest to the event. It came third, behind reports of the death of a tyrant-murderer and a rock singer. In retrospect, that seems appropriate to the “accidental president” who got very little respect while in office and who was vilified mercilessly for pardoning his predecessor. I am no historian and do not propose to evaluate the brief time President Ford served as our nation’s leader. I am not a political commentator and have no thought of defending or attacking his pragmatic approach to government. But his passing has made me aware of the things people remember about one another. Yes, there were print and television pieces about Gerald Ford that chronicled his involvement in the Nixon pardon, a crisis over the U.S. merchant ship Mayaguez, and the Helsinki Accords. There were passing references to an oil shortage and the inflation crisis. But all the coverage I saw wound up focusing on his fundamental decency, his disdain for what one person referred to as the “arrogance of power,” and his devotion to his wife. You won’t always be where you are today. Whether you are a school teacher, bank president, or top-level executive with a major corporation, you will pass the torch to someone else before long. If you are a truck driver, factory worker, or department store clerk, you won’t do it without end. Lawyer, doctor, journalist, entertainer, athlete – nobody fills any role forever. When you move, retire, or die from whatever you are doing today, people will remember you more for who you were than for what you did. Ford projected a sense of sincerity and decency. “Truth is the glue that holds government together,” he said just before taking office, “not only government but civilization itself.” An adopted child, he said his mother and adoptive father had three rules for him and his three half-brothers: tell the truth, work hard, and come to dinner on time. Comedians mocked him as a buffoon for a fall he took coming off a plane, but Ford didn’t put their names on a hit list. He even made a joke of it himself. “I am a Ford,” he quipped, “not a Lincoln.” He and his wife, Betty, appear to have loved each other devotedly. They held hands and even kissed in public – unthinkable until then for an American president. They broke another White House precedent by continuing to sleep in the same bed. They spoke kindly to each other and respectfully of each other. Betty’s cancer and chemical addictions were transformed by a husband and wife team into opportunities for helping thousands of others with similar problems. When all is said and done with your life and career, people are going to remember your character, the way you treated people, and your loyalty to your family more than your work. Wouldn’t it be wise to think about those things now? Maybe that’s why the Bible says: A good name is more desirable than great riches; to be esteemed is better than silver and gold (Proverbs 22:1). About the author: Rubel Shelly preached for decades, been a professor of medical ethics, Bible, and philosophy at multiple universities and a med school. He is currently Professor of Philosophy & Religion at Lipscomb University. He is the author of more than 30 books and hundreds of inspirational articles.

Temptation

In an age that has lost any sense of sin, why worry about temptation? C.S. Lewis in his book, Mere Christianity, makes the case that resisting temptation is not easy for Christians: A silly idea is current that good people do not know what temptation means. This is an obvious lie. Only those who try to resist temptation know how strong it is… A man who gives in to temptation after five minutes simply does not know what it would have been like an hour later. That is why bad people, in one sense, know very little about badness. They have lived a sheltered life by always giving in. Being tempted does not mean that you have sinned, nor does it mean that you will. Jesus’ temptations Luke 4:1-14) are proof that one is not sinning when he/she is being tempted. It is important, however, to have strategies for dealing with all the temptations we will face in our lives. There are practical ways to deal with temptations that will leave each of us feeling better about ourselves without having to deal with the aftermath of guilt. Stay away from Situations That Make Us Vulnerable We must stay away from people and situations that will cause us to compromise our convictions. Will Rogers was right when he said, “The road to success is dotted with many tempting parking spaces.” Keeping ourselves out of parking spaces that will affect our vulnerability is crucial for our success in saying no to whatever is tempting us. Pray Throughout the Temptation During Jesus’ closing words in the Lord’s Prayer, the Lord taught us to pray, “And don’t let us yield to temptation, but rescue us from the evil one” (Matthew 6:13 NLT). A prayerful lifestyle will help divert our sinful desires away from doing wrong. Our prayers help us keep our spiritual convictions and commitments in focus. On the other hand, Oscar Wilde said, “The only way to get rid of temptation is to yield to it… I can resist everything but temptation.” A person with such an attitude will never experience the triumph to overcome and resist those things in our lives that can ultimately destroy relationships, jobs, friendships, or integrity. Prayer is one the best method to keep from yielding to temptation because it keeps our focus on God’s priorities and asks for God’s help for our situations. Take Temptation Seriously Temptation is serious. It must never be taken lightly. It is important to resist any desire that would rob our relationship with God, Jesus, and Spirit. Jesus’ brother James reminds us of the ultimate outcome of temptation when we choose to go with our sinful desires: Temptation comes from our own desires, which entice us and drag us away. These desires give birth to sinful actions. And when sin is allowed to grow, it gives birth to death (James 1:14-15 NLT) James also teaches us how to resist these temptations: Submit yourselves, then to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Come near to God and he will come near to you… (James 4:7-8). The moment we let our guard down, is the very moment we become vulnerable and more likely we give in to the temptation. Temptation is serious and we must choose to draw near to God for help. While it is extremely important to read and know Scripture, to pray for God’s help, and to resist temptation’s pull, we need human help. We all need someone who we will let hold us accountable. Someone who will be “straight up” and honest with us and our life as Jesus’ disciple. We need to know this person has our best interest at heart. And, we need to invite them to help us with our temptations. At the same time, we must stay focused on God’s will and stay away from those things that will harm us! We must never keep God out of any part of life! We need to keep Jesus on the center stage of our hearts. We must allow the Holy Spirit to do the convincing that God’s way is the right way and help us stay far away from what could tempt us to do wrong. Remember, be God Controlled! About the author: Brian is preaching minister at Central Church in Muscle Shoals, Alabama. He is passionate about preaching the grace of God, the Lordship of Jesus and the indwelling Spirit. Most of all, he believes in preaching Jesus and blogging about practical things that will help believers remain under God’s guidance.

God’s Horizon

How far can you see? The first day of the week exploded on the eastern horizon. The few clouds left in this winter sky were ablaze with the promise of a gorgeous new day. On the opposite horizon, the full moon slowly made its way toward its vanishing point. Growing larger with each barely perceptible slip, the blue moon was still fully illuminated in the dusk of pre-dawn. In stereo, the music of both horizons spoke of a gentle night that had past and the glory of the coming Lord’s Day. Caught between the majesty of the night’s moon and the beauty of the sunrise, I slowed my car and thought for a moment of trying to capture the event on film. It would take at least three careful clicks of the camera. What I would capture, however, couldn’t begin to do justice to this incredible moment. I decided not to stop. While some of the picture might be magnificent, this was a moment to be remembered in its richness, not abridged in a two dimensional snapshot that could not do justice to the Creator’s wondrous work on the canvas of our world. I chose instead, to ponder the wonder of God’s love for us. The God of all eternity – who spoke and made our wondrous universe and who paints each sunrise – is accessible and attentive to me. Unbelievable! I slid in Chris Rice’s wonderful song, “And Your Praise Goes On” and enjoyed a few moments of glorious praise – the praise of my heart, the praise of Chris Rice’s song, and the stereo praise of the morning. Then it hit me. God has revealed himself as “The One who is and who was and who is to come.” (Revelation 1:8) The horizon of God’s existence is sunrise, sunset, and the ground in between, all at the same time. The dynamic painting unfolding before me, behind me, and around me, was God’s canvas and symbolic of his horizon. The beginning, the end, and the now are all together in one frame. What I could only dream of capturing with my camera with three pictures, God always is. Then it hit me again. God has given us a gift to help us share his horizon. The Lord’s Supper joins us in all three dimensions: we remember Jesus’ death for us at Calvary, we discern his Body present with us as we share the Supper with others, and we anticipate his triumphant return all in the same Supper. (1 Corinthians 11:24-29) We see the moon setting, the sun rising and also live in the space between with Jesus as our Lord! For a moment, we get to step outside our shallow view of time and walk with God on his horizon. As we do, we get to anticipate that horizon one day being our own! May his glory, his comfort, his grace, and his children’s praise, go on and on! About the author: Phil Ware has authored 11 years of daily devotionals, including VerseoftheDay.com, read by 500,000 people a day. He works with churches in transition with Interim Ministry Partners and for the past 21+ years, he has been editor and president of HEARTLIGHT Magazine, author of VerseoftheDay.com, God’s Holy Fire (on the Holy Spirit), and aYearwithJesus.com. Phil has also authored four books, daily devotionals on each of the four gospels.

Learning to See

When was the last time your really opened your eyes? A worthy goal for each of us is learning to see. Have you ever puzzled over those statements in the Bible about people who had eyes but could not see? Tried to figure out the occasional exhortation for people to see things that are right before their eyes? It isn’t really that difficult. We use the same figure of speech still. “Open your eyes, man!” somebody tells his friend. “Can’t you see she’s in love with you?” Or perhaps it is a parent to a child: “The answer is already there, if you will just open your eyes to see it.” In the Bible and in everyday conversation, statements such as these seldom have anything to do with physical eyesight. The issue isn’t glasses, contacts, or laser surgery. It almost always has to do with perception and understanding. It is the sort of seeing we have in mind with the word “insight.” Using the coming months as a learn-to-see time challenges each of us to view reality more spiritually. Yes, we pray for the Kingdom to come. But we can do more in the meanwhile than just tread water. We can submit to spiritual discipline in the same way athletes accept physical training and conditioning. Take a sticky note and print these words in bold letters: “Your task today is to honor God in all you do!” Put the note on the first thing you will see in the morning – coffee cup, makeup or shaving mirror, computer screen. When you see that note every morning, breathe this simple prayer: “Holy God, let my eyes be open to your presence and your will throughout this day.” Then taking your shower or eating a bagel can be an exercise in gratitude. Walking outside lets you reflect on the beauty of God’s creation. Hearing music or seeing children on their way to school is his invitation to joy. Getting caught in traffic can be turned into a prayer that God teach you patience. Dealing with students, clients, or colleagues can be your opportunity to serve them in Christ’s name. Celebrate their successes. Be a friend in their distress or discouragement. Before going to bed each night – perhaps with these two questions written on a bookmark in your Bible – ask: When did I feel most alive to God and others today?When did I most feel like life was being drained from me? End your day by thanking God for the former and surrendering the latter to his grace. This is no “magic formula” for spirituality. It is nothing more or less than the daily routine of many Christians whose goal is to grow in likeness to Jesus. This simple plan could open your eyes to things you have been missing. But I tell you, open your eyes. Look at the people. They are like fields ready for harvesting now. (John 4:35 ERV) About the author: Rubel Shelly preached for decades, been a professor of medical ethics, Bible, and philosophy at multiple universities and a med school. He is currently Professor of Philosophy & Religion at Lipscomb University. He is the author of more than 30 books and hundreds of inspirational articles.

Putting Words into God’s Mouth

Did God really say that? It’s frustrating when facts ruin a good story. I was researching the famous statement that cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin made after the first successful space flight, when he commented that he hadn’t seen God in space. Trouble is, there’s no record of Gagarin having said anything like that. Turns out that Gagarin was a religious man, an active member of the Russian Orthodox church. General Valentin Petrov, a close friend of Gagarin, offers this quote from the cosmonaut: “An astronaut cannot be suspended in space and not have God in his mind and his heart.” Just because someone says a famous person said something, doesn’t mean they actually did. We’ve seen example after example of that on the Internet. One person misquoting another is far too common. It happens with God, too. People stand up and say, “God likes this” or “God hates that,” when God never said anything of the sort. Even Christians end up misquoting God or putting words into God’s mouth. So what can we do? Here are some suggestions: Read the Bible. I know that seems obvious, but it’s a step that many skip. If you want to know what God said, read it for yourself. Learn to differentiate between what God says and man says. Did you know that not everything in the Bible is true? That is, at times the Bible gives us an accurate report of what men have said, even when those men aren’t right. We see that in the book of Job, for example, when we have the reporting of entire speeches by Job’s friends, only to have God say to them, “I am angry with you and your two friends, because you have not spoken of me what is right.” (Job 42:7) Sometimes, the words recorded in the Bible aren’t God’s words, but man’s. Don’t put words into God’s mouth. If you’re going to say, “God says,” make sure you’re actually quoting God. If you’re going to say, “The Bible says…,” make sure you’re quoting the Bible and not giving your interpretation of what is written. Fact check what others tell you about God. This goes back to the first point. Don’t accept what others tell you about God until you see it for yourself in the Bible. When you start to see what God really has said, you’ll learn that he has good news for this world. If you want to know more about that good news, Write me at tarcher@heraldoftruth.org or join us on www.hopeforlife.org. (Expressed written consent must be obtained prior to republishing, retransmitting or otherwise reusing the content of this article. Contact us at info@hopeforlife.org) About the author: Tim Archer is the author of Church Inside Out and leads a seminar by the same name on behalf of Hope For Life, a Herald of Truth ministry.

Daily Prayer for January 8

The apostles said to the Lord, “Increase our faith!” He replied, “If you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mulberry tree, ‘Be uprooted and planted in the sea,’ and it will obey you.” Luke 17:5–6, NIV Father in heaven, we thank you for the many ways you strengthen us and reveal your life to us. We thank you for all your protection, also for your protection of our faith and hope. Grant that your Spirit may penetrate us more and more, enabling us to be your witnesses in this evil and unhappy world. May your Spirit give us hope for this life and for the life to come. Amen.   Recent articles on Plough Forsaking Mammon Andreas Ehrenpreis Community is not compulsory; it a joyful, voluntary act of surrender. Read now Beckoned by Beauty Kacey Sycamore How I stumbled into a story much bigger than my own – and found my way to the Bruderhof. Read now How Does Scripture Talk About Beauty? Joy Marie Clarkson and Ben Quash In a new season of the Another Life podcast, Joy Marie Clarkson and Ben Quash look at beauty in the Old and New Testaments. Read now Icon or Idol? Natalie Carnes Christianity has a love-hate relationship with sacred art. Read now The Riddle of Beauty in Nature C. S. Lewis and Gregory of Nyssa Why the poets tell us lovely falsehoods about nature. Read now

Daily Prayer for January 5

The people living in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death a light has dawned. Matthew 4:16, NIV Dear Father in heaven, be close to us as we seek you in the quiet of our hearts. Grant us the strength of your Spirit, the strength to wait patiently for your help in our lives. Help us to hold to all that is good. Help us to feel, each one of us, that we are your children and that we may rejoice in your fatherly care. May your will be done more and more fully in us and around us. May your will be done so that we may be given ever greater freeing and your light can dawn where there is still darkness. Amen.   Recent articles on Plough How Does Scripture Talk About Beauty? Joy Marie Clarkson and Ben Quash In a new season of the Another Life podcast, Joy Marie Clarkson and Ben Quash look at beauty in the Old and New Testaments. Read now Icon or Idol? Natalie Carnes Christianity has a love-hate relationship with sacred art. Read now The Riddle of Beauty in Nature C. S. Lewis and Gregory of Nyssa Why the poets tell us lovely falsehoods about nature. Read now Luna of Tasajera Philip Holsinger On a windswept island far from the gangs and prisons, I saw the future of El Salvador. Read now Finding Faith on YouTube Nathan Dufour Oglesby Can anything good come out of Gen Z Christians arguing about doctrine on YouTube? I think so. Read now