Daily Prayer for June 6
I will sing of the love of the Lord forever; with my mouth I will make your faithfulness known through all generations. I will declare that your love stands firm forever, that you established your faithfulness in heaven itself. Psalm 89:1–2, NIV Lord our God, gather us together in one flock to praise you with one heart and one voice. Let this praise ring out on earth in the midst of all the evils that still confront us. We thank you for your protection, for all the help and deliverance you give us. We thank you for the hope you put into our hearts. We thank you for the hope that we may yet see great things done through the working of your Spirit, for us your children and for all peoples and nations. For your love will not rest until life on earth has come into your hands and all may rejoice. Amen. Recent articles on Plough What Happened at Pentecost? Eberhard Arnold What was the all-important event that took place in Jerusalem at Pentecost? Read now Optimizing Pigs KC McGinnis The high-efficiency logic behind concentrated animal feeding operations (CAFOs) has gone viral in our culture. Read now In Praise of Daydreams Robert Wyllie In his book The Spirit of Hope, Byung-Chul Han recommends an unusual cure for the crises facing society: boredom and love. Read now Those Good Old Days Joshua Sander Nostalgia is easily conjured – and easily exploited by marketers and politicians. Thankfully, there is a way to turn it to good ends. Read now The Fly in the Honey Aldous Huxley Are emotions a trustworthy guide to God? Read now
Daily Prayer for June 4
The Lord’s unfailing love and mercy still continue, fresh as the morning, as sure as the sunrise. The Lord is all I have, and so in him I put my hope. Lamentations 3:22–24, TEV Dear Father in heaven, we thank you for guiding us, your children, here on earth. We thank you that whatever happens to us, we can again and again find joy because you give us what is good even when times are evil and when we go through sorrow. We thank you that your goodness and your faithfulness penetrate everything, and that at last, at long last, they penetrate our hearts. Then we can know and be glad that your Spirit guides us. We can know we are never alone but can receive strength to help us in the struggle and toil of our life. Through your help everything becomes fruitful – good and evil, life and death, health and suffering. Everything must serve you through the working of your Spirit. Amen. Recent articles on Plough What Happened at Pentecost? Eberhard Arnold What was the all-important event that took place in Jerusalem at Pentecost? Read now Optimizing Pigs KC McGinnis The high-efficiency logic behind concentrated animal feeding operations (CAFOs) has gone viral in our culture. Read now In Praise of Daydreams Robert Wyllie In his book The Spirit of Hope, Byung-Chul Han recommends an unusual cure for the crises facing society: boredom and love. Read now Those Good Old Days Joshua Sander Nostalgia is easily conjured – and easily exploited by marketers and politicians. Thankfully, there is a way to turn it to good ends. Read now The Fly in the Honey Aldous Huxley Are emotions a trustworthy guide to God? Read now
Daily Prayer for June 3
He came and preached peace to you who were far away and peace to those who were near. For through him we both have access to the Father by one Spirit. Ephesians 2:17–18, NIV Dear Father in heaven, we thank you for all your goodness and for the peace you give us. Unite us as your people, we pray. Unite us as one people with all your children who have ever lived, as one people with all who want to serve you. The more faithfully and joyfully we are your people, the more blessing you can give. Let the material world come under your hand. Guide your children on earth. Lead us in such a way that others may be helped. When we suffer, grant us strength and understanding of your will. Protect us today and every day. Amen. Recent articles on Plough Optimizing Pigs KC McGinnis The high-efficiency logic behind concentrated animal feeding operations (CAFOs) has gone viral in our culture. Read now In Praise of Daydreams Robert Wyllie In his book The Spirit of Hope, Byung-Chul Han recommends an unusual cure for the crises facing society: boredom and love. Read now Those Good Old Days Joshua Sander Nostalgia is easily conjured – and easily exploited by marketers and politicians. Thankfully, there is a way to turn it to good ends. Read now The Fly in the Honey Aldous Huxley Are emotions a trustworthy guide to God? Read now The Keys Are in It Ben Henson When people talk about rural America, they see the pickups and the politics and assume they know the whole story. Read now
Daily Prayer for June 2
Praise the Lord, O my soul. O Lord my God, you are very great; you are clothed with splendor and majesty. He wraps himself in light as with a garment; he stretches out the heavens like a tent. Psalm 104:1–2, NIV Lord our God, our Father in heaven, with all our hearts we want to thank you for giving us joy on earth and for sending us your radiant light from heaven. We praise you for the light you give our hearts, the light that lets us find great joy together because we become one in you, one in your Spirit, one in awaiting your promised good. Grant that we may be your children. May we always find the paths where you can go with us and give us what we cannot give ourselves. May our whole life glorify you and our every breath belong to you. Through communion with you may we remain in your safekeeping in body, soul, and spirit. For all you have done and for all you will do for us, we ask you to accept our thanks. Amen. Recent articles on Plough In Praise of Daydreams Robert Wyllie In his book The Spirit of Hope, Byung-Chul Han recommends an unusual cure for the crises facing society: boredom and love. Read now Those Good Old Days Joshua Sander Nostalgia is easily conjured – and easily exploited by marketers and politicians. Thankfully, there is a way to turn it to good ends. Read now The Fly in the Honey Aldous Huxley Are emotions a trustworthy guide to God? Read now The Keys Are in It Ben Henson When people talk about rural America, they see the pickups and the politics and assume they know the whole story. Read now Old Testament Enemy Lovers Israel Steinmetz Violence, war, and genocide are found lurking in the Old Testament, but there’s another subtle thread. Read now
Daily Prayer for May 31
As for you, see that what you have heard from the beginning remains in you. If it does, you also will remain in the Son and in the Father. And this is what he promised us – eternal life. 1 John 2:24–25, NIV Lord our God, we want to find our joy in you and in all your promises to us. For you have promised that in the midst of all the pain and sorrow, you are preparing what pleases you and serves your honor in every heart. May we experience in our lives the fulfillment of many of your promises, so that again and again we can go forward joyfully, rising above difficult times and situations. Have mercy on us and protect us in your strength. Amen. Recent articles on Plough The Fly in the Honey Aldous Huxley Are emotions a trustworthy guide to God? Read now The Keys Are in It Ben Henson When people talk about rural America, they see the pickups and the politics and assume they know the whole story. Read now Old Testament Enemy Lovers Israel Steinmetz Violence, war, and genocide are found lurking in the Old Testament, but there’s another subtle thread. Read now Our Need for Conversion Oscar Romero Conversion means asking at every moment: What does God want of my life? Read now Entering the Commonwealth of Joy Elizabeth Clayton A bride navigates marriage preparation and the pressures of the wedding industry to hone in on what a wedding is really for. Read now
Daily Prayer for May 30
Praise the Lord, O my soul; all my inmost being, praise his holy name. Praise the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits. He forgives all my sins and heals all my diseases. Psalm 103:1–3, NIV Lord our God, O Holy One, we thank you that we may lay aside our own nature and be lifted in spirit above all that is temporal and human and have joy in you. In spite of all the evil surrounding us, in spite of the thousandfold misery of humankind, we may still rejoice in you, in all you do and will yet do for us. Grant that we may go on rejoicing, having joy together, helping instead of burdening each other, until this earth is filled with the jubilation of those you have so richly blest. Forgive us all our sins. Heal us in mind and body. Deliver us from all the corruption that tries to take hold of our souls. Amen. Recent articles on Plough The Keys Are in It Ben Henson When people talk about rural America, they see the pickups and the politics and assume they know the whole story. Read now Old Testament Enemy Lovers Israel Steinmetz Violence, war, and genocide are found lurking in the Old Testament, but there’s another subtle thread. Read now Our Need for Conversion Oscar Romero Conversion means asking at every moment: What does God want of my life? Read now Entering the Commonwealth of Joy Elizabeth Clayton A bride navigates marriage preparation and the pressures of the wedding industry to hone in on what a wedding is really for. Read now There’s No Such Thing as a Free Nobel Prize Atar Hadari Seamus Heaney, Ireland’s national poet, discovered the price of fame. Read now
Daily Prayer for May 29
But God’s mercy is so abundant, and his love for us is so great, that while we were spiritually dead in our disobedience he brought us to life with Christ. It is by God’s grace that you have been saved. In our union with Christ Jesus he raised us up with him to rule with him in the heavenly world. Ephesians 2:4–6, TEV Lord our God, we thank you for allowing us to experience your power. We thank you that we need not be occupied with material things only. We thank you that your Spirit comes to our aid again and again. Grant that we may continue to have your help, and let many hearts find what a grace it is that in spirit we may walk in heaven even during this transitory life with all its foolish ways. We may say with complete assurance that everything tormenting and burdening will pass by. It passes by, and we go joyfully and confidently toward your kingdom, which continually gains in power. Amen. Recent articles on Plough Our Need for Conversion Oscar Romero Conversion means asking at every moment: What does God want of my life? Read now Entering the Commonwealth of Joy Elizabeth Clayton A bride navigates marriage preparation and the pressures of the wedding industry to hone in on what a wedding is really for. Read now There’s No Such Thing as a Free Nobel Prize Atar Hadari Seamus Heaney, Ireland’s national poet, discovered the price of fame. Read now Freedom from Exam Hell In-soo Song and Chungyon Won In a country known for its intensely competitive educational system, a South Korean teacher dares to imagine a more humane approach. Read now Waiting for Pentecost with Mary Kathleen A. Mulhern Among those assembled and waiting at Pentecost, only Mary already knew what it meant to be filled with the Holy Spirit. Read now
Resurrection 2.8: With Christ
Maybe you’re like me and have imagined these kinds of things as you’ve read the story of Jesus. Don’t you wish you could have been there? As I have read the story of Jesus in the gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John), I have caught myself yearning to have been present. I would love to have heard and seen Jesus at work in his earthly ministry. Because of that yearning, I’ve wondered: What was the expression on his face when he said this or did that? How did his eyes and touch communicate his compassion? Did folks have a hard time seeing when the light pierced through the dancing dust and straw when the four friends dug a hole in that roof? Maybe you’re like me and have imagined these kinds of things as you’ve read the story of Jesus. I’ll also admit that part of me would never want to go back to Golgotha and see the Lord’s horrifying agony. However, with all that he has done for me, I would like to have gone back and been there for him while he was so alone, abandoned, forsaken, denied, and betrayed by those close to him. I hope that I would have joined him in prayer for the mislead crowd who mocked him as he pleaded, “Father, forgive them, they don’t know what they are doing.” I would like to have been there to say “Amen!” to the Centurion’s pronouncement of faith, “Surely, this was the Son of God!” Most of all, I would like to have seen the resurrected Jesus. I would have been blessed to have been with Mary and the women who took the spices to the tomb and met Jesus! I’d love to have seen Peter and John as they raced to the tomb. I would have liked to have been the third disciple on the road to Emmaus. I would be thrilled to be able to go back to the upper room when the ten apostles met Jesus, and he ate fish to show them that he wasn’t a ghost. I would gladly go back to have seen Thomas put his hands into scars on Jesus’ body and confess, “My Lord and my God!” I would even settle for being with James, the half-brother of Jesus, when the Lord showed himself to his once unbelieving brother and ignited the faith in Jerusalem’s future church leader. And, I believe it would have been a blessing to be with the 500 to whom Jesus’ appeared after his resurrection. But I can’t time travel. Neither can you. Or can we? What if there was a way that we could meet Jesus and share in those events that saved us? Would you believe me if I told you there was and it was something Jesus planned and anticipated for us? Listen carefully to the apostle Paul’s words to folks who were feeling less Christian than those who personally knew Jesus: For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form, and in Christ you have been brought to fullness. He is the head over every power and authority. In him you were also circumcised with a circumcision not performed by human hands. Your whole self ruled by the flesh was put off when you were circumcised by Christ, having been buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through your faith in the working of God, who raised him from the dead (Colossians 2:9-12). Paul is saying that if we have been baptized, we haven’t missed out. Instead, we “have been brought to fullness” in Christ. We’ve received the full blessing! How? Well, the “flesh” part of us, that part of us sometimes called our sinful nature, was removed from us because we died and were buried with Jesus in baptism. We entered into his death experience.[NOTE] Then, through our faith in the powerful working of God, we have been raised with Jesus. We have not only believed in Jesus, but we have participated in the Lord’s resurrection! The real and forever-living part of us has been raised with Christ and is guarded in the safety of God’s presence until Jesus returns for us (Colossians 3:1-4). Paul’s teaching is an astounding promise we have often overlooked. Can it be true? Can we share in Jesus’ death to honor his sacrifice and end the fleshly hold on us? Is it possible that we can be part of the Lord’s resurrection story, today? When we read from other places in the New Testament, this grace of sharing in Jesus’ death, burial, and resurrection are talked about in even more detail (Romans 6:3-14). Our life, because of our trust in Jesus’ death, burial, and resurrection, is joined to his and we are given new life with him (Titus 3:3-7; Romans 6:4). Just as the Spirit of the living God revived Jesus from the dead, we too are empowered by the Spirit to live a new life. Our sins are not just forgiven; they’re also eradicated from us by the grace given us in the blood of Jesus and the cleansing brought to us through the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:38-39; 1 Corinthians 6:9-11). And, because we have been “united with him in a death like his, we will certainly also be united with him in a resurrection like his” (Romans 6:5)! So, let’s be more joyous and celebratory when we see someone baptized. Not only are they doing what Jesus sent us into the world to teach them to do (Matthew 28:18-20), as well as doing what Jesus himself did (Luke 3:20-22), they are providing us a great opportunity. We get to share their re-living Jesus’ saving work as they participate in his death, burial, and resurrection and as they call on his name as Lord before us as their witnesses (Romans 10:9-13; Acts 22:16). The power of the cross and the empty tomb are real. More than a symbol or a step
Resurrection 2.7: Let the Clouds Remind You!
As followers of Jesus, the clouds hold a message of hope for us, not just a warning. Anyone living in north central Texas, western Oklahoma, and Kansas would be wise to watch the sky in late spring. While modern meteorology and advanced weather forecasting can predict the possibility of dangerous storms, old-timers still look at the clouds. Meteorologist look at their Doppler radars for hook clouds and rotation. Old-timers check the clouds: Are they coming together from different directions? Are they filled with both cloud-to-cloud and cloud-to-ground lightning? Have the clouds changed color from indigo to dark purple or dark green? Are the high, dark, clouds in the west advancing with an eery calm with descending darkness? For farmers and ranchers whose families have lived in these areas for generations, the conditions reflected in the clouds are stronger warnings for them than severe weather warning sirens. “Watch the clouds,” these weather watchers will tell you, “because the clouds will let you know when danger is coming. Ignore them at your own risk!” As followers of Jesus, however, the clouds hold another message for us: This Jesus, who has been taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven (Acts 1:11). To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood, and has made us to be a kingdom and priests to serve his God and Father — to him be glory and power for ever and ever! Amen. Look, he is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see him… (Revelation 1:5-7). The clouds can remind us that Jesus will return to us in the way his first disciples saw him leave them (Acts 1:11). Our resurrected Lord has not finished his work with planet earth. He has left for a while but with the promise that he will return. Jesus’ resurrection ensures that when he returns he will bring with him all those who have gone to be with him after their physical bodies have died (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18; Philippians 1:19-23; 2 Corinthians 5:1-10). They will be given new immortal bodies, like Jesus’ immortal body (1 Corinthians 15:35-49). Those who are still alive when the Lord returns will also have their bodies changed into immortal bodies (1 Corinthians 15:50-54), and they will be with the Lord forever (1 Thessalonians 4:17). This glorious day of victory and reunion is the promise God gave us with Jesus’ resurrection from the dead. Jesus was the first fruit: the first of many to be raised never to die again (1 Corinthians 15:20-23). His victory over sin, death, and hell will become our victory (1 Corinthians 15:24-28, 53-58). Every cloud we see can be a reminder of the glory that awaits us (Romans 8:18) and the victory and reunion that lie ahead for all of us who belong to Jesus. Yes, I will continue to watch the clouds in late spring where I live. I’ve seen dark clouds spin up horrible tornadoes, drop grapefruit-sized hail, cause flash flooding, and generate powerful straight-line winds. But, with each cloud, I also see the promise and hear the whispered reminder of Jesus’ revelation to John on Patmos: Look, he is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see him! And my heart leaps at the thought that these clouds might be the clouds of his glorious return. I see them and think to myself: Amen! Come, Lord Jesus. We long to join the angels who bow before your throne! Special thanks for the use of images related to Jesus’ ministry from The Lumo Project and Free Bible Images for use on this week’s post, “The Jesus Window”! The incredible photographs of storm clouds come from Unsplash! 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.
ToGather: Thanking God for Our Women of Faith (November 28, 2021)
Many of us have experienced the goodness of God through the life of a woman of faith who helped shape us and mold us in our personal walk with Jesus. We’re glad you joined us for ToGather.church! (Find out more about ToGather.) Today, in conjunction with our Verse of the Day, we give thanks for God’s women in our lives and in the history of faith. Our songs for this ToGather are by Grammy or Dove award-winning singers who express their faith through song. We pray you are blessed and will join in each of these songs! Opening with Praise in Word and Song: We begin our ToGather worship with CeCe Winans and an anthem dedicated to the “Goodness of God”: Many have experienced the goodness of God through the influence of faithful women. These women helped shape us and mold us in our walk with Jesus. Our opening prayer is an adaptation of several of Paul’s reminders to his son in the faith, Timothy, about the origin of his faith, his mother and grandmother, who taught him the Scriptures and demonstrated to him their courageous faith: Father, many of us have a deep and sincere faith in Jesus because of the influence of faithful women — our grandmothers, mothers, Sunday school teachers, friends, and mentors. Their faith is alive in us because they taught and demonstrated the heart of Jesus to us. So, dear Father, we ask that what we have learned from them will be alive in us. Their consistent care to live Jesus and teach us the Scriptures has enabled us to be wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. We pray that the legacy we pass on to those who follow us will be an ongoing tribute to these women and their faith passed down to us. We ask that the Spirit empower us to live this faith in the mighty name of Jesus, our Lord. Amen. Focusing on the Scriptures: Our message for ToGather is on giving thanks for the women of faith in our personal stories and in the Scriptures, which is also our emphasis in the Verse of the Day: Her children arise and call her blessed;her husband also, and he praises her:“Many women do noble things,but you surpass them all.”(Proverbs 31:28-29) In this ToGather, we choose to remember that Jesus highly values women of faith. He demonstrated their value by their constant presence in His ministry who remained faithful through the Passion when the male disciples did not. The early church advanced through the ministry and courage of such godly women. Many of us have faith because of the love, grace, and perseverance of faithful women in our lives. So, let’s join Lauren Daigle and remind each of our women of faith of their value to us as we sing “You Say”: Phil’s message is a blending together of our time of Thanksgiving (in North America), his own experience this week with his wife’s loving preparation before her surgery, and the emphasis of our Verse of the Day: Following on Phil’s message, let’s join with Mahalia Jackson’s emotional presentation of the old hymn, “Precious Lord,” as a personal prayer and a prayer for all women of faith, everywhere: Sharing The Supper: The beautiful song, “Forever,” with by Kari Jobe, is a moving account of the crucifixion of the Lord Jesus and a joyous proclamation of His victory over sin, hell, and death. We love that a woman sings this song because only “the women” were faithful to Jesus throughout His Passion.NOTE We celebrate Jesus’ victory in the Lord’s Supper because Jesus is alive! We remember the Lord’s death on the resurrection side of His Passion! Robert Reagan reminds us of the victory we celebrate during the Lord’s Supper: Closing with Praise and Blessing: Phil’s prayer of blessing for you is from Romans 15:13: May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. [Amen.] We join with Tasha Cobbs Leonard and ask God to send “Your Spirit” LORD, upon us, and especially upon all the women in our lives: Jan Reagan closes our time together with the following passage of praise and a personal blessing: NOTE All the men forsook Jesus and ran away when he was arrested (Mark 14:50). They hid behind locked doors because of fear (John 20:19). Meanwhile, “the women” who had supported Jesus and the disciples in His ministry (Luke 8:1-3) faithfully accompanied Him through everything. They were present with Him through His crucifixion agonies and were present on Resurrection Sunday (Matthew 27:55-61, 28:1-11; Mark 15:40-41, 16:1-8; Luke 23:27, 29, 49, 55, 24:1-10, 22-24; John 20:1-2, 11-18), as well being part of the proclamation on Pentecost that Jesus is Christ and Lord (Acts 1:14, 2:14-21). Special thanks to The Lumo Project and Free Bible Images for images related to the ministry of Jesus. About the author: Dr. Demetrius Collins is a mission partner at Westover Hills Church, Austin, TX, where he serves on the worship team and as a youth volunteer. His vocation is as a professor, physical therapist, and athletic trainer; but his calling is to mentor young men through their high school years as they try to figure out what it means to be a follower of Christ. He is happily married to Kristel, who shares his passion for God and scripture. He serves as our song resources coordinator for ToGather.church Phil Ware is President of Heartlight, Inc. and is an editor and writer for Heartlight.org, VerseoftheDay.com, and ToGather.church. Phil has served in preaching, teaching, and online ministry for over 40 years. He is passionate for world missions and encouraging ministers, pastors, church leaders, and missional church planters.