25 Nov 2024
One of our greatest responsibilities is to worship God. Let us seek to honour Him with our words and by the way we live. He blesses those who worship Him and gives them peace. Psalm 29:1-2 & 11.
Daily Prayer for November 25
The Lord reigns, let the earth be glad; let the distant shores rejoice… The heavens proclaim his righteousness, and all peoples see his glory. Psalm 97:1, 6, NIV Lord our God, we turn to you, for you are our help. Hear our prayer, we beseech you; let our cry rise to you so that you may send your mighty help in our generation. Continue to protect us from all evil, from death and destruction. Protect us because we are your children. As your children we turn to you, the almighty God, who can make everything work together for good. Be merciful to us, O Lord God. Help us for your name’s sake. Help, Lord, for you alone can bring everything to a good end. So we stand before you in Jesus Christ, holding to every word you have given us and knowing for certain that you hear us. Amen. Recent articles on Plough Teaching the One Percent Dhananjay Jagannathan A Columbia professor attempts to teach virtue to future finance bros. Read now The Critical Moment of the Day John Burroughs A naturalist witnesses the birth of a new day in the Catskills. Read now The Sacred Sounds of Hildegard of Bingen Susannah Black Roberts In music, art, medicine, and spiritual writings, Hildegard of Bingen sought to express “the sacred sound through which all creation resounds.” Read now Help in the Land of Forgetfulness Wayne A. Ewing A husband caring for a loved one with dementia finds dark valleys, but also limitless spiritual resources. Read now The Perpetual Flame of Devotion Richard J. Foster How can we learn to pray in a way that pleases God? And what stands in the way? Read now
Today’s Verse – Acts 11:24
He was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and faith, and a great number of people were brought to the Lord. —Acts 11:24 Thoughts on Today’s Verse… As this scripture talks about Barnabas, Luke reminds us just how good a man Barnabas was! Why would we consider Barnabas to be such a good man? For many reasons. Primarily, Luke wants us to recognize that Barnabas was full of faith and the Holy Spirit. Barnabas’ goodness shouldn’t surprise us. When the Holy Spirit lives in us, he is at work producing the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23) and conforming us to the character of Jesus Christ our LORD (2 Corinthians 3:18). No wonder Barnabas’ influence was so significant on the lives of those who lived in Antioch (Acts 13:1-3). No wonder God chose him to mentor the apostle Paul and show him how to serve in ways that multiplied disciples. Barnabas was a good man because his life was under the influence of God’s Spirit! My Prayer… Dear Heavenly Father, I want my life to be influential in spreading the good news of Jesus and growing your Kingdom. I offer myself to you as a living sacrifice, asking that you conform me to the nature of your Son Jesus and bring forth the fruit of your Spirit in me as I seek to influence others to Jesus. In whose name I pray, Amen. All scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION. © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Publishing House.
Daily Prayer for November 24
Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them…For I tell you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the Pharisees and the teachers of the law, you will certainly not enter the kingdom of heaven. Matthew 5:17, 20, NIV O Lord God, give us new hearts, teach us a new way on earth, so that through your commandments all people may act in accordance with your Word and may become one. Only you can do this, working through your promised Holy Spirit, and you will do it in order that the earth may become a paradise, a heavenly kingdom pleasing to you. Let your words be written in our hearts, and help us to fulfill your commandments in our daily life. Only by carrying out your commandments may we foolish, sinful people be made perfect, our sins be forgiven, and everything become right and good in your sight. Stay with us, Lord God, our Father. Help us in everything. Let something new, something pleasing to you, soon come into our time. Put your commandments into our hearts, that peace may be restored to the glory of your name. Amen. Recent articles on Plough The Critical Moment of the Day John Burroughs A naturalist witnesses the birth of a new day in the Catskills. Read now The Sacred Sounds of Hildegard of Bingen Susannah Black Roberts In music, art, medicine, and spiritual writings, Hildegard of Bingen sought to express “the sacred sound through which all creation resounds.” Read now Help in the Land of Forgetfulness Wayne A. Ewing A husband caring for a loved one with dementia finds dark valleys, but also limitless spiritual resources. Read now The Perpetual Flame of Devotion Richard J. Foster How can we learn to pray in a way that pleases God? And what stands in the way? Read now Even in the Ironbound Stephen G. Adubato A child of suburbia seeks thicker community in New York City’s enclaves and in a particular Newark, New Jersey, neighborhood that defies stereotypes. Read now
Today’s Verse – 1 Corinthians 11:23-24
For I received from the Lord what I also passed on to you: The Lord Jesus, on the night he was betrayed, took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, “This is my body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of me.” —1 Corinthians 11:23-24 Thoughts on Today’s Verse… Remember Jesus! Remember his great sacrifice. Remember his incomparable love for you! Remember him through his Supper! Remember Jesus! My Prayer… O Father, thank you so much for Jesus! Thank you for blessing me with a spiritual meal that reminds me and helps me proclaim that Jesus died, offering his body and blood as the atoning sacrifice for my sins. Thank you for giving me the day of his resurrection, Sunday, the first day of the week, as a day I can powerfully remember this great sacrifice and anticipate the great day of reunion that his resurrection has secured for your children. I remember him and thank you, dear Father, until I share the Holy Supper with Jesus in glory. Amen. All scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION. © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Publishing House.
Daily Prayer for November 23
I am the good shepherd, who is willing to die for the sheep. When the hired man, who is not a shepherd and does not own the sheep, sees a wolf coming, he leaves the sheep and runs away; so the wolf snatches the sheep and scatters them. John 10:11–12, TEV Lord our God, we thank you for ruling us with your shepherd’s staff so that again and again we can be refreshed and can delight in what you are doing for us. We thank you that we can have eager, joyful faith even when sorrows come, looking again and again to the good you give us. We are thankful and want to be thankful always. Be a mighty Lord over the peoples, we pray, and protect our country. Show your sovereignty by guarding the flock close beside you and by pouring out your grace to give life to the dying and resurrection to those who have died. O Lord God, hear and bless us. May your will be done on earth as in heaven, so that your kingdom may break in and everything may come right, according to your great purpose. Amen. Recent articles on Plough The Sacred Sounds of Hildegard of Bingen Susannah Black Roberts In music, art, medicine, and spiritual writings, Hildegard of Bingen sought to express “the sacred sound through which all creation resounds.” Read now Help in the Land of Forgetfulness Wayne A. Ewing A husband caring for a loved one with dementia finds dark valleys, but also limitless spiritual resources. Read now The Perpetual Flame of Devotion Richard J. Foster How can we learn to pray in a way that pleases God? And what stands in the way? Read now Even in the Ironbound Stephen G. Adubato A child of suburbia seeks thicker community in New York City’s enclaves and in a particular Newark, New Jersey, neighborhood that defies stereotypes. Read now I Cheerfully Refuse Despair Joy Marie Clarkson In Leif Enger’s novel I Cheerfully Refuse, one man fights against despair (and wrongdoers) in a post-apocalyptic world. Read now
Today’s Verse – Proverbs 11:22
Like a gold ring in a pig’s snout is a beautiful woman who shows no discretion. —Proverbs 11:22 Thoughts on Today’s Verse… To take what is physically beautiful and then profane it with sin is to waste a great gift. It is sinfully sharing with someone who is clueless why God gave the blessing of physical beauty in the first place. It is debasing to the person given the beauty to waste it in what and on what is sinful. No matter what gifts we have been given, whether physical beauty, athletic talent, keen intellect, charming personality, or anything else, we must remember that God blessed us with these gifts so we could bless others, honor the LORD, and lead others closer to him! Video Commentary… ToGather Worship Guide | More ToGather Videos My Prayer… Dear God, please forgive me for the times that I have not used my gifts and abilities to bless others, honor you, and bring them closer to Jesus. Please give me a renewed sense of purpose as I seek to live for your glory and to bless others with your grace. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen. All scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION. © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Publishing House.
22 Nov 2024
If we purpose to trust God with our lives increasingly, may we experience His amazing love more and more. May this clear any doubt in our minds about God. May His love continuously surround us and overflow to others around us. Romans 8:31-39.
Today’s Verse – John 11:21
“Lord,” Martha said to Jesus, “if you had been here, my brother would not have died.” —John 11:21 Thoughts on Today’s Verse… If you have ever stood at the grave side of a loved one, this thought probably crossed your mind, too — “if you had only been here, LORD…”! Where is Jesus when we hurt? Why couldn’t he be here to help us? There are a couple of crucial answers to remember. Jesus is with us in our moments of loss and grief. The Church is Jesus’ Body and every act of kindness, word support, effort to comfort us, and simple helping actions are part of Jesus working to alleviate our grief. While Jesus may not have kept our loved one from passing from this life to the next, he has been the abiding and unbroken presence for each Christian who has died physically. Paul reminds us that when a Christian dies, he or she goes to be with Christ (2 Corinthians 5:6-7; Philippians 1:21-23) and God’s loving presence is never lost to him or her (Romans 8:35-39). Martha seems to have something deep inside her that resonated with these promises because she was convinced that even though her brother, Lazarus, had died, she trusted that Jesus could still do something. She says, “But I know that even now God will give you whatever you ask” (John 11:20). In the face of overwhelming grief and deep sorrow, we as believers can yearn to have had Jesus present to prevent the death of a loved one. Yet in the face of this unwanted intrusion of death, we can say with faith, “Even now God will” provide victory out of our heartbreak! My Prayer… Holy Father, please help me see Jesus’ ministering presence with me in my times of loss and grief. Help me see him in the comforting presence of the Holy Spirit who abides in me. Help me see him in the acts of love and kindness your bodily presence, the church, as your people help me. In addition, dear Father, please help me see ways that I can serve as Jesus’ presence to someone else who is experiencing grief. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen. All scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION. © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Publishing House.
21 Nov 2024
Let us therefore consider accepting this invitation to a relationship with God, if we haven’t already, based on what has happened in the past. That which we are inheriting should also motivate anyone who hasn’t made that decision and encourage those who have. Hebrews 12:25-29.