09 Jun 2024
Are you in transition or in the middle of a season? Whatever the circumstances, I pray that we shall remain in God’s will. I pray against anything that would seek to destroy our destinies. May the Lord’s plan for our lives prevail, and may He accomplish that which He wants to do in us and through us. Isaiah 46:9-11.
Daily Prayer for June 9
The Lord your God is with you, the Mighty Warrior who saves. He will take great delight in you; in his love he will no longer rebuke you, but will rejoice over you with singing. Zephaniah 3:17, NIV Lord our Savior, you are our Lord and our Helper. Show yourself again and again in our hearts as the Savior who is strong to help us even in difficult times. Remember the many people who sigh to you. Guide them into the protection of the almighty God. Even if they suffer pain and distress and have to go through fear and anxiety, even if they die, Lord Jesus, you are comfort and help. In everything life brings us you will show yourself as the One who does the will of God and who carries it out for us on earth. Amen. Recent articles on Plough The Explosive Imagination of Dickens Gina Dalfonzo Peter Conrad’s Dickens the Enchanter paints a portrait of the great storyteller in all his bizarre glory. Read now The Vaccine Wars Brian Volck A pediatrician attempts to break the impasse between parents skeptical of vaccination and those seeking to prevent deadly disease outbreaks. Read now Sunday Source God’s New Language Stanley Hauerwas At Pentecost, God created a community of people whose very differences contributed to their unity. Read now The Anabaptist Vision of Politics John D. Roth What have we learned from five hundred years of Anabaptist understandings of church and state? Read now Wonder Woman Versus Hummel Dori Moody Who is a better role model for my teenage daughter: Wonder Woman or a Franciscan nun? Read now
Today’s Verse – Micah 6:8
He has shown you, O man, what is good. And what does the LORD require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God. —Micah 6:8 Thoughts on Today’s Verse… Sometimes we need God to make what he wants from us plain and simple to understand. I need to handle those around me justly — practicing patience and dealing with others in fairness, without partiality, and treating them as I would like to be treated. I also need to practice mercy — blessing others in need with what they don’t deserve but so greatly need. I need to walk humbly with my Abba Father, knowing that without his grace and help, I will fall short and fail. I need to act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with [my] God.” I have a sneaking suspicion you need the same. My Prayer… Father, please make of me what you will. As you fashion me, please bless me as I seek to be a person of justice, mercy, and humility. I know you identify yourself as the “I AM,” known by your righteous character, gracious compassion, and faithful lovingkindness. In Jesus’ name and through the power of the Holy Spirit, I seek to become more like you. I am thankful for Micah who made clear that this begins with me acting justly, loving mercy, and walking humbly with you. Please help as I depend upon your grace and the power of the Holy Spirit to do just that! 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 June 8
The prospect of the righteous is joy, but the hopes of the wicked come to nothing. Proverbs 10:28, NIV Lord our God, we wait for you night and day. We believe in you and we long for your righteousness. You will answer our prayer. Bless us, we pray. May your name be kept holy and your kingdom come. O Lord our God, may your will be done among the nations. May your will be done in each of us and be plainly seen, as it is in heaven. Look upon the nations. Watch over all humankind. Let a new path be broken so that a peace that passes all understanding may come, a peace from you, the Lord our God. Amen. Recent articles on Plough The Vaccine Wars Brian Volck A pediatrician attempts to break the impasse between parents skeptical of vaccination and those seeking to prevent deadly disease outbreaks. Read now Sunday Source God’s New Language Stanley Hauerwas At Pentecost, God created a community of people whose very differences contributed to their unity. Read now The Anabaptist Vision of Politics John D. Roth What have we learned from five hundred years of Anabaptist understandings of church and state? Read now Wonder Woman Versus Hummel Dori Moody Who is a better role model for my teenage daughter: Wonder Woman or a Franciscan nun? Read now What Happened at Pentecost? Eberhard Arnold What was the all-important event that took place in Jerusalem at Pentecost? Read now
Today’s Verse – Matthew 7:7
Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. —Matthew 7:7 Thoughts on Today’s Verse… God wants us to seek his blessings. This is not because he wants to manipulate our lives, but because he longs to bless us and have us know the gifts in our lives come from him. So let’s seek his presence, his grace, and his blessing. As we do, let’s remember this promise is in a section of Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount where he clearly states that a disciple obeys what God, the Scriptures, and Jesus command. In that context, we can be sure we have what we seek, ask, and knock to receive. When we love and live according to his purposes (Romans 8:28), Jesus’ promise is our assurance of the Father’s blessing and our Savior’s delight as we are empowered by the Holy Spirit. My Prayer… Dear Father, I yearn for your blessing and guidance. I need your presence and blessing in several specific areas of my life that weigh heavily on my heart… (share with God some things that are on your heart). In addition, dear Father, I need your wisdom in the following matters… Finally, dear God, please make your presence in my life very clear to me this week. I don’t doubt your love for me, but I sometimes need reassurance of your nearness as I face the challenges that lie before me. Please hear me asking for your nearness, see my search for your way in this world, and open the door to my knocking on your door of grace as I seek your blessing. 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.
The Pentecost Challenge
We long for the day when we know fully, even as we are fully known! Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you (Ephesians 4:29-32). MO is at Black Rifle Coffee, Beyond Black is in the cup, silence is on the playlist, and God is in the room preparing for Pentecost this Sunday. We sat in the conversation collective, talking about life and lessons learned. It was relaxing, comfortable, and intoxicating. In the middle of what seemed like a serious discussion about the Holy Spirit, one of the guys announced, “You know, after you’ve been around someone for almost a year, you’d like to think they know your name.” I listened to his distress and then broke in, “Has he EVER called you by name?” “NO! Yesterday, I asked him, kinda jokingly, if he knew my name. His answer, ‘I know exactly who you are,’ but still didn’t call me by name, not even then.” Ummmmmm. He continued, “You’d think pastors would be the best at calling people by name, that the Spirit would make it so. But for some of us, we never ask God for help. This Sunday is the birthday of the church — Pentecost — a celebration of the Holy Spirit. It’s a good day for shaking things up a bit, to enlist the Spirit’s help. “Get in your pastor’s face,” he suggested, “tell him your name… ask him to say it! Give him a Pentecost challenge! Let’s learn everybody’s name, even the janitor’s name, by the end of the year. With the Spirit’s help, we can do it together. “The Pentecost Challenge can be a game changer!” We sat in silence for a time, then I asked, “Remember the theme song from Cheers?” “Oh yeah, who doesn’t?” he responded. “A whole generation doesn’t, but they are recklessly looking for a place like it, a place where misfits, old farts, weirdos, young whippersnappers, and the boring people know each other’s names… a place like Cheers Bar. I think for its time, it was perfect. And, I loved the theme song… still do.” We sang it together… sort of: Sometimes you wanna goWhere everybody knows your nameAnd they’re always glad you came.You wanna be where you can seeOur troubles are all the sameYou wanna be where everybody knows your name! “The church is supposed to be THAT place… the Spirit must be really sad to show up and be ignored,” he said. We talked for a couple of hours, telling stories, laughing, and calling each other by name. By the way, his name is Danny. Danny decided to take the Pentecost Challenge, whether his pastor does or not. Don’t you think Abba has given us all this Pentecost Challenge? Oh, and I just met Gabe. He’s a Black Rifle Coffee Company early-morning barista. He even asked me, “Is your name Ron Rose?” You know, I really liked hearing my name. Ummmmm. I believe we all “wanna be where everybody knows your name!” For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known. (1 Corinthians 13:12). About the author: Ron Rose has been a unique minister and friend, but he is also a noted author and leader of several ministries. Ron now makes himself available as a listener and friend as he spends time with people on the go and in coffee shops and shares grace and a listening ear connecting them with God who is always in the room!
Daily Prayer for June 7
Lord, you have been our dwelling place throughout all generations. Before the mountains were born or you brought forth the earth and the world, from everlasting to everlasting you are God. Psalm 90:1–2, NIV Lord our God, our refuge forever, bless us who have gathered in your presence and who turn to you in all distress, not only in our personal need but also in the distress of the nations and peoples of the whole world. Grant that we may be your children, with a simple faith that gives us strength to go on working even when life is bitterly hard. We thank you for giving us so much grace, for helping us and never forsaking us, so that again and again we can find joy and can glorify and praise you, our Father. May your name be praised from heaven above and among us here below. May your name be praised by all people throughout the world, and may everyone on earth acknowledge you and receive all that they need from you. Amen. Recent articles on Plough Sunday Source God’s New Language Stanley Hauerwas At Pentecost, God created a community of people whose very differences contributed to their unity. Read now The Anabaptist Vision of Politics John D. Roth What have we learned from five hundred years of Anabaptist understandings of church and state? Read now Wonder Woman Versus Hummel Dori Moody Who is a better role model for my teenage daughter: Wonder Woman or a Franciscan nun? Read now 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
Today’s Verse – Proverbs 3:5-6
Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight. —Proverbs 3:5-6 Thoughts on Today’s Verse… Trust, by definition, can’t be half-hearted. Either it is a full trust or it is clouded with suspicion and doubt, and not authentic trust at all. As we face the everyday challenges of life and as we look for answers to deep and difficult problems, let’s put our full trust in the LORD. Let’s ask for his wisdom and guidance as we make our choices. Let’s give him praise for the good in our lives and seek his blessing for the days ahead. Why? Because he longs to bless us with life, both now and forevermore with him. Video Commentary… ToGather Worship Guide | More ToGather Videos My Prayer… O LORD, my LORD, I place my trust in you. Please guide me in my steps as I seek to bring you glory. Please help me with the decisions, those challenges that I face. Give me discernment as I seek to influence others and to share your grace with them. Give me the right words to say so that I can have a redemptive influence on my family, my friends, my co-workers, and those people in need of your grace that you place in my path. 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.
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
Today’s Verse – Psalm 103:5
[Bless the LORD] who satisfies your desires with good things so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s. —Psalm 103:5 Thoughts on Today’s Verse… Our heavenly Father is the God of new things, the God of renewal and blessing (Isaiah 43:18-21). His desire is to renew and bless us. He wants to not only bless us once with our salvation, but God desires to bless us daily. His steadfast love is new every morning as he faithfully pours out his blessings (Lamentations 3:22-23). But more than just giving us what we want, he satisfies us with good things. He brings us what we need and what truly satisfies our deepest desires with his godly good things! My Prayer… Abba Father, Almighty God, I praise you for your power, majesty, glory, faithfulness, mercy, wisdom, and grace. Thank you for blessing me with your salvation, the gift of your Holy Spirit, the blessings of your church family, the promise of a home with you, and the daily assurance of your renewing presence. You have repeatedly blessed me with good things, godly things, and renewed me with your grace. In Jesus’ name, I thank and praise you with all of my heart. 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.