This Day With God – A Spiritual Journey | Share The Word

Reflection

Posted on September 12, 2022 by Mark Shields

Take a look at the photo. *What do trees wear to the lake? Swimming trunks. The reflection of the trees in this pond make them look like they are swimming in the lake. Thinking of reflections, reading God’s Word and trying to answer the questions provided at Questions for Reflection is a tool to build our faith and gain wisdom for making decisions in the future. The questions for reflection provide help in reflecting on what the Word is instructing us to do and how to apply our faith.

Today, we are reading Job 38 and using the questions to stimulate our thought and note ways to apply in our daily life. In today’s passage, seventy seven questions concerning everything from the creation of the land on earth to the deep seas and clouds of the sky are asked by God to Job. Questions about who sends bolts of lightning and brings the constellations in their seasons or who understands the laws of the heavens. Other questions were about providing for the needs of animals as they wander about looking for food.

The creation of the earth is humbling. Think about how much is done every 24 hours and how God is involved in all the affairs of the world. The earth rotates to produce each day and night, the moon somehow remains suspended in the sky, and the rain makes the plants grow to produce food.

In today’s passage, we note that the realms of God’s sovereignty include the continents, the deep oceans, the sky, and all the constellations of the universe. The ways of nature and the ways of God go together. They both are beyond our total understanding yet we can try to understand nature’s ways through the experiences we go through and we can hope to understand God’s ways more and more as we go through life.

Realizing that we will never totally understand everything is the first step to true wisdom. The Wise Men studied the ancient text and the stars in the sky when looking for the baby Jesus. They were experts and we have experts in various fields of study today but many times they seem to get things wrong.

Just trusting God who knows everything rather than our own understanding is the next step as we continue each phase along the journey. God’s expertise is greater than any specialist so we need to be open to the Word of God, follow His will, live faithfully, and participate in what is best for us.

Nothing in life is perfect but Jesus and His life on earth was perfect so putting our trust in Jesus to steer our life along the journey makes a lot of sense. This day, ask Jesus to take the wheel as you drive along the highway to your destination and let the Spirit guide along the path that leads to your destiny.

Lord … You’ve created everything. Every 24 hours produces a new day with more understanding and wisdom. Your nature is humbling because the more we experience, the more we seek to know. This day, the most important thing to know is that Your love has given us new life. This day we have peace and joy because of Jesus who has given us a roadmap to follow and we know our destiny. In Jesus name, amen!

*Jokes for days. (2021). Funny Editor – Jokes for Days. https://www.funnyeditor.com

Posted in Bible Study, Wisdom | Tagged Bible Study, Creation, Destiny, Expertise, Journey, Photo, Prayer, Reflection, Wisdom | 3 Comments

Poetry Friday 09-09-2022

Posted on September 9, 2022 by Mark Shields

A poem posted at my other blog Step Ahead is inspired by the post “Don’t Get Bitten” which has a great lesson taught by Jesus. The lesson is to use our common sense when the world wants to bite us with its poisonous venom. To be equipped with wisdom from God’s word to handle those who want to cause harm. The religious and political leaders were trying to bite Jesus with a poison that could kill by asking about paying taxes but His clever answer avoided their plan.

Within the worship song Your Nature – Kari Jobe, pointed out is that it’s God’s nature to set up a future in which we can flourish and not be poisoned. God’s plan brings peace, joy, hope, and opportunities for a society to thrive.

Posted in Poems | Tagged Equipment, Flourish, Government, Music, Poetry, Praise, Priorities, Taxes, Tools, Wisdom, Worship | Leave a comment

Continue the Sense of Wonder

Posted on September 8, 2022 by Mark Shields

Plant good seeds and the good food of the Spirit will bring rich blessings. Continue the sense of wonder the gospel offers for you daily and share with others. The enthusiasm will be contagious and the harvest will be plentiful. – Galatians 6:10

From “Greatness of God Expressed in Nature”, Elihu gives a talk that challenges Job to consider how deep and inconceivable God’s counsel is compared to that of fellow man.

As you set out each day, give praise for each day with songs like How Great is Our God by Chris Tomlin. Take inspiration from the lyrics that express respect for the Creator. Worthy of all praise, our hands we do raise as the whole world does rejoice and sing with one voice.

Index of devotionals

Posted in Applied Faith, Devotionals | Tagged Creation, Devotional, Faith, Inspiration, Nature, Praise, Wonder, Worship | 1 Comment

Greatness of God Expressed in Nature

Posted on September 7, 2022 by Mark Shields

This day with God, we seek to discover the wonder of the world around us and share this wonder with others. We continue to take in the Word of God and hope to share thoughts that are useful for teaching and training towards the Way. We constantly search for ways to apply our faith in order to impact the world in a positive way. Today, we are reading Job 36:24 through 37:24.

The greatness of God is expressed in nature and God is Creator of nature. This greatness is expressed through thunder, lightning, and rain. It is expressed through all the seasons, the daily rise of the sun in the morning, and setting of the sun in the evening.

According to Elihu, there are two uses for nature which are to govern nations and provide food in abundance (v. 31). This account of Elihu expresses God’s ways. Like thunder and lightning directing one to take shelter away from a storm, nature teaches us to respect the Creator. This talk of Elihu is to challenge Job because he has to consider how deep and inconceivable God’s counsel is compared to that of fellow man.

There is a relationship between the word of God and things of nature. They both are His Creation. They both teach us lessons that we can apply to everyday living. Take inspiration from the following poem to give praise for all of our days.

God is concerned 
For our well-being 
And all His creation;
His love is so freeing.

He turns the summer
Into a new fall;
Cooling things down;
New focus for all. 

The Holy Spirit
Like the wind blowing,
Stirs up the rains;
The rivers are flowing.

It is good to praise God 
Because when our hope 
Is in His unfailing love; 
We can more than cope.

There is wonder,
There is security,
And we reward God
With spiritual maturity.

Praise Him for creation;
Various parts of earth;
The moon and stars;
The miracle of birth.

Praise Him for angels;
Sea creatures and birds;
From valleys to mountains;
With His inspiring Words.

Over a high vista
As we look out.
The beauty of Creation
Makes us shout.

The blue water 
Of a still ocean;
The beauty of a sunset;
Sparking emotion.

We praise Him in music, 
Praise Him through art, 
In everything we do
He gives us a great start. 

Through His Creation
And through His Word,
There are lessons learned,
Knowledge transferred.

To help with priority;
Provide our daily bread. 
To give us inspiration
As we step ahead.

This day with You Lord, we give You praise for all Your days. Each day of a cold winter morning and each day of a warm summer evening as the sun sets in the west. Your greatness is expressed in nature, and it teaches us to give You respect for You are Creator of it all. It makes us consider how deep and inconceivable Your counsel is as we step ahead each day. Amen.

Posted in Applied Faith, Bible Study | Tagged Bible Study, Creation, Faith, Inspiration, Nature, Photo, Praise, Prayer, Wonder | 3 Comments

Open Your Eyes and Let Faith Arise

Posted on September 6, 2022 by Mark Shields

Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see. – Hebrews 11:1

From “We Trust Because He First Loved Us”, noted was that God teaches by the Bible to spark a light of faith in each heart leading safely through the mists of doubt. The Son teaches with clear principles that are straight from our Creator and radiates His Spirit which lives in each believer.

This day with God, listen to the song I Lift My Hands by Chris Tomlin and like the lyrics say, let faith arise for He will be our refuge and strength in times of difficulty.