Brighter Days Ahead

Posted on June 7, 2022 by Mark Shields

And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us. –  Romans 5:5

Our faith keeps pushing us along to better days ahead as emphasized in “Renewed Day by Day” and hope keeps bringing light even in darkness. The gleaming rays of a morning sunrise cheers us on; giving assurance of a brighter day ahead.

The love of God through His Son pours out into our hearts. As the song Living Hope by Phil Wickham points out, Christ is my living hope. He has set me free and death has lost its grip on me.

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Renewed Day by Day

Posted on June 6, 2022 by Mark Shields

Hope brings light in darkness like the gleaming rays of a morning sunrise to cheer us on in faith; giving assurance of a brighter day ahead.

Today, we are reading Job 11. Another friend of Job named Zophar assumes that Job is suffering because he has sinned, has disrespected God, and is a complainer. He seems to have a stake in God’s answer because he questions Job and wishes that God would speak against Job so he would be exonerated for his accusations.

Zophar talks about worldly wisdom or common sense that comes with experience. He gives some good advice but like the other friends of Job doesn’t know the reason for the Job’s suffering. Zophar sees Job’s suffering as punishment.

The best advice we can get is in our prayers to God who knows and sees everything. Even in hard times, we can have joy because of our supernatural God. We can examine our hopes and dreams and let God take them to a level that we never dreamed of. Let each new day give us renewal and His Word provide the food needed for spiritual health.

The effects of setting our heart aright each day with God include hope, optimism, and courage.  In humbly accepting God’s love for us, our heart is set aright. Like the sun rising, the Light dawns as we emerge from darkness into a brighter future. The Holy Spirit reminds us that God is with us and we have the courage to face our challenges.

 The hope of the righteous provides rest and renewal but the hope of the wicked grows weary and fades away. Never get down but remember what Jesus went through on the cross. Remember many things people have gone through but came out stronger on the other side. Know that God is big enough to intercede. To handle our laments so our faith is restored as we become even stronger than before as God works through our dark times.

This day with You Lord, our soul is being renewed day by day. You are our defense against wickedness and are working in us to build our confidence. The outcome of our hope will be beyond what could be imagined cheering us on in faith. We are assured of brighter days ahead because of Your love for us … In Jesus name. Amen.

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Poetry Friday 6-3-2022

Posted on June 3, 2022 by Mark Shields
Photo Credit – https://smhs.gwu.edu/news/reveling-poetry

Today’s poem posted at my other blog Step Ahead is inspired by the post “Simply Believe” which points out that simply following the Way of Jesus leads to victory in our life.

The video The Way by Jeremy Camp has this same thought in mind. We can enroll in God’s school of wisdom and apply this wisdom in our life. The Bible is the text book to the course and Jesus is the example to follow.

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Like the Stars of the Night

Posted on June 2, 2022 by Mark Shields

Photo Source – “Bing.” Microsoft. N.p., n.d. Web. Images >.

Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God promised to those who love him. – James 1:12

Life is frustrating and we sometimes jump to false conclusions like Job did when he thought God was out to get him as explained in the post “The Perfect Place”. We complain like Job but keep in mind, we have someone to represent us and fights for us.

Let us empty out the darkness and let the Light of Christ fill up this emptiness on the inside so that we become beacons that light up the darkness brighter than the brightest stars of the night.

God is for you and not against you. Listen to the song Light Up The Sky by The Afters. Make an effort to go out one clear night before you go to sleep, look up high in the sky. Take a look at the stars that shine and know that God is saying that you are mine.

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Keep in Mind the Perfect Place

Posted on June 1, 2022 by Mark Shields

Photo Source – “Bing.” Microsoft. N.p., n.d. Web. Images >.

My grandfather used to say, “This world and one more”. The current world is not perfect but the other one is so let us keep in mind the perfect place in heaven which is beyond what we could imagine. This day we continue to grow in what we believe and are grateful for all we receive.

We’ve been reading in the book of Job and have noted that the world of Job is certainly not perfect. In a deep state of despair, he’s going through anguish and misery because he had lost everything. His children, his livestock, and his property. Then, he is afflicted with painful sores from the soles of his feet to the crown of his head (Job 3:7). 

Reading today in Job 10, he agonizes over why God is letting these bad things happen to him. He says God made him, gave him wealth, showed much kindness to him but now God has allowed him to drown in affliction (v. 15).

Life is frustrating and we sometimes jump to false conclusions that God is out to get us much like Job believed. We complain like Job but keep in mind, we have someone to represent us and fight for us. Let us empty out the darkness. Let the Light of Christ fill up this emptiness on the inside so that we become beacons that light up the darkness of this world brighter than the brightest stars of the night.

This day with You Lord, we are in a fight. It’s a fight of good against evil. We are team members for good working together and thankful for a new start each day because of grace. Thankful for what Jesus has done on the cross. Today, we walk the path to the perfect place and are focused on the finish line to victory. Amen.

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