Affirming Love From Above

Posted on March 1, 2022 by Mark Shields

Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing. – 1 Thessalonians 5:11

Brought out in “Learn and Affirm” is that the most important task in our life is to make sure we reach our full potential for God’s glory. The first step is to accept our Friend in Jesus. Then to seek out others and help them reach their full potential by encouraging them as a person of great value to God. A treasure that is loved beyond measure.

Take affirmation from the song Live Like You’re Loved by Hawk Nelson and live like you’ve been set free to be all you can be. Like you believe that His love is all you’ll ever need.

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Learn and Affirm

Posted on February 28, 2022 by Mark Shields

This day with God, we seek out lessons to learn and that affirm us as His child. Then we seek others that need encouragement. Every achievement in human history at one time had backing from others. It may have been a teacher, a parent, or mentor that helped the person toward the achievement. Everything we do can have an impact if we love others and help them to accomplish their full potential.

Reading today in Ruth 3 we see that Naomi encouraged Ruth towards accomplishment of her full potential for God’s glory. As a widow, Ruth had needs and there was a legal procedure set up in society during that time where guardian-redeemers would help relatives of widows satisfy those needs.

Naomi began to give Ruth information and instructions on what to do. To get Boaz interested in Ruth, Naomi had a plan so she told Ruth to put on her best cloths and perfume. Then she instructed her to go over to the threshing floor where Boaz would be sleeping next to the grain to protect it from being stolen.

She told Ruth to slip in quietly where Boaz was sleeping, uncover his feet, and lie down at his feet so Ruth followed her instructions. During the night, Boaz woke up and noticed that someone was at his feet. Once Boaz found out the identity of the woman at his feet, he was happy that it was Ruth. She was known as a woman of noble character and Boaz respected her.

Boaz was very encouraging to Ruth with praise and respect for her. We can all learn and affirm others by following the example of Boaz. When people come to us with emotional and social needs, we should try our best to help them reach their full potential.

Lord, we pray for learning from and affirming each other today. Help us to become all You want us to be and help us to use the abilities You’ve given us for Your glory. Help us to be an encouraging friend to others. Each person is of great value to You and a treasure that is loved beyond measure. Amen

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Light in Darkness

Posted on February 25, 2022 by Mark Shields

My hope is that this poem encourages you to discover the strength of God’s assistance and let it influence your own life so that you become the best at what you do. Then share with others how you were able to do it.

Mark Shields's avatarStep Ahead

Discover the great strength 
Of God’s assistance
For He’s like a lighthouse 
In our existence.

Constantly there 
Providing the light
To our destination
Every day and night.

Some days, we feel
Like there is no way
But then we go to God
And begin to pray.

We no longer fear it
Because the Holy Spirit
Gives us guidance
As we begin to hear it.

With our purpose in sight
And to His delight,
Things become right
As we see the light.

Poem by Mark Shields – © 02-24-2022

Inspired by “Light in Darkness”

Thought – discover the strength of God’s assistance and let it influence your own life so that you become the best at what you do. Then share with others how you were able to do it.

Photo – Bing Images

Music – As the song You Say by Lauren Daigle points out, we may think…

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Reach for the Son

Posted on February 24, 2022 by Mark Shields

Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you. –  Ephesians 4:32

Written in “Glean Food for the Soul” are some thoughts on the kindness of Boaz towards Ruth. This example of caring demonstrates true friendship and there is no better friend we have than Jesus. When we become aware of how much God cares for us through His Son Jesus, we know we have someone that truly cares.

The Bible teaches to act with kindness in all situations. May this song Someone Who Cares by David Phelps encourage kindness!

When you reach for the Son
You have that someone 
Holy, Holy, Holy
Jesus is worthy

Each small act of kindness resonates across great distances and spans of time to form compassionate leaders, faithful employees, and harmonious families.

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Glean Food for the Soul

Posted on February 23, 2022 by Mark Shields

The harvest is ready and today we glean food for the soul.  As you read Ruth 2, keep in mind about ways to be helpful to each other as neighbors helping neighbors. Striving to be accountable, thoughtful, and helpful to all in a personal way for the glory of the ONE who is merciful.

The immediate need for Naomi and Ruth was for food so Ruth went to glean a field which was a common way to help the poor. They were allowed to pick up the leftover grain behind the harvesters.

Boaz was the owner of the field in which they were harvesting. He was an encourager and was kind to Ruth. He explained to her that he had heard about what she had done for Naomi. He let her gather more grain than usual and told her to come back until all the grain was harvested.

Has anyone shown you special kindness?

I remember back in high school. My dad took a job and we moved to a town about two hours away. I’m reminded of a friend who took me in when I moved to this town. He introduced me to people and invited me to various activities.

I knew a few people because my parents had lived in the town growing up and I would visit my grandparents during the summers. I had known this friend from childhood because our parents were friends since they were in grade school. Our families would spend time together on weekends and even went on a few vacations together.

Thinking about today’s passage, there is no better friend we have than Jesus. When we become aware of how much God cares for us through His Son Jesus, we know we have someone that truly cares.

Lord, with You we have someone who cares. You love us and forgive us and this inspires us to forgive. We may go through extreme difficulty much like Naomi and Ruth but things will be alright. From the early morning through each night, You care and we know You will provide for our needs. Amen

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