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

Praise Always

Posted on May 20, 2020 by Mark Shields

This day with God will be amazing because He can take tough situations and turn them into something positive. Praise always because out of intense difficulties, God can make simplicities emerge. Reading today in Numbers 11, it had only been a short time since the people had witnessed the miracle of the Red Sea parting so they could escape to freedom. Only a few days before, they witnessed the miracle of their daily bread provided in the form of manna. Yet the people complained because they were tired of manna and wanted meat to eat.

They complained about their hardships and had already forgotten what had been done for them. Think about groups that complain in current times who are full of pessimism. No matter what good things happen, they find a way to protest. They are like babies who were satisfied with crushed up carrots or beats put into a jar of baby food but then taste a hamburger for the first time and never want the baby food again.

So it was with the Israelites. Manna was not good enough for them because they had been given fish, cucumbers, melons, onions, and garlic while in Egypt. The take away for us is not to let a few problems crush the Spirit. Things like fear, frustration, anxiety, disorder, and temporary defeat might turn our thoughts about the Lord negative.

If our thinking starts going in the wrong direction, we can lose our edge for a great day. Below is a picture going up Mt. Haleakala which is a dormant volcano on the Hawaiian Island of Maui.

Deep inside the earth, there is all this built up energy that is released through volcanos much like inside each of us is all this built up thoughts of frustration and anxiety. Instead, let’s think of what good things are going our way and this will build momentum so that we stay on track. If we can replace the negatives with positives, then we can flourish. After all, the lava from volcanos like Mt. Haleakala formed the island paradise of Hawaii and God can turn our negatives for something positive too.

The Lord answered Moses’s questions with 70 helpers. He answered the people’s complaint of the lack of meat to eat by sending a strong wind which brought quail right to their camp. So keep focused on the Lord. Give Him praise always for He can take our questions and provide an answer. If we stand up to problems with optimism and ask for help to overcome them, we will discover that our problems don’t have near the strength that we have when the Lord is with us.

This day with You Lord, we praise You always because You are with us. We are blessed with a great future because of the help You provide. Gratitude is our password to Your presence. You have given us Jesus to follow, the Word as our road map, and the Spirit as our guide. Amen.

Posted in Bible Study, Optimism | Tagged Bible Study, Difficulties, Gratitude, Optimism, Praise, Prayer, Satisfaction | 2 Comments

Refuse not to Move

Posted on May 19, 2020 by Mark Shields

A sluggard buries his hand in the dish; he will not even bring it back to his mouth? – Proverbs 19:24

Brought out in the post “Setting Out Along the Journey”, was the complacency of the Israelites as they remained in the same place before setting out to the Promised Land.

The take away for us is the need to get away from the comfort zone and trust God even when we have some apprehension.

When He prompts us to get going, do like the song I Refuse by Josh Wilson. To do our best and trust in the Lord to take us to places beyond our wildest dreams.

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Posted in Devotionals, Initiative | Tagged Devotional, Discovery, Dreams, Exploration, Initiative, Journey, Music, Praise, Video | 1 Comment

Setting Out Along the Journey

Posted on May 18, 2020 by Mark Shields

This day with God will be amazing because we will take another step towards our destination as we explore, dream, and discover new ways to apply God’s Word. Today, we are reading in Numbers 10.

The Israelites had been freed from Egypt and were now in the desert on the way to the Promised Land. Trumpets were used to communicate the action to take. When they sounded, the people knew it was time to either assemble together or to set out on their journey to the Promised Land.

The Israelites knew where to go by the guidance of the Lord through Moses. When the cloud lifted, it was time to set out. The starting point was the Desert of Sinai and the destination of the first move was wherever the cloud came to rest in the Desert of Paran.

The Israelites had become complacent living in the same place but as they set out into the desert, they would face difficulties. Many began to oppose Moses and resisted God’s guidance so this mistrust brought out the worst in them. They wandered in the desert for 38 years before they reached the Promised Land.

The take away for us in this passage is the need to get away from the comfort zone.To trust God even when we can’t see ahead. To explore, dream, and discover new ways to be all He made us to be. To begin each day’s journey with prayer. To listen and pay attention because details to plans may emerge from reading the Bible, from acquaintances, or personal experiences. They may come quietly in the morning, in a conversation, or in the memory of a past victory years ago.

This day with You Lord, prompt us to get going. Give us initiative so we refuse not to move but are ready to take the first step. To be confident in You guiding our steps even to places we may not want to go. We worry about so much on our life journey but all that matters is doing our best and trusting You. Lord today, we know we can trust in You to take us to places beyond what we could have imagined. Amen.

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

Posted in Bible Study, Initiative | Tagged Bible Study, Discovery, Dreams, Exploration, Initiative, Journey, Prayer | 1 Comment

Worship 05-17-2020

Posted on May 17, 2020 by Mark Shields

Get a great start to your Sunday and for the week ahead with inspiring music and a great message!

Today’s message is “Jesus’s Surprising Way of Viewing Things”.

Feel free to respond with a short note or a comment.

Posted in Music, Sermon Thoughts, Worship | Tagged Church, Music, On-line, Praise, Sermon, Technology, Video, Worship | 4 Comments

Restoration

Posted on May 16, 2020 by Mark Shields

This poem is inspired by Leviticus 14 in which restoration of a cleansed leper to the community is carried out. Because of Christ’s blood given as a token for the forgiveness of our sin, we are compelled to tell others about the healing rain from heaven that cleanses the soul.

Step Ahead