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

Ordinary to Extraordinary

Posted on April 19, 2019 by Mark Shields

This Easter weekend, be confident in the ONE that has made the impossible possible. You are being transformed daily to engage in a bright future. So step ahead; feel free to explore and discover ways to dispense this same power that raised Christ from death on the Cross.

Step Ahead

The gospel message
Turns the ordinary
Into something
Extraordinary.

For the gift of Christ
On the Cross freed
All believers
And meets every need.

Each and every day,
Show your reverence
To God’s powerful Word
And being in His presence.

Step ahead today
Seeking to explore
And work with others
To discover more.

Passionately
Focused on what you’re doing
And never holding back
In your pursuing.

Poem by Mark Shields – © 04-04-2019
Image Source – Bing Images

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Posted in Good Friday, Poems | Tagged Discover, Easter, Explore, Extraordinary, Freedom, Good Friday, Poetry, Pray | Leave a comment

Worship of the ONE True God

Posted on April 18, 2019 by Mark Shields

You cannot serve both God and money. – Luke 16:13

Brought out in the study of 2 Corinthians 6:11 through 7:4 and shared in the post “One Common Link” is the difficulty of mixing the worship of idols with the worship of the ONE true God because righteousness and wickedness do not mix together.

Paul faced this challenge in establishing the Corinthian church and we all face these challenges today. When faced with a challenge, that’s when the focus is the highest. Fellow believers need to focus on what God provides and pull for each other. That the Spirit moves in each heart so the body of Christ is functioning in concert.

I remember helping my daughter set up her fitbit a while back. It wouldn’t work because it wasn’t synced up to the correct model. Sometimes we just need to be synced up to the ONE that provides what we need; the ONE true God.

You may be at home right now and need a lift. You may be at work struggling with an issue. For more peace and to get synced up, take a few minutes to listen to the song Overwhelmed by Big Daddy Weave.

Let us put our attention on God first. He will provide what we need so we can organize, prioritize, and reorder our day with a plan. Then all we need to do is step ahead towards that plan with a purpose in every step.

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Posted in Devotionals, Focus | Tagged Challenge, Devotional, Faith, Focus, Holy Spirit, Leadership, Music, Praise, Prayer, Purpose | Leave a comment

One Common Link

Posted on April 17, 2019 by Mark Shields

Reading in 2 Corinthians 6:11 through 7:4, Paul’s desire for the Corinthians was to grow in their faith. Paul expected them to put forth the effort just as the Christian leaders of the Corinthian church had done. To be open and grow with each other spiritually with one common link being Jesus Christ.

Explained in this passage is the difficulty faced when united improperly to those who prefer idol worship rather than the worship of the one true God. Believers linked to non-believers face difficulty because righteousness and wickedness do not mix together for it is like oil mixed with water, vinegar mixed with milk, or pizza with weight loss.

Paul faced many challenges. There was conflict, fear, and depression because he faced opposition and persecution. In this passage, he finally finds joy in that the Corinthian people were treating his disciple and appointed leader named Titus with kindness.

We face the same challenges today and when faced with a challenge that’s when we need to focus on God. He’s not distant but near and the Holy Spirit links all believers together to meet every challenge. Like the photo below points out, we are stronger linked together and will not be broken.

Photo Credit – dwellingintheworld.wordpress.com

This day with You Lord, we come to You with openness and confess the many idols we let get in our way. Expensive cars, clothing, and houses require more than we can afford are full of promises we can’t keep but You come through on Your promises. Through Your Son, the door to an awesome future has been opened. In Jesus name we pray. Amen.

Posted in Bible Study, Focus | Tagged Bible Study, Challenge, Faith, Focus, Leadership, Prayer | Leave a comment

Every Good Thing for His Purpose

Posted on April 16, 2019 by Mark Shields

All things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose. – Romans 8:28

As explained in the post “Steadfast Toward the Mission”, Paul’s ministry cost him dearly but he remained faithful to God even in the most difficult hardships to be an ambassador of Christ. Paul exhibited character during these trials to blaze a path which made it easier for others to understand and receive the power of God.

This great power is available to anyone that accepts God’s grace. Even during the journey when we are busier than we need to be, God can make something amazing from our busyness. That’s good reason to give praise as in this song Every Good Thing by The Afters.

Index of devotionals

Posted in Devotionals, Purpose | Tagged Devotional, Grace, Life, Ministry, Mission, Music, Praise, Priorities, Purpose | Leave a comment

Steadfast Toward the Mission

Posted on April 15, 2019 by Mark Shields

Brought out in reading 2 Corinthians 5:20 through 6:10 are Paul’s actions which commend him being an ambassador of God. He paid a tremendous price for his ministry including persecution, hardship, and rejection yet remained steadfast toward the mission.

It took qualities like endurance, patience and kindness to overcome these difficulties but there was comfort in knowing that God was with him for the purpose of changing the world for the better. God will also give us insight into how to play our part in this adventurous mission for His glory.

Along the way, we may also face trials. The thing about life is the stress of being able to balance everything we would like to do and still fulfilling the mission God has for us. Therefore, there is a great need to study our priorities; go after first what is most important and then like the domino effect, our items on the task list start to fall one after another until the mission is accomplished.

This day with You Lord, we are inspired by the purpose for which Paul blazed a path for all of us to follow. This new way to righteousness makes it easier for all to receive Your power. Help us to use this power to handle trials that may come our way. Help us stand up to the forces against us in order to be a transformer rather than conformer. To never compromise our standards regardless of the trials that may come our way. For it is in Jesus name we pray. Amen.