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

Joy and Excellence in the Future

Posted on May 10, 2018 by Mark Shields

Qualities like generosity, kindness, humility, and honesty are commended in Proverbs 28. To receive these qualities, we need patience and persistence. The first step is to fit into God’s plan for us. Keep going to Him in prayer to receive instructions, and be willing to obey His instructions by taking action on them on a daily basis.

Obeying the principles of God are the prerequisites for knowledge and mercy. If God is put in control of our life, there will be joy and excellence in the future. In this lifetime, things can get discouraging but we just need to hang in there, seek help, and keep plugging away. Many times in life, the greatest memories are not what we thought would bring the most fun but the times that we put in the extra effort which brought an unexpected great memory.

Image Source

This day with You Lord, help us to be honest with ourselves. We know that we fall short at times but You instruct with the “never give up” attitude so we can step ahead. When we think there is no hope, we can continue to dream big because Your grace continues to fill us up. Our faith continues to flow like a stream of water that eventually cuts into rock because we persistently believe You are big enough to cut into and go through the hard times in our life. Keep making us of good character so we can glorify You. Amen.

Posted in Bible Study, Going Extra Mile | Tagged Bible Study, Devotional, Generosity, Honesty, Humility, Joy, Kindness, Memories, Prayer, proverbs | Leave a comment

Iron Sharpens Iron

Posted on May 9, 2018 by Mark Shields

Within Proverbs 27, cited are many types of associations we have throughout a lifetime including our relationship with friends, with family, with neighbors, or with a spouse. We also are involved with others at work and in some cases we come up against those who are against us.

Think of ways you can have right relationships with others. We all have certain God given personality strengths and weaknesses. With our strengths, we should refine them and share with others. With our weaknesses, we should be humble, listen, and be sharpened by others.

We may never be satisfied with our relationships but one relationship does satisfy and that is the relationship with our Lord. That is why it is so important to follow God’s Way and ask Him what He wants from us. Let Him handle what happened in the past. Let Him also handle our tomorrows so we can concentrate on today.

Image Source

This day with You Lord, the pathway you have set before us leads to that which is pure and good and lovely. Our relationships are very important. We ask for genuine friendships that help us along life’s path. Help us to interact with others in the right way so we are careful what we say, when we say it, and how we say it. Use our strengths so we can build others up. With our weaknesses, let us listen, be humble, and sharpened by others. Amen.

Posted in Accurate Thinking, Bible Study | Tagged Bible Study, Devotional, Friendships, Life, Prayer, proverbs, Relationships | Leave a comment

Stand Firm in Faith

Posted on May 8, 2018 by Mark Shields

Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that the family of believers throughout the world is undergoing the same kind of sufferings. – 1 Peter 5:8-9

The post “Iron Sharpens Iron” gave some ideas for ways we can have right relationships with others. We all have certain God given personality strengths and weaknesses. With our strengths, we should refine them and share with others. With our weaknesses, we should be humble, listen, and be sharpened by others.

Sometimes we learn by observing what not to do. Maybe a brother, sister, parent, or some other person struggled with an addiction and you saw what it did to their life. Their negatives taught about the importance of creating positives in life. To stand firm in faith.

To create positives that heal and inspire us to do what we should, let the scars from life be completely understood. Let Grace be ushered in as pointed out in this song The Hurt & The Healer – MercyMe.

Index of devotionals

Posted in Accurate Thinking, Devotionals | Tagged Bible Study, Devotional, Faith, Friendships, Grace, Inspiration, Life, Music, Praise, proverbs, Relationships | Leave a comment

Questions for Reflection for Study of Proverbs 27-31

Posted on May 7, 2018 by Mark Shields

Over the last few weeks, I’ve been sharing more thoughts from the study of the book of Proverbs. This collection of writings urges conduct that expresses a person’s relationship with God in everyday situations. The Word of God speaks to us from up high with wisdom and spiritual food for the soul.

The Lord is our strength and shield. He’s in control and victories rest with Him. The thought brought out in the post “Victory Rest with the Lord” is that we need to focus on God’s Way. We need to use the instructions of His Word like instruments to guide our life. The principles of God are like tools and we need to make sure these tools are sharpened for the challenges ahead.

As pointed out in the post “Attention on the Principles Taught”, we all have one thing in common. God is maker of us all so let us put our attention on the principles taught by His Son and we will have what we need to succeed. Let us fix our eyes on what is unseen; never changing and eternal. Earthly struggles last a short time compared to God’s path that leads to eternal peace and eternal bliss.

As pointed out in the post “Integrate Faith with Lifestyle”, the Bible is filled with words of counsel and knowledge but you have to apply this by first listening to these words of knowledge and then let them inside so they become a part of your heart and soul.

As shared in the post “Sweet to Your Soul”, honey taste sweet and like honey wisdom is sweet to your soul. The objective then is to accept God’s grace and get filled up with wisdom. Then your soul will be filled with a rare and beautiful treasure that continues to grow in value. Each day we are the beneficiary of the past and have more wisdom to share with others.

The post “Free to Be All We Can Be” highlighted the importance of God’s Word in your life. As you take in God’s Word, your heart will be filled with the fruits of the Spirit. Your heart will be so filled up with the fruits of the Spirit that goodness will naturally overflow and build others up.

The post “Removing Bad Traits” gave some ideas to fix broken things in our life. To take the mistakes of the past and give them to God. He offers grace to the humble so admit mistakes and live with confidence in what God can do for the future.

The mission of this blog is to bring out ways to better apply God’s Word in our life at work, at home, and within our neighborhoods. The questions for reflection for the study of Proverbs 27-31 below will help bring out some thoughts and ideas over the next few weeks.

The reading plan below will be used as I share over the next few posts. It’s important to have a plan. I’m thankful that Jesus is God’s plan for us and by accepting Him as Savior; we have taken the steps necessary to make this day with Him amazing!

Image Source

Questions for Reflection

Proverbs 27
What relationships are cited here? What can you do today to have right relationships with others? How can you better fit into God’s plans rather than coming up with your own plans?

Proverbs 28
What qualities of character and action are commended? What is the prerequisite for knowledge? What can be done to receive God’s blessings? What can you do to strengthen good qualities in your life?

Proverbs 29
What negative qualities observed here do you need to especially get rid of in your life? What is the paradox in verse 23? Do you seek the approval of man or of God?

Proverbs 30
Who is Agur and what are his emotions as he writes here? In what areas of life have you been foolish? How can you become wise in these areas?

Proverbs 31
What does Lemuel’s mother warn against? How can you warn children and grand-children about the dangers of companions who are immoral? What is the character of a good wife? How has the study of Proverbs helped you experience wisdom in your daily living?

Resources and Supplementary Helps Used in Posts

Adeney, Carol. This Morning with God: A Daily Study Guide to the Entire Bible. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity, 1978. Print.

“Sermons.” Sermons | FUMC Waco. N.p., n.d. Web. <http://fumcwaco.org/resources/sermons/>.

“Bible.” The Bible – The Word of God – ChristNotes. N.p., n.d. Web. 2017. <http://www.christianity.com/bible/>.

Nicholes, Lou. “Recent Commentaries.” Family-Times.net – Devotional Commentary Index. N.p., n.d. Web. <http://www.family-times.net/commentary/>.

“Google Images.” Google Images. N.p., n.d. Web. <https://www.google.com/imghp?hl=en&tab=wi&authuser=0&ei=8IipWNPmOoPBmwHIpZ2ACQ&ved=0EKouCBcoAQ>.

“BibleGateway.” BibleGateway.com: A Searchable Online Bible in over 150 Versions and 50 Languages. N.p., n.d. Web. <https://www.biblegateway.com/>.

Posted in Bible Study, Devotionals, Questions for Reflection | Tagged Bible Study, Challenges, Champion, Christ, Faith, God’s Plan, Holy Spirit, Hope, Leadership, Lessons, Life, Love, Prayer, Reflection, Scripture, victory | Leave a comment

Your Role for the Goal

Posted on May 4, 2018 by Mark Shields

Discover your unique God given abilities and let it shine in a world that desperately needs a spark. This poem was inspired from my memories growing up. My Dad was a coach when I was a young boy and it was great because I was allowed to travel with the team and help with things like making sure the players had water or Gatorade to drink. There was a player on one of the teams that had always been a lineman until the coaches noticed something. The player was not only big and strong but was also fast. They ask the player to switch to running back before his junior year in high school. He went on to be an all American in both high school and college. He even played as a professional in the NFL for 9 years. In one college game, Roosevelt Leaks ran for over 350 yards. That year, he finished 3rd in voting for the Heisman Trophy.

Step Ahead

You need to determine
The role you will play
To be at your best
For each and every day.
Like the athlete
Out of position
To help the team
Beat the competition,
Switch your position
And find your strength
To help with a group
Or society at length
Be All-American
In your lifetime
By finding your thing
To make it big time
By discerning your gift;
Following your dream
And willing to give
Your best for the team.