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

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!

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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.

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Posted in Poems | Tagged Accomplishment, Athlete, Creativity, Direction, Discovery, Goal, Life, Passions, Poetry, Strengths, Team | Leave a comment

Grace for the Humble

Posted on May 3, 2018 by Mark Shields

But he gives more grace. Therefore it says, ‘God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble. – James 4:6

Like the song Live Like You’re Loved – Hawk Nelson, we don’t have to live with perfection. It’s just energy wasted. Instead, live like you’ve been set free with no more guilt. Be who God made you to be; a very valuable person to take on big challenges. He can change our character to do amazing things to fulfill His purpose.

Index of devotionals

Posted in Devotionals, Pleasing Personality | Tagged Bible Study, Character, Devotional, Empowerment, Grace, Holy Spirit, Humility, Listening, Personality, Praise, proverbs, Purpose, Wisdom | Leave a comment

Removing Bad Traits

Posted on May 2, 2018 by Mark Shields

Some thoughts brought out in the study of Proverbs 26 is that a fool has no honor, is aimless, and never learns. A sluggard is too lazy to do anything even if one small act would provide much relieve. A quarrelsome person adds gossip and deception to flame the bickering. A hypocrite can charm but they dig a pit to fall into when they do what they tell others not to do.

To remove any of these traits above, a person can ask God for help and take action to remove them from their life. Seek wisdom found in God’s Word and counsel from the Holy Spirit. Be confident but not arrogant and keep focusing on God who helps do all things.

One time someone ask me to look at their printer because it was not printing correctly. For some reason, it would print all colors except black. We couldn’t figure it out so we finally ask for help. We got the help and the printer started working again. That’s what God tells us in His Word and in the experiences we go through. We should accept that we don’t have all the answers, ask for help when needed, and receive the lessons found in His Word.

As this passage points out, stirring up gossip and quarrels will boomerang to destroy the instigator so try to work with people by listening, by speaking only the truth, and unifying for God’s glory. Like jumper cables that recharge one battery from another, we can be the link that connects the power of God to people. We can get interested in them, make them happy, and empower them.

This day with You Lord, we pray for help in removing the bad traits in our life by filling them with good traits. This passage characterized the sluggard, the quarrelsome person, the practical joker, the gossip, and the hypocrite. Lord we ask that you help us and that we take action to remove these traits from our life. Through the power of the Spirit and in Jesus name we pray, amen.