Unlimited Power

Posted on July 15, 2017 by Mark Shields

This day with God, believe you are justified by faith in Christ, count your blessings, and turn your whole life around. Nothing is impossible if you dream big and believe that with God’s help you can do it. Use the unlimited power of God and receive inspiration from today’s poem.

Mark Shields's avatarStep Ahead

Received is God’s power
Because of what was done
By Christ on the Cross
So let us work as one.

As one doing something
Using prayer as power;
Taking action daily
With power every hour.

With God, everything
Can be achieved
If you perceive
And start to believe.

God blesses those who
Seek His instruction
And follow through
With production.

This day with God,
Know what is required
And think about ways
To act when inspired.

By Mark Shields – © 07-13-2017
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Inner Joy

Posted on July 13, 2017 by Mark Shields

Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others. – Philippians 2:3-4

As written about in the post “Cultivating Internal Beauty”, So much time went into furnishing the inside of the tabernacle. In the same way, we need to spend more time cultivating an inner joy.

We can do this by following the scripture above with concern for others and not building our lives on the externals like attractiveness, nice clothing, and new cars. The problem with the externals is that there is always someone that looks better on the outside, has a better house, a better car, or takes better vacations. We look at others and think they are smarter, slimmer, or better looking than we are.

Instead, just focus on what God has given you in Christ. By believing in His Son, you are precious and beautiful on the inside. You have been given an inner joy and are pleasant to be around. You have joy even in difficulty and see each day as the best day ever.

This day, feel secure because of the joy in knowing that God is with you wherever you go and see each moment in life as sacred. May this song Stand In The Light by Jordan Smith  help as you step ahead today!
 

 

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Cultivating Internal Beauty

Posted on July 12, 2017 by Mark Shields

Imagine the great workmanship of the linen curtains as explained in Exodus 26. So much time went into making the inside of the Tabernacle beautiful but there is a balance between beauty and function. Internal beauty was emphasized more than external as the Tabernacle was designed as a small portable building but insulated with curtains made of goats’ hair and a covering made of animal skin to protect the beautiful inside.

Think of the universe in which God has created and how there is a balance between beauty and function. Yes, there are beautiful places in this world; mountains reaching high into the sky and deep blue oceans with amazing underwater scenery. But there are other places that are not that beautiful. Places hit by storms that have been devastated, economic downturns within a society, and major cities that have struggled for many years.

Just as much time went into making the inside of the Tabernacle beautiful, we need to spend more time cultivating internal beauty rather than external attractiveness. We can be the link that connects the power of God to people. We can get interested in them, build them up, and empower them to be a part of the solution.

This day with You Lord as we read the passage, instructions were given about making a veil or curtain to separate the Holy Place from the Most Holy Place (v. 33). Today, we are grateful that when Jesus Christ died on the cross, the veil in the Temple tore from top to bottom (Mark 15:38) symbolizing our free access to You. We pray today that this free access will give us power to cultivate internal beauty in our life and in the lives of those we meet.  Amen 

 

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Prevail with Detail

Posted on July 11, 2017 by Mark Shields

My son, pay attention to my wisdom; lend your ear to my understanding, that you may preserve discretion, and your lips may keep knowledge. – Proverbs 5:1-2

There was great detail given as to how the tabernacle would be furnished as pointed out in the post “Specific Details”. The need to attend to great detail is also needed in life because sometimes the margin for error is so minuet. One little thing can get us off track.

Working with computer systems, one wrong code entry or data tag can throw things off and it’s hard to find what the issue is. With so many updates and changes that take place within a computer system, it’s easy to bring a system down and many times hard to find the solution to get it going again.

The good thing about Christianity is that God’s principles never change. A daily devotional time internalizes His guiding principles so they become an instrument which pushes us to focus on Him in every activity throughout our day.

The Tabernacle as mentioned in the post “Specific Details” would be the dwelling place of God. Because of Christ, our bodies are the dwelling place or Temple of God and as in the song Christ In Me by Jeremy Camp, Christ in us lights up the Temple.
 

 

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Specific Details

Posted on July 10, 2017 by Mark Shields

Detailed in Exodus 25:23-40 is the craftsmanship and delicate work involved in the furnishings of the Tabernacle. Just as skills were involved in furnishing the Tabernacle, we each have skills to offer to build up the body of Christ in worship and in service.

In this passage, the lampstand would be made specifically to brighten the interior just as Christ is our light today which illuminates to the world the ideal way of living. In the life of Christ, are specific details of our model for living. As the lampstand was to be made to light up the whole tent, we should pray to be the light of the world.

I’m usually the one in our family to put together the newest gadgets that are given like at Christmas or as a birthday gift. I remember one time helping to set up the workout gadget known as a fitbit. We couldn’t get the fitbit to work properly because it was not synced it up to the correct model. In Christ, God has provided a way for us to be synced up to His role model. When we are, we are able to receive help and direction from the ONE that provides all that we need.

God’s Word and the example He gives us in the life of Christ should be the source of our instruction for life. His Word provides the nourishment for the soul as we can go directly to the “table” to ask the Lord for anything we need. If we expect the Spirit of God present at all times, then we have the confidence to do all things.

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This day with You God, we accept your Instruction from the Bible. We accept your Son whose Spirit is in each of Your believers. Because the Spirit of Christ is in us, we have the resource to help us understand what we read and how to apply this instruction into our life. Christ in us will help to learn lessons from the Bible, the experiences we go through, and to unify for a great future. In Jesus name we pray. Amen

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