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

The Week Ahead

Posted on July 16, 2017 by Mark Shields

This week, we will continue the journey and share more thoughts from the study of Exodus 27-28.

Below are some questions for reflection:

Exodus 27
*What is the function of the altar? What about the character of God is reflected in the construction and furnishing of the tabernacle? What in God’s plan now makes going to Him much easier today?

Exodus 28
* Who are to serve God as priests? Who is to make the clothing for the priests? What is the source of their ability? How can we best use our talents and abilities for God’s glory?

Index of Devotionals

Believe that God has a great plan for you.

Victory starts by having a plan. By accepting God’s plan for us, all we need to do is follow and believe He will provide the power. He will give the upper hand to make what seems impossible possible.

Image Source

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

Posted in Bible Study, Devotionals | Tagged Bible Study, Christ, Christianity, Plans, Prayer, Purpose, Quiet Time | Leave a comment

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.

Step 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
Image Source

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Posted in Poems | Tagged Cross, Dream, Faith, Flourish, Holy Spirit, Inspiration, Poetry, Prayer | Leave a comment

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!

Index of devotionals

Posted in Devotionals, Music | Tagged Beauty, Bible Study, Devotional, Empowerment, Joy, Praise | Leave a comment

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

Posted in Bible Study, Pleasing Personality | Tagged Beauty, Bible Study, Devotional, Economy, Empowerment, Mountains, Oceans, Prayer, Universe | Leave a comment

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.