Stand the Test and Receive the Best

Posted on September 20, 2016 by Mark Shields

Each one should use whatever gift they have received to serve others, faithfully administering God’s grace in its various forms. – 1 Peter 4:10 

What should you do when people don’t understand or accept God’s message? One idea written about in the post “Discover What You Do Best” is to discover your God given strengths and use them so that people are able to make an association between the Good News and their needs.

As in the video Do Everything – Steven Curtis Chapman, we should do all we can to make sure people hear, see, and understand the Good News.


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Discover What You Do Best

Posted on September 19, 2016 by Mark Shields

Paul’s message to the Jews in Rome as recorded in Acts 28:23-31  was that salvation was available to everyone and we should urgently spreading the Good News. Even though salvation is available to all, Paul explained that many would not accept God’s message.

Even so, as we journey through life we should do everything to spread the Good News by discovering what we do best and using this strength as a platform to share about God’s message. We should use what we do best to help meet the needs of people and spread the Good News so they many hear, see, and understand. Go all out with an urgency to use our God given strengths for the glory of God.

The church had expanded from Jerusalem, Antioch, Ephesus, and into Rome. In thirty years, it had grown from just a few churches into tens of thousands. Though Paul was under house arrest, the Gospel message could not be bound or chained.

Lord, we come to You in prayer today knowing that the Gospel message cannot be bound or chained. It is a powerful message to share and each individual person who accepts this message can do great things for You. Help us each to use our individual gifts to serve others and administer Your grace. Amen.

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Thoughts

Posted on September 16, 2016 by Mark Shields

This weekend, take some time to evaluate your thoughts. Do you put thought into the direction you are going? Do you believe you have been given certain gifts by God? How can you use these gifts to give Him glory?

Mark Shields's avatarStep Ahead

We all have the ability
to think and recall
to reason and visualize;
to have the wherewithal.

So choose to create
and imagine it all.
Putting thought
Into the long haul.

It may take some time
for thinking is hard
and that is why few
hold it in high regard.

But each and every day
is a major struggle
between our thoughts
and all we need to juggle.

We have to work
at thinking to thrive
by training our minds
to be alert and alive.

Regularly producing new
discoveries and conclusions.
analyzing hypotheses,
removing delusions.

Taking in fresh amounts
of information each day,
seeing old things
in a brand new way.

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Poem by Mark Shields – © 09-08-2016

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Receive the Best by Withstanding the Test

Posted on September 15, 2016 by Mark Shields

Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God promised to those who love him. – James 1:12 

In Acts 23:11, Paul was promised that he would one day testify in Rome. As shared in the post “Christ in our Heart is a Promised Treasure”, Paul went through so much but God was faithful and Paul finally arrived in Rome. He got there in chains and had survived a storm at sea, but he made it through.

Because of God blessing Paul, many people have been supported over the years because of the work of Paul. The lesson we have discovered is to never give up and focus on the reward God has for each of us as we stay the course.

As with Paul, Christ in your heart as the Holy Spirit is a treasure that will take care of you in your time of need. This day, welcome in this treasure as you enjoy today’s video: Holy Spirit – Francesca Battistelli.


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Christ in our Heart is a Promised Treasure

Posted on September 14, 2016 by Mark Shields


Finally Paul arrives at Rome as recorded in Acts 28:11-22. Testifying about Jesus in Rome had been what he had set his sights on for a long time. His arrival in Rome demonstrates God’s faithfulness for He had promised Paul in the verse below that he would one day testify in Rome.

The following night the Lord stood near Paul and said, “Take courage! As you have testified about me in Jerusalem, so you must also testify in Rome.” – Acts 23:11

Paul had gone through many obstacles to get to Rome but he finally arrived. He got there in chains after surviving a storm at sea and many other trials. He had gone through many bad days but kept the faith and believed God’s promise would be fulfilled.

The reward is always worth much more than the tough times we go through to get it so a lesson for us is to keep our eye on the reward God has for us and believe He will make a way to fulfill the purpose He has for us.

Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor have entered into the heart of man the things which God has prepared for those who love Him. – 1 Corinthians 2:9

Christ in our heart is a promised treasure that will encourage us and make a way for us in our time of need. This day with You Lord, we can sincerely believe that each obstacle will be overcome and enthusiastically act upon each task until completion; celebrating progress throughout the day by offering our praise. In Jesus name. Amen.

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