Together is Better

Posted on February 6, 2016 by Mark Shields

Reading in Genesis 43, Joseph invites his brothers to dinner and respects the Egyptian customs. His brothers show respect to Joseph and humbly give gifts. Respecting others and understanding how important each person is to God is so important in living together in this world so I wrote this poem to inspire how we interact and encourage each other. Have a wonderful Super Bowl weekend!

Mark Shields's avatarStep Ahead

Live with integrity;
Building a great trust.
There will be clarity
And a society that is just.

Respecting each other;
Celebrating successes;
Wishing one another
The ridding of stresses.

Asking for God’s help
As each uses their gift.
Where encouragement is felt
And words always uplift. 

Poem By Mark Shields – © 02-04-2016
Inspired by Study of Genesis 43
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Sermon Thoughts

Posted on February 5, 2016 by Mark Shields

Integrity

The message last week at the church I worship was titled “Sweet Dreams – What Keeps You Up At Night? Am I Strong Enough”? Here is a link to the podcast which is live at 9:30 central time each Sunday morning or viewable at any time or place thereafter at this link: http://fumcwaco.sermon.net/main/main/20595054.

Life can be challenging and that’s why prayer is so important because through prayer we receive what is needed. When we pray, we are speaking to the ONE who has the answers to all our questions. There is received boldness, courage, and strength to take on each challenge.

This Super Bowl weekend, share a thought from one of the great sermons in your community or from a podcast. The Super Bowl has only one winner but with God’s strength and our calling, all are victorious in Jesus name.

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Integrity and Character

Posted on February 4, 2016 by Mark Shields

There is a saying that character is doing what is right when no one is watching. In the post He Knows so Fully Disclose, I wrote about Ananias and Sapphira who sold some property. They held back a portion of the money and took the rest to lay at the apostles’ feet.

The husband and wife didn’t give the full amount they had received; only a portion but wanted people to think they had given it all. Their pride made them want to look good in front of others. The result was that they died for lying.

If our world was filled with people of character, the world would work the way God designed. He knows everything we do; all our thoughts and motives. Here is today’s inspirational video of a Man Who Finds 15 Thousand Dollars in a Computer Case and Returns the Money.


In my integrity you uphold me and set me in your presence forever. – Psalms 41:12

 

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He Knows so Fully Disclose

Posted on February 3, 2016 by Mark Shields

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As recorded in the events of Acts 5:1-12 Ananias and his wife Sapphira sold some property but held back a portion of the money for themselves. Then they brought the rest and put it at the apostles’ feet pretending they were giving all they had received. The precise problem here is lying. They didn’t give the full amount they had received but only a portion but wanted people to think they had given it all. Their pride made them want to look good in front of others.

But God knows everything we do; all our thoughts and motives. Peter tells Ananias that he had lied to the Holy Spirit (v. 3) and then explains that he had lied to God (v. 4). This teaches us about the Trinity. That God is the Father, the Son (Jesus Christ), and the Holy Spirit; one God in three persons.

I remember putting an office chair together. I had done one of these chairs before but got the instructions out anyway and started with step one. I was struggling to get it together because the screw holes didn’t line up. There were three out of four screws that I got in but the fourth one just wouldn’t fit. Things didn’t line up and when things don’t line up, you don’t have a chance.

It’s the same with our life plan. If it doesn’t fit with what God wants, it’s not going to work. It’s so important that we make sure our life plan lines up with what God has laid out. If so, we are assured of a finished product of great usefulness.

Let us never hold back from God and make sure we line up with His life plan. This day with You Lord, we pray to learn and apply the principles you have given us in the Bible. Lord, we ask that You search inside our soul and clear out what shouldn’t be there so that everything lines up and fits as You build us up with character. Amen!

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Partnership in the Faith

Posted on February 2, 2016 by Mark Shields

In the post Believe and Have No Need, I wrote about the believers becoming of one in heart and mind. It was not about the individual but about something bigger. It was about working together to spread the Good News of the Lord Jesus.

We can do the same today but at an even greater rate because of the Internet. Thoughts and ideas can be shared with believers across the globe. There are inspiring videos, quotes, thoughts, and ideas that are easily shared daily.

Let us purposefully look for God today in nature, music, sports, movies, at the golf course, work, the shopping center, and in His people. Document what you see. Collect facts, quotes, and personal thoughts from your experiences. Let us work together to highlight the building blocks of faith that lay a path for us to step ahead and spread the Good News.

Let us be thankful that Christ has given us a helper in the Holy Spirit that we can lean on together as our partner in the faith. Enjoy today’s video Lean On Me – Bill Withers 


I pray that your partnership with us in the faith may be effective in deepening your understanding of every good thing we share for the sake of Christ. – Philemon 1:16

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