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

Mini Vacation

Posted on April 2, 2016 by Mark Shields

I enjoy writing inspirational poems and this one was sparked after I recently spent an afternoon digitizing old photos for safe keeping. I believe there are benefits to taking mini vacations down memory lane because they can be used to bring peace, calm, and cheerfulness as we step ahead.

Step Ahead

Recently, I’ve been digitizing old pictures so they can be organized and safely archived. At times, this seems like taking a mini-vacation and it sparks a poem. The pictures were taken on a trip my wife and I took to Lake Tahoe in the early 1990’s.

Water so deep;
Trees that surround;
The water so blue;
As we go around.

The ripple of the waves;
Across this vast lake.
Riding in a boat;
Pictures to take.

The mountains are rugged;
Snow-capped up so high.
Perfectly clear blue water
Didn’t want to say good- bye.

But looking back on the memories;
A trip to memory lane today;
Remembering amazing places;
The beauty of Creation on display.

Brings to me a cheerfulness
For what life may bring my way.
Prepared to always step ahead
With faith for every day.

Poem by Mark Shields – © 03-20-2016

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Posted in Poems | Tagged Calm, Cheerfulness, Faith, Lake Tahoe, Lakes, Life, Memories, Optimism, Peace, Photos, Vacation | 2 Comments

Meeting Us in our Doubts

Posted on April 1, 2016 by Mark Shields

Easter Worship Service at First United Methodist Church Waco Texas

The final message of the sermon series titled “Questions Jesus Asked” was presented last Easter Sunday at the church I worship at. The message brought to us was “Why Do You Doubt”? Here is a link to the Sermon Podcast.

To see live around 9:30 each Sunday morning, just click on the button titled live on the right side. Also, you can watch past worship services at any time or place thereafter by clicking the button next to the title of each sermon.

Like Thomas who doubted, we sometimes have doubts but Jesus meets us in our doubt. He gives us what we need including assurance, purpose, and the help we need to believe. The risen Christ changes everything because His forever presence through the Holy Spirit continually recreates us so we are prepared for each challenge we face.

Posted in Faith, Sermon Thoughts | Tagged Challenge, Christ, Faith, God, Holy Spirit, Life, Podcast, Purpose, Sermon | Leave a comment

God’s Plan for Us

Posted on March 31, 2016 by Mark Shields

As we observed in the post “A Major Project”, Moses was a man of patience and made God an acquaintance. He endured distress and God did bless to start a major project. One that would eventually lead the Israelite people to the Promised Land.

Moses faced doubts because he didn’t feel qualified but God gave him insight into how to play a part in freeing His people so they would have a better future and gave him plans to make a difference.

Just like Moses, we may feel unqualified at times but God has given us a plan. God’s Plan for Us is a plan that frees people so they can go the Way to a better place. Take inspiration from today’s video: Who Am I – Casting Crowns.

“…let us know His secret purpose. This was what God wanted, and He planned to do it through Christ. His goal was to carry out His plan, when the right time came, that all things in heaven and on earth would be joined together in Christ as the head. – Ephesians 1:9-11

Click Image Above to Link to Index of Devotionals

Posted in Devotionals, Music, Purpose, Video | Tagged Christ, Future, God, Patience, Plan, Prayer, Purpose | Leave a comment

A Major Project

Posted on March 30, 2016 by Mark Shields

Reading in Exodus 3, Moses comes to the place in his life where God uses him for a major project. After many years living the life of a prince and after many years living in exile, he now comes to the mountain of God. An angel of the Lord appears to him in flames of fire from within a bush (v. 2).

Noted in today’s passage is the patience of Moses in living for many years in exile before fulfilling the main purpose God had for his life. The lesson of the life of Moses is that if facing adversity, be patient because with God on your side, adversity can enrich the world more than privilege. We cannot fail with God on our side.

The project God gave Moses was to lead the Israelites out of Egypt and away from the misery they had endured for hundreds of years. He would tell the Israelites about the project and then convince the king of Egypt to let them go to the Land God had promised them. The success of the project would not rest on the shoulders of Moses but on God who would set things up for success. Moses simply would follow the instructions of God.

Today, people may not be in such a desperate place as the Israelites in Egypt during that time but there is some anxiety for many in our society. Many are trapped in their work and can’t get away from the constant grind that modern technology seems to intensify. Because of smart phones, computers, etc. which keep us connected to our work, many will not see the need to turn these off and just relax.

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Some will not take the opportunity to receive the good about this technology which is that one can stay in constant contact with the things of God and with friends who can build up our faith. The challenge is then to think accurately and make the decision to turn off the pressure by making God more of a friend.

This day with you Lord, we pray for more patience as we make You more of an acquaintance in our life. Help us to endure distress knowing that You will bless in the long term. Your plan of Christ as Savior provides us the Way. All we have to say is “I’m Yours”. Help us to daily affirm this commitment. In Christ name. Amen!

Posted in Bible Study, Purpose | Tagged Christ, God, Prayer, Purpose, Society, Technology | 3 Comments

Results of Kindness

Posted on March 29, 2016 by Mark Shields

Moses was helped early in life to survive. The king of Egypt was threatened by the Hebrew people whose population was growing in a nation that forced them to work as servants. Pharaoh had ordered every Hebrew male child born be put to death so the parents of Moses put him in a basket in the Nile River. Because of Pharaoh’s daughter and her kindness, Moses was able to be raised within the palace as the son of the princes.

Later in life, Moses returned an act of kindness to some Midian women when he came to their rescue while they were trying to water their father’s flock. Let us remember the results of being kind to others. What we make happen for others will be given back to us so when we give a smile, a smile will be given back. When we act kind, we receive kindness from others.

This day with God, remember the kind gift of His Son: Kindness – Todd Agnew.