Follow the Voice of Truth

Posted on April 5, 2016 by Mark Shields

We face many challenges in life. One challenge is the complexity of our world today and because of these complexities, many things can go wrong. There is so much paper work to do and so many overlapping systems that cause us to not be able to focus on what is truly important.

But don’t give up when things go wrong. Like in the post Faith for Difficult Challenges about Moses having doubts, we all have doubts but we must believe that God will provide and our job is to carry out His instructions.

This day with God, if you feel a job is over your head, express your concerns in prayer and ask for the necessary skills. Ask for good helpers. Most of all, believe that God has given you a mission that will be carried out with His help. Here is a video to inspire courage during difficult challenges: Voice of Truth – Casting Crowns.


But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. – Matthew 6:23

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Faith for Difficult Challenges

Posted on April 4, 2016 by Mark Shields

Moses faced doubts because he didn’t feel qualified and continued to give excuses for not wanting to do God’s work. In Exodus 4, Moses said that people would not believe He had been chosen by God to lead them. Another excuse was his lack of eloquent speaking.

God answered Moses by telling him to do miraculous signs like turn a staff into a snake, heal those with leprous skin, and turn water from the Nile into blood on the ground (v. 9). Moses was able to perform these miraculous signs with God’s help.

We all face doubts and obstacles just like Moses did but we must remember that God is with us in all things. Each act of greatness starts with one small step and we will find that we can get there to a greater magnitude than we ever thought we could.

Many times, that’s the way we are about doing many things in life. We have this apprehension about things and then after it’s done, we think, that was no big deal. The best thing to do is to ask questions, get some help, and keep plugging away. That’s what Moses did and that’s what we can do.

This day with You Lord, we may face challenges in life that seem more than what we can overcome. Right now, we express our concerns in prayer and ask for the necessary skills. We ask for good helpers. Most of all, we believe that You have given us a mission that will be carried out with Your help. Amen!

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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.

Mark Shields's avatarStep 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.

Lake Tahoe

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

Lake Tahoe

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

Lake Tahoe

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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Meeting Us in our Doubts

Posted on April 1, 2016 by Mark Shields
Easter

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.

 

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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

Devotionals

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