Relay for Life

Posted on March 9, 2016 by Mark Shields

This poem is inspired by my participation in our local Relay for Life to fight cancer.

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This Saturday March 12, Relay for Life McLennan Countynear the Baylor football stadium in Waco Texas will be held. I’ve participated in this event ever since my Mom lost her battle with cancer in 2006. This poem below was inspired by attending this event over the years. If you would like to contribute to my team, here is a link to our team page. 

Relay for Life 2013

Relay for Life brings light into the dark
To take away the question mark.
Giving plans to overcome the fear,
Make burdens lighter, and provide good cheer.

Relay for Life provides optimism
For difficult times through activism.
Changing the unbearable
Into what is more endurable.

Giving participants a chance to work as one;
Helping one another until the disease is done.
Working together within a community
To find a cure and ease anxiety.

New medications give hope; a spouse adds love,
A family…

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Grace Overrides the Law

Posted on March 9, 2016 by Mark Shields

Peter was criticized by the strong legalistic party of Jewish leaders in Acts 11:1-18  because he had shared God’s Word with the Gentiles. Peter patiently explains what had taken place while he was in the city of Joppa. That he had a vision and the Holy Spirit was telling him to share God’s Word with the Gentiles. When he shared the Good News with them, they also received the power of the Holy Spirit.

Since God gave the Gentiles the same gift of the Holy Spirit that He had given the Jewish believers, Peter said this affirmed that it was pleasing to God that they share His Word with the Gentiles. There is a difference between law and grace and because of the grace of God and the gift of His Son, there is a new paradigm in which grace overrides the law. All this is Good News for us.

Father God, Your Way works; changing people for the better through the Holy Spirit and that is Good News. It is up to us to simply tell the story as Peter did and give the facts. When people hear the facts, contention no longer exist and people no longer argue over minor matters but put more focus on what is truly important; Your grace and sharing about it with others. Amen!

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Winning Souls for Christ

Posted on March 8, 2016 by Mark Shields

Everyone has tremendous value in God’s eyes and He accepts all people. As explained in the post He Accepts All, those who continued to go by the old religious law of “Jew not associating with Gentile” were losing opportunities to win souls for Christ. Today’s video is about losing these opportunities and about forgiveness: Losing – Tenth Avenue North.


Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you, in order to bring praise to God. – Romans 15:7 

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He Accepts All

Posted on March 7, 2016 by Mark Shields

God gives Cornelius instructions through an Angel and prepares Peter for his future association with Gentiles through a vision.  These men of faith took action to fulfill God’s purpose.  In Acts 10:34-48 are listed facts that Peter wants Cornelius to know about Jesus Christ:

  • God appointed Jesus with the Holy Spirit and power
  • He did good and healed
  • He was killed on a cross
  • God raised Him from death on the third day

To receive forgiveness of sins and victory over death, one must believe in these facts. Even though the old religious law of Jew associating with Gentile was being broken, Peter was prepared from the vision to understand that God accepts all people and he was ready to preach to the Gentiles about Jesus.

To show His approval with the preaching of Peter and the faith of Cornelius, God pours out the Holy Spirit on the Gentiles. Today’s passage affirms that everyone has tremendous value in God’s eyes. Lord, we are thankful that You have made us all for a purpose. Let us celebrate our differences and learn from each other. Let us not be pushy but patiently listen with the attitude that You are accepting of all because of Jesus. Amen!

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Steps of Faith

Posted on March 6, 2016 by Mark Shields

Another message of the sermon series titled “Questions Jesus Asked” was presented last Sunday at the church I worship at. The message brought to us was “Do You Believe I Can Do This”? 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, watch past worship service at any time or place thereafter by clicking the button next to the title of the sermon.

Faith can do so much for us. When our life doesn’t make sense, taking steps of faith is when God’s power is dispensed. Faith always goes further than we could ever think and makes all the difference as we take another step toward His deliverance.

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