Ideas To Deal With The Stuff In Life

Posted on October 15, 2015 by Mark Shields

Written about in the post “Overcoming the Pressures of Life” was how Jesus went through the pressures of life on earth by praying and submitted to the purpose for which God had sent Him which was to die for our sins. In the Garden of Gethsemane, sweat was falling from Him like drops of blood to the ground. We may not face this type of pressure but we face stuff in life that can get to us. Maybe it’s trying to meet impossible deadlines at work, maybe it’s a health issue, or a relationship that’s not working out.

What can we do to deal with these challenges we face? Some ideas might include keeping positive, praying, planning out each step, and taking action with faith that God will provide the resources needed to get through anything. Another idea might be to set out each day to memorize scripture and try to internalize them so they can be used in time of need. With the Word of God internalized, we have more poise in stressful situations like talking in front of an audience or taking an exam or going through a medical procedure.

Each day has its challenges and that’s why we want to seek God first thing to help us take on these challenges the best we can. Today’s video is about this stuff of life: how God can use these moments to help us appreciate that maybe our stuff is not as bad as we think and we can step ahead with faith: This is the Stuff – Francesca Battistelli.


That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weakness, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong. – 2 Corinthians 12:10 

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Overcoming The Pressures Of Life

Posted on October 14, 2015 by Mark Shields

As explained in Luke 22:39-53, Jesus went to the Mount of Olives and His disciples followed. Jesus went there and prayed about the pressure He felt in carrying out His purpose. An angel appeared and He felt strengthened but He was still anguished to the point that sweat fell from Him like drops of blood to the ground (v. 44).

The disciples felt the pressure also but didn’t pray. Choosing to go to sleep instead as they were exhausted from sorrow (v. 45). Jesus told them to get up and pray. While still speaking to them, a group of men led by Judas appeared and Judas approached Jesus to kiss Him but Jesus asked him, “Judas, are you betraying the Son of Man with a kiss?”

The followers of Jesus saw what was happening and one of them struck a servant of the high priest, cutting off his right ear (v. 50). What is explained next shows us that Jesus voluntarily submitted to the power of darkness: He touched the man’s ear and healed him (v. 51). This shows us that Jesus had the power to escape but he submitted to the purpose for which God had sent Him which was to die for our sins.

We face many pressures in life. How should we handle them? Jesus made a choice to yield to God’s perfect will. As we make choices, are we going to go through life like Judas who pretended to care for Jesus but really only cared about himself, like Peter who wanted to fight the enemy, or like Jesus who submitted to God’s purpose.

This day with You God, help us as we face the many challenges of life. Give us faith that you will bless us with the strength needed. Some of us are trying to meet what may seem to be impossible deadlines at work, some of us are facing health difficulties or many other concerns that life brings our way. We pray today to remain positive, to plan out each step, and to take action with the strength only You can give. Amen!

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Faith in God’s Way

Posted on October 13, 2015 by Mark Shields

Some things in life are hard to figure out. In the post Servant Leader, I wrote that Jesus teaches about the servant type of leadership during His last meal with the disciples. Faith is a great quality when leading others as a parent, teacher, boss, or any other leader. Through reading the Bible, experiences of life, and sharing with others, our faith grows stronger. It is a valued possession that allows us to accomplish much more in life.

Our faith comes from high places where God is and connects to us. The invisible qualities of faith can’t be overtaken; even at death, these qualities are valued possessions so go, taste and see the goodness of God.

Remember that the life we are living on earth is just the beginning and it passes in a blink of an eye. Watch this video and be inspired by the story made to music of a daughter who loses her Dad. It emphasizes the fact that death is just the beginning and we will see our lost loved ones in due time: Glorious Unfolding – Steven Curtis Chapman. 


So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in Him, rooted and built up in Him, strengthened in faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness. – Colossians 2:6-7 

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Servant Leader

Posted on October 12, 2015 by Mark Shields

Reading in Luke 22:21-38, the disciples were concerned about greatness in this world but Jesus was concerned about excellence in the spiritual world. As a great leader, Jesus teaches about the servant type of leadership. This type of leadership uses the Word of God as its weapon against opposition.

In verse 24, a dispute arose among the disciples as to which of them was considered to be greatest. The example Jesus set before us is one of a servant and it challenges us to be the best parent, boss, or worker we can be through serving others.

We face difficulties daily … a family member is sick, rough days at work, the extreme difficulty of balancing work with home duties or school work. When we face these difficult times, turn them over to God. When we do, that’s when greatness truly begins.

Jesus tells the disciples they will face persecution and will need to be ready. There are many challenges in life that require great effort to overcome but these experiences of life tend to add to our learning so we are prepared for the future. As we face opposition, our abiding trust in God will get us through.

Father God, we can always learn from Your Word and from experiences or trials we go through in life. These trials make us stronger and we become ready to face the challenges of the future. As we go through this day, let us take Your Words of the Bible and the experiences we go through to grow our faith. Help us to understand that the invisible qualities of faith stay with us forever. Amen!

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Sermon Thoughts – (10/11/2015)

Posted on October 11, 2015 by Mark Shields

We are in a sermon series called “Stand – Stories of Courage” at the church I worship at. Here are a few thoughts from the sermon last week:

With success, others sometimes want to bring us down. That’s why it’s so important to pray every day because kneeling to pray is what gives us strength to stand. There is peace in prayer because we are praying to the ONE who has all the answers and when we stand in faith, we can trust in God. There are many decisions we have to make in life. Decisions with relationships, in business dealings, how we use our time, etc. but when we stand strong, we can expect a miracle.

This day with God, share a thought from one of the great sermons in your community or from a podcast like this one: http://www.fumcwaco.org/pod.html.

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