Jesus Came

Posted on December 4, 2015 by Mark Shields

I enjoy writing inspirational poems and this one is inspired by a sermon at my church. This upcoming weekend, share a thought from one of the great sermons you attend in your community or on a podcast.

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Jesus came to fulfill God’s covenant;
A chance to be free without any punishment.
Jesus came with Good News and concern;
Going throughout Galilee so many would learn.
Jesus came with spirit and liberty;
Preaching to all about the victory.
Jesus came with healing and mercy;
Offering a life without any worry.
Jesus came with this simple request:
Repent … ask for forgiveness … be blessed.

Poem by Mark Shields – © 12-03-2015
Inspired from sermon of Steve Ramsdell 08-09-2015
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Faith is the Weapon Needed to Fight Our Spiritual Enemies

Posted on December 3, 2015 by Mark Shields

If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. – 1 John 1:9

David faced many enemies and was in distress as written in the post “He is Faithful and Just” but prays with assurance because he knows that God would hear his prayer. David speaks with such assurance that his life would turn around because of his confession and his faith in God’s mercy.

David’s faith gives him an optimistic outlook for the future and the weapon needed to fight his spiritual enemies. This day with God, we too can look forward to a brighter future where every doubt or fear can be replaced with a deep abiding trust in God.

Enjoy today’s uplifting video: Healing Rain – Michael W. Smith.

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He is Faithful and Just

Posted on December 2, 2015 by Mark Shields

The mood of Psalm 6 from verse 1 through verse 7 is one of distress. David is in spiritual, physical, and moral agony but starting in verse 8, the mood turns from despair to hope because of his confession before God and his personal plea for help.

He was in a sad situation; suffering from the way he had been living. David’s seduction of Bathsheba, the wife of one of his great military men was a terrible sin. David then tried to cover this sin by having Bathsheba’s husband murdered. This all took its toll on David’s life.

There are difficulties we all face in live. Health issues we face or a family member faces, a rough day at work, or constant challenges at work or family life. But like in David’s situation when we face difficult days and hand them over to God, that’s when His true power takes over.

David speaks with such assurance that his life would turn around because of his confession and his faith in God’s mercy. This day with You Lord, let us take the opportunity just like David did to turn things around. Lord, we have done wrong in our past so today we confess our sins and wish to grow our faith. We can fortify our faith by attending a church service, small group, or reading/writing a blog. Lord, we pray that faith gained today will pull us through tomorrow so we can step ahead into the rest of the week. Amen!

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The Desire and the Power

Posted on December 1, 2015 by Mark Shields

For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases Him. – Philippians 2:13 

In the post Go to Him in Prayer Early in the Morning, David was under distress and made this prayer written out in Psalm 5. David could go to God in confidence because of his close relationship to the ONE who is most powerful and has all the answers.

There are many challenges we face in life and it is best to go to God for instructions because He can make the instructions clear so we can follow with precision. He can give the exact thought or idea to try and also the desire to carry it out.

So if you are searching for a solution to some issue, start with God. Here is today’s inspirational video: “Need You Now – Plumb”.

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Go to Him in Prayer Early in the Morning

Posted on November 30, 2015 by Mark Shields

The prayer by David in Psalm 5 is made in the morning. He expects answers from the prayer because of His close relationship with God. He has confidence in God’s favor and protection from the evil-doers who lie, are filled with malice, and have rebelled against God. They should anticipate judgment from God but those who take refuge in God should be glad and full of joy as they look to the future.

Have you ever worked for a solution to an issue for days and you finally decide to pray about it? Then bam! A thought flashes in your mind; an idea to try. You try it and it works. That’s what prayer does for us. It gives us the opportunity to speak to the ONE who has all the answers. The ONE who gives the best thought or plan for life that is more valuable than a treasure. Like David, even if under great distress, let us approach God with confidence that He will answer our prayer.

This day with You Lord, we come before You in prayer. There are many things that need to be done but with You Lord we have great expectation. We can see before us many challenges and we ask that You give us instructions to meet these challenges. We ask that You make these instructions clear so that we can follow with precision. Give us the desire to carry these instructions out through our actions and give us faith that positive conclusions will be fulfilled this day. Amen!

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