Receive Direction From His Word

Posted on May 20, 2015 by Mark Shields

While in prison, Joseph made use of his circumstances as explained in Genesis 40 by helping others and by not being downtrodden but maintaining hope. He had a desire to find a way out of his situation and took the opportunity to make the best of his situation by taking charge of those held in prison and all the work done there. 

Two inmates, the king’s cupbearer and baker each had a dream. Joseph interpreted the dreams and Joseph’s interpretation came about a few days later. With those who did not know God, Joseph was open to their needs just as we should do in our current times.

This passage about Joseph is a good example for us today when things do not turn out the way they ought to in life. If we go to God in prayer, we can be refreshed with a new perspective and He will bless us with strength. God is with us wherever we go because of the Holy Spirit. During the time of Joseph, God spoke to people in dreams. Today, He speaks to us through His Word.

This day with You God, let us remember that You speak to us through Your Word. Lord … we invite You into our soul. We know that You will go with us anywhere, anytime, and any place. Help us to be an overcomer even when things happen that should not or when those who owe us forget about what we have done. Help us to be able to forgive, step ahead, and be grateful for what we do have. In Jesus Name. Amen.

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Gaining a Heart of Wisdom

Posted on May 19, 2015 by Mark Shields

As I wrote in the post Joseph and Potiphar’s Wife, the blessings of God brought Joseph great success. With each passing day, there was success in everything he was in charge of and we can take this lesson to help us in how we live. Each day, we can live more abundantly than the day before. Knowing that God is with us, there is faith that we can accomplish more than we could ever have dreamed possible.

Make the decision to live by God’s standards and He will be faithful so that our every need is met. Like Joseph who faced adversity, stress, and temptation, the favor of God can bring us out of our difficulties and turn them around for good. Today’s video is about asking for God’s help as we take on the challenges we face: Carry Me – Josh Wilson.


Teach us to number our days aright. That we may gain a heart of wisdom. – Psalms 90:12

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Joseph and Potiphar’s Wife

Posted on May 18, 2015 by Mark Shields

Joseph was bought by one of Pharaoh’s officials, the captain of the guard in Egypt named Potiphar. In Genesis 39, we are told that the Lord was with Joseph so that there was success in everything he was in charge of (v. 2). Potiphar paid attention to his work habits and soon entrusted everything he had in Joseph’s care including his house and the fields he harvested.

There was great prosperity under Joseph’s care as he faithfully followed God but following God does not guarantee a trouble-free life. People around us who are not following the path God had set before us can interfere. In this passage, it was the wife of Potiphar who gets everyone off track. Joseph was well-built and handsome, and after a while his master’s wife took notice of Joseph and asked Joseph to come to bed with her.

Joseph resisted the temptation and explained to Potiphar’s wife that he wanted to continue to be entrusted by his master. He continued to resist day by day but Potiphar’s wife continued to ask. Then one day, she arranged for the house to be empty. As Joseph came in to attend to the duties, she caught him by his cloak and tried to get him in bed with her (v. 11). Joseph ran out of the house but his cloak was in her hand.

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She then used Joseph’s cloak in a devious plan against Joseph. As Potiphar returned, she told her husband that Joseph had wanted to go to bed with her but she screamed for help and Joseph ran out without his cloak. Potiphar was extremely angry and put Joseph in prison.

But even in prison, the kindness of God granted to Joseph gave him favor in the eyes of the prison warden (v. 21). After a while, the warden put Joseph in charge of those held in prison and all the work done there. God was with Joseph and gave him success in whatever he did (v. 23).

The Lord was with Joseph so that there was success in everything he was in charge of. How can we also have success in everything we do?

  • Daily go to God and trust in His timing
  • Study His Word, reflect on how to apply it, pray, and receive the power
  • Use our talents to build Kingdom wealth
  • We can have success if we let God walk with us, grow us, and change us
  • Know God, glorify Him, magnify Him, and live for Him
  • The favor of God can take difficulties or adversities and turn them around for good
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High Integrity

Posted on May 16, 2015 by Mark Shields

This day with God, a poem about leadership inspired by Genesis 14. Poems can inspire us toward action and the Bible is a great inspirational tool that guides us to take the right action as a community and nation.

Mark Shields's avatarStep Ahead

Unified by the ONE true God
And on the same page.
Building a climate of success
Within our present age.

With one main purpose
And taking on each test.
Together we work hard
And are so very blessed.

Praying to learn
And applying the attitudes.
Studying the Word
And sharing with the multitudes.

Surrounded with people of integrity
And building strong positive associations.
Leading to a climate of spiritual growth
And extremely solid foundations.

By Mark Shields – © 05-14-2015
Inspired by Study of Genesis 14
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Follow the Path to Freedom

Posted on May 15, 2015 by Mark Shields

In the post The Importance of Honesty and Doing What We Say, I wrote about just one of many examples found in the Bible of how life gets difficult when people are deceptive and get off the path that should be followed in life.

We all want things to go our way but if our way is not God’s way then it leads to places we may not want to go. Deceivers lead themselves and others down a path of rough times. Living the way Jesus teaches is following the right path; leading to meaningful places and making an impact on lives.

We can be thankful for God’s plan for us. With God there is a freedom … a freedom that helps us live, give, and love. A freedom that will speak and teach; laying out a clear path that we can follow. Here’s today’s inspirational video: Losing – Tenth Avenue North. 


Show me Your ways, Lord, teach me Your paths. Guide me in Your truth and teach me, for You are God my Savior, and my hope is in You all day long. – Psalm 25:4-5 

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