Put Him First and Problems Disperse

Posted on July 5, 2015 by Mark Shields

Lessons can be learned from reading or through experiences of the past. In reading Genesis 20, a man named Abimelech took on an issue head-on. He confronted the issue, asked questions to understand, and took the necessary steps to solve it. Thoughts from this reading, inspired this poem.

Poetry streamlines thoughts, crystalizes ideas, and inspires to action. This poem takes some thoughts after reading Genesis 20 and offers some ideas in how to take on the challenges we all face in life:

Mark Shields's avatarStep Ahead

Life can be one big challenge
But with God we can manage
So let Him do the leading
Proceeding on what we are needing.

Having courage to make a stand
And following what He has planned.
Taking on Issues head-on;
Growth and discipline coming on.

Meeting with Him in prayer
Sitting at a favorite chair.
Meet with Him in every activity
Living each day with creativity.

With Him there is no limitation
So meet with Him in every conversation.
Meet with Him in every problem
So a solution begins to blossom.

Ready for the challenges
Living daily with proper balance
By going to the ONE
Who gave us His Son.

Let us stir each other up passionately
To boldly step ahead rationally;
Going directly to our every concern;
Confronting issues at every turn.

Asking questions to understand,
Taking the right steps hand-in-hand.
Remembering the suffering of the Lord
Looking forward…

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Law’s Requirements for Eternal Life

Posted on July 3, 2015 by Mark Shields

Some examples were studied the last few days of the law’s requirements for eternal life and written about in the post Love the Lord and Love Your Neighbor as Yourself. 

The first example is the Parable of the Good Samaritan and the other is At the Home of Martha and Mary.

When we love the Lord, we care about His people. Here is a video that demonstrates how caring for others and being kind is like a relay in which we pass the baton to a teammate: Kindness Returns.


Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind; and, Love your neighbor as yourself. – Luke 10:27 

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Love the Lord and Love Your Neighbor as Yourself

Posted on July 2, 2015 by Mark Shields

In the study of Luke 10:25-42, we are given the law’s requirements for eternal life. To love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind; and, love your neighbor as yourself (v. 27).

In Luke 10:25-37, Jesus answers the question gets this question “who is my neighbor”? This question comes from an expert in the law and Jesus answers with The Parable of the Good Samaritan. Jesus explains that our neighbor is anyone we can be concerned for, take care of, or have mercy for. It may be someone that we can provide information to, invite to church, or just be kind to like putting out their trash when they go out of town. It may be to help when they are going through grief, encouragement when facing rough times, or in need of prayer during sickness.

In Luke 10:38-42, we get the account of a woman named Martha who opened her home to Jesus and His disciples. Her sister named Mary put all of her attention on Jesus. Martha was disturbed because Mary was not helping prepare the meal and even asked Jesus to discipline her but Jesus pointed out that Mary was doing what was most important.

God is most pleased when we set aside our own interest and put our total focus on the one thing that is most important. Sometimes we get too busy and forget that the most important activity is to study God’s Word and pray. So loving the Lord is first and then love your neighbor is next.

So the law’s requirements are to love the Lord and to love our neighbor as ourselves. Each situation in life requires decisions and one of those situations is knowing how to balance worship and service. This Day with You Lord, we ask for your guidance as we seek this balance in our life. To put you first as we worship You and second, that the Spirit nudges us when there is a need for kindness in loving our neighbor as ourselves.

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Stir Each Other Up to Boldly Step Ahead

Posted on July 1, 2015 by Mark Shields

In the study of Luke 10:1-24, I wrote that Jesus told the seventy-two that He sent ahead of Him to pray first and then just go in confidence and assurance that they would have great outcomes because of the power of the Father.

This day with you Lord, we can also go in confidence and build up Your kingdom. We pray that we get ready for the challenge of this day by going to You first for our needs. Lord, You created all things and with Your power, we can stir each other up to boldly step ahead and do as this video suggest: Build Your Kingdom Here – Rend Collective Experiment.


The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field. – Luke 10:2 

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Pray First and Go with Confidence

Posted on June 30, 2015 by Mark Shields

Jesus intensified His ministry by giving the twelve disciples power and authority to drive out demons and to cure diseases. Now in Luke 10:1-24, He appoints seventy-two others to send out two by two ahead of Him to every town and place where He was about to go (v. 1). Jesus then tells them to pray first and then go in confidence and gives assurance that their work will result in great outcomes because of the power of the Father.

They followed the instructions of Jesus to go out and witness. They shared God’s truths and healed the sick. All power of the enemy was lost as reported by the returning seventy-two who came back with joy saying, “Lord, even the demons submit to us in your name (v. 17).” Jesus told them of the power to overcome the enemy.

The disciples were privileged to see tremendous results and the power of the Holy Spirit at work. They were joyful that they had trusted Jesus and that their names were written down in heaven. Like the disciples, we are representatives of Christ in our world and are privileged today to see the Holy Spirit at work to produce amazing results.

This day with God, pray for your work in the harvest field. Pray for workers to help gather in the harvest. Listen for testimony and see examples of the power of the Holy Spirit at work. Share with others the joy in knowing that your name is written in heaven.

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