This Day With God – A Spiritual Journey | Share The Word

Renewed Day by Day

Posted on February 4, 2015 by Mark Shields

God rewarded Noah’s family after the flood but also made them accountable as I wrote in the post yesterday: Rewards and Reprimands. They would be in charge of all living things on earth and could now eat meat but there were some stipulations. They could not eat meat with blood in it and they would respect fellow humans; being held accountable if they killed another person.

God also blessed them with a covenant. The covenant was that never again would the waters become a flood to destroy all life. The sign of this covenant was the rainbow.

Noah lived for many years after the flood and there were times he displayed human weakness. The flood didn’t completely fix things and that’s why the ultimate plan of God was needed. Here’s a video about that fix: Give Me Jesus – Jeremy Camp.

All this is for your benefit, so that the grace that is reaching more and more people may cause thanksgiving to overflow to the glory of God. Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. – 2 Corinthians 4:15-16

Posted in Genesis, Music, Rewards | Tagged Covenant, Embarrassment, Encourage, God, Jesus, Rainbow, Renewal, Respect, Rewards, Teach, Thankfulness | 3 Comments

Rewards and Reprimands

Posted on February 3, 2015 by Mark Shields

After the flood as explained in Genesis 9, there were only eight people left on earth; Noah and his family. God put them in charge of everything on earth; telling them to be fruitful and increase in number to fill the earth (v. 1).

Before the flood, they ate vegetables and fruits. Now they would not only be blessed with just vegetables and fruit but meat under certain stipulations. They were not to eat the blood with the meat (vv. 3-4).

God made people in His own image and life was to be of great value so murder should be dealt with through capital punishment or execution. Then He made a covenant with Noah that there would never be a flood again to destroy all life on earth and the sign of this covenant is the rainbow (vv. 8-11).

We then get the account of Noah’s three sons (Shem, Ham, and Japheth) from whom the whole earth was populated. Noah lived many years after the flood as a farmer and in this passage (vv. 18-29) we get the account about his sons. This passage says Noah started a vineyard (v. 20). From the grapes he produced wine and on one occasion drank too much wine. It must have been a rather warm day because Noah removed his clothing and lay naked in his tent.

Unfortunately, Noah was seen naked and drunk in his private tent by his son named Ham and all this caused a situation. Shem and Japheth took a garment and without looking at the naked body of Noah, covered him with a garment (v. 23). Back then, I guess cooling off with less clothing was considered a far greater transgression than today.

Even though we have air conditioning today, you can’t watch TV, go on the internet, or to your local water park without seeing some who push the limit on wearing the least amount possible without being charged with a crime. Anyway, because of the way Ham handled the situation, he and his descendants were punished.

I guess what made Ham’s actions appalling to Noah is the lack of respect and then spreading this embarrassing incident to bring down his reputation. With God’s help, we must be trusted to understand and take care of our fellow Christian’s weaknesses. We are to build up and not tear down. We are to encourage, help, teach, and show respect for each other.

This day with God can be amazing if we sincerely believe that each human weakness will be overcome and one person at a time, support each person with respect; celebrating progress along the way by praising God for transformation.

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Posted in Genesis, Rewards | Tagged Covenant, Embarrassment, Encourage, God, Respect, Teach | 3 Comments

Questions for Reflection for Study of Genesis 9-12

Posted on February 2, 2015 by Mark Shields

Adam and Eve enjoyed the presence of God in the Garden of Eden until they ate the forbidden fruit from the tree in the middle of the Garden. After that, they didn’t want God in their presence and hid from Him. The years went by and mankind continued to get further and further from God. We read about generation after generation that didn’t listen to God until we get to a man named Noah who listened and fulfilled God’s purpose of building an Ark. As the plan was carried out, there was the terrible flood which destroyed everything. The plan was to wash the sins away and start over again.

God gave Noah a purpose and he was self-disciplined so that it was carried out to its conclusion. What purpose has God given you? If you would like to share, please do so in the response/comment box.

To determine the purpose, it begins with prayer so start a prayer list of things you need to pray about. Then listen and reflect. Each day with God can be amazing and with the help of technology today, we can organize with the purpose of changing the world for the better.

After the flood, God made a promise to Noah that He would never flood the earth again and the symbol of this promise is the rainbow. Today, God can provide music for our ears, laughter for our soul, and a rainbow after every storm because of His love demonstrated to us through His son Jesus. His Word provides food for the mind and His Son creates light for understanding so our acceptance of Jesus as the Son of God truly washes sins away.

Today, we can walk with God again through a mighty strength; the blessing of the Trinity which gives strength, might, and wisdom. Because of Christ, our bodies are considered the temple of God. The key to physical and spiritual health is to honor God’s temple; having times throughout the day to pause for a few minutes to reflect and pray for the rest of the day.

God thinks you are AWESOME! You can use the skills you have, be happy with who you are, and God will work out the rest. He knows what each person is good at and what each is capable of doing for His glory but it is up to each of us to use His resources, to be patient, and to follow His plan.

As the journey continues through God’s Word for the weeks to come. The mission of this blog is to bring out ways to apply His Word in our life at work, at home, and within our neighborhoods. The questions for reflection for the study of Genesis 9-12 below will help bring out some thoughts and ideas over the next two weeks.

Genesis 9
What is God’s view of human life? What are His provisions for it? What is the change in diet God permits? Noah’s son named Ham spreads weakness about Noah. What do you think of someone who under the guise of “concern” spreads his conception of your weaknesses and sins?

Genesis 10
Why do you think, does God give the names of so many “unimportant” people in this passage? What does this list of names reveal about God? What phrase accurately characterizes your life thus far? In what area of your life today is the fact that God knows you by name and has a place for you important?

Genesis 11
In what ways does pride and rebellion against God inevitably lead to an inability to understand and be understood by others? In what areas of your life has this result of pride been evident?

Genesis 12
What is God’s attitude toward the Jews? What prompts Abram’s journey? In what difficult areas is God calling you to trust Him? How is your response affecting others?

The above reading plan will be used as I share over the next few posts. It’s important to have a plan. I’m thankful that Jesus is God’s plan for us and by accepting Him as Savior; we have taken the steps necessary to make this day with Him amazing! At this link: God’s Plan for Us, is a post about accepting God’s plan or reaffirming our “YES” for Christ.

Feel free to respond with a short note or a comment about any of the questions above. Also, I welcome any other thoughts or ideas, favorite inspirational videos, photos, or favorite Bible verses. Just add them to the comments or to a Facebook page I’ve set up at this link: This Day With God.

Resources and Supplementary Helps Used in Posts
Adeney, Carol. This Morning with God. Downer Grove Illinois: InterVarsity Press, 1978
First United Methodist Waco Podcast
Christ Notes
Family Times
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Posted in Genesis, Questions for Reflection | Tagged Bible Study, Discipline, Faith, God, Health, Jesus, Laughter, Listen, Mission, Music, Plan, Prayer, Purpose, Rainbow, Reflection, Strength, Technology, Trinity, Wisdom | 3 Comments

Overcomers

Posted on January 30, 2015 by Mark Shields

This weekend is super bowl weekend. Sports can teach some good lessons of life like teamwork, discipline, and persistence but there is one opponent we can only overcome by accepting Christ as Savior. Even death is defeated for those who accept Christ and while here on earth, we can share this victory with others. I hope you enjoy this poem with these thoughts in mind and have a terrific super bowl weekend!

Step Ahead

Don’t believe in defeat
The future is not bleak
Nothing is impossible
For with God, all is possible

Let us be touched with divine power
And never ever cower
For greatness is released
And his favor is increased

In every undertaking
All the decision making
Believe that we can
And develop His plan

The secret to any feat
Is to have a picture complete
Set it in our mind
Ask God to have it refined

Lighten the load of the worry habit
So to run as swift as a rabbit
Discover the freedom in Christ
For His sacrifice will suffice

Victory is provided
When a person has decided
To accept Christ as Savior
And to change any bad behavior

Our hope as a believer
In being a great achiever
Is to ask the Spirit for direction
And that faith is expressed with affection

To keep thinking of God’s Word
So…

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Posted in Poems, Super Bowl | Tagged Achievement, Behavior, Believer, Christ, Difficulty, Direction, Faith, Future, God, Habit, Hope, Love, Plan, Possible, Power, Savior, victory | Leave a comment

The One Ingredient to Amazing Accomplishment

Posted on January 29, 2015 by Mark Shields

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Noah did not have sophisticated tools to help with decision making. He just relied on the good common sense God gave him. After the flood, he sent out a dove until it brought back a fresh olive leaf. He waited patiently until the time was right and then came out of the ark.

Throughout this amazing accomplishment of Noah, he simply followed what God told him to do. There wasn’t anything amazing about Noah; in fact, no one listened to him except his own family.

Many amazing accomplishments are a result of just plain good common sense; knowing that it is God that does the amazing part. Here’s a video that brings out this thought: Don’t ask me how I Know – Bobby Pinson.