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

Deja Vu

Posted on May 29, 2015 by Mark Shields

Have you ever had something occur and you feel like you have been there before? It’s like on the old TV show “Raven” when she could see into the future. That’s kind of what happened with Joseph as his dream is realized.

In the post Dream Coming to Fruition, Joseph’s ability to see into the future allowed him to be prepared for the famine. Every detail of what was needed could be mapped out so his actions would lead to the dream he had many years ago when his brothers bowed down before him.

It’s the same with us; hope becomes reality through prayers so paint a colorful and detailed picture. Let God deliver His blessings as we study the Holy Scripture. Here is a video I produced a while back with these thoughts in mind: Blessings Throughout Each Hour.

Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like a man who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. – James 1:22-24

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Posted in Applied Faith, Genesis, Video | Tagged Blessings, Destiny, Dream, Future, God, Hope, Planning, Prayer, Preparation, Priorities | Leave a comment

Dream Coming to Fruition

Posted on May 28, 2015 by Mark Shields

There had been seven years of abundance and now there was famine even in Canaan. Joseph’s father Jacob learned about the grain in Egypt that was being sold so he told ten of his sons to go to Egypt and buy some grain. Benjamin, the youngest and the only son he thought still alive from his wife Rachel was to stay at home because Joseph didn’t want anything to happen to him.

Reading in Genesis 42, Joseph was the governor of the land who sold the grain to all its people (v. 6). Even though it had been about twenty years since Joseph had seen his brothers, he recognized them but they did not recognize him so he pretended to be a stranger.

Joseph tested his brothers by accusing them of being spies and putting them in prison for three days. He then told his brothers that he would keep one of them in prison and let the others carry the food to their families. He kept Simeon in prison and told them to bring back their younger brother Benjamin.

While in prison, they had a chance to discuss the past and the guilt this had caused the family all these years because of what they did to their brother Joseph (VV. 21-22). Remember … Reuben is the brother who saved Joseph’s life when the other brothers wanted to kill him. He had suggested throwing Joseph into the cistern in the wilderness but planned on rescuing Joseph. Unfortunately, his brothers sold Joseph before he could rescue him.

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God works through His people so as you pray each day, ask what it is that God would like you to do. Prayer is our greatest power because we are speaking to the ONE who already has the answer. This day with God, put His plan into practice by planning out the priorities of the day so that steps are taken to fulfill your destiny. Like in today’s passage, dream about the future and take action to prepare. Then every detail can be mapped out so actions can be taken and your dream can come to fruition.

Posted in Applied Faith, Bible Study, Genesis | Tagged Destiny, Dream, God, Jacob, Joseph, Planning, Prayer, Preparation, Priorities | 2 Comments

Blessings from His Word and Prayer

Posted on May 27, 2015 by Mark Shields

Written about in the post Guidance, discussed was how Joseph could interpret dreams and help others take action. Today, God speaks to us through His Word; blessing those who seek advice and follow through on His guidance.

Pray for blessings; for peace, His healing, and that His love will provide what we need. Take a few minutes and begin the day with a prayer and this inspiring video: Blessings – Laura Story.

Where there is no vision, the people perish: but he that keepeth the law, happy is he. – Proverbs 29:18

Index of devotionals

Posted in Applied Faith, Music, Video | Tagged Applied Fatih, Music, Video | Leave a comment

Guidance

Posted on May 26, 2015 by Mark Shields

During the time of Joseph as told to us in Genesis 41, God spoke in the form of dreams. Today, He speaks to us through His Word and as we pray. God knows about the past, the present, and the future. He knows how each of us reacts during difficulty. It is important that we study His Word, pray, and listen so He can give us the guidance needed.

The dream of Pharoah was about the impending famine. There would be seven years of abundance followed by seven years of famine. The ability of Joseph to interpret Pharoah’s dream by conveying God’s thoughts to him impressed Pharoah. Also, Joseph laid out a plan for Pharaoh to help manage the impending famine. The concern Joseph had for the people of Egypt and the caring attitude of Joseph impacted Pharaoh so that he made Joseph second-in-command of all of Egypt.

Joseph’s witness to Pharoah about God’s thoughts affected many people around the world and our witness to those around us will affect the world in which we live today. The guidance God gives each of us will affect the future of our families, communities, and nations.

This day with God, put His guidance into practice. Use His Word and prayer in a powerful way to receive the answer you need. Remember, you are speaking and listening to the ONE who already has the answer.

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Posted in Applied Faith, Genesis | Tagged Community, Dreams, Family, God, God’s Word, Guidance, Joseph, Nation, Prayer | 1 Comment

Questions for Reflection for Study of Genesis 41-44

Posted on May 25, 2015 by Mark Shields

There were some great lessons learned from the study over the last few weeks. One lesson learned is that words are powerful; they can build us up or tear us down. The words of Joseph outraged his brothers. First in his report to their father about how they tended the flocks and then how he communicated a dream to them.

The dream of Joseph angered his brothers to a point of outrage so they threw Joseph into a cistern to die. One brother named Judah convinced them to sale Joseph to a caravan of Midianites on their way to Egypt.

Later in the study, Joseph was bought by one of the Pharaoh’s officials named Potiphar. The Lord was with Joseph so that there was success in everything he was put in charge of. He could interpret dreams which helping in planning for the future and his work habits were impressive so he was entrusted to manage the house of Potiphar and his fields for harvesting.

Eventually Joseph rose to a position of tremendous power in Egypt. The lesson is that the Lord speaks to us in many ways. He spoke to Joseph through dreams. Today, the Lord speaks to each of us through His Word. Let us invite Him into our soul and He will go with us anywhere, anytime, and any place.

Like Joseph who rose up from being a slave to a position of great power, we can be an overcomer even when things are stacked against us. Things will happen to all of us that should not and there will be people who owe us but forget to pay us back; even forgetting what we have done for them.

In the study of Joseph’s brother name Judah, we saw that his life was marked by tragedy and several scandals. Two of his sons died in rather strange ways and then he was tricked into a sexual encounter with his daughter-in-law who was posing as a prostitute. This resulted in the birth of twin boys who would carry out the line of Judah.

A lesson learned is that this world is built like a house of cards but one thing we can count on in the storms of life are the promises of God. These promises are built on truth and we can rest assured that they will be fulfilled. Within God’s Word, are given examples of how to live, give, and love. Examples that speak and teach; laying out a strong foundation upon which we can build our future.

It’s time now to continue the mission of this blog; going through the Word of God and discovering how to apply His Word in our life at work, at home, and within our neighborhoods. The below questions for reflection for the upcoming study are laid out below to help bring out some thoughts and ideas over the next two weeks.

Genesis 41
What is the place of dreams in guidance? How does this event help Joseph? How does Joseph’s concern and ability to convey God’s thoughts affect Pharaoh? In what ways does your witness to those around you affect the world?

Genesis 42
What circumstances bring about the meeting of Joseph and his brothers? How is Joseph testing his brothers? What kind of person is Reuben (see Genesis 35:22; 37:21-30)? What do you learn in this passage about God and His work through men to help you in your prayer life?

Genesis 43
How is God dealing with Jacob? How is he responsible for his sons’ behavior and its present consequences? When others are given special treatment, are you able to rejoice with them?

Genesis 44
In what way are Joseph’s dreams (chap. 37) fulfilled here? What is your attitude toward those questionable deeds of yours done in the past that no one knows about? Do you wait in fear for God’s retribution or do you confess them? What should be a Christian’s attitude toward sorrow?

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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