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

Focus on the ONE that Makes the Impossible Possible

Posted on May 4, 2015 by Mark Shields

From the first encounter with God at Bethel in Genesis 28 to his return and another encounter with God as explained in Genesis 35, Jacob was surrounded by things that took his total focus away from God. He had been influenced by others who were going down the wrong path.

Jacob went through years of struggle; working for his father-in-law who was not a believer and forcing Jacob to work as a servant for seven years before he could marry his daughter. Then being tricked by his father-in-law who gave a different daughter to him in marriage.

Jacob gained wealth only through God’s providence. He was hated by his jealous brother-in-laws and faced many challenges until being directed by God to go down the right path. As he returns to his homeland, he has another encounter with God at Bethel. God blessed him and gave him a new name. His new name would be Israel and God told him to be fruitful and increase in number (v. 11). God told him that a nation and a community of nations would come from his descendants.

In today’s passage, Jacob encounters God and we have that same opportunity each day. He can get our attention in many ways; shouting to us in a thunderstorm or by painting a beautiful rainbow in the sky. I remember once driving to work on a Friday morning and seeing a double rainbow in the sky. I got out of my truck and started walking up the hill to my office when I realized that I left my badge in my truck so I walked back to my truck and again noticed the rainbow. This time, I took a few seconds to aim my smart phone to get this picture of the rainbow.

If we focus on our Creator, we are able to make it through anything and realize that at the end of the rainbow of life, there is the pot of gold with eternal riches because we have accepted Christ our Savior.

In today’s passage, we read how God’s promises were being fulfilled in and through Jacob. This day with God, a lesson for us is that our Father can make the impossible possible. The world wants to tell us that God is not real but the ONE who created the rainbows we see from time to time communicates His Truth. He can change and restore a life through Christ; changing anybody, anytime, and anywhere.

Posted in Genesis, Make Impossible Possible | Tagged Christ, God, Israel, Jacob, Life, Providence, Rainbow, Truth | 1 Comment

Poem Inspired by Relay for Life

Posted on May 2, 2015 by Mark Shields

Last Saturday, my family went to the Relay for Life of our community. We’ve attended this event for the past nine years and have dedicated a luminaria in my mom’s memory each year. Here is a link to a poem that was inspired by attending this event: Relay for Life.

Posted in Hope, Relay for Life | Tagged Community, Faith, Hope, Love, Relay For Life, Unity | Leave a comment

The Best Way Out of a Situation is Always Through It

Posted on May 1, 2015 by Mark Shields

In any tough situation in life we go through, we want immediate action but most of the time the best way is to think it out and ask for God’s direction to stay on track. In the post Handling Situations I wrote about the scandal of Jacob’s daughter being raped by the son of the ruler of the land.

Jacob was thinking ahead to handle the situation with his daughter Dinah in a civil way. He resisted the temptation to physically harm the man that had defiled Dinah but perhaps he accepted a compromise too fast instead of going to God for direction.

The best way out of a situation is always through it. One step at a time, let it run its course. Go to God with questions, admit your pain, and ask for the best way to handle the situation. Like this video, God can best bring you through: The Hurt and the Healer – MercyMe.

Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight. – Proverbs 3:5-6

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Posted in Accurate Thinking, Genesis, Music | Tagged Anger, Compromise, Direction, God, Life, Scandal, Thought, Trust | 2 Comments

Handling Situations

Posted on April 30, 2015 by Mark Shields

We read about a scandal in Genesis 34. Shechem, the son of the ruler of the land in which Jacob and his family had settled had his heart set on Jacob’s daughter named Dinah but intermarriage with those who did not follow the God of Jacob was not permitted. On her way to visit some other girls in the area, Dinah was raped by Shechem.

Jacob probably thought about handling the situation with physical harm toward Shechem but he chose not to. Instead, it turns out that he was perhaps a little too soft and accepted a compromise. For Dinah to intermarry, all the Canaanite men had to agree to be circumcised.

The Shechemite men accepted to be circumcised and while the men were still in pain from the operation, Dinah’s brothers Simeon and Levi massacred them and brought their sister back home. Jacob was mad because he feared revenge.

We all face situations at work or home in which our impulse is to react with anger but it is always best to let God have input into the best course of action. He helps plan the right things for our day and our days run much smoother when we go to Him for direction.

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Posted in Accurate Thinking, Genesis | Tagged Anger, Compromise, Direction, God, Life, Scandal, Thought, Trust | Leave a comment

Repairing Bad Feelings

Posted on April 29, 2015 by Mark Shields

Jacob wanted to repair any bad feelings with his brother for tricking their father and receiving his blessing. The key lessons learned and written about in the post Humility and Kindness to Resolve Conflict is that words are important.

Jacob communicated his desire to meet with Esau. The words he used were kind and respectful. What we make happen for others will be given back to us so when we give a smile, a smile will be given back. When we act kind, we receive kindness from others. As brought out in this video, the words we use are so important: Words – Hawk Nelson.