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

Who Rules the Future

Posted on February 26, 2014 by Mark Shields

Image Credit – Google Images

Having seen in a dream that the Messiah is the ONE with ultimate authority, in a second dream as explained in Daniel 8, the revelation given to Daniel is of the rulers of the future. The ram with horns is a symbol of the Media-Persia Empire conquering other lands. The goat is thought to be Greece and the horn Alexander-the-Great which then becomes the next empire of the world.

The dream is telling Daniel that when the world is in complete turmoil, an anti-Christ will try to take over but in the end, Christ will return to rule. Daniel was worn out after God had shown him the future. Trying to understand the vision was a humbling experience for Daniel because only God has all the answers and we are totally dependent on Him. As we go on the journey of life, know that God has all the answers and it is up to each of us to do our best at asking the questions, seeking the answers, and being teachable.

God’s way and thoughts are far greater than our own. He can see the beginning and the end so a take away for me in today’s passage is to trust His advice which leads to traveling the perfect path.

This day with You Lord, we ask for Your advice. Help us to understand that good leaders are also good listeners and at one time excellent followers.

Posted in Daniel | Tagged Alexander the Great, Christ, Daniel, Dream, Empire, Future, God, Google Images, Greece, Media-Persia Empire, Messiah, Path | 3 Comments

Being a Participant

Posted on February 25, 2014 by Mark Shields

In yesterday’s post, Daniel had a dream. As we each participate in the establishment of God’s kingdom, let’s dream big like Daniel and want to know more; want to know the Word of God and how to apply the lessons in life.

Once God gives you a dream, try to seek its meaning and continue to let Him be the center of it as you fulfill your destiny. Here’s a video to inspire this thought: Center of It – Chris August.

The Lord will guide you always; He will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land and will strengthen your frame. You will be like a well-watered garden, like a spring whose waters never fail. – Isaiah 58:11

Posted in Daniel | Tagged Chris August, Daniel, Destiny, Dream, God’s Kingdom, Inspiration, Lessons, Overcome Difficulties, Word of God | Leave a comment

Noticing What Others Do Not Notice

Posted on February 24, 2014 by Mark Shields

Photo Credit – Google Images

Brought out in Daniel 7 are the issues in Daniel’s dream about the tyrannical empires used by God as vengeance on a guilty world. The four beasts represent four kings of four world empires that would rise on earth (Babylon, Media-Persia, Greece, and Rome). Each of the beasts has to face the ultimate authority “One like the Son of Man” or the Messiah (vv. 13-14).

As we each participate in the establishment of God’s kingdom, there are difficulties to be faced. For things to happen, we must notice what others do not notice and want to know more; want to know the Word of God and how to apply the lessons in life.

To set yourself apart, notice what others have never noticed before. One of the most important medical advances in history began because a person noticed something no one else noticed and this began a lifelong study because he knew it was important. His name was Professor Alexander Fleming who had a lifelong interest in finding ways to kill bacteria. With the help of other colleagues over a span of ten years, they discovered penicillin.

Many of us are here only because penicillin saved our life or the life of a parent or grandparent. Penicillin’s ability to cure people of many once-fatal bacterial infections has saved so many lives that it is easy to understand why it was once called a “miracle drug”. You can read more at this link.

We face not only physical difficulties in life, but also spiritual difficulties. Is it your desire to notice what others have not noticed before and point it out so new discoveries in how to overcome these difficulties can be made? It certainly does make life interesting when we dream about how to make life better for the future.

This day with God can be amazing if we look at problems as opportunities to find solutions. It is during these moments that we are more open to Jesus coming along with us; we are more focused, and have more passion. This is when we learn the most and are able to make a more meaningful contribution to the world in which we live.

Posted in Daniel | Tagged Babylon, Daniel, Focus, Google Images, Greece, Jesus, Lessons, Media-Persia, Messiah, Passion, Penicillin, Professor Alexander Fleming, Rome, Son of man, Word of God, world empires | 2 Comments

Poems Inspired by Daniel 5-6

Posted on February 23, 2014 by Mark Shields

Image Credit – Google Images

After studying in Daniel 5-6 last week, there were two poems inspired. Please check them out at the links below:

Well Done Good and Faithful Servant
Devotion is the Notion

Starting tomorrow, the study heads into Daniel 7-8. Have an amazing day with God!

Posted in Daniel, Poems | Tagged Daniel, Devotion, Faithfulness, God, Google Images, Image Credit, Inspiration, Poems, Servant | 2 Comments

A With God Kind of Day – Sermon Message 02/16/2014

Posted on February 21, 2014 by Mark Shields

The message last Sunday at the church I attend was titled “A With God Kind of Day”. We live in a busy, fast paced world but we don’t have to treat it that way. Why not slow down; let God walk with us, grow us, change us.

Photo from Google Images

Pastor Steve brought the message with some great points in bold print below. In blue print below each point are some notes and thoughts written after listening or reflecting on the message.

Being with People is What God Wants Most of All
In Genesis 3:8-9, Adam and Eve heard the Lord walking in the garden. In Psalm 139:7-8, David said that God was always there.

“Where can I go to get away from Your Spirit? Where can I run from You? If I go up to the heavens, You are there. If I lie down in the grave, You are there.”

God Initiates the With God Relationship
After they ate the apple, Adam and Eve didn’t want to be around God and they hid from him. The relationship was broken but God put things back together with Jesus. John says in John 1:14 that the Word became human and lived here on earth among us.

The song “All the Lonely People” by the Beatles has these words within the lyrics “All the lonely people Where to they all come from? All the lonely people, where do they all belong?” God has the answer. They come from me and belong to me.

There is No Waiting with God
With God, there is no waiting. Sometimes we feel lonely because we feel a separation from God. Matthew tells us in Matthew 28:20 that we can be sure of this: God is with us always, even to the end of the age.

The aim for us is to be with God in ordinary moments, in every day places, all the time, from one moment to the next.

The Heartbeat of God is to Be with You
Choose a day, put it on your calendar, and have a “With God Kind of Day”; a day without anger or worry. Get in the habit, and every day becomes a “With God Kind of Day”.

With God There is an Inner Cleansing that Leads to “With God Living”
Our life has a pattern; we get up, we brush our teeth, wash up with a shower or bath and get ready for the day,. The Bible says we are washed with baptism and God’s word.

We are always so busy in our culture. The biggest road block in our culture to a “With God Day” is our pace. God never said He would sprint with us but He said He would walk with us.

This weekend, the message will be “ With All of Me”. If you are not able to attend your local church service (traveling, health condition, weather, etc), I invite you to this link of the podcast where you can listen or watch each sermon message.

The Lord speaks to us through the beauty of His Creation; with each sunrise or sunset and every step of the way. May He speak to you today, tomorrow, and every day!

Have a wonderful weekend!

Mark