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

Community Service

Posted on November 1, 2013 by Mark Shields

This past week, there were several opportunities for me to be involved in community service. Last Saturday night, our community held the American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life and at work this week, we started the United Way campaign.

In memory of my mom, my immediate family, neighbors, and my brother and sisters dedicated Luminary candles. If you, a family member, or friend has been impacted by cancer, please consider dedicating a Luminary candle in honor or memory of someone. Here is a link to help you take action now: Dedicate a Luminaria candle.

Relay for Life in Waco Texas – Saturday 10-26-2013

Another great organization is the United Way. They have a mission to advance the common good through education, income, and health. I went to a rally Wednesday held by John Key, local Executive Director of Economic Opportunities Advancement Corp (EOAC). He talked about programs that allow low-income parents to afford the reliable child care they need and provide at-risk children with the early learning experiences they need for success in school and life.

Issues with the economy, health, and education are major obstacles to the advancement of the common good. As a society, we have to deal with things like cancer, heart disease, and poverty. We must keep our outlook bright. Here is a poem I recently wrote that emphasizes how important faith is as we face these challenges: The Clear Advantage.

Relay For Life of Kent 2014 (managingtherealestatedetails.wordpress.com)
Hanford volunteers lauded by American Cancer Society (hanfordsentinel.com)
Cancer survivors come together for Relay for Life walk (4029tv.com)
Relay for Life kick-off party at Harbor Place (tcpalm.com)
Fight cancer by helping next year’s West Seattle Relay for Life now (westseattleblog.com)
UVa’s Relay for Life Group Hopes to Reach $1 Million in Fundraising (newsplex.com)

The Leadership Way

Posted on October 31, 2013 by Mark Shields

Being a good leader is about making the right choices, taking in the right information, and getting the right help from those that are around them. After reading 2 Chronicles 24, Joash did some good when Jehoiada was alive and helping make decisions but once Jehoiada died, we read about a completely different king; a king that believed in the world rather than in God.

Over and over again, history tells us that being with God is the best way. Whenever God is neglected by a leader, followers are lead over the precipice and into a deep abyss. If leaders pay attention to God, everyone is prepared for the world. If leaders pay attention to the world, followers become stressed and confused. To give a lift to the day, here’s a song about returning to the Lord: Matt Redman – Come Let Us Return to the Lord.

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

Posted in 2 Chronicles | Tagged Athaliah, Books of Chronicles, God, Jehoiada, Joash, Leadership, Matt Redman, Religion and Spirituality | 7 Comments

Following the Path to Victory

Posted on October 30, 2013 by Mark Shields

Reading in 2 Chronicles 24, a major project is carried out during the reign of Joash to glorify the Lord. The king decided to restore the temple and the project was to be financed by a tax. This strategy did not work at first because of the lack of trust in leaders. It was known that the sons of Athaliah were breaking into the temple of the Lord and taking the sacred objects for use in the worship of their false gods. Remember, Athaliah was the evil wife of a previous king and daughter of the king of Aham. She had assumed power with intent to destroy the whole royal family until she was overthrown and put to death.

When the idea of making a chest was carried out and put outside the temple for everyone to put their tax, there was a good response from the people. Large sums of money were collected and with this money work could begin to restore the temple. This was a huge success but then policy changes took place after the death of Jehoiada, they abandoned God and started worshiping false gods. The king and the other leaders around him wouldn’t listen to those who warned against abandoning God. Within the year, God’s judgment was executed on Judah resulting in tremendous hardship, losses, and even a conspiracy that led to the death of Joash.

Photo Credit – https://www.facebook.com/LifeNCanvas

In today’s passage is a lesson on following the path. This day with God can be amazing if we ask questions and seek answers to the path of victory. It can be amazing if we discover the right path through lessons found in the Bible and from others that have found the clear path God has set.

Walking in His Ways (thisdaywithgod.wordpress.com)
Questions for Reflection for Study of 2 Chronicles 20-24 (thisdaywithgod.wordpress.com)

Posted in 2 Chronicles | Tagged Athaliah, Books of Chronicles, God, Jehoash of Judah, Jehoiada, Joash, Judah, King, Lord | Leave a comment

Help Build Up a Strong Faith

Posted on October 29, 2013 by Mark Shields

In reading 1 Chronicles 23, I noticed that a coalition worked for a common purpose. The plan was to get a new king so the continuance of the line of David would be assured. It took planning, organization and teamwork.

In yesterday’s post, I wrote about how a common objective creates synergy. Like the nails that hold a house together, every person with the common purpose of holding together the things of God is important because they equally build up a strong faith that helps everyone achieve greater heights with extra power.

We serve a big and powerful God. There is a video that inspires this same thought: How Great is Our God – Chris Tomlin. May it continue to inspire you as you go through this day with God! 🙂

So in Christ we who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. – Romans 12:5

Awe (thebonfireblog.com)
The Reasonable, Evidential Nature of Christian Faith (str.typepad.com)

Posted in 2 Chronicles | Tagged Books of Chronicles, Chris Tomlin, Christ, Christianity, David, Epistle to the Romans, God, How Great Is Our God (song) | 2 Comments

Common Objective Creates Synergy

Posted on October 28, 2013 by Mark Shields

There was so much disruption in the line of David during the time in history of today’s passage. King Ahaziah had been killed and his mother named Athaliah who was the daughter of the king of Aham who did evil in the eyes of the Lord assumed power and she started to destroy the whole royal family.

The line of David was saved only because Jehosheba who was the daughter of king Jehoram protected the only remaining person in line to be king. Young Joash was hidden at the temple of God for six years until he was ready to assume power. Reading in 2 Chronicles 23, there is an alliance between the leaders of the religious community and the leaders of the military to make sure Joash would become king and continue the line of David.

Jehoiada who was a priest and the Son In-Law of the previous king named Jehoram was instrumental in making the alliance happen. There were precautions taken since Athaliah had assumed power and had started to kill the members of the royal family. Nonetheless, the forceful overthrow of the government took place and Joash became king.

The underlying principle for the reign of Joash was to destroy the idols and build up the things of God. Nothing is more important to God than His people. Remember His Son died for all.

Photo credit – http://www.green-ism.com/

This day with God, let us exercise this same principle to build up societies in a good way. Like the nails that hold a house together, every single Godly act is important because together they build up a strong faith that can endure the storms. Working together towards a common objective creates synergy and each member has a role to play towards victory.