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

Using The Skills He Gives

Posted on September 1, 2013 by Mark Shields

As I reflect upon the reading of 2 Chronicles 2 and posting yesterday, Solomon put a lot of people with various skills into place in order to build the temple. In the same way, think of ways you can use your skills with the result of building up the house of God.

Our strength together in God will overcome fatigue, discouragement, and fear. Let us follow the way God is going and use the skills He gives each of us to build communities of inspiration, encouragement, and worship. Here’s a video for inspiration today: Strong Tower – Kutless.

Enable me to speak Your word with great boldness. Stretch out Your hand to heal and perform signs and wonders through the name of Jesus. – Acts 4:29-30

The Life They Think They Want (ksean824.wordpress.com)
A Great Thing to Achieve (bryanvillarosa.com)

Posted in 2 Chronicles | Tagged 2 chronicles, Acts of the Apostles, Christianity, discouragement, God, god our strength, house of god, Jesus, name of jesus, Religion and Spirituality, signs and wonders, Solomon | 3 Comments

Testimony of His Infinite Greatness

Posted on August 31, 2013 by Mark Shields

Solomon in 2 Chronicles 2 gives testimony of the infinite greatness of the Lord and wanting to build a temple to worship Him in His presence. He sought resources from king Huram to help with this endeavor. Testimony is given by king Huram of the desire to worship the Lord so he agreed to help.

We can all learn a tremendous amount from each other’s life and words. Each of us has a critical role to play as we share a common direction. Let us ask God for boldness and to be a consistent testimony to his greatness. There will be a sense of calmness when we just accept our lot in life, just let go, and know God is in control.

Photo Credit – larrybeckett.org

Is there a plan or purpose you feel God has given you in your life? Is there a God-given ability or personal experience you can offer? This day with God will be amazing because there is power in His people working together for a common cause. We can push one another with encouragement away from disaster and into His secure arms.

Questions for Reflection in the Study of 2 Chronicles 1-5 (thisdaywithgod.wordpress.com)
2 Chronicles – The Events of the Days (graceofourlord.com)
Eliminating Our Reasons for Anxiety (jamesfields.wordpress.com)
Confession: In Earnest (robotspuppiesnstuff.wordpress.com)

Posted in 2 Chronicles | Tagged 2 chronicles, Boldness, calmness, Christianity, God, god is in control, Huram, infinite greatness, Israel, Lord, Solomon, Testimony | 3 Comments

Plan For Our Life

Posted on August 30, 2013 by Mark Shields

This day with God can be amazing because we can ask Him the plan for our life. When we receive this plan, it becomes a treasure to hold onto because it provides so much passion that we lose ourselves in this plan because we have a feeling of belonging to something greater than ourselves.

The plan for life is found in Jesus and this video has this thought in mind: Where I Belong – Building 429.

Delight yourself in the Lord and he’ll give you the desires of your heart. – Psalm 37:4

Psalm 121 – My Help Comes from the Lord (graceofourlord.com)
God, Can You Hear Our Cries to YOU??? (godssceneryandpromises.wordpress.com)
Living For God (spiritministries.wordpress.com)
This is not where I belong.. (lifeofslegs.wordpress.com)

Posted in 2 Chronicles | Tagged Building 429, Christianity, delight yourself in the lord, desires of your heart, God, Jerusalem, Jesus, Lord, Psalm, psalm 121, psalm 37 | 4 Comments

Our Heart’s Desire

Posted on August 29, 2013 by Mark Shields

Solomon in 2 Chronicles 1 was asked by God what he wanted (v. 7). What would be your request? Would it build up the body of Christ? In asking this question, we are trying to discover our hearts desire. Solomon simply asks God for wisdom and knowledge to lead and because God was pleased with the request, He gave Solomon not only this request but also wealth, riches, and honor.

Photo Credit – bibleencyclopedia.com

What gift would you most like to receive now? What God gives in a plan for life is a treasure and the more you lose yourself in this plan, the more passion you will have. The plan I believe God has given me is to invest in helping others see the benefits of knowing His Word by using skills in writing and technology to help spread the Good News.

My prayer this day with God is to stop thinking my way and start thinking God’s way. Some may lead small lives and argue over small things but not those who follow Christ. Some may leave their future in someone else’s hands but not those who follow Christ. As Christians, we are in His hands. Let us then be happy with this gift God has given and not covet things that are fatal snares to the soul.

Questions for Reflection in the Study of 2 Chronicles 1-5 (thisdaywithgod.wordpress.com)
Put God First (thetheologizer.wordpress.com)
Can I sleep now, Solomon? (mandaiht.wordpress.com)

Posted in 2 Chronicles | Tagged 2 chronicles, Christ, Christian, gift god, God, Good News, Jesus, Question, Solomon, spirituality | 3 Comments

Questions for Reflection in the Study of 2 Chronicles 1-5

Posted on August 28, 2013 by Mark Shields

Since I finished a study in the Book of Ecclesiastes, I’ve summarized some thoughts and lessons in a poem at this link: Applying Ecclesiastes.

Over the last few weeks, some great lessons have been learned from Ecclesiastes. Now the plan is to continue my journey through the Bible.

Next stop is 2 Chronicles; a continuation of the record begun in 1 Chronicles and a supplement to the book of Kings. The first part (2 Chronicles 1-9) concerns David’s son Solomon, and the next part (2 Chronicles 10-36) is concerned with the history of Judah or Israel which is a dark picture of instability and apostasy, interspersed with periods of spiritual reformation.

In the last chapter, Judah is destroyed and the people are taken into exile in Babylon. In the last verse, the Persian king Cyrus conquers Babylon, authorizes the restoration of the Temple of Solomon, and the exiles return.

Over the next few weeks, I will be posting about the journey and will use the questions below to help focus on each passage.

Photo Credit – caryschmidt.com

2 Chronicles 1
Passage Lookup
Try to imagine yourself in Solomon’s position in verse 7. What would be your request? What does Solomon receive from the Lord in addition to the gift of wisdom? Who will benefit the most from the gift he has requested? What gift would you most like to receive right now? Why?

2 Chronicles 2
Passage Lookup
What testimony about the Lord is included in Solomon’s message to King Huram? How much can people learn about the Lord from your life and words? Do you have purposes that exalt the Lord?

2 Chronicles 3-4
Passage Lookup
Note the attention given to detail. What is implied here about the importance of art? How does your activity in God’s service compare with Solomon’s with regard to time, care and quality?

2 Chronicles 5
Passage Lookup
What is inside the Ark? Why? What characteristics of God are most emphasized by the actions of the priests and the people?

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.

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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