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

Our Answer is Found in Christ

Posted on July 27, 2013 by Mark Shields

Technologies change and jobs change but the character of God never changes. Learning how to live God’s way is useful now and forever.

I’m reading now in Ecclesiastes and Solomon who is thought to be the author was humble and wise but following his path only goes so far. By following the path God has created in the life of Christ, we are walking the clear path that takes us all the way home.

Let God be a part of the new challenges of the future. Many old strategies may not work but with God, we are on the cutting edge.

Use these cutting edge strategies to help others find Christ. There’s always one more person to help get excited about the contentment and eternal treasures found in Christ. I found this video that emphasizes how important Jesus is in our life: Heart of Worship – Matt Redman.

When working toward solving challenging problems, it always helps to know the answer. We can rest assured that our answer is found in Christ.

A New Life In Christ (chrissymdale.wordpress.com)
Understanding is Enchanting (thisdaywithgod.wordpress.com)
“Why does God let bad things happen to good people…” -Kirk Cameron, from his upcoming movie “Untouchable” (foodforthespiritualsoul.wordpress.com)
Awakened by the Kiss of God (emdog.wordpress.com)

Posted in Ecclesiastes | Tagged Christ, Christianity, Ecclesiastes, Evangelism, God, heart of worship, kiss of god, path god, Religion and Spirituality, Solomon, spirituality | 5 Comments

Understanding is Enchanting

Posted on July 26, 2013 by Mark Shields

Wisdom is more meaningful when we use it to connect people to God. In so doing, we discover a sense of purpose and true reward. In reading Ecclesiastes 1:12-2:11, Solomon searched for knowledge to satisfy his own purposes and not the purposes of God which resulted in his apathy. Getting satisfaction from the world makes one restless but there is fulfillment in the pursuit of knowledge that is used for God’s purposes because it is a meaningful activity.

For in using our knowledge to lead others in the ways of God, we are inspiring many in the direction of His purposes. Earthly pleasure leaves one unsatisfied but there is happiness found through Jesus Christ and in gaining understanding about how He lived while on earth. There is also the reward of peace when one hears of the love and the service of our Savior. Let us follow His example to build up individuals, families, neighborhoods, and communities for His glory.

The study of the Bible impacts our life and gives lessons to share with others which will influence our world. Restlessness, apathy, and the lack of satisfaction which are outcomes of seeking worldly gain will wear a person down; doing nothing to help their current or future situation. But there is improvement if one can come to the understanding that life on earth is only a small stretch of time compared to an eternity in heaven.

This day, let God handle the negatives so we are free to look forward to a remarkable future. Let us pray for parents to lead their children. Let us pray for leaders in government, leaders of churches, for business leaders, and leaders in the field of education.

Success and Failure Road Sign with dramatic clouds and sky.

This day with God will be amazing because there are things we can learn from history that will help in making decisions. The problems we go through in life are not stop signs; they are guidelines and it is during tough times that God provides sure signs of a brighter future.

There Is Nothing New Under the Sun (ray032.com)
Trusting (teachingandtrusting.com)
Why Am I Still Unhappy? (jazjam.wordpress.com)

Posted in Ecclesiastes | Tagged Apathy, Bible, earthly pleasure, Ecclesiastes, God, human-rights, Jesus, Jesus Christ, Leadership, politics, religion, Religion and Spirituality, Solomon, spirituality | 2 Comments

Light the Fire From Within

Posted on July 25, 2013 by Mark Shields

Studying Ecclesiastes 1:1-11, the author who is believed to be Solomon seemed to have nothing to live for and nothing more to accomplish. What can give us more enthusiasm in life? One idea might be to work for a good cause and be hopeful that the world is a better place because of that cause.

God can light that fire from within because He gives us a purpose, He frees us from our past, and we are ready to face the future with enthusiasm. Something small can turn into something big if we learn each day and work towards what God wants us to be.

We can pray, listen for instructions, and get things done now. Opportunities to do great things are right in front of us so let’s give God our best. Each day with Him can be amazing because He inspires us to live out loud like the video below: Live Out Loud – Steven Curtis Chapman.

Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. – 1 Corinthians 9:24

Father / daughter wedding dance video – Cinderella by Steven Curtis Chapman (4simpsons.wordpress.com)
Questions for Reflection for Study of Ecclesiastes 1-4 (thisdaywithgod.wordpress.com)
The Ultimate Question. (enlightenmesome.wordpress.com)

Posted in Ecclesiastes | Tagged Ecclesiastes, First Epistle to the Corinthians, God, Jesus, Live Out Loud, Religion and Spirituality, Solomon, spirituality, Steven Curtis Chapman | Leave a comment

Set Free

Posted on July 24, 2013 by Mark Shields

The author of Ecclesiastes is thought to be Solomon. He reflects on the experiences of life. His philosophy of conflicting thoughts on materialism, pleasures of life, and our duty to God. Ecclesiastes deals with the feeling of emptiness even when people have everything.

Solomon, the son of David became king at a very young age. God gave him wisdom, a discerning heart, and great wealth. He ruled under a time of peace and the economy flourished. Solomon was a great intellectual; known all through the world during his time for great wisdom. Unfortunately, he married many wives from other nations and they led him astray. He began to follow other gods and his kingdom began to tear apart.

As we read in Ecclesiastes 1:1-11, life to Solomon is repetition and is tiresome. It was as if he had nothing to live far, nothing more to accomplish. He’s recording his own folly, shame, and his disappointment. He’s learned a hard lesson that wealth and the things of this world do not benefit the soul, judgment, or eternity.

amy Whale, breaching, Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

I once heard a story about some people who were doing some studies of whales. They came across one whale that was hung up in a net and dying. After hours of work, they were able to set the whale free. The whale put on a display as he was free and gained speed in the water; doing some of those “Sea World” whale jumps with an expression of joy and thankfulness for those that set him free.

We too get mired in nets that trap us in life and we need help being set free. Let us be reminded before we pray today that God is sovereign, majestic and all-powerful. Nothing is too difficult for Him; He is bigger than any problem we could bring to Him.

This day with God, we know that Jesus sets us free and we can leap for joy at God’s amazing grace.

Questions for Reflection for Study of Ecclesiastes 1-4 (thisdaywithgod.wordpress.com)
Consider Solomon (authorjodiwoody.com)
Summer Schedule – Beginning Ecclesiastes This Week! (graceofourlord.com)
Day 192: Ecclesiastes 1-4; Meaningless? Meaningless? (orcministries.wordpress.com)
Vanity: an Act of Time Wasting (mfmdelaware.wordpress.com)
stepping back (cherishthenow.wordpress.com)

Posted in Ecclesiastes | Tagged author of ecclesiastes, David, Davidic line, Ecclesiastes, ecclesiastes 1, expression of joy, God, Jesus, national marine sanctuary, Religion and Spirituality, Solomon, stellwagen bank national marine sanctuary, Whale, world whale | 3 Comments

Questions for Reflection for Study of Ecclesiastes 1-4

Posted on July 23, 2013 by Mark Shields

I recently finished questions for reflection to help study Esther 5-10. To review where I’ve been over the last few weeks along with a synopsis of the answers, I wrote a poem at this link: Lessons From the Book of Esther.

The next part of the travel will take me to Ecclesiastes 1-4. The book of Ecclesiastes deals with the feeling of emptiness even though God has given everything.

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 : consultinggrad.com

Ecclesiastes 1:1-11
Passage Lookup
What is the background of the writer (1 Kings 3-4, 11)? What are Solomon’s intellectual, Material, aesthetic and spiritual resources? Would you say that this initial passage is a view of life with or without a living God?

Ecclesiastes 1:12-2:11
Passage Lookup
To what extent is the search for knowledge for its own sake a legitimate pursuit for a Christian? Is the search for meaning satisfied by knowledge? How is the Christian supposed to use his mind?

Ecclesiastes 2:12-26
Passage Lookup
Does this passage suggest there may be another vantage point from which to view life? Why does man seem to have lost his enjoyment of the creation? How is God related to pleasure? To wisdom? To work?

Ecclesiastes 3
Passage Lookup
What are the dangers inherent in viewing life strictly from within the perspective of time? What element in man makes him different from the world around him (v. 11)?

Ecclesiastes 4
Passage Lookup
To what extent is the element of competitiveness inherent in man’s nature? What are some ideas for how a society can set up a win-win situation for all people? What is the fatal flaw in a society with bad leaders remaining in power?

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