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

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

Monday Meditations: Psalm 1 (foreveraboveme.wordpress.com)
Maker of all Things: Motivational Monday (flawlessfaith.wordpress.com)

Posted in Ecclesiastes, Questions for Reflection | Tagged human-rights, jesus is god, religion | 11 Comments

Wisdom for Parents

Posted on July 22, 2013 by Mark Shields

Yesterday, we continued the sermon series “Wisdom for Life”. At this link: Pastor’s Podcast, you can see each message of the series. Yesterday, the message was titled “Wisdom for Parents”.

Here is a link to the main points of the message: outline of the message:

The book of Proverbs in the Bible gives us wisdom that can really guide our life and help in being a parent. There are Proverbs that tell us to use words that lead a child in the right direction. There are Proverbs that help us to know what matters most which is to pattern our life after Jesus. There are Proverbs that tell us to make each day matter and that our job as a parent is to direct children to God’s path. There are Proverbs that tell us to be consistent as we set boundaries and parameters that guide children. Most of all, we should understand that our Heavenly Father through Christ is the best parent that ever lived.

The Way – Jeremy Camp

But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere. – James 3:17

(#31) The Proverbs of Solomon 10:26-30-Being Lazy or Wicked Ends Badly (fellowshiproom.org)
Proverbs 9. Wisdom and stupidity. Wisdom’s invitation. True wisdom. (bummyla.wordpress.com)
Jesus Increased In Wisdom – Luke 2:52 (trinitarianliving.wordpress.com)
Proverbs 8. In praise of wisdom. Wisdom is everlasting. Wisdom speaks. (bummyla.wordpress.com)
Getting Wisdom (thecranmerproject.wordpress.com)
Proverbs 2. The value of wisdom. The rewards of wisdom. Wisdom and bad friends. Wisdom and sexual purity. (bummyla.wordpress.com)
What Is A Proverb? (practicalbibleteaching.wordpress.com)
Your Word for This Day: Go Get It! (thotam.com)

Posted in Thoughts From Sermon | Tagged Bible, Book of Proverbs, Christ, Christianity, God, Jeremy Camp, Jesus, proverb, Proverbs and Sayings, religion, sermon series, theology, true wisdom | 1 Comment

Rewards Beyond What We Could Ever Imagine

Posted on July 21, 2013 by Mark Shields

By speaking up and taking action to secure the good of the Jewish people, Mordecai secured his own good; eventually rewarded with a promotion to second in rank to the king. Under the leadership of Esther and Mordecai, the Jewish people were freed from destruction. They worked for a cause larger than themselves and the lesson learned is we should all find a cause to work toward.

Working for a cause greater than life has rewards beyond what can be imagined. The cause we have as Christians binds us to work for the rewards that come as fellow heirs of Christ. The Jewish people were set free in the book of Esther and we are set free by the amazing grace of God through Christ. Here’s today’s inspiring video to either redirect your day or provide momentum for an already amazing day: Amazing Grace – Chris Tomlin.

Behold, I am coming soon! My reward is with me, and I will give to everyone according to what he has done. – Revelation 22:12

Taking Hold of God’s Hand (thisdaywithgod.wordpress.com)
Questions for Reflection to Help in the Study of Esther 5-10 (thisdaywithgod.wordpress.com)

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged book of esther, Chris Tomlin, Christ, Esther, fellow heirs, God, grace of god, Haman, http www youtube, human-rights, Jew, Mordecai, religion, theology | 1 Comment

Taking Hold of God’s Hand

Posted on July 20, 2013 by Mark Shields

Photo Credit – Godsaxle.com

Throughout the book of Esther, there is evidence of God’s constant care for His people who were in exile; His hand involved in the circumstances that protected His people. A plot to kill the king was foiled by a Jew named Mordecai; a man who cared and took action. From the very beginning of the book of Esther, the person named Mordecai who was taken into exile from Jerusalem cared about others. He raised his cousin named Esther whose parents had died. Esther became Queen and these two followed God’s purpose in their life with courage and commitment.

Because of the actions of Esther and Mordecai, the Jews got the upper hand. In Esther 9-10, we are told that those against the Jews were afraid and the government within the provinces helped the Jews because the leaders were afraid of Mordecai.

As we reflect back on the reading of the book of Esther over the last few weeks, one lesson learned is the benefits of being open and honest. Esther was rewarded for having these traits as she let the king know about her Jewish background. Rather than be destroyed, her people received protection. Esther and Mordecai acted together and strengthened one another; working for the good of their people and spoke up for the welfare of all the Jews. Queen Esther received what she wanted from the king and Mordecai was rewarded with a promotion to second in rank to the king.

Take some time to reflect on the last few weeks or for the last year. Are there examples of God’s care for you? As you prepare to pray this day, be open and honest with God. Be thankful for His care and believe He will use you to bless others. God needs those willing to make a stand and those who take action will bless others and in turn, bless themselves.

The Story of Esther: A Turn of Events (voice4society.wordpress.com)
Questions for Reflection to Help in the Study of Esther 5-10 (thisdaywithgod.wordpress.com)

Posted in Esther | Tagged book of esther, constant care, Esther, evidence of god, exile, God, Haman, Jerusalem, Jew, jewish background, Jews, Mordecai, queen esther | 7 Comments

God Made the Wonderful You

Posted on July 19, 2013 by Mark Shields

A lesson learned for me in reading Esther 7-8 is that being open and letting people know who you are has benefits. Esther told the king about her Jewish background and rather than be destroyed, her people received protection. My hope is that this day with God, you recognize that He has a purpose for you and that you’ll be open to that purpose. Here’s a video to inspire this thought: Free To Be Me – Francesca Battistelli.