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

My Reward is with Christ

Posted on April 14, 2013 by Mark Shields

David was Israel’s greatest king but the Messiah is even greater as noted in Psalms 110 . In this passage, we get a good picture of the Messiah and of the rewarding future. The enemies which are ungodly men, sin, death, and the devil will be destroyed by Him. We know today that Christ came for the first time and sits at God’s right hand and will come again to bring total destruction of the wicked (vv. 1, 6) (Rev. 6-9).

Each day with God is amazing because with Him we can sincerely believe that each obstacle will be overcome and enthusiastically act upon each task until completion; celebrating progress throughout each day by praising Him.

Lord, may the gospel of Christ give us power so the kingdom is set up in our hearts. Let us be willing subjects in this kingdom until the day when you return or call to our permanent home with you.

Questions for Reflection – Psalm 110-114 (thisdaywithgod.wordpress.com)
Christ Is The Israel Of God (reformedforhisglory.wordpress.com)
Understanding the Cross of Christ – Part 5 (The Anointed One and His Sacrifice) (graceofourlord.com)
“Does the Old Testament predict the coming of Christ?” (altruistico.wordpress.com)

Posted in Psalm | Tagged anointed one, Christ, Christianity, cross of christ, David, Future, God, Gospel, Israel, Jesus, Kingdom, Lord, Messiah, Praise, Psalm, religion, Rewards, theology, ungodly men | 5 Comments

Lessons of Integrity

Posted on April 13, 2013 by Mark Shields

Great lessons of integrity are found in God’s Word. The following verses from the Bible give us a great foundation:

God's Word

Proverbs 11:3 – The integrity of the upright guides them, but the unfaithful are destroyed by their duplicity

Proverbs 41:12 – In my integrity you uphold me and set me in your presence forever

Proverbs19:1 – Better a poor man whose walk is blameless than a fool whose lips are perverse

Proverbs 20:7 – The righteous man leads a blameless life; blessed are his children after him

Proverbs 13:11 – Dishonest money dwindles away, but he who gathers money little by little makes it grow

Proverbs 8:18 – With me are riches and honor, enduring wealth and prosperity

Proverbs 13:18 – He who ignores discipline comes to poverty and shame, but whoever heeds correction is honored

Proverbs 21:21 – He who pursues righteousness and love finds life, prosperity, and honor.

I have started a new study on the topic of integrity. To read more, click this link: The Importance of Integrity.

The Right Words (greaterislove.wordpress.com)
Tribute to Christian Wives and Womanhood (altruistico.wordpress.com)
Words Can Build Us Up or Tear Us Down (brandidharris.wordpress.com)
Book of Proverbs (altruistico.wordpress.com)
A Righteous Person/day 6 (garylirwin.wordpress.com)
Work Harder – Prosper More! (amenaccountability.wordpress.com)

Posted in Integrity | Tagged Bible, Bible Study, Book of Proverbs, Christianity, God, Integrity, Jesus, religion, Righteousness, Scripture, theology, verses from the bible | 1 Comment

Questions for Reflection – Psalm 110-114

Posted on April 12, 2013 by Mark Shields

Over the last few weeks, the journey has taken me through Psalm 107-109. Reading the Psalms is truly food for our souls that brings healing. We all face trials in life but God is more powerful than our problems when we pray every day and trust in every way. Jesus calmed the sea with one word and with one word can turn our time in a desert into a vacation spot on the beach.

There are many ways to praise God; in our prayers, in our actions, in our speech, and in our songs. We can also praise Him for the talents and skills He has given each one of us. Each of us has great potential because within everyone that has accepted Jesus Christ, there is a champion called the Holy Spirit. We were born to win but we have to believe we are worthy of being a champion.

Many enemies of David lied about him but he was a man of prayer and asks for help. Like David, we may face difficulties that are out of our control and only prayer can correct. The lesson is to keep the faith and keep going when the going gets tough. By being persistent, steady, and trusting in God to make things right, we can’t fail.

Stories of those in more recent history can inspire like Thomas Edison who failed many times before inventing the electric light and Walt Disney or Henry Ford who both had failures in life but most of all be inspired by the ONE who has overcome the obstacle we all will face some day which is death. With Christ, there is life. Faith triumphs limitations, hope triumphs difficulty, and love triumphs over hate. “For nothing is impossible with God”. – Luke 1:37

Reflections

As I continue the journey through the Bible, the next adventure will take me to Psalm 110-114. Over the next few weeks, I will be posting about the journey and will use the questions for reflections below to help focus on each passage. Feel free to respond with a short note or a comment about any of these questions. 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.

Psalm 110
Passage Lookup
What will eventually happen to the Lord’s enemies? What is the Lord’s role? What qualities of the Lord are revealed?

Psalm 111-112
Passage Lookup
What is the mood of these psalms? What can we praise God for? When have you experienced God’s graciousness, mercy, and righteousness?

Psalm 113
Passage Lookup
What provisions has the Lord made for all mankind? For the poor and needy? To what extent is God concerned with your joy? How do you know?

Psalm 114
Passage Lookup
What event is especially significant in Israel’s history? Why? Do you treasure and appreciate a particular event that causes you to praise God? Why? What supernatural incidents in Israel’s deliverance are attributed to God? Why? How do you know the Lord is present with you?

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.

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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

I’ve seen de light… (afruitinseason.wordpress.com)
Joy (runningredeemed.wordpress.com)

Posted in Psalm | Tagged Calmed the Sea, Christ, David, Faith, faith triumphs, favorite bible verses, Food for Souls, God, God’s Word, Holy Spirit, HolySpirit, Hope, Jesus, Journey, journey through the bible, Lord, Love, nothing is impossible with god, Praise, Prayer, Psalm, Thomas Edison | 5 Comments

The Tough Get Going by Taking His Hand

Posted on April 11, 2013 by Mark Shields

In yesterday’s post, I wrote about what David did when the going got tough and today I continue with that thought. There will be danger, distractions, and critiques but because Jesus has arisen, we can press on and solve each problem as we come to it.

Many great people in current times have overcome obstacles. Thomas Edison failed many times before inventing the electric light. Walt Disney and Henry Ford both had failures in life. But there is no one who has overcome the obstacle we all face with death, except Jesus. Here’s a video of encouragement for your day: Del Way – Hurting People .

Let us pray to step on discouragement and failure; using them as stepping stones to a better day. Let us take the Hand of Jesus and keep going when the going gets tough; being persistent, steady and learning to wait for Him to make things right.

The Jesus Bus (runningforchrist.wordpress.com)
Inspiring Song #5 (undercoverheroes.wordpress.com)
Delivered from the Trials of Life (thisdaywithgod.wordpress.com)
Inspiration for the Day: The Art of Making Mistakes (soulmagnitude.wordpress.com)

Posted in Psalm | Tagged David, Encouragement, God, Henry Ford, Jesus, Overcome Difficulties, Persistence, Prayer, Thomas Edison, Walt Disney | Leave a comment

When the Going Gets Tough

Posted on April 10, 2013 by Mark Shields

In today’s world in which we hear about bullying, it’s easy to identify with the psalmist’s situation in Psalm 109 and want bad to happen to those that are hateful toward us. David endured false accusations and he asks the Lord to take vengeance on his enemies. Some of David’s closest friends like Saul, Absalom, Shimei and others had turned against him.

This Psalm was probably written during the time that David was in great danger during Absalom’s rebellion. The enemies even went out to destroy David’s whole family (v. 16) but he gives the whole matter to God (v. 20). At this point in David’s life, he knew that victory had to come from God and there was no need to answer by being hateful in return. The lesson learned is that it is best that we let God get revenge.

David went to God for help and to take care of the matter (v 21-25). You see, God knows how to win the war. In the war between good and evil, the war is won at the cross. You see, the devil thought the trophy was the death of Christ on the cross but it turns out that the Lord’s cross was the devils mousetrap.

We can be assured that when those against us treat us bad that God will deliver us. It’s time to not get angry with those that treat us bad but to get sad. It’s sad that they do not understand how to live the way God wishes and their future is one of despair and failure. Let us pray and hope the enemies of God see the light.

Many enemies of David lied about him but he was a man of prayer and asks for help. Like David, we may face difficulties that are out of our control and only prayer can correct. The lesson found in this passage for me is to keep going when the going gets tough. Be persistent, steady and learn to wait for God to make things right.