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

Discover Your God Given Strengths

Posted on January 24, 2013 by Mark Shields

As I read 1 Chronicles 1-2, the thought occurred that everyone’s life matters. Your life matters to your parents, your children, grandchildren, your nephews, nieces, or your friend’s children. It also matters to God. What you do in life affects future generations so discover the God given strengths you have and make a difference.

You are important in reflecting God’s light so I’d like to share this video with you to inspire your day. Simply click at this link: He Will Carry You – Gaither Vocal Band or on the video below.

And in the church God has appointed first of all apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then workers of miracles, also those having gifts of healing those able to help others, those with gifts of administration, and those speaking in different kinds of tongues. – 1 Corinthians 12:28

Your Life Matters (thisdaywithgod.wordpress.com)
The strength you have (myeverydaygod.com)
The God of the Bible is a Source of Strength! (samuelatgilgal.wordpress.com)
How GOD Gives Us Strength (rosevoc2.wordpress.com)
Distinguishing God’s voice from own willfulness (prweb.com)

Posted in 1 Chronicles | Tagged 1 corinthians 12, Apostles, Books of Chronicles, Christianity, church god, First Epistle to the Corinthians, Gaither Vocal Band, Gifts of healing, God, God’s Light, Healing, Inspiration, Life, Miracles, Prophets, reflecting god, religion, Religion and Spirituality, Strength, Teachers | 2 Comments

Your Life Matters

Posted on January 23, 2013 by Mark Shields

Photo Credit – Town of Seekonk Massachusetts Website

In 1 Chronicles 1-2 is a genealogical record from Adam to the sons of Israel. In reading through these first two chapters, many may wonder why this is meaningful but for me it helps me realize that that every person matters to God.

1 Chronicles deals with the history of Israel as a religious community. It is written shortly after the exiles return from Babylon and they need to understand their history so they can learn from the past – what God has done to and for them and what tasks they are entrusted with for the future.

The human race has gone through so much; from Adam and Eve, the flood, and wars. Through it all, lessons can be learned, there can be spiritual reforms, we can work together in this world because we all come from ONE father and Jesus carries us to victory.

God is concerned about our future and much of who we are is passed down through our family. We fit into that line of history because we have an impact on promoting the wellbeing of each other; how we worship, pray, and approach life now and into the future.

Discover who we are; a child of ONE Father, each with a strength or spark to provide, trying to find the way God is going and going that way with each personality reflecting God’s light in many colors and patterns throughout the world.

This day with God, we can go to Him in prayer and speak to the ONE who will carry us to a bright future.

Questions for Reflection – 1 Chronicles 1-6 (thisdaywithgod.wordpress.com)
Salvation, Atonement, and Redemption (It’s not that complicated!) (pilgrimpassing.com)

Posted in 1 Chronicles | Tagged Adam, Adam and Eve, Babylon, Books of Chronicles, Exiles, exiles return, Future, Genealogical Record, God, History, Israel, Lessons, Noah, Prayer, religion, Religion and Spirituality, Worship | 5 Comments

Questions for Reflection – 1 Chronicles 1-6

Posted on January 22, 2013 by Mark Shields

I just finished the journey through the book of James which for me was a good instruction manual for how to apply our faith. Learned in the book of James are great truths we can apply at work or home. The principles learned and applied refine our character.

Lessons found in the book of James provide a path when we listen and follow; lessons like remaining persistent, focusing on the possibilities God gives, and living by the “Golden Rule”. Applying these lessons can change the world. Also, I learned that for any plan or purpose, we should attach the qualification of God’s will.

Spiritual growth requires patience. It is a daily process of growing to be more and more like Christ. Faith along with prayer is needed. Like an antenna to our soul, faith energizes, inspires, and transmits God’s power which lightens our load.

Now as I turn my attention to the study of the book of 1 Chronicles. I will use the questions 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.

1 Chronicles 1-2
Passage Lookup
Is it important to you to know how God has dealt with your ancestors? Why? What is the connection between God’s concern for a person’s own relationship to him and his concern for family history?

1 Chronicles 3-4
Passage Lookup
What would you like to be remembered for? What special attention is given to Jabez?

1 Chronicles 5-6
Passage Lookup
To What extent do you feel a part of history today? Why? How can you remain holy to God in your culture? What is special about the Levites (See Num. 3:5-4:49)
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

Favoritism and Living Faith (menofmud.org)
Faithfulness to All Generations (minofeducation.wordpress.com)

Posted in 1 Chronicles | Tagged Bible, Chapters and verses of the Bible, Christ, favorite bible verses, God, Golden Rule, history today, Jesus, videos photos | 4 Comments

Begin With Faith and Finish With Faith

Posted on January 21, 2013 by Mark Shields

Yesterday at the Church I attend, the sermon message was titled “Caleb’s Story”. The story of Caleb begins with faith and finishes with faith. Giants were in the land God had promised but Caleb was not afraid because he believed that with God, they could defeat them. The people didn’t want to listen and for 40 years they wandered in the desert but Caleb persistently had strong faith. Even at 85 years old, he still wanted God’s promise and was ready for the battle.

This day is Martin Luther King Day. Like, Caleb, he started with faith and finished his story with faith. He kept going and refused to be defined by the world but to be someone different in a troubled time. Here’s a video in his honor: Martin Luther King, Jr.’s last speech

The ultimate measure of a man or woman is not where they stand in comfort or convenience but where they stand at the time of challenge or controversy. – Martin Luther King Jr.

Caleb’s Story (thisdaywithgod.wordpress.com)
World-Herald editorial: MLK holiday a day to look back, ahead (omaha.com)
Martin Luther King – “I Have A Dream” (consciouslifenews.com)

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged Caleb, Faith, First United Methodist Church Waco, God, Martin Luther King, Martin Luther King Day, Promise, Promised Land, United Methodist Church, United States, Washington DC | 4 Comments

Caleb’s Story

Posted on January 20, 2013 by Mark Shields

English: Joshua and Caleb, as in Numbers 13 (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

We continued a four-part series at First United Methodist Church Waco titled “Amazing Stories”. Today’s message is “Caleb’s Story” and can be watched at this link. Below is an outline of the message.

1. START YOUR STORY WITH FAITH.

“But My servant Caleb, because he has had a different spirit and has
followed me fully, I will bring into the land which he entered, and his
descendants shall take possession of it.” – Numbers 14:24 (NASB)

2. REFUSE TO LET OTHERS DEFINE YOU.

“Then Caleb told the people near Moses to be quiet, and he said, ‘We
should certainly go up and take the land for ourselves. We can
certainly do it.’ But the men who had gone with him said, ‘We can’t
attack those people; they are stronger than we are.’ “ – Numbers 13:30-31 (NCV)

3. CHOOSE GODS PRESENCE OVER DOUBT.

“So give me the mountain country the Lord promised me that day long
ago. Back then you heard that the Anakite people lived there and the
cities were large and well protected. But now with the Lord helping me,
I will force them out, just as the Lord said.” – Joshua 15:12 (NCV)

4. COMMIT TO GOD’S PURPOSES NOT YOUR NEIGHBORS’.

“The other men who went with me frightened the people, but I fully
believed the Lord would allow us to take the land.” – Joshua 14:8 (NCV)

5. RESOLVE TO LIVE BY GOD’S PLAN RATHER THAN FEAR.

“The Lord’ said, ‘I have seen the troubles My people have suffered in
Egypt…I am concerned about their pain, and I have come down to
save them from the Egyptians. I will bring them out of that land and
lead them to a good land with lots of room – a fertile land….” – Exodus 3:7-8 a, b (NCV)

6. END YOUR STORY WITH MORE FAITH.

“Joshua blessed Caleb son of Jephunneh and gave him the city of
Hebron for his own…because he had faith and obeyed the Lord, the
God of Israel…. After this there was peace in the land.” – Joshua 14:13-15 (NCV)