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

All Things Are Possible with God

Posted on January 14, 2013 by Mark Shields

The message yesterday at my church was about Nehemiah who saw a need and felt he had to do something. He prayed about and followed the plan God had for him. I definitely believe God’s hand was with Nehemiah and within this story, we see what faith can do. What seemed like an impossible mission was accomplished ahead of time. Is there something you see that doesn’t seem right? Is there something that bugs you? If so, it may be that God wants you to fix the problem. Here is a video to get our week started is What Faith Can Do – Kutless.

For nothing is impossible with God. – Luke 1:37

Nehemiah’s Story (thisdaywithgod.wordpress.com)
Leadership Lessons from Nehemiah : Lesson #8 (stevenruff.wordpress.com)
Discern the Right Time By Making Time For God (wrestledwithangels.wordpress.com)

Posted in Thoughts From Sermon | Tagged Accomplishment, Christianity, Faith, God, Israelites, Jerusalem, Nehemiah, Plan, Prayer, Religion and Spirituality | Leave a comment

Nehemiah’s Story

Posted on January 13, 2013 by Mark Shields

Nehemiah rebuilding Jerusalem (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

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

1. RECOGNIZING A REVELATION.

“…In the month of Kislev in the twentieth year, I, Nehemiah, was in the capital city of Susa. One of my brothers named Hanani came with some other men from Judah. I asked them about Jerusalem and the Jewish people who lived through the captivity.” – Nehemiah 1:1-2 (NCV)

2. HOLY DISCONTENT.

“When I heard these things, I sat down and cried for several days. I was sad and ate nothing….” – Nehemiah 1:4 a, b (NCV)

3. URGENT PRAYER.

“…I prayed to the God of heaven,…. Hear the prayer that I Your servant, am praying to You day and night….Lord, listen carefully to the prayer of Your servant and the prayers of Your servants who love and honor You. Give me,Your servant, success today; allow this king to show kindness to me.” I was the one who served wine to the king.” – Nehemiah 1:4c & 6 & 11 (NCV)

4. PASSIONATE ACTION.

“Then I said to them, ‘You can see the trouble we have here. Jerusalem is a pile of ruins, and its gates have been burned. Come, let’s rebuild the walls of Jerusalem so we won’t be full of shame any longer.’ ” – Nehemiah 2:17 (NCV)

5. RELENTLESS PERSISTENCE.

“So I sent messengers to them with this answer: ‘I am doing a great work, and I can’t come down. I don’t want the work to stop while I leave to meet you.” – Nehemiah 6:3 (NCV)

“The wall of Jerusalem was completed on the twenty-fifth day of the month of Elul. It took fifty-two days to rebuild.” – Nehemiah 6:15 (NCV)

keep going (judikruis.wordpress.com)
Leadership Lessons from Nehemiah : Lesson #9 (stevenruff.wordpress.com)

Posted in Sermon Outline | Tagged God, Jerusalem, Lord, Nehemiah, Persistence, Prayer | 9 Comments

Adding Quality to Faith

Posted on January 12, 2013 by Mark Shields

How do we add quality to our faith? At this link, I write some ideas. Also, I have here a song about faith that I hope gives a lift to your day: Glorify You Alone – Gateway Worship 2010. God bless your day! 🙂

“But my righteous one will live by faith. And I take no pleasure in the one who shrinks back.” But we do not belong to those who shrink back and are destroyed, but to those who have faith and are saved. – Hebrews 10:38-39

Posted in Faith | Tagged Apps, Christianity, Courage, Faith, Food for the Soul, God, Happiness, hebrews 10, Momentum, Optimism, Plan, Prayer, religion, Religion and Spirituality, righteous one, Self-Confidence, Treasures, victory | 1 Comment

Certify the Plan

Posted on January 11, 2013 by Mark Shields

From yesterday’s passage and post, I learned that as we plan, there is a need to certify that plan with God’s will. We can get approval by going to Him in prayer.

I really enjoy growing in the Lord with you and sharing videos that hopefully bless and uplift. Here’s one today to inspire finding our place in this world. Just click on this link or on the video below to watch: MICHAEL W SMITH – PLACE IN THIS WORLD.

Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is – His good, pleasing and perfect will. – Romans 12:2

Reach Out And Receive The Spirit (thisdaywithgod.wordpress.com)
Do You Know His Plans? (walklikeenoch.com)
The five year plan (yelenabosovik.wordpress.com)

Posted in James | Tagged Christ, Christianity, God, God’s Will, Inspiration, Jesus, Lord, New Year, Plan, Prayer, Purpose, religion, Spirituality & Religion | 3 Comments

Humbly Living for His Purpose

Posted on January 10, 2013 by Mark Shields

For any plan or purpose God has for you, attach the qualification of His will. We can grow our roots of faith by reading the Bible, going to church, reading or listening to others about faith, and putting what is learned to good use. Believe there is always something to look forward to because God’s plan or purpose for your life will keep you going. Obstacles can be overcome by going to God in prayer and allowing enthusiasm to increase, frustration to be reduce, and cooperation to improve.

As found in James 4:13 – 5:6, God’s will should qualify any plans made in this short life since working for prosperity or enjoyment is short-lived though God is permanent. James addresses those who make their own plans to be wealthy as though they will live forever on earth (v. 13-16). Instead we should invest in the things which will count for eternity. Instead of spending time accumulating things that will rust and decay, we should focus more on things that will last for eternity.

I heard a story of a man named Jack Eckerd, founder of Eckerd Drugstore chain who traveled with Chuck Colson’s Prison Fellowship ministry. Chuck Colson had gone to prison for the Watergate scandal but in his weakness and brokenness had formed this ministry. During Jack Eckerd’s work with this ministry, he became a Christian.

After accepting Christ, he walked into one of his stores one day and noticed all the pornographic magazines displayed in his stores. He made a decision to take them out of his stores. His advisors told him he would lose money but he demanded these magazines be taken off the selves. Because of his decision, floods of people started coming to his stores. On top of that, other retail outlets used his decision as a model. Because one man gave his heart to Christ, 11,000 retail outlets removed these magazines from their stores.

This Day with God will be amazing because He gives insight into how to play a part in a preferred future and gives plans to make a difference in this world.