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

Priorities are the Foundation

Posted on October 15, 2012 by Mark Shields

Like the plans to building a house, the Bible is God’s plan for our life and priorities are the foundation. Build upon a solid faith in Jesus Christ. Condition the heart by remembering the lessons, applying them in life, and sharing these lasting treasures with others.

The lesson learned for me from reading Haggai 1 is that we also need to put God as our top priority. We should pray for directions, listen for instructions on what needs to be done, and get to work. Concern should be given to self-examination of our spiritual state and working on the condition of the heart. Here is a video that’s about working on the condition of the heart: Heart of Worship – Matt Redman.

For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your ancestors, but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect. – 1 Peter 1:18-19

Knock, Knock (part 3) (plymouthcongregationalchurch.wordpress.com)
“Living Hope” ( 1 Peter 1:3, WYC ) by Carley Evans (lambskinny.wordpress.com)

Posted in Haggai | Tagged Bible, Blood of Christ, Christ, Christianity, condition of the heart, Faith, First Epistle of Peter, God, Haggai, Heart, heart of worship, Jesus, Jesus Christ, Lessons, Plans, Pray, Priorities, Treasures | 7 Comments

Ideas for Building Up Physical and Spiritual Health

Posted on October 13, 2012 by Mark Shields

Over the last few weeks, I’ve been writing about the importance of physical and spiritual health. In this final post on this subject, I’d like to put forth some ideas. Each day is a new day and our today can be better than yesterday. This day with God, we can get off on the right track, have the right frame of mind, feel better, be happy, and do amazing things. There are many dietary rules in the Bible that test our obedience. These rules can apply today for the food we take in for our souls including what we read, watch, or think about.

One idea is to go on short vacations by surfing the net for images that help connect to a Bible verse, find something that makes us laugh, or find facts about our Creator’s amazing world. This activity has two goals in mind. First, it relaxes our body and mind. Second, it equips us for sharing thoughts and ideas with others.

A prescription for stress is working out with God’s Word, praying, and listening to the Spirit. These activities build muscles of faith which stay strong and build forever. Unlike muscles of the physical body, building up muscles for the soul provides an everlasting gain.

One idea I’ve tried is to mix scripture and exercise into a routine that I call believersize. What you do is find a scripture to memorize and search the internet for pictures that crystallizes a principle from that scripture. You then can put these together into an application like PowerPoint. As you ride your stationary bike or walk on the treadmill, you can view the slides. This is a way to take in God’s Word and exercise at the same time.

The Bible says in 1 Corinthians 3:16, “Don’t you know that you yourselves are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in your midst?” The goal is to take care of God’s temple through a system of scripture memory and exercise. You can have all the latest and greatest exercise equipment but if you never take it out of the box, it’s useless. You have to find something that inspires and there’s nothing like God’s Word to get you started. With believersize, you begin to notice things seem easier. That’s because the intangibles of a winner are being built from the inside and all that internal good stuff just oozes out.

Biblical Fasting (chettesblog.wordpress.com)
participating with the Spirit – a healthy Body, Gifts of the Spirit #2 (eatinglocusts.wordpress.com)
Social media can change spiritual habits (alanrudnick.org)

Posted in Physical and Mental Health | Tagged Bible, Church, Creator, dietary rules, Exercise, Faith, Goal, God, God’s Word, Happy, Health, Holy Spirit, Ideas, Inspiration, Jesus, Mental health, Physical body, Relax, religion, Scripture, scripture memory, Soul, spirituality, Thoughts, Vacation | 1 Comment

The First Step

Posted on October 12, 2012 by Mark Shields

English: The Second Jewish Temple. Model in the Israel Museum. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

To get work done, the first step is to set priorities. Haggai 1 has a good lesson on priorities. To set up the historical context, the nation of Israel had been in exile in Babylon and the people began to return to their homeland in 538 B. C. to rebuild the Temple in Jerusalem. Their work was slowed up by opposition and had actually stopped for 15 years.

The prophet named Haggai is sent by God to stir up the people to finish the Temple. They had neglected this top priority using the excuse that they didn’t have time because they needed to get their own house in order. Haggai delivers a message to them about how they focused too much on their own houses instead of God’s house. He highlighted that the main priority should be the building of the Lord’s house and then all other aspects of life would fall into place.

Those who work on the condition of their heart will have God there to help. Small things become big things when our thoughts are about giving glory to God. Like the plans to building a house, the Bible is God’s plan for our life and priorities are the foundation so build upon a solid faith in Jesus Christ. Condition the heart by remembering the lessons, applying them in life, and sharing these lasting treasures with others.

This day with God will be amazing because there are things I can learn from history that will help in making decisions. The problems I go through in life are not stop signs; they are guidelines and it is during tough times that He provides sure signs of a brighter future. Today, I’m praying for that first step; asking God to help me have the right priorities and showing me what areas of my life I need to trust in Him more.

Haggai 1 – 2 Questions for Reflection (thisdaywithgod.wordpress.com)
A Time to Act (dailybibleplan.com)
The Bible: The Simplest and Best Self Help Book in the World (sharefaith.wordpress.com)

Posted in Haggai | Tagged Babylon, Bible, Christ, Christianity, Decisions, Faith, God, Haggai, Heart, Israel, Jerusalem, Jesus Christ, Lesson, Plan, Prayer, Priority, religion, Temple, Time, Treasure | 2 Comments

Haggai 1–2 Questions for Reflection

Posted on October 11, 2012 by Mark Shields

For a time now, I’ve been sharing some thoughts as I studied the Psalms. The journey now takes me into the book of Haggai to study about a prophet sent by God to stir up the people and finish the Temple. Come along with me or check back daily to read some of my reflections on this reading. I think you’ll find some good lessons that we can all apply in life.

A daily devotional time pushes us to focus on God. The questions below are to be used to provide fuel for my thoughts as I study 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.

Haggai 1
Passage Lookup
What is the historical context of Haggai’s message? What excuses do the people offer on not rebuilding the Lord’s house? To what extent are you busy on your career, home, vacation, or other leisure activities rather than doing God’s work?

Haggai 2:1-9
Passage Lookup
How do you feel when you have to live up to certain expectations? How can we take courage?

Haggai 2:10-23
Passage Lookup
What are the channels for decision-making? What is the relationship between obedience and prosperity? What has God already told me in his Word that I haven’t started doing yet?
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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

2012 Quarter 3 Bible Reading Report (fillingmypatchofsky.com)
Rebuilding God’s Temple! (psalmsofpraisewomensministries.wordpress.com)
Haggai (blmoffit.wordpress.com)

Posted in Haggai | Tagged Bible, Christ, Devotional, God, Haggai, Journey, Lessons, Psalm, Reflection, Temple | 1 Comment

Our Play Book

Posted on October 10, 2012 by Mark Shields

This week’s message in the six part series called “Game Plan” is titled “Play Book”. The universal church is the spiritual team of God. To keep us on track, the Bible constantly trains the body of Christ. Like our “Play Book”, we can study or practice together and the Holy Spirit helps us apply what the Bible tells us to do. Below is an outline of the message. The words in black are notes provided by the church staff and the notes in blue are notes I added as I listened to the Podcast.

Getting off track.
1 Timothy 4:1-5

It’s so easy to get off track and spend our time in activities that are not significant. We chase after things that we want to do rather than what God wants us to do. Sometimes the answer is simple and believing in the ONE who has all the answers seems too easy.

Train yourself!
1 Timothy 4:6-9

We are each in charge of our own training. We need to take our own responsibility for our walk. We need to keep track of where our time is spent, where our money is spent, and what our thoughts are on.

Two reliable Sources.
1 Timothy 4:11-14

Scripture – The whole body of Christ has the Bible which is our “Play Book” which we can study and practice together

God’s Holy Spirit – The Spirit helps us apply what the Bible tells us

Excel!
1 Timothy 4:15-16

People around us ought to see a difference in our actions.

Feel free to use this outline and message to study or share with others. There is also a Podcast of all sermons at this link. I hope this video inspires your day as we study and practice the “Play Book” together: I Will Follow – Maranatha Singers.