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

The Golden Rule

Posted on December 22, 2012 by Mark Shields

A lesson from yesterday’s reading of James 2:1-13 is that the Gospel law of liberty should ease social, economic, and racial barriers in a society. The “Golden Rule” of loving your neighbor as yourself is about accepting, appreciating, and affirming.

I once heard a story of a man who visited a church. He felt as though he was not accepted so he talked to God about it in prayer. God’s response was that it was okay; don’t feel bad or take it personal, they didn’t want me in the church either.

Here’s a video to inspire application of the “Golden Rule”: Someone Who Cares – Scott Krippayne.

Brothers and sisters, do not slander one another. Anyone who speaks against a brother or sister or judges them speaks against the law and judges it. When you judge the law, you are not keeping it, but sitting in judgment on it. – James 4:11

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Posted in James | Tagged Acceptance, Affirmation, Appreciation, brothers and sisters, God, Golden Rule, Gospel, human-rights, James, Lessons, Liberty, Neighbor, prayer god, racial barriers, religion, Religion and Spirituality, Scott Krippayne, Society | 2 Comments

Rich in Faith

Posted on December 21, 2012 by Mark Shields

The Golden Rule (Photo credit: Burkazoid)

Think of people or groups that are favored by the world. Those wearing fine clothes, the pretty people on the outside, those with nice cars, and those that live in nice neighborhoods. In James 2:1-13, we are told that such partiality is absolutely wrong. James tells us that God has chosen those who are poor in the eyes of the world to be rich in faith and inherit the kingdom He promised those who love him (v. 5). The right way to live and the standard for our actions are to follow the golden rule, “To love your neighbor as yourself” (v. 8).

The Gospel law of liberty gives freedom to everyone. We are to alleviate barriers or obstacles people face by accepting, appreciating, and affirming everyone that lives by the “Golden Rule”. All Christians share a common father so respect all people because God loves them. We are not to respect others because of mere outward circumstances and appearances. We shouldn’t favor the rich and look down on the poor or accept only those with our same skin color or only the strong and healthy rather than the disabled.

As you go throughout each day, be aware of simple things you can do that will make a big difference to help others get over the barriers that stand in their way? Here’s a video to illustrate how we can apply today’s lesson: Ducklings Get Just What They Need.

Success is not fancy cloths, cars, and homes but discipline and inner peace. If you are tempted to judge others this day with God, be reminded that everyone has tremendous value in His eyes.

It’s alright to be right, but it’s nice to be nice. (ashleyblyth.wordpress.com)
Words of Jesus – The Golden Rule (burningfireshutinmybones.wordpress.com)
Not My Issue! (akissofbliss.wordpress.com)

Posted in James | Tagged Acceptance, Affirmation, Appreciation, Christian, Christianity, Evangelism, Faith, God, Golden Rule, Gospel, human-rights, James, Liberty, Love, Neighborhoods, politics, religion, Religion and Spirituality, Respect, Society | 3 Comments

Pressing On With Eternal Reward

Posted on December 20, 2012 by Mark Shields

We need POWER to win the inner battles of our soul and when Jesus died on the cross for our sins, He gave us that POWER. We can be connected to the POWER source by attaching God’s principles to what we read, write, study, listen to, and watch. When we apply our faith in this way, we are building spiritual muscle. I call it Pressing On With Eternal Reward or POWER. Here is a powerful video for your day with God: What Can I Do – Paul Baloche.

Teach me your ways, O Lord, that I may live according to your truth! Grant me purity of heart, so that I may honor you. – Psalm 86:11

Eternally secure (kevilynj.wordpress.com)
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Posted in James | Tagged Christ, Christianity, Cross, Faith, God, Jesus, Listen, Lord, O Lord, Paul Baloche, Power, Read, Religion and Spirituality, Soul, Spirit, Study, Watch, Write | Leave a comment

There is a POWER Source

Posted on December 19, 2012 by Mark Shields

Pastor Steve at my church said once in a sermon that the book of James is God’s instruction manual on how to integrate our faith with our lifestyle. The book of James was written at a time when Christians were being persecuted and James explains that trials can be used to prepare for the future.

As I reflect on James 1:16-27, God gives us gifts each day that are most loving, most free, and most pure. We just need a way to receive these gifts with our senses, study them so they are planted into our heart, and then bear fruit in our actions so they benefit our life and the lives of others.

How can we be doers of God’s Word? If there would be a way to tie everything we do to God’s principles, we would be producing seeds that could be planted into our hearts and then into the hearts of others. For many years now, the environmental movement has grown but I look at things in the world today and the question that pops up in my mind is: what is the biggest problem we face today? Is it pollution of our environment or pollution of our souls?

Here’s an idea for cleaning up the pollution of souls. Attach God’s principles while listening to sermons, reading blogs, doing Bible study, watching movies, having conversation with others, reading books, and listening to music. As you apply your faith in this way, you are building spiritual muscle. I call it Pressing On With Eternal Reward or POWER.

This day with God, let us humbly pray to plant the seeds of His goodness and believe this day with Him will be amazing because we have the opportunity to put His guidance into practice with POWER.

Posted in James | Tagged Bible, Bible Study, Blog, Christian, Conversation, Epistle of James, Faith, Gifts, God, James, Lifestyle, Movies, Music, Pollution, Reading, Sermon | Leave a comment

Purpose Gives Patience

Posted on December 18, 2012 by Mark Shields

A child waits for Christmas morning and it seems like the waiting lasted forever until they finally open the presents. Just like the child at Christmas, we need to be excited about opening the presents that God has for us each day.

Yesterday, I posted the sermon outline of the message titled “Simeon’s Song”. Sometimes we have to wait like Simeon but when we have a purpose, there is patience and God makes us into the person we need to be to fulfill that purpose. Below is a video called Nunc Dimittis, Song of Simeon, LDS Bible video with music.