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

Praise God for His Help

Posted on June 11, 2012 by Mark Shields

After reading a block of planned Bible reading and answering the questions in my devotional, I’ll usually spend some time reflecting on the main point and what God is teaching me. Sometimes I’ll also illustrate the main point with something talked about in a sermon I’ve heard or a song/video. For my reading of Ezra 8, I found some food for thought in a point made in a sermon at my church by Pastor Steve. He said that prayer allows God to lighten our load. Like an eagle flying, He lightens our load so that we can be lifted up higher and can see the bigger picture.

To give a lift higher for my day and hopefully yours too, I found this video that relates to how we can apply the message brought out in Ezra 8. If we ask for God’s help along the journey just like Ezra did, we can succeed. Here’s the link: What Can I Do – Paul Baloche or you can click on the video below.

Lighten your load; get help, pray, and take action. Praise God for everything you can do for Him. Some task may seem menial but when we do them for God, they become the most exciting part of our day.

Questions for Reflection Ezra 7-9 (thisdaywithgod.wordpress.com)
Let All Things Praise the Lord (shareaverse.wordpress.com)
Why Should We Praise the Lord? by Mark D. Roberts (trinityspeaks.wordpress.com)
A Request For Praise (cardboardmagazine.wordpress.com)

Posted in Ezra | Tagged Bible, Bible Study, Christianity, Excitement, Ezra, God, Inspiration, Paul Baloche, Praise, Prayer, Reflection, Religion and Spirituality, Sermon | 4 Comments

Do It For God

Posted on June 10, 2012 by Mark Shields

English: Ezra Kneels in Prayer (Ezr. 9:1-15) Русский: Ездра на молитве (Езд. 9:1-15) (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

It’s important to trust God with the help we need for each task. Pray for people around you like a spouse, a parent, a leader at your place of work, or a colleague.

Ezra asked for help, prayed, and took action in Ezra 8. The exiles reached Jerusalem and carried out the task of weighing the gold and silver, they sacrificed burnt offering to God, and delivered the orders from the king to the royal officials or to the governors.

After receiving the plan from God, it’s important to take the proper steps to carry it out. Ask yourself today, what common task could I start doing as if I were doing it directly for Jesus? Is it something like washing the dishes or cloths? Maybe it’s paying bills, mowing the lawn, washing the car. On the job, it may be some repetitive task. This day with God will be amazing because nothing is menial; it’s all exciting when you give it your all for Him.

Questions for Reflection Ezra 7-9 (thisdaywithgod.wordpress.com)
My Prayer for you: Might (overcomingloneliness.com)
Ask God to Help You Get There (sherissewoodley.com)
Prayer Really Does Change Things (andrewscribner.wordpress.com)
Prayer to Maintain Thankfulness (revthechristianlife.wordpress.com)
Pray Faithfully (livingontilt.wordpress.com)

Posted in Ezra | Tagged Applied Faith, Christianity, enthusiasm, Excitement, Ezra, God, Israelite, Jerusalem, Jesus, Prayer, Religion and Spirituality, Reward | 1 Comment

Boldness for Leaders

Posted on June 9, 2012 by Mark Shields

In my study and writing yesterday about Ezra 7 and how he showed boldness, I began to think of how we can have that same type of boldness as leaders in what we do. What if in every circumstance that causes fear there was someone beside you that knew the most about the situation and how to get through it? Wouldn’t that give you confidence? Well my friend, we do have that someone. Just invite Him into your heart.

In a sermon at my church, Pastor Steve once said that when we truly believe that Jesus Christ is continually with us, then we can risk and step out to obey God in new and adventurous ways. Our church started a Sermon Podcast several years ago and I use it to review and make notes of the message delivered each week.

This day with God, believe you will be blessed and others will be blessed because of what you share.

Footprints (kingskidneal.wordpress.com)
Trends of the Spirit – Servant – Leader – Influencer (face2facegduffty.wordpress.com)

Posted in Ezra | Tagged Bible Study, Boldness, Christ, Christianity, Confidence, Ezra, Ezra 7, God, Jesus, Jesus Christ, Leadership, Religion and Spirituality, Sermon Podcast | 6 Comments

The Mission

Posted on June 8, 2012 by Mark Shields

English: The Jews Return to Jerusalem in the Time of Cyrus; as in Ezra 1:1-11; illustration from a Bible card published by the Providence Lithograph Company (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

King Artaxerxes let Ezra go to Jerusalem as stated in Ezra 7 and take any Levites or priests with him. Also to deliver all the articles entrusted for worship in the temple of God. Ezra was told to appoint law officers and judges to administer justice and teach the laws of God.

Ezra responded with praise to God for the opportunity to bring honor to the house of the Lord; for help in being bold and cheerful. We should have the same attitude because God enables us to do His work and at the end of each day, we should pray and give God all the glory.

God works in history and we should take courage and let God go where we have not gone before. Technology is changing and God can use technology to spread The Word at a much faster pace and Bible study can be done in different ways now.

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 word document that can be read, downloaded and signed by anyone that would like to accept God’s plan.

Questions for Reflection Ezra 7-9 (thisdaywithgod.wordpress.com)
Be a Good Neighbor (chasingthewind.net)
Let’s take the Internet Back (comissioned.wordpress.com)

Posted in Ezra | Tagged Bible Study, Bold, Cheerful, Ezra, God, Jerusalem, Jesus, King Artaxerxes, Levites, Praise, Pray, Savior, Technology, Temple, Worship | 1 Comment

Questions for Reflection Ezra 7-10

Posted on June 7, 2012 by Mark Shields

Over the last week or so I’ve shared some thoughts from Ezra 4-6. What happened to the exiles trying to rebuild the temple can happen to us today. Many times we face adversaries in life but our mighty God can provide shelter from the storms we face. Problems can best be overcome with prayer and by following His will.

The rebuilding of the Temple was put on hold for a long time but many continued to have the desire to see it through. The lesson for us is to encourage brothers & sisters in Christ by creating a picture of endless possibilities & through prayer, build confidence that all obstacles will be removed. Together, we will accomplish more than we could’ve ever dreamed.

They caught a break when King Darius ordered some research be done on finding the decree concerning the rebuilding of the temple of God. The good work would be finished. For us to build momentum and finish the good work, each believer like a stone in the construction of God’s house should sincerely believe that each obstacle will be overcome and enthusiastically act upon each task until completion; celebrating progress by praising God.

To continue the journey further into Ezra, below are questions to be used to stimulate thought about each block of reading.

Ezra 7
Passage Lookup

What commission does Artaxerxes give regarding Ezra? What is Ezra’s response to the king’s action? How do you respond to God’s working in history?

Ezra 8
Passage Lookup

To what extent do you trust God to provide the right person for each task in your group? Describe the successive actions of the exiles after they reach Jerusalem. Why do they do these things (See 7:14-20)?

Ezra 9
Passage Lookup

To whom do the officials bring their report? Why? What is the people’s offense? What underlies their misconduct? What pollutions of the peoples are prevalent today?

Ezra 10
Passage Lookup

How does Ezra’s behavior and prayer affect the Israelites? How does your group deal with corporate breaches of conduct? Think about changes that are needed. What can you do to have the courage needed to go out and start these changes?

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Each day with God is a fresh start because we are forgiven. It can be an amazing day because Christ the difference maker assures that every struggle faced can be overcome. Spiritual growth is a daily process that requires continuous effort but the endeavor is slight compared to the regret one might feel if they never started the progress.

Check up on my posts over the next few weeks as I share some thoughts about each passage. My prayer is that some of the thoughts or ideas that come from my study and reflection of my journey through Ezra can be applied to your own life.

Resources and Supplementary Helps Used in Posts
First United Methodist Waco Podcast
Christ Notes
Adeney, Carol. This Morning with God. Downer Grove Illinois: InterVarsity Press, 1978