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

Celebrate with God – Ezekiel 46

Posted on February 22, 2012 by Mark Shields

Pause each day to celebrate with God the free gift He has given. Use each victory celebration as a stepping stone to even greater joy. In verses 1-10 of Ezekiel 46, there is certain orderliness required before worship. God wants us to be ready and like an athlete that warms up before a game, a musician that gets ready for a concert, or an actor practicing their lines, God wants us to be ready for worship.

There is a certain order before receiving rewards. A person has to see, believe, and then achieve. We vividly imagine what a life is like with God forever, ardently desire that life, sincerely believe, and enthusiastically worship … so it will inevitably come to pass.

Spectacular achievement is always preceded by unspectacular preparation. According to Tony Evans, when we follow the plan God has for us, our life is full of purpose and on target. An entire psalm has been dedicated to profiling just how amazing it can be in Psalm 128. Robert H. Schuller said once, “God has prepared for us a bright future because our reward is with Christ.

The ordinances of worship are described in this passage today. We have many duties that God wants from us yet many things He leaves to our choice. One choice to never neglect is our daily time of worship. This day with God, make it a part of your prayer to be organized by making a mental list of who to pray for. As prayers are answered in the days ahead, thank God and make a note to share with others.

Here’s a video to inspire as you celebrate with God: Shout To The Lord – Hillsong.

Ezekiel 44-46 Questions for Reflection (thisdaywithgod.wordpress.com)
Praising the God of Possibilities (countingmyblessings.typepad.com)
February 8 – I See His Glory In My Life (lelandfleming.wordpress.com)
Morning Pick-Me-Up (blessednoise.wordpress.com)
The Power of Worship by Blogger Clay Ritter (religionnewswilmington.wordpress.com)
There is No One Like You: Psalm 138 (psalmslife.com)
Renewing Your Heart with LOVE (lamehousewife.wordpress.com)
Don’t Just Thank God, but Praise Him Also (mujrdblog.wordpress.com)

Posted in Ezekiel | Tagged Christ, Christianity, Ezekiel, God, Israel, Jesus, religion & spirituality, Rewards, Robert H. Schuller | 1 Comment

Positive Direction for the Future – Ezekiel 45

Posted on February 20, 2012 by Mark Shields

The real way to measure effective leadership is not what benefits the present but what affects a positive direction for the future in our families, businesses, organizations, and society in general.

In Ezekiel 45, God is giving instructions for how society should be set up. All people will participate; working together to live in peace, ease, and goodness. There will be a balance of authority between leaders and the people. Leaders will be of integrity and a system will be put in place so that the focus of society is to worship the one true God.

Reading today’s passage, made me think back to a personal experience earlier in my career. I went to technical school to learn about computer programming. After I had secured a job and had been working for a year or so, I was asked about a person who attended the technical school at the same time I did. The person they asked me about was always cheating to get by in class and I just couldn’t give a good recommendation to that applicant. People may think they can cut corners and end up on top but they can’t. At some point in time, the lack of integrity spoils a person’s potential. This video inspires integrity: House of Gold – Gaither Vocal Band.

Pray for your walk with God so that it is one of integrity and know that God’s principles never change. A daily devotional like “This Day with God” internalizes His guiding principles and becomes an instrument which pushes one to focus on Him in every activity throughout your day.

Integrity is tied to faith (jimgreear.wordpress.com)
Are sons punished for their father’s sins? (erikbrewer.wordpress.com)
The Psychology of Integrity (blackbirdnetwork.wordpress.com)
God blesses Integrity in Business Affairs (jesuscarriesme.com)

Posted in Ezekiel | Tagged Christ, Christianity, Ezekiel, God, Integrity, Jesus, Lord, religion & spirituality, Tyre Lebanon | 4 Comments

Expect God’s Presence All The Time – Ezekiel 44

Posted on February 18, 2012 by Mark Shields

This day will be amazing because God can be involved in every activity, every conversation, every problem, and even every thought. My Pastor, Steve Ramsdell said in a sermon message that God speaks in various ways – visions, dreams, life’s circumstances, and even through other people. Believe it or not and most of all, God speaks through the Bible.

The glory of God was a visible experience in Ezekiel 44. Is this Jesus in the appearance of a man who is leading Ezekiel on this tour? During Ezekiel’s time on earth, around 500 BC, the temple was the most efficient way to meet God but many were excluded because of the restrictions placed on this privilege of standing before Him. Because of Jesus, no one is excluded from this privilege.

We can let God lead us by praying without ceasing for help in our finances, interests, relationships, schedules, and troubles. We can expect God’s presence all the time.

Here is a piano piece link you can click to help you reflect: In The Garden: Norm Hastings, Piano. Think about your day and what to pray for. Spend some time talking to God in prayer. Put away the cares and concerns and noise of the day, listening for the Holy Spirit to give a plan of action as you make the most of this day with God.

AWAKE! ARISE! ALERT! ALARM! Part 2 (lifestreamsflow1.wordpress.com)
God’s trump card… His presence! (ilifejourney.wordpress.com)
Who are you Lord? I AM the head of my church 1 Thess 5:12-28 (whoareyoulord.wordpress.com)
The Revival We Need (3) (trinityspeaks.wordpress.com)
Hearing God: Listening through the Bible (missionalrev.wordpress.com)
God’s Presence Is Becoming Stronger Each Day (dailyaspects.wordpress.com)
The Path to Glory (Part 2) (godsgracegodsglory.wordpress.com)
The River of Life (onwardswearychristian.wordpress.com)

Posted in Ezekiel | Tagged Bible, Christ, Christianity, Divine presence, Ezekiel, Focus on God, God, HolySpirit, Jesus, Norm Hastings, religion & spirituality | 6 Comments

Ezekiel 44-46 Questions for Reflection

Posted on February 17, 2012 by Mark Shields

Over the last few posts, Ezekiel has been given a vision of how the Temple will look. I learned just how important it is to set aside time to be in a holy space to pray daily. Time spent with God is effective time. More treasure is found and gold is mined during time spent with God than will ever be taken from the earth.

After Ezekiel gets a visionary tour through the Temple of God, he then is given a vision of the glory of God. The prophet Ezekiel is to tell people about what he sees just like God wants us to tell others about His plan. If we go to work for God, He will work on us. If we go to work on His plans, His plans will work on us. Whatever good things we build, end up building character in us.

I then learned about how they had to follow the law in order to be acceptable to God. Today it’s much easier because we no longer have to offer atoning sacrifices. We don’t have to jump through hoops with thousands of dollars worth of livestock or days of waiting to be approved by God. Jesus Christ of Nazareth changed everything. Because of His death and resurrection, we have immediate, constant, and forever acceptance.

Now, I will continue my journey through Ezekiel 44-46. The reading plan below with questions to provide fuel for my thoughts will be used. Join me over the next few post to help find out who is leading Ezekiel on these visionary tours, the instructions for a positive future, and what we can expect if we follow God’s plan for us.

Ezekiel 44
Passage Lookup

Does God’s Glory seem commonplace to you? Who is the man leading Ezekiel on the tour? What are the restrictions for the privilege of standing before God (verses 15-31)? To what extent are you careful about morally “legitimate” things which destroy the ultimate purpose? Why?

Ezekiel 45
Passage Lookup

What is the place of the temple in that national life? Why are weights and measures now standardized (See verses Lev 19:35-36; Deut. 25:13-16)?

Ezekiel 46
Passage Lookup

Note the orderliness required in verses 1-10. How does disorder affect your spirit of worship? Why are safeguards necessary for someone in power (See verses 16-18 with 45:9)? To what extent are you respecting the bounds of confidence placed in you without stealing reputation or using it for personal advantage? Why?

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I will use the reading plan above as a tool for daily Bible study. My prayer is that the readings, questions above, and the experiences I go through this week will provide some good thoughts to share over the next few posts. I’m praying that the lessons will help not only me but all who read so we can apply them in our activities and conversation as we spend each day with God.

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

Ezekiel 42-43 Questions for Reflection (thisdaywithgod.wordpress.com)

Posted in Ezekiel | Tagged Bible Study, Christianity, religion & spirituality | 2 Comments

Acceptance – Ezekiel 43:13-27

Posted on February 15, 2012 by Mark Shields

We don’t have to jump through hoops to be approved by God. Jesus Christ of Nazareth changed everything; simply believing in His death and resurrection, gives immediate, constant, and forever acceptance.

Before God’s gift of His Son, there was a procedure as explained in Ezekiel 43:13-27 that everyone had to go through to be acceptable to God. It involved sacrificing burnt offerings and sprinkling blood upon the altar; a young bull would be given to the priests, a goat on the second day, and then for seven days in a row a male goat would be provided for a sin offering along with a young bull and a ram from the flock.

Today it’s much easier because we no longer have to offer atoning sacrifices. We don’t have to jump through hoops and spend large sums of money on livestock or spend days of waiting to be approved by God. Here’s a video to up lift as you spend this day with God: My Savior My God – Aaron Shust.

This day with God, I’m praying to have the courage to get honest and call sin by its true name; knowing that this provides the stage for cleansing in Jesus Christ and new freedom.