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

Praise and Honor God – Ezekiel 36

Posted on January 28, 2012 by Mark Shields

God makes use of the church to do great works like sending members on mission trips and community service. These activities give honor to God and many are able to observe His greatness.

In today’s reading of Ezekiel 36, God is concerned about the honor of His name. The enemy nations had plundered and ridiculed His people of Israel and now God is revealing his plan through Ezekiel to bring them down. God uses Israel to show the holiness of His great name. He gives His people a new heart and spirit so they can recognize His greatness, worship Him, and tell others.

Going to a praise and worship service is a great way to begin a work week. There is a sense of community and togetherness as you worship God together. Also with YouTube and the Internet, each day can start by worshiping God together with praise and worship videos like this one: Revelation Song – Kari Jobe .

What an awesome God we serve. This day with God will be amazing! Today, I’m praying for consistently applying my faith with a new heart and spirit; knowing that God is present and living in expectation of God’s gracious promise.

Ezekiel 36 – 38 Questions for Reflection (thisdaywithgod.wordpress.com)

Posted in Ezekiel | Tagged Christ, Christianity, Ezekiel, God, Israel, Jerusalem, religion & spirituality, YouTube | 3 Comments

Ezekiel 36 – 38 Questions for Reflection

Posted on January 27, 2012 by Mark Shields

A while back, I set out on a journey through the entire Bible. I want to thank each one of you who keep me accountable to this mission. If you or someone you know is searching for a daily reading plan to stay on track, I invite you to join me on this journey. If you already have your own Bible study guide, check in over the next few posts as I share some brief thoughts along the way. I’ll be using the questions below as I study each block of reading.

Ezekiel 36
Passage Lookup

What is God’s purpose in using Israel (verse 23)? To what extent does the church have a similar role to play in the world today? What does God give His people in order to change them?

Ezekiel 37
Passage Lookup

What “impossible” situation faces you? To what extent do you trust that God will pull you through the situation? What holds the church back from growing today?

Ezekiel 38
Passage Lookup

What do you learn about those that oppose God’s purpose or plan in chapter 37? How does God intend to deal with the situation? What weapons will be used?

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A Bible study guide like “This Day with God” helps one to stay focused on Bible study. By praying and listening, God can help us plan the right things to do each day. We can also learn lessons from the Bible that will help in the future as we face the challenges at work, home, or school. Each day with God can be amazing when we understand that the problems we 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.

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

Posted in Ezekiel | Tagged Bible, Bible Study, Christ, Ezekiel, God, InterVarsity Press, Israel, United Methodist Church | 3 Comments

Podcast – The Church was Bold

Posted on January 25, 2012 by Mark Shields

The readings this past week of Ezekiel 33-35 in my devotional fits in perfectly with the sermon series that the Pastors at my place of worship are currently presenting. There is boldness when we follow God’s plan. The type of boldness the leaders lacked around 600 BC during the writing of Ezekiel. Unfortunately, the lessons haven’t been learned and many of the same issues the people went through back then are still being dealt with today.

The message last weekend from Acts 5 was titled “The Church Was Bold”. Some of the main points brought out in the sermon message were the following:

They were afraid, but they were present
They were present and obeyed
Because they obeyed they were empowered
When they were empowered that’s when they became bold
In their boldness they began the movement we call the church

In Acts 5, the apostles healed many when the Holy Spirit came upon them only weeks after Jesus’ resurrection. They were highly regarded by the people. In fact, about 10% of the people in Jerusalem had become Christ followers even though there was no building. Then the high priest and his associates were filled with jealousy so they had the apostles arrested.

The apostles were afraid but the Holy Spirit gave them power. When they obeyed the guidance of the Holy Spirit, they were empowered and became bold enough to begin the movement we know today as the church.

Below are some links you might find interesting:
Lesson three on the sermon series “The Church”
http://www.fumcwaco.org/lesson3.html
Sermon Podcast
http://www.fumcwaco.org/pod.html
I hope you will be blessed by this video
Courageous – Casting Crowns

Let us be courageous together,

Mark

Posted in Thoughts From Sermon | 1 Comment

Learning From History – Ezekiel 35

Posted on January 24, 2012 by Mark Shields

Image via Wikipedia

Life is about choices and better choices are made because of lessons learned from the past. It’s up to us to know what’s going on around us and to take in what’s good for our mind, body, and soul.

My thoughts today are being made after reading Ezekiel 35. You may want to click on this beautiful piano piece as you read this post: In The Garden: Norm Hastings, Piano . Also at this link is more about Edom.

After reading Ezekiel 35, my thoughts are about how God identifies with Israel. They are His people who were led out of Egypt into a land that was prosperous. Over time, they didn’t pay total attention to Him but God has always shown mercy and been patient with them. Because I have read, heard, and observed what has played out in history, today I believe the universal church is God’s people. He identifies with believers in Christ and I believe He wants what is best for His people.

This day with God will be amazing because there are things we can learn from history that will help in making decisions. The problems we 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. Christ being raised from the dead is a sure sign my friend.

Ezekiel 33 – 35 Questions for Reflection (thisdaywithgod.wordpress.com)
It’s a Daily Choice: The Promise Land or Edom (dianneguthmuller.com)
My Complaining about Complaining (j4man.wordpress.com)

Posted in Ezekiel | Tagged Christ, Edom, Egypt, Ezekiel, God, Israel, Jesus, Norm Hastings | 2 Comments

Adversity and Lessons Learned – Ezekiel 34

Posted on January 22, 2012 by Mark Shields

In Ezekiel 34, the people were without good leadership. The leaders took from the people to reward themselves and the economy was weakened so that many lacked the basic necessities. The weak were not strengthened, the sick were not healed, and Israel could not protect itself from neighboring enemies; eventually being destroyed.

In this passage, we get the idea of what a great nation should be founded on; God should be its foundation. When God is put first within a nation, the people are blessed with spiritual food; providing a climate that rewards the productive so that resources are available to strengthen the weak. There is abundance because God is with them and leaders are held to account.

There is one good thing about adversity and that is that it gives lessons that can enrich the world if societies learn from the mistakes of the past and then share their lessons learned with others. Then stepping stones are laid down for progress.

But we don’t have to dream of some perfect society of the future. We can simply enjoy the amazing things that can happen right now and praise God! May you be blessed by the video below:

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The perfect society of the future will come about one day for all who accept Christ as their Savior; it’s a place called heaven.

My prayer this day with God is that there are showers of blessings in every place where the truth of Christ is taught; that all who accept the gospel message will be filled with peace and abundant Spirit.