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

Palm 88 – Going to God for Help

Posted on January 15, 2012 by Mark Shields

If God feels distant, envision a better future and go to Him in prayer. Apprehend that the trials we go through build spiritual muscle and character. Look forward to what God can do and get ready to grab the helping hand of His Spirit. The writer of Psalm 88 blames God’s judgment for his state of grief. He’s lost and writes that he is near the grave, without strength to go on, and in despair.

Weakness of faith leads to the state described by the psalmist in today’s reading but our faith gets stronger when we look to Jesus during grief to remember the sufferings he went through in order to redeem our souls.

The lesson for me in today’s reading is to build up our faith daily with Bible study and praise to God. Read a planned out passage, pray for help, write down thoughts from sermons, and view praise videos like at this link: Blessings – Laura Story or embedded below.

We need to believe God is beside us in everything we do; during household duties, on the job, at lunch time, and when driving in our car. Faith will not only protect when life delivers its blows but will also help us recover at a faster pace so we are back on our feet and ready to meet challenges head on.

After reading Psalm 88, set some time aside for reflection. What lesson is God teaching? Think about what you may pray for. Is there a plan of action God is giving you? Then spend some time in prayer; believing God will help you plan your future and that things will fall into place for amazing days ahead with Him!

Psalm 87 – 89 Questions for Reflection (thisdaywithgod.wordpress.com)
Make the Time (ptl2010.com)
“Delight Yourself in the Lord” (pjsprayerline.blogspot.com)
Do You Have Tim Tebow’s Phone Number? I would like to borrow his pen. (craigmotor.wordpress.com)

Posted in Psalm | Tagged Applying Faith, Bible, Bible Study, Christianity, God, HolySpirit, Jesus, Prayer, Psalm | 2 Comments

Psalm 87

Posted on January 13, 2012 by Mark Shields

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Each day is full of excitement because God can be with you at all times and at any place; like when working, washing dishes, soaking up rays, or even scaling up a mountain.

There is plenty of excitement expressed in Psalm 87. Zion is one of the hills of Jerusalem and in biblical times, it is an emblem of the household of God or the church of God established by Him that continues to be strong because He is founder and protector.

Click on this piano piece link: In The Garden: Norm Hastings, Piano. While listening, reflect on today’s reading. What lesson is God teaching? Think about what you may pray for today. Is there a plan of action God is giving you today?

With Christ as leader of the church, God has given us a glorious and excellent plan that is greater than any of the nations of the earth. In prayer today, be thankful for God’s church and how it is the perfect institution in our world established by God to meet all our needs.

Get excited about each day. In the book “Game Plan for Life”, Tony Evans writes that Jesus had a zeal for His Father’s house that consumed Him; Paul said his ministry was his ambition or passion; Jeremiah said his calling became like fire in his bones that he couldn’t shake.

This day with God, you will have new ideas formed and new thoughts crystallized. My prayer is that you turn them into pieces more precious than diamonds.

Psalm 87 – 89 Questions for Reflection (thisdaywithgod.wordpress.com)

Posted in Psalm | Tagged Christ, enthusiasm, God, Jeremiah, Jerusalem, Jesus, Psalm, Tony Evans, Zion | 4 Comments

Psalm 87 – 89 Questions for Reflection

Posted on January 12, 2012 by Mark Shields

In the days ahead, I’ll use the questions below to stimulate my thinking about each block of reading. Then I’ll post some thoughts as I continue my journey. Thanks for being here as we learn from each other.

Psalm 87
Passage Lookup

What jubilation accompanies the claim made by other nations that they are citizens in Zion? What would international allegiance to God mean for society?

Psalm 88
Passage Lookup

Whom does the writer ultimately blame for his trouble? What is the extent of his affliction? What happens to your view of God and his sovereignty when you feel abandoned? Why does the writer turn to God for help?

Psalm 89:1-18
Passage Lookup

What qualities of God does the writer praise? Illustrate each attribute. What makes Israel blessed?

Psalm 89:19-51
Passage Lookup

List the promises in God’s covenant with David (Verses 3-4). What areas of life do they encompass? What is the witness for God’s promise to us?

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This Day with God reading plan can be used as a tool for daily Bible Study at any place or any time. 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 post about accepting God’s plan or reaffirming our “YES” for Christ.

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 Psalm | Tagged Bible Study, Christ, God, InterVarsity Press, Israel, Jesus, Psalm, United Methodist Church | 5 Comments

Sermon Podcast

Posted on January 11, 2012 by Mark Shields

At my local church, a new message series called “The Church” has started and can be listened to at this link: Sermon Podcast. Some of the main points from the message are that the Church is a movement that continues to move. It’s a gathering of people who share about God’s Word in every corner of the world. The movement was given to us by God so we have assurance, confidence, and power to share the Good News about Christ.

What struck me about the message is that the church is not a place; it’s a gathering. With technology today, we can share with others many miles away about God’s Word. What I’m writing now can be read by people all around the world. We can respond with thoughts and ideas that may help us all build up the Church or help us fight the battles we face in life together.

I hope you will be blessed by this video: Dive – Steven Curtis Chapman.

If you currently participate in a small group or lead a small group and are looking for discussion material, you might find the material at this link useful: Lesson One on the Church.

Let us continue to dive into God’s Word together.

Mark

Inspirational Sermons (escapetothewell.wordpress.com)
When Your Worship Team (or Leader) is not Hillsong United (coffeenotallowed.wordpress.com)

Posted in Thoughts From Sermon | Tagged Christ, Christianity, God, Good News, Local church, Mark, religion & spirituality, Steven Curtis Chapman | 4 Comments

Psalm 86

Posted on January 10, 2012 by Mark Shields

David asked the Lord to hear his prayer in Psalm 86; to guard his life, have mercy, give joy, preserve his soul, teach him to walk in His ways, have mercy on him, and to give a sign of His goodness so his enemies would be put to shame. In each case, David believes his request will be granted because of his devotion to God.

Billy Graham once said, “Man has two great spiritual needs. One is for forgiveness. The other is for goodness”. My hope is that you will be inspired by this video: My Desire – Jeremy Camp.

A person absolutely devoted to God will have only one worry in life. How will they have time to possibly gather in all the abundance of joy, peace, and favor God gives? They will need to start finding others to help gather it all in. That’s how momentum builds like a wave so that God’s message spreads from sea to shining sea and around the world.

David faced enemies and we face enemies too; things that are at war on the inside like lack of time, being pulled in different directions so we can’t focus on a particular task, bad habits that keep us from being all we could be, and the list goes on and on. But we can believe amazing things will happen this day with God! Choose parts of David’s prayer in Psalm 86 to use as you pray today. Believe like David that your request will be granted.