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

Questions Answered at Christmas

Posted on December 23, 2011 by Mark Shields

Leading up to Christmas, a sermon series at my church titled “What Child is This” was presented. Several questions of those who were at the first Christmas were addressed. Like us, they had questions but they all were answered on Christmas.

If you read in Luke 1:26-38, Mary had questions but she trusted God with all her heart. In Matthew 1-2, several others at the first Christmas had questions. Joseph had questions but he didn’t hesitate. Instead he trusted God and followed His path immediately even when it was risky. His faith kept him going until in God’s time the questions were answered. It wasn’t easy for the Wise Men but what kept them going was to find Jesus and it’s the same for us today. What keeps us going is the constant reminder of what He did for us on the cross and this inspires us to want to give Him our best in whatever we do. Like the Innkeeper, will we make room for Jesus with our time and in our thoughts? The wise men did. They looked for and kept on following the star. We too should look for and keep following our Superstar, Jesus Christ. Lift Him up because it’s Good News for all.

Click on the piano piece above or this link: The First Noel: Norm Hastings, Piano. While listening, reflect on what Christmas means to you. Share those amazing moments of this past year by responding with a short note or a comment. Also, feel free to share any favorite inspirational videos, photos, sermon thoughts, or favorite Bible verses.

Each day we wake up, we can continue to dream and believe because God’s grace keeps flowing like a never ending river. For inspiring sermon messages throughout the New Year, you’re invited to listen or watch at this link: Sermon Podcast.

Posted in Thoughts From Sermon | Tagged Bible, Biblical Magi, Christmas, God, Gospel of Luke, Innkeeper, Jesus, Jesus Christ | Leave a comment

Psalm 81 – 83 Questions for Reflection

Posted on December 21, 2011 by Mark Shields

Share with us those amazing moments of your past or present by responding with a short note or a comment about any of these questions below. Also, share with us any favorite inspirational videos, photos, sermon thoughts, or favorite Bible verses.

Psalm 81
Passage Lookup

What does the fact that God schedules times of joy (there are many more feast days than fast days) tell you about God and the kind of life he wants you to live? What does God promise if Israel will listen to him?

Psalm 82
Passage Lookup

What is the charge? The command? To whom have they shown partiality (see verse Lev. 19:15). Are you concerned enough about injustice to call on God to judge the earth or do you just talk about it with other people?

Psalm 83
Passage Lookup

On what basis does the psalmist call for help? What is the psalmist’s ultimate reason for calling down God’s judgments on the opposition? Is your motivation for judgment that of verse 18? Why?

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Why put off living? Instead of dreaming of some magical day in the future, enjoy the amazing things that happen right now by spending this 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

Posted in Psalm | Tagged Chapters and verses of the Bible, Christ, God, InterVarsity Press, Israel, Psalm, United Methodist Church | 4 Comments

Psalm 80

Posted on December 19, 2011 by Mark Shields

Image via Wikipedia

In Psalm 80, the nation of Israel is represented as an unhealthy vine; separated from the nutrients of God because of the infectious spiritual condition of sin. God intervened to provide a healing process as the Light shined and the vine grew so today its branches give shade to comfort us. Now the vine has grown to represent the church, the root of the vine is Christ, and the branches are believers.

God’s people were separated from God but by accepting the gift of abundant life through His Son, the healing can begin. To maintain spiritual health, His Word provides food for the mind and creates light for understanding.

My hope is that you will be moved by this video and that it inspires you as you spend this day with God: Healing Begins – Tenth Avenue North.

My prayer today is to continue to thank God for the gift of His son, take in His Word as spiritual food, and continue to shine the light so more branches grow to provide comfort for us all.

Psalm 78 – 80 Questions for Reflection (thisdaywithgod.wordpress.com)
Isaiah 39, Psalms 46, 76, 80, 135 (mybiblereadingplan.wordpress.com)
Psalm 119: God’s Help for Stumbling Into Sin (mainwriters.com)
Restoration (gladlylistening.wordpress.com)

Posted in Psalm | Tagged Christ, Christianity, God, Israel, Israelites, Jesus, Psalm, religion & spirituality | Leave a comment

Psalm 79

Posted on December 18, 2011 by Mark Shields

Imagine we have traveled back in time today and we see the city of Jerusalem destroyed like in Psalm 79. God’s people are in terrible condition, Jerusalem has been reduced to rubble, and there is no one to bury the dead. Imagine the psalmist is next to us pleading for compassion.

Now, reflect on today’s reading. What lesson is God teaching? One lesson for me is that what makes good common sense is to simply accept God’s gift of His son, be thankful, and continue to praise God for His mercy. By accepting God’s gift of His son, we are right with Him and life is good. Otherwise, we are separated and life is one big unsettling letdown.

My hope is that you will be moved by this video: Word of God Speak by MercyMe. That it inspires you as you spend this day with God.

People may doubt what God can do but it’s really simple. It’s about praying, being a good person, working hard, doing your best, using common sense, and accepting the love of God in Christ. Let us be thankful that we can ask for forgiveness in Jesus name and our sins are forgiven; then God’s loving kindness is with us and our future days with Him are victorious because no matter what happens in life, God loves you and that is all that matters.

Psalm 78 – 80 Questions for Reflection (thisdaywithgod.wordpress.com)
David’s story is my story – Is it your story, too? (hastenhome.wordpress.com)

Posted in Psalm | Tagged Christ, Christianity, Evangelism, God, Jerusalem, Jesus, Psalm, religion & spirituality | Leave a comment

Psalm 78:42-72

Posted on December 16, 2011 by Mark Shields

Image via Wikipedia

From the book “Game Plan for Life”, Christian apologist Ravi Zacharias writes, “In real terms, the New Testament is easily the best attested ancient writing in terms of the sheer number of documents, the time span between the events and the document, and the variety of documents available to sustain or contradict it. There is nothing in ancient manuscript evidence to match such textual availability and integrity”.

God’s word is a solid record of how we should live. Today’s reading in Psalm 78:42-72 teaches us that God has a purpose in everything as we look back at history and remember His great wonders, the guidance He gives, and the protection He gives. One king He chose was David who worked as a shepherd but with God’s help became shepherd of His people who reigned as a person of principle, of character, of integrity. Though force is what the people understood when they saw David kill the giant, it was his faith in God; more solid than the rock he used as the weapon that ultimately led to victory

Today, I’m praying to learn and apply the principles God gives us in the Bible; asking him to search inside my soul and clear out what shouldn’t be there.