This Day With God – A Spiritual Journey

Last week, the lesson from 1 John 3-4 was that we should be thankful for God’s love through Christ and this should affect how we treat others. We should pray for ways to express brotherly love in helping others. This week, in reading 1 John 5 the main lesson for me is that we should take each opportunity to start our day with a prayer, gain more faith, and believe the future will be brighter.  All that was written from Moses through the New Testament testifies to the truth that Jesus is the divine, the complete, the only Savior of the world and is the source of our faith. As you pray today, ask for true peace, let go of the past, and fill your life with the type of faith that will help you through anything.  

Because of Jesus, we can be in God’s presence which gives confidence that everything will work out for the best. There is nothing to worry about because we can lay our burdens down at His feet; live for today and feel free to praise Him. Sometime during the upcoming week, think about a burden you may have that causes anxiety. Pray for peace, the type of confidence only God can give, and an understanding that God is in charge. 

• Send a comment or email any thoughts or prayers to lifetransgroup@life.com 
• To receive a weekly email with thoughts from a sermon or if you have thoughts from a sermon, Sunday school lesson, or other thoughts, send an email to the same address
• Take a look at photo of the week. Then click back and take inspiration by clicking on this week’s video link. Photo of the week – The future is bright because we live in the light of the risen Lamb. Big opportunities are right before us. Enter each day with another prayer, more faith, and believing all things are possible.
• Video link: No More Night by David Phelps

Thanks for letting me share.

Mark

I hope everyone had a happy July 4^th. Last week, I wrote about how those who serve or have served in the military demonstrate a concern for future generations and an interest in others. Our nation began because a group of men took a stand. They knew it would bring on hardship for their own lives but they held out hope for a better future and risk their own lives to sign the Declaration of Independence. A similar history is laid out as we read the Old and New Testament. God knew His people needed a better way because keeping the laws of the Old Testament was not attainable. That’s why He sent Christ; providing a new way to follow His laws.

When someone holds a picture in their mind of God transforming their situation, they are drawn toward that picture; given more faith, devotion, and hope. God fills each soul with everything needed and He sees each of us for who we are meant to be. Pray for obedience and that God becomes more and more a part of your life. Ask that every day is filled with more hope.

The televangelist of the Hour of Power television broadcast Robert Schuller once said, “It is difficult to say what is impossible, for the dream of yesterday is the hope of today and the reality of tomorrow”. 1 John 3-4 is filled with messages of hope and love. Love gives us a reason to live an abundant life not only for ourselves but for future generations just like the fathers of our country. They laid down the foundation for our future just like Christ laid down the foundation for the church. Something remarkable came from the great sacrifice and unselfishness Jesus demonstrated on the cross. This event defined love and should inspire us to act in brotherly love  toward others. The Spirit of God works a change in all true Christians to receive His love and to express it to others. Pray for ways you can express your thankfulness by helping others.

Being well acquainted with God’s word gives knowledge, understanding, and the ability to make correct decisions. This guidance leads to happiness and the desire to help others. If you pursue Godly wisdom, you will be more likely to know whose side to be on and listen to the right people. You will follow the right leader because you will listen to those with wholesome values and morals. Like a magnet attracting iron, you will attract treasures for the soul because the elements of God’s principles are at work in you. The Spirit of God is the Spirit of love. Pray for guidance as you read the scriptures. Pray that you will genuinely love others not for your own gain but for the benefit of your brother or sister in Christ.

The act of Christ bleeding, hanging, and dying on the cross unifies Christians. It demonstrated God’s love for us and should motivate Christians in obedience, creativity, enthusiasm, and imagination. Someone in the Sunday school we attend sent out an email one time which had some uplifting messages. One was the following:

I asked God to help me LOVE others, as much as He loves me. God said…Ahhhh, finally you have the idea. "To the world you might be one person, but to one person you just might be the world".

In your prayer, express thankfulness for God’s love through Christ which is worth more than silver or gold. Then think about how this affects how you treat others. Pray for ways you can express brotherly love in helping others. 

• Send a comment or email any thoughts or prayers to lifetransgroup@live.com
• To receive a weekly email with thoughts from a sermon or if you have thoughts from a sermon, Sunday school lesson, or other thoughts, send an email to the same address
• Take a look at photo of the week. Then click back and take inspiration by clicking on this week’s video link
• Photo of the week – Being well acquainted with God’s word gives guidance, happiness, and the desire to help others
• Video link: That’s What Love is by David Phelps

Thanks for letting me share.

Mark 

This week, my Bible study guide took me into 1 John. This book was written within the first one hundred years after the crucifixion of Christ. It was written to the church at large to strengthen their faith in Christ, to add to their joy, and to assure them of eternal life. Last week, I wrote some thoughts about Isaiah 39. The lesson for me was that we should pay attention to the needs of others and not be consumed with our own self interest.   

In present time, we get to look back on what was predicted in Isaiah and see how it came true. The full picture is revealed in the gospel writings when Christ provided light in a dark world. A road map to how we should journey through life. This map helps us to make good decisions about our families and careers. Perfection is not attainable but we can pursue excellence by following this map. As we pray each day, we should be thankful for the documented map we can follow as laid out in the gospel.

As we head to July 4^th weekend, there is no better example of caring for the well being of others than found in our military. Those that have served in our armed forces and continue to serve today risk their lives for the freedom we enjoy today. From the very beginning of our nation, we see this trait of caring for others rather than being consumed with self interest. The founding fathers didn’t think excessive taxes and controlling laws were the way to go. They were concerned about personal liberty and were willing to die for a better way. The signing of the Declaration of Independence meant risking their lives.

A similar history is laid out as we read the Old and New Testament. God knew His people needed a better way because keeping the laws of the Old Testament was not attainable. That’s why He sent Christ; providing a new way to follow His laws. When God’s laws are written in people’s hearts, there is no need for complicated rules and regulations.  

So, the new commandment became to love one another. Christ showed us how; we can take on some of His characteristics and let our light shine. The natural consequence of consistently applying the basics of God’s truth is a spiritual coming together in the soul which turns faith into eternal rewards. Those that believe in and acknowledge Christ have communion with the Father. The reward is eternal life.

• Send a comment or email any thoughts or prayers to lifetransgroup@live.com 
• To receive a weekly email with thoughts from a sermon or if you have thoughts from a sermon, Sunday school lesson, or other thoughts, send an email to the same address
• Take a look at photo of the week. Then click back and take inspiration by clicking on this week’s video link
• Photo of the week – Jesus laid out the path to go and we now have a map to follow. This map helps us to know what direction to follow in making decisions. Perfection is not attainable but excellence is by following this map
• Video link: Loving God, Loving Each Other by Gaither Vocal Band

Thanks for letting me share.

Mark

There are times when our faith is tested as it was with King Hezekiah who was going through difficulty as explained in Isaiah 37. He didn’t turn to something harmful to help him handle the situation but turned to God for reassurance and help. The lesson learned is that the best way out is always through. God gives courage to make it through days of difficulty, times of criticism, and embarrassment. He’s in control and can bless with victory in all we do. Many today lack the courage and try to find a way to escape by using things like alcohol or drugs. In this reading, Hezekiah shows that it’s best to turn to God for support. Pray for reassurance and courage.

As written in Isaiah 38, Hezekiah became ill and was told he was dying. He went to God in prayer and was given more time because God saw that Hezekiah had a purpose; to praise and follow Him. If we build our life day by day, remembering who we belong to, and live for the reason of following God’s will, we can find a happiness that we never thought could be ours. Dwight L. Moody, the American evangelist and publisher in the 1800’s said once “We are told to let our light shine, and if it does, we won’t need to tell anybody it does. Lighthouses don’t fire cannons to call attention to their shining – they just shine”. Think about your purpose and the way God wants you to shine. During your prayer today, ask God to bless that purpose.

After Hezekiah became well, his focus was no longer on God for help. He lost his focus and paid more attention to his own interest. God wants us focus on being the best we can be by following His guidance and being interested in the wellbeing of others. During your prayer today, ask that you give honor to God. Focus on God and His people. Be humble, have concern for others, and think of ideas that may help others be the best they can be.

All of us want to be able to look back on life and say, “I did my best, I gave it my all, I did what needed to be done.” A big country hit these days is “The House that Built Me” by Miranda Lambert. It’s about looking back on memories of the past and how they make the person we are today. When I listen to the song, it makes me think about how God’s house the church has built and continues to build people who do great things for Him.

• Send a comment or email any thoughts or prayers to lifetransgroup@live.com
• To receive a weekly email with thoughts from a sermon or if you have thoughts from a sermon, Sunday school lesson, or other thoughts, send an email to the same address
• Photo of the week
• Take inspiration from this video: Voice of Truth by Casting Crowns 

Thanks for letting me share.

Mark