Victorious Finish

In Mark 13:1-36, Jesus forewarns that there will be wars, earthquakes, and famines. There will be distress, betrayal, and dissention within families but then there will be a time when the Son of man begins to reign so keep on guard.

Use this forewarning to prepare for the future with endurance because we will not be surprised but ready. The Holy Spirit will direct our response with action so we will make it through and receive the reward.

If we pay attention to the reward rather than hard times, we can endure the difficulty because our mind will constantly be at work finding a solution and our hearts will act on these solutions until there is accomplishment. 

So be persistent even when it is hard to be optimistic. Knowledge of what God promises gives hope and we can go through each day’s activities with joyful awareness of God’s ability to bring a victorious finish.

Lord, we put our total focus on You today because with You there is power to overcome the difficulties we face. Today, we may face distractions but we can remain optimistic because You promise a reward if we maintain our attention on You . We may have difficulty but with You there is a solution to our struggles and we have endurance to finish victoriously. Amen.

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Give Praise To Those Who Give Their All

This day with You Lord, let our praise ever be on our lips. We live in Your light, trust in Your love, and step ahead in this life with total effort. The principles You teach in Your word never let us down and are essentials for life that are flawless. They provide treasure in heaven which is  worth much more than silver or gold. Amen.

Give praise to those that give their all as Jesus gave praise to the poor widow who gave two small coins to the temple treasury. We give praise to Jesus today who gave all and died for all on the Cross. As pointed out in the song Ever Be by Aaron Shust, let the praise of the Lord ever be on our lips.

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A Place to Flourish and Bloom

Photo Source – Bing Images

Love is life and you never fail as long as love is in your heart so desire to learn the principles of Christ, invite Him into your heart to guide your every step, and build a bridge from a place of doom to a place where you flourish and bloom.

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Our Duty and Responsibility

In meeting our duties and responsibilities in doing the Lord’s work, let us discover our place or function and concentrate on doing it well. Receive encouragement from this poem.

Mark Shields's avatarStep Ahead

It seems improbable
But not impossible
When we work together
To make it possible.

For the Lord is our strength
To fulfill our duty
And make it a thing 
Of tremendous beauty.

As we come daily
Into His presence 
At any time or any place 
Through prayer and patience.

With a tremendous 
Power to fulfill 
Duties as followers 
To meet His will. 

For through the Spirit,
We are His children
Using our gift for the 
Purpose of kingdom building.


Poem by Mark Shields – © 04-22-2021
Inspired by
“Our Duty and Responsibility

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Questions for Reflection for Study of Mark 13 – 14

We live in a busy world with busy schedules and being able to share some thoughts about this journey with others across this world through the Internet is truly a blessing. The below Questions for Reflection will stimulate thought and offer ideas for applying biblical principles at work, at home, and in all we do.

Mark 13:1-36 – What are Jesus’ forewarnings about future happenings? How will this knowledge equip us to face the future with endurance? What will the Son of man do when He comes in the future?

Mark 14:1-9 – What is the priests and scribes’ concern as to the timing of their plan? How do the people in Simon’s house feel about the woman’s act? In what areas are God’s values different from yours?

Mark 14:10-16 – Why, do you think, does Judas want to betray Jesus? What preparations are made for the Passover? What is the significance of the extent of Jesus’ knowledge?

Mark 14:14-31 – What does Jesus know about the man who will betray him? What do you learn about Jesus’ covenant in verses 22-25? How do you share in this covenant? What predictions does Jesus make about himself (See Zech. 13:7)?

Mark 14:32-65 – What do you think are Jesus’ feelings when he sees that the disciples sleep while he prays? How complete is Jesus’ prayer in verse 36? How do you express your desires and submission to God? Who appears most composed during the trial in verses 53-65? How do you account for this composure?

Mark 14:66-72 – Does Peter keep to his commitment of verses 29-31? Why do you think, does Peter react this way? How do you handle your own unfaithfulness to God? What is the source of your self-confidence?

Feel free to respond with a short note or a comment about any of the questions above. Also, I welcome any other thoughts or ideas, favorite inspirational videos, photos, or favorite Bible verses. Just add them to the comments.

Resources and Supplementary Helps Used in Posts
Adeney, Carol. This Morning with God: A Daily Study Guide to the Entire Bible. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity, 1978. Print.

“Sermons.” Sermons | FUMC Waco. N.p., n.d. Web.  <http://fumcwaco.org/resources/sermons/>.

“Bible.” The Bible – The Word of God – ChristNotes. N.p., n.d. Web. 2017. <http://www.christianity.com/bible/>.

Nicholes, Lou. “Recent Commentaries.” Family-Times.net – Devotional Commentary Index. N.p., n.d. Web. <http://www.family-times.net/commentary/>.

“Bing.” Microsoft. N.p., n.d. Web. Images >.

“BibleGateway.” BibleGateway.com: A Searchable Online Bible in over 150 Versions and 50 Languages. N.p., n.d. Web. <https://www.biblegateway.com/>.

To store up thoughts that are good for the soul, listen to a sermon. Download the free app in the App Store or on Google Play. Look for First Waco.

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