Paul Email -27July2013- Mark 13

How you doin? I certainly have a heavy heart today. My friend Mitch lost his 20yrs old son in a car accident and my close friend Jimmy went into rehab yesterday. I can see the terrible influence on Jimmy and the lack of the Father in Mitch. These 2 situations have greatly increased the urgency to share the gospel with people when they are not in turmoil. Stacey pointed out this morning that people in tragedy need to be bandaged up, cleaned up, and strengthened. Talking about God can come after they have regain any strength and health. Stacey said when people are blind and deaf, because of tragedy or hardships, pointing to the Father or speaking of the Father is useless. They can't see or hear. Gaining their trust, building them up, and offering them bandages can lead to sharing Gods love. We read Mark 13 today.

⁵ Jesus said to them: “Watch out that no one deceives you. (Mark 13:5)
³² “But about that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. ³³ Be on guard! Be alert^[e]! You do not know when that time will come. ³⁴ It’s like a man going away: He leaves his house and puts his servants in charge, each with their assigned task, and tells the one at the door to keep watch. ³⁵ “Therefore keep watch because you do not know when the owner of the house will come back—whether in the evening, or at midnight, or when the rooster crows, or at dawn. ³⁶ If he comes suddenly, do not let him find you sleeping. ³⁷ What I say to you, I say to everyone: ‘Watch!’” (Mark 13:32-37)

Watching and staying awake. This set of scripture made me think of the words, "Spiritual awakening". We often refer to salvation and Spiritual growth as, "Spiritual awakening". Jesus is telling us to STAY awake. This scripture also brought to my mind the disciple sleeping in Gethsemane. Matthew 26 is where the Holy Ghost took me.
 ³⁸ Then he said to them, “My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me.” (Matt. 26:38)
⁴⁰ Then he returned to his disciples and found them sleeping. “Couldn’t you men keep watch with me for one hour?” he asked Peter. ⁴¹ “Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.”
 I couldn't help but notice the word, "temptation".
⁴³ When he came back, he again found them sleeping, because their eyes were heavy. ⁴⁴ So he left them and went away once more and prayed the third time, saying the same thing. (Matt. 26:43-44)
⁴⁵ Then he returned to the disciples and said to them, “Are you still sleeping and resting? Look, the hour has come, and the Son of Man is delivered into the hands of sinners. ⁴⁶ Rise! Let us go! Here comes my betrayer!” (Matt. 26:45-46)

I feel such conviction for keeping watch. Living my live for Jesus' return or my going to Him. Stay awake. I so love the, "awakenings", God has granted me. It seems to me that following Jesus will keep us awake and watching for Him. We must be awake and watch for Him to follow Him. I have a very heavy heart, but the Holy Ghost can still muster a... COME ON!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I love Jesus so much. I keep praying for my friends, but in a new way. Praying on their behalf. Praying for Jesus to make Himself known to them. Worldly solutions don't fix worldly problems/tragedies. Kingdom solutions fix everything. Stay awake and keep watch today.