“When Jesus had crossed over again in the boat to the other side, a large crowd gathered around Him; and He stayed by the seashore.” (Mark 5:21 NASB)
Can we talk? Thank you! As late as Thursday I was contemplating announcing today, early Monday morning, that I would be discontinuing Mark Writes at the end of this month. My wife and children have given me insistent input, intended to intervene in my important decision, informing me that continuing with this portion of my ministry will benefit many and. as a bonus, keeps me cognitive. Add to their insistence was an incredible timely “Thank You” response last week from a reader in Scotland. However, I did not come to a decision until a conversation with my oldest daughter Friday morning, just before the sun had reported for its daily duty. Her words swayed my thinking and influenced me to be like the Apostle Paul and to continue to fight the good fight, finish the course, and keep the faith. Of course, when you realize God was the initiator behind all this advice, I had a lot to think about. I was not only greatly outnumbered, but the Great I Am was the One who initiated it all.
In my conversation with my oldest daughter we talked about a recent meditation that focused on the word “stayed,” taken from the verse above, and she respectfully stated in a rather general form of persuasion, smart enough to sense that I would take it specific and surely personal, “Sometimes God sends a message by the messenger, and it is primarily for the privileged messenger.” She did not have to use a parable like Nathan used with David and conclude with a convincing, “You are the man” type comment, meaning that the “stayed” meditation was primarily for me. She just said, “Preach, preacher!” Also, known for her love for singing, as demonstrated on several road trips when she was a child, where no matter what channel I turned to on the radio, she knew the song, instead of being like Nathan, she was more like some famous gospel artist and she demonstrated that she still had vocal talent by uttering these familiar words, “I woke up this morning with my mine, stayed on Jesus. Walking and talking with my mind, stayed on the Lord.” As a side note, believe me, this daughter does not need any musical accompaniment, still! How could I not agree? How could I not respond to the sent message in the meditation that focused on the word “stayed?” I alluded above to the fact that God was in it!
So, after eight years of daily meditations intended to increase readers’ God-consciousness, personal focus on living a Christ-centered life, and live a life in such a way that one day in the far and distant future, people would say, “He/she stayed committed to the climb,” I have decided to announce that I will continue writing Mark Writes in 2025 and/or until the Lord says otherwise. My initial argument was that I earned the right to stop after eight years of writing, publishing over two-million words, which if you consider 50,000 words meets the criteria for a short ovel, this equates to writing 38 books. However, I concurred with the specific message sent by God and reinforced by my oldest child and others far an near, and I discarded my argument that I would be justified in stopping. Another excerpt from my daughter said, “Your effort is not in vain.” She let me know that the Lord would reward me, bless me, for remaining steadfast in this aspect of my ministry. Her words were similar to the closing verse below.
You know what? Perhaps my sharing this morning will cause somebody else to renew, revive, or recommit to fulfilling their purpose for the Lord. Afterall, that’s why we are still here on this earth. I pray that this not so short Monday Short does just that, my friend. Keep pressing on with me! Keep your eyes on Jesus, again as you saw in the verse above, He stayed, continuing His ministry. Smile! Be blessed!
“…in the future there is reserved for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day; and not only to me, but also to all who have loved His appearing.” (2 Timothy 4:8 NASB)
P. S. I had just finished writing this draft when another one of my children, my second oldest son, sent me five new logo designs for Mark Writes. How can I argue about continuing? I hear you God! Thank you!
Committed to the climb,
Mark L. King