“During those days another large crowd gathered. Since they had nothing to eat, Jesus called his disciples to him and said, "I have compassion for these people; they have already been with me three days and have nothing to eat. If I send them home hungry, they will collapse on the way, because some of them have come a long distance” (Mark 8:1-3, NIV)

Observations:
What do we know about the crowds?

They were large
They gathered around Jesus.
They had nothing to eat.

Observations:
What does Jesus do?
Jesus does six things:

Jesus calls his disciples to him.
Jesus tells them I have compassion for these people.
Jesus tells them they have already been with Him for three days.
Jesus tells them they have nothing to eat.
Jesus tells them if he sends them home hungry, they will collapse on the way.
Jesus tells them, some of them have come a long distance.

Today I decided to look at the first thing: ‘Jesus calls his disciples to him.’

Interpretations:
What is significance of Jesus calling his disciples?
The significance of Jesus’ action shows how he decided to handle a problem that arose. In this situation the problem at hand was: ‘the large crowd had nothing to eat’. Rather, than solving the problem alone which He could have, Jesus involved his disciples in the problem to help find a solution.

Implications:
I saw important implications for my own life. When problems arise there can be a temptation many times to try to solve it on my own without seeking the help of others. I believe Jesus is setting an example for me here. Jesus could have handled the problem on His own but involved the disciples. I too when there is a problem should not try to handle it all on my own but involve others who can have insight into the problem too. It takes humility to involve others to help solve a problem. I need to be humble and take help.

I ask you now dear friend, how do you handle problems?
Dear friend, it can be so easy many times to dwell in the problem on our own. At times, it will feel like we need to handle it on our own and not involve others. However from the example Jesus set, it is ok to take the help of others in a problematic area. The more helpers there are, there can be more wisdom too! Jesus did not ignore a problem that arose but addressed it. We need to do the same too! Ignoring a problem does not make it disappear. Going to the bottle or hiding under the pillow are superficial actions that do not make the problem disappear either. Sometimes it may feel that way but all we are doing is sweeping it under the rug. It will still be there. The alternative is seeking help from others. Most of all, we need to seek help from the Lord!

Won’t you do that friend?
You do not have to handle problems that arise on your own. If you feel compelled to handle it on your own, remember that is not the way of the Lord.

Am I saying every decision we make must involve others?
You need to use discretion but every decision you make must involve the Lord so you can get His wisdom. For His wisdom will guide you and lead you and help you distinguish right from wrong. That is so amazing friend.

Amidst Problems There Is A Way (Read John 14)
By Ramesh C. Reddy (http://www.pitt.edu/~rcrst6/Devotional.html

Is your life full of pain?
Do you feel like every decision you made seems in vain?
Do you feel like your mistakes made a permanent stain?
And you are now walking in life's wrong lane?
Do you feel like there is nothing to gain?

Cause you have taken your own path?
And do not know where you are headed or at?
"Only If" you keep thinking to yourself as you alone sat?

Your decisions make you feel full of guilt?
Your decisions made your daily life upside down tilt?
You feel it is now hard to have your life properly built?

HOLD ON FOR LONG,
YOU CAN BE STRONG

Someone mightier than your problems will show you the Way.
With His love and kindness, He will guide you day by day.
He loves you so much that with His Blood, your sin He did pay
As He on the cross crucified lay.

On the Third Day, God brought Him back
And He is ready to save us with Salvation we all lack
And in our life put us back on the right track. (Isa 20:31)
Regardless of the problems we have been carrying in a sack

Speaking of Jesus Christ, God's Holy Son (John 3:16)
Who wants to have all your problems though they weigh a ton.
With Christ's help we can handle problems w/o having to run
And Jesus will let you know, you have well done.

Please accept Jesus into your heart. (Romans 10:9)
In your life, Jesus will always do His part (Phil 4:13)
And help you Satan's fiery arrows dart
As you give Jesus a start. (Rom 10:13)
Amen!

“Problems? Redeemer Offers Best Leaving Everyday Multiple Solutions!” (P.R.O.B.L.E.M.S)/”How do you handle your problems?”

PRAYER:
Lord Jesus, thank you for loving me so much. Jesus I love you. Jesus please hear my prayers OH Lord. Please forgive my sin. I am sorry Lord. Please answer my prayer OH Lord. Lord Jesus there are so many people Lord that are going through so much pain. You know their pain. You know Lord, what we suffer. Please forgive us Lord for taking our own path. Lord Jesus, thank you so much even though mistakes seemed to make permanent stain, you can erase them. You can restore what we have broken. OH Lord, amidst the problems, help us to trust in thee. Thank you Jesus you will show us the way. You will guide us with your loving kindness day by day. Thank you Lord you love us so much that you shed your precious Blood for me on the cross. Thank you Jesus for coming back to life to save me! I turn my heart to you. I accept you into my heart. Thank you Jesus, for doing your part! Thank you Jesus, for helping me Satan's fiery arrows dart! IN YOUR NAME I PRAY JESUS!!! AMEN!

Make this your prayer. Don’t let the enemy deceive you into thinking you need all the answers before coming to Christ. Let me just assure you though you may not have all the answers right now before coming to Jesus, He will answer them slowly. Yes, He will for I know our Redeemer will! Amen!

PRAYER:
Father God thank you, you love us so much that you sent your only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him shall not perish but have everlasting life. I love you Lord. Thank you Father God for your Son, Jesus Christ. Jesus thank you for loving me so much. Thank you Jesus, you will take care of my problems. Nothing is too hard for you. For many of us Lord, we face many obstacles in life whether it be Spiritual, financial, marital, emotional, physical, or educational problems. We turn these problems and the prayer requests to you. Thank you Lord you never fail to answer our prayers. Just because we don't understand does not mean you didn't answer our prayers. Thanks Lord for cleansing us by your precious Blood. Please come into my heart Jesus. Please forgive my sins. Wash me and I will be whiter than snow. Thank you Jesus for coming into my heart. Thank you Jesus for making my heart, your home. Thank you Jesus for living in me. I will live for you Jesus and serve you the rest of the days of my life. I pray right now for the one who is so troubled that only your presence and love can meet them where they are at. Come Lord Jesus and please intervene in their life. Cover them with your awesome presence and help them through what they are going. Thank you Jesus as you saw the disciples in trouble and came to their rescue, you can come to our rescue too. We entrust our lives in your care. Thank you for the answer and you will carry us! IN YOUR NAME, I PRAY JESUS THANKING YOU FOR EVERYTHING. AMEN.

Friend you may feel something or may not feeling anything but do not go by your feelings. When you ask Jesus to come into your life, He will and does. He will take over from here as you depend on the Lord and let Him work in you and through you! This is exciting friend! May each one that came to know Jesus be filled with His Holy Spirit forever more and those that know Jesus come to know Him more and more! Amen!

Get yourself involved in a campus Bible study, fellowship, and most of all find a Bible believing church and be involved to grow in your Christian walk with the Lord. They all need to be supplements for your own precious time with the Lord in prayer and meditating on His Word. If you need a Bible, please let me know!

As the movie DaVinci Code opened across the theaters on May 19, 2006, which speaks against the church and most importantly degrades the Name of Jesus Christ, we need to make ourselves available to speak the truth to the falsity presented in the movie and the novel. If you plan to watch the movie or have read the book and have questions or your faith seems to be shaken, please email me or give me a call at 412-720-4579 so we can discuss the false claims in the book that are presented as fact even though the book itself and the movie is presented as fiction. May the Lord bless you and guide you!

If you need anyone to talk to, pray with, or study the Bible with this Summer of 2006, you can email me at reddy4hisglory2004@yahoo.com or call me at 412-720-4579. Please do not hesitate. One-one Bible studies can be so powerful too because the Holy Spirit is still in the midst.

"This is my work and I can do it only because Christ's mighty energy is at work within me." (Colossians 1:29, TLB)

Express Your View

SEPTEMBER 2005

MARK: CHAPTER 1

How seriously do you T.E.S.T.I.F.Y to prophecy? (Sept 01, 05)

Who do you P.O.I.N.T to? (Sept 02, 05)

"Will you take a S.T.A.N.D?" (Sept 03, 05)

How is your loving P.R.A.I.S.E? (Sept 06, 05)

"How do you handle T.E.M.P.T.A.T.I.O.N?" (Sept 07, 05)

"Who controls your T.I.M.E?" (Sept 08, 05)

"What kind of P.R.O.F.E.S.S.I.O.N are you in?" (Sept 09, 05)

"Whose T.E.A.C.H.I.N.G.S do you listen to?" (Sept 12, 05)