“The disciples had forgotten to bring bread, except for one loaf they had with them in the boat. Be careful," Jesus warned them. "Watch out for the yeast of the Pharisees and that of Herod." They discussed this with one another and said, "It is because we have no bread." (Mark 8:14-16, NIV)

Observations:
What do we learn about the disciples?

The disciples had forgotten to bring bread!
The disciples caught the attention of Jesus.
They discussed Jesus addressing about yeast of the Pharisees and that of Herod and assumed it was because they had no bread.

Interpretation:
Why do you think the disciples were so focused on not having bread?
The disciples had such a short-term memory going! It seems like whatever Jesus did for them or for others in front of them, it went out of their mind and memory so quickly before you can say ‘memory’. They had already forgotten what Jesus did with five loaves of bread and seven loaves of bread. They were not focused on what Jesus could do for them but instead on what they do not have. Jesus addresses that issue later.

Implications:
I should not focus on things I do not have but focus on the Lord who can take care of every situation. I know I need to remember that especially now! Time seems like a commodity and I don’t seem to have enough of it! But, rather than focusing on the time I do not have to do something, I should focus on the time the Lord has given me to take care of whatever I can and leave the results in His precious Hands.

I ask you now dear friend, what do you focus on?
Dear friend, if you focus on things you do not have and forget to focus on the Lord and all He has already done for you and will do for you, you will be missing out. There are so many things that can take our focus away from the Lord and most of them are so selfish. Even if they are not selfish, our focus on doing things even for the Lord can bring us into frustration if we miss out on what Jesus wants for us. Take the example of Martha. Martha was so focused on preparing a meal for Jesus, she was so frustrated that Mary was not helping her. However, Jesus did not commend Martha for doing all she was doing to prepare a good meal for Jesus. Instead, Jesus told Martha that Mary’s focus was in the right place sitting at the feet of Jesus and He will not take that away from her.

No matter what we have to do, we should not lose our focus away from the Lord. The money, the time, the relationships and all that we engage in, when they are in line with our Lord and Savior’s will, He will make it all work out in His timing! When we focus on the Lord, the little time we have, He will bless it abundantly and we would accomplish more than we can imagine in that time, with that money, in that relationship, etc more than we would have on our own!

May you know focusing on Christ ultimately saves! Amen!

“Focusing On Christ Ultimately Saves!” (F.O.C.U.S)/”What do you focus on?”

Prayer:
Dear Lord Jesus, thank you so much for helping me learn about focus. You Oh Lord want me to focus on you! I choose to do that Lord. Help me to always focus on you no matter what is happening. I ask you to redeem things in my life and make them fruitful. Thank you Jesus! I am so sorry for my sin and ask thee for your forgiveness and help. Thank you for helping me Jesus! Thank you for hearing me and answering me! 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)