SCRIPTURE:"But when Jesus turned and looked at his disciples, he rebuked Peter. "Get behind me, Satan!" he said. "You do not have in mind the things of God, but the things of men. "Then he called the crowd to him along with his disciples and said: "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me." (Mark 8:33-34, NIV)

OBSERVATION:
I asked myself what did Jesus do after rebuking Peter?
Jesus called the crowd to him along with his disciples and said:
1. If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and
2. If anyone would come after me, he must take up his cross and
3. If anyone would come after me, he must follow me.

I decided to look at point two today.

INTERPRETATION:
I asked myself what is the significance of Jesus saying, 'he must take up his cross'?'
Jesus had stated to the crowds and his disciples, 'If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself' and now goes a step further to talk about the cross. Here too Jesus is alluding to what He would do by denying Himself for the sake of humanity and shouldering the cross up to Golgotha for the sake of humanity. Carrying a cross is not easy especially since it is so heavy, so burdensome, and painful. Yet, we know that Jesus literally did exactly that for all of us to bring us back to God when Jesus died on the cross shedding His precious cleansing blood, was buried, and came back to life on the 3rd day to save.

Jesus wants anyone who would come after Him to shoulder their own cross in life to come after Him. But this is figurative in nature because Jesus is emphasizing what the cross represents to the crowds and disciples. First and foremost Jesus is saying that it is not easy for anyone to 'take up his cross' and it is an act of sacrifice in a person's life, the sacrifice being to surrender their lives to the will of God and His ways even though it could be heavy in their lives, so burdensome, and painful to them. Yet, this is the cost to come after Jesus.

In essence, Jesus is saying that it is not easy to come after Him so a person needs to count the cost if they want to come after Jesus. Sadly, in today's society the 'cost of following Jesus' is ignored.

Many think they can come after Jesus and then go their own ways again as long as they know they are baptized. The whole symbolism behind baptism is to make the old life dead burying it and drowning it in water, and come out as a new person and a new life in Christ. The Book of Romans addresses this powerfully. This starts with denying ourselves and picking up our cross to come after Jesus. That is what I believe Jesus wanted the crowds to know but it does not end there.

(To be continued)

IMPLICATIONS:
I saw important implications for my own life. I need to shoulder my own cross if I want to go after Jesus. That means there could be things heavy in my life to carry, burdensome to carry, and even painful to carry which Jesus wants me to know about. The bottom line is that it is not easy to come after Jesus. If I still want to go after Jesus, I need to remember the things God asks me to do and be obedient to could weigh heavy in my life, be burdensome to me, and even painful to me, but that is the right way to go.

The heaviness, the burdensome, or pain could be a result of battling the flesh.

"Walk in the Spirit and you will not fulfill the lust of the flesh."

There are things in my life I want to do and when I cannot do them or prevented from doing them because of what the Word of God says, being obedient has been heavy at times, burdensome at times, and painful at times. Even as recently as last Wednesday, August 06, 2008, I went home with a heavy, burdensome, and painful heart.

Yet, I know obedience to the Lord and His Word is what I need to go after even though I did not want to do it. In essence, I was taking up my cross so I can go after Jesus.

This also shows me when it comes to Jesus, no one can carry my cross, so I can go after Jesus because no one can carry someone's own obedient calling to the Word of God. I cannot say what I am asked to do is heavy, burdensome, and painful so let me give the commandment of obedience to someone else whatever the Lord is asking me to do. If I do that, I am not carrying my own cross. If I am not carrying my own cross, I cannot go after Jesus.

Jesus is also saying that He wants the disciples and crowds to deny themselves and come to Him with their heaviness, burdens, and pain if they want to come after Him.

In essence, for me Jesus is sharing that He did not come for those who think they have it all together but came for those who carry heaviness, burdens, and pain in their life. The heaviness, burden, and pain does not always have to be because of obedience but also because of man's disobedience.

In this case, carrying the cross represents man's own disobedience. The Bible talks about those dying on a cross die a cursed death. When Jesus carried the cross, He was carrying the cross not because of His own disobedience since He was perfect but for our disobedience. Listen to the background song, 'The Hammer'

"He who had no sin became sin for us"

"While we were yet sinners, Jesus died for us"

So, Jesus wants us to come to Him with all our disobedience and lay it on the cross of Calvary where He alone can absorb it all. Jesus died on the cross so He can give us the antidote for this deadly virus known as sin that causes disobedience. The antidote is the purest and reddest liquid known to mankind. It is so think and pure that only one drop of blood could cleanse one man/woman of all their sin when they receive that drop into their lives.

When Jesus paid the ransom for our sins with His own precious blood, Jesus did it for the entire human race of those in the past, present, and future. But each of us need to carry our cross and lay it at the foot of the Cross of Christ and exchange that for His antidote for our lives.

God made a way through Christ for our redemption so we can deny our selves, pick up our cross, and surrender all to Jesus.

The reason is God in His Holiness cannot allow sin into His presence and that is why God went through such a length to ensure our own Salvation through the sacrificial death of Jesus Christ for the redemption of our own lives when Jesus died, was buried, and came back to life to save to all those that believed in Him. Believing in Him is not passive but active.

I ask you now dear friend, when have you carried your cross in life?
Dear friend, to come after Jesus we all need to know when we have carried our cross. This is an acknowledgement that we do not let heaviness, burdens, or pain to stop us from being obedient to Christ and His Word, the Bible. For that to happen, it must be believed the 'Bible is the Word of God' and not 'Bible contains the Word of God' or 'Bible becomes the Word of God'.

It is also an acknowledgement that the heaviness, burdens, and pain that we carry, we need to carry to Jesus. For Jesus alone can take our heaviness, burdens, and pain and fill it with His peace and strength. For in Christ alone can we truly be free. We need to lay all our heaviness, burdens, and pain at the foot of the Cross of Christ.

It is not a one time thing where we carry our cross one day and then the rest of the days allow our flesh to take over. Jesus did not place any conditions or timeline when it comes to going after Jesus.

Jesus said, 'if anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross'

This is a daily thing and not a one time thing. To come after Jesus, the cost is surrendering of our lives everyday to Jesus. It is to acknowledge all the cross we carry each day can only be absorbed by Jesus Christ upon the cross He carried and died upon for our redemption.

So for me I do not believe it is good enough for me to say to Jesus, 'Jesus, I carried my cross to come after you on so and so date. Thanks for absorbing all my sin and cleansing me of all my sin. I will see you in Heaven Jesus when I die. Now since you have forgiven me of all my sin and wiped my slate clean, I don't have to worry about how I live my life. I can do whatever I want to and live however I want to because I am already saved'

Sadly, friend this hypothetical is not really a hypothetical at all because I have heard people say that 'since they are already a Christian and going to heaven, they can live their life however they want to even if it means fighting for abortion, fighting for Gay Marriage, etc'

How can we reconcile denying ourselves and carrying our cross to go after Jesus and then going after the things of the world.?

Jesus says, 'We cannot serve two masters for we will love the one and hate the other'

This is not to say we all must be living a perfect life to go after Jesus because we cannot unless we allow the Holy Spirit to transform us daily and work in our lives to bear good fruit.

"He who began a good work in us will finish it to completion on the day of Jesus Christ!"

I do not see being for abortion or gay marriage as bearing good fruit. Neither do I see voting for candidates who espouse abortion and gay marriage to bearing good fruit.

We cannot save ourselves on our own and need Christ to save us. Since we cannot save ourselves on our own and Christ saves us, we cannot go back to our old ways away from our Lord and Personal Savior.

I have not lived a perfect life because I have not always denied myself or picked up my cross, but the key is realizing that I have sinned, confessing that sin, and being restored to fellowship with Jesus.

"If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness."

But, if I don't acknowledge something that is considered a sin and continue to do that not caring what the Word of God says then once again I am putting myself above what God's Word and standard is for my life. I do not want to do that and neither should you.

The elections are complicated but as one who wants to go after Jesus everyday, I want to deny myself and go after the things that matter to God. For me as stated in the previous devotional based on Genesis 1, I see the abortion issue and the gay marriage issue being paramount. When immorality runs rampant then we have come face to face with another Sodom and Gommorah.

This is not to say that the abortion or gay marriage are the only immoral issues but these two issues will not make me vote for Obama because Obama even in the ninth month of pregnancy does not consider a baby to be life but a fetus to be aborted. His reasoning is if he acknowledges that it is a baby then that could affect the Roe v. Wade decision.

McCain is not a saint and was not my first choice but my first choice was Governor Mike Huckabee who was a pastor but not perfect either. Now I support McCain because he agrees with Huckabee on the biblical views on abortion and gay marriage even though some of his other views are not as good as Huckabee's. McCain has his own issues but I know where he stands on Genesis 1.

May you and I know Christ redeems offering Scripture's Salvation! This means it is not our definition of Salvation that saves us but Scripture's definition of Salvation.

It starts with 'It is by grace we have been saved through faith and not of works that anyone should boast. We are God's workmanship created in Christ Jesus to do good works'

The good works are a result of allowing Christ to transform our lives and be our Lord and Personal Savior. The fruit we bear we can only bear because we are surrendering ourselves to Christ and His Word daily.

I am so comforted to know that no matter how many times I mess up, when I go to Jesus acknowledging I have messed up and ask His forgiveness, He is ready to forgive and restore my fellowship with Him.

Only when I think that I am not sinning ,when I am actually sinning, is when I hurt that fellowship with Christ because I am basically calling God a liar by saying what I am doing is not sin and continuing to do that.

Friends whatever I share with you, please test it with Scripture because God's Word is the final authority on everything. That is why it is so important to know Scripture ourselves from Genesis to Revelation. I want us to follow God's Word always. There maybe times I may share something that I need to be corrected from Scripture.

"Christ's Redemption Offers Scripture's Salvation!"/"When have you carried your C.R.O.S.S. in life?

Prayer:
Dear Lord Jesus, thank you for the cross and what you did on the cross for us. Oh Lord, you want us to come after you by denying ourselves first and taking up our cross. Help us to do that Lord for in our flesh, we cannot do that. But, I want to thank you so much that you carried your own cross to Calvary and absorbed all our sins upon your body while you were nailed to the cross to take humanity's sin upon yourself. Then, you released the purest and reddest antidote for all humanity to take only if they turn to you. When you died on the cross, I believe the portal to our wicked heart had an opening where that opening could be filled with your blood that would spread across the wicked heart cleansing us completely. That only happened because you absorbed all our sin and the wicked hearts upon the cross and gave us an opportunity to receive your Salvation. You gave us a promise that you must be lifted high and all those that look to you will be saved. Thank you for saving me because I have looked to you, for cleansing me with your precious cleansing blood. I need your help to surrender my life to you daily denying myself and carrying my cross knowing you are there to take care of me. Thank you Jesus. I acknowledge you as my Lord and Personal Savior. I am so touched that you the God of the Universe came to save me because your desire has been that none should perish but all come to repentance. At the same time, you don't force yourself into our lives making us robots but have given us the opportunity to choose you as you chose humanity first to save them. Thank you for hearing my prayer and answering me! In Your Name I Pray Jesus! Amen!

Jesus has been working in my life to transform and change me. Jesus will do that for you too no matter where you are. So, please come to Him as you are and allow Him to work in your life and transform you. Pray this prayer to the Lord and mean it in your heart to be saved.

Prayer:
Dear Lord Jesus, thank you so much that you came for hardened hearts to soften them and transform them. I know Lord you continue to do that in my life. Thank you Lord I did not choose you first but you chose me when you came into this world to die for those around you and those that would be born so their wickedness can be taken away when they turn to you. You have provided so many ways for people to come to know you as their Lord and Personal Savior. I thank you Lord for that but you will not force yourself into our lives unless we open the door of our heart. You stand at the door and knock and since you are knocking we thank you that you have chosen us. Now Oh Lord help us to choose you always knowing you are the Way, the Truth, and the Life. No one comes to the Father except through you. Thank you for working in my life and giving me an opportunity to come to you. Help me to always remember the price you paid to set me free and give me new life. You paid it with your own blood for me so my heart does not have to stay hardened. Oh Lord Jesus, God of our Salvation please help us so we do not get hardened. We know when we take our mind of you, it will happen. But we thank you too that when we came to you, you saved us for eternity and you who began a good work in us will continue to do that . Thank you that we always have your blood covering over us. When we go our own way and sin we do that because we do not focus on you but on ourselves. Thank you when we turn to you, you forgive us. We give our life to you and ask you to be Lord and Savior of our lives. Thank you Jesus! Please come into my heart and make my heart your home. Live in me Jesus and I will live for you and serve you the rest of the days of my life. Thank you Jesus for being my Lord and Personal Savior. Thank you Jesus you have heard my prayer and answered me. In Your Name I Pray Jesus! Amen!!

Friend, if you have prayed this prayer and meant it in your heart, you are a new creation in Christ and all old things are passed away and everything has become new! You may feel something or may not but don’t base it on feelings but base your new life in Christ on the promises of our Savior who will never leave you nor forsake you! Amen!

Spend time in His word and let the Lord speak to you! Start out in the Gospel of John! You can also check out the Gospel of Mark which are the devotionals I have been going through. Learn from Jesus through study and prayer. Also find yourself a church fellowship and a college fellowship you can be part of where you can be part of a community of believers to supplement your own walk with the Lord. Let it be a Bible-believing and Bible-breathing church! Believe in Bible Live Eternally!

Feel free to email me at reddy4hisglory2004@yahoo.com if you want to meet to study the Bible, pray with, talk about Spiritual issues or whatever is on your mind! My number is 412-720-4579

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

Love in Christ,
Ramesh

Express Your View

.Click picture to read my dad's memoriam:

' I AM ' Series Archives:

What kind of L.I.G.H.T do you follow? (Dec 13, 07, 10:09 a.m.)

Gospel of Mark Archives:

Mark 1:1: "What does the G.O.S.P.E.L mean to you?" (Jan 15, 08, 1:15 p.m.)

Mark 1:1-4: "How seriously do you T.E.S.T.I.F.Y about prophesy?" (Jan 12, 08, 11:18 p.m.)

Mark 1:5-8: "Who do you P.O.I.N.T to?" (Jan 16, 08, 8:48 a.m.)

Mark 1:9: How will you take a S.T.A.N.D? (Jan 17, 08, 11:21 a.m.)

Mark 1:9-11: "How is your loving P.R.A.I.S.E?" (Jan 18, 08, 8:53 a.m.)

Mark 1:12-13: "How do you handle T.E.M.P.T.A.T.I.O.N?" (Jan 19, 08, 12:27 p.m.)

Mark 1:14-15: How do you handle T.I.M.E given to you? (Jan 21, 08, 1:31 p.m.)

Mark 1:16-18: "What kind of P.R.O.F.E.S.S.I.O.N are you in?" (Jan 26, 08, 10:22 a.m.)

Mark 1:19-20: "Without having to P.R.O.C.R.A.S.T.I.N.A.T.E, what should you do?" (Jan 29, 08, 10:44 a.m.)

Mark 1:20-22: "How do you rate in the B.U.S.I.N.E.S.S of Jesus?" (Jan 30, 08, 11:29 a.m.)

Mark 1:20-22: "Whose T.E.A.C.H.I.N.G.S do you follow?" (Jan 31, 08, 11:52 a.m.)

Mark 1:23-28: "What C.A.P.T.I.V.I.T.Y are you facing today?" (Feb 01, 08, 10:35 a.m.)

Mark 4:3-20: "What if Jesus talked F.O.O.T.B.A.L.L?" (Feb 02, 08, 10:35 a.m.)

Mark 1:29-31: "Where do you need H.E.A.L.I.N.G?" (Feb 05, 08, 11:44 a.m.)

Mark 1:32-34: "Where do you need an A.N.S.W.E.R?" (Feb 06, 08, 11:16 a.m.)

Mark 1:35-39: "Where do you give your S.O.L.I.T.A.R.Y time to the Lord?" (Feb 07, 08, 11:41 a.m.)

Mark 1:40-42: "Where do you need to be C.L.E.A.N?" (Feb 09, 08, 11:00 a.m.)

Mark 1:43-45: "What do your actions C.A.U.S.E?" (Feb 11, 08, 9:23 a.m.)

MARK CHAPTER 2:

Mark 2:1-2: "What do you do with your P.O.P.U.L.A.R.I.T.Y?" (Feb 12, 08, 9:52 a.m.)

Mark 2:2-5: "What kind of F.R.I.E.N.D are you?" (Feb 13, 08, 11:49 a.m.)

Mark 2:5-12: "Where does P.A.R.A.L.Y.S.I.S take hold of you?" (Feb 15, 08, 7:42 a.m.)

Mark 2:5-12: "What are you thinking in your M.I.N.D?" (Feb 16, 08, 11:08 a.m.)

Mark 2:5-12: "What do you represent by your A.C.T.I.O.N.S?" (Feb 18, 08, 8:23 a.m.)

Mark 2:13-15: "Where are you looking for A.C.C.E.P.T.A.N.C.E?" (Feb 19, 08, 11:22 a.m.)

Mark 2:15-17: "Who do you I.N.V.I.T.E to Jesus?" (Feb 20, 08, 9:57 a.m.)

Mark 2:18-20: "When do you F.A.S.T?" (Feb 21, 08, 9:32 a.m.)

Mark 2:21-22: "How do you see your L.I.F.E?" (Feb 22, 08, 9:56 a.m.)

Mark 2:23-28: "What kind of L.E.A.D.E.R will you be? (Feb 23, 08, 10:46 a.m.)

Mark 2:23-28: "What does the S.A.B.B.A.T.H mean to you?" (Feb 25, 08, 10:46 a.m.)

CHAPTER 3:

Mark 3:1-6:"Whose N.E.E.D.S do you meet?" (Feb 26, 08, 9:54 a.m.)

Mark 3:7-8: "What is your I.M.P.A.C.T?" (Feb 27, 08, 8:17 a.m.)

Mark 3:9-11: "What S.P.A.C.E do you give yourself?" (Feb 28, 08, 9:38 a.m.)

Mark 3:11-12: "How do you fight E.V.I.L?" (Feb 29, 08, 9:11 a.m.)

Mark 3:13-16: "What emphasis do you put on your R.E.L.A.T.I.O.N.S.H.I.P with Jesus?" (March 01, 08, 9:29 a.m.)

Mark 3:17-19: "Where do you have your A.P.P.O.I.N.T.M.E.N.T in?" (March 03, 08, 9:49 a.m.)

Mark 3:20: "Where do you G.A.T.H.E.R?" (March 04, 08, 12:07 p.m.)

Mark 3:21: "How are your actions seen by your F.A.M.I.L.Y?" (March 05, 08, 10:24 a.m.)

Mark 3:22-27: "How do you handle S.L.A.N.D.E.R?" (March 06, 08, 7:57 a.m.)

Mark 3:28-30: "What is your V.I.E.W of Jesus?" (March 07, 08, 8:18 a.m.)

Mark 3:31-34: "What do you do with God's Will?" (March 08, 08, 8:45 a.m.)

CHAPTER 4:
Mark 4:1-20: "What do P.A.R.A.B.L.E.S mean to you?" (March 10, 08, 7:15 a.m.)

Mark 4:1-20: "What if Jesus talked F.O.O.T.B.A.L.L?" (Feb 02, 08, 10:35 a.m.)

Mark 4:1-20: "Where are you in your W.A.L.K with the Lord?" (March 11, 08, 9:32 a.m.)

Audio: "Where are you in your W.A.L.K with the Lord?" (March 11, 08, 11:05 a.m.)

Mark 4:21-23: "What kind of L.A.M.P will you be?" (March 12, 08, 9:40 a.m.)

Audio: "What do you C.O.N.C.E.A.L?" (March 14, 08, 10:11 a.m.)

"What do you C.O.N.C.E.A.L?" (March 14, 08, 8:52 a.m.)

John 12:12-15: "How can you B.L.E.S.S the Lord?" (March 17, 08, 1:25 a.m.)

Philippians 2:8: "What does the C.R.O.S.S mean to you?" (March 20, 08, 1:16 p.m.)

"How do you handle D.O.U.B.T.S?" (March 25, 08, 12:36 p.m.)

Mark 4:24-25: "What do you do with what you H.E.A.R?" (March 31, 08, 8:39 a.m.)

Mark 4:26-29: "What do you do with the W.O.R.D of God?" (April 05, 08, 10:18 a.m.)

Mark 4:30-34: "What do you do with the S.E.E.D?" (April 07, 08, 11:48 a.m.)

Mark 4:35-41: "What are the S.T.O.R.M.S in your life?" (April 08, 08, 11:52 a.m.)

CHAPTER 5:

Mark 5:1-13: "Where is your T.O.R.M.E.N.T coming from?" (April 09, 08, 11:50 a.m.)

Mark 5:14-17: "Where do you need H.E.A.L.I.N.G?" (April 11, 08, 11:46 a.m.)

Mark 5:14-17: "What do people R.E.P.O.R.T about you?" (April 12, 08, 11:00 a.m.)

Mark 5:18-19: "What makes you A.F.R.A.I.D of Jesus?" (April 14, 08, 10:40 a.m.)

Mark 5:18-19: "Will you T.E.L.L others about Jesus?" (April 15, 08, 11:32 a.m.)

Mark 5:20: "What do you do with your T.E.S.T.I.M.O.N.Y?" (April 16, 08, 12:03 p.m.)

Proverbs 17:4: "What does G.O.S.S.I.P do to you?" (April 17, 08, 6:52 p.m.)

Exodus 12:5,7,11,13-14: "How do you know judgment will P.A.S.S.O.V.E.R you?" (April 24, 08, 9:26 a.m.)

Mark 5:21: "Why will you G.A.T.H.E.R before Jesus?" (April 28, 08, 9:36 a.m.)

Mark 5:22-24: "What place do you give P.R.A.Y.E.R in your life?" (April 29, 08, 7:51 a.m.)

Mark 5:24b-29: “Unclean Now? Christ’s Leading Everyday Always Nurtures! (U.N.C.L.E.A.N)" (May 05, 08, 10:24 a.m.)

Mark 5:30-34: “Forever, Redeemer Everyday Excitingly Delivers Omnipotent Message!(F.R.E.E.D.O.M)” (May 05, 08, 10:24 a.m.)

Mark 5:35-37: “Timing Is Messiah’s Involvement Nurturing Graciously! (T.I.M.I.N.G)” (May 07, 08, 10:07 a.m.)

Mark 5:35-42: "What place do you give G.O.D.S W.I.L.L in your life?" (May 08, 08, 9:33 a.m.)

CHAPTER 6:

Mark 6:1-2:"Where do you seek W.I.S.D.O.M for your life?" (May 09, 08, 10:31 a.m.)

Mark 6:2-3:"What do you do with your C.A.L.L.I.N.G in life?" (May 10, 08, 9:43 a.m.)

Mark 6:2-3: "Who/Where is your I.D.E.N.T.I.T.Y found in?" (May 12, 08, 8:45 a.m.)

Mark 6:4: "When do you feel A.C.C.E.P.T.E.D in your life" (May 13, 08, 8:21 a.m.)

Mark 6:4-6: "How is your F.A.I.T.H in the Lord?" (May 14, 08, 8:01 a.m.)

Mark 6:6-7:"What do you T.E.A.C.H by your life?" (May 15, 08, 10:34 a.m.)

Mark 6:6-7:"Who are you S.E.N.T by?" (May 16, 08, 6:49 a.m.)

Mark 6:7-11:"Where are you S.T.A.Y.I.N.G in your life?" (May 17, 08, 8:38 a.m.)

Mark 6:12-13: "How is your spiritual H.E.A.L.T.H in your life?" (May 20, 08, 7:41 a.m.)

Mark 6:12-14: "What have people H.E.A.R.D about Jesus through you?" (May 21, 08, 8:36 a.m.)

Mark 6:14-16: "What do you T.H.I.N.K about Jesus?" (May 22, 08, 10:02 a.m.)

Mark 6:16-17: "How do you handle D.O.U.B.T.S in your life?" (May 23, 08, 9:05 a.m.)

Mark 6:17-20: "When do you S.P.E.A.K out?" (May 24, 08, 9:32 a.m.)

Philippians 4:9: "What kind of S.O.L.D.I.E.R will you be?" (May 26, 08, 9:55 a.m.)

Mark 6:21-25: "What has the T.O.N.G.U.E done in your life?" (May 27, 08, 8:27 a.m.)

Mark 6:25-29: "What has P.R.I.D.E done in your life?" (May 28, 08, 8:25 a.m.)

Mark 6:30: "What is your M.I.S.S.I.O.N you have been called to?" (May 29, 08, 8:19 a.m.)

Mark 6:31-32: "Where do you find R.E.S.T in your life?" (May 30, 08, 8:04 a.m.)

Mark 6:33-34: "Who have you made the S.H.E.P.H.E.R.D of your life?" (May 31, 08, 8:37 a.m.)

Mark 6:35-44: "What kind of B.R.E.A.D do you eat?" (June 02, 08, 8:34 a.m.)

Mark 6:45: "Whose C.A.R.E are you really in?" (June 03, 08, 9:32 a.m.)

Mark 6:46: "When do you P.R.A.Y in your life?" (June 03, 08, 9:32 a.m.)

Mark 6:46-48b:"What T.R.O.U.B.L.E are you facing in your life?" (June 05, 08, 9:53 a.m.)

Mark 6:48-50: "What is the F.E.A.R you are facing in life?" (June 06, 08, 9:23 a.m.)

Mark 6:51-52: "How have you H.A.R.D.E.N.E.D your heart?" (June 07, 08, 9:09 a.m.)

Mark 6:53-54: "What are you R.E.C.O.G.N.I.Z.E.D for in your life?" (June 09, 08, 9:37 a.m.)

Mark 6:55-56: "Who do you I.N.T.R.O.D.U.C.E to Jesus in your life?" (June 10, 08, 10:50 a.m.)

CHAPTER 7:

Mark 7:1-8: "How do you view H.Y.P.O.C.R.I.S.Y in your life?" (June 11, 08, 6:11 a.m.)

Mark 7:1-8: "How does the Lord view your W.O.R.S.H.I.P in life?" (June 12, 08, 9:24 a.m.)

Mark 7:1-8: "Whose T.E.A.C.H.I.N.G.S do you follow in life?" (June 13, 08, 8:12 a.m.)

Mark 7:9-13: "How do you honor your P.A.R.E.N.T.S in life?" (June 14, 08, 9:16 a.m.)

Philippians 4:20-23: "What have you done for your F.A.T.H.E.R in life?" (June 15, 08, 5:40 p.m.)

Mark 7:14-19: "How do you C.L.E.A.N your life?" (June 17, 08, 9:26 p.m.)

Mark 7:20-23: "When are you getting a H.E.A.R.T transplant?" (June 18, 08, 7:36 a.m.)

Mark 7:24: "Why not take the C.R.E.D.I.T offered to you in life?" (June 19, 08, 10:12 a.m.)

Mark 7:25-26: "How often do you ask Jesus to S.A.V.E your loved ones in life?" (June 20, 08, 9:45 a.m.)

Mark 7:27-30: "What A.D.V.E.R.S.I.T.Y are you facing in life?" (June 21, 08, 10:38 a.m.)

Mark 7:31-32:"Who do you B.R.I.N.G to Jesus?" (June 23, 08, 9:50 a.m.)

Mark 7:33-34: "Where do you want the Lord to W.O.R.K in your life?" (June 24, 08, 10:12 a.m.)

Mark 7:35-36: "What do you need W.E.L.L done in your life?" (June 25, 08, 10:10 a.m.)

CHAPTER 8

Mark 8:1a:"Where do you G.A.T.H.E.R in life?" (June 26, 08, 10:11 a.m.)

Mark 8:1b-3:"Who needs your C.O.M.P.A.S.S.I.O.N this week?" (June 27, 08, 10:16 a.m.)

Mark 8:1b-3: "What place do you give a R.E.T.R.E.A.T in your life?" (June 30, 08, 10:24 a.m.)

Mark 8:1b-3: "What do you E.A.T in life?" (July 01, 08, 10:27 a.m.)

Mark 8:1b-3: "What are you H.U.N.G.R.Y for in life?" (July 02, 08, 10:15 a.m.)

Mark 8:1b-3: "What D.I.S.T.A.N.C.E will you go to meet Jesus?" (July 03, 08, 10:06 a.m.)

Mark 8:4: "What do you F.O.R.G.E.T in life?" (July 07, 08, 11:04 a.m.)

Mark 8:4-7: "How do you handle P.R.O.B.L.E.M.S in your life?" (July 08, 08, 10:14 a.m.)

Mark 8:8a: "What are you T.H.A.N.K.F.U.L for in your life?" (July 09, 08, 10:05 a.m.)

Mark 8:8b: "What has being G.E.N.E.R.O.U.S done to you?" (July 12, 08, 9:05 a.m.)

Mark 8:9-10: "Where has the Lord placed you to C.A.R.E in life?" (July 15, 08, 11:29 a.m.)

Mark 8:9-10: "Who do you let M.O.L.D your life?" (July 16, 08, 11:19 a.m.)

Mark 8:11-13: "Who have you T.E.S.T.E.D in life?" (July 21, 08, 11:04 a.m.)

Mark 8:11-13: "What does J.E.S.U.S mean to you?" (July 22, 08, 10:59 a.m.)

Mark 8:14-15: "Who do you W.A.S.T.E your time with?" (July 23, 08, 9:49 a.m.).

Mark 8:14-16: "Where is your F.O.C.U.S in life?" (July 24, 08, 10:12 a.m.)

Mark 8:14-16: "What is Jesus A.W.A.R.E of in your life?" (July 26, 08, 9:05 a.m.)

Mark 8:16-17: "What do you M.I.S.S to see in your life?" (July 28, 08, 9:52 a.m.)

Mark 8:16-21: "When have you H.A.R.D.E.N.E.D your heart?" (July 29, 08, 10:45 a.m.)

Mark 8:16-21: "What do you fail to S.E.E or H.E.A.R in life?" (July 30, 08, 8:44 a.m.)

Mark 8:16-21: "What do you R.E.M.E.M.B.E.R in life?" (July 31, 08, 7:53 a.m.)

AUGUST 2008

Mark 8:22-26: "Who do you B.R.I.N.G to Jesus?" (August 01, 08, 9:07 a.m.)

Mark 8:22-26: "Whose life are you I.N.V.O.L.V.E.D in?" (August 02, 08, 9:48 a.m.)

Mark 8:22-26: "Should you take M.E.D.I.C.I.N.E in life?" (August 04, 08, 8:49 a.m.)

Mark 8:22-26: "What does R.E.S.T.O.R.A.T.I.O.N make you do?" (August 05, 08, 9:43 a.m.)

Mark 8:27-30: "Who do you say Jesus is P.E.R.S.O.N.A.L.L.Y to you?" (August 06, 08, 9:48 a.m.)

Mark 8:31-33: "Who are you O.P.E.N with in life?" (August 08, 08, 9:50 a.m.)

Mark 8:31-33: "Whose L.I.B.E.R.A.T.I.O.N theology do you follow in life?" (August 11, 08, 1:40 p.m.)

Mark 8:33-34: "What do you D.E.N.Y yourself in life?" (Aug 12, 08, 7:38 a.m.)

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By Ramesh C.Reddy
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August 14, 2008