Implications:
I saw important implications for my own life. I learned that the crowd was with Jesus for three days having a retreat with Jesus to know Jesus, be taught by Jesus, and be led by Jesus. After reading this passage, it made me want to have a 3-day retreat of my own with Jesus in a community setting to know Jesus, to be taught by Jesus, and to be led by Him.

There can be no better feeling than spending time with Jesus and allowing Jesus to guide the daily aspects of our lives. And I have realized through my years of 3-day retreats with InterVarsity Christian Fellowship (IVCF), the impact retreats that are focused on Christ and growing in Him can have.

I ask you now dear friend, what place do you give a retreat in your life?
Dear friend, a student was USING COCAINE and gave up on church life but one day she was impacted by the devotionals and wrote to me that she wanted to go to church with me before she left Pitt. She did come to church with me and was blessed. Another student called me after she was RAPED after getting the devotionals. She was counseled and prayed for. A student from WVU wrote to me that she asked Christ to have all her past after reading the devotionals. All of them were changed and transformed by the Word of God and through the struggles, God's Word brought them through. The focus is not on the devotionals but how the Lord Jesus used an avenue in my life to touch other people's lives because I was on a retreat with Jesus.

Friend, it was me going on a retreat with Jesus, being taught by Him, led by Him, and knowing Him more and more, is what indirectly impacted these students' life.

It was at a retreat I felt the Lord Jesus telling me, "Ramesh, you have seen how my Word has impacted students lives and can continue to do that. I want you to start sharing what I have been teaching you in my time with you."

I said, "I will Lord. Help me Lord. May the meditations of my heart and the words of my mouth be pleasing to you Oh Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer. I need to hear from you. They need to hear from you. They don't need to hear from me and I don't need to hear from myself. I need to hear from you."

To this day, this has been my prayer even today before I start sharing.

To this day, I am speechless that the Lord Jesus would use a WRETCHED SINNER LIKE ME to TRANSFORM PEOPLE'S LIVES THROUGH HIS SPIRIT using me as a instrument for His purposes. ***TEARY***. THANK YOU JESUS!

It was not anything of my doing that ministered to these students or changed their thinking but it was the power of the Gospel of Jesus Christ that ministered to them through the Word and its implications for our lives, the Lord helped me proclaim.

We all need Jesus and retreats are one way to help us grow in the Lord but not the only way. I do hope if you have opportunities to go on a 3-day retreat that you would take it.

 In the hectic schedules of our lives, we can be so bogged down with everything we have to do that we miss the point of the rejuvenation a retreat with the Lord can do for our lives. And when it is in the company of other community of believers in Christ it becomes that much more powerful. We come to grow in Christ together, be led and taught by Christ through the power of His Word, through His Spirit, and the community He places us in.

It can be so helpful to have a retreat as often as you can with the Lord! If you have never taken time off to go away with other believers from city life and enjoy God's creation at camp settings, etc, you should ask our Lord Jesus for that opportunity. You will learn from the Lord Jesus in a special way that you don't want to even leave where you are at.

I never realized that the same people were with Jesus for 3 days listening to Him and being taught by Him because they wanted to know Him. I want to have that experience and I pray you would want it too.

A retreat with the Lord will also show us our own shortcomings and issues we have to deal with. Many times the right kind of retreat will address issues of our heart that we never imagined could be there. I have been to retreats that dealt frankly and openly with my issues.

Friend, retreats can do the same for you. Yes, they can friend when they are retreats where the FOCUS IS ON CHRIST ALONE AND THE POWER OF HIS RESURRECTION TO CHANGE AND TRANSFORM OUR LIVES BY THE POWER OF HIS ABUNDANT GRACE.

When we are in a retreat with Jesus in a community setting with other believers and followers of Christ, we cannot but be transformed and challenged on the issues we have.

The Lord Jesus did not just spend three days with the crowds to have a social gathering but God in the flesh was interested with the heart of mankind. Jesus ministered to them to help them experience the Kingdom of God. Jesus wanted the crowds to repent and turn to God.

Jesus was all about the Gospel and everything else was secondary. When I have spent time in retreats, I came away changed and transformed in different areas.

As I spend time with Jesus and learn from Him, I know He will bring me to a place, He wants me to be at so He can use me more and more for His Kingdom's sake. It is hard to lead when we have a COVETOUS, COMPLAINING, CRITICAL, and CONTUMACIOUS attitude. Recently, the Lord has shown me that these are areas I need His help in dealing with these issues before its too late.

It is the Gospel of Jesus Christ that can address those issues in us too. These issues crop up because of sin in our lives BUT THAT IS THE REASON WHY JESUS CAME.

Jesus came into this world to lead people to the Kingdom of God from the kingdom of darkness. Jesus wants to fill our lives with His Light. Praise the Lord!

Jesus wants to take away all our sin and place it upon Himself where the transaction takes place. Jesus bought you with a price and you are forever bought when you go with Jesus. Jesus will never return you from belonging to His Kingdom. That's how much Jesus loves you, Jesus loves you, Jesus loves you!!! You were bought with His blood and retreats give us that quiet, solitary time to reflect on that too. We will be equipped, enabled, and empowered to engage others in our lives with the Gospel, the Saving and Living Grace offered by the Lord Jesus Christ to all those who want to be TRANSFORMED BY HIM.

In the busyness of life, I would like you to have that too. I want you to be equipped, enabled, empowered by our Lord Jesus Christ so you can engage the community around you with the Gospel of Jesus Christ after you yourself are transformed because you have been with Jesus.

It would be awesome when people interact with you for them to think, wow that person has been with Jesus and that's the only way to explain his/her attitude. I want that too. It starts with doing things with Jesus more than for Jesus even though both are important but BEING is more important than DOING.

Sometimes we can be doing, doing, doing things for Jesus that we don't really spend time being, being, being with Jesus. That situation is also called the Martha syndrome.

While Martha was so busy and stressed out with all the preparations that had to be made for Jesus' presence there, Jesus did not want Martha to focus on all that more than what was more important: spending at the feet of Jesus listening to Him. Jesus told Martha that Mary found that and Jesus was not going to take it away from her.

It interesting that Martha was not being selfish because the things she was doing, she was doing for Jesus but Jesus wanted her to do things with Jesus. There is a big difference between DOING THINGS FOR SOMEONE and DOING THINGS WITH SOMEONE.

"As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to him. She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord's feet listening to what he said. But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to him and asked, "Lord, don't you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!" "Martha, Martha," the Lord answered, "you are worried and upset about many things, but only one thing is needed. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her." (Luke 10:38-42, NIV)

It is at a retreat that the Lord Jesus Christ spoke to me 11 years ago about sharing what He has been teaching me in my Quiet Times and study of God's Word. It is from a Harvest Retreat by InterVarsity Christian Fellowship (IVCF) that I participated in, the burden to share devotionals was born.

I was so excited to do that because I saw how God's Word impacts lives and how it impacted my own life when I not only studied God's Word but applied to implications to my life. It was a heart to reach as many students with the love and Gospel of Jesus Christ I wanted to do that. To this day, the Lord Jesus Christ did not let me lose that burden. I continue to do that as the Lord helps me.

In those days before http://www.pittsburghstandard.com or http://www.facebook.com, all the devotionals no matter how long they were, were sent to hundreds and hundreds of students through email with 7 options to choose from. That continued for many years and eventually the format changed to Pittsburgh Standard and Facebook.

If I did not go to that retreat wanting to know Jesus, being taught and led by Jesus, I don't know if I would be doing what I am doing now. Christ has kept that passion alive in me to do ministry for students because of all the retreats, etc.

Others have noticed that too and on Friday Kristen, my  small group leader of Living Acts, which is part of PCCO-Oakland International Fellowship remarked something to the effect of, "Ramesh, I thought you were not going to be here anymore and then I thought to myself, he has such a heart for student ministry, what would happen there, I am so glad that you are staying"

That was very encouraging because the night before when I woke up on Friday morning the dream I had came to my mind:

"In that dream, a woman named Dabney gave me access to student ministry stuff that was invite only. I was not privy to that information and could not join on my own. I had to be invited and was invited. I felt a sense of restoration and was speechless. I felt it was God's doing!"

I know the Lord Jesus has a hand in everything that is happening in my life from the joys to the sufferings. He has that same Hand in your life too.

Friends, when you spend time with the Lord Jesus Christ even the mistakes you have made, Christ can fix and mend. There are times in our lives Jesus wants us to retreat to Him and Him alone without any leadership positions in our lives.

That means sometimes there will be leadership stuff we are doing that we need to let go so we can be MINISTERED BY JESUS and JESUS CAN PRUNE AREAS OF OUR LIFE FOR OUR GROWTH so we can better lead with a SERVANT'S HEART in the future.

Nothing that happens is out of the Lord's reach or intervention. There have been many many times I wanted to resign from a position but time after time, I was advised against that rash decision. But recently, when I wanted to resign from that position, I was given a GREEN LIGHT for the time being. It was to let the Lord Jesus focus on the ISSUES OF THE HEART in LIGHT OF THE GOSPEL OF JESUS CHRIST that need to be dealt with head on with the Lord's help.

Retreats can be helpful for things like that too. When I think of retreats, I think of InterVarsity Christian Fellowship (IVCF) because that's the fellowship I had been involved for years as a student member, student leader, staff volunteer, and staff worker.

Right now one of my friends just got done from a 7-day IVCF retreat held on Cedar Campus in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. There we emphasize a 3-hour retreat on Sunday to go by ourselves and spend that solitary time only  with the Lord reading His Word, reflecting, and praying. This is only one aspect of retreats to have students meet with Jesus.

IVCF has awesome retreats in the summer, fall, and spring semester that I know of. One of the tracks deals with 'Following Jesus' what that means and its implications for our lives. I have been through that track and it utilizes the Gospel of Mark 1 and the importance of the cross for our own Christian adventure. If you are interested in going, please email me at reddy4HisGlory2004@yahoo.com or call me at 412-720-4579 to let me know so that I can get you contact information.

There are other fellowships to such as Asian Christian Fellowship, Campus Crusade for Christ, Cornerstone, etc that have wonderful retreats that are focused on Christ and growing in Him too from the testimonies I have heard from my friends.

In retreats focused on the Lord, we will come away realizing how weak we are and what a relief to know that in our weaknesses, Christ's loving strength is shown in our lives. In our weaknesses we realize that there is nothing we can do to attain Salvation in Christ on our own but thanks be to God that it is the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ that justifies us, saves us, and sanctifies us. IT IS ALL GRACE! JUSTIFICATION BY GRACE AND SANCTIFICATION BY GRACE!

GRACE in light of the Gospel is something my pastor, Pastor Ed has been emphasizing in our church time after time. My friend Edwin explained it to me in layman's terms to understand it better.

A lot of people come to know Jesus as their Lord and Personal Savior at retreats because of that special time used to share Christ's love for a fallen world for people like you and me. We don't have it all together but Christ does and when we allow Him to work in our lives wanting to be obedient to Him, He will take care of the rest.

Jesus makes me think of these words:  "I love you, I love you, I love you! You are precious and special in my sight. I have called you by Name. I am here to redeem you and take all your baggage upon myself so your load can be off. I want to replace that baggage with my love. Take my love in. My blood I shed for you to wash away all your sin no matter what it is. In me you will find redemption and hope. You have come to the right place where my precious cleansing blood flows for you who are so precious. Give me your issues and let me make you well. I will in my timing. Rest in me and know you have been redeemed forever"

May you find time to have a retreat with Jesus to know Him, be taught by Him, and be led by Jesus.

"Remembering Emmanuel Take Retreat Expecting Almighty's Truth!"/What place do you give a R.E.T.R.E.A.T in your life?"

Prayer:
Dear Jesus, I am so touched that you spent three days with the crowds and am so happy to read that the crowds were with you for three days. This reminds me of retreats where we can also be taught by you through your Word, led by you through your Spirit, and known by you. We come to know you because you first know us and work in our lives. Thanks so much Jesus.  Oh Lord, please help me make a time once a year atleast to have that 3-day retreat with you away from the noise of city life. Help me to be in a community of believers where we can have a retreat together too. Thank you so much Jesus. Thank you so much for loving me as I am. Thank you for the cross and that you are Mighty to Save. Thank you for saving me from the bondage of sin as I yield to you. I am covered by your BLOOD and there is nothing I do or say that can take your love away from me. Thanks for loving me as I am.  Thank you I can be transformed by you. I turn this time to thee Lord and ask thee for all thine help. Thank you so much Jesus! Thank you for hearing my prayer and answering me. In Your Name I Pray Jesus! Amen!!

May you experience the POWER OF CHRIST'S RESURRECTION this day, and give Him the LOCKED areas of your life too so you can experience His PEACE as you become an ACTOR in the film called LIFE being directed by your DIRECTOR, JESUS CHRIST who comes to give JOY and PEACE.

You don't have to be locked away anymore for Christ is here to free you and give you peace to live out your actions.

How do you look at GODISNOWHERE?

One of my pastors, Pastor Hugo shared this example this past Sunday at the RESURRECTION DAY SERVICE in the combined worship service of Pittsburgh Chinese Church-Oakland & Oakland International Fellowship:

If you look at it as GOD IS NO WHERE, you will still be lost in your sin and be in bondage locked away in your sins and problems finding no peace.

But  as my pastor spoke to the congregation and spoke to me, I am here to tell you that GOD IS NOW HERE.

Yes, friend God is alive and wants to bring a transformation in your life through the Grace of our Lord Jesus Christ for He paid the penalty on the cross to rescue you and me and came back to life to save us and live with us.

Yes, friend that is exciting to know that we can experience HIS SAVING GRACE & LIVING GRACE.

When we mess up, we can go to Jesus with our shortcomings and He will forgive us and restore us to Him and we will find peace in Him.

^"Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come! All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting men's sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. We are therefore Christ's ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ's behalf: Be reconciled to God. God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God." (Colossians 5:17-21, NIV)

^"For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord." (Romans 6:23, NIV)

"But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin. If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness." (1 John 1:7-9, NIV)

Friend, we need Jesus because we have been separated from God due to our sin. Because of our sin, Jesus had to pay the price to become our bridge so we can reach God now not of our own good works but because of the finished work of Christ, the Lord on the cross.

"For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast." (Ephesians 2:8-9, NIV)

May you come to know Jesus Christ as your Lord and Personal Savior becoming His offspring so you can spend Eternity with Him. He is waiting for you. Come as you are. Please do not reject the gift of God.

If you would like to invite Jesus Christ into your heart and make Him a daily part of your life, you can this very moment. You will never be alone. You can claim God's promises for you in the Bible and see them come true, before your eyes, in His wonderful timing. You don't have to wait for a special time to come to the Lord. You can come right now as you pray this prayer, meaning it in your heart and finding your new identity in Christ Jesus.

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!

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:
Jesus, I thank you for being the Bread of Life. You are the Living Bread of my life. Thank you for coming from Heaven and giving your life for the life of the world. You sacrificed yourself for humanity. Thank you Lord when we eat of you symbolically making you part of our life, digesting what you teach us by following you, we can be living Eternally, and the fruit that comes will reflect and resemble your life. I want that Father God. I want that Lord Jesus! I want that Holy Spirit! I know of a lot of people who partake of Holy Communion where the bread represents your body broken for their sin and the juice represents your blood shed for their sin. When we partake of Holy Communion, we are reminded that we are remembering you. I want to remember you always Lord Jesus. But for me to remember you always, I need to know you and acknowledge everything you said you are. So right now I acknowledge that you are my Lord and Personal Savior who died and rose again to give me life from sin. So right now, I come to you and say how sorry I am for my sin and living a life on my own. I repent of my sin and ask you to forgive me of my sin with your cleansing blood which I accept. Wash me and I will be clean from this infection of sin. Come Lord Jesus and please become part of my life as you live in me and I will live for you. I thank you Jesus for coming into my heart and making my heart your home. Thank you for living in me Jesus and I will live for you and serve you the rest of the days of my life. I do need your Spirit to reside in me and work in me and through me so I surrender all that I am and will be to you. Whatever your will is for me, please give me the strength and willingness to bear it and rejoice in you. Thank you so much Jesus. I thank you Jesus for becoming my Lord and Personal Savior. I thank you Jesus you have heard my prayer and have answered me. I thank you that I am your child Oh God. I thank you for becoming my only Way to Eternal Life. In Your Name I Pray Jesus! Amen!