Take up your cross

Then He said to them all….

To all who were following Him as disciples….

“If anyone….                      anyone….anyone….you, me, any one person….

desires to….                       wants to so much they can’t think of anything else but…..

come after Me …..           to follow, to imitate, to learn from, to worship, to obey, to receive,                                                            to believe, to serve, to model

let him …….                         let that person – let her – let him – let me – let you

deny himself……..           put himself, herself, myself, yourself — what I want, what I need,                                                           what brings me comfort and security, what feels good and makes                                                         me feel good…. these things are to be put aside.

take up his cross……       whatever that means, whatever suffering, whatever                                                                                      obedience, whatever sacrifice of love I am called to give

daily………                            every day, every day, every day, every day. 24 hours a day. Every                                                              moment, every breath….

and follow Me…..              wherever, however, whatever…..

Luke 9:23