"Dying for Jesus" - or: "God is also in the small things"

A change of pace, for contextual reasons...
The end of chapter 8 of the Gospel of Mark speaks about what it means to follow Jesus. It is the "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me from Jesus - which can mean many things.
In the big picture, it means to resolve that you are willing to die to self and die for Jesus. It is the "at gunpoint" situation to confess Christ. Yet it also means so much more, in the day to day life, which can get lost if it is only understood on the big scale. Careful interpretation is needed, particularly, if it is understood as an invitation to a life "removed from the world", so it comes down to the fact that "god is also in the small things."

It means for example that I am writing this right now, instead of watching an episode of "House", as it might benefit someone else rather than myself (might...). It means so many things - do I, spend the free time that I have on something completely arbitrary, or use it to write that letter to that friend? What it means to be good "stewards of time"? Does Jesus really ask us to wear ourselves out, neglect academic work "for the sake of the Gospel"? I think, it means in a lot of cases that some healthy discernment is needed - bringing glory to God can take many shapes, and can also mean to be a "believer in business", get a great mark in a presentation or essay, and yes, "taking up your cross" can really mean to get these Latin vocabulary works and ace that test.

In short, following Jesus is a way of life. It can mean a lot of different things for different people, and, from me, it asks for wisdom and a "godly" perspective...it brings to mind the passage in Colossians...

"Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving." (Colossians 3:23-24)

and the following lyrics....

...
Heal my heart and make it clean
Open up my eyes to the things unseen
Show me how to love like You
have loved me

Break my heart for what breaks Yours
Everything I am for Your Kingdom's cause
As I go from nothing to
Eternity

(Hillsong United, "Hosanna")