Good morning Father, may I be drawn like this throughout my day to spend time listening to You, before I begin to do something for You.
“Now one of the Pharisees asked Jesus to have dinner with him, so he went into the Phariseeʼs house and took his place at the table. Then when a woman of that town, who was a sinner, learned that Jesus was dining at the Phariseeʼs house, she brought an alabaster jar of perfumed oil. As she stood behind him at his feet, weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears. She wiped them with her hair, kissed them, and anointed them with the perfumed oil. Now when the Pharisee who had invited him saw this, he said to himself, “If this man were a prophet, he would know who and what kind of woman this is who is touching him, that she is a sinner.” So Jesus answered him, “Simon, I have something to say to you.” He replied, “Say it, Teacher.” “A certain creditor had two debtors; one owed him five hundred silver coins, and the other fifty. When they could not pay, he canceled the debts of both. Now which of them will love him more?” Simon answered, “I suppose the one who had the bigger debt canceled.” Jesus said to him, “You have judged rightly.” Then, turning toward the woman, he said to Simon, “Do you see this woman? I entered your house. You gave me no water for my feet, but she has wet my feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair. You gave me no kiss of greeting, but from the time I entered she has not stopped kissing my feet. You did not anoint my head with oil, but she has anointed my feet with perfumed oil. Therefore I tell you, her sins, which were many, are forgiven, thus she loved much; but the one who is forgiven little loves little.” Then Jesus said to her, “Your sins are forgiven.” But those who were at the table with him began to say among themselves, “Who is this, who even forgives sins?” He said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you; go in peace.” Luke 7:36-50.
In this story, Jesus was dining at a Pharisee’s , a church leader’s home. Sitting at the dinner table were other church members, friends of the church leader he invited to have dinner at his house to meet Jesus. Suddenly, a prostitute crashes the church dinner party and we read the account of what happened. When you read the story, who would you want to be like in this story, the Church members or the prostitute? I would not want to be like those in the church, but I would like to be like the prostitute. I would not want to be the one pointing out sinners to Jesus, but a sinner, broken, forgiven and being touched, healed and loved by Jesus. Jesus knows what is in control of the one thing that controls everything you do in life, your heart. What controls our hearts? What is the posture of your heart towards Jesus, and as importantly, towards others? What is your heart towards yourself? “The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; A broken and a contrite heart, O God, You will not despise” (Psalm 51:17).
My family, I pray today as we begin the second week of the season of Lent you have an honest discussion with the Holy Spirit on what controls your heart. I pray you will begin your week bowing your heart and spirit and kneeling before Jesus, kiss His feet, pour out your sins and fear like tears, and receive His touch and love. And if brave enough, honestly say in complete surrender the prayer that follows to God, In Jesus’ name. Please pray the same for me. God bless you my friends!
“I am no longer my own, but thine. Put me to what thou wilt, rank me with whom thou wilt. Put me to doing, put me to suffering. Let me be employed for thee or laid aside for thee, exalted for thee or brought low for thee. Let me be full, let me be empty. Let me have all things, let me have nothing. I freely and heartily yield all things to thy pleasure and disposal. And now, O glorious and blessed God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, thou art mine, and I am thine. So be it. And the covenant which I have made on earth, let it be ratified in heaven. Amen”. (John Wesley)
Pease share your reflections and prayers with us in the comment box below.
My prayer every morning is, “Please send me the ones no one else wants.”
PLEASE Help Us Help Them!
My wife Nancy and I are in a season of our ministry of pouring completely into planting and growing simple house churches in our neighborhoods, and having “boots on the ground” serving in our community.. Please pray over this season in my life and that of my family. Please partner and support myself and One Direction community through setting up a monthly donation now for next year, or a one –time gift by clicking the link below. Donation checks can be made out to ODC, PO Box 1293 Madison, Al 35758. Thank You Thank You!
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Gary Liederbach- Lead Follower
One Direction Community
Email: garyl@onedirection.community
Website: https://www.onedirection.community
Facebook: One Direction Community-ODC.
Father, Son and Spirit, fall afresh on me this morning as I begin my week centered in the triune of your love.
“Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God.” (Luke 6:20)
I remember when my wife and I were renovating a foreclosed house in a lower income neighborhood in I irmingham for my two daughters will live in while the attend Birmingham Southern College. It was an ongoing labor of love that has included quite a few trials and also a few blessings, As part of the renovation we needed the HVAC system that was stolen out if it replaced. I called a couple HVAC companies that came out and looked at our system. They either gave me a very steep price for doing the work, or never came back or returned my follow up calls. Nancy and I were driving around the neighborhood and I passed a house. It had broken windows in the front that were boarded up and looked run down. What caught my eye was there was three AC condensing units of various sizes sitting in the front yard. Nancy said, “maybe they are stolen.” I said yes maybe, or maybe the person that lives there works for a HVAC company and brings the old units that he replaced with new ones home.
The next day I went back to the house. I walked up on the front porch in need of repair and knocked on the door (the door bell did not work). A young black man in his early 20’s came to the door, shirtless, with tattoos on his body smoking from a vape. He looked at me with curious surprise as why a white man was knocking at his door. I asked him about the units in his front yard and if anyone in the house does HVAC work. He said he and his dad does, and went back in the house to get his dad. A few minutes latter his dad, Nick came out. And as we started to talk about the HVAC units, and Nick told me his story, I began to be blessed.
Nick worked for an HVAC company for over 15 years. He said the owner treated him almost like a slave, but it was a steady paycheck and he was a hard worker, so he stayed with the company. Nick said not quite two years ago he had a stroke, it affect the right side of his body. His right leg would not work right and he walked with a limp, and his right arm if he did not consciously push it down would raise up and his hand curl up at his side like a T-Rex arm. The company owner called him and said if he did not get back to work he would be fired. So 4 days after his stroke, with one good arm and limping, Nick went back to work. He tried but he had a relapse. The Doctor told him he needed to quit work, get rest, and do therapy for 90 days or he could be crippled for life. Nick told this to his boss, told him I have worked for you for 15 years and asked for a 90 day leave from work. His boss said no, and fired him. The house he is living in was also owned by his boss. He lived in it for 11 years and was renting it to own from him. He only had a couple months payments left for the house to be his, and his boss went back on his word, and said he was not getting the house, but only could continue renting it. So Nick lost every penny he put into the house.
Nick said his father was a preacher. And he and his dad prayed over his condition daily. He said God did a miraculous healing of his body. He is back to perfect condition and use of his leg and arm are back to normal. He praised God for his healing and deliverance.
He then said that he has started doing HVAC work on his own. He said the units in front of his house are from houses he has replaced with new units. He said because of how God has blessed me, I want to be a blessing to others. So he fixes the units, and then uses them and installs them in people’s homes in his neighborhood who are poor, their AC in their home has gone out, and cannot afford a new unit. So he installs these units for them. Nick is a blessing to his neighborhood. And he was a blessing to me. I asked him if he would look at my HVAC system and he did. And he and his son worked on and fixed my system, did an amazing job, and at a tenth of what the other “Christian companies with ICTHUS fish” on their business cards wanted to charge me.
Before I walked off of Nick’s porch that first time we met, we prayed together, praised God together, and I walked away having heard one of the best sermons I heard in a long time. We had “church” on his front porch, and I walked away both convicted of any prejudice thoughts I may have had, and totally blessed and encouraged by the presence of God I encountered. Jesus says all through out the Gospels, My ways are not like the ways of man. My kingdom does not look like mans kingdom. So why do I still think otherwise? Lord have mercy, Christ have mercy, Lord have mercy.
My family, I pray this morning you as you begin your week you will pray that the Spirit opens your eyes to see his kingdom around you. It is not where you think it is. I pray the Holy Spirit will lead you to encounter the poor. Not just so you can be a blessing to them, but so they can teach and be a blessing to you. In Jesus’ name! Please pray the same for me. God bless you my friends!
Please share your thoughts and reflections in the comment box below.
Gary Liederbach- Lead Follower
One Direction Community
Email: garyl@onedirection.community
Website:https://www.onedirection.community
Facebook: One Direction Community-ODC
I could use your financial support for One Direction Community, my family, and those on the margins God has placed in my path I refuse to walk around. Please partner and support myself and One Direction community through setting up a monthly donation or a one –time gift by clicking the link below. Donation checks can be made out to ODC, PO Box 1293 Madison, Al 35758.
Thank You!
Good morning, Lord Jesus. My Lord and Savior, be Lord of my life and every moment of my day.
"When He had finished speaking, He said to Simon, 'Put out into the deep water and let down your nets for a catch.' Simon answered, 'Master, we have worked all night long but have caught nothing. Yet if You say so, I will let down the nets.' When they had done this, they caught so many fish that their nets were beginning to break.... Then Jesus said to Simon, 'Do not be afraid; from now on you will be catching people.' When they had brought their boats to shore, they left everything and followed Him" (Luke 5:4-11).
It takes some effort to "put out into deep water." You don't get there by accident and it's never easy -- especially when you're like Peter was, tired or discouraged or disappointed. When you're tired and weary from the “grind” of ministry and life, exhaustion of fruitfulness and lack of success, it's hard to say, "Let's do it again! Let's go deeper still! Let's go further than last time and beyond our expectations!"
But to "put out into (the) deep water" of Your Spirit, is to seek to hear Your voice, to call You "Master," and obey the nudges of Your guidance in trusting faith, no matter the circumstances of how bleak things appear at the moment. We need not be afraid. And we need not hold back, because there is always an abundance that follows obedience. Peter obeyed Jesus' nudge, and his obedience resulted in abundance.
Part of living life in the "deep water" is being willing to not always see the abundance that follows obedience at the time. So often, we have to "walk by faith, not by sight" (2 Corinthians 5:7). If we insisted on only believing what we see and trusting only what we feel and always playing it safe to never take a risk on our sense of Your leading in the still, small voice we'd never get past the shallow water. And we'd never know the abundant treasures that wait for us in the deep water. Lack of obedience always results lack of abundance.
You've prepared a treasure of abundance for us in the "deep water" of Your Spirit. There's a great catch if we're just willing to be caught up in the arms of Your embrace to live in trusting faith. That's the place where "Eye has not seen nor ear heard, nor have entered into the heart of man the things which God has prepared for those who love Him ... God has reveled them to us through His Spirit ... yes, the deep things of God" (1 Corinthians 2:9-10). That's the place where we hear and respond to Your Word: "Call to Me and I will answer you, and will tell you great and hidden things that you have not known" (Jeremiah 33:3).
So when "Deep calls to deep," we can either respond and put out to the deep water -- no matter how tired we are or how the circumstances appear -- or we can just settle for what we have and just stay where we are, content to live out our lives in the shallow water (Psalm 42:7). It's safer in the shallow water for sure. We have a lot more control when the water is only up to our ankles instead of over our heads (Ezekiel 47:3-5). But my, what great treasures we would miss! In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
My family, I pray this morning as you begin a new week you take time to position your spirit to hear the Master call and sense the nudging of His Holy Spirit to put out into the deep waters of all He has for you and desires to do through you. There is an abundance God has created you to bring forth but it will only come about by your obedience, in Jesus' name! Please pray the same for me. God bless you, my friend!
Please share your thoughts and reflections in the comment box below.
Gary Liederbach- Lead Follower
One Direction Community
Email: garyl@onedirection.community
Website:https://www.onedirection.community
Facebook: One Direction Community-ODC
I could use your financial support for One Direction Community, my family, and those on the margins God has placed in my path I refuse to walk around. Please partner and support myself and One Direction community through setting up a monthly donation or a one –time gift by clicking the link below. Donation checks can be made out to ODC, PO Box 1293 Madison, Al 35758. Thank You!
Father, Son and Spirit I seek full fellowship with you so I can draw others into your fellowship.
“Therefore produce fruit that proves your repentance, and donʼt begin to say to yourselves, ʻWe have Abraham as our father.ʼ For I tell you that God can raise up children for Abraham from these stones! Even now the ax is laid at the root of the trees, and every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire.”
So the crowds were asking him, “What then should we do?” John answered them, “The person who has two tunics must share with the person who has none, and the person who has food must do likewise.” (Luke 3:8-11)
When the crowd asked John what should we do to avoid being thrown into the fire which is hell, he did not answer and tell them they had to repent and do more pious things in their faith: go to church more, pray more, read the Torah more. He told them to avoid hell they needed to repent and do more tangible things in their faith.
The Jews relied heavily on the pious things of their faith. Like their ancestry and heritage to prove they were the chosen people of God. If asked by someone to prove their faith they would answer:
“Yes, I obey the Sabbath and go to the synagogue.
Or “Yes, I am a descendent of Abraham.”
Or “Yes, I am the son/daughter of ______________.”
John forcefully rejected that claim and said their proof of their faith is not in their heritage, religion, or piety; it is in their fruit. John’s words are directed towards us as well, as that is what we rely on as well.
If we are asked by someone if we are a Christian, what do we answer? Almost everyone replies as the Jews did when asked and they get on the treadmill of religion and tradition. In our response when asked if we are a Christian we say,
“Yes, I attend __________________ church every Sunday. (Fill in the blank with your church name.).
Or “Yes, I am _________________ (fill in the blank with your denomination)
Or “Yes, my family has attended this church for years.”
Or ,”Yes, I serve on ____________church committee/ministry.”
Yet where is the fruit in this? When most of us have enough clothes in our closets to cloth the average African village. When we have more food in our fridge, freezer, and pantries than many around the world will see in a month. When we have empty guest bedrooms while our brothers and sisters are sleeping on the streets in the cold. John’s response to us would be, “You brood of vipers and hypocrites, you know the axe is set at your feet to cut down lives that don’t bear fruit.”
Lord, Jesus, in this world where every where I turn there is antagonism and “self-reliance” being presented,. help me during the season of Lent to examine my level of “self- giving” and truly be part of a people who are known as “Christians” who bear fruit as extravagant, thankful givers.
My family, I pray this morning you read John the baptizer’s words above and as the crowds that heard them, ask God in prayer, “What then should I do?” “To whom shall I go?” “Where should I give?” In Jesus’ name. Please pray the same for me. God bless you my friends!
Please share your reflections and prayers in the comment box below.
Help Us Help Them!
My wife Nancy and I are beginning a new year and new season of our ministry with ODC of pouring completely into planting and growing simple house churches in our neighborhoods, and having “boots on the ground” serving in our community.. Please pray over this season in my life and that of my family. Please partner and support myself and One Direction community through setting up a monthly donation or a one –time gift by clicking the link below. Donation checks can be made out to ODC, PO Box 1293 Madison, Al 35758. Thank You!
Gary Liederbach- Lead Follower
One Direction Community
Email: garyl@onedirection.community
Website:https://www.onedirection.community
Facebook: One Direction Community-ODC
“And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.” Luke 2:10-11
For God to take on flesh and the birth of Jesus to take place, it required everything that was impossible to be made possible.With the birth of Jesus, everything that was and is impossible in your life is now possible. It took an impossible amount of love of God for you. such as will never be matched again in the sending of Jesus to save you. In the birth of Christ, all that humanity hoped for became a reality. Today all that you may have settled for as the reality in your life can now be changed by the hope of Christ. In the Christmas story, we see a few small things, done by a few small people, in a few small places that launched the kingdom of God. In Christ’s story for you and I this Christmas morning, He still has a few small people, doing a few small things, in a few small places that continue His movement of God.
It is the intimidating plans, purposes, dreams and visions of God entereing into by the meek and broken that insult the visions of mankind and the proud. If you are not entering into dreams and plans that are intimidating to you, you very well may be insulting to God.
My family, I pray this morning as you remember and celebrate Christ coming into the world, you will be reminded that at the core of Easter is the love that God has for you. I pray you realize and seek with reckless abandon all of the hope joy, and unlimited possibilities of Christ in you. In Jesus' name. Please pray the same for me. God bless you my friends!
Please share your reflections and prayers in the comment box below.
Gary Liederbach- Lead Follower
One Direction Community
Email: garyl@onedirection.community
Website: https://www.onedirection.community
Facebook: One Direction Community-ODC
Please support and partner with myself and my family with your end-of-year financial gift as we serve those in our community Donation checks can be made out to ODC, PO Box 1293 Madison, Al 35758. Thank You!
Jesus, I begin my day in you, walking in the light of the one who lights the darkness
Today is Ash Wednesday. The first Day of Lent. Lent is my favorite season of the church. It is a time of 40 days before Easter where we, the church, set aside for self-reflection, prayer, fasting as Jesus did for 40 days in the wilderness after he was baptized before he began his ministry, and as the Israelite spent 40 years in the desert before entering the promise land.
“The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me, because the Lord has anointed me to bring good news to the poor; he has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to those who are bound; to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor,” (Isaiah 61:1-2)
You may be thinking, why am I beginning my meditation on Ash Wednesday with a passage on anointing and good news?
Because that anointing in the passage above in Isaiah is also on all who have been baptized in Christ and received the Holy Spirit. In Christ, your identity, who you are is a source of good news to the poor, love to those depressed and heartbroken, freedom to the addicted, and the voice of the Gospel of grace and hope in your community.
In Christ you are all these things, however you in yourself are dust, and to dust you shall return. In ourselves, in our mortal bodies we are but dust that dies, However, in Christ filled with the breath of the Holy Spirit we are beings of life. “then the Lord God formed the man of dust from the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living creature.” (Genesis 2:7)
Do we need to embrace the reality of Ash Wednesday that each of us in our flesh will die? Yes we do, as yes we will. “.A voice says, “Cry!”And I said, “What shall I cry?” All flesh is grass, and all its beauty is like the flower of the field. The grass withers, the flower fades when the breath of the LORD blows on it; surely the people are grass. (Isaiah 40:6-7)
However, Jesus never spoke of his crucifixion and death without also including his resurrection. Jesus told us, “For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it; but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it.” (Matt 16:25) The focus is not on the ashes of loss but the anointing of life! “to give them a beautiful headdress instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning,” (Isaiah 61:3).
Jesus, at the beginning of the Lord's Supper states, "And he said to them, "I have earnestly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer." (Luk 22:15) Jesus in complete love earnestly desired to be with and reach out into the lives of those around him. And he earnestly desires to be with you. A good question for each of us to honestly discern this Lent is, "What do I earnestly desire?" Because what you desire will control the one thing that controls everything else in your life, your heart.
Ash Wednesday and Lent is a season of repentance and dying to things, good things, that we have made idols of in our lives so that out of their ashes we may have life and life abundantly. As we have read in Mathew, Mark and today Luke chapter 1, the people God called had to die to so many things to embrace their call. .Zechariah, John the Baptist, Elizabeth, Mary, Joseph the the wise men; all had to let go of “good things” in their life to embrace Jesus and prepare themselves to be used by God. Jesus tells us “I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.” (John 10:10) Yes, we were physically born into a body that will perish, but that is not our focus or who we are. Who we are and our identity is in Christ and our spiritual birth, our being born again in the Spirit. “For you have been born again not of seed which is perishable but imperishable, that is, through the living and enduring word of God. (Psalm 103: 23)
My family, I pray today you will remember you are dust and ashes, but embrace your anointing. That beginning today and the next 40 days of Lent you will repent and die to idols that perish, so your identity will be one of life and love. In Jesus name. Please pray the same for me. God bless you my friends!!!
I really would love to hear your reflections, and I believe they would encourage others. So please share your reflections and prayers with us in the comment box below.
Ash Wednesday Service
My wife and will be hosting and leading a simple Ash Wednesday service in my house this evening this evening at 6:30pm. You are all welcomed to attend. Even if Ash Wednesday is not a part of your denomination’s traditions, I encourage you to find a church that is having a serve tonight and attend.
Resolve to Help in 2023
I want to ask you to resolve this year in partnering with my wife, myself, and One Direction Community by supporting our ministries! We begin a new season of our ministry of pouring completely into planting and growing simple house churches in our neighborhoods, and having “boots on the ground” serving in our community.. Please pray over this. If you click on the link below you can easily set up a weekly, bi-monthly, or monthly auto donations in the amount you desire. . We would be so grateful for your help. You can also give a one-time donation on the same link. Thank you!
CLICK HERE TO GIVE
You can mail your donation to One Direction Community P.O. Box 1293 Madison, Al 35758
Discipleship Training.
One of my passions is helping churches or small groups understand and embrace their call to be disciples of Jesus in their community. I offer and lead discipleship trainings in person and on-line. If you are interested I would love to talk to you bout it. Email me at garyl@onedirection.community.
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Email your name and email address to garyl@onedirection.community and I will add you to my ODC Daily Message distribution list to receive an email of these reflection every weekday morning.
Gary Liederbach- Lead Follower
One Direction Community
Email: garyl@onedirection.community
Website: https://www.onedirection.community
Facebook: One Direction Community-ODC
Worship Gathering This
Good morning, Lord Jesus. Open the eyes of my heart and the ears of my spirit, as I begin my day seeking Your face and embracing Your presence.
"And they went out and preached everywhere, the Lord working with them and confirming the Word through the accompanying signs" (Mark 16:20).
Lord, give me a deeper hunger to know Your Word. Give me a stronger desire to spend time reading my Bible. Why, so I can experience Your power. I want the Word of God be my authority and the power of God be my testimony. As it was with Your first followers, let it be also with me: "And they went out and preached everywhere, the Lord working with them and confirming the Word through the accompanying signs" (Mark 16:20).
I do not want to be part of a powerless, life-less form of Christianity. I do not want to be those Jesus poke to when he said, 'Is not this the reason you are wrong, that you know neither the Scriptures nor the power of God?" (Mark 12:24) Your Word says there will come in the last days that some who will claim to be Your followers will insist on "holding to the outward form of godliness but denying its power" (2 Timothy 3:1). Your Word exposes this is as a "counterfeit faith" taught by those who "oppose the truth" (2 Timothy 3:8).
Jesus You are the Truth, and Your ways are the only Way that leads to the Life we can only have in You (John 14:6). And Your ways are grounded in Your Word found in Scriptures and confirmed by Your power. "The Word of God is living and powerful" (Hebrews 4:12). So let Your Word and Your power come alive in me as I read your Words so it then thrives in me and my life. By the power of Your grace at work within me, may I be found faithful to be one of Your true followers who knows both the Scriptures and the power of God. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
My family, I pray over you a deep hunger and stronger desire to spend time today reading your Bible to know both the Word of God and the power of God in your life and everywhere you go to share the message of hope and love through Jesus Christ, in Jesus' name! Please pray the same for me. God bless you, my friends!
Please share your thoughts and reflections in the comment box below.
Gary Liederbach- Lead Follower
One Direction Community
Email: garyl@onedirection.community
Website: https://www.onedirection.community
Facebook: One Direction Community-ODC
I could use your financial support for One Direction Community, my family, and those on the margins God has placed in my path I refuse to walk around. Please partner and support myself and One Direction community through setting up a monthly donation or a one –time gift by clicking the link below. Donation checks can be made out to ODC, PO Box 1293 Madison, Al 35758.
Thank You!
Good morning, Lord Jesus. Open the eyes of my heart and the ears of my spirit, as I begin my day seeking Your face and embracing Your presence. ...
“Then they went out and ran from the tomb, for terror and bewilderment had seized them. And they said nothing to anyone, because they were afraid.” (Mark 16:8)
Next to the sin of Adam and Eve which led to the expulsion of Adam from the Garden of Eden, the removal of God’s presence and Heaven from earth, and the very nature of creation changed and cursed by mans fall, the resurrection of Jesus was the most cataclysmic event in the history of the earth. And the women came face to face with this reality, and it terrified them.
This passages helps me truly understood the monstrous, cataclysmic and violent impact the resurrection of Jesus Christ had on and in creation, and its forever alteration of the mission of the church, and the practice of ministry is changed. The whole focus of the church changes from how we can get to heaven to how can we get heaven here. When my mind more fully shifted to an understanding that the ultimate goal of a Christian is not to go to heaven, but to be resurrected into new life in the new earth in the age to come, my practice of ministry changed along with that understanding. I then minister with a fuller realization of the value of the earth and creation, that what I do today matters and has eternal significance. That though I do not fully understand how, I know that every act of kindness and justice I do today on this earth today is helping usher in the new earth, and it will be somehow transformed and present in the age to come. Creation is valuable and not just something to exploit today because as some say “this world is not my home” and it will have no significant value in the future.
Jesus, let my understanding of eternal life support and flow into and out of my understanding of the resurrection and the kingdom of God. In my ministry I cringe inside every time I hear someone lead into a discussion on the importance of eternal life with the question, “If you got hit by a bus today do you know where you would go?” Eternal life was never intended to be a carrot to impart guilt and shame onto someone into believing. Jesus never used shame to convince anyone. This view of eternal life also fails to fully grasp the full significance of eternal life. In John 10:10 Jesus says, “I have come so that they may have life, and life abundantly.” He did not mean at some future day when they die, but today.
So in my ministry of relationships, discipleship, teaching and performing the sacraments of baptism and the Lord’s Supper, may I always emphasize the benefits, hope, and possibilities of eternal life that are available to us today in and through these acts. May I also try to stress this daily by living a life that reflects one living into and embracing the abundant life Jesus has given me.
My family, I pray you that you come to understand and enter into the resurrection of Jesus and it’s cataclysmic effect on creation and on you, and you embrace the hope, benefits, and possibilities that are available to you today from this event. In Jesus’ name. Please pray the same for me. God bless you my friends!
Please share your reflections and prayers on my blog in the comment box below.
Gary Liederbach- Lead Follower
One Direction Community
Email: garyl@onedirection.community
Website: https://www.onedirection.community
Facebook: One Direction Community-ODC
Help Me Help Others Out Of Their Graves!
I could use your financial support for One Direction Community, my family, and those on the margins God has placed in my path I refuse to walk around. Please commitment to partner and support myself and One Direction community through setting up a monthly donation or a one –time gift by clicking the link below. Donation checks can be made out to ODC, PO Box 1293 Madison, Al 35758. Thank You!Thank You!
Father, Son and Spirit, I love you, I need you, I desire your presence in every area of my being and life.
“And they bound Jesus and led him away and delivered him over to Pilate. And Pilate asked him, “Are you the King of the Jews?” And he answered him, “You have said so.” And the chief priests accused him of many things. And Pilate again asked him, “Have you no answer to make? See how many charges they bring against you.” But Jesus made no further answer, so that Pilate was amazed….. And Pilate again said to them, “Then what shall I do with the man you call the King of the Jews?” And they cried out again, “Crucify him.” And Pilate said to them, “Why? What evil has he done?” But they shouted all the more, “Crucify him.” So Pilate, wishing to satisfy the crowd, released for them Barabbas, and having scourged Jesus, he delivered him to be crucified.” (Mark 15:1-12)
I read chapter 15 this morning and the above verses stood out to me.. As I read it I understand the account of Jesus before Roman authority was of great importance to those who read Mark’s Gospel when it was written. The Church in this time was under great persecution and many Christians were being arrested, tortured and put to death. Those Christians reading this Gospel realized that if they stood firm in their faith, many of them would also stand before a tribunal as well and be subject to the same treatment as Jesus suffered. Reading this Gospel they understood, as followers of Jesus they were to expect no preferential treatment. Jesus clearly had said that his followers would be “handed over” to governors, various authorities, and kings for his sake and hated and held in contempt. Christians needed to come to the deep understanding of the meaning behind the humiliation and suffering of Jesus as in the context of the will of God. They then could prepare themselves for their own “passion narrative” they would face with faith and dignity.
In the midst of the “Prosperity Gospel” that is being proclaimed by many today, this passage in Mark reminds us that following Jesus as a true disciple of Him on earth does not lead to preferred treatment in our life, financial and other situations, it leads to a cross. Following Jesus does not lead to a “preference narrative” but a “Passion Narrative,” understanding “passion” to mean suffering. As Paul plainly speaks this in his words to Christians, “To the present hour we hunger and thirst, we are poorly dressed and buffeted and homeless, and we labor, working with our own hands. When reviled, we bless; when persecuted, we endure; when slandered, we entreat. We have become, and are still, like the scum of the world, the refuse of all things.” (1Corinthians 4:11-13)
My family, I pray today a difficult prayer over you. That you will spend time in Scriptures and deep prayer and understand that following Jesus is not about gaining preferential treatment in the affairs or your life, but persecution. Accepting this understanding will free you to love God and others like never before and prepare you to accept your upcoming “Passion Narratives” you will face with the faith and dignity of Jesus. In Jesus’ name. Please pray this same difficult prayer over me. God bless you my friends!
Please share your thoughts and reflections in the comment box below.
Gary Liederbach- Lead Follower
One Direction Community
Email: garyl@onedirection.community
Website:https://www.onedirection.community
Facebook: One Direction Community-ODC
I could use your financial support for One Direction Community, my family, and those on the margins God has placed in my path I refuse to walk around. Please partner and support myself and One Direction community through setting up a monthly donation or a one –time gift by clicking the link below. Donation checks can be made out to ODC, PO Box 1293 Madison, Al 35758.
Thank You!
Good morning, Lord Jesus. Be high and lifted up, here in my heart and every moment of my day.
"Then the high priest stood up before them and asked Jesus, 'Have You no answer? What is it that they testify against You?' But He was silent and did not answer. Again the high priest asked Him, 'Are You the Messiah, the Son of the Blessed One?' Jesus said, 'I AM; and 'you will see the Son of Man seated at the right hand of the Power,' and 'coming with the clouds of heaven'" (Mark 14:60-62)
You are the Messiah, the Christ, the One who is both Son of Man and Son of God, the Word of God made human flesh like us, to walk among us and willingly lay down Your perfect and sinless life for us as the atoning sacrifice for all our sins that we might know You and live with You forever in the very presence of God. You are I AM (John 8:58; Exodus 3:14).
At that divine declaration, the high priest tore his garments in fleshly anger because he didn't believe. But Your Holy Spirit compels all who would hear and believe to tear our hearts in holy desperation to welcome You into them as Lord and Savior. "Yet even now, says the Lord, return to Me with all your heart, with fasting, with weeping, and with mourning; rend your hearts and not your clothing. Return to the Lord, your God, for He is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love, and relents from punishing" (Joel 2:12-13).
Come into my heart, Lord Jesus. I tear it open to You today. Fill me afresh with Your Holy Spirit. Remind me of Your sacrifice that draws me into Your love. "For God in all His fullness was pleased to live in Christ, and through Him God reconciled everything to Himself. He made peace with everything in heaven and on earth by means of Christ's blood on the cross.... As a result, He has brought (us) into His own presence, and (we) are holy and blameless as (we) stand before Him without a single fault. But (we) must continue to believe this truth and stand firmly in it" (Colossians 1:19-23).
By the grace of God, I'm a child of God, forgiven and free, through all You've done for me! "For God made Christ, who never sinned, to be the offering for our sin, so that we could be made right with God through Christ" (2 Corinthians 5:21 NLT). Thank You, thank You, thank You Jesus. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
My family, I pray you are moved by the Holy Spirit to continue in the faith, compelled by love and in holy desperation. I pray you tear open your heart in ever-deeper surrender to the One who loves you and laid down His life for you, in Jesus' name! Please pray the same for me. God bless you, my friends!
Please share your thoughts and reflections in the comment box below.
Gary Liederbach- Lead Follower
One Direction Community
Email: garyl@onedirection.community
Website: https://www.onedirection.community
Facebook: One Direction Community-ODC
I could use your financial support for One Direction Community, my family, and those on the margins God has placed in my path I refuse to walk around. Please partner and support myself and One Direction community through setting up a monthly donation or a one–time gift by clicking the link below. Donation checks can be made out to ODC, PO Box 1293 Madison, Al 35758.
Thank You!
Oh, how I love you Jesus…
“But as for that day or hour no one knows it - neither the angels in heaven, nor the Son - except the Father. Watch out! Stay alert! For you do not know when the time will come. It is like a man going on a journey. He left his house and put his slaves in charge, assigning to each his work, and commanded the doorkeeper to stay alert. Stay alert, then, because you do not know when the owner of the house will return - whether during evening, at midnight, when the rooster crows, or at dawn - or else he might find you asleep when he returns suddenly. What I say to you I say to everyone: Stay alert!” (Mark 13:32-37)
Jesus, your last words of your public teaching, outside of the Temple, before your Passion narrative begins was both an encouraging pep talk and a warning: Be Ready! We in America live our lives individualistically. We believe we are independent, in control of our destiny, and the have the final say over our lives. We in Christ forget that we have a Lord to whom we have surrendered every area of our life. We did not independently save ourselves from not only the final hell, but the day to day hell we enter into when we choose to do things we choose in the flesh. That salvation was accomplished by Christ alone. “Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body.” (1 Corinthians 6:16)
So to our Lord, the one who paid the price for our sins we will be held accountable. Not only in the last day at the return of Jesus the Christ, but daily as “The secrets of (our) hearts are disclosed..” (I Corinthians14:25) We all need to abandon, confess, repent and remove attitudes and behaviors we are actively involved in and harbor in our hearts as they are seen by God and we will be held accountable for them before God. “If someone cleanses himself of such behavior, he will be a vessel for honorable use, set apart, useful for the Master, prepared for every good work.” (2 Timothy 2:21). Make no mistake, you will one day stand face to face with Jesus. If you live your daily life ready, alert, and prepared for that encounter then when it does take place you will be blessed to hear Jesus speak these words over you, “You, however, have followed my teaching, my way of life, my purpose, my faith, my patience, my love, my endurance,” (2 Timothy 3:10)
My family, A week from today’s Ash Wendseday when we will enter into the season of Lent focussing on reconnecting with Jesus. I pray today you look at the readiness, alertness, and preparations of your life to stand face to face with Jesus when he returns, and in the daily examination of your heart. If you are caught up in an action, attitude, or behavior that you are not proud of bringing before Jesus, I pray today you bring into the light. Openly share and confess it with your pastor, priest, another minister, church member, spouse, or friend, so you can walk out of its darkness and into His light, ready, alert and prepared to encounter Jesus. In Jesus’ name. Need to talk to someone and have no where to turn, reach out to me. Please pray the same for me. God bless you my friends!
Please share your reflections and prayers you got out of your reading of Mark chapter 13 with us in the comment box below.
Gary Liederbach- Lead Follower
One Direction Community
Email: garyl@onedirection.community
Website:https://www.onedirection.community
Facebook: One Direction Community-ODC
I could use your financial support as I relationally reach with the Gospel those on the margins God has placed in my path I refuse to walk around. Please partner and support myself and One Direction community through setting up a monthly donation or a one –time gift by clicking the link below. Donation checks can be made out to ODC, PO Box 1293 Madison, Al 35758.
Thanks You!
Father, Son and Spirit I seek you desperately this morning as my source of life today.
“And one of the scribes came up and heard them disputing with one another, and seeing that he answered them well, asked him, “Which commandment is the most important of all?” Jesus answered, “The most important is, Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ The second is this: You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.” And the scribe said to him, “You are right, Teacher. You have truly said that he is one, and there is no other besides him. And to love him with all the heart and with all the understanding and with all the strength, and to love one's neighbor as oneself, is much more than all whole burnt offerings and sacrifices.” And when Jesus saw that he answered wisely, he said to him, “You are not far from the kingdom of God. And after that no one dared to ask him any more questions.” (Mark 12:28-34)
Jesus, when asked which commandment was the most important and greatest, you did not pick one of the 10 Commandments. You chose two commandments from Leviticus and Deuteronomy, commands to love God with all my heart and to love my neighbors as I love myself. And You combined these two commandments into one command, for they are inseparable. In this last questions and answer time before the cross, You made it clear of the importance and what is at the core of Your ministry; it is all about love.
Paul affirmed this,“Owe no one anything, except to love each other, for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law. For the commandments, “You shall not commit adultery, You shall not murder, You shall not steal, You shall not covet,” and any other commandment, are summed up in this word: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” Love does no wrong to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfilling of the law.” (Romans 13:8-10)
In the Ten Commandments, the first 4 are directed towards our relationship to God, the last 6 are directed towards our relationship with others. If I have a heart of love towards God I will not follow any other gods. If I have a heart of love towards everyone around me, I can’t steal, lie, gossip, covet, or hurt them. If I have a heart of love, I don’t have to worry about what all the laws are and if I am keeping them all, love is the fulfilling of all the laws. All I need is love.
“A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” (John 13:34-35)
My family, I pray today you will meditate on the condition of you heart and embrace Jesus and allow Him to fill your heart with His love, so with the love you receive you can love God, love everyone around you, and people will know you are a disciple of Jesus. All we need is love in Jesus’ name. Please pray the same for me. God bless you my friends!
Please share your thoughts and reflections in the comment box below.
Gary Liederbach- Lead Follower
One Direction Community
Email: garyl@onedirection.community
Website: https://www.onedirection.community
Facebook: One Direction Community-ODC
I could use your financial support for One Direction Community, my family, and those on the margins God has placed in my path I refuse to walk around. Please partner and support myself and One Direction community through setting up a monthly donation or a one –time gift by clicking the link below. Donation checks can be made out to ODC, PO Box 1293 Madison, Al 35758.
Thank You!
Good morning, Lord Jesus. I welcome You here in my heart and every moment of my day -- Father, Son, and Holy Spirit of God. ...
"Jesus answered them, 'Have faith in God. Truly I tell you, if you say to this mountain, 'Be taken up and thrown into the sea,' and if you do not doubt in your heart, but believe that what you say will come to pass, it will be done for you. So I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours'" (Mark 11:22-23).
You invite me to pray and say in faith. And the main focus of my faith is to be in You. You said "Have faith in God." So the main focus of my faith, my prayers, and my words is to be in You and who You are. Yes, I am to have faith in what I asking for and speaking to, because You said "believe that what you say will come to pass," but the main focus of my faith is not to be in what I'm seeking to come to pass but in the One I'm seeking. I'm to seek You first, and then these things I'm praying for and speaking to (Matthew 6:33).
Relationship first.
It's like when You sent out Your disciples to proclaim the coming of the kingdom of God in Your name, praying for people and speaking to whatever held them bound and held them back from the fullness of Your mercy and love (Luke 10:1-12). When they returned, they were excited that even the demons submitted to their words
spoken in faith and the authority of Your name (Luke 10:17). But even as You rejoiced with them and thanked our Father for them, You reminded them that the main focus of their faith was to be in God and their personal relationship with You (Luke 10:21). You said, "I watched Satan fall from heaven like a flash of lightning. See, I have given you authority to tread on snakes and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy; and nothing will hurt you. Nevertheless, do not rejoice at this, that yhe spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven" (Luke10:18-20).
Lord, increase my faith in You. Help me grow in my focus on You first -- on who You are, on Your nature and on the nature of Your relationship with me. It's out of this intimacy and communion of our relationship that I can pray and say in faith what's on Your heart and what's in line with Your will, because You're aligning my heart and my will with Yours. "Anyone united to the Lord becomes one spirit with Him" (1 Corinthians 6:17).
This is how I keep growing to the place in my relationship with You where I pray and say and "do not doubt in (my) heart, but believe that what (I) say will come to pass;" and this is how I keep growing to the the place in my relationship with You where I can "believe that (I) have received it, and it will be (mine)" (Mark 11:22-24). It's not by what I have done or will do, but all by You and what You have done -- the One who's written my name in heaven and on the palms of Your hands (Luke 10:20; Ephesians 2:8; Isaiah 49:16). In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
My family, I pray you are growing in your faith in God and your intimacy with Him that you can pray and say in faith what on His heart through your life, in Jesus' name! Please pray the same for me. God bless you, my friends!
Please share your thoughts and reflections in the comment box below.
Gary Liederbach- Lead Follower
One Direction Community
Email: garyl@onedirection.community
Website: https://www.onedirection.community
Facebook: One Direction Community-ODC
I could use your financial support for One Direction Community, my family, and those on the margins God has placed in my path I refuse to walk around. Please partner and support myself and One Direction community through setting up a monthly donation or a one –time gift by clicking the link below. Donation checks can be made out to ODC, PO Box 1293 Madison, Al 35758.
Thank You!
Good morning Father, Son, and Spirit, I claim your presence in my life as I begin my week so I can impact those I meet this with your love and grace.
“They were on the way, going up to Jerusalem. Jesus was going ahead of them, and they were amazed, but those who followed were afraid…” (Mark 10:32)
“But those who followed were afraid…” When was the last time you were afraid to follow Jesus? When was the last time you made a decision to follow Jesus knowing it would cost you something? When was the last time you obeyed His call to follow knowing it would be hard, difficult, uncomfortable and you would not get anything out of it but the satisfaction of being obedient?
We in America live and worship in a form of “ comfortable church” and easy discipleship that is absence of fear. We follow Jesus to comfortable worship buildings and Sunday school classrooms with comfortable chairs and AC. We follow Jesus to Wednesday night suppers. And we follow Jesus not with the His understanding that "church" is walking in public confronting and encountering others with the Gospel, but by isolating ourselves from our community and driving in comfortable cars, listening to Casting Crowns, drinking Starbucks and insulating ourselves from those who are around us in the cars and homes we are passing, to go to a safe and comfortable "sanctuaries."
Fear does not enter into our decision not to follow Jesus, comfort does. Asking the question, "When was the last time you did not follow Jesus out of fear?" may not be applicable to us. However the question, "When was that last time you did not follow Jesus for lack of comfort?, does apply to most of us. If it is raining outside, we stay home. If we had a hard day at work, we stay home. If we just don’t feel like it today, we stay home.
We don’t talk to people we encounter in our work day about Jesus because it makes us “uncomfortable.” We don’t know our neighbors and invite them into our homes to build relationships with us to share Jesus because it make us uncomfortable. Yet those people actually attend your "church", those you meet along along the way as you follow Jesus. Read Mark 10:32 again. "Church" was those those they met along the way as they followed Jesus.
My family, I pray as you follow Jesus on your way today, you follow Him in a way that makes you afraid, or at least makes you uncomfortable. In Jesus' name! Please pray the same for me. God bless you my friends!
Please share your thoughts and reflections in the comment box below.
Gary Liederbach- Lead Follower
One Direction Community
Email: garyl@onedirection.community
Website: https://www.onedirection.community
Facebook: One Direction Community-ODC
I could use your financial support for One Direction Community, my family, and those on the margins God has placed in my path I refuse to walk around. Please partner and support myself and One Direction community through setting up a monthly donation or a one –time gift by clicking the link below. Donation checks can be made out to ODC, PO Box 1293 Madison, Al 35758.
Thank You!
Good morning, Lord Jesus. Be my wisdom and my strength, as You lead my spirit and direct my path through the moments of my day.
“Salt is good, but if the salt has lost its saltiness, how will you make it salty again? Have salt in yourselves, and be at peace with one another.” (Mark 9:50)
"You are the salt of the earth; but if salt has lost its taste, how can its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything, but is thrown out and trampled under foot" (Matthew 5:13).
This morning I reflected on “salt.”
We say someone is "the salt of the earth" as a way of saying they are a good person, trustworthy, thoughtful, considerate, and kind. When they're around, life tastes a little better.
I want to be salty, Lord - salty for Jesus. Salt preserves what is good and keeps things from spoiling, melts what is cold, and adds a little flavor. I want to be found faithful, "worth my salt" because I'm secure in my identity as a son of God, destined to be alive and strategically positioned by my Creator in my generation for such a time as this. Make me saltier still, salt me and bring out the flavors in me of "love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control" (Galatians 5:22).
You're my Savior so I can be Your salt. Give me grace to make life taste a little better today for everyone around me. Let them "taste and see that the Lord is good" because they taste a little bit of You in me (Psalm 34:8). "Christ in (me)" -- The Salt of the Earth in me. (Colossians 1:27). In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
My family, I pray you'll be salty for Jesus today, the salt of the earth, worth your salt, full of the flavors of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control;to everyone you encounter today, all by the power of the grace of God at work within you, in Jesus' name! Please pray the same for me. God bless you, my friends!
Please share your thoughts and reflections in the comment box below.
Gary Liederbach- Lead Follower
One Direction Community
Email: garyl@onedirection.community
Website: https://www.onedirection.community
Facebook: One Direction Community-ODC
