Good morning, Lord Jesus. Arise in my heart with Your Spirit as I seek to begin my day embraced by my Father, centered in Christ, and filled with the Holy Spirit. ...
“Now the birth of Jesus the Messiah took place in this way. When His mother Mary had been engaged to Joseph, but before they lived together, she was found to be with Child from the Holy Spirit. Her husband Joseph, being a righteous man and unwilling to expose her to public disgrace, planned to dismiss her quietly. But just when he had resolved to do this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, ‘Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife, for the Child conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will bear a Son, and you are to name Him Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins.’ All this took place to fulfill what had been spoken by the Lord through the prophet:
‘Look, the virgin shall conceive and bear a Son,and they shall name Him Emmanuel,’
which means, ‘God is with us.’ When Joseph awoke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him; he took her as his wife, but had no marital relations with her until she had borne a Son; and he named Him Jesus” (Matthew 1:18-25).
We don’t really hear that much about Joseph, maybe because he’s not mentioned again in Scripture after Your birth and early years. But he was a man of faith and obedience. He was a man of honor and character, compassion and mercy. He was a man with prophetic dreams and supernatural encounters, willing to make life-changing decisions based upon his faith in God and seeking to discern the will of God above his own.
We think of Abraham as the father of faith (Romans 4:16). And maybe we should think of Joseph as the stepfather of faith. In a sense he was the stepfather of Jesus -- not the biological father because You were conceived by the Holy Spirit rather than by a human father, but entrusted to Joseph to “father” You as an expression and extension of Your heavenly Father.
Like many who will read this post, I have been blessed to be a father. Many others reading this post have been blessed to be mothers. You may have been blessed to be fathers and mothers through the birth of your children or by becoming step-parents like Joseph. Or maybe you find yourself in the blessed season of being a grandparent. Either way, I pray that by the grace of God, I as a man can “father”, and those who are a woman can “mother” like Joseph as a man faith and obedience, honor and character, compassion and mercy, led by the Spirit to seek and obey the will of God for my life and to be a godly influence in the lives entrusted to me. I pray the same for each of us called to be an expression and extension of the father or mother heart of God in our world through these times. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.
My family, I pray you may be filled and led by the Spirit to walk in faith as an extension and expression of the heart of God in every relationship entrusted to you, in Jesus' name. Please pray the same for me. God bless you, my friends!
Good morning, Lord Jesus. Help me begin this day and every day embraced by my Father, centered in Christ, and filled with the Holy Spirit. ...
“My heart is stirred by a noble theme as I recite my verses to the king; my tongue is the pen of a skillful writer” (Psalm 45:1).
Let everything I write, everything I speak, everything I do be an offering to You, my Lord. Put Your thoughts in my mind, Your desires in my heart, Your words in my mouth. Express Yourself through my life every day.
“I have been crucified with Christ, and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me” (Galatians 2:20). “Whatever (I) do, (I willing choose to) do it all to the glory of God (1 Corinthians 10:31). By the power of Your grace, working in me, in “whatever (I) do, (I) work at it with all (my) heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, since (I) know that (I) will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ (I am) serving” (Colossians 3:23-24).
So as I begin my day, I rededicate my life, my words, all that I am and all that I have, to You -- the God I love and the God I serve, with all glory to God, my Savior, my Lord, my King. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.
My family, may you be anointed by the Spirit and Ever-Abiding Presence of the Lord in all you write and speak and do this day and every day to the glory of our God and King, in Jesus' name. Please pray the same for me. God bless you, my friends!
I would love for you to please share your reflections with myself or others using 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 Us Help Them!
My wife Nancy and I are in 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 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 Thank You!
TO GIVE CLICK HERE
Good Monday morning! Lord Jesus. I welcome You here in my heart and every moment of my day -- Father, Son, and Holy Spirit of God. ...
“Look, I am coming soon! My reward is with Me, and I will give to each person according to what they have done” (Revelation 22:12).
One day soon, You’ll come again. One day soon, You’ll set things right again. And at the same time, as we yearn for Your coming, we also can’t help but wonder just what You mean by “soon.” It seems it’s been over 2,000 years since You spoke those words to the Apostle John and through John to us.
The Apostle Peter wrestled with the same question. And it seems You gave him this revelation, which he recorded by Your Holy Spirit in the Word of God, to help guide our hearts as we ponder Your sense of timing. He wrote to Your disciples in that first generation of the promise of Your coming, and continues to speak to Your disciples in every generation who are longing for Your coming:
“This is now the second letter that I am writing to you, beloved. In both of them I am stirring up your sincere mind by way of reminder, that you should remember the predictions of the holy prophets and the commandment of the Lord and Savior through your apostles, knowing this first of all, that scoffers will come in the last days with scoffing, following their own sinful desires. They will say, ‘Where is the promise of His coming? For ever since the fathers fell asleep, all things are continuing as they were from the beginning of creation.’ For they deliberately overlook this fact, that the heavens existed long ago, and the earth was formed out of water and through water by the word of God, and that by means of these the world that then existed was deluged with water and perished. But by the same word the heavens and earth that now exist are stored up for fire, being kept until the day of judgment and destruction of the ungodly.
But do not overlook this one fact, beloved, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. The Lord is not slow to fulfill His promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance. But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, and then the heavens will pass away with a roar, and the heavenly bodies will be burned up and dissolved, and the earth and the works that are done on it will be exposed.
Since all these things are thus to be dissolved, what sort of people ought you to be in lives of holiness and godliness, waiting for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be set on fire and dissolved, and the heavenly bodies will melt as they burn! But according to His promise we are waiting for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells.
Therefore, beloved, since you are waiting for these, be diligent to be found by Him without spot or blemish, and at peace. And count the patience of our Lord as salvation, just as our beloved brother Paul also wrote to you according to the wisdom given him, as he does in all his letters when he speaks in them of these matters. There are some things in them that are hard to understand, which the ignorant and unstable twist to their own destruction, as they do the other Scriptures. You therefore, beloved, knowing this beforehand, take care that you are not carried away with the error of lawless people and lose your own stability. But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory both now and to the day of eternity!” (2 Peter 3:1-18).
That’s the key -- “be diligent to be found by Him without spot or blemish, and at peace.... Grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.”
Every generation of Your disciples has that same sense of urgency in their spirit -- that You are coming “soon.” Your sense of days and our sense of days are not the same. Neither is our sense of “soon” and the timing of “the day of the Lord.”
But every day is “the day of the Lord” between today and the day You come again. Every day is the day to be growing in grace, growing in our knowledge of You, growing in the surrender of our heart and sanctification of our souls, seeking to live out each day forgiven and free, with Your peace in our hearts, as we pray for and even hasten the coming of the day of God.
So give me grace, Lord, to be found faithful in You -- as best as I can and all by Your grace. Come soon, Lord Jesus! “The Spirit and the Bride say, ‘Come!’” (Revelation 22:17) In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.
My family, I pray you may keep growing in grace and the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, to be found faithful in Him by His Holy Spirit at work with you until the day of His coming, in Jesus' name. Please pray the same for me. God bless you, my friends!
I would love for you to please share your reflections with myself or others using 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 Us Help Them!
My wife Nancy and I are in 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 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 Thank You!
TO GIVE CLICK HERE
Good morning, Lord Jesus. Be high and lifted up -- here in my heart and every moment of my day (John 12:32). ...
Sometimes I find myself thinking of the regrets of my past. And probably “regret” is just a manifestation of past sins, past failures, past mistakes. But You’re always so kind to come to my rescue. You’re always so loving to remind me of Your mercy, Your forgiveness and Your grace.
In those moments, I often think of the words of David in his Psalm of repentance and prayer, seeking to be restored to his relationship of joy with You. He cried out:
“Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.Make me to hear joy and gladness; that the bones which Thou hast broken may rejoice.Hide Thy face from my sins, and blot out all mine iniquities.Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.Cast me not away from Thy Presence; and take not Thy Holy Spirit from me.Restore unto me the joy of Thy salvation; and uphold me with Thy free Spirit” (Psalm 51:7-12 KJV).
You “renew a right spirit within me” when I come to You like David, in confession and repentance, to embrace the grace of Your forgiveness.
And You are so ready to forgive, to cleanse our hearts, and to restore us to the joy of our salvation in You. You love to bring us back out of the darkness and lift up back up into the high place of Your Presence, when we turn to You with the gift of repentance to embrace the beauty of holiness of heart and life in You. As You said in Your Word through the Apostle John Your early Church:
“This is the message which we have heard from Him and declare to you, that God is light and in Him is no darkness at all. If we say that we have fellowship with Him, and walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin.
If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. (1 John 1:9).
So why do we hide in our sins or get stuck in regret or squander the gift of repentance? As You also said in Your Word to Your early Church, when we “Humble (ourselves) in the sight of the Lord, and (You) will lift you up” (James 4:10 NKJV). So Your Word invites us to “Cleanse (our) hands, (as) sinners; and purify (our) hearts, (as) double-minded” so that we can once again “Draw near to God and He will draw near to (us)” (James 4:8).
When You spoke through Your Revelation to John to the seven churches of Your early Church, You called them to repentance so that they could overcome their sins and fulfill their calling, secure in their identity and fulfilling their destiny in You (Revelation 2:1 to 3:22). You reminded them that they had already been forgiven through the finished work of Your Cross, as the One “who loved us and washed us from our sins in His own blood, and has made us kings and priests to (our) God and Father” (Revelation 1:4-6). And at the same time, You called them to repentance, so they could walk in the light and be Your light in their world.
You said, “As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten. Therefore be zealous and repent.... To him who overcomes I will grant to sit with Me on My throne as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches” (Revelation 3:19-22).
Thank You for the gift of repentance and beauty of holiness. Thank You for restoring unto us the joy of our salvation when we turn our hearts over to You and return to the high place of Your Presence where You set us free from all regret. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.
My family, I pray you may be free from regret and restored in the joy of your salvation in Jesus through all He has done for yo, in Jesus' name. Please pray the same for me. God bless you, my friends!
I would love for you to please share your reflections with myself or others using the comment box below.
Preaching In Arab, Al This Sunday
I have a friend, Keith Monk, who is the pastor at Pleasant Grove UMC in Joppa, Al. Keith is out of town this weekend serving on a Kairos team in St. Clair prison and he asked me to fill in and preach for him this Sunday. I will be in the Arab neighborhood preaching at their 11:00am Sunday morning service if you are able to come visit and support/listen to me. Pleasant Pleasant Grove UMC is located 25 Pleasant Grove Rd off Hwy 67 at Joppa, AL 35087
Gary Liederbach- Lead Follower
One Direction Community
Email: garyl@onedirection.community
Website:https://www.onedirection.community
Facebook: One Direction Community-ODC
Help Us Help Them!
My wife Nancy and I are in 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 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 Thank You!
TO GIVE CLICK HERE
Good morning, Lord Jesus. Father, Son, and Holy Spirit -- You are One and You are here with me. I worship You and welcome You into my thoughts, my desires, and my day, as I entrust them all to You, my Lord and my God. ...
I was at the Waffle House and a waitress who is a Christian told a customer something was bad Karma. The waitress looked at me and asked if I believed in Karma. I told her I do not. Karma is Hindu and Buddhist belief that ties into their belief of reincarnation that the sum of a person's actions in this and previous states of existence, are viewed as deciding their fate in future existences. Intent and actions of an individual (cause) influence the future of that individual (effect) Good intent and good deeds contribute to good karma and happier rebirths (reincarnations)while bad intent and bad deeds contribute to bad karma and bad rebirths. As a Christian, I do not believe in reincarnation and a cycle of rebirths based on your actions. That means that your salvation and destination when you die is based on you and your works and your accomplishments. I confirm that my future and salvation has nothing to do with my works or accomplishments but complete on the works of Jesus Chris in his accomplishment of salvation on the cross. However, the Bible does tell us we will reap what we sow.
"Do not be deceived; God is not mocked, for you reap whatever you sow. If you sow to your own flesh, you will reap corruption from the flesh; but if you sow to the Spirit, you will reap eternal life from the Spirit. So let us not grow weary in doing what is right, for we will reap at harvest time, if we do not give up. So then, whenever we have an opportunity, let us work for the good of all, and especially for those of the family of faith" (Galatians 6:7).
As it turns out, how I spend my time, how I speak my words, how I invest my resources, how I live out the moments of my days that I have here on this side eternity have eternal consequences. I praise You for Your mercy and grace that I never have to earn or work for my salvation -- "for by grace (I) have been saved through faith, and this is not (my) doing; it is the gift of God, not the result of works, so that no one may boast;" but at the same time, "(I am) what He has made (me), created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand to be (my) way of life" (Ephesians 2:8-10).
Even our "good works" that follow and flow out of our salvation -- the very seed You give us to sow, as well as the desire and the power to sow it and grow it -- is all by Your grace, inspired and empowered by Your Spirit at work within us. "For it is God who is at work in (us), enabling (us) both to will and to work for His good pleasure" (Philippians 2:12). Even when I'm sowing the "good works" of prayer, it's by Your grace and the leading of Your Spirit. "Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we ought, but that very Spirit intercedes with sighs too deep for words. And God, who searches the heart, knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God" (Romans 8:26-27).
Our part is to participate with You. Our part is offer ourselves as willing vessels for Your light to shine through us and Your love to flow through us. That's the good seed we sow and the good works we do, deliberately choosing to align ourselves with Your will to fulfill Your purposes prepared beforehand to be our way of life, to produce the good harvest of the good fruit that comes from Your grace flowing through our lives. You continue to speak to Your disciples and sowers of Your seeds of every generation: "Abide in Me as I abide in you. Just as the branch cannot bear fruit by itself unless it abides in the vine, neither can you unless you abide in Me.... Those who abide in Me and I in them bear much fruit, because apart from Me you can do nothing.... My Father is glorified by this, that you bear much fruit and become My disciples" (John 15:4-8).
Father God, in the name of Jesus and the power of the Holy Spirit, give me grace today to "sow to the Spirit" and not "sow to (my) own flesh." Let Your priorities become my priorities, Your thoughts become my thoughts, Your desires become my desires. Let me see what You're doing and hear what You're saying so I can follow and participate in Your leading (Romans 8:14). I pray for Your good seed to produce a good harvest that pleases You this day, in Jesus' name. Amen.
My family, I pray you may receive the Holy Spirit who inspires and empowers you to sow good seed that produces a good harvest that please our Father today, in Jesus' name. Please pray the same for me. God bless you, my friends!
I would love for you to please share your reflections with myself or others using 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 Us Help Them!
My wife Nancy and I are in 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 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 Thank You!
TO GIVE CLICK HERE
Good morning, Lord Jesus. Put Your thoughts in my mind, Your desires in my heart, Your words in my mouth. Make me more like You today. ...
“And when you turn to the right or when you turn to the left, your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying, ‘This is the way; walk in it’” (Isaiah 30:21).
The issues of our day and the challenges we face are new every morning. The cultural landscape, the political pitfalls, the clashing of accusations, the suspicions and suppressions, and all that would seek to divide us and conquer us, to steal and kill and destroy us -- all swirl around us and strike at us like a snake full of poisonous venom.
But our God is greater! And “the One who is in (us) is greater than the one who is in the world!” (1 John 4:4)
Every generation fights its battles. Every age has to come of its own, through all it endures and overcomes. But we cannot overcome and come of our own in the ways of Your Spirit if we’re trusting in the ways of our world.
More than ever, we need to hear Your voice. We need to learn to lean in to Your Presence, more deeply and intimately than ever before, so that we know that it’s Your voice we’re hearing and discern how You’re leading. For “(we) have not passed this way before” (Joshua 3:4).
But just as our issues and challenges are new every morning, so is Your grace and guidance, Your mercy and love:
“The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases,
His mercies never come to an end;
they are new every morning;
great is Your faithfulness.
‘The Lord is my portion,’ says my soul,
‘therefore I will hope in Him.’
The Lord is good to those who wait for Him,
to the soul that seeks Him” (Lamentations 3:22-25).
Come, Holy Spirit. Father God, speak to my heart. Lord Jesus, help me hear Your voice. I’m waiting on You and listening for Your leading to guide my steps and let me know in my heart, “This is the way. Walk in it.” In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.
My family, may you lean in to the Lord in deeper intimacy than ever before to recognize His voice and follow His leading, knowing in your heart, "This is the way. Walk in it", in Jesus' name. Please pray the same for me. God bless you, my friends!
I would love for you to please share your reflections with myself or others using 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 Us Help Them!
My wife Nancy and I are in 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 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 Thank You!
TO GIVE CLICK HERE
“My brothers and sisters, do not show prejudice if you possess faith in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ. For if someone comes into your assembly wearing a gold ring and fine clothing, and a poor person enters in filthy clothes, do you pay attention to the one who is finely dressed and say, “You sit here in a good place,” and to the poor person, “You stand over there,” or “Sit on the floor”? If so, have you not made distinctions among yourselves and become judges with evil motives?” (James 2:1-5)
There is a false-self that tries to control, I would dare to say, everyone in this country. It is the false-self that tries to convince each of us that we are what we do. Does that ring a bell that resonates in you? Do you have a false-self that convinces itself that it is what it does? That is one of the primary identifiers in this country. You are what you do. Go to where to strangers are meeting each other and eaves drop on their conversations for 30 seconds. What do they ask each other? What do you do? Not only do we identify ourselves by what we do but we identify others by what they do.)
Hence the more someone does, achieves, and experiences, the more real the false-self becomes. All sin starts from the assumption that my false self, the self that exists only in my egocentric desires is the fundamental reality of life to which everything else in the universe is ordered. So I use up my life in the desire of pleasures, and thirst for experiences, for power, honor, knowledge, and love to cloth this false-self and construct its nothingness into something that is objectively real. And I wind experiences around myself, cover myself in pleasures and glory like bandages, in order to make my self acceptable to myself and to my world like I was an invisible body, that could only become visible when something visible covered its surface.
Tdoay is Labor Day. It is always the first Monday in Sept. Labor Day. The Government web sight: states Labor Day is a creation of the labor movement and is dedicated to the social and economic achievements of American workers. It constitutes a yearly national tribute to the contributions workers have made to the strength, prosperity, and well-being of our country.
Work is Important. Working is Biblical. There are many passages in the Old and New Testament on working, earning your wages, being self sustaining, not being lazy…ect. I have always been a hard worker. I got that from my dad. I function best at 110% of capacity. In most of the world, if you don’t work, you go hungry and end up homeless. But as important as working and your job is, and how much time you send at your job. Your work does not define you. It is not who you are. It is not what identifies you.
Especially in America where we so value titles, celebrities, status, people who make lots of money. America is where the first thing we ask each other is “What do you do?
Two men came into a church dressed the same, both neat and well groomed. In a conversation you ask them “What do you do?” One man says he sucks the human waist out of Porta-potties, cleans and maintains them.. The other man says he is a neuro surgeon, or the Mayor of Huntsville. You are going to use that info to identify them and “rank them.”
“My brothers and sisters, do not show prejudice if you possess faith in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ. For if someone comes into your assembly wearing a gold ring and fine clothing, and a poor person enters in filthy clothes, do you pay attention to the one who is finely dressed and say, “You sit here in a good place,” and to the poor person, “You stand over there,” or “Sit on the floor”? If so, have you not made distinctions among yourselves and become judges with evil motives?” (James 2:1-5)
However our false-self this is not who we are. It is a False-self. This is an ego centric self, trying to put forth position or importance that can only give us false peace, and false security in our identity. Because it separates us from God. “the false self stand between the true self and God”
Look at those, celebrities” who’s identity were in their doing and materialism: Robin Williams, Michael Jackson, Prince…they had the titles, they had the wealth, they had the materialism, they had the ultimate false self. But they were miserable, had anxiety and depression, and died
I have a brother who committed suicide. My brother’s suicide at its core was because his false egotistical self that took over his life. He wanted and sought after his experience and pleasures. Drugs helped him create and re-structure his reality. Another woman besides his wife is what his false-self needed to cover himself with. Providing materials things for his family, the other woman, having materials things: home, cars, was how he identified himself, so when he failed at providing them, that identity was taken away from him, to him he was nothing, no good to anyone, and better off dead.
My brother put his identity in his false-self and separated himself from God. So when all that made up his false-self was taken away, He was left with nothing but his own nothingness and for the false self which claims to be everything, such a discovery would be his undoing.”
This sin was as the beginning of the fall of man. Adam and Eve, egocentrically wanting their own experiences, own identity as eaters of the fruit, and this sin separated themselves from God.
“By the sweat of your brow you will eat food until you return to the ground,” (Genesis 3:19) The Hebrew word for “Sweat” in this verse does not mean physical sweat. It means sweat from anxiety, fear, stress
Are you in the top 1% of family income in the world? Those families making $32,400 or more a year are in the top 1% of family income in the world. Making $32,400 or more means you are making more money than 99% of families in the world makes. I would dare to say almost everyone reading this reflection is in the top 1% club. It’s a reminder of just how prosperous developed countries are compared to the vast majority of other people who share our planet.
We are the in the top 1% income wise, so why are we all so anxious, fearful, stressing, (by the sweat of our brows) making ends meet?
Everyone I talk to.stresses over the bills they have to pay, financial situations, if/when I can retire…ect. And we are all in the top 1%! America is in the top 1%, one of the highest income countries in the world yet we are also the country that is highest in depression, anxiety, suicides, bankruptcy, divorce….
It is because of this false-identity we place ourselves in.
My family, I pray gracious loving God, that those reading this recognize that we live in a false-self culture in which one of the primary identifiers is “we are what we do.” Lord from your words we know we are not what we do, we are what you speak forth for us to be. We don’t find our identity in our false-self but our true self in who God spoke us to be. That we are not primarily human “doings” we are human “Beings” who find their true identity in you and you alone. Lord help us divest ourselves of all the trappings of the false self, that we may find ourselves in you, our true self, hid in Christ with you. This we ask in the name of the father son and spirit, amen. Please pray this for me as well. God bless you my friends!
Good morning, Lord Jesus. Put Your thoughts in my mind, Your desires in my heart, Your words in my mouth. Make me more like You today. ...
“And when you turn to the right or when you turn to the left, your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying, ‘This is the way; walk in it’” (Isaiah 30:21).
I briefly turned on the news this morning as I made my coffee. The issues of our day and the challenges we face are new every morning. The cultural landscape, the political pitfalls, the clashing of accusations, the suspicions and suppressions, and all that would seek to divide us and conquer us, to steal and kill and destroy us -- all swirl around us and strike at us like a snake full of poisonous venom.
But our God is greater! And “the One who is in (us) is greater than the one who is in the world!” (1 John 4:4)
Every generation fights its battles. Every age has to come of its own, through all it endures and overcomes. But we cannot overcome and come of our own in the ways of Your Spirit if we’re trusting in the ways of our world.
More than ever, we need to hear Your voice. We need to learn to lean in to Your Presence, more deeply and intimately than ever before, so that we know that it’s Your voice we’re hearing and discern how You’re leading. For “(we) have not passed this way before” (Joshua 3:4).
But just as our issues and challenges are new every morning, so is Your grace and guidance, Your mercy and love:
“The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases,
His mercies never come to an end;
they are new every morning;
great is Your faithfulness.
‘The Lord is my portion,’ says my soul,
‘therefore I will hope in Him.’
The Lord is good to those who wait for Him,
to the soul that seeks Him” (Lamentations 3:22-25).
Come, Holy Spirit. Father God, speak to my heart. Lord Jesus, help me hear Your voice. I’m sitting here in the quiet of my morning waiting on You, longing for you, and listening for Your leading to guide my steps and let me know in my heart, “This is the way. Walk in it.” In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.
My family, I pray you may again make it a priority in your daily life to lean in to the Lord in deeper intimacy than ever before to recognize His voice and follow His leading, knowing in your heart, "This is the way. Walk in it", in Jesus' name. Please pray the same for me. God bless you, my friends!
I would love for you to please share your reflections with myself or others using 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 Us Help Them!
My wife Nancy and I are in 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 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 Thank You!
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“Come now, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go into this or that town and spend a year there and do business and make a profit.” You do not know about tomorrow. What is your life like? For you are a puff of smoke that appears for a short time and then vanishes. You ought to say instead, “If the Lord is willing, then we will live and do this or that.” But as it is, you boast in your arrogance. All such boasting is evil. So whoever knows what is good to do and does not do it is guilty of sin.” (James 5:13-17)
Last night my wife Nancy and I went and visited a friend of ours and grandmother. We brought her a meal for her family. Her 19 year old grandson tragically died at a party late Saturday night from what unfortunately appears to be an accidental self-inflicted gun wound. I was introduced to her grandson, I will call him “Adam,” around 5 years ago when he was 14 years old. He “dated” my daughter for awhile. Adam was a good kid at heart. He had a kind and loving heart who wanted to do the right thing. Unfortunately, Adam did not have the most upright role models in his life for which to model. His two brothers drank, used drugs, committed crimes, were in and out of trouble with the law and in and out of jail. He did not grow up in a “church family” that instilled morals and values. So he grew up imitating and being discipled by what he knew. In the year and a half my family had access to him we loved him and poured into him. Adam attended many of the house church gatherings in our home. When he was 15 he made the decision to accept Jesus and I baptized him. My family continued to love and share life with him. When Adam and my daughter “Broke Up” as teens do, my access to him grew less and less.
There were many issues and layers that led to the death of 19 year old Adam. As I sat in the living room of his crying grandmother my mind went to “I wish I had done more, poured into him more.” I am still reflecting on that this morning. Four years ago I performed Adam’s baptism. This Saturday I will perform his funeral. Today 40% or less families attend church or are active in their faith. That number declined more because of covid. That mens 60% or more of our children and youth are not raised knowing the OT Bible stories of Noah, Daniel, or Joseph. They have not participated in a Christmas story of the birth of Jesus or His resurrection at Easter. In the lives of our youth their may still be a grandparent, aunt or other family member who can pour into them the love of Jesus. But as time passes, these family members do as well. We need to be missionaries, not to a foreign country, but to our youth and to our young parents. We need to actively and intentionally seek to interact into their lives. As they need us in their lives.
My family, I pray as you sit there and read this reflection, you will ask the Holy Spirit to place in your mind and heart the names of children, youth, or young parents you have contact with like neighborhood kids and those of friends. I pray you will open your life to them, open your homes to them, and intentionally seek out and support outreaches in schools and other places that allow you to be present in their lives. “But Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me and do not try to stop them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.” And he placed his hands on them” (Matthew 19:14). I pray you imitate Jesus, and let the children come to you, in Jesus; name. Please pray the same for me. God bless you my friends!
I would love for you to please share your reflections with myself or others using 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 Us Help Them!
My wife Nancy and I are in 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 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 Thank You!
Good morning, Lord Jesus. Be at the center of my heart and every moment of my day. ...
This morning I’m reflecting on the goodness of God and the closeness of Your love from Romans Chapter 8 in The Message Version:
“So, what do you think? With God on our side like this, how can we lose? If God didn’t hesitate to put everything on the line for us, embracing our condition and exposing Himself to the worst by sending His own Son, is there anything else He wouldn’t gladly and freely do for us? And who would dare tangle with God by messing with one of God’s chosen? Who would dare even to point a finger? The One who died for us--who was raised to life for us!--is in the presence of God at this very moment sticking up for us. Do you think anyone is going to be able to drive a wedge between us and Christ’s love for us? There is no way! Not trouble, not hard times, not hatred, not hunger, not homelessness, not bullying threats, not backstabbing, not even the worst sins listed in Scripture: They kill us in cold blood because they hate you. We’re sitting ducks; they pick us off one by one. None of this fazes us because Jesus loves us. I’m absolutely convinced that nothing--nothing living or dead, angelic or demonic, today or tomorrow, high or low, thinkable or unthinkable--absolutely nothing can get between us and God’s love because of the way that Jesus our Master has embraced us” (Romans 8:31-39 MSG).
Yes, Lord. With God on our side, how can we lose! “In all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us!” (Romans 8:37).
And that gives me courage. That gives me confidence. That fills my heart with joy, fills my eyes with tears, and fills my mouth with praise! In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.
My family, I pray you may be filled with joy in your heart, tears of joy in your eyes, and the praises of God in your mouth, as you know and realize His powerful, unending love for you, in Jesus' name. Please pray the same for me. God bless you, my friends!
Please share your reflections and prayers with us on this 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 Us Help Them!
My wife Nancy and I are in 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 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 Thank You!
Good morning, Lord Jesus. You still say to me and to every one of Your disciples, “Come, follow Me” (Matthew 19:21). Here I am, Lord; ready to come, follow You today. ...
I hear You saying in my heart:
“Draw near to Me, then I can send you out. Spend time with Me, and I will multiply the moments of your day. Let Me fill you up with My Spirit, so I can pour out of you My love. Allow Me to empower you, that My power can flow through you. I am the Author of your faith. I am the Source of your success. I am the Lord of your life because you have believed that I am Lord of all.” ...
Yes, Lord. This Scripture from Your written Word comes to mind to conform what I believe I’m hearing in my heart as Your spoken word:
“I love those who love Me, and those who seek Me diligently find Me” (Proverbs 8:17).
And these familiar Words are coming to life with a fresh breath of Your Spirit right now:
“I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinegrower. He removes every branch in Me that bears no fruit. Every branch that bears fruit He prunes to make it bear more fruit. You have already been cleansed by the word that I have spoken to you. Abide in Me as I abide in you. Just as the branch cannot bear fruit by itself unless it abides in the vine, neither can you unless you abide in Me. I am the vine, you are the branches. Those who abide in Me and I in them bear much fruit, because apart from Me you can do nothing. Whoever does not abide in Me is thrown away like a branch and withers; such branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned. If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, ask for whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. My Father is glorified by this, that you bear much fruit and become My disciples. As the Father has loved Me, so I have loved you; abide in My love. If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love, just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and abide in His love. I have said these things to you so that My joy may be in you, and that your joy may be complete” (John 15:1-11).
Simple Words. But powerful, intimate Words. Welcoming me to come and follow You, to come and spend time with You, so that my life bears fruit and my joy may be complete -- all because of a genuine, authentic, and deeply personal relationship with You.
By the power of Your grace, with this hunger You’ve put in my heart, I’m here to come follow You, to come be with You -- this day and every day, this moment and every moment -- morning by morning and step by step. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.
My family, may you drawn deeply into the Presence of God, deeply abiding in Him that your life can bear much fruit and your joy may be complete, in Jesus' name. Please pray the same for me. God bless you, my friends!
Please share your reflections and prayers with us on this 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 Us Help Them!
My wife Nancy and I are in 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 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 Thank You!
Good morning Lord Jesus, I begin my day with the word of this psalm of longing for you on my lips.
O God, you are my God! I long for you!
My soul thirsts for you,
my flesh yearns for you,
in a dry and parched land where there is no water.
Yes, in the sanctuary I have seen you,
and witnessed your power and splendor.
Because experiencing your loyal love is better than life itself,
my lips will praise you.
For this reason I will praise you while I live;
in your name I will lift up my hands.
As if with choice meat you satisfy my soul.
My mouth joyfully praises you,
whenever I remember you on my bed,
and think about you during the nighttime hours.
For you are my deliverer;
under your wings I rejoice.
My soul pursues you;
your right hand upholds me.
(Psalm 63:1-8)
Easter, and Jesus’s resurrection opened up to us the presence of God. As this psalmist desire, His presence is made available if we want to seek Him
The Bible is filled with stories of people who longed for and were filled with the presence of God. The one who has been in his presence.
Gideon in Judges 6-8
Jonathan in 1 Samuel 14
David 1 Samuel 30 But David strengthened himself in the Lord his God.
Paul, I have done more than any of you.... That I may know God. His Resurrection, life.
This what this book is about.
Is that you right now?
Are you are a person like those in this book?
Are you in His presence? Does you yearn for God ? ( Do you even know what that means?)
What is your promise you are claiming from Jesus’ resurrection at Easter?
What is that Easter miracle you are praying for, asking for?
Good Health? Successful business? Restoration of your family?
What is your promise land? what is your miracle you want for your church? To get pews/chairs set up different? Color changed? Growth in attendance? A bigger church?
How many of your miracles you asked for or prayers for things you need this week were to know Jesus better? To long for Him? To thirst for Him deeper?
How many of you desire to part of a church that longs for Jesus? That the minute you walk in you feel His presence? That when a person walks into this service, you want them to be freaked out by what they experience?
When they hear the person up front, or sitting next them, or across the aisle pray, there is something different about them and their connection with God. The pastors prayer is not just a cue to move on in the service but moves out from his heart of his service to God.
That during the prayer time, that visitor listens to the honest, desperate prayer requests of those around him, they hear them praying like they really know this Jesus they are praying to. The visitor sees them at the altar, and in their seats praying for one another and they want what they have.
Moses went up the mountain because he desired to be in God’s presence.
People are not going up to the mountain. Churches are not going up to the mountain. They are busy with so much stuff. I am busy with so much stuff.
And you know I can’t, your pastor can’t, even Jesus can’t make you go up to the mountain.
I can’t, your pastor can’t, even Jesus can’t make you love him and long for him.
I love church. I love you.
But There has to be something more than this.
I remember sitting in the church as a kid at the rituals that was part of the service. I remember when I made my confirmation that the bishop spoke some words over us and then gave me a rose.
There has to be something more than just this.
That somehow I need to lead us beyond this, somehow I need you to lead me beyond this.
And if you are hearing this understand that I am not talking in any way negatively about the church or a church building. It’s just that when I read this book I see so much more in the church and I don’t want us to settle for less. And I believe that if you heart is burning inside it is because of the Holy Spirit confirming in your heart that you don’t want to settle for anything less.
I see a church that is not just fine with the unsaved people around them.
I see a church that is not complacent or fine with people going to hell.
I see a church that is not ok to just sing another song, and tie it up right, and then let’s have another year of services.
I see a church that says, God, we got to have you.
God, I got to have you.
God, I got to experience what I read in this book.
Jesus, death and resurrection and Easter was so we could know Him.
Do you know Him?
I am not talking about some time in your past when you said a prayer and began your relationship with Jesus.
Do we Know Jesus?
Do we Long for Jesus?
Do we Thirst for Him?
Do we want to be the one who has been in his presence?
My family, there has to be something more than just this.
Somehow I need to lead us beyond this.
Somehow I need you to lead me beyond this.
To where our prayers are like those of the psalmist:
“O God, you are my God! I long for you!
My soul thirsts for you,
my flesh yearns for you,
in a dry and parched land where there is no water.” In Jesus name. Please pray the same for me. God bless you my friends!
Please share your reflections and prayers with us on this 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 Us Help Them!
My wife Nancy and I are in 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 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 Thank You!
Good morning, Lord Jesus. Take me by the heart and lead me by Your Spirit into all You have for me today and all You desire to do through me today -- Father, Son, and Holy Spirit of God. ...
“Bless the Lord, O my soul,
and all that is within me,
bless His holy name!
Bless the Lord, O my soul,
and do not forget all His benefits--
who forgives all your iniquity,
who heals all your diseases,
who redeems your life from the Pit,
who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy,
who satisfies you with good as long as you live
so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s” (Psalm 103:1-5).
With the heart of David, moved by Your Spirit, I bless You, Lord, with all my soul and all is within me. I love You and I trust You. I remember You and all You’ve done in me and for me.
In Your mercy and love, You’ve forgiven me and healed me; You’ve redeemed me and renewed me. You’ve satisfied me with good; and at the same time, You keep moving within me to long for more -- more of You, more of Your Spirit, more of Your love, more of Your nature, more of Your power. You keep filling me with Your Spirit and crowning me with Your life.
So I bless You. I honor You. I worship and adore You. And I’m excited for You to come have Your way in me and through me today. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.
My family, may you be filled with God's Spirit, rising up within your spirit to bless the Lord with all our soul and remember all He has done in you and all He desires to do through you, in Jesus' name. Please pray the same for me. God bless you, my friends!
Please share your reflections and prayers with us on this 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 Us Help Them!
My wife Nancy and I are in 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 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 Thank You!
Good morning, Lord Jesus. My Lord and Savior, I begin my day by surrendering to You all of my heart for every moment of my day, as best as I can and all by Your grace. ...
“For the love of Christ urges us on, because we are convinced that One has died for all; therefore all have died. And He died for all, so that those who live might live no longer for themselves, but for Him who died and was raised for them.... So if anyone is in Christ, there is a new creation: everything old has passed away; see, everything has become new! All this is from God, who reconciled us to Himself through Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation; that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting the message of reconciliation to us” (2 Corinthians 5:14-19).
There is so much hurtful division in our country and our world. Name calling, profiling, mudslinging, character assassinations, negative stereotyping, drawing lines, winning at all costs, and the list goes on. The enemy of our souls comes to divide, but You Jesus come to unite. Our enemy tries to stir up our flesh to reject one another, but You stir up our spirit to embrace one another. You empower us to speak the truth in love and also hear the truth in love, to surrender our pride and lay down our defenses to hear Your words of conviction that lead repentance and Your words of correction that lead to maturity.
When we allow You to do this in us and in the relationships of our lives, we’re taking hold of this “ministry of reconciliation” and we’re living into this “message of reconciliation.” When we allow You to do this in us and through us, “we are ambassadors for Christ, since God is making His appeal through us” (2 Corinthians 5:20).
Reconciled to God, reconciled to one another, You make us stronger than before. You unite us in bonds of love not easily broken. You empower us to embrace the Promise of Your Word that love never fails (1 Corinthians 13:8). No, with a heart committed to this ministry and message of reconciliation, love “bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things (1 Corinthians 13:7). “And now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; and the greatest of these is love” (1 Corinthians 13:13). In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.
My family, may you embrace the ministry of reconciliation, speaking the truth in love and hearing the truth in love, as an ambassador Christ, letting God make His appeal through you, in Jesus' name. Please pray the same for me. God bless you, my friends!
Please share your reflections and prayers with us on this 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 Us Help Them!
My wife Nancy and I are in 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 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 Thank You!
Good morning, Lord Jesus. King of kings and Lord of lords, come rule and reign in my life and every moment of my day. ...
“Let God arise,
Let His enemies be scattered;
Let those also who hate Him flee before Him” (Psalm 68:1).
Yesterday morning I sat at the low bar at the Waffle House and listened to the customers and servers conversations. I also received texts and phone calls, my wife did as well, from people who are struggling in life. People who’s lives and family members are under attack mentally, spiritually, and financially. Who say they do not know what they are going to do. Who say they feel like just giving up and walking away. I turn on the news and the hate, animosity, and personal attacks from our government leaders and their supporters and both side of the aisle only fuels people fears and anxieties. The aggression and terror of the leaders and rulersof Russia towards the Ukraine, China towards Taiwan, the Taliban in Afghanistan, and the list goes on of governe=ments and armies around the world seems endless.
Lord, arise in the hearts of all who are fearful and worried about their lives, about their families. Lord arise in the hearts of the government officials and their followers who do not know or live out their call to use their position to reflect a God of mercy and love. But those people, institutions and things in this world that are causing fear and worry in people are not the enemy. Our government officials and their radical followers are not our true enemy. Those men and their governments and their armies of that are attacking the peace of the world are not our true enemies
“For our struggle is not against enemies of blood and flesh, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers of this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places” (Ephesians 6:12).
So we cry out to You God to arise, to scatter Your spiritual enemies, to contend with those who contend with us and all who trust in You (Isaiah 49:25). Send forth Your word to heal (Psalm 107:20). Send forth Your Spirit to strengthen (Zechariah 4:6). Send forth Your angels to fight (Psalm 103:20). Reveal the truth that many more are they who are with us than they who are with the spiritual enemies against us (2 Kings 6:16).
As Your scatter Your enemies, let faith and hope and love arise in the hearts of Your people (1 Corinthians 13:13). Let Your perfect love cast out all fear (1 John 4:18). And let the world see that You are a God who leaves no one behind (Hebrews 13:5).
In this broken and fallen world, death has entered through sin and now death has spread to all men, because all have sinned (Romans 5:12). And in the freedom of will that an authentic relationship of love requires, some will always choose to advance death over life, darkness over light, and good over evil (John 3:19). So even as we pray and believe, some may die; but they will not die alone (Matthew 28:20). Some may suffer; but they will not suffer in vain (2 Corinthians 4:7-12). For even their blood, even their suffering, will be seed for the great harvest of souls to come (Acts 8:1-8; Matthew 13:39).
So we cry out, O God protect them and save them. And at the same time, we cry out, O God let their lives or their deaths, let their salvation or their suffering have immeasurable meaning and unfathomable value in bringing many souls to repentance and many sons to glory (2 Peter 3:9; Hebrews 2:10). Give them grace to be saved, courage to stand, and assurance of Your love and Your presence through whatever they endure (Romans 8:28). We pray this for them and we pray the same for us. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.
My family, I pray this morning you join me in crying out to the God and trust in Him to arise and scatter His enemies, as He redeems all things on behalf of all these He loves, in Jesus' name. Please pray the same for me. God bless you, my friends!
Please share your reflections and prayers with us on this 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 Us Help Them!
My wife Nancy and I are in 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 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 Thank You!
Good morning, Lord Jesus. Fill me up with Your Spirit, as I lift up Your name through my life today (Ephesians 5:18). ...
“For this reason, since the day we heard it, we have not ceased praying for you and asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of God’s will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, so that you may walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to Him, as you bear fruit in every good work and as you grow in the knowledge of God” (Colossians 1:9-10).
Last night I drove my wife Nancy to her Aunt Di’s house. He Aunt Di is nearing the moment of her passing from this earth into glory, and the family gathered in her home around her bed to say their goodbyes. Aunt Di led a life as an amazing woman of God. She was a school teacher, raised her family, grandchildren, and great grandchildren all in a loving Christian home. She had walked with the Lord a long time, completed her course with grace, and is nearing her end of the race she was called to run. She brought forth much good fruit in her life.
Reflecting on the Holy moment of last night and my life today, it stirred in my heart to ask God to give me grace as well to “walk worthy of the Lord”. I want to be “fully pleasing” to You Jesus and “bear good fruit in every good work.”
I don’t want to limp along or be dragged along in this walk. I don’t want to get side-tracked or distracted. I don’t want to get tripped up or just stumble through it. I don’t want to walk without a purpose or a direction. I want to walk along with You, in step with You, following “in (Your) steps” on the journey You have for my life today (1 Peter 2:21).
Jesus, You’ve taught me along the journey, that this is not a “walk” I can do in my strength or my wisdom; not in my goodness or self-righteousness. It’s all by Your grace. Apart from You, I can do thing (John 15:5). And I thank You that I never have to be apart from You and that by Your grace empowering my desires and my choices, I can do all things all things through You -- through Christ who strengthens me (Philippians 4:13).
Your part is to empower me. My part is to say, “Yes, Lord!” and walk with You.
“For God is working in (me), giving (me) the desire and the power to do what pleases Him” (Philippians 2:13 NLT).
So here in these first moments of my morning and then throughout the moments of my day, and on through all the moments of my life, keep filling me with “the knowledge of (Your) will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding.” Keep giving me both the desire and the power to do what pleases You -- as best as I can and all by Your grace, this day and every day. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.
My family, as you begin your day, bring to mind a saint that has touched your life. That man or woman, who like my wife’s Aunt Di, lived a life and was a living example of “walking worthy of the Lord.” I pray the thought of that person will inspire you as it did me this morning, to ask the Holy Spirit tobe empowered by God's grace to "walk worthy of the Lord" today, doing what pleases Him and lifting up His name in honor through your life, in Jesus' name. Please pray the same for me. God bless you my friends!
Please share your reflections and prayers with us on this 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 Us Help Them!
My wife Nancy and I are in 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 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 Thank You!
Good morning, Lord Jesus. I seek to start my day centered in You -- grounded in Your Word and filled with Your Spirit. ...
“When some were speaking about the temple, how it was adorned with beautiful stones and gifts dedicated to God, (Jesus) said, ‘As for these things that you see, the days will come when not one stone will be left upon another; all will be thrown down’” (Luke 21:5-6).
Every temple that doesn’t make room for Jesus will come down. Even the beautiful things, even the religious things.
“Not one stone” will stand that doesn’t acknowledge You as “the “Chief Cornerstone”:
“Coming to Him as to a Living Stone, rejected indeed by men, but chosen by God and precious, you also, as living stones, are being built up into a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. Therefore it is also contained in the Scripture,
‘Behold, I lay in Zion
A Chief Cornerstone, elect, precious,
And He who believes on Him will by no means be put to shame.’
Therefore, to you who believe, He is precious; but to those who are disobedient,
‘The Stone which the builders rejected
Has become the Chief Cornerstone,’
But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; who once were not a people but are now the people of God, who had not obtained mercy but now have obtained mercy” (1 Peter 2:4-10).
Our hearts are the temple of the Lord Jesus. So with what stones are you constructing the temple of your heart? Stones of pride, position, popularity, selfishness, materialism, and others which will be torn down and not one left standing on another? When the time comes that all things that can be shaken will be shaken, and that time will come, What will remain of the temple you are building? Jesus, You are our Chief Cornerstone. So when the time of shacking comes. and only those things which cannot be shaken remains, those who’s temple was built on faith and hope in You Jesus, will remain firm in You -- our Rock and Cornerstone, as King of kings and Lord of lords, forever abiding in the temple of our hearts. For those whose faith is grounded in You -- steadfast and unshakeable -- “(we) are the temple of God and the Spirit of God dwells in (us)” (1 Corinthians 3:16). In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.
My family, everyday, including today you lay stones on the temple of your heart. What stones will you lay today? I pray you may be steadfast and unshakeable in your faith and lay stones grounded in the One who is your Chief Cornerstone in the temple of your heart, in Jesus' name. Please pray the same for me. God bless you my friends!
Please share your reflections and prayers with us on this 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 Us Help Them!
My wife Nancy and I are in 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 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 Thank You!
Good morning, Lord Jesus. Help me begin my day embraced by my Father, centered in Christ, and filled with the Holy Spirit. ...
“When we arrived in Jerusalem, the brothers welcomed us warmly. The next day Paul went with us to visit James; and all the elders were present. After greeting them, he related one by one the things that God had done among the Gentiles through his ministry. When they heard it, they praised God!” (Acts 21:17-20)
Step by step, season by season, all along our journey, we praise God for all You do in our lives and through the ministry You entrust to each of us. All glory, honor, and praise belong to You. And we thank You that we get to be a part of all You’re doing in our days!
Sometimes the battles are intense and the challenges almost overwhelming. But it’s all in Your plan to help us learn to love, to grow in grace, to surrender more of our will to more of Your will, as our ways become more like Your ways. “For this is the will of God, (our) sanctification” (1 Thessalonians 4:3).
And this is the way of God, to teach us through the moments of real time to experience what’s it really like to truly trust in You and depend upon You for every breath, every provision, and every expression of Your nature through our lives in our world. “As He is, so are we in this world” (1 John 4:17).
We’re to “grow up in every way into Him who is the head, into Christ” through all we endure and overcome, through all we celebrate and embrace, “until all of us come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to maturity, to the measure of the full stature of Christ” (Ephesians 4:11-16). “Christ in (us), the hope of glory” (Colossians 1:27).
My wife Nancy and I are beginning a new journey ourselves in our ministry as we transition out of leading a legacy, and like Paul concentrate on making disciples with our boots on in the ground house to house in our neighborhoods. We also are reconnecting with old friends, connecting with new, and we are excited to see what all God will do! May we receive and may we impart, as we grow in grace right from the start of our journey. We have arrived where God is calling us, and at the same time we are still on the journey where He leads us, in Jesus’ name.
My family, I pray you may intentionally seek out and then step out in faith to be strategically positioned in the place and with the people the Holy Spirit has aligned in your life for this season of God's glory through you and your ministry, in Jesus' name. Please pray the same for me. God bless you, my friends!
Please share your reflections and prayers with us on this 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 Us Help Them!
My wife Nancy and I are in 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 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 Thank You!
