For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.” (Like 2:11-12)
I read again this morning Luke chapter 1 and 2 the Story of Jesus’s birth. What we refer to as the “Christmas Story.” How God in his entirety and all his glory left his heavenly realm far from us, descended to the earth and in the babe Jesus, became Emmanuel, God with us. In the incarnation God took on completely human form and became like one of us (Phil 2:7-8). In this Christmas Story we see how God changed everything of how we are able to access Him, relate to Him and most importantly, imitate him (Heb 4:15). Before Jesus was born we had no tangible example of what God was like or how we were to follow him. Because we had no one to “follow.” What mankind had was a Temple form of worship, in which only a few elite priests could access the Holy of Holies and be in God’s presence. It was as very religious, legalistic, and distinguished form of encountering God. With the Christmas story God forever changed that and changed how we now encounter Him to a very personal, simple level.
In the Christmas Story we see that God chose Mary to be the mother Jesus. She was not distinguished at all. She was not of royalty, or the daughter of a high priest or a rich respected landowner. She was a poor, nameless 15-18 year old girl.
Her husband Joseph likewise was not who you would think would be the earthly father of the Son of God. He was not a King, or ruler, or a respected religious Clergy. Nor was he wealthy, owning much land, live stock and riches like the patriarchs of his faith: Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and Joseph. He was a poor, unknown carpenter. Who for the trip to Bethlehem he did not even have a cart for them to ride in, but he could only afford one donkey for his wife to ride and he had to walk the whole trip beside her.
The place in which Jesus born was not distinguished or religious at all. The Son of God was not born in the Temple, or a palace, or even a nice home in a warm bed on silk sheets, but on straw in a manger among the animals.
When Jesus was born, who did the Angels and the company of heaven go and announce it to? To Rome and the Emperor? To Jerusalem and King Herod or in the Temple to the high Priests? No, to poor, common shepherds. (Luke 2:8-12).
This whole story of Jesus’ birth, the beginning of Christianity, and the Christmas story is one of meager, common, humble, unreligious beginnings. Jesus’ story on earth ended the same way. He is crucified as a common criminal and after he is raised from the dead and leaves the tomb, who are the first people to see him? Women. (Matt 28:7-10). Not to take offense with the women of today, but back then women did not count, literally.
Jesus told the women to tell the men to meet him in Galilee which is approximately 60 miles from Jerusalem. (Matt 28:16-20) Jesus was saying “church”is not about Jerusalem any more! His church was now about Him, and forming a deep, intimate personal relationship with Him. He wanted a personal relationship with us at our level. But we, mankind did not, and still do not like this. Even though all of mankind has read or heard this story I just read, that God became incarnate in man in the most humble, intimate, and personal way, we are uncomfortable with it. We still in some way do not believe it. That we are ok to have a simple, personal, intimate relationship with God just as we are. That God wants to dwell personally with us and that we are His plan through whom God will restore the world. God can’t just reside in me, in my home. To grasp that God is with us, Emmanuel, was just to simple. God can’t reside in me, he must live in something special.
So what did we do? We built the great cathedrals of St. Peter’s in Rome, St. Paul’s in London, and Notre Dame in Paris. Great halls ornate with gold and art work. We built big churches on our street corners. We built temples again! Churches with carved altars, and stain glass windows. We serve the Lord’s Supper in ornate gold and silver chalices. We did what is the exact opposite of what this story in the Bible tells us to do. We re-built the same thing that Jesus had his disciples walk three days away from. We chose cathedrals over mangers. Cathedrals are the opposite of a manger. They suggest the opposite of the incarnation message that God is made flesh among us, and that God is present in our ordinary lives. Cathedrals proclaim God resides here under our lofty steeples, and you must come to us to encounter God.
The church prefers seeing God in a gold box on an altar than in a panhandler on a street or a single mom in a welfare line. However, that is not the story of Christmas.
My family, I pray today you will read the Christmas Stories in Luke and Matthew. Then spend time in prayer and reflect on, “Is how and where you seek to encounter Jesus like that of the Christmas story?” How is it different? What do you need to change so your faith is simply about intimately knowing Jesus? May you walk out your door this morning understanding that “You are the church” so that you may lead those you encounter today to understand the same, 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.
Can You Be Generous?
As we close out the year, if you have the ability to be generous, I invite you tp partner with me and One Direction Community to support our ministries. 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. We would be so grateful for your one time gift or monthly support. Thank you!
CLICK HERE TO GIVE
You can mail your donation to One Direction Community P.O. Box 1293 Madison, Al 35758
Would you like to receive my morning devotion blog?
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
Good morning, Lord Jesus. Let Your light shine in my heart and through my life today -- Father, Son, and Holy Spirit of God.
"In that region there were shepherds living in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. Then an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, 'Do not be afraid; for see -- I am bringing you good news of great joy for all the people: to you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is the Messiah, the Lord!'" (Luke 2:8-11)
"Good news of great joy for all the people!" -- that's God’s heart and His purpose for this season we now call Christmas. To bring salvation and hope, light from our darkness, and good news of great joy for all! God with us -- "Emmanuel"
So while we can be honest and real about any darkness that surrounds us or even any darkness that remains within us we are dealing with, let us not this season get stuck in discouragement or disappointment or despair. While we can acknowledge any loneliness or anxiety, confusion or fear, Jesus invites us all to lift up our heads and open up our hearts to welcome Him in as our Savior, our Messiah, our Lord.
Like the shepherds in the field, we can respond to the word of the Lord and the hope of heaven to say, "Let us go now to Bethlehem and see this thing that has taken place, which the Lord has made known to us!" (v. 15) Let this thing that has taken place become a living encounter today and every day with the One who's come take His place in our hearts. Truly this is the good news of great joy God has for us all! In Jesus' name pray. Amen.
My family, I pray you are filled with the great joy that comes from hearing and embracing of the good news of God's heart for you and His longing to fill you with His Presence -- Emmanuel, God with us -- in Jesus' name! Please pray the same of me. God bless you, my friends!
Please share your reflections and prayers in the comment box below.
Can You Be Generous?
As we close out the year, if you have the ability to be generous, I invite you tp partner with me and One Direction Community to support our ministries. 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. We would be so grateful for your one time gift or monthly support. Thank you!
CLICK HERE TO GIVE
You can mail your donation to One Direction Community P.O. Box 1293 Madison, Al 35758
Would you like to receive my morning devotion blog?
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
Good morning, Lord Jesus. Fill my heart with Your Spirit and guide my steps into Your will -Father, Son, and Holy Spirit of God.
"In those days Mary set out and went with haste to a Judean town in the hill country, where she entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth. When Elizabeth heard Mary's greeting, the child leaped in her womb. And Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit and exclaimed with a loud cry, 'Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the Fruit of your womb.... For as soon as I heard the sound of your greeting, the child in my womb leaped for joy!" (Luke 1:39-44)
Deep calls to deep, as Spirit calls to spirit (Psalm 42:7). Elizabeth's spirit leaped with joy with Mary's spirit. And John, the child within in Elizabeth's womb, leaped with joy with Jesus, the Child within Mary's womb. When Elizabeth and her baby encountered Mary and her Baby, Elizabeth was "filled with the Holy Spirit" until joy overflowed! (Luke 1:41) "In Your Presence there is fullness of joy!" (Psalm 16:11)
Lord Jesus, we can encounter You every day. We can be filled with Your Spirit until joy overflows every day (Ephesians 5:18). We can welcome Your kingdom that has no end right here in the kingdom of our world, in the kingdom of our hearts every day to experience the same joy that Elizabeth and Mary experienced that day. "For, in fact, the kingdom of God is within (us)" (Luke 17:21). "For the kingdom of God is ... righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit" (Romans 14:17).
The deep in me cries out for the deep in you. My very spirit that is at the core and essence of who I am desperately desires to encounter the very Spirit of God in a real way! So come, Holy Spirit. Fill me afresh with Your Presence and Your joy today. Let everything within me leap for joy! "Bless the Lord, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless His holy name!" (Psalm 103:1) And as we near the end this season we have set aside called Advent of preparing our hearts for the coming of Christ, help me set aside time to prepare my heart for the coming of Your Spirit every day. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
My family, I pray you intentionally set aside time to encounter the living Presence of the risen Christ today, and are filled afresh with the Holy Spirit, leaping for joy, as your spirit is overwhelmed with the love of Jesus’ Spirit. 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.
Can You Be Generous?
As we close out the year, if you have the ability to be generous, I invite you tp partner with me and One Direction Community to support our ministries. 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. We would be so grateful for your one time gift or monthly support. Thank you!
CLICK HERE TO GIVE
You can mail your donation to One Direction Community P.O. Box 1293 Madison, Al 35758
Would you like to receive my morning devotion blog?
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
Good morning, Lord Jesus. Centered in Your Presence, grounded in Your Word, I wait to follow Your leading on my journey of faith in prayer with You today.
"In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a town in Galilee called Nazareth, to a virgin engaged to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin's name was Mary. And he came to her and said, 'Greetings, favored one! The Lord is with you.... Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. And now, you will conceive in your womb and bear a Son and you will name Him Jesus. He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give to Him the throne of His ancestor David. He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of His kingdom there will be no end'" (Luke 1:26-33).
Mary was a "favored one" -she had "found favor with God." And how was she favored? As the angel Gabriel confirmed to her, the Lord was with her. The Lord had chosen her and called her, empowered and anointed her to know her identity and fulfill her destiny.
Though Mary didn't understand at the beginning all it would involve and all it would mean, by faith and obedience, she said Yes. Mary said, "Here am I, the servant of the Lord; let it be with me according to your word" (v. 38).
Like Mary, we are chosen and we are called. We are favored with the Presence of God who is with us. And like Mary, we are empowered to know our identity and fulfill our destiny, as the Holy Spirit comes upon us and the power of the Most High overshadows us (v. 35). In Christ, we are "filled with the Spirit" -- the same Spirit the conceived Christ in Mary's womb and favored Mary with the Presence of God (Ephesians 5:18).
None of us will carry the Son of God in our womb, but all of us who will say with Mary "Here am I, the servant of the Lord; let it be with me according to your word" will carry "the Spirit of Christ" in our hearts (Romans 8:9). Like Mary, we won't understand from the beginning all it will involve and all it will mean for us, but You invite us to trust Your heart and embrace Your word to "walk by faith" and obedience as favored ones of God (2 Corinthians 5:7).
With the favor of Your Presence, we have nothing to fear, but only our identity and destiny in Christ to embrace. "In Christ we have also obtained an inheritance, having been destined according to the purpose of Him who accomplishes all things according to His counsel and will, so that we, who were the first to set our hope on Christ, might live for the praise of His glory!" (Ephesians 1:11-12) In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
My family, I pray you embrace your identity and destiny as a most favored child of God by the anointing and presence of Holy Spirit, the Spirit of Christ in you. You are a favored one of the Most High God, in Jesus' name! Please pray the same of me. God bless you, my friends!
Please share your reflections and prayers in the comment box below.
Can You Be Generous?
As we close out the year, if you have the ability to be generous, I invite you tp partner with me and One Direction Community to support our ministries. 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. We would be so grateful for your one time gift or monthly support. Thank you!
You can mail your donation to One Direction Community P.O. Box 1293 Madison, Al 35758
Would you like to receive my morning devotion blog?
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
Good morning, Lord Jesus. Help me begin my day grounded and surrounded in Your Presence -- embraced by my Father, centered in Christ, and filled with the Holy Spirit.
"The angel said to him, 'Do not be afraid, Zechariah, for your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you will name him John. You will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth, for he will be great in the sight of the Lord. He must never drink wine or strong drink; even before his birth he will be filled with the Holy Spirit. He will turn many of the people of Israel to the Lord their God. With the spirit and power of Elijah he will go before Him, to turn the hearts of parents to their children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the righteous, to make ready a people prepared for the Lord'" (Luke 1:13-17).
To day is Ash Wednesday
But before the first Christmas, before the first coming of Christ, God You were preparing as well. Your Holy Spirit was preparing the way of the Lord in the earth. You prepared the wombs of Elizabeth and Mary. You prepared the hearts of Zechariah and Joseph.
And then after the birth of John and Jesus, You would be preparing a people who would turn their hearts in repentance and faith to the Lord their God. By the Spirit and the Word, "in the spirit and power of Elijah," John would help many make room in their hearts for Jesus the Christ, the Messiah of Israel, and the Lord of all the earth. He would "make ready a people prepared for the Lord" (v. 17).
Today, between Your first coming and Your second, by the Spirit and the Word, You are still preparing hearts and releasing hope to "make ready a people prepared for the Lord." Make my heart ready, Lord. Make my world in my generation ready, Lord. May we prepare You room in us, "Christ in (us), the hope of glory" (Colossians 1:27).
We are in the season of proration in the church called Advent. In the spirit and power of Elijah that prepared the way of the Lord for Your first coming, may we be Your messengers and ambassadors preparing the way of the Lord for Your second coming (Malachi 4:5-6; Zechariah 14:4; Acts 1:11; Matthew 24:3; 1 Thessalonians 4:16; Revelation 19:11-16). "So we are ambassadors for Christ, since God is making His appeal through us" (2 Corinthians 5:20).
Come, Lord Jesus -- both here in our hearts today and here in our world forever (Revelation 22:12). "The Spirit and the bride say, 'Come!'" (Revelation 22:17) In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
My Family, I pray you set aside time in Scripture and prayer reading the stories of Jesus’ birth in Matthew and Luke. I pray you experience and embrace the Word and the Spirit preparing the way of the Lord in you and that in the spirit and power of Elijah, the Holy Spirit would use your life to prepare the way of the Lord in our generation and our world, in Jesus' name! Please pray the same of me. God bless you, my friends!
Please share your reflections and prayers in the comment box below.
Can You Be Generous?
As we close out the year, if you have the ability to be generous, I invite you tp partner with me and One Direction Community to support our ministries. 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. We would be so grateful for your one time gift or monthly support. Thank you!
You can mail your donation to One Direction Community P.O. Box 1293 Madison, Al 35758
Would you like to receive my morning devotion blog?
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
Good morning, Lord Jesus. O come, O come, Emmanuel. Come into my heart and every moment of my day, O Lord, my God who is always with me.
"Joseph also went from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to the city of David called Bethlehem, because he was descended from the house and family of David. He went to be registered with Mary, to whom he was engaged and who was expecting a Child. While they were there, the time came for her to deliver the Child. And she gave birth to her firstborn Son and wrapped Him in bands of cloth, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn" (Luke 1:4-7).
Joseph and Mary had to get up and go to a different place than where they had been in order to be in the right place at the right time for the purposes and plans of God for their lives. They lived in Nazareth, but their Child, the Messiah, was prophesied and destined by the Word of God to born in in Bethlehem. "But you, O Bethlehem of Ephrathah, who are one of the little clans of Judah, from you shall come forth for Me One who is to rule in Israel, whose origin is from of old, from ancient days.... He shall be great to the ends of the earth; and He shall be the One of peace" (Micah 5:2-5).
And just as it was a different place than they would have expected, it was also at a totally different time than they wanted. They planned to be married and they planned to conceive a child together and Joseph planned to impregnate Mary. But Mary was to be pregnant with her Child before the marriage and bear a child as a virgin, as prophesied and destined by the Word of God. "Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign. Look the virgin is with Child and shall bear a Son, and shall name Him Emmanuel" (Isaiah 7:14).
And though there were so many prophetic words and dreams, angelic visitations and supernatural encounters surrounding this historic, divine event, it was not an angel or a prophetic word that moved Joseph and Mary from Nazareth to Bethlehem to be in the right place at the right time to fulfill their destiny. Rather, it was the command of a pagan ruler by a secular governmental decree that strategically positioned them for their divine purpose. "In those days a decree went out from Emperor Augustus that all the world should be registered" (Luke 2:1).
Though You are the God of the supernatural, Your means are often naturally supernatural -- using natural events, circumstances, and relationships to position us in the right place at the right time to fulfill Your purposes for our lives. And though You are sovereign and You see everything that will happen and You know every choice we will ever make, You also allow us the freedom to make our choices that position us for Your purposes (John 7:17; Galatians 5:13; Joshua 24:15; Deuteronomy 30:15).
Joseph had to make his choices (Matthew 1:24). Mary had to make her choices (Luke 1:38). And they had to make their choices together, which positioned them in the right place at the right time (Luke 2:5). Your hand was at work in it all; and at the same time, so was the freedom of will of the ones You had chosen to accomplish Your will.
Lord, give me grace to sense the leading of Your Spirit in line with the purposes of Your will for my life. Like Joseph and Mary, I want to be strategically positioned for Your divine purposes through me. Let me be found faithful, in the right place at the right time, secure in my identity and fulfilling my destiny. "For we are what He has made us, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand to be our way of life" (Ephesians 2:10). In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
My family, I pray you seek and sense the leading of the Holy Spirit, who desires to strategically and divinely position you in the right place at the right time to fulfill God's purposes for your life. And I pray in your freedom to respond you will have the obedience, courage and peace to go where He leads you, in Jesus' name! Please pray the same of me. God bless you, my friends!
Please share your reflections and prayers in the comment box below.
Can You Be Generous?
As we close out the year, if you have the ability to be generous, I invite you tp partner with me and One Direction Community to support our ministries. 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. We would be so grateful for your one time gift or monthly support. Thank you!
CLICK BELOWTO GIVE!
GIVE
You can mail a donation to One Direction Community P.O. Box 1293 Madison, Al 35758
Would you like to receive my morning devotion blog?
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
Good morning Lord Jesus, just as the rain is failing on the outside of my window, let your Spirit rain down on my heart and mind this morning.
“While they were eating, he took bread, and after giving thanks he broke it, gave it to them, and said, “Take it. This is my body.” And after taking the cup and giving thanks, he gave it to them, and they all drank from it. He said to them, “This is my blood, the blood of the covenant, that is poured out for many. I tell you the truth, I will no longer drink of the fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new in the kingdom of God.” After singing a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives.” (Mark 14:22-26)
This morning my reflection is a little more personal.
Every Thursday evening I lead a men’s group called Bibles, Brothers, and Beer, B3 for short. We meet in a local craft brewery. We share our weeks joys and struggles, read and reflect on a passage of Scripture and it’s application on our life, and pray. I love our time together, and last night was even more special. On the small table in the corner of the brewery, with the small group of men sitting around it, I consecrated and shared the Lord’s Supper for the last time as an Ordained Elder in the United Methodist Church (UMC). The UMC has departed from what I understand to be Biblical Orthodoxy and God’s intention of creation, marriage, and human sexuality. So tomorrow morning a Special Session Conference of the North Alabama Conference of the UMC will convene at the Von Braun Center in Huntsville. Myself and all the other pastors I have served alongside of in ministry for years, who are disassociating with the UMC, will line up and walk up to the UMC Board of Ordained Ministry, which includes the Bishop that ordained me. I will hand over my certificate of credentials as an Ordained Elder in the UMC,, have them stamped with some sort of “void” stamp, signed by the board, and returned to me. I will then turn and walk out into whatever God’s will is for myself and my family. It will be a sad day, full of many emotions, as was last night celebrating The Lord’s Supper for the last time.
A lot of sacrifice by myself, but more importantly my wife, and two daughters went into fallowing my calling into Ordination in the UMC. Shutting down my construction company and going from making six figures a year to my family qualifying for free lunches, food stamps, and social services. Laying all the “things” my wife and I purchased over the years on a table at our yard sale and selling them for 50 cents, and packing and moving away from family and friends to a city we knew no one, from a 2,500 SF home to an 1,100 SF home, so I could attend seminary for 4 years. After seminary. Packing up again, same yard sale process, pulling my daughters out of school and away from their friends, and moving to another city where we knew no one, to plant a church from scratch out of the living room in our home. And pastoring new different congregations over the years. Jesus has successfully lowered my salary every year since I turned my life over to Him. He has led my family into unknown and difficult places and situations, that challenged my family financially, my relationship with my wife and daughters, and brought us to our knees in prayer. However, Jesus has also blessed my family over and over, never forsaken us, and we have lacked for nothing.
It was a 10 year journey to becoming an Elder. Two years of the discernment process in both the Episcopal and UMC churches, four years of seminary, a year of CPE training in hospitals and difficult situations, and three years of serving and study as a Provisional Elder. All this leading to when I kneeled down in a church before God; with two bishops, several Elders, and my wife laying hands on me; surrounded by a congregation affirming me, I surrendered and vowed to faithfully obey and serve my Lord Jesus.
Ecclesiastes chapter 3 states, “For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven… a time to plant, and a time to pluck up… a time to seek, and a time to lose;.. a time to weep, and a time to laugh…”
So tomorrow will be a sad, emotional day for me, and my family. However, I am called to follow, imitate, and be obedient to Jesus Christ, not any religious denomination, church, person or other organization. And any sacrifices my family and I endure for fallowing Jesus, pail in comparison to the sacrifices He endured for me.
My family, I pray over any changes, challenges, directions, uncertainties, you find yourself in in this season of your life. You are not alone. If you have read my reflection blog posts in the past, you know I always end with the request, “Please pray the same for me as well.” This morning I place that request before you with more importance and gratitude of heart. I thank all of you who have prayed over myself and my family and journeyed with us over this past season of our lives, and I look forward to and I am gratefull for the season together that lay ahead, in Jesus’ name. God bless you my friends!
Please share your reflections and prayers in the comment box below.
Can You Be Generous?
As we close out the year, if you have the ability to be generous, I invite you tp partner with me and One Direction Community to support our ministries. 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. We would be so grateful for your one time gift or monthly support. Thank you!
CLICK BELOWTO GIVE!
GIVE
You can mail a donation to One Direction Community P.O. Box 1293 Madison, Al 35758
Gary Liederbach- Lead Follower
One Direction Community
Email: garyl@onedirection.community
Website: https://www.onedirection.community
Facebook: One Direction Community-ODC
“But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.” Matthew 6:6
Revival is God's strategic way of working in the earth between the resurrection of Jesus and his coming again to keep us moving towards Him. In Acts 2 and passages following is wave after wave of outpouring of the Spirit. In Joel 2 are massive outbursts of revival before the end of the age. In Romans 11 it speaks to the revival and the fullness of the Spirit to come in the nations that will be so powerful it will turn all to Jesus to accept Him as their Messiah
So if revival is the strategy of God leading to all nations accepting Jesus as their Messiah, why does he wait around for us to pray? Only as you give yourself to prayer are you transformed in your heart to be a determined seeker of more of God. And God will only trust a revival to determined seekers of more of Him. All those in the past who God has entrusted to revival are those who have dedicated themselves to long periods of prayer. There is a saying, “Prayer is the train tracks for God. And God will not move to where people have not laid tracks first through prayer.” Early Methodist revivals came because of a gathering of people who expected to see God move among them. Revival occurs out of Determined Seekers of more of God. Here is the thing though, you can't make yourself a Determined Seeker of more of God, you can only pray yourself into one. You have to give yourselves to something you do not see and can’t control. God doesn't want you to be confident in yourself, he wants you to be desperate for him and find your confidence in him. This thing is, revival is not something that is a peripheral of our faith, but needs to be at the heart of what we are after. Ask the Lord in prayer to give yourself over to this.
What is the essence of true revival? It is an intense experience of the presence of God in and among the people. The peculiar and mighty sense of the presence of God which is manifested.
4 thing happen when a revival happens.
• Restoration of love and devotion to the Lord Jesus Christ. Re-falling in love. Song of Psalms
• There is a restoration of Jesus' Lordship. Obeying what Jesus wants me to do and the church which I am part of to do?
• Restoration of Holiness and zeal for God's glory. How do you want to use me? Revivals always lead to a releasing of people into ministries.
• Restoration of Boldness.
In this world of pandemics, we know all to well about the spreading of viruses. We understand you need to have the virus, be a carrier of it to spread it. We are designed to be carriers of the “God virus”, The God Virus called “The Gospel”. To be contagious determined seekers of God and to be carriers of God who spread it to others. However, we cannot give someone a virus we ourselves are not contagious with and carrying. We do not have a problem with prayer, we have a complacency with prayer. We have a lack of people contagious with prayer. We can't get people to pray if they are not hungry for it. When people and churches quit praying, then God withdraws from them, then they are in trouble, then they cry out.
How do we provoke hunger if there is a lack of hunger to pray? I wrestle with this, as much of it is out of my control. First, you must teach on prayer. In prayer we are invited into the throne room of God, we are privileged to enter into kingdom making decisions. However, everyone at some time feels disappointed with prayer. Each one of us has had a prayer that has not been answered. Take this cup from me. Lord let them be one. We must minister to the disappointments in prayer as much as we celebrate the answer of prayer. Second, you must de-clutter your program and calendar if you want to prioritize prayer. To prioritize prayer you have to have set dates and times set aside for prayer. We need to be seekers of more, more power of God, more revelation of the Spirit. Third, you need to set times for simple gatherings for prayer. Some people miss the sparks because they are always looking for the big flames. Driving to this big event, conference or large church gathering. These events are all good and holy, however they are not meant to be our focus or highlight, and they cannot be the source of revival for your church. The source is Determined Seekers of more of God. We are called to start a spark, to look for where the sparks of God are working among us, and then a pour gasoline on it.
Statistics show that people are continuing to leaving the church. They are leaving because they have not seen the power of God moving in the church. Yet God's desire at creation, Jesus death and resurrection, and the Holy Spirit's in dwelling, were are all for the creation and existence of a church full of the presence and fire of the Holy Spirit. A "supernatural church" that is unstoppable. Churches today are so easily "stoppable." A talented leader leaves, a donor dies, a strategic plan fails, a pandemic comes, and church doors close or its ministries become ineffective. In order for a church to be an unstoppable, supernatural church, it has to rely and be surrendered to our unstoppable and supernatural God. There is only one way you become a supernatural church, and that is by spending hours doing what does not come natural to us, hours spent together on our knees in prayer.
My family, I pray today for something that I nor anyone else really has any control over, that you will commit yourself to become a Determined Seeker of more of God. Here is the thing though, you can't make yourself a determined seeker of more of God, you can only pray yourself into one. I pray today you give yourselves to something you do not see and can’t control and become desperate for God through prayer, 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.
Can You Be Generous?
As we close out the year, if you have the ability to be generous, I invite you tp partner with One Direction Community to support our ministries. 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. would be grateful for your one time gift or monthly support. Thank you!
CLICK HERE TO GIVE!
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You can mail a donation to One Direction Community P.O. Box 1293 Madison, Al 35758
Gary Liederbach- Lead Follower
One Direction Community
Email: garyl@onedirection.community
Website: https://www.onedirection.community
Facebook: One Direction Community-ODC
Good morning, Lord Jesus. I lift my eyes and open my heart to hear what You say and see what You show, as I begin my day centered in You. ...
"Jesus turned first to His disciples and warned them, 'Beware of the yeast of the Pharisees -- their hypocrisy. The time is coming when everything that is covered up will be revealed, and all that is secret will be made known to all. Whatever you have said in the dark will be heard in the light, and what you have whispered behind closed doors will be shouted from the housetops for all to hear!'" (Luke 12:1-3 NLT)
What was covered up will be revealed. What was shut up will be shouted. Hypocrites, liars and thieves cannot run and cannot hide any longer, for "the time is coming" for all that was hidden in darkness to be exposed by the Light. The phrase, “No one will ever know” is a lie. One day in your future you will stand before Christ and everyone you ever knew, and everyone you never met, and all of your life will be exposed.
As Jesus went on to say, we need not ultimately fear those:spouses, family members, friends, co-workers, whom we hide and keep from knowing our actions. We need not fear those who would try to suppress us and silence us. All should "Fear God, who has the power to kill you and then throw you into hell. Yes, He's the One to fear" (v. 4-5).
There's mercy and grace for all who repent. But for true repentance, there must be true confession for the sin. "If we confess our sins, He who is faithful and just will forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness" (1 John 1:9). "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" (Galatians 6:7-9). And "the time is coming" for the harvest of all that's been sown. By the power of Your grace, let us not give up.
Come, Holy Spirit. Let the Light of the Living God bring all things out of darkness and into the light of truth. Set things right. Make things just. Reveal and expose for all to see and for all to hear! Let it all be shouted "from the housetops" -- from the Court House, from the White House, and from every house seeking to know and willing to hear the truth. "As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord!" (Joshua 24:15) In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
My family, nothing you have ever said or done has been done in secret. I pray this morning you will repent and reset your heart in the Lord. I pray you will not grow weary of doing what is right, and never give up, for the time of harvest is coming, as you are being filled the Light and the Spirit of the Living God, in Jesus name. Please pray the same for me. And I join with you and so many in prayer for our nation through this challenging time. God bless you, my friends!
Please share you reflections and prayers in the comment box below.
Gary Liederbach- Lead Follower
One Direction Community/Toney UMC
Email: garyl@onedirection.community
Website: https://www.onedirection.community
As we close out the year, if you have the ability to be generous, I invite you tp partner with One Direction Community to support our ministries. We would be grateful for your one time gift or monthly support. Thank you!
One Direction Community P.O. Box 1293 Madison, Al 35758
Good morning, Lord Jesus. Speak to my heart, as I listen for Your leading -- Father, Son, and Holy Spirit of God.
This morning I continue in the theme the Spirit had led me, to encourage your resolution in this new tear of the church to re-claim and res]establish your identity as a child of the resurrected Lord! To stop retreating from the things of this world, settling for a complacent faith, and resist and push back against the fear and darkness of this chaotic world. To see yourself not as a victim. but as a warrior; redeemed and empowered by and in the authority of the resurrection of Christ.
"Then Joshua said, 'Open the mouth of the cave, and bring those five kings out to me from the cave.' They did so, and brought the five kings out to him from the cave.... When they brought the kings out to Joshua, Joshua summoned all the Israelites, and said to the chiefs of the warriors who had gone with him, 'Come near, put your feet on the necks of these kings.' Then they came near and put their feet on their necks. And Joshua said to them, 'Do not be afraid or dismayed; be strong and courageous; for thus the Lord will do to all the enemies against whom you fight'" (Joshua 10:22-25).
Our battle is a spiritual battle. And even though our battles may involve hurtful or hateful people, speaking painful words or deceitful lies, accusing us, judging us, or condemning us, our true enemies are the spiritual enemies taking advantage of every situation and every vulnerability "to steal and kill and destroy" (John 10:10). "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 heavenly places" (Ephesians 6:12).
Just as You led Joshua to bring those kings out of their hiding place and into the open, out of the darkness and into the light, Your Spirit leads us to call out our spiritual enemies who have sought to rule and reign over us. In the light of Your glory and truth, let there be no place for them to run and no place to hide. Let them be exposed for their deceit and destruction so that that "everything exposed by the light becomes visible" (Ephesians 5:8).
And in the authority and power of Your name, may we crush their lies and silence their accusations, with our feet on their necks and Your victory in our hearts. We stand in You, and You stand in us, so that together we stand on the necks of our spiritual enemies (Ephesians 6:13). With the sword of the Spirit of the Word of God, let their lies be renounced, their chains be broken, and their strongholds destroyed (Ephesians 6:17). As with the enemy kings of Joshua, cut off their heads with their place of authority and rule in the regions of our souls they sought to hold captive under the dominion of their darkness and hang them high for all the hordes of hell to see what happens to the spiritual enemies of our God and His children (Joshua 10:26).
In our hearts and every region of our souls, through the victory of Your cross, the power of Your blood, and the authority of Your name, fulfill the promise of Your Word: "The God of peace will shortly crush Satan under (our) feet. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with (us)" (Romans 16:20). "Thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ!" (1 Corinthians 15:57) "Thanks be to God, who in Christ Jesus always leads us in triumphal procession!" (2 Corinthians 2:14), Memorize and repeat these promises of God out loud over you!
"Let God arise, let His enemies be scattered; let those who hate Him flee before Him.... But let the righteous be glad; let them rejoice before God; Yes, let them rejoice exceedingly!" (Psalm 68:1-3 NKJV) In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
My family, I pray this morning you will cloth yourself with the evil-stomping shoes of the Gospel before you walk out your door. I pray the enemies of your soul be exposed and crushed under your feet by the victory of the cross, the power of the blood of Jesus, and the authority of His name in every area of your life, in Jesus' name! Please pray the same of me. God bless you, my friends!
Please 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.
”As The Year Draws To An End, PLEASE Give and 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 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!
TO GIVE CLICK HERE
Please 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.
”As The Year Draws To An End, PLEASE Give and 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 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!
TO GIVE CLICK HERE
Gary Liederbach- Lead Follower
One Direction Community
Email: garyl@onedirection.community
Website: https://www.onedirection.community
Facebook: One Direction Community-ODC
One Direction Community P.O. Box 1293 Madison, Al 35758
Good morning, Lord Jesus. Fill my spirit with Your Spirit and my heart with Your heart, so that Your will becomes my will and Your ways become my ways, more and more, every day.
"Yet whatever gains I had, these I have come to regard as loss because of Christ. More than that, I regard everything as loss because of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For His sake I have suffered the loss of all things, and I regard them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ and be found in Him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but one that comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God based on faith" (Philippians 3:7-10).
I've tasted and seen much of what this world has to offer. At one time in my life I strived to be bad. I embraced and excelled in, being identified with the culture of sex, drugs and rock-n-roll. Then different situations awakened me to see the darkness and sin of my lifestyle. For a period of time that followed, I tried to do good and be good through what I believed religion required of me. I strived to complete it’s check list and I exceedl in jumping through its hoops. As passionately as I pursued being identified in the worlds system, pursued and succeed at pleasing religious systems and structures, leading them and being accepted and identified with them. But whether I was trying to please the rulers of this world or the leaders of religion I was not at peace and I was not pleasing You Jesus. What I've come to know is that what I really want, deep down inside, is to please You. Jesus. And the only identity I want to succeed in being identified with is in You. That's become my hunger and my passion. And by the power of the grace of God that stirs my heart and moves my soul, by God I'll settle for nothing less because I've come to know I'll never be satisfied with anything less.
"I want to know Christ" (v. 10). I want to "gain Christ" (v. 8). I want to "be found in Him" (v. 9). I want to be free from trying to live a life that somehow defines success as "having a righteousness of my own," based on my own abilities or hard work or self-will or self-righteousness. And I want to embrace a life where I daily humble myself to willingly choose to be desperately dependent on You alone; hungering and thirsting for more of You, more of Your Presence, more of Your Spirit, more of Your power at work in me to change me from the inside out to be more like You every day. This is the righteousness of a right heart that I'm asking You to form in me.
So as best as I can and all by Your grace, this is the choice I choose to make today and that I pray I will make every day: "I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me His own.... I press on toward the goal for prize of the heavenly call of God in Christ Jesus" (v. 12-14). To be like You and embrace Your work in me, from the inside out by Your Spirit within me, is my goal. And You are my Prize. May I settle for nothing less and never be satisfied with anything less. May my ministry be about leading people to nowhere else but You, In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
My family, I pray you'll be free from the expectations and demands of the world and religion, and be free to pursue Christ by the desire and power of His Spirit at work within you, as nothing will stop Him from pursuing you, in Jesus' name! Please pray the same for me. God bless you, my friends!
Please 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.
”As The Year Draws To An End, PLEASE Give and 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 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!
TO GIVE CLICK HERE
Gary Liederbach- Lead Follower
One Direction Community
Email: garyl@onedirection.community
Website: https://www.onedirection.community
Facebook: One Direction Community-ODC
Good morning, Lord Jesus. I speak out Your name -- the name every name -- and every lesser thing in the spiritual atmosphere around me must bow its knee and yield to the authority of Your name as Lord of all. ...
“You should have the same attitude toward one another that Christ Jesus had, who though he existed in the form of God did not regard equality with God as something to be grasped, but emptied himself by taking on the form of a slave, by looking like other men, and by sharing in human nature. He humbled himself, by becoming obedient to the point of death - even death on a cross! As a result God exalted him and gave him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow - in heaven and on earth and under the earth - and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father.to the glory of God the Father.to the glory of God the Father.” Philippians 2:5-11
Though "every knee should bow," they don't usually bow without first lashing out or a fight. And though "every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord," before tongues confesses you as Lord, they usually say a lot of other mean and hurtful things first.
So in the midst of all social media posts lashing out at people. In spite of all the “tongues” using keyboards, cell phones, and videos to post mean and hurtful videos attacking people online, many of them from Christians; Jesus, You call us to keep our eyes on You. You remind us to keep looking up above this mud slinging and name calling, and as we keep our eyes lifted and fixed on You, You keep lifting up our spirits in You. "So if (we) have been raised with Christ, (we) seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. (We) set (our) minds on things above, not on things that are on earth, for (we) have died, and (our) life is hidden with Christ in God" (Colossians 3:1-3).
From the place of Your Presence, You empower us to fight the battles we face. From the intimacy of Your embrace and the security of Your love, You reveal to us the dimensions of Your Being we only see on the battlefield and we can only learn as we follow You as the Commander of the Army of the Lord through the battles we must fight (Joshua 5:14).
And my battles are fought with prayer. My battles are won on my knees. I cannot point out the fact that those and the things I am battling are not bowing and calling you Lord, if I am imitating them and not bowing and calling you Lord. I can not, like many in the church, point out the ways others are resisting kneeling before you, if I myself resist beginning every day, humbling myself and kneeling in prayer before you. So as I begin my day, let my first action be, let me be first to bow my knees and confess with my tongue that You are Lord, to glory of God my Father. Fill me with Your Spirit and empower me for the battles. Give me "wisdom from above" (James 3:17) and courage from within (Joshua 1:6). And give me the confidence to know that every battle I'll face and every battle I'll fight already belongs to the Lord (1 Samuel 17:47). In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
My family, I pray you may be drawn by the Spirit in humble obedience down to your knees in prayer, so that you may be lifted up into the intimate embrace of the Presence of God, with your eyes on Jesus, to fight your battles from above and know every battle belongs to the Lord, in Jesus' name. Please pray the same for me. God bless you, my friends!
Please 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.
”As The Year Draws To An End, PLEASE Give and 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 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!
TO GIVE CLICK HERE
.
Gary Liederbach- Lead Follower
One Direction Community
Email: garyl@onedirection.community
Website: https://www.onedirection.community
Facebook: One Direction Community-ODC.
Good morning Jesus, Lord of my life, Light of my life, Lover of my soul.
This past Sunday, November 27th, we began the season of Advent in the church. A time of anticipation and hope as we await Christmas and the birth of Jesus, Emanuel, “Christ with us.” Advent is also the beginning of the church year, “New Year’s Day” in the church calendar. And just as we will make resolutions and commitments of on January 1st, the beginning of the secular New Year, I asked for us to make resolutions and commitments to The Church and our faith as we begin the new church year.
I ask you, I ask us in the upcoming year, as a member of The Church of Christ in the world, if you are willing to be discipled by, and help disciple others in our church to imitate Jesus, so we in turn can disciple others to imitate Jesus. That for the next year to be obedient to a life of prayer and fasting that is extraordinary. To resolve to spend time in the Bible reading God’s word beyond the ordinary. That you will commit to join a Band group, an accountability group, and be willingly to become completely open, honest, and vulnerable to each other. Be willing to become both accountable to, and accountable over each other and to speak love and truth into each other. To be willingly to go deeply" inward," so we can be a church that leads others deeply "inward", a church that is not superficial.
I ask this coming year if you would be willing to make The Church the main thing you support with your tithing; tithes of money, time, prayer, and opening of your homes.
I ask in the coming year as part of The Church "outwardly," to agree to help be formed and form each other into missionaly focused lives. Who's heart weeps for their neighbors and the lost. Who's focus is not on themselves, but on others, on serving, on the cross. To be willingly to be stretched "outwardly," so we can be a church that stretches others "outwardly," and is not complacent in its view of the pain and injustice around them
I ask in the coming year if you are willing to make a covenant with each other in our faith, in The Church and with God, that to the best of your abilities and with the help of the Spirit, you are "all in" to the re-birthing and renewing of The Church. And if It sounds intense and serious to you, that is because it is. That is because there is an enemy, and adversary, Satan and his minions who are serious and intense in seeing that The Church does not revive and grow, or what does grow is worldly and self-serving church. The enemy wants nothing more than to see us: good, sincere, talented, gifted, and gracious people get destroyed or wounded, or help in the destruction or wounding of others, because they are trying to do a job they are not in covenant with God and committed to undertake. Trying to achieve this Holy objective without a covenant relationship and support of others, without prayer coverage or founded in God’s Word..
This is why I am encouraging you to start Band groups as they are so vital. My wife Nancy and I have discussed what blessing it is to help lead the gatherings we lead in churches, in our and others homes, and out in our community in bars, laundromats and to have these become beacons of light in the darkness. We desire that you start up and help lead in these gatherings of light. To do so you need to be grounded in Word and prayer. For these beacons of light are also seen by the enemy, who rages against the light, and so he has placed a bullseye over churches, our community gatherings and over our house. When I pull out of my drive everyday and start to drive off, I always stop, and look back over at my house before I leave, and pray over my wife Nancy, daughters Paris, and Milan, and myself for protection and power. Satan rages against the light and the Jesus he sees in us. And as you commit to grow God’s kingdom, Satan will place a bullseye over you, as he also rages against the light in you, the love, the Jesus in you for our church and others, and, your participation in the birth of more light.
Yet we have nothing to fear if we covenant with God and put on the full armor of God. Because if Christ is for us, who can be against? Whom shall we fear? Nothing and no one, IF WE GO “All IN." "All in" in Christ, "All in" in prayer, "All in" reading the Word, "All in" Band Groups in supporting each other. It is when we think that we can play around and go "half in," "most of the time in, "some of the time in," against an enemy that is always "all in," that we are in danger.
You all have wonderful and amazing gifts and hearts open to God that can and will be used to building Gods kingdom and his church. I see it in each one of you. God see’s it in you. He created these gifts in you! The question you need you honestly answer this Advent is if it is The Church, at this season in your life, that God called you and created you into, that you are willing to go “All in” and help build for His kingdom. I pray it is so. If so, you do so knowing that you will experience both the immense joys and immense pain that is required both is giving birth and in re-birth. You need to know for certain you will experience both. They are as certain to happen, yet unknown as the joys and pains parents know they will experience from birthing a child. Yet they also know and understand the covenant it requires of them in giving birth.
Why am I asking for your commitment, why I am asking for these things to be your focus? Your souls and hence the soul of The Church, since it is made up of us, people with souls, will be affected.
Everything is coming together to confirm this in me.
And here’s the thing: God is going to grow his kingdom, regardless of what I or we in the church decide.
Plain and simple: He is going to use those things, those people that are all in, and remove those things that are not.
God will use this same answering machine message towards his churches as He used in Revelations chapter 2 & 3.
“ʻI know your works as well as your labor and steadfast endurance, and that you cannot tolerate evil. You have even put to the test those who refer to themselves as apostles (but are not), and have discovered that they are false. I am also aware that you have persisted steadfastly, endured much for the sake of my name, and have not grown weary. But I have this against you: You have departed from your first love! Therefore, remember from what high state you have fallen and repent! Do the deeds you did at the first; if not, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place - that is, if you do not repent.” Revelation (2:2-5)
Repent: turn, change, what you are focusing on, magnifying, submersing yourself in.
First Love: relationship with Jesus: prayer, Bible, Accountability.
Question: Where is the church of Ephesus today? Answer: It is gone, erased in the sands of time. It did not repent, it did not change, it did not return to its first love, it did not go “all in”...it was shaken
It received the answering machine message of God, I need to make some changes. So God removed from Ephesus its lampstand, its light, its influence…turned out the lights..
And if this can happen to mighty Ephesus, a church God once used mightily, if God removed its lampstand, its light, its influence, it can happen to any church, including yours.
Ephesus’s lampstand was removed by God, but He did was not destroyed it immediately, like He did with Sodom and Gomora with fire and brim stone or something. Ephesus simply slowly died over time. There are many examples of a church or ministry continuing on after the initial anointing of God, that birthed that church of ministry departed from it. Ephesus is an example. The Temple is another.
My family, so I ask you again, “What are we going to commit to, to go “all-in” with, and what are we going to magnify this year? I pray you seriously discern this, in Jesus’ name. Please pray the dame for me. God bless you my friends!
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. A prostitute crashes the church dinner party. 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 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 tf brave enough, honestly say in complete surrender this prayer 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.”
As The Year Draws To An End, PLEASE 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 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!
TO GIVE CLICK HERE
.
Gary Liederbach- Lead Follower
One Direction Community
Email: garyl@onedirection.community
Website: https://www.onedirection.community
Facebook: One Direction Community-ODC.
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.
"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).
We say someone is "the salt of the earth" as a way of saying they a good person, trustworthy, thoughtful, considerate, and kind. When they're around, life tastes a little better. When they are around, you feel better. They are the mom or dad all the teachers love because they thank them and encourage them. They are person you work with who is helpful and nice.
I want to be salty Lord, salty for Jesus. Salt preserves what is good, 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 or daughter 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. Let me be the “seasoning salt” to the lives of others of that gives them a taste of "love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control" (Galatians 5:22). Let me give them a taste of you Jesus.
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. Remind me that salt flavors nothing when stored up in the shaker.. Remind me as your disciple that my being salty at a Sunday morning church service, watching a service on line, or in a Bible study I attend helps fill my “shaker with salt” but does nothing to change the “flavor of life” to those around me. Encourage me to release myself, to be a "salt shaker" and go crazy sprinkling salt everywhere into my community so my neighbors, co-workers, classmates, strangers, and friends can "taste and see that the Lord is good" because they taste and see a little bit of You in me (Psalm 34:8). Let me share a "salty kiss" of love to many. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
My family, I pray you'll be salty for Jesus today in your neighborhood; the salt of the earth, worth your salt, full of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control; 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!
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.”
As The Year Draws To An End, PLEASE 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 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!
TO GIVE CLICK HERE
.
Gary Liederbach- Lead Follower
One Direction Community
Email: garyl@onedirection.community
Website: https://www.onedirection.community
Facebook: One Direction Community-ODC.
Good morning Lord Jesus, make my heart break today for the things that break your heart.
“Now the Word became flesh and took up residence among us. We saw his glory—the glory of the one and only, full of grace and truth, who came from the Father.” (John 1:14)
My reflection this morning is a little different. I just finished reading two books by 24/7 prayer founder Pere Grieg, “Red Moon Rising” and “Dirty Glory.” They are amazing books of the power of prayer and movement of God through prayer around the world. I am still wrestling inside with their application in my life. For today’s reflection, I am posting a few paragraphs from Grieg’s book “Dirty Glory.” It is a brief glimpse of God’s Glory covered in the flesh and dirt of Jesus.
“You probably remember the story about Jesus asking a Samaritan woman with a dubious reputation for a drink (as if he didn’t know how that would look). And how he recruited zealots, harlots, fishermen, despised tax-collectors, and Sons of Thunder. And how he enjoyed a perfumed foot-rub at a respectable dinner party. One scholar says of the woman in this particular encounter, “Her actions would have been regarded (at least by men) as erotic. Letting her hair down in this setting would have been on a par with appearing topless in public. It is no wonder that Simon [the host] entertains serious reservations about Jesus’ status as a holy man.”5 Jesus made himself unclean again and again, touching the untouchables: lepers, menstruating women, and even corpses. He got down on his knees and washed between the toes of men who’d been walking dusty roads in sandals behind donkeys.
And while the dirt lingered in the creases of his hands, he accused those whose hands were clean of sin. Did you hear the one about the whitewashed tombs (Matthew 23:27)? Or about the dutiful son who despised the prodigal brother staggering home penniless and covered in pig (Luke 15:30)? Or the story about the dirty low-life tax-collector whose snivelling apologies were heard by God while the precise intercessions of a righteous Pharisee merely bounced off the ceiling (Luke 18:9-14)? The Word told dirty stories, and the stories told the Word.
Offended, they washed their hands of him—Pontius Pilate, the Chief Priest, even Simon Peter—and they hung him out to die, Eventually he was extinguished: Ashes to ashes. Dust to dust. Glory gone the way of all flesh.
But the dirt could not contain him for long. Three days later the sun rose and the Son rose. And now that he could do anything, go anywhere, what would he do and where would he go? Out of the whole realm of creation, the entire populace of humanity, Jesus chose to appear first to a woman. A woman in a chauvinistic culture that refused to teach women the Torah and discounted their testimony in a court of law. Mary Magdalene was a colorful woman, a woman with a questionable reputation from whom seven demons had been cast. It was the biggest moment of her life. And yet at first, embarrassingly, she mistook the resurrected Jesus for an ordinary gardener, a man with the earth ingrained in the creases of his hands at the start of a working day. Yet he had chosen her quite deliberately, another Mary for another birth, another Eve in another garden, to be his first apostle.6 This, too, is offensive to some to this day.
Yes, we believe in the Word made flesh who dwelt among us as a kind of prayer and sends us out to speak the “Amen” in every dark corner of his creation. He handpicks dim-witted people like us: “the foolish things of the world to shame the wise” (1 Corinthians 1:27). Bewildered by grace we go wherever he sends us, eat whatever is put before us, kneel in the gutter, make the unlikeliest locations places of prayer. We participate fervidly in a morally ambiguous world, carrying the knowledge of his glory “in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us” (2 Corinthians 4:7).
And so, with angels, archangels, and that great company of gnarly old saints, we believe that someday soon this whole dirty world will finally be filled with the knowledge of God’s glory. He will breathe once more into the dust of the earth. And on that day, every knee will bow. Every blaspheming tongue will cry, “Oh my God!” Every hand will be raised in surrender. And he will choose the ones with dirt in the creases of their hands, just as he always did. Flesh will become Word, and dwell with him in glory. “
My family, I pray you may understand that you and I are also the glory of God covered and contained in flesh and dirt. Like Jesus, we were not created to contain the glory of God and to be the hands of Christ in the world, hands kept clean by entering our living rooms and church sanctuaries, shaking hands of our peers and ringing church bells. We were created to contain the glory of God with hands with dirt in in their creases from entering brothel’s and bars, embracing addicts and the homeless, and ringing the door bells of the poor and the lost, In Jesus’ name. Please pray the same for me. God bless you my friends!
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.”
As The Year Draws To An End, PLEASE 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 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!
TO GIVE CLICK HERE
.
Gary Liederbach- Lead Follower
One Direction Community/
Email: garyl@onedirection.community
Website: https://www.onedirection.community
Facebook: One Direction Community-ODC
Good morning, Lord Jesus. I look to You first and listen for You first, to begin my day embraced by my Father, centered in Christ, and filled with Your Holy Spirit. ...
"Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes on those who are disobedient. Therefore do not be associated with them. For once you were darkness, but now in the Lord you are light. Live as children of light -- for the fruit of the light is found in all that is good and right and true. Try to find out what is pleasing to the Lord. Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them. For it is shameful even to mention what such people do secretly; but everything exposed by light becomes visible, for everything that becomes visible is light. Therefore it says, 'Sleeper, awake! Rise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you!" (Ephesians 5:6-14)
I woke up hearing in my heart this morning, "Pray for the light.” So out of obedience to you Jesus I I open You Word to passages of light, open my heart to the Spirit’s guidance, and pray for light.
Yes, Lord.... I pray for the light. Let Your light shine. Bring all things out of darkness and into Your light. Expose the "works of darkness" -- wherever "darkness" has been at work in me or my life, in my community or my nation, in my church or in the Body of Christ, and throughout our world. Expose darkness! I pray for the light and I proclaim the Truth of Your Word that You are the Light. Just as You said, "I am the Light of the world. Whoever follows Me will never walk in the darkness, but will have the light of life" (John 8:12). And as we welcome You in our hearts, as we embrace Your light of life in our lives, our prayers and thoughts, our words and actions are filled with Your light to shine forth into our lives and our world. Just as You said of all who allow Your light to shine in our hearts, "You are the light of the world. A city on a hill that cannot be hidden" (Matthew 5:14). As You said, "When you have the Light, believe in the Light, so that you may become sons of Light" (John 12:36).
Come, Holy Spirit. Spirit of Light, Spirit of Life, Spirit of the One who is the Light and empowers us to let the Light of God shine in us, arise in us! Awaken us from our slumber of sleep! Deliver us from passivity and giving into the pressures of the world seeking to silence our voice and even our prayers in this hour! Let us rise from the dead and come to life in our prayers to believe and to proclaim that all that is in darkness will be exposed!
It's the nature of fallen man to love darkness rather than light (John 3:19). But You come into our world in the Light of Your Glory to overcome all darkness; and that darkness cannot overcome Your Light (John 1:5).
So by the power of Your grace, convict me, confront me, correct me, and cleanse me of any darkness in my life. We will no longer take part in any of the works of darkness. Nor will we tolerate or condone any of the works of darkness on our watch of prayer or in our spheres of responsibility and authority in the power of the name of Jesus!
I respond to Your call that spoke to me as I rose out of my bed and I actively engage in prayer, as I proclaim in the Spirit to all who are called by Your name, "Sleeper, awake! Rise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you!" (Ephesians 5:14) I join with you as you join with me to "Pray for the light!" In Jesus' name I
My family, I pray you may be empowered by the Holy Spirit to pray for Light this morning along with me. As you arise and shine this morning let the Light of the glory of God shine through you to expose the works of darkness in you and all your spheres of responsibility and authority, in Jesus’ name. Please pray the same for me. I join with you with expectant faith and prayer for our nation and for our witness in the midst of these days! God bless you, my friends!
Pease share your reflections and prayers with us n the comment box below.
As The Year Draws To An End, PLEASE 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 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!
TO GIVE CLICK HERE
.
Gary Liederbach- Lead Follower
One Direction Community/
Email: garyl@onedirection.community
Website: https://www.onedirection.community
Facebook: One Direction Community-ODC
Good morning Jesus, I rest in your arms as my soul needs Your rest this morning.
“So then, do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Today has enough trouble of its own. (Matthew 6:34)
At first I saw God as my observer, my Judge keeping track of the things I did wrong to see if I merited heaven or hell when I died. He was out there like the President. I recognized his picture when I saw it but I really did not know him. But latter on when I met Christ it seemed as though life was rather like a bike ride. But it was a tandem bike and I noticed that Jesus was on the back of the bike helping me pedal. I don’t know exactly when it was that he suggested we change places, but life has not been the same since.
When I had control I knew the way. It was rather boring, but it was predictable. It was the shortest distance between two points. But when he took the lead he knew delightful long cuts. Up mountains and through rocky places at break neck speeds, it was all I could do to hang on! Even though it looked like madness he said pedal! pedal! I worried, I was anxious, and I asked where are you taking me?! He laughed and did not answer!
And I started to learn to trust. I forgot my boring life and entered into his adventure. And when I’d say, “I’m scared!” he’d lean back and touch my hand. He took me to people with gifts that I needed. Gifts of acceptance and healing and Joy and they gave me gifts to take with me on my journey, my Lords and mine. And we were off again and he would say, “ Give those gifts away now they are extra baggage, to much weight!” so I did to the people we met and I found in giving I’d receive and still our burden was light.
I did not trust him at first in control of my life. I thought he’d wreck it. But he knows bike secrets. He knows how to make it to take sharp corners. He knows how to jump to clear high rocks. He even knows how to fly to shorten the scary passages. And I’m learning to shut up and pedal. Pedal in the strangest places. And I’m beginning to enjoy the view and the cool breeze on my face and my delightful constant companion Jesus Christ. And when I’m sure I just can’t do any more he just smiles and says Pedal! Pedal!
So what is it that has you anxious or unable to trust the Lord to drive your bike? When you identify it now do you think he is not big enough to take that thing and help you pedal through it? Oh it won’t be as simple as sitting through a church service or finding the magical verse of scripture. It’s not like that. And it may not be without some hills and rocks and scary moments where he takes you faster than you ever dreamed you‘d be going, or brings you to a complete stop and shows you the need for someone else. This may be the reason God brought you to the place your in today because you don’t have anybody in that other seat on that tandem bike. You really are alone in the journey and you need to remember you have a creator, further more you have a savior who hasn’t yet had his first wreck.
If you do not have anybody in the other seat of your tandem bike, please reach out to me, reach out to another safe Christian, reach out to Jesus.
Pease share your reflections and prayers with us n the comment box below.
As The Year Draws To An End, PLEASE 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 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!
TO GIVE CLICK HERE
.
Gary Liederbach- Lead Follower
One Direction Community/
Email: garyl@onedirection.community
Website: https://www.onedirection.community
Facebook: One Direction Community-ODC
