"Passion Narratives From All Four Gospel's"

As I mentioned in my earlier post this morning, here is the compilation of of the Passion narratives from all four Gospels I complied in chronological order to create one complete narrative. Parts are assigned to allow reading in a church or our gathering.

The Passion of Christ. 

A compilation of selections from the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John.

by Gary Liederbach

 

NARRATOR:  One of the twelve, who was called Judas Iscariot, went to the chief priests and said,

JUDAS:          "What will you give me if I betray Jesus to you?"

NARRATOR:  They paid him thirty pieces of silver. And from that moment he began to look for an opportunity to betray him.  On the first day of Unleavened Bread the disciples came to Jesus, saying,

DISCIPLES:  "Where do you want us to make the preparations for you to eat the Passover?"

NARRATOR:  He said,

JESUS:            "Go into the city to a certain man, and say to him, `The Teacher says, My time is near; I will keep the Passover at your house with my disciples.'"

NARRATOR:  So the disciples did as Jesus had directed them, and they prepared the Passover meal.

When it was evening, he took his place with the twelve; and while they were eating, he said,

JESUS:            "Truly I tell you, one of you will betray me."

NARRATOR:  And they became greatly distressed and began to say to him one after another,

DISCIPLES:  "Surely not I, Lord?"

NARRATOR:  He answered,

JESUS:            "The one who has dipped his hand into the bowl with me will betray me. The Son of Man goes as it is written of him, but woe to that one by whom the Son of Man is betrayed! It would have been better for that one not to have been born."

NARRATOR:  Judas, who betrayed him, said,

JUDAS:           "Surely not I, Rabbi?"

NARRATOR:  He replied,

JESUS:            "You have said so."

NARRATOR: He said to them,

JESUS:            "I have eagerly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer; for I tell you, I will not eat it until it is fulfilled in the kingdom of God."

NARRATOR: Then he took a cup, and after giving thanks he said,

JESUS:            "Take this and divide it among yourselves; for I tell you that from now on I will not drink of the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes."

NARRATOR: Then he took a loaf of bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to them, saying,

JESUS:            "This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me."

NARRATOR: And he did the same with the cup after supper, saying,

JESUS:            "This cup that is poured out for you is the new covenant in my blood. But see, the one who betrays me is with me, and his hand is on the table. For the Son of Man is going as it has been determined, but woe to that one by whom he is betrayed!"

NARRATOR: Then they began to ask one another, which one of them it could be who would do this.

                        A dispute also arose among them as to which one of them was to be regarded as the greatest. But he said to them,

JESUS:            "The kings of the Gentiles lord it over them; and those in authority over them are called benefactors. But not so with you; rather the greatest among you must become like the youngest, and the leader like one who serves. For who is greater, the one who is at the table or the one who serves? Is it not the one at the table? But I am among you as one who serves.

                        "You are those who have stood by me in my trials; and I confer on you, just as my Father has conferred on me, a kingdom, so that you may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom, and you will sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel.

                        "Simon, Simon, listen! Satan has demanded to sift all of you like wheat, but I have prayed for you that your own faith may not fail; and you, when once you have turned back, strengthen your brothers."

NARRATOR: And he said to him,

PETER:           "Lord, I am ready to go with you to prison and to death!"

NARRATOR: Jesus said,

JESUS:            "I tell you, Peter, the cock will not crow this day, until you have denied three times that you know me."

NARRATOR: He came out and went, as was his custom, to the Mount of Olives; and the disciples followed him. When he reached the place, he said to them,

JESUS:            "Pray that you may not come into the time of trial."

NARRATOR: Then he withdrew from them about a stone's throw, knelt down, and prayed,

JESUS:            "Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from me; yet, not my will but yours be done."

NARRATOR: Then an angel from heaven appeared to him and gave him strength. In his anguish he prayed more earnestly, and his sweat became like great drops of blood falling down on the ground. When he got up from prayer, he came to the disciples and found them sleeping because of grief, and he said to them,

JESUS:            "Why are you sleeping? Get up and pray that you may not come into the time of trial."

NARRATOR: He came and found them sleeping; and he said to Peter,

JESUS:            "Simon, are you asleep? Could you not keep awake one hour? Keep awake and pray that you may not come into the time of trial; the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak."

NARRATOR: And again he went away and prayed, saying the same words. And once more he came and found them sleeping, for their eyes were very heavy; and they did not know what to say to him. He came a third time and said to them,

JESUS:            "Are you still sleeping and taking your rest? Enough! The hour has come; the Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners. Get up, let us be going. See, my betrayer is at hand."

NARRATOR: Immediately, while he was still speaking, Judas, one of the twelve, arrived; and with him there was a crowd with swords and clubs, from the chief priests, the scribes, and the elders. Now the betrayer had given them a sign, saying,

JUDAS:          "The one I will kiss is the man; arrest him and lead him away under guard."

NARRATOR: So when he came, he went up to him at once and said,

JUDAS:          "Rabbi!"

NARRATOR: and kissed him

JESUS:            "Judas, is it with a kiss that you are betraying the Son of Man?"

POLICE:           "Jesus of Nazareth?"

NARRATOR: Jesus answered,

JESUS:            "I told you that I am he. So if you are looking for me, let these men go."

NARRATOR: This was to fulfill the word that he had spoken, "I did not lose a single one of those whom you gave me." Then Simon Peter, who had a sword, drew it, struck the high priest's slave, and cut off his right ear. The slave's name was Malchus. Jesus said to Peter,

JESUS:            "Put your sword back into its sheath. Am I not to drink the cup that the Father has given me?"

NARRATOR: And he touched his ear and healed him. Then Jesus said to the chief priests, the officers of the temple police, and the elders who had come for him,

JESUS:            "Have you come out with swords and clubs as if I were a bandit? When I was with you day after day in the temple, you did not lay hands on me. But this is your hour, and the power of darkness!"

NARRATOR: So the soldiers, their officer, and the Jewish police arrested Jesus and bound him. First they took him to Annas, who was the father-in-law of Caiaphas, the high priest that year. Caiaphas was the one who had advised the Jews that it was better to have one person die for the people. But Peter was following at a distance. When they had kindled a fire in the middle of the courtyard and sat down together, Peter sat among them. Then a servant-girl, seeing him in the firelight, stared at him and said,

SERVANT 1: "This man also was with him."

NARRATOR: But he denied it, saying,

PETER:           "Woman, I do not know him."

NARRATOR: A little later someone else, on seeing him, said,

CONFRONTER1:      "You also are one of them."

NARRATOR: But Peter said,

PETER:           "Man, I am not!"

NARRATOR: Then about an hour later still another kept insisting,

CONFRONTER 2:"Surely this man also was with him; for he is a Galilean."

NARRATOR: But Peter said,

PETER:           "Man, I do not know what you are talking about!"

NARRATOR: At that moment, while he was still speaking, the cock crowed. The Lord turned and looked at Peter. Then Peter remembered the word of the Lord, how he had said to him, "Before the cock crows today, you will deny me three times." And he went out and wept bitterly.

NARRATOR:     Then the high priest questioned Jesus about his disciples and about his teaching. Jesus answered,

JESUS:            "I have spoken openly to the world; I have always taught in synagogues and in the temple, where all the Jews come together. I have said nothing in secret. Why do you ask me? Ask those who heard what I said to them; they know what I said."

NARRATOR: When he had said this, one of the police standing nearby struck Jesus on the face, saying,

POLICE:         "Is that how you answer the high priest?"

NARRATOR: Jesus answered,

JESUS:            "If I have spoken wrongly, testify to the wrong. But if I have spoken rightly, why do you strike me?"

NARRATOR: Then Annas sent him bound to Caiaphas the high priest. When day came, the assembly of the elders of the people, both chief priests and scribes, gathered together, and they brought him to their council. Now the chief priests and the whole council were looking for testimony against Jesus to put him to death; but they found none. For many gave false testimony against him, and their testimony did not agree. Some stood up and gave false testimony against him, saying,

ACCUSERS:  "We heard him say, `I will destroy this temple that is made with hands, and in three days I will build another, not made with hands.'"

NARRATOR: But even on this point their testimony did not agree. Then the high priest stood up before them and asked Jesus,

HIGH PRIEST: "Have you no answer? What is it that they testify against you?"

NARRATOR: But he was silent and did not answer. Again the high priest asked him,

HIGH PRIEST: "Are you the Messiah, the Son of the Blessed One?"

NARRATOR: Jesus said,

JESUS:            "I am; and `you will see the Son of Man seated at the right hand of the Power,' and `coming with the clouds of heaven.'"

NARRATOR: Then the high priest tore his clothes and said,

HIGH PRIEST: "Why do we still need witnesses? You have heard his blasphemy! What is your decision?"

NARRATOR: All of them condemned him as deserving death. Some began to spit on him, to blindfold him, and to strike him, saying to him,

ACCUSERS:  "Prophesy!"

NARRATOR: The guards also took him over and beat him.

NARRATOR: Then they took Jesus from Caiaphas to Pilate's headquarters. It was early in the morning. They themselves did not enter the headquarters, so as to avoid ritual defilement and to be able to eat the Passover.  When Judas, his betrayer, saw that Jesus was condemned, he repented and brought back the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and the elders. He said,

JUDAS:          "I have sinned by betraying innocent blood."

NARRATOR:  But they said,

CHIEF PRIESTS:  "What is that to us? See to it yourself."

NARRATOR:  Throwing down the pieces of silver in the temple, he departed; and he went and hanged himself. But the chief priests, taking the pieces of silver, said,

CHIEF PRIESTS:  "It is not lawful to put them into the treasury, since they are blood money."

NARRATOR:  After conferring together, they used them to buy the potter's field as a place to bury foreigners. For this reason that field has been called the Field of Blood to this day. Then was fulfilled what had been spoken through the prophet Jeremiah, "And they took the thirty pieces of silver, the price of the one on whom a price had been set, on whom some of the people of Israel had set a price, and they gave them for the potter's field, as the Lord commanded me."

NARRATOR: So Pilate went out to them and said,

PILATE:         "What accusation do you bring against this man?"

CHIEF PRIESTS:       They answered,  "We found this man perverting our nation, forbidding us to pay taxes to the emperor, and saying that he himself is the Messiah, a king."   "If this man were not a criminal, we would not have handed him over to you."

NARRATOR: Pilate said to them,

PILATE:         "Take him yourselves and judge him according to your law."

NARRATOR: The Jews replied,

CHIEF PRIESTS:  "We are not permitted to put anyone to death."

NARRATOR: (This was to fulfill what Jesus had said when he indicated the kind of death he was to die.)

                        Then Pilate entered the headquarters again, summoned Jesus, and asked him,

PILATE:         "Are you the king of the Jews?"

NARRATOR: He answered,

JESUS:            "You say so."

NARRATOR: Then Pilate said to the chief priests and the crowds,

PILATE:         "I find no basis for an accusation against this man."

NARRATOR: But they were insistent and said,

CHIEF PRIESTS:       "He stirs up the people by teaching throughout all Judea, from Galilee where he began even to this place."

NARRATOR: When Pilate heard this, he asked whether the man was a Galilean. And when he learned that he was under Herod's jurisdiction, he sent him off to Herod, who was himself in Jerusalem at that time. When Herod saw Jesus, he was very glad, for he had been wanting to see him for a long time, because he had heard about him and was hoping to see him perform some sign. He questioned him at some length, but Jesus gave him no answer. The chief priests and the scribes stood by, vehemently accusing him. Even Herod with his soldiers treated him with contempt and mocked him; then he put an elegant robe on him, and sent him back to Pilate. That same day Herod and Pilate became friends with each other; before this they had been enemies.

                        Pilate then called together the chief priests, the leaders, and the people, and said to them,

PILATE:         "You brought me this man as one who was perverting the people; and here I have examined him in your presence and have not found this man guilty of any of your charges against him. Neither has Herod, for he sent him back to us. Indeed, he has done nothing to deserve death.

NARRATOR: Then Pilate entered the headquarters again, summoned Jesus, and asked him,

PILATE:         "Are you the King of the Jews?"

NARRATOR: Jesus answered,

JESUS:            "Do you ask this on your own, or did others tell you about me?"

NARRATOR: Pilate replied,

PILATE:         "I am not a Jew, am I? Your own nation and the chief priests have handed you over to me. What have you done?"

NARRATOR: Jesus answered,

JESUS:            "My kingdom is not from this world. If my kingdom were from this world, my followers would be fighting to keep me from being handed over to the Jews. But as it is, my kingdom is not from here."

NARRATOR: Pilate asked him,

PILATE:         "So you are a king?"

NARRATOR: Jesus answered,

JESUS:            "You say that I am a king. For this I was born, and for this I came into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone who belongs to the truth listens to my voice."

NARRATOR: Pilate asked him,

PILATE:         "What is truth?"

NARRATOR: After he had said this, he went out to the Jews again and told them,

PILATE:         "I find no case against him. But you have a custom that I release someone for you at the Passover. Do you want me to release for you the King of the Jews?"

NARRATOR: They shouted in reply,

CROWD:        "Not this man, but Barabbas!"

NARRATOR: Now Barabbas was a bandit. This was a man who had been put in prison for an insurrection that had taken place in the city, and for murder.) Pilate, wanting to release Jesus, addressed them again; but they kept shouting,

ASSEMBLY:  "Crucify, crucify him!"

NARRATOR:   Then Pilate took Jesus and had him flogged. And the soldiers wove a crown of thorns and put it on his head, and they dressed him in a purple robe. They kept coming up to him, saying,

SOLDIERS:    "Hail, King of the Jews!"

NARRATOR: and striking him on the face. Pilate went out again and said to them,

PILATE:         "Look, I am bringing him out to you to let you know that I find no case against him."

NARRATOR: So Jesus came out, wearing the crown of thorns and the purple robe. Pilate said to them,

PILATE:         "Here is the man!"

NARRATOR: When the chief priests and the police saw him, they shouted,

CROWD:        "Crucify him! Crucify him!"

NARRATOR: Pilate said to them,

PILATE:         "Take him yourselves and crucify him; I find no case against him."

NARRATOR: The Jews answered him,

CROWD:        "We have a law, and according to that law he ought to die because he has claimed to be the Son of God."

NARRATOR: Now when Pilate heard this, he was more afraid than ever. He entered his headquarters again and asked Jesus,

PILATE:         "Where are you from?"

NARRATOR: But Jesus gave him no answer. Pilate therefore said to him,

 

PILATE:         "Do you refuse to speak to me? Do you not know that I have power to release you, and power to crucify you?"

NARRATOR: Jesus answered him,

JESUS:            "You would have no power over me unless it had been given you from above; therefore the one who handed me over to you is guilty of a greater sin."

NARRATOR: From then on Pilate tried to release him, but the Jews cried out,

CROWD:        "If you release this man, you are no friend of the emperor. Everyone who claims to be a king sets himself against the emperor."

NARRATOR: When Pilate heard these words, he brought Jesus outside and sat on the judge's bench at a place called The Stone Pavement, or in Hebrew Gabbatha. Now it was the day of Preparation for the Passover; and it was about noon. He said to the Jews,

PILATE:         "Here is your King!"

NARRATOR: They cried out,

CROWD:        "Away with him! Away with him! Crucify him!"

NARRATOR: Pilate asked them,

PILATE:         "Shall I crucify your King?"

NARRATOR: The chief priests answered,

CHIEF PRIESTS:       "We have no king but the emperor."

NARRATOR:      But they kept urgently demanding with loud shouts that he should be crucified; and their voices prevailed. So Pilate gave his verdict that their demand should be granted. He released the man they asked for, the one who had been put in prison for insurrection and murder, and he handed Jesus over as they wished.

                        As they led him away, they seized a man, Simon of Cyrene, who was coming from the country, and they laid the cross on him, and made him carry it behind Jesus. A great number of the people followed him, and among them were women who were beating their breasts and wailing for him. But Jesus turned to them and said,

JESUS:            "Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for me, but weep for yourselves and for your children. For the days are surely coming when they will say, 'Blessed are the barren, and the wombs that never bore, and the breasts that never nursed.' Then they will begin to say to the mountains, 'Fall on us'; and to the hills, 'Cover us.' For if they do this when the wood is green, what will happen when it is dry?"

(At the mention of the place called the Skull, all should stand, as able.)

 

NARRATOR: So they took Jesus; and carrying the cross by himself, he went out to what is called The Place of the Skull, which in Hebrew is called Golgotha. There they crucified him, and with him two others, one on either side, with Jesus between them. Pilate also had an inscription written and put on the cross. It read, "Jesus of Nazareth, the King of the Jews." Many of the Jews read this inscription, because the place where Jesus was crucified was near the city; and it was written in Hebrew, in Latin, and in Greek. Then the chief priests of the Jews said to Pilate,

PRIESTS:       "Do not write, 'The King of the Jews,' but, 'This man said, I am King of the Jews.'"

NARRATOR: Pilate answered,

PILATE:         "What I have written I have written."

NARRATOR: When the soldiers had crucified Jesus, they took his clothes and divided them into four parts, one for each soldier. They also took his tunic; now the tunic was seamless, woven in one piece from the top. So they said to one another,

SOLDIERS:    "Let us not tear it, but cast lots for it to see who will get it."

NARRATOR: This was to fulfill what the scripture says, "They divided my clothes among themselves,
 and for my clothing they cast lots." 
And that is what the soldiers did.

                        Meanwhile, standing near the cross of Jesus were his mother, and his mother's sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple whom he loved standing beside her, he said to his mother,

JESUS:            "Woman, here is your son."

NARRATOR: Then he said to the disciple,

JESUS:            "Here is your mother."

NARRATOR: And from that hour the disciple took her into his own home.

NARRATOR: Then Jesus said,

JESUS:            "Father, forgive them; for they do not know what they are doing."

ASSEMBLY:  "He saved others; let him save himself if he is the Messiah of God, his chosen one!"

NARRATOR: The soldiers also mocked him, coming up and offering him sour wine, and saying,

SOLDIERS:    "If you are the King of the Jews, save yourself!"

NARRATOR: One of the criminals who were hanged there kept deriding him and saying,

CRIMINAL 1: "Are you not the Messiah? Save yourself and us!"

NARRATOR: But the other rebuked him, saying,

CRIMINAL 2: "Do you not fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation? And we indeed have been condemned justly, for we are getting what we deserve for our deeds, but this man has done nothing wrong."

NARRATOR: Then he said,

CRIMINAL 2: "Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom."

NARRATOR: He replied,

JESUS:            "Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in Paradise."

NARRATOR: When it was noon, darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon. At three o'clock Jesus cried out with a loud voice,

JESUS:            "Eloi, Eloi, lema sabachthani?"

NARRATOR: which means,

JESUS:            "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?"

NARRATOR: When some of the bystanders heard it, they said,

BYSTANDERS:         "Listen, he is calling for Elijah."

NARRATOR: And someone ran, filled a sponge with sour wine, put it on a stick, and gave it to him to drink, saying,

BYSTANDERS:         "Wait, let us see whether Elijah will come to take him down."

NARRATOR: Then Jesus, crying with a loud voice, said,

JESUS:            "Father, into your hands I commend my spirit."

NARRATOR: Then Jesus gave a loud cry and breathed his last. And the curtain of the temple was torn in two, from top to bottom. Now when the centurion, who stood facing him, saw that in this way he breathed his last, he said,

CENTURION: "Truly this man was God's Son!"

NARRATOR: And when all the crowds who had gathered there for this spectacle saw what had taken place, they returned home, beating their breasts. But all his acquaintances, including the women who had followed him from Galilee, stood at a distance, watching these things.

                        Since it was the day of Preparation, the Jews did not want the bodies left on the cross during the sabbath, especially because that sabbath was a day of great solemnity. So they asked Pilate to have the legs of the crucified men broken and the bodies removed. Then the soldiers came and broke the legs of the first and of the other who had been crucified with him. But when they came to Jesus and saw that he was already dead, they did not break his legs. Instead, one of the soldiers pierced his side with a spear, and at once blood and water came out. (He who saw this has testified so that you also may believe. His testimony is true, and he knows that he tells the truth.) These things occurred so that the scripture might be fulfilled, "None of his bones shall be broken." And again another passage of scripture says, "They will look on the one whom they have pierced."

                        Now there was a good and righteous man named Joseph, who, though a member of the council, had not agreed to their plan and action. He came from the Jewish town of Arimathea, and he was waiting expectantly for the kingdom of God. This man went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. Then he took it down, wrapped it in a linen cloth, and laid it in a rock-hewn tomb where no one had ever been laid. It was the day of Preparation, and the sabbath was beginning. The women who had come with him from Galilee followed, and they saw the tomb and how his body was laid. Then they returned, and prepared spices and ointments.

            On the sabbath they rested according to the commandment.

The Bible text is from the New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright 1989

Seeking Silence

I got up this morning at 6:00am and went outside and sat on my front porch in the cool morning. I drank my coffee, read the compilation of Passion Narratives from all four Gospels I put together, and wrote this devotion.  Aside from a few outside noises--a car driving . . . a barking dog . . . crickets or frogs from the pond across the street from me—all's quiet on the home front. That wonderful, much-needed presence has again come for a visit—QUIETNESS. Oh, how I love it . . . how I need it. 

I cannot be the man I should be without times of quietness. Stillness is an essential part of our growing deeper as we grow older. We will not become men and women of God without the presence of solitude. Those words haunt me when I get caught in the treadmill of my calendar, time schedules and trying to meet the deadline of demands of my week, just like I know you experience. We are simply geared too high. Thanks to a blend of Alka-Seltzer, coffee, energy drinks, and Tylenol, we repeat our nonproductive haste with overwhelming regularity. 

We are in such a hurry, we hate to miss one panel of a revolving door. We just have to open every FB post, Snap, Tik Tok, Tweet and Text. Talk about pollution! I want you to think about what our nervous systems undergo just to stay afloat: NOISE (music, news, talk, laughter, machinery, appliances, cell phones, social media, and traffic) from 6:00 a.m. 'til midnight. SPEED (bumper-to-bumper at 65 mph, on-ramps and off-ramps, deadlines, schedules and appointments) that all make us frown rather than smile . . . that causes us to check our watches more often than checking in with our Lord. ACTIVITIES(meetings, services, suppers, luncheons, breakfasts, rallies, our kids sport games, even church functions and ministries—all ("necessary" and "nice") that have a way of dismissing quietness like an unwanted guest. Sure—some things are important—super, in fact—but not EVERYTHING!  Listen, if you and I REALLY treasure quietness, we will have to make time for it. When you feed it only the "leftovers" from the schedule, quietness always goes hungry.


I do not usually send out a devotion on Sundays, but today being Palm Sunday. I’'m just being direct and honest with you about an ingredient that cannot be ignored much longer in our lives without our paying a dear, dear price; and that is our need: To be quiet with God.  Quiet to love ourselves enough to listen to God. Quiet to allow God to listen to and love us. I am desperately concerned that we slow down and quiet down and gear down our lives so that each week we carve out time for quietness, solitude, thought, prayer, meditation, and soul searching. And Jesus is concerned as well. Oh, how much agitation, stress and anxiety will begin to fade away . . . how insignificant petty differences will seem . . . how big God will become and how small our troubles will appear! Security, peace, and confidence will move right on in.

“The LORD said, “Go out and stand on the mountain before the LORD. Look, the LORD is ready to pass by.”A very powerful wind went before the LORD, digging into the mountain and causing landslides, but the LORD was not in the wind. After the windstorm there was an earthquake, but the LORD was not in the earthquake. After the earthquake, there was a fire, but the LORD was not in the fire. After the fire, there was a soft whisper. When Elijah heard it, he covered his face with his robe and went out and stood at the entrance to the cave.” (1 Kings 19:11-13)

You want know something? That still, small voice will never shout. God's methods don't change because we are so noisy and super busy. He is longing for your attention, your undivided and full attention. He wants to talk with you in times of quietness (with the TV OFF) about your need for understanding, love, compassion, patience, self-control, a calm spirit, genuine humility . . . and wisdom. But He won't run your hectic race to catch up. He will wait and wait until you finally sit in silence and listen. 

Lent is a season set aside to slow down, shut up, be quiet and listen.  Today begins Holy Week, and as the name self explains, it is the Holiest week in the church.  The services of Maundy Thursday, and Good Friday, are two of the quietest, most reflective services of the church.  If you have never gone through a complete Holy Week experience of Palm Sunday, Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, and Easter Sunday I highly encourage you to do so.  It is from going through, experiencing and participating in the quiet, reflective Maundy Thursday and Good Friday services that the full force of Easter is felt.  This week, I also want to encourage you to seek out more silence and quiet moments.  Read through the passion narratives of the Gospels.

I am praying for you.
I am here for you if you want to reach out to talk.
Much love,
Gary

TWO MORE THINGS:

FIRST:

As I mentioned above I made a compilation of the Passion Narratives from all 4 Gospels. Each Gopels passion narrative contains some details the others do not. So I read through and went through all four Gospels and compiled the together in chronological order to create one complete passion narrative. I assigned parts to it so it can be read at a church service or other gathering. I will send that out in another post.

SECOND:

IF you are in the Madison/Huntsville area, and your church does not have Holy Week services of Maundy Thursday and Good Friday, here is the list of services I will be leading and ALL our welcomed! For questions or more information please email me at garyl@onedirection.community. Or post it in comments box below.Holy Week Services

Thursday, April 6, 6:30pm-8:00pm: Maundy Thursday Service: Maundy” comes from the Latin word “mandatum” meaning mandate or commandment. On his last night before his betrayal and arrest, Jesus washed the feet of his disciples In John’s Gospel and then gave them a new commandment to love one another as he had loved them (John 13:34).  He instituted the Lord’s Supper in Mark, Matthew and Luke and the commandment to “Do this in remembrance of me.”  Jesus in John’s Gospel also instituted the washing of feet. Service will be held at 102 Champions Green Drive, Madison Al.

Friday, April7, 6:00pm-7:30pm, Good Friday Service: This service remembers God’s loving and redeeming the world through the passion and the saving works of the cross of our Lord, Jesus Christ. Gathering will be held outdoors at Indian Creek Greenway located in Creekwood Park off Slaughter Road in Madison just north of the Farrow Rd / Slaughter Rd intersection.  392 Harvest Wood Ct.Huntsville, AL 35806.  We will be outside so dress appropriately for the weather that evening.

Gary Liederbach- Lead Follower

One Direction Community/ Toney UMC

Email: garyl@onedirection.community

Website: https://www.onedirection.community

Facebook: One Direction Community-ODC

Help Me Help Others Out Of Their Graves!

I could use your financial support for One Direction Community, my family, and those on the margins God has placed in my path I refuse to walk around.  Please commitment to partner and support myself and One Direction community through setting up a monthly donation or a one –time gift by clicking the link below. Donation checks can be made out to ODC, PO Box 1293 Madison, Al 35758.    

TO GIVE CLICK HERE

THANK YOU!

" Fountain From He Who Was Pierced"

Good morning Father, Son and Spirit, speak to me as I speak to you…

“But when they came to Jesus and saw that he was already dead, they did not break his legs. But one of the soldiers pierced his side with a spear, and blood and water flowed out immediately. And the person who saw it has testified (and his testimony is true, and he knows that he is telling the truth), so that you also may believe. For these things happened so that the scripture would be fulfilled, “Not a bone of his will be broken.” And again another scripture says, “They will look on the one whom they have pierced.” (John 19:33-37) 

“They will look on the one whom they have pierced.” Here a single phrase is quoted from Zechariah 12, but the entire context is associated with the events surrounding the crucifixion. The "Spirit of grace and of supplication" is poured out on the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem in the first part of v. 10. A few verses later in 13:1 Yahweh says "In that day a fountain will be opened for the house of David and for the inhabitants of Jerusalem, for sin and for impurity." The blood which flowed from Jesus' pierced side may well be what the author saw as the connection here, since as the shedding of the blood of the sacrificial victim it represents cleansing from sin. As Jesus hung on the cross, the author may also have in mind the second coming. The context in Zech 12-14 is certainly the second coming, so that these who crucified Jesus will look upon him in another sense when he returns in judgment. 

“ On that day the Lord himself will defend the inhabitants of Jerusalem, so that the weakest among them will be like mighty David, and the dynasty of David will be like God, like the angel of the Lord before them. …I will pour out on the kingship of David and the population of Jerusalem a spirit of grace and supplication so that they will look to me, the one they have pierced. They will lament for him as one laments for an only son, and there will be a bitter cry for him like the bitter cry for a firstborn…“In that day there will be a fountain opened up for the dynasty of David and the people of Jerusalem to cleanse them from sin and impurity... (Zech 12:5-13:1)

Holy Spirit, the water of these Scriptures are very deep waters.  Continue to motivate me not to stay on the surface of what I read but dive deep to discover the treasures of Your Word of Life that lay there and allow deep to speak into deep. Continue to call me to run and jump into the fountain of life which flows from Christ when I open my Bible where I am soaked, laughing and splashing in the waters of Grace that cleanses me of all sin, impurities, guilt, shame, and depression.  As I dive into your Word and prayer I want to to washed by the the river of the water of life that flows from Your throne today!

“Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, bright as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb through the middle of the street of the city; also, on either side of the river, the tree of life with its twelve kinds of fruit, yielding its fruit each month. The leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations. No longer will there be anything accursed, but the throne of God and of the Lamb will be in it, and his servants will worship him. They will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads. And night will be no more. They will need no light of lamp or sun, for the Lord God will be their light, and they will reign forever and ever.” (Revelation 22:1-4)

My family, I pray as you read these and other daily Scriptures you do hot just stay on the surface of them to and read and move on. I pray you sit and soak in them.   I pray you do not read them as something to do, but as the source of of the fountain of life to be washed anew as you allow the Holy Spirit to mold you and speak to you through the Word of God you are reading. I pray you will not just receive from these daily readings but will share what you hear the Spirit speak to you and reveal it to others. I pray today and this weekend you will prioritize a time to refresh yourself by diving deep into the healing waters of life that flow from your Bible,: laughing, free, and joyful like a child of God splashing in the water’s deep love and grace., In Jeus’ 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 Me Help Others Out Of Their Graves!

I could use your financial support for One Direction Community, my family, and those on the margins God has placed in my path I refuse to walk around.  Please commitment to partner and support myself and One Direction community through setting up a monthly donation or a one –time gift by clicking the link below. Donation checks can be made out to ODC, PO Box 1293 Madison, Al 35758.  

Discipleship Training.

One of my passions is helping churches or small groups understand and embrace their call to be disciples of Jesus out in their community. I offer and lead discipleship trainings in person and on-line. If you or your church are interested I would love to help you and talk to you bout it. Email me at garyl@onedirection.community.

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

 

 

"You Can't Be To Dead!"

“Then Jesus, deeply moved again, came to the tomb. It was a cave, and a stone lay against it. Jesus said, “Take away the stone.” Martha, the sister of the dead man, said to him, “Lord, by this time there will be an odor, for he has been dead four days.” Jesus said to her, “Did I not tell you that if you believed you would see the glory of God?” So they took away the stone. And Jesus lifted up his eyes and said, “Father, I thank you that you have heard me. I knew that you always hear me, but I said this on account of the people standing around, that they may believe that you sent me.” When he had said these things, he cried out with a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out.” The man who had died came out, his hands and feet bound with linen strips, and his face wrapped with a cloth. Jesus said to them, “Unbind him, and let him go.” John 11:38-44”

 When I was in high school one morning I was walking through the hallway and I came up to my cousin who also attended the same high school.  Her last name was Liederbach as well.  I came up behind her and the circle of friends she was talking to and overheard their discussion.  Her friends were asking her, “You know that guy Gary Liederbach, are you related to him?”  My cousin answered, “Oh no!  We have the same last name but we are not related.” 

 The high school I attend at the time was the #1 in the state in drug sales.  Ambulances came weekly to the school to get students who were overdosing in bathrooms. Students got off the bus in the morning and went straight to the smoking area to get high before going to classes.  And I was one of the big reasons why for this problem.  I was a dealer and sold drugs throughout high school.  I used drugs, used people, used women; stole, lied, and cheated to get what I wanted.  I caused my parents and my family pain.  I taught my younger sister and brother how to weigh-up pot and cocaine, quaaludes and  others drugs and sell for me as well.  The police knew me well. Teachers and school authorities knew me well.  And they did not like me.  They told other kids to stay away from me.  Don’t hang out with me.  I was bad news. I was rotten to the core.  There was a stench about me.  And they were right.

 The passage above has a personal meaning to me. In the passage, Martha, the sister of the dead man, said to Jesus, “Lord, by this time there will be an odor, for he has been dead four days.”  There would be a stench from Lazarus because he had been dead for four days.  I was dead for over four years.  Satan used me for evil and my drug life style was destroying kids lives.  There was a stench that was coming from me.   However one day like Nikodemus in John 3 I came before Jesus on my knees, repented and said I was born wrong, give me that new birth.  And he did.  And the stone in my heart was rolled away and I got up from my knees and walked out of the grave of a life I had been in and my life has never been the same.

I am a living testimony that you can never be to dead for Jesus to bring you back to life.  You can be 6 feet under trapped in a grave of living hell and Jesus can roll away whatever the stone is to free you.  There is no stench to rotten and disgusting that the blood of Christ cannot wash away and make you completely clean again.    

Lent is a holy season where take time to reflect on our life.  To repent from things we need to stop doing, recenter our lives on Christ and start doing things we should be doing.  As we near Holy Week, near the cross, near Easter, I want to remind you that is never to late repent and return to Jesus.  There are times in my life I had to repent from majors sins.  Daily I have to confess and repent of lesser sins.   But every time I do I hear the voice of Jesus saying, “Gary come forth!”  And like the prodigal son  in Luke 15 who is climbing out of a pig pen filthy and covered in crap Jesus does not run from me, he runs to me.  And he puts a robe around me, a ring on my finger and declares to the universe, This is my son!  He was lost and now he is found!

 My family, I do not know what sin, what grave, what stench may be coming from your life.  But you like I, can never be to dead for Jesus to bring back to life.  I have been there I know.  I want to help you and there are people around you as well who jump down in the pit you are in and help you claw out.  I pray you will reach out to me. (256-302-3785) Reach out to them!  Fall on you knees and reach out to Jesus!  Holy Week is the time more Christians around the world go to confession and confess and repent of their sins, not to receive shame, but new life.  I pray you will join them, in Jesus name.  Please pray the same for me.  God bless you me friends!

Please share you thoughts and reflections on this blog in the comment box below.

 

Attached is another short 6 minute Youtube video from NT Wright in which he reflects on this passage as well for Lent

Help Me Help Others Out Of Their Graves!

I could use your financial support for One Direction Community, my family, and those on the margins God has placed in my path I refuse to walk around.  Please commitment to partner and support myself and One Direction community through setting up a monthly donation or a one –time gift by clicking the link below. Donation checks can be made out to ODC, PO Box 1293 Madison, Al 35758.  

CLICK HERE TO GIVE

Discipleship Training.

One of my passions is helping churches or small groups understand and embrace their call to be disciples of Jesus out in their community. I offer and lead discipleship trainings in person and on-line. If you or your church are interested I would love to help you and talk to you bout it. Email me at garyl@onedirection.community.

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

"Trained up and Released out!

Jesus, receive me, refresh me, and restore me in you, draw me close to you, then release me into the world today full of your glory.

“As you sent me into the world, so I have sent them into the world... so that the world may believe that you have sent me….so that the world may know that you sent me and loved them even as you loved me.” John 17:19-24

 Jesus’ has a “train and release” strategy, while overall the church today has a “convert and retain strategy.”  Our metrics we use to determine if a church is successful reflect this.  As a pastor of a United Methodist Church, their were weekly church reports I turned in that included the number of people at worship services and number of members.  There is no incentive to “train and release.”  If a church did this well the metrics we use would actually reveal this church as unsuccessful.

The challenge is to make the Gospel the center of our lives not just on Sunday mornings, but every morning of every week.  This means ending the distinctions between “full time,” “part time,” and people with secular employment in our team and leadership structures, language, and teachings. We need to encourage all to model whole life, gospel-centered missional living who understand when thy walk into their workplace, homes and neighborhoods they are walking into their called mission field. That the desk they sit behind or work bench they work at for hours and hours, five days a week at work are just as holy as the church pews they sit in or altars they stare at for one hour weekly. That is it is a good thing to embrace those you see for a minute Sunday mornings, however it is a greater thing to embrace those in your workplace you spend hours with daily.

The vast majority of Christians have not been helped or equipped by the church to see that who they are and what they do every day in schools, workplaces, clubs, and their neighborhoods is significant to God.  Nor that the people they spend time with in those everyday contexts are the people God has called them to give access to their lives, pray for, bless, witness to, and share the Gospel with.  So we pray for our Sunday school teachers, and not our schoolteachers.  We pray for our missionaries going overseas into their foreign mission field, but not the electricians, welders, shop owners, accountants, and managers going daily into their local mission field.  We simply have not envisioned, resourced and supported people to share the Good News of Jesus in our everyday context.  We need to encourage and embrace the fact that during the week our church members are dispersed throughout their city and even the world.  We are already infiltrating the kingdom of Satan.  Day by day people in our churches are rubbing shoulders with unbelievers in their workplaces, schools, neighborhoods, and clubs. As we journey in Lent towards the cross we remember the sentness of Jesus of into ordinary lives, and our call to imitate His sent ness into ordinary life. “As you sent me into the world, so I have sent them into the world..”

My family, I pray you see and understand that as you head out this morning to school, work, the gym or wherever you are going, you are heading out into your mission field.  You are heading out to meet the people God has called you to pray for, bless, witness to, and share the Gospel with.  In Jesus’ name. Please pray the same for me.  God bless you my friends!!!

Please share your thoughts and reflections in the comment box below.

Discipleship Training.

One of my passions is helping churches or small groups understand and embrace their call to be disciples of Jesus out in their community. I offer and lead discipleship trainings in person and on-line. If you or your church are interested I would love to help you and talk to you bout it. Email me at garyl@onedirection.community.

Help Us Help Them!

I could use your financial support for One Direction Community, my family, and those on the margins God has placed in my path I refuse to walk around.  Please commitment to partner and support myself and One Direction community through setting up a monthly donation or a one –time gift by clicking the link below. Donation checks can be made out to ODC, PO Box 1293 Madison, Al 35758.  

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

"Overcome Your World"

Good morning, Lord Jesus. Every morning is a good morning in You. No matter what's going on in my world, You're always here in my heart.

 These things I have spoken to you, so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33).  

As I enter in to our time of communion in prayer this afternoon, I am sitting in the hospital room next to my dad who is sleeping in his hospital bed. My heart is a little heavy with prayers for those who like him are experiencing tribulation in their lives: physical and emotional ones like my dad; the nurses and thier never ending tasks of love; couples who are  at war with each other and struggling; in-fighting among families; friends who have been hurt by the coldness and dark hearts of others and gossip; a co-worker at Lowes who was the victim of hateful racial attack, a friend of mine struggling with the realitity he has cancer, the violent acts of hate I see daily on TV news; those dying in the Ukraine from the invasion by Russia, Covid still lingers….and the list goes on.. In talking with those close to me experiencing tribulation I am asked why this is happening them? What darkness filled their attacker’s mind or is behind their spouses actions?  But we know all too well and see all too often the darkness that seeks to invade any of our hearts to turn us against God and one another and ourselves. "The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy" (John 10:10).

Ultimately, evil is not a person, but a spiritual force of darkness looking for every opportunity to divide and conquer and destroy. "For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against the spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places" (Ephesians 6:12). So it's only in You and the mercy of Your grace and the power of Your name that we can find the security and peace we need in these dark days to "stand against the schemes of the devil" through every onslaught of his tribulation, hatred, cowardice, and evil (Ephesians 6:11).

The only true shelter we have is "the Shelter of the Most High" as we seek to "abide in the Shadow of the Almighty," choosing to humble ourselves and call on Your name, to "say to the Lord, "My Refuge and my Fortress; my God, in whom I trust" (Psalm 91:1-2). You alone are our Comforter and Healer. You alone are our Redeemer of all that doesn't make sense and seams so out of our control.

You never intend or will the evil in our world. But at the same time, You are never unaware of our suffering and our needs, our fears and our fights. That is why you endured the horrors of Good Friday we are headed to in our journey through Lent. You endured those horros to conquer evil and death and be a our source of life and hope. And You never leave us nor forsake us through whatever we endure in our lives or in our land through the darkness of these days. Evil will never have the last word or the find say. And You never back down from the promise and the hope of Your Word to those who choose to find Shelter in You:  "Those who love Me, I will deliver; I will protect those who know My name. When they call to Me, I will answer them; I will be with them in trouble, I will rescue them and honor them. With long life I will satisfy them, and show them My salvation" (Psalm 91:14-16).

Here in my heart, here in our land, be our Shelter again. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen. 

My family, I pray you seek the safety and security in the shelter of the Most High which only comes through time spent in The Word and prayer, knowing God is with you through whatever you tribulation you endure, making sure His Word will have the final say over your life, Read Psalm 91 over your life this morning and claim God’s promises of protection,  in Jesus' name! Please pray the same of 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

Give A Gift!

I could use you’re the gift of your financial support for my family and those on the margins God has placed in my path I refuse to walk around.  Please partner and support my family and ministries through setting up a monthly donation or a one –time gift by clicking the link below. Donation checks can be made out to ODC, 102 Champions Green Drive, Madison, Al 35758.

Thank You!  

 

 

"Abide"

Good morning, Lord Jesus. I welcome You into my heart and the moments of my day. 

"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" (John 15:4-5).

What could be more important than learning to abide in You? You said if I abide in You, You would abide in me, and I would bear much fruit.

So much of the time, we get that so wrong. I get this wrong. We tend to focus on the fruit, when You said to focus on You. We tend to focus on what we're doing for You instead of how we're living in You. It's like seeking first to build the kingdom of God instead seeking first You and our right relationship with You (Matthew 6:33). It's like trying to do so many good things instead of seeking the One Thing that makes all things work together for good. It's like trying to do it all ourselves instead of letting You do it all through us. And ultimately, all that we do apart from You, no matter how good or helpful it may seem at the time, amounts to nothing of eternal significance. Just like You said long ago, "Apart from Me you can do nothing" (John 15:5).

So teach me to abide in You. Teach me to seek You first and focus most on my relationship with You. Lord Jesus, as I seek to abide in You right now in the beginning of my day, what do You want me to hear or see or sense in this moment? ...

It seems I hear You saying in my heart:  "You abide in Me as you open your heart to Me, allowing Me to abide in you. That's the key. Allow Me to abide in you. Welcome my Spirit within you. Embrace my life within your life. Allow Me to put My thought in your mind and My desires in your heart. Allow Me to express My words, My power, My heart, My nature through your life. I am the Vine. You are one of My branches. Seek to be one with Me, one in the Vine, and My Spirit will flow through your life. Then I will cause My fruit to be born through you. Let your focus and your passion be upon abiding in Me. Then trust Me to bear My fruit through your life. Not by your power, not by your might, but by My Spirit."

Yes, Lord. That's sounds like You speaking to me, as I seek to discern Your voice from my own thoughts, the leading of Your Holy Spirit from the merely the desires of my own human spirit. As I test these words first against the Word of God, these Scriptures come to mind:  "Not by might, nor by power, but by My Spirit, says the Lord of hosts" (Zechariah 4:6). "In Him we live and move and have our being" (Acts 17:28). "For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain" (Philippians 1:21). "I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but it is Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me" (Galatians 2:19-20). "Christ in (me), the hope of glory" (Colossians 1:27).

So as best as I can and all by Your grace, aspart of my journey of Lent to the cross,, I seek to abide in You, Lord Jesus Christ. You are the Vine and I am one of Your branches. As I begin this day and live out the moments of my adventure of faith, I want to be embraced by my Father, centered in Christ, and filled with Your Holy Spirit -- abiding in You as You abide in me. Let this be more than a moment, but a lifestyle of living in You and allowing You to live through me. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

My family, I pray you will prioritize today time to welcome Jesus’ Spirit within you and embrace his life within your life.  I pray you will be stirred by the Spirit of God to abide in Christ in a lifestyle of abiding and living in Him, 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.

 

Help Us Help Them!

I could use you’re the gift of your financial support as I try to compassionately reach out to those those on the margins God has placed in my path I refuse to walk around.  Please partner and support my family and ministries through setting up a monthly donation or a one –time gift by clicking the link below. Donation checks can be made out to ODC, 102 Champions Green Drive, Madison, Al 35758. You can mail your donation to One Direction Community P.O. Box 1293 Madison, Al 35758

Thank You!   

Discipleship Training.

One of my passions is helping churches or small groups understand and embrace their call to be disciples of Jesus in their community. I offer and lead discipleship trainings in person and on-line. If you are interested I would love to talk to you bout it. Email me at garyl@onedirection.community.

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

 

 

 

"My Peace I Give You"

Good morning, Lord Jesus. Father, Son, and Holy Spirit of God; You are One and You are with me. I welcome You here within me and every moment of my day. 

"Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled, and do not let them be afraid.... Rise, let us be on our way" (John 14:27-31).

Jesus, every morning I can rise and be on my way with secure in You because Your peace is within me. As You promised to Your first disciples, You continue to promise every disciple, "These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world" (John 16:33).

The first world the disciples lived in was under Roman control was a world full of vices and violence, foreboding and fear, chaos and confusion, injustice and inhumanity, and troubles and tribulations.  Sound familiar?  Sound like today’s world? However, Jesus invited them andHe invites you and me to find my peace in You. You remind me You are the "Prince of Peace" -- my "Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace" (Isaiah 9:6). You encourage me to overcome by embracing the One who has already overcome (Revelation 2:7, 11, 17, 26; 3:5, 12, 21).

The mornings I “Rise, and lets us be on our way.” The mornings I begin my day in word and prayer centered in your peace,  there's a shifting that takes place inside me. It’s a shifting that cannot be shaken by any shifting in the world around me that I am about to go out and enter into. It's a shifting of perspective that gives me peace in the confidence and assurance of Your Presence. You're with me through it all (Isaiah 43:2; Psalm 23:4). You never leave me, nor forsake me (Hebrews 13:5). You're with me "always" (Matthew 28:20). 

And at the end of my day when it's all been said and done, when I see with my eyes what I've known in my heart, that You've been with me to the end, I will look and see that none of the things of this world that tried to overwhelm me and overcome me to steal my peace had the last word or defined my life. You did. You always have and You always will. And Your Word over me is always good (Jeremiah 29:11). You are the Living Word of God, who is always with me (John 1:14). And that's what gives me "the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard (our) hearts and (our) minds in Christ Jesus" (Philippians 4:7). In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

My family, be bore you “Rise, and lets be on our way” this morning. I pray you will know the peace that surpasses all understanding through every trouble and tribulation you ever endure, safe and secure, encouraged and overcoming in the One who is your Prince of Peace, in Jesus' name! Please pray the same of me. God bless you my friends!

Let us join together today and pray for peace in the war in Ukraine. Pray for our Christian brothers and sisters who are rising this morning and walking out into the horrors of war. Pray that Russia will end it’s campaign of aggression.

 Help Us Help Them!

I could use you’re the gift of your financial support as I try to compassionately reach out to those those on the margins God has placed in my path I refuse to walk around.  Please partner and support my family and ministries through setting up a monthly donation or a one –time gift by clicking the link below. Donation checks can be made out to ODC, 102 Champions Green Drive, Madison, Al 35758. You can mail your donation to One Direction Community P.O. Box 1293 Madison, Al 35758

Thank You!  

Discipleship Training.

One of my passions is helping churches or small groups understand and embrace their call to be disciples of Jesus in their community. I offer and lead discipleship trainings in person and on-line. If you are interested I would love to talk to you bout it. Email me at garyl@onedirection.community.

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

"Jesus Had Dirty Hands"

Good morning, Lord Jesus. Through Your Body and Your Blood, make me one with You, one with Your Body of Christ, and one in ministry to all the world until I feast with You at Your heavenly banquet in final victory. 

"Now before the festival of the Passover, Jesus knew that His hour had come to depart from this world and go to the Father. Having loved His own who were in the world, He loved them to the end.... Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into His hands, and that He had come from God and was going to God, got up from the table, took off His outer robe, and tied a towel around Himself. Then He poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples' feet and to wipe them with the towel that was tied around Him. He came to Simon Peter, who said to Him, 'Lord, are You going to wash my feet?' Jesus answered, 'You do not know now what I am doing, but later you will understand.' Peter said to Him, 'You will never wash my feet.' Jesus answered, 'Unless I wash you, you have no share with Me.' Simon Peter said to Him, 'Lord, not my feet only but also my hands and my head!' Jesus said to him, 'One who has bathed does not need to wash, except for the feet, but is entirely clean. And you are clean, though not all of you.' For He knew who was to betray Him; for this reason He said, 'Not all of you are clean' " (John 13:1-11).

Lord Jesus, though You are One with Father and One with the Holy Spirit, You set aside the glory of Heaven to humble Yourself in the likeness of human flesh and blood. And before You humbled Yourself to be betrayed and rejected and crucified by the human flesh and blood You created, You humbled Yourself to wash the dirty, smelly, unclean feet of Your disciples. No wonder Peter could hardly bear the thought of his Messiah, the Son of God, down on His knees washing his feet.

Lord Jesus, help me grasp the humility of Your nature. Though You are the Creator of Heaven and Earth, the exact image and very Word of God, with all power and authority in Your hands, You would humble Yourself with Your holy hands to wash the dirty feet of human flesh.

Your disciples couldn't fully understand what we still have trouble fully understanding as Your disciples today that You are our example in every way. Just as You laid down Your life for Your friends as an example of Your love, we are to lay down our lives in sacrificial love for one another. Just as You washed their feet as an example of Your humility, we "ought to wash one another's feet" (v. 14). "Servants are not greater than their master, nor are messengers greater than the one who sent them. If (we) know these things, (we) are blessed if (we) do them" (v. 16).

Lord, help me learn and embrace Your example. You are my "Teacher and Lord" (v. 13). Help me learn to follow in Your steps as Your disciple. Though You've made me clean though Your sacrifice on the cross, you created my hands to get dirty, as I continue Your ministry of humility and love. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

My family, I pray you will be filled with the humility and love of Jesus today, as you follow Him as your example. I pray that you will intentionally set aside a time this weekend to get your “hands dirty” in ministry through real contact in the real lives of people around you.  Please pray the same for me. God bless you, my friends! 

Please share your reflections and questions in the comment box below. 

 Help Us Help Them!

I could use you’re the gift of your financial support for my family and those on the margins God has placed in my path I refuse to walk around.  Please partner and support my family and ministries through setting up a monthly donation or a one –time gift by clicking the link below. Donation checks can be made out to ODC, 102 Champions Green Drive, Madison, Al 35758. You can mail your donation to One Direction Community P.O. Box 1293 Madison, Al 35758

Thank You!  

Discipleship Training.

One of my passions is helping churches or small groups understand and embrace their call to be disciples of Jesus in their community. I offer and lead discipleship trainings in person and on-line. If you are interested I would love to talk to you bout it. Email me at garyl@onedirection.community.

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 

 

"Saved To Be Sent"

Good morning, Lord Jesus. Put Your thoughts in my mind and Your desires in my heart to lead me in Your ways today--Father, Son, and Holy Spirit of God. 

"When it was evening on that day, the first day of the week, and the doors of the house where the disciples had met were locked for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said, 'Peace be with you.' After He said this, He showed them His hands and His side. Then the disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord. Jesus said to them again, 'Peace be with you. As the Father has sent Me, so I send you.' When He had said this, He breathed on them and said to them. 'Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained'" (John 20:19-23).

Jesus, just as the Father sent You to us, now You send us to those in our communities. Just as the Father sent You to proclaim the good news of the gospel of the kingdom of God, so You send us to declare the same Gospel.  You send us in the same authority and the power of Your Holy Spirit as God sent You.

As You are, so are we to be in this world (1 John 4:17). We are the "body of Christ" (1 Corinthians 12:27). We are filled with the "Spirit of Christ" (Romans 8:9). And now we continue the "ministry of Christ" through our lives for Your glory in Your name (Romans 16:13;  Matthew 28:18-20).  All who truly believe in You will continue to honor and obey You by doing the works that You do in the same power of the Holy Spirit You had when You walked this earth (John 14:12). "God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power.... He went about doing good and healing all were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him" (Acts 10:38).

Though You were crucified, buried, raised from the death, and ascended into heaven, You are with us always (Matthew 28:20). Your Spirit--"Spirit of Jesus Christ"-- is with us and within us (Philippians 1:19). As the Father sent You, so You continue to send us--in Your Spirit, in Your power, in Your name. In obedience to you call I reply, Here I am, Lord. Send me today. Social distancing has not closed down our opportunities to share the Gospel. You said the gates of hell would not prevail against your Church and neither will the challenges in life today. All the other institutions and businesses have adapted to function and get their message out into the world, The Church must do so as well. And since we, you and I, are The Church, you and I are called to adapt and use all the means of communications available to us: in person, phone, text, email, social media and others to share the good news of the Gospel into a world desperate for good news. Now is not the time for voices speaking this good news to go silent, but to get louder!. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

My family, I pray as you walk I the door to begin your work week in obedience of your risen Lord Jesus, you say “Send Me” this morning and share His Gospel with boldness, faith and joy everywhere and to everyone possible as the Lord sends you in His Spirit, in His power, and in His name, in Jesus' name! Please pray the same for me. God bless you, my friends! 

Please share your thoughts and reflections in the comment box below.

Gary Liederbach- Lead Follower

One Direction Community

Email: garyl@onedirection.community

Website: https://www.onedirection.community

Facebook: One Direction Community-ODC 

 

I could use your financial support for One Direction Community, my family, and those on the margins God has placed in my path I refuse to walk around.  Please commit in 2023 to partner and support myself and One Direction community through setting up a monthly donation or a one –time gift by clicking the link below. Donation checks can be made out to ODC, PO Box 1293 Madison, Al 35758.

Thank You!

St. Patrick's Breastplate Prayer

Good morning, Lord Jesus. You are the Alpha and Omega, the Beginning and the End, here with me now and in every moment of my day. 

"For you shall not go out in haste, and you shall not go in flight; for the Lord will go before you, and the God of Israel will be your rear guard" (Isaiah 52:12).

You're the God who goes before me. You're the God who comes behind me. You're the God who's always with me, even within me--never leaving me, never forsaking me, but forever seeing me, knowing me, and understanding me, even with all my quirks and needs, even with all my sins and failures. You're the God who created me and loves me and has plans for me that will come to pass, all in Your way and all in Your time. You are God and You are good and You are a good God to me.

So I don't have to worry about what lies ahead, and I don't have to worry about what's left behind. You've already been there, just like You'll always be there. My part is to simply trust in You and embrace Your mercy and love for me. As I do, there's joy in the journey and anticipation in the adventure; there's peace in every step and there's hope in every challenge. You've already gone before me and You remind me every day it's a good place You've prepared and set before me (John 14:1-3). In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

 Im honor of St. Patrick’s Day here is one on favorite prayers. Read it over yourself and your family this morning and over the weekend.

Sant Patrick’s Breastplate Prayer 

(The term breastplate refers to a piece of armor worn in battle.)

I arise today 
Through a mighty strength, the invocation of the Trinity,
Through belief in the Threeness,
Through confession of the Oneness
of the Creator of creation.

I arise today
Through the strength of Christ's birth with His baptism,
Through the strength of His crucifixion with His burial,
Through the strength of His resurrection with His ascension,
Through the strength of His descent for the judgment of doom.

I arise today
Through the strength of the love of cherubim,
In the obedience of angels,
In the service of archangels,
In the hope of resurrection to meet with reward,
In the prayers of patriarchs,
In the predictions of prophets,
In the preaching of apostles,
In the faith of confessors,
In the innocence of holy virgins,
In the deeds of righteous men.

I arise today, through
The strength of heaven,
The light of the sun,
The radiance of the moon,
The splendor of fire,
The speed of lightning,
The swiftness of wind,
The depth of the sea,
The stability of the earth,
The firmness of rock.

I arise today, through
God's strength to pilot me,
God's might to uphold me,
God's wisdom to guide me,
God's eye to look before me,
God's ear to hear me,
God's word to speak for me,
God's hand to guard me,
God's shield to protect me,
God's host to save me
From snares of devils,
From temptation of vices,
From everyone who shall wish me ill,
afar and near.

I summon today
All these powers between me and those evils,
Against every cruel and merciless power
that may oppose my body and soul,
Against incantations of false prophets,
Against black laws of pagandom,
Against false laws of heretics,
Against craft of idolatry,
Against spells of witches and smiths and wizards,
Against every knowledge that corrupts man's body and soul;
Christ to shield me today
Against poison, against burning,
Against drowning, against wounding,
So that there may come to me an abundance of reward.

Christ with me,
Christ before me,
Christ behind me,
Christ in me,
Christ beneath me,
Christ above me,
Christ on my right,
Christ on my left,
Christ when I lie down,
Christ when I sit down,
Christ when I arise,
Christ in the heart of every man who thinks of me,
Christ in the mouth of everyone who speaks of me,
Christ in every eye that sees me,
Christ in every ear that hears me.

I arise today
Through a mighty strength, the invocation of the Trinity,
Through belief in the Threeness,
Through confession of the Oneness
of the Creator of creation.

Please share your thoughts and experiences on fasting in the comment box below.

Gary Liederbach- Lead Follower

One Direction Community/

Email: garyl@onedirection.community

Website: https://www.onedirection.community

Facebook: One Direction Community-ODC

Please commitment to partner and support myself and One Direction community through setting up a monthly donation or a one –time gift by clicking the link below. Donation checks can be made out to ODC, PO Box 1293 Madison, Al 35758.  Thank You!

CLICK HERE TO GIVE

"Why Am I Doing This?"

At the Waffle House yesterday I was sitting next to a man at the low bar and we entered into a conversation.  And as new conversations usually go, the questions of “What do you do?” and in the south “Where do you go to church?” came up.  I told the man I am a pastor and I am called to try to intsil a network of house churches or simple churches.  He asked me to tell him more, Why I am doing this?  What fears/challenges I face?  What have I learned.  My personal response to him in my conversation went along this line.

My heart was opened to the “new” the more my heart and my understanding was exposed to the old.  The more I understood, embraced and began to imitate not what the church has currently morphed into, but what the church morphed out of.  It is a call to not start something “new”, but to go “old school.” I came to the greater realization that Christianity and discipleship is not about imitating a religion, but imitating a person, namely Jesus Christ.  So my plant is not called to try to conform to and imitate current church models, but it is called to conform to and imitate Christ.

And what scares me is so much of doing the new does not depend upon me.  Trying to establish a church that is full of people is not hard. I have succeeded in that.  Stepping out of that and to try to establish a church that is full of the Spirit of God is much, much more difficult.  Establishing a church that is full of people takes an art.  And I am good at that art.  It takes having a strong personality and a little bit of an ego.  It takes focusing on the art of entertainment, worship production, the celebrity factor, and tailoring programs for youth and consumers. Giving them what they want. I can create and control all this. 

Establishing a church that is full of the Spirit of God though takes unction and the anointing, and the power and presence of the Holy Spirit. It takes so much out of my control and places it in the Holy Spirit’s control.  Its establishment does not come about through reliance and trusting in my means, but reliance on and practicing of the means of grace. 

Doing the “new” has changed me in many different areas of my life and walk as a disciple of Christ.

Personally, it has really solidified to me in a convicting way as I strive to place discipleship, and making disciples who make disciples at the core of my “new” ministry  to personally answer this question, “Am I a disciple worth multiplying?” God does not desire to multiply mediocrity.  He desires to multiply those who exhibit immediate, radical, costly, obedience.  Discipleship is the act and process of modeling and conforming yourself to Christ.  I have come to understand that there is no “easy button” to achieve this, to become or make a disciple.  It requires reading Scripture more than I ever have before, praying more than I ever have before, and being openly accountable to others in the body more than I ever have been before.  How I become or “make” a disciple is simple, but it is not easy.  If I am not willing to consistently embrace and model this, then I cannot effectively lead others to become disciples.  For I cannot lead them to a place I myself am not willing to go.  And no program, training, technique or tool I try to use can replace lack of obedience.  Am I a disciple worth multiplying?

It has changed my focus from being able to say that I am a Christian, to being able to say I am a disciple of Jesus Christ. In the understanding of the early church saying both would be redundant, but in today’s church’s understanding, I do not believe that is true anymore.

If I am wearing a golf shirt and someone comes up to me and says, “So you are a golfer.”  I would immediately reply,” no, I am not a golfer, I like to go out and hit them once in a while and try to get round in or two a month, but I am not a golfer.  I realize and understand the difference between a being a true golfer and a person who occasionally plays a round of golf.   The commitment to spending hours daily on the driving range, being mentored by a trainer, time required refining my game on the practice green and on the course that is required to call yourself a golfer.  The same is true if I played occasionally in a touch football league, I would not call myself a football player.  Or if I played a few months a year in a Saturday morning church basketball league. I would say I like to I am a basketball player, but I honestly could not define myself as a basketball player.

Yet if someone saw me with a crucifix around my neck or on a bracelet on my wrist and asked me if I am a Christian, I automatically without thought reply, “Yes I am.”  As most Christians do.  I do not differentiate like I do with everything else in life if I am truly a Christian, a disciple of Christ, or if I am someone, like the person who plays an occasional round of golf, who is playing around occasionally with Christianity.  And I guess you can get away with going to church once a week, reading the Bible occasionally, praying only when I am sick or my transmission goes out in my car, have not led anyone into a saving relationship with Christ in years, and still look that person in the eye and say I am a Christian.  But I cannot look them in the eye and say I am a disciple of Jesus.  Because then my understanding of what the difference in the level of commitment to time spent in prayer, the Word, accountability, and the “all in” deep deep zeal and love for God and love my neighbors making disciples and baptizing them,  to call myself a disciple of Jesus comes into play.  My daily commitment now since doing the new is not on being able to answer yes when asked if I am a Christian, but being able to answer yes if I am a disciple of Jesus.

For my family and I, ODC’s “new” format of simple house churches we call Discipleship Communities being at the core of our collective church has changed our understanding of what and where “church” exists.  Our church meets in our home, so our home is church.  It is eroded the distinction of “this is what we do at church” and “this what we do at home outside of church.”  It is in our living room that worship and prayer takes place.  It is at our dining room table that the Lord’s Supper is celebrated and shared.  Bible teaching comes from a sofa and not a pulpit as part of a shared and collective teaching, not a lecture.   This means that the “buffer” zone that separates how you act in church and how you act outside of church is also removed.  If I share in the Lord’s Supper at my dining room table, then walk into the kitchen and slip into a harsh conversation with my wife, the contrast and hypocrisy is immediately recognized and blatant to everyone in the home.  It forces our family to deal with those tensions more than ever before. The space of time between deeper revelation of the Gospel and fuller implementation of the Gospel is steps from the dining room table or sofa.

My family, Lent is a time of personal reflection as we move towards the Cross and Easter.  I pray this morning and during this Lent season you are led to reflect on a basic questions the goes beyond “Am I a Christian?”, to “Am I a disciple of Jesus?”   Would Jesus say you are His disciple?” in Jesus’ name.  Please pray the same for me.  God bless you my friends!

Please share your reflections and questions in the comment box below. 

 Help Us Help Them!

I could use you’re the gift of your financial support for my family and those on the margins God has placed in my path I refuse to walk around.  Please partner and support my family and ministries through setting up a monthly donation or a one –time gift by clicking the link below. Donation checks can be made out to ODC, 102 Champions Green Drive, Madison, Al 35758. You can mail your donation to One Direction Community P.O. Box 1293 Madison, Al 35758

Thank You!  

TO GIVE CLICK HERE

Discipleship Training.

One of my passions is helping churches or small groups understand and embrace their call to be disciples of Jesus in their community. I offer and lead discipleship trainings in person and on-line. If you are interested I would love to talk to you bout it. Email me at garyl@onedirection.community.

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 

" Light Shines Out Of Darkness"

Good morning, Lord Jesus. Fill me with Your Spirit and lead me in Your ways, here at the start and throughout the moments of my day.  ... 

"In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. For we do not proclaim ourselves; we proclaim Jesus Christ as Lord and ourselves as your slaves for Jesus' sake. For it is the God who said, 'Let light shine out of darkness,' who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ" (2 Corinthians 4:4-6). 

Your Word calls our spiritual enemy "the god of this world" who" has blinded the minds of the unbelievers" -- those who do not believe "the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God." And "the god of this world" is at the source of the evil of this world. You called him "the ruler of this world" (John 14:30). Bur Your Word encourages us to not lose heart when we see his evil work of deception and destruction, but to rise up in faith:  "Discipline yourselves, keep alert. Like a roaring lion your adversary the devil prowls around, looking for someone to devour. Resist him, steadfast in your faith..." (1 Peter 5:8-9).

Jesus, one way we resist him, steadfast in our faith, is by letting Your light shine in our hearts. Give us a love for those who are deceived. Move us to intercede for them instead of condemn them, that their eyes will be opened to the truth -- "the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ." Stir in our hearts to pray for those who persecute us, to bless those who curse us, to love those who hate us (Matthew 5:44). Break the blindness from their minds to know the truth who will set them free (John 8:32).

With Easter on the horizon, this is not a time to fear, but to arise in faith. This is not a time to lose heart, but to be stirred in our hearts to pray as warriors into the great contrast between the light and the dark, between good and evil, between the kingdoms of this world and the Kingdom of God. 

As You explained long ago, both light and darkness, both good and evil, are all growing to full maturity at the end of this age -- "to grow together until the harvest" (Matthew 13:24). Let us be encouraged when we see these things coming of age in our day -- the time of a great harvest is near! (Mathew 13:39)

You are "not wanting any to perish, but all to come to repentance" (2 Peter 3:9). And You will use this ever-increasing contrast of the light and the dark, the good and the evil, to expose the deception of the ruler of this age so that all can see the truth and know the One who is the truth -- "the Way, and the Truth, and the Life" (John 14:6).

So give us Your harvest perspective. Give us Your kingdom perspective. In the midst of this darkness, in the midst of this coronavirus cloud when people are looking for a ray of light and hope, as we hold fast to our faith let the light of Your glory shine through our faces and move powerfully through our prayers and presence in our communities, "the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of (our) Father" (Matthew 13:43).

Yesterday evening I handed out food at the Manna House to those impacted by the corona virus. Many of them were unbelievers who I had an opportunity to pray with that I never would have encountered without the virus. Holy Week reminds us that the whole earth was Jesus’ harvest field. The world was sick and over run with the pandemic of sin which had a 100% death rate. His own saving blood was the cure poured into the world as we were vaccinated from sin in His crucifixion, death, resurrection, and ascension. In Jesus' name. Amen.

My family,I pray that in this harvest time, the light of the glory of God will increasingly shine through your face and your prayers to expose the darkness of deception and bring many to faith in the One who is the Truth.   Pray for Jesus to reveal to you the fields you are to pour yourself into and how you can aide in the harvest, in Jesus' name. Please pray the same for me. God bless you, my friends!

Please share your reflections and questions in the comment box below. 

 Help Us Help Them!

I could use you’re the gift of your financial support for my family and those on the margins God has placed in my path I refuse to walk around.  Please partner and support my family and ministries through setting up a monthly donation or a one –time gift by clicking the link below. Donation checks can be made out to ODC, 102 Champions Green Drive, Madison, Al 35758. You can mail your donation to One Direction Community P.O. Box 1293 Madison, Al 35758

Thank You!  

Discipleship Training.

One of my passions is helping churches or small groups understand and embrace their call to be disciples of Jesus in their community. I offer and lead discipleship trainings in person and on-line. If you are interested I would love to talk to you bout it. Email me at garyl@onedirection.community.

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

  

 

 

"Extravagant Sower"

Good morning Jesus, I begin my day opening my heart to allow you to pour your blood of the love, grace and mercy into my life.

“A sower went out to sow his seed. And as he sowed, some fell along the path and was trampled underfoot, and the birds of the air devoured it. And some fell on the rock, and as it grew up, it withered away, because it had no moisture. And some fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up with it and choked it. And some fell into good soil and grew and yielded a hundredfold.” As he said these things, he called out, “He who has ears to hear, let him hear.” (Luke 8:5-8)

If you have been in the church for awhile, you probably heard many sermons on this text.  They all focus on the different soils, which result in Sermons focus on which heart conditions which are yours:

Are you that thorny hearted person?

Are you that Rocky or Shallow hearted person?

Are you the hard hearted person?

Are you the good soiled hearted person?

Well if I took a spiritual snap shot of your heart right now, a spiritual  photo, I guess it could be true that at this moment perhaps your heart is hardened now on some point or another.  Or you may have a rocky heart, or a thorny, choking heart now, or a good heart now.

But life is not a static snap shot is it, it is a moving picture.  There are times in our lives that we can’t hear God’s word, sometime we won’t hear it.  Some times we hear it, and we lose it.  There are times that anxieties and fears choke it.  Sometimes we receive it with Joy.. 

When I hear this parable and read the story about the seed that falls on the path and is eaten up, when I hear it I say to myself, That’s me!

When I hear about the story of how the seed fell on rocky places and there was shallowness, and the first time, persecution or suffering comes they fell away I say to myself: That’s me too.

When I hear the story about how one receives the Word and lets the worries of the world and materialism choke it away, I say to myself: That’s me too.

And when I hear the story of the seed falling on the good soil and it produces fruit 30x, 60x, 100x, I say to myself: Praise God that’s me too!!! Because in so many ways these soil represents various times in my life.

Yet this parable has never been called the parable of the soils.  It is of the sower. It is a parable about the sower.  God is sowing his seed into the world, his sowing was behind all the past saints, and behind the present and future saints, and behind you and me, sowing into the world!

The real story is: That God’s sowing is more consistent than the Devil’s snatching. His sowing is more powerful than the devil’s eating. His sowing is more enduring than the devil’s tribulation. His sowing is more persistent then the devil’s choking. The real good news of this parable is that God is the great extravagant sower in all the world, including you and me.

My family, I do not know what the snap-shot condition of the soil of your heart looks like this morning. However, I pray you open your heart, open your Bible, open your hands in prayer, and receive the seeds of love, grace, mercy and hope your Father, the extravagant sower, who is madly in love with you wants to sow into your life today.  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/Toney UMC

Email: garyl@onedirection.community

Website:https://www.onedirection.community

Facebook: One Direction Community-ODC

You Can Help!

I could use you’re the gift of your financial support for reaching with the Gospel those on the margins God has placed in my path I refuse to walk around.  Please partner and support my family and ministries 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!  

Discipleship Training.

One of my passions is helping churches or small groups understand and embrace their call to be disciples of Jesus in their community. I offer and lead discipleship trainings in person and on-line. If you are interested I would love to talk to you bout it. Email me at garyl@onedirection.community.

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

 

 

"We Cannot Afford To Be A People Of Small Faith"

Good morning Lord Jesus, I begin my day seeking more of you.

     If your plans are not intimidating to you, they are insulting to God.  Because your plans are simply those you know you can do, not those that require God to do for you. God delights and honors big faith. God delights and multiplying those of big faith.  Faith that is exhibited in and through Immediate Radical Costly Obedience (IRCO.) We cannot afford to be a people of small faith.

A faith that is not altered or affected by how things end for us in this side of Glory. You do have those who’s great faith ended happily in this world, on this side of glory; Daniel's deliverance from the lion's den in Dan. 6 and Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego being saved from the fiery furnace Dan. 3,  And you have those mentioned in Hebrews 11:17-35a

“By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac, and he who had received the promises was in the act of offering up his only son, of whom it was said, “Through Isaac shall your offspring be named.” He considered that God was able even to raise him from the dead, from which, figuratively speaking, he did receive him back. By faith Isaac invoked future blessings on Jacob and Esau. By faith Jacob, when dying, blessed each of the sons of Joseph, bowing in worship over the head of his staff. By faith Joseph, at the end of his life, made mention of the exodus of the Israelites and gave directions concerning his bones.

By faith Moses, when he was born, was hidden for three months by his parents, because they saw that the child was beautiful, and they were not afraid of the king's edict. By faith Moses, when he was grown up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter, choosing rather to be mistreated with the people of God than to enjoy the fleeting pleasures of sin. He considered the reproach of Christ greater wealth than the treasures of Egypt, for he was looking to the reward. By faith he left Egypt, not being afraid of the anger of the king, for he endured as seeing him who is invisible. By faith he kept the Passover and sprinkled the blood, so that the Destroyer of the firstborn might not touch them.

By faith the people crossed the Red Sea as on dry land, but the Egyptians, when they attempted to do the same, were drowned. By faith the walls of Jericho fell down after they had been encircled for seven days. By faith Rahab the prostitute did not perish with those who were disobedient, because she had given a friendly welcome to the spies.

And what more shall I say? For time would fail me to tell of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, of David and Samuel and the prophets— who through faith conquered kingdoms, enforced justice, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, quenched the power of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, were made strong out of weakness, became mighty in war, put foreign armies to flight. Women received back their dead by resurrection.”(Hebrews 11:17-35a)

But we can’t stop reading there, for you also have the continuation of others mentioned in Hebrews 11:35b-40. For them, it shows that though they had the same great faith, It does not always end in a happy ending in this world, on this side of glory.

 “Some were tortured, refusing to accept release, so that they might rise again to a better life. Others suffered mocking and flogging, and even chains and imprisonment. They were stoned, they were sawn in two, they were killed with the sword. They went about in skins of sheep and goats, destitute, afflicted, mistreated— of whom the world was not worthy—wandering about in deserts and mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth. And all these, though commended through their faith, did not receive what was promised, since God had provided something better for us, that apart from us they should not be made perfect.”

You have the story in Acts chapter 7 of the stoning of Stephen. Or we read in Acts chapter 12 how Peter was arrested. The church came together prayed for Peter and he was miraculously set free. In Acts chapter 12 we read James is also arrested.  The same church came together and prayed for James in the same power of the Holy Spirit that they prayed for Peter, yet James was beheaded.  

How the story turns out on earth has nothing to do with whether God is glorified or not.  It may not have a happy ending on this side, but on the other side God is glorified. But whether it turns out happy or sad by earthly standards, cannot take away or hinder the glory that comes from big faith. God delights and honors that faith.  All those listed, whether in the first or second half of Hebrews 11 were admitted into God’s Hall of Fame.  They did not gain entrance into his hall of fame by how their life ended, but how their life was lived.  They all were admitted because of their big faith exhibited through Immediate Radical Costly Obedience.  God delights and multiplying that kind of faith.  Faith that is exhibited in IRCO. You get in God's hall of fame through big faith exhibited in IRCO

Look at Caleb and Joshua’s story and actions in their entering into Canna found in Numbers chapter 13.  They are not looking at the problems; they are looking at their big God with big faith.  Without a faith like this we pray for everything man can do but not for what only God can do. We have to be obedient to him if we want to see him at work. 

I keep coming back to the same question as I sit here, “Do I exhibit my love for him in a big faith exhibited through immediate, radical, costly obedience?”

My family, I pray you spend time today and again this weekend reading these stories of big faith found in Daniel chapters 3 and 6, Hebrews 11:17-40, Acts chapters 7 and 12, Numbers chapter 13, and others as well.  Then with the Holy Spirit take time to meditate on your level of Faith.  Are you plans intimidating to you? Do you have big faith?  In Jesus’ name. Please pray the same for me. God bless you my friends.

Please share your reflections and questions 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!

I could use you’re the gift of your financial support for my family and those on the margins God has placed in my path I refuse to walk around.  Please partner and support my family and ministries through setting up a monthly donation or a one –time gift by clicking the link below. Donation checks can be made out to ODC, 102 Champions Green Drive, Madison, Al 35758.

Thank You!  

You can mail your donation to One Direction Community P.O. Box 1293 Madison, Al 35758

Discipleship Training.

One of my passions is helping churches or small groups understand and embrace their call to be disciples of Jesus in their community. I offer and lead discipleship trainings in person and on-line. If you are interested I would love to talk to you bout it. Email me at garyl@onedirection.community.

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

 

"Drink From His Cup"

During Lent I read daily through the passion narratives in the Gospels and the sufferings and persecution Jesus endured. I also each day open Foxe’s Voices of The Martyrs and read the account of a past Christian who was Martyred for their faith. It reminds me that despite what the world believes, prosperity gospels perceive, and the comfort that western Sunday church services try to achieve, there is a cost to our faith.

“About that time Herod the king laid violent hands on some who belonged to the church. He killed James the brother of John with the sword, and when he saw that it pleased the Jews, he proceeded to arrest Peter also… “ vs.12:1-3

 Jesus told James in Mark 10:39 when James told Jesus he was “all in” and wanted to be a leader in His church, “All right James, you would drink from His cup and share in his “Baptism.”  James probably walked away thinking happily to himself, “Yes! I am going to drink the cup and share in the baptism of Jesus!” All of his disciples ended up drinking from his cup and shared in His baptism.

 Persecution and suffering of the Disciples

 

·      Peter: A Fire in Rome, under Nero, He blamed Christians and began persecuting them.  In 60AD, Peter, was crucified.  He is stated to have said he was not worthy to be crucified the same way as Jesus and asked to be crucified upside down. He was crucified with praise coming from his lips

 

·      James: Son of Zebedee, faithful, and he was beheaded for his faith. The martyrdom of James is recorded in the New Testament of the Bible, in Acts 12:1-2. He was executed, with a sword, by order of King Herod Agrippa I in the year 44 AD:

 

·      Phillip: "He labored diligently in Upper Asia, and suffered martyrdom at Heliopolis, in Phrygia. He was scourged, thrown into prison as a crippled, and afterwards crucified, A.D. 54."

 

·      Matthew: served in Parathia and Ethiopia, among the cannibals. In the latter country he suffered martyrdom, being slain with a halberd in the city of Nadabah, A.D. 60."

 

·      Andrew: the bashful brother of Peter, he did not end up bashful.  He became a missionary to many lands.  He was the first missionary to Russia, The cythians, probably the most barbaric people of the first century. Andrew might have been martyred in Achaia or Patrae, both of which are places in the western part of Greece. According to the Catholic Encyclopedia, "It is generally agreed that he was crucified by order of the Roman Governor, Aegeas or Aegeates, at Patrae in Achaia. Taken under arrest and scourged by 7 men with rods. And then he was bound, not nailed, to the cross, in order to prolong his sufferings. The cross on which he suffered is commonly held to have been an X shaped cross, the decussate cross, now known as St. Andrew's Cross. When Andrew was brought to the cross he replied to the cross, “Oh precious cross.  Thou has been consecrated by the body of my Lord, adorned with his limbs, I come to thee exalting and glad.  Receive me into thy arms.  That he who redeemed me by thee, may receive me on thee.”  And he was crucified. His martyrdom took place during the reign of Nero, on 30 November, A.D. 60); and both the Latin and Greek Churches keep 30 November as his feast."

 

·      Thomas: Called Didymus, Doubting Thomas, no.  He preached the Gospel in Parthia and India, where exciting the rage of the pagan priests, he was imprisoned, tortured by the priests, and  martyred by being stabbed repeatedly with spears.

 

·      John: ministered in Ephasis for many years, founded churches in Smyrna, Loudiosia, Thia, Pergamous, Philidelphia, and others. He was Captured by the emperor who threw him into a pot of boiling oil.  Miraculously he escaped with scars. The Emperor became superstitious of him and put him on The Island of Patimous.  Haunted and hunted by enimies for his faith.  Only apostle we believe to die from natural causes.

 

·      Bartholomew: According to Eusebius, Christian writer who lived during the 4th Century of this era (about 1600 years ago), Bartholomew traveled to India to preach to the people there, leaving behind a copy of the Gospel of Matthew. Bartholomew was martyred by King Astyages in Armedia: He ordered the holy apostle Bartholomew to be beaten with rods; and after having been scourged, to be beheaded."

 

·      James son of Alphaeus: according to Foxs' Book of Martyrs, was beaten, stoned and clubbed to death.

 

·      Judas: Judas Iscariot was not a martyr. He killed himself after betraying Jesus.

 

·      Thaddeus (Jude): Jude was crucified, "The brother of James, was commonly called Thaddeus. He was crucified at Edessa, A.D. 72."

 

·      Simon: Surnamed Zelot, preached the Gospel in Mauritania, Africa, and even in Britain, in which latter country he was crucified, A.D. 74.

 I don’t know what your future is, and I do not know what mine is.  We may see a day when we are called to pay for our faith with our own blood. However, I know one way you can pretty well make sure you won’t be called to martyrdom. That you won’t be persecuted, that you won’t endure suffering.  How?

 Do nothing.

Continue to adhere to and follow the others idols in the world as well as Jesus.

Continue in materialism and drive new cars like everyone else, but put an Ichtus on the rear bumper.

Continue To build and live in nice, comfortable homes that conform to your neighbors, with a fenced in back decks to keep them out, but hang a cross on an interior wall.

Continue to invest, in wear, and advertise name brands to show people you are as materialistic as they are:Coach, Michel Kors, Calvin Klien, …ect, but wear a cross under your shirt. (of course it will be gold)

Continue to believe that “church” is a building and being a “disciple of Christ” simply means attending that building once a week.

Continue in to be silent in conversations when Christ is being mocked or sin is being exhalted.

Continue to be silent in sharing or talking about Jesus to your co-workers, classmates, family, and friends.

Continue to turn you head and cling to your resources when confronted with injustice, starvation, homelessness, and suffering in the world and your neighborhood.

 If You continue to do all this, I can almost guarantee you will never be persecuted or suffer for your faith.

 But then nothing will ever come of your faith.

 Everyone of those who were martyred Exhibited Immediate Costly Radical Obedience (IRCO).

Everyone of those who were martyred, were active in their faith.

Everyone who died was an “all in” disciple of Christ.

Everyone who was martyred COULD HAVE AVOIDED IT!

None had to die!  None had to go through Persecution or suffering for their faith.

Everyone that did, went through it because they knew Jesus is worthy of it.

 Hypothetical question:

If Jesus in some way spoke to you and told you the name of someone you did not know, and that person did not Jesus, was lost, unsaved, and was going to spend eternity in hell.   And Jesus said He wanted to use you, and could use you to bring him into a saving relationship with Him, but it would cost you your life, would you lay down your life?  How about if it was a bus full of people?  What about a city full of people? How about a lost family member?  If Jesus said you are blessed, because by your suffering, persecution and laying down your life this person or persons are going to enter the kingdom of God for all eternity.  Would you be excited and praise God, or step back in horror?

 It comes down to the struggle of loyalty to the world, and the Kingdom of Heaven. We say this is not our home, that God is better than anything: our health, our wealth, our reputation, our lives; but when pressed, we hesitate, we back down, we have to think about it.

 The Apostle Peter was bold and brash disciple of Christ.  He proclaimed that Jesus was the Christ, the Son of God, he drew a sword and cut off a man’s ear in the garden trying to protect Jesus.  But when he was faced with the possibility of persecution and suffering for his faith, he bailed and three times he denied his faith. He chose life and his personal comfort over his character and life with Christ. Because if Peter did not deny Jesus, he knew there was a really good chance there would have been four crosses on the hillside the next morning. 

 Yet a few weeks later The Acts of the Apostles in chapter two, Peter boldly, in the face of great persecution and suffering, openly declared his faith and shared the Gospel of Christ and thousands came to faith in Christ.  As we also read, He with joy received beatings and imprisonment for his faith.   And he was crucified upside down, joyously for his faith.  What changed in him?  What instilled in him the complete understanding that God is worthy of all and any suffering he might endure for his faith?   The power and indwelling of the Holy Spirit that Jesus breathed into him.  As bold, strong and determined as Peter was in his flesh, in and by his flesh alone he was too weak to stand firm in the face of persecution.  And what is true of Peter, is true for me and you.

 My family, I pray you come to understand we cannot on our own, no matter how religious we may try to become or what restrictions we place on ourselves in our flesh, without the indwelling of and pushing deeper into and receiving of the Holy Spirit personally into our lives, form a heart and soul that truly trusts, risks all, obeys all, and believes that God is worthy of all and any suffering and persecution we may endure for our faith, 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.

Resolve to Help in 2023

 I want to ask you to resolve this year in partnering with my wife, myself, and One Direction Community by supporting our ministries!   We begin a new season of our ministry of pouring completely into planting and growing simple house churches in our neighborhoods, and having “boots on the ground” serving in our community.. Please pray over this. If you click on the link below you can easily set up a weekly, bi-monthly, or monthly auto donations in the amount you desire. . We would be so grateful for your help.  You can also give a one-time donation on the same link.  Thank you! 

Please become a partner supporting monthly in our ministry.

TO GIVE CLICK HERE

You can mail your donation to One Direction Community P.O. Box 1293 Madison, Al 35758

Discipleship Training.

One of my passions is helping churches or small groups understand and embrace their call to be disciples of Jesus in their community. I offer and lead discipleship trainings in person and on-line. If you are interested I would love to talk to you bout it. Email me at garyl@onedirection.community.

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.

Liederbach- Lead Follower

One Direction Community/

Email: garyl@onedirection.community

Website:https://www.onedirection.community

Facebook: One Direction Community-ODC

"Our God Hears"

Good morning, Lord Jesus. First thing in the morning, I turn to You first -- Father, Son, and Holy Spirit of God. I seek first Your kingdom and Your righteousness, that You may set things right in me and set the right path before me in all the steps of my day (Matthew 6:33). ...

My heart is full of gratitude today. Yesterday morning You gave such a strong sense that You were moving mightily on our behalf to confront our world-wide crisis. I strongly sensed You were calling me and so many to humbly pray for the tide to turn and to boldly proclaim in faith that that the tide had turned. And while we may yet have a long way to go to see manifested on earth what You have done in heaven in response to the prayers of Your people around the world, we are seeing some rays of hope, some glimmers of light at the end of the tunnel. We are hearing some good news of Your grace on some major fronts in the battle. And I give You all glory and honor and praise!

Ultimately, regardless of what the world says, You have the final say. And what You have to say for us is always, ultimately good: "For surely I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord, for your welfare and not for harm, to give a future with hope. Then when you call upon Me and come and pray to Me, I will hear you. When you search for Me, you will find Me; if you seek Me with all your heart" (Jeremiah 29:11-13).

We have a ways to go to get through this, but You are with us and You are for us and You will get us through this. If God be for us, what can stand against us (Romans 8:31). You will turn this all around for us in ways we can't yet see or even imagine (Romans 8:28; Ephesians 3:20). You're the God who hears and who answers! "To my God, I cried for help. From His temple He heard my voice!" (Psalm 18:6)

"I love You, O Lord, my Strength.

The Lord is my Rock, my Fortress, and my Deliverer,

my God, my Rock in whom I take refuge,

my Shield, and the Horn of my Salvation, my Stronghold.

I call upon the Lord, who is worthy to be praised,

so shall I be saved from my enemies.

The cords of death encompassed me;

the torrents of perdition assailed me;

the cords of Sheol entangled me; 

the snares of death confronted me.

In my distress I called upon the Lord; 

to my God I cried for help.

From His temple He heard my voice,

and my cry to Him reached His ears....

The Lord also thundered in the heavens,

and the Most High uttered His voice! ...

He reached down from on high, he took me; 

He drew me out of mighty waters

He delivered me from my strong enemy,

And from those who hated me;

for they were too mighty for me.

They confronted me in the day of my calamity; 

but the Lord was my Support,

He brought me out into a broad place;

He delivered me, because He delighted in me!"

(Psalm 18:1-19)

Thank You for hearing. Thank You for answering. Thank You for continuing to move mightily on our behalf. Thank You for giving us grace to persist in prayer and proclamation in the authority of Your name until we see the fullness of Your answers manifested on earth as they are in heaven (Mark 11:22-24; Matthew 6:10). In Jesus' name I pray. Amen!

My family, may you be encouraged and strengthened in your faith and hope today, trusting in our God who hears us and answers us, who is moving mightily on behalf of us, in some ways we see and in so many ways we don't even see, 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.

Resolve to Help in 2023

 I want to ask you to resolve this year in partnering with my wife, myself, and One Direction Community by supporting our ministries!   We begin a new season of our ministry of pouring completely into planting and growing simple house churches in our neighborhoods, and having “boots on the ground” serving in our community.. Please pray over this. If you click on the link below you can easily set up a weekly, bi-monthly, or monthly auto donations in the amount you desire. . We would be so grateful for your help.  You can also give a one-time donation on the same link.  Thank you! 

Please become a partner supporting monthly in our ministry.

TO GIVE CLICK HERE

You can mail your donation to One Direction Community P.O. Box 1293 Madison, Al 35758

Discipleship Training.

One of my passions is helping churches or small groups understand and embrace their call to be disciples of Jesus in their community. I offer and lead discipleship trainings in person and on-line. If you are interested I would love to talk to you bout it. Email me at garyl@onedirection.community.

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.

Liederbach- Lead Follower

One Direction Community/

Email: garyl@onedirection.community

Website:https://www.onedirection.community

Facebook: One Direction Community-ODC

"Turn The Tide"

Good morning, Lord Jesus. I welcome You here in my heart and every moment of my day -- Father, Son, and Holy Spirit of God. Now I listen for Your leading in trusting surrender and expectant faith from the deep communion of prayer. ... 

This morning I woke up and in my heart I believe Your Spirit is rising up in my spirit with these strong words: "Turn the tide. Turn the tide. Turn the tide. The tide turns now!" ...

Father, You're the Lord of the tide. You set the boundaries of the tides of the sea. You said to the sea, "This far and no more." And You continue to speak in Your sovereignty, "This far and no more" to all that would seek to overwhelm us. We believe it's Your will, according to Your Word, that You desire to set our boundaries in pleasant places so that our hearts are glad, our spirits rejoice, and we can rest secure in You (Psalm 16:6-11).

In humility we pray, and in boldness we proclaim. In humility we listen for Your word, and in boldness we speak it forth in the authority of Your name.

Lord Jesus, You taught us these principles of prayer and proclamation in Your Word: "Jesus answered them, 'Have faith in God. Truly I tell you, if you say to this mountain, 'Be taken up and thrown into the sea,' and if you do not doubt in your heart, but believe that what you say will come to pass, it will be done for you. So I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours'" (Mark 11:22-24).

  This is how You turn the tide of whatever comes against us that's less than Your will for us. This is how Your turn it all around for our good and Your glory. As You said in the very next verse of Your Word: "We know that all things work together for good for those who love God, who are called according to His purpose" (Romans 8:28).

Lord Jesus, You're the One who taught us to pray and to proclaim in agreement and authority. "Truly I tell you, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven. Again, truly I tell you, if two of you agree on earth about anything you ask, it will be done for you by My Father in heaven. For where two or three are gathered in My name, I am there among you" (Matthew 18:18-20).

In this hour, when all over the world people feel afraid and overwhelmed by the merciless tides that seek to destroy us in our health, our economy, war, terrorism, riots, inflation, our sense of security, justice and peace, our joy and even our faith, You are giving us wisdom and strategies to overcome. Together we reach out in love in the ways You lead. And together we also pray and proclaim in the ways You lead.

Together we pray for wisdom, ingenuity, and inventions to create preventions and cures, vaccinations against viruses, medical breakthroughs and miraculous interventions. And at the same time, we pray and proclaim, in both humility and boldness, in unity and the authority of Your name by the leading of Your Spirit:

"Turn the tide. Turn the tide. Turn the tide. The tide turns now!"

 You're the One who is stirring us up in our spirits as "the Body of Christ" (1 Corinthians 12:27), giving us "the mind of Christ" (1 Corinthians 2:16), and filling us up "the Spirit of Christ" (Romans 8:9; Ephesians 5:18). You're the One who desires to come and inspire our hope and heal our land as we turn to You (2 Chronicles 7:14).

If we see the miracle of a moment, we thank You and praise You! If we see the miracle of many moments in the unfolding of time as You keep moving us in persistence in prayer and persistence in proclamation, we thank You and praise You!

By the power of Your grace working in us, "we walk by faith, not by sight" (2 Corinthians 5:7). We keep praying, we keep proclaiming, "Your kingdom come. Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven" (Matthew 6:10). We keep believing in confidence, expectancy, and trust the promise of Your Word: "And this is the boldness we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, he hears us. And if we know that He hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have obtained the requests made of Him" (1 John 5:14-15). In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

My family, may you turn to God in humility and faith, may you turn to our world in boldness and authority, to pray and proclaim with me "Turn the tide. Turn the tide. Turn the tide. The tide turns now! in Jesus' name." God bless you, my friends!

 Please share your reflections and prayers with us on this blog in the comment box below.

Resolve to Help in 2023

 I want to ask you to resolve this year in partnering with my wife, myself, and One Direction Community by supporting our ministries!   We begin a new season of our ministry of pouring completely into planting and growing simple house churches in our neighborhoods, and having “boots on the ground” serving in our community.. Please pray over this. If you click on the link below you can easily set up a weekly, bi-monthly, or monthly auto donations in the amount you desire. . We would be so grateful for your help.  You can also give a one-time donation on the same link.  Thank you! 

Please become a partner supporting monthly in our ministry.

TO GIVE CLICK HERE

You can mail your donation to One Direction Community P.O. Box 1293 Madison, Al 35758

Discipleship Training.

One of my passions is helping churches or small groups understand and embrace their call to be disciples of Jesus in their community. I offer and lead discipleship trainings in person and on-line. If you are interested I would love to talk to you bout it. Email me at garyl@onedirection.community.

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.

Liederbach- Lead Follower

One Direction Community/Toney UMC

Email: garyl@onedirection.community

Website:https://www.onedirection.community

Facebook: One Direction Community-ODC

"There is Only One Thing"

Good morning, Lord Jesus. Help me start this day and every day embraced by my Father, centered in Christ the Son, and filled with Your Holy Spirit.  ...

"Now as they went on their way, He entered a certain village, where a woman named Martha, welcomed Him into her home. She had a sister named Mary, who sat at the Lord's feet and listened to what He was saying. But Martha was distracted by her many tasks; so she came to Him and asked, 'Lord, do You not care that my sister has left me to do all the work by myself? Tell her then to help me.' But the Lord answered her, 'Martha, Martha, you are worried and distracted by many things; there is need of only one thing. Mary has chosen the better part, which will not be taken away from her" (Luke 10:38-42)

Martha was so sure of Your answer she didn't even wait to hear it. She asked, "Lord, do You not care that my sister has left me to do all the work by myself?"  She didn't wait to hear what You would say. because she assumed You would be saying, "Yes. Martha, You're right and Mary is wrong. Mary, stop being lazy and get to work and quit wasting your time sitting at My feet and listening to Me." Martha just went right on with her assumption and added, "Tell her then to help me."

But You did not tell Martha she was right or tell Mary to help Martha. No, instead You defended Mary. In fact, You insisted that what she had in those moments of waiting and listening in the intimacy of Your Presence would "not be taken away from her." Incredibly, You didn't just say it was the best thing she could be doing or the most honoring or most effective thing she could be doing. You said "There is need of only one thing."

So before I go about the work that surrounds me today, before I get busy doing all the things that need to be done, I choose to embrace Your truth that "There is need of only one thing." And by the grace of God, it was not be taken from me. In fact, I believe You insist upon it.  In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

My family,I pray you will embrace the truth and the invitation of Jesus that there is need of only one thing, as you begin your day in the intimate presence of the Lord, in Jesus' name. Please pray the same for me. I have to smile as I write these words this morning. II did not get in from Birmingham until after Midnight last night. I have to go to Manna House early this morning where I volunteer unloading trucks of food they will give out to around 900 plus people this week. Laying in bed hearing my alarm I almost convinced myself to hit “snooze,” skip my morning devotion time, and stay in bed and sleep. " In my heart and knew I needed get up and take the time for “There is only one thing".” That my devotion time sitting at the feet of Jesus with my Bible on my lapt is not a chore, but that it is a gift of God that would not be taken from me. Thank you for joining with me in my daily journey of prayer and listening fo God. I pray it encourages you as you begin your day :There is only one thing” you need to do. God bless you, my friends!

Please share your reflections and prayers with us on this blog in the comment box below.

Resolve to Help in 2023

 I want to ask you to resolve this year in partnering with my wife, myself, and One Direction Community by supporting our ministries!   We begin a new season of our ministry of pouring completely into planting and growing simple house churches in our neighborhoods, and having “boots on the ground” serving in our community.. Please pray over this. If you click on the link below you can easily set up a weekly, bi-monthly, or monthly auto donations in the amount you desire. . We would be so grateful for your help.  You can also give a one-time donation on the same link.  Thank you! 

Please become a partner supporting monthly in our ministry.

You can mail your donation to One Direction Community P.O. Box 1293 Madison, Al 35758

Discipleship Training.

One of my passions is helping churches or small groups understand and embrace their call to be disciples of Jesus in their community. I offer and lead discipleship trainings in person and on-line. If you are interested I would love to talk to you bout it. Email me at garyl@onedirection.community.

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.

Liederbach- Lead Follower

One Direction Community/Toney UMC

Email: garyl@onedirection.community

Website:https://www.onedirection.community

Facebook: One Direction Community-ODC

 

 

Identity

Good morning Lord Jesus, you are my sanctuary this morning, fill me so I can pour out into others.

During this season of Lent we find our self in now, we reflect on our identity in Christ. Though the means of grace of fasting, prayer, searching the Scriptures, and self reflection we recenter our identity in Christ. Our personal identity is also an important part of our process of becoming a disciple. All of us need to look at how we identify ourselves and those we are discipling to discern what is influencing and at the core of our/their identity.

Luke 4:1-13 contains the story of Jesus’s temptation by Satan in the Desert.  The temptations Jesus faced in the desert were the same that Adam and Israel faced, and that we face as well.  Any discipleship process you are in or you lead people through that does not lead people into the desert to look at their identity and deal with core temptations in their life is missing a huge part.

Luke 4:1-13, Satan questions Jesus’ identity

4:3-4 First temptation: Appetite. Filling our needs and satisfaction, Satan tells Jesus to turn the stone into bread. This is the temptation to become your own provider that can meet all your own needs. We are tempted to become our one provider, but what we provide ourselves is so lacking compared to what God can provide. You can struggle on both sides of this temptation.  Becoming my own provider can lead to the extremes of selfishness and greed, or it can lead to neglecting your self through the extremes of Gluttony on one side or anorexia at the other.  The temptation of appetite produces a consumer identity motivated by fear that says, “I will never have enough.” (look at our current crises: toilet paper, baby food…)

4:5-8 Second temptation: Ambition:  To have the kingdom without the cross.  The temptation to get to a justified end by any mean possible.   The two sides and symptoms of Ambition are Workaholism or laziness.  The drive to “I must win at any cost” or the resignation of  “I don’t care.” The temptation of ambition creates unhealthy competition with guilt at its source that “I will never accomplish enough.” 

4:9-12 Third temptation: Approval: Acceptance and rejection,   Satan’s temptation was for Jesus to become the messiah that everyone wanted him to be, instead of the misunderstood savior God had created him to be.  Your temptation is to become the person that everyone wants you to be, instead of the person God has created you to be. The two sides and symptoms of Approval are a person who feels they needs constant approval or a person who feels they needs no one. The temptation of approval creates a “celebrity” identity motivated by shame that “I will never be enough”

Psalm 106:13 reflecting on Israel’s time in the desert states,

“They quickly forgot what he had done;

they did not wait for his instructions.

In the wilderness they had an insatiable craving for meat;

they challenged God in the desert.”

 

You need to deal with the core issues of temptation in your life. 

You need to understand what Jesus defeated personally in the desert, he defeated permanently for you in the cross.  He became the temptations and took them through the cross. “ For God accomplished what the law could not do for it was weakened through the flesh, by sending his Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and concerning sin, He condemned sin in the flesh so that the righteous requirements of the law would be fulfilled in us who do not walk according to the flesh, but assorting to the Spirit.” Roman 8. The temptations Jesus defeated permanently allows you to defeat them permanently.. The same power that raised Christ from the dead now lives in you.

My family, I pray you will read Luke 4:1-13.  Then I spend time allowing the Holy Spirit to be your “mirror” and reveal your identity.  We all have one of these temptations we struggle with more than the others. What is the main temptation to your identity?

Appetite: I will never have enough, motivated by fear.

Ambition: I will never accomplish enough, motivated by guilt.

Approval: I will never be enough, motivated by shame

How do you think that temptation may be presenting itself in your life?

Ask the Holy Spirit to cover you with the blood of Jesus for His saving works on the cross and receive it, in Jesus’ name. Please pray the same for mee. God bless you my friends!

Please post your reflections, questions, or prayer requests over your identity in the comments box below.

  Resolve to Help in 2023

 I want to ask you to resolve this year in partnering with my wife, myself, and One Direction Community by supporting our ministries!   We begin a new season of our ministry of pouring completely into planting and growing simple house churches in our neighborhoods, and having “boots on the ground” serving in our community.. Please pray over this. If you click on the link below you can easily set up a weekly, bi-monthly, or monthly auto donations in the amount you desire. . We would be so grateful for your help.  You can also give a one-time donation on the same link.  Thank you! 

Please become a partner supporting monthly in our ministry.

GIVE

You can mail your donation to One Direction Community P.O. Box 1293 Madison, Al 35758

Discipleship Training.

One of my passions is helping churches or small groups understand and embrace their call to be disciples of Jesus in their community. I offer and lead discipleship trainings in person and on-line. If you are interested I would love to talk to you bout it. Email me at garyl@onedirection.community.

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