“If anyone wants to become my follower, he must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake and for the gospel will save it. For what benefit is it for a person to gain the whole world, yet forfeit his life?” (Mark 8:34-36)
I drove back from Chicago yesterday where I spent a couple days meeting with a realtor and helping my daughter look for a place to live. This morning I got up, and after being gone for a few days, began to look at my schedule, how I had to play “catch-up,” things I am behind on, an un settled issues I need to re-enter into and work on. As I was looking all this over, I began to feel anxious, my stomach tightened, the wheels in my mind began to turn as it started to put in place the “hows” and “whens” of my week. I can become over whelmed when we look at the challenges, struggles, tasks, appointments, and choices facing us when we wake up in the morning. All this, all of these things diminish, my stomach stops churning and my head stops spinning when I breath and remember that there is only one priority today. There is only thing I really need to do today. And that is to follow Jesus.
When I let my life challenges become my focus, I become the choking person in Jesus’ parable. “The seed sown among thorns is the person who hears the word, but worldly cares and the seductiveness of wealth choke the word, so it produces nothing.” (Mark 13:22)
When I remember that all I have to do is follow Jesus and pray that over myself, priorities that, align my day and my heart simply following Jesus, I experience that peace that passes all understanding. I can hear Jesus speaking “Be Still” and the calming of the storms in my life. And I remember as psalm 23 speaks over me, that “Even when I must walk through the darkest valley, I fear no danger, for Jesus you are with me;” and Jesus restores my soul.
My family, I pray as you walk out your door and enter into a new week of challenges and all that is on your schedule, you take a minute to breath and remember that there is only one thing you need to do, one thing you need to priorities, and that id following Jesus, in Jesus’ name. Please pray the same for me. God bless you my friends!
Please share your thoughts and reflections in the comment box below.
Gary Liederbach- Lead Follower
One Direction Community
Email: garyl@onedirection.community
Website:https://www.onedirection.community
Facebook: One Direction Community-ODC
I could use your financial support for One Direction Community, my family, and those on the margins God has placed in my path I refuse to walk around. Please partner and support myself and One Direction community through setting up a monthly donation or a one –time gift by clicking the link below. Donation checks can be made out to ODC, PO Box 1293 Madison, Al 35758.
Thank You!
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“Teacher, which commandment in the law is the greatest?” Jesus said to him, “ʻLove the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.ʼ This is the first and greatest commandment. The second is like it: ʻLove your neighbor as yourself.ʼ All the law and the prophets depend on these two commandments.”(Matthew 22:36-40)
I do maintenance a couple days a week at a government assisted apartment complex for “tent making” funds to support my ministry. It also gives me ministry opportunities and access into the lives of the low-income residents who live there. A 19 year old mentally challenged young man moved into an apartment. It was the first time he has lived on his own. He and his mom were homeless. When they moved in they had nothing and they were sleeping in the floor with nothing in the apartment.. So my wife and I began gathering items for them: mattress, box spring, dresser, couch, carm hair, end tables, dining room table and chairs…ect. We had all these items I collected stored in my house and garage. We needed help loading them into my truck so we reached out to a couple of our neighbors and they came and helped load and strap everything down. We were blessed and grateful for their help and they were glad to help. This is because we have intentionally built relationships with our neighbors. The photo above is from a weekly gathering in our home in our neighborhood.
Building relationships and connecting with people and being a presence of Christ in your neighborhood is at the heart of Jesus’ command to Love your neighbor.” (Matt 22:39). Your obedience to this command is not fulfilled by driving out of your neighborhood to a church building, entering it, greeting the people who also drove there, sharing a cup of coffee with them and talking and talking about life. Jesus command to Love your neighbor is not fulfilled by praying with them in a sanctuary and participating in a Bible study in a classroom.
Loving your neighbor, obeying and fulfilling Jesus’ command to love your neighbor is accomplished by , wait for it, I know this is complex, loving your neighbors! It happens when you invite in and share a cup of coffee with your neighbors. It is fulfilled when you prayer walk and pray with your neighbors. It is obeyed when you do not drive from your home and neighbors to study God’s Word, , but open your home to your neighbors to study God’s Word. Loving your neighbor is simple as just takes getting out of your house, walking your neighborhood and doing it. In a few short weeks and the months to come you will have made a presence in your neighborhood.
Jesus’ commands you to love your neighbor. So what presence have you made in your neighborhood? Have you walked, reached out, and prayed with the neighbors in the neighborhood you live in? Jesus did send out people and tell them to go attend services in their synagogues (churches) on the Sabbath, he sent them out into the streets. Jesus is not sending you out telling you to simply attend a church service on Sunday morning, he is primarily sending you out into the streets of your neighborhood as well. You are to be a tangible example of The Church among your neighbors and “Heal the sick in it and say to them, The kingdom of God has come near to you.” (v.9)
My family, I pray this morning you pray into “to whom an I sent?” You are not sent to a church. That is where you receive encouragement and are equipped to be sent out. I pray you listen to who and where the Spirit is leading you, then obey what you hear and go. In Jesus’ name! Please pray the same for me. God bless you my friends!!
Please share your thoughts and reflections in the comment box below.
Gary Liederbach- Lead Follower
One Direction Community
Email: garyl@onedirection.community
Website:https://www.onedirection.community
Facebook: One Direction Community-ODC
I could use your financial support for One Direction Community, my family, and those on the margins God has placed in my path I refuse to walk around. Please partner and support myself and One Direction community through setting up a monthly donation or a one –time gift by clicking the link below. Donation checks can be made out to ODC, PO Box 1293 Madison, Al 35758.
Thank You!
TO GIVE CLICK HERE
Good morning, Lord Jesus. Be at the center of all I am and all I do, as I seek to begin my day grounded in Your Word and filled with Your Spirit. ...
"Then (David) took his staff in his hand, and chose five smooth stones from the wadi, and put them in his shepherd's bag, in the pouch; his sling was in his hand, and he drew new to the Philistine.... When the Philistine drew nearer to meet with David, David ran quickly toward the battle line to meet the Philistine. David put his hand in his bag, took out a stone, slung it, and struck the Philistine on his forehead; the stone sank into his forehead, and he fell face down on the ground. So David prevailed over the Philistine with a sling and a stone, striking down the Philistine and killing him; there was no sword in David's hand" (1 Samuel 17:40-50).
We are in a time when we need run to the battle and face our giants just as David ran to the battle to confront Goliath.
We are called to run to the battle in prayer over our cities. To pray and seek repentance, in solemn assembly of calling on Your name in worship and praise, in spirit and truth, in humility and unity, together as one blood in one faith in our God and Father of all with our “5 smooth stones.”
These "weapons of (our) warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for the pulling down strongholds" (2 Corinthians 10:4). These "weapons of our warfare" are not weapons of prejudice and pride, murder and violence, looting and lawlessness, intimidation and fear, chaos and control, isolation and division, rebellion and idolatry. These "weapons of our warfare" are not the physical weapons of this world, but the spiritual weapons we wield in humility and faith, in obedience and repentance, in the sensitivity and submission to Your Word and Your Spirit to pray in Your power and speak with Your voice, as we walk in love in the opposite spirit of the enemies we face. We "overcome evil with good" (Romans 12:21).
The "five smooth stones" in our "shepherd's bag" that are to be ready to be slung in our "sling" of faith to hit the mark and bring down the giants we face You were showing me that morning are these: The Word of God; faith and trust in God; intimacy with God; security in our identity as children of God; and our confidence in God to fulfill the purposes of God in our lives.
No doubt there are other stones, but these are the ones You're highlighting to me and perhaps for these times and these battles we face together as the Body and the Bride of Christ. These are the stones we're to carry in our bags to the battles we face, in courage and confidence in You, our Shepherd and Warrior and Mighty Giant Slayer. By the power of Your grace at work within us, may we sling the one that hits the mark to bring down the giant we face -- in our lives, in our cities, in our nation, in our world -- all in Your way, all in Your time, all for Your glory. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
My family, may you be empowered to overcome every giant you face with the "stones" the Lord has provided for you as you run to the battle in humility and courage and faith, in Jesus name. Please pray the same for me. God bless you, my friends”Five!
Please post and share your thoughts, reflections, questions, or prayers with us in the comment box below.
Gary Liederbach- Lead Follower
One Direction Community
Email: garyl@onedirection.community
Website: https://www.onedirection.community
Facebook: One Direction Community-ODC
Please support and partner with my self and my family as we serve those God crosses our path with in our community with your one-time or monthly financial gift by clicking link below.Become our partner and support us in our ministries by becoming supporting us monthly or with a one-time gift. Thank you!
This morning I read a report on the struggles of The Church and Christians in an area of India. They are trying to overcome social, political, religious and caste system limitations and persecutions. While reflection on these Christian’s struggles the the Lord spoke to me iand this passage in the Beatitudes came to me from Matthew 5:6, “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.” I started meditating on how I can help instill my church and others the DNA to desire and a hunger for sharing the Gospel.
As I meditated on this it struck me, “How do I instill a DNA of a hunger and thirst for Jesus into a community that has never experienced true hungered or thirst before?” This illustration worked great for Jesus in his context, because almost all of those he was speaking to knew in a nation occupied ny a Roman army and had experienced many time starvation and true hunger and thirst. It was part of their daily lives. They had experienced and knew the true desperation for something to eat or drink, like their life depended on it. How many reading this post have experienced long periods of true hunger and thirst and struggled to find enough food or drink to survive? I never have. Yes, on my mission trip to Southern Darfur there were days we did not eat because there was no food, and I was hungry and thirsty, but I knew it was temporary. I knew in a few weeks I would be flown out back to Kenya and eat my fill. And I have have fasted for many times for various lengths of days and was hungry but it was intentional, food was available around me if I chose to eat it. There was no desperation, life-threatening drive in me to seek out food and water. Again, most of those reading this letter, have never felt this true desperation in hunger and thirst. We do not know how to relate to it.
Jesus said, “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.” But what would that mean if he was speaking to the crowd reading this post who were already blessed materialistically, have fridges and pantry’s full or food, and are satisfied? We in our comfort and materialism are already satisfied! We don’t know how hunger and thirst for food, so we sure don’t know how to hunger and thirst for Jesus! And then to go another step further and to hunger and thirst for others to know Jesus. We lack true desperation and true urgency.
So How do I lead and instill a hunger and thirst for Jesus in a community that has never hungered and thirsted? I try to lead them to experience the authentic Jesus. Lead them into a place where through the interaction of the Holy Spirit with their Spirit they will Like Saul, have a Road to Damascus experience and encounter Jesus. That experienced changed the identity of Saul to Paul. It is actual holy, paradigm shattering, identity changing encounters with Jesus that create a hunger and a thirst for more of him. More Jesus, more righteousness, more of a heart that breaks for the lost, more desperation share our faith with unbelievers. Where they “Taste and see that the LORD is good!” (Psalm 34:8) and experience “Our God is a consuming fire. (12:29). Wherethey hear Jesus and experience Jesus calling out, “If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.’” (John 7:37-38)
Leading people to experience the actual, living Jesus in a real tangible way so that the good news of Christ is not just “The Gospel story” but “their Gospel story” is my calling. And the calling of everyone of you who have “tasted and seen that the Lord is good.”
My family, I pray as we continue in our long Labor Day weekend, you take time to meditate as I am doing on “What do I hunger and thirst for? How do I increase to the point of desperation my hunger and thirst for Jesus and the lost? And then just don’t meditate on it, but actually go, spend some time in that hunger sharing the bread of life with others on your day off, in Jesus’ name. Please pray the same for me. God bless you my friends!
Please share your reflections in the comment box below.
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One of my passions is helping churches or small groups understand and embrace their call to be disciples of Jesus in their community. I offer and lead discipleship trainings in person and on-line. If you are interested I would love to talk to you bout it. Email me at garyl@onedirection.community.
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Gary Liederbach- Lead Follower
One Direction Community
Email: garyl@onedirection.community
Website: https://www.onedirection.community
Facebook: One Direction Community-ODC
This Monday is Labor Day. Always the first Monday in Sept.
Labor Day, Government web sight: is a creation of the labor movement and is dedicated to the social and economic achievements of American workers. It constitutes a yearly national tribute to the contributions workers have made to the strength, prosperity, and well-being of our country.
Work is Important. Working is Biblical. There are many passages in the Old and New Testament on working, earning your wages, being self sustaining, not being lazy…ect. In most of the world, if you don’t work, you go hungry and end up homeless. But as important as working and you job is, and how much time you send at your job. Your work does not define you. It is not who you are. It is not what identifies you.
However and unfortunately, one of the primary identifiers in this country and what we then convince ourselves is that it “You are what you do.” Go to where to strangers are meeting each other and eaves drop on their conversations for 30 seconds. What do they ask each other? What do you do? Not only do we identify ourselves by what we do but we identify others by what they do.)
Say two men came into this church dressed the same, both neat and well groomed. In a conversation you ask them “What do you do?” One man says he maintains Porta-potties….. The other man says he is a neuro surgeon, or the Mayor of Huntsville. You are going to use that info to identify them and “rank them.”
“My brothers and sisters, do not show prejudice if you possess faith in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ. For if someone comes into your assembly wearing a gold ring and fine clothing, and a poor person enters in filthy clothes, do you pay attention to the one who is finely dressed and say, “You sit here in a good place,” and to the poor person, “You stand over there,” or “Sit on the floor”? If so, have you not made distinctions among yourselves and become judges with evil motives?” (James 2:1-5)
Who we are, our false self, so identifies with what we do that we make up important names for our work. A Porta Poty man = Waist Removal Specialist. A Janitor = Sanitary Engineer…ect
Look at all the things of our false identity we try to cover ourselves in: Our career, education, boards we are on, where we volunteer or serve. Material things like; houses, what I drive, What I own.. “As if I were an invisible body, that could only become visible when something visible covered its surface”” This is what we want people to see.
But this is not who we are. Our true self. It is a False self. This is an ego centric self, trying to put forth position or importance. That can only give us false peace, and false security in our identity. Because it separates us from God. “the false self stand between the true self and God”
Look at those, celebrities” who’s identity were in their doing and materialism: Robin Williams, Michael Jackson, Prince…they had the titles, they had the wealth, they had the materialism, they had the ultimate false self. But they were miserable, had anxiety and depression, and died
Those families who make $32,400 or more a year are in the top 1% of wealthiest family income in the world. If you make $32,400 or more a year,, you are making more than 99% of families in the world makes. I would dare to say almost everyone who is reading this post is in the top 1% club.
The Bible tells us,” By the sweat of your brow you will eat food until you return to the ground,” (Genesis 3:19) The definition of the word “sweat” in in the passage does not mean physical sweat. It means sweat from anxiety, fear, stress.
We are all in the top 1% income wise of the world. So why are we all so anxious, fearful, and stressing, (by the sweat of our brows) making ends meet? In many of the conversations with people I have they tell me, ”I have bills to pay”. They are worrying about this financial situation and trying to make ends meet. And we are all in the top 1%! America is in the top 1%, one of the highest income countries in the word. but we also are the country that is highest in depression, anxiety, suicides, bankruptcy, divorce….
Gracious loving God, we recognize that we live in a false-self culture in which one of the primary identifiers is “we are what we do.” Lord from your words we know we are not what we do, we are what you speak us forth to be. That we are not primarily human “doings” we are human “Beings” who find their true identity in you and you alone.
My family, I pray the Lord though His Holy Spirit, will help you divest yourselves of all the trappings of the false self, that you may find yourselves, your identity, our true self, hid and defined in and by Christ alone, In Jesus’ name, Amen! Please pray the same for me. God bless You My Friends!
I would love for you to share your reflections and prayers with us on this blog in the comment box below.
Gary Liederbach- Lead Follower
One Direction Community
Email: garyl@onedirection.community
Website:https://www.onedirection.community
Facebook: One Direction Community-ODC
Help Us Help Them
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!
I place my life in your hand God to mold into the image of your Son.
“It is actually reported that sexual immorality exists among you, the kind of immorality that is not permitted even among the Gentiles…I wrote you in my letter not to associate with sexually immoral people. In no way did I mean the immoral people of this world, or the greedy and swindlers and idolaters, since you would then have to go out of the world. But now I am writing to you not to associate with anyone who calls himself a Christian who is sexually immoral, or greedy, or an idolater, or verbally abusive, or a drunkard, or a swindler. Do not even eat with such a person. For what do I have to do with judging those outside? Are you not to judge those inside? But God will judge those outside. Remove the evil person from among you.” (1Corinthians 5:1, 9-13)
Why do heathens, non-Christians, act like Heathens? Because they are heathens. Those who do not know Jesus and seek to conform their lives to Him will act and do the immoral things they do. Just like asking the question, “Why do drug addicts act like drug addicts? Because they are addicts. You would not expect those who don’t know Jesus that their values, morals and lifestyles would be conformed to Him. However, you would and should expect Christians who claim Jesus as their Lord and should be pressing into deeper Christian perfection and sanctification, trying to imitate the life of Jesus to resist and abstain from these things that are obviously behaviors not in Jesus. So Paul tells us we are not to stop associating, seeking out, becoming friends, and trying to mentor immoral people who do not know Christ. It is these places and people we are called to visit, hang out with, and offer our love and friendship to them to introduce them to Jesus and change their indentation by others and in their own hearts from that of a “Heathen” to that of a son or daughter of the King and a fellow heir with Christ. Who we are supposed to stop associating with is those who profess to be Christians, to be sons and daughters of the king who live immoral lives imitating sons and daughters of Satan, and give Christians a bad name. People who by our association with them and remaining silent to their immoral actions are actually approving of them. “Now the works of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity, depravity, idolatry, sorcery, hostilities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish rivalries, dissensions, factions, envying, murder, drunkenness, carousing, and similar things. I am warning you, as I had warned you before: Those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God! But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.” (Galatians 5:19-22)
Paul’s message today is directed towards all who claim to be Christians and he pulls no punches. He is “meddling” and very direct in addressing and calling out the personal morals and behaviors of those in the church, including me.
Holy Spirit, as I meditate on this passage, reveal to to me and in me immorality, bad attitudes and behaviors in me that I am still doing in my flesh that have no business being in someone who claims Jesus as His Lord. Convict me where my lifestyle is a bad witness to my neighbor. I want to be a person who’s association with my wife, family, friends, neighbors, coworkers and church members bears good fruit in them and not bad, builds them up and not tears them down, brings them joy and not pain. Someone of character who can say to a brother or sister, “I encourage you, then, be imitators of me.” (1Corinthians 4:16). Holy Spirit, also reveal to me the relationships I am maintaining with immoral believers and “silently approving” of their attitudes and behaviors out of “political correctness”, “tolerance”, or lack of courage to speak truth in love into their sin, In Jesus’ name.
My family, I pray today you will allow the Holy Spirit to “meddle” in you in a personal way and reveal morals, attitudes, and behaviors in your life you are continuing to practice that have no business being in a child of God. Then name them, repent of them, and release them to Jesus to lay at the foot of His cross. I also pray you will ask the Holy Spirit to reveal relationships you have with immoral Christians and are “silently approving” of their behaviors that you need to speak truth into and release yourself from them, In Jesus’ name. Please pray the same for me. God bless you my friends!
I would love for you to share your reflections and prayers with us on this blog in the comment box below.
Gary Liederbach- Lead Follower
One Direction Community
Email: garyl@onedirection.community
Website:https://www.onedirection.community
Facebook: One Direction Community-ODC
Help Us Help Them
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!
Good morning, Lord Jesus. You are my Father and Friend, my Lord and Savior, my Counselor and Advocate, my God and King, my All in All. Father, Son, and Holy Spirit of God, I worship You and welcome You into every moment of my day. ...
“The Lord saw that the wickedness of humankind was great in the earth, and that every inclination of the thoughts of their hearts was only evil continually.... But Noah found favor in the sight of the Lord.... Noah was a righteous man, blameless in his generation; Noah walked with God” (Genesis 6:5-9).
I had a conversation the other morning with another pastor from another denomination I was sitting next to at the Waffle House. A waitress who was working told us of a situation she was going through and asked for prayer. I said a prayer out loud over her over her. Those sitting around me at the low bar, including the other pastor, all heard my prayer. In my prayer for the waitress I prayed covering over her by the blood of Jesus. After my prayer, the other pastor said something that surprised me. He said he never says the “blood of Jesus”. He also never sings any hymns or songs in his church service that mention “blood of Jesus.” He said the phrase is to “horrific” and “disturbing” to people.
The blood of Jesus has the power to change the thoughts and hearts of men. And only the blood of Jesus can make wicked men righteous and blameless before God. “You know that (we) were ransomed from the wicked ways inherited from (our) ancestors, not with perishable things like silver or gold, but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without defect or blemish” (1 Peter 1:18-19).
Through the blood of Jesus that cleanses our souls from sin, we each now have the opportunity and the honor to walk with God. We have the blessing to be called “children of God” (John 1:12). We have the outrageous fulfillment of Your promise to cleanse us from all unrighteousness (1 John 1:9). And we have the astounding truth of Your earth-shattering, divine decree that in Christ, we might become the righteousness of God--all by the mercy of God and the power of the blood of Jesus (2 Corinthians 5:21).
Noah found favor and walked with God, blameless in Your sight. And now through Christ, we have “a better covenant” with ever “better promises” (Hebrews 8:6). We have favor because You have chosen in the sovereignty of Your mercy and grace to favor us with forgiveness, so we can walk with You in the imparted righteousness of our intimate relationship with You.
Lord, let me never take for granted the blessings and promises I have in You through the power of the blood of Jesus. Every day, cleanse me in Your blood and fill me with Your Spirit. Let me walk with You throughout the moments of my day, being forgiven of my sin and freed from the wicked nature that would consume me apart the ever-abiding Presence of Your holy nature within me and blood of Jesus covering me, and every one of Your children by Your Spirit (Colossians 1:19-23). In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.
My family, may you embrace the Divine Favor you have to walk with God every day by the imparted righteousness through the power of the blood of Jesus, in Jesus' name, Amen. Please pray the same for me. God bless you, my friends!
Please share your thoughts, reflections, questions, or prayers with us in the comment box below.
Gary Liederbach- Lead Follower
Email: garyl@onedirection.community
Website: https://www.onedirection.community
Facebook: One Direction Community-ODC
Please support and partner with my self and my family as we serve those God crosses our path with in our community with your one-time or monthly financial gift by clicking link below.Become our partner and support us in our ministries by becoming supporting us monthly or with a one-time gift.
Good morning, Lord Jesus. Fill my heart with Your words of spirit and life as I begin my day centered and grounded in You and Your Word. ...
It saddens me when I see the hate and lack of respect, civility, and compassion of people that is dividing our nation. It is happening even more now as our election day draws closer. It saddens me more when I experience these things amongst Christians in The Church. As peoples emotions rise, the malicious attacks on each other at gatherings, in face to face encounters, in so many social media posts, text and emails also are rising. I have experienced several of these attacks from people in the church who don’t even know my heart. I read another one directed at me last night from a church member that disturbed me and I rose this morning with a troubled heart, that has me crying out to the Father for unity as I begin my devotion time in Word and prayer.
"I will give them an undivided heart and put a new spirit in them; I will remove from them their heart of stone and give them a heart of flesh. Then they will follow My decrees and be careful to keep My laws. They will be My people, and I will be their God" (Ezekiel 11:19-20).
When our hearts are divided from one another, they are divided from You. And when our hearts are divided from You, they are divided from one another.
How we need Your Spirit to fill our spirits! How we need your deep to pour into our deep. How we need Your Heart to change our hearts! The spirit of division would seek to harden our hearts like stone against one another and against You. But there is a Spirit who unites us and aligns us, that gives us grace for one another in our differences and that we may even see great value in our differences that strengthen us instead of separate us.
There's power in agreement. "How can two walk together unless they are agreed?" (Amos 3:3) "Again, I tell you truly that if two of you on earth agree about anything you ask for, it will be done for you by My Father in heaven. For where two or three gather together in My name, there am I with them" (Matthew 18:19-20).
No wonder our enemy would seek to divide us! No wonder Your Holy Spirit is so determined to unite us! "Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity! ... For there the Lord commanded the blessing -- Life forevermore!" (Psalm 133:1-3)
Give us Your Life, Lord. We're desperate for Your blessing, Lord. Soften our stony, hardened hearts and attitudes toward one another and give us a tender heart toward each other -- even if we disagree about direction or decisions, candidates or causes, even if we hold firm opinions and stick up for our values, even if we will not compromise on truth or appease the ways of the world, the flesh, and the devil, give us Your Spirit and Your Heart for one another. For "whoever claims to love God yet hates a brother or sister is a liar" (1 John 4:20). Instead, You said, "By this all people will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another" (John 13:35).
Father, fill our hearts with Your Holy Spirit. Unite us as one with Your heart and with the hearts of one another. "With all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, and with diligence to preserve the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit, just as (we) were called to one hope when (we) were called; one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all!" (Ephesians 4:1-6) In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
My family, I pray as you walk out your door and begin a new week and enter into new contacts and conversations with people you may be filled with the Holy Spirit, undivided in your heart for God and for your brothers and sisters in Christ in the bond of peace and power of God's love. in Jesus name. Please pray the same for me. God bless you, my friends!
Please share your thoughts, reflections, questions, or prayers with us in the comment box below.
Gary Liederbach- Lead Follower
Email: garyl@onedirection.community
Website: https://www.onedirection.community
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Good morning, Lord Jesus. O Lord, my God--Father, Son, and Holy Spirit--take hold of me and every dimension of my life--spirit, soul, and body.
"They said to him, 'Where is your wife Sarah?' And he said, 'There, in the tent.' Then one said, 'I will surely return to you in due season, and your wife Sarah shall have a son.' And Sarah was listening at the tent entrance behind him. Now Abraham and Sarah were old, advanced in age; it had ceased to be with Sarah after the manner of women. So Sarah laughed to herself, saying, 'After I have grown old, and my husband is old, shall I have pleasure?' The Lord said to Abraham, 'Why did Sarah laugh, and say, 'Shall I indeed bear a child, now that I am old?' Is anything too wonderful for the Lord? At the set time I will return to you, in due season, and Sarah shall have a son'" (Genesis 18:9-14).
Last night God’s grace came to me in a rather strange place, a craft brewery in Huntsville. sitting around a table with other men who attend our weekly Brothers, Bibles and Beer gathering. We spent 2 hours honestly sharing the challenges, struggles, and successes in our lives, marriages, families, work, and spiritual life. We read from the Bible and discussed its application, and we shared prayer requests and prayed over each other. This time we spent together was set by God. The passage above from Genesis came up in our prayers so this morning I turned to it and read it again.
Reading the passage, I was reminded that there is a "set time ... in due season." And God You're the One who sets the time and the season, not me. Sometimes Your promises seem "too wonderful" and even impossible. Sometimes when I look at my life through my eyes it seems my chance has passed, I missed the moment, my ship has sailed, my window of opportunity has closed. Sometimes it even seems likes the door of destiny has been slammed in my face. "But God..." (Genesis 8:1; 20:3; 21:12; 31:7; 45:8; 48:21; 50:24; ect., ect., ect. throughout the Bible from Genesis to Revelations; over and over and over again; more than I could ever ask or imagine...).
"But God, who is rich in mercy, out of the great love which He loved us, even when we were dead through our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ--by grace you have been saved--and raised us up with Him and seated us with Him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the ages to come He might show the immeasurable riches of His grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus" (Ephesians 2:4-7). To which I say praise God!!!
Give me grace to firmly believe and patiently wait for the "set time ... in due season" for every promise You've spoken to my heart by Your Spirit and through Your Word. Whenever I'm tempted to be the setter of my times and seasons; whenever I am tempted to question or laugh, to scoff or doubt, remind me of every time it looked so impossible and unbelievable "but God...." For this saying is sure and this Word is true, "For God all things are possible" (Mark 10:27). "The Lord is good to those who wait for Him, to the soul that seeks Him" (Lamentations 3:25).
There is a time and a season for all things, according to Your will and Your ways for every one of us (Ecclesiastes 3:1-8). You make all things beautiful in Your time (Ecclesiastes 3:11). And You have shown Yourself so worthy so many times of my patience and my trust. So as for me, I will put my trust in You--in the God whose promises are always Yes and Amen (2 Corinthians 1:20). In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
My family, I pray today you begin your day by looking back in your past and remember every time something seemed impossible, “But God…” I pray you see every promise of the Lord to you by His Spirit and through His Word come to pass and make all things beautiful for you in His time and in His way, in Jesus' name! Please pray the same for me. God bless you, my friends!
Please share your thoughts and reflections in the comment box below.
Gary Liederbach- Lead Follower
One Direction Community
Email: garyl@onedirection.community
Website: https://www.onedirection.community
Facebook: One Direction Community-ODC
I could use your financial support for One Direction Community, my family, and those on the margins God has placed in my path I refuse to walk around. Please partner and support myself and One Direction community through setting up a monthly donation or a one –time gift by clicking the link below. Donation checks can be made out to ODC, PO Box 1293 Madison, Al 35758.
Thank You!
Good morning Lord Jesus, rule and reign over my day and domain today…
“But as God’s servants, we have commended ourselves in every way, with great endurance, in persecutions, in difficulties, in distresses, in beatings, in imprisonments, in riots, in troubles, in sleepless nights, in hunger, by purity, by knowledge, by patience, by benevolence, by the Holy Spirit, by genuine love, by truthful teaching, by the power of God, with weapons of righteousness both for the right hand and for the left, through glory and dishonor, through slander and praise; regarded as impostors, and yet true; as unknown, and yet well-known; as dying and yet—see!—we continue to live; as those who are scourged and yet not executed; as sorrowful, but always rejoicing, as poor, but making many rich, as having nothing, and yet possessing everything.” (2 Corinthians 6:4-10)
I read Paul’s words above and say to myself, “Wow!” In this paragraph above Paul describes the characteristics, motives, and identity of a follower of Jesus in their daily walk with Christ. Read them again. If I were to write a paragraph to describe my characteristics, motives, and identity as a follower of Christ I could begin it with the same introduction as Paul, “As a servant of God, a person who attends church and claims to be a Christian, I have commended myself in every way…” But that is it. When I honestly read through the list of characteristics, motives, and actions that are required in a person’s life style to be identified as a Christian, a follower of Jesus, not many or any of them could I list in my paragraph following my introduction.
Monday evening I was taking a break in the break room at Lowes and reading 2 Corinthians chapter 4 on my phone. A co-worker, came in and said hey, walked around me to a seat and sat down. He must have glanced at my phone and he asked me what I was reading. I read chapter 4 to him. After I finished, he thought for a minute and shared how things have changed and are so different today than what I read. People’s beliefs in God are decreasing and even among ”those who attend church,” they have become complacent in their faith, are not active anymore, and have watered down their beliefs. They asked, “How did we get this far away to where we are today?” They went on to name some external causes. However, when we read Paul’s description of the Christian lifestyle of a person’s daily walk with Christ, and look at the Christian lifestyle of a person’s daily walk with Christ today, it is evident that the cause of change is not from external factors, but internal.
If we honestly read Paul’s words above and compare them to our personal faith walk, and find there are few similarities and many differences, then the question we need to reflect on is not an external one looking outward, “How did we get so far away”; but an internal question looking inward, “How did I get so far away.” If I have personally changed so that my life and lifestyle no longer resembles and looks like that of a Christian described by Paul, I have no right and it is complete hypocrisy to look outward and point fingers if the world and life around me does not resemble what it is supposed to look like. It is the familiar “plank in your own eye” as Jesus points out in Matthew 7:3. I can only change myself.
My family, the good news is that you do not have to continue living a life that does not resemble or contain characteristics described by Paul. You can repent, and turn, and change your life: character, motives, passions, endurance and re-commit in your daily walk of faith. I pray you ask the Holy Spirit to help you read Paul’s words again, then honestly discern what you would write after your opening introduction about your Christian life, and ask for the strength to change your life where needed, all through the strength of Jesus who makes all things possible, in Jesus’ name. PLEASE pray the same for me. God bless you my friends!
Please share with me and others your reflections and what God is speaking to you from todays reading 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
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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!
Good morning Jesus. Here’s my heart Lord, speak what is true….
“But the aim of our instruction is love that comes from a pure heart, a good conscience, and a sincere faith. Some have strayed from these and turned away to empty discussion… But we know that the law is good if someone uses it legitimately, realizing that law is not intended for a righteous person, but for lawless and rebellious people, for the ungodly and sinners, for the unholy and profane, for those who kill their fathers or mothers, for murderers, sexually immoral people, practicing homosexuals, kidnappers, liars, perjurers - in fact, for any who live contrary to sound teaching. This accords with the glorious gospel of the blessed God that was entrusted to me… even though I was formerly a blasphemer and a persecutor, and an arrogant man. But I was treated with mercy because I acted ignorantly in unbelief, and our Lordʼs grace was abundant, bringing faith and love in Christ Jesus. This saying is trustworthy and deserves full acceptance: “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners” - and I am the worst of them! But here is why I was treated with mercy: so that in me as the worst, Christ Jesus could demonstrate his utmost patience, as an example for those who are going to believe in him for eternal life. Now to the eternal king, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever! Amen.” (1Timothy 1:5-17)
As I read these words of Paul the Holy Spirit stirs in me and reminds me that I could be saying these same things about my life. For many years of my early life I lived “contrary to sound teaching” and rebelled against God. When my daughters were young they were were watching TV and the news was showing criminals who hurt people. My daughter asked me “Why does not God immediately get rid of those people?” I answered her that if he did, you would not have a father now. Jesus Christ demonstrated “His upmost patience” with me. I was “treated with mercy.” And His patience and mercy continues over me today, as I am far from complete obedience to my Lord and repent of sin daily.
And as Paul confirms, why was I shown mercy and patience? Why was I saved from myself by His works of grace on the cross? To use me and my life “as an example for those who are going to believe in him for eternal life.” Jesus’ mercy, patience, and salvation was not simply to give me a “get out of hell card.” My salvation has to be more than my personal knowledge that I am not going to hell, which has no impact on my neighbors or co-workers. There was an plan why I was shown patience and mercy and it was not simply that I rest silently in my good gift of grace of salvation over my life, Jesus never intended that. He intended His gift of salvation to be shared by me with others “as an example for those who are going to believe in him for eternal life.” And Jesus intended the mercy, patience and salvation given to you for the same reason, to share the gift with others. “But I do not consider my life worth anything to myself, so that I may finish my task and the ministry that I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the good news of Godʼs grace.” (Acts 20:24)
My family, I pray that as you reflect through the Holy Spirit on all the ways and times in your life Jesus has lovingly shown mercy and patience over you, and saved you from hell into eternal life through the suffering love of the cross, you will be compelled and motivated to show mercy and patience today, and share “the good news of God’s grace” with those you encounter today, in Jesus’ name. Please pray the same for me. God bless you my friends!!!
Please share your reflections, comments and prayers in the comment box below.
Gary Liederbach- Lead Follower
One Direction Community
Email: garyl@onedirection.community
Website:https://www.onedirection.community
Facebook: One Direction Community-ODC
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!
Good morning, Lord Jesus. Be at the center of all I am and all I do, with me always in every moment of every day. ...
“For I know that my Redeemer lives, and He will stand at last on the earth” (Job 19:25).
Yesterday morning, I served at the Manna Houseunloading trucks of food to get the line ready for food distribution to the week. I go there to help bless, encourage, tangibly help, and love my neighbors who are in need. Yesterday, morning, I was blessed and received encouragement from one of those neighbors. I talked with a man living in physical poverty. He rides an ld bike, lives in a low rent, “slum” apartment, wears clothes from the donation bin, and eats hands mouth. Though he lives in physical poverty, he is rich ispiritualy. As we talked about our faith his eyes lit up as he shared with great joy his love for Jesus, all He has done for him and all He continues to do for him. He is poor and lives in poverty, yet speaks of being blessed, favored, and grateful. He intimately and personally claimed many times it is because he has been redeemed and that his redeemer lives!
Jesus, You are my Redeemer.
You’re the One who causes all things to work together for good for me, as You keep giving me the grace to keep trusting in You. You’re the One who turns it all around and sets all things right--all in Your time and all in Your way--as I keep entrusting all things to You.
Even what was intended for evil, You turn it for good. Even what was hard and painful and challenging, You use it for Your purposes of changing me and conforming me into all You have for me. You don’t waste a moment of my sufferings. You don’t miss an opportunity to teach me how to learn to love, how to learn to trust, how to learn to rest in You and Your plans for me.
As I keep turning to You, keep trusting in You, there’s no sin You can’t forgive, no hurt You can’t heal, no chain You can’t break, no wall You can’t break through, no stronghold You can’t pull down, no life You can’t change. You can redeem it all.
You are my Redeemer. And I know my Redeemer lives. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.
My family, may you know your Redeemer lives, as He keeps giving you the grace to keep trusting in Him, allowing Him to be at work in you and everything you go through, making you more like Him every day, 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.
Take 4 minutes to be reminder your redeemer lives in song.
Gary Liederbach- Lead Follower
One Direction Community
Email: garyl@onedirection.community
Website: https://www.onedirection.community
Facebook: One Direction Community-ODC
I could use your financial support for One Direction Community, my family, and those on the margins God has placed in my path I refuse to walk around. Please partner and support myself and One Direction community through setting up a monthly donation or a one –time gift by clicking the link below. Donation checks can be made out to ODC, PO Box 1293 Madison, Al 35758.
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This morning I continued spend time in James’ letter in the Bible, chapter 4. I spent time reading it in 5 or 6 different Bible translations comparing nuances of this chapter. And I also read it in “The Message” Bible. The following is simple yet powerful thoughts taken directly from this Bible translation. I am posting them for my reflection this morning.
“Where do you think all these appalling wars and quarrels come from? Do you think they just happen? Think again. They come about because you want your own way, and fight for it deep inside yourselves. You lust for what you don’t have and are willing to kill to get it. You want what isn’t yours and will risk violence to get your hands on it.
2-3 You wouldn’t think of just asking God for it, would you? And why not? Because you know you’d be asking for what you have no right to. You’re spoiled children, each wanting your own way.
4-6 You’re cheating on God. If all you want is your own way, flirting with the world every chance you get, you end up enemies of God and his way. And do you suppose God doesn’t care? The proverb has it that “he’s a fiercely jealous lover.” And what he gives in love is far better than anything else you’ll find. It’s common knowledge that “God goes against the willful proud; God gives grace to the willing humble.”
7-10 So let God work his will in you. Yell a loud no to the Devil and watch him make himself scarce. Say a quiet yes to God and he’ll be there in no time. Quit dabbling in sin. Purify your inner life. Quit playing the field. Hit bottom, and cry your eyes out. The fun and games are over. Get serious, really serious. Get down on your knees before the Master; it’s the only way you’ll get on your feet.” ( James 4:1-10, The Message Bible)
My family, when I finished reading these verses the lyrics from U2’ song came to my mind, “If you want to kiss the sky you better learn how to kneel, on your knees boy!” I do not know when was the last time you literally got down on your, or spent face time (face first on the floor) in a posture of submission and got serious in holy prayer before. God. You are relying on and trying everything else to keep you head afloat above all that is going on in life., I pray today you try humbling yourself in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up, in Jesus name. Please pray the same for me. Gog bless you my friends!
Please share your thoughts and reflections in the comment box below.
Gary Liederbach- Lead Follower
One Direction Community
Email: garyl@onedirection.community
Website: https://www.onedirection.community
Facebook: One Direction Community-ODC
I could use your financial support for One Direction Community, my family, and those on the margins God has placed in my path I refuse to walk around. Please partner and support myself and One Direction community through setting up a monthly donation or a one –time gift by clicking the link below. Donation checks can be made out to ODC, PO Box 1293 Madison, Al 35758.
Thank You!
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Good morning, Lord Jesus. Be at the center of my heart and the center of my thoughts. Be at the center of all I do and say. Be at the center of every way I live and move and have my being in You today. ...
“From one ancestor (God) made all nations to inhabit the earth, and He allotted the times of their existence and the boundaries of the places where they would live, so that they would search for God and perhaps grope for Him and find Him--though indeed He is not far from each of us. For ‘In Him we live and move and have our being’” (Acts 17:26-28).
The last couple mornings I have been reflecting on seeking to be inline with what God wants, not want I want for the purpose and direction of my life. His Will, not my will. And allowing, even expecting, His interruptions in my daily life plans. Because God, you love me so much that You’ve strategically positioned me according to Your sovereign purposes. You’ve determined where I would be born and when I would live. And though You’ve foreseen every challenge I would face, every choice I would make, You’ve invited me to search for You and find You in the midst of every moment of the journey of my life. In finding You, You’ve given me my identity as a son of God and called me into my destiny to be conformed into the image of the Son of God (Romans 8:29).
So let my life be centered in You, committed to Your will, submitted to Your ways, surrounded by Your love. Let Your Holy Spirit fill my human spirit with the fullness of Your Presence and Your power to live and move and have my being in You (Ephesians 5:18). Secure in my identity, may I fulfill my destiny. May I always know You’re never far from me, that You’re always with me--just like You promised (Matthew 28:20). In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.
My family, may you be secure in your identity, fulfilling your destiny, knowing God loves you so much that as well are strategically positioned according to sovereign purposes, in Jesus' name. Please pray the same for me. God bless you, my friends!
Please share your thoughts and reflections in the comment box below.
Gary Liederbach- Lead Follower
One Direction Community
Email: garyl@onedirection.community
Website: https://www.onedirection.community
Facebook: One Direction Community-ODC
I could use your financial support for One Direction Community, my family, and those on the margins God has placed in my path I refuse to walk around. Please partner and support myself and One Direction community through setting up a monthly donation or a one –time gift by clicking the link below. Donation checks can be made out to ODC, PO Box 1293 Madison, Al 35758.
Thank You!
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Yesterday morning, I wrote my devotion on “I want it my way” and not my will but God’s” And I walked out the door not knowing God was going to put what I prayed into practice.
I do maintenance/ handy man work on the side as tent making funds to help support Nancy and I and make ends meet. Yesterday I went to install a toilet for an elderly black couple in their 80’s. I met them at Lowes this past Monday when I was working my one day a week shift. Installing a new toilet is normally an one hour job. So I had my day planned out on this. However, the job ended up taking 4 hours! When I go there the man named Sylvester stood and stayed in the bathroom while I began working watching me and everything I did. I thought to myself, “Great! One of those guys!: I could not get one floor bolt loose on the old toilet and had to break base to get it up. When I did I saw that the toilet mounting flange that is glues PVC and going into a concreter slab was cracked, broken, and needed replaced. I had to use an internal PVC cutter and cut out the old flange. Then I had to leave and run back to Lowes to get a new flange. I did this and the new one was the wrong size. So I had to run back again and get another flange. It would not slide into the old pipe and I had to scrape and sand down inside of old flange to get it to go into pipe. I finally got new one glued in and began installing the new toilet. I opened the box of new toilet, went to install the base and discovered that the new toilet bolts were in the box, however the nut for the bolts and plastic caps were missing from the hardware package. So I had to run to Lowes again to get nuts and caps! This job and my day was not going anyway as I had planned!
Here is the thing. When I came back after my second trip to Lowes and I was working on the toilet with Sylvester standing over me watching, we began to talk. He asked me what I did and I told him I pastored and led ODC. He began to share and it turns out he has been pastoring for almost 50 years! He went to seminary back in the 60’s and began pastoring small, impoverished, black churches in Montgomery, Al in 1966. He pastored in Montgomery for over 20 years and then moved up to Birmingham and pastored there. The last years of his ministry he spent traveling the country encouraging black congregations and teach evangelism skills. And like myself, he had been to Africa on several occasions encouraging and training pastors there as well.
The stories he shared and our conversations were holy and amazing. My plan for the job was to get in and get out. God’s plan for me was to stay and listen to the gift of Him in and through this man. And It took God using a cracked toilet flange, and two trips to Lowes, to slow down, get off my schedule, stop being annoyed by the man standing in the bathroom, and talk, but mainly listen to him.
During our conversation Sylvester told me the doctors told him something was wrong with his heart and he was going in for tests Friday (tomorrow). He said he has no energy and gets tired easily. When I finally finished the install Sylvester’s sweet short wife came into the bathroom to look at the new toilet. She said “My name is Ivory, just like the soap!” I asked them if before I leave I could pray over Sylvester’s tests, and them as a couple. I had my anointing oil in my pocket as I always do, and I anointed Sylvester’s forehead, the three of us held hands, and I prayed over them. When I was finished, Sylvester asked for my oil. I gave it to him and he anointed my forehead, and then holding hands again, he prayed a holy prayer from the depths of his ministry, over my life and ministry.
When we finished praying, we hugged. And I invited them to my house that night for our Weds. night house church to share a meal, prayer, time in the Word and share his story of evangelism with us. Sylvester said as I told you earlier, I am weak now. Let me get these tests over Friday, and then hopefully we can come next week.
My family, I pray over you as I learned, that in your plans you always allow for 2 interruptions to them, by God and by people. And receive the blessings that they contain, in Jesus’ name. Please pray the same for me. God bless you my friends!
Please share your thoughts and reflections in the comment box below.
Gary Liederbach- Lead Follower
One Direction Community
Email: garyl@onedirection.community
Website: https://www.onedirection.community
Facebook: One Direction Community-ODC
I could use your financial support for One Direction Community, my family, and those on the margins God has placed in my path I refuse to walk around. Please partner and support myself and One Direction community through setting up a monthly donation or a one –time gift by clicking the link below. Donation checks can be made out to ODC, PO Box 1293 Madison, Al 35758.
Thank You!
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Good morning, Lord Jesus. Grounded in Your Word, filled with Your Spirit, I draw near to You as You draw near to me--here in my heart and here in my day (James 4:8). ...
“Come now, you who say, ‘Today or tomorrow we will go to such and such a city, spend a year there, buy and sell, and make a profit’; whereas you do not know what will happen tomorrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away. Instead you ought to say, ‘If the Lord wills, we shall live and do this or that’” (James 4:13-15).
Too much of the time, I go about the moments of my day making my own decisions for my life as if I know best. But the truth is I don’t know best. Only You know best. “Instead (I) ought to say, ‘If the Lord wills, (I) shall live and do this or that’” (v. 15). I ought to say, “If the Lord wills, then let it be my will.”
Help me be more humble. Help me recognize and repent of my pride of insisting on my will apart from Your will, my lordship instead of Your Lordship, me being in control instead of entrusting control to You. Help me set aside my pride of insisting on my own will and my own way, to do whatever I want to do whenever I want to do it, in my own power by my own wisdom. You resist the proud, but give grace to the humble (v. 6).
Give me Your grace to humble myself to first take time to seek Your wisdom and Your will before just trusting and insistingly on my way. As I humble myself to willingly choose to be desperately dependent upon You alone, then I’ll have receive the blessing, guidance, power, and favor of the One who knows best in all I am and in all I’ll do. As I humble myself in Your sight, then You will lift me up, then You will guide my steps and direct my path--day by day, one step at a time (James 4:10).
So this morning Lord. I seek You first--first in humility rather than pride, first in seeking Your will and Your plan for my day and all the decisions along the way rather than insisting on my own. Come lift me up into Your Presence and into Your will, as I trust in You and acknowledge You as the One who knows all about me, who knows what’s best for me, and who knows what’s best for all You’ll do through me this day and every day. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.
My family, may you seek first the kingdom of God, seek first the will of the Lord, and be led and blessed by His blessing, guidance, power, and favor in all You do in every way He leads, in Jesus' name. Amen. God bless you, my friends!
Please share your thoughts and reflections in the comment box below.
Gary Liederbach- Lead Follower
One Direction Community
Email: garyl@onedirection.community
Website: https://www.onedirection.community
Facebook: One Direction Community-ODC
I could use your financial support for One Direction Community, my family, and those on the margins God has placed in my path I refuse to walk around. Please partner and support myself and One Direction community through setting up a monthly donation or a one –time gift by clicking the link below. Donation checks can be made out to ODC, PO Box 1293 Madison, Al 35758.
Thank You!
CLICK HERE TO GIVE
Good morning, Lord Jesus. As deep calls to calls, my spirit calls to Your Spirit in the deep communion of prayer. Help me begin my day embraced by my Father, centered in Christ, and filled with the Holy Spirit.
"But Thomas (who was called the Twin), one of the twelve, was not with them when Jesus came. So the other disciples told him, 'We have seen the Lord!' But he said to them, 'Unless I see the mark of the nails in His hands, and put my finger in the mark of the nails and my hand in His side, I will not believe.' A week later His disciples were again in the house, and Thomas was with them. Although the doors were shut, Jesus came and stood among them and said, 'Peace be with you.' Then He said to Thomas, 'Put your finger here and see My hands. Reach out your hand and put it in My side. Do not doubt but believe.' Thomas answered Him, 'My Lord and my God!' Jesus said to him, 'Have you believed because you have seen Me? Blessed are those have not seen and yet have come to believe'" (John 20:24-28).
I like Thomas, I see a lot of me in him. What some would call doubt, I would call determined discernment, insistence upon truth, a high value for un-flaky faith, keeping it real. Before I was a minister, I was a General Contractor. Things had to be true to the blue prints, architecturally sound, and built right. And as I began to grow in my faith, it was important to me to believe what was true before I could preach it or teach it as true. And I suppose after these many years of my personal journey of faith, I'm still that way.
But like Thomas, what's helped me so much in my journey of faith are my personal encounters with You Jesus. Thomas' personal encounter with the risen Lord made him a believer. And it's the same with me.
I've encountered You in the midst of my guilt and shame where I've deeply regretted what I've done. In Your resurrection power, You forgave me and empowered me to forgive myself and cleanse me from my shame. I've encountered You in the midst of so many moments of failure and heartache, of feeling rejected and unloved, of being misunderstood and judged, of confusion and frustration, of finding myself weary, discouraged, and worn out, and in so many more of those moments when I wish I could just put my finger in Your hands and my hand in Your side. But every time, You've put Your hands around my heart and breathed Your Spirit into my life to lift me up and dust me off and send me along with even more faith, more trust, and more love for You than ever before. Every one of my personal encounters with You have made me a believer, believing even more strongly in every encounter.
In that powerful moment of Your undeniable Presence, You turned all of Thomas' wavering doubts into a bold declaration of faith--"My Lord and my God!" It's actually the highest and most direct declaration from any person in all the Bible that Jesus is Lord and God. And it's a boldness of faith that never left him after that encounter. Thomas was martyred in India for his faith with a spear through his heart that never stopped loving You or beating passionately for You to preach Your Word and minister in the power of Your name until the day he died.
I love how You take our greatest weaknesses and turn them into our greatest strengths. In the very places where we overcome by the blood of the Lamb and the power of Your grace, You give us authority and passion in Your Spirit to testify to Your love and help others encounter the One who's done so much for us. I love how You turn sinners into saints, brokenness into breakthrough, and even General Contrators into preachers! Thank You for turning my doubts into declarations and my failures into faith. Lord Jesus--Father, Son, and Holy Spirit--You are "my Lord and my God!" And I love You with all my heart and offer all my life to You again this day. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
My family, I pray today you will seek personal encounters with the risen Lord that will turn your doubts into declarations and your failures into faith, with a passion to love and serve your Lord and your God with all your heart, 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
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Thank You!
