Father, Son and Spirit, I begin my day in desperate need of complete communion with you. Yesterday morning I had a great converstation at the Waffle House low bar with a couple regular customers. We talked about our faith, church attendance, and then then one of them brought up tithing. How his church struggles to get people to tithe. I shared with them one of my most powerful experiences on tithing.
“When David went home to pronounce a blessing on his own house, Michal, Saulʼs daughter, came out to meet him. She said, “How the king of Israel has distinguished himself this day! He has exposed himself today before his servantsʼ slave girls the way a vulgar fool might do!”
David replied to Michal, “It was before the Lord! I was celebrating before the Lord, who chose me over your father and his entire family and appointed me as leader over the Lordʼs people Israel. I am willing to shame and humiliate myself even more than this! But with the slave girls whom you mentioned let me be distinguished!” (2 Samuel 6:20-22)
Several years back I went on a mission trip for a month to Southern Darfur, Sudan. The area has been ravaged by years of civil war as the Muslims of Northern Sudan continue military attacks and raids of kidnapping and rape against the indigenousChristians of Southern Sudan. There are thousands of orphans in Southern Sudan. The Muslins would raid the villages andkidnap the women and carry them off to the north for forced marriages/sex slaves. The men in the village they would either kill or carry off as well for slave laborers. The children of the villages would flee and run off into the bush and hide, and come back out after the Muslim raiders left, now orphans.
These children are poor of the poor. Each child has only one outfit of clothing, and their only possessions are a small plastic bowl and a spoon, which they hold onto for dear life as it is the only way they receive food. If there ever was a group who’s life and childhood experiences could cause them to take on a “victim mentality” it would be there children. However they are not depressed or seeking pity. Instead, every morning they would line up at 8:00am. And they would sing! Out of their hearts in a body of absolute physical poverty would come the most amazing joy filled worship! They would sing of their love for Jesus and thank him for all the blessings they receive from Him.
During my month there, I attended and helped lead the Sunday church gatherings held in a large grass roofed hut. When it came time for the offering, those attending the service had absolutely nothing of any monetary value to offer up, tithe, or put in a passing plate. So they offered up and tithed themselves and put themselves into God’s hands. As the time in the service for the offertory began, the ushers would move down the pews stating in the front and people would leave their pews, walk down the side aisles to the back of the church and line up. Then as the drums beat and the congregation sang, each person would offer them selves up to the Lord in a dance. They would dance down the isle spinning, and leaping in front of God in an offering dance of all they are. When they got to the altar in front they would drop to their knees and bow in complete surrender and then return to their pew. This continued until the whole church did an offering dance. The followings Sundays I was there, I as well joined in and danced down the aisle in offering myself to God.
In the USA churches struggle to get people to tithe 10%. And what ever amount people put in the passing plate they feel justified from their giving. I just sit here and try to imagine how different our churches would be if every member, every Sunday danced down the isle and offered all that they are to God. How different every marriage and family would be if families together led by their parents would dance down the aisle and surrender themselves together as a family to God. How different our communities would be if we un-shamefully danced together in front of the Lord and gave him all we are. How different our governments and nation would be if our leaders would say like David, “I am willing to shame and humiliate myself even more than this!” and dance and surrender their potion of leadership to Jesus.
My family, I pray today during your time of devotion you will get up in you living room, kitchen, go out in your yard or go someplace, and simply but powerfully dance before the Lord and offer all you are up to him. It would be the most fragrant gift pleasing to him you could ever offer. And I pray your dance of offering would continue throughout your day. Please pray the same for me. God bless you my friends!
Please share any reflections from this blog in the comments 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.Gary Liederbach-Lead Follower
THANK YOU!
It is hard to believe it has been 7 years since a good friend of mine, a brother in Christ lost his long battle with cancer. His life and death have been the thoughts of my mind and reflection my soul. We met for 2 1/2 years every Friday at the WH where he encouraged, motivated, prayed over me and held me accountable. He was a tangible example of God’s grace to me, an undeserved gift. He was a sound board onto which I would bounce my visions and ministry directions onto and off of for reflection.
A few weeks before he died, I asked Larry and others in ODC to respond to four questions to assist me in gauging how effective my leadership in ODC has been in making disciples and as a church in the eyes of those who are members. Here is Larry’s response to those questions. As you read them, you will understand why I miss my Friday mornings with him.
What has happened at your Church since last year?
The house church is operating effectively and determinedly as one; tested by fire. A discussion of metrics such as membership numbers and finances is probably in order, but I can't help with that. I can say however, that people in the margins, whom Jesus called "the least of these" are hearing the Gospel. They respond to the Good News because it is the power unto the salvation they desperately need, rejecting addictions and personal failures and sorrows. I have observed that a cross dresser or a drug addict will get the same love, spiritual care, and plain spoken truth as a retired Service member, an insurance agent, or a housewife. People from all walks are also responding to Monday night community meals at Terranova's Italian Restaurant, and coming to house churches with stories of how they have been hurt or ignored in traditional churches.
I have fewer insights (or desire to access any that may be available) with regard to specific demographics for growth, dollars, baptisms, etc. than Gary may be able to reveal in pastoral consultation. Instead, I can offer an observation that reflects the words of our Lord, who told us that the world will know us in that we love one another. The following metrics are transparently observable:
* Grace, peace, and forgiveness readily replace obligation, guilt, or religious demands
* Sacrifices are voluntary
* People are submitting to one another in love
* The community is being served in love with evangelism, meals, prayer and developing friendships
* Blessing and care for one another is passionate among the brethren
* Jesus is glorified in every situation; even in our failures and befuddlements
* The equipping of the saints is ongoing. Evangelism, spiritual gifts, and healing, are sought with new zeal and supported with prayer and study of the Word
Where are you now as a member and a church?
As a member, I'm a wide eyed observer who loves the grace and love that we all enjoy. Before God, I must state that my most important role is to be a friend to Gary; to pray for him, speak the truth candidly, support his efforts when he is on track and kick him a little when he is off track or when he's consumed by any anxiety or non-productive emotion. So far, my kicking skills are diminishing from disuse. I have also begun to disciple a few men in the fellowship whom the Lord has pointed out to me; an act of mutual submission and encouragement to good works. Normal Christian stuff.
House church is alive and well. The numbers fluctuate, but they are all but inconsequential for the discipleship training that is central to the work that Gary is doing (discipleship is for the willing, not the gold star earners). Some new converts fall away from fellowship to the allure of their old sins. Many return, some don't - or haven't. Some will come back with new strength; new resolve but under the threat of scolding or shunning. Mature Christians are welcome and valued for their insights. So far, the wolves have been kept at bay. It is a time of peace and personal growth with a focus on our Lord Jesus alone.
Where do you want to be?
I want to see what we are already doing to increase under the influence of the Holy Spirit, continuing to trust less in our plans, preparations and expectations than in what He produces. I believe that this is a season of equipping, but we dare not stop as equipped people to rest in our laurels. Instead, having freely received, we must continue to freely give of our gifts, inner healings, and insights to a hurting community.
What is holding you back from reaching your goals?
The work is not ours, but Christ's, so what would hold us back? Could we fail? Of course we could. All it takes is sin, lies, bitterness, backbiting, wolves with false doctrine creeping in as brothers, or any number of things that the scriptures warn us of.
We could also find ourselves 'held back' by our own anticipations. If our goal is numbers, we will find disappointment at the door often enough. If our goal is to honest, pure time before our Lord Jesus, empowered by His presence where two or more are gathered, we do not fail, but rather participate in and yes, rejoice in low numbers as part of Gods design on any given week. We are the servants that sow, but God forbid that clever speech should bring the increase.
The thing I fear most is trying to act or perform like a "church" instead of HIS church, the body of Christ, made up of those whom He has called out loudly.
On the other hand, the implied question appears to be, "What could be done to help?" Resources are always needed by Gary for his ministry and it hurts me to see his struggle from lack of financial support and other resources. It should flow down in support this GOSPEL INSPIRED, FIRST CENTURY MODEL of ministry that is still as much on the fringes of the American church experience as the desperate people it so often ministers to.
Larry
Again, I will miss our discussions and his encouragement. It was a tangible example of God’s grace. Take time to reflect and prayer over this: To whom are you an encourager and a tangible sign of God’s grace? Many of you reading these blogs do not attend ODC. You all have pastors, priests, mentors, ministry leaders, friends, family who need ‘Larrys” in their life. Who are the people you can fill in the blanks for which you can say, “Before God, I must state that my most important role is to be a friend to ______; to pray for him/her, speak the truth candidly, support his efforts when he is on track and kick him a little when he is off track or when he's consumed by any anxiety or non-productive emotion.”
Please share any reflections from this blog in the comments 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.
CLICK HERE TO GIVE
“For all have sinned, and fall short of the glory of God;” (Romans 3:23)
All have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. What happened to Adam and Eve in the Garden? When they ate that apple. What happened? Adam said to God, “I heard you in the garden, and I was naked and I was afraid so I hid.” You know what this is the story of ? The beginning not of just self-awareness but self-centeredness. The beginning of narcissism. The primal sin is not pride, but narcissism. And America is one of the top 5 narcissism counties in all of human history.
It is all about me, myself and I. All about me. Americans believe they are entitled to two chickens in every pot, two cars in every garage, a brick house, granite countertops, a pension plan, retirement account and a week or two vacation a year in paradise. I have news for you, none of us our entitled to any of this. It is all grace.
If narcissism is the most primal of sin, then what is salvation?
“Then Jesus said to his disciples, “If anyone wants to become my follower, he must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me.” (Mark 16:24)
If anyone wished to follow me he must deny HIMSELF. and follow me. Not deny themselves of something, give up something, like we do during lent But deny yourself, your selfish self. Jesus did not come so we could become more self-centered. Jesus did not come so we could focus more on our individual success in life. He did not preach a prosperity, a health and wealth Gospel, He did not come for that, but that will preach well in America. If anyone wants to follow me, they must deny themselves, conform themselves to the image of the Son, Jesus. Salvation is the beginning of your true self.
Paul Says, If anyone comes to Christ, they are a new creature. Behold the old has passed away. This morning I ask, “Do you believe that?” That God has enough power to change you from a self-centered, narcissist person to a selfless, other- directed and other-loving person?
My family, I pray this morning you reflect on and understand that when you were “saved,” you were actually saved from something to something. From being condemned living life as a self-centered, narcissist person; to living a life as your true self was created to be, a selfless, other-directed, other loving person. 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
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.
CLICK HERE TO GIVE
There are more people in prison in the USA than any other country.
· 2.4 Million people, 6.8%,
· China, 1.6 million, 1.1%
· 1,719 state prisons, 109 federal prisons, 1,772 juvenile correctional facilities, 3,163 local jails, and 80 Indian Country jails as well as in military prisons, immigration detention facilities, civil commitment centers, state psychiatric hospitals,
· Every year 600,000 people enter prison gates, 10.6 million people go to jail
23% of people illiterate
· 32 million adults can’t read in the US, 14% of our population
· 22% read below 5th grade level
· 19% of high school graduates can’t read
· 85% of juveniles who interact with the juvenile court system are considered functionaly illiterate
· 70% of inmates in US prisons can not read above the 4th grade level.
Gun deaths from mass shootings, suicides and murders in the US
· suicides account for 60% of gun deaths in US in 2017
· murders 37%
· other 7%
· Mass shootings 165
· Other countries higher because of war, military, Government
· Not number of Guns, Switzerland, all have guns.
· We are not the only country that has guns, but we are the country that people are using them to kill each other.
· Almost 18,000 murders last year
· Nearly 45,000 suicides
Opioids addiction, prescription, heroin,
· 40% of OD prescription
· 2007 doubled
· 2017 tripled
· more than 72,000 people were killed by drug overdose in US in 2018
Church attendance falling
· in 1948 only 2% of population considered themselves to be non religious
· it did not hit double digits, 10% until 2002, 54 years went up only 7%
· from 2002-2018, 16 years it has doubled to 20%
Love of God is diminishing
But there is always Hope in darkness
In the 18 century there was Hope in darkness
1/4 women were prostitutes
Slavery was legal and the norm. Not only slaves imported from Africa, also People who could not pay debts.
· Meal consisted of bread and potatoes
· For every 1,000 children born in early-18th-century London, almost 500 died before they were 2, generally due to malnutrition, bad water, dirty food, and poor hygiene.
· Orphans roamed the streets; because they didn’t attend school, they had little chance of improving their situation.
· England suffered from gin drinking. It was cheap and it was sold everywhere as you did not need a license to sell it. Many people ruined their health by drinking gin. Sadly for many poor people drinking gin was their only comfort.
· Smallpox was a plague.. Even if it did not kill you it would leave you scarred with pox marks.
· Cruel Sports like cockfighting and Bull baiting
The early 18th century was noted for its lack of religious enthusiasm and vigor.
· The churches in England were declining, loosing their influences on society, attendance was dropping
· The love of God was diminishing.
Where was the hope in this darkness?
The great evangelist George Whitfield began preaching and
two brothers, John and Charles Wesley, God called them out
· John Wesley traveled all over the country, often preaching in open spaces, markets, in bars, in work places.
· Charles Wesley, who wrote hymns, took the melody of Tavern songs and put them to Christian lyrics.
· People jeered at John’s meetings and threw stones at him.
· John Wesley said that after preaching in a town if he was not driven out of the town, spat upon and had items thrown at him, He wondered if he had preached the Gospel
· Wesley persevered. He never intended to form another religion (The Methodist Churxh) or separate from the Church of England. He died and Anglican Priest.
· He wanted hope in the darkness, He wanted to stop the diminishing love of God in the church and stir people’s hearts to increase their love of God.! He wanted a revival! To see a movement of God. And that is what he started with his desire for social holiness and montra of Sola Scriptura, only Scripture, one book for all people.
The revival and movement of God then swept into Wales and Scotland
Then , a New Era, the Victorian Era was ushered in.
The revival then swept across the Atlantic to America.
· Where Most people in North America lived by back breaking work and usually lasted from dawn to dusk.
· Rum drinking became an epidemic as well as beer.
· Church was declining. Love of God was diminishing.
A great religious revival began in the North American colonies.
· Later it was given the name 'The Great Awakening'.
· It was aided by William Tennant, a Presbyterian preacher
· Jonathan Edwards, and Francis Asbury, who trained under Wesley started circuit riders sent out them out into towns.
· They started holding Camp Meetings, where people from surrounding towns would gather in a field or open space to hear the Gospel, sing hymns, hear testimonies.
· They started a Revival!
We stand on the precipas of a new era. We are now “the hope in the darkness”
· We stand in the same place, in a land where the Love of God is diminishing
· We live in a same time where people are looking for hope in darkness.
· We serve the same Lord Jesus, as we read in Revelations 4 of the Lamb who conquers.
· The same Lord who sits in the throne room of God that Wesley, Whitclif, Asbury and the others served.
· We have the same presence, power and fire of the Holy Spirit in each of us that rested on the original disciples at Pentecost, was the source of the earlier revivals that brought to life the preaching of the Gospel with power, put boldness in hearts to share it, convicted those who heard it, and transformed communities.
· We have in us the DNA of a revival. The DNA of revival is in each one of you. Do you realize that? In you is the DNA of a revival!
· The DNA of a revival is in each one of you.
o Not just to be saved
o Not just to serve at House Of The Harvest or Manna House.
o Not just to start or be part of a Band or accountability group.
o Not just to open your home to others to start a house church or other gathering
o Not just to be a light of Christ in your workplace
o But to set fire to your community and begin a revival of God.
Read, The Revelation of Jesus Christ (found in The Book Of Revelation). If you want to summarize John’s vision in 25 words or less, it is:
A call to radical discipleship as a faithful citizen of God’s new Jerusalem in the midst of a fallen Babylon world.
Jesus speaks to the seven churches, Where in each of them in some way their love of God is diminishing, and he ends his message to all of them the same way. “To the one who conquers”
Ephesus: To the one who conquers, I will permit him to eat from the tree of life that is in the paradise of God.ʼ
Smyrna: The one who conquers will in no way be harmed by the second death.ʼ
Pergamum: To the one who conquers, I will give him some of the hidden manna, and I will give him a white stone, and on that stone will be written a new name that no one can understand except the one who receives it.ʼ
Thyatira: to the one who conquers and who continues in my deeds until the end, I will give him authority over the nations –
Sardis: The one who conquers will be dressed like them in white clothing, and I will never erase his name from the book of life, but will declare his name before my Father and before his angels.
Philadelphia: The one who conquers I will make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he will never depart from it. I will write on him the name of my God and the name of the city of my God .. and my new name as well.
Laodicea: I will grant the one who conquers permission to sit with me on my throne, just as I too conquered and sat down with my Father on his throne.
“Blessed is the one who reads the words of this prophecy aloud, and blessed are those who hear and obey the things written in it,” (Rev. 1:3)
What does it mean to Conquer? The above “Conquer” is in the Aortist tense in Greek, which translated means not just has conquered but is conquering. Like being Potty trained. Once you are potty trained, you do not stop, but continue daily in that training.
The tense is single, “the one” who has conquered. So it is addressing not only the church collectively, but each one of us individually. Each of us with the DNA for revival.
Who is the one who conquers? The one who lives out radical discipleship as a faithful citizen of God’s new Jerusalem in the midst of a fallen Babylon world. You receive all the promises today!
We stand on the edge of a new era.
We stand on the edge of a new era with a powder keg, a powder keg of love!
We sing the song, “It may look like I’m surrounded but I’m surrounded by you. This is how I fight my battles! This is how I become one that conquers!
This is how we stand on the edge, become hope in darkness and usher in a new era of revival!
My family, I pray this morning as you walk out your door to begin a new week, you understand and embrace the reality that you are the hope in the darkness to the current world you are walking out into. And you are the one who conquers, 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
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 lift up my eyes to the hills -- from where will my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth. He will not let your foot be moved; He who keeps you will not slumber.... The Lord will keep you from all evil; He will keep your life. The Lord will keep your going out and your coming in from this time on and forevermore" (Psalm 121:1-8).
Yesterday, I reflected on the absolute fact that there is an enemy who hates you, hates your spouse, and hates your children, and the absolute necessity of you reading God’s Word in your Bible to equip yourself with the “Sword of the Spirit, which is The Word of God” to defeat this enemy.
I asked you to read Ephesians 6 and the full armor of God and I am asking you to do so again this morning and this weekend. God supplies you with the armor and the weapons to fight the enemy, but you have to daily pick them up and put them on.
Another weapon that God gives us is Prayer. Prayer is not last recourse of desperation in a struggle or battle after you have tried everything else. Prayer is where all battles must begin as you raise your eye and heart to God and call upon his name to come to your defense.
“With every prayer and petition, pray at all times in the Spirit, and to this end be alert, with all perseverance and requests for all the saints.” (Ephesians 6:18)
The Psalmist in Psalm 121 cries out in desperation, “I lift up my eyes to the hills -- from where will my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth.”
“The Hills” when this psalm was written were not a good place. “The Hills” were the wilderness. They were dangerous and contained the paths need to travel where bandits and robbers lurked. And on the top of all the hills, because pagans viewed them as the place closest to the heavens and the Gods, were placed all the altars and places of worship to the many false Gods. Looking up at the hill tops one would see the Asherah poles, altars to Baal, and other Gods.
The psalmist, who is struggling, battling the evil in his day, in desperate need of help looks up at the hills around him with its danger, and looks up at all the Idols and temples of false Gods on the hill tops and declares, where does my help come from? And he declares it is from none of these. “My help comes from the Lord who made the Heavens and the earth.” The God who made the hills the altars are located on.
It is God’s part to deliver me, It is my part is to lift up my eyes above “the hills”, above the false God’s and idols of this world, and focus my eyes on You. I enter inter my baptismal promise to look up to you, while You promise Your part is to look out for me. So this morning remind me to do my part; and remind me that You're always doing Your part. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
My family, I pray you may always know deep in your heart that Your God is Your help and He will bring you through every battle you face, making you more like Him as you keeping looking up to Him. 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
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!
“For though we live as human beings, we do not wage war according to human standards, for the weapons of our warfare are not human weapons, but are made powerful by God for tearing down strongholds. We tear down arguments and every arrogant obstacle that is raised up against the knowledge of God, and we take every thought captive to make it obey Christ.” (2 Cor 10:3-5)
My morning reflectio, like many others, flows out of a conversation I had at the Waffle House. I was seated at the low bar talking with a 4 men who are regular customers. One of them brought up the pagers that are exploding in Lebanon and the whole conversation turned to examples of how the world now is a more evil place. One man said he feels like his marriage is under attack, and another how his kids are being misled in school and they are becoming more and more disrespectful at home. I know these men and they all claim to be Christians. So I asked them, what is the Bible telling you in your time in God’s Word. Their tone changed and they became defensive saying they do not read their Bible daily, and my reading the Bible daily does not change the situation of the world. Inside I wanted to explode and push back but I did not, instead I came home and wrote.
You have an enemy who hates you, hates your spouse, hates your children, hates your family. He despises the Christ that is in you and that you also claim over your family, and the enemy will uses any and all resources at his disposal: any weapons, all the demon minions, incantations, to bring down, kill and destroy you. You know you live every day in the midst of a broken, fallen world, where evil is real. Just look around! Look at the news! And that evil you see out there is out to get you.
(1 Peter 5:8) “Be sober and alert. Your enemy the devil, like a roaring lion, is on the prowl looking for someone to devour”
What are you going to fight him with? What are you going to punch him in the face with? What weapons are you going use to not just defend, but push back the literal hell that He wants to bring down on you?
Are you going to Throw money at him? Are you going to try to work harder, get a promotion, better job, better pay, gain more power and prestige, earn more so you can throw more money at him and buy him out? He is the “ruler of this world.” He has more wealth and is richer and has more power than you can ever dream of achieving.
Are you going to retreat into your fortress, your castle, the nice home with the crucifix hanging somewhere in it on some wall and then puch your garage door button, close garage door and keep him out?
Are you going to try to use logic or reason with him? Do you really think you can outsmart Satan who has been here deciding and destroying humanity since the beginning of creation?
Do you think if you exercise tolerance, political correctness and be passive he will just leave you and your family alone? It is not going to happen! You have no hope and there is nothing humanly possible to distract or deter you enemy, stop him from hating you, hating your spouse, hating your children and wanting to destroy you.
Nothing humanly possible, however with the weapons of God it is more than possible. The passage of scripture above tells us:
“For though we live as human beings, we do not wage war according to human standards, for the weapons of our warfare are not human weapons, but are made powerful by God for tearing down strongholds.”
Read Ephesians 6 and the full armor of God.
God supplies you with the armor and the weapons you need to fight and conquer the enemy, but you have to put them on and pick them up.
You do not put on the armor daily and then you know you are battling an enemy that is armed to the teeth daily and then wonder why and complian to God why you have no peace, anxiety, depression, your family is struggling, your children are struggling, your marriage is struggling, and you have physical health issues, mental health issues
The sword with which you are able to punch Satan in the mouth with, and not just defend your family with, but drive away the enemy is The Word of God contained in that Bible on a desk somewhere or an app on your phone. “and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.” Eph. 6:17”
Each day you think to yourself, I do not have yo spend time in God’s word, you are basically saying you are going to face your armed enemy who hates you with nothing in your hand. And worse, you are in effect saying, your spouse and children who you probably encouraged to follow Jesus, and continue to encourage them in their faith, you are now leaving them out on their own and are not worth protecting, not worth the time spent that day in your Bible arming yourself with the Sword of the Spirit. And you are setting the disastrous example to them of how to walk into battle unarmed against an enemy who hates them.
My family, I pray today is the day you take seriously that there is an enemy out there, that once you and your family claims to be a follower of Jesus, hates you, hates your spouse and hates your children. And take seriously your absolute necessity to arm yourself with the “powerful weapons of God for tearing down strongholds,” strongholds the enemy continuously tries to raise around your family as if your life depends on it. And if your life does not matter that much to you, at least do it because the lives of your spouse and children require you to daily open your Bible, read God’s Word, and arm yourself with the “Sword of the Spirit” with which you can protect them and punch the enemy in the face, by though and in the name of Jesus. 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
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 were complacent in your evil deeds; you thought, ʻNo one sees me.ʼ
Your self-professed wisdom and knowledge lead you astray,
when you say, ʻI am unique! No one can compare to me!ʼ
Disaster will overtake you; you will not know how to charm it away.
Destruction will fall on you; you will not be able to appease it. Calamity will strike you suddenly, before you recognize it. “(Isaiah 47:11-13)
.In the previous chapters Isaiah illustrated God’s sovereignty over the gods of Babylon and all nations and the only God able to deliver his people. Isaiah now looks at Babylon. He represents the empire as a beautiful and arrogant woman who is forced to abandon her proud and luxurious living and take the place of a slave. God is not a creation of humanity, he is God. And any nation or human that dares to try to rise over his place will only find themselves caught in an unequal contest, the end of which is never victory, but either ends in surrender or destruction.
The times in my life that have been the most miserable are the times I replaced God with myself as lord of my life. It always ended in some level of destruction to myself or others, and then falling on my knees and repenting and asking forgiveness from God and others. When God is the most complete Lord over me, and I am the most completely his servant, is when my life contains the most joy.
My family, I pray you today re-affirm that Jesus is the Lord over your life, surrender to His Lordship, and enter into His peace and joy that surpasses anything you in yourself can achieve, In Jesus’ name. Please pray the same over me. God bless you my friends!
Please share your thoughts and reflections in the comment box below.
Gary Liederbach- Lead Follower
One Direction Community
Email: garyl@onedirection.community
Website:https://www.onedirection.community
Facebook: One Direction Community-ODC
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. Speak to my heart and lead me in Your ways -- Father, Son, and Holy Spirit of God.
"For the time is coming when people will not put up with sound doctrine, but having itching ears, they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own desires, and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander away to myths" (2 Timothy 4:3-4).
In these days and the days to come, just knowing the truth will not be enough. "Even the demons believe -- and shudder" (James 2:19). No, we need more. We need to "love the truth" (2 Thessalonians 2:10). We need to love the truth, just as a wise person loves correction and discipline (Proverbs 13:1). That's our antidote to the power of deception -- a love for the truth.
"The coming of the lawless one is apparent in the working of Satan, who uses all power, signs, and lying wonders, and every kind of wicked deception for those who are perishing, because they refused to love the truth and so be saved" (2 Thessalonians 2:9-10).
Come, Holy Spirit. Give me a love for the truth. You are "the Spirit of truth" who "comes (to) guide (me) into all the truth" and "glorify (Jesus)" (John 16:13).
Loving truth is different from loving what we want to hear, loving what fits our feelings, or loving what we think is right despite what You say is right. And You've already warned us that we will be tempted to give into the pressures of our world to turn from the truth in the times to come:
"The truth" is not simply a statement of faith or mental assent to accurate doctrine. The truth is a Person. You are the Truth. You are "the Way, and the Truth, and the Life" (John 15:6). You are the One we need to love. Loving You, loving the One who is Truth, is the Way You've provided to lead us through the confusion, deception, and temptation to compromise to come.
You said, "If you love Me, you will keep My commandments. And I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper to be with you forever. This is the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him. You know Him, because He abides with you, and He will be in you" (John 14:15-17).
As I grow in my love for You, I grow in my love for Truth. May my love for You, my love for Truth, keep me from being deceived in these days I live in and and the days to come -- even by "the working of Satan, who uses all power, signs, and lying wonders, and every kind of wicked deception." In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
My family, I pray you ask the Holy Spirit, The Helper to help you discern and grow in your love of truth so you can embrace by faith the fullness of life our Father has for you, forgiven and free from bondage of lies and sin, in Jesus' name! Please pray the same for me. God bless you, my friends!
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. Lead me in the paths of righteousness for Your name's sake today and all the days of my life. I love Psalm 91 back in 2007 I went on a mission trip to Souther Darfur, Sudan for a month. I began everyday morning praying Psalm 91 over my life and the lives of those with me for protection in the war zone we found ourselves. Psalm 91 became a constant prayer my ministry. I read it over my life and my families as we begin a new week. Pick up you Bible and read it over your life this morning.
"You who live in the shelter of the Most High, who abide in the shadow of the Almighty, will say to the Lord, "My refuge and my fortress; my God, in whom I trust" (Psalm 91:1-2).
God, you are my Shelter and my Savior. You're my Covering and my Comforter. Secure in You, I find my safety and peace. Trusting in You, I find my certainty in Your sovereignty and my confidence in Your compassion (v. 3-8).
When I'm in You and You're in me, no mater what goes on around me, it cannot come near me to destroy me or define me. "Because I have made the Lord my refuge, the Most High my dwelling place, no evil shall befall me, no scourge come near my tent. For You will command Your angels concerning me to guard me in all my ways. On their hands they will bear me up, so that I will not dash my foot against a stone. I will tread on the lion and the adder, the young lion and the serpent I will trample under foot" (v. 9-13 personalized).
In Your goodness, You'll cause good to come out of all I endure. In Your mercy, You cause me to become more merciful out of all for which I've been forgiven. And out of Your overcoming power through the victory of Your cross and the glory of Your resurrection, You cause me to overcome every challenge that would seek to overcome me, making me stronger in Your strength and more humble in Your grace.
I've lived long enough to know there will always be battles in this broken and fallen world, but I've also walked long enough with You to know You've already won the victory for me. "Thanks be to God who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ!" (1 Corinthians 15:57)
Neither darkness nor death, neither demons nor the disappointing or destructive choices of those who don't know any better or willingly choose to do the opposite of what brings life and peace to the world around them, nor anything else in all creation will be able to have the last word or the final say in my life (Romans 8:38-39). "No in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us" (Romans 8:27). Jesus will always have the last word. Jesus will always have the final say. And Jesus’ speaks into my battles and His words over my life are always spirit and life to me and to all who call on His name and trust in His grace (John 6:63). This is the blessing and the heritage of all "who live in the shelter of the Almighty" and "abide in the shadow of the Most High" (Psalm 91:1). Thanks be to God! Hallelujah and Amen! So let it be! In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
My family, may you know in your heart and experience in your life the promises and protection of our God, finding your shelter and security in Him alone, in Jesus' name! Please pray the same of me. God bless you, my friends!
Please share your reflections and prayers in the comment box below.
Gary Liederbach- Lead Follower
One Direction Community
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!
“And Jesus *said to her, “Woman, what does that have to do with us? My hour has not yet come.” His mother *said to the servants, “Whatever He says to you, do it.” (John 2:4-5)
There are many books and trainings out there by various authors on what it means to be a disciple. Mary, the mother of Jesus, gives us her instructions on being a disciple, “Whatever He says to you, do it.” She breaks discipleship down to its simple core, “listening and doing”. We are called to actively listen to Jesus, to seek Him out and hear His voice. “My sheep hear My voice…. and they follow Me; and I give eternal life to them, and they will never perish; and no one will snatch them out of My hand.” (John 10:27). We seek. listen to, and hear his voice when we open our Bibles, when we bend our knees in prayer, and when we become vulnerable in accountability with other believers. And then once we hear what Jesus is telling us, we without delay obey it and do it. “By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and obey his commandments. For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments.” (1John 5:2-3)
To call your self a Christian means you are saying you are a follower of Christ. To be a follower of someone you have to actively to listen to them, and then you have to obey what you hear from them. A simple definition of a disciple then is someone who is Listening to what Jesus is telling them to do, and then doing it. How are you daily actively listening to Jesus, seeking to hear his voice and follow Him as a Christian every day? Are you intentionally setting aside time daily to read your Bible, and pray? Are you in a Band group (accountability group) that meets weekly to help you discern, interpret and pray over what you are hearing?
Last night at our house church gathering we had a special guest, Curtis Seargent. He gave an illustration of hearing God comparing it to radio waves and a radio. He said every second of everyday we are bombarded with and surrounded by hundreds of radio waves from any different radio station and sources. Day and not these radio waves are constantly hitting us and around us. However, we cannot hear them or what they are saying. However, if we have a radio receiver, with it, we can tune in, connect to these radio waves and hear what they are playing or saying. Curtis went on to say everyday in the spiritual realm we are surrounded by spiritual “waves” from God and from the enemy. God is always trying to speak to us. And the receiver of his “waves” is our heart and soul. And we have to “tune in” our hearts to hear what He is saying. Whether we “tune in” to receive them in prayer, in a dream, through reading His Word in the Bible, from trusted others in an accountability group, we have to intentionally and actively “tune in” to God, and tune-out” the waves from sources other than Him, to be able to hear what he says to us, and to enable us to be disciples of Christ, persons “Listening to what Jesus is telling them to do, and then doing it.”
Jesus, remind me through your Holy Spirit this morning that the core of your call over my life to be a follower of you is not mainly found in the “Rs” of rituals, religion, and routines. It is found in listening to your voice and obeying what I hear. Let me hear Mary’s words above as if she is speaking only to me, “Whatever He says to you, do it.” Mary practiced what she preached, as when she heard what God was asking her to do, and her reply was, “And Mary said, “Behold, the bondslave of the Lord; may it be done to me according to your word.” (Luke 1:38) Let me have the bold obedience of a Mary, who was just a 16 year old girl.
My family, I pray this morning you take time to actively listen to what Jesus is telling you to do. You may have already heard His voice speaking to you in your heart. And I pray you then intentionally and without delay, obey Him and do what He has told you to do. In Jesus’ name. Please pray the same for me. God bless you my friends!
Please share your reflections and prayers with us on this blog in the comment box below.
Gary Liederbach- Lead Follower
One Direction Community
Email: garyl@onedirection.community
Website:https://www.onedirection.community
Facebook: One Direction Community-ODC
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!
Good morning, Lord Jesus. I speak out Your name and listen for Your voice, here at the beginning of my day. .
This morning I read and meditated on Psalm 59. Psalm 59 is a psalm of deliverance where David cries out to you to be delivered from his attackers. I see it was a very challenging time of transition in David's life. He had many mixed emotions, surrounded by both friends and foes on his journey into his destiny. But through it all and in spite of it all, he turned his eyes and lifted his spirit to You, as his finished his Psalm with a flourish of heart-felt words of worship from a heart full of faith and trust and praise:
“But as for me, I shall sing of Your strength; Yes, I shall joyfully sing of Your lovingkindness in the morning, For You have been my stronghold and a refuge in the day of my distress. O my strength, I will sing praises to You; For God is my stronghold, the God who shows me lovingkindness." (Psalm 59:16-17).”
I like how he begins his final declaration of his trust in Your goodness and grace with the word "But." All that David wrote before that "But" was his reality and the reality of the world he faced in his day. He didn't have his head buried in the sand. He wasn't afraid of reading the news. He wasn't detached from the challenges of local and national politics and the turmoil in his life, nation, and the world of his time. "But" at the same time, he kept his eyes on You with his heart full of songs of praise.
In his songs, You strengthened him. In his prayers, You empowered him. And even to this day in what we now call "The Psalms" we're all encouraged by his heart of faith, despite all he went through -- both by all he brought upon himself and by all that was brought down upon him -- "But" as a man after God's own heart (1 Samuel 13:14). "When (God) had removed (Saul), He raised up for them David as king, to whom also He gave testimony and said, 'I have found David the son of Jesse, a man after My own heart, who will do all My will" (Acts 13:22).
By the power of Your grace, I want to be a man after Your own heart like that, like David. One who will be found faithful to do all Your will no matter what. Fully aware of all that's going on in my day, in my nation and the world, and not detached from all I've been through -- no matter the source of my struggles, whether my own or otherwise. "But as for me” remind me I am always accountable to you how I live my day as a child of God. May I walk out my door trusting in You with a song in my spirit, full of faith in my heart, In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
My family, I pray you may be found faithful as one after God's own heart, with your eyes on the Lord and your heart full of praise, in Jesus' name. Please pray the same for me. Thank you for being my friend and joining with me on this journey of faith and prayer! God bless you, my friends!
Please share with us your thoughts and reflections with us this morning 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 myself, my family, and those on the margins God has placed in my path I refuse to walk around. Please commit 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.
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Thank you!
Lord’s Jesus I spend this quiet time with you this morning seeking your presence to guide my thoughts and steps and directions throughout my day
Today is the anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks that took place at the Twin Towers in New York, Ny, the Pentagon, and another downed plane. The attacks that took over 3,000 over lives. and and impacted thousands of families, our country, and the world. We remember and pray over those families that lost loved ones in the tragedy. That day is etched in my mind: the shock, horror, chaos, madness, anger… so many laters of emotions involved.. Lord have mercy, That day forever changed our views and reality of the world we live in today. Christ have mercy, Lord have mercy.
We also are reminded that nothing is guaranteed in this life. As God’s word tells us:
“Come now, you who say, "Today or tomorrow we will go to such and such a city, and spend a year there and engage in business and make a profit." Yet you do not know what your life will be like tomorrow. You are just a vapor that appears for a little while and then vanishes away. Instead, you ought to say, "If the Lord wills, we will live and also do this or that." But as it is, you boast in your arrogance; all such boasting is evil.17 Therefore, to one who knows the right thing to do and does not do it, to him it is sin”. (Jam 4:13-17)
Those that died, were injured, or affected by 911 were engaged in their normal day of business and making a profit, running errands, having lunch with a friend, and in the middle of their normal routine when something unimaginable happened; the millions to one odds of a jet crashing into the buildings they were in.
Nothing is guaranteed today.
All of today is a gift.
My family, I join you in prayer today over all the lives that were lost and everyone impacted by the tragic events of 91. I also pray today you embrace the amazing gift of today. Don’t delay doing the next right thing: of telling someone your sorry, you love them, your glad their in your life. Don’t delay sharing with someone who does not know Christ the love of Jesus who are just one event away from a Christless eternity. Please pray the same for me. I love you all who have crossed my path in life and pray God blesses you my friends!
Please share your reflections and prayers in the comment box below.
Gary Liederbach- Lead Follower
One Direction Community
Email: garyl@onedirection.community
Website:https://www.onedirection.community
Facebook: One Direction Community-ODC
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.
Thanks You!
Good morning, Lord Jesus. Take me by the hand and lead me by the heart throughout the moments of my day.
" 'Let the little children come to Me; do not stop them; for it is to such as these that the kingdom of God belongs. Truly I tell you, whoever does not received the kingdom of God as a little child will never enter it.' And He took them up in His arms, laid His hands on them, and blessed them" (Mark 10:14-16).
Today’s reflection builds upon yesterdays reflection. Yesterday, the Holy Spirit reminded mr I am to simply follow Jesus. This morning the same Spirit reminded me I am to love Jesus with the simplicity of a child.
With the innocent faith of a trusting child in the secure, strong arms of good father, I want to receive a Father's blessing upon my life today. You are my "Everlasting Father" (Isaiah 9:6). And in my faith, I seek to be Your ever-loving child. "For in Christ Jesus (we) are all children of God through faith" (Galatians 3:26).
In Your embrace of laughter and joy let me enter into the kingdom of God. And in my faith, let the laughter and joy of the kingdom of God enter into me. "For, in fact, the kingdom of God is within (me)" (Luke 17:21). "The kingdom of God is ... righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit" (Romans 14:17).
In my Father's blessing, I find my righteousness; I find my peace; and I find my joy. Let no one stop me from entering in to the fullness of my Father's blessing in You. More importantly, don’t let “ME” stop my self from completely, unashamedly and fully loving you. Remove from me any “defenses” to your Spirit I have built in me out of dignity, self-conscience, and conformity and free me to express my love for you like a child. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
My family, I pray you may you enter into the fullness of your Father's blessings and love with the laughter and joy of a child. May you tear down your defenses, remove your self-conscience and I pray you undignifiedly be filled with the righteousness, laughter. peace, and joy of the kingdom of God that wants to burst forth within you, in Jesus' name. Please pray the same for me. God bless you, my friends!
Please share your reflections and prayers on my blog in the comment box below.
Gary Liederbach- Lead Follower
One Direction Community
Email: garyl@onedirection.community
Website:https://www.onedirection.community
Facebook: One Direction Community-ODC
I could use your financial support as we relationally reac 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!
“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
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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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Gary Liederbach- Lead Follower
One Direction Community
Email: garyl@onedirection.community
Website: https://www.onedirection.community
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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
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