"Stand Firm For Christ"

2 Comments

"Stand Firm For Christ"

Good morning, Lord Jesus. Be at the center of my heart and the moments of my day.  ...

"It is God who enables us, along with you, to stand firm for Christ. He has commissioned us, and He has identified us as His own by placing the Holy Spirit in our hearts as the first installment that guarantees everything He has promised us" (2 Corinthians 1:21-22).

Holy Spirit, enable me and empower me to stand firm for Christ today. Deliver me from my two-facedness; awaken me from my wavering; call me out of my complacency. Set me ablaze with a fiery passion to proclaim the name of Jesus and live into this day in the nature of Jesus. "We (are to) live like Jesus here in this world" (1 John 4:17).

"The Spirit who lives in (us) is greater than the spirit who lives in the world.... We belong to God, and those who know God listen to us. If they do not belong to God, they do not listen to us. That is how we know if someone has the Spirit of truth or the spirit of deception" (1 John 4:4-6). So by the power of Your grace at work within me, the spirit of this world will not intimidate me or silence me or keep me from standing firm for Christ. 

By Your Spirit, I will stand and I will speak and I will shine with the light of Your glory in my heart -- not in my power, but Yours; not in my goodness, but Yours. "For God, who said, 'Let there be light in the darkness,' has made this same light shine in our hearts so we could know the glory of God that is seen in the face of Jesus Christ. We now have this light shining in our hearts" (2 Corinthians 4:6-7). As You keep shining, I will keep standing -- standing firm for Christ. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

My family, I pray that in the power of the Holy Spirit you stand firm for Christ and let the light of the glory of God revealed in the face of Jesus Christ shine through you today, in Jesus' name! Please pray the same for me. God bless you, my friends!

I shared my insights and prayers from todays passage with you. Please share your insights and prayers with me and others 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.

Thank You!  

 Join in!

On September 17th we began the journey of reading through the New Testament in a year. This plan has only one chapter to read each weekday. There are no assigned readings on the weekend.  Use that time for other studies or to catch back up on chapters you may have missed during the week. The plan we will use is from Bibleplan.org. The website address for it is https://bibleplan.org/plans/new-testament-in-a-year/ or you can get to it by clicking the button below.  Go to the site, enter the starting date Sept. 17. 2018, enter your email, and a time you want to receive an email reminder, then click subscribe.  Every weekday then you will receive an email reminder of the chapter reading for that day.  

 

2 Comments

"The Key"

1 Comment

"The Key"

Good morning Jesus, I seek you power this morning as it is the only key that will allow me to live today free of sin. 

“For we know that the Law is spiritual, but I am of flesh, sold into bondage to sin. For what I am doing, I do not understand; for I am not practicing what I would like to do, but I am doing the very thing I hate.... For the good that I want, I do not do, but I practice the very evil that I do not want. But if I am doing the very thing I do not want, I am no longer the one doing it, but sin which dwells in me…For I joyfully concur with the law of God in the inner man, but I see a different law in the members of my body, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin which is in my members. Wretched man that I am! Who will set me free from the body of this death? Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, on the one hand I myself with my mind am serving the law of God, but on the other, with my flesh the law of sin.” (Romans 7:14-25)

Jesus, you know Paul’s words are my words as well, “for I am not practicing the want I like to do, but I practice the very thing I hate” (v.15).  There are at times thoughts, attitudes, desires that creep into my mind that I have to rebuke and say “why am I doing that?”  There are times in a conversation my flesh takes over and I have repent and say “Why did I say that?”

In my flesh; my heart and mind, thoughts and actions, I am weak and drawn to sin.  Who can free me from this, change my heart and give me strength to not sin?  As Paul asks the same question, “Who will set me free from the body of this death? Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord!” (v.24-25).  Yes Only Jesus!  Jesus is the key to unlock me from the chains of sin.  But like any key, it has to be taken out and and used.  It does not work sitting in a bowl on a shelf.

Yes I was saved from sin and death when I accepted Jesus as my Lord and Savior and fell in love with Him.  However, just as I could not on my own initially save myself from sin and death but had to rely on the power of the same Holy Spirit that raised Jesus from the dead, daily I cannot free myself from sin unless I daily rely on the power on the Holy Spirit.  Jesus was the key needed for my initial Salvation, and Jesus is my key to live daily in that Salvation.  If I did not use that key initially I would be eternally doomed by sin, and if I do not use that key daily, I will be daily doomed to sin.

That is why I spend this time in the Word.  That is why I write these devotions every morning, to embrace the key of life and encourage those who read this to do the same.  Time spent daily reading and searching your Bible, time spent daily in extended times of prayer is how you grasp the key, grasp and hang on to Jesus. If your Bible sits unopened for a day, week, or month; if your hands have not been lifted for and extend time of pray for a day, week, or month, you are not embracing the key, not embracing Jesus, dooming yourself to sin.  Jesus, even told His disciples, “Keep watching and praying that you may not enter into temptation; the spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.” (Matthew 26:41)   That watching and praying is looking and seeking God in Scriptures and in deep prayer. Even Jesus says if you do not, you will enter into temptation.

My family, yesterday was Ash Wednesday and we are now in the 40 day season of Lent.  I pray you will use these next 40 days to recommit to grasping the key, grasping Jesus in extended daily times in The Word and prayer. I pray you will seek the power of the Holy Spirit in you life so you can live in your salvation today.  In Jesus’s name.  Please pray the same for me.  God bless you my friends!

I never intended this morning Blog to be a one way conversation, but one that encourages responses and reflection from those reading to bless me and others as well. I encourage you to share your reflections and prayers with us on this blog in the comment box below on this page.

 

Gary Liederbach- Lead Follower

One Direction Community

Email: garyl@onedirection.community

Website:https://www.onedirection.community

Facebook: One Direction Community-ODC

Begin The Year With 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!  

 

http://www.easytithe.com/dl/?uid=onepob279

1 Comment

With Terrified Eyes They Will See Jesus, and Tremble With Fear!

1 Comment

With Terrified Eyes They Will See Jesus, and Tremble With Fear!

I begin my day lifting the name of Jesus for the name of Jesus is the weapon I will use to fight my battles today.

Acts 19:13-16" But also some of the Jewish exorcists, who went from place to place, attempted to name over those who had the evil spirits the name of the Lord Jesus, saying, "I adjure you by Jesus whom Paul preaches."  Seven sons of one Sceva, a Jewish chief priest, were doing this.  And the evil spirit answered and said to them, "I recognize Jesus, and I know about Paul, but who are you?"  And the man, in whom was the evil spirit, leaped on them and subdued all of them and overpowered them, so that they fled out of that house naked and wounded."

The song, "There is power in the name of Jesus, to break every chain..." came to my mind as i read this chapter.  There is power in Jesus.   In the battlefield of spiritual warfare,  claiming the name of Jesus, claiming the power of Jesus, claiming to be in Jesus through the presence of the Holy Spirit in you is the ultimate weapon.  But the Holy Spirit is a consuming fire.  He is not a lap dog that you can beckon to come and go, and there is nothing domesticated about Him.  There is nothing domesticated about Jesus. So you do not "play" with The Holy Spirt or flippantly throw out the name of Jesus.  Like handling a powerful, explosive weapon, there is a sense of awe, respect, and fear involved  

 When I went to Darfur in Sudan, Africa, the region was then and still is now a extremely dangerous and violent region.  Some team members requested permission to carry a hand gun.  We were told you can bring a hand gun, but once you carry one, in the view of the military forces in the area you are no longer a civilian on a mission trip, you are a soldier on a mission, and the enemy do not play around.  You do not carry it for show.  If you are going to carry a gun, you better make sure in your inner being that you are willing to use it, without hesitation on another human being because the Islamic military personnel will not even blink an eye at using their weapons on you.

    What you need to understand, is that when you accept Christ into your life and your call to participate in and grow a church and choose to carry a cross, the way you are viewed in the worlds eye is changed.  You are no longer a civilian in the world’s economic and political system empathetic and selfishly withdrawn and docile. To Satan, the Ruler of the World (John 16:11), you are viewed as a soldier under the command of Jesus your Lord. You enter into the battle field of spiritual warfare.  And just as real and plain as my Darfur illustration, is the seriousness and the life and death consequences of your decision.  You do not carry a cross and follow Jesus for “show” or for “status.” We are trying to take back territory and communities from the enemy.  We are trying to liberate families and individuals from Satan’s rule.  We are part of the revolution of Christ. If you are going to carry a cross you need embrace the serious military and spiritual warfare implications of Ephesians 6:10-18.  Take seriously its call to put on the full armor of God and arm yourself with the sword of the spirit.  For there is an enemy who has come to kill, steal and destroy (Jn 21:25) who also will not blink an eye in using weapons at his disposal on you.  He wants nothing more to see good hearted people get hurt and hurt each other.  Press into Jesus who's battle it is and who's victory it is.  So when the evil spirits look at you, with terrified eyes they will see Jesus, and tremble with fear.

Prayers:

Pray and reflect on,”If were one of the 7 brothers in the story in vs 13-16 and the evil spirit looked at you, would he recognize you by your obedience and walk in life as a disciple of Christ?”

Pray into a full understanding of your answering “yes” to your call to follow Christ.  Not that all the details and timings involved in it need to be made known.  But an understanding of the new view as a cross bearer for Christ you now have in the world's eyes.

Read Ephesians 6:10-18, pray yourself into the full armor of God.  Then close your eyes and visualize the victorious Christ reigning in your family, your neighborhood, and Huntsville and Madison.

Read Ephesians 6:19-20.  Pray those two verses over yourself, and each member of ODC, Toney, and your church.  Pray then also right now, over 5 people you know who are Gospel bearers in their community..

Please share your reflections on your time in Acts 19 in the comments box below.

I have included Ephesians 6:10-20 below.   I spent time reading through it and added to it other verses in Scripture that support its message.  Read through it and meditate on it as you have time.

Ephesians 6:10-20 (in italics) with corresponding Scriptures inserted.

“Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might.

  • “No unbelief made him waver concerning the promise of God, but he grew strong in his faith as he gave glory to God, fully convinced that God was able to do what he had promised.” Romans 4:20-21

  • “You then, my child, be strengthened by the grace that is in Christ Jesus” 2Tim 2:1

  • “I write to you, fathers, because you know him who is from the beginning. I write to you, young men, because you are strong, and the word of God abides in you, and you have overcome the evil one.” 1 John 2:14

Put on

  • “I put on righteousness, and it clothed me; my justice was like a robe and a turban.” Job 29:14

  • “The night is far gone; the day is at hand. So then let us cast off the works of darkness and put on the armor of light.” Rom. 13:12

the whole armor of God,

  • “For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds.” 2 Cor.10:4

that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil.  

  • “so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes.” Eph 4:14

For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood,

  • “He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son” Col. 1:13

but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. 

  • “When I was with you day after day in the temple, you did not lay hands on me. But this is your hour, and the power of darkness.” Luke 22:53

  • "in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience” Eph 2:2

Therefore take up the whole armor of God,

  • “Since therefore Christ suffered in the flesh, arm yourselves with the same way of thinking, for whoever has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin” 1 Pe 4:1

that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm.

  • “making the best use of the time, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is.” Eph. 5:16-19

Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth,

  • “Therefore, preparing your minds for action, and being sober-minded, set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ” 1 Pet. 1:13

“Righteousness shall be the belt of his waist,

  • and faithfulness the belt of his loins.” Isa. 11:5

  • Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” John 14:6

and having put on the breastplate of righteousness,

  • “I will greatly rejoice in the Lord; my soul shall exult in my God, for he has clothed me with the garments of salvation; he has covered me with the robe of righteousness,” Isa 61:10

  • “He put on righteousness as a breastplate, and a helmet of salvation on his head; he put on garments of vengeance for clothing, and wrapped himself in zeal as a cloak.” Isa 59:17

and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace.

  • “How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him who brings good news, who publishes peace, who brings good news of happiness, who publishes salvation,” Isa 52:7

  • “And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!” Rom 10:15

In all circumstances take up the shield of faith,

  • “For everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith.” 1Joh 5:4

with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one;  and take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God,

  • “For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.“ Heb 4:12

  • “He made my mouth like a sharp sword; in the shadow of his hand he hid me; he made me a polished arrow; in his quiver he hid me away.” Isa 49:2

praying at all times

  • "And he told them a parable to the effect that they ought always to pray and not lose heart" Lk. 18:1

 in the Spirit,

  • "But you, beloved, building yourselves up in your most holy faith and praying in the Holy Spirit" Jude 1:20. "Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words." Romans 8:26

 with all prayer and supplication.

  • "Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving. At the same time, pray also for us, that God may open to us a door for the word, to declare the mystery of Christ, on account of which I am in prison— that I may make it clear, which is how I ought to speak" Col 4:2-4

To that end keep alert with all perseverance,

  • "But concerning that day or that hour, no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. Be on guard, keep awake. For you do not know when the time will come. It is like a man going on a journey, when he leaves home and puts his servants in charge, each with his work, and commands the doorkeeper to stay awake." Mark 13:32-34

 making supplication for all the saints,

  • "First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people," 1 Tim 2:1

 and also for me, that words may be given to me in opening my mouth

  • "At the same time, pray also for us, that God may open to us a door for the word, to declare the mystery of Christ, on account of which I am in prison—" Col. 4:3. "Finally, brothers, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may speed ahead and be honored, as happened among you," 2Th. 3:1

boldly to proclaim

  • "And now, Lord, look upon their threats and grant to your servants to continue to speak your word with all boldness," Acts 4:29

 the mystery of the gospel, 

  • "how the mystery was made known to me by revelation, as I have written briefly." Eph. 3:3

for which I am an ambassador

  • Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God" 2Cor. 5:20

 in chains, that I may declare it boldly, as I ought to speak."

  • "For this reason, therefore, I have asked to see you and speak with you, since it is because of the hope of Israel that I am wearing this chain.” Acts 28:20

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

Begin The Year With 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!  

 


1 Comment

Persecution and Suffering

1 Comment

Persecution and Suffering


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

 All of the 12 disciples ended up enduring persecution and suffering.

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

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

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

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

·      Andrew: the bashful brother of Peter, he did not end up bashful.  He became a missionary to many lands.  He was the first missionary to Russia, The cythians, probably the most barbaric people of the first century. Andrew might have been martyred in Achaia or Patrae, both of which are places in the western part of Greece. According to the Catholic Encyclopedia, It is generally agreed that he was crucified by order of the Roman Governor, Aegeas or Aegeates, at Patrae in Achaia. Taken under arrest and scourged by 7 men with rods. And then he was bound, not nailed, to the cross, in order to prolong his sufferings. The cross on which he suffered is commonly held to have been an X shaped cross, the decussate cross, now known as St. Andrew's Cross.  His crucifixion martyrdom took place during the reign of Nero, on the 30th November, A.D. 60.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Do nothing.

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

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

Continue To build and live in nice, comfortable homes with back decks, but hang a cross on an interior wall.

Continue to invest, in wear, and advertise materialism to the world, but wear a gold cross hidden under your shirt.

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

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

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

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

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

But then nothing will ever come of your faith.

 

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

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

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

  • Everyone who was martyred could have avoided it.

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

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

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

My family, I pray today that you as an individual and we as a church can embrace lives of faith in which Jesus is worthy of it all.  Pray and ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to you what that looks like in your life and us as a community of faith. In Jesus’ name. Please pray the same for me. God bless you my friends!

Please share your reflections to this post or the verses and reflections the Holy Spirit led you into in Acts 12.

 Gary Liederbach- Lead Follower

One Direction Community

Email: garyl@onedirection.community

Website:https://www.onedirection.community

Facebook: One Direction Community-ODC

Begin The Year With 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!  


 

1 Comment

"Oil Flowing From A Bible"

2 Comments

"Oil Flowing From A Bible"

I begin my week surrendering my will to your Lordship Jesus to align myself with your will and receive your power and protection.

Yesterday morning I did not post a reflection blog. It is beaus I got up at 4:30am, and left at 5:30am, and I took myself and 4 other guys and we drove two and a half hours to Dalton, Ga to attend the Tuesday morning weekly prayer, worship and healing gathering. I have attend these gatherings in Dalton several times.  At the gathering was a large, clear, 4 or 5 gallon tub with a Bible in it that oil is slowly flowing out of and fills the container.  The oil is flowing out of it at the rate of 1 ½-2 gallons a week. You can get more complete details on this story at this website; https://hisnameisflowingoil.org/story-of-the-oil/  There were around 200 people from all over that came to the gathering.  Word of this miracle are spreading and there were people there who drove up from Florida and drove down from Michigan to attend. All were allowed to dip their fingers in the oil and then spent time worshipping and laying hands and praying over each other.  I felt the presence of God in the room.  Many people including myself were prayed and prophesized over and received words from God.   All were given vials of oil to take home and I would guess around 500 vials were handed out.

I have been asked by several people my thoughts on the oil.  If I believed it was a miracle or not and if the oil held special healing powers. Here are my reflections on the oil and the gatherings. 

I believe that the oil is flowing out of the Bible is a miracle.  That God is allowing oil to flow from this Bible for the anointing of his people.  Do I believe there is special healing powers in the actual oil itself, yes and no.  Let me explain. The oil was created by a miracle of God, the same as yours and my creation are also a miracle of God.  What is a greater miracle that is harder to explain; oil that is created and flowing out of a Bible, or life that is created and comes out of a womb?   The oil that is miraculously flowing into the container is just that, oil.  It has no power of its own sitting in the container. When I dip my fingers into the oil and it covers my hands and runs down my arms I am not necessarily overcome by any special feeling.  What it did was focus my hands, my mind and my heart on God and his presence and I went into a time of deep worship and prayer.  And as I allowed others to lay hands on me and anoint me with oil, and as I laid hands on other and did the same, the Holy Spirit was activated and active and present among us and we felt the presence of the healing and restoring power of God among us.  A man named Jerry prayed over me and I felt the Holy Spirit in an amazing way. The oil in itself was not what healed people and from which prophetic words flowed from, however it was the catalyst which brought living tabernacles of the presence of the Holy Spirit together in prayer.

Is God using the oil to bring revival and healing?  Absolutely.  Why on a Tuesday afternoon did 200 people from across the country drive, for us two and a half others, for some six-ten hours, to attend a gathering to pray?  As that in itself is a miracle.  It was to see the oil.  It brought people together hungry and expecting to see God.  As the gathering began, people shared testimonies of healing and restoration that occurred in people they anointed with oil and prayed over.  These testimonies further increased the expectancy and anticipation of those gathered that God would move among them that night and instilled an atmosphere in which the Holy Spirit was invited and encouraged to move and be present.  When the gathering ended, as I mentioned earlier, around 500 vials of oil were handed out to people as they left.  And those who left, while receiving the vials, where excitingly naming the people they were going to anoint with the oil and pray over: parents, siblings, children, neighbors, co-workers and church members.  If each vial of oil can anoint around 40 people, then it leads to the possibility of 20,000 people that are going to have hands laid on them and anointed with oil and prayers.  All that flowing out of one Tuesday morning gathering is a miracle. 

I believe God is making oil flow from the Bible to gather, remind, and encourage his people to excitedly and expectantly give and receive the power and presence of the Holy Spirit among each other.  God has always desired that his people gather together in his presence and power and then to "go" and bring his power and presence to others.  And He is quite aware of the decline not only of the numbers of those gathering in churches in the U.S., but the decline of the expectancy of the power and presence of God in His churches by those that are gathering in His churches.   And if He has to miraculously make oil flow out of a Bible into a large Tupperware container to get people to gather, then He will.  Which leads me to the questions, Why is that?

To be honest, the only reason we drove two and a half hours to Dalton, Ga to this gathering was to see the oil. To see the oil is why 95% of the people gathered yesterday morning.  If it was posted on social media that there was going to simply be a prayer and worship gathering yesterday at the same location, we would not have drove there, and very few of the others that attended would have either.  And that convicts me.  Why do we need a “Draw” to gather us, besides the opportunity to pray, worship and experience the presence of God together?  Why do we need the draw of either a well known praise and worship band, a well known speaker or author, an amazing theatrical performance or pro presenter presentation, a comfortable venue or other catalyst.  Why do we need a Tupperware container full of oil?

I am also convicted: Why do we need “special vials of oil” from God to encourage us and get us excited about laying hands and praying over those in our community?  We who call Jesus Lord are all vessels of the very presence of God in the Holy Spirit.  Its is that inward presence, power and anointing of the Holy Spirit that flows from us, that the act of outward anointing of oil represents. 

So again, is the oil a miraculous sign from God, yes.   However, I am convinced if that tub of oil was not our "draw" and not present yesterday, and that the same 200 people who gathered together yesterday morning, gathered together with the same excitement and expectancy, and worshipped together, laid hands on each other and anointed each other with whatever oil they had in their pocket, spoke healing words and prophetic words over each other, the some powerful presence of the Holy Spirit would have fallen on that warehouse.  And if all those gathered left without being given a vial of oil, but with the same excitement and expectancy to lay hands on and pray over loved ones, friends, and neighbors, the same healing renewal and rival would take place.  I think this is the main point God is trying to remind and restore in His Church through the flowing oil.  I believe God allows it to flow to encourage and remind his people of His active presence in the world, and more importantly, in each of us.  And God will continue the oil to flow until it stops becoming a referent to His presence and glory and we make an idol of it, which we as people always inevitably do.  As Gog is the one in control, He could stop the oil from flowing at any time.  I would encourage you to go attend a gathering in possible.

My family, I pray today you understand and realize that the simple “Draw” of the opportunity to pray, lay hands on, and worship together in the presence  of the Holy  Spirit is enough.  That you will make it the center of why you gather and you will excitedly and expectantly seek these simple yet powerful gatherings together.  In prayer may the Holy Spirit remind you that you are a vessel of the very presence of God and that your were created to pour out onto and anoint those around you with His healing and grace, and go and do it today.  In Jesus’ name.  Please pray the same for me.  God bless you my friends! 

Please share your thoughts and comments and my blog below in the comment box.

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!   

2 Comments

"Why Jesus Would Not Attend Your Church's Harvest Festival"

8 Comments

"Why Jesus Would Not Attend Your Church's Harvest Festival"

Or Three practical ways to be missional this halloween

Halloween is coming upon us. This week I will be getting my Halloween decorations out of my attic and decorating my yard for our annual Halloween yard party. It’s interesting to me that for many this becomes a “hot button” topic to discuss. I was sitting in the Waffle House yesterday morning talking with a couple Christians at the bar.  Our talk over coffee came to Halloween.  One man stated how he hate's Halloween and went on to explain why.  I was driving with another Christian the other day and they stated how their family does not do Halloween.

 So today I want to address the question: Should we as Christians engage in Halloween or should we abstain? I am copying and pasting allot of this blog from a similar blog I posted last year at Halloween. In actuality if you start reading about Halloween’s roots, it’s hard to find an answer of where it came from. But, regardless of where it comes from, the question at hand should be: Why is Halloween celebrated today?  For most of us, Halloween isn’t a time where we celebrate the dead and go and skin a goat and sacrifice it to Satan.  For most of us, it’s a time to dress up our kids as a super hero and send them to strangers’ houses to get free candy.

It has become just part of our culture in the West and has very little to do with the “darkness”…it’s not good, it’s not evil…it’s just something we celebrate, like the 4th of July.  I know we might have stories of darkness, but there are also many stories of overdrinking and evil happening on our other holidays as well.

The whole of the Bible talks of God bringing reconciliation and redemption to all things back to himself.  To bring peace to all things.  Not only that but Paul speaks (1 Cor 8) to us about pagan festivals and says that there is nothing in them that is powerful, because there is only one God and everything and everyone comes through him and are because of him.

Paul then talks about eating food sacrificed to idols…saying…it’s no big deal, unless you have a brother who would be deeply hurt by it because they struggle with the idol and eating of that meat because they actually used to do those things.

Here’s how to contextualize for Halloween: If you have a brother who used to worship Satan and they used to sacrifice goats and drink its blood, then it might be a good idea to walk through Halloween with them and whether or not it would make that brother stumble.  This does NOT mean, if you have a brother who thinks it’s merely wrong to celebrate Halloween then you should put it to the side. That’s never the intent with any of the passages of making a brother stumble…if that was the case, many of us would be in sin because of all the things we do that make other Christians merely uncomfortable.  Jesus was not about making people comfortable.

And Jesus would have made many people stumble with the life that he led around sinners as he ate and drank (yep wine) with them.  Again…making a brother stumble and making a brother uncomfortable are completely separate issues.

With all that said, what are we to do with Halloween?  If we are to look to redeem Halloween, what does that mean?  If we are to do all things to the glory of God, what does that look for Halloween?

First, a few things you should probably STOP doing:

1.  Dressing your kid up as St. Paul or Moses to try to prove a point.

2.  Calling the Halloween Party at your church building a “Harvest Festival.” It is like an atheist calling a “Christmas Party” a “Holiday Party.”  It’s just calling the elephant in the room a squirrel and it’s weird.  

3. Taking all your people away from their neighborhoods and into your building.

4.  Wrapping a tract around an apple and handing it out to the kids who are trick or treating and calling it “evangelizing”

None of these things redeem anything, but just add to the notion that Christians want to be apart from the world and create their own subculture.  Instead, let’s be like Jesus and celebrate it like he would have.

When we look at the life of Jesus and our God, we see that they always pursued the sinner and the world.  They loved us right where we were and engaged us in the ways that we’d understand who God is and what He has done.

Not only that, but Jesus used the everyday celebrations as a way to build relationships so he could speak into the lives of those around him.  He was continually at parties.  So much so, that when Matthew was called to follow Jesus, it seemed normal to Matthew to invite Jesus and all the apostles back to his house to party with all his “sinner” friends. (Matthew 9:9,10; Mark 2:14-17) People knew that Jesus was about celebrating, he was about truth, he was also about pursuing and about building relationships with people. With that in mind, how can we then show people THAT Jesus to our communities during Halloween?

1. Be THAT House

You know “that” house.  When you were a kid and you went to a house and said “trick or treat” and they handed you a full size candy bar, it was like winning the lottery.  It was such good news, you’d tell strangers dressed up like a clown zombie where to find the goods.  Everyone knew that house in the neighborhood and if you didn’t have one in your neighborhood, you’d travel what seemed to be miles to get to that house. Be THAT house.  We have been blessed to be a blessing.  Think about how this shows people the Father.  Everyone is expecting to get a small fun size bar.  It’s what they’ve earned by dressing up and having the courage to knock on your door and say “trick or treat.” What they know they haven’t earned is a full size candy bar…it speaks to this idea of grace and blessing.

You don’t need to tell the kids this, but it starts to tell the story of what your house is about to the neighbors.  It tells a different story than what they expect or are used to and this is exactly the story of the gospel. Spend the extra cash to make that happen.  If you can’t afford it, get your Missional Community to all pitch in.  Ask your church to put it in the budget for next year…whatever you gotta do…be that house! You’ll be amazed at what doors that opens with your neighbors.

2. Be a Welcoming Presence

If our God is about pursuit, blessing and welcoming then what would it look like to be about pursuit on Halloween?  How about instead of staying inside your house, be in the driveway or front porch.  I know this isn’t available for everyone because of weather, but what would it look like in your neighborhood for people to feel welcomed to come to your house and feel blessed by it?

For The Liederbach's, we are going to have fire pit in our front yard. We will be cooking hot dogs over the fire and making s’mores.  We put invitations in all our neighbors mailboxes.  Last year we had over 280 kids trick or treat our house and over 100 or so hang out and cook a hot dog or s’more.  It’s a way for us to come together and hang out and bless our neighborhood.  It shows that we are more than about handing out candy, but we are here to bless their entire family and in a sense, welcome you into our lives.

Again, it shows something quite different than every other house.  Last year a father with three young kids came up with them to our front porch to get candy.  The father said, “The kids all discussed before we headed out they wanted to go to this house last. Save the best for last!  Plus once we come her we usually hang out awhile.”  The kids put candy in their bags then they headed towards the fire pit and fun. We have been doing this for 5 years and the neighborhood now expects it and people come and hang out and have a great time meeting their neighbors.

If you can’t be outside, how can you bless the families that are walking around your neighborhood?  Maybe offer coffee, tea, hot chocolate, etc. to the parents and trick or treaters that come to your door.  Again…think, “How can I be a blessing and show that we are a welcoming and pursuing people like our Dad?”

3. Celebrate

It is not secret that Jesus loved to party.  So much so, that people kept inviting him to parties.  Pretty amazing to think about.   If we have a Dad in heaven that loves us and accepts us, not for what we do or have done, but because of what his Son has done for us and now we are heirs to the throne of heaven…don’t we have the most to celebrate?

We should be defined as Jesus was defined: a glutton and drunkard.  He was celebrating so much that the religious saw him as a glutton and drunkard but the sinners and the world saw him as a dude that they’d like to hang with. Where have we gone wrong here?  Christians shouldn’t be the ones avoided for parties, but should be the ones that people are most excited to have come around because they bring the “better wine.”

We made it almost a rule in our house that if we are invited to a party…we are going and we are going to think through how we can bless that party as much as possible.   We are always invited to parties because of this. People know what Nancy and I are about, they know we love Jesus. But they also know that when we enter a room we won’t make it weird, but we hopefully make the room more enjoyable by being there.  We have literally had people say, “if Jesus is like this…he was a lot different than we’ve ever been told.”

If you aren’t invited to parties…this Halloween is a great time to throw one. Throw a costume party, a pumpkin carving party, a cookie decorating party, have a photo booth at the party, have a party with games for kids.  You can do all kinds of things for Halloween…it’s a party holiday.  By doing this, meaning throwing an awesome party, you start to show off something different about you as a follower of Jesus and showing off who Jesus was and what he was about.

He was about parties because that’s where people were and that’s where people connect and share stories and start and continue relationships.  Halloween is a really funny holiday when we think about it.  But, it’s a holiday that is so easy to build relationships and bless the community and start (or continue) to show off what our Dad is like.

If instead, we turn off our front porch lights, lock our doors, go to our church buildings and we have a “harvest festival” we show the world exactly what they’ve always seen about our God.  He is closed off, judgmental and waits for us to come to him.  This isn’t our Dad…he is quite different.  He is welcoming, he is gracious and merciful and he pursues us and can’t wait to celebrate with us. Don’t use this holiday to make a point.  Use this holiday to point to the true reason we all get to celebrate and bless…Jesus.

My guess is that if Jesus lived in our neighborhood, everyone couldn’t wait to go to his house to see what he was going to hand out this year.  Everyone would be excited to go to Jesus’ Halloween party and couldn’t wait to invite him over to their party.   My only question I wonder is “Who would Jesus dress up as for Halloween?” Who knows…but you know it’d be a killer costume.

Please add your thoughts or questions in the comments box below.

Gary Liederbach-Lead Follower

One Direction Community

 My daily prayer is, “Lord send us the ones no one else wants.” Please give, support and partner with us as reach out to those in our community.

Photos from our neighborhood Halloween party last year. Click on and scroll through the photos.

8 Comments

"Where is He?"

Comment

"Where is He?"

Good morning, Lord Jesus. Be at the center of my heart and the center of my life. And give me the grace to live into all that means. 

We are on day 2 of our year-long journey of reading through the New Testament, looking at Matthew chapter 2.

"Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem, saying, 'Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? For we have seen His star in the East and have come to worship Him.... The star which they had seen in the East went before them, till it came and stood over where the young Child was. When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceedingly great joy. And when they had come into the house, they saw the young Child with Mary His mother, and fell down and worshiped Him. And when they had opened their treasures, they presented gifts to Him:  gold, frankincense, and myrrh" (Matthew 2:1-11).

The wise men were going to see the King. They followed His star and when they found Him they took Him into their hearts. They "rejoiced with exceedingly great joy!" They "fell down and worshiped Him" and "opened their treasures" before Him to offer their gifts to Him.

Lord Jesus, You are the King - "the blessed and only Sovereign, the King of kings and Lord of lords" (1 Timothy 6:15). Give me the wisdom to pursue You every day. Give me the humility to open the treasures of my heart and offer the gift of my life completely to You. As I worship You and welcome You into my heart and the moments of my day, Your Spirit will fill me with the peace of Christ and "with exceedingly great joy!" Let me be among those wise men and women who are ever seeking to see the King! In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

My family, I pray the Holy Spirit may stir in your heart this morning to go and see the King today and every day, giving Him the gift of your heart, as He fills you with His peace and exceedingly great joy, in Jesus' name!  Please pray the same for me. God bless you, my friends! 

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

 

JOIN IN!! We started yesterday beginning the journey of reading through the New Testament in a year. This plan has only one chapter to read each weekday. There are no assigned readings on the weekend.   The plan we will use is from Bibleplan.org.  Click the button below to go to the site, enter the starting date Sept. 17. 2018, enter your email, and a time you want to receive an email reminder, then click subscribe.  Every weekday then you will receive an email reminder of the chapter reading for that day. 

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!  

Comment

"Hunger For More"

Comment

"Hunger For More"

Good morning, Lord Jesus. Help me hear Your heart and live into it today -- Father, Son, and Holy Spirit of God.  ...

"You show me the path of life. In Your presence there is fullness of joy; in Your right hand are pleasures forevermore" (Psalm 16:11).

With You in my heart and my heart in You, there are pleasures "forevermore." There is fullness of joy, fullness of peace, fullness of the abundance of life, just as You said, "I came that you may have life, and have it abundantly" (John 10:10). In You, there is "forevermore" and in You, there is "forever more."

I ask for more. More of You, more of Your Spirit, more of Your joy, more of Your peace, more of Your love, more of Your power, more of the fullness and abundance of Your life in me. "How much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him" (Luke 11:13). All of Your "more" is all by the extravagant gift of Your grace. And You are the God who always "gives all the more grace" (James 4:6). Your gifts are always "a good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over" (Luke 6:38).

So give me a holy hunger for more -- an unquenchable thirst and insatiable desire for more of all You desire for me. "Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled" (Matthew 5:6). Your kingdom is within me; and of Your kingdom, there shall be "no end" (Luke 17:21 and 1:33).

Let me settle for nothing less than the "forever more" of all You have for me. "As it is written, 'What no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor human heart conceived, what God has prepare for those who love Him!" (1 Corinthians 2:9). "Forevermore," You're always giving "forever more!" In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

My family, I pray you forevermore experience your heavenly Father's forever more in all He desires and has prepared for you in good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over, in Jesus' name. Please pray the same for me. God bless you, my friends!

 Join us in our hunger for more!  Starting this Monday September 17th we are beginning the journey of reading through the New Testament in a year. This plan has only one chapter to read each weekday. There are no assigned readings on the weekend.  Use that time for other studies or to catch back up on chapters you may have missed during the week. The plan we will use is from Bibleplan.org. The website address for it is https://bibleplan.org/plans/new-testament-in-a-year/ or you can get to it by clicking the button below.  Go to the site, enter the starting date Sept. 17. 2018, enter your email, and a time you want to receive an email reminder, then click subscribe.  Every weekday then you will receive an email reminder of the chapter reading for that day.

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!  

Write here… 



 

 

 

Comment

"In their Homes"

Comment

"In their Homes"

And they devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. And awe came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles. And all who believed were together and had all things in common. …And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved.” (Acts 2: 42-47) 

Last night we had a church service where we worshipped, prayed, Baptized 3 people, shared the Lord’s Supper, and shared a pot-luck agape feast afterward.  This gathering did not take place in a church sanctuary and fellowship hall, but my back yard.   The amazing image given above of the powerful movement of the Holy Spirit in the early  life and birth of Christianity gives us this description  of “church.”  “attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes,”(v.46)   

The gathering of believers did include periodic times spent in a public place of worship, “attending the temple together”.  This was for a gathering of corporate worship.  To share and hear stories  of how God was working in other peoples lives , to receive teaching, and to be encouraged in their sharing of the Gospel of Jesus to their neighbors.  The gathering of believers also included meeting in peoples homes, “breaking bread in their homes.”  It was here, around a dinner table and in a living in the intimate and real sharing of their love and struggles of living life for Christ where their faith was forged and they were formed into disciples of Jesus.  

Discipleship does not take place in an hour Sunday morning service. I am going to be be bold enough to speak the truth that you cannot become a disciple of Christ if all you do is attend a Sunday morning church service The intimate sharing, modeling, and pressing into our calling that is required in forming disciples cannot take place in a lecture-type setting with 40, 200, 500, 1,000 or more people.  As the Scriptures tell us, public worship is an important part of the discipleship process, however it is only one part of the process.  A part that has become the complete image of what  “church” is for most Christians today.

As believers we tithe a portion of our resources to be used for the spreading of the Gospel and “adding to the number those saved.”  However tithing a percentage of your resources does not just apply to what you put in a basket passed around, it applies to your major resource, your home.  We are all called to tithe a portion of our home, to open it up and give it to God to use for his glory.  How are you using your home for spreading the Gospel? Who are you inviting into your home to share the love of Jesus and make disciples?  There are neighborhood kids, and youth you can invite in to start mentoring. A co-worker, classmate, gym member to ask over to read the Bible together. Invite a couple or two from your church over your house to share Christ in your life together.  Church gatherings are not just something you find in a church calendar, but in your home or apartment.

My family, I pray this morning as you read this, many of you in your home or apartment, you will offer that space up to God to use for his kingdom, and pray for the Holy Spirit to place the names or faces of those you are to invite into you home,  then act on it. In Jesus’ name!  Please pray the same for me.  God bless you my friends!

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

IMG_8020.jpeg
IMG_8022.jpeg
IMG_8017.jpeg

 

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!  

 


 

 

Comment

Bride vs Babylon

Comment

Bride vs Babylon

Good morning, Lord Jesus. I seek to humble my heart in worship and prayer to begin my day embraced by my Father, centered in Christ, and filled with Your Holy Spirit.  ...

"The Lord says, 'Come away! Flee from Babylon in the land of the north, for I have scattered you to the four winds. Come away, people of Zion, you who are exiled in Babylon! ... The Lord says, 'Shout and rejoice, O beautiful Jerusalem, for I am coming to live among you!" (Zechariah 2:6-10 NLT)

We live out our faith every day in the midst of the Babylonian world around us. It's a world that encourages pride rather than humility, self-promotion rather than preferring one another, building our own kingdoms instead of seeking first Your kingdom. Like in the days of the tower of Babel, the mindset of our world is to exalt ourselves in our own power and wisdom, insisting on our own ways in rebellion to Yours (Genesis 11:1-9). And so we are scattered -- scared and insecure even as we outwardly project our false confidence in the allusion of our control apart from trusting submission to the Lordship of Christ.

But You say, "Come away with Me! Come trust in Me; come yield to Me! My ways are good; My yoke is easy; My burden in light. Come find rest for your souls. As you humble yourselves in My sight, I will lift you up!" ...

Bring us out of Babylon! Deliver us from the spirit of Babylon and fill us with the Spirit of the Bride! (Revelation 21:9)  "Christ loved the church and gave Himself up for her, in order to make her holy by cleansing her with the washing of water by the Word, so as to present the church to Himself in splendor, without a spot or wrinkle or anything of the kind -- yes, so that she may be holy and without blemish" (Ephesians 5:25-27). "Let us be glad and rejoice, and let us give honor to Him. For the time has come for the wedding feast of the Lamb, and His bride has prepared herself!" (Revelation 19:7 NLT 

Father God, thank You for sending Your Holy Spirit to prepare the bride of Christ. Come, Holy Spirit. Call us out and fill us up! Come, Lord Jesus! "The Spirit and the bride say, 'Come!" (Revelation 22:17) And we embrace the hope and promise of Your Word, "He who is the faithful witness to all these things say 'Yes, I Am coming soon!" (Revelation 22:20) So in faith we respond with the final words of Your Word:  "Amen! Come, Lord Jesus! May the grace of the Lord Jesus be with God's holy people!" (Revelation 22:20-21) In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

My family,  I pray you are filled afresh with the Holy Spirit of the living God this morning and set free from the spirit of Babylon that surrounds you. Through the Holy Spirit may you be made ready and prepared as the bride of Christ  in Jesus' name! Please pray the same for me. God bless you, my friends!

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

 

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!  

 

 

 

 

 

 

Comment

"I've got the Joy, Joy, Joy, Joy...."

1 Comment

"I've got the Joy, Joy, Joy, Joy...."

"Let all who take refuge in You rejoice; let them ever sing for joy. Spread Your protection over them, so that those who love Your name may exult in You. For You bless the righteous, O Lord; You cover them with favor as with a shield" (Psalm 5:11-12).

When I was at the Waffle House bar the other morning, the lady sitting next to me turned to me and asked me what I do for a living. I told her I am in Community Development.  I don’t tell anyone I am a pastor in the beginning, as when I do, They will, put out their cigarettes, pour out their beer, change the way they talk, and just act weird!  The lady said, "Well, you just seem like a genuinely happy person." I thanked her and smiled and told her that was really nice to hear. 

I know, I probably should have invited her to church or led her to Jesus or offered to minister healing and deliverance or something; but honestly, at that moment, I was just thinking about what a great blessing You've given me. I thank You, Lord, because You're the One who gave me that joy. Despite everything I've ever been through, and You know I have been through allot, You've never let my joy be taken from me. I'm genuinely joyful because You've put that joy in me. It's like the Sunday School song says:  "I've got the joy, joy, joy, joy, down in my heart to stay." I like that other verse too -- "And if the devil doesn't like it, like it, like it, like it, he can sit on a tack today!" --or something like that. 

Even when I was a general contractor, I loved to joke and laugh." I've still got my old jokes and I've still got my laugh! But Your joy has always been my strength (Nehemiah 8:10). And Your joy has always been at the heart of my experience of You and the growing fulfillment of Your kingdom in my life. "For the kingdom of God is ... righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit" (Romans 14:17). 

You've allowed me to see one of the great purposes of Your words of Spirit and life are "so that (Your) joy may be in (me), and that (my) joy may be complete" as I learn to obey You and abide in You (John 15:10-11). And even though on our daily, spiritual journey through this broken and fallen world "(we) have pain now ... (but at the same time, our) hearts will rejoice, and no one will take (our) joy from (us)" as we live out our days in the conscious awareness of Your Presence (John 16:22-24). "You show me the path of life. In Your Presence there is fullness of joy; in Your right hand are pleasures forevermore!" (Psalm 16:11) 

You're the God who makes us genuinely joyful! You take all our sins, what can be more Joyous than that? You remove our sorrows to give us freedom and joy to display Your glory through our lives. "(You) give (us) beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that (we) may be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that He may be glorified!" (Isaiah 61:3 NKJV) In You, You fulfill in us the promise of Your Word: "The ransomed of the Lord shall return, and come to Zion with singing; everlasting joy shall be upon their heads; they shall obtain joy and gladness, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away!" (Isaiah 35:10) Thank You, Jesus! In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

My family, I pray this Monday, you begin your weekday genuinely joyful, that the joy of the Lord may be your strength, and that no one can take your joy from you, in Jesus' name! Please pray the same for me. God bless you, my friends!

Please share your reflections on joy 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!  

 

 

1 Comment

"Mighty in Battle"

1 Comment

"Mighty in Battle"

Good morning, Lord Jesus. Be at the center of my thoughts and desires, of all I say and do, and of every moment of my day. ...

"Lift up your heads, O gates! and be lifted up, O ancient doors! that the King of glory may come in. Who is the King of glory? The Lord, strong and mighty, the Lord, mighty in battle. Lift up your heads, O gates! and be lifted up, O ancient doors! that the King of glory may come in. Who is this King of glory? The Lord of hosts, He is the King of glory!" (Psalm 24:7-10)

I lift up my head to You in worship. I open up the gates of my heart to You in praise. I welcome You in, King of glory.

Strong and mighty One, come fill my spirit with Your Spirit. "You, O Lord, are a shield around me, my glory, and the One who lifts up my head" (Psalm 3:3). You are mighty in battle and majestic in Your glory. You've already defeated any enemy I will face today and You've already given me the victory through the deliverance of Your cross. "Deliverance belongs to the Lord; may Your blessing be on Your people!" (Psalm 3:8)

Your Word says, "The God of peace will shortly crush Satan under your feet!" (Romans 16:20). I claim this promise over my life this morning.  I claim this promise over anything that will try to rise up against me today. I claim my enemy is  under my feet because I'm standing in You and You are standing in me -- "Christ in (me), the hope of glory!" (Colossians 1:27) In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

My familyI pray you see the glory of the One who is mighty in battle defeating your enemies before you today, as you welcome the King of glory into your heart this morning and every moment of your day, in Jesus' name! Please pray the same for me. God bless you, my friends!

Please share your reflections and prayers God battling for you 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

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!  

 

 

 

 

 

 

1 Comment

"Listen"

1 Comment

"Listen"

Good morning, Lord Jesus. I speak out Your name and listen for Your leading, for Your sheep hear Your voice and the children of God are led by the Spirit of God.  ...

"Listen to Me, O Jacob, and Israel, whom I called: I am He; I am the First, and I am the Last.... Assemble, all of you, and hear! ... Draw near to Me, hear this! From the beginning I have not spoken in secret, from the time it came to be I have been there. And now the Lord God has sent Me and His Spirit. Thus says the Lord, your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel:  I am the Lord your God, who teaches you for your own good, who leads you in the way you should go" (Isaiah 48:12-17).

Lord, teach me how to listen. Teach me how to humble my heart to watch for Your coming and listen for Your leading. Don't let my words get in Your way. Instead, let Your words of spirit and life enter me and effect me; let them transform me and renew me; let them teach me and lead me.  ...

As I listen this morning, it seem I hear You saying: "Listen, My beloved one. I form My thoughts in your mind and My desires in your heart, as you invite Me and embrace Me. This is how I form in you the mind of Christ. This is how I remove your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. This is how I make you more like Me every day. Give yourself completely over to Me and I am free to form My nature in you and express My nature through you." ...

Yes, Lord. I am transformed by the renewing of my mind and the softening of my heart by the moving of Your Spirit within me (Romans 12:2; Ezekiel 36:26). As I behold You in the worship of surrendering my soul and entrusting my heart to You and Your will and Your ways, You are changing me into Your "same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord" (2 Corinthians 3:18 ). 

In listening, I can hear. In yielding, I can follow. In surrendering, I am strengthened to become all You've created me to be, secure in my identity and fulfilling my destiny in You. So give me the grace to keep listening, to keep drawing near, to keep surrendering my soul and entrusting my heart -- morning by morning and moment by moment. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

My family, I pray this morning you draw near and listen to the Lord, surrounding your soul and entrusting your heart, be changed into His image from glory to glory -- morning by morning and moment by moment, in Jesus' name! Please pray the same for me. God bless you, my friends!

 

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

 

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!  

 

 

 

 

1 Comment

"Do You Desire Jesus?"

2 Comments

"Do You Desire Jesus?"

“Now Jesus went up the mountain and called for those he wanted, and they came to him. He appointed twelve (whom he named apostles), so that they would be with him and he could send them to preach and to have authority to cast out demons. He appointed twelve: To Simon he gave the name Peter; to James and his brother John, the sons of Zebedee, he gave the name Boanerges (that is, “sons of thunder”); and Andrew, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Thomas, James the son of Alphaeus, Thaddaeus, Simon the Zealot, and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed him.” (Mark 6:13-19)

Jesus called twelve people to be follow him, to be his disciples, to be members of his “church.” What was the first and most important thing Jesus required of them?  To spend time with him.  At the core of being a disciple, at being a follower of Jesus is  the necessity of spending time with Jesus and developing a deep relationship with Him.  

Jesus’ call of his disciples reveals three things. First, Jesus “called those he wanted” (v.13).  Jesus’ wanted and desired a close, personal friendship with his followers.  Jesus did not call them as a marketing plan or to hire workers. He did not call them with a “human resource model” like most churches of getting them to sign up to be greeters, ushers, parking lot greeters, childcare workers…and the list goes on.  He simply wanted to spend time with them.  Second, “they came to him.” (v.13)  The disciples attraction was simply Jesus.  It was not a program, building, or ministry.  They came and desired to spend time with Jesus.  Third, “So that they could be with him.”  Like Jesus’s desire for a close relationship with them, they desired a close relationship with Him.

The whole point of Jesus calling those to follow him was so that they could be with him. Yes, he wanted to “send them out to preach and cast out demons,” however all authority and power for them to be able to do this has its source and is only possible from a deep abiding relationship with Jesus.

What is the whole goal and purpose of being a follower of Jesus today? Why did he Jesus call you to follow him?   Because He wants you to spend time with Him.   At the core of Jesus calling of you is His desires to personally and intimately to spend time with you.  At the core of your Christian walk needs to be a desire to personally and intimately spend time with Jesus.   I have found as a Christian leader that if I do a service project of some sort people willingly show up to serve and work even though the tasks may be difficult and outside in hot conditions.  I have found that people willingly get up on Sunday mornings and get dressed, get in cars, and drive off to a church to attend a service.  However, I have found that getting people to spend time daily with Jesus: to sit comfortably on a couch in their pajamas with a cup of coffee or tea in their own home and read the Bible and pray, to desire to simply spend time with Jesus, is a struggle for them.

Yet “doing” things: attending church services, serving in a church or in a ministry, and teaching or leading a church event is not at the core of Jesus call of you, just as “doing” things was not at the core of the first group He called to follow Him.  It is “being” with Him.  You must first desire to be with Jesus before you can go out and do things for Jesus. The great commandment, to love God with all you heart, soul, mind, and strength ( Mark 12:30) comes before and is a pre-requisite to fulfilling the great commission, “Go and make disciples.” (Matt. 28:18-20)

Hear these haunting words from Jesus.  “On the Judgment Day, many people will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, didn’t we prophesy in your name and expel demons in your name and do lots of miracles in your name?’23 Then I’ll tell them, ‘I’ve never known you. Get away from me, you people who do wrong.’ (Matt. 7:22-23)

There is nothing myself or any other leader can do to get you to desire to spend time with Jesus.  There is nothing a spouse or parent can do to get their spouse or child to desire to spend time with Jesus.  There is nothing Jesus can do to make you desire to spend time with him.  As much as Jesus desires to be with you, he can’t make you spend time daily with Him in Scriptures and prayer. All he can do is call out to you, and expectantly await your response.

My family, I pray today as you begin your day you will come to realize that answering your call to follow Jesus is not centered on “doing” things for Jesus, but “being” with Jesus.  May you desire to be with the one who desires to be with you, Jesus Christ.  Please pray the same for me!  God bless you my friends!

Please share your reflections and prayers with me 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!  

 

 

2 Comments

"Change Me Today"

1 Comment

"Change Me Today"

Good morning, Lord Jesus. Let Your Word and Your Spirit have Their way in my life today.  

"It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing. The words that I speak to you are spirit, and they are life" (John 6:63).

This morning I continue my reflection this week on our identity in Christ.  Come, Holy Spirit. Fall afresh on me. Rise up within me. Renew me and revive me. Awaken me and anoint me. Flow into me and out of me. Inspire me and empower me and give me life -- the fullness of the abundance of life in Christ (John 10:10).

You are "the Spirit of Christ," making me more like Christ (Romans 8:9). You are "the Spirit of Jesus," making me more like Jesus (Acts 16:17; Philippians 1:19). You are "the Spirit of truth," making me desire to be one with the One who is the Truth -- "the Way, and the Truth, and the Life" (John 15:26; John 14:6). "For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set (me) free from the law of sin and death.... To set (my) mind on the flesh is death, but to set (my) mind on the Spirit is life and peace.... But (I am) not in the flesh; (I am) in the Spirit, since the Spirit of God dwells in (me)" (Romans 8:2-11).

Words of spirit and life, change me today. "The word of God abides in (me).... (I) have been anointed by the Holy One.... Let what (I) heard from the beginning abide in (me). If what (I) heard from the beginning abides in (me), then (I) will abide in the Son and in the Father. And this is what He has promised (me), eternal life" (1 John 2:14-20). Lord, let me live my life that way today and throughout my eternity. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

My family, I pray God's words of spirit and life abide in you and flow out of you to change who you are and the world around you today, in Jesus' name! Please pray the same for me. God bless you, my friends!

Please share your thoughts and reflections with me 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!

 

 

 

 

1 Comment

"Apple of My Eye"

1 Comment

"Apple of My Eye"

Good morning, Lord Jesus. King of kings and Lord of lords, be King of my heart and Lord of my life.  ...

"Truly, the one who touches you touches the apple of My eye" (Zechariah 2:8).

Last night at our house church we reflected on our identity and how we are to view ourselves and others in Christ.  Help me see myself as the apple of Your eye -- chosen, beloved, one in whom You delight. I'm created in Your image and called according to Your purpose. I am a child of God. And my Father is the Creator of heaven and earth, the sovereign Lord of my life, and the Lover of my soul.

You correct me and discipline me because You love me. You teach me and lead me because You want me to become all You created me to be, fully alive in You. And You are not pleased with anything that would harm me or hinder me from seeing and knowing the truth of my identity and the fulfillment of my destiny in You.

Help me see myself as You see me. Help me honor and respect myself as You honor and respect me. Help me love myself as You love me. You say to me each day, "I have loved you with an everlasting love; therefore I have continued My faithfulness to you" (Jeremiah 31:2). "The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases, His mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness" (Lamentations 3:22-23). If You love me so much, so should I. If You see me that way -- even as the apple of Your eye -- so should I. And so I will -- as best as I can and all by Your grace. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen. 

My family,I pray you see yourself as the apple of our Father's eye.  I pray you honor and respect yourself, and love yourself, just as your Father does, 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!

 

 

 

 

 

1 Comment

"Keeping It Real"

1 Comment

"Keeping It Real"

Good morning, Lord Jesus. You are welcome here in my heart and every moment of my day.  ...

"Since you have been raised to new life with Christ, set your sights on the realities of heaven where Christ sits in the place of honor at God's right hand. Think about the things of heaven, not the things of earth. For you died to this life, and your real life is hidden with Christ in God. And when Christ, who is your life, is revealed to the whole world, you will share in all His glory" (Colossians 3:1-4 NLT). 

"Real life" is in You. "Real life" is when I allow You to be my life -- when I'm abiding in You and allowing You to abide in me, when I'm trusting You to know what's best, when I'm following You into the fullness of my destiny in You, secure in my identity in You (John 15:4). "Real life" is when I wholeheartedly embrace the One who is "the way, the truth, and the life" -- holding nothing back from You and fully taking hold of You (John 14:6).

So as I begin my day, I can either set my sights on the things above or the things below. I can choose to see with the kingdom eyes of heaven or the eyes of earth.  I can chose the lens I filter things through as either Your perspective or the world's perspective. I can seek You first and Your kingdom and Your righteousness or I can seek to just go with the flow of the ways of the world around me or the ways of my flesh that are not yet crucified with Christ within me (Matthew 6:33; Galatians 2:20).

I choose You!  Holy Spirit help me choose you! I choose my "new life with Christ." I choose Your perspective, to live into my day with Your vision and Your heart, to walk in Your ways and Your will, as best as I can and all by Your grace. I choose "real life" in You. And in the amazing mystery of faith and grace, You choose to live Your life through me. "This is the secret:  Christ lives in (me). This gives (me) assurance of sharing His glory" (Colossians 1:27 NLT). In Jesus' name I pray. Amen. 

My family, I pray today you keep it real, choosing your real life in Christ and allowing Christ to live His life through you, in Jesus' name! Please pray the same for me. God bless you, my friends!

Please share your thoughts and reflections on "Real Life" 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 

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!

 

 

 

 

 

 

1 Comment

"With My Whole heart"

1 Comment

"With My Whole heart"

Good morning, Lord Jesus. By the moving of Your Holy Spirit, I come to You, my heavenly Father, through Jesus the Son, and give You the glory for all the great things You've done and for the great God You are.  ...

"With my whole heart I seek You.... Let Your steadfast love come to me, O Lord, Your salvation according to Your promise.... Remember Your word to Your servant, in which You have made me hope.... I implore Your favor with all my heart; be gracious to me according to Your promise.... Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.... Turn to me and be gracious to me, as is Your custom toward those who love Your name.... You are near, O Lord, and all Your commandments are true.... Let my cry come before You, O Lord; give me understanding according to Your word.... My lips will pour forth praise, because You teach me Your statutes. My tongue will sing of Your promise, for all your commandments are right" (Psalm 119:10-172).

O Lord, give me a love for Your ways, just as You've given me a trust in Your nature. Give me faith to believe You know what's best and give me courage to act according to the faith You give. "O that my ways may be steadfast in keeping Your statutes" (v. 5). "Happy are those who keep (Your) decrees, who seek (You) with their whole heart" (v. 2).

I admit I don't always follow Your ways from a faithful heart or honor Your statutes with a willing spirit or keep Your commandments in the way that expresses my trust in You as my wisest Father, loving Savior, and constant Companion. I admit I don't always seek You "with my whole heart." And those are the very places where I lose my peace and let go of my hope and allow my joy to fade away. That's no way to be; that's no way to live, when there's so much more of life and peace and joy in You and the wisdom of Your ways. "O that my ways may be steadfast in keeping Your statutes! (v. 5)

But by the power of Your grace at work within me, my part is not to do this in my power and strength or strong will and self-determination, trying to try harder and praying to pray harder. No, my part is to humble my heart and ask for Your help, to willingly choose to be desperately dependent on You alone. Then like a mighty rushing wind, You move in my heart to give me the desire and the power to seek You and trust You, to desire to obey You and then act in obedience to You (Philippians 2:13). 

My part is call on Your name, as I choose to trust in Your nature. "For You, O Lord, are good and forgiving, abounding in steadfast love to all who call on You" (Psalm 86:5). My part is set my mind and my heart on the things of Your Spirit, rather than the things of my flesh. "For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit. To set the mind of the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace" (Romans 8:5-6).

Come, Holy Spirit. Help me set my mind right, as You get my heart right. Give me the desire and the power to seek You with all my heart, "with my whole heart," so I can obey Your leading from my heart. I, of course, can't do it alone. And You never intended me to. That's why You are my Helper, just as God is my Father and Jesus is my Savior. How I need You today and every day. And O, how You're faithful to help me day after day -- especially on the days I deserve it the least.

As I finish this prayer this morning -- not even knowing where this came from or where this is going -- I hear in my heart Your reminder of one of my favorite promises of Your Word:  "But this I call to mind, and therefore I have hope:  The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases, His mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness. 'The Lord is my portion,' says my soul 'therefore I will hope in Him.' The Lord is good to those who wait for Him, to the soul that seeks Him" (Lamentations 3:21-25). In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

My family, I pray you'll empowered with the desire to seek the Lord with your whole heart, holding nothing back, going all-in, and embracing His steadfast love and tender mercies to live your life today filled with His joy and peace and favor, 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!

 

 

 

 

 

1 Comment

"The Perfect Prayer?"

3 Comments

"The Perfect Prayer?"

Good morning, Lord Jesus. First of all, I seek You -- Father, Son, and Holy Spirit of God.  I look to You, to worship and pray, to watch and wait, to listen as You lead, to begin my day fully surrendered to You, as best as I can and all by Your grace.  ...

"For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth takes its name. I pray that, according to the riches of His glory, He may grant that you may be strengthened in your inner being with power through His Spirit, and that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith, as you are being rooted and grounded in love. I pray that you may have the power to comprehend, with all the saints, what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, so that you may be filled with all the fullness of God" (Ephesians 3:16-19).

Yes, Lord. I receive this prayer from the apostle Paul, inspired by Your Holy Spirit and imparted into my human spirit. Every dimension of the trinity of God, the tri-unity of God, is mentioned and moving in this flow of power and love from heaven to earth and from Your heart to mine -- God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit.

O Lord, my God, I gladly receive this prayer, because I desperately need this prayer. I desperately need to bow my knees in humble surrender and trusting faith before You, my Father. I desperately need to be strengthened in my inner being with Your power through Your Spirit. I desperately need You, Lord Jesus the Christ, to be Lord of my life, as You dwell in my heart through faith in You. I desperately need to be rooted and grounded in Your love, so I can love You with an undivided heart -- with all my heart and mind and soul and strength, loving You and loving others, as an unhindered expression of Your nature through my life. I desperately need to comprehend with my mind what You're doing in my heart, as You're teaching me and empowering me to experience and know the love of Christ, more and more every day. And in all these ways, I desperately need to be filled with all the fullness of God.

What more could I pray? What more could You desire? This may be a perfect prayer that perfectly expresses Your heart for my heart and Your will for my life. Lord, let it be so. "Now to Him who by the power at work within us is able to accomplish abundantly far more than all we can ask or imagine, to Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever!" (Ephesians 3:20) In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

My family, I pray Paul’s prayer over each of you this morning.  I pray the Holy Spirit opens your ears to hear it and receive it.  Read the prayer again.  I pray you are filled with all the fullness of God, embracing and experiencing all the Lord has for you, 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!

 

 

 

 

3 Comments

"The First Words of The Kingdom Of God"

1 Comment

"The First Words of The Kingdom Of God"

Good morning, Lord Jesus. In my prayers and worship, in these offerings of the first fruits of day, I draw near to You -- Father, Son, and Holy Spirit of God -- and welcome You to draw near to me.  ...

"Jesus came to Galilee, preaching the good news of the kingdom of God, and saying, 'The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the gospel.... Then Jesus said to them, 'Follow Me, and I will make you become fishers of men' " (Mark 1:14-17).

The first word of the gospel of the kingdom of God is not "Believe in Me" or "Follow Me" or "Go into all the world and make disciples of Me" or even "Go, be baptized in the Holy Spirit, pursue the fruit and the gifts of the Spirit, save souls, heal the sick, cast out demons, raise the dead, storm the gates of hell, preach with power, teach with authority, grow up into the maturity of Christlikeness, as you are being transformed and conformed into the image of the Son of God." Without question, these are all part of the gospel of the kingdom (Mark 6:7; Matthew 10:8 and 28:18-20; John 14:12 and 20:21; Luke 9:1-2; Acts 1:4-8). But all these powerful commands and worthy aspirations are not first.

The first word of the gospel of the kingdom of God is simply "Repent."

Before anything else, we must repent. We must make a choice to turn to You -- to change our mind, to have a change of heart, to trust You and entrust our lives to You, as best as we can and all by Your grace, just as we are. We must simply repent.

And it's not just a one-time choice, a one-time prayer, a one-time mark on a past day on our spiritual calendar. It's choosing a lifestyle of repentance -- choosing to continue to turn our hearts over to You, every moment of every day. It's the on-going attitude of a heart of being transformed by the renewing of minds, being conformed to the image of the Son of God, being filled with Your Spirit, and being empowered to be more like You every day.

We can't do any of that in our own power. We can't even desire any of that in our own will. Apart from You, we can do nothing that would ever bring any good or lasting fruit for ourselves or for others. You have to give us the desire and the power. But You're always so ready to do just that. Our part is to make that choice and keep on making that choice. Our part is to repent.

We repent because the kingdom of God is at hand. And as we repent, the kingdom of God begins to live and grow in our heart -- for "the kingdom of God is within (us)" (Luke 17:21). "For the kingdom of God is ... righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit" (Romans 14:17).

So come, Holy Spirit. Move in my heart to repent. Reveal to me now the sin in my life I need to repent of this morning as I begin my week.    Keep my heart humble to continue repenting in a lifestyle of repentance -- allowing You to keep changing my mind, my heart, and my soul into who I'm created me to be.  Abba Father, let Your kingdom come and Your will be done, here on earth and here in my heart, as I continue to turn and entrust my heart to You.  In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

My familyI pray this morning as you begin your work week you will first do some personal work and seek the Holy Spirit and repent. I pray you will daily choose to repent and embrace the kingdom of God with all your heart and mind and soul and strength -- as best as you  can and all by God's grace,  so that the King of the kingdom may advance His kingdom in you and in the world around you every day, in Jesus' name! Please pray the same for me. God bless you, my friends!

Please share your thoughts and reflections 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 

 

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!

 

 

 

 

1 Comment