Good morning Lord Jesus, I begin the quiet of my day listening to your voice, so later in the chaos of my day when many voices are speaking to me I wii be able to hear and discern your voice.
Even in the midst of the changes and shaping of our lives by the coronavirus, the seasons are not effected and still march on. The seasons of The Church continue to move as well, and this Sunday is Palm Sunday, the beginning of Holy Week. Holy Week is the week The Church around the world sets aside this time to remember the Passion, the Love for the world God displayed through His Son Jesus in the saving and suffering acts of love displayed in the final days of His life on earth. Holy Week uses the services of Palm Sunday, Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, and Easter Sunday as markers to remember specific acts of Jesus’ love throughout the week. On Palm Sunday Churches around the world read The Passion Narrative from one of the 4 Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke or John. The author of each Gospel tell’s the same story, but each contains different elements of that story. I spent time taking all four Gospels, and compiling all these elements in them chronologically into one complete Passion Story. I broke down the Passion Story by the person(s) who were speaking to allow congregations and groups to assign these parts and read it together out loud. We are going to read this together in our recorded service at Toney UMC this Sunday. I included this compilation of the Gospels in this post to allow you to read through it in your devotion time, and also in your churches, groups and families.
My family, every year as Holy Week approaches I always encourage my congregations and others during Holy Week to try to intentionally slow down, isolate yourself, and seek time alone to pray and read Scriptures and fast. The coronavirus and the social distancing practices has actually helped and forced people to do this. I pray you will use this time and Holy Week to recenter your life on the love of Jesus the Christ, in Jesus’ name. Please pray the same for me. God Bless you my friends!
The Passion of Christ.
A compilation of selections from the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John.
By Gary Liederbach
NARRATOR: One of the twelve, who was called Judas Iscariot, went to the chief priests and said,
JUDAS: "What will you give me if I betray Jesus to you?"
NARRATOR: They paid him thirty pieces of silver. And from that moment he began to look for an opportunity to betray him. On the first day of Unleavened Bread the disciples came to Jesus, saying,
DISCIPLES: "Where do you want us to make the preparations for you to eat the Passover?"
NARRATOR: He said,
JESUS: "Go into the city to a certain man, and say to him, `The Teacher says, My time is near; I will keep the Passover at your house with my disciples.'"
NARRATOR: So the disciples did as Jesus had directed them, and they prepared the Passover meal.
When it was evening, he took his place with the twelve; and while they were eating, he said,
JESUS: "Truly I tell you, one of you will betray me."
NARRATOR: And they became greatly distressed and began to say to him one after another,
DISCIPLES: "Surely not I, Lord?"
NARRATOR: He answered,
JESUS: "The one who has dipped his hand into the bowl with me will betray me. The Son of Man goes as it is written of him, but woe to that one by whom the Son of Man is betrayed! It would have been better for that one not to have been born."
NARRATOR: Judas, who betrayed him, said,
JUDAS: "Surely not I, Rabbi?"
NARRATOR: He replied,
JESUS: "You have said so."
NARRATOR: He said to them,
JESUS: "I have eagerly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer; for I tell you, I will not eat it until it is fulfilled in the kingdom of God."
NARRATOR: Then he took a cup, and after giving thanks he said,
JESUS: "Take this and divide it among yourselves; for I tell you that from now on I will not drink of the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes."
NARRATOR: Then he took a loaf of bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to them, saying,
JESUS: "This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me."
NARRATOR: And he did the same with the cup after supper, saying,
JESUS: "This cup that is poured out for you is the new covenant in my blood. But see, the one who betrays me is with me, and his hand is on the table. For the Son of Man is going as it has been determined, but woe to that one by whom he is betrayed!"
NARRATOR: Then they began to ask one another, which one of them it could be who would do this.
A dispute also arose among them as to which one of them was to be regarded as the greatest. But he said to them,
JESUS: "The kings of the Gentiles lord it over them; and those in authority over them are called benefactors. But not so with you; rather the greatest among you must become like the youngest, and the leader like one who serves. For who is greater, the one who is at the table or the one who serves? Is it not the one at the table? But I am among you as one who serves.
"You are those who have stood by me in my trials; and I confer on you, just as my Father has conferred on me, a kingdom, so that you may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom, and you will sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel.
"Simon, Simon, listen! Satan has demanded to sift all of you like wheat, but I have prayed for you that your own faith may not fail; and you, when once you have turned back, strengthen your brothers."
NARRATOR: And he said to him,
PETER: "Lord, I am ready to go with you to prison and to death!"
NARRATOR: Jesus said,
JESUS: "I tell you, Peter, the cock will not crow this day, until you have denied three times that you know me."
NARRATOR: He came out and went, as was his custom, to the Mount of Olives; and the disciples followed him. When he reached the place, he said to them,
JESUS: "Pray that you may not come into the time of trial."
NARRATOR: Then he withdrew from them about a stone's throw, knelt down, and prayed,
JESUS: "Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from me; yet, not my will but yours be done."
NARRATOR: Then an angel from heaven appeared to him and gave him strength. In his anguish he prayed more earnestly, and his sweat became like great drops of blood falling down on the ground. When he got up from prayer, he came to the disciples and found them sleeping because of grief, and he said to them,
JESUS: "Why are you sleeping? Get up and pray that you may not come into the time of trial."
NARRATOR: He came and found them sleeping; and he said to Peter,
JESUS: "Simon, are you asleep? Could you not keep awake one hour? Keep awake and pray that you may not come into the time of trial; the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak."
NARRATOR: And again he went away and prayed, saying the same words. And once more he came and found them sleeping, for their eyes were very heavy; and they did not know what to say to him. He came a third time and said to them,
JESUS: "Are you still sleeping and taking your rest? Enough! The hour has come; the Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners. Get up, let us be going. See, my betrayer is at hand."
NARRATOR: Immediately, while he was still speaking, Judas, one of the twelve, arrived; and with him there was a crowd with swords and clubs, from the chief priests, the scribes, and the elders. Now the betrayer had given them a sign, saying,
JUDAS: "The one I will kiss is the man; arrest him and lead him away under guard."
NARRATOR: So when he came, he went up to him at once and said,
JUDAS: "Rabbi!"
NARRATOR: and kissed him
JESUS: "Judas, is it with a kiss that you are betraying the Son of Man?"
POLICE: "Jesus of Nazareth?"
NARRATOR: Jesus answered,
JESUS: "I told you that I am he. So if you are looking for me, let these men go."
NARRATOR: This was to fulfill the word that he had spoken, "I did not lose a single one of those whom you gave me." Then Simon Peter, who had a sword, drew it, struck the high priest's slave, and cut off his right ear. The slave's name was Malchus. Jesus said to Peter,
JESUS: "Put your sword back into its sheath. Am I not to drink the cup that the Father has given me?"
NARRATOR: And he touched his ear and healed him. Then Jesus said to the chief priests, the officers of the temple police, and the elders who had come for him,
JESUS: "Have you come out with swords and clubs as if I were a bandit? When I was with you day after day in the temple, you did not lay hands on me. But this is your hour, and the power of darkness!"
NARRATOR: So the soldiers, their officer, and the Jewish police arrested Jesus and bound him. First they took him to Annas, who was the father-in-law of Caiaphas, the high priest that year. Caiaphas was the one who had advised the Jews that it was better to have one person die for the people. But Peter was following at a distance. When they had kindled a fire in the middle of the courtyard and sat down together, Peter sat among them. Then a servant-girl, seeing him in the firelight, stared at him and said,
SERVANT 1: "This man also was with him."
NARRATOR: But he denied it, saying,
PETER: "Woman, I do not know him."
NARRATOR: A little later someone else, on seeing him, said,
CONFRONTER1: "You also are one of them."
NARRATOR: But Peter said,
PETER: "Man, I am not!"
NARRATOR: Then about an hour later still another kept insisting,
CONFRONTER 2:"Surely this man also was with him; for he is a Galilean."
NARRATOR: But Peter said,
PETER: "Man, I do not know what you are talking about!"
NARRATOR: At that moment, while he was still speaking, the cock crowed. The Lord turned and looked at Peter. Then Peter remembered the word of the Lord, how he had said to him, "Before the cock crows today, you will deny me three times." And he went out and wept bitterly.
NARRATOR: Then the high priest questioned Jesus about his disciples and about his teaching. Jesus answered,
JESUS: "I have spoken openly to the world; I have always taught in synagogues and in the temple, where all the Jews come together. I have said nothing in secret. Why do you ask me? Ask those who heard what I said to them; they know what I said."
NARRATOR: When he had said this, one of the police standing nearby struck Jesus on the face, saying,
POLICE: "Is that how you answer the high priest?"
NARRATOR: Jesus answered,
JESUS: "If I have spoken wrongly, testify to the wrong. But if I have spoken rightly, why do you strike me?"
NARRATOR: Then Annas sent him bound to Caiaphas the high priest. When day came, the assembly of the elders of the people, both chief priests and scribes, gathered together, and they brought him to their council. Now the chief priests and the whole council were looking for testimony against Jesus to put him to death; but they found none. For many gave false testimony against him, and their testimony did not agree. Some stood up and gave false testimony against him, saying,
ACCUSERS: "We heard him say, `I will destroy this temple that is made with hands, and in three days I will build another, not made with hands.'"
NARRATOR: But even on this point their testimony did not agree. Then the high priest stood up before them and asked Jesus,
HIGH PRIEST: "Have you no answer? What is it that they testify against you?"
NARRATOR: But he was silent and did not answer. Again the high priest asked him,
HIGH PRIEST: "Are you the Messiah, the Son of the Blessed One?"
NARRATOR: Jesus said,
JESUS: "I am; and `you will see the Son of Man seated at the right hand of the Power,' and `coming with the clouds of heaven.'"
NARRATOR: Then the high priest tore his clothes and said,
HIGH PRIEST: "Why do we still need witnesses? You have heard his blasphemy! What is your decision?"
NARRATOR: All of them condemned him as deserving death. Some began to spit on him, to blindfold him, and to strike him, saying to him,
ACCUSERS: "Prophesy!"
NARRATOR: The guards also took him over and beat him.
NARRATOR: Then they took Jesus from Caiaphas to Pilate's headquarters. It was early in the morning. They themselves did not enter the headquarters, so as to avoid ritual defilement and to be able to eat the Passover. When Judas, his betrayer, saw that Jesus was condemned, he repented and brought back the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and the elders. He said,
JUDAS: "I have sinned by betraying innocent blood."
NARRATOR: But they said,
CHIEF PRIESTS: "What is that to us? See to it yourself."
NARRATOR: Throwing down the pieces of silver in the temple, he departed; and he went and hanged himself. But the chief priests, taking the pieces of silver, said,
CHIEF PRIESTS: "It is not lawful to put them into the treasury, since they are blood money."
NARRATOR: After conferring together, they used them to buy the potter's field as a place to bury foreigners. For this reason that field has been called the Field of Blood to this day. Then was fulfilled what had been spoken through the prophet Jeremiah, "And they took the thirty pieces of silver, the price of the one on whom a price had been set, on whom some of the people of Israel had set a price, and they gave them for the potter's field, as the Lord commanded me."
NARRATOR: So Pilate went out to them and said,
PILATE: "What accusation do you bring against this man?"
CHIEF PRIESTS: They answered, "We found this man perverting our nation, forbidding us to pay taxes to the emperor, and saying that he himself is the Messiah, a king." "If this man were not a criminal, we would not have handed him over to you."
NARRATOR: Pilate said to them,
PILATE: "Take him yourselves and judge him according to your law."
NARRATOR: The Jews replied,
CHIEF PRIESTS: "We are not permitted to put anyone to death."
NARRATOR: (This was to fulfill what Jesus had said when he indicated the kind of death he was to die.)
Then Pilate entered the headquarters again, summoned Jesus, and asked him,
PILATE: "Are you the king of the Jews?"
NARRATOR: He answered,
JESUS: "You say so."
NARRATOR: Then Pilate said to the chief priests and the crowds,
PILATE: "I find no basis for an accusation against this man."
NARRATOR: But they were insistent and said,
CHIEF PRIESTS: "He stirs up the people by teaching throughout all Judea, from Galilee where he began even to this place."
NARRATOR: When Pilate heard this, he asked whether the man was a Galilean. And when he learned that he was under Herod's jurisdiction, he sent him off to Herod, who was himself in Jerusalem at that time. When Herod saw Jesus, he was very glad, for he had been wanting to see him for a long time, because he had heard about him and was hoping to see him perform some sign. He questioned him at some length, but Jesus gave him no answer. The chief priests and the scribes stood by, vehemently accusing him. Even Herod with his soldiers treated him with contempt and mocked him; then he put an elegant robe on him, and sent him back to Pilate. That same day Herod and Pilate became friends with each other; before this they had been enemies.
Pilate then called together the chief priests, the leaders, and the people, and said to them,
PILATE: "You brought me this man as one who was perverting the people; and here I have examined him in your presence and have not found this man guilty of any of your charges against him. Neither has Herod, for he sent him back to us. Indeed, he has done nothing to deserve death.
NARRATOR: Then Pilate entered the headquarters again, summoned Jesus, and asked him,
PILATE: "Are you the King of the Jews?"
NARRATOR: Jesus answered,
JESUS: "Do you ask this on your own, or did others tell you about me?"
NARRATOR: Pilate replied,
PILATE: "I am not a Jew, am I? Your own nation and the chief priests have handed you over to me. What have you done?"
NARRATOR: Jesus answered,
JESUS: "My kingdom is not from this world. If my kingdom were from this world, my followers would be fighting to keep me from being handed over to the Jews. But as it is, my kingdom is not from here."
NARRATOR: Pilate asked him,
PILATE: "So you are a king?"
NARRATOR: Jesus answered,
JESUS: "You say that I am a king. For this I was born, and for this I came into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone who belongs to the truth listens to my voice."
NARRATOR: Pilate asked him,
PILATE: "What is truth?"
NARRATOR: After he had said this, he went out to the Jews again and told them,
PILATE: "I find no case against him. But you have a custom that I release someone for you at the Passover. Do you want me to release for you the King of the Jews?"
NARRATOR: They shouted in reply,
CROWD: "Not this man, but Barabbas!"
NARRATOR: Now Barabbas was a bandit. This was a man who had been put in prison for an insurrection that had taken place in the city, and for murder.) Pilate, wanting to release Jesus, addressed them again; but they kept shouting,
ASSEMBLY: "Crucify, crucify him!"
NARRATOR: Then Pilate took Jesus and had him flogged. And the soldiers wove a crown of thorns and put it on his head, and they dressed him in a purple robe. They kept coming up to him, saying,
SOLDIERS: "Hail, King of the Jews!"
NARRATOR: and striking him on the face. Pilate went out again and said to them,
PILATE: "Look, I am bringing him out to you to let you know that I find no case against him."
NARRATOR: So Jesus came out, wearing the crown of thorns and the purple robe. Pilate said to them,
PILATE: "Here is the man!"
NARRATOR: When the chief priests and the police saw him, they shouted,
CROWD: "Crucify him! Crucify him!"
NARRATOR: Pilate said to them,
PILATE: "Take him yourselves and crucify him; I find no case against him."
NARRATOR: The Jews answered him,
CROWD: "We have a law, and according to that law he ought to die because he has claimed to be the Son of God."
NARRATOR: Now when Pilate heard this, he was more afraid than ever. He entered his headquarters again and asked Jesus,
PILATE: "Where are you from?"
NARRATOR: But Jesus gave him no answer. Pilate therefore said to him,
PILATE: "Do you refuse to speak to me? Do you not know that I have power to release you, and power to crucify you?"
NARRATOR: Jesus answered him,
JESUS: "You would have no power over me unless it had been given you from above; therefore the one who handed me over to you is guilty of a greater sin."
NARRATOR: From then on Pilate tried to release him, but the Jews cried out,
CROWD: "If you release this man, you are no friend of the emperor. Everyone who claims to be a king sets himself against the emperor."
NARRATOR: When Pilate heard these words, he brought Jesus outside and sat on the judge's bench at a place called The Stone Pavement, or in Hebrew Gabbatha. Now it was the day of Preparation for the Passover; and it was about noon. He said to the Jews,
PILATE: "Here is your King!"
NARRATOR: They cried out,
CROWD: "Away with him! Away with him! Crucify him!"
NARRATOR: Pilate asked them,
PILATE: "Shall I crucify your King?"
NARRATOR: The chief priests answered,
CHIEF PRIESTS: "We have no king but the emperor."
NARRATOR: But they kept urgently demanding with loud shouts that he should be crucified; and their voices prevailed. So Pilate gave his verdict that their demand should be granted. He released the man they asked for, the one who had been put in prison for insurrection and murder, and he handed Jesus over as they wished.
As they led him away, they seized a man, Simon of Cyrene, who was coming from the country, and they laid the cross on him, and made him carry it behind Jesus. A great number of the people followed him, and among them were women who were beating their breasts and wailing for him. But Jesus turned to them and said,
JESUS: "Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for me, but weep for yourselves and for your children. For the days are surely coming when they will say, 'Blessed are the barren, and the wombs that never bore, and the breasts that never nursed.' Then they will begin to say to the mountains, 'Fall on us'; and to the hills, 'Cover us.' For if they do this when the wood is green, what will happen when it is dry?"
(At the mention of the place called the Skull, all should stand, as able.)
NARRATOR: So they took Jesus; and carrying the cross by himself, he went out to what is called The Place of the Skull, which in Hebrew is called Golgotha. There they crucified him, and with him two others, one on either side, with Jesus between them. Pilate also had an inscription written and put on the cross. It read, "Jesus of Nazareth, the King of the Jews." Many of the Jews read this inscription, because the place where Jesus was crucified was near the city; and it was written in Hebrew, in Latin, and in Greek. Then the chief priests of the Jews said to Pilate,
PRIESTS: "Do not write, 'The King of the Jews,' but, 'This man said, I am King of the Jews.'"
NARRATOR: Pilate answered,
PILATE: "What I have written I have written."
NARRATOR: When the soldiers had crucified Jesus, they took his clothes and divided them into four parts, one for each soldier. They also took his tunic; now the tunic was seamless, woven in one piece from the top. So they said to one another,
SOLDIERS: "Let us not tear it, but cast lots for it to see who will get it."
NARRATOR: This was to fulfill what the scripture says, "They divided my clothes among themselves, and for my clothing they cast lots." And that is what the soldiers did.
Meanwhile, standing near the cross of Jesus were his mother, and his mother's sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple whom he loved standing beside her, he said to his mother,
JESUS: "Woman, here is your son."
NARRATOR: Then he said to the disciple,
JESUS: "Here is your mother."
NARRATOR: And from that hour the disciple took her into his own home.
NARRATOR: Then Jesus said,
JESUS: "Father, forgive them; for they do not know what they are doing."
ASSEMBLY: "He saved others; let him save himself if he is the Messiah of God, his chosen one!"
NARRATOR: The soldiers also mocked him, coming up and offering him sour wine, and saying,
SOLDIERS: "If you are the King of the Jews, save yourself!"
NARRATOR: One of the criminals who were hanged there kept deriding him and saying,
CRIMINAL 1: "Are you not the Messiah? Save yourself and us!"
NARRATOR: But the other rebuked him, saying,
CRIMINAL 2: "Do you not fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation? And we indeed have been condemned justly, for we are getting what we deserve for our deeds, but this man has done nothing wrong."
NARRATOR: Then he said,
CRIMINAL 2: "Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom."
NARRATOR: He replied,
JESUS: "Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in Paradise."
NARRATOR: When it was noon, darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon. At three o'clock Jesus cried out with a loud voice,
JESUS: "Eloi, Eloi, lema sabachthani?"
NARRATOR: which means,
JESUS: "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?"
NARRATOR: When some of the bystanders heard it, they said,
BYSTANDERS: "Listen, he is calling for Elijah."
NARRATOR: And someone ran, filled a sponge with sour wine, put it on a stick, and gave it to him to drink, saying,
BYSTANDERS: "Wait, let us see whether Elijah will come to take him down."
NARRATOR: Then Jesus, crying with a loud voice, said,
JESUS: "Father, into your hands I commend my spirit."
NARRATOR: Then Jesus gave a loud cry and breathed his last. And the curtain of the temple was torn in two, from top to bottom. Now when the centurion, who stood facing him, saw that in this way he breathed his last, he said,
CENTURION: "Truly this man was God's Son!"
NARRATOR: And when all the crowds who had gathered there for this spectacle saw what had taken place, they returned home, beating their breasts. But all his acquaintances, including the women who had followed him from Galilee, stood at a distance, watching these things.
Since it was the day of Preparation, the Jews did not want the bodies left on the cross during the sabbath, especially because that sabbath was a day of great solemnity. So they asked Pilate to have the legs of the crucified men broken and the bodies removed. Then the soldiers came and broke the legs of the first and of the other who had been crucified with him. But when they came to Jesus and saw that he was already dead, they did not break his legs. Instead, one of the soldiers pierced his side with a spear, and at once blood and water came out. (He who saw this has testified so that you also may believe. His testimony is true, and he knows that he tells the truth.) These things occurred so that the scripture might be fulfilled, "None of his bones shall be broken." And again another passage of scripture says, "They will look on the one whom they have pierced."
Now there was a good and righteous man named Joseph, who, though a member of the council, had not agreed to their plan and action. He came from the Jewish town of Arimathea, and he was waiting expectantly for the kingdom of God. This man went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. Then he took it down, wrapped it in a linen cloth, and laid it in a rock-hewn tomb where no one had ever been laid. It was the day of Preparation, and the sabbath was beginning. The women who had come with him from Galilee followed, and they saw the tomb and how his body was laid. Then they returned, and prepared spices and ointments.
On the sabbath they rested according to the commandment.
All the Bible text in this compilation is from the New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright 1989
Good morning, Lord Jesus. You are One with my Father, One with the Holy Spirit, and I welcome You here in my heart to be One within me, as I begin my day looking to You and listening for Your leading.
The more I find myself desperately dependent upon You to be my Source of peace and security in the world I find myself in now,, the more I'm moved for those who are trying to get through this crisis depending upon themselves. And in the moments when it feels like You're not there or not acting on our behalf in the ways I feel You should, is when it makes me press in even that much more deeply to come even that much closer to You, the more I'm deeply burdened for those who feel distant or forgotten or even forsaken.
The story of the bride-to-be and her beloved in the Song of Solomon comes to mind this morning, of her yearning for his presence in times when it feels like he's not there.
"Upon my bed at night, I sought him whom my soul loves;
I sought him, but found him not;
I called to him, but he gave no answer.
'I will rise now and go about the city, in the streets and in the squares;
I will seek him whom my soul loves.'
I sought him, but found him not.
The sentinels found me, as they went about in the city.
'Have you seen him whom my soul loves?'
Scarcely had I passed them, when I found him whom my soul loves.
I held him, and would not let him go
until I brought him into my mother's house,
and into the chamber of her that conceived me"
(Song of Solomon 3:1-4).
The bride-to-be is not a casual acquaintance of the one she seeks. He is her beloved, her bridegroom-to-be, the one whom her soul loves. And at the same time, she feels like he isn't there. She seeks him, but doesn't find him. She calls to him, but he doesn't answer.
But she doesn't give up on her relationship. She doesn't give in to any feelings of distance or rejection or abandonment. She doesn't settle for something less than her hopes and dreams for intimacy and security that she longs to come from only him.
She says in her heart, "I will rise now and go.... I will seek him." And even then, it feels like she's having a hard time finding him. She goes to others who may have been seeing him and experiencing his presence in the ways she longs to see him and experience him.
And then she finds him! With great relief that was worth the waiting in the pursuit, with great joy that was worth the sorrow of the feelings of separation, she must have shouted out for all to hear, "I have found him whom my soul loves!"
Father God, You've sent Your Holy Spirit to prepare the bride for Jesus, our Bridegroom. It's not a gender thing or sexual thing; it's a spiritual thing. Men are part of "the bride" of Christ (Revelation 19:7), just as women are part of the "many sons being brought to glory in growing up into the maturity of the body of Christ (Hebrews 2:10). Jesus is our Beloved (Ephesians 1:6).
We're created to long for Him, to pursue Him, to even feel empty and alone and lost without Him. But He is not far from any of us -- even before we come to know Him and humbly open up our hearts to Him. "God has done all this, so that we will look for Him and reach out and find Him. He isn't far from any of us, and He gives us the power to live, to move, and to be who we are. 'We are His children'" ... (Acts 17:27-28).
Father, fill me with Your Holy Spirit (Ephesians 5:18). Holy Spirit of the Living God, stir in my heart to pursue Jesus (John 14:26), to listen for His voice (John 10:27), and to deeply abide in and embrace His Presence (John 15:4). Lord Jesus, I welcome You here in my heart and every moment of my day. You are my Beloved and I take hold of You to never let You go and I thank You that You take hold of me and never let me go -- even, and especially, when it feels like You're not here or acting in all the ways and in all the timing that I feel You should. Through it all, You are Lord of all. "There is peace with God through Jesus Christ, who is Lord of all" (Acts 10:36). In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
My family, I pray you come closer to Jesus every day, more passionately pursuing Him and more deeply embracing Him, in Jesus' name. Please pray the same for me. And I join with you in prayer for all who need to know Jesus and God's love for them in this current crisis and through every moment. God bless you, my friends!
Good morning, Lord Jesus. You're the King of Kings and Lord of Lords Be the King of all my heart and Lord of every area of my life, as I seek You and listen for Your voice today (John 10:27). ...
In my spirit this morning I am not retreating before this virus and this situation, I am attacking it with two swords in my hands. Two swords for this fight. One sword for protection; one sword for healing. Both swords speak of God’s Word. And I wield these swords of your Word in faith. I want to encourage you: Do not lose heart, do not retreat, and do not lay down your own swords.
Jesus your Word says "For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword...." (Hebrews 4:12). "Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints" (Ephesians 6:17-18).
With one arm raised in prayer, I lift up the sword of Your word for protection. I join with all those who are praying in the Spirit around the world for Your protection over ourselves, our families and over our world. Protect us from sickness and death, from fear and panic, from worry and withdrawal, from hopelessness and despair, from surrender and defeat. Your Word is a sword in our hands and a shield about our hearts with a Wall of Fire of Your Spirit all around us and those entrusted to us. "'For I,' says the Lord, 'will be a Wall of Fire all around (you), and I will be the glory in (your) midst'" (Zechariah 2:5).
With one arm raised in prayer, I lift up the sword of Your word for healing. For all who are stricken and suffering, under assault from sickness and infirmity, let Your word go forth to comfort them and heal them, to know You are with them, to trust in the good desires and good plans in Your heart for them to bring them through all they are enduring. "They cried to the Lord in their trouble, and He saved them from their distress; He sent out His word and healed them, and delivered them from destruction" (Psalm 107:19-20).
Join me this morning and raise your swords in prayer for our selves, our families, The Church, and the world. As we pray Your Word, Lord You send forth Your word -- alive and active, living and powerful, sharper than any two-edged sword. We thank You and praise You for Your words of Spirit and Life (John 6:63). "So shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth; it shall not return to Me void, but it shall accomplish what I please, and it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it!" (Isaiah 55:11) In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
My family, I pray you may be empowered by God's grace to pray His Word in the Spirit with the heart of our Father and in the authority of the name of Jesus for our world and for ourselves, for His protection and healing, in Jesus' name. Please pray the same for me. God bless you, my friends!
Good morning, Lord Jesus. I welcome You here in my heart and every moment of my day. ...
"Now there was no food in all the land, for the famine was very severe. The land of Egypt and the land of Canaan languished because of the famine. Joseph collected all the money to be found in the land of Egypt and in the land of Canaan, in exchange for the grain that they bought" (Genesis 47:13-14).
This past Sunday Kyle reflected on the story of Joseph in Genesis. This morning I went back and read through it again. As always, God’s word speaks into our lives today.
Father God, during the great famine of the land that stretched across the Middle East in the days of Joseph, You gave Joseph a voice of authority and the wisdom to use it. You "gave him favor and wisdom in the presence of Pharaoh, king of Egypt; and he made him governor over Egypt and all his house" (Acts 7:9-10). All through the days of hardship that came upon all that part of the world, You kept giving Joseph wisdom and strategies to provide for the people who came to him to listen to him, to trust him, and to follow him in his leadership (Genesis 47:15-26).
Though it was costly to them all, the people survived. And among all the people of that part of the world, going through all the struggling and suffering of the famine, there was a people who not only survived, but also thrived. They were the family of Joseph -- the descendants of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. By the decree of Pharaoh, executed through Joseph as his governor, Jacob and his family were given "the best part of the land ... the land of Goshen" (Genesis 47:1-6).
In Goshen, they survived and they thrived. "Thus Israel settled in the land of Egypt, in the region of Goshen; and they gained possessions in it, and were fruitful and multiplied exceedingly" (Genesis 47:27-28).
Lord Jesus, You are our Joseph. You are our Salvation. You are our Wisdom. You are our Land of Goshen. We turn to You, to listen to You, to trust You, and to follow You. We ask for Your wisdom, for Your strategies, and above all, for Your favor. "For You bless the righteous, O Lord; You cover them with favor as with a shield" (Psalm 5:12). Your voice of wisdom says, "Whoever finds Me, finds life and receives favor from the Lord" (Proverbs 8:35).
Father, we ask this for those You've strategically positioned in places of leadership and authority for such a time as this -- places of authority on the earth and places of authority in the heavens. As You said in Your Word, "If any of you is lacking in wisdom, ask God, who gives to all generously and ungrudgingly, and it will be given you. But ask in faith..." (James 1:5-8).
Holy Spirit of the Living God, fill us with faith, lead us with wisdom, empower us with courage. By the power of Your grace at work within us, You will guide us through this. You will give us Your divine strategies and godly wisdom. In You, we will survive and even thrive. And all the world will know there is a God who sees, who cares, and who leads in wisdom and love through all our famines and all we face. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
My family, I pray you will be filled with faith, led forth in wisdom, and empowered with courage, as You trust in the Lord and pray for all who in strategic positions of authority on the earth and in the heavens, in Jesus' name. May you survive and thrive, and take your place of authority as a child of God and disciple of Jesus, anointed, favored, and empowered by His Holy Spirit. Please pray the same for me. God bless you, my friends!
Please share your thoughts and reflections with us in the comments box below.
Gary Liederbach- Lead Follower
One Direction Community / Toney UMC
Email: garyl@onedirection.community
Website: https://www.onedirection.community
Facebook: One Direction Community-ODC
I would appreciate your prayer and also any support for support myself as we reach our neighbors with the gospel through setting up a monthly donation or a one –time gift by clicking the link below. Donation checks can be made out to ODC, PO Box 1293 Madison, Al 35758. Thank You!
TO GIVE , CLICK HERE
Good morning, Lord Jesus. As I turn my eyes to You, help me begin my day deeply knowing I'm embraced by my Father, centered in Christ, and filled with the Holy Spirit. .
"May the God of hope fill you will all joy and peace in believing, so that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit" (Romans 15:13).
Yes, Lord. You bring to mind Your written Word to confirm Your spoken word: Listening for Your leading this morning, I hear in my heart: "Hope is a beautiful gift and a mighty weapon. Put your hope in Me and I will fill you with My hope." ...
Hope is gift from You -- just like joy and peace. And You fill us with hope as You fill us with "the power of the Holy Spirit." It's not just a little trickle of hope, not just a little hope to get us through another day, not just enough hope to get us over to the other side. It's a hope that empowers us to thrive and not merely survive, to "abound in hope" and not merely stick around in wishful thinking that it might turn out okay after all.
Hope comes by believing in You, by trusting in You. Then, it's a beautiful gift we receive and a mighty weapon we wield.
I've known what it is to feel hopeful and to feel hopeless, to feel encouraged and to feel discouraged, to feel faithful and to feel faithless. But Your Word is greater than my feelings and Your Truth can overcome any doubts I'm feeling at the moment.
So as best as I can and all by the power of Your grace, I choose this day to put my hope in You. I choose this day to open wide my human spirit to filled afresh with Your Holy Spirit (Ephesians 5:18), to be "endued with power from on high" (Luke 2:49). And I choose this day to thank You and praise You that You are "the God of hope" who is filling me now "with all joy and peace" as I am believing and trusting in You. You are my "Living Hope" -- living in me and filling me with Your hope today (1 Peter 1:3). In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
My family, I pray you may be filled with hope and joy and peace today by the power of the Holy Spirit, enabling you with power to hope from on high, in Jesus' name. May you embrace this beautiful gift from God and wield this mighty weapon against the darkness and doubt, the fear and confusion, the hopelessness and despair in the world around you. Please pray the same for me. God bless you, my friends!
And remember, though the days are uncertain, my door is always open. It's no good suffering or going through situations in silence. You are never not welcome! to contact me. Though Starbucks and Waffle House are no longer open to meet, you can call me, we can meet at the church, outside in a park, my front porch or on FaceTime. You never have to go through a day of addiction, depression, fear, frustration, anxiety or any other feelings that still exist and these days can bring up. It's always good to talk but its even better to listen, and to be listened to. Some days this hits closer to home than we think. I'll always lend an ear and my heart. My hands are always ready to raise in prayer. Anyone who needs a space of peace and non-judgement to chat is welcome to contact me anytime.
Please share your thoughts and reflections with us in the comments box below.
Gary Liederbach- Lead Follower
One Direction Community / Toney UMC
Email: garyl@onedirection.community
Website: https://www.onedirection.community
Facebook: One Direction Community-ODC
I would appreciate your prayer and also any support for support myself as we reach our neighbors with the gospel through setting up a monthly donation or a one –time gift by clicking the link below. Donation checks can be made out to ODC, PO Box 1293 Madison, Al 35758. Thank You!
TO GIVE , CLICK HERE
Good morning, Lord Jesus. First thing in the morning, I turn to You first -- Father, Son, and Holy Spirit of God. I seek first Your kingdom and Your righteousness, that You may set things right in me and set the right path before me in all the steps of my day (Matthew 6:33). ...
My heart is full of gratitude today. Yesterday morning You gave such a strong sense that You were moving mightily on our behalf to confront our world-wide crisis. I strongly sensed You were calling me and so many to humbly pray for the tide to turn and to boldly proclaim in faith that that the tide had turned. And while we may yet have a long way to go to see manifested on earth what You have done in heaven in response to the prayers of Your people around the world, we are seeing some rays of hope, some glimmers of light at the end of the tunnel. We are hearing some good news of Your grace on some major fronts in the battle. And I give You all glory and honor and praise!
Ultimately, regardless of what the world says, You have the final say. And what You have to say for us is always, ultimately good: "For surely I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord, for your welfare and not for harm, to give a future with hope. Then when you call upon Me and come and pray to Me, I will hear you. When you search for Me, you will find Me; if you seek Me with all your heart" (Jeremiah 29:11-13).
We have a ways to go to get through this, but You are with us and You are for us and You will get us through this. If God be for us, what can stand against us (Romans 8:31). You will turn this all around for us in ways we can't yet see or even imagine (Romans 8:28; Ephesians 3:20). You're the God who hears and who answers! "To my God, I cried for help. From His temple He heard my voice!" (Psalm 18:6)
"I love You, O Lord, my Strength.
The Lord is my Rock, my Fortress, and my Deliverer,
my God, my Rock in whom I take refuge,
my Shield, and the Horn of my Salvation, my Stronghold.
I call upon the Lord, who is worthy to be praised,
so shall I be saved from my enemies.
The cords of death encompassed me;
the torrents of perdition assailed me;
the cords of Sheol entangled me;
the snares of death confronted me.
In my distress I called upon the Lord;
to my God I cried for help.
From His temple He heard my voice,
and my cry to Him reached His ears....
The Lord also thundered in the heavens,
and the Most High uttered His voice! ...
He reached down from on high, he took me;
He drew me out of mighty waters
He delivered me from my strong enemy,
And from those who hated me;
for they were too mighty for me.
They confronted me in the day of my calamity;
but the Lord was my Support,
He brought me out into a broad place;
He delivered me, because He delighted in me!"
(Psalm 18:1-19)
Thank You for hearing. Thank You for answering. Thank You for continuing to move mightily on our behalf. Thank You for giving us grace to persist in prayer and proclamation in the authority of Your name until we see the fullness of Your answers manifested on earth as they are in heaven (Mark 11:22-24; Matthew 6:10). In Jesus' name I pray. Amen!
My family, may you be encouraged and strengthened in your faith and hope today, trusting in our God who hears us and answers us, who is moving mightily on behalf of us, in some ways we see and in so many ways we don't even see, in Jesus' name. Please pray the same for me. God bless you, my friends!
Please share your thoughts and reflections with us in the comments box below.
Gary Liederbach- Lead Follower
One Direction Community/Toney UMC
Email: garyl@onedirection.community
Website: https://www.onedirection.community
Facebook: One Direction Community-ODC
I would appreciate your prayer and also any support for support myself as we reach our neighbors with the gospel through setting up a monthly donation or a one –time gift by clicking the link below. Donation checks can be made out to ODC, PO Box 1293 Madison, Al 35758. Thank You!
TO GIVE , CLICK HERE
Good morning, Lord Jesus. I welcome You here in my heart and every moment of my day -- Father, Son, and Holy Spirit of God. Now I listen for Your leading in trusting surrender and expectant faith from the deep communion of prayer. ...
Right away, I believe Your Spirit is rising up in my spirit with these strong words: "Turn the tide. Turn the tide. Turn the tide. The tide turns now!" ...
Father, You're the Lord of the tide. You set the boundaries of the tides of the sea. You said to the sea, "This far and no more." And You continue to speak in Your sovereignty, "This far and no more" to all that would seek to overwhelm us. We believe it's Your will, according to Your Word, that You desire to set our boundaries in pleasant places so that our hearts are glad, our spirits rejoice, and we can rest secure in You (Psalm 16:6-11).
In humility we pray, and in boldness we proclaim. In humility we listen for Your word, and in boldness we speak it forth in the authority of Your name.
Lord Jesus, You taught us these principles of prayer and proclamation in Your Word: "Jesus answered them, 'Have faith in God. Truly I tell you, if you say to this mountain, 'Be taken up and thrown into the sea,' and if you do not doubt in your heart, but believe that what you say will come to pass, it will be done for you. So I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours'" (Mark 11:22-24).
This is how You turn the tide of whatever comes against us that's less than Your will for us. This is how Your turn it all around for our good and Your glory. As You said in the very next verse of Your Word: "We know that all things work together for good for those who love God, who are called according to His purpose" (Romans 8:28).
Lord Jesus, You're the One who taught us to pray and to proclaim in agreement and authority. "Truly I tell you, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven. Again, truly I tell you, if two of you agree on earth about anything you ask, it will be done for you by My Father in heaven. For where two or three are gathered in My name, I am there among you" (Matthew 18:18-20).
In this hour, when all the world is feeling afraid and overwhelmed by the merciless tides that seek to destroy us in our health, our economy, our sense of security and peace, our joy and even our faith, You are giving us wisdom and strategies to overcome. Together we reach out in love in the ways You lead. And together we also pray and proclaim in the ways You lead.
Together we pray for wisdom, ingenuity, and inventions to create preventions and cures, vaccinations against viruses, medical breakthroughs and miraculous interventions. And at the same time, we pray and proclaim, in both humility and boldness, in unity and the authority of Your name by the leading of Your Spirit:
"Turn the tide. Turn the tide. Turn the tide. The tide turns now!"
You're the One who is stirring us up in our spirits as "the Body of Christ" (1 Corinthians 12:27), giving us "the mind of Christ" (1 Corinthians 2:16), and filling us up "the Spirit of Christ" (Romans 8:9; Ephesians 5:18). You're the One who desires to come and inspire our hope and heal our land as we turn to You (2 Chronicles 7:14).
If we see the miracle of a moment, we thank You and praise You! If we see the miracle of many moments in the unfolding of time as You keep moving us in persistence in prayer and persistence in proclamation, we thank You and praise You!
By the power of Your grace working in us, "we walk by faith, not by sight" (2 Corinthians 5:7). We keep praying, we keep proclaiming, "Your kingdom come. Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven" (Matthew 6:10). We keep believing in confidence, expectancy, and trust the promise of Your Word: "And this is the boldness we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, he hears us. And if we know that He hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have obtained the requests made of Him" (1 John 5:14-15). In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
My family, may you turn to God in humility and faith, may you turn to our world in boldness and authority, to pray and proclaim with me "Turn the tide. Turn the tide. Turn the tide. The tide turns now! in Jesus' name." God bless you, my friends!
Please share your thoughts and reflections with us in the comments box below.
Gary Liederbach- Lead Follower
One Direction Community/Toney UMC
Email: garyl@onedirection.community
Website: https://www.onedirection.community
Facebook: One Direction Community-ODC
I would appreciate your prayer and also any support for support myself as we reach our neighbors with the gospel through setting up a monthly donation or a one –time gift by clicking the link below. Donation checks can be made out to ODC, PO Box 1293 Madison, Al 35758. Thank You!
TO GIVE , CLICK HERE
Good morning Lord Jesus, I seek over myself and this nation your peace that passes all understanding.
“I have told you these things so that in me you may have peace. In the world you have trouble and suffering, but take courage - I have conquered the world.”” (John 16:33)
Yesterday morning I did my usual Monday morning routine. I got up early and spent an hour or so in Word and prayer writing my devotion blog. Then head out to Publix to pick up the unsold bread and baked goods left from the weekend. Then off to The Manna House and unloaded my truck of baked goods, and helped unload trucks, move pallets and prep the line for the food distribution and meal lines that people will go through that evening. They were short on volunteers. Allot of the people who volunteer for prepping, making PB&J and bologna sandwiches, sorting food and other tasks during the day are retired people. And since the greatest fear from the coronavirus is to people of retirement age, they are not coming to serve now. So I stayed longer to help.
When I was leaving around 12:30pm there were only 3 volunteers there, when there are usually at least 10 that time of day. I knew when I left they would need help with the food line that evening so I did a few things I had to do and went back to Manna House around 3:00pm. The manna House serves meals from 4:00pm-6:30pm. And when I got there at 3:00pm there was already a long line of people coming to get food. I know we served close to 400 people last night, with short of volunteers, and we all worked hard but got everyone food and a meal.
One lady who volunteers regularly was going through the line making up a box of food. Nothing unusual with that as many of those who serve there make up a box or two to take to a neighbor or somebody they know is needing food. I myself made up 12 boxes and delivered them to Waffle House waitresses I know who are struggling. I asked her who she was making a box for and she paused, and then she said to me, “Now things are getting real.” “My husband got laid off last week, and I got laid off this week, so the box of food is for me.” Last week I was handing out food to people in need, and this week I am a person in need.
And the “Now things are getting real” was evident as I looked at the people in the food line. With no prejudice at all, when I observed the line there were many who I know were homeless or low-income struggling families, many who I have gotten to know. However, there were also others, like Father’s with their children who’s dress did not match the others in line and their children were huddling close to their father looking around with scared eyes and you could tell it was their first time in a food line. I helped carry food boxes out to the car of a well-dressed mom and her teenage daughter who I could tell was so embarrassed to be there. When I got to their car it was not a 2002 model car with 280k miles on it. It was a 2018 Suburban loaded, and there were two other younger well-dressed children sitting in the leather seats watching a movie waiting for their mom. I prayed with the mom and daughter at their car and tears were running down the mother’s face when I finished. She broke social norms now and reached out and hugged me. I did not ask what her situation was, but ”Now things are getting real” for this family as well. And all throughout the evening I could pick out the increase in first-time, middle-class families going through the food and meal line for whom as well, “Now things are getting real.”
“Now things are getting real” for Christians and loving their neighbors. All who helped serve meals last night like myself wore gloves, did not shake hands or hug people, and washed our hands when we took off our gloves or they tore before putting on a new pair. We only let 10 people in the building at a time to help keep a safe distance between people. I ended up volunteering for 8 ½ hours yesterday, some did more, some less. I washed my hands good before I left Manna House, showered when I got home , and drank a packet of “EmergenC.” Yet all of us who served increased our chances of being exposed to the coronavirus and “Now things are getting real” in loving are neighbors in need. But it we stopped, 400 people, that mom and her daughter, dad and his children would have not received food and hope last night.
My family, I pray over you who for you personally “Now things are getting real.” I pray you will also pray and reflect on ways you can be the hands, feet, and voice of Christ during this time of need in real ways to your neighbors, in Jesus’ name. Please pray the same for me. God bless you my friends!
Please share your thoughts and reflections with us in the comments box below.
Gary Liederbach- Lead Follower
One Direction Community/Toney UMC
Email: garyl@onedirection.community
Website: https://www.onedirection.community
Facebook: One Direction Community-ODC
I would appreciate your prayer and also any support for support myself as we reach our neighbors with the gospel through setting up a monthly donation or a one –time gift by clicking the link below. Donation checks can be made out to ODC, PO Box 1293 Madison, Al 35758. Thank You!
TO GIVE , CLICK HERE
Good morning, Lord Jesus. Lead me in the ways that lead to life in You today -- Father, Son, and Holy Spirit of God. ...
"Since, then, we have a great High Priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast to our confession. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weakness, but we have One who in every respect has been tested as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore approach the throne of grace with boldness, so that we may receive mercy and find grace in time of need" (Hebrews 4:14-16).
In our weakness but also boldness, in our humility but also faith, we come to Your throne of grace in our time of need. You invite us to come boldly because You're able to sympathize with our weakness, because You have been tested in every respect as we are being tested now. Before You "passed through the heavens," You suffered through every testing of the trials and tribulations of our world we have ever faced and that we are facing now, "yet without sin."
You're a God who understands us. You're a God who is not distant or detached, not uncaring or unavailable. You're a God who is right here with us through it all and who has already been through it all -- through it all for us.
If we feel afraid of what might happen, You've been through it. If we are feel worried about what we're already experiencing, You've been through it. If we feel confused about what to do, You've been through it. Even if we feel frustrated or angry in a moment for what seems unfair or out of control or overwhelming, You've been through it. "Yet without sin" -- as You suffered well, persevered well, lived out Your identity and calling in the midst of all that was wrong in a broken, fallen world well, You went through it all in human flesh and blood to model well an example for us (Philippians 2:5-11).
Lord God -- Father, Son, and Holy Spirit -- this is our time of need. We come to You in our weakness and neediness; we come to You on behalf of our neighbors and their weakness and neediness. These problems we face are over our heads. So we come humbly and boldly to Your throne of grace in our time of need, just like You invited us to do. As You have promised: "My grace is sufficient for you; for My strength is made perfect in (your) weakness.... For when (we) are weak, then (we) are strong" in You (2 Corinthians 12:9-10 NKJV). "Therefore (we can be) content (through) weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities for the sake of Christ" for You are with us and You will get us through it all, as we call on Your name and trust in Your grace, no matter what we face (Corinthians 2:10).
You see us. You hear us. You understand us. And You are here with us to help us get us through this. You'll even turn it all around for good in ways we can't even see or imagine right how. Just like You always do. You always have and You always will. So we thank You now, even before we see it come to pass (Mark 11:22-24). "This is the boldness we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. And if we know that He hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have obtained the requests made of Him" (1 John 5:14-15). In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
My family, may you come boldly before our God's throne of grace in your time of need for yourself and for your neighbors, trusting our God who has already suffered through whatever you face without sin so we could look Him and know He understands and know He will respond in His grace, in Jesus' name. Please pray the same for me. God bless you, my friends!
Gary Liederbach- Lead Follower
One Direction Community/Toney UMC
Email: garyl@onedirection.community
Website: https://www.onedirection.community
Facebook: One Direction Community-ODC
I would appreciate your prayer and also any support for support myself as we reach our neighbors with the gospel through setting up a monthly donation or a one –time gift by clicking the link below. Donation checks can be made out to ODC, PO Box 1293 Madison, Al 35758. Thank You!
Good morning, Lord Jesus. I turn to You -- "looking to Jesus" -- to run the race set before me today (Hebrews 12:1-2). ...
I am starting the morning by taking God’s vitamins for my immune system through prayer and His Word. His Vitamin D3 and Vitamin C, that my immune system will be strong to withstand these days."
Vitamin D3.
By the power of Your grace, I will:
1. Determine to stand firm in faith, grounded in Your Word, no matter what comes, trusting You to bring me through it all -- not only just surviving, but thriving, not stuck worrying about by myself, but being a witness to my world around me, not holed-up in fear, but speaking out in prayers and proclamations in the authority of Your name and agreement with Your will from my position of responsibility at the gate of my city and all You've entrusted to me.
2. Do all I can, by the power of Your grace, to reach out to my neighbors as I reach up to You, to be part of the solution and not part of the problem, to be a light of hope as a disciple of Christ in the midst of the darkness, and to be the hands and feet of Jesus, with the heart of my Father, however You lead me by Your Holy Spirit.
3. Dare to believe You're at work in all that our world is going through, to turn it around and redeem it all into a great harvest of souls, as the world begins to see that there is no wisdom apart from Your wisdom, no protection apart from Your protection, and no answer apart from Your answer.
Vitamin C.
Vitamin C is "Christ in (me), the hope of glory" (Colossians 1:27). Christ in me, shining Your light through me, letting Your rivers of living water flow through me, allowing Your power and love to be manifest all around me, because Your abiding presence dwells within me. "(I am) not in the flesh; (I am) in the Spirit, since the Spirit of God dwells in (me). Anyone who does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to Him. But if Christ is in (me), though the body is dead because of sin, the Spirit is life because of righteousness. If the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in (me), He who raised Christ from the dead will give life to (my) mortal body also through His Spirit that dwells in (me)" (Romans 8:9-11).
This morning, I'm taking my vitamins, Lord. And by the power of Your grace -- Father, Son, and Holy Spirit of God -- my immune system will be strong and I will "be in good health." As the Apostle John prayed for those entrusted to his care, "Beloved, I pray that all may go well with you and that you may be in good health, just as it is well with your soul.... I have no greater joy than this, to hear that my children are walking in truth.... that we may become co-workers with the truth.... Peace be to you" (3 John 2:15). In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
My family,I pray you will spend time taking your vitamins to be in good health. May you prosper even as your soul prospers, and may you be the hands and feet of Jesus, revealing the love and heart of our Father, all in the power of the Holy Spirit as witness of our God in our world, in Jesus' name. Please pray the same for me. God bless you, my friends!
Gary Liederbach- Lead Follower
One Direction Community/Toney UMC
Email: garyl@onedirection.community
Website: https://www.onedirection.community
Facebook: One Direction Community-ODC
I would appreciate your prayer and also any support for support myself as we reach our neighbors with the gospel through setting up a monthly donation or a one –time gift by clicking the link below. Donation checks can be made out to ODC, PO Box 1293 Madison, Al 35758. Thank You!
TO GIVE , CLICK HERE
Good morning Lord Jesus, speaks words of peace into the quiet of my morning with you so I can speak peace into the chaos of the day to others.
“Just as you sent me into the world, so I sent them into the world”. (John 17:18).
Last night members of our house church ODC went to prayer walk the Park Place mall. We met in the food court and ordered food from the venders. The dinning area inside the mall was closed so we sat outside the mall and ate our meal. Afterwards we spent an hour prayer walking the mall. Every store owner we talked to and prayed with were so greatful and thankful we were there. We discovered the Mall itself is not closing, It is remaining open but saying individual stores can set their own hours. If the mall closes, store owners would not have to pay rent. So the mall is staying open so it can get its rent, but no one is coming into the malls, so store owners are struggling. Almost all the businesses closed before 7:00pm as the photo on this post shows taken at 7:00pm, the mall was empty.
When I posted we were going to the mall I had many people say we were crazy. I replied we are not crazy, we are Christians. We are supposed to exhibit crazy love. Paul tells us that things followers of Jesus do will seem foolish to society.. (1 Cor. 1:27). We did not do anything crazy. We used hand sanitizer after touching the door knobs, but we went and were a source of light and hope and calmness in our community that is covered in darkness, fear, and anxiety. Were we all at some type of risk of possibly getting the coronavirus. perhaps. But when Jesus told his disciples, “Just as you sent me into the world, so I sent them into the world”. He was not sending them out into “Mayberry” of the Andy Griffith show, he was sending them out into a world that all those hearing his words they knew would be hostile against them. They knew they were killing Christians, they just saw Jesus crucified, Jesus promised them they would experience suffering and told them to pick up their cross, and yet they went. If the worse thing that could happen to them was get a fever for two weeks they would have rejoiced! When Jesus said “Go” and make disciples he was not referring to “go” to a comfortable, safe, church building full of friendly, nice people who open doors for us, offer us friendly greetings, hand out cups of coffee, and place us in comfortable chairs. He was telling us to “go” , all-i reclessly into darkness and pain. If we say Jesus is better than anything, better than our life, and yet when push comes to shove we choose desires and dictates of our flesh over our faith. What does that say to the world? It is a hypothetical question, but say you were confronted with two choices and you had to choose one of them.. One, Witness to 3 people who did no know Jesus in the mall. As a result of the conversation they all would except Christ and enter into eternity with Him, but you would catch the coronavirus and die. Two, do not witness to them but then you would never lead a person to Christ as long as you were alive. Which one would you choose? Which choice at the end of your life would you look back and say your life had most meaning?
We have millions of brothers and sisters who are living out their faith today at this moment n real persecution and suffering. Where the chance and expectation of everyday is that by the end of that day they would be abused, beaten or killed. Yet they walk out their doors every morning and share their faith knowing this. How can I not when the realistic threat to me despite all the craziness is I may get sick for a couple weeks? And once I feel better I am immune to the virus and can do what I please.
Plus the fields are ripe for harvest now. It is in times of uncertainty and fear, not prosperty that peoples hearts are open to Jesus. When we walked up to people and they asked, Why are you here? or Why aren’t you afraid? it gave us the perfect opening to smile and tell them about Jesus.
The church I pastor is not having any in-person service for the next two weeks. Latter this evening I am going to go to my church and record an hour or so long worship service we will edit and put out Sunday morning on social media. It is a good thing we are doing to stay connected with our congregation. But what benefits the kingdom more, my recording for an hour or my prayer walking for an hour? I love all the people I will see tonight while recording it and all those who will watch it, but where will I most likely see Jesus and encounter His kingdom; in those conversations tonight with loved ones, or the conversations in the mall with strangers? One venue is “Safe” and make sense to the flesh, the other is “risky” and is crazy love.
If you are ever going to eat out, now is the time to do it and leave a big tip for your waitress. If you have birthdays coming up later in June, July, August or later, don’t wait until then but go to the stores now and buy the gifts as now is when your neighbors need your business.. Talk to the sales people, listen to the sales people, Be salt and light to your community.
My family, I pray you will hear the words of Jesus, “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you; I do not give it to you as the world does. Do not let your hearts be distressed or lacking in courage”. (John 14:27). I pray you will have the courage today to “go” and be salt and light in this world. and exhibit crazy love, in Jesus’ name. Please pray the same for me. God bless you my friends!
After I post this I am leaving my house and headed to the Waffle House to sit at the counter and talk to people. I can’t think of a better way to spend my birthday morning.
Please share your thoughts and comments on my reflection in the comment box below.
Gary Liederbach- Lead Follower
One Direction Community/Toney UMC
Email: garyl@onedirection.community
Website: https://www.onedirection.community
Facebook: One Direction Community-ODC
I would appreciate your prayer and also any support for support myself as we reach our neighbors with the gospel through setting up a monthly donation or a one –time gift by clicking the link below. Donation checks can be made out to ODC, PO Box 1293 Madison, Al 35758. Thank You!
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Good morning Lord Jesus, I begin this morning seeking to posture my heart into one of worship of you to continue throughout my day.
I was deleting some old file from my computer last night when I cam across this reflection II had not read in years. It blessed me as I read it and I pray it bless you this morning.
Bike Ride with Jesus
At first I saw God as my observer, my Judge keeping track of the things I did wrong to see if I merited heaven or hell when I died. He was out there like the President. I recognized his picture when I saw it but I really did not know him. But latter on when I met Christ it seemed as though life was rather like a bike ride. But it was a tandem bike and I noticed that Jesus was on the back of the bike helping me pedal. I don’t know exactly when it was that he suggested we change places, but life has not been the same since.
When I had control I knew the way. It was rather boring, but it was predictable. It was the shortest distance between two points. But when he took the lead he knew delightful long cuts. Up mountains and through rocky places at break neck speeds, it was all I could do to hang on! Even though it looked like madness he said pedal! pedal! I worried, I was anxious, and I asked where are you taking me?! He laughed and did not answer!
And I started to learn to trust. I forgot my boring life and entered into his adventure. And when I’d say, “I’m scared!” he’d lean back and touch my hand. He took me to people with gifts that I needed. Gifts of acceptance and healing and Joy and they gave me gifts to take with me on my journey, my Lords and mine. And we were off again and he would say, “ Give those gifts away now they are extra baggage, to much weight!” so I did to the people we met and I found in giving I’d receive and still our burden was light.
I did not trust him at first in control of my life. I thought he’d wreck it. But he knows bike secrets. He knows how to make it to take sharp corners. He knows how to jump to clear high rocks. He even knows how to fly to shorten the scary passages. And I’m learning to shut up and pedal. Pedal in the strangest places. And I’m beginning to enjoy the view and the cool breeze on my face and my delightful constant companion Jesus Christ. And when I’m sure I just can’t do any more he just smiles and says Pedal! Pedal!
Author unknown
So I ask you this morning, stop for a moment a reflect, What is it that has you anxious or unable to trust the Lord to drive your bike? When you identify it, do you thinkJesus is not big enough to take that thing and help you pedal through it? Oh it won’t be as simple as sitting through a church service or finding the magical verse of scripture. It’s not like that. And it may not be without some hills and rocks and scary moments where he takes you faster than you ever dreamed you‘d be going, or brings you to a complete stop and shows you the need for someone else. This may be the reason God brought you to this place your in today, to read this devotion, because you don’t have anybody in that other seat on that tandem bike. You really are alone in the journey and you need to remember you have a creator, further more you have a savior who hasn’t yet had his first wreck.
My family, I pray you spend time today putting Jesus completely back in the front seat of your bike. Surrender control of your life to Him. Use the Prayer Wheel or Breastplate prayer from earlier posts if you like. If Jesus is calling you to stop, and talk with someone, seek out that person today, in Jesus’ name. Please pray the same for me. God bless you my friends! I am always here as well if you want to talk.
Much love, Gary
Good morning Lord Jesus, you are more precious than silver or Gold and all my heart desires today.
“For where two or three are assembled in my name, I am there among them.” Matthew 18:20
My prayer every morning is, “Lord, send me the ones that no one else wants and give me the grace to embrace them like you would.” Yesterday as I was walking out the door at 7:00am I also prayed, Lord give me the opportunity to share your Gospel today. I then drove my truck to the Publix Grocery store where every Monday morning I pick up the baked goods not sold over the weekend and take them to the Manna House to be given out to those in need of food. Besides the boxes of baked goods there were several boxes of Christmas baking items: sprinkles, cake mixes, red and green frosting….ect from where the store had cleared the shelf of these un-sold Christmas baking items. The Publix employee who works the receiving dock was standing by me and I jokingly said to him, “Well, it looks like Christmas is officially over.” He replied back to me, “I do not do Christmas. It is a bunch of crap!” I asked him why he thought that. It led to a conversation where he was able to share some hurts in his life and gave me the opportunity to share with him the gospel of grace, just Like I prayed for while walking out my door.
I then drove to the Waffle House of Jordan Road. There while sitting at the counter I entered into a conversation with a waitress. She shared how she was a single mom with three children. And her mother who was crippled from a stroke also lives with her. She shared her struggles of trying to provide for her children, pay rent, and take care of her mother on her Waffle House pay. She allowed me into her story where I was able to embrace her trials and pray with her.
This morning I left my house at 5:40am and drove to the Waffle House on 53 to meet with my Tuesday accountability Band Group at 6:00am. While there, a waitress shared an update on her brother who is in a Christian based rehab for his Meth addiction. He not her actual brother, but her cousin who’s mom was murdered when he was 16 and her mom took him in and raised him. The waitress showed us before and after pictures of her brother. The before picture was of him before he went into rehab, and the after picture was of him after 3 months of sobriety. The difference was miraculous and we praised God and thank Him for they way he was working in her brother.
Jesus said, “For where two or three are assembled in my name, I am there among them.” The word we call an assembly of people where Jesus is present among them is “Church.” We all have the amazing opportunity , blessing and privilege to attend a “church” gathering daily. It may not look like you picture “church.” It probably won’t take place in an organized location, and it usually won’t take place at a conveniently scheduled time but will be an interruption in your day. But that church assembly will bless you and feel more like church then ever!
My family, I pray today you will seek to attend a church assembly. Not by googling churches to see who has a gathering today, but by praying to the Holy Spirit to lead you to the assembly of 2 or 3 where Jesus will be among you. It will not look like you picture church, but it will feel more like it than ever, in Jesus’ name. Please pray the same for me. God bless you my friends!
Please share your thoughts and comments
Gary Liederbach- Lead Follower
One Direction Community/ Toney UMC
Email: garyl@onedirection.community
Website: https://www.onedirection.community
Facebook: One Direction Community-ODC
You Can Help!
I could use you’re the gift of your financial support for my family and those on the margins God has placed in my path I refuse to walk around. Please partner and support my family and ministries through setting up a monthly donation or a one –time gift by clicking the link below. Donation checks can be made out to ODC, 102 Champions Green Drive, Madison, Al 35758.
Thank You!
Good morning Emmanuel, God with us. I receive and accept you as the ultimate gift in my life.
This morning I began my prayer time and I had so many deep, personal, prayer requests of people and friends, those which with whom I have formed relationships.
A young 23 year old struggling with depression.
A couple single moms and families without transportation needing a vehicle to provide for their children.
A family with a mentally incapable family member living in poverty.
A couple struggling and possibly going to divorce.
Addictions of a father that is tearing a family apart.
several families struggling with cancer.
And the list went on...
As I was praying I was saddened by all of the prayer requests I had. But then I realized there was something that could be sadder for me right now, and that would be not knowing anyone personally enough to deeply pray for them. Jesus said, “Blessed are those who mourn…” (Matthew 5:4), because in order to mourn in prayer for someone, you first have to seek a relationship with them and be vulnerable enough to not only love them, but to allow them to love you.
You have to go beyond the shallow level of engaging a person in your work place, church or other places and exchanging the auto-pilot responses to each other of ”I’m doing fine” and embrace the risk, compassion, and time required to create a safe environment that allows the “Not so fine” responses to be heard.
Yesterday we celebrated God’s ultimate example of “going” and embracing the risk, having the compassion and investing the time required to enter into the “not so fine” struggles of our world. Jesus became vulnerable to us. He embraced us just as we were and he intimately bore our burdens, mourned for us, and brought light and life into our darkness and pain. We are called to imitate Christ and follow his example. “Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.” (Galatians 6:2)
Take a moment and reflect on your prayer time. Are there those you are praying for you encountered through going out, taking the risk, and investing the compassion and time required to allow other to share their “Not so fine” prayer requests? General prayers for things like world peace and our government are good, however, who are those you mourn for in prayer because of an intimacy you sought and formed with them?
My family, I pray today you seek the boldness to take the risk and go, and that God will give you the unmistakable opportunity to push past exchanges of “Doing fine” and into the “Not so fine”, in Jesus’ name. Please pray the same for me. God bless you my friends!
“Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray. Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing praise. Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer of faith will save the one who is sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven. Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working.” (James 5:13-16)
Please share any reflections below in the comments block.
Gary Liederbach- Lead Follower
One Direction Community
Email: garyl@onedirection.community
Website: https://www.onedirection.community
Facebook: One Direction Community-ODC
Please support and partner with myself and my family with your end-of-year financial gift as we serve as local missionaries to those in our community Donation checks can be made out to ODC, PO Box 1293 Madison, Al 35758. Thank You!
Good morning, Lord Jesus. O come, O come, Emmanuel -- God with us -- God with me, here in my heart and in every moment of my day.
"But when the fullness of time had come, God sent His Son, born of a woman, born under the law, in order to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as children. And because you are children, God has sent the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, crying, 'Abba! Father!' So that you are no longer a slave but a child, and if a child then also an heir of God through Christ!" (Galatians 4:4-7)
When the Holy Spirit entered the womb of the virgin Mary "the fullness of time had come." God sent His Son in the likeness of human flesh and blood to be both our example of a life in obedience to the Father and led by the Holy Spirit, as well as our atoning sacrifice for all that would divide us from the intimacy and joy and peace of a personal, living, eternal relationship with God (Philippians 2:5-11; Colossians 1:20; John 3:16).
In "the fullness of time," You fulfilled the purposes of Your first coming and returned to heaven (Acts 1:9-11). And "the fullness of time" will yet come again when You return to this earth in the fullness of Your glory (Malachi 4:5-6; Zechariah 14:4; Acts 1:11; Matthew 24:3; 1 Thessalonians 4:16; Revelation 19:11-16). Your timing is always perfect and Your purposes are always fulfilled -- all in Your time, all in Your way (Proverbs 19:21; Isaiah 55:11; Matthew 5:18; Luke 24:44). "For there is still a vision for the appointed time; it speaks of the end, and does not lie. If it seems to tarry, wait for it; it will surely come, it will not delay" (Habakkuk 2:3).
Likewise, the days in which we live are also in "the fullness of time." The choices we make and all the choices our governments make as the nations of the earth all fit into Your plans and all affect our lives, our calling, and our destiny for "the fullness of time." In our generation, as in every generation, we can say with Queen Esther that we are alive in our time, strategically positioned and divinely aligned "for such a time as this" (Esther 4:14).
Tonight is Christmas Eve where Christians celebrate the birth of Christ, We all look forward to the coming of the Messiah in His second coming who will be the Light of the world and restore all things in peace as the One "named Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace" (Isaiah 9:6).
Come, Lord Jesus -- Prince of Peace and King over all the earth (Revelation 22:12)! "The Spirit and the bride say, 'Come!'" (Revelation 22:17) Move in our hearts and teach us to pray by the leading of Your Spirit in agreement with the will of our Father and the purposes of God (Luke 11:1; Romans 8:26-27). As we leave this past year and enter into the new, may we be increasing excited and expectant to see what You will do in our lives and our world in our generation (1 Corinthians 2:9; Jeremiah 33:3). The best is yet to come (Haggai 2:9; John 2:10)! And I believe You've allowed us the honor to be alive and called to Your purposes in "the fullness of time" and "for such a time as this!" Lord, let it be so. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
My family, I pray you will be led by the Holy Spirit to pray according to the will and purposes of God in your life and our world -- here in the fullness of time and for such a time as this, in Jesus' name! Please pray the same of me. God bless you my friends!
Please share your reflections and prayers in the comment box below.
Gary Liederbach- Lead Follower
One Direction Community/Toney UMC
Email: garyl@onedirection.community
Website: https://www.onedirection.community
Facebook: One Direction Community-ODC
Please support and partner with myself and my family with your end-of-year financial gift as we serve as local missionaries to those in our community Donation checks can be made out to ODC, PO Box 1293 Madison, Al 35758. Thank You!
Good morning, Lord Jesus. You're my Lord and my Savior, and I welcome You into every moment of my day. ...
"Suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host, praising God and saying, 'Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace among those whom He favors!' When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, 'Let us go now to Bethlehem and see this thing that has taken place, which the Lord has made known to us.' So they went and found Mary and Joseph, and the Child lying in a manger. When they saw this, they made know what had been told them about this Child; and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds told them. But Mary treasured all these words and pondered them in her heart. The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them" (Luke 2:13-20).
Mary "treasured all these words and pondered them in her heart."...
Do we treasure these stories of your birth Lord? Do we take time to ponder these words in the Bible in our hearts? Or do we think we know the stories so well and have heard them so long that we simply gloss over them or treat them like fairy tales or the simple lines of children's Christmas plays? Have you at any time this season sat down by yourself and read the birth narratives in Luke or Matthew and treasured them, pondered on them and spent time reflecting on them?
These stories are treasures. These "Christmas Stories" are the Word of God -- "living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing until It divides soul from spirit, joints from marrow; It is able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart" (Hebrews 4:12). As You've said of Your Word, "For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return there until they have watered the earth, making it bring forth and sprout, giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater, so shall My Word be that goes from My mouth; It shall not return to Me empty, but It shall accomplish that which I purpose, and succeed in the thing for which I sent It" (Isaiah 55:10-11).
Today God, let Your Word be Treasure in my heart. Let me prioritize it, seek it, and not let anything keep me from it as a priceless treasure., Remind me that reading and pondering these stories of your birth are the priority of this season, not something to hopefully get to if my busy schedule of shopping, decorating, cooking and entertaining allows. Let me never take Your Word for granted or treat it with less than the honor and awe It deserves. Let these stories of Your birth and Your hope and Your life bring comfort and peace and joy every time I read them and ponder them. May I desire to share them as treasures with others. "My child, be attentive to My words; incline your ear to My sayings. Do not let them escape from your sight; keep them within your heart. For they are life to those who find them, and healing to all their flesh" (Proverbs 4:20-22). In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
My family, I pray all the stories of the birth of Christ come alive and active in your heart, and you prioritize time to read them, treasure them, ponder them and share them with others, in Jesus' name! Please pray the same of me. God bless you, my friends!
Please share your reflections and prayers in the comment box below.
Gary Liederbach- Lead Follower
One Direction Community
Email: garyl@onedirection.community
Website: https://www.onedirection.community
Facebook: One Direction Community-ODC
Please support and partner with myself and my family with your end-of-year financial gift as we serve those in our community Donation checks can be made out to ODC, PO Box 1293 Madison, Al 35758. Thank You!
Good morning, Lord Jesus. I seek Your face and listen for Your voice to begin my day embraced by My Father, centered in Christ, and filled with the Holy Spirit. ...
"In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a town in Galilee called Nazareth, to a virgin engaged to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin's name was Mary. And he came to her and said, 'Greetings, favored one! The Lord is with you.' But she was much perplexed by his words and pondered what sort of greeting this might be. The angel said to here, 'Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God...'" (Luke 1:26-30).
Mary "found favor with God." What does that mean, Lord? ...
Does it mean she earned it? Does it mean she was worthy of it? Does it mean she was sinless or perfect or worthy of worship herself? What does it mean for Mary? And what does it mean for me? ...
As I ponder my question like Mary pondered her greeting, some Scriptures come to mind: "The Lord sees not as man sees; man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart" (1 Samuel 16:7). "For the eyes of the Lord range throughout the entire earth, to strengthen those whose heart is true to Him" (2 Chronicles 16:9).
What did You see when You saw Mary's heart? ...
I think You saw the heart of one who knew they needed a Savior. She sang out, "My spirit rejoices in God my Savior!" (Luke 1:47). And I think You saw the heart of one who was quick to rejoice in the One who saves us. I think You saw the heart of one who was humble in Your sight, saying, "He has looked with favor on the lowliness of His servant" (Luke 1:48). I think You say the heart of one who was thankful and appreciative, not taking anything for granted, but giving You praise in all things, declaring, "The Mighty One has done great things for me and Holy is His name!" (Luke 1:49) And I think You say the heart of one who would be seek to be faithful to You and Your word and Your calling upon her life, responding from her heart, "Here am I, the servant of the Lord; let it be with me according to your word" (Luke 1:38).
You're the God "who searches our hearts" (Romans 8:27). You're the God who knows our thoughts (Luke 5:22). "O Lord of hosts, You who test the righteous, Who sees the mind and the heart" (Jeremiah 20:12). You see the end of the beginning and the beginning from the end; You see every desire of our heart, every thought of our mind, and every choice we'll make, even as You give us the freedom to make those choices that flow out of our hearts and minds (Isaiah 46:10).
So for Mary and for me and for all Your sons and daughters of God who are called by Your name, we don't earn Your favor or Your grace -- it is the free gift of God (Romans 3:24; Ephesians 2:9). And at the same time, we are called to be "found faithful" just as we are blessed to be those who have "found favor" (1 Corinthians 4:2). We can't deserve it; we can't earn it -- that only comes by the power of Your grace and the Presence of Your Spirit at work within each one of us -- "For God is working in (us), giving (us) the desire and the power to do what pleases Him" (Philippians 2:13 NLT).
Lord, I want to be "found faithful" as one who has "found favor" in You. By the power of Your grace, give me the desire and the power to do what pleases You -- with humility, thankfulness, faithfulness, obedience, and praise -- just like Mary. "Here am I, the servant of the Lord; let it be with me according to your word" (Luke 1:38). In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
My family, I pray you may seek a heart that is favored by God. A heart humble, seeking, rejoicing and found faithful in Him by the power and grace of His Spirit alive and at work within you, in Jesus' name. Please pray the same for me. God bless you, my friends!
I want to encourage you to join me by also sharing with us your thoughts, comments, reflections, and prayers you received from today’s reading in the comment box below.
Gary Liederbach- Lead Follower
One Direction Community
Email: garyl@onedirection.communit
Website: https://www.onedirection.community
Facebook: One Direction Community-ODC
Help Us Help Them!
I could use you’re the gift of your financial support for my family and those on the margins God has placed in my path I refuse to walk around. Please partner and support my family and ministries through setting up a monthly donation or a one –time gift by clicking the link below. Donation checks can be made out to ODC, 102 Champions Green Drive, Madison, Al 35758.
Thank You!
Good morning, Lord Jesus. Let Your light shine in my heart and through my life today -- Father, Son, and Holy Spirit of God.
"In that region there were shepherds living in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. Then an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, 'Do not be afraid; for see -- I am bringing you good news of great joy for all the people: to you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is the Messiah, the Lord!'" (Luke 2:8-11)
"Good news of great joy for all the people!" -- that's God’s heart and His purpose for this season we now call Christmas. To bring salvation and hope, light from our darkness, and good news of great joy for all! God with us -- "Emmanuel"
So while we can be honest and real about any darkness that surrounds us or even any darkness that remains within us we are dealing with, let us not this season get stuck in discouragement or disappointment or despair. While we can acknowledge any loneliness or anxiety, confusion or fear, Jesus invites us all to lift up our heads and open up our hearts to welcome Him in as our Savior, our Messiah, our Lord.
Like the shepherds in the field, we can respond to the word of the Lord and the hope of heaven to say, "Let us go now to Bethlehem and see this thing that has taken place, which the Lord has made known to us!" (v. 15) Let this thing that has taken place become a living encounter today and every day with the One who's come take His place in our hearts. Truly this is the good news of great joy God has for us all! In Jesus' name pray. Amen.
My family, I pray you are filled with the great joy that comes from hearing and embracing of the good news of God's heart for you and His longing to fill you with His Presence -- Emmanuel, God with us -- in Jesus' name! Please pray the same of me. God bless you, my friends!
PS: m I busy this time of year, Absolutely. Can I make time to talk to you? Absolutely. The Holiday season can bring out many emotions in people. Need to talk? My door is always open, the coffee pot is always on and my sofa is always warm and a place of peace and non-judgment. Any who needs to chat are welcome to contact me anytime. It's no good suffering in silence. I have cold drinks in the fridge...tea & coffee in the cupboard and I will always be here....You are never not welcome!! Starbucks and Waffle House are open and a place to talk. You never have to go through a day of addiction, depression, fear, frustration, or anxieties of life alone. It's always good to talk but its even better to listen, and to be listened to. Some days this hits closer to home than we think. I'll always lend an ear and a shoulder and my heart. My hands are always ready to raise in prayer. Where ever you are, if you are struggling with anything and need to talk, go to your church, call a friend or family member.
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
Please support and partner with myself and my family with your end-of-year financial gift as we serve as local missionaries to those in our community Donation checks can be made out to ODC, PO Box 1293 Madison, Al 35758. Thank You!
