"Thrown Into An Uproar!"

As I end weekdays, I turn my eyes to the one who loving eyres are always turned towards me.

  “The crowds that went ahead of him and those following kept shouting, “Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest!” As he entered Jerusalem the whole city was thrown into an uproar, saying, “Who is this?” And the crowds were saying, “This is the prophet Jesus, from Nazareth in Galilee.” (Matthew 21:9-11)

Matthew chapter 21 is a convicting chapter to read . The crowds welcomed Jesus into their city, into their lives shouting, “Hosanna” which mean means “save us” or “deliver us.”   Jesus did come to save them, however in the people inviting Jesus into their lives and welcoming His salvation, they did not realize what the results would be. “The whole city was thrown into an uproar” (v.9) is what Jesus’s arrival did.  Jesus’s entry demanded a clear and honest assessment and revelation of their current life and worship, a calling out of their sins, and repentance and cleansing. It was the beginning of a revolution.

Jesus confronted them with  the way they had perverted and materialized their Holy prayer and worship of God. “Then Jesus entered the temple area and drove out all those who were selling and buying in the temple courts, and turned over the tables of the money changers and the chairs of those selling doves. And he said to them, “It is written, ʻMy house will be called a house of prayer,ʼ but you are turning it into a den of robbers!” (v.12-13) 

He saw what and what not was bearing fruit, and took down that which looked good, but produced nothing. “After noticing a fig tree by the road he went to it, but found nothing on it except leaves. He said to it, “Never again will there be fruit from you!” And the fig tree withered at once.” (V.19)

He revealed the wicked intentions of those “in the church” and exposed them for what they were- hypocrites. “They discussed this among themselves, saying, “If we say, ʻFrom heaven,ʼ he will say, ʻThen why did you not believe him?ʼ But if we say, ʻFrom people,ʼ we fear the crowd, for they all consider John to be a prophet.” So they answered Jesus, “We donʼt know.” (v.25-27)

He called out those who on Sunday mornings sing, “Mighty to Save”, cheer Jesus, and say “Amen” to the pastors benediction to go into the world and make disciples, and then do nothing. “What do you think? A man had two sons. He went to the first and said, ʻSon, go and work in the vineyard today.ʼ The boy answered, ʻI will not.ʼ But later he had a change of heart and went. The father went to the other son and said the same thing. This boy answered, ʻI will, sir,ʼ but did not go. Which of the two did his fatherʼs will?” They said, “The first.” (vs.28-31)

Jesus knocked down the religious and leveled the playing field for those who will enter into heaven. “Jesus said to them, “I tell you the truth, tax collectors and prostitutes will go ahead of you into the kingdom of God!” (v.31)

Jesus declared the fate of those who enjoyed living in the wonderful world He created but reject His Lordship. “Now when the owner of the vineyard comes, what will he do to those tenants?” They said to him, “He will utterly destroy those evil men! Then he will lease the vineyard to other tenants who will give him his portion at the harvest.”  (vs. 40-41)

He states that those who do not obey Him, pick up their cross and following Him into the world and redeem the lost will not enter the kingdom..“For this reason I tell you that the kingdom of God will be taken from you and given to a people who will produce its fruit.” (v.43)

My family, I know I will meditate on this chapter all day as Jesus words convict and asses the true nature of my heart, worship, and obedience to Him.  I pray that you will do the same.  In Jesus’ name.  Please pray the same for me.  God bless you my friends!!!

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

 

Gary Liederbach- Lead Follower

One Direction Community

Email: garyl@onedirection.community

Website:https://www.onedirection.community

Facebook: One Direction Community-ODC

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

Thanks You!  

 t’s not to late! IF YOU HAVE NOT YET, JOIN IN!!

We started 4 weeks ago beginning the journey of reading through the New Testament in a year and we still have 48 weeks to go! This plan has only one chapter to read each weekday. There are no assigned readings on the weekend. Last week we started reading in Matthew chapters 1-5. The plan we will use is from Bibleplan.org.  Click the button below to go to the site, enter the starting date January 1, 2021, enter your email, and a time you want to receive an email reminder, then click subscribe.  Every weekday then you will receive an email reminder of the chapter reading for that day.   

"Little Ones"

Good morning, Lord Jesus. I speak out Your name and declare Your authority over every dimension of my life this day.  ...

This morning when I turned on the news the first report that came on concerned our children and the need for them to return to school, to in-class learning, friends, and remove the tolls on them physically, emotionally, and spiritually from this isolation. Then I turned off the TV, opened my Bible on my lap to today’s reading, and Jesus was all ready all over it.!

"(Jesus) called a child, whom He put among them, and said, 'Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Whoever becomes humble like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. Whoever welcomes one such child in My name welcomes Me. If any of you put a stumbling block before one of these little ones who believe in Me, it would be better for you if a great millstone were fastened around your neck and you were drowned in the depth of the sea.... Take care that you do not despise one of these little ones; for, I tell you, in heaven their angels continually see the face of My Father in heaven.... So it is not the will of your Father in heaven that one of these little ones should be lost" (Matthew 18:2-14).

For the "little ones," they all are always learning, always vulnerable, and always in need of our prayers and Your angels.

Thank You for these ministering spirits, guardian angels who go forth at Your command and watch over Your children -- not just when they're little, but all the days of their lives. "Are not all angels spirits in the divine service, sent to serve for the sake of those who are to inherit salvation?" (Hebrews 1:14) "Praise the Lord, you angels, you mighty ones who carry out His plans, listening for each of His commands. Yes, praise the Lord, you armies of angels who serve Him and do His will!" (Psalm 103:20-21)

Father, we entrust our children to You -- to Your word and Your will, Your protection and Your purposes, Your guidance and Your guardians, Your care and Your compassion, Your heart and Your hands. We entrust them to Your Holy Spirit in Your heavenly school, as they attend earthly school, secure in the Spirit. You love them more than we do and more than we ever could. And You'll watch over them sending forth Your word and Your warriors in ways we can't and never could. "The Lord is like a father to His children, tender and compassionate to those who fear Him" and carefully watching over all those entrusted to Him (Psalm 103:13). In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

My family, I pray you take time out to pray over your "little ones," no matter how old they are. Pray the remain safe and secure in the Spirit of the Lord, with His holy word and His holy angels going forth to watch over them and protect them. Pray they will be confident in their identity and fulfilling their destiny in Christ, in Jesus' name! Please pray the same for me. God bless you, my friends!

I want to encourage you to please share your reflections and prayers on today’s chapter reading 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 could use your help.  Please partner and support myself through setting up a monthly donation or a one –time gift by clicking the link below. Donation checks can be made out to ODC, PO Box 1293 Madison, Al 35758.

Thanks You!  

 

 

 

"Determined In Your Destiny"

Good morning, Lord Jesus. I speak out Your name and listen for Your voice, for Your sheep hear Your voice and follow You (John 10:3).  ...

"From that time on, Jesus began to show His disciples that He must go to Jerusalem and undergo great suffering at the hands of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised. And Peter took Him aside and began to rebuke Him, saying, 'God forbid it, Lord! This must never happen to You.' But He turned and said to Peter, 'Get behind Me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to Me; for you are setting your mind not on divine things but on human things'" (Matthew 16:21-23).

You were determined to fulfill Your destiny. Even the anticipation of rejection, betrayal, and abuse could not dissuade You or distract You. Even the seemingly encouraging rebuke of love from an assuring friend and faithful disciple could not redirect Your steps, confuse Your thoughts, or alter Your course. You had set Your face and sights on going to Jerusalem and fulfill all righteousness with the holy sacrifice of Your holy life for all of us.

However, all along the way, You had the freedom to say "No," at anytime, but continued to say "Yes" -- "Yes" to the will and the way of God, "Yes" to Your identity and Your destiny (Luke 22:42). And all along the way, it was necessary for You to continue to set Your mind on divine things, not human things, to "set Your mind on things above, not on things on the earth" (Colossians 3:2).

Peter thought he knew what best. for You. He even "took (You) aside and began to rebuke (You)" (Matt. 16:22). I look at Peter and I think, Wow, what an idiot! But how many times have I done the same --sometimes as directly, maybe a little more passively-aggressively, but with just as much insistence on the things and the ways of this world, instead of the things and the ways of God, nonetheless.

But in my arguing with You, You were resolute. So Jesus in Your grace and Spirit, give me the grace and resolve to do the same. Give me the humility to seek the will of my Father, the faith to believe God always knows best from heaven's perspective even if it doesn't look like it from earth's perspective, and the courage to simply obey. Let me like Jesus exhibit immediate Radical Costly Obedience, In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

My family, I pray this morning you will be empowered by the grace of God, in complete humility, faith, and courage to be determined in the destiny our Father has for your life, in Jesus' name. Please pray the same for me. God bless you, my friends!

I also pray the Lord will encourage you to not simply read my reflections but actively participate in our journey through these Scriptures together by please sharing your thoughts, reflections and prayers as the Lord’s speaks to you from the daily reading 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 could use your financial support for One Direction Community, my family, and those on the margins God has placed in my path I refuse to walk around.  Please partner and support myself and One Direction community through setting up a monthly donation or a one –time gift by clicking the link below. Donation checks can be made out to ODC, PO Box 1293 Madison, Al 35758.

Thank You!  

 It’s not to late! IF YOU HAVE NOT YET, JOIN IN!!

We started three weeks ago beginning the journey of reading through the New Testament in a year and we still have 50 weeks to go! This plan has only one chapter to read each weekday. There are no assigned readings on the weekend.  The plan we are using is from Bibleplan.org.  Click the button below to go to the site, enter the starting date January 1, 2021, enter your email, and a time you want to receive an email reminder, then click subscribe.  Every weekday then you will receive an email reminder of the chapter reading for that day.   

 

"Walk On The Waters Of Faith"

Good morning, Lord Jesus. Take hold of my heart, as I take hold of Your grace to guide my steps throughout the moments of my day.  ...

"Peter answered Him, 'Lord, if it is You, command me to come to You on the water.' He said, 'Come.' So Peter got out of the boat, started walking on the water, and came toward Jesus. But when he noticed the strong wind, he became frightened, and beginning to sink, he cried out, 'Lord, save me!' Jesus immediately reached out His hand and caught him, saying to him, 'You of little faith, why did you doubt?' When they got in the boat, the wind ceased. And those in the boat worshiped Him, saying, 'Truly You are the Son of God!'" (Matthew 14:28-33) 

At some time in your past you sensed Jesus calling you.  You accepted His call and were baptized. And every day since then, He continues to call you to "Come." And every day He calls you to step out deeper in faith. 

Some days I've realized and heard Your call to me more than others. Some days I've even thought I had much more of a measure of control over my life than I ever truly did. Some days there was no doubt in my mind that my life was desperately dependent upon You alone. But every day has been no less miraculous than walking on the water -- walking on the water of faith that You are real and You are good and You are worthy of all my trust, no matter how afraid or unworthy I've ever felt at any step along the way.

You've protected me in ways I never saw. You've provided for me in ways I never knew. But in every way on every day, I know Your hand has been there to catch me when I start to sink and strengthen me when I start to doubt. You remind that You are One who called me and invited me to "Come." And You are the One who speaks to my heart through the wind and the waves that You'll never call me to come to a place where You're not already there. You're with me always (Matthew 28:20).

So as I begin my day -- another day to walk on the waters of faith -- give me the grace to hear Your voice and answer Your call to "Come." In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

My family,  I pray you will hear and answer the call of Jesus to "Come" -- trusting in Him with all your heart to be with you always in every step, as you walk on the waters of faith, in Jesus' name. Please pray the same for me. God bless you, my friends!

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

 

Gary Liederbach- Lead Follower

One Direction Community/Toney UMC

Email: garyl@onedirection.community

Website:https://www.onedirection.community

Facebook: One Direction Community-ODC

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

Thanks You!  

 It’s not to late! IF YOU HAVE NOT YET, JOIN IN!!

We started two weeks ago beginning the journey of reading through the New Testament in a year and we still have 50 weeks to go! This plan has only one chapter to read each weekday. There are no assigned readings on the weekend. The plan we will use is from Bibleplan.org.  Click the button below to go to the site, enter the starting date January 1, 2021, enter your email, and a time you want to receive an email reminder, then click subscribe.  Every weekday then you will receive an email reminder of the chapter reading for that day.  

 

"Words Matter"

This morning I come to your Father with a heart in tune with the old hymn, “It’s me, it’s me, its me Oh Lord, standing in the need of prayer”…

“For the mouth speaks out of that which fills the heart. The good man brings out of his good treasure what is good; and the evil man brings out of his evil treasure what is evil. But I tell you that every careless word that people speak, they shall give an accounting for it in the day of judgment. For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.” (Matthew 12:34-37)

Words matter.  “The Word” was the Apostle John’s favorite term to refer to Jesus, “In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God and the Word was God” (John 1:1).  Words express meaning.  Words explain.  Words teach. Words convey what is in the heart of the speaker.  Words are powerful.  Words carry authority.   Jesus was the “Word” of God.   He was the true expression of God, completely in line with the heart of God in all his power and authority.  

Words can build up, Words can tear down. Words are eternal.  If I say something negative or evil about a person, my words bring that evil into existence when I speak them.  That evil that never existed in this world now does.  People hear it, they think it, they remember it, and that evil now exists and echoes in this world forever.   If I say something positive or good about a person, my words bring that good into existence when I speak them.  That good that never existed in this world now does.  People hear it, they think it, they remember it, and that good now exists forever.  Once I speak words out, I can never completely take them back.  In this world of social media we live in now, the posting and reposting of words on the internet reminds us of that.

Words speak out of and point to the character of a persons heart. ““For the mouth speaks out of that which fills the heart. The good man brings out of his good treasure what is good; and the evil man brings out of his evil treasure what is evil.” (v.34-35)  You may think you are a person who’s nature is good, however if you gossip, put some one down shame them, or speak harsh words against a neighbor, your words reflect the true nature of your heart.

So this morning God, through your power and presence of the Holy Spirit in me I cry out and ask, “Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me!” (Psalm 51:10)   Align my heart completely to yours, then “Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O LORD, my rock and my redeemer.” (Psalm 19:14)

My family, I pray this morning you will reflect on your words, what you said yesterday, what you are planning on saying today.  Then more importantly, I pray you will reflect on what these words reveal about your heart, and allow the Holy Spirit to perform “heart Surgery “ on you where needed. In Jesus’ name.  Please pray the same for me.  God bless you my friends! 

As we start another week reading through the New Testament together, want you participate along by Please sharing your reflections and prayers with us in the comment box below.

 

Gary Liederbach- Lead Follower

One Direction Community

Email: garyl@onedirection.community

Website:https://www.onedirection.community

Facebook: One Direction Community-ODC

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

Thanks You!  

It’s not to late! IF YOU HAVE NOT YET, JOIN IN!!

We started two weeks ago beginning the journey of reading through the New Testament in a year and we still have 50 weeks to go! This plan has only one chapter to read each weekday. There are no assigned readings on the weekend.   The plan we will use is from Bibleplan.org.  Click the button below to go to the site, enter the starting date January 1, 2021,, enter your email, and a time you want to receive an email reminder, then click subscribe.  Every weekday then you will receive an email reminder of the chapter reading for that day. 

"You Are the One To Come"

Good morning, Lord Jesus. May my heart continue to celebrate the coming of Christ as the Light of the world. ...

"When John heard in prison what the Messiah was doing, he sent word by his disciples and said to Him, 'Are You the one is to come, or are we to wait for another?' " (Matthew 11:2).

In the days of John the Baptist and all the long centuries before, the people of God longed for the coming of the Messiah, the Christ. They longed and looked for the One who was to come. Something in their hearts, deep down in their spirits, yearned to hear the voice and experience the Presence of the One who would be the Child of God and Savior of man, named "Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace" (Isaiah 9:6). 

They believed the prophecies of God would be fulfilled in the perfect timing of God. And then, "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," that through the Christ, the Messiah, each of us would be "no longer a slave but a child, and if a child then also an heir of God through Christ" (Galatians 4:4-7).

And just as You came as Christ at Your first coming, You will come as Christ at Your second coming (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18). You are forever "the Alpha and Omega," the One "who is and who was and who is to come" (Revelation 1:8). And at the same time, You are the One who is always coming, again and again, into every heart that prepares You room -- our Immanuel, our God who is with us always (Isaiah 7:14, fulfilled in Matthew 1:23).

So Immanuel, our God who is with us, Jesus the Christ, the One who is "both Lord and Messiah," I open my heart to You today (Acts 2:26). I join in the adventure of today you have given me with expectant faith and excited hope to experience Your Presence as the Light of my world today.  And may all the people who are walking in darkness yearn again to experience and embrace Your great Light (Matthew 4:16). "Come, Lord Jesus!" (Revelation 22:20) In Jesus' name I pray. Amen. 

My family, I pray you'll embrace the adventure of today with expectant faith and excited hope, longing and looking for Christ afresh in your heart by His Spirit today and every day. Please pray the same the same for me. God bless you, my friends!

Want you please join me as we journey together by share your reflections and prayers in the comment box below.

 

Gary Liederbach- Lead Follower

One Direction Community

Email: garyl@onedirection.community

Website:https://www.onedirection.community

Facebook: One Direction Community-ODC

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

Thanks You!  

It’s not to late! JOIN IN!!

We started two weeks ago beginning the journey of reading through the New Testament in a year and we still have 50 weeks to go! This plan has only one chapter to read each weekday. There are no assigned readings on the weekend.   The plan we will use is from Bibleplan.org.  Click the button below to go to the site, enter the starting date January 1, 2021, enter your email, and a time you want to receive an email reminder, then click subscribe.  Every weekday then you will receive an email reminder of the chapter reading for that day. 

 

Entering the "Not So Fine"

“Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.” Matthew 5:4

This morning I began my prayer time and I had so many deep, personal, prayer requests of friends and people which with whom I have formed relationships.

·      A good friend of mine is in the hospital with Covid

·      A friend battling cancer.

·      A friend shared how he was molested by a catholic priest for years when he was young.

·      A waitress struggling with Meth addictions.

·      Financial fears and looming possible bankruptcy of another couple.

·      Addictions of a father that is tearing a family apart. 

And the list went on…

As I was praying this morning I was saddened by all of the prayer requests I had.  But then I realized there was something sadder, 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 church or other places and exchanging the auto-pilot responses to each other of, “How are you” - ”I’m doing fine” and embrace the risk, compassion, access tp your life and time required to create a safe environment that allows the “Not so fine” responses to be heard.   

A couple weeks ago we celebrated God’s ultimate example of “going” and embracing the risk, compassion and time required to enter into a world of “not so fine” and through becoming vulnerable he intimately bore our burdens 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 and embraced the risk, compassion and time required to hear 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 you stepped out of your comfort zone and sought and formed a relationship of intimacy?  In this pandemic world we live in there are many people who are living in and experiencing “Not so fine” now. Pray today for a 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.”

“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)

I don’t want to travel this journey through the New Testament alone. I ask you to join me in this journey by please share your reflections, insights, and prayers from our daily chapter readings with us in the comment box below.

IF YOU HAVE NOT YET, JOIN IN!!

We started January 1st beginning the journey of reading through the New Testament in a year. This plan has only one chapter to read each weekday. There are no assigned readings on the weekend.   The plan we will use is from Bibleplan.org.  Click the button below to go to the site, enter the starting date January 1, 2021, enter your email, and a time you want to receive an email reminder, then click subscribe.  Every weekday then you will receive an email reminder of the chapter reading for that day.  Jump in an start today!

Gary Liederbach- Lead Follower

One Direction Community/ Toney UMC

Email: garyl@onedirection.community

Website:https://www.onedirection.community

Facebook: One Direction Community-ODC

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

Thanks You!  

Call His Name Jesus

Good morning, Lord Jesus. On this day as I continue to celebrate Your birth, I welcome You into my heart, into every day of my year, and into every moment of my life. ...

"She shall bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name Jesus, for He shall save His people from their sins" (Matthew 1:21).

Son of God, Salvation of All, You've saved me from my sins. And You've saved me for a life wholly surrendered to You.

As we continue t remember and celebrate Your birth, may we surrender and embrace the life You've entrusted to every one of us who are called by Your name and seek to follow in Your ways.

You're the greatest Gift we could ever receive. May our surrendered lives now be the greatest gifts we could ever give in return to You. O come, let us adore You. O come, let us live for You. Christ, our Lord. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

My family, may you remember and celebrate the birth of our Savior called Jesus, for we are saved and surrendered for Him, in Jesus name. May your heart be filled with His joy and peace. Please pray the same for me. God bless you, my friends!

Give A Year End Gift

I could use 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!  

TO GIVE CLICK HERE

"Come and See"

Good morning, Lord Jesus. All that I am and all that I have, I give to You in trusting surrender--as best as I can and all by Your grace.  ...

"The next day John again was standing with two of his disciples, and as he watched Jesus walk by, he exclaimed, 'Look, here is the Lamb of God!' The two disciples heard him say this, and they followed Jesus. When Jesus turned and saw them following, He said to them, 'What are you looking for?' They said to Him, 'Rabbi' (which translated means Teacher), 'where are you staying?' He said to them 'Come and see.' They came and saw where He was staying, and remained with Him that day" (John 1:35-39) 

Lord Jesus, I want to know where You're staying, so I can come be with You. I want to know where You're going, so I can come be with You. Where You are is where I want to be. You're the One I'm looking for. 

So I accept Your invitation to 'Come and see,' so I can "Come and be"--come and be with You. To me, that's one of Your greatest promises in all of Scripture:  "And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age" (Matthew 28:20).

Holy Spirit, take away my wordly blinders, interrupt my schedule, and open up my eyes and my heart to see Jesus in the people around me today.  Guide and lead me to the places and encounters where I will walk away from them blown away by the “God thing” that just happened.  Remind me that Christmas was a “Come and see” day. Wise men, shepherds and others all had to leave their place of comfort to see Jesus. And Jesus left the comfort and safety of heaven, took on a human body, the same as yours and mine, and went into a world that was dangerous, so he could be with and encounter the gift of humanity, people like you and me.

 My family, I pray the Holy Spirit will take away your wordly blinders, interrupt your holiday schedule, and open up your eyes and heart to “Come and see” Jesus in the people around you today.  I pray that you come and be with Him and allow Him to come and be with you in all you are and all you do, in Jesus' name! Please pray the same for me. God bless you, my friends! 

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

 

Gary Liederbach- Lead Follower

One Direction Community

Email: garyl@onedirection.community

Website: https://www.onedirection.community

Facebook: One Direction Community-ODC

Give A Gift This Christmas

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!  

 

 

 

"Deep Encounters Deep"

Good morning, Lord Jesus. Fill my heart with Your Spirit and guide my steps into Your will -Father, Son, and Holy Spirit of God. 

"In those days Mary set out and went with haste to a Judean town in the hill country, where she entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth. When Elizabeth heard Mary's greeting, the child leaped in her womb. And Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit and exclaimed with a loud cry, 'Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the Fruit of your womb.... For as soon as I heard the sound of your greeting, the child in my womb leaped for joy!" (Luke 1:39-44)

Deep calls to deep, as Spirit calls to spirit (Psalm 42:7). Elizabeth's spirit leaped with joy with Mary's spirit. And John, the child within in Elizabeth's womb, leaped with joy with Jesus, the Child within Mary's womb. When Elizabeth and her baby encountered Mary and her Baby, Elizabeth was "filled with the Holy Spirit" until joy overflowed! (Luke 1:41) "In Your Presence there is fullness of joy!" (Psalm 16:11)

Lord Jesus, we can encounter You every day. We can be filled with Your Spirit until joy overflows every day (Ephesians 5:18). We can welcome Your kingdom that has no end right here in the kingdom of our world, in the kingdom of our hearts every day to experience the same joy that Elizabeth and Mary experienced that day. "For, in fact, the kingdom of God is within (us)" (Luke 17:21). "For the kingdom of God is ... righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit" (Romans 14:17).

The deep in me cries out for the deep in you.  My very spirit that is at the core and essence of who I am desperately desires to encounter the very Spirit of God in a real way!  So come, Holy Spirit. Fill me afresh with Your Presence and Your joy today. Let everything within me leap for joy! "Bless the Lord, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless His holy name!" (Psalm 103:1) And as we near the end this season we have set aside called Advent of preparing our hearts for the coming of Christ, help me set aside time to prepare my heart for the coming of Your Spirit every day. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

My family, I pray you intentionally set aside time to encounter the living Presence of the risen Christ today, and are filled afresh with the Holy Spirit, leaping for joy, as your spirit is overwhelmed with the love of Jesus’ Spirit.  In Jesus' name! Please pray the same for me.  God bless you my friends!

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

 

Gary Liederbach- Lead Follower

One Direction Community

Email: garyl@onedirection.community

Website: https://www.onedirection.community

Facebook: One Direction Community-ODC

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!

Expectant Faith

Good morning, Lord Jesus. I'm listening for Your leading and resting in Your Presence to begin my day in the communion of prayer with You -- Father, Son, and Holy Spirit of God. ...

"At the time there was a man in Jerusalem named Simeon. He was righteous and devout and was eagerly waiting for the Messiah to come and rescue Israel. The Holy Spirit was upon him and had revealed to him that he would not die until he had seen the Lord's Messiah" (Luke 2:25-26).

Simeon was full of expectant faith. He was "eagerly waiting for the Messiah." He knew the Written Word of the Scriptures that spoke of the One who would come as God's anointed Son to be the Salvation of Israel and a Light to the nations (Isaiah 9:6; 42:1; 61:1-3 and many more). But he also knew the prophetic word that had been spoken into his spirit that he would not die until he had seen the Messiah.

Simeon held on in expectant faith and pressed through in persistent prayer all through the years, by the Word and by the Spirit. And then the day finally came when his prayers were answered and the prophetic promises were fulfilled. The goodness of God was worth the wait!

Before Simeon died, he not only saw the Messiah with his eyes but embraced the Messiah in his arms. "That day the Spirit led him to the Temple. So when Mary and Joseph came to present the baby Jesus to the Lord as the law required, Simeon was there. He took the Child in his arms and praised God, saying, 'Sovereign Lord, now let Your servant die in peace, as You have promised. I have seen Your salvation, which You have prepared for all people. He is a Light to reveal God to the nations, and He is the Glory of your people Israel!'" (Luke 2:27-32)

As we "eagerly wait for the Messiah" in this season of preparing our hearts for the coming of Christ, remind us of Your written Word and every one of Your prophetic words to each one of us, to our nation, and to our world. Give us the grace of expectant faith and persevering prayer to see Your promises and purposes fulfilled! Give us the grace to wait -- not wavering in faith, not giving up in despair, but eagerly awaiting our Savior, our Messiah, our Fulfillment of Every Promise of God. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

My family, I pray today you will eagerly seek out the embrace of God with expectant faith and persistent prayer for the fulfillment of the prophetic promises of God for your life, for your family, for our churches, for our nation, and and for our world, in Jesus name. Please pray the same for me. And I join with you and so many in prayer for our nation through this challenging time. God bless you, my friend!

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

Help Others by Giving A Gift!

For over 5 years now the Lord has led me to share hope and the Gospel to others on line by devoting morning time to Him to receive and write these devotions. He also has my family and I sharing hope and the gospel with “boots and the ground” in our community. 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!

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"God With Us"

Good morning, Lord Jesus. In these first moments of my morning, I want to give You first priority in my day.  ...

"Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign:  Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, and shall call His name Immanuel" (Isaiah 7:14).

You are the One who was conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the virgin Mary. You are the One who is fully God and fully Man, Son of God and Son of Man, the One who set aide the glory of Heaven to humble Yourself in the likeness of human flesh and blood to live and to love among us as Immanuel, God with us (Matthew 1:23). “You are Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.” -- all from Your mercy and love for us (Philippians 2:6-8).

I can't truly conceive and all it means that You willingly humbled Yourself to be conceived in the womb of woman for me. "The sufferings of Christ" began in the womb, not only at the cross or the tomb (1 Peter 1:10). You had it all, yet You chose to sacrifice it all for me and for all who would embrace Your sacrifice of love and grace -- "not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance" (2 Peter 2:9).

In Your humanity, You showed us the way to the Father -- how to live a life by the leading of the Holy Spirit, only doing what the Father was doing and saying what the Father was speaking, as You lived a life in the fellowship of the Father and in the communion of the Holy Spirit (John 5:19 and 12:49). 

And as Immanuel, you were both born to live for us, and willing to die for us, that in Your death as a sinless sacrifice for us, we might live forever with You in the power and glory of Your resurrection. "I want to know Christ and the power of His resurrection and the sharing of His suffering by becoming like Him in His death, if somehow I may attain the resurrection form the dead.... I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me His own" (Philippians 3:10-12).

Son of God, Son of Man -- One with the Father, One with the Holy Spirit -- come be One within me. Immanuel, God with us, come live in me, that I can live for You. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

My family, I pray,  you will completely open up your heart up this morning to the One who is Immanuel, and allow Him to live within you, as you live for Him today in the fellowship of the Father and the communion of the Holy Spirit, in Jesus' name! Please pray the same for me. God bless you, my friends!

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

 

Gary Liederbach- Lead Follower

One Direction Community/Toney UMC

Email: garyl@onedirection.community

Website: https://www.onedirection.community

Facebook: One Direction Community-ODC

 Give A Gift!

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!

Longing for the Messiah

Good morning, Lord Jesus. I speak out Your name and listen for Your voice to begin my day deliberately, intentionally embraced by my Father, centered in Christ, and filled with Your Holy Spirit.  ...

 This morning as I sat at my desk I read the story of Christ’s birth in Luke.

"Now there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon; this man was righteous and devout, looking forward to the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit rested on him. It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord's Messiah" (Luke 2:25).

Simeon longed for the coming of the Messiah. He longed to see and embrace the One who would bring consolation and comfort, healing and hope, forgiveness and freedom to all who would welcome Him into their hearts. 

He knew from the prophecies of Scripture that this Child to be born - the Messiah, the Christ --would be fully God from the glory of Heaven, but also fully man in the likeness of human flesh and blood. "Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, and shall call His name Immanuel" -- meaning "God with us" (Isaiah 7:14, fulfilled in Matthew 1:23). By the Spirit of the Lord, Isaiah had prophesied long ago:  "For a Child has been born for us, a Son given to us; authority rests upon His shoulders; and He is named Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.... The zeal of the Lord of hosts will do this" (Isaiah 9:6-7).

In this now 8 months and counting long pandemic season we have grown weary and long for hope and relief from it. In the 400 year season of waiting between the Old Testament and the New Testament, before the birth of Christ, the Israelites grew weary and longed for God to act in their lives. In this Christmas season of Advent, we long for the coming of the Messiah. Like Simeon, we long to see and embrace the One who finally brings consolation and comfort, healing and hope, forgiveness and freedom to all who welcome Christ into their hearts. And at the same time, we no longer have to wait for a future day on the calendar to finally embrace you and welcome to You into our hearts.  We can do it this morning! For you are with us always (Matthew 28:20). You are Immanuel -- God with us (Matthew 1:23). So what are you waiting for? Take time, right now and embrace Jesus! Every moment of every day, You are our "Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace" (Isaiah 9:6). So as we long for Your coming in the celebration of Christmas, we also celebrate Your Presence with us now, In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

My family, I pray this morning you will stop what you are doing and intentionally in Gods word and prayer embrace Jesus and experience the Presence of Immanuel --the One who is your Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace, in Jesus' name! Please pray the same of me. God bless you, my friends!

In the 10 days leading up to Christmas spend time reading the stories of Jesus’ birth in Matthew and Luke.

 

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

Give a Gift!

Please support and partner with myself and my family as we serve those in our community with an end of year financial gift.  Give your one-time or monthly financial gift by clicking link below.  Donations can be made by check made out to ODC, PO Box 1293, Madison, Al 35758.  Thank You!

HOPE!

Good morning, Lord Jesus. Put Your thoughts in my mind and Your desires in my heart, as I seek to follow in Your steps today. ...

"In the time of King Herod, after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem, asking, 'Where is the Child who has been born King of the Jews? For we observed His star at its rising, and have come to pay homage'" (Matthew 2:1-2).

Before hope was fulfilled, the wise men saw hope from afar.

Long before the day of the birth of Christ, they looked up to the sky and saw a star of hope in the heavens. As the star was rising in the sky, hope was rising in their hearts. So they followed that star until their hope was fulfilled.

There was something unique about this star that spoke to their hearts that there was something unique about this Child. They probably didn't know that the fulfillment of their hopes was destined to be the fulfilment of the Promises of God and the hope of mankind.

"For so it has been written by the prophet: 'And you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for from you shall come a Ruler who is to shepherd My people'" (Matthew 2:5-6).

The wise men followed their hearts and hopes. They followed "the star they had seen at its rising until it stopped over the place where the Child was" (Matthew 2:9). And on that day, their hopes were turned to joy. "When they saw that the star had stopped, they were overwhelmed with joy. On entering the house, they saw the Child with Mary His mother; and they knelt down and paid Him homage. Then, opening their treasure chests, they offered Him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh" (Matthew 2:9-11).

Holy Spirit of the Living God, come fill our hearts with hope. Come lift up our eyes to the heavens, from where our help comes from. Give us courage and faith to keep following the star of hope You cause to shine in our hearts until our hopes are fulfilled in You. "Hope deferred make the heart sick, but a desire fulfilled in a tree of life" (Proverbs 13:12).

Fulfill the desires You've put in our hearts, Father. Fill our hearts with Your new life. Like wise men on a journey going to see the King, we believe with expectant faith and hopeful hearts that our journey will end in joy! And we will bow down and pay homage to the One whose hope does not disappoint.

"Hope does not disappoint us because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit that has been given to us" (Romans 5:5). So arise and shine in our hearts, Holy Spirit of God, O Star of Hope, who always leads us to the King. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

My family, i pray as you begin a new week that hope may rise in your heart with expectant faith and courage to pursue the promises our Father has put into your hearts by His Holy Spirit on your journey to the King and His kingdom purposes in your life and our world, in Jesus name. Please pray the same for me. And I join with you and so many in prayer for our nation through this challenging time. God bless you, my friends!

Please post and 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

 Give a Gift!

Please support and partner with my self and my family as we serve those in our community with your one-time or monthly financial gift by clicking link below.

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Trust and Love

Good morning, Lord Jesus. I speak out Your name and listen for Your voice. 

"If you love Me, obey My commandments.... All who love Me will do what I say. My Father will love them, and We will come and make Our home with each of them. Anyone who doesn't love Me will not obey Me. And remember, My words are not My own. What I am telling you is from the Father who sent Me. I am telling you these things now while I am with you. But when the Father sends the Advocate as My Representative -- that is, the Holy Spirit -- He will teach you everything and will remind you of everything I have told you" (John 14:15-26).

Does loving You also include obeying You? Or does loving You only include receiving Your mercy and grace and the freedom to do what seems right in my own eyes to follow the leading of my own heart in the logic of my own reasoning? Will Your Holy Spirit lead me in love without leading me in obedience?

I sense there is something You want me to hear about love and obedience. 

It seems I hear You speaking in my spirit:  "My son, your desire to obey Me is a mark of your desire to love Me. It's a matter of the nature of faith; faith that trusts Me to know and to desire what's best for you.  To trust Me and believe if you surrender your life to Me I won’t wreck it.  To love Me is to trust Me, and to trust Me is to obey Me. This is the nature of love and obedience I want you to come to understand. Seeking to love Me without the desire to obey Me is loving some idea of Me that is crafted by human minds, not by My sovereign will."

Yes, Lord. Help me understand this more deeply. Help me test what seem to be Your spoken words against Your written Word. "My Father is glorified by this, that you bear much fruit and become My disciples. As the Father has loved Me, so I have loved you; abide in My love. If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love, just I have kept My Father's commandments and abide in His love. I have said these things to you so that My joy may be in you, and that your joy may be complete" (John 15:8-11).

There is a connection between love and obedience, between living in faith that trusts You and Your Word and the complete joy we're created to experience in our loving relationship with You and one another.

A Scripture that comes to mind now is from Galatians 5:3-6:  "For through the Spirit, by faith, we eagerly wait for the hope of righteousness. For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision counts for anything; the only thing that counts is faith working through love." And this:  "For you were called to freedom, brothers and sisters; only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for self-indulgence, but through love become slaves to one another. For the whole law is summed up in a single commandment, 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself. Live by the Spirit, I say, and do not gratify the desires of the flesh.... those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God" (Galatians 5:13-21).

Truly loving You will lead me to seek to obey You because I trust You. And You've given me Your Spirit who is at work in me, changing my heart to love You more, trust You more, obey You more, and become more like You every day (Romans 8:29).  "For God is working in (me), giving (me) the desire and the power to do what pleases Him" (Philippians 2:13). As the old song says, help me "trust and obey, for there's no other way to be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey." In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

My family, I pray your joy will be made complete as you grow in the desire to love and obey the Lord our God in ever-increasing, trusting faith in Him, in Jesus' name! Please pray the same for me. God bless you, my friends!

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

 

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Blessed are the poor, for they shall be put in jail.

Good morning Lord Jesus, you are the foundations I want to build my day upon; my may, my truth, my life.. 

My main office is the Waffle House (WH) on Hughes Road in Madison.  This morning I was at my Satellite WH office in Huntsville.    One of the waitresses who works the morning shift was not there so I asked about her.   I found out she was in jail and when I found out why it infuriated me.

I will call her the waitress Sandy, though that is not her real name.  Around 6 months ago Sandy got pulled over for speeding and the officer gave her a speeding ticket.  She went on line to see about paying the ticket and the fine was $179.  Sandy did not have the money.  Sandy is in her late 20’s and is a single-mom of two young children.  Working at the WH she makes approximately $400 a week plus or minus.  She pays around $150.00 a week in child-care for her kids.  That leaves her $250 a week/ $1,000 a month to live on.  Take out her rent and utilities that leaves her $100.00 a week for her and her two young children to eat and live on so $179 Is almost 2 weeks of living expenses. 

Since she did not have the money for the fine, she did not pay it on line, and out of fear of what might happen, she did go to court.  After missing a couple court dates, her driver’s license was suspended.  She knew this from letters she received, but she had to get to work, kids to day care, and survive, so she drove with a suspended license. Three weeks ago Sandy got pulled over again for an expired tag.  Not having a valid drivers license meant she could not renew her tag for her license plate.  When they ran her license they saw it was suspended so they took her to jail.  Sandy had to pay  $370 fine or they were going to keep her in jail.  She did not have the money.  She has one family member in town and they are an addict, and no friends with money to help her, so to pay the fine off she had to do 30 days in jail. 

Because she is in jail and could not take care of her Kids, DHR was called in and took her children into foster care.  Her car, a 2002 Chevy Impala was towed to an impound lot where it now sits.   From what I was told she has a real slum landlord.   And though it was not legal,  this past Saturday, since she had not paid her rent that was do the first, he took all of her things out of her apartment and put them in the parking lot by the street where people took them.  Another waitress at WH who lives near her heard about it and went down and managed to save a few of her things for her.

Sandy’s 30 days will be upI think in a week and she will get out of jail.  However when she does, she will have no place to live.  She will most likely go to the Downtown Rescue Mission.  All her cloths and children’s cloths and belongings except what her one friends was able to save for her are gone.  With the fee for towing her car plus a daily storage fee, it will cost her around $400+ to get her car out of the impound lot that she does not have, so she will probably lose her car.  She then will have to deal with DHR to try to get her children back.

Now, I understand there needs to be laws and fines for speeding tickets.  And I understand Sandy broke the law and should have gone to court.  However, a speeding ticket is not supposed to ruin your life!!!  If most of us, including myself got a speeding ticket it would not be good.  $179 is allot of money to me.. And at least in my case I would hear it from my wife over and over again, but we would manage to pay the ticket.  However, $179 is not two weeks living expenses to me.  THE ONLY REASON SANDY WENT TO JAIL IS BECAUSE SHE IS POOR!  If I had to come up with $370 or go to jail for 30 days I would find a way to come up with it.  If I did not have it I have family or friends I could borrow it from.  Sandy went to jail because she was poor and did not have the money, support of a family, and has poor friends like her who are themselves are barely living paycheck to paycheck like her. 

Should Sandy not have been speeding, Yes.  Should she have gone to court, Yes.  But the fact that you are poor and do not have $179 dollars to pay a traffic ticket should not result in jail, losing everything you have, losing your children, and ending up homeless in a shelter.  That ticket ended up being a literal ticket to hell for her.  Now you know why I was infuriated.  I sat there at the bar in my office listening to the waitresses telling me this, and though I have heard and helped people with similar stories before, I was getting worked up, mad and upset at this injustice.  However, the waitress telling me this spoke matter of fact to me, as this injustice and system that adversely and in-proportionately impacts the poor was just the reality she also lives in.  She not only hears stories like this all the time, she live in this story. At least the WH Sandy works at said she still has her job when she gets out.  I will come to the WH when she starts back to work and listen to her, love her, and to get clarity on her situation, plans, and needs, in Jesus’ name.

Lord have mercy, Christ have mercy, Lord have mercy.

My family, Jesus had a special love for the poor.  They were his crowd of choice. You can’t call yourself a disciple of Jesus if you aren’t spending time with the poor. I pray today that your hearts may break for the poor and that the Holy Spirit will guide you into ways of interacting and sharing life together.  They have so much to teach us.  Please pray the same for me.  God bless you my friends!

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

Thank You! 

The Art of God

Good morning Lord Jesus, I arise and thank you for the blank canvas or today you have given me to write on.

My daughter Paris is and Art major at Birmingham Southern College. Both her and my other daughter Milan are great at art. I was looking at one of my daughter’s art project and it reminded me of our trip a few years ago to Great Britain, France and Italy. We visited and spent time in several cathedrals and famous churches.  St. Paul and Westminster Abbey in London; Bath Abby in Bath; Notre Dame, Sacre Coure, and St. Chappelle in Paris; and the Doumo and Santa Maria delle Grazie in Milan. I will continue my daily blog  on my reflections from my time spent in these churches.

When you walk into these churches they instill in you a sense of awe and belief in God, or at least definitely a sense of awe and belief in art and architecture. The early church, and I would say the church up through the 15th century, was the source of creativity, innovation, inspiration, promotion and commissioning of the arts.  Architecture, painting, sculpture, music, poetry, and dance all had importance in the church and were used to illustrate the Gospel, the stories of the Bible, the life of Christ and to present the glory of God. The church was the major influence of these arts and used them to shape and influence the culture of their time.

On October 31, 1517 Martin Luther defiantly nailed a copy of his 95 Theses to the door of the Wittenberg Castle church, and all this began to change.  Luther’s protest and accusations against the church for its corruption, selling of Indulgences, and emphasis on salvation and grace by works was correct and the need for reform.   However, in the Protestant Reformation, as in most reformations, the pendulum swung from one extreme, past center and to another extreme.

In their reforms and attempt to differentiate themselves from the Catholic Church they went to far.  They correctly stated that salvation is by grace and not works.  They returned Scripture as the over riding authority over the church.  However they continued in their differentiation.  They saw the use of art, sculptures and the icons in the Catholic church, and so they discouraged their use.  The Catholic church participated in the Lord’s Supper weekly, so the reformers changed this to monthly or quarterly in a year.  They looked at the Catholic requirement for repentance and confession and a persons absolution of sins through a penance of works, and removed the importance of repentance, And now repentance in the case of the United Methodist Church I am clergy in, is relegated it to a service in the Book of Worship that is rarely if ever opened to in a church service or encouraged.

We, the church basically abandoned the arts and other ways to to teach and share the gospel to one form.  The written word, and reading. 

This stain glass window in The Duomo in Milan tells the whole story of the life of Christ.  Many people were illiterate in the church and in these panes of glass a person could comprehend the stories of Jesus’ life.

The stain glass panels that circle the church Saint Chapellle tell the complete story of the Old Testament.  Each panel is a different book of the OT and you read each panel left to right starting from the bottom up to see the chronological order of illustration for each book.

Almost all the stain glass windows that face the East are scenes taken from the Book of Revelation by John.  So as people in the church face East, looking for the return of Christ, they look through Biblical images of his return and the new heaven and earth.

I believe the church needs to once again encourage, support and be the source of innovation, inspiration, promotion and commissioning of the arts.  Ninety percent plus of all churches use the same form of teaching and having people experience the Gospel.  They get in a class, pick a book of the Bible or subject to study, give people a work book to go along with it, and flip pages week to week.  However, if this is the only option offered by the church, you basically cut off all those like my wife, that reading from a text is not their style of learning, from growing in their understanding of the Gospel. 

I play guitar and try to sing.  When I pick up my guitar and I sing worship songs it comes from a place that spoken prayers don’t penetrate.

Jesus and the Holy Spirit are alive and active in and around us in the world today and it is through the arts of painting, music, dance and song the we join in with and illustrate the image of God around us.  The church needs to return to its source, a God of creation and the creativity that is at the DNA of who we are called to be.

Question: How do you and in what ways or forms do you best experience God?   How creative are you in sharing the Gospel with others besides telling them, “You just need to get into the Word.”

My family,  I pray today the God of creation will unleash his creativity upon you today that you will step out onto the canvas of today he has given you and paint his portrait, that you will step onto the stage of today he has given you and dance and sing, and that you will take hold of the resources he has given you and sculpt an image of his glory to share with those around you.  Please pray the same for me.  God bless you my friends!!!

"The Battle Is Not Over"

Good morning, Lord Jesus. Help me hear Your heart -- Father, Son, and Holy Spirit of God -- to pray and proclaim Your will, here on earth as it already is in heaven, here in every sphere of influence of responsibility and authority You've entrusted to me as a child of God and disciple of Christ. ...

"God is our refuge and strength,
a very present help in trouble.
Therefore we will not fear, though the earth should change,
though the mountains shake in the heart of the sea;
though its waters roar and foam,
though the mountains tremble with its tumult. Selah

There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God,
the holy habitation of the Most High.
God is in the midst of the city; it shall not be moved;
God will help it when the morning dawns.

The nations are in an uproar, the kingdoms totter;
He utters His voice, the earth melts.
The Lord of hosts is with us;
the God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah

Come, behold the works of the Lord;
see what desolations He has brought on the earth.
He makes wars cease to the end of the earth;
He breaks the bow, and shatters the spear;
He burns the shields with fire.
'Be still, and know that I am God!
I am exalted among the nations,
I am exalted in the earth.'
The Lord of hosts is with us;
the God of Jacob is our refuge! Selah" (Psalm 46:1-11)

Though the nations be in an uproar, through the kingdoms of this world totter with tumult, You utter Your voice, You speak forth Your word, and the mountains tremble and shake, as the earth and all that would rise against You melts away like wax. Mighty God! Our Refuge! Our Strength! Our Very Present Help in time of trouble!

On the one hand, You're speaking to me and all Your children, "Be still and know that I am God." And at the same time, You're shouting and commanding the nations and kingdoms of this world that would seek to oppose Your will and Your word, "Be still and know that I am God!" They must cease and desist. They must bow before Your name and submit to Your will. All that is in darkness will be exposed. What is hidden in secret will be shouted from the mountaintops.

So by the power of Your grace, stirred up in my human spirit by the burning Fire of Your Holy Spirit in faith to never surrender and never retreat before the enemies of the cross and the righteousness of God, I agree in my prayers and words of proclamation to the kingdoms of this world opposing the Kingdom of my God: "You will be still and You will submit and You will know that the Lord alone is God! He makes your wars cease. He breaks your bows. He shatters your spears. He burns your shields with fire. He alone will be exalted among the nations! He alone will be exalted in the earth! In Jesus' mighty name!" (v. 9)

This battle is not over. This spiritual war for the soul of a nation is not finished. "God is in the midst of (this nation); it shall not be moved! God will help it when the morning dawns!" (v. 5).

So before that day dawns, when all is exposed by the light and set right, "there is a river whose streams make glad the (people) of God, the holy habitation of the Most High" (v. 4). Your River of Life flows in our hearts, with both the faith to trust in You and the peace to know You hear our prayers and are moving in Your power. So "we will not fear" (v. 2). "The Lord of hosts is with us! The God of Jacob is our Refuge!" (v. 11) And all the world will "Come and behold the works of the Lord!" (v. 8)

I believe it. And I'm not backing off or standing down, I will not stop praying. I will not stop our Well Night’s of Worship seeking revival until I see it or until You tell me otherwise. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

Ny family, I pray you will here the Lord’s shout to be still and know that the Lord alone is God; and may you boldly and faithfully proclaim that truth to all that's hidden and opposing the will of God in your world, in Jesus name. Please pray the same for me. And I join with you in fasting and prayer for the elections and and for all we are facing in our world. God bless you, my friends!

Please share your reflections and prayers with us n 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 begin 2020 by a commitment to partner and support myself and One Direction community through setting up a monthly donation or a one –time gift by clicking the link below. Donation checks can be made out to ODC, PO Box 1293 Madison, Al 35758.   

Thank You! 

"I Will Fullfill My Purpose"

Good morning, Lord Jesus. Put Your thoughts in my mind and Your desires in my heart, to guide my steps as I seek to walk in Your ways today -- Father, Son, and Holy Spirit of God. ...

"But now hear, O Jacob My servant,
Israel whom I have chosen!
Thus says the Lord who made you,
who formed you in the womb and will help you:
Do not fear, O Jacob My servant,
Jeshurun whom I have chosen....

Thus says the Lord, your Redeemer,
who formed you in the womb:
I am the Lord, who made all things,
who alone stretched out the heavens,
who by Myself spread out the earth;
who frustrates the omens of liars,
and makes fools of diviners;
who turns back the wise,
and makes their knowledge foolish;
who confirms the word of His servant,
and fulfills the prediction of His messengers;
who says of Jerusalem, 'It shall be inhabited,'
and of the cities of Judah, 'They shall be rebuilt,
and I will raise up their ruins';
who says to the deep, 'Be dry-
I will dry up your rivers';
who says of Cyrus, 'He is My shepherd,
and He shall carry out all My purpose';
and who says of Jerusalem, 'It shall be rebuilt,'
and of the temple, 'Your foundation shall be laid'" (Isaiah 44:1-28).

You have Your plans and Your purposes. You alone are God and there is no other (v. 6). You alone have the authority to choose whom You will choose to fulfill what You choose for them to fulfill. You "pour out (Your) Spirit" upon whom You will (v. 3). And You appoint and anoint Your servants for Your assignments (v. 21).

You forgive our transgressions of the past and cleanse us from the unrighteousness of our sins, if we turn them over to You (v. 22). You restore us and redeem us and then, in the sovereignty of Your mercy and power of Your grace, You determine to even honor us and use us in the unfolding of Your plans and fulfillment of Your purpose (v. 24). Sometimes even in the very places of our greatest failures to display Your glory and Your power to redeem all people and all things.

Who are we to judge? (v. 25) Who are we to say we know better, we know best, in resistance of Your will and Your chosen purposes through Your chosen servants? (v. 26)

You are the First and You are the Last; You see the end from the beginning and the beginning from the end (v. 6). You alone are the One "Who has announced from of old the things to come; (You alone) tell us what is yet to be" (v. 7).

Sometimes, we'd rather trust in the idolatry of our own will and ways apart from Yours (v. 9). Sometimes we'd rather bow down and worship what we've created by our own hands in our own image for our own desires (v. 17). But it's foolishness and vanity, coming to nothing, all to our shame of not faithfully trusting You (v. 20).

Like it or not, agree with You and Your wisdom or not, You will have Your way. Your "Cyrus," Your "shepherd" for a time such as this, "shall carry out all (Your) purpose" (v. 23). Lord, let it be so, just as You have said. Give us humility to trust and faith to believe You know what's best. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

My family, I pray you may fully trust in the all the plans and purposes of God in our lives and in our land for such a time as this, in Jesus name. Please pray the same for me. And I join with you and so many in fasting and prayer for the elections tomorrow and for all we're facing in our world. God bless you, my friends!

Please share your reflections and prayers with us n 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 begin 2020 by a commitment to partner and support myself and One Direction community through setting up a monthly donation or a one –time gift by clicking the link below. Donation checks can be made out to ODC, PO Box 1293 Madison, Al 35758.   

Thank You! 

"Build On the Rock"

Good morning, Lord Jesus. Good Shepherd of my soul, lead me step by step along the journey of my day. ...

"'Everyone then who hears these words of Mine and acts on them will be like a wise man who built his house on rock. The rain fell, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on rock. And everyone who hears these words of Mine and does not act on them will be like a foolish man who built his house on sand. The rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell -- and great was its fall!' Now when Jesus had finished saying these things, the crowds were astounded at His teaching, for He taught them as one having authority, and not as their scribes" (Matthew 7:24-29).

Lord, give me discernment to hear Your words and wisdom to act on them in faith. Give me humility to embrace Your authority and courage to stand firm and follow through in trusting obedience.

It's wisdom to build my house before the storm. And it's wisdom to build my house on rock. What is the "rock"? ...

As I wait and listen, it seems I hear in my heart: "Your relationship with Me is your rock. You build your relationship with Me when you seek Me in prayer, when you honor Me in worship, when you obey Me in faith." ...

Yes, Lord. And what is the "sand"? ...

I believe You're saying in my heart: "The sand is depending on your own strength, your own wisdom, your own ways apart from My ways. It may seem fine at first, but it will not withstand the storms. Only what's built on the rock can withstand the storms. And there will always be storms -- some more severe than others. But you can withstand any storm as you hold fast to your relationship with Me. Those who are wise will build thier relationship with Me before the storms. Those who are foolish will not. And they will not withstand the storms."

Yes, Lord. Draw me near. Hold me close. Help me hear. Teach me to learn to discern Your voice and trust Your ways. When I look back and see all the storms we've weathered together, I know I'd be foolish to waste a day of not seeking to draw closer in relationship with You.

You draw near to those who seek to draw near to You (John 15:4; James 4:8). By the power of Your grace, may I draw nearer to You every day. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

My family, may you draw nearer to Jesus, steadily building your relationship with Him every day, that you may withstand every storm that comes your way, in Jesus name. Please pray the same for me. God bless you, my friends!

Please share your reflections and prayers with us n 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 begin 2020 by a commitment to partner and support myself and One Direction community through setting up a monthly donation or a one –time gift by clicking the link below. Donation checks can be made out to ODC, PO Box 1293 Madison, Al 35758.   

Thank You!