Good morning Jesus, I breath in your Spirit this morning, as you are my breath of life.
This morning, I am sharing a post from a good friend of mine who also writes a daily blog post. His name is J.D. Walt and he is the Sower in Chief at seedbed. https://www.seedbed.com He wrote this blog on Luke chapter 18 6 years ago in March of 2015. I saved it as it caused me to honestly reflect on understanding of following Jesus. and I pul it our and read it now and then to remind me of Jesus’ words and how I follow Him as a disciple. With today being my fiirst post of Holy Week, when we are to seriously re-structure this week to allow us as much time to reflect on Jesus’ saving works on the cross and our call to follow Him, this reflection fits in perfectly.
“A certain ruler asked him, "Good teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?" "Why do you call me good?" Jesus answered. "No one is good--except God alone. You know the commandments: 'You shall not commit adultery, you shall not murder, you shall not steal, you shall not give false testimony, honor your father and mother.'" "All these I have kept since I was a boy," he said.
When Jesus heard this, he said to him, "You still lack one thing. Sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me."
When he heard this, he became very sad, because he was very wealthy. Jesus looked at him and said, "How hard it is for the rich to enter the kingdom of God! Indeed, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God."
Those who heard this asked, "Who then can be saved?" Jesus replied, "What is impossible with man is possible with God." Peter said to him, "We have left all we had to follow you!"
"Truly I tell you," Jesus said to them, "no one who has left home or wife or brothers or sisters or parents or children for the sake of the kingdom of God will fail to receive many times as much in this age, and in the age to come eternal life." (Luke 18:18-30)
I’ve thought about this a lot in recent years. Let’s say I was leading a church and this same rich young ruler came forward after a service and asked me, “What must I do to inherit eternal life?” How would I answer that question. For that matter, what if this same person came forward at a Billy Graham Crusade and asked the same question. What answer would they get?
In both cases, the person would likely be led in a prayer that goes something like the following:
Dear Lord Jesus, I know that I am a sinner, and I ask for Your forgiveness. I believe You died for my sins and rose from the dead. I turn from my sins and invite You to come into my heart and life. I want to trust and follow You as my Lord and Savior. In Your Name. Amen.
We would give them some literature and encourage them to become active in the local church and that would be that. Well, . . . . we would probably hit them up soon for a big donation to the capital campaign too. J. This has been the basic shape of evangelism and discipleship in the North American evangelical church for the past 50 years.
Notice how drastically different Jesus answers the question:
"You still lack one thing. Sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me."
How do we reconcile such a disparity between what Jesus says and the conventional practice of today? I don’t think we can.
Doesn’t it strike you as a bit dangerous to depart so drastically from Jesus’ approach? All things equal, wouldn’t we be giving the rich ruler a profoundly false sense of security in their eternal salvation? At the same time, I can’t picture myself responding in the same way Jesus did.
So what if this entire “sinners prayer” approach to eternal salvation is all wrong? I mean, it’s not actually in the Bible anywhere, nor do we see it anywhere in the early church or church history for that matter.
On the other hand, surely salvation can’t come down to money and one’s relative attachment or detachment from it. Justification by grace through faith would go right out the window if selling everything one had and giving it to the poor were a requirement. So what gives here?
My take: I don’t think salvation is such a transactional reality. I think it’s far more relational. Can a person come to faith in an instant? Sure. “Love at first sight” happens. More often than not, though, I think it takes time. Maybe it takes following Jesus for more than a church service or two to be ready to offer up your entire allegiance to him. What if a little bit of discipleship (i.e. following Jesus) actually opens up the door for evangelism to happen rather than the reverse case?
Let me suggest a few assumptions that might change our take on the passage at hand. First, I think it’s fair to assume that the rich ruler was following Jesus. He was in the midst of the people that day and had the courage to bring forth his question. Chances are he had been there before. Second, we know he went away sad, but we don’t know how it actually turned out in the end. Maybe he came back around. Maybe he realized his wealth actually had him and that Jesus was right and he had to do something drastic to escape its gravity. Maybe he came to grips with the hard reality that his money stood between himself and Jesus.
That’s how I’m thinking about it. What if we didn’t feel like we had to soft-pedal Jesus when he says unreasonable things like this? What if we just let Jesus be Jesus? What if we just “listened to him,” instead of explaining how he couldn’t possibly mean what he said. What if we were willing to let people go away sad when something Jesus says makes them sad? What if we could let them sit in that sadness a bit? What if we could sit with them in that sadness a bit? What if that’s actually what real discipleship is all about; feeling the weight of the cross a bit, counting the cost, weighing allegiances, making hard yet life-giving choices?
I’m obviously still thinking this through. And the more I think about it, the more I am led back to the prayer. . . . .Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me a sinner. by JD Walt
My family, I pray this morning as we enter the deep waters of Holy Week you take time to honestly reflect on the actual state of your relationship with Jesus. How are you really following Jesus? How are you a real disciple? In what ways are you shouldering and bearing the weight of the cross? What relationships,lifestyle choices and financial decisions are you making because of your relationship with Jesus? I pray today you ask Jesus the hard questions, and listen and obey his hard answers. In Jesus’ name. Please pray the same for me. God bless you my friends!
Though I ask each week, I get very few people who actually take time to share their reflections from the chapter we read that day so I and others can also glean from what the Holy Spirit reveals to them. I pray since it is Holy Week, you will 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!
Good morning, Lord Jesus. I want to begin my day with You -- meditating on the written Word, in the communion of prayer with the living Word. You are the Word of God; and I'm watching and waiting for God's Word to speak to my heart. ...
"Do not be afraid, little flock, for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom" (Luke 12:32).
You're a good Father. And it's Your good pleasure to give me the kingdom. What is "the kingdom" that You desire to give me, my Father? ...
As I sit and listen, this Scripture comes to my heart: "For the kingdom of God is not food and drink but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit" (Romans 14:17).
Yes, Lord. Everything I need to experience Your righteousness, it is Your good pleasure to give me. Everything I need to experience Your peace, it is Your good pleasure to give me. Everything I need to experience Your joy, it is Your good pleasure to give me. And You do give it all to me through Your Holy Spirit -- the "Spirit of God (who) dwells in (me)" (Romans 8:9) -- the "Spirit of God" who leads me and positions me to receive everything it is Your good pleasure to give me (Romans 8:14). You know everything I need, so You invite me to ask and command me not to worry (Philippians 4:6).
Thank You, my Father. It's not prideful or selfish for me to seek and to receive all these things that it's Your good pleasure to give me. It brings You joy to bring me joy -- righteousness and peace and joy. It delights You to delight in me. "For the Lord your God is living among you. He is a mighty savior. He will take delight in you with gladness. With His love, He will calm all your fears. He will rejoice over you with joyful songs!" (Zephaniah 3:17 NLT)
So may it be my good pleasure to delight You this morning by graciously receiving from You all You're generously giving to me in Your good pleasure. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
My family, I pray you'll ask for and receive everything it's your Father's good pleasure to give you, delighting in Him as He delights in you with gladness, 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
You Can Help!
I could use you’re the gift of financial support reaching with the Gospel 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, PO Box 1293 Madison, Al 35758.
Thank You!
Good morning, Lord Jesus. Help me start this day and every day embraced by my Father, centered in Christ the Son, and filled with Your Holy Spirit. ...
"Now as they went on their way, He entered a certain village, where a woman named Martha, welcomed Him into her home. She had a sister named Mary, who sat at the Lord's feet and listened to what He was saying. But Martha was distracted by her many tasks; so she came to Him and asked, 'Lord, do You not care that my sister has left me to do all the work by myself? Tell her then to help me.' But the Lord answered her, 'Martha, Martha, you are worried and distracted by many things; there is need of only one thing. Mary has chosen the better part, which will not be taken away from her" (Luke 10:38-42)
Martha was so sure of Your answer she didn't even wait to haer it. She asked, "Lord, do You not care that my sister has left me to do all the work by myself?" But she didn't wait to hear what You would say. She assumed You would be saying, "Yes. You're right. Mary is wrong and you are right. Mary, get to work and quit wasting your time sitting at My feet and listening to Me." No, she just went right on with her assumption to say, "Tell her then to help me."
But You did not tell Mary to help Martha. No, instead You defended Mary. In fact, You insisted that what she had in those moments of waiting and listening in the intimacy of Your Presence would "not be taken away from her." Incredibly, You didn't just say it was the best thing she could be doing or the most honoring or most effective thing she could be doing. You said "There is need of only one thing."
So before I go about the work that surrounds me today, before I get busy doing all the things that need to be done, I choose to embrace Your truth that "There is need of only one thing." And by the grace of God, it was not be taken from me. In fact, I believe You insist upon it. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
My family,I pray you will embrace the truth and the invitation of Jesus that there is need of only one thing, as you begin your day in the intimate presence of the Lord, in Jesus' name. Please pray the same for me. I have to smile as I write these words this morning. II have to be at work early this morning at 5:30am and that almost convinced me to stay in bed and gave me an excuse to skip my time to pray and write my devotional to send out this morning. But I heard, "One thing" in my heart and knew I needed to take the time, that it is not a chore, but that it was a gift of God that would not be taken from me. Thank you for joining with me in the daily journey of prayer, our journey through the New Testament, morning by morning. 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/Toney UMC
Email: garyl@onedirection.community
Website:https://www.onedirection.community
Facebook: One Direction Community-ODC
Give A Gift
Would you please consider giving the gift of your financial support for my family and those on the margins God has placed in our path we 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. Donations checks can be made out to ODC, 102 Champions Green Drive, Madison, Al 35758
Thank You!
Good morning Jesus, I begin my day opening my heart to allow you to pour your blood of the love, grace and mercy into my life.
“A sower went out to sow his seed. And as he sowed, some fell along the path and was trampled underfoot, and the birds of the air devoured it. And some fell on the rock, and as it grew up, it withered away, because it had no moisture. And some fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up with it and choked it. And some fell into good soil and grew and yielded a hundredfold.” As he said these things, he called out, “He who has ears to hear, let him hear.” (Luke 8:5-8)
If you have been in the church for awhile, you probably heard many sermons on this text. They all focus on the different soils, which result in Sermons focus on which heart conditions which are yours:
Are you that thorny hearted person?
Are you that Rocky or Shallow hearted person?
Are you the hard hearted person?
Are you the good soiled hearted person?
Well if I took a spiritual snap shot of your heart right now, a spiritual photo, I guess it could be true that at this moment perhaps your heart is hardened now on some point or another. Or you may have a rocky heart, or a thorny, choking heart now, or a good heart now.
But life is not a static snap shot is it, it is a moving picture. There are times in our lives that we can’t hear God’s word, sometime we won’t hear it. Some times we hear it, and we lose it. There are times that anxieties and fears choke it. Sometimes we receive it with Joy..
When I hear this parable and read the story about the seed that falls on the path and is eaten up, when I hear it I say to myself, That’s me!
When I hear about the story of how the seed fell on rocky places and there was shallowness, and the first time, persecution or suffering comes they fell away I say to myself: That’s me too.
When I hear the story about how one receives the Word and lets the worries of the world and materialism choke it away, I say to myself: That’s me too.
And when I hear the story of the seed falling on the good soil and it produces fruit 30x, 60x, 100x, I say to myself: Praise God that’s me too!!! Because in so many ways these soil represents various times in my life.
Yet this parable has never been called the parable of the soils. It is of the sower. It is a parable about the sower. God is sowing his seed into the world, his sowing was behind all the past saints, and behind the present and future saints, and behind you and me, sowing into the world!
The real story is: That God’s sowing is more consistent than the Devil’s snatching. His sowing is more powerful than the devil’s eating. His sowing is more enduring than the devil’s tribulation. His sowing is more persistent then the devil’s choking. The real good news of this parable is that God is the great extravagant sower in all the world, including you and me.
My family, I do not know what the snap-shot condition of the soil of your heart looks like this morning. However, I pray you open your heart, open your Bible, open your hands in prayer, and receive the seeds of love, grace, mercy and hope your Father, the extravagant sower, who is madly in love with you wants to sow into your life today. 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/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 reaching with the Gospel 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, PO Box 1293 Madison, Al 35758.
Thank You!
It’s not to late! IF YOU HAVE NOT YET, JOIN IN!!
We started 10 weeks ago beginning the journey of reading through the New Testament in a year and we still have 42 weeks to go! This plan has only one chapter to read each weekday. There are no assigned readings on the weekend. The plan we 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.
Good morning, Lord Jesus. Rule and reign in my heart and life today as King of kings and Lord of lords.
"Just say the word" and it shall be so” (Luke 7:7)
All that You've promised in Your Word and spoken in my heart will surely come. All will come in the appointed time. When You point, it will be time. When You speak, it will be done..
Sometimes it seems to me you delay speaking into my situation. You're timing is not always my timing, just as Your thoughts and Your ways are not always my thoughts and my ways (Isaiah 55:8). So Your Word reminds me: "Do not ignore this one fact, beloved, that with the Lord one day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like one day. The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some think of slowness, but is patient with (us), not wanting any to perish, but all to come to repentance" (2 Peter 3:8-9).
As it turns out Jesus, as hard as it is to believe according to my flesh and desires it's not all about me. It's about me and so much more than me. It's about all You're doing every day, as You work in the heart of every soul, using everything that will happen in our broken, fallen world to bring us closer to You. You cause all things to work together for my good and the good of all who love God and are called according to His purpose.(Romans 8:29). So I shouldn't be surprised and I shouldn't get discouraged when that seems to take a little more time than I'd like to spend in the places and situations I find myself.
You give me the freedom to cry out, "How long, O Lord?" (Psalm 13:1) And at the same time, You've forever reserved the right to reply, "As long as it takes, My child."
Thank You for all Your patience with me. Give me the grace everyday to be patient in You. "For in hope we are saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what is seen? But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience" (Romans 8:25). So with hope and patience, through the eyes of my heart, I look forward with vision for "the appointed time" to come, choosing to trust in You that you will not delay but be right on time. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
My family, I pray you will know a deep peace in the patience God gives you in His grace. I pray for patience and faith in you to wait for His appointed time to fulfill every promise He's spoken to you in His Word and to your heart, 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/Toney UMC
Email: garyl@onedirection.community
Website:https://www.onedirection.community
Facebook: One Direction Community-ODC
Give A Gift!
I could use you’re the gift of your financial support reaching with the Gospel 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, PO Box 1293 Madison, Al 35758.
Thank You!
“Then He (Jesus)looked up at his disciples and said:” In Luke 6 Jesus chooses 12 people to be His disciples. He then calls His new church He just formed together and preaches His first sermon to them. This is the first sermon Jesus preached to His new congregation as a foundation for His church.
“Blessed are you who are poor”
“Blessed are you who hunger now”
“Blessed are you who weep now”.
“Blessed are you when people hate you, and when they exclude you and insult you” “
“But woe to you who are rich”
“Woe to you who are well satisfied with food”.
“Woe to you who laugh now”
“Woe to you when all people speak well of you”
“Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you”
“bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you”
“To the person who strikes you on the cheek, offer the other as well”
“the person who takes away your coat, do not withhold your tunic either”
“Give to everyone who asks you, and do not ask for your possessions back”.
“If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you?”
“If you do good to those who do good to you, what credit is that to you?”
“If you lend to those from whom you hope to be repaid, what credit is that to you? “
“love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing back”
“He is kind to ungrateful and evil people”
“Be merciful”
“Do not Judge”
“Someone who is blind cannot lead another who is blind”
“You hypocrite! First remove the beam from your own eye,”
“Each tree is known by its own fruit.”
“nor again does a bad tree bear good fruit”
“the evil person out of his evil treasury produces evil, for his mouth speaks from what fills his heart”
Say I planted a new church today. I walked the streets and reached out to people, and I invited neighbors, friends, co-workers and other to attend the first service. Then at the first service, for my first sermon, I preached the above sermon. No one would come back the next week.
Jesus talks about a house that is built upon a good foundation. The above sermon is the “good foundation” He preached His church would be built on. If this sermon would drive people away today, then what foundations are our churches built on today?
Jesus’ words haunt and convict me this morning both personally and as a leader in His church: “Why do you call me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and don’t do what I tell you?”
My family, I pray this morning you will simply reflect on Jesus sermon which is the true foundation your life and “The Church”, and his words, “Why do you call me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and don’t do what I tell you?” I know I will for a while. Lord have mercy, Christ have mercy, Lord have mercy.
“ I am asking you to please share your reflections and prayers with us 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 reaching with the Gospel those on the margins God has placed in my path I refuse to walk around. 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.
Thank You!
Father, Son and Spirit I seek full fellowship with you so I can draw others into your fellowship.
“Therefore produce fruit that proves your repentance, and donʼt begin to say to yourselves, ʻWe have Abraham as our father.ʼ For I tell you that God can raise up children for Abraham from these stones! Even now the ax is laid at the root of the trees, and every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire.”
So the crowds were asking him, “What then should we do?” John answered them, “The person who has two tunics must share with the person who has none, and the person who has food must do likewise.” (Luke 3:8-11)
When the crowd asked John what should we do to avoid being thrown into the fire which is hell, he did not answer and tell them they had to repent and do more pious things in their faith: go to church more, pray more, read the Torah more. He told them to avoid hell they needed to repent and do more tangible things in their faith.
The Jews relied heavily on the pious things of their faith. Like their ancestry and heritage to prove they were the chosen people of God. If asked by someone to prove their faith they would answer:
“Yes, I obey the Sabbath and go to the synagogue.
Or “Yes, I am a descendent of Abraham.”
Or “Yes, I am the son/daughter of ______________.”
John forcefully rejected that claim and said their proof of their faith is not in their heritage, religion, or piety; it is in their fruit. John’s words are directed towards us as well, as that is what we rely on as well.
If we are asked to prove our faith, if someone asks us if we are a Christian, what do we answer? We get on the treadmill of religion and tradition. In our response we say, “Yes, I attend __________________ church every Sunday. (Fill in the blank with your church name.).
Or “Yes, I am _________________ (fill in the blank with your denomination)
Or “Yes, my family has attended this church for years.”
Or ,”Yes, I serve on ____________church committee.”
Yet where is the fruit in this? When most of us have enough cloths in our closets to cloth the average African village. When we have more food in our fridge, freezer, and pantries than many around the world will see in a month. When we have empty guest bedrooms while our brothers and sisters are sleeping on the streets in the cold. John’s response to us would be, “You brood of vipers and hypocrites, you know the axe is set at your feet to cut down lives that don’t bear fruit.”
Lord, Jesus, in this season of Lent where we reflect on our faith, connection with Jesus and bearing fruit, let us repent as John calls us to do,. Le’s examine our level of giving and truly be a people who bear fruit as thankful givers.
My family, I pray this morning you read John’s words above and as the crowds that heard them, ask God in prayer, “What then should I do?” 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
This Thanksgiving, 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 me 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. Draw me deeply into the communion of prayer, as I begin my day seeking Your face.
"When the time came for the their purification according to the law of Moses, they brought (Jesus) up to Jerusalem to present Him to the Lord (as it was written in the law of the Lord, 'Every firstborn male shall be designated as holy to the Lord'), and they offered a sacrifice according to what is stated in the law of the Lord, 'a pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons'" (Luke 2:22-24).
Under the law of the Old Covenant, the firstborn was dedicated and set apart to the priesthood of God. The living sacrifice of the firstborn was a life given over completely to service of God above all else. And now, under the New Covenant in Christ, we are all the firstborn of God. Jesus was "the firstborn among many" (Romans 8:29 NLT).
Through Christ, each one of us is "a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God" (Romans 12:1). Each one of us is set apart, holy to the Lord, wholly surrendered to Him as "a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that (we) may proclaim the praises of Him who called (us) out of darkness into His marvelous light" (1 Peter 2:9). And each one us holds the inheritance and birthright of the chosen children of God -- "heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ" (Romans 8:17).
As I begin my day, in the name of Jesus, I offer my life as a living sacrifice to You. Fill me with Your Holy Spirit as You set me apart as "holy to the Lord," wholly surrendered to You. I embrace my inheritance as a child of God, an heir of God, a priest of God to proclaim the praises of the One who calls me out of darkness and into Your marvelous light. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
My family, I pray you may completely embrace the fullness of your inheritance and your calling as a child of God! You are a firstborn in Christ, dedicated and holy to the Lord and set apart for the service of God, 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 as I relationally reach out with the Gospel 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.
Thank You!
It’s not to late! IF YOU HAVE NOT YET, JOIN IN!!
We started the journey of reading through the New Testament in a year and we still have 8 months 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 Jan 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.
Good morning, Lord Jesus. My heart is open to hear Your heart, as I begin my day embraced by my Father's love, centered in my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, and filled the Holy Spirit of the living God.
"Mary said to the angel, 'How can this be, since I am a virgin?' The angel said to her, 'The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the Child to be born will be holy; He will be called Son of God" (Luke 1:34-35).
Mary asked "How?" But the angel answered her "How?" with "Who." The Holy Spirit would come upon her and empower her to fulfill her destiny as the mother of the Son of God. As the angel Gabriel assured her, "Nothing will be impossible with God" (v. 37).
Then believing by faith in her heart Who it was that chose her and Who it was that would empower her, she was able to say in obedience and trust, "Here am I, the servant of the Lord; let it be with me according to your word" (v. 38). All her questions of "How?" were suddenly consumed in Your assurance of "Who."
Just as You chose Mary, You've chosen me. Just as You empowered Mary, You will empower me. As the children of God in Christ, "(we) are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God's own people, in order that (we) may proclaim the mighty acts of Him who called (us) out of darkness into His marvelous light" (1 Peter 2:6). You "chose us in Christ before the foundations of the world to be holy and blameless before (You) in love. (You) destined us for adoption as (Your) children through Jesus Christ, according to the good pleasure of (Your) will, to the praise of (Your) glorious grace that (You) freely bestowed on us in the Beloved.... In Christ we have also obtained an inheritance, having been destined according to (Your) purpose Who accomplishes all things according to (Your) counsel and will.... (We) were marked with the seal of the promised Holy Spirit... to the praise of (Your) glory" (Ephesians 1:4-13).
Like Mary, may Your Holy Spirit come upon me today. May the power of the Most High overshadow me. And may I faithfully embrace my chosen identity and fulfill my chosen destiny to the praise of Your glory. Take every one of my "How?s" and turn my faith to "Who" - the One Who will be faithful to bring to completion every good work You have begun in me (Philippians 1:6). Like Mary, let me say in my heart each day, "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 the Holy Spirit will come upon you and the power of the Most High overshadow you to know your identity so you to will say, “Let it be with me” and fulfill your destiny to the praise of God's glory through your life today, 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 for One Direction Community, my family, and those on the margins God has placed in my path I refuse to walk around. Please partner and support myself and One Direction community through setting up a monthly donation or a one –time gift by clicking the link below. Donation checks can be made out to ODC, PO Box 1293 Madison, Al 35758.
Thank You!
Good morning, Lord Jesus. Open the eyes of my heart and the ears of my spirit, as I begin my day seeking Your face and embracing Your presence. ...
"Jesus said to them, 'Is not this the reason you are wrong, that you know neither the Scriptures nor the power of God?" (Mark 12:24)
Lord, give me a deeper hunger to spend time in and know Your Word. Let me be a source of Your power. Let the Word of God be my authority and the power of God be my testimony. As it was with Your first followers, let it be also with me: "And they went out and preached everywhere, the Lord working with them and confirming the Word through the accompanying signs" (Mark 16:20).
Let me have no part in the powerless, life-less form of Christianity Your Word says will come in the last days when some who will claim to be Your followers will insist on "holding to the outward form of godliness but denying its power" (2 Timothy 3:1). Your Word exposes this is as a "counterfeit faith" taught by those who "oppose the truth" (2 Timothy 3:8)
But You are the Truth, and Your ways are the only Way that leads to the Life we can only have in You (John 14:6). And Your ways are grounded in Your Word and confirmed by Your power. "The Word of God is living and powerful" (Hebrews 4:12). So let Your Word and Your power come alive and thrive in me and my life. By the power of Your grace at work within me, may I be found faithful to be one of Your true followers who knows both the Scriptures and the power of God. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
My family,I pray you seek to know both the Word of God and the power of God in your life and everywhere you go today to share the message of hope and love through Jesus Christ, 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 to share the Gospel those on the margins God has placed in my path I refuse to walk around. Please partner and support myself and One Direction community through setting up a monthly donation or a one –time gift by clicking the link below. Donation checks can be made out to ODC, PO Box 1293 Madison, Al 35758.
Thank You!
Good morning, Lord Jesus. Speak into my spirit as I listen for Your leading, I pray--Father, Son, and Holy Spirit of God. ...
"When they were approaching Jerusalem, at Bethphage and Bethany, near the Mount of Olives, He sent two of His disciples and said to them, 'Go into the village ahead of you, and immediately as you enter it, you will find tied there a colt that has never been ridden; untie it and bring it. If anyone says to you, 'Why are you doing this?' just say this, 'The Lord needs it and will send it back here immediately'" (Mark 11:1-3).
What could God ever need? How could the Lord have need of anything? You are all-sufficient, all-knowing, all-powerful. You are our "All in All" (1 Corinthians 15:28; Ephesians 1:23). And yet, at the same time, the Word says You were in need of a donkey for Your triumphal, yet humble, entry into Jerusalem for the holy week before Your crucifixion and resurrection.
Centuries before, by the Spirit of God, Zechariah had prophesied of this joyful day that Messiah would come riding into Jerusalem: "Rejoice greatly, O daughter Zion! Shout aloud, O daughter Jerusalem! Lo, your King comes to you; triumphant and victorious is He, humble and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey" (Zechariah 9:9). But though it was prophesied and pre-ordained by God, there was yet a part to be fulfilled by man. You had need of a donkey; and You had need of the obedience of Your disciples to go and get it and bring it You, that the prophecies and promises of God would be fulfilled.
It's the same for us today. It's Your will that none should perish, but that all would turn to You in repentance and faith to believe and embrace Your mercy and love (2 Peter 3:9; John 3:16). But at the same time, You extend Your invitation through us, in the part of Your plan to be fulfilled in obedience by man. "So we are ambassadors for Christ, since God is making His appeal through us; we entreat you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God" (2 Corinthians 5:20).
In a sense, You have chosen in Your sovereignty to be in need of us--needing us to be obedient to You to go and share this good news of Your mercy and love. "For 'Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.' But how can they call on Him to save them unless they believe in Him? And how can they believe in Him if they have never heard about Him? And how can they hear about Him unless someone tells them? And how will anyone go and tell them without answering their call to be sent? That is why the Scriptures say, 'How beautiful are the feet of messengers who bring good news!'" (Romans 10:13-15 NLT)
Here I am, Lord; send me (Isaiah 6:8). Anoint me and empower me to be one of Your messengers of Your good news (Matthew 28:19). I'm happy to go and fetch Your donkey. I'd be happy to be Your donkey, to carry You and the good news of Your mercy and love to all who desperately need to know You and Your love for them. You've done Your part. You obeyed the Father and suffered more than I can imagine on the cross. Now, in the power of Your grace, may I be found obedient and faithful to do mine. If not me, then who? If not now, then when? In Jesus' name I pray, Amen.
My family, I pray you are anointed and empowered by the Spirit of God to go and carry Jesus and His message of mercy and love everywhere He sends you with great joy and faithful obedience, in Jesus' name! Please pray the same for me. God bless you, my friends!
Please share your reflections and prayers in the comment box below.
Gary Liederbach- Lead Follower
One Direction Community
Email: garyl@onedirection.community
Website:https://www.onedirection.community
Facebook: One Direction Community-ODC
I could use your financial support for One Direction Community, my family, and those on the margins God has placed in my path I refuse to walk around. Please partner and support myself and One Direction community through setting up a monthly donation or a one –time gift by clicking the link below. Donation checks can be made out to ODC, PO Box 1293 Madison, Al 35758.
Thank You!
Good morning, Lord Jesus. Take me by the hand and lead me by the heart throughout the moments of my day.
" 'Let the little children come to Me; do not stop them; for it is to such as these that the kingdom of God belongs. Truly I tell you, whoever does not received the kingdom of God as a little child will never enter it.' And He took them up in His arms, laid His hands on them, and blessed them" (Mark 10:14-16).
Today’s reflection builds upon yesterdays reflection. Yesterday, the Holy Spirit reminded my I am to love and follow simply Jesus. This morning the same Spirit reminded me I am to love Jesus with the simplicity of a child.
With the innocent faith of a trusting child in the secure, strong arms of good father, I want to receive a Father's blessing upon my life today. You are my "Everlasting Father" (Isaiah 9:6). And in my faith, I seek to be Your ever-loving child. "For in Christ Jesus (we) are all children of God through faith" (Galatians 3:26).
In Your embrace of laughter and joy let me enter into the kingdom of God. And in my faith, let the laughter and joy of the kingdom of God enter into me. "For, in fact, the kingdom of God is within (me)" (Luke 17:21). "The kingdom of God is ... righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit" (Romans 14:17).
In my Father's blessing, I find my righteousness; I find my peace; and I find my joy. Let no one stop me from entering in to the fullness of my Father's blessing in You. More importantly, don’t let “ME” stop my self from completely, unashamedly and fully loving you. Remove from me any “defenses” to your Spirit I have built in me out of dignity, self-conscience, and conformity and free me to express my love for you like a child. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
My family, I pray you may you enter into the fullness of your Father's blessings and love with the laughter and joy of a child. May you tear down your defenses, remove your self-conscience and I pray you undignifiedly be filled with the righteousness, laughter. peace, and joy of the kingdom of God that wants to burst forth within you, in Jesus' name. Please pray the same for me. God bless you, my friends!
Please share your reflections and prayers on my blog in the comment box below.
Gary Liederbach- Lead Follower
One Direction Community/ Toney UMC
Email: garyl@onedirection.community
Website:https://www.onedirection.community
Facebook: One Direction Community-ODC
I could use your financial support as we relationally reac those on the margins God has placed in my path I refuse to walk around. Please partner and support myself and One Direction community through setting up a monthly donation or a one –time gift by clicking the link below. Donation checks can be made out to ODC, PO Box 1293 Madison, Al 35758.
Thank You!
It’s not to late! IF YOU HAVE NOT YET, JOIN IN!!
We started 7 weeks ago beginning the journey of reading through the New Testament in a year and we still have 45 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.
Father, I bow before you this morning to receive strength to stand for you throughout my day.
“… Jesus *took with Him Peter and James and John, and *brought them up on a high mountain by themselves. And He was transfigured before them; and His garments became radiant and exceedingly white, as no launderer on earth can whiten them. Elijah appeared to them along with Moses; and they were talking with Jesus.…Then a cloud formed, overshadowing them, and a voice came out of the cloud, “This is My beloved Son, listen to Him!” All at once they looked around and saw no one with them anymore, except Jesus alone. (Mark 9:2-8)
Jesus took his disciples up on a mountain. And Moses and Elijah, two great men, leaders of the faith appeared along with Jesus. These two men represented all the freedom from bondage of their nation, all the traditions, Laws, prophecy, and founders of their religion. Yet God overshadowed both of them, so all the disciples could see was Jesus, and God said, “This Is my beloved Son, listen to Him.”
In a similar way, after Jesus rose from the dead in Jerusalem, He did not tell His disciples to meet Him in their church building, The Temple, he told them to go and meet Him in Galilee. “But the eleven disciples proceeded to Galilee, to the mountain which Jesus had designated. When they saw Him, they worshiped Him.” (Matthew 28:16)
Galilee is a three day walk from Jerusalem! Yet again, God led them up a mountain where all they could see and all their focus was on Jesus. Jesus led them away from the Temple with its gold chalices and altars, familiar traditions, religious practices, rituals festival days, and practicing their faith “the way it always has been done” and declared “church” is now simply about me, following and imitating me.
Jesus,, last week you revealed this similar meditation to me. You are repeating it to me because you know that I tend to read and hear this message, agreeing with it, and then walk out my door living out the my faith in the same traditional and religious ways I am comfortable with. Help me today make a radical break from any form of religion I rely on and simply rely on you. Remind me that I am not called to imitate a religion, but a person, Jesus the Christ.
My family, I pray today through the revelation of the Holy Spirit, in the reading of the Gospels and prayer, your eyes will be fixed only on Jesus, and you will hear God’s voice speaking directly to you heart saying, “This is my Son, listen to Him!”
Please share your reflections and prayers in the comment box below.
Gary Liederbach- Lead Follower
One Direction Community
Email: garyl@onedirection.community
Website:https://www.onedirection.community
Facebook: One Direction Community-ODC
I could use your financial support for One Direction Community, my family, and those on the margins God has placed in my path I refuse to walk around. Please partner and support myself and One Direction community through setting up a monthly donation or a one –time gift by clicking the link below. Donation checks can be made out to ODC, PO Box 1293 Madison, Al 35758.
Thanks You!
Good morning Jesus, I surrender all to you as I begin this day.
Today is Ash Wednesday. The first Day of Lent. Lent is my favorite season of the church. It is a time of 40 days before Easter we, the church, set aside for self-reflection, prayer, fasting as Jesus did for 40 days in the wilderness after he was baptized before he began his ministry, and as the Israelite spent 40 years in the desert before entering the promise land. I would like us all to spend these forty days praying over our churches, and each of our roles and calling in our church and in Christ.
Jesus, at the beginning of the Lord's Supper states, "And he said to them, "I have earnestly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer." (Luk 22:15) Jesus in complete love earnestly desired to be with and reach out into the lives of those around him. And he earnestly desires to be with you. A good question for each of us to honestly discern this Lent is, "What do I earnestly desire?" Because what you desire will control the one thing that controls everything else in your life, your heart.
In Lent, People traditionally give up or take on something. The giving up of something, or taking on of something, is to aid us in daily focusing in on Christ, his life, his sacrifice, his death and his resurrection at Easter, and how we are to live into the salvation these events provided for us. Please post what you are going to give up and/or take on during Lent so we can pray each other.
What is Lent? At Jesus' baptism the sky split open, the Spirit of God, which looked like a dove, descended and landed on Jesus, and a voice from heaven said, "This is my Son, My Beloved, with whom I am pleased." Afterward, as told in Matthew 4:1-11, Jesus was driven by the Holy Spirit into the wilderness. There he fasted and prayed for 40 days over upcoming ministry his plan and purpose for taking on flesh. During his time there he was tempted by Satan and found clarity and strength to resist temptation. Afterwards, he was ready to begin his ministry.
As we are in a time of reflecting on the Holy Spirit, this passage reminds us that Jesus was completely connected to, led by and driven by the Holy Spirit. And as He exampled, Lent is a time we set aside for 40 days to reconnect to and let our life be driven by the the same Holy Spirit. We can use Lent to set aside time with God to sort through the major changes happening in our life. Maybe we need to get away from family, friends and the familiar routine in order to see God (and ourselves) more clearly. Perhaps we want some intentional time with God as we searched for direction and answers. Like Jesus, we need to take some serious time to pray and listen for God. Or maybe because of Covid, social distancing, and other changes caused by the virus in your life your connection with Jesus and your church has weakened., Maybe your devotion time reading the Bible and in prayer and acts of mercy in service to others has slipped.
During Lent, as we intentionally try to be reconnected and filled with the Holy Spirit, to do this we must empty ourselves and die to our fleshly desires. Christians use three things as aides to help them die to themselves, and focus, listen, reconnect and pray to God.: Fasting, Service/taking on things, and Prayer
FASTING: Going without food is the traditional form of fasting and what Jesus did. With holding what your body needs to receive what your spirit needs and using meal times as time of prayers. But that's not the only way to fast. You can fast by cutting out some of the things in your life that are physical cravings on idols and distract you from God. Some Christians use the whole 40 days to fast from candy, tv, soft drinks, cigarettes or meat as a way to purify their bodies and lives. You might skip one meal a day and use that time to pray instead. Or you can give up some activity that controls your time like TV, social media, gaming and other such things to spend that time outside enjoying God’s creation and in prayer. What do you need to let go of or “fast” from in order to focus on God? What clutters your calendar and life? How can you simplify your life in terms of what you eat, wear or do? Read Isaiah chapter 58
SERVICE: Besides giving up, Christians at the same time take something on for Christ. You can commit to take on more times set aside to read your Bible. You can collect food for the needy, volunteer once a week to tutor children, serve in an out reach ministry or food pantry in you community. Instead of time spent on TV, gaming and social media You can commit to prayer walking your neighborhoods, going to the ER of your hospital and sit and pray with people, helping a different stranger, co-worker or friend every day of Lent. Call a person each day to listen and pray with them. Serving others is one way we serve God. Read Isaiah chapter 58.
PRAYER: Christians also use Lent as a time of intentional prayer. You can set aside times to pray daily, prayer walk, use the Prayer Wheel daily, create music, art, poetry as a prayer to God, or savor a time of quiet listening. Attend The Well Night of Worship or other places of prayer. All can be ways of becoming more in tune with God.
We are holding our Ash Wednesday service this evening at 6:30pm at Toney United Methodist located at 5465 Old Railroad Bed Road, Toney, Al and are welcomed to attend. I hope you will attend the gathering at your church or if your church does not hold one, look up and find one in your community. We will also live stream the Ash Wednesday service on the Toney United Methodist Church Group and my personal Gary Liederbach FB pages.
Post your thoughts and reflections and what you are giving up or taking on so we can pray over them.
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 any financial support for myself as we reach out to 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 want to start my day in the center of Your will and surrounded by Your presence--Father, Son, and Holy Spirit of God.
"Whenever the unclean spirits saw (Jesus), they fell down before Him and shouted, 'You are the Son of God!' ... He went up the mountain and called to Him those whom He wanted, and they came to Him. And He appointed twelve, whom He also named apostles, to be with Him, and to be sent out to proclaim the message, and to have authority to cast out demons" (Mark 3:11-15).
Your first followers to came to You and were sent out by You. They were Your disciples, Your apostles--appointed and anointed to grow in the nature of Your character and to go in the authority of Your name. They were not "the Son of God," but they were sons of God. And so are we--the sons and daughters of God, coming to You and being sent out by You (Romans 8:16). We're led by the same Spirit (Romans 8:14). And the same Spirit and power that raised You from the dead lives in us and flows through us to proclaim Your message of forgiveness and freedom, healing and hope, by Your authority and in Your power, everywhere You send us (Romans 8:11)
Just as the Father sent You, so You send us--filling us with Your Spirit and grounding us in Your Word (John 20:21). Our names are written in heaven and on the palms of Your hands (Isaiah 49:16). And in the authority and power of Your name, even the demons must submit to us and our position in You as disciples of Christ and children of God (Luke 10:19).
Thank You for the invitation to keep coming to You in the intimacy of prayer and the communion of Your Spirit (1 Corinthians 6:17). Thank You for the assurance of Your presence, that You are always with me, abiding in me as I abide in You (Matthew 28:20; John 15:4). And thank You for appointing me and anointing me to go with joy and faith, as You send me to be Your ambassador as an extension of Your Word and Your Spirit, secure in my identity and fulfilling my destiny. This is Your will and Your plan for every one of Your sons and daughters. And even all "creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the children of God" (Romans 8:19). In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
My family, I pray you go in joy and faith everywhere Jesus sends you in His authority and power, growing in His nature and going in His name, appointed and anointed as a disciple of Christ and a child of God, 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 reaching with the Gospel 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 5 weeks ago beginning the journey of reading through the New Testament in a year and we still have 46 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.
Jesus you are my everything, help me achieve everything you desire for me today….
“Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” (Matthew 28:19-20)
Good: It is a good thing when someone accepts Christ as their Lord and Savior.
Better: It is a better thing when someone accepts Christ as their Lord and Savior and then leads someone else to accept Jesus as their Lord and Savior.
Greatest: It is the greatest thing when someone accepts Christ as their Lord and Savior then leads someone else to accept Jesus as their Lord and Savior, and then spends time mentoring, discipleing that person and they lead someone to Christ.
Jesus was all about people achieving the greatest thing in their life He loved them enough that he did not want then to simply experience something good, he loved them enough to encourage and disciple them to experience something great. He loves you so much that he desires you to experience something great. And He calls us to love those we have a relationship with to enough to disciple them to experience something great. “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another.” (John 13:34
One day we will all stand before Jesus. When we do he is not going to ask us about the good things: :our church attendance record, How many Emmaus, Chrysalis, Cursillo, or Kairos teams we served on, what percentage we tithed to ministry….or about other “good” things. His commission to us was not these “Good things,” but the “greatest thing” to “go and make disciples.” (v.19) When you and I stand before Jesus, he is going to ask us one Question, “I commanded you to go and make disciples. In all the years you called yourself a Christian, a follower of me, how many disciples did you make?” It was a “good thing” when you accepted me as Your Lord and were saved. However, I did that for you, that was my gift to you and was a good thing that flowed out of my love for you. How many people did you then with my love flowing out of you lead them to accept Me as their Lord and Savior, and then spend time mentoring, discipleing them until they lead someone to Salvation in Me? Remember the Parable of the talents we read earlier in Matthew 25:14-30 about the servant who was given a gift and did nothing with it? What did the master tell that servant? Go back and read it.
My family, I pray today you will not settle for the “good thing” that Jesus did for you, but seek the “greatest thing” that Jesus wants to achieve through you. 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 as I relationally 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!
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
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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.
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!
