Good morning Jesus, As deep cries out to deep, I lobg for your presence as I sit and wait on you.
“Then I heard the altar reply, “Yes, Lord God, the All-Powerful, your judgments are true and just!” (Revelation 16:7)
Most of us in a church and individually know what we call ‘The Lord’s Prayer” by heart. In that prayer we confess and claim that God the Father is “Our Father” and that “Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.” That includes your will for each one of us. We claim you are omnipresent, omniscience. Ominpowerful; that you are present everywhere, you know everything and you have power and control over everything, including our lives.
Your presence and the impact and effect of your presence is constant and never changing on all of creation. Most of what we call your “judgments” or “wrath” are the results of us going against or trying to change what is unchanging. Sort of like gravity. It is unchanging and constant throughout the earth. Its presence affects and has a form of control over almost every thing we do on this earth. A person climbs up and goes on top of the roof of a 20 story building. They defiantly state gravity has no effect on me and jumps off the roof and fall 20 stories to their death. You could say the gravity killed them. That their death was caused by the judgment of the unchanging law of gravity. When it was the individuals choosing to defy gravity that caused its death. Gravity is not going to be altered by our will.
This is similar to God’s unchanging presence, holiness and impact on all of creation. Our pain, hurt and struggles result from our times of defiance of God’s holy presence and existence, when we go against His laws and “jump in our flesh desires,” challenge an try to change His unchangeable nature to conform to our mature, and pain and struggles result. We could blame it on the “Wrath of God” when the cause was really our stepping out against His constant hole presence. God’s holy presence is not going to b altered by our will.
My family, I pray this morning you say the Lord’s Prayer again out loud. And When you say, Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven” you let those words soak into your heart, and ask the Holy Spirit to conform your life to His will, in Jesus’ name. Please pray the same for me. God bless you my friends!
I want to encourage you to join me by alsosharing with us your thoughts, comments, reflections, and prayers you received from today’s reading in the comment box below.
Gary Liederbach- Lead Follower
One Direction Community
Email: garyl@onedirection.community
Website:https://www.onedirection.community
Facebook: One Direction Community-ODC
Help Us Help Them!
I could use you’re the gift of your financial support for my family and those on the margins God has placed in my path I refuse to walk around. Please partner and support my family and ministries through setting up a monthly donation or a one –time gift by clicking the link below. Donation checks can be made out to ODC, 102 Champions Green Drive, Madison, Al 35758.
Thank You!
Good morning Jesus, speak to me this morning as I long to her and be filled with your words of life..
“Then I saw another angel flying directly overhead, and he had an eternal gospel to proclaim to those who live on the earth - to every nation, tribe, language, and people. He declared in a loud voice: “Fear God and give him glory, because the hour of his judgment has arrived, and worship the one who made heaven and earth, the sea and the springs of water!” (Revelation 14:6-7)
My heart is saddened and in mourning this morning. I saw on the news how a 15 year old boy last night shot and killed mother, Another news story came on about 3 teenage boys who attacked and robbed a couple in a parking deck. Ley another news story was about two teenage boys, carrying a grudge between them and the guns to settle it, exchanged gunfire at a high school football stadium filling an innocent 8 year old girl in the stands. I ask myself the obvious questions: How and why could they do something like that? What influenced them, put thoughts in their head, taught these young teenagers, some not even old enough to drive yet, to even think of doing something like that? These young boys were not part of ISIS, Al-qaeda, LRA, or other militant extremist groups where they were indoctrinated with hate and trained to kill. The violent acts by all these young boys were made in America.
They were influenced and discipled by evil in our culture and the world through peers, TV, the internet, violent games and other means. Our youth’s moral and value of life are being formed, and they are being disciple 24/7 by the word around them. We as a followers of Jesus and members of His church are called to more than sitting in our living rooms shaking are heads and asking why, We are called to proclaim the gospell, to all the earth - “to every nation, tribe, language, and people,” and this includes those who live in our neighborhoods and our youth. if we do not share the message of the gospel of hope and love with them, then the only message they will hear will be of fear and hate. It we do not speak the truth of who their identity is in Christ they we believe the lies told them by society. We can shake our heads and ask why, but none of us have clean hands. If you are not sharing the gospel with someone every day, you are surrendering and silencing the gospel, the “Good News” in a persons life and are abandoning them to hearing only the “Bad News” from the world. Our silence in sharing words of love leaves a vacuums to be filled with words of hate.
My family, I pray today you will meditate on how none of us have clean hands and that these violent acts are made in America, made by the absent presence of the church that is not sharing the gospel daily. I pray the Holy Spirit will convict and motivate you to speak words of love and truth to those you come in contact with today and every day, in Jesus’ name. Please pray the same for me. God bless you my friends!
I want to encourage you to join me by alsosharing with us your thoughts, comments, reflections, and prayers you received from today’s reading in the comment box below.
Gary Liederbach- Lead Follower
One Direction Community
Email: garyl@onedirection.community
Website:https://www.onedirection.community
Facebook: One Direction Community-ODC
Help Us Help Them!
I could use you’re the gift of your financial support for my family and those on the margins God has placed in my path I refuse to walk around. Please partner and support my family and ministries through setting up a monthly donation or a one –time gift by clicking the link below. Donation checks can be made out to ODC, 102 Champions Green Drive, Madison, Al 35758.
Thank You!
Good morning, Lord Jesus. You are the Good Shepherd, and Your sheep hear Your voice. Speak to my spirit, my Shepherd, as I begin my day centered in You, embraced by my Father, listening for the leading of Your Holy Spirit.
"Then the seventh angel sounded: And there were loud voices in heaven, saying, 'The kingdoms of this world have become the kingdoms of our Lord and of His Christ, and He shall reign forever and ever!' And the twenty-four elders who sat before God on their thrones fell on their faces and worshiped God, saying: "We give You thanks, O Lord God Almighty, the One who is and who was and who is to come, because You have taken Your great power and reigned!" (Revelation 11:15-17 NKJV)
There will come a day when You set all things right -- a day of "restoration of all things" (Acts 3:21). "We, according to (Your) promise, look for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells" (2 Peter 3:13). On that day, with all the "loud voices in heaven" we will proclaim with hearts full of joy and praise the ultimate fulfillment of what You have promised -- "The kingdoms of this world have become the kingdoms of our Lord and of His Christ!"
But every day between this day and that day to come, let Your kingdom come into my world as Your kingdom comes into my heart. Change my world today as You change my heart today. "For the kingdom of God is ... righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit" (Romans 14:17). "For indeed, the kingdom of God is within (us)!" (Luke 17:21)
Holy Spirit of God, fill me afresh today (Ephesians 5:18). Fill me with Your "righteousness and peace and joy" -- right with God, right with others, right within myself; at peace with God, at peace with others, at peace within myself; and full of joy! "Restore unto me the joy of Your salvation" as You renew a right spirit within me and change my world around me because Your Spirit arises and shines through me! (Psalm 51:12; Isaiah 60:1) Let the kingdoms of my world become the kingdoms of my God and my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, today! In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
My family,I pray the kingdoms of your world will become the kingdoms of God, as the King of kings and Lord of lords rules and reigns in your heart by His Spirit with His righteousness and peace and joy today, in Jesus' name! Please pray the same of me. God bless you, my friends!
I want to encourage you to join me by alsosharing with us your thoughts, comments, reflections, and prayers you received from today’s reading in the comment box below.
Gary Liederbach- Lead Follower
One Direction Community
Email: garyl@onedirection.community
Website:https://www.onedirection.community
Facebook: One Direction Community-ODC
Help Us Help Them!
I could use you’re the gift of your financial support for my family and those on the margins God has placed in my path I refuse to walk around. Please partner and support my family and ministries through setting up a monthly donation or a one –time gift by clicking the link below. Donation checks can be made out to ODC, 102 Champions Green Drive, Madison, Al 35758.
Thank You!
“Then I saw another powerful angel descending from heaven, wrapped in a cloud, with a rainbow above his head; his face was like the sun and his legs were like pillars of fire. He held in his hand a little scroll that was open, and he put his right foot on the sea and his left on the land. Then he shouted in a loud voice like a lion roaring, and when he shouted, the seven thunders sounded their voice…But in the days when the seventh angel is about to blow his trumpet, the mystery of God is completed, just as he has proclaimed to his servants the prophets....So I went to the angel and asked him to give me the little scroll. He said to me, “Take the scroll and eat it. It will make your stomach bitter, but it will be as sweet as honey in your mouth.” So I took the little scroll from the angelʼs hand and ate it, and it did taste as sweet as honey in my mouth, but when I had eaten it, my stomach became bitter.” (Revelation 10:1-3; 7; 9-10)
The “powerful angel” is Jesus. “His face like the sun and legs like pillars of fire” are the description of Jesus in chapter vs. 1:14-15. “Wrapped in a cloud” comes from Daniel 7. “Rainbow above his head” illustration in v. 4:3. “Voice like a roaring Lion” references “The Lion of the tribe of Judah” in v. 5:5.
The mystery that is being fulfilled is the restoration of the kingdom, that is what was revealed to the prophets. The righteous dead will be resurrected, the Davidic king will be restored as king of kings and lord of lords, and it will be a completion of the old testament covenant that Israel will be a kingdom of priests, a holy nation. But God can’t restore the kingdom until sin is taken care of in the covenant people. That is the mystery announced to the Prophets. Paul tells us in Colossians this is the mystery that has been hidden for ages has now been revealed., Christ in You, the hope of Glory! We being restored into the image of Christ.
The open scroll: because it is opened it means what it contains has already been revealed. It is the Old Testament, and the covenant of the promise to be delivered from sin and to restore people to live in covenant with God, be who they were created to be. So the old covenant was “as sweet as honey” in the mouth. It promises the resolution of the 5th and the 6th trumpet, the end of sin and its destructiveness. But, the Old Testament never fulfilled the promise, so it is bitter to the stomach. The promise is sweet, but the fact that the OT and the Law could not actuate the promise is bitter.
“Then they told me: “You must prophesy again about many peoples, nations, languages, and kings.” V. 10:11. The “they” are God and Jesus. They are the only two mentioned in this portion of John’s vision. We, like John who now have this knowledge, are to share this truth to the fallen Babylon, those who are without knowledge of Jesus, outside of his covenant, and outside of His salvation. Prophets in the Old Testament were mainly not about describing a future vision, but calling people to repent to the known truths about God and from the way they were living their lives outside of those known truths. They stood in the gap and mourned over their neighbors and community that were living ”lost lives” and intentionally and desperately loved them enough to speak the truth to them.
My family, We are about half way through the season of Advent. The “New Year” season of the church where we have a clean slate, new commitments of faith we can make, and new hopes for the coming year. I pray today you will break out of and repent to the silence of your faith, and “prophesy to many people.” I pray you will ask the Holy Spirit for a heart that mourns and weeps for those who do not know Jesus. I pray you will actually share with those around you the truths your know of Jesus; intentionally, out of desperate love, as if their lives depended on it, because they do. In Jesus’ name. Please ray the same for me. God bless you my friends!
I want to encourage you to please join me by also sharing with us your thoughts, comments, reflections, and prayers you received from today’s reading in the comment box below.
Gary Liederbach- Lead Follower
One Direction Community/Toney UMC
Email: garyl@onedirection.community
Website:https://www.onedirection.community
Facebook: One Direction Community-ODC
Help Us Help Them!
I could use you’re the gift of your financial support for my family and those on the margins God has placed in my path I refuse to walk around. Please partner and support my family and ministries through setting up a monthly donation or a one –time gift by clicking the link below. Donation checks can be made out to ODC, 102 Champions Green Drive, Madison, Al 35758.
Thank You!
Open the eyes of my heart this morning Lord Jesus to see only you..
In those days people will seek death, but will not be able to find it; they will long to die, but death will flee from them.” Revelations 9:6
If we could see in advance the consequences of our sin, no one would do it. However, sin allures us, we feel it empowers us and that we will benefit from the sin in some way. And so we embrace it. The first time you succumb to a a sin usually nothing happens. The sky does not fall, you get away with it, you benefit from it, it pleases you, and so you do it again. For a certain way on that trajectory you are in control. You hear people say, “I can stop at any time.” Yes you can, up to a point. Yet at some point in time you pass an invisible barrier that the sin has taken control over you. You cant say no. It is at that point you begin to experience the torment of sin. At that point you begin to sense the destructive dynamic of your sin, of what it is doing in your life, and you wish you could be free of it. You stop for a day or week, but then you fall back into it, The sin has got it’s hooks in you.
I have had people in my time in ministry come to me and talk about their sin. Wishing they could end it, wishing they could get rid of it, but they can’t. They are living in the present a foretaste of hell. They are experiencing the torment and suffering of their sin that has become their master and God. The now have an evil king ruling over their lives that desires to destroy them. “They have as king over them the angel of the abyss, whose name in Hebrew is Abaddon, and in Greek, Apollyon.” (Rev 9:11) Both the words Abaddon and Apollyon mean “Destroyer”. And because of the weight and torment of their sin and being a slave to the destroyer king, verse 9:6 is not a future prophesy, it is a reality to them today. “In those days people will seek death, but will not be able to find it; they will long to die, but death will flee from them.” Revelations 9:6
The essential act of Satan is destruction. In these passages we see the torment of sin. What can free you from the bondage of Satan? What can free you from the torment of sin? The answer is in that old hymn, “What can wash away my sin, nothing but the blood of Jesus. What can make me whole again, nothing but the blood of Jesus… No other fount I know, nothing but the blood of Jesus.”
My family, I pray today you ad“mit any sin that is controlling your life. I pray you claim it, confess it, repent of it, claim the blood of Jesus over it, and release, and seek the help that may be needed to come out of the rule of the destroyer. Who the son sets free, is free indeed! In Jesus’ name. God bless you my friends!
I want to encourage you to join me by also sharing with us your thoughts, comments, reflections, and prayers you received from today’s reading in the comment box below.
Gary Liederbach- Lead Follower
One Direction Community/Toney UMC
Email: garyl@onedirection.community
Website:https://www.onedirection.community
Facebook: One Direction Community-ODC
Help Us Help Them!
I could use you’re the gift of your financial support for my family and those on the margins God has placed in my path I refuse to walk around. Please partner and support my family and ministries through setting up a monthly donation or a one –time gift by clicking the link below. Donation checks can be made out to ODC, 102 Champions Green Drive, Madison, Al 35758.
Thank You!
Good morning, Lord Jesus. I speak out Your name and listen for the leading of Your Holy Spirit, here in the embrace of my heavenly Father. ...
"When the Lamb opened the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven for about half an hour. And I saw the seven angels who stand before God, and seven trumpets were given to them. Another angel with a golden censer came and stood at the altar; he was given a great quantity of incense to offer with the prayers of all the saints on the golden altar that is before the throne. And the smoke of the incense, with the prayers of the saints, rose before God from the hand of the angel. Then the angel took the censer and filled it with fire from the altar and threw it on the earth; and there were peals of thunder, rumblings, flashes of lightning, and an earthquake" (Revelation 8:1-5).
As I woke this morning, I thought of the cross. I thought of Your suffering and sacrifice, Your mercy and love. I thought of Your holy humiliation that our human minds can't begin to comprehend as You cried out from the cross, "My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?" (Matthew 27:46). And then these words came to my heart: "Astonished Silence."
Your Spirit brought to mind the silence of heaven when You opened the seventh seal in the Apostle John's Revelation. There were "peals of thunder, rumblings, flashes of lightning, and an earthquake" (Revelation 7:5). It was the same on the day of Your death at the cross: "Then Jesus cried again with a loud voice and breathed His last. At that moment the curtain of the temple was torn in two, from top to bottom. The earth shook, and the rocks were split" (Matthew 27:50-51).
Every prophecy is ultimately fulfilled in You, as are "all the Scriptures" of the Word of God (Luke 24:27). You are the very Word of God, the Word made flesh (John 1:14). And this morning, I see a parallel in this prophecy of Revelation and a partial fulfillment--one in the eternal realm of heaven with the Lamb of God who stands at the throne and one in the historical realm of earth with the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world (Revelation 5:6; John 1:29). And in my heart I hear, "Astonished Silence."
In the midst of the earthquakes and darkness on that holy day of Your sacrifice and death at the cross, and in the midst of the ultimate judgments that must come upon the earth and upon those who would reject Your mercy and love, I sense the "astonished silence" of heaven. With all of heaven, I'm astonished that God would die for me, astonished that the fury of hell and the mercy of heaven could meet at the cross--at once, both cruel and beautiful, at a moment in time on this earth but forever timeless in the eternity of heaven--and astonished that all will not humble their hearts to receive all You've done for us at such a cost. With the silence of heaven, I am astonished at Your sacrifice of love I have no words to express. ...
As I ponder these thoughts in my heart this morning, I can hardly speak at all. I simply say, Thank You, Lord Jesus….. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
My family,I pray you experience the mercy and love of the One who sacrificed so much for you at the cross--at once, both cruel and beautiful, yet necessary for the salvation of your soul and mine, in Jesus' name! Please pray the same for me. God bless you, my friend!
I want to encourage you to join me by also sharing with us your thoughts, comments, reflections, and prayers you received from today’s reading in the comment box below.
Gary Liederbach- Lead Follower
One Direction Community/Toney UMC
Email: garyl@onedirection.community
Website:https://www.onedirection.community
Facebook: One Direction Community-ODC
Help Us Help Them!
I could use you’re the gift of your financial support for my family and those on the margins God has placed in my path I refuse to walk around. Please partner and support my family and ministries through setting up a monthly donation or a one –time gift by clicking the link below. Donation checks can be made out to ODC, 102 Champions Green Drive, Madison, Al 35758.
Thank You!
Good morning, Lord Jesus. Let me be single-minded and wholehearted in my intentionally-directed focus on You alone in these first moments of my morning. ...
"... These are the words of the holy One, the true One, who has the key of David, who opens and no one will shut, who shuts and no one opens: 'I know your works. Look, I have set before you an open door, which no one is able to shut'... " (Revelation 3:7-8).
Lord, You are holy and true. Your heart is good and Your motives are pure. You can be trusted in every way with everything. You see the end from the beginning and the beginning from the end ... and everything in between.
And You know me. You know every desire I'll ever have, every thought I'll ever consider, every choice I'll ever make. You know the thoughts and intents of my heart better than I can ever discern or understand. You know what's of the Spirit and what's of the flesh; You know what comes out of selflessness and what comes out of selfishness. You rightly discern and You rightly judge, for You alone are the holy and righteous One.
So I trust You and I ask You to open the doors before me that align with Your perfect will and plan for me. And I trust You and ask You to shut the doors that do not. In all honesty I admit I have much to learn, but this much I know: You know what's best. And I want Your best. It's in Your best for my life that I'll know the fullness of Your peace and joy for me and everyone around me. That's the desire of my heart, as best as I can discern and believe; and that's my prayer. So I believe by faith that will and that has come to pass (Psalm 21:2). In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
My family, I pray you will trust God with all your heart and ask Him to go before You opening and shutting doors to help direct your steps into His perfect will for your life. May you know the fullness of all His peace and joy for you and all those around you. Please pray the same for me. God bless you, my friends!
I want to encourage you to join me by also sharing with us your thoughts, comments, reflections, and prayers you received from today’s reading in the comment box below.
Gary Liederbach- Lead Follower
One Direction Community/Toney UMC
Email: garyl@onedirection.community
Website:https://www.onedirection.community
Facebook: One Direction Community-ODC
Help Us Help Them!
I could use you’re the gift of your financial support for my family and those on the margins God has placed in my path I refuse to walk around. Please partner and support my family and ministries through setting up a monthly donation or a one –time gift by clicking the link below. Donation checks can be made out to ODC, 102 Champions Green Drive, Madison, Al 35758.
Thank You!
Good morning, Lord Jesus. Be at the center of all I am and all I do this day. ...
"Then one of the elders addressed me, saying, 'Who are these, robed in white, and where have they come from?' I said to him, 'Sir, you are the one that knows.' Then he said to me, 'These are they who have come out of the great ordeal; they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. For this reason they are before the throne of God, and worship Him day and night within His temple, and the One who is seated on the throne will shelter them. They will hunger no more, and thirst no more; the sun will not strike them, nor any scorching heat; for the Lamb at the center of the throne will be their Shepherd, and He will guide them to springs of the water of life, and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes" (Revelation 7:13-17).
I don't know the depths of the ordeals I will endure or the trials of tribulation I will face, as I run my race and walk out my journey in faith through this broken and fallen world. But I know I want my robe to be washed in white by the blood of the Lamb. I know I want You to be at the center of the throne of my heart, with my heart full worship day and night in the temple of Your Presence. I know I want to trust You to be my Shelter and my Shepherd, to lead me and to guide me to Your living waters and flowing fountains.
My time today on this earth is just the point where my present touches Your eternity. And my eternity is secure in You. Therefore, so is my present, my past, and my future. So give me the grace to embrace every day, every challenge, every encounter as it comes. With You at the center of my heart and my life, I cry out with all of heaven what I can experience here on earth every day, "Salvation belongs to our God who is seated on the throne, and to the Lamb! ... Blessing and glory and wisdom and thanksgiving and honor and power and might be to our God forever and ever!" (Revelation 7:10-12) In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
My family, I pray you live out every day centered in Christ, filled with worship, knowing the fullness of your salvation and the joy of your eternity, in Jesus' name! Please pray the same for me. God bless you, my friends!
I want to encourage you to join me by alsosharing with us your thoughts, comments, reflections, and prayers you received from today’s reading in the comment box below.
The Well
I want to invite you to The Well Night of Worship this Friday night as we as a church body and actively pursue God’s presence. No sermons, no lessons, no formal structure. This is simply two plus hours of spirit-filled worship music and song that creates a holy space in which to rest, pray, read, and soak in and be filled with peace and the presence of God. Come and go as you please during this time. . If you desire to experience God in a deep and fresh way, then we invite you to join us as we seek revival for North Alabama! Click the link below for more info.
Gary Liederbach- Lead Follower
One Direction Community
Email: garyl@onedirection.community
Website:https://www.onedirection.community
Facebook: One Direction Community-ODC
Help Us Help Them!
I could use you’re the gift of your financial support for my family and those on the margins God has placed in my path I refuse to walk around. Please partner and support my family and ministries through setting up a monthly donation or a one –time gift by clicking the link below. Donation checks can be made out to ODC, 102 Champions Green Drive, Madison, Al 35758.
Thank You!
http://www.easytithe.com/dl/?uid=onepob279
Good morning, Lord Jesus. Take me by the heart and lead me into a night of rest and slumber with my dreams centered on you.
"Out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation," You "have made us kings and priests to our God; and we shall reign on the earth" (Revelation 5:9-10).
You've chosen us and called us. You equip us and encourage us. You save us and send us as the people of God to proclaim the goodness and mercy of God. We are priests and prophets and kings in Christ -- a royal priesthood proclaiming Christ. "To Him who loves us and freed us from our sins by His blood, and made us to be a kingdom, priests serving His God and Father, to Him be glory and dominion forever and ever!" (Revelation 1:5-6)
"You are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God's own people, in order that you may proclaim the mighty acts of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light. Once you were not a people, but now you are God's people; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy" (1 Peter 2:9-10).
In alignment with Your heart and submission to Your will, abiding in Christ as Christ abides in us, we humbly and faithfully embrace our identity and fulfill our destiny as the body of Christ, filled with the Spirit of Christ, continuing the ministry of Christ here in this world (1 Corinthians 12:27). "As He is, so are we in this world" (1 John 4:17).
You are our Priest and Prophet and King. So in Christ, as the body of Christ, we are Your priests and prophets and kings -- "ambassadors for Christ, since God is making His appeal through us" (2 Corinthians 5:20). As priests, we pray; as prophets, we proclaim; as kings, we reign -- all in submission to Your will and Your way, all through Your Spirit and by Your grace, with the measure of authority You've entrusted to us as Your people, Your body, and Your church (Matthew 16:19). Your kingdom comes and Your will is done, here on earth, as it is in heaven (Matthew 5:10).
We do our part -- as best as we can and all by Your grace -- to live into the fullness of all You have already done by Your part (John 19:30). And all in Your time and all in Your way, we look forward to the day we hear "loud voices in heaven, saying, 'The kingdoms of this world have become the kingdoms of our Lord and of His Christ, and He shall reign forever and ever!'" (Revelation 11:15). In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
My family,I pray you live into the fullness of your identity and destiny as a “chosen race, a royal priesthood”in Christ every day, as best as you can and all by God's grace, in Jesus' name. Please pray the same for me. God bless you, my friends!
I want to encourage you to join me by also sharing with us your thoughts, comments, reflections, and prayers you received from today’s reading in the comment box below.
Gary Liederbach- Lead Follower
One Direction Community/ Toney UMC
Email: garyl@onedirection.community
Website:https://www.onedirection.community
Facebook: One Direction Community-ODC
Help Us Help Them!
I could use you’re the gift of your financial support for my family and those on the margins God has placed in my path I refuse to walk around. Please partner and support my family and ministries through setting up a monthly donation or a one –time gift by clicking the link below. Donation checks can be made out to ODC, 102 Champions Green Drive, Madison, Al 35758.
Thank You!
Good morning Jesus my Lord, Let my prayers and praise as I start my day be a sweet fragrance to you…
“Immediately I was in the Spirit, and a throne was standing in heaven with someone seated on it! And the one seated on it was like jasper and carnelian in appearance, and a rainbow looking like it was made of emerald encircled the throne…. From the throne came out flashes of lightning and roaring and crashes of thunder. Seven flaming torches, which are the seven spirits of God, were burning in front of the throne and in front of the throne was something like a sea of glass, like crystal….They never rest day or night, saying:
“Holy Holy Holy is the Lord God, the All-Powerful, Who was and who is, and who is still to come!”
And whenever the living creatures give glory, honor, and thanks to the one who sits on the throne, who lives forever and ever, the twenty-four elders throw themselves to the ground before the one who sits on the throne and worship the one who lives forever and ever, and they offer their crowns before his throne, saying:
“You are worthy, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, since you created all things, and because of your will they existed and were created!”” (Revelation 4:2-11)
As I read these verses of John impossibly trying to write into words the spectacular images he is seeing of the throne room of God and Jesus sitting on the throne, the lyrics from the song, “I can Only Imagine” come to my mind, “ I can only imagine, what my eyes will see, when Your face is in front of me… will I stand in Your presence, or to my knees will I fall; will I sing Halleluiah or will I be able to speak at all..” John is being shaken to his core by the incomprehensible beauty and overwhelming presence of the living God in all the glory of His Son.
God is our “daddy” “by whom we cry, “Abba, Father.” (Romans 8:15). We do have a friend in Jesus, as He said, “I have called you friends,” (John 15:15) However, as this passage reveals The Triune of God; The Father, Son, and Spirit, is incomprehensible and greater or outside of any box I can try to put Him in. Remind me Lord, as You did Moses, to take the “sandals off my feet” when I come before you in prayer and worship and enter into your presence that I am entering into the Holy of Holies! “Take your sandals off your feet, for the place where you are standing is holy ground.” (Exodus 3:5). Forgive me Lord when I throw out Your name casually for You have the, “name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow- in heaven and on earth and under the earth” (Philippians 2:9-10). Forgive me when I think I have You figured out and put You in my box” I created for You. “Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and unfathomable His ways!” (Romans 11:32). Lord, let my heart be amazed and lost in the shock and awe of the beauty of who You are, In Jesus name!
My family, I pray this morning you are reminded of as well and your heart becomes amazed and lost in the shock and awe of the beauty of who God is, in Jesus name! Please pray the same for me. God bless you my friends!
I want to encourage you to join me by also sharing with us your thoughts, comments, reflections, and prayers you received from today’s reading in the comment box below.
Gary Liederbach- Lead Follower
One Direction Community
Email: garyl@onedirection.community
Website:https://www.onedirection.community
Facebook: One Direction Community-ODC
Help Us Help Them!
I could use you’re the gift of your financial support for my family and those on the margins God has placed in my path I refuse to walk around. Please partner and support my family and ministries through setting up a monthly donation or a one –time gift by clicking the link below. Donation checks can be made out to ODC, 102 Champions Green Drive, Madison, Al 35758.
Thank You!
Good evening, Lord Jesus. I seek Your face and listen for Your voice, as I end my day embracing Your Presence in the communion of prayer. ...
“But I have this against you: You have departed from your first love! Therefore, remember from what high state you have fallen and repent! Do the deeds you did at the first..” (Revelation 2:4-5)
Forgive me when I've not asked for You and not pursued You first. Forgive me when I've left You hanging with arms stretched out wide in unfailing love for me and I didn't take the time to love You back. Forgive me and my nation, forgive me and Your church when we've forgotten our way and spurned our first love.
"I was ready to be sought out by those who did not ask, to be found by those who did not seek Me. I said, 'Here I am, here I am,' to a nation that did not call on My name. I held out My hands all day long..." (Isaiah 65:1-2).
Lord, You held out Your hands on the cross for me and every day You hold out Your hands in love for me. You're always ready to be sought out, to be pursued, to be embraced in the intimacy of worship and the communion of prayer.
Thank You for Your mercies that are new every morning, you're your love never ceases (Lamentations 3:22-23). Thank You that You are faithful even when we are faithless (2 Timothy 2:13). Like the father who longed for the return of his son, You're always ready to be sought out and ready to be found. Whenever we remember You, You're waiting for us with arms open wide (Luke 15:20).
Like Your mercies, the promise of Your Presence never comes to and end. And throughout the moments of our days, You continue to invite us to come into Your embrace through worship and prayer: "So I say to you, Ask, and it be given to you; search, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and everyone who searches finds, and for everyone who knocks, the door will be opened" (Luke 11:9-10).
So as best as I can and all by Your grace, I choose to ask and seek and knock. I choose to pursue You and embrace You. I choose to not forget my first love, always expressed to me with Your hands stretched out and Your arms open wide. Thank You, Jesus. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
My Family, I pray you remember your first love. I pray this evening as you lay down you also choose to ask and seek and knock, embracing the One who loves you so with outstretched hands and arms open wide. Please pray the same for me. God bless you, my friends!
I want to encourage you to join me by alsosharing with us your thoughts, comments, reflections, and prayers you received from today’s reading in the comment box below.
Gary Liederbach- Lead Follower
One Direction Community
Email: garyl@onedirection.community
Website:https://www.onedirection.community
Facebook: One Direction Community-ODC
Help Us Help Them!
I could use you’re the gift of your financial support for my family and those on the margins God has placed in my path I refuse to walk around. Please partner and support my family and ministries through setting up a monthly donation or a one –time gift by clicking the link below. Donation checks can be made out to ODC, 102 Champions Green Drive, Madison, Al 35758.
Thank You!
http://www.easytithe.com/dl/?uid=onepob279
Good morning, Lord Jesus. Let my day begin here in the communion of prayer, immersed in Your Presence, seeking You and Your leading--Father, Son, and Holy Spirit of God. ...
As I listen, I hear in my heart the sound of a mountain stream. This thought comes to my mind--"the sound of many waters." ...
"Then I turned to see whose voice it was that spoke to me, and on turning I saw seven golden lampstands, and in the midst of the lampstands I saw one like the Son of Man, clothed with a long robe and with a golden sash across His chest. He head and His hair were white as wool, white as snow; His eyes were like a flame of fire, His feet were like burnished bronze, refined as in a furnace, and His voice was like the sound of many waters. In His right hand He held seven stars, and from His mouth came a sharp, two-edged sword, and His face was like the sun shining with full force" (Revelation 1:12-16).
Like the many waters of a mountain stream, let the Word of God wash over me and pour through me, cleansing me and refreshing me. Let the words of Your voice purify me and sanctify me "with the washing of water by the word" (Ephesians 5:26). "As the deer longs for flowing stream, so my soul longs for You, O God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When shall I come and behold the face of God?" (Psalm 42:1-2)
When John heard Your voice like the sound of many waters, he fell down at Your feet, in deep humility in honor of Your manifest Presence of Your glory (Revelation 1:17). But then You lifted him up and told him not to be afraid, but to be about the work of the Kingdom You set before him (Revelation 1:17-19). When we humble ourselves in Your sight, You lift us up (James 4:10). When we draw near to You, You draw near to us (James 4:8). When we listen for Your voice to be led by Your Spirit as the children of God, You speak and You lead (John 10:3; Romans 8:17; Isaiah 30:21).
Thank You for the sound of many waters rushing through my spirit like a mountain stream this morning. Thank You for reminding me to forever be seeking Your Presence and listening for Your leading throughout the moments of my day. "There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God, the holy habitation of the Most High" (Psalm 46:4). In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
My family,I pray the Holy Spirit cleanses you and refreshes you with the washing of the water by His word as you read today’s reading. May it flow through you, listening for the voice of the One who speaks like the sound of many waters, in Jesus' name! Please pray the same of me. God bless you, my friends!
I want to encourage you to join me by also sharing with us your thoughts, comments, reflections, and prayers you received from today’s reading in the comment box below.
Gary Liederbach- Lead Follower
One Direction Community/Toney UMC
Email: garyl@onedirection.community
Website:https://www.onedirection.community
Facebook: One Direction Community-ODC
Help Us Help Them!
I could use you’re the gift of your financial support for my family and those on the margins God has placed in my path I refuse to walk around. Please partner and support my family and ministries through setting up a monthly donation or a one –time gift by clicking the link below. Donation checks can be made out to ODC, 102 Champions Green Drive, Madison, Al 35758.
Thank You!
Good morning, Lord Jesus. I welcome You, Lord God -- Father, Son, and Holy Spirit -- into my heart and into my day. ...
“Now to the one who is able to keep you from falling, and to cause you to stand, rejoicing, without blemish before his glorious presence, to the only God our Savior through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, power, and authority, before all time, and now, and for all eternity. Amen.” (Jude 24-25)
You are faithful and unchanging. You are "Faithful and True" (Revelation 19:11). And I trust You and Your Word and Your will. I don't have to worry about You wavering. I don't have to be concerned about Your Kingdom collapsing. When all is said and done, Your Word will stand. And by the power of the grace of God, I will stand on Your Word, as I stand in You
"God is not a human being, that He should lie, or a mortal, that He should change His mind. Has He promised, and will He not do it? Has He spoken, and will He not fulfill it?" (Numbers 23:19)
You are my unchanging God. In You, "there is no variation or shadow due to change" (James 1:17). You are "the same yesterday and today and forever" (Hebrews 13:8). In You, all the promises of God are Yes and Amen (2 Corinthians 1:20).
And You have spoken Your steadfast word. You have eternally declared, "I the Lord will speak the word that I speak, and it will be fulfilled" (Ezekiel 12:25). "The Lord of hosts has sworn: As I have designed, so shall it be; and as I have planned, so shall it come to pass.... For the Lord of hosts has planned and who will annul it? His hand is stretched out, and who will turn it back?" (Isaiah 14:24
My family, May you stand firm in the steadfast word of our unchanging God, I pray you will commit this morning to the “building yourselves up in your most holy faith, by praying in the Holy Spirit, maintain yourselves in the love of God, while anticipating the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ that brings eternal life” (Jude 2o-21), in Jesus' name. Please pray the same for me. God bless you, my friends!
I want to encourage you to join me by also sharing with us your thoughts, comments, reflections, and prayers you received from today’s reading in the comment box below.
Gary Liederbach- Lead Follower
One Direction Community/Toney UMC
Email: garyl@onedirection.community
Website:https://www.onedirection.community
Facebook: One Direction Community-ODC
Help Us Help Them!
I could use you’re the gift of your financial support for my family and those on the margins God has placed in my path I refuse to walk around. Please partner and support my family and ministries through setting up a monthly donation or a one –time gift by clicking the link below. Donation checks can be made out to ODC, 102 Champions Green Drive, Madison, Al 35758.
Thank You!
Good morning, Lord Jesus.
“Dear friend, you demonstrate faithfulness by whatever you do for the brothers (even though they are strangers). They have testified to your love before the church. You will do well to send them on their way in a manner worthy of God. For they have gone forth on behalf of “The Name,” accepting nothing from the pagans. Therefore we ought to support such people, so that we become coworkers in cooperation with the truth.” (3 John 5-8)
The saving grace of the Father was His Act of “sentness” which from His first saving act in Christ to His continued saving works today which flow through those same acts of Christ. “For this is the way God loved the world: He sent his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world should be saved through him.” (John 3:16-17)
From it’s very conception the church was not designed to be a location, but a movement, part of the missio deo The mission and movement of God. Jesus prayer to the Father over the church had movement and mission at its heart. “I am not asking you to take them out of the world, …Just as you sent me into the world, so I sent them into the world.” (John 17: 15,18)
The Holy Spirit is always moving among us and when we as a church are full of the Spirit we will be caught up in His movement and hear His call to wear He is sending us. “While they were serving the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.” Then, after they had fasted and prayed and placed their hands on them, they sent them off.” (Acts 13:2-3)
My family, I pray that through this passage and the Holy Spirit you will understand that”church” is not a location, the building your church gathers in on Sunday mornings that you see in your rear-view mirror as you pullout of it’s parking lot. :Church”is a movement, what you see out your windshield as you drive through your neighborhood. I pray you will embrace the movement of the Spirit as a sent one in “a manner worthy of God,” in Jesus’ name. Please pray the same for me. God bless you my friends!
I want to encourage you to join me by also haring with us your thoughts, comments, reflections, and prayers you received from today’s reading in the comment box below.
Gary Liederbach- Lead Follower
One Direction Community
Email: garyl@onedirection.community
Website:https://www.onedirection.community
Facebook: One Direction Community-ODC
Help Us Help Them!
I could use you’re the gift of your financial support for my family and those on the margins God has placed in my path I refuse to walk around. Please partner and support my family and ministries through setting up a monthly donation or a one –time gift by clicking the link below. Donation checks can be made out to ODC, 102 Champions Green Drive, Madison, Al 35758.
Thank You!
Good morning, Lord Jesus. Continually come into my heart; continually flow out of my heart. Help me abide in You always, as You abide in me. ...
"Although I have much to write to you, I would rather not use paper and ink; instead I hope to come to you and talk with you face to face, so that our joy may be complete" (2 John 1:12).
Jesus, You've created us for relationships that are close, personal, and intimate at varying levels that are appropriate to the levels of relationship and trust You've established in our lives. And while we can communicate through texting, social media, electronic technology, gaming, and sometimes even paper and ink, there's something significant and ireplaceable in speaking face to face, looking one another in the eyes, extending a touch, and exchanging an embrace. Your Spirit draws us out of isolation, distancing and loneliness into friendship and fellowship with one another, "not neglecting to meet together ... but encouraging one another" (Hebrews 10:22). And then "our joy may be complete." We, the body of Christ were created for deep intimacy with each other. You prayed that we may have the same intimacy as you do with the Father, “so that they may be one just as we are one.” (John 17:11). We need to be in deep Christian fellowship with each other.
Lord, free us from isolation and loneliness in Your Body. Align our hearts and relationships with You and with one another according to Your sovereign purposes and plans for our lives. "Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil. For if they fall, one will lift up the other; but woe to one who is alone and falls and does not have another to help" (Ecclesiastes 4:9-10).
During this Holiday season when we are thankful for any things, one of the things we are most thankful for is the gift of personal relationships in our life. One of the most precious gifts you can give someone is the gift of personal, face-to-face conversation.
You're always with us to help; and at the same, You also position the ones You have chosen to cross our paths and to walk with us in the relationships of our journey to be an extension of Your hands to help us and an expression of Your face to look into our eyes and encourage us. And you’ve chosen each of us to do the same to others. And then, together, "our joy may be complete."
You're a God of personal relationship -- relationship with You and with one another. Give us courage and faith to trust You and to set aside time to allow others to have access to our lives. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
My family, I pray as the Lord established His personal intimate relationship with you, you will establish plans in your calendar to personally meet with people in your life to fulfill all His plans and purposes for you so that your joy may be complete. Please pray the same the same for me. God bless you, my friends!
I want to encourage you to join me by also sharing with us your thoughts, comments, reflections, and prayers you received from today’s reading in the comment box below.
Gary Liederbach- Lead Follower
One Direction Community
Email: garyl@onedirection.community
Website:https://www.onedirection.community
Facebook: One Direction Community-ODC
Help Us Help Them!
I could use you’re the gift of your financial support for my family and those on the margins God has placed in my path I refuse to walk around. Please partner and support my family and ministries through setting up a monthly donation or a one –time gift by clicking the link below. Donation checks can be made out to ODC, 102 Champions Green Drive, Madison, Al 35758.
Thank You!
Good morning, Lord Jesus. I'm seeking Your face and listening for Your voice, as I watch and wait for Your leading. ...
"Whoever does not love does not know God, for God is love.... If we love another, God lives in us, and His love is perfected in us.... God is love, and those who abide in love abide in God, and God abides in them.... because as He is, so are we in this world" (1 John 4:8-17).
Learning to love is the point of it all. For You are love; and You've created us to learn and grow in our capacity to love and be loved. When we hold steadfast in faith through whatever comes, we grow in learning to love. Faith grows and love increases as we suffer through every challenge of persecutions and afflictions in the world around each one of us each day in the power and peace of Your grace.
"Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. We must always give thanks to God for you, brothers and sisters, as is right, because your faith is growing abundantly, and the love of everyone of you for one another is increasing. Therefore we ourselves boast of you among the churches of God for your steadfastness and faith during all your persecutions and the afflictions that you are enduring. This is evidence of the righteous judgment of God, and is intended to make you worthy of the kingdom of God, for which you are also suffering" (2 Thessalonians 1:2-5).
I know the sufferings, afflictions, and persecutions of my world are pretty mild compared to the apostle Paul's or the first century Christians he was writing to, in order to encourage and inspire them. I know what I endure is hardly anything compared to what so many Christians endure around the world every day in our own generation. But whatever we endure at whatever level of severity is always an opportunity for each one of us in our own surroundings and challenges to learn to love and grow in faith.
"Therefore, since we are justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have obtained access to this grace in which we stand; and we boast in our hope of sharing the glory of God. And not only that, but we also boast in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not disappoint us, because God's love has be poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit that has been given to us" (Romans 5:1-5).
Holy Spirit, give me a right spirit and right perspective as I endure and grow through the opportunities that may come today. Whatever it is, no matter the source, You will use it to make me more like Jesus if I embrace the power and peace of Your grace and I continue to love God and others through it all. Thank You for the promise of Your Word, "'My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is made perfect in (your) weakness.' So I will boast all the more gladly of my weakness, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me. Therefore I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities for the sake of Christ; for whenever I am weak, then I am strong" (2 Corinthians 12:9-10).
I know with all my heart, because I've seen it so many times, that my God is able to cause all things to work together for good for me if I continue to love God and obey and follow His calling on my life. (Romans 8:28). And I know with all my heart, because I've seen You confirm the truth of Your Word in my life so many times, that my God "is able to accomplish abundantly far more than all (I) can ask or imagine, to Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever!" (Ephesians 3:20-21) In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
My family, I pray both your ability to give love and receive love increases and your faith grows through every challenge you face, becoming more like Jesus each day in the peace and power of God's grace for you, in Jesus' name! Please pray the same for me. God bless you, my friends! Thank you for joining with me on this daily journey of prayer each weekday by the leading of the Holy Spirit. I want to encourage you to join me by sharing with us your thoughts, comments, reflections, and prayers you received from today’s reading in the comment box below.
Gary Liederbach- Lead Follower
One Direction Community/Toney UMC
Email: garyl@onedirection.community
Website:https://www.onedirection.community
Facebook: One Direction Community-ODC
Help Us Help Them!
I could use you’re the gift of your financial support for my family and those on the margins God has placed in my path I refuse to walk around. Please partner and support my family and ministries through setting up a monthly donation or a one –time gift by clicking the link below. Donation checks can be made out to ODC, 102 Champions Green Drive, Madison, Al 35758.
Thank You!
Good morning, Lord Jesus. All that I am and all that I have is Yours -- Father, Son, and Holy Spirit of God. ...
“Now by this we know that we have come to know God: if we keep his commandments. The one who says “I have come to know God” and yet does not keep his commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in such a person. But whoever obeys his word, truly in this person the love of God has been perfected. By this we know that we are in him. The one who says he resides in God ought himself to walk just as Jesus walked.” (1 John 2:3-6).
In the freedom of Your grace, you give of the ability to choose to keep your commandments and walk in your ways. You're always leading me to choose You and Your will and Your ways. Even in grace, You desire obedience -- the obedience that freely flows from a heart that truly believes You love me and want the very best for me. This includes wanting the best people to surround me and for me to associate with.
"Do not be deceived: 'Bad company ruins good morals'" (1 Corinthians 15:33).
If bad company ruins good morals then good company inspires good morals. So I want to keep good company with You, Lord Jesus. You are my Companion and my Inspiration. You are my "Friend who sticks closer than a brother" (Proverbs 18:24). And You fill me with Your Spirit so that my thoughts become more like Your thoughts, my desires become more like Your desires, and my ways become more like Your ways (Romans 8:9).
Some would imply that under a dispensation of grace, we are free to do what we want to do, to be with whom we want to be with, to go wherever we want to go. Who the Son sets free is free indeed (John 8:36). Right? "All things are lawful for me" in Christ (1 Corinthians 10:23). Right? Yes, but not all things are good for me; and in the freedom of my salvation I still have the freedom to choose right from wrong, good from evil, to walk in Your ways or walk in the ways of the world, for me to be lord or for You to be Lord (1 Corinthians 10:23). So along with companionship always comes discipleship; and along with grace comes obedience -- as You're teaching me Your ways while I'm walking in deeply personal, intimate relationship with You.
Come, Holy Spirit of God. Move in my heart to give me a right heart. Keep creating in me a clean heart and renewing a right spirit within me (Psalm 51:10; Ezekiel 36:26; 2 Corinthians 5:17). Keep transforming me by the renewing of my mind and conforming me to the image of the Son of God (Romans 8:29 and 12:2). May I never stop to "grow in the grace and knowledge of (my) Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory both now and forever!" (2 Peter 3:18) In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
My family, I pray today in your freedom to choose today to simply read though this reflection and go about your day, or set aside time to personally read today’s chapter and reflect on it and keep good company with Jesus, you choose the later. I pray today as you have the choice to walk with Jesus and obey Him as your Lord, or walk away from Him and be your own lord over you life, you choose the later as well. At the end of the day no one will know what choice you made but Jesus, in Jesus name. Please pray the same for me. God bless you, my friends!
Thank you for joining with me on this daily journey of prayer each weekday by the leading of the Holy Spirit. I want to encourage you to join me by also sharing with us your thoughts, comments, reflections, and prayers you received from today’s reading in the comments box below.
Gary Liederbach- Lead Follower
One Direction Community/Toney UMC
Email: garyl@onedirection.community
Website:https://www.onedirection.community
Facebook: One Direction Community-ODC
Help Us Help Them!
I could use you’re the gift of your financial support for my family and those on the margins God has placed in my path I refuse to walk around. Please partner and support my family and ministries through setting up a monthly donation or a one –time gift by clicking the link below. Donation checks can be made out to ODC, 102 Champions Green Drive, Madison, Al 35758.
Thank You!
Good morning, Lord Jesus. I worship You and welcome You into my heart and every moment of my day. ...
"If we walk in the light as He Himself is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanse us from all sin" (1 John 1:7).
As we move closer to a day to celebrate being thankful, one day we'll more fully understand just how thankful we should be for Your unspeakable grace that forgives our sins and saves our souls through the power of the blood of Jesus (Romans 8:25). And at the same time, You desire for us to love and honor You and one another, fully surrendering to Your will and embracing Your ways for our lives.
"For all of us must appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each may receive recompense for what has been done in the body, whether good or evil" (2 Corinthians 5:10).
There will come a day when all of us "will have to give an accounting to Him who stands ready to judge the living and the dead" (1 Peter 4:5). "For we will all stand before the judgment seat of God.... So then, each of us will be accountable to God" (Romans 14:10-12).
In our personal relationship with You as Lord and Savior, we have our salvation and we also have Your invitation to each of us "so as to live for the rest of (our) earthly life no longer by human desires but by the will of God" (1 Peter 4:2). And what is Your will for my life? "This is the will of God, (my) sanctification" (1 Thessalonians 4:3). Your will according to Your Word is to make me more like You.
When all is said and done, when I stand to give an account for my life before the judgment seat of Christ, I believe You will ask me, "Did you seek to become more like Me?" (John 15:4; 1 Thessalonians 5:23; Romans 8:29; 2 Corinthians 3:18; Colossians 1:27; Philippians 2:13; 2 Peter 1:4; Ephesians 5:27; Revelation 19:7)
With all my heart I want to be able to say Yes to You. As best as I can and all by Your grace, I want to be more like You each day. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
Yes, Lord Jesus. I want to be like You. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
My family, I pray the Spirit of God will move in your heart to empower you to commit and seek to become more like Jesus each day, starting today. May you be filled with joy when you give an account at the judgment seat of Christ. Please pray the same for me. God bless you, my friends!
Please share your comments, reflections, and prayers from today’s reading with us in the comments box below.
Gary Liederbach- Lead Follower
One Direction Community
Email: garyl@onedirection.community
Website:https://www.onedirection.community
Facebook: One Direction Community-ODC
Help Us Help Them!
I could use you’re the gift of your financial support for my family and those on the margins God has placed in my path I refuse to walk around. Please partner and support my family and ministries through setting up a monthly donation or a one –time gift by clicking the link below. Donation checks can be made out to ODC, 102 Champions Green Drive, Madison, Al 35758.
Thank You!
Good morning Lord Jesus, I bow my heart and bend my knees for you to make me humble to walk out my door as your slave in service to you in my world today.
“Now, dear friends, do not let this one thing escape your notice, that a single day is like a thousand years with the Lord and a thousand years are like a single day. The Lord is not slow concerning his promise, as some regard slowness, but is being patient toward you, because he does not wish for any to perish but for all to come to repentance. “ (2 Peter 2:1-5)
In the time frame of mankind, there is a vast difference between one day and a thousand years. Yet, for God, who is eternal outside of the confines of time, there is no difference. All things past, present, and future, are ever before him: a seemingly delay of a thousand years cannot be so much to him, as putting off any thing for a day or for an hour is to us. For us, humanity, who can’t wrap our heads around “eternity” and people who have no knowledge or belief of the eternal God, they will place God into their time constraint and think of Him as they think of themselves. How hard is it to form any thoughts of eternity! What men count neglect, not caring, failing to act, is actually God’s long-suffering, and love to us-ward; it is giving more time to Hs own people, to advance in knowledge and holiness, and in the exercise of faith and patience, to abound in good works, doing and suffering, what we are all called to do, that they may bring glory to God. You need to come to the complete understanding and resolve in your hearts that one day you shall certainly be called to give an account of all things done while you are alive in your body, whether good or evil. And adopt a life that is a humble and diligent walking before God, and daily reflect and judge of yourself and your walk through the Holy Spirit. And live life with a firm belief of the future judgment, though many none believers and believers live as if they were never to give any account at all.
My family, I pray you read this chapter as many times as it takes to firmly understand that only the diligent Christian who daily walked out their door into their community and embraced the good works of doing and suffering that they were called to do will be the happy Christian in the day of the Lord. Our Lord will suddenly come to you, or shortly call you to him; and I pray he does not find your life is one of idle complacency centered on working and building the comfort of your kingdom, instead of your calling to the good works of building His kingdom, in Jesus’ name. Please pray the same for me. God bless you my friends!
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