Good morning, Lord Jesus. You’re here in my heart, here in my life, here in every moment of my day -- “always with (me)” (Matthew 28:20). In You, I “live and move and have (my) being” (Acts 17:28). ...
“How long, O Lord? Will You forget me forever?
How long will You hide Your face from me?
How long must I bear pain in my soul
and have sorrow in my heart all day long?
How long shall my enemy be exalted over me?
Consider and answer me, O Lord my God!
Give light to my eyes, or I will sleep the sleep of death,
and my enemy will say, ‘I have prevailed’;
my foes will rejoice because I am shaken” (Psalm 13:1-4).
In the aftermath of massacres, in the throes of wars, in the destruction of plagues, in the scarcity of famines, in the instability of financial insecurity, in the confusion of cultural chaos, and in the insanity of the destruction of moral standards, we can begin to ask Why? and Where are You? and How long?
It's ok to ask the questions. It’s ok to express our griefs and sorrows, our frustration and disappointments. You’re big enough to handle our questions. You’re loving enough to allow us to vent out our thoughts and feelings. I’m reminded of those very kinds of expressions from the heart of David:
And at the same time, I’m also reminded of how Your Spirit would lead David to turn his questions of You back to his trust in You, reminding him of Your faithfulness through every tragedy and battle and disappointment of his life, as he continued to express his heart in that same Psalm:
“But I trusted in Your steadfast love;
my heart shall rejoice in Your salvation.
I will sing to the Lord
because He has dealt bountifully with me” (Psalm 13:5-6).
He didn’t ignore his pain or deny his questions. But he also didn’t get stuck there. He remembered Your faithfulness in his past and embraced Your Presence in his present. In the midst of all his questions, he chose to “rejoice in Your salvation” and “sing” of Your steadfast love and bountiful mercies.
You shifted his perspective. And in the shifting, You didn’t change the facts of his world at the moment, but You did change the effect of their influence on his soul.
O my soul, with a heart like David, I choose to lift up my heart to the Lord.
O my Lord, just like You did for David, shift my perspective. Remind me of Your faithfulness, refocus me on Your Presence with me right now in the present, and reassure me You’re always with me and leading me into the unfolding fullness of Your steadfast love and bountiful mercies.
And I pray the same for all who need that heart by Your grace, that heart like David, through whatever they’re going through today. It’s ok to ask the questions, as Your Spirit leads us to the One who is the Answer. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.
My family, may you be free to ask your questions, to express your thoughts and feelings to the Lord who leads you by His Spirit to the One who is the Answer, in Jesus' name. Please pray the same for me. God bless you, my friends!
Please share your thoughts and reflections 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
My wife Nancyare in a new season of our ministry of pouring completely into planting and growing simple house churches in our neighborhoods, and having “boots on the ground” serving in our community.. Please pray over this season in my life and that of my family. 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. You’re with me always. And I seek to begin my week intentionally, deliberately looking to You and listening for Your leading, as I press in to Your Presence in the communion of prayer. ...
It’s in communion with You that my spiritual eyes are opened, that my spiritual heart catches fire with Your Spirit and comes life in Your Word -- just as You showed us on Your encounter with Your disciples on their walk to Emmaus:
“As they came near the village to which they were going, (Jesus) walked ahead as if He were going on. But they urged Him strongly, saying, ‘Stay with us, because it is almost evening and the day is now nearly over.’ So He went in to stay with them. When He was at the table with them, He took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to them. Then their eyes were opened, and they recognized Him; and He vanished from their sight. They said to each other, ‘Were not our hearts burning within us while He was talking to us on the road, while He was opening the Scriptures to us?’ That same hour they got up and returned to Jerusalem; and they found the eleven and their companions gathered together. They were saying, ‘The Lord has risen indeed, and He has appeared to Simon!’ Then they told what had happened on the road, and how He had been made known to them in the breaking of the bread. While they were talking about this, Jesus Himself stood among them and said to them, ‘Peace be with you’” (Luke 24:28-36).
Thank You for the gift of communion with You -- not only here in these moments at the beginning of my mornings, but every moment of every day. You’re with me always (Matthew 28:20). You abide in me and I abide in You (John 15:4). You make Yourself “known to (me) in the breaking of the bread. And You are the Bread -- the Bread of Your Word, the Bread of Your Spirit, the Bread of Your Abiding Presence, “the Bread of Life” as I live my life in communion with You (John 6:35). In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.
My, may you live your life in communion with Jesus, in Jesus' name. Please pray the same for me. God bless you, my friends!
Please share your thoughts and reflections 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
In July I will step out of pastoring Toney UMC and pour completely into planting and growing simple house churches in our neighborhoods. Please pray over this season in my life and that of my family. 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
TO GIVE , CLICK HERE
Good morning, Lord Jesus. You still say to me and to every one of Your disciples, “Come, follow Me” (Matthew 19:21). Here I am, Lord; ready to come, follow You today. ...
Yesterday evening, two brothers in Christ and I spent a couple hours in a quiet place in the woods behind one of their homes to simply pray and listen. As I have stated, in two weeks I will be stepping out of my position as pastor of Toney UMC and beginning with my wife a renewed season of being on mission in my city to plant and grow disciples and simple churches. One of the brothers there last night is also an ordained Elder in the UMC who is also stepping out of his pastoring position to join in pursuing ministry in his community. The third brother has actively lead in church and addiction ministries and is discerning his renewed calling to be on mission for missions. As from my reflection this past Tuesday, we prayed into pouring into, “It may very well be that you have been given everything in life for such a time as this!” (Esther 4:14 paraphrase)
In my continued reflecting on last night, this morning I hear You saying in my heart:
Draw near to Me, then I can send you out. Spend time with Me, and I will multiply the moments of your day. Let Me fill you up with My Spirit, so I can pour out of you My love. Allow Me to empower you, that My power can flow through you. I am the Author of your faith. I am the Source of your success. I am the Lord of your life because you have believed that I am Lord of all....
In Your Spirit Jesus, this Scripture from Your written Word comes to mind to conform what I believe I’m hearing in my heart as Your spoken word:
“I love those who love Me, and those who seek Me diligently find Me” (Proverbs 8:17).
And these familiar Words are coming to life with a fresh breath of Your Spirit right now:
“I am the true vine, and my Father is the vine grower. He removes every branch in Me that bears no fruit. Every branch that bears fruit He prunes to make it bear more fruit. You have already been cleansed by the word that I have spoken to you. Abide in Me as I abide in you. Just as the branch cannot bear fruit by itself unless it abides in the vine, neither can you unless you abide in Me. I am the vine, you are the branches. Those who abide in Me and I in them bear much fruit, because apart from Me you can do nothing. Whoever does not abide in Me is thrown away like a branch and withers; such branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned. If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, ask for whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. My Father is glorified by this, that you bear much fruit and become My disciples. As the Father has loved Me, so I have loved you; abide in My love. If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love, just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and abide in His love. I have said these things to you so that My joy may be in you, and that your joy may be complete” (John 15:1-11).
Simple Words. But powerful, intimate Words. Welcoming me to come and follow You, to come and spend time with You, so that my life bears fruit and my joy may be complete -- all because of a genuine, authentic, and deeply personal relationship with You.
By the power of Your grace, with this hunger You’ve put in my heart, I’m here to come follow You, to come be with You -- this day and every day, this moment and every moment -- morning by morning and step by step. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.
My family, may you drawn deeply into the Presence of God, deeply abiding in Him that your life can bear much fruit and your joy may be complete, 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!
In July I will step out of pastoring Toney UMC and pour completely into planting and growing simple house churches in our neighborhoods. Please pray over this season in my life and that of my family. 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 YouI!
TO GIVE CLICK HERE
Good morning, Lord Jesus. King of kings and Lord of lords, come rule and reign in my heart and every moment of my day. ...
“Your people shall be volunteers in the day of Your power; in the beauties of holiness, from the womb of the morning, You have the dew of Your youth” (Psalm 110:3 NKJV).
My family and I returned from our vacation last night. Back to the “Real World.” I awoke this morning, made some coffee, and turned on the news. I watched an update on the war in Ukraine and saw for that over one hundred thousand Ukrainians from around the world have returned to fight for their homeland -- volunteers in the day of battle.
In some ways, the battle for the soul of Ukraine is a prophetic picture of the battle for the soul of the earth. At times the constant shelling of all we hold dear is unbearable: Covid, inflation, gas prices, attacks on our faith, mass shooting of our children…. while the seemingly indiscriminate bombing of the innocent is unthinkable. At times the odds seem overwhelming and victory, or even a return to some form of peace, a return to some type of “normal” seems hopeless.
But Your Word encourages us: “You are of God, little children, and have overcome them, because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world” (1 John 4:4 NKJV). And Your Words encourage us: “These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; be of good cheer, I have overcome the world” (John 16:33).
Lord Jesus, we look to You--for the people of Ukraine and for ourselves as the children of God, called by Your name throughout the earth and chosen to live out our lives and our calling through these times. By the stirring of the Holy Spirit within us, we volunteer freely on the day of battle. And this is the day of battle--the day of battle for our souls and for the soul of the world.
After the witness of the courage of the Ukrainian people, give us Your courage to fight the battles before us--“strong and very courageous” (Joshua 1:7). Put Your weapons in our hands and Your words in our mouths, with Your Spirit stirring in our hearts. “For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds” (2 Corinthians 10:4).
Armed with Your spiritual weapons and clothed in Your spiritual armor, may we run to the battle and volunteer willingly to take our place and make our stand in You, just as Your Word commands:
“Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.
Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints” (Ephesians 6:10-18). In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.
My family, may you be stirred by the Holy Spirit to run into the battle and volunteer freely to take your stand in Christ, as Christ stand’s in you, to be victorious and more than a conqueror today and throughout these days, 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!
In July I will step out of pastoring Toney UMC and pour completely into planting and growing simple house churches in our neighborhoods. Please pray over this season in my life and that of my family. 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 YouI!
TO GIVE CLICK HERE
Good morning, Lord Jesus. Help me hear what You're saying, see what You're doing, sense Your Presence and follow Your leading.
"Moses then called Bazalel and Oholiab and every skillful one to whom the Lord had given skill, everyone whose heart was stirred to come to do the work; and they received from Moses all the freewill offerings that the Israelites had brought for doing the work on the sanctuary. They still kept bringing him freewill offerings every morning, so that all the artisans who were doing every sort of task on the sanctuary came, each from the task being performed, and said to Moses, 'The people are bringing much more than enough for doing the work that the Lord has commanded us to do.' " (Exodus 35:2-5).
As I sit and look over the endless ocean and its vastness, it is easy to ask myself, “Why am I here?” What is my purpose in God’s grand plan for this earth? As the passage above reminds me, God, You've given each of us a skill to build up Your people and extend Your kingdom across the earth. With our freewill, we're invited to offer our gifts in service to You with "whatever gift each of (us) has received" (1 Peter 4:10). Together, we are the sanctuary You're building, the place of Your abiding Presence on this earth. And Your kingdom is within us (Luke 17:21).
Jesus, as I and those who read this devotion Your Spirit has given me, as we seek You, show us our gifts and our place of service to You wherever we are. Let Your Spirit stir in our hearts to come do the work of the kingdom of God. Wherever we are, we carry Your kingdom with us, for Your kingdom is within us -- at home, at work, in the market, in the church, down the street and across the oceans. And as we each do our part in this labor of love with the gifts of God, we find we are fulfilled. We find we have "much more than enough for doing the work that he Lord has commanded us to do." And we find Your heart for us is, "Well done" (Luke 19:17).
"Our God will make (us) worthy of His call and will fulfill by His power every good resolve and work of faith, so that the name of our Lord Jesus may be glorified in (us), and (we) in Him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ" (2 Thessalonians 1:11-12). In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
My family, I pray today you will ask the Holy Spirit to reveal your skills and the gifts of God within you. I pray He will stir in your heart to fully offer yourself and your gifts for the work and glory of the kingdom of God wherever you are. 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!
In July I will step out of pastoring Toney UMC and pour completely into planting and growing simple house churches in our neighborhoods. Please pray over this season in my life and that of my family. 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 YouI!
TO GIVE CLICK HERE
Good morning, Lord Jesus. Embraced by my Father, centered in Christ, filled with Your Holy Spirit -- I seek You and seek Your leading to begin my day in deep communion with You. ...
"For the waves of death encompassed me,
the torrents of perdition assailed me;
the cords of Sheol entangled me,
the snares of death confronted me.
In my distress I called upon the Lord;
to my God I called.
From His temple He heard my voice,
and my cry came to His ears"
(2 Samuel 22:5-7).
For the past couple years it seems we've been hearing about all these this world-wide plagues moving in on us in waves. Cover, global shortages, inflation, war in the Ukraine, mass shootings…Sitting her on the beach, It makes me think of a relentless army coming ashore in wave after wave of attack. But then, what You immediately bring up from my spirit and into mind is "wave after wave of glory." The glory of Your manifest Presence -- with us and within us -- that gives us the wisdom and the power to withstand every wave that would come against us.
In humility, we admit we cannot overcome in our own wisdom and power and confess we need Yours. In desperation and distress, we cry out to You, we call upon the Lord. In faith, we believe You hear the voice of our cries, You see the desperation of our needs. And in thanksgiving and praise, even before we see it made manifest with our physical eyes what we're believing with our spiritual eyes, we declare as the voice of the redeemed that "wave after wave of glory" will defeat all enemies and even cover the whole earth. "Let the redeemed of the Lord say so!" (Psalm 107:2) For the Promise of Your Word will come to pass: "The earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord as the waters cover the sea" (Habakkuk 2:14).
You responded with wisdom and power for David when He cried out to You in his distress, as he faced the waves of destruction. And we thank You now that You are responding with wisdom and power as we cry out to You in our day:
Then the earth reeled and rocked;
the foundations of the heavens trembled
and quaked, because He was angry.
Smoke went up from His nostrils,
and devouring fire from His mouth;
glowing coals flamed forth from Him.
He bowed the heavens, and came down;
thick darkness was under His feet.
He rode on a cherub, and flew;
He was seen upon the wings of the wind.
He made darkness around Him a canopy,
thick clouds, a gathering of water.
Out of the brightness before Him
coals of fire flamed forth.
The Lord thundered from heaven;
the Most High uttered His voice.
He sent out arrows, and scattered them
-lightning, and routed them.
Then the channels of the sea were seen,
the foundations of the world were laid bare
at the rebuke of the Lord,
at the blast of the breath of His nostrils.
He reached from on high, He took me,
He drew me out of mighty waters.
He delivered me from my strong enemy,
from those who hated me;
for they were too mighty for me.
They came upon me in the day of my calamity,
but the Lord was my stay.
He brought me out into a broad place;
He delivered me, because He delighted in me"
(2 Samuel 22:8-20).
Deliver us, Lord! Draw us up out of the mighty waters of this strong enemy of destruction, too mighty for humanity to handle in our wisdom and power! Send Your waves of glory, "wave after wave of glory" to fill our heart and fill the earth with a great awareness of Your Presence, with all the wisdom and power we need to overcome. And we thank You now that You will even turn it all around into a world-wide repentance to see a world-wide salvation like the world has never seen! In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
My family, may you be filled with God's Holy Spirit, with wave after wave of the glory of His manifest Presence, trusting Him to give the wisdom and power we need in our world to overcome and even see the great salvation of the Lord in our day, in Jesus' name. Please pray the same for me. God bless you, my friends!
Please share your thoughts and reflections in the comment box below.
Gary Liederbach- Lead Follower
One Direction Community
Email: garyl@onedirection.community
Website:https://www.onedirection.community
Facebook: One Direction Community-ODC
Give A Gift!
In July I will step out of pastoring Toney UMC and pour completely into planting and growing simple house churches in our neighborhoods. Please pray over this season in my life and that of my family. 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 YouI!
TO GIVE CLICK HERE
Good morning, Lord Jesus. Lead me in the way of life in You today. ...
As I sit on the shore of the ocean this morning, the vastness of God and His presence everywhere and anywhere on earth comes into my mind. Sitting on the beach, with it’s billions of grains of sand, I am in a way like one of the billions of grains of people on this planet. And even though You have a world view of salvation, “God So loved the World” you also desire a deep personal connection with me.
The truth is: "O Lord, You have examined my heart and know everything about me. You know when I sit down or stand up. You know my thoughts even when I'm far away. You see me when I travel and when I rest at home. You know everything I do. You know what I am going to say even before I say it, Lord. You go before me and follow me. You place Your hand of blessing on my head. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too great for me to understand! I can never escape from Your Spirit! I can never get away from Your Presence! If I go up to heaven, You are there; if I god down to the grave, You are there. If I ride the wings of the morning, if I dwell by the farthest oceans, even there You hand will guide me, and Your strength will support me. I could ask the darkness to hide me and the light around me to become night -- but even in darkness I cannot hide from you. To you the night shines as bright as day. Darkness and light are the same to you.... And when I wake up, You are still with me!" (Psalm 139:18 NLT)"I bless the Lord who guides me; even at night my heart instructs me. I know the Lord is always with me. I will not be shaken, for He is right beside me. No wonder my heart is glad and I rejoice. My body rests in safety. For You will not leave my soul among the dead or allow your holy one to rot in the grave. You will show me the way of life, granting me the joy of Your Presence the pleasures of living with You forever!" (Psalm 16:7-11)
You are "right beside me." ...
What if I were to live my life believing that was true? ...
What if I were to live this day believing that was true? ...
If I truly believed You were right beside me, would I make different choices throughout the moment of my day. Would I be more secure and confident? Would I be more careful and diligent? Would I be more honest and faithful? Would I be afraid in the fear of the Lord or would I be fearless in the certainty of my Savior?
The truth is You are right beside me. Always (Matthew 28:20). You never leave me (Hebrews 13:5). In fact, You are within me by the indwelling of Your very Spirit (Colossians 1:27; 1 Corinthians 3:16). You always know every thought in my mind and every desire in my heart. I couldn't hide from You if I tried. They don't make fig leaves that big anymore!
So no matter how it makes me feel or act, You are "right beside me" regardless. And in the light of that eternal truth, give me grace to live my life each day with a deeper awareness of that truth and Your Presence. It's a good thing. No, it's a great thing. In fact, it's a grace thing that I could never earn and never deserve, but only receive as the great gift of God that it is -- the gift of the ever-abiding Presence of my God who loves me and likes being with me!
Thank You, Lord! Help me learn to appreciate You and Your Presence more. Thank You for being "right beside me" every moment of my life forever. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
My family, I pray you live this day and every day in the growing awareness of the ever-abiding Presence of God who loves you and likes being with you, in Jesus' name! Please pray the same for me. God bless you, my friends!
Please share your thoughts and reflections in the comment box below.
Gary Liederbach- Lead Follower
One Direction Community
Email: garyl@onedirection.community
Website:https://www.onedirection.community
Facebook: One Direction Community-ODC
Give A Gift!
In July I will step out of pastoring Toney UMC and pour completely into planting and growing simple house churches in our neighborhoods. Please pray over this season in my life and that of my family. 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 YouI!
TO GIVE , CLICK HERE
Good morning Lord Jesus, I seek you Holy Spirit to move in me and guide me thought my day today.
The Spirit applies in us and nurtures the fruits of the Spirit in our lives—love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, faithfulness and self-control. As you read this list and ask your self “What exactly are the “fruits of the Spirit? You will arrive at the answer: These all make up the character of God. And since the character of the Father is the same as the Son, these “fruits” also make up the character of Jesus Christ. We see these personified in all the narratives of the life of Jesus in the Gospels.
As disciples of Jesus Christ, we are called to imitate Jesus not only in words, and deeds, but more importantly, in character. We could be right and say the right words but if we say them without love and gentleness we are wrong. We could do the right deeds but if we do them without joy and kindness they build up nothing. Stepping up as the spiritual leader of your family without patience, goodness and self-control is destructive.
These gifts of the fruits of the Spirit that the Holy Spirit wants to give us is nothing less than the character of God. Jesus breathes in us and tells us to receive the Holy Spirit so by the Spirit’s indwelling in us, we can be conformed with his actual character and that of God. That is the only way we can possibly live into God’s command to be Holy as I am Holy, by the indwelling of the Spirit in us and the fruits, the actual character of God in the Spirit.
People listen to people of the character of God. People follow people of the character of God. Your character will either open or close doors to sharing the Gospel and/or discipling other people.
My family, read Romans 15:13; Galatians 6:16-25, Matthew 3:8-9; James 5:7-12. I pray you will spend time with the Holy Spirit looking at your character. What “Fruits of the Spirit” are you strong in? What fruits are a challenge to you? Pray over you character. Ask the Holy Spirit to assist you in obtaining the character of God, in Jesus name. Please pray the same for me. God bless you my friends!
Practical application of this message; Are you in an accountability relationship with another person or two? I am absolutely convinced that nothing helps an individual to maintain the character of God more than deep, open, vulnerable, loving, real accountability. It helps prevent someone from being the person in James 1:23-24, who looks in the mirror at home and says, “What a good Christian am I!” then goes out and lives like those of the world. If you are not in deep accountability with one or two people, (not a small group or Bible study. True accountability happens in 2-3 people) then I challenge you to enter into one by the end of this week. Pray for the Holy Spirit to lead you to the one or two persons to invite into accountability with you.
Please share any thoughts, comments, stories you have on the Fruits of the Spirit, Character or accountability with us below.
Much love,
Gary
Gary Liederbach- Lead Follower
One Direction Community
Email: garyl@onedirection.community
Website: https://www.onedirection.community
Facebook: One Direction Community-ODC
Please pray over this season in my life and that of my family. 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
TO GIVE , CLICK HERE
Good morning Lord Jesus, Spirit of the living God come fall afresh on me.
The indwelling of the Holy Spirit is present in each of us who through repentance and faith have been saved by Jesus Christ through the merits of his death, resurrection works on the cross. His presences in me is my only source of holiness. His indwelling in me is what allows me to hear from and experience God and Jesus in prayer and the searching of Scriptures. It is his presence in me that assures me of my salvation in In Jesus Christ.
Since I am Arminian in my soteriology (theology of salvation) and do not believe like my reformed brothers in predestination, that some are eternally chosen elect of God and some are eternally chosen as reprobate. And since I do not adhere to a “works” based salvation, where if my good deeds out weigh my sinful deeds I am saved, How could I ever truly be sure that I am in God’s grace? That my assurance was not of pride and arrogance given to me by my flesh, but by the workings of the Spirit inside me? It is through praying and reflecting on it, such assurance I immediately and directly perceive when my spiritual senses are rightly disposed. Then the Spirit of God witnesses to my spirit that I am a child of God. And the testimonies and witnesses that I am a child of God and not a child of the devil I am able to see clearly. As John Wesley put it, “as you distinguish day from night.”
And that just as God did not remain distant from me, a completely heavenly being, but became incarnate so I may better understand and have a closer relationship with Him on earth, also now my assurance that I am pleasing in God’s sight is not something that can be confirmed only in heaven and realized on the last day when I discover if I was one of the elect or the reprobate, or if I completed enough good deeds to offset my sinful deeds. But my assurance I am saved is something that can be confirmed in me by the spirit of God in me and realized all the days of my life in this world, including today. For which I say, “Praise God!”
It is a holy presence in me that is more than a feeling. It is constant in me, at times even more so in the valleys of my life as in the mountain tops. And the Holy Spirit is constantly calling me into a deeper state of holiness, as he reveals to me areas in my life where I have not let his indwelling in me to enter into, whether knowingly or unknowingly. Through prayer and in the Spirit, I seek each day to be more Holy, more like Christ, a process we Wesleyans call Sanctification. Day by day we hope to become more sanctified, more set apart in Holiness for God, with the goal of complete sanctification. For me not to believe this is possible in my life today, and only after I am dead as some believe, would elevate sin above the merits of Christ on the Cross.
My family, Read Rom 8:1-17, 15:13; 1 Cor. 3:16-17, 1 Cor. 6:9-11; 2 Cor. 3:17-18; Eph. 3:14-21; 1 John 4:13-15. Spend time then in prayer and ask God’s Spirit to witness to your Spirit. Pray for the Holy Spirit to fall afresh in you, in Jesus’ name. Please pray the same for me. God bless you my freinds!
Please post any comments, questions or reflections you may have below.
Holy Spirit Come!
Gary
Gary Liederbach- Lead Follower
One Direction Community/Toney UMC
Email: garyl@onedirection.community
Website: https://www.onedirection.community
Facebook: One Direction Community-ODC
In July I will step out of pastoring Toney UMC and pour completely into planting and growing simple house churches in our neighborhoods. Please pray over this season in my life and that of my family. 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
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Click on the link below and take 3 minutes to let the words of this song pour over and into you.
Good morning Jesus. I simply hank you this morning that you love me.
Power, confidence, helper, strength:
John Wesley, the founder of Methodists states as he looked into the future of the growing denomination, “I am not afraid that the people called Methodists should ever cease to exist either in Europe or America. But I am afraid lest they should only exist as a dead sect, having the form of religion without the power. And this undoubtedly will be the case unless they hold fast both the doctrine, spirit, and discipline with which they first set out.”
This passage is one that haunts me, and is why we are spending the 24 days leading up to Pentecost pressing into the Holy Spirit. Wesley’s quote applies not just to Methodism, but to all denominations, non-denominations, and The Church as a whole in the world.. It should challenge all who call themselves Christians if they have the zeal to “spread Scriptural holiness” that the early Methodists had, and the first church found in the Book Acts of the Apostles. I can’t read this quote without asking myself the obvious question: Is the Church in America a dead sect, does it have the form or religion without the power? Or have we held fast to the doctrine, spirit, and discipline with which we first set out?
If I were to stand up in a church and ask, “How many people believe Jesus can raise dead?” Many, hopefully all hands would raise up. If I asked again, “How many people believe Jesus is today raising the dead?” How many hands would raise? Believing that The Holy Spirit can raise the dead is different from believing that the Holy Spirit is raising the dead. The first belief contains past nostalgia and reminiscence, the second belief contains power for today.
In talking to and my experience with many churches and Christens there is a real lack of expectancy and power in their faith. A lack of expectancy that the power of God is going to do very much at all. Do you really think your prayers for somebody has the power to see the sick healed? Or the whole time you are praying for their healing you are thinking in your head they better go see a doctor. Now this is opening up a can of worms I know. It is really not an either/ or. But do we really believe we will see the power of God at work? Do we really believe we will see the kingdom come in the world around us? When was the last time if ever you have laid hands on a person who is sick and anointed them with oil in prayer? Do you expect the most deprived neighborhoods in Madison or Huntsville or your neighborhoods to come to Christ, become free of their addictions, have their lives be filled with love and turned around? If so when was the last time you prayer walked a neighborhood praying over that community? Do you when you walk out your door in the morning really expect for God to do amazing things so that by the end of the day or the end of the week you will have amazing stories to tell about the power of God and what he is doing? Because He Is! And you have been invited to be part of it!! I believe we are not seeing miracles, signs and wonders today because those in the church are not actively in faith seeking the performance of them.“ Jesus told You, “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find;” (Matt 7:7). Are you seeking miracles in peoples lives? You have the indwelling of the power of the Holy Spirit to complete them. What is ministry except a day by day, moment by moment invitation to step into something that God wants to do in somebody’s life and have the privilege of seeing it happen. Do we embrace the power of God enough and expect it in our own lives enough to be able expect it anywhere else?
My family, I pray today you Read Acts1:4-8, 4::29-33, Rom. 8:26-27; Eph. 3:14-21. Then reflect on the power, confidence, and strength of your faith and ministry through the Holy Spirit, in Jesus’ name. Please pray the same for me. God bless you my friends.
Please post a comment below. I do not want this to be a "dead sect" 24 days. I want this to be full of testimonies and relevant prayers. So post as a comment below any prayers requests for power in your life or ministry so we can pray the power of the Holy Spirit over it. Share an example to encourage us of how you have seen the power of God recently in you ministry.
Much love,
Gary
Gary Liederbach- Lead Follower
One Direction Community/ Toney UMC
Email: garyl@onedirection.community
Website: https://www.onedirection.community
Facebook: One Direction Community-ODC
You Can Help!
I could use you’re the gift of your financial support for my family and those on the margins God has placed in my path I refuse to walk around. Please partner and support my family and ministries through setting up a monthly donation or a one –time gift by clicking the link below. Donation checks can be made out to ODC, 102 Champions Green Drive, Madison, Al 35758.
Thank You!
“Silence in the face of evil is itself evil: God will not hold us guiltless. Not to speak is to speak. Not to act is to Act” Deitrich Bonhoeffer
“To ignore evil is to become accomplice to it.” Martin Luther King Jr.
“The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing.” Edmund Burke
“The world is a dangerous place to live, not because of the people who are evil, but because of the people who don’t do anything about it.” Albert Einstein
Lord Jesus. I speak out Your name and listen for Your voice and wait for Your leading.
"And you were dead in your trespasses and sins, in which you formerly walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, of the spirit that is now working in the sons of disobedience. Among them we too all formerly lived in the lusts of our flesh, indulging the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, even as the rest. But God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in our transgressions, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up with Him, and seated us with Him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the ages to come He might show the surpassing riches of His grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus." (Ephesians 2:1-7).
There is a so-called "prince of the power of the air" who is a "spirit;" an evil and destructive spirit (Ephesians 2:2). It's the same spirit who is "the thief" who "comes only to steal and kill and destroy" (John 10:10). It's the same spirit Jesus called "the ruler of this world" (John 12:31). And it's the spirit of destruction and death at work in our world, seeking to destroy and defile God’s creation by every means possible and at every opportunity available. "We know that the whole creation has been groaning in labor pains until now" longing to be "set free from its bondage to decay" (Romans 8:19-23)
The past two weeks have been an intense battle. My daughter was in a car accident that totaled her car. Easter Sunday a guest at my house received a call his room mate committed suicide. Before our House Church Tuesday a member received a call they found his brother dead in his home and he had been dead for several days. I received a call from a family member of mine that the lump in his throat the he had removed is cancer that had metastiaticiezed. A “Godly” couple that are friends are getting a divorce. People have reached out to me and requested prayers over attacks from past addictions, attacks from current addictions, attacks on their marriage, attacks of life long friendships, attacks on their health, and attacks of depression on their minds.
So this morning I say enough is enough! I am shouting at the devil! I am pushing back and calling out in prayer and the name of Jesus and calling out to you to also push back in prayer, in the laying of hands and anointing of oil and call out and push back against "the prince of the power of the air." To call out and push back against "the thief who comes to steal and kill and to destroy." To call out to and turn our hearts and our prayers and our hope to the One who says "I came that (you) may have life, and have it abundantly" (John 10:10). To call out and claim over our lives the One who is "rich in mercy," who reaches out to us in our distress. Who wars with us even in our sins, even in the places our own destructive acts, even where we have opened the door to destruction in our hearts or in our land throughout our generations to the accusing enemy of our souls and of Your creation. This morning we call and claim and invite and call on the God of angel armies to battle and push back against the darkness! (Ephesians 2:4).
O God, hear our prayer. Crush "the prince of the power of the air!" Grant us mercy in the face of its attempt to destroy. Stir in the hearts and prayers and proclamations of Your people who are called by Your name to take a stand in faith to speak against mountains of destruction, even as we humble ourselves to be desperately dependent upon You alone. “And Jesus answered saying to them, “Have faith in God. Truly I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be taken up and cast into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that what he says is going to happen, it will be granted him. Therefore I say to you, all things for which you pray and ask, believe that you have received them, and they will be granted you.” Mark 11:22-25).
And as You bring us through no matter what we may endure, as we groan with all Your creation for the redemption of our broken, fallen world, may we continue to turn to You to be our Hope and our Help. "Our help is in the name of the Lord, who made heaven and earth" (Psalm 124:7). May You continue to fulfill Your Word through these days of what seems like unrelenting catastrophes: "The God of peace will shortly crush Satan under your feet. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with (us)" (Romans 16:20). In Jesus' name we pray.
My family, I pray in faith in agreement with you that our God who is rich in mercy will give faith and grace to all to endure and overcome the "prince of the power of the air" and its destructive forces, in Jesus' name! And I join with you in prayer that lives would be restored and those caught in the storms of this season would experience the protection and provision of our God, in Jesus' name! May the presence of God in His mercy and love and through His people be evident in the midst of it all. God bless you my friends!
Gary Liederbach- Lead Follower
One Direction Community
Please share your reflections in the comment box below.
Partner in prayer and support us as we speak against the mountains of destruction in our communities.
Good morning, Lord Jesus. Be at the center of my heart and every moment of my day. ...
This morning I’m reflecting on the presence of God and the closeness of Your love available to us in the resurrected Jesus as declared from Romans Chapter 8 in The Message Version of the Bible:
“So, what do you think? With God on our side like this, how can we lose? If God didn’t hesitate to put everything on the line for us, embracing our condition and exposing Himself to the worst by sending His own Son, is there anything else He wouldn’t gladly and freely do for us? And who would dare tangle with God by messing with one of God’s chosen? Who would dare even to point a finger? The One who died for us--who was raised to life for us!--is in the presence of God at this very moment sticking up for us. Do you think anyone is going to be able to drive a wedge between us and Christ’s love for us? There is no way! Not trouble, not hard times, not hatred, not hunger, not homelessness, not bullying threats, not backstabbing, not even the worst sins listed in Scripture: They kill us in cold blood because they hate you. We’re sitting ducks; they pick us off one by one. None of this fazes us because Jesus loves us. I’m absolutely convinced that nothing--nothing living or dead, angelic or demonic, today or tomorrow, high or low, thinkable or unthinkable--absolutely nothing can get between us and God’s love because of the way that Jesus our Master has embraced us” (Romans 8:31-39 MSG).
Yes, Lord. With God on our side, how can we lose! “In all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us!” (Romans 8:37).
And that gives me courage. That gives me confidence. That fills my heart with joy, fills my eyes with tears, and fills my mouth with praise! In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.
My family, I pray as you begin your week that you may be filled with ressurection joy in your heart, tears of joy in your eyes, and the praises of God in your mouth, as you know His powerful, unending love for you, in Jesus' name. Please pray the same for me. God bless you, my friend!
Please share you reflections 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!
TO GIVE CLICK HERE
Good morning, Lord Jesus. Put Your thoughts in my mind and Your desires in my heart, as I begin my day centered in You. ...
"So they went out quickly from the tomb with fear and great joy, and ran to bring His disciples word" (Matthew 28:8).
At the empty tomb, the angel spoke to the women seeking Jesus, "Do not be afraid" (v. 5). He declared those famous words to them, "He is not here; for He is risen!" (v. 5). And he invited them to come and see for themselves the empty tomb of Jesus (v. 6). Then he spoke to them the words You gave him to speak to their hearts about what was to come next (v. 7).
Surely they were so excited and so expectant of all that God had done and all that God was about to do. Surely they were filled with great joy! And they were. But at the same time, Your Word says they left the empty tomb that day "with fear and great joy" even as they "ran to bring (Your) disciples word" of this great news (v. 8).
What about us? In these days of great joy as we continue in celebrating Your resurrection, and we have great joy in knowing Your Word will not fail and You're at work in whatever we face, can we also struggle with fear at the same time? Absolutely.
What we need to remember is the joy is from You, but the fear is not. "My heart is glad and my soul rejoices; my body also rests secure.... You show me the path of life. In Your Presence there is fullness of joy!" (Psalm 16:0-11) "For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind" (1 Timothy 1:7). But even if we feel afraid in the face of all the chaos, wars, inflation, and challenges shock and awe of what's going on around us, even in the face of the unknown of what will come next, the fear doesn't have to steal our joy. We can fully acknowledge both our struggles with fear and our exuberance of joy, for You are with us through it all, for Your resurrection power is real!
The promises and the power of the Word of God never grow old: "If the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you" (Romans 8:11). "For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry, 'Abba, Father! The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs -- heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together!" (Romans 8:15-17).
As we "run" with the word of Your good news in the joy of the resurrection of Jesus, we cry out "Abba, Father!" as we remember we are children of God. By the power of Your grace, fear will not steel our joy and not knowing all the details about what lies ahead and what You're about to do will not keep us from trusting in the One who already sees every day to come. As children of God, filled with the Spirt of God, we're excited and expectant to look and see what You will do! In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
My family, I pray you may be filled with great joy, even as you face any struggles with feelings of fear in all the uncertainty that surrounds us because the One who surrounds you with His Presence holds your days in His hands and holds you in His heart, in Jesus' name. Please pray the same for me. God bless you, my friends!
Please share you reflections 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!
TO GIVE CLICK HERE
Good morning, Lord Jesus. I love You, Lord, and listen for Your leading -- Father, Son, and Holy Spirit of God. ...
"But Mary stood weeping outside the tomb. As she wept, she bent over to look into the tomb; and she saw two angels in white, sitting where the body of Jesus had been lying, one at the head and the other at the feet. They said to her, 'Woman, why are you weeping?' She said to them, 'They have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid Him.' When she had said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, but she did not know that it was Jesus. Jesus said to her, 'Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you looking for?' Supposing him to be the gardener, she said to him, 'Sir, if you have carried Him away, tell me where you have laid Him, and I will take Him away.' Jesus said her, 'Mary!' She turned and said to Him in Hebrew, 'Rabbouni" (which means Teacher). Jesus said to her, 'Do not hold on to Me, because I have not yet ascended to the Father. But go to My brothers and say to them, 'I am ascending to My Father and your Father, to My God and your God.'' Mary Magdalene went and announced to the disciples, 'I have seen the Lord!'; and she told them that He had said these things to her" (John 20:11-18).
Even after the resurrection, Mary Magdalene was still confused about all that was happening. Even after seeing with her eyes and knowing in her heart that the tomb was empty, she still had questions about what was taking place.
She wept and she wondered. She tried to fit the pieces together in a way that made sense in her mind, but she didn't yet see the bigger picture from heaven's perspective. She needed a personal encounter with the risen Lord. She needed to turn around and look to You. She needed to hear Your voice. She needed to hear You call her by name.
Just like Mary, we can all find ourselves in that place at times. We've been walking with You in a personal relationship with You as Your disciple. We believe the cross and the empty tomb are real and true. So it's not a matter of faith. But somehow in all the chaos and confusion of not understanding all that's going on and not knowing yet what it all means and worrying about all that will happen next, we can have questions.
Mary expressed her thoughts and asked her questions. The angels didn't rebuke her and You didn't rebuke her. Instead, You come near to her and spoke to her. At first, she didn't recognize Your voice. At first, she didn't even turn to You to acknowledge You -- still overwhelmed in her grief and consumed in her questions.
But then she heard You speak her name! Then she turned to You and called out to You! Then everything in her wanted to take hold of You and never let You go!
When she heard Your voice, when she turned to You to speak to You face to face, everything became much more clear. There was still so much she didn't know, so much she didn't yet need to know, about all that would happen and all that was to come. She didn't yet fully grasp how things would never be the same -- or what a good thing that would be, even though there would be plenty of hard days ahead. But one thing is clear -- she couldn't wait to go share the good news! She couldn't wait to go encourage Your other disciples with the great joy that filled her heart!
Father, send Your Holy Spirit to make us more sensitive to the voice of Jesus. Even in the midst of all our questions and concerns about the coronavirus and what's going on in our world and what's to come, help us to see from heaven's perspective and listen for the voice of Jesus in the midst of all we're experiencing and all we're about to go through.
Lord Jesus, we believe in the victory of the cross and joy of the empty tomb. We praise You for all that You done and all You're going to do. And at the same time, we need a fresh and deep and intimately personal encounter with You.
So Lord, let us hear Your voice. Let us hear You call us by name. And let us turn to You to encounter You face to face. Give us a deeper desire to take hold of You and never let You go. And fill us with a joy to go share the good news with others, even more so in this time of “bad news,” with all who so desperately need to hear it! In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
My family, I pray you may be free to ask your questions and express your concerns to God, along with a growing desire to turn to Jesus and hear His voice and be filled with His joy to go share His good news, in Jesus' name. Please pray the same for me. God bless you, my friends!
Please share you reflections on this post with others 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!
TO GIVE CLICK HERE
Tho Lord has risen indeed! Alleluia!
As we begin the first day after Easter I wanted to share with you the first sermon (outside of Scripture) we have on record. It is called On Pascha and was preached by Melito, Bishop of Sardis, who was a prominent figure of second-century Christianity. The present text (excerpted for length) was written in 167 AD, and is the earliest Christian sermon that has survived from the early history of the church. It has been preached over the centuries, often at Easter.
This is the one who comes from heaven onto
the earth for us suffering ones,
and wraps himself in the suffering one
through a virgin womb
and comes as a human.
He accepted the suffering of us suffering ones,
through suffering in a body which could suffer,
and set free the flesh from suffering.
Through the spirit which cannot die
he slew the human-slayer death.
He is the one led like a lamb
and slaughtered like a sheep;
he ransomed us from the worship of the world
as from the land of Egypt,
and he set us free from the slavery of the devil
as from the hand of Pharaoh,
and sealed our souls with his own spirit,
and the members of our body with his blood.
This is the one who clad death in shame
and, as Moses did to Pharaoh,
made the devil grieve.
This is the one who struck down lawlessness
and made injustice childless,
as Moses did in Egypt,
This is the one who delivered us from slavery to freedom,
from darkness into light,
from death into life,
from tyranny into an eternal Kingdom,
and made us a new priesthood,
and a people everlasting for himself.
This is the Pascha of our salvation:
this is the one who in many people endured many things.
This is the one who was murdered in Abel,
tied up in Isaac,
exiled in Jacob,
sold in Joseph,
exposed in Moses,
slaughtered in the lamb,
hunted down in David,
dishonored in the prophets.
This is the one made flesh in a virgin
who was hanged on a tree,
who was buried in the earth,
who was raised from the dead,
who was exalted to the heights of heaven.
This is the lamb slain,
this is the speechless lamb,
this is the one born of Mary the fair ewe,
this is the one taken from the flock,
and led to slaughter.
Who was sacrificed in the evening,
and buried at night;
who was not broken on the tree,
who was not undone in the earth,
who rose from the dead and resurrected humankind from the grave below.
O mystifying murder! O mystifying injustice!
The master is obscured by his body exposed,
and is not held worthy of a veil to shield him from view.
For this reason the great lights turned away,
and the day was turned to darkness;
to hid the one denuded on the tree,
obscuring not the body of the Lord but human eyes.
For when the people did not tremble, the earth shook.
When the people did not fear, the heavens were afraid.
When the people did not rend their garments, the angel rent his own.
When the people did not lament, the Lord thundered from heaven,
and the most high gave voice.
“Who takes issue with me? Let him stand before me.
I set free the condemned.
I gave life to the dead.
I raise up the entombed.
Who will contradict me?
“It is I,” says the Christ,
“I am he who destroys death
and triumphs over the enemy,
and crushes Hades,
and binds the strong man,
and bears humanity off to the heavenly heights.”
“It is I,” says the Christ,
“So come all families of people,
adulterated with sin,
and receive forgiveness of sins.
For I am your freedom.
I am the Passover of salvation,
I am the Lamb slaughtered for you,
I am your ransom,
I am your life,
I am your light,
I am your salvation,
I am your resurrection,
I am your Kings.
I shall raise you up by my right hand,
I will lead you to the heights of heaven,
There shall I show you the everlasting Father.”
He it is who made the heaven and the earth,
and formed humanity in the beginning,
who was proclaimed through the law and the prophets,
who took flesh from a virgin,
who was hung on a tree,
who was buried in earth,
who was raised from the dead,
and ascended to the heights of heaven,
who sits at the right hand of the Father,
who has the power to save all things,
through whom the Father acted from the beginning and forever.
This is the alpha and omega,
this is the beginning and the incomprehensible end.
This is the Christ,
this is the King,
this is Jesus,
this is the commander,
this is the Lord,
this is he who rose from the dead,
this is he who sits at the right hand of the father,
he bears the father and is borne by him.
To him be the glory and the might forever.
Amen.
My family, I pray that the complete joy and freedom of Easter permeates your soul as you begin your morning. I pray you walk out your door with a song of praise in your heart for our savior Jesus Christ and eager to share the source of your joy with those you meet in your workplace, schools, stores and wherever your path leads today, in Jesus’ name. Please pray the same for me.
God bless you my friends!
Gary Liederbach- Lead Follower
One Direction Community/Toney UMC
Email: garyl@onedirection.community
Website: https://www.onedirection.community
Facebook: One Direction Community-ODC
I 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. Fill me with Your Spirit and set my heart ablaze with Your Fire. Let me be a torchbearer and Fire-carrier everywhere You send me today. ...
"I am not asking You to take them out of the world, but I ask You to protect them from the evil one. They do not belong to the world, just as I do not belong to the world. Sanctify them in the truth; Your word is truth. As You have sent Me into the world, so I have sent them into the world" (John 17:15-18).
You never called us to huddle up and hide out. You never intended to tuck us away in some tower of tranquility. You did not create our hands to ring church bells and enter into sanctuaries, but door bells and enter stranger’s homes. Your “Church” You created was not intended to be a building dedicated to God for Christians to walk into, but a movement of God Christians are called to enter into and spread throughout our communities. You gave us a revelation of you to be part of a revolution for you. You sent us into the world, even knowing the challenges we'd face (yes, even Covid) and the temptations we’d encounter and even the persecutions we'd endure (v. 14). Yes, a ship is safest resting nice and comfortably in a harbor, but that is not what a ship was created for. Yes, we are safest and most comfortable resting on a church pew, but we weren’t created for that either. Jesus would much rather walk into your church sanctuary on Sunday morning and find it is empty because the congregation is truly obeying his words “As You have sent Me into the world, so I have sent them into the world.” Because the congregation is intentionally participating together in the mission of God by spending the day out in their community seeking the lost, addicted, outcast, and orphaned. And the Father would as well.
Jesus, your prayer to the Father was “As You sent Me into the world, I also have sent them into the world.” (v.18). You send us into the world because you want us to become more like You, to imitate You and the “sentness” of Your heart. You send us into the world because You love the world (v. 3:16). You're not willing that any should perish, but that all would have life in You. You desire all to know the joy of Easter. So You send us out to be the expression of Your love for them. Just as the Father sent the Son, so the Son sends us in the power and love of the Spirit of God living in us (v. 20:21-23). You were a sent one, and You created us in your image to be sent ones as well.
"Here I am, Lord. Send me" (Isaiah 6:8). In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
My family, I pray the truth of these Scriptures plant deeply in your heart. I pray the Spirit of God fills your sails today, that you leave the comfort and safety of any harbor your are resting in because you were not created for that purpose. I pray out of love for God and neighbor you listen to Jesus as He sends you into the world to express the Father's heart of love for everyone you encounter. I pray this is the adventure you actually plan and center your upcoming Easter weekend around. What other way would Jesus desire you to spend it and would bring Him the most joy? 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 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. Put Your thoughts in my mind and Your desires in my heart. Make me more like You today. ...
"They who have My commandments and keep them are those who love Me; and those who love Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love them and reveal Myself to them" (John 14:21).
Spirit of Truth, Spirit of the One who is the Truth, as I draw close to you and close to The Cross in this season of Lent, set me free from deception and confusion, from complacency and compromise. Re-sensitize my spirit and my discernment of conscience to Your conviction of what is true and what is false, what is right and what is wrong, what is holy and what is profane, what is good and what is evil so I can hear Your voice and obey You.
My obedience is an expression of my love. And because I love You, I want to obey You. I want to honor You with my obedience -- not so that You'll love me, but because I love You.
Some imply that loving God doesn't require obeying God, that the grace of God has replaced the commandments of God. But that's not what You taught. In fact, You said, "Those who love Me will keep My word, and My Father will love them, and We will come and make Our home with them. Whoever does not love Me does not keep My words; and the word that you hear is not Mind, but is from the Father who sent Me" (John 14:23-24).
Lord, I need Your grace and I'm thankful for Your love and mercy. You are "merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love" (Psalm 103:8). And I need You to abide in Me, giving me the desire and the power to obey Your word and live into Your will to that my life will be fulfilled.
You continue to encourage us to live our lives trusting You know best what we need most: If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love, just as I have kept My Father's commandments and abide in His love. I have said these things to you so that My joy may be in you, and that your joy may be complete" (John 15:10-11).
So by the power of Your grace at work within me by Your Spirit, I choose today to obey everything you speak into my mind and heart. I choose You -- the One who is the Way, the Truth, and the Life. "I am confident of this, that the One who began a good work (within me) will bring it to completion by the day of Jesus Christ" (Philippians 1:6). "
I want my joy to be complete and my life to be fulfilled. So help me trust You and obey You and I live and learn to abide in Your love. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
My family, may the Holy Spirit in your reflections on this chapter instill in you the desire to completely surrender, completely trust, completely love, and completely obey our Lord who loves us so, that your joy may be complete and your life may be fulfilled. Please pray the same for me. God bless you, my friend!
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!
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. Through Your Body and Your Blood, make me one with You, one with Your Body of Christ, and one in ministry to all the world until I feast with You at Your heavenly banquet in final victory.
"Now before the festival of the Passover, Jesus knew that His hour had come to depart from this world and go to the Father. Having loved His own who were in the world, He loved them to the end.... Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into His hands, and that He had come from God and was going to God, got up from the table, took off His outer robe, and tied a towel around Himself. Then He poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples' feet and to wipe them with the towel that was tied around Him. He came to Simon Peter, who said to Him, 'Lord, are You going to wash my feet?' Jesus answered, 'You do not know now what I am doing, but later you will understand.' Peter said to Him, 'You will never wash my feet.' Jesus answered, 'Unless I wash you, you have no share with Me.' Simon Peter said to Him, 'Lord, not my feet only but also my hands and my head!' Jesus said to him, 'One who has bathed does not need to wash, except for the feet, but is entirely clean. And you are clean, though not all of you.' For He knew who was to betray Him; for this reason He said, 'Not all of you are clean' " (John 13:1-11).
Lord Jesus, though You are One with Father and One with the Holy Spirit, You set aside the glory of Heaven to humble Yourself in the likeness of human flesh and blood. And before You humbled Yourself to be betrayed and rejected and crucified by the human flesh and blood You created, You humbled Yourself to wash the dirty, smelly, unclean feet of Your disciples. No wonder Peter could hardly bear the thought of his Messiah, the Son of God, down on His knees washing his feet.
Lord Jesus, help me grasp the humility of Your nature. Though You are the Creator of Heaven and Earth, the exact image and very Word of God, with all power and authority in Your hands, You would humble Yourself with Your holy hands to wash the dirty feet of human flesh.
Your disciples couldn't fully understand what we still have trouble fully understanding as Your disciples today that You are our example in every way. Just as You laid down Your life for Your friends as an example of Your love, we are to lay down our lives in sacrificial love for one another. Just as You washed their feet as an example of Your humility, we "ought to wash one another's feet" (v. 14). "Servants are not greater than their master, nor are messengers greater than the one who sent them. If (we) know these things, (we) are blessed if (we) do them" (v. 16).
Lord, help me learn and embrace Your example. You are my "Teacher and Lord" (v. 13). Help me learn to follow in Your steps as Your disciple. Though You've made me clean though Your sacrifice on the cross, you created my hands to get dirty, as I continue Your ministry of humility and love. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
My family, I pray you will be filled with the humility and love of Jesus today, as you follow Him as your example. I pray that you will intentionally set aside a time this weekend to get your “hands dirty” in ministry through real contact in the real lives of people around you. 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.
Holy Week Services
Here is the list of Holy Week Services I will be leading if your church does not have these services..
Sunday, April 10th, 10:00am: Palm Sunday Service iat Toney UMC, 5465 Old Railroad Bed Rd, Toney, AL 35773
Thursday, April 14, 6:30pm: Maundy Thursday Service, Toney UMC 5465 Old Railroad Bed Rd, Toney, AL 35773
Friday, April 15th, 6:00pm: Good Friday Service and Stations of the Cross
Indian Creek Greenway Park off Slaughter Road. 392 Harvestwood Ct Madison, AL 3575
Sunday, April 17th, 10:00am: Easter Sunday Service Toney UMC 5465 Old Railroad Bed Rd, Toney, AL 35773
Gary Liederbach- Lead Follower
One Direction Community
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 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!
