We Are No Longer Children

Good morning, Lord Jesus. Make me more like You today.  

"We must no longer be children, tossed to and fro and blown by every wind of doctrine, by people's trickery, by their craftiness in deceitful scheming. But speaking the truth in love, we must grow up in every way into Him who is the head, into Christ, from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by every ligament with which it is equipped, as each part is working properly, promotes the body's growth in building itself up in love" (Ephesians 4:14-16).

"No longer children ... we must grow up." Give me grace to grow up, Lord. From every place where I've been stuck in the development of my mind and will and emotions, help me grow up. From every place where I allow myself to be tossed to and fro by the winds of doctrine or the will of others trying to impose their will or their sense of truth or their plans for my life on me, help me grow up. From every place where my selfishness and my self-centeredness and my self-righteousness wants to rear its ugly head in pride rather than humility or insisting on my way rather than fully surrendering to Your way, help me grow up. From every place where I'm tempted to compromise with Your truth out of some sense of false compassion or settle for something far less than Your very best out of complacency, laziness, lukewarm-ness, apathy, or self-pity, help me grow up.

There's not a spiritual gift of spiritual maturity; it must be developed and deepened on the daily journey of faith. There's not an anointing or impartation of spiritual maturity your pastor can pray over you. And you can’t gain it by searching “Spiritual Maturity” online and reading a social media post on it. Spiritual maturity comes out of your personal decision to put in the time seeking God. Iit must grow from seed to harvest, through every season along the way - both the good and the bad, the easy and the difficult. But it does come to those who seek it, to those who seek You God, to those who embrace the call and command of Your Word that "we must grow up in every way into Him who is the head, into Christ" (Ephesians 4:15).  It does come to those who spend time daily searching the Scriptures. It does come to those who spend time daily in prayer. It does come to those who invest time weekly in deep accountability with one or two others.  It does come to those who serve and love their neighbors. It does come to those who are willing to step out of their safety and comfort and pick up their cross and follow You.

The Apostle Paul expressed his spiritual journey like this:  "When I was a child, I spoke like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child; when I became and adult, I put an end to childish ways" (1 Corinthians 13:11). He did that by growing in love (1 Corinthians 13:1-13). He did that by embracing and "speaking the truth in love" (Ephesians 4:15). And he grew in love and truth because he grew in grace -- the power of Your grace alone that can grow us up into all You've created us to be in You -- by grace, through faith (Ephesians 2:8).

Lord, help me "grow in grace" so I can grow in truth and love (2 Peter 3:18). I want to grow "to maturity, to the measure of the full stature of Christ" through every opportunity You set before me on my journey of faith through this world. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

My family, I pray you seek spiritual maturity and desire above all else to keep growing in grace, growing up into Christ, more like Jesus each day, into the spiritual maturity of the child of God and disciple of Christ you were created to be, in Jesus' name! Please pray the same for me.  And remember I am here for you to help encourage, equip, mentor, and walk with you to grow spiritually mature.  Please use me!   God bless you, my friends!  

Please share with us your thoughts and reflections with us this morning in the comment box below.

Gary Liederbach- Lead Follower

One Direction Community

Email: garyl@onedirection.community

Website: https://www.onedirection.community

Facebook: One Direction Community-ODC 

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

TO GIVE, CLICK HERE

 

"First Place In Everything"

Good morning, Lord Jesus. It's all about You. So I seek to begin my day and week centered in Your Word and filled with Your Spirit. ...

“For I am jealous for you with godly jealousy, because I promised you in marriage to one husband, to present you as a pure virgin to Christ. But I am afraid that just as the serpent deceived Eve by his treachery, your minds may be led astray from a sincere and pure devotion to Christ.” (2 Corinthians 13:2-3)

Jesus, I hear you ask me this morning, Do I "have first place in everything"? Do I seek You first? Do I put Your first? Do I live my life throughout the moments of my day with no other gods before me, with no idols in Your place, with no compromises in my "sincere and pure devotion to Christ"? 

Jesus, As I sense Your leading to honestly lay the question before You this morning, it seems I hear You speaking in my heart, "Honestly, no. You do not. Nor can you completely, sincerely, purely, and fully. No one can by themselves. Even in this, you need My grace. Especially in this, you need My power of My grace to be at work in your heart and your mind to seek Me and surrender to Me, to passionately pursue Me and allow Me to make your heart more pure and more wholly devoted to Me. But is it My great desire and delight to answer your prayer and move in your heart every time you turn to Me and invite Me to move in you. This is a life-long journey, with breakthroughs along the way. And I breakthrough more deeply as you surrender more deeply to Me."  ...

Yes, Lord. I want to love You and surrender to You and Your love for me with "an undivided heart," with "my whole heart" so "turn to me and be gracious to me" (Psalm 86:11-16). I want to "love the Lord (my) God with all (my) heart, and with all (my) soul, and with all (my) mind, and with all (my) strength" (Mark 12:30). I want to hold nothing back from You, wholly devoted to You, completely surrendered to You. I want You to be first, to "come to have first place in everything" in me -- all by the power of Your grace at work within me. 

You are "the Alpha and the Omega, the Frist and the Last, the Beginning and the End" (Revelation 22:12). You are my "All in All," as All in One -- Father, Son, and Holy Spirit of God (Ephesians 1:23; 1 Corinthians 15:28). So as best as I can and all by Your grace, I choose to keep turning my heart to You and inviting You to keep moving in me on this life-long journey of faith in You and Your love for me, with breakthroughs of deeper surrender all along the way. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

My family, I pray you keep turning your heart to Jesus and inviting Him to keep moving in you.  I pray you trust Hm more fully and surrender more deeply to Him as the One with first place in everything in you -- all by the power of His grace, in Jesus' name! Please pray the same for me. God bless you, my friends!

Please share with me and others your reflections and what God is speaking to you from todays 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!  

 

He Get's Us!

Good morning, Lord Jesus. Lead me in the ways that lead to life in You today -- Father, Son, and Holy Spirit of God. ...

"Since, then, we have a great High Priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast to our confession. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weakness, but we have One who in every respect has been tested as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore approach the throne of grace with boldness, so that we may receive mercy and find grace in time of need" (Hebrews 4:14-16).

In our weakness but also boldness, in our humility but also faith, we come to Your throne of grace in our time of need. You invite us to come boldly because You're able to sympathize with our weakness, because You have been tested in every respect as we are being tested now. Before You "passed through the heavens," You suffered through every testing of the trials and tribulations of our world we have ever faced and that we are facing now, "yet without sin."

You're a God who understands us. You're a God who is not distant or detached, not uncaring or unavailable. You're a God who is right here with us through it all and who has already been through it all -- through it all for us.

If we feel afraid of what might happen, You've been through it. If we are feel worried about what we're already experiencing, You've been through it. If we feel confused about what to do, You've been through it. Even if we feel frustrated or angry in a moment for what seems unfair or out of control or overwhelming, You've been through it. "Yet without sin" -- as You suffered well, persevered well, lived out Your identity and calling in the midst of all that was wrong in a broken, fallen world well, You went through it all in human flesh and blood to model well an example for us (Philippians 2:5-11).

Lord God -- Father, Son, and Holy Spirit -- this is our time of need. We come to You in our weakness and neediness; we come to You on behalf of our neighbors and their weakness and neediness. These problems we face are over our heads. So we come humbly and boldly to Your throne of grace in our time of need, just like You invited us to do. As You have promised:  "My grace is sufficient for you; for My strength is made perfect in (your) weakness.... For when (we) are weak, then (we) are strong" in You (2 Corinthians 12:9-10 NKJV). "Therefore (we can be) content (through) weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities for the sake of Christ" for You are with us and You will get us through it all, as we call on Your name and trust in Your grace, no matter what we face (Corinthians 2:10).

You see us. You hear us. You understand us. And You are here with us to help us get us through this. You'll even turn it all around for good in ways we can't even see or imagine right how. Just like You always do. You always have and You always will. So we thank You now, even before we see it come to pass (Mark 11:22-24). "This is the boldness we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. And if we know that He hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have obtained the requests made of Him" (1 John 5:14-15). In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

My family,  may you come boldly before our God's throne of grace in your time of need for yourself and for your neighbors, trusting our God who has already suffered through whatever you face without sin so we could look Him and know He understands and know He will respond in His grace, in Jesus' name. Please pray the same for me. God bless you, my friends!

Gary Liederbach- Lead Follower

One Direction Community/

Email: garyl@onedirection.community

Website: https://www.onedirection.community

Facebook: One Direction Community-ODC

I would appreciate your prayer and also any support for support myself as we reach our neighbors with the gospel through setting up a monthly donation or a one –time gift by clicking the link below. Donation checks can be made out to ODC, PO Box 1293 Madison, Al 35758.  Thank You!

TO GIVE, CLICK HERE

Growing in Grace

Good morning, Lord Jesus. Help me hear Your heart and let my heart be one with Yours--Father, Son, and Holy Spirit of God.  ...

"In accordance with His promise, we wait for a new heavens and a new earth, where righteousness is at home. Therefore, beloved, while you are waiting for these things, strive to be found by Him at peace, without spot or blemish; and regard the patience of our Lord as salvation.... Grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be glory both now and to the day of eternity. Amen" (2 Peter 3:13-18).

This morning I will walk out my door surrounded by your grace.  Help me keep growing in grace your today. Show me where I'm not a peace within my soul, where I'm not yet without spot or blemish, where righteousness is not yet fully at home here in my heart.

As I sit here and close my eyes, I don't have to wait very long for the answer or look very deep for some hidden secret sin. I'm aware of my struggles and so are You. And at the same time, You help me to be just as aware of Your grace and the power of Your love that never leaves me as I am but always empowers me to keep growing in grace, growing in my sanctification everyday of my spiritual journey with You, as I "pursue righteousness and a godly life" (1 Timothy 6:11).

I hear you speak Paul’s words over me, "There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ has set (me) free from the law of sin and death." So in Christ I can go out my door and "walk not according to (my) flesh but according to the Spirit.... (I am) not in the flesh; (I am) in the Spirit, since the Spirit of God dwells in (me).... for if (I) live according to the flesh, (I) will die; but if by the Spirit (I) put to death the deeds of the body, (I) will live. For all who are led by the Spirit of God are children of God" (Romans 8:1-14).

Your will for me and for all who are called by Your name is that we would come "to maturity, the measure of the full stature of Christ"--to Christ-like-ness (Ephesians 4:13). "For this is the will of God, (our) sanctification" (1 Thessalonians 4:3).

My family, I pray you keep growing in grace every day, growing up in spiritual maturity into Him who is our head, into he full measure of the stature of Christ, as best as you can and all by His grace at work within 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 

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 commit to partner and support myself and One Direction community through setting up a monthly donation or a one –time gift by clicking the link below. Donation checks can be made out to ODC, PO Box 1293 Madison, Al 35758.  Thank You!

"Your Steadfast Love in the Morning"

Good morning, Lord Jesus. You're one with the Father and one with the Holy Spirit; be one within me, as I abide in You and You abide in me.  

"Let me hear of Your steadfast love in the morning, for in You I put my trust. Teach me the way I should go, for to You I lift up my soul.... Teach me to do Your will, for You are my God. Let Your good Spirit lead me on a level path" (Psalm 143:8-10). 

I settle in to my place of prayer and center in with my focus on You. I lift up my heart and open up my spirit, as I greet You and welcome You into the moments of my day. "Good morning, Lord Jesus."

I could say, "Good morning, heavenly Father" or "Come, Holy Spirit" or "Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty, who was and who is and who is to come!"  But for going on eleven years now (time flies), from when I first began to journal my morning prayer, this has been my simple way to focus my heart and begin my day centered in You--embraced by my Father, centered in Christ, and filled with Your Holy Spirit.

And every morning is a good morning because Your good Spirit is with me--to love me and lead me on the level path of life in You, to teach me and tell me the ways of Your will--Father, Son, and Holy Spirit of God. You put Your thoughts in my mind and Your desires in my heart. You take me by hand and lead me by the heart on my journey of faith that begins each day in worship and prayer, in trusting surrender and faithful obedience.

In these morning moments of deep communion in prayer, You begin my daily journey of making me more like You, as I intentionally, deliberately entrust my soul again completely to You. "For the Lord is the Spirit, and wherever the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. So all of us who have had that veil removed can see and reflect the glory of the Lord. And the Lord--who is the Spirit--make us more and more like Him as we are changed into His glorious image" (2 Corinthians 3:17-18 NLT).

If you are reading this reflection this morning I want to let you know I never intended my morning reflections to be a substitute or replacement for you personally spending time in the morning searching the Scriptures, reflecting on God’s Word, and in prayer. I put them out to remind you of the necessity of daily time in the Bible and prayer, and encourage you to begin or continue your own personal devotional time with God.  To go back and re-read the Scripture passages in the reflections God gives me and allow Him to create reflections in you.  And truthfully, if time is an issue and you have to choose between time to read my reflections and prayers, or your personal time reading the Word and in prayer, I’d rather you spent personal time in the Word and prayer, and so would God. 

My family, I pray you experience the peace, joy and transformation of the Presence of God--Father, Son, and Holy Spirit--as YOU intentionally, deliberately entrust your soul to Him every morning in God’s Word and prayer, to ground you in His truth and love throughout the moments of your day, in Jesus' name! Please pray the same for me. God bless you, my friends! 

 

If these morning reflections have encouraged you to begin or continue in daily time in the word, please share your thoughts in the comment box below.

Gary Liederbach- Lead Follower

One Direction Community

Email: garyl@onedirection.community

Website: https://www.onedirection.community

Facebook: One Direction Community-ODC 

 

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

Thank You!

 

 

 

 

"Powerful Story of Faith"

“Come now, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go into this or that town and spend a year there and do business and make a profit.” You do not know about tomorrow. What is your life like? For you are a puff of smoke that appears for a short time and then vanishes. You ought to say instead, “If the Lord is willing, then we will live and do this or that.”  (James 4:13-15)

Last night at our house church a new guest attended who goes by Maggie.  Our time together discussing God’s Word flowed out of my ODC Daily Devotion I wrote earlier that morning one being dependent on God.  During that time Maggie shared a story.  She said she is a pre-school teacher.  A couple years ago  in her class room she tripped over a toy and fell and her head hit hard on the floor.  So she went to the hospital and had a scan done on her head as a precaution.  The good news was the scan found no damage from the fall.  The bad news was that the scan showed she had a type of a large aneurism  in her brain.  The neurologist who examined her told her this.  He also said there was nothing he could do for her here and sent her to Vanderbilt Hospital.

Maggie said the neurologist at Vanderbit told her that the aneurism was extremely dangerous, and it could “blow” at anytime, and if it does, she would die in a minute.  He asked her how they found it?  She told him about her fall.  He said she was in one way lucky,  this type of aneurism is rarely discovered until after it “blows” and the person dies.   The neurologist told Maggie the surgery to remove from her  it is very dangerous.  He has done 11 of these types of surgery.  8  of the patients survived, 3 died as a result of the aneurism blowing before he could remove it.

Maggie researched the procedure and the surgeon, and  the almost certainty her aneurism will blow, and decided to do the surgery.  She told her family, prepared all the details of her funeral, got her things in order, then had the surgery.  She survived the surgery.  Afterwards the surgeon told her the surgery was a success and the aneurism was removed.  However, he some bad news.  During the surgery another smaller aneurism was discovered in her brain stem.  Any attempt to  surgically remove it would kill her so surgery is not a possibility.   He said though this aneurism is not a large as the one removed from her brain, it still has a the chance to “blow” and when it does, it will kill her.  He said this could happen in a day, a month, a year, 10 years, there was no way to tell.  But at some time it will probably happen. 

Maggie is not under any king of medical  restrictions. And she said she tries not to think about  it daily.  She just thanks God every morning she wakes up  and then tries to live each day to the fullest.  Maggie has an amazingly strong faith and love for Jesus.  She said her situation has drawn her closer to Jesus, and she prays with power.  And her prayers always included  praying over those who do not yet know Jesus.   She said when the inevitable happens, she is ready. 

 

My family, Maggie’s story reminded me that time is precious and each day is a not guaranteed but a gift  I pray this story reminds you of this as well and encourages you to pray powerfully over those you know who do not know Jesus, in Jesus’ name.  Please pray the same for me.  God bless you my friends!

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

 

Gary Liederbach- Lead Follower

One Direction Community

Email: garyl@onedirection.community

Website:https://www.onedirection.community

Facebook: One Direction Community-ODC

Give A Gift!

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!  

CLICK HERE TO GIVE

"From Independence Day To A Life Of Dependence"

Good morning, Lord Jesus. Make me more like You today.  

“Then Jesus went out and made his way, as he customarily did, to the Mount of Olives, and the disciples followed him…He went away from them about a stoneʼs throw, knelt down, and prayed, “Father, if you are willing, take this cup away from me. Yet not my will but yours be done.” (Luke 22:39-40)

Lord, last week we celebrated our Nations Independence when we declared our independence from the tyranny of England. This morning, I want to declare my complete dependency on the reign of Jesus. In humility of heart, I want to willingly choose to be desperately dependent upon You alone Jesus. Set me free from my selfishness and self-centeredness, from my insistence upon my independence apart from Your wisdom and authority in my life. Forgive me for my pride that says I'll do it my way, instead of Your way and demands my will instead of trusting Your will. Give a heart that honestly says, "not my will, but Yours, be done" (Luke 22:42).

You are the God who "leads the humble in what is right and teaches the humble (Your) way" (Psalm 25:9). You are the God who "adorns the humble with victory" (Psalm 149:4). And it's to the humble You grant Your favor and Your blessings (Proverbs 3:34). And Your Word says, "God resists the proud, but give grace to the humble.... Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up" (James 4:6-10).

God, I admit I need a more humble heart. In you Holy Spirit, help me have the courage to boldly entrust my heart into Your hands and commit my will to Your will today as I begin my week, and every day. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

My family, I pray you may you experience the blessings and favor of God, and seek his will to be done in you life. I pray you humble your heart in His sight and allow Him to lift you up and lead your life, in Jesus' name. Please pray the same for me. God bless you, my friends!

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

 

Gary Liederbach- Lead Follower

One Direction Community

Email: garyl@onedirection.community

Website:https://www.onedirection.community

Facebook: One Direction Community-ODC

Give A Gift!

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!  

"Revelation Of A Husband"

“In the same way husbands ought to love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. For no one has ever hated his own body but he feeds it and takes care of it, just as Christ also does the church, for we are members of his body. For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and will be joined to his wife, and the two will become one flesh. This mystery is great - but I am actually speaking with reference to Christ and the church. Nevertheless, each one of you must also love his own wife as he loves himself, and the wife must respect her husband.” Ephesians (5:28-32)

This morning instead of me writing a reflection, I am sharing with you a reflection I received from a good friend of mine in an email yesterday. His marriage is trying, he does not want a divorce, and we have have been talking and praying over it. His “Revelation” as he calls it speaks into the heart of Pauls words from the passage above. I was blessed and reminded of the high calling and holiness of marriage when I read it. I asked him if I could share it with others to remind them as well, leaving his and his wife’s name out of it of course, and he agreed. Here is the email he sent me.

“Gary,

I wanted to share with you a revelation I had this morning while praying. I also want to get it down in writing while I can, but I’m fighting A LOT of distractions this morning. Almost like someone doesn’t want me to dwell on this… Now who would do that? Maybe… SATAN?!?! (You have to picture Dana Carvey doing his Church Lady skit for that one)

Anyway, I was praying this morning tell Jesus that I believe, I trust, I love, but I want a deeper relationship with Him. I want to really know Him. I want a personal, intimate relationship with Him and really feel His presence in my life like a best friend, but then I realized Best Friend doesn’t quite mean what I want. I don’t want a God that I can hang out with, drink beer, howl at the moon and tell each other lies about the girls we dated. That’s absurd!

So, I had to think about what I do want in a relationship with Jesus. It came to me that it’s a 2-way street; what I want from Him and what He wants from me. Or to state it from the other side of the same coin, what He’s willing to do for me and what I’m willing to do for Him.

I know He’s done EVERYTHING for me; the whole Bible is the story of what He’s done for me! It also tells me what He wants from me, Love and obedience out of Love and Trust, not obligation. These are very BIG concepts and make me feel very far away from a close, personal relationship with Jesus. I understand them on an intellectual basis (as far as my mind can handle) but it’s hard for me to put this into a personal perspective.

I had to pull back a bit and ask myself “What do you want in a relationship with this God who did all this for you?”. That’s an idea I can handle, even without coffee. What I want is to know Him, really know Him, deeper than a best friend or even a brother. I want Him to be on my mind all day, and to be missing Him when I wake up in the morning and can’t wait to spend time with Him and I want to feel His presence like He’s physically here with me and can give me big hug when I’ve had a bad day and can guide me and give me direction on the best days.

Keeping in mind the He is God, I also want to be in awe of Him and worship Him and learn about Him and obey Him. I want Him to be God in this relationship so I can trust Him and know He’s got this, no matter what comes up, even if what He says to do seems illogical. I want Him to be the leader in this relationship. We’re not equals, and I don’t want Him to be my equal because I’m a mess, but I still want that intimacy from a one-on-one relationship. I want to feel like I’m the only one in the world when I’m with Him and feel His love for me and love Him and respect Him and worship Him. I want to be his Bride; both as part of the Church and as an individual. I want Him to be my Bridegroom and know that He loves me and can protect me and provide for me!

And then it hit me. BAM! This is what I want in my house, in my life, and in my marriage. I’m not saying my wife should worship me and obey me even when I’m illogical. (Well, maybe a little) I'm saying I want her to know that I do love her and will protect her and provide for her. I am her Bridegroom. I love her and will do anything for her, even die for her. I want a close, personal, intimate relationship with her and really know her and miss her when we’re apart. I want her to know I’ll give her a big hug when she’s having a bad day and I can guide her on her best day because I love her. I want her to know she can trust me because I trust Jesus. I want her to feel secure knowing that I’ve been appointed as the head of the house by Jesus, just as He is the head of the Church, and if I’m following Him it’s going to be OK, even when it seems illogical. I want her to know it’s a HUGE job and I can’t do it alone but with her and Jesus we can make it. The 3 of us are in this together and if we cling to each other instead of trying to do this alone it’s going to be alright.

I realize it’s my job to do all this for her just like Jesus, my Bridegroom, does for me. I must love if I want love. I must obey if I want to be obeyed. I must respect if I want to be respected. My actions and thoughts and feelings are my responsibility and I’ve been negligent. I can’t change my wife, but I can change and show her Jesus. She desires all these things from me so that she can trust me as her Bridegroom. She wants to know that whatever happens, I’ll be there for her just like Jesus is here for us. I need to be the Bridegroom to her that Jesus is to me!!!”

Anonymous Husband

My family, I pray that all you husbands and wives, and those of you considering marriage to another, have this same revelation concerning your marriage and spouse, in Jesus name. Please pray the same for me. God bless you my friends!

Please share your reflections from reading my friends email with me and others in the comment box below.

Gary Liederbach- Lead Follower

One Direction Community

Email: garyl@onedirection.community

Website:https://www.onedirection.community

Facebook: One Direction Community-ODC

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

Thank You!   

CLICK HERE TO GIVE

Reap What You Sow

Good morning, Lord Jesus. Help me start this day and work week embraced by my Father, centered in Christ, and filled with Your Holy Spirit. 

"Do not judge, and you will not be judged; do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven; give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap; for the measure you give will be the measure you get back" (Luke 6:38).

In the ways of Your Spirit, we reap what sow. The harvest of our lives reveals the seeds that were sown in our hearts. And every seed bears fruit after its own kind. "Do not be deceived; God is not mocked, for you reap whatever you sow. I you sow to your own flesh, you will reap corruption from the flesh; but if you sow to the Spirit, you will reap eternal life from the Spirit. So let us not grow weary in doing what is right for we will reap at harvest time, if we do not give up" (Galatians 6:7-9).

You've given me good seed: Your Word, Your Spirit, Your Life, all sown into my soul. Let it grow up in me, into maturity, into a "harvest of righteousness" where all is right with God, right with others, right within myself, all by the power of Your grace at work within me each day (Philippians 1:11).

So let my plans, and my actions this weekend be an expression of what You've done in me. You've sown so much of Your grace into me, a "good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over." Give me the wisdom and the desire to sow Your grace into every encounter I'll have today and this weekend. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

My family, I pray you experience the good measure of God's grace in your life today and throughout this weekend, a good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over, in Jesus' name. Please pray the same for me. God bless you, my friends! 

 Please share your reflections from reading this post with me and others and your prayers in the comment box below.

Gary Liederbach- Lead Follower

One Direction Community

Email: garyl@onedirection.community

Website:https://www.onedirection.community

Facebook: One Direction Community-ODC

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

Thank You!   

To Whom Are You Sent?

Good morning!

I sit and open my Bible and open my heart and mind to receive you love and guidance over my life today.

Last night at our House Church gathering in our home I played this video below by Michael Frost. In it He shares a message drawn from Jesus’ priestly prayer found in John 17. He highlights the facts that each one of us is God’s gift to Jesus, God’s gift to each other, and God’s gift to the world. He demonstrates this by sharing an amazing story of transformation in a slump in Cambodia, And He asks us all this question we all must discern, “To Whom are you sent?”

So fo my message this morning I am posting the video by Michael Frost to watch or play and listen to the audio of it sometime today. I would love to hear your comments after watching/listening to the video. Post them in the comments box below.

My family, I pray by listening to this video you will come to a deeper understanding that you are a gift from God to Jesus, A gift from God to eat other, and a gift from God to the world, and be able to answer the question, “To whom are you sent.”. In Jesus’ name. Please pray the same for me. God bless you my friends!

Gary Liederbach- Lead Follower

One Direction Community

Email: garyl@onedirection.community

Website: https://www.onedirection.community

Facebook: One Direction Community-ODC

 

Please support and partner with myself and my family with your end-of-year financial gift as we serve as local missionaries to those in our community  Donation checks can be made out to ODC, PO Box 1293 Madison, Al 35758.  Thank You!

 

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"Joy of Presence"

Good morning, Lord Jesus. This intimate time I begin my day with is my life-line. My personal prayer time with You in the morning sets the path for all the other times throughout my day. You're always with me and You're with me deeply and intimately in these first moments of my morning, keeping me fully aware and actively engaged with You throughout all the other moments of my day -- Father, Son, and Holy Spirit of God. 

"I keep the Lord always before me; because He is at my right hand, I shall not be moved. Therefore my heart is glad, and my soul rejoices; my body rests secure.... You show me the path of life. In Your Presence there is fullness of joy; in Your right hand are pleasures forevermore!" (Psalm 16:8-11)

Thank You for the joy of Your Presence. Thank You that it brings You joy when I embrace You and Your Word and Your Presence with me (John 15:11 and 16:24). And with the promise of Your Presence to Your first disciples and to all Your disciples in every age, You speak to our spirits today saying, "I will see you again, and your hearts will rejoice, and no one will take your joy from you" (John 16:20). By the abiding Presence of Your Holy Spirit, "the Spirit of Christ", with us and within us, we can see You and embrace You, again and again, every moment of every day (Romans 8:9). 

You promised, "I Am with you always, to the end of the age" (Matthew 28:20). So You are! And so my heart is glad and my soul rejoices in the fullness of joy in the intimacy of Your Presence, every day to the end of the age! In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

My family, I pray you experience the joy of the Presence of Jesus in your heart -- as you begin your day in the intimacy and communion of prayer with Him and throughout every moment of your day, in Jesus' name! Please pray the same of me. God bless you, my friends!

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

 

Gary Liederbach- Lead Follower

One Direction Community

Email: garyl@onedirection.community

Website: https://www.onedirection.community

Facebook: One Direction Community-ODC

 

Please support and partner with myself and my family with your end-of-year financial gift as we serve as local missionaries to those in our community  Donation checks can be made out to ODC, PO Box 1293 Madison, Al 35758.  Thank You!

 

Jesus and Abraham Lincoln

“When Jesus entered the ruler’s house and saw the flute players and the disorderly crowd, he said, “Go away, for the girl is not dead but asleep.” And they began making fun of him” (Matthew 9:23-24)

Curtis Sergeant is an amazing man who has planed thousands of churches around the world, and consults with NGOs (Non Government Organizations and CPMs (Church Planting Movement) leaders around the world.  He told me the story of when he was over in Asia in a secret location, where CPM leaders had gathered from around the world to pray, train and equip each other.  Curtis said they had just gathered, when news came to one of the leaders that two of his church planting operatives in a city had just been put to death.  The leader told Jesus he had to go back immediately.  Curtis told him he was so sorry for what had happened, however he said all who had gathered had traveled great distances to get here, and great security and secrecy had been in place to allow this meeting to happen, could the leader just stay for a few hours of a day and fly back tomorrow.  The leader looked at Curtis and said, I need to go back now to pray and see if Jesus will raise these dead men.  Curtis thought to himself what he would do if a couple of his operatives were martyred and put to death.  He would notify their family of the incident.  Inform his board and discuss who they would send in to replace them.  Contact the media to control and get a media story out.  However, flying out immediately to go see if Jesus would raise his dead operatives back to life would not be on his list.  The leaders faith and expectancy of the poser and ability of God both amazed and convicted him.

If I were to ask you, ask those in the church the question, How many believe that God can raise the dead?” I think most if not all hands would go up.  If I asked the question, “How many expect to see God raise the dead today?”  Many fewer, if not all hands would remain at people’s sides.  Having a belief that God can raise the dead and expecting that God will and is raising the dead are two very different things.

Our simple, maybe even strong belief for many in the church that God can raise the dead comes out of our cognitive brain. It is a fact or data we hold to be true.  It is like our belief in the fact that Abraham Lincoln was the 16th president of the USA.   What impact does your belief in the fact that Abaraham Lincoln was the 16th president have on your live today?  None.  What does your simple head knowledge that God can raise the dead have on your life today?  None.  The churches simple belief in the fact or truth that God can raise the dead has not and cannot impact on our daily life today without an expectancy that God will and is raising the dead today. 

In Matthew 9:18-26 is the story of Jesus raising a young girl back to life.   When Jesus tells them he was going to raise her back to life the crowd around him did not believe or support him but they laughed at him.  If someone told you after the death of someone that they were going to pray and see if God could raise them from the dead, and if they asked you to come pray as well, would your thoughts be similar to those of the crowds? 

The church is the place that professes Jesus is Lord, but it does not do “Jesus is Lord” well.  Can I say that?  We say Jesus is Lord the same way we say Lincoln was the 19th president.  We say it absent for the most part of any expectancy of power and presence in our lives.

John Wesley, the founder of Methodism in which I am an ordained clergy said before he died looking into the future of the church, “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.”

Read Matthew chapters 8 and 9 and see the expectancy and power of Jesus. 

My family, I pray you will walk out of your door expecting to see God raising the dead and doing amazing miracles in the world today, because he is! All in and through 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

I would appreciate your prayer and also any support for support myself as we reach our neighbors with the gospel through setting up a monthly donation or a one –time gift by clicking the link below. Donation checks can be made out to ODC, PO Box 1293 Madison, Al 35758.  Thank You!

TO GIVE , CLICK HERE

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"Your daughter is dead"

Good morning Jesus, Lover of my soul.  I start my day in that complete assurance of your love for me.

“While he was still speaking, people came from the synagogue rulerʼs house saying, “Your daughter has died. Why trouble the teacher any longer?” But Jesus, paying no attention to what was said, told the synagogue ruler, “Do not be afraid; just believe.”…. When he entered he said to them, “Why are you distressed and weeping? The child is not dead but asleep.” And they began making fun of him. But he put them all outside and he took the childʼs father and mother and his own companions and went into the room where the child was. Then, gently taking the child by the hand, he said to her, “Talitha koum,” which means, “Little girl, I say to you, get up.” The girl got up at once and began to walk around ... They were completely astonished at this. “ (Mark 5:35-42)

Saturday morning I served at the House of the Harvest distributing food. I served alongside some amazing teenagers who get up before 6:00am on a Sturdy to serve. As we served we talked and I heard stories of what some of them are going through. So my heart and mind this morning is on our youth.  Our teenage sons and daughters who are growing up in raw and unfiltered exposure to the world through the unlimited access to social media.  Teenagers, who because of the proliferation of divorce, the break down of the family and the re-defining of family lack the safe place to be loved, mentored and guided through these experiences.  Teenagers being exposed to “Sexting” and other sexual perversions. Teenagers, who because of societies perversion of what is “success” have egotistical and narcissistic role models to follow.  Teenagers, who the ruler of the world is subversively whispering into their parents, teachers, and pastors ears, “Your daughter is dead.” V.35.

Over our teenage youth I cry out, Lord have mercy!  Christ have mercy!  Lord have mercy!  I pray the Holy Spirit will surround them and protect and empower them.  I pray that through men and women in love with Jesus, and direct revelation form the Father in prayer, they will experience Jesus taking them by the hand, bring them back to life, and get up and walk, run, and lead a renewal in our churches. communities and families.

“Let the little children come to me and do not try to stop them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. I tell you the truth, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child will never enter it.” After he took the children in his arms, he placed his hands on them and blessed them.” (Mark 10:14-16)

My family,  I pray today you will seek out a teenager who needs the love and guidance of a mentor who is in love with and guided by Jesus.  You may be 80, and they may be 16, however both of you will be richly blessed by the time you spend together.  Pray over this today. in Jesus name.  Please pray the same for me.  God bless you my friends!!!

Please share your thoughts and reflections with us in the comments box below.

Gary Liederbach- Lead Follower

One Direction Community

Email: garyl@onedirection.community

Website: https://www.onedirection.community

Facebook: One Direction Community-ODC

I would appreciate your prayer and also any support for support myself as we reach our neighbors with the gospel through setting up a monthly donation or a one –time gift by clicking the link below. Donation checks can be made out to ODC, PO Box 1293 Madison, Al 35758.  Thank You!

TO GIVE , CLICK HERE

"By Faith"

Good morning, Lord Jesus. I look to You and listen for Your leading to begin my day embraced by my Father, centered in Christ, and filled with Your Holy Spirit. ...

So I am still reading in Genesis. Thinking of the journey we're on in our world today, with all its uncertainties and unknowns, I'm thinking of Abraham, when You first spoke to him and called him on his life-long journey of faith in You.

"Now the Lord said to Abram, 'Go from your country and your kindred and your father's house to the land that I will show you. I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing.... So Abram went, as the Lord had told him..." (Genesis 12:1-4).

Like Abram, in some ways I feel like I have no clue about where my journey ahead is leading me. "By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to set out for a place that he was to receive an inheritance; and he set out, not knowing where he was going" (Hebrews 11:8). And at the same time, You've given me a measure of guidance without giving me all the details, You've spoken to me Your word without overriding my free will. Like Abram, I'm on a "need to know basis" and You call me to trust You alone with knowing what I need to know and when I need to know it. And the same is true with every one of us in our world right now. 

Hundreds of years and many generations after You first spoke those words to Abram -- after You changed his name and changed his character, after You passed down the blessings and the calling and the destiny to his children and children's children -- there came a time when the sons and daughters of Abraham were finally crossing over to enter in to their Promise Land of their inheritance. You commanded them to follow the Ark of the Covenant, saying through Your leaders, "Follow it, so that you may know the way you should go, for you have not passed this way before" (Joshua 3:2-4).

It's a journey of faith and not sight, as Your Word says, "We walk by faith, not by sight" (2 Corinthians 5:7). And Abraham is called the father of the faith, "the father of all of us," of "those who share the faith of Abraham" (Romans 4:16). "Hoping against hope, he believed.... being fully convinced that God was able to do what He had promised" (Romans 4:18-21).

We don't call Abraham "the father of having it all figured out" or "the father who always knows best because he always knows what lies ahead" or "the father who never fails, never falters, never falls because he's so holy and perfect and pure in his own self-righteousness." No, we call him "the father of the faith" because "his faith was reckoned to him as righteousness" (Romans 4:22), because "he grew strong in his faith as he gave glory to God" (Romans 4:20).

The faith of Abraham speaks to us of Your invitation to put out all our faith in You. These are uncertain days and we've never been this way before. But by the power of Your grace at work within us, we will look to You, we will trust You, we fill follow You on our unfolding journey of faith in You, growing strong in our faith as we give glory to You -- Father, Son, and Holy Spirit of God. As we do, we enter in to our Promised Land and receive "all the blessings of Abraham" in You (Galatians 3:14). In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

My family,  may you be filled with faith to trust in God to lead us into the land and into these times He's set before us, where we've never been before, in Jesus' name. Please pray the same for me. God bless you, my friends!

Please share your thoughts and reflections with us in the comments box below.

Gary Liederbach- Lead Follower

One Direction Community

Email: garyl@onedirection.community

Website: https://www.onedirection.community

Facebook: One Direction Community-ODC

I would appreciate your prayer and also any support for support myself as we reach our neighbors with the gospel through setting up a monthly donation or a one –time gift by clicking the link below. Donation checks can be made out to ODC, PO Box 1293 Madison, Al 35758.  Thank You!

TO GIVE , CLICK HERE

"Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus"

“Now the king of Syria was at war with Israel. He consulted his advisers, who said, “Invade at such and such a place.” But the prophet sent this message to the king of Israel, “Make sure you donʼt pass through this place because Syria is invading there.” So the king of Israel sent a message to the place the prophet had pointed out, warning it to be on its guard. This happened on several occasions.

This made the king of Syria upset. So he summoned his advisers and said to them, “One of us must be helping the king of Israel.” One of his advisers said, “No, my master, O king. The prophet Elisha who lives in Israel keeps telling the king of Israel the things you say in your bedroom.” The king ordered, “Go, find out where he is, so I can send some men to capture him.” The king was told, “He is in Dothan.” So he sent horses and chariots there, along with a good-sized army. They arrived during the night and surrounded the city.

The prophetʼs attendant got up early in the morning. When he went outside there was an army surrounding the city, along with horses and chariots. He said to Elisha, “Oh no, my master! What will we do?” He replied, “Donʼt be afraid, for our side outnumbers them.” Then Elisha prayed, “O LORD, open his eyes so he can see.” The LORD opened the servantʼs eyes and he saw that the hill was full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha.”

(2Kings 6:6-17)

 

Last night at our House Church gathering we read and discussed over these passages.  We reminded each other of who is on our side in our challenges, struggles and battles in our lives.  We need to lift our eyes above the what is presented to us by the world and focus our eyes on of Christ and what he presents for us.  We need to stop having anxiety on the challenges that surround us based on our limited competency and resources to fight them, and on the limitless, abundance or God’s provisions and power to face them and defeat them.  We need to surrender, ask, knock and receive all the help God desires to give us.(Matt 7:7-8)  We need to remind ourselves “if God is for us, who can be against us and that in all things we have complete victory through Jesus who loves us! (Romans 8:31,37)

We need to remember as the passage above assures us that God hears and knows all our struggles and thoughts.  He knows what we are speaking and thinking in the quiet of our bedrooms and what is keeping us up at night.   He will never abandon or forsake us. (Jeremiah 12:7).   And we need to seek out the “Elishas” in our lives. People of God who we can confided in who will help us discern which place we are to go, not go, and the direction God is calling us to go.

My family, I pray today you will take a minute to remember who is on your side and as the lyrics to the old hymn say, “Turn your eyes upon Jesus. Look full in his wonderful face and the things of Earth will grow strangely dim in the light of his glory and grace.” In Jesus name.  Please pray the same for me.  God bless you my friends!

Please share your reflections and prayers with us n the comment box below.

Gary Liederbach- Lead Follower

One Direction Community

Email: garyl@onedirection.community

Website: https://www.onedirection.community

Facebook: One Direction Community-ODC

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

Thank You! 

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Seek Him!

Good morning, Lord Jesus. Be Thou my Vision, O Lord of my heart…

"And without faith it is impossible to please God, for whoever would approach Him must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who seek Him" (Hebrews 11:6).

Lord, I seek You with my eyes and with my heart. I seek You with passion and with faith. I seek You to find You and embrace You, to hold on to You and be held by You. I seek You first and throughout the moments of my day. And you reward me with a deep sense of Your Presence, with the confident assurance You'll never let go. As someone has said, "I'm safe and secure in Your no-slip grip."

Blessed are those who seek You with all their heart for they will be the ones who find You (Jeremiah 29:13). You said, "Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened" (Matthew 7:7-8, NKJ). You are the God who gives good things to those who ask and seek and knock (v. 7:11). You are the God who always gives Your very Spirit to all who will humbly and passionately pursue You in spirit and truth (Luke 11:13). And so I set my sights to seek You by faith more passionately each day than the day before - as best as I can and all by Your grace.

Heart of my own heart whatever befall,

Still be thou my vision oh ruler of all!

In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

My family,  may you set your sights to pursue our God with passion and faith, more every day. May you find Him and embrace Him and never let go of Him. Please pray the same for me. God bless you, my friends!

 

 

Please share your reflections and prayers with us n the comment box below.

Gary Liederbach- Lead Follower

One Direction Community

Email: garyl@onedirection.community

Website: https://www.onedirection.community

Facebook: One Direction Community-ODC

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

Thank You! 

"The Valley Of Decision"

Good morning, Lord Jesus. Be Lord of my heart and all my desires, Lord of my mind and all my thoughts, Lord of my will and all my choices. ...

"Multitudes, multitudes,
in the valley of decision!
For the day of the Lord is near
in the valley of decision.
The sun and the moon are darkened,
and the stars withdraw their shining.

The Lord roars from Zion,
and utters His voice from Jerusalem,
and the heavens and the earth shake.
But the Lord is a refuge for His people,
a stronghold for the people of Israel.

So you shall know that I, the Lord your God,
dwell in Zion, my holy mountain.
And Jerusalem shall be holy,
and strangers shall never again pass through it.

In that day
the mountains shall drip sweet wine,
the hills shall flow with milk,
and all the stream beds of Judah
shall flow with water;
a fountain shall come forth from the house of the Lord
and water the Wadi Shittim" (Joel 3:14-18).

I was reminded in the news this morning that Election Day in America is just around the corner. Multitudes will go down to "the valley of decision" to cast their vote and speak their voice and make their choice.

Come, Holy Spirit. May the decisions made by the multitudes be decisions led by Your Spirit, informed by Your Word, guided by Your principles of the Kingdom of God and the authority of Your Scripture. May every decision we make today as we begin our week and every day be viewed as important and be decisions for life and not death, for blessing and not cursing, exalting Your ways in our land as one nation under God.

"Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a reproach to any people" (Proverbs 14:34). "Righteousness and justice are the foundation of Your throne" (Psalm 89:14). And "Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord" (Psalm 33:12).

If our choices are right and our decisions are true, the mountains and hills, the streams and plains, will flow with the blessings of God. "A fountain shall come forth!"

Lord, let Your Fountain of Living Water come forth in our land. Let there be revival, awakening, and harvest as never before, as the heart of our nation continues to return to You. Move in Your power. Move by Your grace.

Against all odds, move in impossible and mighty ways that only You can do, so that all will see and know that only You have done this. For "Nothing is impossible with God" (Luke 1:37) and "With God all things are possible" (Matthew 19:26). As we await decisions of elections, may Your multitudes remember as we pray in faith for our land that "All things are possible for those who believe" (Mark 9:23). And no matter what will happen at the close of this day and through the days to come, "We know that all things work together for good for those who love (You), who are called according to Your purpose" (Romans 8:28). In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

My family, may you make your decisions this day and every day led by the Holy Spirit, informed by God's Word, guided by His principles and the authority of His Scripture, receiving an overflowing fountain of God's blessings in your life, in Jesus name. Please pray the same for me. And I join with you and so many in continued prayer over the elections and for all we're facing in our world. God bless you, my friends!

Please share your reflections and prayers with us n the comment box below.

Gary Liederbach- Lead Follower

One Direction Community

Email: garyl@onedirection.community

Website: https://www.onedirection.community

Facebook: One Direction Community-ODC

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

Thank You! 

"I Will Sing"

Good morning, Lord Jesus. I welcome You into my heart and every moment of my day. ...

"But as for me, I will sing about Your power. Each morning I will sing with joy about Your unfailing love. For You have been my refuge, a place of safety when I am in distress" (Psalms59:16 NLT).

Tuesday evening I drove down to my daughters house in Birmingham and spent two days doing maintenance on their home:: yearly cleaning maintenance of HVAC system inside and outside, pest control, basement water barrier maintenance, install new toilet, electrical, car maintenance,…act. What dad’s do for their daughters! One thing I love about hanging out with my daughters is we are a family of singers! My wife and two daughters are always singing and maybe breaking out a move. So though the work may not be fun, my family is and it keeps a smile on my face! Jesus love for you and me is the same way. Though our labor for his kingdom may not always be fun, if we listen while we are doing it we will always her Jesus singing his song of love and grace over us. It flows out of his heart of complete joy for us so we can have complete joy in our hearts!

Thank You for waking me almost every morning with a song in my spirit! It's Your Spirit singing in my spirit, just as Your Word invites us to do. "I will sing in the Spirit" (1 Corinthians 14:15).

And I sing with joy of Your unfailing love. I sing with joy to the One who is my Refuge and my Place of Safety -- to the One who rescues me from distress, who delivers me from evil, who heals me from hurt, who comforts me with care, who leads me in the path of life in You.

As for me, I will sing about Your power. I will sing about Your love. I will sing about who You are and all You do.

No matter what I may go through or what may try to go through me or run over me or try to hold me back or shut me down or shut me up, I will sing and I will praise, full of joy for Your unfailing love! They can't take that from me. They can't put a mask over that. They can't distance me from the One who created me and calls me by name to wake up every morning with Your joy in my spirit because You've poured Your unfailing love into my heart! "I will sing of the Lord's unfailing love forever!" (Psalm 89:1) In Jesus name I pray. Amen.

My family, may you be filled with the Holy Spirit of the Living God and wake up this morning and every morning singing of His unfailing love, in Jesus name. Please pray the same for me. God bless you, my friends!

Please share your thoughts and comments

Gary Liederbach- Lead Follower

One Direction Community

Email: garyl@onedirection.community

Website: https://www.onedirection.community

Facebook: One Direction Community-ODC

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

Thank You!

"This Is How I Fight My Battles"

Good morning, Lord Jesus. Yesterday we sang the song Surrounded at our worship service. I woke up singing it so I sing Your name over all, and surrender my all to You. ...

"(The king of Aram) said, 'Go and find where (Elisha) is; I will send and seize him.' He was told, 'He is in Dothan.' So he sent horses and chariots there and a great army; they came by night, and surrounded the city. When the attendant of the man of God rose early in the morning and went out, an army of horse and chariots was all around the city. His servant said, 'Alas, master! What shall we do?' He replied, 'Do not be afraid, for there are more with us than there are with them.' Then Elisha prayed: 'O Lord, please open his eyes that he may see.' So the Lord opened the eyes of the servant, and he saw; the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha!" (2 Kings 6:13-17).

In the morning, when I rise, no doubt there are great armies of horses and chariots, armed with weapons of worry and fear, confusion and chaos, hopelessness and despair, ready to come riding down on my mind and my spirit to overwhelm and overcome me, battling to take my thoughts captive. They want to present themselves as big and mighty, too much to overcome and no chance to stand against them, projecting themselves to be much bigger and much stronger than they are. They want to demand my attention, the priority of my thoughts, in the very first moments of my morning to plunder the treasure of my time with You.

But my Master, You open my eyes to see! You lift my eyes to the hills where my help comes from! You open my spirit to perceive the truth I'm not alone, I'm not overwhelmed, I'm not overcome. You draw my heart into the intimacy of Your strong embrace and security of Your steadfast love. And You remind me "The One who is in (me) is greater than the one who is in the world" (1 John 4:4).

As I look to You and give You the priority of my day, the first thoughts of my morning, as my first act of worship in prayer and praise, my spiritual enemies don't look so big and mighty. In the light of Your truth and the Presence of Your Spirit, they flee away at the sound of my praise and the authority of my prayers in the power of Your name. "Let God arise; let His enemies be scattered; let those who hate Him flee before Him!" (Psalm 68:1)

Thank You, my Master, my Lord and Savior, for opening the eyes of my heart to see You, to know You, to experience Your Presence right here with me to overpower my enemies and overcome my adversary (Ephesians 1:15-21). Great are You, Lord! Mighty is Your name!

Thank You for Your Holy Spirit. Thank You for Your holy angel armies. Thank You that in You there are always many more with me than those against me! For nothing can stand against You and Your great name! (Philippians 2:9-11) And with You standing for me, nothing can stand against me, for I am always an overcomer and more than a conqueror in You! (Romans 8:31-39) In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

My family,  May the Holy Spirit come upon you and the power of the Most High overshadow you and open your eyes tp see and know your identity and fulfill your destiny to the praise of God's glory through your life today, in Jesus' name. Please pray the same for me. God bless you, my friends! 

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

Gary Liederbach- Lead Follower

One Direction Community

Email: garyl@onedirection.community

Website: https://www.onedirection.community

Facebook: One Direction Community-ODC

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

"Tears of Joy in Lowes Aisle 31"

“Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened for you. For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.” (Matthew 5:7-8)

I work one day a week at Lowe’s on Mondays. Every Monday morning I leave at 8:00am and serve at Manna House in Huntsville until 12:30pm unloading the food trucks and help getting the food lines set up to distribute food to around 350 families later that afternoon.  I drive home, eat something, then work a 2:00pm-10:00pm shift at Lowes.  I started working at Lowes as a way to still connect and pray with people when my churches shut down for Covid and there was no Sunday services or weekday Bible studies or classes and the church was empty. All I was doing was live streaming a Sunday message.  When covid restrictions finally ended I continued to work the one night a week to try to continue to bless the Lowes employees and customers.

I mainly work in the plumbing department.  Last night I walked down an aisle to put back a return item and in the aisle was a man on the phone.  He was shaking and there were tears  in his eyes and running down his face.  I intentionally stayed in the aisle taking longer than necessary to put back the items until the man hung up his cell phone.

 I walked up to him and asked him if he was ok? He said with a big smile and tears running down his face “Yes!  These are tears of joy!  I am so happy!”  I asked him if he wanted to share why?  The man said his son and daughter in law are expecting their first child and are 2 ½ months pregnant.   He said in his families genealogy there is a gene that is hereditary the cause severe birth defects.  He has relatives that were born severely  mentally and physically disabled.  And his other son and his wife had a baby 2 years ago and it was born with severe disabilities.  His son and expecting wife had a medical procedure done that morning to see it their baby had this hereditary defect or not.  His wife had just called him and said they got the results of the test and the test came back negative!  The baby was going to be born normal!  I said. “Praise God!” and he said “Yes! Praise God!” and he hugged me and I hugged him back, both of us with tears in our eyes now.

 I asked him if I could say a prayer of thanksgiving over the child and his family.  He Said YES!!!.  I asked the child’s name.  He said it is just over 2 months old now.  They do not know the sex yet or have given the baby a name.  So we stood facing each other, with our hands on each other’s shoulders and heads bowed between us and tears falling to the floor, and I prayed a prayer of praise and blessing over the child and his family.  When I finished with a big smile he hugged me again and said he was so glade I was there to share this good news with me.  I helped him find the plumbing fitting he came in to get, we hugged again, said “Praise God” to each other and he left the aisle.  And I started wiping my eyes and took a deep breath and tried to compose myself.  Then, with a big smile on my face and new joy in my heart from the “church” I had just experienced, I left the aisle as well.

My family,  this amazing blessing and deep encounter I was so blessed to experience simply came out of my asking another person, “Are you ok?”  I pray today you take the blinders off of your days schedule enough to ask a co-worker, class mate, neighbor, or person who just happens to be in  the aisle with you at Lowes of Walmart, “Are you ok?” And as the verse above states, ask and you will recieve,   In Jesus name.  Please pray the same for me.  God bless you my friends!

Please share with me and others your reflections and what God is speaking to you from todays 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

 

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