Good morning Lord Jesus, I want to be with you, so I am beginning my day intentionally setting aside time to be with you.
With all the invitations and challenges that are being presented in the messages we hear on the news and social media, I have been wrestling for some time now in the verse of Matthew 16:11-26. My morning reflections will be coming from the words on Jesus and His encounter with the disciples in this passage and His invitation and challenges to them.
“Now when Jesus came into the district of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?” And they said, “Some say John the Baptist, others say Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” Simon Peter replied, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” And Jesus answered him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven. And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.” Then he strictly charged the disciples to tell no one that he was the Christ.
From that time Jesus began to show his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised. And Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him, saying, “Far be it from you, Lord! This shall never happen to you.” But he turned and said to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan! You are a hindrance to me. For you are not setting your mind on the things of God, but on the things of man.” Matthew 16:13-26
Jesus was always calibrating invitation and challenge with all those He encountered.. He was open and inviting to all who honestly sought him, but once they were in his presence, he then challenged them with himself, His life, His love, and His truth. In this passage of Scripture, Jesus invited the disciples into a discussion with him by asking them the simple question, “Who do people say that I am?” He then challenged them by exposing their own motives and agenda which were a hinderance to His agenda to which He replied, “get behind me Satan”, As His agenda was “Pick up you cross and follow me.” Jesus was always safe place with barriers or prejudices to enter, however He was always a place where you heard a dangerous message.
In my ministry and churches I am called to lead I try to model it after this example of Jesus as being a safe place with dangerous message. To set this as an example to be modeled by those who come so they individually are a safe place with a dangerous message. To honor both grace and truth.
Some churches are a dangerous place with a dangerous message. They have an extreme fundamentalism culture (dangerous) where if you don not look like them or act like them or believe like them your are not welcomed, but they have a dangerous message, that is usually laced with their bias and prejudice. Some churches are safe place with a safe message. They are inviting and open, and anyone is welcomed to come as you are. However, their message is safe as well. Everyone is free and welcomed to remain as you are: no transformation, all life styles, all behaviors, all saviors, all love is all right.
I try to model Jesus and be a safe place, with a dangerous message. To be inviting and open, and anyone is welcomed to come as you are, and to enter just as a child with no fear. However, one where you hear the dangerous, challenging message of Jesus. All are welcome to come as they are, but no one is allowed to stay as they are. That was the message of Jesus. That is the message of the cross. To die to yourself. Before the Holy Spirit is the “Holy Comforter”, He is the Holy Critiquer”. The Holy Spirit is an equal opportunity critiquer of all persons and all sin. To be “saved” requires change, it requires you to be saved from something that you were-to something else, or you would not need saving.
In this cultural climate of tolerance, fairness, and political correctness (of which Jesus was neither) and social agendas, what are presented as publicly correct are often not Biblically correct.
My family, I pray you will pick up your Bible and read the Gospels and encounters Jesus had with people: Matthew 19:16-21; Luke 9:1-10; John 4:1-42, 6:60-68, 8:1-11. Then spend time in prayer and ask the Holy Spirit two personal questions about your life as compared to Jesus’ life and reflect on them. Ask yourself:
Am I safe? Am I welcoming and inviting to all people of all colors, cultures, and life styles with out prejudice or pre-requirements?
Do I have a dangerous message? To those that I do form relationships with and gain influence with them, do I with grace challenge them in the areas of sin in their lives or do I keep my message on a safe, superficial, comfort level? In Jesus’ name. Please pray the same for me. God bless you my friends!
As we read through the New Testament, I can not post a reflection on an entire chapter, but what verses stood out to me. I would love for you to post what stood out to you or your thoughts/reflections from the days chapter reading with myself or others using the comment box below. Thank you!
Gary Liederbach- Lead Follower
Email: garyl@onedirection.community
Website: https://www.onedirection.community
Facebook: One Direction Community-ODC
Please support and partner with my self and my family as we serve those God crosses our path with in our community with your one-time or monthly financial gift by clicking link below.Become our partner and support us in our ministries by becoming supporting us monthly or with a one-time gift. Thank you!
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Good morning Lord Jesus, I begin this morning seeking a cleansing and renewing of my heart, mind, and Spirit.
“‘This people honors Me with their lips,
But their heart is far away from Me.
‘But in vain do they worship Me,
Teaching as doctrines the precepts of men.’”
(Matthew 15:8-9)
This morning my reading of the New Testament led me to reading and reflecting on Scriptures in the Old Testament. As I read through Matthew chapter 15, Verses 8-9 stood out to me, which are a quotation from Isaiah 29:13. Jesus was calling out people who instead of prioritizing living a daily life of living out the love of Jesus and our call to make disciples, are replacing it by prioritizing religious activities like simply going to church on Sunday. My praying into this led me to Jeremiah 7:1-13. As I read it in my mind, I contextualized it to today by replacing the word “Temple” used throughout the passage with our current word for our religious gatherings, “Church” to hear God’s message spoken to us in The Church today.
“The Message from God to Jeremiah: “Stand in the gate of God’s Church and preach this Message. “Say, ‘Listen, all you people of Judah who come through these gates to worship God. God-of-the-Angel-Armies, Israel’s God, has this to say to you: “‘Clean up your act—the way you live, the things you do—so I can make my home with you in this place. Don’t for a minute believe the lies being spoken here—“This is God’s Church, God’s Church, God’s Church!” Total nonsense! Only if you clean up your act (the way you live, the things you do), only if you do a total spring cleaning on the way you live and treat your neighbors, only if you quit exploiting the street people and orphans and widows, no longer taking advantage of innocent people on this very site and no longer destroying your souls by using this Church as a front for other gods—only then will I move into your neighborhood. Only then will this country I gave your ancestors be my permanent home, my Church.
“‘Get smart! Your leaders are handing you a pack of lies, and you’re swallowing them! Use your heads! Do you think you can rob and murder, have sex with the neighborhood wives, tell lies nonstop, gossip, worship the local gods, and buy every novel religious commodity on the market—and then march into this Church, set apart for my worship, and say, “We’re safe!” thinking that the place itself gives you a license to go on with all this outrageous sacrilege? A cave full of criminals! Do you think you can turn this Church, set apart for my worship, into something like that? Well, think again. I’ve got eyes in my head. I can see what’s going on.’” God’s Decree! (Jeremiah 7:1-11, The Message Bible)
My family, I pray that even though it is still January, I pray this morning you open your heart up to the Holy Spirit and allow Him to do a total spring cleaning on the way you live. In Jesus’ name. Please pray the same for me. God bless you my friends!
As we read through the New Testament, I can not post a reflection on an entire chapter, but what verses stood out to me. I would love for you to post what stood out to you or your thoughts/reflections from the days chapter reading with myself or others using the comment box below. Thank you!
Gary Liederbach- Lead Follower
Email: garyl@onedirection.community
Website:https://www.onedirection.community
Facebook: One Direction Community-ODC
I could use your financial support relationally reaching for those on the margins God has placed in my path I refuse to walk around. Please partner and support myself and One Direction community through setting up a monthly donation or a one –time gift by clicking the link below. Donation checks can be made out to ODC, PO Box 1293 Madison, Al 35758.
Thanks You!
Good morning Father, Son, and Spirit, I begin my week in complete reliance of your love, grace and mercy every day and every moment of all my weeks.
This morning as we journey together through reading the NT in a year we are on Matthew chapter 14. I read this chapter this morning and I encourage you to do the same. However, this morning My reflection center around the life of a modern day prophet we celebrate today, the Rev. Martlin Luther King Jr.
“When they did not find them, they began dragging Jason and some brethren before the city authorities, shouting, “These men who have upset the world have come here also; and Jason has welcomed them, and they all act contrary to the decrees of Caesar, saying that there is another king, Jesus.”” (Acts 17:6-7)
Today we remember and celebrate the life of a modern-day prophet, the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr (MLK). Rev, King was shot and killed 57 years ago on April 4, 1968. Rev. King, as a follower of Jesus and in imitation of Jesus, also led a non-violent revolution for social change and his followers were beaten and it cost him his life. I believe Dr. King was a modern day prophet. I read his 'Letter From A Birmingham Jail" Every MLK day, and I read it this morning. It was written in August of 1963. Even though it was written 60 years ago, it speaks into our life and the life of The Church today. For my reflection blog post today, I am using excerpts of MLK's refections from his letter. Read his words as they speak truth into our individual lives today and the life of the church.
“I am in Birmingham because injustice is here. Just as the prophets of the eighth century B.C. left their villages and carried their "thus saith the Lord" far beyond the boundaries of their home towns, and just as the Apostle Paul left his village of Tarsus and carried the gospel of Jesus Christ to the far corners of the Greco Roman world, so am I compelled to carry the gospel of freedom beyond my own home town…”
“But I must confess that I am not afraid of the word "tension." I have earnestly opposed violent tension, but there is a type of constructive, nonviolent tension which is necessary for growth…We know through painful experience that freedom is never voluntarily given by the oppressor; it must be demanded by the oppressed…We should never forget that everything Adolf Hitler did in Germany was "legal"…it was "illegal" to aid and comfort a Jew in Hitler's Germany. Even so, I am sure that, had I lived in Germany at the time, I would have aided and comforted my Jewish brothers…”
“I must make two honest confessions to you, my Christian and Jewish brothers. First, I must confess that over the past few years I have been gravely disappointed with the white moderate. I have almost reached the regrettable conclusion that the Negro's great stumbling block in his stride toward freedom is not the White Citizen's Counciler or the Ku Klux Klanner, but the white moderate, who is more devoted to "order" than to justice; who prefers a negative peace which is the absence of tension to a positive peace which is the presence of justice; who constantly says: "I agree with you in the goal you seek, but I cannot agree with your methods of direct action"; who paternalistically believes he can set the timetable for another man's freedom; who lives by a mythical concept of time and who constantly advises the Negro to wait for a "more convenient season." Shallow understanding from people of good will is more frustrating than absolute misunderstanding from people of ill will. Lukewarm acceptance is much more bewildering than outright rejection.”
“…Time itself is neutral; it can be used either destructively or constructively. More and more I feel that the people of ill will have used time much more effectively than have the people of good will. We will have to repent in this generation not merely for the hateful words and actions of the bad people but for the appalling silence of the good people. Human progress never rolls in on wheels of inevitability; it comes through the tireless efforts of men willing to be co workers with God, and without this hard work, time itself becomes an ally of the forces of social stagnation…”
“Was not Jesus an extremist for love: "Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you." Was not Amos an extremist for justice: "Let justice roll down like waters and righteousness like an ever flowing stream." Was not Paul an extremist for the Christian gospel: "I bear in my body the marks of the Lord Jesus." Was not Martin Luther an extremist: "Here I stand; I cannot do otherwise, so help me God." And John Bunyan: "I will stay in jail to the end of my days before I make a butchery of my conscience." …So the question is not whether we will be extremists, but what kind of extremists we will be. Will we be extremists for hate or for love? Will we be extremists for the preservation of injustice or for the extension of justice? In that dramatic scene on Calvary's hill three men were crucified. We must never forget that all three were crucified for the same crime--the crime of extremism. Two were extremists for immorality, and thus fell below their environment. The other, Jesus Christ, was an extremist for love, truth and goodness, and thereby rose above his environment….
“There was a time when the church was very powerful--in the time when the early Christians rejoiced at being deemed worthy to suffer for what they believed. In those days the church was not merely a thermometer that recorded the ideas and principles of popular opinion; it was a thermostat that transformed the mores of society. Whenever the early Christians entered a town, the people in power became disturbed and immediately sought to convict the Christians for being "disturbers of the peace" and "outside agitators."' But the Christians pressed on, in the conviction that they were "a colony of heaven," called to obey God rather than man. Small in number, they were big in commitment. They were too God-intoxicated to be "astronomically intimidated." By their effort and example they brought an end to such ancient evils as infanticide and gladiatorial contests. Things are different now. So often the contemporary church is a weak, ineffectual voice with an uncertain sound. So often it is an archdefender of the status quo. Far from being disturbed by the presence of the church, the power structure of the average community is consoled by the church's silent--and often even vocal--sanction of things as they are”….
“But the judgment of God is upon the church as never before. If today's church does not recapture the sacrificial spirit of the early church, it will lose its authenticity, forfeit the loyalty of millions, and be dismissed as an irrelevant social club with no meaning for the twentieth century. Every day I meet young people whose disappointment with the church has turned into outright disgust.”
These words MLK penned almost 60 years ago to the church are as, or even more so relevant today.
My family, I pray today after reading this that you will use this day, not for honoring yourself by seeking and serving to your needs and desires, but seeking to serve the needs and desires of others. Prayer walk your neighborhood, volunteer and serve in a community outreach ministry, and spend time in prayer of areas of injustice, poverty, and hate you are aware of in your community and the world. Do one simple obvious thing to to help or serve a coworker, classmate, or neighbor. In the honor of Dr. King, and In Jesus’ name! Please pray the same for me. God bless you my friends!!!
Here is a link to the the complete letter for you to read if you wish.
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., myself and my family, as we try to bring justice and grace to those on the margins God has placed in our path and I refuse to walk around. Please begin 2024 by a commitment to partner and support myself and One Direction community through setting up a monthly donation or a one –time gift by clicking the link below. Donation checks can be made out to ODC, PO Box 1293 Madison, Al 35758. Thank You!
Good morning Lord Jesus, breath the breath of Your Spirit into my body and renew my spirit.
“He told them many things in parables, saying: “Listen! A sower went out to sow. And as he sowed, some seeds fell along the path, and the birds came and devoured them. Other seeds fell on rocky ground where they did not have much soil. They sprang up quickly because the soil was not deep. But when the sun came up, they were scorched, and because they did not have sufficient root, they withered. Other seeds fell among the thorns, and they grew up and choked them. But other seeds fell on good soil and produced grain, some a hundred times as much, some sixty, and some thirty. The one who has ears had better listen!” (Matthew 13:3-9)
As I read the parable of the Sower, I could discern on the different soil types like many sermons do, and reflect on what is the soil condition of my heart?
Am I that thorny person? Am I that Rocky or Shallow hearted person?
Am I the hard hearted person? Or am I the good soiled person?
When Jesus talks about this parable and our lives: I could also take the Pharasitical approach:
Well I thank God I am not like that hard hearted person over there. I may have a few briars, but I thank God I am not like the thorny persons over there. Or even worse, I thank God I have a perfect heart.
Well if I took a spiritual snap shot of your heart right now, a spiritual photo, I guess it could be true that at this current moment perhaps you heart is hardened on some point or another. Or at this moment in time you may have a rocky heart, or a thorny, choking heart now, or a good heart now.
But life is not a static snap shot is it, it is a moving picture. There are times in our lives that we can’t hear God’s word, sometime we won’t hear it. Sometimes we hear it, and we lose it. There are times that anxieties and fears choke it. Sometimes we receive it with Joy..
See, When I hear this parable and read the story about the seed that falls one the path and is eaten up, when I read it you I say, That’s me!
When I hear about the story of how the seed fell on rocky places and there was shallowness, and the first time, persecution or suffering comes they fell away: I say that’s me too!
When I hear the story about how one receives the Word and lets the worries of the world and materialism choke it away, I say: That’s me too!
And when I hear the story of the seed falling on the good soil and it produces fruit 30x, 60x, 100x, you I shout out praise God that’s me too!!!
It's a great reminder that today or any given day doesn't define me. I will have bad days and even bad weeks but with Christ sowing in my heart, I can overcome! For you see this parable has never been called the parable of the soils. It is a parable of the Sower. It is a parable about the Sower. God is sowing his seed into the world! His sowing was behind all the past saints, and behind the present and future saints which are you and me, sowing into the world. It is a parable of God's never ending, wild, persistent sowing! The point of the story is that God’s sowing is more consistent than the Devil’s snatching. God’s sowing is more powerful than the devil’s eating. God’s sowing is more enduring than the devil’s tribulation. God’s sowing is more persistent then the devil’s choking. The real good news of this parable is that God is the great extravagant sower in all the world.
My family, I pray we actually formed a church who’s heart breaks for the lost, and that was concerned that one marvelous day, when we stand together in the new earth among the millions before the lamb and worship him, that because of our extravagant sowing into their lives, our neighbors, classmates, co-workers, family members, and others in our communities are there as well, alongside us praising and proclaiming:
God’s sowing is more consistent than the Devil’s snatching!
His sowing is more powerful than the devil’s eating!
His sowing is more enduring than the devil’s tribulation!
His sowing is more persistent then the devil’s choking!
By, through and In Jesus’ name! Please pray the same for me. God bless you my friends!
As we read through the New Testament, I can not post a reflection on an entire chapter, but what verses stood out to me. I would love for you to post what stood out to you or your thoughts/reflections from the days chapter reading with myself or others using the comment box below. Thank you!
Begin 2025 by resolving to partner with us!
I want to ask you to resolve this year in partnering with my wife, myself, and One Direction Community by supporting our ministries! We begin 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. If you click on the link below you can easily set up a weekly, bi-monthly, or monthly auto donations in the amount you desire. . We would be so grateful for your help. You can also give a one-time donation on the same link. Thank you!
CLICK HERE TO GIVE
Gary Liederbach- Lead Follower
One Direction Community
Email: garyl@onedirection.community
Website: https://www.onedirection.community
Facebook: One Direction Community-ODC
It’s not to late! , JOIN IN!!
We started January 1st the journey of reading through the New Testament in a year. This plan has only one chapter to read each weekday. There are no assigned readings on the weekend. The plan we will use is from Bibleplan.org. Click the button below to go to the site, enter the starting date January 1, 2025, enter your email, and a time you want to receive an email reminder, then click subscribe. Then you will receive an email confirmation to click on. Every weekday then you will receive an email reminder of the chapter reading for that day.
Last night during our House Church gathering in my family room I looked at all the empty places on a couch where someone could be sitting or earlier at our dinning room table eating and they could have received both physical and spiritual foods. I prayed over this and asked the Holy Spirit to help me discern why seats were empty. And this passaeg in this morning’s reading of Matthew chapter 12 spoke as if it was directed towards me.
“Knowing their thoughts, he (Jesus) said to them,… “Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters.” (Matthew 12 :25, 30)
The persecuted church in China is growing, they are gathering. One of the reasons when you look into it, is that every Christian there tells someone daily about Jesus. They are compelled to share the Gospel daily with at least one person. When asked why this is, they say that the Government officials and others who are persecuting them, throwing them in prison, and trying to eradicate the church, daily do not share the Gospel. Each day our persecutors refrain from speaking the name of Jesus. If there is a day we do not share the Gospel or tell someone of Jesus, who’s side are we on that day? Who do we a line ourselves with, Jesus or our persecutors? Are we on the side that gathers or scatters? “Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters.” (12:30) Jesus knows their thoughts. He knows yours and mine as well.
It spoke into my post from earlier this week that everyday I am nice to people, do what is right, treat them fairly and show them respect but never share with them the Gospel, my friends and popularity will increase, but my ministry will decrease. I appear to be gathering, but to what? I am in reality scattering. Jesus said when we come before him one day, “On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me,” (Matthew 7:22) His main and only concern is that I know HIM! His heart is not about the nice things I did, (serving at Manna House and House of Harvest, going every morning to Waffle House, delivering items to people in need, though those are good things) but did I know HIM. His desire for me is not to simply introduce people to kindness, but to introduce people to HIM! What good will all the good I do for someone do if I never gather them to Jesus and they are still scattered from his presence!
I hear people say, “Share the Gospel, and at times use words.” When I hear this I sigh inside. That is like saying “feed the hungry, and at times give them food!” How wrong would it be to invite a person who is perishing from starvation over to your house for dinner, treat them kindly as a guest, share a delightful evening with them, yet never serve them a meal, then wave at them as they leave your home as starving as when they entered? How wrong is it to invite a person who is starving and perishing spiritually into a relationship with you, treat them like a friend, spend quality time with them, meet some of their physical needs, yet never share the Gospel with them. Then hug them before you walk away from them as spiritually dead as when you met them.? Paul tells us, “Now, brothers and sisters, I want to remind you of the gospel I preached to you, which you received and on which you have taken your stand. By this gospel you are saved,” 1 Cor. 15:1-2 And I have never pastored or been part of a church where people were sharing the Gospel way yo much that I had to tell them to slow down telling people about Jesus and and just do more actions. I am am almost positive your church or your witness has that problem either.
Flip side: Say a church of 20 people in the US intentionally commits like the Christians in China, to share the Gospel of love and grace of Jesus with just one person a day. They each do this and fail miserably 98% of the time to lead a person to faith. With a failure rate of 98% and only a 2% success rate, at the end of one year that church would grow to 146 people. If those 146 members also commit to share once a day, and still have a pitiful 98% failure rate, at the end of year 2 that church would have grown to 1,065 members. With th same commitment and same failure rate, and at the end of year 3 the church grows to 7,780 members. Failing 98% of the time, at the end of year 4 it grows to 56,794. And at the end of year 5 it grows to 414,596!!! With a terrible 98% failure rate! This is how the church in China is exploding. This is how Jesus intended our churches in the west to explode. You can’t add additional Sunday services or build churches big enough and fast enough to keep up. It is a spread of the Gospel walls can not contain!!! Guys we do not have to be good at it. We can fail 98% of the time and that’s ok!! What we need to be is obedient to Him! What we need to be is not against Jesus, but with him. We need to on the side that is actually gathering, and not scattering.
Take time to pray this morning. Read this passage again with the complete and honest understanding that the “their thoughts” in the verse below is “your thoughts” and Hr fully knows if you are gathering or scattering, if you are for him or against him. and if you know him.
“Knowing their thoughts, he (Jesus) said to them,… “Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters.” (Matthew 12 :25, 30)
My family, I pray today as I am doing, you will also honestly reflect on your life and level of obedience. Who’s side are you on? In what ways are you for Jesus? In what ways are you against him? In what ways are you scattering? In what ways are you gathering? When was the last day you shared the Gospel with someone? Who is Jesus calling you to intentionally gather? All in Jesus’ name. Please pray the same for me. God bless you my friends!
As we read through the New Testament, I can not post a reflection on an entire chapter, but what verses stood out to me. I would love for you to post what stood out to you or your thoughts/reflections from the days chapter reading with myself or others using the comment box below. Thank you!
Begin 2025 by resolving to partner with us!
I want to ask you to resolve this year in partnering with my wife, myself, and One Direction Community by supporting our ministries! We begin 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. If you click on the link below you can easily set up a weekly, bi-monthly, or monthly auto donations in the amount you desire. . We would be so grateful for your help. You can also give a one-time donation on the same link. Thank you!
CLICK HERE TO GIVE
Gary Liederbach- Lead Follower
One Direction Community
Email: garyl@onedirection.community
Website: https://www.onedirection.community
Facebook: One Direction Community-ODC
It’s not to late! , JOIN IN!!
We started January 1st the journey of reading through the New Testament in a year. This plan has only one chapter to read each weekday. There are no assigned readings on the weekend. The plan we will use is from Bibleplan.org. Click the button below to go to the site, enter the starting date January 1, 2025, enter your email, and a time you want to receive an email reminder, then click subscribe. Then you will receive an email confirmation to click on. Every weekday then you will receive an email reminder of the chapter reading for that day.
“What then did you go out to see? A man dressed in soft clothing? Behold, those who wear soft clothing are in kings' houses. What then did you go out to see?” (Matthew 11:9)
Several years ago I took my family on a trip to Great Britain, France and Italy. While there we visited and spent time in several cathedrals and famous churches. St. Paul and Westminster Abbey in London; Bath Abby in Bath; Notre Dame, Sacre Coure, and St. Chappelle in Paris; and the Doumo and Santa Maria delle Grazie in Milan. I am a church planter of Simple Church models and missional communities, creating discipleship environments in mangers. These great churches would be at the complete opposite on a simple church in a manger. The pages above from Matthew caused me to reflect on my time spent in these Catherdrals.
When you walk into these churches they instill in you a sense of awe, and belief in God, or at least definitely a sense of awe, and belief in architecture. As I walked into a church, take Notre Dame for example. It started its construction in the 11th century and was completed in the 13th century, I tried to image walking into it for the first time not as a tourist in the 21st century who has seen everything, but walking into it for the first time it as a peasant of the 13th century. I would have lived in a small simple house with no electricity, TV, or running water. My life knowledge and experience would be of a 1miled circumference from my home. I would be uneducated and unread.
Walking up to Notre Dame would be like walking up into the shadow of a holy mountain. Its gargoyles that surround its walls would be staring down at me and the fear of God would envelope me. When I gained enough courage to walk into it through it massive doors ordained with carving of saints and apostles I would have an overwhelming experience beyond belief: The vaulted ceilings above me would seem to reach up to the heavens. The gold gilded altar, the sculptures and artwork would captivate me eyes.. The towering stain glass windows that fill the space with colors and light that I have never seen before, like light from heaven itself. Then there is a massive pipe organ in the back of Notre Dame that when played fills the grand space of stone with a reverberation like thunder that echoes into my very soul. When the choir joined in it would be like the heavenly host that announced Jesus’ birth. Next the priest, altar boys, and other members would parade down the isle in their gilded and embroidered vestments such as I have never seen before. The procession would be lifting up crosses, The Bible, and other church standards. The service would then take place in Latin ritualistically with thurifers sending up clouds of incense that would fill my sense of smell, bells ringing synchronized to the liturgy, and clergy chanting. As a 13 century peasant, I would have walked out of Notre Dame like Moses walking down from Mount Sinai, my face a glow from the overwhelming experience to my senses, convinced I had been in the very presence of God. Convinced of the power and authority of the church as God’s representative on earth. I would have then gone and shared and told my family, neighbors and friends all about my experience and would invite and encourage everyone I met to come and see and experience the presence of God at “my church.”
Fast forward 800 years back to the present, to us of the 21st century. Jesus asked those in the church who went to see John the Baptist, “What then did you go out to see? A man dressed in soft clothing? Behold, those who wear soft clothing are in kings' houses. What then did you go out to see?” (Matthew 11:9)
I reflected on Jesus question as a leader attempting to form true missional communities, What am I hoping people will see? When you walkout your house on Sunday mornings and drive to your church why are you going? “What then do you go out to see?” When you walk out of your “Notre Dame” following your service, what effect, what is the experience are you walking out with? Do you walk out with “your face glowing” and a sense of awe that you are assured you had been in the presence of God? Are you compelled to tell your family, neighbors and friends all about your experience and invite and encourage everyone you meet to come and see and experience the presence of God at “my church.”
My family, I pray in your reflections and prayers on this the Holy Spirit will reveal and clarify in you, “What then are you going out to see?” In Jesus’ name. Please pray the same for me. God bless you my friends!
As we read through the New Testament, I can not post a reflection on an entire chapter, but what verses stood out to me. I would love for you to post what stood out to you or your thoughts/reflections from the days chapter reading with myself or others using the comment box below. Thank you!
Begin 2025 by resolving to partner with us!
I want to ask you to resolve this year in partnering with my wife, myself, and One Direction Community by supporting our ministries! We begin 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. If you click on the link below you can easily set up a weekly, bi-monthly, or monthly auto donations in the amount you desire. . We would be so grateful for your help. You can also give a one-time donation on the same link. Thank you!
CLICK HERE TO GIVE
Gary Liederbach- Lead Follower
One Direction Community
Email: garyl@onedirection.community
Website: https://www.onedirection.community
Facebook: One Direction Community-ODC
It’s not to late! , JOIN IN!!
We started January 1st the journey of reading through the New Testament in a year. This plan has only one chapter to read each weekday. There are no assigned readings on the weekend. The plan we will use is from Bibleplan.org. Click the button below to go to the site, enter the starting date January 1, 2025, enter your email, and a time you want to receive an email reminder, then click subscribe. Then you will receive an email confirmation to click on. Every weekday then you will receive an email reminder of the chapter reading for that day.
“Whoever, then, acknowledges me before people, I will acknowledge before my Father in heaven. But whoever denies me before people, I will deny him also before my Father in heaven.” (Matthew 10:31-33)
We just finished electing our president of the USA. Whichever candidate, whether it was Trump or Harris, you took time to campaigned for them, supported them, and acknowledged them. You may have put a sign up in your yard or wore a campaign button or hat to let your neighbors know who you support. You followed closely their campaign on TV and social media, studied the issues so you could argue and support them in discussions. When the subject of the election came up in an in-person or on-line conversation, you shared or posted your opinion of support and the reasons you are voting for your candidate, and the reasons you are not voting for the other candidate. You talked about it with you family and friends around the dinner table and at gatherings. You were anxious and may have even prayed for your candidate and the outcome of the election. And all of this support, the conversations you entered into; social media posts, arguments you may have had, stress and anxiety you felt, and support and acknowledging you did for an earthly candidate who is temporary. Who’s impact on your day to day life in reality would be minor and temporary, as in a few years they would be gone. Your support of your candidate means nothing in the long term reality and destiny of your life. And when you got up Wednesday morning after the election, whether your candidate won or lost, you walked out the door the same way you did on Tuesday morning and headed out to work and began your day.
In comparison, you have a Lord of Lords and King of Kings named Jesus Christ who is the eternal Son of God. Who tells you earlier in Matthew 10:28, not to be afraid of those who can affect your life in a minor and temporary way, who may be able to cause hardship and even kill your body but cannot impact at all your eternal destiny or kill your eternal soul. But instead fear, acknowledge, and support the one who has a major, eternal impact and effect on your life and your eternal destiny and is able to destroy both your soul and body in hell. So how are your acknowledging your Lord Jesus? Are you following His campaign and policies by reading His agenda in the Bible? Are you entering into conversations in person and on line, talking about Him and supporting Him to your family and friends around the dinner table? Are you letting your neighbors know who you follow? Are you arguing and encouraging other to choose Him as that choice actually has an effect on their life, joy, hope, and well-being every morning when they walk out their door. And their choice of Jesus has actual consequences to their decision that are eternal and effect their eternal destiny?
My family, I will simply close with the words of Jesus to you again, “Whoever, then, acknowledges me before people, I will acknowledge before my Father in heaven. But whoever denies me before people, I will deny him also before my Father in heaven.” And I pray you walk out your door with real urgency and resolve to acknowledge Jesus as Lord in every encounter you enter into today, In Jesus’ name. Please pray the same for me. God bless you my friends!
As we read through the New Testament, I can not post a reflection on an entire chapter, but what verses stood out to me. I would love for you to post what stood out to you or your thoughts/reflections from the days chapter reading with myself or others using the comment box below. Thank you!
Begin 2025 by resolving to partner with us!
I want to ask you to resolve this year in partnering with my wife, myself, and One Direction Community by supporting our ministries! We begin 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. If you click on the link below you can easily set up a weekly, bi-monthly, or monthly auto donations in the amount you desire. . We would be so grateful for your help. You can also give a one-time donation on the same link. Thank you!
CLICK HERE TO GIVE
Gary Liederbach- Lead Follower
One Direction Community
Email: garyl@onedirection.community
Website: https://www.onedirection.community
Facebook: One Direction Community-ODC
It’s not to late! , JOIN IN!!
We started January 1st the journey of reading through the New Testament in a year. This plan has only one chapter to read each weekday. There are no assigned readings on the weekend. The plan we will use is from Bibleplan.org. Click the button below to go to the site, enter the starting date January 1, 2025, enter your email, and a time you want to receive an email reminder, then click subscribe. Then you will receive an email confirmation to click on. Every weekday then you will receive an email reminder of the chapter reading for that day.
Lord of Lords, King of Kings, I come before your throne seeking your mercy, grace and protection over my family and my life this morning…
“Jesus was going through all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every kind of disease and every kind of sickness.” (Matthew 9:35)
As we read Matthew chapter 9 this morning, it is a chapter full of examples of Jesus going out into his community with love and the outpouring of power and miracles: because he had compassion for them (v.36). Jesus wiped away a mans sins, (v.2), healed a paralytic man, (v.6), you had dinner with sinners (v.10), healed a woman from a hemorrhage (v.20), raised a young girl from the dead (v.25), gave sight back to two blind men (v.30), cast out demons (v.32), and healed people of every kind of sickness and disease (v.35). Jesus, you loved people and wanted to meet their physical needs, but your main purpose was not meeting their physical needs, but their spiritual needs. The main words you desired people to hear were not that they were physically healed, but the Gospel, the “Good News” that they could be saved.
Jesus you know I am a decent person. That I have a desire to meet people’s physical needs for food, clothing, shelter, safety and healing. Yet people do not need simply my decency, they need you. They do not need to hear that I am a “nice man” but the Gospel of your saving grace.
Over this weekend Friday and Saturday I went out into the cold, drove my truck out in the snow and ice and picked up backed goods from several Publix stores. I then took them and handed them out to Waffle House employees, neighbors in need and the Downtown Rescue Mission. If I simply meet these peoples physical needs out of my decency it would have been a good thing. I will be liked and my popularity will increase. However, if I never mentioned Jesus and directed them to him as the source of my decency, my ministry will decrease. As my “decency” can not save anyone. Like you Jesus, help me keep the first thing first when I meet someone, which is sharing the Gospel and that the Kingdom of God is at hand. Help me push past nice, safe, conversations with my friends, neighbors and co-workers, that reflect my decency and enter into kingdom conversations that reflect your saving works of the cross and resurrection.
My family, I pray today and this week you intentionally go beyond the “nice” ”comfortable” level of conversations you have with those in which whom you work, play, hang-out with and serve. I pray you enter your calling not to simply be a nice person to the them out of your decency, but a harvester of their souls out the Gospel. In Jesus’ name. Please pray the same for me. God bless you my friends!
.As we read through the New Testament, I can not post a reflection on an entire chapter, but what verses stood out to me. I would love for you to post what stood out to you or your thoughts/reflections from the days chapter reading with myself or others using the comment box below. Thank you!
Begin 2025 by resolving to partner with us!
I want to ask you to resolve this year in partnering with my wife, myself, and One Direction Community by supporting our ministries! We begin 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. If you click on the link below you can easily set up a weekly, bi-monthly, or monthly auto donations in the amount you desire. . We would be so grateful for your help. You can also give a one-time donation on the same link. Thank you!
CLICK HERE TO GIVE
Gary Liederbach- Lead Follower
One Direction Community
Email: garyl@onedirection.community
Website: https://www.onedirection.community
Facebook: One Direction Community-ODC
It’s not to late! , JOIN IN!!
We started January 1st the journey of reading through the New Testament in a year. This plan has only one chapter to read each weekday. There are no assigned readings on the weekend. The plan we will use is from Bibleplan.org. Click the button below to go to the site, enter the starting date January 1, 2025, enter your email, and a time you want to receive an email reminder, then click subscribe. Then you will receive an email confirmation to click on. Every weekday then you will receive an email reminder of the chapter reading for that day.
“After he came down from the mountain, large crowds followed him. And a leper approached, and bowed low before him, saying, “Lord, if you are willing, you can make me clean.” He stretched out his hand and touched him saying, “I am willing. Be clean!” Immediately his leprosy was cleansed.” (Matthew 8:1-4)
In Matthew Chapters 5-7, The Sermon on the Mount, Jesus declares how his kingdom will be a reversal of many of the cultural norms, teachings and religious traditions of Judaism the people held and followed. He taught them many of the reversals: Mourn-Comforted, meek-inherit, hunger-satisfied, blessed-persecuted, do not break you oath-do not make an oath, eye for an eye-turn your cheek, hate your enemy- pray for your enemy…ect.
Immediately in the first verse of chapter 8, he does not just declare the reversal his kingdom requires, he demonstrates it. Jesus has an encounter with a leper. Those with leprosy in that time were outcasts of society. They were labeled “unclean” and had to walk around shouting “Unclean!” wherever they went. Uncleanliness was a huge issue in Judaism. It is at the core of many of the teachings in Leviticus and controlled much of the daily life and rituals of the Jews. The Jewish religion and the people held the deep belief that if something clean touched something unclean, the clean became unclean. If someone or something that was clean, touched or contacted something that was unclean, some sort of ritual purification was required to make the clean person or thing that was now unclean because of contact with something unclean, clean again. And until the ritual was performed to make you clean again, your were shunned and isolated from your community.
In Matthew 8: 1-4 we find Jesus followed by and in the middle of a large crowd. An unclean leper, shouting “unclean!, unclean!” somehow makes it through the crowd and approached Jesus. Jesus finds himself face to face with this leper in the middle of the large crowd. The leper asks Jesus to heal him. This story is also told in Mark 1:40-42. In Mark it states Jesus was“Moved with compassion.” In most translations of this story in Matthew the Greek word ἰδού (idou) is not translated because it has no exact English equivalent here. It means something like a deep sigh or a gasp. The leper knelt before Jesus and as he looks around at the crowds and how this poor person has been shunned, he sighs deeply as this is not how his people were supposed to have acted. Then Jesus does something un-thinkable. He touches the leper. Jesus was the only one who sighed or gasped when the leper kneeled in front of him, but I guarantee you everyone in the large crowd, sighed, gasped, and shrieked when they watched Jesus touch the leper.
And here was the great reversal; In Jesus touching the leper, something clean touched something unclean and the clean did not become unclean, the unclean became clean! This was huge! It struck at this foundation understanding in Judaism. Jesus forever changed that paradigm to something clean touching something unclean makes it clean!
Jesus came to the earth, was incarnated in human flesh and became Immanuel, God with us, so he could intimately embrace that which was unclean and make it clean. And praise God he included me in that embrace and he includes you! And we who have been embraced by Jesus and made clean, were not made clean to be set aside, and congregate with the clean in sanctuaries, but embrace the unclean in mangers.
R-read again Matthew chapters 5-7 and look at the reversals Jesus’ sermon was declaring his kingdom required. Read Matthew 8:1-4 and see the reversal Jesus demonstrated. Then pray and reflect on how Jesus, moved with compassion, stretched out his hand and touched you when you knelt before him in an unclean, broken state and spoke over you, “I am willing. Be clean!” (Mark 1:40). You are called to carry Christ into your community and embrace those that are unclean and make them clean. Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal what traditions, cultural norms, religious practices you are clinging to that are keeping you from embracing the unclean and need to be reversed. Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to you those in your community you are called to embrace.
My family, I pray you come to the deep understanding that Jesus came to the earth, was incarnated in human flesh and became Immanuel, God with us, so he could intimately embrace that which was unclean and make it clean. That is the message of Christmas. That is a message we all need to hear then fall on our knees and be so grateful, in Jesus name. Please pray the same for me. God bless you my friends!.
As we read through the New Testament, I can not post a reflection on an entire chapter, but what verses stood out to me. I would love for you to post what stood out to you or your thoughts/reflections from the days chapter reading with myself or others using the comment box below. Thank you!
Begin 2025 by resolving to partner with us!
I want to ask you to resolve this year in partnering with my wife, myself, and One Direction Community by supporting our ministries! We begin 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. If you click on the link below you can easily set up a weekly, bi-monthly, or monthly auto donations in the amount you desire. . We would be so grateful for your help. You can also give a one-time donation on the same link. Thank you!
CLICK HERE TO GIVE
Gary Liederbach- Lead Follower
One Direction Community
Email: garyl@onedirection.community
Website: https://www.onedirection.community
Facebook: One Direction Community-ODC
Good morning, Lord Jesus. Good Shepherd of my soul, lead me step by step along the journey of my day. ...
"'Everyone then who hears these words of Mine and acts on them will be like a wise man who built his house on rock. The rain fell, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on rock. And everyone who hears these words of Mine and does not act on them will be like a foolish man who built his house on sand. The rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell -- and great was its fall!' Now when Jesus had finished saying these things, the crowds were astounded at His teaching, for He taught them as one having authority, and not as their scribes" (Matthew 7:24-29).
Lord, give me discernment to hear Your words and wisdom to act on them in faith. Give me humility to embrace Your authority and courage to stand firm and follow through in trusting obedience.
It's wisdom to build my house before the storm. And it's wisdom to build my house on rock. What is the "rock"? ...
As I wait and listen, it seems I hear in my heart: "Your relationship with Me is your rock. You build your relationship with Me when you seek Me in prayer, when you honor Me in worship, when you obey Me in faith." ...
Yes, Lord. And what is the "sand"? ...
I believe You're saying in my heart: "The sand is depending on your own strength, your own wisdom, your own ways apart from My ways. It may seem fine at first, but it will not withstand the storms. Only what's built on the rock can withstand the storms. And there will always be storms -- some more severe than others. But you can withstand any storm as you hold fast to your relationship with Me. Those who are wise will build thier relationship with Me before the storms. Those who are foolish will not. And they will not withstand the storms."
Yes, Lord. Draw me near. Hold me close. Help me hear. Teach me to learn to discern Your voice and trust Your ways. When I look back and see all the storms we've weathered together, I know I'd be foolish to waste a day of not seeking to draw closer in relationship with You.
You draw near to those who seek to draw near to You (John 15:4; James 4:8). By the power of Your grace, may I draw nearer to You every day. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
My family, I pray you may draw nearer to Jesus, steadily building your relationship with Him every day, that you may withstand every storm that comes your way, in Jesus name. Please pray the same for me. God bless you, my friends!
As we read through the New Testament, I can not post a reflection on an entire chapter, but what verses stood out to me. I would love for you to post what stood out to you or your thoughts/reflections from the days chapter reading with myself or others using the comment box below. Thank you!
Begin 2025 by resolving to partner with us!
I want to ask you to resolve this year in partnering with my wife, myself, and One Direction Community by supporting our ministries! We begin 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. If you click on the link below you can easily set up a weekly, bi-monthly, or monthly auto donations in the amount you desire. . We would be so grateful for your help. You can also give a one-time donation on the same link. Thank you!
CLICK HERE TO GIVE
Gary Liederbach- Lead Follower
One Direction Community
Email: garyl@onedirection.community
Website: https://www.onedirection.community
Facebook: One Direction Community-ODC
Good morning, Lord Jesus. Put Your thoughts in my mind and Your desires in my heart to guide my steps along my journey of faith in You today.
"Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust consume and where thieves break in and steal; but store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust consume and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will also" (Matthew 6:29-21).
As I read chapter 6 this morning I am still thinking about Steve’s comment to yesterday’s post on the “pure in Heart” and the ones who really want to see God. Everyone lives for some kind of treasure. What Your treasure is will control the one thing that controls everything else and every part of you, your heart. What controls your heart controls your words and your life.
My heart will be “pure in heart,” my heart will be in the right place when my treasure is in the right place. What I treasure most is what get's the most of me -- my time, my attention, my resources, my passion. And You said my treasures should be in heaven.
Things on earth should never be your treasure.
As things on earth will never be your savior.
Lord, what are "treasures in heaven?" "Treasures in heaven are the things that are treasured most in the kingdom of heaven. They are not treasures of silver or gold or diamonds or rubies. They are treasures of humility and faith, obedience and love, kindness and joy. They are the treasures that Jesus treasure’s most in your heart as he allows you to form his heart in you. For the kingdom of heaven is within you, and Jesus’ desire is to see the treasures in heaven become his treasures in you."
Lord. Grow these treasures in me. Store them up in me. Give me the grace to grow and embrace humility and faith, obedience and love, kindness and joy, and everything else that You long to see maturing in me. Let this be my treasure and let this be my heart. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
My Family, I pray you may treasure what Jesus treasures, and may His treasure grow in you every day, as you keep growing in Him. May “treasures from heaven” be what controls your heart and controls your words and your life today, in Jesus' name! PLEASE pray the same of me. God bless you, my friends!
As we read through the New Testament I would love for you to post what stood out to you or your thoughts/reflections from the days chapter reading with myself or others using the comment box below. Thank you!
Begin 2025 by resolving to partner with us!
I want to ask you to resolve this year in partnering with my wife, myself, and One Direction Community by supporting our ministries! We begin 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. If you click on the link below you can easily set up a weekly, bi-monthly, or monthly auto donations in the amount you desire. . We would be so grateful for your help. You can also give a one-time donation on the same link. Thank you!
CLICK HERE TO GIVE
Gary Liederbach- Lead Follower
One Direction Community
Email: garyl@onedirection.community
Website: https://www.onedirection.community
Facebook: One Direction Community-ODC
Matthew 5
Good morning, Lord Jesus. I lift my eyes and open my heart to welcome Your Word and Your Spirit into me and every moment of my day.
"Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled" (Matthew 5:6).
Jesus said this to all who would choose to humble themselves and follow that were sitting listening to your speak. God said the same thing to those who would listen hundreds of years earlier.
"Remember the long way that the Lord your God has led you these forty years in the wilderness, in order to humble you, testing you to know what was in your heart, whether or not you would keep His commandments. He humbled you by letting you hunger, then by feeding you with manna, with which neither you nor your ancestors were acquainted, in order to make you understand that one does not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord" (Deuteronomy 8:2-3).
And Jesus says this same thing to all who would choose to humble themselves and follow Him today. Give me a holy hunger. One that is never satisfied. Give me a hunger for Your Word and for Your Spirit, for Your promises and for Your presence. Rather than filling myself up every moment with the food I can provide with my own hands, food that will never satisfy me, give me the grace to wait for the "manna" that only You can provide. Let the delays of "the long way" you lead me into make me hungrier still for the only One who can ever satisfy the longing of my soul.
With this holy hunger may You humble my heart to keep and obey your commandments as You guide my steps along the long and narrow way that leads to life in You. Give me a faith to persevere and believe You're using the journey you have me on to make me more like You each day and to conform me into the image of the Son of God (Romans 8:29). Help me understand the journey will be worth it.
Just as You led Israel on her journey, so You're leading me to on my journey to the place You've prepared for me all along. "For the Lord (my) God is bringing (me) into a good land ... where (I) will lack nothing.... (I) shall eat (my) fill and bless the Lord (my) God for the good land that He has given (me)!" (Deuteronomy 8:7-10)
In the power of Your grace, give me that holy hunger and righteous thirst for You today so that I may be filled with your righteousness. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
My family, I pray you'll begin your day seeking to hunger and thirst for the One who longs to fill you with His Word and His Spirit to make you more like Him each day, including today, in Jesus' name! Please pray the same of me. God bless you, my friends!
As we read through the New Testament I would love for you to post what stood out to you or your thoughts/reflections from the days chapter reading with myself or others using the comment box below. Thank you!
Begin 2025 by resolving to partner with us!
I want to ask you to resolve this year in partnering with my wife, myself, and One Direction Community by supporting our ministries! We begin 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. If you click on the link below you can easily set up a weekly, bi-monthly, or monthly auto donations in the amount you desire. . We would be so grateful for your help. You can also give a one-time donation on the same link. Thank you!
CLICK HERE TO GIVE
Gary Liederbach- Lead Follower
One Direction Community
Email: garyl@onedirection.community
Website: https://www.onedirection.community
Facebook: One Direction Community-ODC
Matt 4
Good morning Lord Jesus. Help me begin my day embraced by my Father, centered in Christ, and filled with the Holy Spirit. ...
"Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil.... Then the devil took Him to the holy city.... Again, the devil took Him to a very high mountain.... Jesus said to him, 'Away with you, Satan! For it is written, 'Worship the Lord your God, and serve only Him.'' Then the devil left Him, and suddenly angels came and waited on Him" (Matthew 4:1-11)
Lord,. Even You, holy and without sin, were both led by the Spirit to places at times and taken by the devil to places at times, according to the Word of God. You were "in all ways tempted as we are, yet without sin" (Hebrews 4:15). You always knew how to respond. You always embraced all the Spirit had for You and always rejected all the devil had for You. By the power of Your grace, may I learn to do the same.
Thank You for the promise of Your Word, "All who are led by the Spirit of God are children of God" (Romans 8:14). And for Your promise, "When the Spirit of Truth comes, He will guide (me) into all the truth" (John 16:13). I am Your child and You are my Father. Come lead me by Your Spirit into Your truth. Empower me to discern and resist every temptation of the devil. "No temptation has overtaken (me) except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow (me) to be tempted beyond what (I) am able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that (I) may be able to bear it" (1 Corinthians 10:13).
Let Your Word be hidden in my heart so that I can declare what is written; and let Your Spirit guide my spirit so that I'm certain where I am and who led me there or took me there. Then -- no matter whether it was You or the devil -- You'll cause it all to work together for good in the fulfillment of Your plans and purposes (Romans 8:28). In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
My family, I pray you will spend time in prayer and reading God’s Word this morning to help you learn to discern when your in a place where the Spirit has led you or where the devil has taken you. I pray this so you will be led by the Spirit through every temptation with God's Word hidden in your heart and God's Spirit guiding your spirit, in Jesus' name! Please pray the same for me. God bless you, my friends!
As we read through the New Testament I would love for you to post what stood out to you or your thoughts/reflections from the days chapter reading with myself or others using the comment box below. Thank you!
Begin 2025 by resolving to partner with us!
I want to ask you to resolve this year in partnering with my wife, myself, and One Direction Community by supporting our ministries! We begin 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. If you click on the link below you can easily set up a weekly, bi-monthly, or monthly auto donations in the amount you desire. . We would be so grateful for your help. You can also give a one-time donation on the same link. Thank you!
CLICK HERE TO GIVE
Gary Liederbach- Lead Follower
One Direction Community
Email: garyl@onedirection.community
Website: https://www.onedirection.community
Facebook: One Direction Community-ODC
READING THROUGH THE NEW TESTAMENT IN 2025 WE JUST STATRTED LAST WEEK! YOU CAN STILL JOIN US!
There are 260 chapters of the Bible in the New Testament (NT).
There are also 260 weekdays, Mon-Fri in a Year.
So if you read just one chapter of the NT, just 5 days a week. , Mon-Fri, you will read through the whole NT in a year. So I would like for us to join together in reading through the NT in 2025. And in 2025 I am going to use the daily NT reading for my weekday morning ODC Daily Message devotion blog so we can reflect on the readings together..
To make it easy for us to stay on track of what chapter we are on each day I want us to use the Bible plan found at [https://bibleplan.org/plans/new-testament-in-a-year/#net]
It is very simple.
Go to the website.
When it comes up select the language: English
Select the translation: New English Translation
Select the initial reading date: Jan 1st, 2025
Select the time you want to receive a daily email stating the days chapter reading
Enter the email you want the daily email sent to
Click on subscribe!
You will be sent an email tyou need to click on to confirm subsciption Then, starting Jan 1st every weekday morning you will get an email with the days NT chapter reading.
You can invite others, family members, friends to join in. It does not matter where they live. When my father was alive in Cleveland I had him subscribe so he could read through the Bible with us as well. Let me know if you have any questions!
Looking forward to our time together in the Word!
Good morning, Lord Jesus. Lord of all, lead me into all You have for me today. ...
“In those days John the Baptist appeared in the wilderness of Judea, proclaiming, ‘Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.’ This is the one of whom the prophet Isaiah spoke when he said,
‘The voice of one crying out in the wilderness:
‘Prepare the way of the Lord; make His paths straight.’”
(He declared,) “I baptize you with water for repentance, but the One who is coming after me is more powerful than I, and I am not worthy to carry His sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and Fire. His winnowing fork is in His hand, and He will clear His threshing floor and will gather His wheat into the granary, but the chaff He will burn with unquenchable Fire’” (Matthew 3:1-12).
We are commanded by Jesus and need to forgive. Forgiveness flows out of our requirement to repent. Why, because I want a revival of the Holy Spirit in me, in you and in our churches. However, before the Holy Spirit can be the “Holy Comforter” He first has to be the “Holy Convictor” Before we can receive the baptism of power and Holy Fire, we must first choose the baptism of repentance. That is why John the Baptizer performed a baptism of repentance, to prepare those to receive Jesus’ baptism of Fire.
Thank You, Lord, for the baptism of “water for repentance.” We cannot enter the kingdom of heaven without repentance; it’s when we “repent” that the “kingdom of heaven has come near” (v. 2). That’s our salvation, when we repent and turn to You, when we “confess with (our) mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in (our) heart that God raised Him from the dead, (we) will be saved” (Romans 10:9).
But there is more. When we repent and turn to You, we’ll go to heaven when we die, but You also want heaven in us now. You desire to have a people on this earth who are called by Your name, but also display Your nature in their hearts and move in the power of Your Spirit in their lives. You desire that we not only be baptized “with water for repentance,” but that we also be baptized “with the Holy Spirit and Fire” (Matthew 3:11).
This is the Promise of the Father, what our Father has promised to all who wait upon the Lord until we “have been clothed with power from on high” (Luke 24:49). What You desired for Your first disciples just before You ascended to heaven after Your resurrection, You continue to desire for every disciple, as recorded in the first words of the Book of Acts at the beginning of Your Church in the earth:
“In the first book, Theophilus, I wrote about all that Jesus began to do and teach until the day when He was taken up to heaven, after giving instructions through the Holy Spirit to the apostles whom He had chosen. After His suffering He presented Himself alive to them by many convincing proofs, appearing to them during forty days and speaking about the kingdom of God. While staying with them, He ordered them not to leave Jerusalem but to wait there for the Promise of the Father. ‘This,’ He said, ‘is what you have heard from Me; for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.’”
“So when they had come together, they asked Him, ‘Lord, is this the time when You will restore the kingdom to Israel?’ He replied, ‘It is not for you to know the times or periods that the Father has set by His own authority. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be My witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.’ (Acts 1:1-8).
Lord, send Your Fire! Send the Fire that baptizes us with Your Holy Spirit. Send the Fire that fulfills the Promise of our Father for all Your sons and daughters. Your Fire fell on the day of Pentecost for the beginning of Your Church (Acts 2:1). And Your Fire stills falls on all who wait upon You to “be clothed with power from on high,” to “receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon (us)” (Luke 24:49; Acts 1:8).
The Apostle Peter declared the need to repent of sin to receive Holy Spirit fire. On the Day of Pentecost Peter proclaimed: “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ so that your sins may be forgiven, and you will receive the Gift of the Holy Spirit. For the Promise is for you, for your children, and for all who are far away, everyone whom the Lord our God calls to Him” (Acts 2:38-29).
That same Holy Fire that empowers us is the same Holy Fire that sanctifies us -- that burns out of us everything in us that is not yet like Jesus. “For this is the will of God, (our) sanctification” (1 Thessalonians 4:3). That “the God of peace Himself sanctify (us) entirely, and (that our) spirit and soul and body be kept sound and blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ” (1 Thessalonians 5:23).
We can’t do that ourselves; You have to do that in us, by Your Holy Fire burning within us, both empowering us and sanctifying us, to be like You as Your witnesses in our world. “The One who calls (us) is faithful, and He will do this” (1 Thessalonians 5:24).
Do this in me, Lord. Today and every day. Baptize me afresh with Your Holy Spirit. Consume me with Your Holy Fire. “For indeed our God is a Consuming Fire” (Hebrews 12:29). Come set me ablaze this day and every day to be one of Your burning ones, empowered with the authority of Your Spirit and sanctified with the character of Your nature. Let me continually “be filled with the Spirit” (Ephesians 5:18). Shine through me, with Your Holy Fire burning in me. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.
My Family, may you be baptized with the Holy Spirit and enter the baptism of repentance, so you can be set ablaze with the Consuming Fire of God to be His witness in your world, with His authority in your words and His character in your heart, in Jesus' name. Please pray the same for me. God bless you, my friends!
I would love for you to please share your reflections with myself or others using the comment box below.
Begin 2025 by resolving to partner with us!
I want to ask you to resolve this year in partnering with my wife, myself, and One Direction Community by supporting our ministries! We begin 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. If you click on the link below you can easily set up a weekly, bi-monthly, or monthly auto donations in the amount you desire. . We would be so grateful for your help. You can also give a one-time donation on the same link. Thank you!
CLICK HERE TO GIVE
You can mail your donation to One Direction Community P.O. Box 1293 Madison, Al 35758
Would you like to receive my morning devotion blog in 2024?
Email your name and email address to garyl@onedirection.community and I will add you to my ODC Daily Message distribution list to receive an email of these reflection every weekday morning.
Gary Liederbach- Lead Follower
One Direction Community
Email: garyl@onedirection.community
Website: https://www.onedirection.community
Facebook: One Direction Community-ODC
READING THROUGH THE NEW TESTAMENT IN 2025 We Just STARTED! YOU CAN STILL JOIN US!
There are 260 chapters of the Bible in the New Testament (NT).
There are also 260 weekdays, Mon-Fri in a Year.
So if you read just one chapter of the NT, just 5 days a week. , Mon-Fri, you will read through the whole NT in a year. So I would like for us to join together in reading through the NT in 2025. And in 2025 I am going to use the daily NT reading for my weekday morning ODC Daily Message devotion blog so we can reflect on the readings together..
To make it easy for us to stay on track of what chapter we are on each day I want us to use the Bible plan found at [https://bibleplan.org/plans/new-testament-in-a-year/#net]
It is very simple.
Go to the website.
When it comes up select the language: English
Select the translation: New English Translation
Select the initial reading date: Jan 1st, 2025
Select the time you want to receive a daily email stating the days chapter reading
Enter the email you want the daily email sent to
Click on subscribe!
You will be sent an email tyou need to click on to confirm subsciption Then, starting Jan 1st every weekday morning you will get an email with the days NT chapter reading.
You can invite others, family members, friends to join in. It does not matter where they live. When my father was alive in Cleveland I had him subscribe so he could read through the Bible with us as well. Let me know if you have any questions!
Looking forward to our time together in the Word!
We are on day 2 of our year-long journey of reading through the New Testament, looking at Matthew chapter 2.
"Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem, saying, 'Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? For we have seen His star in the East and have come to worship Him.... The star which they had seen in the East went before them, till it came and stood over where the young Child was. When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceedingly great joy. And when they had come into the house, they saw the young Child with Mary His mother, and fell down and worshiped Him. And when they had opened their treasures, they presented gifts to Him: gold, frankincense, and myrrh" (Matthew 2:1-11).
The wise men were going to see the King. They followed His star and when they found Him they took Him into their hearts. They "rejoiced with exceedingly great joy!" They "fell down and worshiped Him" and "opened their treasures" before Him to offer their gifts to Him.
Lord Jesus, You are the King - "the blessed and only Sovereign, the King of kings and Lord of lords" (1 Timothy 6:15). Give me the wisdom to pursue You every day. Give me the humility to open the treasures of my heart and offer the gift of my life completely to You. Holy Spirit help me worship Worship Jesus and welcome Him into my heart and every moment of my day, Your Spirit will fill me with the peace of Christ and "with exceedingly great joy!" Let me be among those wise men and women who are ever seeking to see the King! In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
My family, I pray the Holy Spirit may stir in your heart this morning to go and see the King today and every day, giving Him the gift of your heart, as He fills you with His peace and exceedingly great joy, in Jesus' name! Please pray the same for me. God bless you, my friends!
I would love our time in The New Testament to be one of discovery and sharing from all of us! So please share your reflections and prayers in the comment box below.
Begin 2025 by resolving to partner with us!
I want to ask you to resolve this year in partnering with my wife, myself, and One Direction Community by supporting our ministries! We begin 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. If you click on the link below you can easily set up a weekly, bi-monthly, or monthly auto donations in the amount you desire. . We would be so grateful for your help. You can also give a one-time donation on the same link. Thank you!
CLICK HERE TO GIVE
You can mail your donation to One Direction Community P.O. Box 1293 Madison, Al 35758
Would you like to receive my morning devotion blog in 2024?
Email your name and email address to garyl@onedirection.community and I will add you to my ODC Daily Message distribution list to receive an email of these reflection every weekday morning.
Gary Liederbach- Lead Follower
One Direction Community
Email: garyl@onedirection.community
Website: https://www.onedirection.community
Facebook: One Direction Community-ODC
READING THROUGH THE NEW TESTAMENT IN 2025 STARTED YESTERDAY! YOU CAN STILL JOIN US!
There are 260 chapters of the Bible in the New Testament (NT).
There are also 260 weekdays, Mon-Fri in a Year.
So if you read just one chapter of the NT, just 5 days a week. , Mon-Fri, you will read through the whole NT in a year. So I would like for us to join together in reading through the NT in 2025. And in 2025 I am going to use the daily NT reading for my weekday morning ODC Daily Message devotion blog so we can reflect on the readings together..
To make it easy for us to stay on track of what chapter we are on each day I want us to use the Bible plan found at [https://bibleplan.org/plans/new-testament-in-a-year/#net]
It is very simple.
Go to the website.
When it comes up select the language: English
Select the translation: New English Translation
Select the initial reading date: Jan 1st, 2025
Select the time you want to receive a daily email stating the days chapter reading
Enter the email you want the daily email sent to
Click on subscribe!
You will be sent an email tyou need to click on to confirm subsciption Then, starting Jan 1st every weekday morning you will get an email with the days NT chapter reading.
You can invite others, family members, friends to join in. It does not matter where they live. When my father was alive in Cleveland I had him subscribe so he could read through the Bible with us as well. Let me know if you have any questions!
Looking forward to our time together in the Word!
Good morning, Lord Jesus. Father, Son, and Holy Spirit of God, I worship You and welcome You here in my heart and every moment of this new year. I am excited for what you will reveal to us as we begin today reading and soaking the Your words found in the New Testament.
"she will bear a Son, and you are to name Him Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins" (Matthew 1:21).
Jesus was given the name chosen by God the Father. His name expressed His nature, His identity, His destiny. Jesus, the Son of God -- Yeshua in Hebrew, jesous in Greek -- means the Salvation of God.
Through Jesus, God saves us, heals us, and delivers us into the forgiveness and freedom and future we have in Christ. "There is salvation in no one else, for there is not other name under heaven given among mortals by which we must be saved" (Acts 4:12). The name of Jesus is "that name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow ... and every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of the God the Father" (Philippians 2:9-11).
Lord Jesus, As I begin this new year, I bow my knees and open my heart to speak Your name and confess You as Lord. In every way and everything I do in 2022, may you be the Lord of my thoughts and desires, Lord of my identity and destiny, Lord of my hopes and dreams, Lord of my relationships and fellowships, Lord of my provision and protection, Lord of my ministry and vocation, Lord of my gifts and calling, Lord of every dimension of my spirit and soul and body, Lord of every aspect of my life. All that I am and all that I have, I entrust to Your Lordship of my life. "(My) help is in the name of the Lord" (Psalm 124:8). In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
My family, I pray you begin 2025 on bowed knees and with an open heart desiring Jesus to be the Lord of every area of your life, as you call on His name and trust in Him as the Salvation of God, in Jesus' name. Please pray the same for me. God bless you, my friends!
Please share your reflections and prayers in the comment box below.
Begin 2025 by resolving to partner with us!
I want to ask you to resolve this year in partnering with my wife, myself, and One Direction Community by supporting our ministries! We begin 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. If you click on the link below you can easily set up a weekly, bi-monthly, or monthly auto donations in the amount you desire. . We would be so grateful for your help. You can also give a one-time donation on the same link. Thank you!
CLICK HERE TO GIVE
You can mail your donation to One Direction Community P.O. Box 1293 Madison, Al 35758
Would you like to receive my morning devotion blog in 2024?
Email your name and email address to garyl@onedirection.community and I will add you to my ODC Daily Message distribution list to receive an email of these reflection every weekday morning.
Gary Liederbach- Lead Follower
One Direction Community
Email: garyl@onedirection.community
Website: https://www.onedirection.community
Facebook: One Direction Community-ODC
READING THROUGH THE NEW TESTAMENT IN 2025 STARTS TODAY! JOIN US!
There are 260 chapters of the Bible in the New Testament (NT).
There are also 260 weekdays, Mon-Fri in a Year.
So if you read just one chapter of the NT, just 5 days a week. , Mon-Fri, you will read through the whole NT in a year. So I would like for us to join together in reading through the NT in 2025. And in 2025 I am going to use the daily NT reading for my weekday morning ODC Daily Message devotion blog so we can reflect on the readings together..
To make it easy for us to stay on track of what chapter we are on each day I want us to use the Bible plan found at [https://bibleplan.org/plans/new-testament-in-a-year/#net]
It is very simple.
Go to the website.
When it comes up select the language: English
Select the translation: New English Translation
Select the initial reading date: Jan 1st, 2025
Select the time you want to receive a daily email stating the days chapter reading
Enter the email you want the daily email sent to
Click on subscribe!
You will be sent an email tyou need to click on to confirm subsciption Then, starting Jan 1st every weekday morning you will get an email with the days NT chapter reading.
You can invite others, family members, friends to join in. It does not matter where they live. When my father was alive in Cleveland I had him subscribe so he could read through the Bible with us as well. Let me know if you have any questions!
Looking forward to our time together in the Word!
Happy New Year my family!
Tomorrow we begin our year of reading through the New Testament together, so I wanted to pray a blessing over you this morning! I love you all and I was so blessed by your friendship, love, and the life and moments we shared together in 2024. However, I am EXCITED at the sense I have of what God has in store for us this coming year. I also sense it may be the most trying season of our life, but I know it will be one we will never forget and we will proclaim and recount to all 2025 as a time God made himself known to us.
Lord Jesus, as I begin tomorrow the first of many mornings in 2025, let my soul awaken as I speak out Your name and lift up my heart in the communion of prayer with You, Lord God -- Father, Son, and Holy Spirit
… Do not call to mind the former things, Or ponder things of the past. “Behold, I will do something new, Now it will spring forth; Will you not be aware of it? I will even make a roadway in the wilderness, Rivers in the desert. (Isaiah 43:18-19)
"When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, 'Let us go now to Bethlehem and see this thing that has taken place, which the Lord has made known to us.' So they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the Child lying in a manger. When they saw this, they made known what had been told them about the Child; and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds told them" (Luke 2:15-18).
The shepherds couldn't wait to go and see what God had done! They "went with haste" to see what was said to them by the angels. The word of the Lord, spoken through the angel of the Lord, who broke into their loneliness of life, "living in the fields," changed their fear to faith and they said, "Let's go now" and see! (v. 8) And when they had seen the Child who brought such "good news of great joy for all the people," they couldn't wait to go spread the the great news that had recieved! (v. 10). "The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen" (v. 20).
Holy Spirit, as I read through the words of the Christmas story this morning again; my prayer, my desire, my "New Year's Resolution" for the coming year is that you awaken my soul again with the excitement of faith! Return to me a longing for my first love! (Rev.2:4) Stir up in my spirit the desire, like that of the shepherds, to go, see, and encounter you by reading the Bible and time in prayer! Stir up my spirit to go share all You've done for me! Empower me and compel me to not withhold from sharing in every opportunity of 2025 the good news of great joy that turns fear to faith and loneness to praise! Let me truly be amazed at all You have done in and around me and be excited to go and see this God at work in my Community. This God who longs to bring that same good news and great joy into the lives of my neighbors through me! In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
My brother and sisters, I pray the Holy Spirit will awaken your soul 2025 with an excitement of faith and a passion to “go and see” and then to ”go and tell” all what the God of good news and great joy has done for you, in Jesus' name. Please pray the same for me. God bless you my friends
Please share your reflections and prayers in the comment box below.
End 2024 by resolving to partner in 2025!
I want to ask you to resolve this year in partnering with my wife, myself, and One Direction Community by supporting our ministries! We begin 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. If you click on the link below you can easily set up a weekly, bi-monthly, or monthly auto donations in the amount you desire. . We would be so grateful for your help. You can also give a one-time donation on the same link. Thank you!
CLICK HERE TO GIVE
You can mail your donation to One Direction Community P.O. Box 1293 Madison, Al 35758
Would you like to receive my morning devotion blog in 2024?
Email your name and email address to garyl@onedirection.community and I will add you to my ODC Daily Message distribution list to receive an email of these reflection every weekday morning.
Gary Liederbach- Lead Follower
One Direction Community
Email: garyl@onedirection.community
Website: https://www.onedirection.community
Facebook: One Direction Community-ODC
READING THROUGH THE NEW TESTAMENT IN 2025 STARTS TOMORROW! JOIN US!
There are 260 chapters of the Bible in the New Testament (NT).
There are also 260 weekdays, Mon-Fri in a Year.
So if you read just one chapter of the NT, just 5 days a week. , Mon-Fri, you will read through the whole NT in a year. So I would like for us to join together in reading through the NT in 2025. And in 2025 I am going to use the daily NT reading for my weekday morning ODC Daily Message devotion blog so we can reflect on the readings together..
To make it easy for us to stay on track of what chapter we are on each day I want us to use the Bible plan found at [https://bibleplan.org/plans/new-testament-in-a-year/#net]
It is very simple.
Go to the website.
When it comes up select the language: English
Select the translation: New English Translation
Select the initial reading date: Jan 1st, 2025
Select the time you want to receive a daily email stating the days chapter reading
Enter the email you want the daily email sent to
Click on subscribe!
You will be sent an email tyou need to click on to confirm subsciption Then, starting Jan 1st every weekday morning you will get an email with the days NT chapter reading.
You can invite others, family members, friends to join in. It does not matter where they live. When my father was alive in Cleveland I had him subscribe so he could read through the Bible with us as well. Let me know if you have any questions!
Looking forward to our time together in the Word!
Good morning, Lord Jesus. In Your abiding Presence, I want to start my day embraced by my heavenly Father, centered in Jesus Christ, and filled with the Holy Spirit. ...
"And you who were once estranged and hostile in mind, doing evil deeds, He has now reconciled in His fleshly body through death, so as to present you holy and blameless and irreproachable before Him -- provided that you continue securely established and steadfast in the faith, without shifting from the hope promised by the gospel that you heard, which has been proclaimed to every creature under heaven" (Colossians 1:21-23).
"Continue securely established and steadfast in the faith." ... As I read these words and let them settle into my spirit this morning, I hear Your Spirit emphasizing the word "Continue." ...
As I ponder this word, I believe I hear You saying, "Ask Me Gary what is to continue on and what is to remain behind. As you leave behind the past year and enter into the new, ask Me what you are to carry with you and what you are to let go of."
So I am asking you Lord. And You're bringing to mind Your Word proclaimed through the Apostle Paul in his spiritual journey: "Beloved, I do not consider that I have made it my own; but this one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the heavenly call of God in Christ Jesus" (Philippians 3:13-14).
As I prepare for the new year that is two days away, I want to take time to let Your Spirit search my heart and show me what is to continue and what is to remain behind, what I am to hold on to and what I am to let go of. Show me the habits that need to be broken, the hurts that need to be healed, the heart condition that needs to be changed. Uproot and remove everything in me and lift up and break off everything from me that would keep me from fully embracing You and Your plan for my life this coming year. Reveal and remove all that's less than Your best so You can replace it with all that truly is Your best, in Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
My family, I pray you hear the Holy Spirit speaking to your heart to show you what is to continue into 2025 and what is to remain behind in 2024. What you're to hold on to and what you're to let go of as you prepare to move into the new year and continuing your journey into spiritual maturity in Christ, in Jesus' name. Please pray the same for me. God bless you, my friends!
Please share your reflections and prayers in the comment box below.
Partner with us Before the year ends!
As we close out the year, if you have the ability to be generous, I invite you tp partner with me, my wife, and One Direction Community to support our ministries 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 our ministries and outreaches into our community. We would be so grateful for your one time gift or monthly support. Thank you!
You can mail your donation to One Direction Community P.O. Box 1293 Madison, Al 35758
Would you like to receive my morning devotion blog?
Email your name and email address to garyl@onedirection.community and I will add you to my ODC Daily Message distribution list to receive an email of these reflection every weekday morning.
Gary Liederbach- Lead Follower
One Direction Community
Email: garyl@onedirection.community
Website: https://www.onedirection.community
Facebook: One Direction Community-ODC
READING THROUGH THE NEW TESTAMENT IN 2025. JOIN US!
There are 260 chapters of the Bible in the New Testament (NT).
There are also 260 weekdays, Mon-Fri in a Year.
So if you read just one chapter of the NT, just 5 days a week. , Mon-Fri, you will read through the whole NT in a year. So I would like for us to join together in reading through the NT in 2025. And in 2025 I am going to use the daily NT reading for my weekday morning ODC Daily Message devotion blog so we can reflect on the readings together..
To make it easy for us to stay on track of what chapter we are on each day I want us to use the Bible plan found at [https://bibleplan.org/plans/new-testament-in-a-year/#net]
It is very simple.
Go to the website.
When it comes up select the language: English
Select the translation: New English Translation
Select the initial reading date: Jan 1st, 2025
Select the time you want to receive a daily email stating the days chapter reading
Enter the email you want the daily email sent to
Click on subscribe!
You will be sent an email tyou need to click on to confirm subsciption Then, starting Jan 1st every weekday morning you will get an email with the days NT chapter reading.
You can invite others, family members, friends to join in. It does not matter where they live. When my father was alive in Cleveland I had him subscribe so he could read through the Bible with us as well. Let me know if you have any questions!
Looking forward to our time together in the Word!
