Good morning Jesus, I sit here and listen to you and you listen to me…
“Do not address an older man harshly but appeal to him as a father. Speak to younger men as brothers, older women as mothers, and younger women as sisters—with complete purity.” (1 Timothy 5:1-2)
Paul’s above words of counsel to his disciple Timothy echo Jesus’ command to His disciples, “This I command you - to love one another.” ( John 15:17) In the world today we find ourselves battling against a storm caused by the effects of the Charlie Kirk and Michigan church shootings, Wars in Palestine and Ukraine, Political, Social and Racial issues. And some people in their anxiety to get through this storm react with harshness and animosity towards one other. Even people in the church lash out towards their family members, and their Christians brothers and sisters. Paul’s counsel to Timothy is counsel we all need to hear and be reminded of today. We are all family, all invited to and welcomed at our father’s table as a family. “So then, whenever we have an opportunity, let us do good to all people, and especially to those who belong to the family of faith.” (Galatians 6:10)
“So then you are no longer foreigners and noncitizens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of Godʼs household, because you have been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the cornerstone. In him the whole building, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord, in whom you also are being built together into a dwelling place of God in the Spirit.” (Ephesians 2:19-22)
My family, I pray today you will be nice to people. I pray you will speak to one another in encouragement and love. Sharing a kind word with a co-worker, classmate, or someone God crosses your path with today may be the only kind word they hear today. And we all need to hear words of encouragement and love spoken over us, in Jesus’ name. Please pray the same for me. God bless you my friemds!
Please share with me and others your reflections and what God is speaking to you from todays reading in the comment box below.
Gary Liederbach- Lead Follower
One Direction Community
Email: garyl@onedirection.community
Website:https://www.onedirection.community
Facebook: One Direction Community-ODC
Help Us Help Them
I could use you’re the gift of your financial support for my family and those on the margins God has placed in my path I refuse to walk around. Please partner and support my family and ministries through setting up a monthly donation or a one –time gift by clicking the link below. Donation checks can be made out to ODC, 102 Champions Green Drive, Madison, Al 35758.
Thank You!
Good morning, Lord Jesus. Father, Son, and Holy Spirit -- help me sense Your presence, hear Your voice, and follow Your leading, as I begin my day seeking You. ...
“By pointing out such things to the brothers and sisters, you will be a good servant of Christ Jesus, having nourished yourself on the words of the faith and of the good teaching that you have followed. But reject those myths fit only for the godless and gullible, and train yourself for godliness. For “physical exercise has some value, but godliness is valuable in every way. It holds promise for the present life and for the life to come.” (1 Timothy 4:6-9)
As I read this passage this morning two good friends of mine who are father and son came to my mind. Their mother and wife passed away a few years ago at this time and passed on from this side of eternity to the next came to my mind. Kerry was a wife and mother who was an amazing woman and a mighty spiritual warrior. My wife Nancy served on the Kairos prison team that went into Tutwiler women’s prison this past weekend sharing the love and grace of Jesus with the women incarcerated inside. Kerry also loved and served in this ministry. Kerry “pointed out such things to the brothers and sisters".” She was one who “trained herself for godliness” and took hold of the “promise for the present life and the life to come.” Because of this, in her last breath of her last battle here on this earth, death had no victory and death had no sting. She was delivered through death into eternal life in You, the One who is "the Resurrection and the Life" (John 11:25). Truly she has "fought the good fight" and received his eternal reward in the fullness of Your presence and death had not sting on her.
"For this perishable body must put on imperishability, and this mortal body must put on immortality. When this perishable body puts on imperishability, and this mortal body puts on immortality, then the saying that is written will be fulfilled: 'Death has been swallowed up in victory.' 'Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?' This sting of death is sin and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ" (1 Corinthians 15:54-57).
So I join with her son, husband and family and all who remember her and love her dearly to both celebrate her victory and her life in the Spirit with You in heaven, even as we still remember her, miss her, and grieve our loss of her life here in the flesh with us on earth. And I join with others who have lost love ones that “nourished themselves on the words of the faith and of the good teaching” and “trained themselves for godliness” Thank You that in You, we do not have to "grieve as others do who have no hope. For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with Him those who have died" (1 Thessalonians 4:13-14).
Through Your victory of the resurrection, we will all rejoice with You and with one another again. In that way, even through hard times like death when our hearts are both full of hope and sorrow at the same time, we hold fast to the promise of Your Word, "Weeping may linger for the night, but joy comes with the morning" (Psalm 30:5). Kerry is experiencing the healing of the resurrection; and at the same time, we need the comfort of Your resurrection love here in our hearts as we celebrate her victory in You.
Holy Spirit of God, encourage us to nourish ourselves in Your Word, prayer, and accountability groups that “holds promise for the present life and for the life to come” so it will comfort us and strengthen us through the night times and hard times we endure through the battles of this world, as we look forward to that glorious morning to come. "Thank be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ!" In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
My family, I pray you nourish yourself through reading Scriptures, prayer and accountability groups so you are strengthened and comforted through every battle you'll face through the night time, knowing joy comes with the morning in the resurrection love of God in Jesus Christ, in Jesus' name! Please pray the same for me. God bless you, my friends!
Please share with me and others your reflections and what God is speaking to you from todays reading in the comment box below.
Gary Liederbach- Lead Follower
One Direction Community
Email: garyl@onedirection.community
Website:https://www.onedirection.community
Facebook: One Direction Community-ODC
Help Us Help Them
I could use you’re the gift of your financial support for my family and those on the margins God has placed in my path I refuse to walk around. Please partner and support my family and ministries through setting up a monthly donation or a one –time gift by clicking the link below. Donation checks can be made out to ODC, 102 Champions Green Drive, Madison, Al 35758.
Thank You!
As the lead Planter of One Direction Community, I’m often asked how our organic simple church movement is doing and if I feel we are accomplishing all that I had hoped. I had a conversation with a person on this at the Waffle House this morning. The answer is no. We are not the movement that I hoped for… yet. But that is partly because I have always felt that part of what we were doing was preparing the church for what is coming: persecution. I see our work as sowing seeds for a future harvest, and I believe that future is getting closer every day. Am I some fringe conspiracy theorist or “prepper”? No. But I’m not impartial on the question. In all of history, the freedom we have experienced in America in our lifetime is actually an anomaly. The Bible makes clear that those who follow Christ will be hated and will endure persecution. I suspect there is good reason for my thinking, but if I am wrong and persecution doesn’t come, I have not lost anything. But if it does and we are unprepared then we have lost much. We have this generation to make a difference in and will give account of what we did with the time given to us. I feel called to prepare God’s people for a future that is less open and free, but far more fruitful.In these past couple months because of the coronavirus and social restrictions we have had many of our freedoms taken away.
One of the heroes of my faith is Watchman Nee. God used him (and others like him) to prepare the church in China before the Communist revolution took over. He launched the “Little Flock” movement, which was a radical departure from the Western church model that had been planted in China prior. It was smaller, simpler in structure, met in houses, inexpensive and reproducible. The churches that met in smaller gatherings in homes were led by ordinary people with real jobs. He brought the same sort of preparation that I have been devoted to enacting.
When the communists took power in China they arrested the church leaders (like Nee), seized all church property, kicked out all missionaries and burned all Christian literature. However, these organic expressions of simple churches meeting in homes that Nee started not only survived…they thrived. The Cultural Revolution of Mao Zedong sought to eliminate all religion from society in China, but instead mobilized the church and it grew from about 2 million Christians in 1949 to over 60 million during the Communist persecution. It is estimated today that there may be upwards of 85 million Christians in China.
Contrast this with the church of Russia. The Russian Church was built upon the Western Church model and dependent upon three things: holy buildings, holy men in robes, and holy services performed by those men in those robes and in those buildings. When the communists took over Russia, like the communists did in China, they also seized all the buildings, arrested and persecuted all the leaders of the church. and burned Christian literature. Unlike the church in China, the church in Russia was devastated. It did not thrive, it died. There was a small remnant that struggled to survive underground, but the Christ followers were not able to see the exponential growth the Chinese church did.
Though I do not clam to be on the level on Nee, like Nee, I have been striving to bring health and simplicity back to the church, and with that an ability to ride out any storms that may come.
If for some reason your church buildings were forced to shut down (like with Covid) what would happen to your participation in your faith? Would your times spent in prayer and reading the Bible go up or down? When covid hit and your church shut down, did you start sharing the Gospel, your testimony, make disciples and leading a simple church in your home with your family or simply quit doing church? Is your faith and participation as a bride in Jesus’ church dependent upon three things: holy buildings, holy men in robes, and holy services performed by those men in those robes and in those buildings? Are you able to start up a simple church in your home? Why? Why not? You are personally responsible and accountable for your faith and sharing the gospel, without excuse.
My family, , I pray you will reflect on read 1 Timothy 3:12; John 15:20-21; 1 Corinthians 4:8-13; Matthew 5:10-12; and Luke 2:10-12. Then spend time in prayer reading again the last paragraph above and in prayer honestly reflecting on what is “church” to you, and how unstoppable and reproducible is your faith, in Jesus’ name. Please pray the same for me. God bless you my friends!
Please post your reflections, questions, and prayers below in the comment box.
Gary Liederbach- Lead Follower
One Direction Community
Email: garyl@onedirection.community
Website: https://www.onedirection.community
Facebook: One Direction Community-ODC
I could use your financial support for myself, my family, and those on the margins God has placed in my path I refuse to walk around. Please commit in 2020 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.
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“I am grateful to the one who has strengthened me, Christ Jesus our Lord, because he considered me faithful in putting me into ministry, even though I was formerly a blasphemer and a persecutor, and an arrogant man. But I was treated with mercy because I acted ignorantly in unbelief, and our Lordʼs grace was abundant, bringing faith and love in Christ Jesus. This saying is trustworthy and deserves full acceptance: “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners” - and I am the worst of them! But here is why I was treated with mercy: so that in me as the worst, Christ Jesus could demonstrate his utmost patience, as an example for those who are going to believe in him for eternal life. Now to the eternal king, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever! Amen.”
(1 Timothy 1: 12-17)
Here is how The Message Bible elaborates on these passages.
“I’m so grateful to Christ Jesus for making me adequate to do this work. He went out on a limb, you know, in trusting me with this ministry. The only credentials I brought to it were violence and witch hunts and arrogance. But I was treated mercifully because I didn’t know what I was doing—didn’t know Who I was doing it against! Grace mixed with faith and love poured over me and into me. And all because of Jesus.
Here’s a word you can take to heart and depend on: Jesus Christ came into the world to save sinners. I’m proof—Public Sinner Number One—of someone who could never have made it apart from sheer mercy. And now he shows me off—evidence of his endless patience—to those who are right on the edge of trusting him forever.”
Deep honor and bright glory
to the King of All Time—
One God, Immortal, Invisible,
ever and always. Oh, yes! (1 Timothy 1:12-17) The Message Bible.
These passages remind me of someone, me. Those who know my past know that at one time in my life I was used by Satan as a user of people, a user of women, a user and dealer of drugs, a user of lies and manipulation towards my parents and friends,, who publicly denied the existence of God. I was “someone who could never have made it apart from sheer mercy.” I was one who “was treated mercifully” and had “Grace mixed with faith and love poured over me and into me. And all because of Jesus.”
My family, are you one of those who are right on the edge of trusting him forever? I pray right now in faith you will jump off the edge and splash down into the stream of God’s amazing, love, grace and peace. Do you know someone who is right on the edge? I pray you will walk out of your plans today to stand on the edge with them, lovingly hold their hand, and jump with them, rejoicing, laughing and splashing into the stream of God’s amazing, love, grace and peace, in Jesus’ name. Please pray the same for me. God bless you my friends!
Please share your comments, reflections, or prayers with us in the comment box below.
Gary Liederbach- Lead Follower
One Direction Community
Email: garyl@onedirection.community
Website:https://www.onedirection.community
Facebook: One Direction Community-ODC
Help Us Help Them!
I could use you’re the gift of your financial support for my family and those on the margins God has placed in my path I refuse to walk around. Please partner and support my family and ministries through setting up a monthly donation or a one –time gift by clicking the link below. Donation checks can be made out to ODC, 102 Champions Green Drive, Madison, Al 35758.
Thank You!
TO GIVE CLICK HERE
Good morning, Lord Jesus. You're the Peace that surpasses all understanding. So I welcome You and Your peace here in my heart and mind and every moment of my day. ...
"Now may the Lord of peace Himself give you peace at all times in every way. The Lord be with you all" (2 Thessalonians 3:16).
Your peace is such a discerning factor to help guide my steps along this journey of the adventure of faith. Through the years You've given me some steps to follow in seeking discernment -- whether I'm seeking to discern Your voice in my heart, a choice to make by the guidance of Your Holy Spirit, a prophetic word someone else is sharing with me or the body of Christ or one I sensing a leading to share with someone else, or a teaching, or a doctrine, or anything else where I need to know what is right and true or wrong and false:
My Five Key Steps of Discernment:
1. Does it conform to the written Word of God?
2. Does it conform to the character of God?
3. Does it bear witness with my spirit?
4. Does it bear witness to the council of others I trust?
5. What is the fruit?
The sense of "peace" is a key factor in each of these steps of discernment, but especially in number three -- "Does it bear witness with my spirit?"
Over the past few weeks, I've really been wrestling with discernment on the direction of my future calling and ministry, and my “tent making” to support my calling. I had a significant decision to make. As always, I started in prayer, alone and with my wife. Where I sensed it was ok, I took some initial testing steps of action, while continuing to take my discernment steps. But as I couldn't sense the complete peace I longed to sense as a firm confirmation for such a significant decision, I finally said "no" to the opportunity. And went to bed. The following morning, I praise You that I have such a deep sense of Your peace in my spirit!
We can all "miss it" when we seek Your guidance, because it's so easy for other things to confuse us, distract us, or otherwise get in the way. But I believe it's truly a "win-win" situation if we will first take time to humble ourselves in Your sight, to seek the leading of Your Spirit, and seek to "discern what is the will of God -- what is good and acceptable and perfect" (Romans 12:2).
Once we start in humility before You, if we "get it right," You'll confirm it. Even if we "get it wrong," You'll correct us and redeem our mistakes and even lead us back to the place where we stepped off the Your path of Your will to get us back on the right path again. That's just a working out of Your mercy and grace that we have in You as children of God and disciples of Jesus Christ. That's just a working out of one of my favorite life Scriptures that gets me through so much, on my journey of faith:
"The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases,
His mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning;
great is Your faithfulness" (Lamentations 3:22-23).
So morning by morning -- heart to heart, deep to deep, one step at a time -- I continue my journey with You -- full of Your peace and full of expectant faith to look and see what You will do! In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
My family, may you be filled with the One who is your perfect Peace, as you seek to discern the will of God for your life each -- morning by morning, and step by step, in Jesus name. Please pray the same for me. God bless you, my friends!
Do you need to talk about something your are discerning and/or need prayer about it? You are welcomed to reach out to me. I wan’t to encourage you to reach out to someone you trust who will listen and discern with love and truth along with you.
Please share your reflections and prayers with us on this blog in the comment box below.
Gary Liederbach- Lead Follower
One Direction Community
Email: garyl@onedirection.community
Website:https://www.onedirection.community
Facebook: One Direction Community-ODC
Help Us Help Them!
My wife Nancy and I are in a new season of our ministry of pouring completely into planting and growing simple house churches in our neighborhoods, and having “boots on the ground” serving in our community.. Please pray over this season in my life and that of my family. Please partner and support myself and One Direction community through setting up a monthly donation or a one –time gift by clicking the link below. Donation checks can be made out to ODC, PO Box 1293 Madison, Al 35758. Thank You Thank You!
Good morning, Lord Jesus. Speak to my heart and lead me in Your ways -- Father, Son, and Holy Spirit of God.
"The coming of the lawless one is apparent in the working of Satan, who uses all power, signs, and lying wonders, and every kind of wicked deception for those who are perishing, because they refused to love the truth and so be saved" (2 Thessalonians 2:9-10).
Come, Holy Spirit. Give me a love for the truth. You are "the Spirit of truth" who "comes (to) guide (me) into all the truth" and "glorify (Jesus)" (John 16:13).
Pilot asked Jesus “What is Truth?” And in today’s age of AI and in your face social media posts trying to discern “What is truth?” can be a challenge. And in these days and the days to come, just discerning and knowing the truth will not be enough. As "Even the demons believe -- and shudder" (James 2:19). No, we need more. We need to Love the truth. We need to love the truth, just as a wise person loves correction and discipline (Proverbs 13:1). That's our antidote to the power of deception -- a love for the truth.
Loving truth is different from loving what we want to hear, loving what fits our feelings, loving what fits are lifestyle, or loving what we think is right despite knowing in our gut what You say God is right. And You've already warned us that we will be tempted to give into the pressures of our world to turn from the truth in the times to come: "For the time is coming when people will not put up with sound doctrine, but having itching ears, they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own desires, and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander away to myths" (2 Timothy 4:3-4).
"The truth" is not simply a statement of faith or mental assent to accurate doctrine. The truth is a person, Jesus Christ. Jesus You are the Truth. You are "the Way, and the Truth, and the Life" (John 15:6). You are the One we need to love. Loving You, loving the One who is Truth, is the Way You've provided to lead us through the confusion, deception, and temptation to compromise to come.
You said, "If you love Me, you will keep My commandments. And I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper to be with you forever. This is the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him. You know Him, because He abides with you, and He will be in you" (John 14:15-17).
As I grow in my love for You, I grow in my love for Truth. May my love for You, my love for Truth, my love for the Spirit of Truth within me keep me from being deceived in these days to come -- even by "the working of Satan, who uses all power, signs, and lying wonders, and every kind of wicked deception." In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
My family, I pray you grow not only in your discernment for the truth but also in your love of the truth, in your love for the One who is the Truth every day, so that you are not confused or deceived to give in to the temptation to compromise with God's truth, now and in the days to come, in Jesus' name! Please pray the same for me. God bless you, my friends!
Please share your comments, reflections, or prayers with us in the comment box below.
Gary Liederbach- Lead Follower
One Direction Community
Email: garyl@onedirection.community
Website:https://www.onedirection.community
Facebook: One Direction Community-ODC
Help Us Help Them!
I could use you’re the gift of your financial support for my family and those on the margins God has placed in my path I refuse to walk around. Please partner and support my family and ministries through setting up a monthly donation or a one –time gift by clicking the link below. Donation checks can be made out to ODC, 102 Champions Green Drive, Madison, Al 35758.
Thank You!
Good morning, Lord Jesus. Be at the center of all I am and all I do this day.
"This is evidence of the righteous judgment of God, and is intended to make you worthy of the kingdom of God, for which you are also suffering. For it is indeed just of God to repay with affliction those who afflict you, and to give relief to the afflicted as well as to us, when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with His mighty angels in flaming fire, inflicting vengeance on those who do not know God and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus. These will suffer the punishment of eternal destruction, separated from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His might, when He comes to be glorified by His saints and to be marveled at on that day among all who have believed, because our testimony to you was believed. To this end we always pray for you, asking that our God will make you worthy of His call and will fulfill by His power every good resolve and work of faith, so that the name of our Lord Jesus may be glorified in you, and you in Him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ" (2 Thessalonians 1:5-12).
We must behold both the kindness and the severity of God. It's Your heart Jesus to be merciful and kind, full of mercy and love; yet it's our responsibility to respond and embrace the kindness of Your mercy and grace.
There are consequences--eternal consequences--for our choices. Jesus You are "not willing that any should perish, but all to come to repentance," yet we must be willing to humble ourselves to receive and embrace Your salvation through the means You've provided though Your sacrifice of love of the cross.
Let me never take my salvation for granted. May I live each day in gratitude of Your grace, "looking to Jesus the pioneer and perfecter of our faith, who for the sake of the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, dispised its shame, and has taken His seat at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider Him who endure such hostility against Himself from sinners, so that (we) many not grow weary or lose heart" (Hebrews 12:2-3).
So many of my mornings in the intimacy of prayer with You, You give me a deep sense of Your presence and love. This morning, it seems You're also reminding me that that this intimacy with You came at a great cost. It's honoring of Your sacrifice to see Your kindness in light of Your severity, Your mercy in light of Your judgment, and Your salvation of eternal life for all who believe in light the Your "punishment of eternal destruction" for all who do not. By the grace of God, may I honor You and Your sacrifice for me to never "neglect so great a salvation" (Hebrews 2:3). In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
My family, I pray today you embrace with great joy the fullness of your salvation through God's sacrifice of love for you in Jesus Christ, never taking for granted and never neglecting so great a salvation provided for you out of deep love, in Jesus' name! May you share that good news today in every opportunity the Lord provides. Please pray the same for me. God bless you, my friends!
Please share your thoughts and reflections in the comment box below.
Gary Liederbach- Lead Follower
One Direction Community
Email: garyl@onedirection.community
Website: https://www.onedirection.community
Facebook: One Direction Community-ODC
I could use your financial support for One Direction Community, my family, and those on the margins God has placed in my path I refuse to walk around. Please begin 2018 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!
Heal me this morning Jesus by your grace, so I may be a source of healing to others today by your grace..
“With flaming fire he will mete out punishment on those who do not know God and do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus. They will undergo the penalty of eternal destruction, away from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his strength, when he comes to be glorified among his saints and admired on that day among all who have believed—and you did in fact believe our testimony. And in this regard we pray for you always, that our God will make you worthy of his calling and fulfill by his power your every desire for goodness and every work of faith, that the name of our Lord Jesus may be glorified in you, and you in him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.” (2 Thessalonians 1:8-18)
I am not a “Doom and Gloom” preacher. I do not use shame as a motivation to get those who don’t know Jesus, to change their ways and fall in love with Him. Paul declares a truth in this chapter, there will be an eternal separation from God for some one day. “With flaming fire he will mete out punishment on those who do not know God and do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus. They will undergo the penalty of eternal destruction, away from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his strength.” However his words and this letter are not directed to unbelievers, those who have not repented and turned to Christ as a warning to them. His word are directed to the church, those who are in Christ, as a warning and to remind them of the eternal consequences that will happen to their neighbors, friends, family members who do not know Christ.
He is not asking the lost, “Do you know where you will go if you get hit by a bus today?” As the lost do not know. He is speaking to believers in the church who understand eternal security in Christ, “You know what will happen to those who do not know Christ that get hit by a bus today and will be eternally separated from me, SO WHAT ARE YOU DOING ABOUT IT?” He reminds all believers in the church of Thessalonica that “among all who have believed—and you did in fact believe our testimony.” That the reason they are believers, the reason they are saved in Christ is because they heard and believed Paul and his co-workers testimony about Jesus. The Holy Spirit speaks through this and reminds us in the church today that the only reason we are in the church of believers is because someone:(a parent, grandparent, Sunday school teacher, friend…ect) shared with us and we heard their testimony of Jesus. If they had not we as well would be facing the eternal separation from God.
Paul reminds those in the church that we were saved and made brides of Christ for a purpose, to be “worthy of his calling and fulfill by his power your every desire for goodness and every work of faith, that the name of our Lord Jesus may be glorified in you, and you in him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.” We in the church are called to the work of faith which is leading others into faith in Christ by the same grace in which we received it. God is to be glorified in us. How do we glorify God? By leading others to Christ. As every person that perishes robs God of His glory but every person we lead to Christ increases God’s glory.
My family, “doom and gloom” preachers try to scare and shame unbelievers into accepting Christ by asking them, ”Do you know where you will go for eternity if you get hit by a bus?” I. like Paul want to direct this question more accurately to you my family who are in Christ in the church to motivate you out of love; You know of the eternal separation from God that awaits your neighbors, family. friends, co-workers and students sitting next to you, who do not know Christ. Will you love them enough to share your testimony with them today? Jesus earnestly prays that you will. In Jesus name. Please pray the same for me. God bless you my friends!
Please share your reflections and prayers with us on this blog in the comment box below.
Gary Liederbach- Lead Follower
One Direction Community
Email: garyl@onedirection.community
Website:https://www.onedirection.community
Facebook: One Direction Community-ODC
Help Us Help Them!
I could use you’re the gift of your financial support for my family and those on the margins God has placed in my path I refuse to walk around. Please partner and support my family and ministries through setting up a monthly donation or a one –time gift by clicking the link below. Donation checks can be made out to ODC, 102 Champions Green Drive, Madison, Al 35758.
Thank You!
Good morning, Lord Jesus. Father, Son, and Holy Spirit of God--I worship in every dimension of Your Being and welcome You into every dimension of my being--spirit, soul, and body.
"May the God of peace Himself sanctify you entirely; and may your spirit and soul and body be kept sound and blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. The One who calls you is faithful, and He will do this" (1 Thessalonians 5:23-24).
You are the God of peace, the God of shalom. By the power of Your grace You bless me and anoint me and empower me to be at peace with You, at peace with one another, and at peace within myself.
And by the power of Your grace, Your Holy Spirit is at work within me to purify and sanctify me in my spirit, in my soul, and in my body. And not just a little bit, but entirely, wholly, and completely. I believe that I can obtain complete sanctification in this life, that is the message of the cross. You are faithful and You will do this, because this is Your will for me--that I would be entirely surrendered so that I could be entirely sanctified. "For this is the will of God, (my) sanctification.... For God did not call us to impurity but in holiness" (1 Thessalonians 4:3-7).
Lord Jesus, make me more like You each day. Come and keep baptizing me with Your Holy Spirit, keep setting me ablaze with the fire of Your passion, keep sanctifying me entirely in spirit and soul and body, keep perfecting me in Your love, and keep empowering me by Your Presence! In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
My family, I pray you desire to continually be sanctified entirely in the fire and power of the Holy Spirit, so that you be kept sound and blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ by the One who is faithfull and who will do this in you, in Jesus' name! Please pray the same for me. God bless you, my friend!
Please share your thoughts and reflections in the comment box below.
Gary Liederbach- Lead Follower
One Direction Community
Email: garyl@onedirection.community
Website: https://www.onedirection.community
Facebook: One Direction Community-ODC
I could use your financial support for One Direction Community, my family, and those on the margins God has placed in my path I refuse to walk around. Please 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. Father, Son, and Holy Spirit of God--I worship in every dimension of Your Being and welcome You into every dimension of my being--spirit, soul, and body. ...
"For this is the will of God, (my) sanctification.... For God did not call us to impurity but in holiness" (1 Thessalonians 4:3-7).
By the power of Your grace, Your Holy Spirit is at work within me to purify and sanctify me in my spirit, in my soul, and in my body. And not just a little bit, but entirely, wholly, and completely. You are faithful and You will do this, because this is Your will for me--that I would be entirely surrendered so that I could be entirely sanctified.
You are the God of peace, the God of shalom. By the power of Your grace You bless me and anoint me and empower me to be at peace with You, at peace with one another, and at peace within myself. Your blood cleanses my sins as I admit them and turn them over to You (1 John 1:9). And Your Holy Spirit keeps sanctifying my soul as I keep surrendering my mind and will and emotions to You and Your mind, Your will, and Your emotions--filling me up to the degree that I keep making more room for You.
One day will be the day of "the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ" (1 Thessalonians 5:23). And by the power of Your grace, I want to be one of Your children of God who is passionately prepared for You--one of the many sons and daughters You've been bringing "to glory" (Hebrews 2:10) and one of those who are part of Your bride of Christ who has "made herself ready" (Revelation 19:7)--not in my power, but Yours; not in my righteousness, but Yours. It's "not by might, nor by power, but by (Your) Spirit, says the Lord of hosts" (Zechariah 4:6).
So as best as I can and all by Your grace, I willing choose to entrust as much of me to You as I can and to receive as much of You within me as I can. Baptize me with Your Holy Spirit and Your holy fire (Matthew 3:11; Acts 1:4). Consume everything in me that's not yet like You (Matthew 5:48). Conform me into the image of the Son of God (Romans 8:29).
Lord Jesus, make me more like You each day. As You are, so am I to be in my world. Come and keep baptizing me with Your Holy Spirit, keep setting me ablaze with the fire of Your passion, keep sanctifying me entirely in spirit and soul and body, keep perfecting me in Your love, and keep empowering me by Your Presence! In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
My family, I pray you are continually being sanctified entirely in the fire and power of the Holy Spirit, that you be kept sound and blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ by the One who is faith and who will do this in you, in Jesus' name! Please pray the same for me. God bless you my friends!
Please share your reflections and prayers with us on this blog in the comment box below.
Gary Liederbach- Lead Follower
One Direction Community
Email: garyl@onedirection.community
Website:https://www.onedirection.community
Facebook: One Direction Community-ODC
Help Us Help Them!
I could use you’re the gift of your financial support for my family and those on the margins God has placed in my path I refuse to walk around. Please partner and support my family and ministries through setting up a monthly donation or a one –time gift by clicking the link below. Donation checks can be made out to ODC, 102 Champions Green Drive, Madison, Al 35758.
Thank You!
Good morning Jesus, you are all I need and all I desire to delight in today.
Good morning, Lord Jesus. I welcome You into the center of my life and these first moments of my day. ...
"And may the Lord make you increase and abound in love for one another and for all, just as we abound in love for you. And may He also strengthen your hearts in holiness that you may be blameless before our God and Father at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all His saints" (1 Thessalonians 3:12-13).
I hear in my heart the invitation of Your Spirit to "increase and abound." Not in my power or wisdom, not in my good deeds or any righteousness of my own, but by the power of the grace of God at work within me, may I increase and abound in this season ahead.
May I increase and abound in love for You and for others, in humility and holiness of heart and life, in understanding my calling and place for such a time as this, in knowing my identity in You and fulfilling my destiny through You, in the assurance of Your promises and the abundance of Your provision, in aligning with those You've chosen for me in all the personal and strategic relationships of my life, in my freedom from all that would hold me back from being all You've created me to be and empowered me to do in the glory of Your name. In every way You will, may I increase and abound, according to the word You're speaking to me. And I pray the same for all who are stirred by Your Spirit to embrace this word with me in the agreement of prayer, in the name and the power and the Presence of Jesus (Matthew 18:19-20).
Lord, let it be so, as You will. As Mary said, "Here am I, the servant of the Lord; let it be with me according to Your word" (Luke 1:38). You said, "The words I have spoken to you are spirit and life" (John 6:63). Let these seeds of Your words of spirit and life You've spoken into my spirit keep "growing up and increasing and yielding" all that You've purposed in Your heart for my life (Mark 4:8). In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
My family, I pray you will increase and abound in every way the Lord desires for you according to His great plan for the destiny of your life, in Jesus' name. Please pray the same for me. God bless you, my friends!
Please share your reflections and prayers with us on this blog in the comment box below.
Gary Liederbach- Lead Follower
One Direction Community
Email: garyl@onedirection.community
Website:https://www.onedirection.community
Facebook: One Direction Community-ODC
Help Us Help Them!
I could use you’re the gift of your financial support for my family and those on the margins God has placed in my path I refuse to walk around. Please partner and support my family and ministries through setting up a monthly donation or a one –time gift by clicking the link below. Donation checks can be made out to ODC, 102 Champions Green Drive, Madison, Al 35758.
Thank You!
Let the love and life of Jesus fill my heart and soul completely so be a source of love and light to others.
“For you yourselves know, brothers and sisters, about our coming to you - it has not proven to be purposeless… But although we suffered earlier and were mistreated as you know, we had the courage in our God to declare to you the gospel of God in spite of much opposition… For we never appeared with flattering speech, as you know, nor with a pretext for greed - God is our witness - nor to seek glory from people, either from you or from others, although we could have imposed our weight as apostles of Christ; instead we became little children among you. Like a nursing mother caring for her own children, with such affection for you we were happy to share with you not only the gospel of God but also our own lives, because you had become dear to us… As you know, we treated each one of you as a father treats his own children, exhorting and encouraging you and insisting that you live in a way worthy of God who calls you to his own kingdom and his glory…. For who is our hope or joy or crown to boast of before our Lord Jesus at his coming? Is it not of course you? For you are our glory and joy!” (1 Thessalonians 2)
1 Thessalonians chapter 2 is an amazing message of love for others that is much needed as we start a new week after last weeks shooting of Charlie Kirk and all the calls for changing the political hate and violence in our country. Paul gives us an example as followers of Jesus of how we are to seek out those who do not know Christ, have different beliefs from us, and embrace and enter into conversations and their lives with compassion, respect and love. Sharing with them the gospel of the love and grace of Jesus Christ not out of a position of superiority in being right, but in humility know any righteousness we can claim was given to us out of humility as well.
Paul’s heart breaks as he says “Like a nursing mother caring for her own children, with such affection for you we were happy to share with you not only the gospel of God but also our own lives,” For Paul to have a place and a people to love and care for them, he states he had to go to them and give them access into his life. We as well can not love and care for a people and a place unless we also going to them and giving them access to our lives. Who is your “Thessolanica? Who are the people and where is the place you are humbly, with love and compassion sharing the Gospel of love and grace? Leaders in out country are saying this is a “watershed moment” in our country and we need to choose whether we are going to continue encountering people with different beliefs in division and hate or encounter them with love and compassion. You are not going to be part of this “change,” you are not going to help make a change, and it is not going to happen by you sitting at home reading “clicking the “Like” button, and posting on Facebook, Tik Tok, and other social media sights. Change is not going to happen by talking and discussing these events in your small groups, churches, like minded co-workers and friends. Change will only happen if you look in the mirror and change, and you go out and become an example of love and compassion in your Thessolanica.
My family, I pray this morning that this morning’s bible reading speaks to you above and over the social media posts that are also speaking to you and you pray for the courage to go and make yourself available to those with different beliefs with humility, compassion and love, in Jesus name. Please pray the same for me. God bless you my friends!
Please share your thoughts and reflections pin the comment box below.
Resolve to Help
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
Discipleship Training.
One of my passions is helping churches or small groups understand and embrace their call to be disciples of Jesus in their community. I offer and lead discipleship trainings in person and on-line. If you are interested I would love to talk to you bout it. Email me at garyl@onedirection.community.
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
Good morning, Lord Jesus. I embrace Your tender mercies and steadfast love, my heavenly Father. Come, Holy Spirit, and fill me, transform me, and overflow through me today with the love of my Father in the power of the name and the nature of Jesus, I pray.
"Brothers and sisters, God loves you, and we know He has chosen you, because the Good News we brought to you came not only with words, but with power, with the Holy Spirit, and with sure knowledge that is true" (1 Thessalonians 1:4-6).
Jesus, thank You for Your Word. Thank You for Your Power. Thank You for the Gospel, the Good News of Your forgiveness and favor, mercy and love, healing and deliverance, encouragement and strength, all by the power of Your grace. "For I am not ashamed of the Gospel; it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who has faith" (Romans 1:16).
Jesus, I pray and earnestly hunger to see more of Your power in my life today. I pray to see You changing lives, changing my life, saving souls, healing hearts and bodies and relationships, breaking the chains of darkness, and displaying Your glory in the power of Your name. I want to walk out my door into where ever you lead me claiming your Spirit and Your power within me and expecting to see lives changed and the dead raised, because you are still raising the dead! "I want to know Christ and experience the mighty power that raised Him from the dead!" (Philippians 3:10 NLT) "All glory to Him who alone is God, our Savior through Jesus Christ our Lord. All glory, majesty, power, and authority are His before all time, and in the present, and beyond all time!" (Jude 25 NLT) In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
My family, I pray as you go today may you go to places seeking to experience and expecting to see the power of the Gospel, the power of Jesus in your life today, in you and around you, giving all glory, honor, and praise to Him alone, in Jesus' name! Please pray the same for me. God bless you, my friends!
Please share your thoughts, reflections, with us in the comment box below.
Resolve to Help
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
Discipleship Training.
One of my passions is helping churches or small groups understand and embrace their call to be disciples of Jesus in their community. I offer and lead discipleship trainings in person and on-line. If you are interested I would love to talk to you bout it. Email me at garyl@onedirection.community.
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
Lord’s Jesus I spend this quiet time with you this morning seeking your presence to guide my thoughts and steps and directions throughout my day
Today is the anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks too four hijacked airplanes that are intentionally crashed into the two Twin Towers in New York, Ny, the Pentagon, and another downed plane in a field in Pennsylvania.. The attacks took over 3,000 lives. and impacted thousands of families, our country, and the world. The attacks also changed and shattered forever the way we feel and look at the security or our country. We remember and pray over those families that lost loved ones in the tragedy. That day is etched in my mind. I remember hearing about the first plane crashing into the North tower over the radio while driving down the road. Then rushing home to see it on the TV and watch the second plane crash into the Southr tower and the collapse of both towers. The shock, horror, chaos, madness, anger… so many emotions were involved.. Again, that day forever changed our views and reality of the world we live in today. Lord have mercy. Chrost have mercy, Lord have mercy.
We also are reminded that nothing is guaranteed in this life. As God’s word tells us:
“Come now, you who say, "Today or tomorrow we will go to such and such a city, and spend a year there and engage in business and make a profit." Yet you do not know what your life will be like tomorrow. You are just a vapor that appears for a little while and then vanishes away. Instead, you ought to say, "If the Lord wills, we will live and also do this or that." But as it is, you boast in your arrogance; all such boasting is evil.17 Therefore, to one who knows the right thing to do and does not do it, to him it is sin”. (Jam 4:13-17)
Those that died, were injured, lost husbands, wives, son’s and daughters, or affected by 911 were engaged in their normal day of business and making a profit, running errands, having lunch with a friend, and in the middle of their normal routine when something unimaginable happened; the millions to one odds of a jet crashing into the buildings they were in.
With the shooting of Charlie Kirk, Ukraine women stabbed in Charlotte, and the chaos in the world today, Nothing is guaranteed today.
All of today is a gift. Hug family members that are close to you. Call those who our at a distance. Be present in “today” and don’t delay in doing the next right thing.
My family, I join you in prayer today over all the lives that were lost and everyone impacted by the tragic events of 911. I also pray today you embrace the amazing gift of today. Don’t delay doing the next right thing: of telling someone your sorry, you love them, your glad their in your life. Don’t delay sharing with someone who does not know Christ the love of Jesus who are just one event away from a Christless eternity. Please pray the same for me. I have been blessed by and love you all who God has allowed to cross my path in life and pray God’s blessing over you my friends!
Please share your reflections and prayers in the comment box below.
Gary Liederbach- Lead Follower
One Direction Community
Email: garyl@onedirection.community
Website:https://www.onedirection.community
Facebook: One Direction Community-ODC
I could use your financial support for One Direction Community, my family, and those on the margins God has placed in my path I refuse to walk around. Please partner and support myself and One Direction community through setting up a monthly donation or a one –time gift by clicking the link below. Donation checks can be made out to ODC, PO Box 1293 Madison, Al 35758.
Thanks You!
Good morning, Lord Jesus. You are welcome here in my heart and every moment of my day. ...
"Since you have been raised to new life with Christ, set your sights on the realities of heaven where Christ sits in the place of honor at God's right hand. Think about the things of heaven, not the things of earth. For you died to this life, and your real life is hidden with Christ in God. And when Christ, who is your life, is revealed to the whole world, you will share in all His glory" (Colossians 3:1-4 NLT).
"Real life" is in You. "Real life" is when I allow You to be my life -- when I'm abiding in You and allowing You to abide in me, when I'm trusting You to know what's best, when I'm following You into the fullness of my destiny in You, secure in my identity in You (John 15:4). "Real life" is when I wholeheartedly embrace the One who is "the way, the truth, and the life" -- holding nothing back from You and fully taking hold of You (John 14:6).
So as I begin my day, I can either set my sights on the things above or the things below. I can choose to see with the kingdom eyes of heaven or the eyes of earth. I can chose the lens I filter things through as either Your perspective or the world's perspective. I can seek You first and Your kingdom and Your righteousness or I can seek to just go with the flow of the ways of the world around me or the ways of my flesh that are not yet crucified with Christ within me (Matthew 6:33; Galatians 2:20).
I choose You! Holy Spirit help me choose you! I choose my "new life with Christ." I choose Your perspective, to live into my day with Your vision and Your heart, to walk in Your ways and Your will, as best as I can and all by Your grace. I choose "real life" in You. And in the amazing mystery of faith and grace, You choose to live Your life through me. "This is the secret: Christ lives in (me). This gives (me) assurance of sharing His glory" (Colossians 1:27 NLT). In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
My family, I pray today you keep it real, choosing your real life in Christ and allowing Christ to live His life through you, in Jesus' name! Please pray the same for me. God bless you, my friends!
Please share your thoughts and reflections on "Real Life" with us in the comment box below.
Gary Liederbach- Lead Follower
One Direction Community
Email: garyl@onedirection.community
Website:https://www.onedirection.community
Facebook: One Direction Community-ODC
I could use your financial support for One Direction Community, my family, and those on the margins God has placed in my path I refuse to walk around. Please partner and support myself and One Direction community through setting up a monthly donation or a one –time gift by clicking the link below. Donation checks can be made out to ODC, PO Box 1293 Madison, Al 35758.
Thank You!
Good morning, Lord Jesus. Lead me and empower me to be more like You today.
"This message was kept secret for centuries and generations past, but now it has been revealed to God's people.... And this is the secret: Christ lives in you" (Colossians 1:26-27).
Come live in me, Lord Jesus Christ. You came into my heart on the day I was saved, when Your Holy Spirit filled my human spirit and I came alive in rebirth as a child of God. And at the same time, You want so much more--not just for You to be in my heart, but for my heart to become like Your heart; not just a moment on my spiritual calendar I look back on, but a moment by moment spiritual journey each and every moment throughout my lifetime.
As You are, so am I to be in this world (1 John 4:17). Your Spirit is at work within me--every moment of every day--making me more like You, conforming me into the image of the Son of God (Romans 8:29).
And I thank You that it's not by my power, that it doesn't depend upon anything I do or don't do, apart from simply welcoming You and Your Spirit to be at work within me. I'm not depending on myself or my goodness or my power; I'm "depending on Christ's mighty power that works with me" (Colossians 1:29). "For God is working in (me), giving (me) the desire and the power to do what pleases Him" (Philippians 2:13). And I believe one of the things that pleases You the most, my Father God, is when I embrace the desire and the power of Your Holy Spirit to make me more like Jesus each day.
By the power of Your grace and the mercy of Your love, You've put this desire and power to work in my heart through Your Spirit--"that I might live for God. My old self has been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me" (Galatians 2:19-20). This is a great secret of faith that I'm finally fully discovering and embracing--"Christ in me, the hope of glory" (Colossians 1:27). Lord, let it be so. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
My family, I pray you embrace the desire and the power of the Holy Spirit of God to be at work within in you, making you more like Jesus every moment of every day, fully knowing this secret of faith without a doubt that "Christ lives in you!" in Jesus' name! Please pray the same for me. God bless you, my friends!
Please share your thoughts and reflections in the comment box below.
Gary Liederbach- Lead Follower
One Direction Community
Email: garyl@onedirection.community
Website: https://www.onedirection.community
Facebook: One Direction Community-ODC
I could use your financial support for One Direction Community, my family, and those on the margins God has placed in my path I refuse to walk around. Please 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. I turn my eyes upon You, as I still my soul and listen for Your voice. ...
I believe I hear You saying in my heart: "Think on these things" (Philippians 4:8 KJV).
Lord, In this world and my day I can't choose with certainty all my circumstances or predetermine the difficulty of all the challenges I will face, but I can choose, by the power of Your grace, the focus of my thoughts. And Your Word this morning encourages me to think on the good things, to focus a little more on the best things, on the things that help me look up instead of down, to look forward instead of backward, and to start off my day on the right path, with my best foot forward, with a good attitude and a healthy perspective: "Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.... Then the God of peace will be with you" (Philippians 4:8).
There will be plenty of time all too soon today to deal with the daily stuff, but right now at the start of my day, I'm going to take a little time with the Holy Spirit. In a few minutes I will gird up and go out into battle, but right now I'm going to settle in for some quiet time in the communion of prayer, centered in You, and surrounded in Your Presence. I'm going to open up my spirit and lift up my heart and welcome You into every thought in my mind, every desire in my heart, and every moment in my day.
I'm going to think on You and all You've done for me. I'm going to think on Your love for me, Your power within me, Your plans before me, and Your grace to sustain me through whatever comes. And then, when I have to start thinking about all the other things that will become a part of my life today, I'll not forget these good and precious things that You've sealed in my heart, here at the start of my day. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
My family, I pray you will set aside some time now to rest in the Spirit, and allow the Lord to fill your mind and your heart with the good things of God in your life, as you begin your day, in Jesus' name! Please pray the same for me. God bless you, my friends!
Please share your thoughts and reflections with us in the comment box below.
Gary Liederbach- Lead Follower
One Direction Community
Email: garyl@onedirection.community
Website:https://www.onedirection.community
Facebook: One Direction Community-ODC
I could use your financial support for One Direction Community, my family, and those on the margins God has placed in my path I refuse to walk around. Please partner and support myself and One Direction community through setting up a monthly donation or a one –time gift by clicking the link below. Donation checks can be made out to ODC, PO Box 1293 Madison, Al 35758.
Thank You!
Good morning, Lord Jesus. Be at the center of all I am and all I do.
"I once thought these things were valuable, but now I consider them worthless because of what Christ has done. Yes, everything else is worthless when compared to the infinite value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For His sake I have discarded everything else, counting it all as garbage, so that I could gain Christ and become one with Him. I no longer count on my own righteousness through obeying the law; rather, I become righteous through faith in Christ. For God's way of making us right with Himself depends on faith. I want to know Christ and experience the mighty power that raised Him from the dead. I want to suffer with Him, sharing in His death, so that one way or another I will experience the resurrection from the dead.... Let all who are spiritually mature agree on these things" (Philippians 3:7-15).
Come, Holy Spirit. Bring me to the place in my heart where knowing Christ is the most important thing in my life. Bring me to the place in my heart where I see every struggle of suffering, every disappointment or delay, every failure when I stumble or fall, everything I experience during this small sliver of time of my journey while I'm on this earth in the flesh, as a opportunity to grow in spiritual maturity to become "one with Christ."
Let this be the one, most valuable thing I seek above all else. The treasure of "infinite value" - "the infinite value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord." I admit, I'm not there yet. Like the apostle Paul, "I don't mean to say that I have already achieved these things... but I press on to possess that perfection for which Christ Jesus first possessed me.... I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling (me)" (Philippians 3:12-14). In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
My family, I pray the Holy Spirit stirs in your spirit to this morning to pursue the treasure of infinity -- knowing Jesus and experiencing His Presence and power in your life as you are becoming one with Him. “Press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling (you)" in Jesus' name! Please pray the same for me. God bless you, my friends!
Please share your thoughts and reflections in the comment box below.
Gary Liederbach- Lead Follower
One Direction Community
Email: garyl@onedirection.community
Website:https://www.onedirection.community
Facebook: One Direction Community-ODC
I could use your financial support for One Direction Community, my family, and those on the margins God has placed in my path I refuse to walk around. Please 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!
