"The Crowds Cried Out"

Good morning, Lord Jesus. As I journey with You this Holy Week when we remember Your journey to the cross, help me listen and see all You're showing me, as I take up my cross and follow You. 

"Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to it! How often have I desired to gather your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you were not willing! See, your house is left to you, desolate. For I tell you, you will not see Me again until you say, 'Blessed is the One who comes in the name of the Lord'" (Matthew 23:37-39).

Jesus, when You came into Jerusalem, riding on a donkey in deep humility, the crowds waived their palm branches and declared You were the Messiah, the Son of David, coming as King, declaring "Blessed is the One who comes in the name of the Lord!" (v. 21:6-10). But You already knew in your heart that in a short week's time, those same crowds who are now welcoming and loving you would soon be despising you and crying out for Your crucifixion on a cross, rejecting Your words and rejecting You as their Messiah (v. 27:20-23). And You knew in Your heart Jerusalem would be destroyed, as a city divided in her heart and denying her Savior (v. 24:1-2).

Yet, even so, You would continue to love her and seek to gather her together again in hope, fulfilling the ancient prophecies of the restoration of Israel and the salvation of Jerusalem at the end of the age (Zechariah 12:1-11). And on that day that will seem like all the nations of the earth are about to finally destroy Jerusalem and all she represents, the crowds of Jerusalem will look up to heaven, to the return of her Messiah, "the One whom they have pierced," in mourning and repentance to declare, "Blessed is the One who comes in the name of the Lord" (Zechariah 12:10). 

We are no better than the crowds who cried out for Your crucifixion because it was our sins as well as theirs that nailed You to the cross, You continue to cry out for us every day/ And because of Your sacrifice of love, "everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved" (Romans 10:13). 

Thank You, Lord Jesus, for never giving up on us, for never giving up on me! You are the blessed One who comes in the name of the Lord (Psalm 118:26). You are the Messiah of Israel and the Savior of the world. Despite the sins of our souls and the unfaithfulness of our hearts, You never give up on us. Your steadfast love never comes to an end (Lamentations 3:22). 

So let me be part of that crowd, from every generation, saved by Your grace, from the cross to the second coming of Christ, who cries out to You, "Blessed in the One who comes in the name of the Lord." In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

My family, I pray as we draw deep into Holy Weeki with.Maunday Thursday tomorrow, you cry out in your heart to Jesus, "Blessed is the One who comes in the name of the Lord." May you hear and see all the Lord desires to show you on this Holy Week journey to the cross. In Jesus’s name!  Please pray the same for me. God bless you my friends!

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

 Holy Week Service

IF you are in the Madison/Huntsville area, and your church does not have Holy Week service of Good Friday, here is info on our Good Friday Stations of the Cross service we hold outdoors at Indian Creek Greenway. We use a contemporary, interactive version of the Stations of The Cross. ALL our welcomed! For questions or more information please email me at garyl@onedirection.community. Or post it in comments box below.Holy Week Services

Friday, April 3rd, 6:00pm-7:30pm, Good Friday Service: This service remembers God’s loving and redeeming the world through the passion and the saving works of the cross of our Lord, Jesus Christ. Gathering will be held outdoors at Indian Creek Greenway located in Creekwood Park off Slaughter Road in Madison just north of the Farrow Rd / Slaughter Rd intersection.  392 Harvest Wood Ct.Huntsville, AL 35806.  We will be outside and walking wear comfortable shoes and dress appropriately for the weather that evening.

SUNDAY, April 5th : EASTER SUNDAY GATHERING AND POT LUCK LUNCH: 11:00am. Easter Sunday is the greatest day of Christianity when we celebrate the resurrection of our Lord and savior Jesus Christ!! Our Easter Gathering, weather permitting, will take place in the Liederbach’s back yard. We will start our service at 11:00am. Following the service, we will share together a pot-lock lunch to toast and celebrate the resurrection of Jesus! Start thinking what amazing dish you will bring and share!

ATTENTION: Theere is a high forcast for rain Easter Sunday.. If weather is bad, we will hold our Easter Gathering in the Cathedral Circle. Community Center located at 1310 Cathedral Circle, Madison, Al 35758

Gary Liederbach- Lead Follower

One Direction Community

Email: garyl@onedirection.community

Website: https://www.onedirection.community

Facebook: One Direction Community-ODC 

 

Help Me Help Others Out Of Their Graves!

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 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!

Gary Liederbach- Lead Follower

One Direction Community

Email: garyl@onedirection.community

Website: https://www.onedirection.community

Facebook: One Direction Community-ODC

"Christ Our Passover Lamb"

Good morning, Lord Jesus. Fill me with Your Spirit and make me more like You today. 

"While they were eating, Jesus took a loaf of bread, and after blessing it He broke it, gave it to the disciples, and said, 'Take, eat; this is My body.' Then He took a cup, and after giving thanks He gave it to them, saying, 'Drink from it, all of you; for this is My blood of the covenant, which is poured out fro many for the forgiveness of sins. I tell you, I will never again drink of this fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new with you in My Father's kingdom' " (Matthew 26:26-29).

As we prepare to celebrate the Hebrew feast of Passover, You are our Passover Lamb. You are "the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world" by the pouring out of Your precious blood upon the cross (John 1:29). You are the fulfillment of the prophetic act of the first Passover, when death passed over the Hebrew people who took the blood of the unblemished lamb and anointed the doorways of their home, just as You call us to anoint the doorways of our hearts with Your blood (Exodus 12:1-28). 

The first Passover and every Festival of Passover, celebrated in remembrance of the provision of God, is a foreshadow of things to come, ultimately fulfilled in Jesus Christ (Colossians 2:16). So as I remember the Passover, I'm remembering the last Passover, the Last Supper, You celebrated with Your disciples during that Holy Week on the night You were betrayed and gave up Yourself for us.

Lord Jesus, I thank You for Your gift of Your Body and Your Blood, given and poured out for me. In You, death passes over me and the fullness of life forevermore floods my soul. "Those who believe in Me, even though they die, yet will they live" (John 11:25). Thank You for Your sacrifice of love that takes away the sins of the world, and even more personally, Your sacrifice of love that takes away my sins. Today I remember You and behold the Passover Lamb of God. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

My family, I pray you may behold the Passover Lamb of God and all the fullness of life God the Father has provided for you through God the Son. 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.communityFacebook: 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!

"Holy Realignment"

Good morning my family,

Yesterday was Palm Sunday and we began the time called Holy Week in the church.  It is my favorite week in the year. We remember the last week of Christ’s life before his resurrection.  It contains so many powerful events, examples, and expressions of God’s love for us as demonstrated in the life of Christ.  It starts tomorrow with Palm Sunday and Jesus’s entrance into Jerusalem riding on a donkey.  Jesus’s cleansing of the temple.  The institution of the first Lord’s Supper.  Jesus washing the disciples feet.  Jesus’s final teaching to his disciples in the upper room.  The betrayal by Judas.  Jesus prayer and arrest in the Garden of Gethsemane.  His trials before the Sanhedrin, Pilot and Herod.  Jesus’ scourging, and crucifixion, and finally, resurrection.  

I know I am preaching to myself with all I have to do with getting ready for all the upcoming events this week, but I want to encourage you to try to make this week different. Try to slow down.  Read through a passion narrative in one of the four Gospels each day.  Commit yourself to Fast and pray as often as you can this week. Try to “Fast” as much as you can from social media, TV, video games and other Apps and spend that time in prayer. Serve and do acts of mercy at The House Of The Harvest, Manna house, Downtown Rescue Mission, or other outreaches into your community.  This is a reason why ODC holds and I invite you to participate in our Palm Sunday, Maundy Thursday and Good Friday services before Easter Sunday to help reinforce this week is different and set aside extra time for something we need to do more of, time in collective prayer together.  I know many of you do not attend ODC, so please attend your churches or another in your communities Holy Week observation gatherings. 

Pray over One Direction Community, (and your church and their vision) that we can press forward with our vision of Loving God, Loving Neighbors, and Making disciples through our House Churches.   Share your testimony and the Gospel at least once a day with others.  Prayer walk more this week seeking new people of peace to invite into existing, and start up new house churches.  Invite people to our (your) Holy Week gatherings.  If for some reason you are still not in a Band Group, (an accountability group) make it a priority to start one this week.  Pray we can more deeply develop a heartbeat for those who are not yet here, rather than those who are here.  That is why God sent His Son, that all may be saved by his suffering and resurrection of grace.

My family, I pray today you will intentionally commit to refocusing your heart, your free time, and dates on your calendar for next week and remove distractions and include Holy Week gatherings, times of service and sharing the Gospel, and time in Word and prayer. In Jesus’ name.  PLEASE pray the same for me.  God bless you my friends!

I love you all,

Gary Liederbach

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!

"Jesus Had Dirty Hands"

Good morning, Lord Jesus. Through Your Body and Your Blood, make me one with You, one with Your Body of Christ, and one in ministry to all the world until I feast with You at Your heavenly banquet in final victory. 

"Now before the festival of the Passover, Jesus knew that His hour had come to depart from this world and go to the Father. Having loved His own who were in the world, He loved them to the end.... Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into His hands, and that He had come from God and was going to God, got up from the table, took off His outer robe, and tied a towel around Himself. Then He poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples' feet and to wipe them with the towel that was tied around Him. He came to Simon Peter, who said to Him, 'Lord, are You going to wash my feet?' Jesus answered, 'You do not know now what I am doing, but later you will understand.' Peter said to Him, 'You will never wash my feet.' Jesus answered, 'Unless I wash you, you have no share with Me.' Simon Peter said to Him, 'Lord, not my feet only but also my hands and my head!' Jesus said to him, 'One who has bathed does not need to wash, except for the feet, but is entirely clean. And you are clean, though not all of you.' For He knew who was to betray Him; for this reason He said, 'Not all of you are clean' " (John 13:1-11).

Lord Jesus, though You are One with Father and One with the Holy Spirit, You set aside the glory of Heaven to humble Yourself in the likeness of human flesh and blood. And before You humbled Yourself to be betrayed and rejected and crucified by the human flesh and blood You created, You humbled Yourself to wash the dirty, smelly, unclean feet of Your disciples. No wonder Peter could hardly bear the thought of his Messiah, the Son of God, down on His knees washing his feet.

Lord Jesus, help me grasp the humility of Your nature. Though You are the Creator of Heaven and Earth, the exact image and very Word of God, with all power and authority in Your hands, You would humble Yourself with Your holy hands to wash the dirty feet of human flesh.

Your disciples couldn't fully understand what we still have trouble fully understanding as Your disciples today that You are our example in every way. Just as You laid down Your life for Your friends as an example of Your love, we are to lay down our lives in sacrificial love for one another. Just as You washed their feet as an example of Your humility, we "ought to wash one another's feet" (v. 14). "Servants are not greater than their master, nor are messengers greater than the one who sent them. If (we) know these things, (we) are blessed if (we) do them" (v. 16).

Lord, help me learn and embrace Your example. You are my "Teacher and Lord" (v. 13). Help me learn to follow in Your steps as Your disciple. Though You've made me clean though Your sacrifice on the cross, you created my hands to get dirty, as I continue Your ministry of humility and love. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

My family, I pray you will be filled with the humility and love of Jesus today, as you follow Him as your example. I pray that you will intentionally set aside a time this weekend to get your “hands dirty” in ministry through real contact in the real lives of people around you.  Please pray the same for me. God bless you, my friends! 

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

 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. You can mail your donation to One Direction Community P.O. Box 1293 Madison, Al 35758

Thank You!  

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 

 

"Earnestly Desire"

Father, Son and Spirit, as I begin to move and breath at the start of a new week, create in me a clean heart…

“And when the hour came, he reclined at table, and the apostles with him. And he said to them, “I have earnestly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer.” (Luke 22:14-15)

Jesus, at the beginning of the Lord's Supper says to those around him, "And he said to them, "I have earnestly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer." v.15.  Jesus in complete love earnestly desired to be with and pour into the lives of those around him. And he earnestly desires to be with you. A good question for each of us to honestly discern this Lent is, "What do I earnestly desire?"  “What is it that you earnestly desire in life?”  The answer to that question is incredibly important because what you desire will control the one thing that controls everything else in your life; your heart.

What is Lent? At Jesus' baptism the sky was violently torn open, the Spirit of God descended like a dove and landed on Jesus, and a voice from heaven said, "This is my Son, My Beloved, with whom I am pleased." Afterward, as told in Matthew 4:1-11, Jesus was sent, literally driven into the wilderness by the Holy Spirit. There he fasted and prayed for 40 days. During his time there he pressed deep into the Holy Spirit so when he was tempted by Satan, he had the power, found clarity and strength to resist temptation. After his 40 days of prayer, he was ready to begin his ministry and announce for people to repent for the Kingdom of God is at hand.

Lent is a 40 day period before we celebrate the resurrection of Jesus when we set aside 40 days to more intentionally focus on prayer, repentance, pressing into the Holy Spirit, and discerning clarity of our lives and ministries. Maybe you needed some time with God to sort through the major changes happening in your life. Maybe you need to set time away from family, friends and your familiar routine in order to see God more clearly. Perhaps you want some intentional time with God to search for direction and answers of your calling. Like Jesus, we need to take some serious time to pray and listen for God.

The Spirit moves me to spend time meditating and reflection more on Lent and our need to  set aside time to fast, pray, repent, and spend time in the Word.

My family, I pray this morning you will set aside a block of time and be bold enough to ask the Holy Spirit to help you honestly reflect on the questions, What are the things I am desiring now that are controlling my heart? “What do you Jesus earnestly desire in me?”  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!

"Not My Will But Yours"

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

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

In humility of heart, I want to willingly choose to be desperately dependent upon You alone. Set me free from my selfishness and self-centeredness, from my insistence upon my independence apart from Your wisdom and authority in my life. Forgive me for my pride that says I'll do it my way, instead of Your way and demands my will instead of trusting Your will. Give a heart that honestly says, "not my will, but Yours, be done" (Luke 22:42).

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

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

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

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

 

Gary Liederbach- Lead Follower

One Direction Community

Email: garyl@onedirection.community

Website:https://www.onedirection.community

Facebook: One Direction Community-ODC

Give A Gift!

I could use you’re the gift of your financial support for my family and those on the margins God has placed in my path I refuse to walk around.  Please partner and support my family and ministries through setting up a monthly donation or a one –time gift by clicking the link below. Donation checks can be made out to ODC, 102 Champions Green Drive, Madison, Al 35758.

Thank You!  

"Embracing Suffering"

Fill my cup this morning Father.

“The people also stood there watching, but the rulers ridiculed him, saying, “He saved others. Let him save himself if he is the Christ of God, his chosen one!” The soldiers also mocked him, coming up and offering him sour wine, and saying, “If you are the king of the Jews, save yourself!” (Luke 23:35-37)

 Jesus, the irony in the statement “Let him save himself” is that salvation did come, but later, not while on the cross. It was not by the avoidance or removal of suffering that God’s would show His love, but through suffering that God’s plan of salvation and love would be manifested.  

Jesus, remind me of my call to suffer for your kingdom and out of love for my neighbors.  Your Word says, “For to you it has been granted for Christ’s sake, not only to believe in Him, but also to suffer for His sake” (Philippians 1:29) It is ok for me to ask for the suffering to be removed, Jesus you did in the garden. However, it is not ok for me to use whether the suffering has been removed or not as a measure of God’s love for me.  Just like Jesus, sometimes my salvation and sanctification does not come by the avoidance or removal of suffering, but through the suffering. 

If I surround myself with everyone who agrees with me and likes me, my character and formation as a person will not grow.  If I am never tested by something that tries to knock me off my feet, how will I learn to stand firm? I would rather be sent to an elaborate buffet and feast, and I like to pray that way.  However, it is in the gym that I am strengthened, so help me to pray that way. As difficult as it is in my will, and despite how “tough I may talk the talk,” help me “walk the walk” and to rejoice in my suffering.

“Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.” (Romans 5:2-5)

My family, I pray you embrace the fact that if we have a savior who God demonstrated His love through His suffering, that He will demonstrate His love through you in the same way.   I pray as counter to your flesh as it sounds, you will embrace that it is sometimes through suffering, not the removal of suffering, that your walk with Christ will lead 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

Give A Gift

I could use you’re the gift of your financial support for my family and those on the margins God has placed in my path I refuse to walk around.  Please partner and support my family and ministries through setting up a monthly donation or a one –time gift by clicking the link below. Donation checks can be made out to ODC, 102 Champions Green Drive, Madison, Al 35758.

Thank You!  

 

 

 

"He Wasn't Right In The Head"

COLOSSIANS 3:1–3 since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of god. set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in god.

As we seek to surrender and  build our lives as an altar to God this Lent, we need to create mental space and set our minds on Christ. We can have the most beautiful chapels for worship and our homes can have the most serene devotional space, but if we our “not right in our heads”, if our minds are not set, we can be like the Israelites wandering in the desert. In our passage, Paul wrote to the Colossians to encourage them. They were distracted by noise of the world, and he told them to set their hearts and their minds on things above. The definition of the word set in the original language gives us a little more insight. To set means to direct one’s mind or to seek. In other words, this is not a passive activity.

Setting our minds on the things above can be easier said than done. As we seek to move deeper into Christ during this Lenten season, we may need to make two changes: reset and replace. First, let’s reset. Creating mental space might mean physically moving to a space that is more conducive for your mind to focus. Jesus would often leave the crowds and the activity of the town to pray alone. “Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed” (Mark 1:35). He had to reset by physically leaving a place to mentally create space.

Second, let’s replace. Creating mental space might mean replacing what is normal in our routine for a different activity. We may need to replace something that is trivial with something that is meaningful. Replace something that is draining with something that is filling. What is taking up your mental space today? The world is not lacking for things that can distract us and drain us, but we have a choice to reset and replace so that our time can be offered to the Lord.

What is the noise in your life that distracts you?  How does the physical space you create help provide time for mental space? A re there any changes you can make in your life today that give more time for God?

My family, I pray the voice of Jesus may be the only clear voice in your heads today. I pray you choose to set your mind on the good news of Christ so you can set your heart and mind on Jesus the Christ, in Jesus’ name.  Please pray the same for me.  God bless you my friends!

Please share your reflections on change with us in the comments box below.

Resolve to Help in 206

 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          

"Take Up Your Cross"

Good morning, Lord Jesus. Lead me in Your steps. 

"(Jesus) called the crowd with His disciples, and said to them, 'If any want to become My followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross and follow Me. For those who want to save their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for My sake, and for the sake of the gospel, will save it. For what will it profit them to gain the whole world and forfeit their life? Indeed, what can they give in return for their life? Those who are ashamed of Me and of My words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of them the Son of Man will also be ashamed when He comes in the glory of His Father with the holy angels.' And He said to them, 'Truly I tell you, there are some standing here who will not taste death until they see that the kingdom of God has come with power'" (Mark 8:34-9:1).

You called Your first disciples to "take up their cross" even before You took up Yours. And now that You've taken up Yours, You call every disciple who chooses to follow You to do the same.

We are in the season of Lent which is a season of reflecting on your saving works on the cross. It is a season to discern how we need to re-orientate our lives as cr0ss-bearers for You, so we can re-connect with You and Your resurrection. Lord Jesus, give me the courage to take up my cross and follow You. Give me the grace to willingly, obediently, and joyfully choose to lose my life for Your sake and for the sake of Your gospel. May I do my part in my generation to see Your kingdom come with power -- here in my heart and here in my world -- today and every day until You come again in the glory of the Father with the holy angels. 

Let these words be true of me as they were of Your disciple Paul:  "I have been crucified with Christ; and it is not longer I who live, but it is Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me" (Galatians 2:19-20). In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

My family I pray you will find great joy and fulfillment in your journey with Jesus by taking up your cross, losing your life for His sake, and following Him into all He has for in your life.  May you carry the glory of His name in your heart into your world, in Jesus' name. Please pray the same for me. God bless you, my friends!

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

 

Gary Liederbach- Lead Follower

One Direction Community

Email: garyl@onedirection.community

Website:https://www.onedirection.community

Facebook: One Direction Community-ODC

I could use your financial support reaching with the gospel 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!  

 

 

 

 

St. Patrick's Breastplate Prayer

Good morning, Lord Jesus. You are the Alpha and Omega, the Beginning and the End, here with me now and in every moment of my day. 

"For you shall not go out in haste, and you shall not go in flight; for the Lord will go before you, and the God of Israel will be your rear guard" (Isaiah 52:12).

You're the God who goes before me. You're the God who comes behind me. You're the God who's always with me, even within me--never leaving me, never forsaking me, but forever seeing me, knowing me, and understanding me, even with all my quirks and needs, even with all my sins and failures. You're the God who created me and loves me and has plans for me that will come to pass, all in Your way and all in Your time. You are God and You are good and You are a good God to me.

So I don't have to worry about what lies ahead, and I don't have to worry about what's left behind. You've already been there, just like You'll always be there. My part is to simply trust in You and embrace Your mercy and love for me. As I do, there's joy in the journey and anticipation in the adventure; there's peace in every step and there's hope in every challenge. You've already gone before me and You remind me every day it's a good place You've prepared and set before me (John 14:1-3).

Im honor of St. Patrick’s Day here is f one of my favorite, ancient prayers, St. Patrick's Breastplate Prayer. The term breastplate refers to a piece of armor that covers the heart worn in battle. I also reflect on how you can only wear one suit of armor.  In order to put on God’s armor, we must first remove our personal armors of pride, jealousy, self-reliance, self- competency, materialism, and others things we attach to us and clothe ourselves and rely on when we face challenges. In order to put on the breastplate from God, we must first by faith surrender ourselves to God, stand before Him naked, and allow Him to equip us with his armor.

 Though recent scholars lean towards the author of this prayer being an anonymous source, I still call it by its traditional name.

My family, I pray today you read this prayer out loud over yourself, your family. and your domain. I pray you surrender your life to God and claim the fullness of this prayer over any challenges and situations that are facing you and claim the breastplate in any battles you face, in Jesus’ name. Please pray the same for me. God bless you my friends.

Sant Patrick’s Breastplate Prayer 

I arise today 
Through a mighty strength, the invocation of the Trinity,
Through belief in the Threeness,
Through confession of the Oneness
of the Creator of creation.

I arise today
Through the strength of Christ's birth with His baptism,
Through the strength of His crucifixion with His burial,
Through the strength of His resurrection with His ascension,
Through the strength of His descent for the judgment of doom.

I arise today
Through the strength of the love of cherubim,
In the obedience of angels,
In the service of archangels,
In the hope of resurrection to meet with reward,
In the prayers of patriarchs,
In the predictions of prophets,
In the preaching of apostles,
In the faith of confessors,
In the innocence of holy virgins,
In the deeds of righteous men.

I arise today, through
The strength of heaven,
The light of the sun,
The radiance of the moon,
The splendor of fire,
The speed of lightning,
The swiftness of wind,
The depth of the sea,
The stability of the earth,
The firmness of rock.

I arise today, through
God's strength to pilot me,
God's might to uphold me,
God's wisdom to guide me,
God's eye to look before me,
God's ear to hear me,
God's word to speak for me,
God's hand to guard me,
God's shield to protect me,
God's host to save me
From snares of devils,
From temptation of vices,
From everyone who shall wish me ill,
afar and near.

I summon today
All these powers between me and those evils,
Against every cruel and merciless power
that may oppose my body and soul,
Against incantations of false prophets,
Against black laws of pagandom,
Against false laws of heretics,
Against craft of idolatry,
Against spells of witches and smiths and wizards,
Against every knowledge that corrupts man's body and soul;
Christ to shield me today
Against poison, against burning,
Against drowning, against wounding,
So that there may come to me an abundance of reward.

Christ with me,
Christ before me,
Christ behind me,
Christ in me,
Christ beneath me,
Christ above me,
Christ on my right,
Christ on my left,
Christ when I lie down,
Christ when I sit down,
Christ when I arise,
Christ in the heart of every man who thinks of me,
Christ in the mouth of everyone who speaks of me,
Christ in every eye that sees me,
Christ in every ear that hears me.

I arise today
Through a mighty strength, the invocation of the Trinity,
Through belief in the Threeness,
Through confession of the Oneness
of the Creator of creation.

Please share your thoughts and experiences on fasting in the comment box below.

Gary Liederbach- Lead Follower

One Direction Community/

Email: garyl@onedirection.community

Website: https://www.onedirection.community

Facebook: One Direction Community-ODC

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

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"Astonished Silence"

Good morning, Lord Jesus. I speak out Your name and listen for the leading of Your Holy Spirit, here in the embrace of my heavenly Father.  ...

As I woke this morning, I thought of the cross. I thought of Your suffering and sacrifice, Your mercy and love. I thought of Your holy humiliation that our human minds can't begin to comprehend as You cried out from the cross, "My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?" (Matthew 27:46). And then these words came to my heart:  "Astonished Silence."

Your Spirit brought to mind the silence of heaven when You opened the seventh seal in the Apostle John's Revelation.

“When the Lamb opened the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven for about half an hour. And I saw the seven angels who stand before God, and seven trumpets were given to them. Another angel with a golden censer came and stood at the altar; he was given a great quantity of incense to offer with the prayers of all the saints on the golden altar that is before the throne. And the smoke of the incense, with the prayers of the saints, rose before God from the hand of the angel. Then the angel took the censer and filled it with fire from the altar and threw it on the earth; and there were peals of thunder, rumblings, flashes of lightning, and an earthquake" (Revelation 8:1-5)”.

It was the same on the day of Your death at the cross:  "Then Jesus cried again with a loud voice and breathed His last. At that moment the curtain of the temple was torn in two, from top to bottom. The earth shook, and the rocks were split" (Matthew 27:50-51).

Every prophecy is ultimately fulfilled in You, as are "all the Scriptures" of the Word of God (Luke 24:27). You are the very Word of God, the Word made flesh (John 1:14). And this morning, I see a parallel in this prophecy of Revelation and a partial fulfillment--one in the eternal realm of heaven with the Lamb of God who stands at the throne and one in the historical realm of earth with the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world. And in my heart I hear, "Astonished Silence."

In the midst of the earthquakes and darkness on that holy day of Your sacrifice and death at the cross, and in the midst of the ultimate judgments that must come upon the earth and upon those who would reject Your mercy and love, I sense the "astonished silence" of heaven. With all of heaven, I'm astonished that God would die for me, astonished that the fury of hell and the mercy of heaven could meet on the cross all at once, It is both cruel and beautiful, at a moment in time on this earth but forever timeless in the eternity of heaven. And I am astonished that all will not humble their hearts to receive all You've done for us at such a cost. With the silence of heaven, I am astonished at Your sacrifice of love and I have no words to express. ...

As I ponder these thoughts in my heart this morning, I can hardly speak at all. I simply say, Thank You, Lord Jesus….. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

My family,I pray you experience the mercy and love of the One who sacrificed so much for you at the cross--at once, both cruel and beautiful, yet necessary for the salvation of your soul and mine, in Jesus' name! Please pray the same for me. God bless you, my friend! 

I want to encourage you to join me by also sharing with us your thoughts, comments, reflections, and prayers you received from today’s reading in the comment box below.

 

Gary Liederbach- Lead Follower

One Direction Community/Toney UMC

Email: garyl@onedirection.community

Website:https://www.onedirection.community

Facebook: One Direction Community-ODC

Help Us Help Them!

I could use you’re the gift of your financial support for my family and those on the margins God has placed in my path I refuse to walk around.  Please partner and support my family and ministries through setting up a monthly donation or a one –time gift by clicking the link below. Donation checks can be made out to ODC, 102 Champions Green Drive, Madison, Al 35758.

Thank You!  

 

 

"Choose Blessing or Curse"

Good morning, Lord Jesus. I worship You and welcome You, here in my heart and every moment of my day -- Father, Son, and Holy Spirit of God.  ...

"When it was evening, He took His place with the twelve; and while they were eating, He said, 'Truly I tell you, one of you will betray Me.' And they became greatly distressed and began to say to Him one after another, 'Sure not I, Lord?' He answered, 'The one who has dipped his hand into the bowl with Me will betray Me. The Son of Man goes as it is written of Him, but woe to that one by whom the Son of Man is betrayed! It would have been better for that one not to have been born.' Judas, who betrayed Him, said, 'Surely not I, Rabbi?' He replied, 'You have said so'" (Matthew 26:20-25).

Sometimes I wonder what happened to Judas. Did he get too close to the money? (John 6:29)  With his hand in Your bowl, did he become presumptuous of his access to Your greatness or begin to take his invitation to Your intimacy and his acceptance of Your grace for granted? Did being one of the “Big Twelve” give him the big head? Or did the seeds of sin and self-seeking sown into his fallen soul finally grow to full harvest in his heart of betrayal? In any event, somehow Satan himself entered his soul to consume his thoughts and influence his choices (Luke 22:3).

You know every choice we will ever make, seeing the end from the beginning and the beginning from the end (Isaiah 46:10). You know every heart and every motive of every choice (Acts 1:24; Jeremiah 17:10). Yet, the choices are ours in the freedom of will that a true relationship of love requires (Joshua 14:15; Deuteronomy 30:14-15; John 7:17). 

And what if Judas had made better choices with all that was entrusted to him? Surely Your Word was true of him as It is with us all: "For surely I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord, plans for your welfare and not for harm, to give you a future with hope" (Jeremiah 29:11). "As surely as I live, says the Sovereign Lord, I take no pleasure in the death of wicked people. I only want them to turn from their wicked ways so they can live" (Ezekiel 33:11).

 Judas was not born a traitor, but he "became a traitor" (Luke 6:16). And by the time it was time for Judas to choose blessing or curse, life or death, "the devil had already put it into the heart of Judas son of Simon Iscariot to betray (You)" (John 13:2). In the end, "Judas by transgression fell, that he might go to his own place" (Acts 1:25).

But what if instead of becoming "the one destined to be lost," Judas would have humbled himself in repentance and faith, seeking Your healing and freedom of all that would hold him back of being a faithful follower instead of a condemned traitor (John 17:12)? His confession and repentance came too late when finally acknowledged, "I have sinned by betraying innocent blood!" (Matthew 27:3) What if he could have become a son of God instead of the "son of perdition" (John 17:12)? What if he was to spill out his heart to lead others to Christ instead of spilling out his guts after hanging himself on a tree (Matthew 27:5; Acts 1:18)? What if even the Book of Jude could have been the Book of Judas, sharing words of encouragement and exhortation from a life that was changed and surrendered to God to fulfill a destiny to honor Christ (Jude 1)?

You are "longsuffering” toward us (all), not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance" (2 Peter 3:9). So before I judge Judas for the speck in his eye, give me a humble and teachable heart to see the log in my own eye (Matthew 7:5). Let me "judge not," so that by the measure I judge I will not also be judged and that very thing come up me (Matthew 7:1). Let me never take my grace for granted or presume upon my place of intimacy with You. Convict me of my sins and keep me sensitive in my heart to the leading of Your Spirit, so that it's never too late to choose well and live well in the destiny You desire for me (Ephesians 1:11). By the power of Your grace, may I grow to be much more like Jesus than Judas (Romans 8:29). In Jesus' name I pray. Amen. 

My family, I pray you you will honestly and openly confess, repent, and be restored of any sin that is festering inside you. I pray you will seek God’s grace and forgiveness and then seek to grow in the grace of God to become more like Jesus every day, in Jesus' name! Please pray the same for me. God bless you, my friends!

 

Please share your reflections and prayers to 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

I could use your financial support as I seek to relationally reach with the Gospel 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!  

 

 

"You Actually Did It To Me"

Good morning Jesus, touch my heart with your love this morning so I can touch the hearts of others with your love.

 “When the Son of Man comes in his glory and all the angels with him, then he will sit on his glorious throne. All the nations will be assembled before him, and he will separate people one from another like a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left. Then the king will say to those on his right, ʻCome, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I was naked and you gave me clothing, I was sick and you took care of me, I was in prison and you visited me.ʼ Then the righteous will answer him, ʻLord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or naked and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?ʼ And the king will answer them, ʻI tell you the truth, just as you did it for one of the least of these brothers or sisters of mine, you did it for me.ʼ (Matthew 25:31-39)

 Lent invites us together to find ways to serve and find ways to change the lives of overlooked, neglected, “least of these”, and homeless people in our community or the community you live in. It’s a time to draw attention to the needs of our neighbors on a local level. The poor and homeless had a special place in Jesus’ heart, and as followers of Jesus desiring to have a heart in us that imitates Jesus’, they need to have a special place in our hearts as well. There are many ways you can participate in this season of Lent.

Volunteer to serve at a local homeless shelter or a ministry that serves meals or in some other way helps out the poor, marginalized, and homeless community and allows you to interact with them. Or if you see a homeless person on the street, invite that person out for lunch or for dinner. If they do not want to go to a restaurant, offer to purchase you both a meal, then go back and sit, talk, and share a meal with them.  I am sure you will learn more about Jesus from your time spent with them.  Or invite them to go shopping with you and take them to a groceries store and buy them a few food items.   Or invite them to a Walmart and buy them a couple clothing items.

 The key thing of Jesus’ parable in Matthew 25, is that as we as the “sheep” are to actually spend personal time with the least of these, the overlooked, the neglected, that homeless man or woman.  When Jesus says above ”When I was hungry you gave me something to eat” He did not mean you dropped off some canned goods to a food pantry or your church.  He meant you invited Him to a meal with you and you fed Him.  When Jesus says, “I was naked and you gave me clothing” He does not mean you dropped off clothes at a Good Will or thrift store, He meant you personally got me clothes.  Read Jesus words above again: I was a stranger and you invited me in; I was in prison and you visited me…these are all personal, intimate moments with Jesus.  So when Jesus says, ”As you did it for one of these least brothers and sisters of mine, you did it for me,” He means the “it” is the personal, intimate, encounters of love you entered into with the poor and the homeless.  We cannot try to disconnect this meaning or rationalize we have done this when we drop off outdated cans of food to our churches food drive or clothes that no longer fit us to thrift stores.  Such rationalization does not honor Jesus, and It does not honor our least of these brothers and sisters.  Both Jesus and them deserve more. Such rationalization is what the “Goats” of the passage above do, not the “sheep.”

 Such rationalization by people are at the basis of these words by Jesus.  “Not everyone who says to me, ʻLord, Lord,ʼ will enter into the kingdom of heaven - only the one who does the will of my Father in heaven. On that day, many will say to me, ʻLord, Lord, didnʼt we prophesy in your name, and in your name cast out demons and do many powerful deeds?ʼ Then I will declare to them, ʻI never knew you.”  (Matthew 7:21)

 Giving food, clothing and money donations to organizations and ministries is absolutely a good thing!  However, these donations should not help contribute to, or lead to your justifying that you obeyed Jesus’ words in both passages above and then isolating yourself from the least of these, isolating you from Jesus. Jesus is does want you to set up transactions for the least of these, but to enter into into deep interactions with the least of these.  The Kingdom of Heaven is a place of intimacy and love, entrance into it flows out of intimacy and love with Jesus. This is found and flows out of intimacy and love for our neighbors, the least of our brothers and sisters.  

 My Family, I pray on during Lent you will sit in the Holy Spirit’s leading and simply reflect on Jesus’ words, “just as you did it for one of the least of these brothers or sisters of mine, you did it for me.” Then go out and intentionally plan on obeying that command this weekend,In Jesus’ name.  Please pray the same for me.  God bless you my friends!

Please Watch this 3 minute video.

 I would love for you to please share your reflections with myself or others using 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!  

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"False Unity"

Good morning, Lord Jesus. Awaken my soul as I focus in on You first with all my heart and mind and soul and strength. 

“Whoever pronounces a blessing in the earth

will do so in the name of the faithful God;

whoever makes an oath in the earth

will do so in the name of the faithful God.

For past problems will be forgotten;

I will no longer think about them.

For look, I am ready to create

new heavens and a new earth!

The former ones will not be remembered;

no one will think about them anymore.

But be happy and rejoice forevermore

over what I am about to create!

For look, I am ready to create Jerusalem to be a source of joy,

and her people to be a source of happiness.” (Isaiah 65:16-18)

I walked into the Waffle House yesterday morning as usual and I sat  at the low-bar and listened in to the discussion those sitting there were having. I got in on the end of it, however it appears the conversation was about immigration and “foreigners” as the person talking ended the conversation by saying, “We are Americans, and America is the greatest country in the world, and if they don’t like it the can get the hell out!”  Those at the bar cheered or nodded in unity together. 

There's a false unity that's fueled by the human pride to "make a name for ourselves." It has its own language, with its own words. And it's purpose is to build its own kingdom. It seeks to exalt its tower of authority and power over the whole earth and into the heavens. It's inspired and empowered by the same spirit that says, "I will ascend to heaven; I will raise my throne above the stars of God; I will sit on the mount of assembly on the heights of Zaphon; I will ascend to the tops of the clouds, I will make myself like the Most High" (Isaiah 14:14).

It's the opposite of the true unity You desire Jesus--"the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace" (Ephesians 4:3). This is the "unity of the faith" as we put our faith in You instead of ourselves or our country, building Your kingdom instead of our own, humbly and willingly choosing to desperately dependent upon You alone for our true sense of identity and destiny (Ephesians 4:13). United in You and united with one another in our  global bond of humility and faith, "there is one body and one Spirit, just as (we) were called to the one hope of (our) calling, one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is above all and through all and in all" (Ephesians 4:4-6).

In the true unity of Your Spirit--where we exalt Your name instead of our own, living for You instead of ourselves--You pour out every blessing of heaven we'll ever need:  "Behold, how good and pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity! It is like the precious oil upon the head, running down on the beard, the beard of Aaron, running down on the edge of his garments. It is like the dew of Hermon, descending upon the mountains of Zion; for there the Lord commanded the blessing--life forevermore!" (Psalm 133:1-3).

And in that spirit of unity, all the world will begin to see You--seeing You in us, as we abide in You and You abide in us as one body with one Lord, one faith, one God and Father of all. As the Son of God and Son of Man walking this earth in the flesh and blood of Your incarnation, You prayed to the Father this great prayer of unity:  "As You, Father, are in Me and I am in You, may they also be in Us, so that the world may believe that You have sent me. The glory that You have given Me I have given them, so that they may be one as We are One, I in them and You in Me, that they may become completely one, so that the world may know that You have sent Me and have loved them even as You have loved Me" (John 17:21-23).

This is the true unity You long to see. This is the new world order You've envisioned from the beginning--the "new heavens and a new earth (Isaiah 65:17; 2 Peter 3:13; Revelation 21:1). This is the one world government You passionately desire--the "government (that) will be upon (Your) shoulder... (and) of the increase of (Your) government and peace there will be no end" (Isaiah 9:6-7). In the unity of Your Spirit all, "the kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of His Christ; and He shall reign forever and ever!" (Revelation 11:15)  In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

My family,I pray today you unite with Christ and promote His body of faith in the Holy Spirit as the one true source of unity with our Lord, one God and Father of all, 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!

"Expectant Faith"

Good morning, Lord Jesus. I look to You and listen for Your leading, for Your sheep hear Your voice (John 10:27).

As I listen, what comes to my heart this morning is this Scripture from the the Prophet Isaiah.

“For since the beginning of the world

Men have not heard nor perceived by the ear,

Nor has the eye seen any God besides You,

Who acts for the one who waits for Him” (Isaiah 64:4).

And I’m remembering similar words from the Apostle Paul: 

“Eye has not seen, nor ear heard,

Nor have entered into the heart of man

The things which God has prepared for those who love Him”

(1 Corinthians 2:9).

And now what rises up in my heart from Your heart are these words:

“Look to Me with expectant faith. You’ve only just begun and the best is yet to come. But the key to the kingdom I have set before you, the key to the kingdom of God I am forming within you and within the hearts of all who would seek Me and follow Me, is to keep looking to Me. Let me open your eyes to My vision and your ears to My voice. And I will guide your heart and your steps into My plan. And my plan is form the character of My nature in you. For the kingdom of God is within you.” ...

Yes, Lord. ...As I seek to discern what I believe I’m hearing in Your spoken word, these Words come to me from Your written Word:

“Now when (Jesus) was asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come, He answered them and said, ‘The kingdom of God does not come with observation; nor will they say, ‘See here!’ or ‘See there!’ For indeed, the kingdom of God is within you’” (Luke 17:20-21).

Yes, Lord. I seek You and seek to follow You and I seek to allow You to establish Your abundant and everlasting kingdom in my heart, as You keep forming the character of Your nature in me -- as best as I can and all by Your grace. Apart from You, I can do nothing (John 15:5). “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me” (Philippians 4:13).

So with all my heart, I believe in You and I will keep seeking You with expectant faith, as You keep establishing Your kingdom in me. One day my eyes will see and my ears will hear and my heart will know these astounding things You have prepared for me and for all who love You and seeking You. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.

My family, I pray as you walk out your door this morning you may walk out looking to God with expectant faith, letting Him establish His kingdom in your heart and the character of His nature in your life, in Jesus' name. Please pray the same for me. God bless you my friends!

Please share you thoughts and prayers with us from this devotion in the comment box below.

Help Me Help Others Out Of Their Graves!

Help Me Share The Gospel!

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

TO GIVE CLICK HERE!

Gary Liederbach- Lead Follower

One Direction Community

Email: garyl@onedirection.community

Website:https://www.onedirection.community

Facebook: One Direction Community-ODC

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“Cry Out To God’

"If only you would tear apart the sky and come down!
The mountains would tremble before you!" V. 1

Isaiah's cry God fulfilled: 

"And just as Jesus was coming up out of the water, he saw the heavens splitting apart and the Spirit descending on him like a dove."  Mark 1:10

Our cries for help have been answered.  Not only do we have a deliverer who tore apart the heavens, but tore apart the grave and the gates of hell when he rose from the dead.  

And that same spirit that tore apart the heavens and descended on Jesus at his baptism, and descended into hell and brought Jesus out of the grave, has descended on you at your baptism and all those cry out in faith to God.  

My family, I pray those who have cried out to God to remember who resides in you this morning.  Those of you who have not yet cried out to God, there is a Holy Spirit that longs to tear through heaven and earth to deliver you from any hell-like gates you find yourself trapped behind. Pray over who you know that is still in a pit without Christ that you need to connect with today and jump into thier pit and direct them who to cry out to for help. What better act of love could you do for Lent? In Jesus’ name. Please pray the same for me. God bless you my friends!

"Being A Hezekiah"

 The destroyer is as good as dead, you who have not been destroyed!

The deceitful one is as good as dead, the one whom others have not deceived!

When you are through destroying, you will be destroyed;

when you finish deceiving, others will deceive you!

LORD, be merciful to us! We wait for you. Give us strength each morning!

Deliver us when distress comes…..The LORD is exalted, indeed, he lives in heaven;

he fills Zion with justice and fairness.

He is your constant source of stability; he abundantly provides safety and great wisdom;

he gives all this to those who fear him. (Isaiah 33:1-6)

Most scholars put this chapter in history between the time the Tribute was Sennacherib (2 kings 18:13-16) and when the final attacks on Jerusalem had begun.  The leaders of Judah have tried everything to free themselves from the grip of Assyria. But everything they tried failed. Egypt has been defeated, Sennacherib has refused bribes and to be bought off; he took the money, but still remains and is now preparing for battle against them. In this moment, Hezekiah leads his people to repentance and God gives his response which Isaiah records here. 

Israel found themselves caught up in a really bad situation that was threatening to destroy them.  And they tried everything they could on their own, used all their own strategies, hard work, and resources to get out of it.  But it was only as a last resort, after everything else failed, in desperation did they call out to God. Because of a worldly view, pride, ego, and self-reliance, the first thing they should have tried for deliverance and the first person they needed to ask for help, God, was the last thing they tried. 

Sound familiar?  What was true in the lives of the "church" thousands of years ago is true in the lives of Christians today.  We don't like to repent, we don't like to admit we can't fix it, and only in desperation after we have completed messed everything up and find ourselves without hope do we fall on our knees and pray.  Only then can we hear God's response.

There is a saying, “Prayer is the train tracks for God..” Meaning God will not arive until the tracks of prayer have first been laid. The people of Israel saw the situation teir country was in, and they collectively came together and spent serious Facetime, time spent prostrated face down on the floor praying tp God for their country, change, renewal, and deliverance. We see this example of collective prayer and God answering prayer all throughout the Bible. So why do we not follow this example? When was the last time everyone in your church came together, not for a Sunday service, not for a Bible study, not for another event, but to pray? When was the last time you called your friends or small group or church and set up a time to pray together over our country? Never? We take time to read to join in, hear, and reply to social media and the news on issues and events going on in our country. Yet we don’t take time to hear from God.

 Also, it took one person, Hezekiah, to stand up and be the spiritual leader and convince the people the need to repent and lead them back to God.  You and I need to be that one person in our marriages, families, circle of friends, work places, neighborhoods and especially our churches.  We need to be the one to help them see the error of their striving in themselves and seek God's support and direction through prayer, reading the Bible, and gathering with believers for support.  

 My family, I pray after you read this, you will not just click the close the tab and continue on in your own means, but take some time to put these reflections into action, seek God, and pray over your life. In this season of Lent, what a better time to call your church, call your friends, and set up a day and time to come together and pray. Also eflect on how and with what you are fighting your battles? To whom are you be a “Hezekiah” and leading and calling those you have a relationship with and influence over to turn back to God, repent and pray, in Jesus’ name. Please pray the same for me.  God bless you my friends! 

Please share your thoughts and experiences on fasting in the comment box below.

Gary Liederbach- Lead Follower

One Direction Community

Email: garyl@onedirection.community

Website: https://www.onedirection.community

Facebook: One Direction Community-ODC

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

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"The Spirit of The Lord Is Upon Me"

Good morning, Lord Jesus. Align my heart with Your heart and my will with Your will, O Lord, my God -- Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.  

This. morning I read Isaiah chapter 61. Usualy I ost a few verses from a chapter I am reading that are speaking to me as I write my devotion. This morning I am posting the whole chapter. As Isaiah 61 in it’s entirety is. one of the most powerful, beautiful, amazing chapters in the whole Bible that speaks into the heart of God’s restoration and grace for all mankind.

“The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is upon me,

because the Lord has chosen me.

He has commissioned me to encourage the poor,

to help the brokenhearted,

to decree the release of captives

and the freeing of prisoners, 

2 to announce the year when the Lord will show his favor,

the day when our God will seek vengeance,

to console all who mourn, 

3 to strengthen those who mourn in Zion

by giving them a turban, instead of ashes,

oil symbolizing joy, instead of mourning,

a garment symbolizing praise, instead of discouragement.

They will be called oaks of righteousness,

trees planted by the Lord to reveal his splendor.

4 They will rebuild the perpetual ruins

and restore the places that were desolate;

they will reestablish the ruined cities,

the places that have been desolate since ancient times.

5 “Foreigners will take care of your sheep;

foreigners will work in your fields and vineyards. 

6 You will be called, ‘the Lord’s priests,

servants of our God.’

You will enjoy the wealth of nations

and boast about the riches you receive from them.

7 Instead of shame, you will get a double portion;

instead of humiliation, they will rejoice over the land they receive.

Yes, they will possess a double portion in their land

and experience lasting joy. 

8 For I, the Lord, love justice

and hate robbery and sin.

I will repay them because of my faithfulness;

I will make a permanent covenant with them.

9 Their descendants will be known among the nations,

their offspring among the peoples.

All who see them will recognize that

the Lord has blessed them.”

10 I will greatly rejoice in the Lord;

I will be overjoyed because of my God.

For he clothes me in garments of deliverance;

he puts on me a robe symbolizing vindication.

I look like a bridegroom when he wears a turban as a priest would;

I look like a bride when she puts on her jewelry.

11 For just as the ground produces its crops

and a garden yields its produce,

so the Sovereign Lord will cause deliverance to grow

and give his people reason to praise him in the sight of all the nations.”

 Isaiah 61 is such a powerful chapter on the the complete restoritive plan of God of love and grace, that it is the chapter the Jesus quoted from at the start of his ministry on earth to announce his presence in the world and the promise redemption that is now fullfilled in Him.

"Then Jesus, filled with the power of the Spirit, returned to Galilee, and a report about Him spread through all the surrounding country. He began to teach in their synagogues and was praised by everyone. When He came to Nazareth, where He had been brought up, He went to the synagogue on the Sabbath day, as was His custom. He stood up to read, and the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was given to Him. He unrolled the scroll and found the place where it was written:  'The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, because He has anointed Me to bring good news to the poor. He has sent Me to proclaim release to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free, to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor.'  He rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant, and sat down. The eyes of all in the synagogue were fixed on Him. Then He began to say to them, 'Today this Scripture has been fulfilled in your hear'" (Luke 4:14-21).

Lord Jesus, You're still healing the brokenhearted and setting the captives free in the power of Your Spirit. You're still fulfilling the scroll of Scripture, the Word of God, confirming Your identity and living out Your destiny. To which I say “Praise God!”

Just as the Father sent You in the anointing and the power of the Holy Spirit, so You send us, you send me saying "Peace be with you. As the Father has sent Me, so I send you" (John 20:21). As we abide in You and You abide in us, Your Spirit flows through us in the power of Your love and grace everywhere You send us (John 15:5).

Fill me with Your Holy Spirit today! "Here am I; send me!" (Isaiah 6:8). Send me with the character of Your nature in my heart and the authority of Your name in my words, as You make me more like You each day (Romans 8:29). In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

My family, I pray you read Isaiah 61 this morning, clain it over your life and ministry, and stand in prayer and declare the Spirit of the Lord God will be upon you today and every day, as the Lord sends you to minister His love and grace with nature of Jesus in your heart and authority of His name through your words, in Jesus' name. Please pray the same for me. God bless you, my friends!

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

 

Gary Liederbach- Lead Follower

One Direction Community

Email: garyl@onedirection.community

Website:https://www.onedirection.community

Facebook: One Direction Community-ODC

I could use your financial support reaching with the Gospel those on the margins God has placed in my path I refuse to walk around.  Please partner and support myself 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!  

 

 

"Arise and Shine"

Good morning Lord Jesus, I surrender all , so that I can receive all from you.

“Arise! Shine! For your light arrives!

The splendor of the LORD shines on you!

For, look, darkness covers the earth

and deep darkness covers the nations,

but the LORD shines on you;

his splendor appears over you.

Nations come to your light,

kings to your bright light. (Isaiah 60:1-3)

 When Isaiah walked the earth and looked out at his world approximately 3,000 years ago a deep  darkness covered his world and his nation as well.  Isaiah’s answer was not for the people of God in his time to retreat from the darkness, withdraw and isolate from the deep darkness, but to arise and go out and shine, and be beacons of light that drives out the darkness

 Approximately 800 years after Isaiah and 2,000 years ago Jesus walked the earth and when He looked around the world, his nation was occupied by a foreign army and a deep darkness of sin covered his nation and the world.  Like Isaiah, Jesus’ answer was not for his followers to isolate themselves, withdraw in their churches, and withdraw from society.  But to be His light, one that illuminates and turns back darkness.  Jesus said,“You are the light of the world. A city located on a hill cannot be hidden. People do not light a lamp and put it under a basket but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before people, so that they can see your good deeds and give honor to your Father in heaven.” (Matthew 5:1516) 

 Looking at the news today, you probably get the sense that the world, our nation appears to be a scarier, darker place: War in Iran, War in The Ukrain, ICE shootings, hate and polorization increasing.  And what is the answer today?  For us to isolate, withdraw from the world, social isolate ourselves inside out homes and churches?  No, it is same answer of Isaiah and of Jesus.  We are called to go out and light our world.   Be a light in the darkness.  And darkness being a metaphor for pain, be a source of light, love, hope, and joy in the lives of our neighbors and communities. 

 My family, you are the light of the world.  Because the same light of the Lord that both Isaiah and Jesus declared shines in you!  You carry the splendor, power, and glory of God in you!  I pray you fall on your knees and claim this same mantle of authority over your life. I pray then you rise, walk out your door and enter into darkness, enter into the pain in this world, and bring and be a beacon of light, healing, hope and Joy. What better way is there as we remember the life and passion of Jesus and our God who “so loved the world” during Lent then to imitate Jesus and go out and “so love the world”, 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.

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!  

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"A Crapy Way To Respond To God's Love"

Look, the LORDʼs hand is not too weak to deliver you;

his ear is not too deaf to hear you.

But your sinful acts have alienated you from your God;

your sins have caused him to reject you and not listen to your prayers.

For your hands are stained with blood and your fingers with sin;

your lips speak lies, your tongue utters malicious words.

No one is concerned about justice;

no one sets forth his case truthfully.

They depend on false words and tell lies;

they conceive of oppression and give birth to sin. (Isaiah 59:.1-4)

In chapter 57 Isaiah condemned Israel for its turning to false God’s and the decline and absence of leaders who are righteous and have a heart for God.  In chapter 58 he points out their hypocritical fasting and religious acts that instead of bringing God pleasure, actually disgust him. In chapter 59 Isaiah points to their lack of any desire of justice and honesty in their lives and treatment of others. 

 Each of these chapters speaks about prayer. In chapter 57 it was not answered because it was not addressed to the true God (57:13 but to other idols in their lives as well.   In chapter 58 God ignores their prayers because the petitioners are hypocrites (58:4) putting on a fake religious “show” for themselves while acting in sin towards others.   Here in chapter 59 their prayers are not heard because they pray for justice for themselves, while they lie to and don’t treat those around them with justice. 

When we communicate with someone, we know if they are “fake” with us and if effects our response to them.  If you find out a co-worker is spreading lies about you and trying to make you look bad to others, and then we they see you they compliment you, it means nothing to you.   If you know your spouse is cheating on you, and they come home after a liaison with their lover and say they missed you while they were away and they love you, it makes your stomach turn.  If a friend breaks a date with you and lies and says they were sick, and you find out they went out with others instead and did not include you, then call you the next day asking for a favor you are hurt and resentful. 

Prayer is our communication with God.   All these things I mentioned above that effect our feelings and responses to others: honesty, respect, faithfulness, integrity, love, commitment, caring; somehow we feel do not effect God’s response to us.  Isaiah is saying here; we know that the way we treat others is important to that relationship and impacts it.  Why don’t we feel the same way about our relationship with God?  Will God always love you, yes.  But treating your spouse or parents like crap and taking advantage of them because you know they will always love you and be there for you is a pretty crappy way to respond to their love.  It is also a pretty crappy way to respond to God’s love for you.  

My family, I pray you will take a few moments today and let God know, that though you may not have said it in a while. that you do love him.   I pray you will take a few moments today and let Jesus know, that though you may not have said it in a while. that you do love him. Then sit and listen to to the Holy Spirit as he speaks into your soul with their response, in Jesus name. Please pray the same for me. God bless you my friends!