The Lord bless you and keep you;
The Lord make His face shine upon you
and be gracious to you;
The Lord lift up His countenance upon you,
and give you peace! (Numbers 6:24-26)
I am so thankful to the Lord and to you for your friendship as we journey together in these daily reflections. I thank God for all your encouragement, prayers and support for my family and One Direction Community that help us minister the healing love of God—healing from the inside out, preparing the way of the Lord. With your encouragement and support we are able to with “boots on the ground” both meet people out in our community and invite them into our home and help people beset free from all that would hold them back from being all God created them to be in their identity, maturity, and authority.
May the love and blessings of God our Father overtake you and His favor rest upon you in this season of Thanksgiving and the hope and joy of Christmas to come. May you receive today all the goodness of God.
Please let me know if there are any particular ways my family and those of One Direction Community can be praying for you. This evening will gather in my home to share a meal, worship, open God’s Word, and pray. I would love to offer your prayer requests up at our gathering for us to petition the Lord on your behalf in prayer. Post your prayer requests in the comment box below to grant us, and others join in these morning reflections the opportunity to pray over your requests. You can also email your prayer requests to garyl@onedirection,community. We couldn't do this ministry and fulfill our calling and destiny in Christ without your encouragement, support and prayers, and you can not fullfill your calling and destiny without encouragement, prayers and support.
My family, I speak Paul’s prayer over you this morning and pray you receive and claim it. “I do not cease to give thanks for you when I remember you in my prayers. I pray that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you spiritual wisdom and revelation in your growing knowledge of him, - since the eyes of your heart have been enlightened - so that you may know what is the hope of his calling, what is the wealth of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and what is the incomparable greatness of his power toward us who believe…” (Ephesians 1:16-19) In Jesus name. Please pray the same over me. God bless you my friends!
Please share you prayer requests in the comment box below.
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My wife Nancy and I our 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 our lives and that of our family and ODC. Please partner and support us and One Direction community through setting up a monthly donation now for next year, 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!
Gary Liederbach- Lead Follower
One Direction Community
Email: garyl@onedirection.community
Website: https://www.onedirection.community
Facebook: One Direction Community-ODC.
As I begin my day I ask you Jesus to open the eyes of my heart that I may see you in all your glory..
“While he was still speaking, a bright cloud overshadowed them, and a voice from the cloud said, “This is my one dear Son, in whom I take great delight. Listen to him!” (Matthew 17:5)
In this amazing story of the transfiguration of Jesus on the mountain, it says about Jesus, “ He was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and his clothes became white as light.” (v.2). It also says that Moses and Elijah appeared with Jesus and were talking to Him. (v.3). Moses and Elijah represented the Ten Commandments, the Law, prophecy, and all the traditions and teachings of the Jewish faith. But then a cloud overshadowed them all, (v.5), Moses and Elijah were hidden by the cloud, and all the disciples could see was Jesus shining in His glory. And God spoke to them saying, “This is my Son, listen to Him!” (v.5)
God overshadowed the images of Moses and Elijah, two great patriarchs of their faith, so all they could see was Jesus, and said He is the one you are to listen to now. All the commandments, laws and traditions are fulfilled in My Son Jesus, it is simply about Him now.
Holy Spirit, I ask you to reveal to me this morning what I am listening to besides Jesus. What traditions, habits, personal preferences, religious activities or routines I have not obscured, but have actually placed in equal importance to Jesus. What am I listening to other than “simply Jesus.” Convict me Holy Spirit, convicted Your Church today as You convicted Your early Church saying, “you have abandoned the love you had at first. Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent” (Revelation 2:4). Give me the courage to repent. Give me the strength to let go of and walk away from things I am clinging to and listening to, becoming comfortable with, and simply return to listening to my first love, Jesus.
My family, I pray this morning you ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to you those things that you are listening to that need to be obscured, and simply set aside time to return and listen to your first love, Jesus. 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 relationally reaching out with Christ to those on the margins God has placed in my path I refuse to walk around. Please partner and support myself and One Direction community through setting up a monthly donation or a one –time gift by clicking the link below. Donation checks can be made out to ODC, PO Box 1293 Madison, Al 35758.
Thank You!
TO GIVE CLICK HERE
Jesus, I welcome you into my life with the same radical hospitality in which you welcome me.
My reflection this morning continues reflections of “Dirty Glory” and the radical image of Jesus and His ministry on earth.
“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 25:34-40)
I was in the Waffle House (WH) yesterday sitting at the counter and I started up a conversation with a young man sitting at the bar next to me. He looked in his early to mid 20s and had piercings and tattoos. As we talked he told me he moved up here when he was 18 to attend college at UAH. His major was Chemical Engineering and he had one more semester to go and will graduate this spring. He said when he graduates it will have taken him 6 years to get his 4 year degree because it has been a struggle at times, but he hasn’t given up.
Our conversation got around to family and Thanksgiving and I asked him about his plans. He got a little quite as he talked. He said I really don’t know where my mother is, she left us when I was little. My dad is in Montana and we talk now and then. I have a sister in Las Vegas and a brother who I think is in North Carolina. We don’t talk much. I replied, so you do not have any family support at all do you? He said no, for the past 6 years I have been pretty much trying to make it on my own.
I though to myself Wow! My two daughter both graduated from College a few years ago. One of my daughters is attending Medical school for 3 years ar UAB and my other daughter has moved to Chicago for her art career. I thought about of all the help they had from family moving into their dorms, and then into a house in Birmingham and setting it up and getting what they needed. I was just in Chicago helping my daughter purchase a home. All the phone calls and visits of encouragement, and financial support they received that continues to today as they fallow their calling and dreams. However, this young man received nothing, no support at all. Then I also thought, he has no place to go to, no table to sit at for a Thanksgiving or Christmas meal.
As I spend time intentionally and missionaly hanging out in my community, I am discovering there are many, many people out there like this young man. Young adults from broken families, single moms struggling to make it on their own, elderly on welfare who are isolated and alone. During the holidays there are lots churches, agencies and ministries that provide food, food boxes, and meals for those with low income, isolated, and marginalized in their community. If you have followed my posts, our house church is smoking 70 turkeys this Sunday, pulling the meat and putting it in aluminum pans to be served at the Downtown Rescue Missions Community Dinner that will serve hundreds of Thanksgiving meals.. All of these are good! However, as much as people need food, they need something even more; Fellowship, belonging, acceptance, and someone to listen to them.
Some of these churches/agencies/ministries ask their congregations and people to drop off food items to be handed out to those in need. People giving come and bring food and drop it off for the food boxes to be handed out. People receiving come and get a box from a church , dropped off at their home, or from a food line. The people dropping off the food or serving food in the line walk away satisfied they have given. The people receiving walk away satisfied they have received. Again, this is good as it helps fill an immediate need. However, it is all a transaction and it does not foster transformation. These church ministry outreaches actually insulate people from contact with the poor, isolated and marginalized. As dropping off food to a church, food bank, or other agency removes all contact with the poor. And dropping off a box of food to a home, handing out groceries at a food donation site or serving a scoop of mash potatoes onto their plate in a food line as the poor pass by in a community dinner keeps contact with the poor and lonely to a polite, transitional minimum.
As I pray over this it leads me to think, what if Instead of churches/agencies collecting names of people who need a meal to collect a box of food to hand out or deliver to them, What if they simply hand out names of people who need a meal to their congregations and have them then invite that poor or marginalized neighbor over into their house to share a meal with them at their table. Then it is no longer a transaction but goes beyond that to an invitation that allows transformation. It becomes what Jesus speaks into in the passage above, When he says, “You gave me food” he does not mean you dropped off can goods and mac and cheese boxes at your church or a box at their door, He meant you personally invited Him to your table and shared a meal with him. When Jesus says, “I was a stranger and you invited me in” he did not mean you scooped mashed potatoes in a serving line somewhere, he meant you invited him in, into your home. When ha says “I was naked and you clothed me,” He did not mean you dropped your second hand clothing off to Good Will, he meant you personally gave me cloths. That young man at the WH bar would be glad to receive a food box in a transaction, but how much more grateful and transformational would it be to his life, and yours, if he received and invitation to your table?
In Matthew 7:21-23 People tell Jesus “Didn’t we do miracles, attend church and Bible studies, and hand out food to one of the least of these? But Jesus answered, “I never knew you.”
We Christians, church goers, we need to love Jesus enough and love our neighbors enough to go beyond ministering as a transaction and go deeper into ministering as transformation. We need to be brave and bold enough to allow ourselves to be personally involved with those we minister to love them, and even braver and bolder to accept and allow them to love us.
My family, I pray as you plan your charitable holiday giving and holiday meals the Holy Spirit will convict and remind you of the way Jesus personally and intimately saves, provides for and ministers to you. How he always seeks to know you and you to know Him. How he always seeks a transformational relationship with you in which he can love you and you can love him. I pray the Holy Spirit will encourage you to imitate Jesus and minister to others in the same way, In Jesus name. Please pray the same for me. God bless you my friends!!!
Pease share your reflections and prayers with us in the comment box below.
My prayer every morning is, “Please send me the ones no one else wants.”
As The Year Draws To An End, PLEASE Help Us Help Them!
My wife Nancy and I are in a 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 now for next year, 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!
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
This coming Sunday November 24th we will again for the 11th year gather and smoke 70 turkeys and pull the meat off them to be used in Huntsville Downtown Rescue Mission’s Community Thanksgiving meals served to people in Huntsville and Madison who would not otherwise have a Thanksgiving meal.
We would love for your help and partnership in our community outreach! Here is how!
1. Pray! My daily prayer is "Lord. please send us the ones no one else wants." Please pray our simple outreach of food will not only physically feed those experiencing physical hunger, but also form a connection where we can impact their Spiritual hunger with the Gospel of Grace in Christ Jesus.
2. Donate a turkey! Every donation of $20.00 enables us to buy a turkey to smoke and use in Thanksgiving meals! Click the "Donate" link below to donate, or send checks payable to ODC to: P.O. Box 1293 Madison Al, 35758. You can also Venmo or PayPal me at Gary Liederbach, Strat318@gmail.com. Thank you!
Come serve: Help us smoke and pull meat from Turkeys on the 19th!
*We will start at 7:00am firing up smoker, unwrapping turkeys, removing necks and giblets, applying dry rub and loading half the turkeys into smoker by 9:00pm. We need 8 -10 people for this hour.
*From 8:00-2:00pm we are tending smokers. At 11:30am we will unload first batch of turkeys and put into coolers and put in second batch. Myself and another couple people can do this.
*2:00-4:00 is when we set up tables and pull all the meat from the cooked turkeys and put into aluminum pans that will go into the service line to feed people going through getting a meal. We need the most people for this time.
You are welcomed to hang out all day. However, we really need the most people in the beginning 7:00am-8:00am prepping all the turkeys, and the last 2 hours, 2:00pm-4:00pm to pull meat from all the turkeys which takes the longest. So you can come in the morning and leave and come back in the afternoon, or just serving one time would be great.
All are welcomed to come help serve. Invite your family and friends!
We will smoke and pull the turkeys in front of our house located at 102 Champions Green Drive, Madison.
What to bring:
No telling yet what the weather will be like that day, it could be cold or warm. We will be outside all the time so dress for the weather.
Bring an apron if you have one, and wear clothes you do not mind getting turkey on them!
A knife and carving fork if you have one.
A love to help your neighbors!
Let me know if you have any questions!
Gary and Nancy Liederbach
garyl@onedirection.community
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 fill me with the power of your presence so I can impact today with the power of my presence.
Yesterday morning I reflected on the changes of life in my family and in the church. I spoke into the need for both to “leave the harbor.” I am still in Chicago helping my oldest daughter find a new home, and I will be driving back tomorrow. It was a blessing to have an extended period of time to listen to my daughter, and hear and learn deeper of what and where she is now in life. In these extended conversations where we were able to talk and share about our lives. And it gave me as I listened to my daughter a greater understanding of her accomplishments and challenges, and the opportunities to pour into her out of my experience and faith and speak into her life. It gave us clarity on the current inner realities of each other and how to specifically pray over our family.
I have invested in, pastored and help lead many churches and ministries, however the most important church I will ever need to invest in is a church of four members: myself, my wife, and my two daughters. Because if I fail in leading that church of 4 people, it will haunt me more than failings of leading churches and ministries of hundreds.
I believe for any church to press deeper into their calling, grow stronger together and grow their ministries together as a church family in Christ. I also believe for us to do this as a church, we must first strengthen and grow our personal families in Christ. I strongly believe in the importance that we are all called to be part of and lead houses churches, Band groups, and other small groups. However, as important as these groups are, the most important small group we are part of and are called to lead is our family. As I pray and reflect on my last day in Chicago before I drive back in the morning, “Back to the real world”, I want to focus my prayers and your prayers and reflections today on your family.
Pray for clarity and how to specifically pray over the real physical, financial, emotional, and spiritual needs of the members of your family. If you are honestly not sure of what these are, pray for the opportunity and space to learn them.
Pray and reflect for a moment how your living out your faith has affected, and more important, is affecting your family: spouse, sons and daughters, parents, siblings, nieces and nephews, cousins.
Reflect on: How do you share your faith with your family? Pray that you may witness to those in your family more bolder. Pray for the faith of your family. Spend your time at lunch praying over your family. Plan to spend a day soon in fasting in prayer over your family.
In areas of conflict and division in your family, Pray that peace and reconciliation in your family may occur, and the presence and Spirit of Christ may break through these divisions, bond you, instill forgiveness, acceptance and respect and heal all that divides you.
Pray a prayer of thanks over family members, who like go of their way on your behalf, and currently pray and minister to you and allow you to be where you are in Christ today.
Pray for the forming of a sturdy covering of prayer over your family, your home and your relationship with them. Pray your home can be encouraging to each of you individually, where real conversations and learning take place, and that your home and can be an outpost of the kingdom of God.
Pray over ways you can engage your family and together as a family to serve and share the love of Christ with those in your community. You are called to encourage your family to love God and also love their neighbor.
Pray that your church, The Church, will become an even stronger family bound by prayer that stands up for and supports each other, serves Christ together, and proclaims the gospel together.
My family, I pray the Holy Spirit will lead you in prayer over what immediate action you need to take today. Perhaps make plans to share this message with your family to open a conversation with them and pray with them. Call at least one family member today and let them know you love them and are praying over them, Jesus name. Please pray the same for me. God bless you my friends!
Please share your comments and reflections on my post 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!!
CLICK HERE TO GIVE
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.
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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
"These words I am commanding you today must be kept in mind, and you must teach them to your children and speak of them as you sit in your house, as you walk along the road, as you lie down, and as you get up. You should tie them as a reminder on your forearm and fasten them as symbols on your forehead. Inscribe them on the doorframes of your houses and gates. “ Deuteronomy6:7-9
Tuesday and today I did not write a blog post. This past Friday morning I drove down to Birmingham to my youngest daughter Milan’s house. And I spent the weekend working on projects and repairs that needed done to her home then drove back Sunday evening. Monday I worked all day. Then Tuesday morning I left at 3:30am and drove up to Chicago. My daughter Paris has just moved up there and I went up to spend the week helping her and working with her real-estate agent in finding her a home to purchase. If things go as planned I will drive back this Saturday. Ah the things we do for our children!!
I remember back to before Nancy and I left our home after her water broke with our first daughter Paris and we were walking out the door to head to the hospital. Nancy stopped at the front door and told me to turn around and look back into our house. And we did. She said, When we return it will never be the same.” And she was right! And now 25 years later, Nancy and I are walking into a home that again will never be the same, as our daughters have moved out to live on their own and begin their new lives.
And as my wife Nancy and I try to help our daughters with all of the unknown and uncertainty that lies ahead of them, it was a reminder to me of all the inevitable, constant, continual change that occurs in our lives. For Paris to continue on in all that God has in store for her it requires a change in her life’s structure and surroundings, A release of the comfortable, the famiilar places and faces, and a going forth into the new, uncertain, yet wonderful adventure God has for her. And it requires a releasing and encouraging to go by her family. The only thing that is constant in life is change.
In our walk with Christ the only thing that is constant, besides the Father, is change. For us and the church to continue into all God has in store for us and our calling also requires a change in The Church’s structure and surroundings. A release of the comfortable and familiar and a going forth into the new, uncertain, yet wonderful adventure Jesus has for us as his bride.
I am reminded of a quote, “A ship in the harbor is safe — but that is not what ships are built for.” John A. Shedd. My daughters were safe at home, but that is not what God designed them for. And The Church is safest gathered in a building, but that is not what God designed it for.
My family, I pray today you will listen to the Holy Spirit and embrace the calling and adventure God is calling you to enter into outside of your comfort zone: your structured life; your familiar faces; your safety net of familiarity, family and friends; your churches “Sanctuary”. All these things which have become your “safe harbor.” And I pray you will set sail out into the adventure you were built for by God. Please pray the same for me. God bless you my friends!!!
Please share your reflections and prayers in the comment box below.
Gary Liederbach- Lead Follower
One Direction Community/
Email: garyl@onedirection.community
Website: https://www.onedirection.community
Facebook: One Direction Community-ODC
Please commitment to partner and support myself and One Direction community through setting up a monthly donation or a one –time gift by clicking the link below. Donation checks can be made out to ODC, PO Box 1293 Madison, Al 35758.
Thank You!
Good morning, Lord Jesus. I speak out Your name and listen for the leading of Your Spirit, here in the embrace of my Father to begin my day in the intimacy of prayer.
“For who is going to harm you if you are devoted to what is good? But in fact, if you happen to suffer for doing what is right, you are blessed. But do not be terrified of them or be shaken. But set Christ apart as Lord in your hearts and always be ready to give an answer to anyone who asks about the hope you possess.” ! Peter 3:13-16
I believe these verses in today’s reading speak into Veterans. I also believe this verse does as well:
"No one has greater love than this, to lay down one's life for one's friends" (John 15:13).
This morning as usual, I read the chapter reading for today and reflected on it. I then went over my prayer list of things and people needing prayer. I prayed over my family, over our needs and thanked God for our blessings. This morning I also prayed over our veterans and those currently serving in our military and their families. When I have to travel and be gone for my work or conferences, I hate to leave my family for a day or week of business travel. It is hard to imagine the sacrifice of the men and women who serve in our military who are away from their families for months or years.
Today our nation honors the men and women who have been willing to leave their families and comforts of home to go fight and die for our freedom and the freedom and injustices in the world. We're thankful for their service. We're thankful for their sacrifice. We're thankful that they answered the call with courage and conviction to willingly lay down their lives for us. We owe them our respect and honor them with our gratitude -- "respect to whom respect is due, honor to whom honor is due" (Romans 13:7).
And as I honor them, I honor You Jesus. You set aside the glory of heaven to humble Yourself in the likeness of human flesh and blood to lay down Your life for me -- "even death on a cross" (Philippians 2:5-11). You are the Veteran of the greatest war ever fought -- the war between heaven and hell, between good and evil, between forgiveness and sin. The battle scars You bear are the jagged nail wounds upon Your hands and feet forever for us (John 20:27).
Through Your sacrifice of love -- a sacrifice we really can't even begin to fully grasp -- our world that was condemned to die will experience a new heaven and a new earth through the sufferings of Your cross and the glory of Your resurrection (John 3:16). "Indeed, God did not send the Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through Him" (John 3:17). We honor You and thank You. Thank You for Your service and Your sacrifice. "Thanks be to God who gives us the victory through Jesus Christ!" -- our Greatest Veteran! (1 Corinthians 15:57)
My family, I pray you will join me today in taking a few minutes to honor and pray for our veterans and their families as we set aside this day to remember them and give gratitude and respect. I pray you think of some simple act of kindness you can do today for a veteran. And I pray you will take time to thank our greatest veteran, Jesus Christ, in Jesus' name! Please pray the same of me. God bless you, my friends!
Please share your reflections and prayers in the comment box below.
Gary Liederbach- Lead Follower
One Direction Community/
Email: garyl@onedirection.community
Website: https://www.onedirection.community
Facebook: One Direction Community-ODC
Please 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!
“Whoever, then, acknowledges me before people, I will acknowledge before my Father in heaven. But whoever denies me before people, I will deny him also before my Father in heaven.” (Matthew 10:31-33)
We just finished electing our president of the USA. Whichever candidate, whether it was Trump or Harris, you took time to campaigned for them, supported them, and acknowledged them. You may have put a sign up in your yard or wore a campaign button or hat. You followed closely their campaign on TV and social media, studied the issues so you could argue and support them in discussions. When the subject of the election came up in an in-person or on-line conversation, you shared or posted your opinion of support and the reasons you are voting for your candidate, and the reasons you are not voting for the other candidate. You talked about it with you family and friends around the dinner table and at gatherings. You were anxious and may have even prayed for your candidate and the outcome of the election. And all of this support, the conversations you entered into; social media posts, arguments you may have had, stress and anxiety you felt, and support and acknowledging you did for an earthly candidate who is temporary. Who’s impact on your day to day life in reality would be minor and temporary, as in a few years they would be gone. Your support of your candidate means nothing in the long term reality and destiny of your life. And when you got up Wednesday morning after the election, whether your candidate won or lost, you walked out the door the same way you did on Tuesday morning and headed out to work and began your day.
In comparison, you have a Lord of Lords and King of Kings named Jesus Christ who is the eternal Son of God. Who tells you earlier in Matthew 10:28, not to be afraid of those who can affect your life in a minor and temporary way, who may be able to cause hardship and even kill your body but cannot impact at all your eternal destiny or kill your eternal soul. But instead fear, acknowledge, and support the one who has a major, eternal impact and effect on your life and your eternal destiny and is able to destroy both your soul and body in hell. So how are your acknowledging your Lord Jesus? Are you following His campaign and policies by reading His agenda in the Bible? Are you entering into conversations in person and on line, talking about Him and supporting Him to your family and friends around the dinner table? Are you arguing and encouraging other to choose Him as that choice actually has an effect on their life, joy, hope, and well-being every morning when they walk out their door. And their choice of Jesus has actual consequences to their decision that are eternal and effect their eternal destiny?
My family, I will simply close with the words of Jesus to you again, “Whoever, then, acknowledges me before people, I will acknowledge before my Father in heaven. But whoever denies me before people, I will deny him also before my Father in heaven.” And I pray you walk out your door with real urgency and resolve to acknowledge Jesus as Lord in every encounter you enter into today, In Jesus’ name. Please pray the same for me. God bless you my friends!
Please share your reflections and prayers with us n the comment box below.
As The Year Draws To An End, Help Us Help Them!
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 now for next year, 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!
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
Good morning Jesus, lead guide and direct my steps today.
“Do not be afraid of them, for nothing is hidden that will not be revealed, and nothing is secret that will not be made known. What I say to you in the dark, tell in the light, and what is whispered in your ear, proclaim from the housetops. Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Instead, fear the one who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell. Arenʼt two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them falls to the ground apart from your Fatherʼs will. Even all the hairs on your head are numbered. So do not be afraid; you are more valuable than many sparrows.
“Whoever, then, acknowledges me before people, I will acknowledge before my Father in heaven. But whoever denies me before people, I will deny him also before my Father in heaven. (Mathew 10:26-32)
As we move on from Election Tuesday and the comments and predictions from both sides of the aisle continue on this passage by Jesus speaks to us now. It is a reminder that we are not to fear any man or woman, but we are to fear God. We are not to put our trust in any person, but we are to put our trust in God. We are not to place our hopes in the hands of any human, but we are to place our hope in God’s hands. We are not to be swayed by a leader that can kill our mortal body, but we are to be swayed by God who bring life to our eternal souls. I want to remind you that despite the changes in government officials who were elected Tuesday, Jesus is still Lord. He was Lord yesterday, He is Lord today, and He will be Lord over all your tomorrows.
My family, as you walk out your door this morning walk out with the full understanding that Jesus is Lord over every situation you enter into, every place you go, and every person you encounter. And once you completely embrace and understand that, the rest is gravy! Please pray the same for me. God bless you my friends!
Please share your reflections and prayers with us n the comment box below.
As The Year Draws To An End, Help Us Help Them!
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 now for next year, 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!
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
Good morning, Lord Jesus. You're the King of kings and the Lord of lords. Be King of my heart and Lord of my life. Come rule and reign in all that is within me and all that is around me. ...
"Moses said to the people, 'Do not be afraid, stand firm, and see the deliverance that the Lord will accomplish for you today; for the Egyptians whom you see today you shall never see again" (Exodus 14:13).
I continue this morning in reinforcing our hope, promises and assurance inner God who commands age armies over us. Monday my reflection centered on hearing God’s shout into the world “Be still, and know that I am God!” Yesterday, I reminded us that our hope is in Jesus alone. This morning God reminds us to Stand Firm in all these things. Standing firm in faith keeps us from falling into fear. Remembering Your word keeps us from wavering at the words of the world.
Our faith is in You. Our trust is in You. Our hope is in You. You are the One who will accomplish Your word. You're watching over Your word to perform it (Jeremiah 1:12). And Your word never returns empty, but always accomplishes that which You purpose and always succeeds in the thing for which You sent it (Isaiah 55:11).
So by the power of Your grace, we stand firm in Your word, trusting by faith, that You are at work to bring about Your will. No matter what election results are this morning; No matter what army of the opposite is charging forward to drive our hopes into the sea; no matter how mighty their horses and chariots or their determination for the destruction of our dreams grounded in Your word and confirmed by Your Spirit; we will stand firm in You. We will look and see the salvation of the Lord and the deliverance at hand that only You can do. Some may trust in horses; some may trust in chariots; but we will trust in the name of our God and the power of Your word (Psalm 20:7). In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
My family, I pray as you turn on the TV and search the web for election results, and as you walk out the door into the world this morning, you may stand firm in the faith, trusting in the One who is always faithful to watch over you and perform what His Word says, in Jesus name. Please pray the same for me. God bless you, my friends!
Pease share your reflections and prayers with us n the comment box below.
As The Year Draws To An End, 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 now for next year, 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!
TO GIVE CLICK HERE
Gary Liederbach- Lead Follower
One Direction Community
Email: garyl@onedirection.community
Website: https://www.onedirection.community
Facebook: One Direction Community-ODCPlease share your reflections and prayers with us n the comment box below.
Good morning, Lord Jesus. I worship You -- Father, Son, and Holy Spirit of God -- and welcome You in every Dimension of Your Being into every dimension of my being -- spirit, soul, and body. ...
"May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit" (Romans 15:13).
Today is election day and I have been praying over our country and that the outcome of our elections will align with God’s will for our country. However, as important as this day is with all the promises made and hopes for the future contained in political adds, I remind myself this morning: My hope is not in any man or any event. The promises I claim over my life are not those of any political campaign. My hope is not in any government or political organization. My hope is in Jesus. My life stands firm on the promises of Jesus. And as I hope in You Jesus, You fill me with all joy and peace despite what's going on with any man or any event, government or political organization. This morning, as I refocus my hope in You, You are filling me with the power and the presence of Your Holy Spirit. Then Your Spirit shows me what I'm to be believing for, what I'm to be hoping for, what promises I am to claim over my life, what I'm to be persisting in prayer for. But it all begins when I put You first, above all else, above every man and every event, above every outcome and breakthrough I'm hoping for and believing for.
Your Word says it this way: "Seek first the first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you" (Matthew 6:33). It's important to seek these things we believe You put on our hearts. Through the moving of Your Spirit and grounded in Your Word -- to persist in prayer, to make our requests known, to seek revelation of Your will and then pray Your will on earth as it is in heaven, as best as we can and all by Your grace, just as far as Your grace will go. But it's most important of all to seek You first, before seeking any of these things.
When we do, when we seek You first, when we look first to the God of hope even before praying and believing for all we're hoping for, today and everyday. You fill us with the joy and peace that does not disappoint us. "Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out into our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us" (Romans 5:5). And then even more hope abounds in us -- rising up within us, pouring out through us, releasing new life and fresh faith to all that it touches by the power of Your Spirit to press on and pray through until we see our hopes come true. For "faith is the substance of things hoped for and the evidence of things not (yet) seen" (Hebrews 11:1). In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
My family, today as we head out to vote and with all the election results and stories that will flood our news today, as important as they may be, I pray you begin this morning by seeking Jesus first above all else. I pray you will be filled with all joy and peace as you look to the God of hope, that your hope and faith may abound in Him, in Jesus name. Please pray the same for me. God bless you, my friends!
lease share your reflections and prayers with us n the comment box below.
As The Year Draws To An End, Help Us Help Them!
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 now for next year, 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!
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
Good morning Lord Jesus, you know where I need healed. So heal me this morning to use me completely for your glory today.
Last week we sent out invitations to all our neighbors inviting them to come to our house on Thursday. Halloween. where opened our yard and home up and hosted a neighborhood Halloween gathering. This week we are sending out flyers and invitations inviting them back to our home again this Wednesday for another meal and gathering. Pray it reaches those who do not know Jesus and/or those hungry for Jesus and they come this Wednesday!
Our Flyer
We Hope You Had A Happy Halloween!
We Love, care for, and wanted to bless our neighbors at Halloween because Jesus loves, cares for, and blesses us! Yep, we love Jesus however we are not “weird” about it. We would love to invite you back to our home again to share a meal, connect, share our stories, share our faith, and be neighbors!
Your Invited Again!
When: Wednesday November 6th, 6:30pm-8:30pm
Where: Gary and Nancy Liederbach’s home 102 Champions Green Drive. Madison, Al
Who: All are welcomed, young-old; single-married; or any religious background. It is our story’s we want to connect.
What: Casual, get to know each other, laugh, eat, connect, share, pray
An RSVP would be helpful if you plan on coming so we can prepare for you! Can’t make Wendesday however you still would like to connect at a future dinner, or want more information, please contact us as well with your info and we will keep you connected.
Gary & Nancy Liederbach
email garyl@onedirection.community Text/Call: 256-302-3785
Hope you Come!
Maybe traditional church isn’t for you…
Maybe you have been hurt by the church somehow in the past…sorry.
Maybe you do not understand “Church”…that’s understandable!
Maybe you don’t know or understand Jesus…that’s ok!
But you still may want to:
*Be accepted, connect with people, meet neighbors and form friendships.
*Grow with God and get to know Jesus.
*Make a difference and serve your community with others and impact poverty and injustice.
Maybe a simple church gathering in a home is what you are looking for. Where we can build real connections with our neighbors and really care for each other, a family of faith, that meets in neighborhoods and actually cares about its neighbors.
It may not look anything like you heard or pictured “church” should be like, but it feels more like it than ever!
https://www.onedirection.community
My family, I am asking that you pray those who do not know Jesus and/or are hungry for Jesus come to our home. If you live near our house of course you are welcomed to come. Better still, if you have a home or an apartment. Pray and ask the Holy Spirit to show you how and encourage you to open your home and invite your neighbors over to share your stories of faith with them, in Jesus name. Please pray the same for me. God bless you my friends!
Please share your reflections and prayers or ways you are reaching out to your neighbors with us 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.
Thank You!
TO GIVE CLICK HERE
Gary Liederbach- Lead Follower
One Direction Community
Email: garyl@onedirection.community
Website: https://www.onedirection.community
Yesterdaty was Halloween. My wife Nancy and I put on our 11th annual Halloween gathering at our house for our neighborhood from 6:00pm-10:00pm. We went all out on decorations in the front yard. We moved our fire pit onto our driveway and surrounded it with chairs for neighbors to cook hotdogs and s'mores. Our neighbor let us use thier front yard as well to set up folding tables and chairs in their front yard. We had two 8’ tables with 350 hot dogs and buns, bags of marshmallows, chocolate bars, and Grahm crackers, cupcakes, cookies, snack cakes, and bags of chips. We put out 3 coolers of drinks and rented a mechanical Bull and operator to give kids and adults a thrill. And we had LOT’s and Lot’s of candy! And then the only rain we have had in a month came! So the mechanical bull operators could not set it up. Our street was still full of cars, and we gave out lots of candy, chips and snack cakes. And some brave neighbors under umbrella’s cooked a hot dog or a s’more. Around 8:00pm the rain finally broke for a while and people gathered around the fire pit again. Hands were shaken, introductions were exchanged, and “Where do you live?” “What do you do?” questions were asked and life stories were connected.
And it was these interactions with our neighbors and the stories shared either standing under our front porch in the rain or around the fire, and the smiles of delight on the children that made all the days of work setting this up worth while.
I was handing out candy to a 9 or 10 year old girl when the woman accompanying her, whom I later found out was her grandmother said to me, “Wow, This all looks great!” Her granddaughter looked up at her and said, “This house is always like this, it’s awesome! it’s my favorite!” “And we are so sorry it is raining!”
Three young adult ladies pulled up to our house near the end of the night. None of them had ever cooked a hot dog over a fire or made s’more before in their life. So my wife and I showed them how it’s done. They had fun cooking their dogs, assembling s’mores, taking self videos, and dancing with my wife in the drive. As we talked we learned they live a few streets over in our neighborhood and by the time they left friends were made, they experienced Nancy loving on them, hugs were given, and they said this was the best experience of their night.
I was dressed as The Pope and I had parents ask me to take a picture with their kids and babies! LOL! And I don’t know how many people and youth stopped and took time to take family pictures and “selfies” in our front yard as a background for their memories.
No one asked or cared that I am a pastor of house churches, attended seminary for 4 years, or that I am an ordained Elder. I was just the crazy, funny neighbor dressed as The Pope. My neighbors who came they just cared that I cared about them and their neighborhood. No formal sermon or liturgy was given and our gathering did not require people to “come to us” and take place in a church building. But wether huddled under our front porch out of the rain or around the fire in our front yard, we talked and shared of stories. And a gathering of neighbors, parents and children took place “in the community” and God was glorified. And we obeyed Jesus’ command to “love our neighbors as we love ourselves.” And we invited our neighbors to come back to our house to share another meal and join us in the simple church gathering we hold in our home every Wednesday evening.
How are you known in your neighborhood? If you were to move out would your neighbors or those in your apartment complex miss you? Would they grieve the loss of you in their lives? Or would they not even notice that you left? If you are part of a church and attend a church, that is good! However, You were not sent by God to a church. You help serve and participate in a church, but it is the neighborhood and neighbors that you find yourself living amongst to whom you are called and sent by God. You are sent into your neighborhood to be to them a tangible example of the kingdom of God in their lives. You are sent to be to them examples of salt and light, justice and mercy, love and compassion, partying and banqueting, laughter and dancing.
My family, I am asking you to take time to pray over this today and this weekend. But I am asking you not to pray in your house or apartment on your couch with a cup of coffee, or on Sunday morning inside your church building. But I am asking you to go out and experience prayer in your neighborhood. Go outside and spend time prayer walking the streets of your neighborhood. Take your spouse, children or roommate with you. Go sit at a picnic table in your community’s public area, playground or community center and pray blessings over your neighborhood. As you walk, pray over the houses and apartments and the neighbors to whom and which you have been sent. Pray for the Holy Spirit to give you opportunities to connect with your neighbors. Pray and come up with ways and events you can be to your neighbors tangible examples of salt and light, justice and mercy, love and compassion, partying and banqueting, laughter and dancing, 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 with us from todays reading.
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
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.
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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
Good morning, Lord Jesus. You are the King of kings and Lord of lords. I bow low and lift You high, as I begin my day, both reverently and intimately, in the Presence of my King in the communion of prayer with You; Father, Son, and Holy Spirit of God.
"For I am not ashamed of the Gospel; it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who has faith, to the Jew first and also to the Gentile. For in it the righteousness of God is revealed through faith for faith; as it is written, 'The one who is righteous will live by faith'" (Romans 1:16-17).
Today, we celebrate Halloween. Today also marks the 507th anniversary of the Reformation; the day the Catholic Monk, Martin Luther, nailed his Ninety-Five Theses to the door of the All Saints' Church in Wittenberg, Germany. It set off a revolution of reformation against many practices and doctrines that had crept into the teachings and traditions of the Roman Catholic Church. Luther was especially and passionately incensed against the spiritually coerced practice of requiring "indulgences" as payment to the church for the salvation of souls being purged in the fires of "purgatory." It's said that perhaps the straw that broke the camel's back for Luther was the inflammatory saying of Fr. Johann Tetzel, the Papal representative tasked with raising money from the people for building the basilica of St. Peter in Rome, "As soon as the coin in the coffer rings, the soul from purgatory springs!"
It's not our coins, money, wealth, or assets but our hearts, turned to you in faith alone that determines our eternal destiny. And as I understand Your Word, there is no "purgatory," for "we are confident, yes, well pleased rather to be absent from the body and to be present with the Lord" (2 Corinthians 5:8). I thank You, Lord Jesus, that You have paid in full the penalty for my sins that I am forever cleansed of all unrighteousness through the repentance of my heart (1 John 1:9 and 2:2; Romans 5:8; Isaiah 53:5; Hebrews 7:7). When we depart this earthly realm in faith, we are with You in Your heavenly realm forever (Philippians 1:23; John 3:16). Though our works in this world may tested in the fire, we ourselves personally never will because of God’s mercy and grace by the sacrifice of Jesus and power of Your love for us "Through Him God was pleased to reconcile to Himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, by making peace through the blood of His cross" (Colossians 1:20).
Come, Holy Spirit. Awaken a revolution of reformation in my soul today. Cleanse my sins in the blood of Christ. Purify my heart in Your holy fire. Let my soul spring forth, filled with Your Spirit, to turn "(my) world upside down" in the name of Jesus for the glory of God and the salvation and sanctification of souls by faith alone (Acts 17:6). "For by grace (we) have been saved through faith, and this is not (our) own doing; it is the gift of God -- not the result of works, so that no one may boast" (Ephesians 2:8). Make it clear to me the practices and doctrines that have crept into and are present today in the teachings and traditions of the church and in me, and ignite a revolution of reformation in my heart against all of these. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
My family, I pray the Holy Spirit awakens in your soul a revolution of reformation that first causes you to inwardly exam yourself and your church of practices and doctrines that have crept into your faith, And secondly, awakens and sends you out in His power and love to share your hope and faith in Jesus Christ to turn your world upside down today, in Jesus' name! Please pray the same of me. God bless you, my friends!
Please share your reflections and prayers in the comment box below.
Gary Liederbach- Lead Follower
One Direction Community
Email: garyl@onedirection.community
Website: https://www.onedirection.community
Facebook: One Direction Community-ODC
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!! could use your financial support as we continue to missionally reach out into our community.
Good morning, Lord Jesus. Be at the center of my heart and every moment of my day. ...
As I wait for Your leading, this Scripture comes to mind:
“Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil. Cling to what is good. Be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love, in honor giving preference to one another; not lagging in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord; rejoicing in hope, patient in tribulation, continuing steadfastly in prayer; distributing to the needs of the saints, given to hospitality.
“Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep. Be of the same mind toward one another. Do not set your mind on high things, but associate with the humble. Do not be wise in your own opinion.
“Repay no one evil for evil. Have regard for good things in the sight of all men. If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men. Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath; for it is written, ‘Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,’ says the Lord. Therefore
‘If your enemy is hungry, feed him;
If he is thirsty, give him a drink;
For in so doing you will heap coals of fire on his head.’
“Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good” (Romans 12:9-21).
As I read this passageI think, Why isn’t this love more present in our world, and even our church? It is because this kind of “love without hypocrisy” requires our obedience to Your Word to be an expression of Your Heart in our world. Yes, it is hard. In fact, it’s impossible -- impossible in our own power or wisdom, even with our best determination and religious effort.
But it’s not impossible for You Jesus. And with Your Holy Spirit abiding in us, it’s no longer impossible for us. “Christ in (us), the hope of glory” (Colossians 1:27). “(We) are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in (us).... If the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in (us), He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to (our) mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in (us)” (Romans 8:9-11). “With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible” (Matthew 19:26). In fact, just as You said, “all things are possible to him who believes” (Mark 9:23).
So even living like a Christian is possible for us. Even when we’re mad at the evil around us, even as we “abhor what is evil” and fight against it with our prayers and our voices and our votes. But we are desperately dependent on You, You Word, Your Holy Spirit. Apart from You, we can do nothing but just be overwhelmed and overcome by this broken and fallen world in hopeless despair (John 15:5).
But we are not apart from You! You are in us! And Your Word and Your Spirit and Your Faith and Your Hope and Your Love abide in us. So by the power of Your Grace at work within us, we can overcome as we choose to obey and express the power of Your Love in our world.
Prioritizing time daily reading your Word, in prayer, and connecting deeper to Your presence in us is the only way we can have joy in the face of the evil we abhor. It is the only way we can be part of what You’re doing in our world and truly make a difference -- not listening to voices of hate on the internet, shouting and screaming, rioting and raging, not overcoming evil with evil -- but overcoming evil with good while both being diligent in action and fervent in spirit, continually steadfast in prayer and abiding in the power of Your love that conquers all, for Your “Love never fails” (1 Corinthians 13:8). In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.
My family, I pray you may be empowered with the Love that never fails, abiding in you and overcoming the evil you abhor in this world, in Jesus' name. God bless you my friends!
Please share with my your thoughts or prayers with us 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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“So too the tongue is a small part of the body, yet it has great pretensions. Think how small a flame sets a huge forest ablaze. And the tongue is a fire! The tongue represents the world of wrongdoing among the parts of our bodies. It pollutes the entire body and sets fire to the course of human existence - and is set on fire by hell. For every kind of animal, bird, reptile, and sea creature is subdued and has been subdued by humankind. But no human being can subdue the tongue; it is a restless evil, full of deadly poison. With it we bless the Lord and Father, and with it we curse people made in Godʼs image. From the same mouth come blessing and cursing. These things should not be so, my brothers and sisters.” (James 3:5-10)
I normally do not post political centered reflections, however this morning I am compelled to as this issue has stirred strong conversations with my daughters and wife, friends, and was on my heart when I opened my Bibel this morning.
At a Trump rally at Madison Square Gardens, in the lead-up to Trump, comedian Tony Hinchcliffe, who goes by Kill Tony, referred to Puerto Rico as a "floating island of garbage," made crude birth control jokes about Hispanics not “pulling out”, “cumming”, and not being welcomed. He inferred that Jews are cheap and Palestinians are "rock-throwers" and made a racist comment about a black man in the audience eating watermelon.
I listened to the full set of Hinchclife a couple times and each time afterwards I felt sick and saddened inside and asked myself “Why?” Why would Trump invite, include and allow such a divisive, racist comedian to speak at his rally? Now, I am not a “politically correct extremist.” I have in the past gone to and listened to comedians like George Carlin, Robert Downey Jr, Rodney Dangerfield, Chris Rock, and others. I know if I chose go to one of their shows and sit in the front rows I have a good chance of being ridiculed, made fun of, and negatively commented on as part of their set. I know what the subject is going to be about, I would not take my children, and know what I am getting into. However, this was a public event for the president of the US.
I am a Republican and I voted for Trump in the past two elections. I have two daughters in their mid-twenties I have been talking to about the issues and candidates. And after these last comments from this rally they are done with anything Trump, and sadly, I can’t blame them.
My family and I just three weeks ago took a trip to the Dominican Republic. And if you know your geography Puerto Rico is it’s next door neighbor island. We spent a week there loving, interacting, ministering, laughing with, learning from and embracing the beautiful Hispanic local people. And we were loved, ministered to, and embraced by them in return. My daughters were both so impacted by the trip, they are both taking Spanish lessons on line from a UAB professor and are planning on returning next month. My wife and I are planning on returning again in the future. I have served on mission trips to Costa Rica. I served for 3 years on the UMC task force for the poor and I serve and lead weekly at Manna House and House of the Harvest that ministers to, interacts with, and learns from the Hispanic and Latino community. As pastor at Toney UMC, leaders of my praise band were Hispanic and I worked to connect and worship together with local Hispanic churches. When I owned and operated my construction company I had Hispanic employees who were honest, hardworking, family oriented, men of faith.
So after the rally and my daughter’s heard the comedians speech my phone was lit up from texts from my daughters who know I am a Republican, and they also know my heart and love for all people I try to instill in them and others. They asked me if I had heard it, shared their disgust, they stated how wrong it was, and asked me for my honest thoughts. And I had to agree with them.
And I could not come back to them with “well Trump did not actually say those things.” It was his rally, he is responsible. If I’m pastoring a church and I invite someone to speak at a service that shares crude, divisive, racist comments, It is myself who is responsible and will be called to answer and my judgement questioned. Same if a teacher or principal invites some to share in a classroom or a school rally a person to speak that shares the same hate. It is the teacher or principal the parents are going to hold responsible. Same is a business person invites someone to speak at a conference or training. If a person stood up during our prayer time in church and spoke those hateful, divisive comments I would personally walk them out of the church and apologize for them. And Trump was there. He heard the comedians whole set. If he was appalled and disagreed with Hinchcliffe, the time to claim and state he made a mistake inviting him, and that the remarks the comedian made are not those he agrees with, was as soon he came to the microphone to speak. Yet he was in silent agreement.
I am sick and saddened by the hate, divisiveness, and attacks that are now commonplace and acceptable on both sides of the political aisle. This latest instance crossed a line.
The reflections above flow out of my personal experience and understanding of people and God and my understanding of His command for me to ‘love my neighbor.
One thing I am sure of, and I not based on my personal understanding, is that there are no “garbage people” that God created. There is no one on this earth that Jesus Christ out of complete love for them did not also die for them. There is no country or nationality that God claims but He has a world view of salvation, “God so loved the world. ”There is no language spoken that God prioritizes or prefers to hear prayers and praises. And there is no place or situation where it is acceptable for those who claim to be followers of Jesus and Christians to use their tongue, open their mouth, and “with the same tongue they bless the Lord and Father, use it to curse people made in Godʼs image. These things should not be so my brothers and sisters.”
My family, I pray this morning we all reflect on our tongues, the way we talk about, and especially post on line things about other people. I pray we would be reminded we are not to say anything about anyone unless we would say it if they were standing in front of us, and Jesus was standing beside us, 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 support myself and One Direction community through setting up a monthly donation or a one –time gift by clicking the link below. Donation checks can be made out to ODC, PO Box 1293 Madison, Al 35758.
Thank You!
TO GIVE CLICK HERE
Good morning, Lord Jesus. Help me hear Your heart and live into it today -- Father, Son, and Holy Spirit of God. ...
"You show me the path of life. In Your presence there is fullness of joy; in Your right hand are pleasures forevermore" (Psalm 16:11).
With You in my heart and my heart in You, there are pleasures "forevermore." There is fullness of joy, fullness of peace, fullness of the abundance of life, just as You said, "I came that you may have life, and have it abundantly" (John 10:10). In You, there is "forevermore" and in You, there is "forever more."
I ask for more. More of You, more of Your Spirit, more of Your joy, more of Your peace, more of Your love, more of Your power, more of the fullness and abundance of Your life in me. "How much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him" (Luke 11:13). All of Your "more" is all by the extravagant gift of Your grace. And You are the God who always "gives all the more grace" (James 4:6). Your gifts are always "a good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over" (Luke 6:38).
So give me a holy hunger for more -- an unquenchable thirst and insatiable desire for more of all You desire for me. "Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled" (Matthew 5:6). Your kingdom is within me; and of Your kingdom, there shall be "no end" (Luke 17:21 and 1:33).
Let me settle for nothing less than the "forever more" of all You have for me. "As it is written, 'What no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor human heart conceived, what God has prepare for those who love Him!" (1 Corinthians 2:9). "Forevermore," You're always giving "forever more!" In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
My family, I pray this morning you begin your week in prayer with Jesus asking Him for more. More of His Spirit, more, joy, more peace, more love, more of His presence, intimacy, and fullness in your life. I pray you forevermore experience your heavenly Father' in all He desires and He has prepared for you in good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over, in Jesus' name. Please pray the same for me. God bless you, my friends!
Please share your reflections 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!
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Good morning, Lord Jesus. Help me start my day embraced by my Father, centered in Christ, and filled with Your Holy Spirit. ...
"He said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is made perfect in weakness.' So, I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me. Therefore I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities for the sake of Christ; for whenever I am weak, then I am strong" (2 Corinthians 12:9-10).
I have had many request for prayer this weak for various illnesses, anxieties, spousal issues, cancer and others. Jesus, whenever we feel sick, You are our Healer. Whenever we feel discouraged, You are our Encourager. Whenever we feel attacked, You are our Defender. Whenever we feel weary, You are our Strength. You're with us through it all and none of that will have the last word over us. The power of Your Presence dwelling in us is all we need to endure until we overcome in Your all-sufficient grace.
"No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us" (Romans 8:36). "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me" (Philippians 4:13). "Thanks be to God who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ!" (1 Corinthians 15:57)
Lord, as You know, I have been praying for friends and loved ones who have not felt well or or are under some kind of attach in recent days. But You've been with them through it all, you have been standing by their side and abiding in their heart. I pray Lord You're already taken upon Yourself everything that would try to take hold of them, that they could be healed and whole and free (Isaiah 53:4-6 fulfilled by Christ in Matthew 8:17). So by the power of Your grace at work within them, I come into agreement and alignment with Your Word that will not return void and will accomplish Your good will for them. (Isaiah 55:11). Your will and Your plans for us are always good (Jeremiah 29:11). So I thank You now for what You've already done and all these good things of Your good will that we will see come to pass (Mark 11:24). In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
My family, I earnestly pray this morning you are strengthened and encouraged, healed and free, thanking God now for all He has done and will help you to see and embrace in His good will for 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 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, In you alone I want to align my all my heart, mind, soul, and strength as I begin my new week.
“Now those who had been forced to scatter went around proclaiming the good news of the word. Philip went down to the main city of Samaria and began proclaiming the Christ to them. The crowds were paying attention with one mind to what Philip said, as they heard and saw the miraculous signs he was performing.” (Acts 8:4-6) As you start a new week and set to fulfill your plans you have made, remember God has set his plans he has made for you and needs you to fulfill as well. His plan is to release you and I, ordinary people in the church out into our communities to do extraordinary things in the kingdom. Just like in Acts 8:1. It was ordinary, un-named Jews, just some people, that scattered and spread the Gospel, lead others into salvation, made disciples, and grew churches.”
God’s plan this week includes the scattering and sending of you and I. People are saved, disciples are made, lives are restored and churches grow not simply through programs, but through ordinary people spreading the Gospel. Spreading and sharing the Gospel is not about bringing people into a building to hear someone speak, but sending people out of a building to speak it into the world. Armies of ordinary people in the church, empowered by the extraordinary power and presence of the Holy Spirit, speaking life, truth, and transformation to those they encounter in their day.
Lets all commit to get rid of any spectator mentality we may possess about our role in Christ’s church. What ever is the name of the church you attend, what ever is the last name of your family, let that name be known in your neighborhood not because of its seating capacity, but its sending capacity. Because I believe at the end of the day that is how God is going to judge the church.
A change in spectator mentality won’t happen accidently. Just like setting aside and scheduling time in your day and calendar is required to fulfill your plans for the week, setting aside time and creating margins in your day and calendar is required to fulfill God’s plan for you to do extraordinary things for his kingdom. It requires intentionality. Halloween is coming up and it is a rare opportunity when your neighbors come out and walk their neighborhoods and gather for parties. What are your plans to bless them?
Read Acts 8:1-8, 11:17-22. Then I challenge you this morning to open your calendar for the week and look at where you have scheduled times to release yourself in your community and spread the Gospel. Write down Intentional dates and times of release, sentness into an area of your community with no prescript expectation or outcome but sharing your testimony and the Gospel. Schedule in times to prayer walk, go to a Waffle House, bar, mall, Walmart, hospital waiting room, Laundromat…ect. If you do not have times set aside and scheduled for this, for fulfilling God’s plan for you, it won’t happen. Luther said, “Delay is the sharpest arrow in the enemies quiver.” Don’t delay.
My family, I pray you will schedule on your calendar this week at least one day and time and an action you plan to do to be sent out in some way into your community, 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.