“Now the king of Syria was at war with Israel. He consulted his advisers, who said, “Invade at such and such a place.” But the prophet sent this message to the king of Israel, “Make sure you donʼt pass through this place because Syria is invading there.” So the king of Israel sent a message to the place the prophet had pointed out, warning it to be on its guard. This happened on several occasions.
This made the king of Syria upset. So he summoned his advisers and said to them, “One of us must be helping the king of Israel.” One of his advisers said, “No, my master, O king. The prophet Elisha who lives in Israel keeps telling the king of Israel the things you say in your bedroom.” The king ordered, “Go, find out where he is, so I can send some men to capture him.” The king was told, “He is in Dothan.” So he sent horses and chariots there, along with a good-sized army. They arrived during the night and surrounded the city.
The prophetʼs attendant got up early in the morning. When he went outside there was an army surrounding the city, along with horses and chariots. He said to Elisha, “Oh no, my master! What will we do?” He replied, “Donʼt be afraid, for our side outnumbers them.” Then Elisha prayed, “O LORD, open his eyes so he can see.” The LORD opened the servantʼs eyes and he saw that the hill was full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha.”
(2Kings 6:6-17)
Last night at our House Church gathering we read and discussed over these passages. We reminded each other of who is on our side in our challenges, struggles and battles in our lives. We need to lift our eyes above the what is presented to us by the world and focus our eyes on of Christ and what he presents for us. We need to stop having anxiety on the challenges that surround us based on our limited competency and resources to fight them, and on the limitless, abundance or God’s provisions and power to face them and defeat them. We need to surrender, ask, knock and receive all the help God desires to give us.(Matt 7:7-8) We need to remind ourselves “if God is for us, who can be against us and that in all things we have complete victory through Jesus who loves us! (Romans 8:31,37)
We need to remember as the passage above assures us that God hears and knows all our struggles and thoughts. He knows what we are speaking and thinking in the quiet of our bedrooms and what is keeping us up at night. He will never abandon or forsake us. (Jeremiah 12:7). And we need to seek out the “Elishas” in our lives. People of God who we can confided in who will help us discern which place we are to go, not go, and the direction God is calling us to go.
My family, I pray today you will take a minute to remember who is on your side and as the lyrics to the old hymn say, “Turn your eyes upon Jesus. Look full in his wonderful face and the things of Earth will grow strangely dim in the light of his glory and grace.” In Jesus name. Please pray the same for me. God bless you my friends!
Please share your reflections and prayers with us n the comment box below.
Gary Liederbach- Lead Follower
One Direction Community
Email: garyl@onedirection.community
Website: https://www.onedirection.community
Facebook: One Direction Community-ODC
Please commitment to partner and support myself and One Direction community through setting up a monthly donation or a one –time gift by clicking the link below. Donation checks can be made out to ODC, PO Box 1293 Madison, Al 35758.
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Good morning, Lord Jesus. Be Thou my Vision, O Lord of my heart…
"And without faith it is impossible to please God, for whoever would approach Him must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who seek Him" (Hebrews 11:6).
Lord, I seek You with my eyes and with my heart. I seek You with passion and with faith. I seek You to find You and embrace You, to hold on to You and be held by You. I seek You first and throughout the moments of my day. And you reward me with a deep sense of Your Presence, with the confident assurance You'll never let go. As someone has said, "I'm safe and secure in Your no-slip grip."
Blessed are those who seek You with all their heart for they will be the ones who find You (Jeremiah 29:13). You said, "Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened" (Matthew 7:7-8, NKJ). You are the God who gives good things to those who ask and seek and knock (v. 7:11). You are the God who always gives Your very Spirit to all who will humbly and passionately pursue You in spirit and truth (Luke 11:13). And so I set my sights to seek You by faith more passionately each day than the day before - as best as I can and all by Your grace.
Heart of my own heart whatever befall,
Still be thou my vision oh ruler of all!
In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
My family, may you set your sights to pursue our God with passion and faith, more every day. May you find Him and embrace Him and never let go of Him. Please pray the same for me. God bless you, my friends!
Please share your reflections and prayers with us n the comment box below.
Gary Liederbach- Lead Follower
One Direction Community
Email: garyl@onedirection.community
Website: https://www.onedirection.community
Facebook: One Direction Community-ODC
Please commitment to partner and support myself and One Direction community through setting up a monthly donation or a one –time gift by clicking the link below. Donation checks can be made out to ODC, PO Box 1293 Madison, Al 35758.
Thank You!
Good morning, Lord Jesus. Be Lord of my heart and all my desires, Lord of my mind and all my thoughts, Lord of my will and all my choices. ...
"Multitudes, multitudes,
in the valley of decision!
For the day of the Lord is near
in the valley of decision.
The sun and the moon are darkened,
and the stars withdraw their shining.
The Lord roars from Zion,
and utters His voice from Jerusalem,
and the heavens and the earth shake.
But the Lord is a refuge for His people,
a stronghold for the people of Israel.
So you shall know that I, the Lord your God,
dwell in Zion, my holy mountain.
And Jerusalem shall be holy,
and strangers shall never again pass through it.
In that day
the mountains shall drip sweet wine,
the hills shall flow with milk,
and all the stream beds of Judah
shall flow with water;
a fountain shall come forth from the house of the Lord
and water the Wadi Shittim" (Joel 3:14-18).
I was reminded in the news this morning that Election Day in America is just around the corner. Multitudes will go down to "the valley of decision" to cast their vote and speak their voice and make their choice.
Come, Holy Spirit. May the decisions made by the multitudes be decisions led by Your Spirit, informed by Your Word, guided by Your principles of the Kingdom of God and the authority of Your Scripture. May every decision we make today as we begin our week and every day be viewed as important and be decisions for life and not death, for blessing and not cursing, exalting Your ways in our land as one nation under God.
"Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a reproach to any people" (Proverbs 14:34). "Righteousness and justice are the foundation of Your throne" (Psalm 89:14). And "Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord" (Psalm 33:12).
If our choices are right and our decisions are true, the mountains and hills, the streams and plains, will flow with the blessings of God. "A fountain shall come forth!"
Lord, let Your Fountain of Living Water come forth in our land. Let there be revival, awakening, and harvest as never before, as the heart of our nation continues to return to You. Move in Your power. Move by Your grace.
Against all odds, move in impossible and mighty ways that only You can do, so that all will see and know that only You have done this. For "Nothing is impossible with God" (Luke 1:37) and "With God all things are possible" (Matthew 19:26). As we await decisions of elections, may Your multitudes remember as we pray in faith for our land that "All things are possible for those who believe" (Mark 9:23). And no matter what will happen at the close of this day and through the days to come, "We know that all things work together for good for those who love (You), who are called according to Your purpose" (Romans 8:28). In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
My family, may you make your decisions this day and every day led by the Holy Spirit, informed by God's Word, guided by His principles and the authority of His Scripture, receiving an overflowing fountain of God's blessings in your life, in Jesus name. Please pray the same for me. And I join with you and so many in continued prayer over the elections and for all we're facing in our world. God bless you, my friends!
Please share your reflections and prayers with us n the comment box below.
Gary Liederbach- Lead Follower
One Direction Community
Email: garyl@onedirection.community
Website: https://www.onedirection.community
Facebook: One Direction Community-ODC
Please commitment to partner and support myself and One Direction community through setting up a monthly donation or a one –time gift by clicking the link below. Donation checks can be made out to ODC, PO Box 1293 Madison, Al 35758.
Thank You!
Good morning, Lord Jesus. I welcome You into my heart and every moment of my day. ...
"But as for me, I will sing about Your power. Each morning I will sing with joy about Your unfailing love. For You have been my refuge, a place of safety when I am in distress" (Psalms59:16 NLT).
Tuesday evening I drove down to my daughters house in Birmingham and spent two days doing maintenance on their home:: yearly cleaning maintenance of HVAC system inside and outside, pest control, basement water barrier maintenance, install new toilet, electrical, car maintenance,…act. What dad’s do for their daughters! One thing I love about hanging out with my daughters is we are a family of singers! My wife and two daughters are always singing and maybe breaking out a move. So though the work may not be fun, my family is and it keeps a smile on my face! Jesus love for you and me is the same way. Though our labor for his kingdom may not always be fun, if we listen while we are doing it we will always her Jesus singing his song of love and grace over us. It flows out of his heart of complete joy for us so we can have complete joy in our hearts!
Thank You for waking me almost every morning with a song in my spirit! It's Your Spirit singing in my spirit, just as Your Word invites us to do. "I will sing in the Spirit" (1 Corinthians 14:15).
And I sing with joy of Your unfailing love. I sing with joy to the One who is my Refuge and my Place of Safety -- to the One who rescues me from distress, who delivers me from evil, who heals me from hurt, who comforts me with care, who leads me in the path of life in You.
As for me, I will sing about Your power. I will sing about Your love. I will sing about who You are and all You do.
No matter what I may go through or what may try to go through me or run over me or try to hold me back or shut me down or shut me up, I will sing and I will praise, full of joy for Your unfailing love! They can't take that from me. They can't put a mask over that. They can't distance me from the One who created me and calls me by name to wake up every morning with Your joy in my spirit because You've poured Your unfailing love into my heart! "I will sing of the Lord's unfailing love forever!" (Psalm 89:1) In Jesus name I pray. Amen.
My family, may you be filled with the Holy Spirit of the Living God and wake up this morning and every morning singing of His unfailing love, in Jesus name. Please pray the same for me. God bless you, my friends!
Please share your thoughts and comments
Gary Liederbach- Lead Follower
One Direction Community
Email: garyl@onedirection.community
Website: https://www.onedirection.community
Facebook: One Direction Community-ODC
Please commitment to partner and support myself and One Direction community through setting up a monthly donation or a one –time gift by clicking the link below. Donation checks can be made out to ODC, PO Box 1293 Madison, Al 35758.
Thank You!
Good morning, Lord Jesus. Yesterday we sang the song Surrounded at our worship service. I woke up singing it so I sing Your name over all, and surrender my all to You. ...
"(The king of Aram) said, 'Go and find where (Elisha) is; I will send and seize him.' He was told, 'He is in Dothan.' So he sent horses and chariots there and a great army; they came by night, and surrounded the city. When the attendant of the man of God rose early in the morning and went out, an army of horse and chariots was all around the city. His servant said, 'Alas, master! What shall we do?' He replied, 'Do not be afraid, for there are more with us than there are with them.' Then Elisha prayed: 'O Lord, please open his eyes that he may see.' So the Lord opened the eyes of the servant, and he saw; the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha!" (2 Kings 6:13-17).
In the morning, when I rise, no doubt there are great armies of horses and chariots, armed with weapons of worry and fear, confusion and chaos, hopelessness and despair, ready to come riding down on my mind and my spirit to overwhelm and overcome me, battling to take my thoughts captive. They want to present themselves as big and mighty, too much to overcome and no chance to stand against them, projecting themselves to be much bigger and much stronger than they are. They want to demand my attention, the priority of my thoughts, in the very first moments of my morning to plunder the treasure of my time with You.
But my Master, You open my eyes to see! You lift my eyes to the hills where my help comes from! You open my spirit to perceive the truth I'm not alone, I'm not overwhelmed, I'm not overcome. You draw my heart into the intimacy of Your strong embrace and security of Your steadfast love. And You remind me "The One who is in (me) is greater than the one who is in the world" (1 John 4:4).
As I look to You and give You the priority of my day, the first thoughts of my morning, as my first act of worship in prayer and praise, my spiritual enemies don't look so big and mighty. In the light of Your truth and the Presence of Your Spirit, they flee away at the sound of my praise and the authority of my prayers in the power of Your name. "Let God arise; let His enemies be scattered; let those who hate Him flee before Him!" (Psalm 68:1)
Thank You, my Master, my Lord and Savior, for opening the eyes of my heart to see You, to know You, to experience Your Presence right here with me to overpower my enemies and overcome my adversary (Ephesians 1:15-21). Great are You, Lord! Mighty is Your name!
Thank You for Your Holy Spirit. Thank You for Your holy angel armies. Thank You that in You there are always many more with me than those against me! For nothing can stand against You and Your great name! (Philippians 2:9-11) And with You standing for me, nothing can stand against me, for I am always an overcomer and more than a conqueror in You! (Romans 8:31-39) In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
My family, May the Holy Spirit come upon you and the power of the Most High overshadow you and open your eyes tp see and know your identity and fulfill your destiny to the praise of God's glory through your life today, in Jesus' name. Please pray the same for me. God bless you, my friends!
Please share your reflections and prayers in the comment box below.
Gary Liederbach- Lead Follower
One Direction Community
Email: garyl@onedirection.community
Website: https://www.onedirection.community
Facebook: One Direction Community-ODC
Please commitment to partner and support myself and One Direction community through setting up a monthly donation or a one –time gift by clicking the link below. Donation checks can be made out to ODC, PO Box 1293 Madison, Al 35758.
“Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened for you. For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.” (Matthew 5:7-8)
I work one day a week at Lowe’s on Mondays. Every Monday morning I leave at 8:00am and serve at Manna House in Huntsville until 12:30pm unloading the food trucks and help getting the food lines set up to distribute food to around 350 families later that afternoon. I drive home, eat something, then work a 2:00pm-10:00pm shift at Lowes. I started working at Lowes as a way to still connect and pray with people when my churches shut down for Covid and there was no Sunday services or weekday Bible studies or classes and the church was empty. All I was doing was live streaming a Sunday message. When covid restrictions finally ended I continued to work the one night a week to try to continue to bless the Lowes employees and customers.
I mainly work in the plumbing department. Last night I walked down an aisle to put back a return item and in the aisle was a man on the phone. He was shaking and there were tears in his eyes and running down his face. I intentionally stayed in the aisle taking longer than necessary to put back the items until the man hung up his cell phone.
I walked up to him and asked him if he was ok? He said with a big smile and tears running down his face “Yes! These are tears of joy! I am so happy!” I asked him if he wanted to share why? The man said his son and daughter in law are expecting their first child and are 2 ½ months pregnant. He said in his families genealogy there is a gene that is hereditary the cause severe birth defects. He has relatives that were born severely mentally and physically disabled. And his other son and his wife had a baby 2 years ago and it was born with severe disabilities. His son and expecting wife had a medical procedure done that morning to see it their baby had this hereditary defect or not. His wife had just called him and said they got the results of the test and the test came back negative! The baby was going to be born normal! I said. “Praise God!” and he said “Yes! Praise God!” and he hugged me and I hugged him back, both of us with tears in our eyes now.
I asked him if I could say a prayer of thanksgiving over the child and his family. He Said YES!!!. I asked the child’s name. He said it is just over 2 months old now. They do not know the sex yet or have given the baby a name. So we stood facing each other, with our hands on each other’s shoulders and heads bowed between us and tears falling to the floor, and I prayed a prayer of praise and blessing over the child and his family. When I finished with a big smile he hugged me again and said he was so glade I was there to share this good news with me. I helped him find the plumbing fitting he came in to get, we hugged again, said “Praise God” to each other and he left the aisle. And I started wiping my eyes and took a deep breath and tried to compose myself. Then, with a big smile on my face and new joy in my heart from the “church” I had just experienced, I left the aisle as well.
My family, this amazing blessing and deep encounter I was so blessed to experience simply came out of my asking another person, “Are you ok?” I pray today you take the blinders off of your days schedule enough to ask a co-worker, class mate, neighbor, or person who just happens to be in the aisle with you at Lowes of Walmart, “Are you ok?” And as the verse above states, ask and you will recieve, In Jesus name. Please pray the same for me. God bless you my friends!
Please share with me and others your reflections and what God is speaking to you from todays reading in the comment box below.
Gary Liederbach- Lead Follower
One Direction Community
Email: garyl@onedirection.community
Website:https://www.onedirection.community
Facebook: One Direction Community-ODC
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!
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Good morning, Lord Jesus. Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, make me one with You, one with Your body, and one in ministry to all the world until I feast with You at Your heavenly banquet in final victory. ...
But he said to me, “My grace is enough for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” So then, I will boast most gladly about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may reside in me. Therefore, I am content with weaknesses, with insults, with troubles, with persecutions and difficulties for the sake of Christ, for whenever I am weak, then I am strong. (2 Corinthians 12:9-10)
I know I live every day in the midst of a broken, fallen world, where evil is real. And evil is out to get me (1 Peter 5:8). But as I look to You for my help, trusting that Your light always overcomes the darkness and Your power is made perfect in my weakness, I will always overcome through whatever challenges or sufferings I may endure (2 Corinthians 12:9).
"I lift up my eyes to the hills -- from where will my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth. He will not let your foot be moved; He who keeps you will not slumber.... The Lord will keep you from all evil; He will keep your life. The Lord will keep your going out and your coming in from this time on and forevermore" (Psalm 121:1-8).
My part is to lift up my eyes to You, while You promise Your part is to look out for me. Remind me to do my part; and remind me that You're always doing Your part.
You'll even cause those battles to work together for my good, redeeming every moment of my suffering and making me more like You though every challenge (James 1:2-4). "After I have suffered for a little while, the God of all grace, who has called (me) to His eternal glory in Christ, will Himself restore, support, strengthen, and establish (me). To Him be the power forever and ever" (1 Peter 5:10-11). In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
My family, as we begin a new week I pray you may always know deep in your heart that Your God is Your help and He will bring you through every battle you face, making you more like Him as you keeping looking up to Him. Please pray the same for me. God bless you, my friends!
Please share with me and others your reflections and what God is speaking to you from todays reading in the comment box below.
Gary Liederbach- Lead Follower
One Direction Community
Email: garyl@onedirection.community
Website:https://www.onedirection.community
Facebook: One Direction Community-ODC
Help Us Help Them
I could use you’re the gift of your financial support for my family and those on the margins God has placed in my path I refuse to walk around. Please partner and support my family and ministries through setting up a monthly donation or a one –time gift by clicking the link below. Donation checks can be made out to ODC, 102 Champions Green Drive, Madison, Al 35758.
Thank You!
Good morning, Lord Jesus. Awaken my soul as I focus in on You first with all my heart and mind and soul and strength.
"Now the whole earth had one language and the same words. And as they migrated from the east, they came upon a plain in the land of Shinar and settled there. And they said to one another, 'Come, let us make bricks, and burn them thoroughly.' And they had brick for stone, and bitumen for mortar. Then they said, 'Come, let us build ourselves a city and a tower with its top in the heavens, and let us make a name for ourselves; otherwise we shall be scattered abroad upon the face of the whole earth" (Genesis 11:1-4).
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 unityYou 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!
“My commandment is this - to love one another just as I have loved you. No one has greater love than this - that one lays down his life for his friends.” (John 15:12-13)
Today we remember the 80th anniversary of the D-Day invasion at Normandy, France. It was the greatest multi-nation joint air, land and sea invasion that changed the course of history. Change our history. I can’t imagine the bravery and absolute fear and terror of the men inside the aquatic landing boats that were hearing the machine gun bullets striking against the steel door of their boat. Knowing that when they landed on the beach, and that door dropped, those bullets would be hitting them. Over 4,000 men, (actually 18 and 20 year old teenagers and young adults) lost their lives that day.
Lord have mercy, Christ have mercy, Lord have mercy.
D-day was not just a physical invasion, it was a spiritual invasion as well. “For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world rulers of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavens.” (Ephesians 6:12). A darkness cast by the “Ruler of the World” had been covering over Germany and that region that allowed unspeakable atrocities and evil acts to be committed and “good people” to be swayed into accepting them and be deceived into supporting them, participating in them, as something good. D- Day was also an invasion of light into darkness.
So today we remember and commemorate those men and women who possessed such remarkable character, morals, convictions, and a fundamental, basic understanding of the difference between what is right and wrong, holy and unholy, and selflessly sacrificed to stand up and speak truth into lies with their lives. And in doing so changed the course of history.
My family, I pray today you take time to reflect on the whole enormity of D-Day and bow and say a prayer of thanks and gratitude to all those who participated in and those who also lost their lives that day 80 years ago. I pray that it encourages you and motivates you as you look around our world and society and see how leaders and people are being swayed and deceived into accepting and supporting immoral and evil actions and attitudes, and remember you are also called to possess and live out remarkable character, morals, convictions, and a fundamental, basic understanding of the difference between what is right and wrong, holy and unholy, and you are also called to selflessly sacrifice and stand up and speak truth into lies with your lives. As history will also look back one day and reflect on our actions or failures to act, in Jesus name. Please pray the same for me. God bless you my friends!
Gary Liederbach- Lead Follower
One Direction Community
Email: garyl@onedirection.community
Website: https://www.onedirection.community
Facebook: One Direction Community-ODC
I 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!
TO GIVE CLICK HERE
Good morning, Lord Jesus. All that I am and all that I have, I give to You in trusting surrender--as best as I can and all by Your grace.
"The next day John again was standing with two of his disciples, and as he watched Jesus walk by, he exclaimed, 'Look, here is the Lamb of God!' The two disciples heard him say this, and they followed Jesus. When Jesus turned and saw them following, He said to them, 'What are you looking for?' They said to Him, 'Rabbi' (which translated means Teacher), 'where are you staying?' He said to them 'Come and see.' They came and saw where He was staying, and remained with Him that day" (John 1:35-39).
Lord Jesus, I want to know where You're staying, so I can come be with You. I want to know where You're going, so I can come be with You. Where You are is where I want to be. You're the One I'm looking for. So give me the courage today to step out of my comfort zone and the routine of my day and seek out the One I love. If you were my spouse or one of my children, and I did not know where one of them was, my love for them would compel me to go and do anything to find them and embrace them. May my love for you compel me to go and do anything to find and embrace you today in silent reflection, the people and places you lead me.
So I accept Your invitation to 'Come and see,' so I can "Come and be"--come and be with You. Your desire for me to “come and be” with you flows out of your complete and deep unfathomable love for me. To me, that's one of Your greatest promises in all of Scripture: "And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age" (Matthew 28:20). In this you are saying, “Gary understand this, I will love you always, to the end of the age.” To which I say, "Praise God!"
My family, I pray today you “come and see” Jesus, that you “come and be” with Him and allow Him to embrace you in His ‘Love unto the ages,” and come and be with you in all you are and all you do, 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 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!
God’s complete desire, that of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, is for us to be one with him, and as importantly, one with each other. The Casting Crowns lyrics come into my head. “Who am I, that the Lord of all the earth, would care to know my name, would care to feel my hurt.” But as hard as it may seem sometimes, He does! At Christmas in Christ we see God’s desire to know us and be known by us as He became incarnate in Emanuel, God with us. Our relationship with our God is not like that of other religions of one of master to slave. Or like the beliefs of others of a vague form of deism where God is “out there”, detached, and impersonally directing the universe. Like a clock maker who makes a clock, winds it, sets it on the mantel, and walks away. Our God, The God, desires an intimate relationship with us, one in which we also know and desire Him intimately as well. Jesus tells us, “No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends (Joh 15:15). How remarkable is that! “God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.” (Gen 1:27 ESV) How amazing is that when you wrap your head around it!!
And God Proved his desire to have an intimate relationship with us, to be one with him, through the incarnation of His Son, Jesus the Christ. God sent the Son to be born of a woman. He walked this earth, lived our life, bore our sins, carried our cross, suffered, was crucified, died, descended into hell, and was raised from the dead to create and restore a path, a way for us to an intimate, loving relationship with a God who intimately, madly, loves us. SOOOO LOVED GOD THE WORLD, (you and I ), that he sent His Son to demonstrate it. Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends. (John 3:16;15:13)
However, The works of Jesus on the cross and the salvation and oneness with God it made available to us is not the end into itself. Jesus’ hope is for our oneness with him to be an “unto” something else. Jesus tells us,
“As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love. You are my friends if you do what I command you. This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. As God sent me into the world, so I have sent you into the world. By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples.” (John 15:8, 9, 14,12; 17:1)
My family, I pray you reflect on today, “What is the hope you as a Christian are striving for throughout your life in the world today?” As we move to the half-way point of 2024, “What is the hope you plan to seek and strive for before the year ends? in Jesus’ name. Please pray the same for me. God bless you my friends!
Gary Liederbach- Lead Follower
One Direction Community
Email: garyl@onedirection.community
Website: https://www.onedirection.community
Facebook: One Direction Community-ODC
I 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!
TO GIVE CLICK HERE
Good morning, Lord Jesus. Arise in Your resurrection power in my life today.
"Then He breathed on them and said, 'Receive the Holy Spirit'" (John 20:22 NLT).
Breathe on me, O Breath of God. Let Your Spirit fill my lungs with praise. Let your Breath fill my mouth with Your words. Let Your Presence abide in my soul.
Breathe on me, Lord. Breathe new life, fresh passion, renewed vision and determination to seek Your face, to return to my first love, to follow Your ways, to be the child of God and disciple of Christ You created me and called me to be--not in my strength but in Your power, not in my goodness but in Your righteousness.
I desperately need You. I breathlessly await You. Increase my capacity to breathe You in as You breathe on me. Fill me afresh that You can overflow onto those around me, through me this day and this next season of my life in You. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
My family, I pray you fall on your knees this morning and desperately desire to be filled afresh with the Breath of God to overflow anew with His life and love flowing out of 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 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!
Good morning Lord Jesus,I being my new week with the hope of complete sanctification in you and your love.
This morning my reflection blog is a little different. I was at the Waffle House low bar talking with customers and sharing my faith. A regular smirked back sarcastically that “the church would burn down if I entered it” and “it would take me along time to get right before that happens.” Last night at a local brewery where we held our men’s group, Brothers, Bibles and Beer (B3),we talked about my reflection from yesterday. We went around the group and reflected over the question, “If I had enough balls to make a change I believe God is calling me to make, what would that change be and what would it look like?" One of the men said he does not believe, or struggles to believe he is worthy enough for God to want to use him in any remarkable way.
In praying over these conversations this morning, I was reminded of a video. A couple years ago I was sent this short 3 minute video by a friend of mine. I have reflected on it, turned to Scripture, meditated on it, and shared it many times. The link for it is below.
We are not “made right” or “made worthy” by anything we can do in our flesh. We are not saved by our works. We are not saved by our professions of faith. We are not saved by our religion, church affiliation, or church attendance. We are not saved by our attendance in Bible studies like B3 or knowledge of Scriptures. We are not saved by the amount of time we pray. All these things are good and of extreme vital importance to the Christian faith. But any assurance or reliance of salvation on anything you put an “I” in front of is arrogance. Salvation is a solo act of the Gospel of Jesus the Christ who we all enter into only by the grace of God.
My family, I pray you will watch this video and then spend time on your own reflecting on it. I pray that either any feeling of being unworthy or removed from you, or on the other hand any ways in arrogance you are ascribing any part of your salvation, and that of others on anything other than the Gospel (Good News) of Jesus Christ is removed from you, in Jesus’ name. Please pray the same for me. God bless you my friends!
I would love for you to please share your reflections on this video 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!
“Now the LORD said to Abram,“Go out from your country, your relatives, and your fatherʼs household to the land that I will show you.” (Genesis 12:1)
I had a conversation with another pastor friend yesterday. He, as I, went to seminary for 4 years, went through all the questioning and interviews by the board of ordained ministers, spent years as a provisional member, and finally was also ordained as an elder in the United Methodist Church. When the UMC abandoned it’s covenant and walked away from Biblical Orthodox teachings and went progressive, he, as I also did, left the UMC. And we walked away from the UMC and all the years, time, effort, uprooting our families, financial and other investments we poured into the UMC and our credentials. My pastor friend shared with me the struggles he was having for his being obedient to God and walking away from all the security of the denomination. He and his church are meeting in temporary facilities and facing challenges. And since He knew I am going through the same thing, wanted to “vent” and receive prayer.
It reminded me of a story in my life and the life of our church One Direction Community (ODC). In December of 2015 ODC was sent a certified letter from the owners of the building we had helped restore and were using for our Gatherings. The letter stated in ODC would no longer be able to use their facility in 2016, which we received 18 days before the end of the year. So after our Christmas Eve service, we put on work clothe, pulled up Uhaul, and that night loaded up all our equipment, furnishings, all of our things and moved them to a storage unit. We were upset.
However, for a several months before we were evicted, I felt a spiritual tension every time I walked into the building. It was not a welcoming place. However, ODC had put over $75k into the renovation of the building into a space for a church. We spent hundreds of hours over the past year and a half knocking out walls, wiring, plumbing, painting, and renovating it. And our rent, which was a donation, was only $500 a month. So because of my reluctance to walk away from the huge investment we put into the building, and not knowing where we would find a place to rent for anything close to $500 a month in Madison, and the fear and uncertainty of change, we stayed at the building. I knew in my spirit it was a spiritually toxic place that we needed to leave, but I did not have the balls to make the change. God has much bigger balls than me. He caused to happen what needed to happen because I would not. Did it happen in an un-ethical or unfair way? Yes. Did it need to happen though? Yes. Is God fair? No.
Being kicked out put us into a season of fasting and praying for 28 days to listen and hear God’s direction for ODC. It led us to launching Community Dinners at Terranovas, a Sunday morning gathering in a Flea Market, serving at the Manna House, leading a monthly gathering and teaching of discipleship trainings at the Downtown Rescue Mission, forming prayer nights on Fridays, and growing our house churches. One of us had to have enough balls to make the change to allow this to happen, though I lacked them, God did not.
“Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways! “For who has known the mind of the Lord, or who has been his counselor?”” (Romans 11:33-34)
Take a few moments to pray into the Holy Spirit. Ok, I know this is a kind of weird reflection, but prayerfully meditate on, “If I had enough balls to make this change in my life, what would it be?” What would it take to cause it to happen? What would that event look like? What would the future result of that change look like? In Jesus’ name. Please pray the same for me. God bless you my friends!
Please share your thoughts in the comment box below.
Gary Liederbach- Lead Follower
One Direction Community
Email: garyl@onedirection.community
Website:https://www.onedirection.community
Facebook: One Direction Community-ODC
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!
TO GIVE CLICK HERE
Good morning Lord Jesus, your servant is listening, speak to me..
“The LORD says,
“Because he is devoted to me, I will deliver him;
I will protect him because he is loyal to me.
When he calls out to me, I will answer him.
I will be with him when he is in trouble;
I will rescue him and bring him honor.
I will satisfy him with long life,
and will let him see my salvation.” Psalm 91:14-16
Monday at Lowes a department supervisor had to be taken to the hospital because she was having heart issues. Another Lowes employee came up to me and shared how her mother-in-law of her deceased husband she was married to for 30 years passed away and all the unfortunate drama and issues she is going through with the family. At the Waffle House low bar this morning a regular customer sitting next to me shared how his wife is on dialysis, her bones are deteriorating, she is wheel chair bound, and for years he has become her care taker. A waitress asked me to pray for her boyfriend’s mother who is dying of cancer. Another waitress because of domestic violence shared she is now homeless, without a car as her boyfriend took it, and she does not know what to do. A friend of mine shared how the abuse, and lack of respect has caused his marriage to deteriorate to the point they are going to have to seek a divorce and knows the hostility they will encounter.
I came home from the Waffle House and now I sit here this morning and look over my prayer list, and I can feel overwhelmed. My heart mourns over these prayer requests. However, I then understand it is not my burden to bare to heel, restore, and renew lives, it is simply my privilege to stand in the gap, love my neighbors, and bring these prayer request to the foot of the cross to the one who can heal, restore and renew lives. I offer these prayer requests: “to the only wise God.” I offer them up to “Now to him who is able to strengthen me”, (Romans 16:24,27); I place them in front of our gracious Lord who tells me, “I have come so that they may have life, and may have it abundantly. (John 10:10)
I read Psalm 91 over these requests to my God who promises “When he calls out to me, I will answer him.”
My family, you also may be in a season where your prayer list seems to overwhelm you. Take comfort knowing that they do not overwhelm God. And since God resides in you through His Holy Spirit, your prayers can rise above life’s worldly struggles. Remember, “He who is in YOU is greater than he who is in the world.” (I john 4:6), 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!
TO GIVE CLICK HERE
"Paul lived there two whole years in his own rented quarters and welcomed all who came to him, proclaiming the kingdom of God and teaching about the Lord Jesus Christ with complete boldness and without restriction." v 31
The the last chapter of Book of the Acts of the Apostles in the Bible is chapter 28 and it ends with this verse above.: Despite all the attempts to stop the growing of the church and spreading of the Gospel, the message goes forth. The stories of The Church in the world did not end with chapter 28. They continue on today in Acts 29. Acts 29 is the not yet completed chapter being written on the movement of the Holy Spirit in your life, the movement of God in the world, and the workings of Jesus through His church today. And that includes this morning! Acts 29, the living story of your faith and the faith of the church must continue on where Acts 28 left off.
At our last house church gathering together we reflected and prayed through Acts 28. We discussed why we are here as a church and our calling. I have been praying over this. I prayed that if we honestly seek and remain in the power and presence of the Holy Spirit, we will go forth as well boldly proclaiming the Gospel of grace and the gates of hell will not prevail against it! (Matt. 16:18.) I prayed we would all finally see our homes as Paul did. That our homes our a gift from God will be used for the glory of God and not built with doors to keep our neighbors out but to welcome them in.
The purpose of going through the Book of Acts together was to encourage, renew, and awaken our faith in 2024 and awake us out of our slumber. “Awake, O sleeper! Rise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you!” (Eph. 5:14)
Set aside time this week to Reflect on this.
The need to apply and focus on these characteristics that the early church in Acts embraced to birth the church is needed today to birth new life into your faith and the life of your church and The Church today.
1. Christ Centered. We need to expect this in each other in all we do, Jesus is Lord
2. Fruitfulness in ministries: Is there fire?, Is there faithfulness?, Is there fruit?. Is it one that is convincing anyone of the love and gospel of Jesus. If it is not bearing fruit, stop doing it.
3. Offer your best: do it with excellence. Whether you are first encountering someone on the street or a first time visitor in your church, this is the only one that matters.
4. Accountability: We need to be talking each other into following Jesus. As in the early church, Walking into a town they do not know, to people they never met, with a message they do not know, requires intimate connections, Mentors and coaches.
5. Collaboration: Working with others, connection, and praying for others in other communities.
Reflect on these questions:
Why are you here?
Why is your church here?
What is your vision that gives you you a picture of your purpose?
Where does your passion intersect with the world’s great need?
What gets you out of bed in the morning?
What are some of your most strongly held beliefs?
What are your gifts you feel you have for leadership and service?
What are your weaknesses?
What connections, training, classes, activities are you in need of to achieve your purpose and vision?
What connections, training, classes, activities is your church in need of to achieve its purpose and vision?
I have led us through 28 days of reflection on Acts. I would love to hear from you on what this time has meant to you and what reflections and insights you have gained. Please share these with myself and others by posting in the comments box below.
“My commandment is this - to love one another just as I have loved you. No one has greater love than this - that one lays down his life for his friends.” John 15:12-13
Memorial Day was Originally Decoration Day, started to commemorate the deceased of the Civil War. Most southern states refused to recognize the day officially until after WWI. It was Declared Memorial Day by President Johnson in 1966. With the Red Stone Arsenal and the strong military presence here and the many military families that live in the in this area, Memorial Day impacts allot of these families in our area.
I love our country, I am so blessed to live here.
It is a country born out of a desire for freedom.
Born out of a desire for justice in the face of oppression, and tyranny, both religious and political.
Born out of a desire to be a people free to worship God
“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.”
The USA was born out of sacrifice of life.
Those who left country and home and travelled into the unknown.
It was formed out of blood and loss of life in the American Revolution.
And for us today who are blessed to wake up this morning in America, we have had thousands of men and women pay the ultimate price and give their lives to grant you and I the freedom and privileges we now live in as citizens of the USA.
This memorial day, as we remember those who committed their lives in service, some paying the ultimate price for our freedom, justice, peace, Let’s remember who we are as a US citizens, and honor those who gave the ultimate sacrifice of theirs lives, by giving of ourself to bring peace, justice, compassion, hope, joy to those around as today.
My family, as we gather today to enjoy the company of family and friends, also remember to sat a prayer over those families who’s gatherings today will include going to the grave of a loved one, and be a solem remembrance of honoring a family member who payed the ultimate price for you and me, In Jesus’ name. God bless you my friends! God bless America!
“My commandment is this - to love one another just as I have loved you. No one has greater love than this - that one lays down his life for his friends.” John 15:12-13
This Memorial Day weekend, please share your reflections from you time in the Word, and any revelations or calling The Holy Spirit has given you. I would love to hear from you.
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! Thank You!
Gary Liederbach- Lead Follower
One Direction Community
Email: garyl@onedirection.community
Website:https://www.onedirection.community
Facebook: One Direction Community-ODC
Good morning Jesus, I need you to place in me a need to reach out to others….
Two passages Spoke to me in my prayer time this morning reading and reflecting over Acts chapter 28.
First was Paul quoting from Isaiah 6:9-10;
"Go to this people and say,
“You will keep on hearing, but will never understand,
and you will keep on looking, but will never perceive.
For the heart of this people has become dull,
and their ears are hard of hearing,
and they have closed their eyes,
so that they would not see with their eyes
and hear with their ears
and understand with their heart
and turn, and I would heal them". v 26-27
I prayed repentance over my life and our church where ours hearts have become "dull" and complacent. Any ways my ears have been hardened and I fail to take time to hear you in prayer. Where I have become lax in seeking your voice in areas over my life. How I have isolated myself from hearing the voice of my spouse, those in my church, and others who care about my character and faith. Days I neglect to open my Bible and hear your words of truth. I prayed for areas I have closed my eyes of put blinders on to areas of sin, complacency, apathy, and laziness in my life. How I have closed my eyes to the suffering of people and those victims of injustice. Closed my eyes to those around me without Christ in their lives. I prayed for a rekindling of zeal, passion and love in my heart. I prayed for a heart that yearns and seeks after God and understands that you are worthy of everything. I prayed for a heart that falls deeper and more madly in love with God.
The other passage was;
"Paul lived there two whole years in his own rented quarters and welcomed all who came to him, proclaiming the kingdom of God and teaching about the Lord Jesus Christ with complete boldness and without restriction." v 31
Acts ends with this note: Despite all the attempts to stop the growing of the church and spreading of the Gospel, the message goes forth. Despite all attempts of social media, fear, wars, civil and political unrest, “wokeness,”and acts of the enemy to stop the church, the spreading of the Gospel through us must go forth! I prayed that if we honestly seek and remain in the power and presence of the Holy Spirit, we will go forth as well boldly proclaiming the Gospel of grace and the gates of hell will not prevail against it! (Matt. 16:18.) I prayed we would all finally see our homes as Paul did. That our homes are a gift from God to be used for the glory of God and not built with doors to keep our neighbors out but to welcome them in. I prayed we would all see our homes as outpost of the kingdom of God in our neighborhoods where God has placed us for a season. Places to welcome people into and proclaim the gospel, read the Bible, and train disciples. That we would see our diner tables as “church”, a simple yet Holy and the preferred place to share our Christian faith as both Jesus and Paul did.
May it be so!!
My family, as we close our time together in Acts today I pray the stories we have read of the birth and growth of the church through the everyday lives of people will encourage you to use your everyday life to reach others with the love and grace of Jesus as well. I pray you will sit down and intentionally plan and put in your calendar how and when you will begin sharing the gospel in the neighborhood God has placed you, in Jesus’ name. Please share you thoughts and reflection not only on Chapter 28, but also on our past 28 days together going through Acts and what it has meant to you and/or what are you major take aways. We read though the Book of Acts, as with any book of the Bible, not simply as something we think we should religiously do, but as something we earnestly desire to become, true followers of Jesus and to apply to our lives and lives of others.
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
TO GIVE CLICK HERE
