"Why Jesus Would Not Attend Your Church's Harvest Festival"

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This post could also be titled, “Three practical ways to be missional this halloween.”

Halloween is coming upon us. Last weekend I got my Halloween decorations out of my attic and decorated my yard for our 11th Annual Community Halloween yard party. It’s interesting to me that for many this becomes a “hot button” topic to discuss. I posted an event for our Halloween Gathering to invite our neighbors on our Nextdoor App. A lady posted a comment that was really long and really antagonistic that basically said that all who celebrate Halloween worship Satan and are going to hell.. I was in the Waffle House this morning and I invited a waitress to our party and a regular customer who knows I am a pastor sad to me, “You are a pastor and having a Halloween party?” We had a conversation on Halloween and that is what had me post this reflection from last year again as, it is that time again.

So as I did last year, I want to address the question: Should we as Christians engage in Halloween or should we abstain? . In actuality if you start reading about Halloween’s roots, it’s hard to find an answer of where it came from. But, regardless of where it comes from, the question at hand should be: Why is Halloween celebrated today?  For most of us, Halloween isn’t a time where we celebrate the dead, go and skin a goat and sacrifice it to Satan.  For most of us, it’s a time to dress up our kids as a super hero and send them to strangers’ houses to get free candy.

It has become just part of our culture in the West and has very little to do with the “darkness”…it’s not good, it’s not evil…it’s just something we celebrate, like the 4th of July.  I know we might have stories of darkness, but there are also many stories of overdrinking and evil happening on our other holidays as well.

The whole of the Bible talks of God bringing reconciliation and redemption to all things back to himself.  To bring peace to all things.  Not only that but Paul speaks (1 Cor 8) to us about pagan festivals and says that there is nothing in them that is powerful, because there is only one God and everything and everyone comes through Him and have their being because of him.

Paul then talks about eating food sacrificed to idols…saying…it’s no big deal, unless you have a brother who would be deeply hurt by it because they struggle with following the idol and eating of that meat because they actually used to worship it and perform various religious things.

Here’s how to contextualize for Halloween: If you have a brother who used to worship Satan and they used to sacrifice goats and drink its blood, then it might be a good idea to walk through Halloween with them, guiding them so it would make that brother stumble.  This does NOT mean, if you have a brother who merely thinks as his opinion it is wrong to celebrate Halloween that you should put it to the side. That’s never the intent with any of the passages of making a brother stumble…if that was the case, many of us would be in sin because of all the things we do that make other Christians merely uncomfortable.  Jesus was not about making people comfortable.

And Jesus would have been in sin and made many people stumble with the life that he led around sinners as he ate and drank (yep wine) with them.  Again…making a brother stumble and making a brother uncomfortable are completely separate issues.

With all that said, what are we to do with Halloween?  If we are to look to redeem Halloween, what does that mean?  If we are to do all things to the glory of God, what does that look for Halloween?

First, a few things you should probably STOP doing:

1.  Dressing your kid up as St. Paul or Moses to try to prove a point.

2.  Calling the Halloween Party at your church building a “Harvest Festival.” It is like an atheist calling a “Christmas Party” a “Holiday Party.”  It’s just calling the elephant in the room a squirrel and it’s weird.  

3. Taking all your people away from their neighborhoods and into your building.

4.  Wrapping a tract around an apple and handing it out to the kids who are trick or treating and calling it “evangelizing”

None of these things redeem anything, but just add to the notion that Christians want to be apart from the world and create their own subculture.  Instead, let’s be like Jesus and celebrate it like he would have.

When we look at the life of Jesus and our God, we see that they always pursued the sinner and the world.  They loved us right where we were and engaged us in the ways that we’d understand who God is and what He has done.

Not only that, but Jesus used the everyday celebrations as a way to build relationships so he could speak into the lives of those around him.  He was continually at parties.  So much so, that when Matthew was called to follow Jesus, it seemed normal to Matthew to invite Jesus and all the apostles back to his house to party with all his “sinner” friends. (Matthew 9:9,10; Mark 2:14-17) People knew that Jesus was about celebrating, he was about truth, he was also about pursuing and about building relationships with people. With that in mind, how can we then show people THAT Jesus to our communities during Halloween?

1. Be THAT House

You know “that” house.  When you were a kid and you went to a house and said “trick or treat” and they handed you a full size candy bar, it was like winning the lottery.  It was such good news, you’d tell strangers dressed up like a clown zombie where to find the goods.  Everyone knew that house in the neighborhood and if you didn’t have one in your neighborhood, you’d travel what seemed to be miles to get to that house. Be THAT house.  We have been blessed to be a blessing.  Think about how this shows people the Father.  Everyone is expecting to get a small fun size bar.  It’s what they’ve earned by dressing up and having the courage to knock on your door and say “trick or treat.” What they know they haven’t earned is a full size candy bar…it speaks to this idea of grace and blessing.

You don’t need to tell the kids this, but it starts to tell the story of what your house is about to the neighbors.  It tells a different story than what they expect or are used to and this is exactly the story of the gospel. Spend the extra cash to make that happen.  If you can’t afford it, get your Missional Community to all pitch in.  Ask your church to put it in the budget for next year…whatever you gotta do…be that house! You’ll be amazed at what doors that opens with your neighbors.

2. Be a Welcoming Presence

If our God is about pursuit, blessing and welcoming then what would it look like to be about pursuit on Halloween?  How about instead of staying inside your house, be in the driveway or front porch.  I know this isn’t available for everyone because of weather, but what would it look like in your neighborhood for people to feel welcomed to come to your house and feel blessed by it?

For The Liederbach's, we are going to have fire pit in our front yard. We will be cooking hot dogs over the fire and making s’mores.  We prayer walked our neighborhoods and personally invited or put invitations in 450 of our neighbor’s mailboxes.  Last year we had over 380 kids trick or treat our house plus I don’t know how many adults that accompanied them come and hang out and cook a hot dog or s’more.  It’s a way for us to come together and hang out and bless our neighborhood.  It shows that we are more than about handing out candy, but we are here to bless their entire family and in a sense, welcome you into our lives.

Again, it shows something quite different than every other house.  Last year a father with three young kids came up with them to our front porch to get candy.  The father said, “The kids all discussed before we headed out they wanted to go to this house last. Save the best for last!  Plus once we come here we always hang out awhile.”  I put candy in his kids bags then they headed towards the fire pit and fun. We have been doing this for 11 years and the neighborhood now expects it and people come and hang out and have a great time meeting their neighbors.

If you can’t be outside, how can you bless the families that are walking around your neighborhood?  Maybe offer coffee, tea, hot chocolate, etc. to the parents and trick or treaters that come to your door.  Again…think, “How can I be a blessing and show that we are a welcoming and pursuing people like our Dad?”

3. Celebrate

It is not secret that Jesus loved to party.  So much so, that people kept inviting him to parties.  Pretty amazing to think about.   If we have a Dad in heaven that loves us and accepts us, not for what we do or have done, but because of what his Son has done for us and now we are heirs to the throne of heaven…don’t we have the most to celebrate?

We should be defined as Jesus was defined: a glutton and drunkard.  He was celebrating so much that the religious saw him as a glutton and drunkard but the sinners and the world saw him as a dude that they’d like to hang with. Where have we gone wrong here?  Christians shouldn’t be the ones avoided for parties, but should be the ones that people are most excited to have come around because they bring the “better wine.”

We made it almost a rule in our house that if we are invited to a party…we are going and we are going to think through how we can bless that party as much as possible.   We are always invited to parties because of this. People know what Nancy and I are about, they know we love Jesus. But they also know that when we enter a party we won’t make it weird, but we hopefully make the party more enjoyable by us being there.  We have literally had people say, “if Jesus is like this…he was a lot different than we’ve ever been told.”

If you aren’t invited to parties…this Halloween is a great time to throw one. Throw a costume party, a pumpkin carving party, a cookie decorating party, have a photo booth at the party, have a party with games for kids.  You can do all kinds of things for Halloween…it’s a party holiday.  By doing this, meaning throwing an awesome party, you start to show off something different about you as a follower of Jesus and showing off who Jesus was and what he was about. And do this at your home in your neighborhood, don’t simply rely on your church to do this for you.

He was about parties because that’s where people were and that’s where people connect and share stories and start and continue relationships.  Halloween is a really funny holiday when we think about it.  But, it’s a holiday that is so easy to build relationships and bless the community and start (or continue) to show off what our Dad is like.

If instead, we turn off our front porch lights, lock our doors, go to our church buildings and we have a “harvest festival” on Halloween, we show the world exactly what they’ve always seen about our God.  He is closed off, judgmental and waits for us to come to him.  This isn’t our Dad…he is quite different.  He is welcoming, he is gracious and merciful and he pursues us and can’t wait to celebrate with us. Don’t use this holiday to make a point.  Use this holiday to point to the true reason we all get to celebrate and bless…Jesus.

My guess is that if Jesus lived in our neighborhood, everyone couldn’t wait to go to his house to see what he was going to hand out this year.  Everyone would be excited to go to Jesus’ Halloween party and couldn’t wait to invite him over to their party.   My only question I wonder is “Who would Jesus dress up as for Halloween?” Who knows…but you know it’d be a killer costume.

My daily prayer is, “Lord send us the ones no one else wants.”

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 help us be examples of Jesus’ love and grace to our community 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.   

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:Holy Listening"

"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. For as we share abundantly in Christ's sufferings, so through Christ we share abundantly in comfort too." 2Cor. 1:3-6

If you read my reflection blogs fairly regularly, you know that many of my morning posts flow out of encounters with people were by simply listening to them I was granted Holy entrance into their lives. I was working my one-day a week shift at Lowes last night and a couple employees were adjusting the Halloween, Thanksgiving and Christmas decorations. Walking through that section of the store it is a reminder we are entering into the holiday season. I was talking with a fellow employee setting up a Thanksgiving display. The conversation turned toward the upcoming holidays. The employee shared her mother had passed away this past June. She was very close to her. She said this would the first Thanksgiving and Christmas without her. Their family always went to her house for holiday gatherings and meals and this year it will be so different and she does not know what she will do. I just listened and let her share “life” with me. Then there in the seasonal aisle of Lowes, I prayed with her.

We all, including myself have suffered from loss. Loss of a spouse, parent, or other family member; a recent divorce, loss of a job, a recent move away from family. All these things can create emotions of sadness and depression. And we all, including myself, need others, someone to simply listen to us share our feelings to get through it. We all need real conversations with real people. Not just an on-online Facebook or other post and comments.

I post a blog daily to in someway allow us to be in conversation and share our life and faith together, Though I ask for readers to share their reflections and thoughts, it is usually a one- way conversation in which I am the one talking,  However, I want you to know I am here for you. I want you to remember my door is always open, the coffee pot is always on and my sofa is always warm and a place of peace and non-judgement. Any one,, whoever you are....  who simply need to chat are welcome to contact me anytime. It's no good suffering in silence. I have cold drinks in the fridge...tea & coffee in the cupboard and I will always be here....You are never not welcome!!  Starbucks and Waffle House are open where we can gather to talk as well or go grab a beer. You never have to go through a difficult season in life alone. You never have to suck-it-in and push through a gloomy overcast day of depression, loneliness, addiction, fear, frustration, or bleak thoughts alone.  It's always good to talk but its even better to listen, and to be listened to.  Some days this hits closer to home than we think.  I'll always lend an ear and a shoulder and my heart.  My hands are always ready to raise in prayer.  Call/text me Gary Liederbach at 256-302-3785

My family, I pray you read the passage from 2Corinthians again. Then reflect on your life situations today.  Maybe you need to call someone today to talk.  I know if you pray to the Holy Spirit, he will lead you to a name you need to call and simply listen. OR maybe the same Holy Spirit will lead to a person’s name you know may be going through a life situation you need to call or go visit; not text, not FB, but actually call and talk to. Or a co-worker or class mate you need to step out of your routine and ask to listen to them, 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.

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Gary Liederbach- Lead Follower

One Direction Community

Email: garyl@onedirection.community

Website: https://www.onedirection.community

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"I've got that Joy, Joy, Joy, Joy...."

"Let all who take refuge in You rejoice; let them ever sing for joy. Spread Your protection over them, so that those who love Your name may exult in You. For You bless the righteous, O Lord; You cover them with favor as with a shield" (Psalm 5:11-12).

When I was at the Waffle House bar the other morning, the lady sitting next to me turned to me and asked me what I do for a living. I told her I am in Community Development.  I don’t usually tell anyone when I first meet then that I am a pastor. As when I do, allot of times they say”Oh”, then they will put out their cigarettes, pour out their beer, change the way they talk, and just act weird!  The lady said, "Well, you just seem like a genuinely happy person." I thanked her and smiled and told her that was really nice to hear. 

I know, I probably should have invited her to church or asked her about her faith, or offered to minister healing and deliverance or something; but honestly, at that moment, I was just thinking about what a great blessing You've given me. I thank You, Lord, because You're the One who gave me that joy the lady noticed. Despite everything I've ever been through, and You know I have been through allot, You've never let my joy be taken from me. I'm genuinely joyful because You've put that joy in me. It's like the Sunday School song says:  "I've got the joy, joy, joy, joy, down in my heart, down in my heart to stay." I like that other verse too -- "And if the devil doesn't like it he can sit on a tack, sit on a tack today!,. 

Even when I was a general contractor, I loved to joke and laugh." I've still got my old jokes and I've still got my laugh! But Your joy has always been my strength (Nehemiah 8:10). And Your joy has always been at the heart of my experience of You and the growing fulfillment of Your kingdom in my life. "For the kingdom of God is ... righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit" (Romans 14:17). 

You've allowed me to see one of the great purposes of Your words of Spirit and life are "so that (Your) joy may be in (me), and that (my) joy may be complete" as I learn to obey You and abide in You (John 15:10-11). And even though on our daily, spiritual journey through this broken and fallen world "(we) have pain now ... (but at the same time, our) hearts will rejoice, and no one will take (our) joy from (us)" as we live out our days in the conscious awareness of Your Presence (John 16:22-24). "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) 

You're the God who makes us genuinely joyful! You take away all our sins! What can be more Joyous than that? You remove our sorrows to give us freedom and joy to display Your glory through our lives. "(You) give (us) beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that (we) may be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that He may be glorified!" (Isaiah 61:3 NKJV) In You, You fulfill in us the promise of Your Word: "The ransomed of the Lord shall return, and come to Zion with singing; everlasting joy shall be upon their heads; they shall obtain joy and gladness, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away!" (Isaiah 35:10) Thank You, Jesus! In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

My family, I pray you begin this Monday morning of a new week you pray to Jesus a prayer you probably do not pray often, to be genuinely joyful this week, that the joy of the Lord may be your strength, and that no one can take your joy from you, in Jesus' name! Please pray the same for me. God bless you, my friends!

Please share your reflections on joy 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!  

 

 

"Relentless Love"

Good morning, Lord Jesus. Father, Son, and Holy Spirit of God, You are the same yesterday and today and forever. Steadfast and true, faithful are You. Empower me to be faithful too.  ...

"If we are faithless, He remains faithful -- for He cannot deny Himself" (2 Timothy 2:13).

Jesus, as I sit here and reflect on these verses this morning, a song is streaming in the background with the lyrics, “Oh the overwhelming, never ending reckless love of God..”  Some Christian songs today speak of Your reckless love -- reckless because it's so overwhelming and we're so undeserving. Some speak of Your unfailing love -- unfailing because it never ends and always wins. But above all, I've experienced Your relentless love -- relentless because You never relent, You never retreat in Your passionate pursuit of my heart -- no matter how undeserving or unfaithful, how timid or compromising, how I've been tempted to turn to the world or put up a wall or settle for something less than all You've desired for me. "The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases, His mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness" (Lamentations 3:22-23). That's relentless love.

So who could resist Your relentless love? Why would we run from Someone running so hard after us? What a picture You gave us in the parable of the prodigal son when You showed us the relentless love of a father running to embrace his lost son. "But while he was still far off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion; he ran and put his arms around him and kissed him" (Luke 15:20). You are that Father, just as we are that son that could never run far enough away and never do wicked, selfish enough things that could make You stop loving us. That's relentless love.

Father, forgive me for ever resisting Your relentless love. Forgive me for ever taking it for granted. Forgive me for ever squandering the blessing and invitation of a lifetime of intimacy with You. You are so worthy of my relentless love in return. I love You because You first loved me; I pursue You because You first pursued me (1 John 4:19). You "have loved (me) with an everlasting (relentless) love" when there's nothing I could ever do to ever earn it or deserve it (Jeremiah 31:2). So this day, here in a deeper surrender of my heart and vulnerable intimacy in Your presence, I embrace Your relentless love for me. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen 

My family, I pray you fully accept the invitation embrace the relentless love of our passionately pursuing God in a deeper surrender of your heart and vulnerable intimacy in His presence, in Jesus' name! Please pray the same for me. God bless you, my friends!

Please share your comments, reflections, and prayers from today’s reading with us in the comments box below.

 

 

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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"Courage and Faith To Stand"

Good morning, Lord Jesus. Fill me with Your Light so I can walk in the Light today -- Father, Son, and Holy Spirit of God. ...

"Then Nebuchadnezzar in furious rage commanded that Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego be brought in; so they brought those men before the king. Nebuchadnezzar said to them, 'Is it true, O Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, that you do not serve my gods and you do not worship the golden statue that I have set up? Now if you are ready when you hear the sound of the horn, pipe, lyre, trigon, harp, drum, and entire musical ensemble to fall down and worship the statue that I have made, well and good. But if you do not worship, you shall immediately be thrown into a furnace of blazing fire, and who is the god that will deliver you out of my hands?' Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego answered the king, 'O Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to present a defense to you in this matter. If our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the furnace of blazing fire and out of your hand, O king, let Him deliver us. But if not, be it known to you, O king, that we will not serve your gods and we will not worship the golden statue that you have set up'" (Daniel 3:13-18).

Those were perilous times for those who refused to worship the god of the culture of the day. They had to make a choice. They had to take a stand. And they chose to take their stand against all the power and pressure that came against them in furious rage, intent on forcing them to turn away from their God and bow down to worship the false god being exalted in their land like everybody else. 

Their choice of conscience, their "vote" to whom they would devote their trust, could cost them so much more than their respectability and reputation in their culture. Their "stand" on the positions of righteousness could cost them their very lives in the fire of the furnace or their very souls in the face of heaven. But in courage and faith, they chose what was right. They chose to face the fire and the fury of those who sought to silence their voice and defile their God and force them to forsake their faith, no matter the cost.

"Then Nebuchadnezzar was so filled with rage against Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego that his face was distorted. He ordered the furnace heated up seven times more than was customary, and ordered some of the strongest guards in his army to bind Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego and to throw them into the furnace of blazing fire. So the men were bound, still wearing their tunics, their trousers, their hats, and their other garments, and they were thrown into the furnace of blazing fire" (Daniel 3:19-21).

But then their perilous times became deeply precious times. You drew near to them in the intimacy of Your Presence. You stood with them in the mist of the fire and in the face of their tormentors.

"Then King Nebuchadnezzar was astonished; and he rose in haste and spoke, saying to his counselors, 'Did we not cast three men bound into the midst of the fire?' They answered and said to the king, 'True, O king.' 'Look!' he answered, 'I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire; and they are not hurt, and the form of the fourth is like the Son of God.' Then Nebuchadnezzar went near the mouth of the burning fiery furnace and spoke, saying, "Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, servants of the Most High God, come out, and come here.' Then Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego came from the midst of the fire. And the satraps, administrators, governors, and the king's counselors gathered together, and they saw these men on whose bodies the fire had no power; the hair of their head was not singed nor were their garments affected, and the smell of fire was not on them" (Daniel 3:24-27).

We as well live in a perilous time where we are challenged, confronted, pressured to remain silent, and discouraged from sharing our faith and abandoning our beliefs. These attacks and confrontations our coming from family, friends, co-workers, classmates, public opinion, social media, government policy and others in power and position. Lord, let these perilous times become our most precious times. Give us courage and faith to stand firm for You and for what is right. By the power of Your grace, may we refuse to bow down to the false gods of our culture, even in the face of all the power and pressure coming against us to shut up and back down. 

No matter the cost, may we choose You. May we choose to stand firm, to speak out, to pray and to vote, for what is right. You'll be with us through whatever fire and fury we face. And may our courage and faith even become a powerful witness to our tormentors, that even they may come to acknowledge the Most High God. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

My family,  may you be filled with courage and faith to stand firm in the face of whatever fury and fire you face, as a faithful servant of the Most High God, 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

Pleas 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! 

"Have Faith In Jesus"

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

"Jesus answered them, 'Have faith in God. Truly I tell you, if you say to this mountain, 'Be taken up and thrown into the sea,' and if you do not doubt in your heart, but believe that what you say will come to pass, it will be done for you. So I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours'" (Mark 11:22-23).

You invite me to pray and ask n faith. And the main focus of my faith is to be in You. You said "Have faith in God." So the main focus of my faith, my prayers, and my words is to be in You and who You are.  Yes, I am to have faith in what I asking for and speaking to, because You said "believe that what you say will come to pass," but the main focus of my faith is not to be in what I'm seeking to come to pass but in the One I'm seeking. I'm to seek You first, and then these things I'm praying for and speaking to (Matthew 6:33).

 Relationship first.

It's like when You sent out Your disciples to proclaim the coming of the kingdom of God in Your name, praying for people and speaking to whatever held them bound and held them back from the fullness of Your mercy and love (Luke 10:1-12). When they returned, they were excited that even the demons submitted to their word spoken in faith and the authority of Your name (Luke 10:17). But even as You rejoiced with them and thanked our Father for them, You reminded them that the main focus of their faith was to be in God and their personal relationship with You (Luke 10:21). You said, "I watched Satan fall from heaven like a flash of lightning. See, I have given you authority to tread on snakes and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy; and nothing will hurt you. Nevertheless, do not rejoice at this, that yhe spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven" (Luke10:18-20).

Lord, increase my faith in You. Help me grow in my focus on You first -- on who You are, on Your nature and on the nature of Your relationship with me. It's out of this intimacy and communion of our relationship that I can pray and say in faith what's on Your heart and what's in line with Your will, because You're aligning my heart and my will with Yours. "Anyone united to the Lord becomes one spirit with Him" (1 Corinthians 6:17).

This is how I keep growing to the place in my relationship with You where I pray and say and "do not doubt in (my) heart, but believe that what (I) say will come to pass;" and this is how I keep growing to the the place in my relationship with You where I can "believe that (I) have received it, and it will be (mine)" (Mark 11:22-24). It's not by what I have done or will do, but all by You and what You have done -- the One who's written my name in heaven and on the palms of Your hands (Luke 10:20; Ephesians 2:8; Isaiah 49:16). In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

My family, I pray you are growing in your faith in God and your intimacy with Him that you can pray and say in faith what on His heart through your life, 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!

"A Man Full of Faith"

Good morning, Lord Jesus. In Your grace and from Your embrace, I seek first Your kingdom and Your righteousness, as I begin my day in the intimacy of Your Presence - Father, Son, and Holy Spirit of God. 

"Stephen, full of grace and power, did great wonders and signs among the people. Then some of those who belonged to the synagogue ... and others from Cilicia and Asia, stood up and argued with Stephen. But they could not withstand the wisdom and the Spirit with which he spoke" (Acts 6:8-9).

I love the story of Stephen because he was like you and me and we can be encouraged from him. Stephen was not one of the 12 apostles; he was simply like you and I, a servant of Jesus.  He was not a learned scholar; he was a student of the faith.  He was just a person who sought to live his life in "good standing, full of the Spirit and of wisdom ... a man full of faith and the Holy Spirit" (v. 6:3-5).  Yet the Holy Spirit anointed him and empowered him, and did "great wonders and signs" through him. And the Holy Spirit desires to do the same through every one of us in the authority of the name of Jesus and the power of the Spirit -- "through those who believe" (Mark 16:17-18).

Father God, lay Your hands upon me today. Fill me afresh with Your Holy Spirit today. With the authority of the name of Jesus in my words and the nature of Jesus growing in my heart, do great wonders and signs of Your love and grace through my life. Just like Stephen, I'm Your servant and I'm Your son -- a child of God, being filled up to overflowing with the same power and the same nature that raised Jesus from the dead (Romans 8:11). Display the glory of Your power and love, Your wisdom and grace, through me today -- "Christ in (me), the hope of glory" (Colossians 1:27). In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

 My family, I pray this morning as a new week begins you will ask the Holy Spirit to be filled afresh with his Spirit, full of Jesus’ love, full of God's grace and power so you can be used by the Father to display His glory, His great wonders and signs, through your life 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 us continue our ministries to those “no one else wants” in our community by giving a one-time gift or monthly financial gift by clicking link below. Donations by checks can be made out to "ODC" and mailed to: One Direction Community, PO Box 1293 Madison, Al 35758

 

Refuge in the Storm

Good morning, Lord Jesus. Your sheep hear Your voice, so I call on Your name and listen for Your leading. 

"Then they cried to the Lord in their trouble, and He brought them out of their distress; He made the storm be still, and the waves of the sea were hushed. Then they were glad because they had quiet, and He brought them to their desired haven" (Psalm 107:28-30).

I watched the news this morning of hurricane Milton to hit Florida yesterday.  Though the hurricane has passed, the rains remains, the rivers are rising in what they're catastrophic flooding and there is major damage. Thousands are stranded and wait for rescue. A million people were without power. Thousands more now wonder how they will rebuild and move on. While I'm thankful that we were not impacted in our community, I'm moved with compassion and stirred to intercession for all who were and for all who long for this nightmare to be over.

So I join with every heart crying out to You, calling on Your name, and seeking Your help. Lord, dry up the rains, push back the clouds, clear up the skies, and send forth Your word. Bring provision and protection for all who are in need. Send out Your angels and send out Your servants to be Your hands and Your heart. 

You've stilled the storm and hushed the waves, now be our Rescue and our Refuge for all who are crying out in distress. We need You now in our hour of need. And we thank You now for every way we will see You come through and bring each soul "to their desired haven.

We set aside our pride and humble our hearts to be desperately dependent upon You alone. You are our Rock and our Refuge. Be our Strong Tower, our Mighty God, as we call on Your name.  "Be merciful to me, O God, be merciful to me, for in You my soul takes refuge; in the shadow of Your wings I will take refuge, until the destroying storms pass by" (Psalm 57:1).  May our prayers of urgency become prayers of consistency, as we continue to keep our hearts humble and our faith strong before the One who is our only true and lasting Hope, come hell or high water.   In Jesus’ name I pray.

My family, I pray you'll be rescued and comforted if you're in distress and that you'll be moved to intercession for all who are. Please join me in prayer for all who are suffering in the wake of this hurricane. May the presence of God in His mercy and love and through His people be evident in the midst of it all. God bless you, my friends!

 Please share your thoughts 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 

 

Give A Gift!

I could use your 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 YouI! 

"Hear Our Cry!"

Good morning, Lord Jesus. Lead my heart, renew my mind, and guide my steps in the way, the truth, and the life of Christ today. 

"I waited patiently for the Lord; He inclined to me and heard my cry. He drew me up from the desolate pit, out of the miry bog, and set my feet upon a rock, making my steps secure.... Do not, O Lord, withhold Your mercy from me; let Your steadfast love and Your faithfulness keep me safe forever.... Be pleased, O Lord, to deliver me; O Lord, make haste to help me.... As for me, I am poor and needy, but the Lord takes thought for me. You are my help and my deliverer; do not delay, O my God!" (Psalm 40:1-17)

O Lord, our God, hear our cry. Hear the cry of every soul whose patience is running thin and whose faith is growing weary. Reach down into their pit of despair and lift them out of the miry bog of confusion and disillusionment. Set their feet on the solid ground of the assurance of Your presence, Your protection, and Your provision. Bring order out of their chaos and hope to their hearts.

O God, hear! O God, act! O God, come in Your power and love in both Your supernatural miracles and in Your Spirit-led people, reaching out to the hurting and taking hold of the helpless, to weather this storm and rebuild their lives in You. We need Your hope! We need Your help! "You are (our) Help and (our) Deliverer; do not delay, O (our) God! (v. 17) In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

My family,  I pray in agreement with you and all who are led to join us in prayer by the Holy Spirit over those affected by Hurricane Helene and those who now find themselves in the path of Hurricane Milton in Florid.. Many of us have vacationed along these beautiful coasts and have family memories that were made on their beaches. Let’s together pray for all who are suffering in the wake of these storms that they would experience the protection and provision of our God, in Jesus' name! May the presence of God in His mercy and love and through His people be evident in the midst of it all.  And may these terrible storms be turned into a great harvest. God bless you, my friends!

Please share your thoughts 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 

 

Give A Gift!

I could use your 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 YouI!

"Right Beside Me"

Good morning, Lord Jesus. Lead me in the way of life in You today.  ...

Last week as I sat on the shore of the ocean one morning, with the vastness of God and His presence everywhere and anywhere on earth came into my mind. Sitting on the beach, with it’s billions of grains of sand, I am in a way like one of the billions of grains of people on this planet. And even though You God have a world view of salvation, “God So loved the World” you also desire a deep personal connection with me.

The truth is:  "O Lord, You have examined my heart and know everything about me. You know when I sit down or stand up. You know my thoughts even when I'm far away. You see me when I travel and when I rest at home. You know everything I do. You know what I am going to say even before I say it, Lord. You go before me and follow me. You place Your hand of blessing on my head. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too great for me to understand! I can never escape from Your Spirit! I can never get away from Your Presence! If I go up to heaven, You are there; if I god down to the grave, You are there. If I ride the wings of the morning, if I dwell by the farthest oceans, even there You hand will guide me, and Your strength will support me. I could ask the darkness to hide me and the light around me to become night -- but even in darkness I cannot hide from you. To you the night shines as bright as day. Darkness and light are the same to you.... And when I wake up, You are still with me!" (Psalm 139:18 NLT)"I bless the Lord who guides me; even at night my heart instructs me. I know the Lord is always with me. I will not be shaken, for He is right beside me. No wonder my heart is glad and I rejoice. My body rests in safety. For You will not leave my soul among the dead or allow your holy one to rot in the grave. You will show me the way of life, granting me the joy of Your Presence the pleasures of living with You forever!" (Psalm 16:7-11)

You are "right beside me."  ...

What if I were to live my life believing that was true?  ...

What if I were to live this day believing that was true? ...

If I truly believed You were right beside me, would I make different choices throughout the moment of my day. Would I be more secure and confident? Would I be more careful and diligent? Would I be more honest and faithful? Would I be afraid in the fear of the Lord or would I be fearless in the certainty of my Savior?

The truth is You are right beside me. Always (Matthew 28:20). You never leave me (Hebrews 13:5). In fact, You are within me by the indwelling of Your very Spirit (Colossians 1:27; 1 Corinthians 3:16). You always know every thought in my mind and every desire in my heart. I couldn't hide from You if I tried. They don't make fig leaves that big anymore!

So no matter how it makes me feel or act, You are "right beside me" regardless. And in the light of that eternal truth, give me grace to live my life each day with a deeper awareness of that truth and Your Presence. It's a good thing. No, it's a great thing. In fact, it's a grace thing that I could never earn and never deserve, but only receive as the great gift of God that it is -- the gift of the ever-abiding Presence of my God who loves me and likes being with me! 

Thank You, Lord! Help me learn to appreciate You and Your Presence more. Thank You for being "right beside me" every moment of my life forever. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

My family,  I pray you live this day and every day in the growing awareness of the ever-abiding Presence of God who loves you and likes being with 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 

 

Give A Gift!

I could use your 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 YouI!

"Boat Ride With Jesus"

Good morning Lord Jesus, Set me free today from anything that would bind me from laughing and running through the fields of life with you today…..

 “On that day, when evening came, Jesus said to his disciples, “Letʼs go across to the other side of the lake.” So after leaving the crowd, they took him along, just as he was, in the boat, and other boats were with him. Now a great windstorm developed and the waves were breaking into the boat, so that the boat was nearly swamped. But he was in the stern, sleeping on a cushion. They woke him up and said to him, “Teacher, donʼt you care that we are about to die?” So he got up and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, “Be quiet! Calm down!” Then the wind stopped, and it was dead calm. And he said to them, “Why are you cowardly? Do you still not have faith?” They were overwhelmed by fear and said to one another, “Who then is this? Even the wind and sea obey him!”  “So they came to the other side of the lake, to the region of the Gerasenes. Just as Jesus was getting out of the boat, a man with an unclean spirit came from the tombs and met him.” (Mark 4:35-44, 5:1-2)

The photo above is was taken the last day of our trip.  The owner of the resort out of his generasity, allowed us for free to take a 45 minute trip on his yacht that ended literally 30 minutes before we jumped in the van that took us to the airport. This wonderful, short post ride on the sea inspired me to read a story in the Bible of Jesus and his disciples boat ride on the sea.  In the story from Mark,  Jesus asks His disciples to go for a boat ride with Him.  And they all said yes.  I mean who would not want to take a cruise on a boat with Jesus!!!! As wonderful as our ride was in the photo above, a boat ride with Jesus would have to be 100 times more amazing!   I am sure the disciples imagined this boat ride would be absolutely wonderful! It would be like a scene of The Little Mermaid with fish jumping all around them, dolphins spraying water around the boat and birds swooping around in the sky singing to them.  This is Jesus after all!  However, instead Jesus headed the boat straight into a storm in life.  The winds and rain pounded the boat, the waves were swamping it, the disciples were afraid and cried out to Jesus. They thought he may be able to help by maybe miraculously producing buckets for bailing the water or something like that. But what Jesus did was far beyond anything they imagined.   Jesus said to words, and In an instant the chaotic and powerful storm with huge waves, strong wind, thunder, lightning and rain stopped.  All became calm and quiet, and a smooth slick came over the ocean like glass.  The disciples were afraid when they found themselves in the storm, however when Jesus calmed the storm they were even more terrified than in the storm, and asked “WHO IS THIS THAT IS IN OUR BOAT?”

 And after they got through the storm, and their fears had begun to subside some, I am sure they figured this boat trip with Jesus could not get any worse and they would head back to a safe familiar harbor.  No, instead Jesus sailed the boat to an unsafe, unknown beach where lived scary, un-clean people. When they landed on the shore they were immediately met my a maniac who lived in the tombs.  Jesus got out of the boat, but the disciples looked at the scene and said, “No, way in hell” and they remained cowering in the boat and did not follow Jesus.  When this new challenge in life came up they so quickly forgot “Who was in their boat”, abandoned Jesus and did not trust Him enough to follow Him.

 Each morning, including this morning, Jesus is asking you and me to “get into the boat” with Him. And He asks us to trust Him enough to sail with Him out of our comfort zone into places  that are strange to us and to people who our foreign, maybe even a little scary to us.  Why? Because that is where we will find the people who are “living and trapped in the tombs” of this worlds evil and chaos without Jesus. That is where we will find people who are desperate for us to help them break loose from their chains of sin. That is where we will find Jesus. 

 My family, do you really believe Jesus is calling us to follow Him into sanctuaries and sit in pews? Or wants us to stay in our comfortable, safe crowds who drink Starbucks and listen to Casting Crowns:?  No,  He is calling us into a “holy fear” where we remember not just “Who is in our boat”, but “Who is actually in us” through His Holy Spirit breathed into each of us in our baptism.  My family, I pray you choose to follow Jesus, and pick up your cross and plant it as the mast in your rescue boat, and sail out into the storms of your communities, in Jesus’ name.  Please pray the same for me.  God bless you my friends!

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

Gary Liederbach- Lead Follower

One Direction Community

Email: garyl@onedirection.community

Website:https://www.onedirection.community

Facebook: One Direction Community-ODC

 

Help Us Help Them!

I could use your 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.G

TO GIVE CLICK HERE   

ThankYou!

"Your Shores Of Grace"

Good morning, Lord Jesus. All that I have and all that I am, I entrust to You today. 

I was so blessed that the picture above was the view from my chair in the Dominican Republic as I was sitting looking at the vastness of the ocean and hearing the endless crashing of the waves,. I opened my Bible on my phone and turned to one of my favorite “Beach” scenes. Here are my reflections and prayers The Holy Spirit gave me from this time with Him.

"Simon Peter said to them, 'I am going fishing.'... They went out and got into the boat, but that night they caught nothing. Just after daybreak, Jesus stood on the beach; but the disciples did not know that it was Jesus. Jesus said to them, 'Children, you have no fish, have you?' Then answered Him, 'No.' He said to them, 'Cast the net on the right side of the boat, and you fill find some... When Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put on some clothes, for he was naked, and jumped into the sea" (John 21:3-7). 

In the face of persecution and out fear of crucifixion, Peter denied Jesus three times after vowing he would never denyJesus. Naked and ashamed, stripped of his pride and still hurting inside, he went back to fishing along with Thomas and the other disciples. I'm sure he still wrestled with forgiving himself for failing You.  And in the dark night of his soul, he caught nothing.

But "just after daybreak," he heard Your voice again. Like the dawn of a new day, Your voice broke into the darkness of his soul. He remembered Your voice and remembered his past when he'd heard You call him to cast his nets on the other side of the boat before. He knew it was You. And though he had failed You, You had never forgotten him. So he jumped into sea and swam out of his self-pity to the shores of Your grace. And there by the warm fire of Your tender mercies and unfailing love, You restored his identity and released him into his destiny (v. 15-19).

Thank You Jesus, that through my thoughts, actions and words in life I have denied you way more than 3 times. I also have wallowed in self pity. Yet You've never given up on me. Thank You for the dawning of every new day, when You remind me of Your faithfulness in the past and encourage me with Your faithfulness forever. Your love never fails and Your mercies are new every morning. Great is Your faithfulness! Great is Your love! Great is Your power to redeem and restore! In the fire of Your spirit You confirm my identity as a child of God and release me into my destiny as disciple of Christ. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

My Family, with tears in my eyes as God is wrecking me right now, I pray you may experience the dawn of a new day, remembering the faithfulness of Jesus whenever you may struggle with failure or lack of faith. I pray you may hear the voice of Jesus calling you back to the shore of His grace, experience the endless waves of His mercies, soak in the oceans of His loving embrace, and emerge dripping in the water of life, redeemed and restored. Please pray the same for me. God bless you, my friends!

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

 

Gary Liederbach- Lead Follower

One Direction Community

Email: garyl@onedirection.community

Website: https://www.onedirection.community

Facebook: One Direction Community-ODC

Give A Gift!

Please partner and support myself and One Direction community in reaching out into our community with the saving grace of Jesus 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 YouI!

TO GIVE , CLICK HERE 

 

 

Peace Not From This World

Good morning, Lord Jesus. Help me begin my day embraced by my Father, centered in Christ, and filled with Your Holy Spirit.  ...

“But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I said to you. Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your heart be troubled, nor let it be fearful” (John 14:26-28)

The divorce rate among marriages of active protestant church attenders is around 28%.  I wonder what the “peace” rate is among us in the church.  Wednesday night at our house church people requested prayers over health, financial, marital and others issues that were affecting their faith and their peace.  Things that “the world” gives them. Through our worship, Scriptures discussion, and prayers we tried to reconnect each other to the Peace not of this world.

God,  there's no need for troubled hearts here;  here in Your peace, here in Your presence, here in the grip of Your grace. I'm reminded of what David came to know in his life-long journey with You through every hardship and injustice, through every heart-breaking disappointment, whether in himself or the world around him or even in You at times. Through it all, his heart continued to turn to You in trusting faith and the steadfast peace that only You can provide, saying for all to hear throughout all generations, "The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.... Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me" (Psalm 23:1-4).

Thank You for Your Holy Spirit, the One who comes from our Father in the power and the presence of Your name to help us and comfort us and remind us that You're always with us. You never leave us nor forsake us, so we never have to be afraid. You keep filling us with Your peace, and Your perfect love keeps casting out all fear (1 John 4:18).

Lord, through it all, let it be so. Let it be well with my soul. As You keep me close and steady in Your peace. "You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You" (Isaiah 26:3 ). There's no need for troubled hearts here. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

My Family,  I pray your heart is not troubled through whatever valley or struggle you or those you love may be going through, as you keep trusting in the One who is always with you with His peace and comfort and help. !

I'm joining with you in the agreement of prayer for all who are affected by the hurricane Helene. Also those around the world effected by earthquakes, wildfires, along with every storm and every shaking any of us are facing in our lives or in our land. May hope in our God abound, and may His love and grace be evident to all through His people who are there to pray and to help as the heart and hands of Jesus Christ. God bless you my friends!

Please share any reflections from this blog in the comments 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 your 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.G

Offering of Dance

Father, Son and Spirit, I begin my day in desperate need of complete communion with you. Yesterday morning I had a great converstation at the Waffle House low bar with a couple regular customers. We talked about our faith, church attendance, and then then one of them brought up tithing. How his church struggles to get people to tithe. I shared with them one of my most powerful experiences on tithing. 

“When David went home to pronounce a blessing on his own house, Michal, Saulʼs daughter, came out to meet him. She said, “How the king of Israel has distinguished himself this day! He has exposed himself today before his servantsʼ slave girls the way a vulgar fool might do!”

David replied to Michal, “It was before the Lord! I was celebrating before the Lord, who chose me over your father and his entire family and appointed me as leader over the Lordʼs people Israel. I am willing to shame and humiliate myself even more than this! But with the slave girls whom you mentioned let me be distinguished!” (2 Samuel 6:20-22)

 Several years back I went on a mission trip for a month to Southern Darfur, Sudan.  The area has been ravaged by years of civil war as the Muslims of Northern Sudan continue military attacks and raids of kidnapping and rape against the indigenousChristians of Southern Sudan.  There are thousands of orphans in Southern Sudan.  The Muslins would raid the villages andkidnap the women and carry them off to the north for forced marriages/sex slaves.  The men in the village they would either kill or carry off as well for slave laborers.  The children of the villages would flee and run off into the bush and hide, and come back out after the Muslim raiders left, now orphans.

 These children are poor of the poor.  Each child has only one outfit of clothing, and their only possessions are a small plastic bowl and a spoon, which they hold onto for dear life as it is the only way they receive food.  If there ever was a group who’s life and childhood experiences could cause them to take on a “victim mentality” it would be there children.  However they are not depressed or seeking pity. Instead, every morning they would line up at 8:00am.  And they would sing!  Out of their hearts in a body of absolute physical poverty would come the most amazing joy filled worship!  They would sing of their love for Jesus and thank him for all the blessings they receive from Him.

 During my month there, I attended and helped lead the Sunday church gatherings held in a large grass roofed hut.  When it came time for the offering, those attending the service had absolutely nothing of any monetary value to offer up, tithe, or put in a passing plate.  So they offered up and tithed themselves and put themselves into God’s hands.  As the time in the service for the offertory began, the ushers would move down the pews stating in the front and people would leave their pews, walk down the side aisles to the back of the church and line up.  Then as the drums beat and the congregation sang, each person would offer them selves up to the Lord in a dance.  They would dance down the isle spinning, and leaping in front of God in an offering dance of all they are.  When they got to the altar in front they would drop to their knees and bow in complete surrender and then return to their pew. This continued until the whole church did an offering dance. The followings Sundays I was there, I as well joined in and danced down the aisle in offering myself to God.

In the USA churches struggle to get people to tithe 10%.  And what ever amount people put in the passing plate they feel justified from their giving.  I just sit here and try to imagine how different our churches would be if every member, every Sunday danced down the isle and offered all that they are to God.  How different every marriage and family would be if families together led by their parents would dance down the aisle and surrender themselves together as a family to God.  How different our communities would be if we un-shamefully danced together in front of the Lord and gave him all we are.  How different our governments and nation would be if our leaders would say like David, “I am willing to shame and humiliate myself even more than this!” and dance and surrender their potion of leadership to Jesus.

My family, I pray today during your time of devotion you will get up in you living room, kitchen, go out in your yard or go someplace, and simply but powerfully dance before the Lord and offer all you are up to him.  It would be the most fragrant gift pleasing to him you could ever offer.  And I pray your dance of offering would continue throughout your day.  Please pray the same for me.  God bless you my friends!

 Please share any reflections from this blog in the comments 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.Gary Liederbach-Lead Follower

THANK YOU!

A Really Good Friend!

It is hard to believe it has been 7 years since a good friend of mine, a brother in Christ lost his long battle with cancer.  His life and death have been the thoughts of my mind and reflection my soul.  We met for 2 1/2 years every Friday at the WH where he encouraged, motivated, prayed over me and held me accountable.  He was a tangible example of God’s grace to me, an undeserved gift.  He was a sound board onto which I would bounce my visions and ministry directions onto and off of for reflection. 

A few weeks before he died, I asked Larry and others in ODC to respond to four questions to assist me in gauging how effective my leadership in ODC has been in making disciples and as a church in the eyes of those who are members.  Here is Larry’s response to those questions.  As you read them, you will understand why I miss my Friday mornings with him.

What has happened at your Church since last year?

The house church is operating effectively and determinedly as one; tested by fire.  A discussion of metrics such as membership numbers and finances is probably in order, but I can't help with that. I can say however, that people in the margins, whom Jesus called "the least of these" are hearing the Gospel.  They respond to the Good News because it is the power unto the salvation they desperately need, rejecting addictions and personal failures and sorrows.  I have observed that a cross dresser or a drug addict will get the same love, spiritual care, and plain spoken truth as a retired Service member, an insurance agent, or a housewife. People from all walks are also responding to Monday night community meals at Terranova's Italian Restaurant, and coming to house churches with stories of how they have been hurt or ignored in traditional churches.

I have fewer insights (or desire to access any that may be available) with regard to specific demographics for growth, dollars, baptisms, etc. than Gary may be able to reveal in pastoral consultation.  Instead, I can offer an observation that reflects the words of our Lord, who told us that the world will know us in that we love one another. The following metrics are transparently observable:

    *      Grace, peace, and forgiveness readily replace obligation, guilt, or religious demands

    *      Sacrifices are voluntary

    *      People are submitting to one another in love

    *      The community is being served in love with evangelism, meals, prayer and developing friendships

    *      Blessing and care for one another is passionate among the brethren

    *      Jesus is glorified in every situation; even in our failures and befuddlements

    *      The equipping of the saints is ongoing.  Evangelism, spiritual gifts, and healing, are sought with new zeal and supported with prayer and study of the Word

Where are you now as a member and a church?

As a member, I'm a wide eyed observer who loves the grace and love that we all enjoy. Before God, I must state that my most important role is to be a friend to Gary; to pray for him, speak the truth candidly, support his efforts when he is on track and kick him a little when he is off track or when he's consumed by any anxiety or non-productive emotion. So far, my kicking skills are diminishing from disuse.  I have also begun to disciple a few men in the fellowship whom the Lord has pointed out to me; an act of mutual submission and encouragement to good works.  Normal Christian stuff.

House church is alive and well.  The numbers fluctuate, but they are all but inconsequential for the discipleship training that is central to the work that Gary is doing (discipleship is for the willing, not the gold star earners).  Some new converts fall away from fellowship to the allure of their old sins. Many return, some don't - or haven't.  Some will come back with new strength; new resolve but under the threat of scolding or shunning.  Mature Christians are welcome and valued for their insights. So far, the wolves have been kept at bay.  It is a time of peace and personal growth with a focus on our Lord Jesus alone.

Where do you want to be?

I want to see what we are already doing to increase under the influence of the Holy Spirit, continuing to trust less in our plans, preparations and expectations than in what He produces. I believe that this is a season of equipping, but we dare not stop as equipped people to rest in our laurels. Instead, having freely received, we must continue to freely give of our gifts, inner healings, and insights to a hurting community.

What is holding you back from reaching your goals?

The work is not ours, but Christ's, so what would hold us back?  Could we fail? Of course we could. All it takes is sin, lies, bitterness, backbiting, wolves with false doctrine creeping in as brothers, or any number of things that the scriptures warn us of.

We could also find ourselves 'held back' by our own anticipations. If our goal is numbers, we will find disappointment at the door often enough. If our goal is to honest, pure time before our Lord Jesus, empowered by His presence where two or more are gathered, we do not fail, but rather participate in and yes, rejoice in low numbers as part of Gods design on any given week. We are the servants that sow, but God forbid that clever speech should bring the increase.

The thing I fear most is trying to act or perform like a "church" instead of HIS church, the body of Christ, made up of those whom He has called out loudly.  

On the other hand, the implied question appears to be, "What could be done to help?"  Resources are always needed by Gary for his ministry and it hurts me to see his struggle from lack of financial support and other resources.  It should flow down in support this GOSPEL INSPIRED, FIRST CENTURY MODEL of ministry that is still as much on the fringes of the American church experience as the desperate people it so often ministers to.  

Larry

Again, I will miss our discussions and his encouragement.  It was a tangible example of God’s grace.  Take time to reflect and prayer over this: To whom are you an encourager and a tangible sign of God’s grace?  Many of you reading these blogs do not attend ODC.  You all have pastors, priests, mentors, ministry leaders, friends, family who need ‘Larrys” in their life.  Who are the people you can fill in the blanks for which you can say, “Before God, I must state that my most important role is to be a friend to ______; to pray for him/her, speak the truth candidly, support his efforts when he is on track and kick him a little when he is off track or when he's consumed by any anxiety or non-productive emotion.” 

Please share any reflections from this blog in the comments 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.

CLICK HERE TO GIVE 

"It is all about me, myself and I"

“For all have sinned, and fall short of the glory of God;” (Romans 3:23) 

All have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. What happened to Adam and Eve in the Garden?  When they ate that apple. What happened?  Adam said to God, “I heard you in the garden, and I was naked and I was afraid so I hid.”  You know what this is the story of ? The beginning not of just self-awareness but self-centeredness. The beginning of narcissism.  The primal sin is not pride, but narcissism. And America is one of the top 5 narcissism counties in all of human history.

It is all about me, myself and I.  All about me.  Americans believe they are entitled to two chickens in every pot, two cars in every garage, a brick house, granite countertops, a pension plan, retirement account and a week or two vacation a year in paradise.  I have news for you, none of us our entitled to any of this.  It is all grace.

If narcissism is the most primal of sin, then what is salvation?

 “Then Jesus said to his disciples, “If anyone wants to become my follower, he must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me.” (Mark 16:24)

If anyone wished to follow me he must deny HIMSELF. and follow me. Not deny themselves of something, give up something, like we do during lent But deny yourself, your selfish self. Jesus did not come so we could become more self-centered. Jesus did not come so we could focus more on our individual success in life. He did not preach a prosperity, a health and wealth Gospel, He did not come for that, but that will preach well in America. If anyone wants to follow me, they must deny themselves, conform themselves to the image of the Son, Jesus.  Salvation is the beginning of your true self.

Paul Says, If anyone comes to Christ, they are a new creature.  Behold the old has passed away.  This morning I ask, “Do you believe that?”  That God has enough power to change you from a self-centered, narcissist person to a selfless, other- directed and other-loving person?

My family, I pray this morning you reflect on and understand that when you were “saved,” you were actually saved from something to something.  From being condemned living life as a self-centered, narcissist person; to living a life as your true self was created to be, a selfless, other-directed, other loving person.  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

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.

CLICK HERE TO GIVE 

There is Hope In The Darkness"

There are more people in prison in the USA than any other country.

·      2.4 Million people, 6.8%,

·      China, 1.6 million, 1.1% 

·      1,719 state prisons, 109 federal prisons, 1,772 juvenile correctional facilities, 3,163 local jails, and 80 Indian Country jails as well as in military prisons, immigration detention facilities, civil commitment centers, state psychiatric hospitals,

·      Every year 600,000 people enter prison gates, 10.6 million people go to jail

23% of people illiterate

·      32 million adults can’t read in the US, 14% of our population

·      22% read below 5th grade level

·      19% of high school graduates can’t read

·      85% of juveniles who interact with the juvenile court system are considered functionaly illiterate

·      70% of inmates in US prisons can not read above the 4th grade level.

Gun deaths from mass shootings, suicides and murders in the US

·      suicides account for 60% of gun deaths in US in 2017

·      murders 37%

·      other 7%

·      Mass shootings 165

·      Other countries higher because of war, military, Government

·      Not number of Guns, Switzerland, all have guns.

·      We are not the only country that has guns, but we are the country that people are using them to kill each other.

·      Almost 18,000 murders last year

·      Nearly 45,000 suicides

 Opioids addiction, prescription, heroin,

·      40% of OD prescription        

·      2007 doubled

·      2017 tripled

·      more than 72,000 people were killed by drug overdose in US in 2018

Church attendance falling

·      in 1948 only 2% of population considered themselves to be non religious

·      it did not hit double digits, 10% until 2002, 54 years went up only 7%

·      from 2002-2018, 16 years it has doubled to 20%

Love of God is diminishing

But there is always Hope in darkness

In the 18 century there was Hope in darkness

1/4 women were prostitutes

Slavery was legal and the norm.  Not only slaves imported from Africa, also People who could not pay debts.

·      Meal consisted of bread and potatoes

·      For every 1,000 children born in early-18th-century London, almost 500 died before they were 2, generally due to malnutrition, bad water, dirty food, and poor hygiene.

·      Orphans roamed the streets; because they didn’t attend school, they had little chance of improving their situation.

·      England suffered from gin drinking. It was cheap and it was sold everywhere as you did not need a license to sell it. Many people ruined their health by drinking gin. Sadly for many poor people drinking gin was their only comfort. 

·      Smallpox was a plague.. Even if it did not kill you it would leave you scarred with pox marks. 

·      Cruel Sports like cockfighting and Bull baiting

The early 18th century was noted for its lack of religious enthusiasm and vigor.

·      The churches in England were declining, loosing their influences on society, attendance was dropping

·      The love of God was diminishing.

Where was the hope in this darkness?

The great evangelist George Whitfield began preaching and

two brothers, John and Charles Wesley, God called them out

 

·      John Wesley traveled all over the country, often preaching in open spaces, markets, in bars, in work places.

·       Charles Wesley, who wrote hymns, took the melody of Tavern songs and put them to Christian lyrics. 

·      People jeered at John’s meetings and threw stones at him.

·      John Wesley said that after preaching in a town if he was not driven out of the town, spat upon and had items thrown at him, He wondered if he had preached the Gospel

·       Wesley persevered. He never intended to form another religion (The Methodist Churxh) or separate from the Church of England.  He died and Anglican Priest.

·      He wanted hope in the darkness, He wanted to stop the diminishing love of God in the church and stir people’s hearts to increase their love of God.! He wanted a revival!  To see a movement of God.  And that is what he started with his desire for social holiness and montra of Sola Scriptura, only Scripture, one book for all people.

The revival and movement of God then swept into Wales and Scotland

Then , a New Era, the Victorian Era was ushered in.

The revival then swept across the Atlantic to America.

·      Where Most people in North America lived by back breaking work and usually lasted from dawn to dusk.

·      Rum drinking became an epidemic as well as beer.

·      Church was declining. Love of God was diminishing.

A great religious revival began in the North American colonies.

·      Later it was given the name 'The Great Awakening'. 

·      It was aided by William Tennant, a Presbyterian preacher

·      Jonathan Edwards, and Francis Asbury, who trained under Wesley started circuit riders sent out them out into towns.

·      They started holding Camp Meetings, where people from surrounding towns would gather in a field or open space to hear the Gospel, sing hymns, hear testimonies.

·      They started a Revival!

We stand on the precipas of a new era. We are now “the hope in the darkness”

·      We stand in the same place, in a land where the Love of God is diminishing

·      We live in a same time where people are looking for hope in darkness.

·      We serve the same Lord Jesus, as we read in Revelations 4 of the Lamb who conquers.

·      The same Lord who sits in the throne room of God that Wesley, Whitclif, Asbury and the others served.

·      We have the same presence, power and fire of the Holy Spirit in each of us that rested on the original disciples at Pentecost, was the source of the earlier revivals that brought to life the preaching of the Gospel with power, put boldness in hearts to share it, convicted those who heard it, and transformed communities.

·      We have in us the DNA of a revival.  The DNA of revival is in each one of you. Do you realize that?  In you is the DNA of a revival!

·      The DNA of a revival is in each one of you.

o   Not just to be saved

o   Not just to serve at House Of The Harvest or Manna House.

o   Not just to start or be part of a Band or accountability group.

o   Not just to open your home to others to start a house church or other gathering

o   Not just to be a light of Christ in your workplace

o   But to set fire to your community and begin a revival of God.

 

Read, The Revelation of Jesus Christ (found in The Book Of Revelation).  If you want to summarize John’s vision in 25 words or less, it is:

A call to radical discipleship as a faithful citizen of God’s new Jerusalem in the midst of a fallen Babylon world.

Jesus speaks to the seven churches, Where in each of them in some way their love of God is diminishing, and he ends his message  to all of them the same way.  “To the one who conquers”

Ephesus: To the one who conquers, I will permit him to eat from the tree of life that is in the paradise of God.ʼ

Smyrna: The one who conquers will in no way be harmed by the second death.ʼ

Pergamum: To the one who conquers, I will give him some of the hidden manna, and I will give him a white stone, and on that stone will be written a new name that no one can understand except the one who receives it.ʼ

Thyatira: to the one who conquers and who continues in my deeds until the end, I will give him authority over the nations –

Sardis: The one who conquers will be dressed like them in white clothing, and I will never erase his name from the book of life, but will declare his name before my Father and before his angels.

Philadelphia: The one who conquers I will make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he will never depart from it. I will write on him the name of my God and the name of the city of my God .. and my new name as well.

Laodicea: I will grant the one who conquers permission to sit with me on my throne, just as I too conquered and sat down with my Father on his throne.

 

“Blessed is the one who reads the words of this prophecy aloud, and blessed are those who hear and obey the things written in it,” (Rev. 1:3)

What does it mean to Conquer? The above “Conquer” is in the Aortist tense in Greek, which translated means not just has conquered but is conquering.  Like being Potty trained.  Once you are potty trained, you do not stop, but continue daily in that training.

The tense is single, “the one” who has conquered.  So it is addressing not only the church collectively, but each one of us individually. Each of us with the DNA for revival.

 Who is the one who conquers? The one who lives out radical discipleship as a faithful citizen of God’s new Jerusalem in the midst of a fallen Babylon world.  You receive all the promises today!

We stand on the edge of a new era.

We stand on the edge of a new era with a powder keg, a powder keg of love!

We sing the song, “It may look like I’m surrounded but I’m surrounded by you. This is how I fight my battles!  This is how I become one that conquers!

This is how we stand on the edge, become hope in darkness and usher in a new era of revival!

My family, I pray this morning as you walk out your door to begin a new week, you understand and embrace the reality that you are the hope in the darkness to the current world you are walking out into. And you are the one who conquers, 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

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!    

"From Where Will My Help Come From?"

"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).

Yesterday, I reflected on the absolute fact that there is an enemy who hates you, hates your spouse, and hates your children, and the absolute necessity of you reading God’s Word in your Bible to equip yourself with the “Sword of the Spirit, which is The Word of God” to defeat this enemy.

 I asked you to read Ephesians 6 and the full armor of God and I am asking you to do so again this morning and this weekend. God supplies you with the armor and the weapons to fight the enemy, but you have to daily pick them up and put them on.

Another weapon that God gives us is Prayer.  Prayer is not last recourse of desperation in a struggle or battle after you have tried everything else.  Prayer is where all battles must begin as you raise your eye and heart to God and call upon his name to come to your defense.

“With every prayer and petition, pray at all times in the Spirit, and to this end be alert, with all perseverance and requests for all the saints.” (Ephesians 6:18) 

 The Psalmist in Psalm 121 cries out in desperation, “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.” 

“The Hills” when this psalm was written were not a good place.  “The Hills” were the wilderness.  They were dangerous and contained the paths need to travel where bandits and robbers lurked.  And on the top of all the hills, because pagans viewed them as the place closest to the heavens and the Gods, were placed all the altars and places of worship to the many false Gods.  Looking up at the hill tops one would see the Asherah poles, altars to Baal, and other Gods.

The psalmist, who is struggling, battling the evil in his day, in desperate need of help looks up at the hills around him with its danger, and looks up at all the Idols and temples of false Gods on the hill tops and declares, where does my help come from?  And he declares it is from none of these.  “My help comes from the Lord who made the Heavens and the earth.”  The God who made the hills the altars are located on.

It is God’s part to deliver me,  It is my part is to lift up my eyes above “the hills”, above the false God’s and idols of this world, and focus my eyes on You. I enter inter my baptismal promise to look up to you, while You promise Your part is to look out for me. So this morning remind me to do my part; and remind me that You're always doing Your part. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

My family, 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 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

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!    

"You Have An Enemy Who Hates You, Hates Your Spouse, And Hates Your Children."

“For though we live as human beings, we do not wage war according to human standards, for the weapons of our warfare are not human weapons, but are made powerful by God for tearing down strongholds. We tear down arguments and every arrogant obstacle that is raised up against the knowledge of God, and we take every thought captive to make it obey Christ.” (2 Cor 10:3-5)

My morning reflectio, like many others, flows out of a conversation I had at the Waffle House. I was seated at the low bar talking with a 4 men who are regular customers. One of them brought up the pagers that are exploding in Lebanon and the whole conversation turned to examples of how the world now is a more evil place. One man said he feels like his marriage is under attack, and another how his kids are being misled in school and they are becoming more and more disrespectful at home. I know these men and they all claim to be Christians. So I asked them, what is the Bible telling you in your time in God’s Word. Their tone changed and they became defensive saying they do not read their Bible daily, and my reading the Bible daily does not change the situation of the world. Inside I wanted to explode and push back but I did not, instead I came home and wrote.

You have an enemy who hates you, hates your spouse, hates your children, hates your family.  He despises the Christ that is in you and that you also claim over your family, and the enemy will uses any and all resources at his disposal: any weapons, all the demon minions, incantations, to bring down, kill and destroy you.  You know you live every day in the midst of a broken, fallen world, where evil is real. Just look around!  Look at the news! And that evil you see out there is out to get you.

(1 Peter 5:8) “Be sober and alert. Your enemy the devil, like a roaring lion, is on the prowl looking for someone to devour”

What are you going to fight him with? What are you going to punch him in the face with? What weapons are you going use to not just defend, but push back the literal hell that He wants to bring down on you?

Are you going to Throw money at him? Are you going to try to work harder, get a promotion, better job, better pay, gain more power and prestige, earn more so you can throw more money at him and buy him out?  He is the “ruler of this world.” He has more wealth and is richer and has more power than you can ever dream of achieving.

Are you going to retreat into your fortress, your castle, the nice home with the crucifix hanging somewhere in it on some wall and then puch your garage door button, close garage door and keep him out?

Are you going to try to use logic or reason with him?  Do you really think you can outsmart Satan who has been here deciding and destroying humanity since the beginning of creation?

Do you think if you exercise tolerance, political correctness and be passive he will just leave you and your family alone?  It is not going to happen! You have no hope and there is nothing humanly possible to distract or deter you enemy, stop him from hating you, hating your spouse, hating your children and wanting to destroy you.

Nothing humanly possible, however with the weapons of God it is more than possible.  The passage of scripture above tells us:

“For though we live as human beings, we do not wage war according to human standards, for the weapons of our warfare are not human weapons, but are made powerful by God for tearing down strongholds.”

 Read Ephesians 6 and the full armor of God.

God supplies you with the armor and the weapons you need to fight and conquer the enemy, but you have to put them on and pick them up.

You do not put on the armor daily and then you know you are battling an enemy that is armed to the teeth daily and then  wonder why and complian to God why you have no peace, anxiety, depression, your family is struggling, your children are struggling, your marriage is struggling, and you have physical health issues, mental health issues

The sword with which you are able to punch Satan in the mouth with, and not just defend your family with, but drive away the enemy is The Word of God contained in that Bible on a desk somewhere or an app on your phone. “and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.” Eph. 6:17”

Each day you think to yourself, I do not have yo spend time in God’s word, you are basically saying you are going to face your armed enemy who hates you with nothing in your hand.  And worse, you are in effect saying, your spouse and children who you probably encouraged to follow Jesus, and continue to encourage them in their faith, you are now leaving them out on their own and are not worth protecting, not worth the time spent  that day in your Bible arming yourself with the Sword of the Spirit.  And you are setting the disastrous example to them of how to walk into battle unarmed against an enemy who hates them. 

My family, I pray today is the day you take seriously that there is an enemy out there, that once you and your family claims to be a follower of Jesus, hates you, hates your spouse and hates your children. And take seriously your absolute necessity to arm yourself with the “powerful weapons of God for tearing down strongholds,” strongholds the enemy continuously tries to raise around your family as if your life depends on it. And if your life does not matter that much to you, at least do it because the lives of your spouse and children require you to daily open your Bible, read God’s Word, and arm yourself with the “Sword of the Spirit” with which you can protect them and punch the enemy in the face, by though and in the name of Jesus.  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

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!   

"Disaster Will Fall On You"

 “You were complacent in your evil deeds; you thought, ʻNo one sees me.ʼ

Your self-professed wisdom and knowledge lead you astray,

when you say, ʻI am unique! No one can compare to me!ʼ

Disaster will overtake you; you will not know how to charm it away.

Destruction will fall on you; you will not be able to appease it. Calamity will strike you suddenly, before you recognize it. “(Isaiah 47:11-13)

.In the previous chapters Isaiah illustrated God’s sovereignty over the gods of Babylon and all nations and the only God able to deliver his people.  Isaiah now looks at Babylon.  He represents the empire as a beautiful and arrogant woman who is forced to abandon her proud and luxurious living and take the place of a slave.  God is not a creation of humanity, he is God.  And any nation or human that dares to try to rise over his place will only find themselves caught in an unequal contest, the end of which is never victory, but either ends in surrender or destruction.

 

The times in my life that have been the most miserable are the times I replaced God with myself as lord of my life.  It always ended in some level of destruction to myself or others, and then falling on my knees and repenting and asking forgiveness from God and others.  When God is the most complete Lord over me, and I am the most completely his servant, is when my life contains the most joy.

My family, I pray you today re-affirm that Jesus is the Lord over your life, surrender to His Lordship, and enter into His peace and joy that surpasses anything you in yourself can achieve, In Jesus’ name. Please pray the same over 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

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!