lead – Brian Friedl

A Love That Leads

Brian — Wed, 04 Jan 2017 12:59:50 +0000

Have you ever thought about loving God as a commandment? When someone commands us to do something , sometimes there is something inside of us(our flesh) that causes us to want to say “No!”. We feel that our rights and freedoms have been infringed upon.

What if that commandment is born out of love? It may or may not inspire us to obey As a parent there are times where I’ve had to give commands for the benefit of my children though they may not see it that way.

His commandments are the ultimate framework for the best life in relationships with God and man. He commands us to love Him and others because He knows that’s what will glorify Him, bring us joy, and draw others to Himself.

In light of all He has done, I willingly choose to obey this commandment. For I owe everything to Him. But there is even more love at work. For as hard as I try I cannot keep the commandments perfectly and they clearly point out my shortcomings.

Our Father in heaven has already made provision for this. With a love so great, While we had broken His commands, He rescued us through the perfect sacrifice of Jesus. This kind of love leads us to new places of worship, loving Him, and loving others. This kind of love leads us to righteousness. Not our righteousness in our own strength, but Christ’s righteous imputed to us by faith.

#truthtalk4life #knowlivespeaktruthinlove

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@brianfriedl
Note: All Bible quotes are taken from the New American Standard Bible offered by youversion.com unless otherwise stated.

Who Will Lead Us?

Brian — Thu, 28 Jul 2016 11:30:23 +0000

I made the mistake of reading the newspaper the other day. As I set it down I noticed a fear wanting to creep in. Waves of doubt that a new president will be able to unify us and lead us out of this mess, were boogie boarding on top of those waves. And then I remembered God is faithful and He has made His promises known to us.
What great joy it is to remember that He is more than able to nullify the work of the counsels of wicked men! What they plan for evil, he frustrates for our good. The plans of His heart are good for His people from generation to generation.

Take heart , For the LORD’s ways and thoughts are higher than ours and nothing is impossible with him. Our minds me forget this at times, but praise God for the Spirit who brings all things into remembrance, including our Father’s marvelous promises!

Personal Reflection

Hard times reveal who we put our trust in. So are you putting your trust in an administration? Or are you putting your trust in the one true living God, To whom every knee will bow and every tongue will confess that He is LORD? What if we stopped complaining about the shortcomings of the president and started trusting in the One to whom they are accountable?

Read the rest of Psalm 33. Spend some time praising him for being Lord of the nations!

Prayer Focus

Father in heaven, You are Lord of the nations. You brought all things into being and you sustain them by Your might and power. In You alone we trust. Lead us out of the mess we have created. Establish us in Your righteousness. May we dwell in Your house forever, in Jesus Name, Amen!

Who Will Shepherd My Sheep?

Brian — Sun, 10 Jul 2016 10:48:16 +0000

Heard a message last night at the event in attending. My mind can’t help but draw the conclusion that we are in a similar place today. God’s children have been scattered by poor or absent shepherding. As parents and leaders we are shepherds. What a great responsibility we have been given! We must be all in for this mission.

For I confess that I have not always been diligent. I have let my mouth speak without regard to your desire for YOUR sheep. At times, I have thrown up my hands, shut down, and given up. There have also been times that I have chosen to stay with the 99 rather than pursue the one that has gone astray because I was tired or worn or some other excuse. I want to be a good shepherd.

When we look at the good shepherd in Psalm 23, we find He does the following:

1) He leads us beside still waters

2) He makes us rest

3) He restores

4) He guides in paths of righteousness

5) He prepares a table in the presence of enemies

6) He anoints our head with oil

Pay attention to the desire for our restoration, the tender care, and love poured out!

It’s time we shepherd like that!

Personal Reflection

Read Ezekiel 34:1-10, Psalm 23, Ezekiel 34:11-31

As God’s children we are His sheep. As mentioned earlier, some of us are shepherds also. There are two questions I’d like to ask you today that I’m deeply challenging myself with also:

1) What kind of sheep am I for the Lord? Do I listen to my shepherd? Am I prone to wander or do I stick close to Him?

2) If I am a mom, dad, elder, leader…What kind of shepherd am I? Have I been like the Good Shepherd? Am I seeking His lost sheep? Am I tending to them, binding their wounds, assisting in their healing. Leading them beside still waters? Or am I scattering them?

Prayer Focus

LORD you are our Shepherd, the perfect Shepherd. Help us to be sheep the desire after Your presence; that we may may delight in Your leading and discipline. Father, we pray that we would shepherd well like You, Your sheep you have given us to tend. We confess that we have not been diligent to ward off the wolf and seek after the lost one. Restore Your visions in our mind hat we my diligently carry out Your will in the Name of Jesus, Amen!