Pastor Mary Haley

Psalm 145:17-21 Contemporary English Version (CEV)

What is your character trademark? What is that distinguishing characteristic or feature that most people associate with you? All the fruit of the Spirit are great and any one of them would be a noble trademark, but the best characteristic would be having a trademark of love because love never fails (1 Cor. 13:7). Love is not simply a human emotion or feeling; true love is a choice. God is love and when we choose Christ we choose to live in God’s love. The world should see the trademark of love operating in the lives of every believer. Jesus proclaims, “Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples” (John 13:35).

In our passage today, David sings a song to the Lord for His faithful care; David sings with honor to the Lord and extols His trademark of love.

Psalm 145:17-21 The Message (MSG)
17 Everything God does is right—
the trademark on all his works is love.
18 God’s there, listening for all who pray,
for all who pray and mean it.
19 He does what’s best for those who fear him—
hears them call out, and saves them.
20 God sticks by all who love him,
but it’s all over for those who don’t.
21 My mouth is filled with God’s praise.
Let everything living bless him,
bless his holy name from now to eternity!

Prayer: Lord, thank you for caring for all your children who love you. My mouth is filled with your praises. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Luke 19:11-27 The Message (MSG)

The life of every believer has been entrusted with spiritual gifts and natural resources that “must” be used to benefit God’s Kingdom. The word “must” reveals an obligation; expressing necessity. We “must” share our Master’s passion for the Kingdom. We know his intentions are to one day establish his Kingdom on earth and, as disciples of Christ, we “must” help with that process. It “must” be our passion to see the Kingdom grow and multiply. Lastly, we “must” faithfully invest every resource we have been given to bring a harvest of souls to the Lord.

In our passage today, Jesus shares a parable about the necessity of his followers being faithful and productive during his absence. We “must” never forget Jesus is coming back to set up his Kingdom and when he returns every believer will give an account for how he or she used his gifts and resources. In the meantime, each one of us “must” share concern for the lost and think multiply, multiply, multiply!

Luke 19:11-27 The Story About Investment
11 While he had their attention, and because they were getting close to Jerusalem by this time and expectation was building that God’s kingdom would appear any minute, he told this story:

12-13 “There was once a man descended from a royal house who needed to make a long trip back to headquarters to get authorization for his rule and then return. But first he called ten servants together, gave them each a sum of money, and instructed them, ‘Operate with this until I return.’

14 “But the citizens there hated him. So they sent a commission with a signed petition to oppose his rule: ‘We don’t want this man to rule us.’

15 “When he came back bringing the authorization of his rule, he called those ten servants to whom he had given the money to find out how they had done.

16 “The first said, ‘Master, I doubled your money.’

17 “He said, ‘Good servant! Great work! Because you’ve been trustworthy in this small job, I’m making you governor of ten towns.’

18 “The second said, ‘Master, I made a fifty percent profit on your money.’

19 “He said, ‘I’m putting you in charge of five towns.’

20-21 “The next servant said, ‘Master, here’s your money safe and sound. I kept it hidden in the cellar. To tell you the truth, I was a little afraid. I know you have high standards and hate sloppiness, and don’t suffer fools gladly.’

22-23 “He said, ‘You’re right that I don’t suffer fools gladly—and you’ve acted the fool! Why didn’t you at least invest the money in securities so I would have gotten a little interest on it?’

24 “Then he said to those standing there, ‘Take the money from him and give it to the servant who doubled my stake.’

25 “They said, ‘But Master, he already has double . . .’

26 “He said, ‘That’s what I mean: Risk your life and get more than you ever dreamed of. Play it safe and end up holding the bag.

27 “‘As for these enemies of mine who petitioned against my rule, clear them out of here. I don’t want to see their faces around here again.’”

Prayer: Lord, thank you for the spiritual gifts and resources you have entrusted to my life. Help me use them every day to benefit your Kingdom . In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Jude 17-21 New Living Translation

“Keep in step!” Many people seem to want to keep in step with the times, but that is not one of my goals. Don’t get me wrong, I want to be relevant with the gospel message but never at the cost of trying to rewrite the Word of God. The times are wicked and people who work to stay in step with the times can be self-exalting rather than God exalting. What I really desire is to keep in step with God’s love. I want to be where his love rests and I want to go when his love moves. I want to release God’s love at appointed times into the lives of others. Only the Holy Spirit can help me keep in step; therefore, I must invite the Holy Spirit to help me pray for God’s will and purpose.
Our passage today comes as a letter written by Jude (brother of James) to the early church. Jude shares the dangers of false teachers or those who teach from a worldly—keep in step with the times—perspective rather than from a Spirit-led perspective.

Jude 17-21 More Warnings
17 My dear friends, remember the warning you were given by the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ. 18 They told you that near the end of time, selfish and godless people would start making fun of God. 19 And now these people are already making you turn against each other. They think only about this life, and they don’t have God’s Spirit.

20 Dear friends, keep building on the foundation of your most holy faith, as the Holy Spirit helps you to pray. 21 And keep in step with God’s love, as you wait for our Lord Jesus Christ to show how kind he is by giving you eternal life.

Prayer: Lord, thank you for helping me keep in step with your love. Truly, your loving presence is all I need. In Jesus’ name Amen.

Luke 19:1-10 New Living Translation (NLT)

Well, friends, it is nice to be back writing daily reflections and devotions this week. My assistant, Jennifer, has carried the Light of the Word in excellence during my brief recovery. My eyes and vision continue to improve and the swelling from my outpatient surgery is now very minimal. I praise God who has held me, healed me, and caused me to rest. This week, I have been able to “see over the crowd” of worldly cares and physical challenges to find Jesus waiting to share fellowship with me. Do you know how much Jesus enjoys spending time with you?

In our lesson today from the gospel of Luke, we meet a character familiar to most believers: Zacchaeus—the little man from Jericho who wants to see Jesus so badly he positions himself in a tree in order to “see over the crowd.” We may not be able to choose our physical height, but like Zacchaeus every person can position himself or herself to “see over the crowd.” It takes wanting to see the Savior; it takes making a commitment to walk in what Scripture teaches is newness of life. When a person is born from above, character changes reveal that commitment. No longer is this temporal world our focus; now we are able to see eternal realities. Real life opens up for us in Christ. Zacchaeus reveals he has been born of the Spirit by the joy he experiences in his connection to Christ and the changes he gladly makes in order to reveal the glory of his new Master. Simply, you know when you are born of the Spirit; you want Jesus more than you want the world…

Luke 19:1-10 Jesus and Zacchaeus
19 Jesus entered Jericho and made his way through the town. 2 There was a man there named Zacchaeus. He was the chief tax collector in the region, and he had become very rich. 3 He tried to get a look at Jesus, but he was too short to see over the crowd. 4 So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore-fig tree beside the road, for Jesus was going to pass that way.

5 When Jesus came by, he looked up at Zacchaeus and called him by name. “Zacchaeus!” he said. “Quick, come down! I must be a guest in your home today.”

6 Zacchaeus quickly climbed down and took Jesus to his house in great excitement and joy. 7 But the people were displeased. “He has gone to be the guest of a notorious sinner,” they grumbled.

8 Meanwhile, Zacchaeus stood before the Lord and said, “I will give half my wealth to the poor, Lord, and if I have cheated people on their taxes, I will give them back four times as much!”

9 Jesus responded, “Salvation has come to this home today, for this man has shown himself to be a true son of Abraham. 10 For the Son of Man came to seek and save those who are lost.”

Prayer: Lord, thank you for opening my eyes to see eternal realities; helping me see over the crowd. Ignite my spirit with joy. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Luke 6:27-31 Easy-to-Read Version (ERV)

Today is All Saints Day, and many believe that scripture points to the body of Christ, which includes you and me, as being saints. So, it’s basically an annual reminder of our connectedness as Christians to Christ Jesus.
Saints are followers of Jesus who trust solely in Him for salvation, and whose actions and words are that of Jesus. Our passage today is a perfect example of how we, as followers of Jesus, are called to be more like Him.

During Jesus’s Sermon on the Mount He instructs us to Love Our Enemies. Jesus tells us it’s as simple as: 1. doing good to your enemies, 2. blessing your enemies. and 3. praying for your enemies. In the bible we see time and time again how Jesus practiced what He preached by doing these 3 things.

So, the next time your enemy is unkind to you, remember, your actions determine if you choose to be saintly, which will demonstrate that you belong to Jesus, or if you will fall victim to a worldly response.

Luke 6:27-31 (ERV)
Love Your Enemies

27 “But I say to you people who are listening to me, love your enemies. Do good to those who hate you. 28 Ask God to bless the people who ask for bad things to happen to you. Pray for the people who are mean to you. 29 If someone hits you on the side of your face, let them hit the other side too. If someone takes your coat, don’t stop them from taking your shirt too. 30 Give to everyone who asks you for something. When someone takes something that is yours, don’t ask for it back. 31 Do for others what you want them to do for you.

Prayer: Jesus, thank You for Your clear instructions through Your Sermon on the Mount. Please help me to love my enemies. You call me to do it, and so I need Your guidance, wisdom, patience, and joy. In Your Name, Jesus. Amen!

Written by: Jen Auer

Proverb 15:9 Common English Bible (CEB)

“The LORD detests the path of the wicked,
but loves those who pursue righteousness.”

Please read over this powerful verse again, because it’s our scripture for this devotional:

“The LORD detests the path of the wicked,
but loves those who pursue righteousness.” – Proverb 15:9 (CEB)

You might be thinking, well, I’m not on a wicked path and I love God, so I am all good. Done with today’s devotional.

But, when was the last time you looked at your lifestyle, and how does God fit into it? Let’s put it this way, if Jesus looked over your daily choices, walked around with you 24/7 for one week, what would He say about your lifestyle? We need to remember, that every choice has a consequence, while a series of choices leads to a habit, and our habits aid in shaping our lifestyle. That means, if our habits aren’t spiritually healthy, then our lifestyle isn’t in complete alignment with what Jesus commands, and thus, if we aren’t aligned with Him, we are on a path that is aligned with wickedness.

Now, you might be saying, but I love Jesus and I ask Him all the time to forgive my poor choices and the parts of my lifestyle that aren’t so pretty. That’s great, so after you ask for forgiveness are you making every effort to turn away from the wickedness of your choices and/or lifestyle to “pursue righteousness”?

“Pursue” in this verse means to chase after or down righteousness! Think about Jesus, He was the most righteous human. He chased after righteousness the right way. He didn’t seek it by works, rather He was faith filled in everything He did and said. He is our perfect example!

Prayer: Jesus, thank You for being my perfect example of righteousness. Please guide me Lord to make spirit led choices. I want my lifestyle to always reflect You. Forgive the times I have stepped onto the path of wickedness. Help keep me away from it, and in a place of pursing You! I love you, and pray this in Your Holy Name, Jesus. Amen!

Written by: Jen Auer

Matthew 21:28-32 The Message (MSG)

“One who is faithful in very little is also faithful in much, and one who is dishonest in a very little is also dishonest in much.” – Luke 16:10
Jesus chose to surround Himself with a “team” who was completely faithful. He didn’t care about their religious practices, how popular they were, how much money they made, their level of education, or their sins; rather, Jesus cared about His “team’s” hearts, and knew by their faith they would enrich the Kingdom of God.

When you feel doubtful about the sins you’ve committed, or you question your value for the Kingdom of God, go through this list of God’s broken soldiers. Remember, like these men and women, God seeks a faithful relationship with a repentant heart that is sold out for Him. He doesn’t want part-time lukewarm religious practices. We see the difference between these two in today’s scripture: The Story of Two Sons.

Abraham – Was Old
Elijah – Was Suicidal
Joseph – Was Abused
Job – Was Bankrupt
Moses – Had Speech Problems
Gideon – Was Fearful
Samson – Was a Womanizer
Rehab – Was a Prostitute
Samaritan Woman – Was Divorced
Noah – Was a Drunk
Jeremiah – Was Young
Jacob – Was a Cheater
David – Was a Murderer
Jonah – Ran from God
Naomi – Was a Widow
Peter – Denied Christ 3x
Martha – Was a Worrier
Zacchaeus – Was Money Hungry
Disciples – Fell Asleep Praying
Paul – Persecuted Christians

Matthew 21:28-32
The Story of Two Sons

28 “Tell me what you think of this story: A man had two sons. He went up to the first and said, ‘Son, go out for the day and work in the vineyard.’

29 “The son answered, ‘I don’t want to.’ Later on he thought better of it and went.

30 “The father gave the same command to the second son. He answered, ‘Sure, glad to.’ But he never went.

31-32 “Which of the two sons did what the father asked?”

They said, “The first.”

Jesus said, “Yes, and I tell you that crooks and whores are going to precede you into God’s kingdom. John came to you showing you the right road. You turned up your noses at him, but the crooks and whores believed him. Even when you saw their changed lives, you didn’t care enough to change and believe him

Prayer: Jesus, thank You for Your Word. Help me to remain faithful to it, and to grow in my relationship with You. Please guard me from placing any emphasis over You and onto religious practices. Guide my focus to remain on You. In Your Name, Jesus. Amen!

Written by: Jen Auer

1 Peter 5:1-11 New Living Translation (NLT)

Yesterday we looked at some verses from 1 Peter 4 and we were reminded that once our lives are committed to Jesus there’s a right way to suffer and that’s for Him and not for the sins of this world.
Today we are at the end of Peter’s first letter in chapter 5, and we hear him passionately speak about the Church, which is the Body of Christ, or simply put it’s you, me and the members of our spiritual family. Here, Peter teaches how we need to work together in unity to fight against the work of the great enemy, the devil. We must remember, the enemy comes dressed in sheep’s clothing (Matthew 7:15) so we cannot be deceived. Instead, we must lean on the Word, humble ourselves before God, and work as One Body through Christ Jesus. Each generation seeking to help the next, all generations remembering to honor those before them, and the entire Body sharing in Christ’s kindness as God calls us to share the glory of Jesus Christ!

1 Peter 5:1-11
Advice for Elders and Young Men

1 And now, a word to you who are elders in the churches. I, too, am an elder and a witness to the sufferings of Christ. And I, too, will share in his glory when he is revealed to the whole world. As a fellow elder, I appeal to you: 2 Care for the flock that God has entrusted to you. Watch over it willingly, not grudgingly—not for what you will get out of it, but because you are eager to serve God. 3 Don’t lord it over the people assigned to your care, but lead them by your own good example. 4 And when the Great Shepherd appears, you will receive a crown of never-ending glory and honor.

5 In the same way, you who are younger must accept the authority of the elders. And all of you, dress yourselves in humility as you relate to one another, for

“God opposes the proud
but gives grace to the humble.”

6 So humble yourselves under the mighty power of God, and at the right time he will lift you up in honor. 7 Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you.

8 Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour. 9 Stand firm against him, and be strong in your faith. Remember that your family of believers all over the world is going through the same kind of suffering you are.
10 In his kindness God called you to share in his eternal glory by means of Christ Jesus. So after you have suffered a little while, he will restore, support, and strengthen you, and he will place you on a firm foundation. 11 All power to him forever! Amen.

Prayer: Jesus, thank You for being the perfect Leader. I come humbly before You and ask that You please use me as You see fit for Your Body. My prayer is that You unite me, my brothers, and my sisters in You, and allow us together to spread the Good News. Shield us from the enemy, as he has no place amongst your family. I ask this in Your Name, Jesus. Amen!
Written by: Jen Auer

1 Peter 4:12-13 The Message (MSG)

“And if you do not carry your own cross and follow me, you cannot be my disciple. But don’t begin until you count the cost. For who would begin construction of a building without first calculating the cost to see if there is enough money to finish it?” – Luke 14:27-28 (NLT)
“Those who say they live in God should live their lives as Jesus did.” – 1 John 2:6 (NLT)

“So if you are suffering in a manner that pleases God, keep on doing what is right, and trust your lives to the God who created you, for he will never fail you.” – 1 Peter 4:19 (NLT)

Charles Spurgeon said: “They who dive in the sea of affliction bring up rare pearls.” This quote is a great way to summarize the 4 verses we just read and to connect them to our passage today. By committing to follow Jesus, we are committing to live like He lived. His eternal love for us is happening now, but we need to hold firm to it because there are many earthly trials, tribulation, persecution, and crucifixion that want to take it from us. It’s during these times of suffering that God is refining us. Remember, it’s the best time to lean into our relationship with Christ. We need to ask for Him to strengthen our relationship with Him and to grow our faith. Here’s a great reminder that glory with Christ is around the corner:

12-13 Friends, when life gets really difficult, don’t jump to the conclusion that God isn’t on the job. Instead, be glad that you are in the very thick of what Christ experienced. This is a spiritual refining process, with glory just around the corner. – 1 Peter 4:12-13 (MSG)

Prayer: Jesus, thank You for upholding me during difficult times and for never failing me. Lord, please fill me with Your strength, guide me with Your wisdom, surround me with Your peace, and allow me to feel Your love with every breath I take today. I ask all of this in your Holy Name, Jesus. Amen!

Written by: Jen Auer

2 Timothy 3:10-15 New Living Translation (NLT)

Every Christian who follows the commandments of God will experience persecution. Persecution has to do with oppression or affliction and can come in the form of physical, social, emotional, mental, or spiritual pressure. Evil never gives up the quest in trying to destroy our relationship with God by attacking our faith, trust, and devotion to Christ through persecution. It would be great if evil people would choose for themselves to reform and repent before Almighty God, but we cannot stop living for God if they do not change and do the right thing.

Please do not allow the world’s culture to taint your view of life. Do not be conformed to the world’s way of seeing and doing things (Rom 12:2). God is the Giver of Life and we were created to live for him (Job 33:4). Every Christian’s first concern should be to please God (1 Thes 4:1). So, live today in a way that pleases God and don’t worry about what the enemy is doing. Until God takes Satan down once and for all, we will have to stand by faith in Christ, endure, and overcome the persecution of evil. Remember, God is for you so who can really be against you? (Rom 8:31).

2 Timothy 3:10-15 Paul’s Charge to Timothy
10 But you, Timothy, certainly know what I teach, and how I live, and what my purpose in life is. You know my faith, my patience, my love, and my endurance. 11 You know how much persecution and suffering I have endured. You know all about how I was persecuted in Antioch, Iconium, and Lystra—but the Lord rescued me from all of it. 12 Yes, and everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution. 13 But evil people and impostors will flourish. They will deceive others and will themselves be deceived.

14 But you must remain faithful to the things you have been taught. You know they are true, for you know you can trust those who taught you. 15 You have been taught the holy Scriptures from childhood, and they have given you the wisdom to receive the salvation that comes by trusting in Christ Jesus.

Prayer: Lord, I know I can trust you to bring good things into my life even when I am experiencing times of persecution. I refuse to bow down to the things evil sends to attack my faith; I will not be overcome by evil. Lord, you are the Overcomer, so I offer myself to you and look for you to keep me strong. In Jesus’ name. Amen.