Pastor Mary Haley

Romans 11:33-36
33 Who could ever wrap their minds around the riches of God, the depth of his wisdom, and the marvel of his perfect knowledge? Who could ever explain the wonder of his decisions [judgments] or search out the mysterious way he carries out his plans?
34 
For who has discovered how the Lord thinks
    or is wise enough to be the one
    to advise him in his plans?
35 Or:
“Who has ever first given something to God
    that obligates God to owe him something in return?”
36 And because God is the source and sustainer of everything, everything finds fulfillment in him. May all praise and honor be given to him forever! Amen!

Unless the Spirit of God enters us and we allow the pure mind of God to begin to inhabit our lifestyles, we can only pretend to be good. Without renewed minds, we are self-serving and will always raise our wills above God’s will and plan for our lives. As believers in Christ and the work of grace, we are learning to listen to the Spirit and be led in the ways of the Kingdom of God. We are citizens of heaven and we live to emulate our role model the King of Glory—Jesus. Many people may be tempted to think God is not involved in the things of humanity like government and world affairs, but Scripture teaches God is the sustainer of all things, so we cannot find the fulfillment of good and wholeness apart from him. Never forget that Father is God, Jesus is God, and the Spirit is God and as we listen and obey the testimony or Word of God we enjoy fellowship with the wholeness of Creator. Finding ourselves in this listening and obeying place brings true fulfillment for our lives which pleases God who created us in his image. May we repent for trying to leave God out of “all” things and turn to bring the Father, Son, and the Spirit into our lives to form a holy lifestyle. And, may we pray for our government leaders to repent, turn, and call upon the Godhead for the wisdom and knowledge to redeem and restore our land in Jesus’ name. May God convict those who actually try to remove him and his authority from this country—the United States of America—one nation under God.

Prayer: Creator and Lord of all, please help me to possess the fulness of grace you have provided. I know my life requires your wisdom, decisions, and plans. Please continue to sustain me and cause me to walk in the fullness of your will. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Romans 2:1-3
God Judges Sin
2 No matter who you are, before you judge the wickedness of others, you had better remember this: you are also without excuse, for you too are guilty of the same kind of things! When you judge others, and then do the same things they do, you condemn yourself. 2 We know that God’s judgment falls upon those who practice these things. God is always right, because he has all the facts. 3 And no matter who you think you are, when you judge others who do these things and then do the same things yourself, what makes you think that you will escape God’s judgment?

Why do you suppose it is easier to see the sins of others and condemn them, but struggle to see the sin hiding in our own hearts? We may even struggle with the same sin that we judge in others, but maybe we are just more cleaver about hiding it while we try to live in denial. If we work at it we may even be able to make our sin seem more socially acceptable than the sin of others, but that will never make it right before God. Sin is sin. The Word reveals sin and the Spirit convicts believers of it. And just to be clear, all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God and Jesus Christ our standard for living (Ro 3:23). As Christians, we must be very careful about how we talk about others, because God has extended each one of us mercy and grace, and we must turn to give the same to others. This does not mean we accept sin nor refrain from identifying it. However, as believers, we know apart from the forgiveness of God we would all be hell-bound. So, instead of judging others we bathe our words with mercy and strive to speak the Truth in love. Do you need to give your words a bath in mercy before you let them cross your lips?

Prayer: Lord, thank you for this passage from the Apostle Paul that reminds me of just how much you have forgiven me over my lifetime and how my job is to pray for those who seem to struggle with similar sins rather than judge them. Please help me bathe my words with mercy. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Proverbs 14:34 AMP
Righteousness [moral and spiritual integrity and virtuous character] exalts a nation,
But sin is a disgrace to any people.

Righteousness is an attribute that belongs to God and, because of his great Love for his human creation, God has offered this holy life to us as a gift. Humanity apart from a relationship with God is unrighteous and due to sin lives rebellious to the Word. The righteousness of God is imparted to us when we accept and believe in the Son of God—Jesus the Messiah—for salvation from sin. People tend to think righteousness is connected to doing what “feels right” to each person, but that is wrong thinking according to the Word. If living according to how we feel in our hearts was righteousness, right and wrong would actually be relative to each person. Therefore, God proclaims his righteousness is based on his terms and that is the righteousness that leads to life with him. If this nation—the United States of America—wants to experience the blessing of God rather than the judgment of God, then we need to honor his authority to set the boundaries of righteousness and live in harmony with his Word. Obedience and blessing go together. May believers across this nation start praying and interceding for an awakening of every soul to the spiritual reality of Almighty God.

Prayer: Lord, thank you for your righteous standard revealed in your Word. I pray for this same standard to be raised up in this nation. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

1 Corinthians 6:9-10 (Voice)
9-10 Do you need reminding that the unjust have no share in the blessings of the kingdom of God? Do not be misled. A lot of people stand to inherit nothing of God’s coming kingdom, including those whose lives are defined by sexual immorality, idolatry, adultery, sexual deviancy, theft, greed, drunkenness, slander, and swindling. 11 Some of you used to live in these ways, but you are different now; you have been washed clean, set apart, restored, and set on the right path in the name of the Lord Jesus, the Anointed, by the Spirit of our living God.

Jesus makes a tremendous difference in our lives, because he is the LIFE we were always created to live and his righteous path is the way to the Kingdom. In our passage today, the Apostle Paul reminds us as believers we are to live differently in Christ than how the world lives. We are in the world and surrounded by diverse cultural ideologies that demand our allegiance, but we are commanded to actually live obedient to God’s righteous standards for his Kingdom people. Once we lived being dominated by our “feelings” or based upon our personal “perspectives” or “desires.” But, that is no longer how we navigate life as disciples of Christ. Jesus reveals we are to live by every Word that proceeds from the mouth of God (Mat 4:4). The things we enjoyed when we were living in rebellion against God’s Word now grieve our spirits. We see life as the breath of Creator God and each day as a way to live for his glory; we are different now, because Jesus has set us on the right path.

Prayer: Lord, thank you for changing how I live my life; for helping me hunger for the blessed life found only in your Kingdom. Even though the powers of this world press a cultural agenda that accepts the very things your Word identifies as the work of evil, may I remain faithful to live for you. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Matthew 8:5-13 TPT
Jesus Heals the Son of a Roman Officer
5 When Jesus entered the village of Capernaum, a captain in the Roman army approached him, asking for a miracle. 6 “Lord,” he said, “I have a son [servant] who is lying in my home, paralyzed and suffering terribly.”
7 Jesus responded, “I will go with you and heal him.”

8–9 But the Roman officer interjected, “Lord, who am I to have you come into my house? I understand your authority, for I too am a man who walks under authority and have authority over soldiers who serve under me. I can tell one to go and he’ll go, and another to come and he’ll come. I order my servants and they’ll do whatever I ask. So I know that all you need to do is to stand here and command healing over my son and he will be instantly healed.”

10 Jesus was astonished when he heard this and said to those who were following him, “He has greater faith than anyone I’ve encountered in Israel! 11 Listen to what I am about to tell you. Multitudes of non-Jewish people will stream from the east and the west, to enter into the banqueting feast with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the heavenly kingdom. 12 But many Israelites, born to be heirs of the kingdom, will be turned away and banished into the darkness where there will be bitter weeping and unbearable anguish.”

13 Then Jesus turned to the Roman officer and said, “Go home. All that you have believed for will be done for you!” And his son was healed at that very moment.

This is one of my favorite lessons in New Testament scripture, because it reminds me of the attitude we must “put on” to understand grace and the power of the Anointed One. Religious piety or practice is no substitute for faith which is the substance of things hoped for and the evidence of things not yet seen. Faith is about placing our trust and confidence in God’s love for us and leaning upon the Word of God as Truth. The captain of the Roman army demonstrated what was necessary; his faith astonished Jesus and brought the healing he desired. You and I must demonstrate our faith in Christ’s authority as the Anointed One, as well.

Prayer: Lord, each time I pray help me to better understand your authority and the work of faith that manifests healing miracles. We need so many miracles in our world right now. Set your children to pray in faith! In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Romans 11:11-12, 17-18
Ingrafted Branches—Jews and Gentiles unite in their love of God and in obedience to Christ.
11 So I ask: did God’s people (Jews) stumble and fall off the deep end? Absolutely not! They are not lost forever; but through their misconduct, the door has been opened for salvation to extend even to the outsiders. This has been part of God’s plan all along, and so is the jealousy that comes when they realize the outsiders have been welcomed into God’s new covenant. 12 So if their misconduct leads ultimately to God’s riches coming to the world and if their failure turns into the blessing of salvation to all people, then how much greater will be the riches and blessing when they are included fully?

17 Imagine some branches (Jews) are cut off of the cultivated olive tree and other branches of a wild olive (which represents all of you outsiders) ) are grafted in their place. You are nourished by the root of the cultivated olive tree. 18 It doesn’t give you license to become proud and self-righteous about the fact that you’ve been grafted in. If you do boast, remember that the branches do not sustain the root—it is the system of roots that nourishes and supports you.

In our passage today, Paul is speaking to Gentile Christians (non-Jews) and he wants them to gain a proper perspective as to why God rejected some Jews. Abraham connected with God through faith; this was essential to enjoying life in the grace and favor of God. However, during Paul’s time and even before, God’s people fell into faithlessness; without faith it is impossible to please God. Whether we are Jews or Gentiles we were created to share the nourishment from the Tree of Life. As Gentiles, we are ingrafted into the Tree because of our faith in the work of Jesus Christ. However, please do not think God has abandoned his plan for the Jews to be nourished from the Tree, too. God in his mercy just gave time to the Gentiles to come to faith, before awakening the Jews to the reality of the Christ—their Messiah who came and died for their sins, as well. May we pray for us all—Jews and Gentiles—to come to faith and abide in a thriving relationship with God through his love and grace.

Prayer: Father, I pray for your precious people—the Jews—to come to faith in Jesus Christ. As well, I pray for people from all nations to come to faith in Jesus Christ. We all need Jesus; we cannot even come to you without him. Thank you for sending your Son, so I could know you and choose to live for you. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Psalm 130
Out of the Depths
1
Lord, I cry out to you out of the depths of my despair!
2
Hear my voice, O God!
Answer this prayer and hear my plea for mercy.
3
Lord, if you measured us and marked us with our sins,
who would ever have their prayers answered?
4
But your forgiving love is what makes you so wonderful.
No wonder you are loved and worshiped!
5
This is why I wait upon you, expecting your breakthrough,
for your word brings me hope.
6
I long for you more than any watchman
would long for the morning light.
I will watch and wait for you, O God,
throughout the night.
7
O Israel, keep hoping, keep trusting,
and keep waiting on the Lord,
for he is tenderhearted, kind, and forgiving.
He has a thousand ways to set you free!
8
He himself will redeem you;
he will ransom you from the cruel slavery of your sins!

There are many things right now in life that may tempt us to feel emotionally overwhelmed or spiritually oppressed, but believers are cared for and guided by a faithful Savior. Therefore, we refuse to bow to the sin and fear that Christ promises to help us overcome. Believers are connected to true LIFE. In Christ, you can pray and talk to God about anything that is going on in your life and he will listen and respond in love. Believers are not marked by sin. God holds nothing against us when our hearts are humble and searching for his forgiveness and redemption. If you put your faith in the work of Christ on the cross, you are marked by Love; God has placed his special mark upon every believer. We belong to God and we know this is true, because he gave us his Spirit to occupy our beings. So, keep praying, trusting, and expecting your spiritual breakthrough. Sin has no power to stop you; so advance in the grace of Almighty God and reveal the mark of his honor and glory upon your life!

Prayer: Lord, thank you for redeeming me and setting me free from having to bow to sin and fear. Please continue to bring the breakthroughs I need. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Psalm 67:1-2 TPT
1 
God, keep us near your mercy-fountain and bless us!
And when you look down on us, may your face beam with joy! [may God smile on us]

Pause in his presence
2 
Send us out all over the world so that everyone everywhere
will discover your ways and know who you are and see your power to save.

Mercy is defined as “compassionate treatment for those in distress.” Sometimes people are in distress because of sin and guilt and sometimes because of physical and emotional illness or lack. Mercy is what the Lord has released to anyone who calls upon his name regardless of their distress. In fact, believers are given mercy and grace; Christ gives both at the same time to his own. Mercy is associated with forgiveness and the withholding of judgment. Grace has to do with receiving undeserved blessings. Mercy and Grace are like the arms of God coming together to hug the heart of the wounded soul in order to bring restoration; calling him or her into obedience, discipleship, and new life in Christ. I love God’s hugs, don’t you?

In our passage today, the psalmist prays for God to now use the people to whom he has extended mercy. He asks God to keep believers near by extending the flow of blessing. Then, the psalmist invites God to send his people out to be examples of this vibrant life with the Lord. For those who have invited Christ into their hearts, we have been hugged by Mercy and Grace; we are a new creation made to reveal the presence and power of God to save. The psalmist actually casts a future vision for the Great Commission of Jesus Christ. I want to challenge my readers to focus on Christ’s Commission, today. Jesus told us, “Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe [obey] everything I have command you. And remember I am with you always, to the end of the age” (Mat. 28:19-20). Jesus is the Spiritual King of the world who overcomes evil by ruling in the heart of every person. The believers commission is not to meet the cultural or social demands of the world, but to shine the life of Christ—be examples of discipleship and obedience—so others will come to the King for salvation and new life.

Prayer: Lord, I thank you for your mercy and grace, and the commission you have given believers. I am to reveal your presence in me to the world, because you are the only One who can save the human soul and meet the needs of the world you died to save. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Psalm 139:23-24 TPT
23 
God, I invite your searching gaze into my heart.
Examine me through and through;
find out everything that may be hidden within me.
Put me to the test and sift through all my anxious cares.
24 
See if there is any path of pain I’m walking on,
and lead me back to your glorious, everlasting ways—
the path that brings me back to you.

The verb “sift” is a word I rarely hear used, anymore. If something is sifted it is put through a sieve to remove particles that do not belong. Sifting is a very important word when we think about the work of the Spirit and our souls—minds, wills, and emotions. As believers, who belong to God, we are to invite the Lord to “sift” through our souls. That means we accept the spiritual reality that we do not know ourselves the way God knows us, so we trust him to take the things out of our souls that do not belong; not aligned with his character. Therefore, we ask God to examine thoroughly and “sift” or another word would be “isolate” within us that which is fruitful and useful for the Kingdom from that which is not and in time will cause us pain. When God sifts our souls he is loving us and helping us respond more like Jesus who completely trusted and followed the will of the Father. God wants to sift the fear out of our souls and deal with it, because perfect love casts out fear (1 John 4:18).

Prayer: Lord, I invite you to sift through my soul and remove anything that is hidden or hindering my growth in righteousness as I participate in the work of your Kingdom on earth. I want to remain on the righteous path with you, so fear that seeks to diminish your authority over my life has to go. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Matthew 8:23-27 TPT
Jesus Calms a Storm
23 They all got into a boat and began to cross over to the other side of the lake. And Jesus, exhausted, fell asleep. 24 Suddenly a violent storm developed, with waves so high the boat was about to be swamped. Yet Jesus continued to sleep soundly. 25 The disciples woke him up, saying, “Save us, Lord! We’re going to die!”

26 But Jesus reprimanded them. “Why are you gripped with fear? Where is your faith?” Then he stood up and rebuked the storm and said, “Be still!” And instantly it became perfectly calm.
27 The disciples were astonished by this miracle and said to one another, “Who is this Man? Even the wind and waves obey his Word.”

Storms have a way of unsettling human and animal creation. In Florida, we face all kinds of atmospheric disturbances; storms. Our sweet dog, Gracie, does not like thunder; she restlessly paces and wants to be held until the storm passes. As humans and believers, we are aware of the spiritual, emotional, and physical storms raging in our culture and world right now. These storms can be unsettling, but we must stay the course with God.

In our passage today, the disciples have Jesus (the God-man) with them in the boat, but they still fear the wind and waves will destroy them. Jesus reprimands his disciples’ intense fear of death and their lack of faith that his Word to save them is true. We are not to fear death, because we are promised eternal life. At times, we may feel unsettled, but we are not to be gripped with fear. Fear is a thief; it robs us of enjoying life. Instead of fear dominating us, we are to allow the life of Christ to have dominion as we pray and seek the Lord for help. We live our lives in wisdom and faith; trusting in the love of God for us and placing our confidence in his power to care for us in the midst of the storms. Fear is a beast that rises up like violent waves; a bully to beat down and overtake your faith. Don’t allow fear to gain a foothold in your life. Take Jesus to your storm!

Prayer: Lord, thank you for your love and power working in my life. The spiritual storms between good and evil may try to unsettle me, but I trust you to take me through every storm for your glory. I will hang onto eternal life and live each day with faith in your love. I will draw near to you. In Jesus’ name. Amen.