Pastor Mary Haley

 

Daily Reading:  4-18-16

Psalm 100:1-3 New Living Translation (NLT)

Invitations are requests that come in a written or verbal form.  These invitations call for an action; to go somewhere or do something.  Depending upon the event, we may be joyful about getting an invitation to attend.  In fact, we may be saddened when we do not receive one.   I know from recent experiences it would bring great joy to me to be able to invite everyone I love and know to an upcoming wedding event, but it is absolutely impossible to do so.  Some events have limitations.  But, there is a moment-by-moment event to which every human being on earth is invited to attend; an invitation that should bring great joy.  The Host is the Creator of All.  That invitation is to come into the protective fold of the Good Shepherd and worship the Lord with gladness.

 

A psalm of thanksgiving.

1 

Shout with joy to the Lord, all the earth!

2 

    Worship the Lord with gladness.

    Come before him, singing with joy.

3 

Acknowledge that the Lord is God!

    He made us, and we are his.[a]

    We are his people, the sheep of his pasture.

Read more

Daily Reading:  4-15-16

Ezekiel 20:39-44  New Living Translation (NLT)

 

Ezekiel is a prophetic visionary used by God to gain Israel’s attention.  God’s people—Israel—have been worshiping other gods while trying to worship the one true Lord; therefore, they are experiencing judgment. (Note: remember judgment can be translated “to distinguish”).  The Word lends Light to help us distinguish, but it’s our choice.  This situation is really no different with many professing Christians, today.  The pleasures of this tangible world can lure us to compromise our commitment to follow God’s Word and ways.  According to Romans 12:2, humanity can easily try to live with one foot in the world [conforming to the behavior and customs of the world] and one foot in the Kingdom [renewed in thought and transformed by God’s Word].  Eventually the Word will make us choose between the things that call for our allegiance or devotion.  It’s the same with Israel in our passage this morning.  God will bring a symbolic fork in the road and at the appointed time God’s people will choose the Sovereign Lord of lords and the King of kings—Jesus—the Living Word.

 

Ezekiel 20:39-44

39 “As for you, O people of Israel, this is what the Sovereign Lord says: Go right ahead and worship your idols, but sooner or later you will obey me and will stop bringing shame on my holy name by worshiping idols. 40 For on my holy mountain, the great mountain of Israel, says the Sovereign Lord, the people of Israel will someday worship me, and I will accept them. There I will require that you bring me all your offerings and choice gifts and sacrifices. 41 When I bring you home from exile, you will be like a pleasing sacrifice to me. And I will display my holiness through you as all the nations watch. 42 Then when I have brought you home to the land I promised with a solemn oath to give to your ancestors, you will know that I am the Lord. 43 You will look back on all the ways you defiled yourselves and will hate yourselves because of the evil you have done. 44 You will know that I am the Lord, O people of Israel, when I have honored my name by treating you mercifully in spite of your wickedness. I, the Sovereign Lord, have spoken!”

Read more

Daily Reading:  4-14-16

Psalm 23  New Living Translation (NLT)

 

While he is going about his day to day vocational activity, David has an experience with the Lord.  In his “aha” moment, David writes a song of wisdom about and to God.  A light shines in his heart and he realizes God loves him and cares for him in very specific ways.  David is a shepherd; through the lens of that responsibility, David experiences and understands the Lord as his Shepherd.  God meets David and kindles a growing relationship with him by working through something familiar.  God takes what is familiar to us; what we do understand and uses it to teach us more about Himself and His great longing for our hearts.  God longs for communion—the sharing or exchange of familiar thoughts and feelings on a spiritual level.

 

A psalm of David.

1 

The Lord is my shepherd;

    I have all that I need.

2 

He lets me rest in green meadows;

    he leads me beside peaceful streams.

3 

    He renews my strength.

He guides me along right paths,

    bringing honor to his name.

4 

Even when I walk

    through the darkest valley,[a]

I will not be afraid,

    for you are close beside me.

Your rod and your staff

    protect and comfort me.

5 

You prepare a feast for me

    in the presence of my enemies.

You honor me by anointing my head with oil.

    My cup overflows with blessings.

6 

Surely your goodness and unfailing love will pursue me

    all the days of my life,

and I will live in the house of the Lord

    forever.

Read more

Daily Reading:  4-13-16

Isaiah 6:1-8  New Living Translation (NLT)

 

In our reading today, we recognize Isaiah (like Ezekiel) uses imagery to describe a heavenly realm that opens up to him in a vision; he sees the Lord.   This vision is Isaiah’s commission from the Lord to be a messenger to His people.  NOTE:  King Uzziah was a good king for Israel, but he tried to take over the high priest’s duties (not God’s idea) and God afflicted him with leprosy.  He was trying to do in human strength what only God can do.  As a result, during Uzziah’s reign many of the people wander away from their relationship with the Lord; they reject God’s holy ways for living.  As we read, we get a strong message that God alone decides who represents and speaks for Him; it requires a vision of Truth, repentance, a purifying touch, and a willing heart for the messenger.  Let’s read:

 

Isaiah’s Cleansing and Call

6 It was in the year King Uzziah (a permissive king 742BCE) died that I saw the Lord. He was sitting on a lofty throne, and the train of his robe filled the Temple. 2 Attending him were mighty seraphim, each having six wings. With two wings they covered their faces, with two they covered their feet, and with two they flew. 3 They were calling out to each other,

“Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of Heaven’s Armies!

    The whole earth is filled with his glory!”

 

4 Their voices shook the Temple to its foundations, and the entire building was filled with smoke.

 

5 Then I said, “It’s all over! I am doomed, for I am a sinful man. I have filthy lips, and I live among a people with filthy lips. Yet I have seen the King, the Lord of Heaven’s Armies.”

 

6 Then one of the seraphim flew to me with a burning coal he had taken from the altar with a pair of tongs. 7 He touched my lips with it and said, “See, this coal has touched your lips. Now your guilt is removed, and your sins are forgiven.”

8 Then I heard the Lord asking, “Whom should I send as a messenger to this people? Who will go for us?”

 

I said, “Here I am. Send me.”

Read more

Daily Reading:  4-12-16

Ezekiel 1:26-2:1  New Living Translation (NLT)

 

We continue in our reading today with Ezekiel’s vision of God and his call to prophetically speak God’s message of hope to an exiled people.  The call begins with Ezekiel seeing the Light.

 

1:26 And above the expanse over their heads there was the likeness of a throne, in appearance like sapphire; and seated above the likeness of a throne was a likeness with a human appearance. 27 And upward from what had the appearance of his waist I saw as it were gleaming metal, like the appearance of fire enclosed all around. And downward from what had the appearance of his waist I saw as it were the appearance of fire, and there was brightness around him. 28 Like the appearance of the bow that is in the cloud on the day of rain, so was the appearance of the brightness all around.

Such was the appearance of the likeness of the glory of the Lord. And when I saw it, I fell on my face, and I heard the voice of one speaking.

 

Ezekiel’s Call

2:1 And he said to me, “Son of man, stand on your feet, and I will speak with you.”

Read more

Daily Reading:  4-11-16

Ezekiel 1:1-25  New Living Translation (NLT)

 

Ezekiel (name translates God is strong) is called to be a prophet of God during Israel’s exile in Babylon around 571BC.  Ezekiel, approximately 30 years old, has several visions that reveal God’s absolute moral perfection.  The purpose of the vision(s) is to help Israel understand their sin or rebellion against God (why they have been taken captive), God’s greatness (draw them to divine dependence), as well as His power to help them overcome sin and reflect His holiness (a message of truth and hope).   

 

The vision Ezekiel has is categorized as apocalyptic (symbolic pictures that vividly convey an idea).  If you choose to do so, you can read a similar vision the Apostle John has in Revelation 4:6-7.  Read the passage below several times; don’t get too bogged down in the symbolism.

Read more

Daily Reading:  4-8-16

Psalm 30:6-12  New Living Translation (NLT)

 

Daily Reading:  4-8-16

Psalm 30:6-12  New Living Translation (NLT)

6 

When I was prosperous, I said,

    “Nothing can stop me now!”

7 

Your favor, O Lord, made me as secure as a mountain.

    Then you turned away from me, and I was shattered.

8 

I cried out to you, O Lord.

    I begged the Lord for mercy, saying,

9 

“What will you gain if I die,

    if I sink into the grave?

Can my dust praise you?

    Can it tell of your faithfulness?

10 

Hear me, Lord, and have mercy on me.

    Help me, O Lord.”

11 

You have turned my mourning into joyful dancing.

    You have taken away my clothes of mourning and clothed me with joy,

12 

that I might sing praises to you and not be silent.

    O Lord my God, I will give you thanks forever!

Read more

Daily Reading:  4-7-16

Psalm 30:1-5  New Living Translation (NLT)

A psalm of David. A song for the dedication of the Temple.

 

1 

I will exalt you, Lord, for you rescued me.

    You refused to let my enemies triumph over me.

2 

O Lord my God, I cried to you for help,

    and you restored my health.

3 

You brought me up from the grave, O Lord.

    You kept me from falling into the pit of death.

4 

Sing to the Lord, all you godly ones!

    Praise his holy name.

5 

For his anger lasts only a moment,

    but his favor lasts a lifetime!

Weeping may last through the night,

    but joy comes with the morning.

Read more

Daily Reading:  4-6-16

Psalm 122 New Living Translation (NLT)

 

6 

Pray for peace in Jerusalem.

    May all who love this city prosper.

7 

O Jerusalem, may there be peace within your walls

    and prosperity in your palaces.

8 

For the sake of my family and friends, I will say,

    “May you have peace.”

9 

For the sake of the house of the Lord our God,

    I will seek what is best for you, O Jerusalem.

Read more

Daily Reading:  4-5-16

Psalm 122 New Living Translation (NLT)

A song for pilgrims ascending to Jerusalem. A psalm of David.

1 

I was glad when they said to me,

    “Let us go to the house of the Lord.”

2 

And now here we are,

    standing inside your gates, O Jerusalem.

3 

Jerusalem is a well-built city;

    its seamless walls cannot be breached.

4 

All the tribes of Israel—the Lord’s people—

    make their pilgrimage here.

They come to give thanks to the name of the Lord,

    as the law requires of Israel.

5 

Here stand the thrones where judgment is given,

    the thrones of the dynasty of David.

6 

Pray for peace in Jerusalem.

    May all who love this city prosper.

7 

O Jerusalem, may there be peace within your walls

    and prosperity in your palaces.

8 

For the sake of my family and friends, I will say,

    “May you have peace.”

9 

For the sake of the house of the Lord our God,

    I will seek what is best for you, O Jerusalem.

Read more