Pastor Mary Haley

March 13, 2018

1 Corinthians 10:6-13 New Living Translation (NLT)

In our passage today from the Apostle Paul’s letter to the church in Corinth, he uses Israel’s exodus out of bondage, journey across the Red Sea, and into the wilderness as an example of spiritual immaturity.  God had performed miraculous things for Israel, yet they struggled with idolatry and arrogance.  We can always learn from history, because life brings temptation to everyone.  Let’s pay attention to our passage and allow Wisdom to teach us, today.

Read more

March 1, 2018

1 Peter 2:4-8 Contemporary English Version (CEV)

Scripture tells us how to build our lives and live in fellowship with the Lord.  We begin with a solid foundation; the Rock of Ages—Christ the Cornerstone—because he is Truth and entirely trustworthy.  We do not need to fear the future, because Christ is with us and able to deliver us into peace.  Choose to live by faith in the One who shines light and displaces darkness.  He is the Precious One everyone needs; the only One who can save us and give us worth and value.

1 Peter 2:4-8

4 Come to Jesus Christ. He is the living stone that people have rejected, but which God has chosen and highly honored. 5 And now you are living stones that are being used to build a spiritual house. You are also a group of holy priests, and with the help of Jesus Christ you will offer sacrifices that please God. 6 It is just as God says in the Scriptures,

Read more

February 28, 2018

John 12:36-43 New Living Translation (NLT)

From the beginning of time, despite the amazing and magnificent miracles of the Lord, people did not want to believe or submit to God.  Jesus did one healing after another as people witnessed the “praise of God” or power resting on Messiah.  Many were astounded, but did not believe or put their trust in Messiah even then.  

God is still moving in miraculous ways in our world, but many struggle to confess belief because loving Jesus and believing in the Living Word causes offense to others.  That is why Jesus said, “Blessed are those who are not offended by me” (Matthew 11:6).  Why would Jesus respond that way?  Because in Christ we have the invitation to allow the “praise of God” to rest on us as we live in fellowship with the Father.   But as we will see in our passage today, people sometimes desire human praise rather than the “praise of God.”   Allow the Word to do its work in your heart, mind, will, and emotions, and enjoy the “praise of God” abiding in your life.  It is SWEET!

Read more

February 27, 2018

Hebrews 11:1-3 New Living Translation (NLT)

It is our faith that rises like a sweet smelling fragrance before the Lord; our faith pleases the heart of God because it acknowledges the Lord as Source.  When we come to God with faith believing that he desires to bless us as his children; he is a proud Abba.  We all think we know what will make us happy or fulfilled as we pray and petition God, but sometimes we are looking at things from a very shallow perspective and unable to see the greater options.  That is why we come by faith to the throne of God.  He knows us and He knows our needs.  God knows your needs, today.

One thing we must all keep in mind, the rewards and treasures God imparts to us may not always be what we are looking for in the beginning nor recognize as such when they arrive.  Those spiritual blessings will, however, be the very things we are the most grateful for as time goes on.  God knows how to give good gifts to his children; they are always eternally connected to the inheritance of Christ the Anointed One. Put your faith out for the Lord and expect him to bless you because of Jesus!  Be an example of great faith by believing for God to meet every need in your life.

Read more

February 26, 2018

Genesis 21:1-7 New Living Translation (NLT)

God is all-powerful and he can stretch the limits and cause unheard of events to occur.  The rhema (uttered/spoken) word of the Lord came to Abram announcing he and Sarai would be having a child in their old age.  They had to believe by faith that God would fulfill his promise no matter how challenging the circumstances.  God delivered His promise into their arms. So, by faith put your trust in God, because he is able to do exceedingly, abundantly, above all you could ask or think according to the power that works in us (Ephesians 3:20).

Read more

February 22, 2018

Romans 3:21-31 New Living Translation (NLT)

God chose for his children to be saved by faith through grace.  Why do you think God chose faith as the necessary action for salvation?  I believe it is because faith presses us to admit there is nothing we can do to save ourselves. God is holy and we are sinners in need of cleansing and the impartation of the Spirit of Holiness.  Faith exalts what God has done for us—taking our sins upon himself—and our willingness to simply receive his gift of forgiveness.  Faith calls us into relationship with a loving God who wants us to know the extent to which he would go to bring righteousness to us so he can be with us. Amazing!  Thank you, God!

In our passage today, the Apostle Paul is reminding the church in Rome about their need for faith in Jesus Christ.  He also challenges the new believers to continue the journey with the Spirit of Holiness; being made into the image of Christ (Love) one day at a time.  Don’t stop your journey at the cross.  Bow at the cross, then move beyond it to find the richness of grace awaiting to bring you even closer to our Holy and Loving Lord. Ponder that for a moment, because it should excite your soul!

Read more

February 20, 2018

1 Peter 3:8-18 New Living Translation (NLT)

There are many, many wonderful lessons in our reading today.  We are brought to God through Christ and we are to have his mindset.  What is the mindset of Christ?  To see ourselves as one household connected to Christ.  That means we deeply appreciate and serve one another and keep a clear conscience of how we love each other.  There should be no relationships stronger on earth than our spiritual connections in Christ who is Love incarnate and the Head of the Church (believers).  We are his Body reaching out to others, moving in synchronicity with the Spirit, to serve in God’s mission of salvation.

Read more

February 19, 2018

Ephesians 2:1-10 New Living Translation (NLT)

In the days of Noah, God brought a flood.  Noah and his family were in the ark; they were both saved by the water and saved from the water.  They were saved by the Spirit from the flooding judgment of Almighty God.  And, that water of the Spirit is a picture of baptism that now saves us through a response to God from a clean conscience.  Baptism is effective because of the resurrection of Jesus Christ (1 Peter 3:20-21).

Because of the Spirit, we are now made alive with the resurrected Christ.  We are baptized into the Spirit of Christ.  We can follow his lead for our lives and we can have his strength to live in the love and presence of God so we can do the good things he has planned for us.  There is no fear and no judgment; we are saved to Testify!

Read more

Daily Reading 11-3-17

Psalm 43:5 Good News Translation (GNT)

Human emotions are fickle; they can run high and then low without much warning.  As well, they can be difficult to tame and bring under the authority of the Lord.  When our emotions run low and we find ourselves sad or discouraged, we should not just “sit in our sadness.”  Instead, we need to open the Word of God and receive wisdom from the many heroes of the faith.  What did they do when they felt this way?  They meditated on the goodness of the Lord. 

Read more

Daily Reading 11-1-17

Matthew 5:1-12 Amplified Bible (AMP)

Over the past three days the Lord has been drawing my attention to the word, “Blessed or Blessing.”  In the Greek, the word “blessed” is translated using many different descriptive words that are all interconnected.  In today’s passage, I will use brackets to highlight a greater understanding of the word “blessed,” as well as the response of God on behalf of those pursuing the “blessing.”  Enjoy the teaching for today from the Word of God; you who are blessed of the Lord.

Read more