Pastor Mary Haley

April 4, 2018

Psalm 118 Good News Translation (GNT)

Our Lord is gracious and wonderfully good.  He fights our sin; he takes it on as his own.  He is the Victor and we are his righteous receivers.  Every heart needs the Lord and the power outflowing his resurrection.  Salvation connects us in order to be raised by the Father.  Because we belong to the Lord, not only do we have life eternal, we can overcome anything that comes against us.  The battle belongs to the Lord and he is always victorious in love.

Surrender your concerns and challenges to the Lord.  He loves you; He will deliver you and bring you through. He is the Savior.

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April 3, 2018

1 Corinthians 15:50-58 (NLT)

Our passage today is a continuation of the spiritual lesson from yesterday about the resurrected bodies that we will one day occupy; a future with immortality.  Because of our present human limitations, we look forward to a time when we no longer suffer from those physical, emotional, or mental challenges.  

In the meantime, God’s grace is sufficient to carry us through whatever we face while in these mortal bodies. It requires living in the power outflowing Christ’s resurrection; the firstborn of the resurrection.  We will explore more about resurrection living in the weeks to come.  We need each other as we love one another through our human limitations.  Remember, nothing we every do in the name of Christ to share mercy and offer help to one another or further the Kingdom is ever wasted.  God sees and knows. He is glorified in our lives when we press on to love him wholeheartedly and love one another.

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April 2, 2018

1 Corinthians 15:35-49 (NLT)

In our passage today, the Apostle Paul tells us our resurrected bodies will reflect our individual personalities only they will be perfected because of Jesus Christ. Can you imagine your life with no sickness, no disease, and no death?  Jesus, the last Adam, is the life giver who will bring us into resurrection.  We will receive a new body that is suitable for eternal living.  We have a good, good Father!  Amen?

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March 30, 2018

John 18:1-19:42

In the life of Jesus, let us always remember to look for the heart of God and evaluate our hearts as they relate and seek to follow him.  Every time we confess Jesus with our mouths, acknowledge the authority of his Word, and move in agreement, we are exalting him as Lord of our lives.  Jesus—the Lord Most High—suffered at the hands of his creation; the very ones to whom he gave life turned and crucified him.  

With this sobering thought, we know there are times we crucify the Word rather than live it.  Maybe we do not like what it says; so we deny and reject it.  Maybe we do not understand how it relates to our lives, so we ignore it. And, maybe we actually understand what the Word is asking of us and we are simply unwilling to obey it.

If we have invited Jesus into our hearts—the garden of our being where the seed of Love has been planted—we have the privilege of knowing the heart of the Father. His love for us is sacrificial and he will love us forever.  Let us praise God for his love everyday. 

If we have made Jesus the Lord of our lives, we possess the power to love and serve others like Christ because he lives in us and causes our love to grow.  That is another level of trust and intimacy with God that many followers are afraid to embrace.  We must never forget we have the freedom to entomb the Lord in our hearts and never share him.  Or, we can publicly confess him, but if he is not Lord we will never deny ourselves, pick up our cross and follow him in order to extend sacrificial love to others the way he commands. 

In our lengthy passage today, Jesus will lay down his life.  The Word—Jesus—will submit himself to be beaten and killed…but, death and darkness will never hold back the Light of Truth which leads to Eternal Life.  Truth, Life, and Love are in the Word.

Jesus just finished praying, “Righteous Father, though the world does not know you, I know you…may your love for me be in them and that I myself may be in them” (John 17:25-26).

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March 29, 2018

1 Corinthians 11:23-26  New Living Translation

Today is known as Maundy Thursday; the Last Supper Jesus shared with his disciples.   The word Maundy is derived from the Latin word for “mandate” or “command.” We are mandated or commanded by Christ to love one another in humility, remember what he has done for us by laying down his life, and give Father God thanks for it.  Let love fill your heart today; because God so loved the world that He gave His Son to take our place in death so we could join him in eternal life.  

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March 28, 2018

John 13:21-32 New Living Translation

In our passage today, we read about the betrayal of Jesus by Judas.  Betrayal will always be an ongoing issue in life.  Betrayal has to do with a violation of trust.  The Bible describes betrayal as an enemy masquerading as a friend.  An common example of this definition would be someone saying nice things to your face to gain your favor, but verbally criticizing you when he or she is with others in order to make himself or herself look better.  People do it all the time and think nothing of it, but Scripture teaches it is sin. It is similar to the sin of gossip but leaves deeper wounds and it is built on the foundation of arrogance/pride.  Maybe you have tasted betrayal; if so, be comforted because Jesus understands.  

How does Jesus treat his betrayer?  Jesus loves him.  It can only be done by submitting to the grace and power of God Almighty.  Jesus stays focus on his mission, forgives Judas, and keeps seeking to please the Father.  He did not let this single betrayer taint him from loving and trusting his other friends.  And, God was glorified.

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March 27, 2018

John 12:20-36 New Living Translation

In our passage today, Jesus sets out to explain to those listening—both Jews and Greeks—that he must die.  This is not the picture of Messiah people have been wanting and hoping would come as God’s Promise of salvation.  When Jesus did not meet the expectations of people, he was rejected.  It was true then and it remains true.  

Jesus is the light we need to navigate the dark places in life. He is the Savior who brings us grace for each moment and delivers us from evil.   He has offered to be the light for us and then he calls us to be the light for others.  Is the light of Christ shining brightly in your life?

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March 26, 2018

John 12:1-11 New Living Translation

I love our reading for today. Jesus’ dear friends are focused on bringing glory to God. Lazarus is given new resurrected life and cannot stop talking about it with everyone he meets.  Martha is back in the kitchen serving others; using her gift of hospitality.  Mary is extravagantly worshiping at the feet of Jesus.  

However, at the very same time Satan is also focused on defeating Jesus.  Judas is planning to betray the Messiah.  Seekers are trying to decide if they believe the story about Lazarus.  And, the chief priests are planning to kill Lazarus.

The Kingdom is advancing and increasing, but Satan still tries to hinder it.  As you and I make progress in our relationship with Christ, we must expect some opposition.  Stay strong in the power of His might.  Stay the course and hold on to His righteousness.  No weapon Satan forms against you can prosper; submit yourself to God, resist Satan, and he will flee.

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March 23, 2018

Philippians 2:12-18 New Living Translation

The results of our salvation should be an abundance of joy radiating like beams of light from our being.  Salvation is such a gift; the revelation of the depths of God’s love and favor extended to us should completely overwhelm us with joy.  Are you overwhelmed with the revelation of God’s love for you?  Here is what you need to remember: even if you were the only person in the world, he still would have gone to the cross so you might live knowing his love for you.  So, shine brightly and give God the glory.

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March 20, 2018

Psalm 119:9-16 Living Bible (TLB)

John and I are presently in the midst of remodeling my mother’s condo; it was in need of quite a bit of work.  There’s one problem, the inside of the condo is covered with drywall dust and debris of every kind.  Sometimes I stop by and try to get some things done after being at the church during the day.  Every time I go to the condo to do anything I get dirty…really dirty.  How does one keep clean in a filthy environment?  

The psalmist asks a similar question, how can we keep our hearts clean and pursue the presence of God when the world we occupy is a filthy environment?  The answer is to stay in God’s Word, follow God’s instructions, and allow ourselves to surrender to the power of the Spirit.

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