Pastor Mary Haley

Daily Reading 7-3-17

1 Thessalonians 4:9-12a Living Bible (TLB)

 

I want to thank the leadership of Connect2Christ Church, as well as the membership at large in how they have loved me and my family especially this past year. Loving and caring for my Mom has been and continues to be a great honor; it also consumes much of my time and energy.  Although we are home, I am taking this week to rest and enjoy some time with John as we celebrate our 39th wedding anniversary.  

 

How Christians actively love one another is a big deal with our Father; because Father God is Love.  As His children we are to exemplify His holy character in how we display our love and concern for one another.  We are to be a positive force in society; acting independently in the liberating love the Spirit of the Lord brings us. 

 

In our lesson this morning, the Apostle Paul is writing to the Church at Thessalonica to remind them of the importance of being responsible in every area of life.  It is a developmental journey of allowing the Holy Spirit to make us good examples of how grace and love are operating in our lives. The results should be that others who do not know the love of God, will see it in action and desire a relationship with God, as well.  Every day we should honestly examine our love walk to make sure we are living in the character, integrity, and moral courage provided to us by the Lord.

 

9 But concerning the pure brotherly love that there should be among God’s people, I don’t need to say very much, I’m sure! For God himself is teaching you to love one another. 10 Indeed, your love is already strong toward all the Christian brothers throughout your whole nation. Even so, dear friends, we beg you to love them more and more. 11 This should be your ambition: to live a quiet life, minding your own business and doing your own work, just as we told you before. 12 As a result, people who are not Christians will trust and respect you;

 

Prayer:  Lord, your love is perfect and all consuming.  Help me to love as you love and to be responsible in every area of my life.  Thank you for this time of rest and recuperation.  Thank you for the love of my spiritual family.  In Jesus’ name.  Amen.

 

Daily Reading 6-30-17

Galatians 5:7-10 New Living Translation (NLT)

 

Since the coming of Christ, humanity has experienced a propensity for choosing a legalistic approach to faith rather than the gospel of grace Christ actually modeled and taught.  Christ modeled the perfect fulfillment of the Law given to Moses by God; therefore, as we live and move and have our being in Christ we will learn how to obey God’s true Word as it is spoken to our hearts.  The Spirit speaks and we listen and obey.  Christ’s followers are not to be burdened by the “job description or code” of how to earn salvation by following the Law in our own strength.  Apart from Christ and the power of his Spirit, we cannot begin to obey.  If we try to make ourselves holy by practicing a do’s and don’ts list, we will fail every time.

 

Either we believe in the work of Christ on the cross to save us from our sins or we do not.  Grace provides forgiveness for our sins when we believe.  The cross is where the truth of grace actually begins; where we begin the training race of faith in the Spirit who brings holiness to human life.   If we are being taught anything other than obedience to the Word in us, we are leaning toward false teaching or legalism.  Christ came to set us free, so we could learn from him as we live life.  How loving is he?  Thank Amazing Grace!

 

In our passage, today, the Apostle Paul continues his letter to the Church at Galatia.  Legalism is an issue and the person teaching it is distorting the gospel. Mary paraphrasing the Apostle, “Come back to the truth and run the race in Christ!”  Blessings for your day…

 

Galatians 5:7-12 Christ Has Set Us Free

7 You were running the race so well. Who has held you back from following the truth? 8 It certainly isn’t God, for he is the one who called you to freedom. 9 This false teaching is like a little yeast that spreads through the whole batch of dough! 10 I am trusting the Lord to keep you from believing false teachings. God will judge that person, whoever he is, who has been confusing you.

 

Prayer: Father, please help me to stay focused on learning, because that is what you have called me to do in my connection to Christ.  Today, I am going to take steps and I want each one to count for your Kingdom.  Thank you for taking my sin, so I may learn from you how to operate in holy love.  In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Daily Reading 6-29-17

Galatians 5:4-6 The Message (MSG)

 

Over the past few days we have been reminded in our readings to keep Jesus, the Living Word, our first love by inviting the Spirit to teach us how to honor his name.  It is a consistent message we find in the gospels, because Jesus taught his disciples, “If you love me you will obey my commandments” (John 14:15).  In other words, if we have really taken to heart the gospel of grace, we will respond with respect to the Word of the Lord by allowing its authority to bring a change in our thoughts and behavior.  Obedience to God’s Word or Commands is how we are conformed to the image of God’s Love.

 

Today, we will gain a glimpse of what I just mentioned above from a letter the Apostle Paul wrote to the Church in Galatia reminding them the gospel is not about an exterior practice of a religious system.   Rather, the gospel is a faith-instigated internal obedience to the Word that becomes externally visible in our love walk.  How do you see the authority and work of the Word?  Do you understand and appropriate the power of the gospel of grace?  Pray and ask the Lord to reveal His heart to you regarding this Word, today.

 

4-6 I suspect you would never intend this, but this is what happens. When you attempt to live by your own religious plans and projects, you are cut off from Christ, you fall out of grace. Meanwhile we expectantly wait for a satisfying relationship with the Spirit. For in Christ, neither our most conscientious religion nor disregard of religion amounts to anything. What matters is something far more interior: faith expressed in love.

 

Prayer:  Lord, help me to be quick to obey your Word to my heart, today.  I will recognize my level of obedience by how well I love and extend the fruit of the Spirit, today.  In Jesus’ name.  Amen.

Daily Reading 6-28-17

Psalm 86:11-13 New Living Translation (NLT)

 

We can all testify to times when we really needed help.  In our passage this morning, the psalmist is reaching out to God in prayer in order to gain help.  What does he want help with?  He wants the Lord to teach him how to honor His name.  Let our prayer today be, “Lord, teach me how to honor your name, today!”  

 

Teach me your ways, O Lord,

    that I may live according to your truth!

Grant me purity of heart,

    so that I may honor you.

12 

With all my heart I will praise you, O Lord my God.

    I will give glory to your name forever,

13 

for your love for me is very great.

    You have rescued me from the depths of death.

 

Prayer:  Lord, please hear my prayer and teach me anew how to honor your name.  I want to bring glory to you.  In Jesus’ name.  Amen.

 

Daily Reading 6-27-17

Psalm 89:14-18 Living Bible (TLB)

 

Are you aware you need the Lord’s support: A vertical support system?  The Lord is the strength we need in every relationship and in every detail of life.  His ways are righteous and just; it is how He rules.  If we find ourselves dealing with others in an unrighteous, unmerciful, or unjust way, we are not walking in the light of His presence.  In order to reflect his reputation, we must rest on His support system.  Evaluate your ways before the Lord and receive His strength for Life.  He wants to be your King.

 

14-15 Your throne is founded on two strong pillars—the one is Justice and the other Righteousness.  Mercy and Truth walk before you as your attendants. Blessed are those who hear the joyful blast of the trumpet, for they shall walk in the light of your presence. 16 They rejoice all day long in your wonderful reputation and in your perfect righteousness. 17 You are their strength. What glory! Our power is based on your favor! 18 Yes, our protection is from the Lord himself and he, the Holy One of Israel, has given us our king.

 

Prayer:  Lord, thank you for the solid foundation you place in my soul for your throne in my life.  Help me to walk in righteousness and justice.  In Jesus’ name.  Amen.

Daily Reading 6-26-17

Revelation 2:1-7 New Living Translation (NLT)

 

In our reading today, we turn to the Book of Revelation and read a letter to the Church in Ephesus.  Ephesus was surrounded by pagan worshipers; they worshipped the goddess Diana and many people in the community had no fear/respect of the Lord.  Although Christ commends the Church for being faithful with a variety of things, he corrects them for leaving their first Love.  Do you love Jesus today as much as you did when you first met him?

 

Revelation 2:1-7  The Message to the Church in Ephesus

1 “Write this letter to the angel of the church in Ephesus. This is the message from the one who holds the seven stars in his right hand, the one who walks among the seven gold lampstands:

 

2 “I know all the things you do. I have seen your hard work and your patient endurance. I know you don’t tolerate evil people. You have examined the claims of those who say they are apostles but are not. You have discovered they are liars. 3 You have patiently suffered for me without quitting.

 

4 “But I have this complaint against you. You don’t love me or each other as you did at first! 5 Look how far you have fallen! Turn back to me and do the works you did at first. If you don’t repent, I will come and remove your lampstand from its place among the churches. 6 But this is in your favor: You hate the evil deeds of the Nicolaitans, just as I do.

 

7 “Anyone with ears to hear must listen to the Spirit and understand what he is saying to the churches. To everyone who is victorious I will give fruit from the tree of life in the paradise of God.

 

Prayer:  Lord, I love you and desire to be a light shining for you in this world.  In Jesus’ name.  Amen.

 

Daily Reading 5-2-17
1 Peter 2:1-3 New Living Translation (NLT)

Scripture teaches we have been given new birth by Christ’s atoning sacrifice for our sins. He has extended mercy and kindness in dying for our sins (the penalty for our sin is death) and our response for this gift of life should be gratitude and surrender. Our new birth means a new beginning and a new way to live; living by the Word of God rather than our feelings and our flesh. Our flesh thrives on doing what makes us feel good; however, that is usually exalting the flesh over the Lord. In order to move beyond infancy, we must be nourished by the Word.


1 Peter 2:1-3 New Living Translation (NLT)
2 So get rid of all evil behavior. Be done with all deceit, hypocrisy, jealousy, and all unkind speech. 2 Like newborn babies, you must crave pure spiritual milk so that you will grow into a full experience of salvation. Cry out for this nourishment, 3 now that you have had a taste of the Lord’s kindness.

Prayer: Lord, I am going to spend time every day in your Word; feed me until I can hold no more. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Daily Reading 4-3-17

Acts 20:7-12  New Living Translation (NLT)

 

Do you love going to church and listening to the Word of God being taught?  Are you spiritually hungry to the point that you can’t get enough of Christ’s teaching?  People in the early church were so eager to hear about the work of Christ, they would meet together around the clock in order to hear more of the Good News.   The Apostle Paul never tired of sharing about Christ.  As long as people would listen, he would preach.  

 

Have you ever fallen asleep in church?  In our passage today, we read about a young man who was attending a church service on the third floor of a building. The service went on for hours and hours.  This young man fell asleep while sitting on the window ledge.  This Scripture gives new meaning to the phrase “falling out” in the Spirit!

 

Acts 20:7-12  Paul’s Final Visit to Troas

7 On the first day of the week, we gathered with the local believers to share in the Lord’s Supper.Paul was preaching to them, and since he was leaving the next day, he kept talking until midnight. 8 The upstairs room where we met was lighted with many flickering lamps. 9 As Paul spoke on and on, a young man named Eutychus, sitting on the windowsill, became very drowsy. Finally, he fell sound asleep and dropped three stories to his death below. 10 Paul went down, bent over him, and took him into his arms. “Don’t worry,” he said, “he’s alive!” 11 Then they all went back upstairs, shared in the Lord’s Supper,[b] and ate together. Paul continued talking to them until dawn, and then he left. 12 Meanwhile, the young man was taken home alive and well, and everyone was greatly relieved.

 

Prayer:  Lord, make me hungry for more and more of your Word.  Keep me hungry for more of your presence.  Be blessed by my desire to enjoy you.  In Jesus’ name.  Amen.

Daily Reading 3-21-17

1 Corinthians 10:1-7, 12-13

 

I have made many mistakes over the past sixty years.   How about you?  Scripture teaches a wise person learns from his or her past mistakes.  I strongly believe we can learn not only from our own mistakes, but from the mistakes of others around us.  We can evaluate the success or failure of life choices and learn from them; our choices can become wiser.  We can grow more spiritually.  God expects us to learn from mistakes.

 

Our Scripture for today has the Apostle Paul telling the early church in Corinth about the mistakes the Israelites made worshiping other gods.  Why would he dig up the past?  So these new Christians might not make the same mistakes.

 

1 Corinthians 10:1-7, 12-13 Lessons from Israel’s Idolatry

10 I don’t want you to forget, dear brothers and sisters, about our ancestors in the wilderness long ago. All of them were guided by a cloud that moved ahead of them, and all of them walked through the sea on dry ground. 2 In the cloud and in the sea, all of them were baptized as followers of Moses. 3 All of them ate the same spiritual food, 4 and all of them drank the same spiritual water. For they drank from the spiritual rock that traveled with them, and that rock was Christ.  5 Yet God was not pleased with most of them, and their bodies were scattered in the wilderness.

 

6 These things happened as a warning to us, so that we would not crave evil things as they did, 7 or worship idols as some of them did.

 

12 If you think you are standing strong, be careful not to fall. 13 The temptations in your life are no different from what others experience. And God is faithful. He will not allow the temptation to be more than you can stand. When you are tempted, he will show you a way out so that you can endure. 

 

Prayer:  Father, thank you for the lessons I have learned from my mistakes and from watching others.  Continue to teach me wisdom.  In Jesus’ name.  Amen.

Daily Reading 3-13-17

Hebrews 3:1-6 New Living Translation

 

Human identity is a big deal.  As Christ followers, our journey is one of discovering who God created us to be.  Each one of us is unique, so purpose should be lingering in our minds.  We are all called to leave an honorable human legacy, as well as an inspiring mark for God in this world.  Jesus makes a huge difference in our lives for the glory of God.

 

The author(s) of Hebrews reminds us Moses was used mightily by God as people followed him; he left a tremendous legacy and mark for the Jewish people.  But, Jesus came to call all people to follow him for the glory of God. In our text this morning, the supremacy of Christ is recognized so he may draw all of humanity to himself and thereby make a connection to God.  

 

Hebrews 3:1-6 Jesus Is Greater Than Moses

3 And so, dear brothers and sisters who belong to God and are partners with those called to heaven, think carefully about this Jesus whom we declare to be God’s messenger and High Priest. 2 For he was faithful to God, who appointed him, just as Moses served faithfully when he was entrusted with God’s entire house.

 

3 But Jesus deserves far more glory than Moses, just as a person who builds a house deserves more praise than the house itself. 4 For every house has a builder, but the one who built everything is God.

 

5 Moses was certainly faithful in God’s house as a servant. His work was an illustration of the truths God would reveal later. 6 But Christ, as the Son, is in charge of God’s entire house. And we are God’s house, if we keep our courage and remain confident in our hope in Christ.

 

Prayer:  Father, may my life in Christ be an honorable example of your grace in action and may you receive all the glory for having accomplished it.  Thank you for giving me Jesus and the work of your Spirit to change how I view my life.  In Jesus’ name.  Amen.