Pastor Mary Haley

Daily Reading: 5-13-16

Galatians 6:7-10 New Living Translation 

 

There is an age old saying, “You reap what you sow.” This saying is Truth; the wise in life convincingly testify to it. According to the Apostle Paul, every human being either deliberately or passively plants seeds into the ground of time each day. Once those seeds are released through words or actions, they begin to take root and grow. We may not be able to see the initial growth of the seeds, but the justice of God has placed a law over nature promising that planted seeds produce a harvest of some kind. Let me refresh your memory. 

 

God promised Noah he would never again curse the ground because of human sin and evil. In His promise, God said, “As long as the earth remains, there will be planting and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, day and night” (Genesis 8:22). This is a promise that manifests in physical, emotional, and spiritual applications or realms. It’s not just about a farmer planting crops like corn. The lesson is about every individual responsibly taking action to plant something “Good” into the ground of a day that will produce a positive harvest of Goodness for tomorrow. Good grows Goodness. Goodness is not a passive quality; rather it is the deliberate preference of being right with God. Goodness is a fruit of the indwelling Spirit of God. God is Good and His Goodness is seen in Scripture by how He deals with people. Let’s read it together:

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Daily Reading: 5-12-16

Galatians 5:16-25 New Living Translation 

 

Humans may have the greatest of intentions to accomplish really good things for God and still fall short or fail.  We can accept the work of Christ on the cross and receive his forgiveness and still find ourselves struggling to stay faithful or fruitful.  Sometimes we fail because the things we intend to accomplish are not God’s plan or desire for us.  Because God has given us the ability to choose our path, we may find our personal desires are in conflict with God’s desires for His Kingdom people. The Kingdom of God is a spiritual realm where righteousness, peace and joy have dominion; King Jesus is the Ruler.  Sometimes we fall short of manifesting good things that reveal God’s Kingdom, because we just don’t possess the character endurance to press on when things become more difficult for us.  God understands our dilemma and has provided a way.

 

We must remember there is a gap that was formed by sin between our natural intentions and manifestation of the Good that pleases God; that gap needs to be filled with spiritual substance and power that comes from outside our own energy and ability.  The Apostle Paul reminds us that Person of substance or Helper with power we need is the Holy Spirit.  The Spirit of God is the perfect One to fill, motivate, and guide believers to accomplish what God desires for our lives; what God determines is Good for us as His children.

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Daily Reading: 5-11-16

Luke 9:18-27 New Living Translation 

 

Many people have opinions about God; who He is and how Jesus may or may not play a role in the divine Presence. Many religions acknowledge Jesus’ loving leadership in some form or another. Yet, Jesus was not just some amazing leader, prophet, teacher or healer. Jesus Christ strategically meets a lost humanity in a moment of authentic seeking; spiritual exploration to understand the God who claims to be Love. 

 

In our reading today, the disciples have just witnessed Jesus feeding 5,000 men with a sack lunch: five loaves and two fish. By the way, when everyone was fed there were still leftovers. Seriously? Peter and the other disciples are still shaking their heads and wondering who this Jesus really is and how this miracle fits with their image of Almighty God whose Presence they believe lives in the Temple. Jesus knows when we seek and he responds to help the disciples discover Truth.

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Daily Reading:  5-10-16

Acts 26:19-29  New Living Translation 

Paul returns to Jerusalem where he is told by his friends of the many rumors traveling around religious circles about him and his missionary ministry.  Paul is being accused by religious leaders of teaching things that are against the instructions of Moses; circumcision.  As well, Paul is accused of defiling the temple by bringing in non-Jews or Gentiles.  Paul spends the next seven days in prayer and fulfilling Jewish customs in order to demonstrate he is not against the leaders.   He still practices the Jewish lifestyle; he goes the extra mile to avoid offending the religious leaders.  However, there is still a huge uprising when Paul goes to the Temple.  The Jews try to kill him.  Well, the Romans hear about the altercation and go into the mob in order to identify Paul and the reason for the riot.

 

Jerusalem was the seat of Jewish government, but Caesarea was the Roman headquarters for the area.  Paul was a Jew and a Roman citizen, so he was sent to Caesarea to stand trial.  First, Paul stands trial before Felix, the Roman governor, but Felix avoids judgment in order to keep a level of peace.  The Jews are not happy with Felix’s decision.  Paul is kept in prison for two years until Felix is moved back to Rome and Festus becomes governor.  King Agrippa, descendent of Herod the Great and of Jewish descent, travels to attend the trial, because he is responsible for the Temple.  Agrippa and Festus are seeking to govern together.  Paul tells these men the story of his encounter with the resurrected Lord on the road to Damascus and Christ’s appointment for Paul to be a witness of what he has seen of the eternal Lord.  We pick up our reading with Paul’s trial before Festus and Agrippa.

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Daily Reading:  5-9-16

Acts 16:35-40  New Living Translation 

 

The Apostle Paul and his missionary companion, Silas, have been unjustly beaten and placed in jail while in Philippi.  The reason for this treatment is because Paul decides to cast a demon out of a young girl.  The demon in this girl speaks the truth about Paul, Silas, and God, but is doing so in order to make evil look godly—remember Satan comes as an angel of light to rob the glory from God.  Paul takes issue with the lie by casting out the demon.  He makes a lot of people angry, because they are making money from the evil in this girl; the evil fed money fountain becomes dry.

 

While Paul and Silas are in prison (unjust place) singing praises to God and witnessing about God’s glory to the fellow inmates, God sends an earthquake to bring them freedom.  The chains fall off and the cell doors open; the God of Justice moves in behalf of His children.  The jailer tries to kill himself because he is afraid all the prisoners have escaped; it’s what he would have done.  Yet, Paul and Silas remain in the jail in order to bring salvation to the jailer and his family.  We pick up our reading from there…

 

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Daily Reading:  5-6-16

Psalm 97 The Voice Version

 

This morning we will read from Psalm 97 from the Voice version.  I read it in three different translations and I just really liked this one and wanted to share it.  In a world where so many people focus on temporal things, this passage is a wonderful Word for turning our heads to recognize the power and work of the Eternal God.  

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Daily Reading:  5-5-16

Ephesians 1:15-23 New Living Translation (NLT)

 

In his letter to the church at Ephesus, the Apostle Paul exhorts the people for the growth of their love.  He praises God for them; he prays for them to receive a spirit of wisdom and revelation in their connection to Christ.

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Daily Reading:  5-4-16

Luke 2:25-38 New Living Translation (NLT)

 

In our reading from Luke, today, we are in Jerusalem at the Temple.  We meet Simeon; a Spirit-empowered man who is holding on to a promise from the Lord regarding Israel’s Messiah.  As, well, we find Joseph and Mary who have come to fulfill their sacred obligations by presenting Jesus to the Lord.  We meet Anna, a woman devoted to worshiping God.  In a divine appointment, the promise and the present (sign) intersect at a point of revelation; the prophecy is proclaimed to be fulfilled by two witnesses.

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Daily Reading:  5-3-16

Psalm 93 New Living Translation (NLT)

 

I have decided to spend more time this morning meditating on Psalm 93. God loves me and takes care of me; I am touched by His glory.  I believe it; yet, there is more here I need to understand.  

  

1 

The Lord is king! He is robed in majesty.

    Indeed, the Lord is robed in majesty and armed with strength.

The world stands firm

    and cannot be shaken.

2 

Your throne, O Lord, has stood from time immemorial.

    You yourself are from the everlasting past.

3 

The floods have risen up, O Lord.

    The floods have roared like thunder;

    the floods have lifted their pounding waves.

4 

But mightier than the violent raging of the seas,

    mightier than the breakers on the shore—

    the Lord above is mightier than these!

5 

Your royal laws cannot be changed.

    Your reign, O Lord, is holy forever and ever.

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Daily Reading:  5-2-16

Psalm 93 New Living Translation (NLT)

 

During my quiet times, I sometimes sit looking out over the beauty of creation and allow my thoughts to wander in the Love of God.  It is a special time where I give myself permission to let go of thoughts of pressing duties or expectations and I just enjoy the freedom to daydream about life.  If you know me at all, you realize this place of wandering is an exercise in discipline because I function by a to-do list and a schedule of order most of the time because the many responsibilities I carry require it. These quiet moments are gifts for Mary, because they allow me to focus on things beyond my influence and control; they allow me to remember Who is actually in control.

 

1 

The Lord is king! He is robed in majesty.

    Indeed, the Lord is robed in majesty and armed with strength.

The world stands firm

    and cannot be shaken.

2 

Your throne, O Lord, has stood from time immemorial.

    You yourself are from the everlasting past.

3 

The floods have risen up, O Lord.

    The floods have roared like thunder;

    the floods have lifted their pounding waves.

4 

But mightier than the violent raging of the seas,

    mightier than the breakers on the shore—

    the Lord above is mightier than these!

5 

Your royal laws cannot be changed.

    Your reign, O Lord, is holy forever and ever.

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