Pastor Mary Haley

2 Corinthians 9:1-5 (NIV)

1There is no need for me to write to you about this service to the Lord’s people. 2 For I know your eagerness to help, and I have been boasting about it to the Macedonians, telling them that since last year you in Achaia were ready to give; and your enthusiasm has stirred most of them to action. 3 But I am sending the brothers in order that our boasting about you in this matter should not prove hollow, but that you may be ready, as I said you would be. 4 For if any Macedonians come with me and find you unprepared, we—not to say anything about you—would be ashamed of having been so confident. 5 So I thought it necessary to urge the brothers to visit you in advance and finish the arrangements for the generous gift you had promised. Then it will be ready as a generous gift, not as one grudgingly given.

Chapter 9 is a continuation of chapter 8, of Paul’s letter to the church in Corinth. He is writing to encourage these believers in Christ to remain enthusiastic and committed to their promise of a generous gift to help the Christians who are suffering in Jerusalem. He even boasts about their gift to the poor churches in Macedonian. To ensure that their commitment has not faded, Paul sends Titus and brothers from other churches ahead of his arrival.

You might be thinking, what’s the big deal if these believers decide to adjust their committed gift or if they choose to not give at all? Paul goes on within the chapter to help us understand that when we make a commitment it is a heart matter (agreement) between us and God, “whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously” (9:6). God blesses those who are a blessing and who allow His work to operate through them. These blessings go far beyond this physical journey; as “others will praise God for the obedience that accompanies your confession of the Gospel of Christ, and for your generosity in sharing with them and with everyone else” (9:13) So, the “committed gift” ends up being a huge deal, not because it’s monetary, but because it’s a “confession of the Gospel of Christ” and it’s about your “generosity in sharing with everyone”.

Prayer: Jesus, thank you for Your precious Word which ministers to my heart. Please guide me to remain committed to where you call me each day and may Your generous Spirit flow through me so that I may share the most precious gift of confessing Your Gospel. I ask all of this in Your Name, Jesus. Amen.

Written By: Jen Auer, Pastor Mary Haley’s Assistant

Psalm 88:9 NLT“My eyes are blinded by my tears. Each day I beg for your help, O LORD; I lift my hands to you for mercy.”

When you are faced with a storm in your life what do you do? As your “eyes are blinded by tears”, amid the storm, where are you? While the storm surrounds you are you “lifting your hands to the Lord” in prayer and trusting in His “mercy”? Here is a simple question, do you face a storm like cattle (cows/bulls) or like buffalo? Before you think I’ve completely lost my mind, a herd of cattle respond completely different than a herd of buffalo to a severe storm. When a herd of cattle see a storm coming, after lying down, they turn and move/run in the opposite direction; and when a herd of buffalo see a storm coming, they wait for the storm to be overhead, and then they charge into the storm. The cattle unfortunately are not fast and never outrun the storm. In fact, they get caught up in the storm and many times end up running with it. Both herds inevitably face the storm, only the cattle face it longer and with exhaustion, while the buffalo minimize the storm’s impact by breaking through it, with more energy, and into the LIGHT of the sun (SON) which is visible when on the other side of the storm.

Jesus never promised us that we wouldn’t face storms on our earthly journeys; in fact, as we learned during last week’s time of worship, and from the Gospel of Mark (4:35-41), Jesus calls us to have faith in Him during life’s storms.

So, what happens when the storm feels too big, as felt from the Psalmist of 88, and fear begins to rise, and you question if the Light is too far away? It is the time to get with other believers and pray, and to stay rooted in the Word of God. Come to Tuesday Morning Prayer at 7:00 a.m., come to Wednesday Night L.I.F.E. Lessons at 7:00 p.m. and ask for prayer, come early or stay late Sunday during 9:45 a.m. Worship and ask any of the Team to pray with you, and/or call (727-230-9723) for prayer and discussion about the Word of God. If you are tempted to stay away, it’s not Jesus “tempting” you. Jesus calls us to His Body and to His Word. It is always important to listen to that call, but it is imperative to listen more closely during the storms of life, because the enemy wants to use the circumstances and noises of the storm as a distraction from the only ONE who can calm the storm, JESUS!

Prayer: Thank You, Jesus, for allowing me the privilege of being just one part of Your Body. As I find myself in a storm, I praise You for allowing me to witness Your mercy, love, and compassion through Your Word, while in prayer, and through my Brothers and Sisters in Your Body. Help me to remember these moments and actions, so that I may be a blessing to others during their storms. Thank You for holding me in this place as I trust that You are using it for good. In Your Name, Jesus. Amen.

Written By: Jen Auer, Pastor Mary Haley’s Assistant

Psalm 30:4-5 (NLT)
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.

What is grace? God’s unmerited favor is called grace. The grace the Father lavishes upon us permeates us until we return to God through our physical death. Grace is like a mantle or wrap that keeps us snug near God’s heart. What does grace do in our lives? Grace makes a way for us to be blessed by God; to be held, healed, and helped by God. It gives us victory over sin (James 4:6). We are saved by grace through faith in the work of Jesus Christ on the cross, because Jesus is the embodiment of grace and Truth (Eph. 2:8; John 1:14). We have eternal hope because of grace (2 Thes. 2:16). If you are grateful for this amazing grace God has given you, then, like the psalmist, take time today to sing and praise his holy name.

Prayer: Lord, thank you for your extravagant grace that covers me for a lifetime. This life can be difficult and hard. Though I have faced times of weeping, your grace has always brought me joy and restoration. I love and appreciate you. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Psalm 130:3-4 (NLT)
3 
Lord, if you kept a record of our sins,
    who, O Lord, could ever survive?
4 
But you offer forgiveness,
    that we might learn to fear you.

Are you a record keeper with your family or friends? You know what I mean; if someone says or does something hurtful to you it sticks to your brain like a tally sheet. As humans, we may be tempted to keep score when we face injustice, but God is never tempted to do so. In fact, he offers forgiveness in exchange for our repentance simply because he wants us to love, respect, and learn from him. To fear the Lord is to honor his holy name by living in a way that pleases him. Live in the fear of the Lord, today.

Prayer: Lord, by your mercy and forgiveness I am saved from the penalty of sin. In my repentance, you remember my sin no more. Glory to God! In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Mark 6:45-52 (MSG) Walking on the Sea
45-46 As soon as the meal was finished, Jesus insisted that the disciples get in the boat and go on ahead across to Bethsaida while he dismissed the congregation. After sending them off, he climbed a mountain to pray.

47-49 Late at night, the boat was far out at sea; Jesus was still by himself on land. He could see his men struggling with the oars, the wind having come up against them. At about four o’clock in the morning, Jesus came toward them, walking on the sea. He intended to go right by them. But when they saw him walking on the sea, they thought it was a ghost and screamed, scared to death.

50-52 Jesus was quick to comfort them: “Courage! It’s me. Don’t be afraid.” As soon as he climbed into the boat, the wind died down. They were stunned, shaking their heads, wondering what was going on. They didn’t understand what he had done at the supper. None of this had yet penetrated their hearts.

Sometimes things we read in Scripture can get stuck in our heads. We may work to process the information mentally, but can find ourselves only getting frustrated because understanding eludes us. Here is the reason: Spiritual things are spiritually discerned. Therefore, we cannot really understand the supernatural spiritual ways of God with our natural minds. We need to invite the Holy Spirit to bring revelation knowledge (Truth) to our hearts. Then we invite the Spirit to help us understand the Truth we gain. Lastly, the Lord provides Wisdom to know how to apply that Truth to our lives.

In our passage today, the disciples have not been able to make sense of how Christ was able to feed the five thousand on two fish and five barley loaves of bread (with 12 baskets of leftovers), speak to the storm and bring peace, or walk on top of the sea. Where’s gravity during that last miracle? I would struggle trying to mentally process those things, too. That is why Jesus tells us we must trust him; he leads us to the knowledge of the Truth, through understanding the Truth, and into the application of the Truth. Jesus is the Truth and he knows where he is going in the Spirit! So, trust him.

Prayer: Lord, thank you for bringing Truth, understanding, and wisdom into my life. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Psalm 119:113-117 (TPT) Trust and Obey
113 
I despise those who can’t keep commitments,
    for I passionately love your revelation-light!
114 
You’re my place of quiet retreat, and your wraparound presence
    becomes my shield as I wrap myself in your Word!
115 
Go away! Leave me, all you workers of wickedness,
    for you can’t stop me from following every command of my God.
116 
Lord, strengthen my inner being by the promises of your Word
    so that I may live faithful and unashamed for you.
117 
Lift me up and I will be safe.
    Empower me to live every moment in the light of your ways.

In our passage today, the psalmist encourages us to be “all in” with the Lord. Sin causes us to be double-minded; floundering back and forth between obedience and disobedience. Sin causes a lack of trust that God’s Word really teaches what is best for us. As well, disobedience opens the door to evil and we must keep that door shut. We cannot honor God the way we should if we continue to be double-minded; we must make up our minds to belong Him—make Him Lord. Jesus said, “No one can serve two masters” (Matt. 6:24). Obedience is to live “in Christ.”

Verse 114 of our passage is really special for me. I pour myself out every day to take care of others around me and it is such a joy to have the Lord as my place of quiet retreat. I can testify to his wraparound presence and the peace that he imparts when we belong to Him. May you find everything you need, today, in the wraparound love of Christ.

Prayer: Lord, help me to trust and obey your every Word without being double-minded. There is a great reward for making you Lord. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

June 21, 2021
Acts 27:10-21 (TPT)

10 “Men, I can see that our voyage would be disastrous for us and bring great loss, not only to our ship and cargo but also to our own lives. We should remain here.” [prophetic revelation]

11 But the officer in charge was persuaded more by the ship’s helmsman and captain [ship owner] than he was by Paul. 12 So the majority decided to put out to sea, since Fair Haven was an exposed harbor and not suitable to winter in. They had hoped to somehow reach the Cretan port of Phoenix, which was a more suitable port because it was facing south.
13 When a gentle south breeze began to blow, they assumed they could make it, so they pulled up anchor and sailed close to Crete. 14 But it wasn’t long before the weather abruptly worsened and a storm of hurricane force called the Nor’easter [typhoon] tore across the island and blew us out to sea. 15 The sailors weren’t able to turn the ship into the wind, so they gave up and let it be driven by the gale winds [surrendered to its power].

16 As we passed to the lee of a small island called Cauda, we were barely able to get the ship’s lifeboat under control, 17 so the crew hoisted the dinghy aboard. The sailors used ropes and cables to undergird the ship, fearing they would run aground on the shoals of Syrtis [Lybia/Benghazi]. They lowered the drag anchor to slow its speed and let the ship be driven along.

18 The next day, because of being battered severely by the storm, the sailors jettisoned the cargo, 19 and by the third day they even threw the ship’s tackle and rigging overboard. 20 After many days of seeing neither the sun nor the stars, and with the violent storm continuing to rage against us, all hope of ever getting through it alive was abandoned.

21 After being without food for a long time, Paul stepped before them all and said, “Men, you should have obeyed me and avoided all of this pain and suffering by not leaving Crete.

In our passage today, the disobedience of the men in charge of the ship actually lead the ship and its occupants into danger. The Apostle Paul is given a prophetic message before they ever leave the harbor, “We should remain here,” but in rejecting the authority of God through Paul, everyone has to endure a terrible and frightening encounter with a typhoon-like storm.

Life is going to bring spiritual storms to our souls; some times we provoke these storms through our disobedience and some times we simply have to endure the storms provoked by evil. Either way, we must pray and set our lives before the Lord; prayer positions us in the Father’s care. God has promised his children the necessary grace to bring us his presence, provision, and protection in spite of the storms. Our greatest responsibility is to obey the Word of God, so we avoid making the same mistakes over and over again. When we are aligned in oneness with God’s love, by faith we can rebuke the storm and demand it “submit to the will of God” (Mark 4:39).

Prayer: Lord, thank you for the lessons you have been teaching on how to properly endure the storms provoked by sin. It is always a battle against your authority, but if I will position myself with you and rest in your protective care, I will see your salvation. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Psalm 9:1-2 (TPT) Delighting in God [psalm of David]
1 
I will worship you, Yahweh, with extended hands
    as my whole heart erupts with praise! [Hebrew: yadah]
    I will tell everyone everywhere about your wonderful works!
2 
I will be glad and shout in triumph.
    I will sing praise to your exalted name, O Most High.

In our passage, today, David has decided to praise his way into spiritual victory. God has spilled a freshness within David’s heart and he bursts into ecstatic praise. He cannot be silent about the goodness of Yahweh. To worship in this level of praise is like throwing a shout toward heaven; like an arrow shooting toward the heavenlies. To worship with this level of praise is to break strongholds and anything that would try to hold one back from a place of intimate oneness [worship] with the Lord.

Scripture teaches what will one day happen to the wicked; those who reject God and his ways. They will “fall” into the darkness of death, because of the absence of their worship. The lives of believers share a purpose to “rise up” in worship and shed light over that wicked and worldly darkness. This way of living reveals a great contrast between people. When we really understand the goodness of God deep in our souls, we will throw shouts toward heaven and break every stronghold that tries to hinder us. Nothing will be able to silence us or hold back our worship of Yahweh. Tell others about the goodness and wonderful works of the Lord, today; erupt with praise and live as a worshiper!

Prayer: Lord, I delight myself in you. I praise you for all the wonderful things you bring into my life. As my soul erupts with praise, every enemy has to flee. Thank you for always being with me and making me strong when I need it the most. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Acts 20:7-12
7-9 We met on Sunday to worship and celebrate the Master’s Supper. Paul addressed the congregation. Our plan was to leave first thing in the morning, but Paul talked on, way past midnight. We were meeting in a well-lighted upper room. A young man named Eutychus was sitting in an open window. As Paul went on and on, Eutychus (translates fortunate or lucky) fell sound asleep and toppled out the third-story window. When they picked him up, he was dead (lifeless).

10-12 Paul went down, stretched himself on him, and hugged him hard. “No more crying,” he said. “There’s life in him yet.” Then Paul got up and served the Master’s Supper. And went on telling stories of the faith until dawn! On that note, they left—Paul going one way, the congregation another, leading the boy off alive, and full of life themselves.

Every preacher and teacher will occasionally experience a “sleeper.” Someone’s head will tilt forward and nod as they drift off for a short snooze. In our passage today, Paul has been preaching for hours and hours; he shares about faith and the power of God. Paul is interrupted by an accident involving a young boy named Eutychus (aka Lucky). Fortunately, God resurrects and restores this young man and Paul uses the event to teach more faith lessons to his congregation.

There is a spiritual truth here in our passage about Eutychus. We may knowingly sit close to the edge of evil or danger thinking nothing will ever happen to us. However, our apathy for our own spiritual growth can cause us to become drowsy. Before we know it, we can find ourselves falling into sin and dead living. God is wonderfully faithful, but we need to guard our hearts against such apathy.

Prayer: Lord, thank you for restoring and energizing my spiritual life time and time, again. You are so faithful! In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Luke 6:43-45 The Fruit of Your Life
43 “You’ll never find choice fruit hanging on a bad, unhealthy tree. And rotten fruit doesn’t hang on a good, healthy tree. 44 Every tree will be revealed by the quality of fruit that it produces. You will never pick figs or grapes from thorn trees. 45 People are known in this same way. Out of the virtue stored in their hearts, good and upright people will produce good fruit. Likewise, out of the evil hidden in their hearts, evil ones will produce what is evil. For the overflow of what has been stored in your heart will be seen by your fruit and will be heard in your words.

Like a tree bearing fruit in its season, human hearts bear spiritual fruit, as well. Apart from God, humanity cannot bear righteous fruit–love, joy, peace, patience, goodness, kindness, gentleness, faithfulness, and self-control (Gal 5:22-23). Because of sin, every heart hides evil inclinations. We need Jesus to overcome that evil and give us a new beginning; to make us new creatures in his image. Old corrupt ways must be cut away, so new shoots of righteousness can bear good fruit. It is the work of the Spirit who produces righteous fruit in God’s human creation; we cannot take credit for his redemption. We are entirely dependent upon God to do this for us and in us. This is why we submit ourselves to the work of the Spirit who helps us produce the fruit of righteousness.

The evil stored inside of a person will always be revealed by human expression; it is a spiritual principle and the revelation of truth. May our hearts and words reveal the truth of our Master and the work of his holy hand within us. And, may we be honest to ask the Lord for help when we notice an inclination to bear something “rotten!”

Prayer: Lord, I pray for the overflow of your righteousness within me to be seen by the fruit of my character and heard in my words. In Jesus’ name. Amen.