Pastor Mary Haley

Colossians 4:2-5 TPT A Life of Prayer
2 Be faithful to pray as intercessors who are fully alert and giving thanks to God. 3 And please pray for me, that God will open a door of opportunity for us to preach the revelation of the mystery of Christ, for whose sake I am imprisoned. 4 Pray that I would unfold and reveal fully this mystery, for that is my delightful assignment.

5 Walk in the wisdom of God as you live before the unbelievers,[as you live in the wilderness] and make it your duty [making a full commitment] to make him known.

Do you see today as an opportunity to live in God’s wisdom even in the midst of this pandemic wilderness? Do you live to make Christ the Lord known? God has created us to live our lives by trusting him; he knows the world is watching. In our passage today, the Apostle Paul is seeking to reveal to believers they have everything they need in Christ; he alone is sufficient and will help them live out faith. Therefore, he instructs people to pray. Persistent prayer is a mark of our faith. If the answers are slow in coming, just keep praying and using your faith. God may not answer the way we want him to, but he will definitely answer in a way that is in our best interest. During this time when many people are filled with fear, be a source of Hope and confidence in Christ. Every Christian who has made a full commitment to the Lord knows he or she is an evangelist.

Prayer: Lord, help me to walk in your wisdom before others who need to know you. Help me to make you known. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Psalm 118:1-2, 4

A praise psalm
1 
Keep on giving your thanks to God, for he is so good!
His constant, tender love lasts forever!
2 
Let all his princely people sing,
“His constant, tender love lasts forever!”
4
Let all his lovers who bow low before him sing,
“His constant, tender love lasts forever!”

Many things have changed over the past four weeks; changes in my life, in the lives of others, and in the world. My point is not “what things” have changed, but rather the understanding that we really do live in a temporal world that can never give eternal stability to our lives. NEVER. What gives me security right now—in the midst of all the change and unknown—is the revelation that God’s love and character never changes and can be known. Yesterday, I experienced his wisdom, love, tenderness, holiness, and truth. Today, I experienced it again. Tomorrow, God will be there for me in every way he has promised. It doesn’t matter what changes in this world, God is consistently loving and his Word is living, enduring, and true. So, even though we might have to adapt to change in this temporal world, we can seek God’s Kingdom every single day and we will find the King tenderly responsive, full of mercy, abounding in love, and looking for ways to impart his goodness into our lives. Here’s why you can find security in God: he lives true to his covenant! He promised to take care of us in this unstable sin-laden world and he fulfills every promise! Priceless! Give him thanks!

Prayer: Lord, thank you for being the eternal Rock upon which I stand. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Colossians 3:12-17 TPT Love One Another
12 You are always and dearly loved by God! So robe yourself with virtues of God, since you have been divinely chosen to be holy. Be merciful as you endeavor to understand others, and be compassionate, showing kindness toward all. Be gentle and humble, unoffendable in your patience with others. 13 Tolerate the weaknesses of those in the family of faith, forgiving one another in the same way you have been graciously forgiven by Jesus Christ. If you find fault with someone, release this same gift of forgiveness to them. 14 For love is supreme and must flow through each of these virtues. Love becomes the mark [girdle] of true maturity.

15 Let your heart be always guided by the peace of the Anointed One, who called you to peace as part of his one body. And always be thankful.

16 Let the word of Christ live [grow] in you richly, flooding you with all wisdom. Apply the Scriptures as you teach and instruct one another with the Psalms, and with festive praises, and with prophetic songs given to you spontaneously by the Spirit, so sing to God with all your hearts!

17 Let every activity [commitment] of your lives and every word that comes from your lips be drenched with the beauty of our Lord Jesus, the Anointed One. And bring your constant praise to God the Father because of what Christ has done for you!

Virtue has to do with goodness; a righteous inner disposition. Who we are at the core of our being will flow outward; our personal character traits motivate our actions. We are to put on the likeness of Christ by embracing the virtues taught to us from the Word of God. Things like faith, hope, love, wisdom, the practice of self-control, joy, courage, faithfulness, and peace. As we grow in these things, spiritual maturity rises up within us. It isn’t the number of years we have been attending church or how long we have claimed to be a Christian that makes us spiritually mature. It is our willingness, in the power of the Spirit, to apply the Word of God to our lives and practice righteous virtues. We can find real peace—inner rest and harmony—as we pursue maturity or holiness in Christ. It all begins with a spirit of gratitude for what Christ has done for us.

Prayer: Lord, create goodness in me and as you do I will act more like Jesus. Help me to practice your love by practicing self-control and peace will mark my life. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

April 13, 2020
Colossians 3:10-11
10 For you have acquired new creation life which is continually being renewed into the likeness of the One who created you; giving you the full revelation of God. 11 In this new creation life, your nationality makes no difference, or your ethnicity, education, or economic status—they matter nothing. For it is Christ that means everything as he lives in every one of us!

When we think about the resurrection of Messiah—Christ the Anointed One—we need to think about what it is he has done for us. He has given us new life and a new way to live. We no longer live only to please ourselves; we live to bring honor to God. This is our worship. Essentially, Jesus holds class each day and we are the students. In Christ, we never stop learning and never stop growing in the righteousness of God. And, less we forget, Christ reminds us there are no longer barriers, because all are welcome to come to him and receive this new life.

Prayer: Lord, thank you for my new life. Help me to align my conduct with your Word. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

John 19:38-42 (TPT) Jesus’ Burial
38 After this, Joseph from the city of Ramah, who was a secret disciple of Jesus for fear of the Jewish authorities, asked Pilate if he could remove the body of Jesus. So Pilate granted him permission to remove the body from the cross. 39 Now Nicodemus, who had once come to Jesus privately at night, accompanied Joseph, and together they carried a significant amount of myrrh and aloes to the cross. 40 Then they took Jesus’ body and wrapped it in strips of linen with the embalming spices according to the Jewish burial customs. 41 Near the place where Jesus was crucified was a garden, and in the garden there was a new tomb where no one had yet been laid to rest. 42 And because the Sabbath was approaching, and the tomb was nearby, that’s where they laid the body of Jesus.

Pause in his presence

Lenten Reflection: Jesus changes lives. Even through his death he changed lives. He changed the life of the repentant criminal who hung on the cross next to him. He changed the Roman centurion’s life as he watched Jesus take his last breath and realized he was truly the Son of God. And, Jesus changed Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus’s lives. How do we know? They came out of fear and hiding to ask the Romans for the body of Jesus so they could get it ready for burial. Yes, Jesus changes lives when we begin to understand his identity as Truth…as the Living God!

Prayer: Lord, life with you requires change. Thank you for laying down your life, so I could be changed by you from the inside out. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

John 18:1-8 (TPT) Garden of Gethsemane
18 After Jesus finished this prayer; he left with his disciples and went across the Kidron Valley to a place where there was a garden. 2 Judas, the traitor, knew where this place was, for Jesus had gone there often with his disciples. 3 The Pharisees and the leading priests had given Judas a large detachment of Roman soldiers and temple police to seize Jesus. Judas guided them to the garden, all of them carrying torches and lanterns and armed with swords and spears.

John 18:12-13 (TPT) Arrest
12 Then the soldiers and their captain, along with the Jewish officers, seized Jesus and tied him up. 13 They took him first to Annas, as he was the father-in-law of Caiaphas, the high priest that year.

John 19:10-11(TPT) Trial
10 Pilate said, “Don’t you know that I have the power to grant you your freedom or nail you to a tree?”11 Jesus answered, “You would have no power over me at all, unless it was given to you from above. This is why the one who betrayed me is guilty of an even greater sin.”

John 19:16-18 (TPT) Crucifixion
16 Then Pilate handed Jesus over to them. So the soldiers seized him and took him away to be crucified. 17 Jesus carried his own cross out of the city to the place called “The Skull,” which in Aramaic is Golgotha. 18 And there they nailed him to the cross. He was crucified, along with two others, one on each side with Jesus in the middle.

John 19:28-30 (TPT) Death
28 Jesus knew that his mission was accomplished, and to fulfill the Scripture, Jesus said: “I am thirsty.” 29 A jar of sour wine was sitting nearby, so they soaked a sponge with it and put it on the stalk of hyssop and raised it to his lips. 30 When he had sipped the sour wine, he said, “It is finished, my bride!” Then he bowed his head and surrendered his spirit to God.

Pause in his presence

Lenten Reflection: The Lord of all Creation was crucified at a place called the Skull. Through this selfless act of Perfect Love, the darkness of the human spirit, mind, and understanding will be able to put on the attitude and Wisdom of Almighty God. Jesus surrendered his Spirit, so humanity could choose to gain his Spirit—It is Finished! The Word has fulfilled the salvation plan of God. The Good News of Great JOY—abundant LIFE.

Prayer: Lord, thank you for the extravagant way you have loved me. You are the Way to know and have fellowship with the Father; I can know the Father’s heart! I receive in Jesus’ name. Amen.

John 13:1-6, 12 (TPT) Jesus Washes Feet
1 Jesus knew that the night before Passover would be his last night on earth before leaving this world to return to the Father’s side. All throughout his time with his disciples, Jesus had demonstrated a deep and tender love for them. And now he longed to show them the full measure of his love. 2 Before their evening meal had begun, the accuser had already planted betrayal into the heart of Judas Iscariot, the son of Simon.

3 Now Jesus was fully aware that the Father had placed all things under his control, for he had come from God and was about to go back to be with him. 4 So he got up from the meal and took off his outer robe, and took a towel and wrapped it around his waist. 5 Then he poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples’ dirty feet and dry them with his towel. 6 But when Jesus got to Simon Peter, he objected and said, “I can’t let you wash my dirty feet—you’re my Lord!”

12 After washing their feet, he put his robe on and returned to his place at the table. “Do you understand what I just did?

Pause in his presence

Lenten Reflection: Jesus longs to reveal to each of his children the full measure of his love. Either love or evil will rise in the heart of every human being; we feed one or the other. When we allow perfect Love to wash us, we can stand on holy ground. In other words, we can stand in the authority of the Anointed One to serve God and others. Our character should reveal and exalt his power and authority operating in our lives. How will you respond to the Lord’s desire to wash your feet?

Prayer: Lord, you have washed my soul so the soles of my feet can follow you into a new inheritance of grace and power. May my life reveal your authority and command operating in a full measure of love for you and for others. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

John 13:21-22, 25-32 (TPT)
21 Then Jesus was moved deeply in his spirit. Looking at his disciples, he announced, “I tell you the truth—one of you is about to betray me.”
22 Eyeing each other, his disciples puzzled over which one of them could do such a thing. 25 Then the dearly loved disciple leaned into Jesus’ chest and whispered, “Master, who is it?”
26 “The one I give this piece of bread to after I’ve dipped it in the bowl,” Jesus replied. Then he dipped the piece of bread into the bowl and handed it to Judas Iscariot, the son of Simon.27 And when Judas ate the piece of bread, Satan entered him. Then Jesus looked at Judas and said, “What you are planning to do, go do it now.” 28 None of those around the table realized what was happening. 29 Some thought that Judas, their trusted treasurer, was being told to go buy what was needed for the Passover celebration, or perhaps to go give something to the poor. 30 So Judas left quickly and went out into the dark night to betray Jesus.
Pause in his presence

Lenten Reflection: We have all betrayed the Living Word of God—the Christ—haven’t we? Therefore, we have all fallen short of the glorious standard of God’s love. The penalty for our betrayal is spiritual death and separation from God. Only repentance (turning) can bring salvation. Otherwise, humanity can find itself wandering in the darkness complying with evil. The bowl of judgment sits before each one of us. Every individual must choose to follow the Light that leads to Life.

Prayer: Lord, my heart turns to your Word; my salvation comes from you. I need you to be my Savior. Give me spiritual eyes to see and help me eat the Bread of Truth that leads to Life with you. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

John 12:20-36 (TPT) True Seekers
20 Now there were a number of foreigners from among the nations who were worshipers at the feast. 21 They went to Philip (who came from the village of Bethsaida in Galilee) and they asked him, “Would you take us to see Jesus? We want to see him.” 22 So Philip went to find Andrew, and then they both went to inform Jesus.

23 He replied to them, “Now is the time for the Son of Man to be glorified. 24 Let me make this clear: A single grain of wheat will never be more than a single grain of wheat unless it drops into the ground and dies. Because then it sprouts and produces a great harvest of wheat—all because one grain died.

25 “The person who loves his life and pampers himself will miss true life! But the one who detaches his life from this world and abandons himself to me, will find true life and enjoy it forever! 26 If you want to be my disciple, follow me and you will go where I am going. And if you truly follow me as my disciple, the Father will shower his favor upon your life.

Pause in his presence

Lenten Reflection: In our passage today, Jesus is preparing his disciples for his death. He must lay down his life, so that we may enjoy new life in Him. We must detach from the life the world proclaims as victorious in order to actually follow the Lord. Isn’t it interesting how we have literally been forced to disconnect from so many worldly activities and influences right now? It’s for our good that we have done so. And, it provides us much needed time to connect to Christ. Let Christ refresh your spiritual life in the Father’s favor.

Prayer: Lord, there is so much I want to learn from you, so many ways I need your comfort, today, but the most important thing I can articulate in the moment is to say thank you! I want to be a life-grain that produces a harvest with you. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

John 12:1-11 (NLT) Jesus Anointed at Bethany
12 Six days before the Passover celebration began, Jesus arrived in Bethany, the home of Lazarus—the man he had raised from the dead. 2 A dinner was prepared in Jesus’ honor. Martha served, and Lazarus was among those who ate [reclined] with him. 3 Then Mary took a twelve-ounce jar of expensive perfume made from essence of nard, and she anointed Jesus’ feet with it, wiping his feet with her hair. The house was filled with the fragrance.

9 When all the people heard of Jesus’ arrival, they flocked to see him and also to see Lazarus, the man Jesus had raised from the dead. 10 Then the leading priests decided to kill Lazarus, too, 11 for it was because of him that many of the people had deserted them and believed in Jesus.

Pause in his presence

Lenten Reflection: Jesus—the Light of Truth—is welcome in the home of his friends; they love him and find ways to worship and serve their Lord and King. Mary anoints the feet of Jesus; the fragrance of the King fills the house. They enjoy the presence of peace as they listen to their Creator share his heart and love for them. Jesus came as the glorious ray of Truth humanity needed in order to walk out of the darkness and into the love of God. Unfortunately, when we do not humble ourselves, repent of sin, and turn from our wicked ways, we seek to diminish the Light. In fact, darkness always deals with the Truth in one way…it seeks to kill it. Welcome Jesus into the home of your heart and let him speak Truth to your soul. Let the fragrance of the King linger upon you.

Prayer: Lord, may the fragrance of you, my King, permeate my home, my heart, and my life. In Jesus’ name. Amen.