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Daily Devotional from Pastor Mary 11-24-20

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Psalm 28:6-9
6 But may your name be blessed and built up!
For you have answered my passionate cry for mercy.
7 You are my strength and my shield from every danger.
When I fully trust in you, help is on the way.
I jump for joy and burst forth with ecstatic, passionate praise!
I will sing songs of what you mean to me!
8 You will be the inner strength of all your people,
the mighty protector of all,
the saving strength for all your anointed ones.
9 Keep protecting and cherishing your chosen ones; in you they will never fall.
Like a shepherd going before us, keep leading us forward, forever carrying us in your arms!

In our passage today, King David reminds us about the importance of our actions to invoke the powerful presence of God. David sings of God’s provision “when” he fully trusts the Lord. The word “when” is a very powerful conjunction in Scripture; it means “every time that…”. Every time that we place our trust in Christ, the Anointed One, to get us through something difficult, we are assured that help is on the way. We must choose to trust the Lord over all other people or things. He desires to be the Helper for his chosen ones. So, as you venture into your day, remember any time you approach something that challenges you take time to bow, pray, and place your trust in Christ. He is your saving strength!

Prayer: Lord, I need your saving strength everyday, so I fully place my trust in you, today. Protect me and my family; be our Shepherd and carry us in your arms. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Daily Devotional from Pastor Mary 11-23-20

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2 Timothy 2:8-13

8 But make Jesus, the Anointed One, your focus in life and ministry. For he came to earth as the descendant of David and rose from the dead, according to the revelation of the gospel that God has given me. 9 This is the reason I am persecuted and imprisoned by evildoers, enduring the suffering of these chains—but the Word of God can never be chained! 10 I endure all these hardships for the benefit of the chosen ones in Christ so that they may also discover the overcoming life that is in Jesus Christ, and experience a glory that lasts forever!
11 You can trust these words:
If we were joined with him in his death, then we are joined with him in his life! 12 If we are joined with him in his sufferings, then we will reign together with him in his triumph. But if we disregard him, then he will also disregard us. 13 But even if we are faithless, he will still be full of faith, for he never wavers in his faithfulness to us!

We all crave the freedom to make our own choices, but sometimes the choices we must make for the sake of Christ the Anointed One are actually really hard or even painful. Christ may lead us into difficult situations to make choices that help us, as his followers, better understand and experience his life on earth. We may face persecution for our choices if we are committed to shine for the glory of God as the “chosen ones.”

In our passage today, the Apostle Paul exhorts Timothy to preach the revelation of the gospel so the chosen ones might know the life of Christ. Who are the chosen ones? They are the people who allow Christ, the righteous Lord, room [to rule] in their hearts. They are the ones who know the word of God is life and are willing to face the persecution and death of their flesh or sinful nature in order to glorify the rule of Christ in their lives. They are the ones who understand to disobey the word of God is to deny Christ. Lastly, they know by the Spirit their destiny in Christ is to become the living word of God to others in the world.

Prayer: Lord, please make my life a testimony of your presence living in me. Thank you for choosing me to reflect the living word. Help me to obey your word and to be faithful to my destiny, because you are always faithful. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Daily Devotional from Pastor Mary 11-20-20

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Matthew 12:46-50 TPT
Jesus’ True Family
46 While Jesus was still speaking to the crowds, his mother and brothers came and stood outside, asking for him to come out and speak with them. 47 Then someone said, “Look, your mother and brothers are standing outside, wanting to have a word with you.” 48 But Jesus just looked at him and said, “Let me introduce you to my true mother and brothers.” 49 Then gesturing to the disciples gathered around him, he said, “Look closely, for this is my true family. 50 When you obey my heavenly Father, that makes you a part of my true family.”

In our passage today, while Jesus is teaching to a crowd of people, he is given a message that his mother and brothers request his attention. Seems like a reasonable interruption since Jesus is presently preoccupied with a crowd of strangers. Jewish tradition is focused on honoring one’s mother and father. So, Jesus’ answer probably takes many of those listening by surprise. How a Jew loves and honors his or her parents reflects how that person loves and honors God.

The truth of God’s spiritual family can easily be misunderstood if we do not allow the Spirit to help us view things from an eternal perspective. We are called to love and honor God above all other people, bloodlines, relationships, or traditions; obedience to love Father God first and wholeheartedly. In our passage, Jesus’ comments reflect that obedience and truth. People may want to claim Jesus as their heir and brother, but he does not want anyone to get the wrong idea of what connects people to the Father’s true (eternal) family. If we truly want to be in Christ’s spiritual family, we will put God first and obey his commands.

Prayer: Lord, thank you for making things clear about how I can rest assured of being a member of your family. Thank you for an eternal perspective. Help me to honor you and your commands better each day. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Daily Devotional from Pastor Mary 11-19-20

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Praise God
100:4-5

A poetic song for thanksgiving

4 You can pass through his open gates with the password of praise.
Come right into his presence with thanksgiving. Come bring your thank offering to him and affectionately bless his beautiful name!

5 For the Lord is always good and ready to receive you.
He’s so loving that it will amaze you—
so kind that it will astound you!
And he is famous for his faithfulness toward all. Everyone knows our God can be trusted,
for he keeps his promises to every generation!

Two words are extremely important to our Father. In fact, two words sincerely expressed from the heart comprise the password which opens the gate to the Lord’s presence. These two words are very powerful in all relationships, but sadly many people fail to use them anymore. What are these two words? Thank you! How many ways will you find to say thank you to God today? He is ready to receive you to himself.

Prayer: Father, thank you for all you have done, are doing, and will forever do to care for me. I place all my trust in you! In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Daily Devotional from Pastor Mary 11-18-20

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Praise God
100:1-3

A poetic song for thanksgiving

1 Lift up a great shout of joy to the Lord!
Go ahead and do it—everyone, everywhere!

2 As you serve him, be glad and worship him.
Sing your way into his presence with joy!

3 And realize what this really means—
we have the privilege of worshiping the Lord our God.
For he is our Creator and we belong to him.
We are the people of his pleasure!

I love the gift of laughter; in fact, holy laughter is like cascading and melodic joy. It is great to be around joyful people; it makes my soul want to sing, too! Never forget, the Lord created us to be joyful; our joy not only touches the lives of others it also gives God pleasure.

In our passage today, the psalmist reminds us of the privilege we have been offered to serve and worship God. Joy should be the fuel that stirs up gratitude within us; we should serve the Lord and our neighbors with gladness. Be the worshiper God created you to be, today. Be filled with cascading gratitude and joy and sing praises to him because you just can’t hold it back!

Prayer: Lord, I am so grateful for the privilege of worshiping you in the splendor of your holiness with joy. In Jesus name. Amen.

Daily Devotional from Pastor Mary 11-17-20

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1Thessalonians 5:16 TPT

16 Let joy be your continual feast.[in every season] 17 Make your life a prayer. 18 And in the midst of everything be always giving thanks, for this is God’s perfect plan for you in Christ Jesus.

In all circumstances it is possible to experience the precious joy of the Lord. That doesn’t mean we understand everything we face or find comfort or happiness in it. It means we press into the Spirit and find the powerful presence of the Lord who comforts and cares for us; in his presence is fullness of joy (Ps. 16:11).

Next week we will celebrate Thanksgiving; a day set aside to count our blessings. However, for every other day of the year let’s make our quest to live in the joyous presence of the Lord, make our lives a prayer, and invite the Spirit to help us overflow with praise and thanksgiving to our Creator and Savior!

Prayer: Lord, your joy is so precious to me; help me guard it within my heart and soul! Thank you for the power of prayer and the spirit of gratitude in Jesus name! Amen.

Daily Devotional from Pastor Mary 11-16-20

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Romans 2:4

The Voice
4 Do you take the kindness of God for granted? Do you see His patience and tolerance as signs that He is a pushover when it comes to sin? How could you not know that His kindness is guiding our hearts to turn away from distractions and habitual sin to walk a new path?

Throughout Scripture, the Lord warns the world to be ready for his return; to accept salvation in Christ and be living in the work of the Spirit to deliver us from habitual sin. The Lord wants his Bride, the Church, to be adorned with the eternal fruit of the Spirit: acting from the loving presence of God in us. He reminds us over and over again in the gospels that we must be born from above and live in the Spirit of righteousness to avoid being eternally separated from God; habitual sin is a problem.

The Apostle Paul reminds us today that sin is both the cause and effect of God’s judgment. We are judged for our sin and we are judged by our sin. God encourages us to walk away from sin (the cause) into repentance and salvation, because then the Presence and power of the Lord is with us. When we choose to habitually live in sin, we face the absence of the Lord (the effect). May we continually pray for the salvation of the world (to accept Christ) and for the Church to live in his Presence.

Prayer: Lord, help me to live in your presence and to never take for granted how you really feel about sin. I pray for the blood of Jesus to cover me while the Spirit takes me deeper into the eternal life that brings me endless joy. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Daily Devotional from Pastor Mary 11-13-20

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Judges 2:16-23

The Lord Rescues His People

16 Then the Lord raised up judges to rescue the Israelites from their attackers. 17 Yet Israel did not listen to the judges but prostituted themselves by worshiping other gods. How quickly they turned away from the path of their ancestors, who had walked in obedience to the Lord’s commands.

18 Whenever the Lord raised up a judge over Israel, he was with that judge and rescued the people from their enemies throughout the judge’s lifetime. For the Lord took pity on his people, who were burdened by oppression and suffering. 19 But when the judge died, the people returned to their corrupt ways, behaving worse than those who had lived before them. They went after other gods, serving and worshiping them. And they refused to give up their evil practices and stubborn ways.

20 So the Lord burned with anger against Israel. He said, “Because these people have violated my covenant, which I made with their ancestors, and have ignored my commands, 21 I will no longer drive out the nations that Joshua left unconquered when he died. 22 I did this to test Israel—to see whether or not they would follow the ways of the Lord as their ancestors did.” 23 That is why the Lord left those nations in place. He did not quickly drive them out or allow Joshua to conquer them all.

According to Judges Chapter 1, Israel is suffering a moral downfall; people are doing what seems right in their own eyes. Before his death, Joshua kept Israel focused on God, but the people failed to grasp it was never about Joshua it was really God in command.  Israel’s disobedience has led them to rebel against God causing them to be overrun by enemy nations.  

During this time, Israel experiences no unity in government and no unity in worship.  Law and order has broken down and idolatry has caused people to abandon their faith in God.  Canaanite pagan worship has been able to lure God’s people away from their devotion to Yahweh, because according to this idolatrous religion, they can remain selfish and immoral and yet fulfill their religious requirements.  God never leads us to focus on the benefits of our sinful human nature. In fact, we are to lay our lives down, so we can pick up the life of Christ. Be like Joshua and keep your eyes focused on God, because he is really the One in command; He is the true Judge of human hearts.

Prayer:  Lord, may we as your children turn to love you wholeheartedly. In Jesus’ name.  Amen.

Daily Devotional from Pastor Mary 11-12-20

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Psalm 123 A Prayer for Mercy
A song of the stairway
1 
O God-Enthroned in heaven, I lift my eyes toward you in worship.
2 
The way I love you
is like the way a servant wants to please his master,
the way a maid waits for the orders of her mistress.
We look to you, our God, with passionate longing
to please you and discover more of your mercy and grace.
3–4 
For we’ve had more than our fill of this scoffing and scorn—
this mistreatment by the wealthy elite.
Lord, show us your mercy!
Lord, show us your grace!

The psalmist declares his intention to seek the Lord instead of allowing the surrounding circumstances to rule him. When believers are afflicted we turn to the Lord; we know he is our Source of help. It can be tempting to obsess about some things that distress us, but we should not linger there. It is spiritually, emotionally, and physical unhealthy to do so. The world is not a source of mercy, but heaven is rich with it. Let’s remember the grace of God provides all we need. Some days we will witness and experience more than our fill of nastiness and wickedness while in this world. So, when we are opposed and ridiculed for our passion and devotion to the Lord, we must ask for and wait for God’s mercy and grace that is more than sufficient to care for us.

Prayer: Lord, I remain devoted and submissive to you and your will for my life. May I always turn to you for the mercy and grace I need to remain strong. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Daily Devotional from Pastor Mary 11-11-20

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Matthew 24:29-35 TPT
In our passage today, Jesus has been sharing with his disciples the truth about the timing of his return. He explains before his return, the world will face deception, wars, and threats of wars, as well as nations at war. There will be famines, earthquakes in many parts of the world. Believers will be hated, betrayed, and sin will be running rampant everywhere. False messiahs and false prophets will rise up and perform signs and wonders that add to the deception; even many of God’s chosen ones will believe the lies. Jesus tells his disciples, “See, I have warned you about this ahead of time” (Mat 24:25).

The Appearing of the Son of Man
29 “Then immediately this is what will take place: ‘The sun will be darkened and the moon give no light. The stars will fall from the sky and all the cosmic powers will be shaken.’[a new order/new glory] 30 Then the sign announcing the Son of Man will appear in the sky, and all the nations of the earth will mourn over him. And they will see the Son of Man appearing in the clouds of heaven, revealed with mighty power,[warriors] great splendor, and glory. 31 And he will send his messengers with the loud blast of the trumpet, [universal announcement] and with a great voice [shout] they will gather his beloved chosen ones by the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other!”

According to the Word of God and the writings of the prophets, some of these persecutions written about in Matthew 24, know as the Olivet Discourse, have already come to pass, but there are still some events yet to take place. Now is the time for people to turn their hearts toward Christ, because soon we will witness the unmistakable return of our loving Messiah. Believers will rejoice as they are gathered and unbelievers will mourn because of their choice to reject the salvation offered, as well as the commands of the Son of Man—Messiah.

Prayer: Lord, as we wait for your return, please help us, as your children, to live true to your commands. As well, Lord, help us to draw more people toward your heart by how we live. We know you do not want anyone to perish. In Jesus’ name. Amen.