Posted by: mhaley
on Oct 28, 2011
"If you trust me, you are trusting not only me, but also God who sent me. For when you see me, you are seeing the one who sent me. I have come as a light to shine in this dark world, so that all who put their trust in me will no longer remain in the dark." John 12:44-47
A picture is most beautiful when the lighting is just right. The eyes of our understanding are beautifully lit when we are trusting Christ. When it comes to "seeing things clearly" for what they are in this world and your life, has it ever dawned on you that you may not really have the "lighted" picture? In other words, do you ever admit that you might not be seeing things from a "Lighted" perspective?
Posted by: mhaley
on Nov 02, 2010
God is always ready to help; of course we have to use our faith in order to please him. I believe it is our faith that moves the hand of God; not really our needs, although He cares greatly. Faith believes God is real, loving, and good. We all must choose how we will respond to God's invitation to a life of faith. It will stretch your natural understanding of God if you choose to exercise your faith. God's ways and thoughts are higher. He delights in revealing His love in new and fresh ways.
Posted by: mhaley
on Oct 21, 2010
If we really pay attention, we can sense the darkness of anxiety trying to have dominion in our daily lives. We wrestle anxiety in our minds and our emotions; anxiety affects our faith. Jacob testified to that "wrestling" thing! "And Jacob was left alone; and there wrestled a man with him until the breaking of the day" (Gen. 32:24). Anxiety is a thief; it robs us of our strength. Why do we give anxiety any power in our lives? This lesson about Jacob reveals his reasons for anxiety; the power of loneliness, past sin and guilt, judgment, and fear of the unknown.
Posted by: mhaley
on Oct 19, 2010
I love talking about happy places, times, and endings. You know; abundant living in connection to Christ. But, God's Word reminds us that around the Light of His love, darkness can be found. We are so used to the sunlight that follows the nighttime that we forget God's Word talks about a darkness that is eternal. The life of Judas can tell us about the darkness. Picture the story. Jesus is sharing a final meal with his disciples. Judas, who is choosing to remain in the darkness, acts like he really cares about Jesus. Oh, he might care about him, but make no mistake, Judas cares more about himself than anyone else. It's a dark process of thinking; selfishness. The pressure of being near the Christ (the selfless One) is putting too much pressure on poor Judas. He has to leave the presence of Love; "So Judas left at once, going out into the night" (John 13:30). Yes, it is much more comfortable in the darkness when you're selfish.
Posted by: mhaley
on Oct 17, 2010
There was a man named Nicodemus, a Jewish religious leader who was a Pharisee. After dark one evening, he came to speak with Jesus. "Rabbi," he said, "we all know that God has sent you to teach us. Your miraculous signs are evidence that God is with you. Jesus replied, "I tell you the truth, unless you are born again, you cannot see the Kingdom of God." (John 3:1-3). Nicodemus pursued Jesus as he just had to know more about the mystery of salvation; the mystery of God's love that offered "new life." His finite rational mind wanted to know the infinite work of God and gain some Light. Nicodemus was a very knowledgeable man, a ruler of the Jews, who understood sin and separation from God meant death. Jesus told him that salvation was for everyone because all of us have sinned (1 John 1:8). No one has ever lived a sinless life apart from Christ. Since we are accountable to God, we need a way to be free from the penalty of sin.
