Michael Harrison's e-devotion

  Do you know how blessed you are?  When we know we are blessed, we will thankful.  When we know where our blessings come from, we will give God thanks over and over.   Where does this thanks come from?  It comes from deep inside us.  It began with our salvation.  Totally from God and totally of God.  I did nothing to get it, and there is nothing I can do to lose it.  Salvation is one of those things bigger than us and leads to being thankful.   Isaiah is the guy that was willing to do what needed to be done when he saw and heard the need.   Isaiah 6:8  NLT   Then I heard the Lord asking, “Whom should I send as a messenger to this people? Who will go for us?” I said, “Here I am. Send me.”   That is a powerful statement and a strong commitment.  It is one we can learn from.  Something had to change in Isaiah’s life before he could be the one to go.      He was hurt, convicted, shameful and felt...

  It is amazing.  You know when it happens, and it hits you in a big way.  That is when Scriptures comes alive, and that is when God speaks. Yesterday was one of those days.  It was James 1.  So here are some of the verses from that chapter that I can’t just let sit on the page.  They have to make it to my heart and life. May these verses do the same for you. James 1  NLT 2 Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles of any kind come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. 3 For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. 4 So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing. 5 If you need wisdom, ask our generous God, and he will give it to you. He will not rebuke you for asking. 6 But when you ask him, be sure that your faith is in God alone. Do not waver, for a person with divided loyalty is as unsettled as a wave of the sea ...

  Colossians 2:7  NLT   Let your roots grow down into him, and let your lives be built on him. Then your faith will grow strong in the truth you were taught, and you will overflow with thankfulness. It is that time of year once again.  November and thanksgiving.  Just over one week away is the holiday where many will gather to celebrate what we are grateful for.  That is why I step aside for a bit to say a few of the things I am grateful for. I’ll ask you too.  What are you grateful for you?   Being grateful is actually something that points to the fact that you are healthy spiritually and emotionally.  it is easy to be centered on yourself, feeling entitled and even depressed because of what you do not have. Every one can be grateful. I am grateful for God, His salvation and forgiveness, His work in my life and family and the church. I am grateful for my wife, our children, the precious grand children and all of our family, both close by and...

  Recognizing who God is essential for those who choose to follow Him.  There are so many places where God shows up, where we see Him work and how much He loves us. During the sermon yesterday at The Community Fellowship I shared a story within a story that has really gripped my heart and reminded me of how much our God loves us and wants to work in our lives.  Check out this Scripture and story. Luke 9:37-43a  NLT  The next day, after they had come down the mountain, a large crowd met Jesus. 38 A man in the crowd called out to him, “Teacher, I beg you to look at my son, my only child. 39 An evil spirit keeps seizing him, making him scream. It throws him into convulsions so that he foams at the mouth. It batters him and hardly ever leaves him alone. 40 I begged your disciples to cast out the spirit, but they couldn’t do it.” 41 Jesus said, “You faithless and corrupt people! How long must I be with you and put up with you?” Then he said to the...

  1 Thessalonians 5:11  NLT   So encourage each other and build each other up, just as you are already doing. I am grateful for the people who encourage me and make me a stronger person.  Please pray for our family as today is my uncle’s funeral.  Pray for my uncle Frank’s wife, son and family as they face challenges ahead as well as go through the funeral today. There are plenty of other people in and around my life that need your prayers.  Pray for the family and friends of one of our local men that passed away on Wednesday.  And another lady in our church that has been one of my mission partners deals with her brother in law’s funeral and her sister continues to battle cancer. And there are many more who need our prayers and encouragement.  Make a difference today with your words and encouragement! I sat last night listening to another uncle share so many stories.  He is full of information and stories and history or our family.  It w...

  Proverbs 20:7   NLT The godly walk with integrity; blessed are their children who follow them.   We are blessed so that we can bless others.  It is overwhelming to see how blessed we really are.   C ount those blessings.   I recognize the blessings and the people who have impacted my life.  Stop again, or at least slow down, and realize that God made me to be a blessing to others.   Claim those blessings by giving to others, loving others and making a difference in the lives of others.  I challenge you and me to look at your blessings and turn those toward others.    Thanksgiving is a couple weeks away.  There will most likely be opportunities to serve and to share with others.  Then Christmas is not long after that.  With all that is going on in the world there are people in need and places to serve.  Watch for opportunities and go after them.   Be a blessing!  We were made for this. Ephesians 1...