Michael Harrison's e-devotion

the C O M M U N I T Y fellowship Meeting soon at 2674 Virginia Avenue Collinsville, Virginia 24078 276 732 7749

A great dude, Mark Batterson , has a new book hitting the shelves on Monday. Mark is a pastor and church planter. He inspires me daily and gives me insight from his writing, sermons, blogs and his testimony. The new book is In a Pit With a Lion on a Snowy Day . You can order it at that link. Here is a description of the book: Your greatest regret at the end of your life will be the lions you didn't chase. You will regret the risks not taken, the opportunities not seized, and the dreams not pursued. Stopping running away from what scares you most and start chasing the God-ordained opportunities that cross your path. In a Pit with a Lion on a Snowy Day is inspired by one of the most obscure yet courageous acts recorded in Scripture: Benaiah chased a lion down into a pit. Then, despite the snow and slippery ground, he caught the lion and killed it (II Samuel 23:20-21). Unleash the lion chaser within! Enjoy Batterson and pray for His Church, National Community Church , and read his blo...

"I will bless you … and you will be a blessing to others." - Gen. 12:2 (NCV) What is it to be a blessing to others? What is it to be a burden to others? I remember a plague on the wall at my home when I was growing up that said this: Avenge Yourself. Love long enough to be a problem to your children. That is a bold and tough statement, yet it often ends up being true. We begin as needy people (as infants) and typically end life as needy people. All the way through life we need God. Right? Think of this in terms of blessings. God has so blessed us with Himself, and other people need that same blessing. By thinking of how we can bless others we ought to bring people to see and know just who our God is. He is good and gracious. He is full of love and forgiving. He desires us and we are to desire Him. His blessings are real and ready to be given out. Think some more: "People don't want to experience church. They want to experience God's presence." - ...

Every word of God proves true. He defends all who come to him for protection.” Proverbs 30:5 (NLT) “For the word of God is full of living power. It is sharper than the sharpest knife, cutting deep into our innermost thoughts and desires. It exposes us for what we really are.” Hebrews 4:12 (NLT) What you say and what you don’t match. What do you call that? Hypocrite is the word that comes to most of our minds on that subject, but what the people of God need to see and remember is that God desires us, His people, to be full and over flowing with truth. When we minister to others and share with others God’s truth, we are giving away what God has given us. Not like a pack rat or selfish person that saves everything for a rainy day or for personal use, this person gives away freely what God has given them. Test what you say. Test what you give. What are my motives? What do I want? “In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your h...

If you are looking for information about the new church, The Community Fellowship, go to the following link: http://thecommunityfellowship.wordpress.com/ At some point this week, maybe even later today, our church website will be running. That address is http://www.thecommunityfellowship.org/ . Demonstrating the Love of God to Our Community

“May the words of my mouth and the thoughts of my heart be pleasing to you, O LORD, my rock and my redeemer.” Psalms 19:14 (NLT) That was a prayer from David, the king and friend of God. He was transparent in every way you could imagine. The reason why I like David so much is because he is real. We can ready of his failures and his successes. We are able to listen in to his personal time with God through the Psalms. All the way God continued to choose and use this man who served God. Throughout Scripture God has given us wisdom about what we say. Here are just a few of those facts from His word: “You are not defiled by what you eat; you are defiled by what you say and do.” Matthew 15:11 (NLT) “And so blessing and cursing come pouring out of the same mouth. Surely, my brothers and sisters, this is not right!” James 3:10 (NLT) “The godly speak words that are helpful, but the wicked speak only what is corrupt.” Proverbs 10:32 (NLT) My point is simple this morning as I pray a...

Hey Church Family! Just wanted to keep you up to date on all that is going on. We had a great time Sunday at our Small Group Bible Studies and at Worship. There were 95 people present for worship. This coming Saturday at 6 pm we will worship together at Spring of Life Christian Camp near Patrick Springs, VA. You won’t want to miss this special time of listening, learning and living what God has given us as a new church family. Wednesday evening beginning at 6:30 pm there will be a business meeting to discuss my severance pay at The Orchard. I am told there will not be any discussion only a vote of YES or NO on the package that has been offered. If you feel the Lord leading you to go, please do so. If you feel like you should not go, stay away. It is my conviction that each of us do what God lays on our hearts. Your leadership team will be meeting Wednesday evening to continue praying, planning and preparing to be all God has called us to be. Let one of the team know if there ...

Check Out These Two Links http://www.thecommunityfellowship.org/ https://thecommunityfellowship.wordpress.com/ They may look the same. This is only the beginning of the new church's presense on the internet. The Community Fellowship is off and running strong.

“…I'd say it's easier for a camel to go through a needle's eye than for the rich to get into God's kingdom.” That set the disciples back on their heels. “Then who has any chance at all?” they asked. Jesus was blunt: “No chance at all if you think you can pull it off by yourself. Every chance in the world if you let God do it.” … This is once again the Great Reversal: Many who are first will end up last, and the last first.” Mark 10:25-27,31 (MSG) The disciples were people who had been with Jesus, but they were also humans that didn’t get everything He said. Sometimes they heard well while other times no one seemed to hear or want to dig in enough to understand. What we have to do as humans in a flawed society is dig into what Jesus says. We must get what He gives and hear what He says. The verses above talked about rich people getting into heaven. But I think it may be a better commentary on the church in all it’s preconceived ideas and traditions missing God’s...

Take a look at this this post at Mark Batterson's blog ... more great thoughts about SPEAKING THE LANGUAGE OF LOST PEOPLE & GETTING THEIR ATTENTION.

The race and vision and excitement continue. Last evening we had our 2nd worship service with 95 people present. It was a great blessing in so many ways. Continue to pray for one another and to share the vision that God has given us. With GOD as my guide, Pastor Michael michael.harrison@adelphia.net (James 1:5) 4 steps to planting The Community Fellowship: DREAMING, DEVELOPING, DEPLOYING & D-DAY

Hello COMMUNITY family – We are gearing up for a great weekend together! Are you ready? We are off and running. Small Group Bible Study Sunday morning from 10 until noon is this special time. Choose from one of the following homes to attend: 1 - Anita & Lee Hobbs, 8620 Fairystone Park Highway, Bassett, 276 629 3358 2 - Susan & Ryan Perry, 1046 Wingfield Orchard, Martinsville, 276 673 1470 ... Turn at Muffies Market on Crestridge Road or between the Christian Church and the store off of Stones Dairy Road. 3 - Wendy & Jay Gilbert, 1150 Plantation Drive, Collinsville, 276 627 8015 ... Going up Kings Mountain Road and across Daniels Creek Rd and turn left on to Plantation, 1st house on right Please call others and let them know of the meeting time and place. Don’t take for granted that everyone knows what is going on. Help all of us be where we can be. Our study this week will be looking at the 5 purposes of the church as address in The Purpose Driven Life. Fellowship Mea...

What really gets your motor going? I am not talking about sin or the wrong stuff. I am talking about the right stuff that gets us moving in the right direction. Some time ago I began reading the blogs of some people who are being very successful in planting new churches. One of the things I have noticed time and time again is how God answers prayers. I have known this truth. I have experienced this truth. But sometimes I forget to acknowledge the answers or the power of God. There is so much to do and some big stuff that has to be accomplished around this new work(pray with me for some of those things). As I was doing that last night, I stumbled across a church planter’s website and several of his blogs mentioned a specific request. What I then noticed is that a couple days later or even once the next hour this guy listed the answer to his request. Folks, that is our God. Let’s acknowledge Him. Let’s acknowledge gettin’ answers from Him. Job got answers in the middle of deep ...

This week I have had the privilege of meeting some missionaries from across our country and across the world. Some of them speak pretty weird languages that I just don’t understand. You know where I am going with this thought. People have to speak the language of the people they seek to interact with. It may be for business or family or even for ministry. Fact is, God has not called us to make people like us or to Americanize those from other nations. God has called us to win people to Jesus. Often that will change the way we look at things. The American way is not always the right way, and often very different from what God says is true and original being like Jesus. Our calling is not to a land or to a church or even to a people group. Our calling is to Him and to give Him to others. Paul the apostle said that He was willing to do whatever it takes to win as many people as possible. I know I have shared this with you before, but here is that Scripture from Paul: “…Yes, I try...

“Don't be selfish; don't live to make a good impression on others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourself. Don't think only about your own affairs, but be interested in others, too, and what they are doing. Your attitude should be the same that Christ Jesus had.” Philippians 2:3-5 (NLT) “But speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in all aspects into Him who is the head, even Christ.” Ephesians 4:15 (NASB) Humans have a tendency to be selfish. Some people are kind and tender because of their nature while others have to work at it, yet people are most often more concerned about self rather than anything else. The two Scriptures above are telling for the Christian. We need to look close at both of them and see if God has some work to still do in our lives. Honest? We all have some places where God wants to work. As we follow God, we want Him to deal with the rough edges and smooth us out or make us more like His Son. For years I have told a story about a ...

Post Office Box 388 Collinsville, Virginia 24078 276 732 7749 Michael Harrison, Lead Pastor michael.harrison@adelphia.net

Hello Community Family! It has already been a great week. Let me remind you to keep praying for the new church as it forms and as the Lord gives us His direction. In the last day we have made several great strides toward a successful future. My application as a church planter with the SBCV is coming together well. The Community Fellowship’s new mailing address is PO BOX 388, Collinsville, VA 24078. We now have a bank account at Smith River Bank, and you can write your checks to The Community Fellowship now. We have been looking at possible meeting places in the area. Our leadership team (Trey, Lee, Cindy, Tommy and Pastor Michael) will be meeting this week to continue praying, planning and pushing forward with the vision that God has given us. We are still working toward a web site. Keep looking for updates on my blog ( http://e-devotion.blogspot.com/ ) and via contact with others. Encourage those around you to take part in all God is leading us to do. Below are our next two ...

"Unfortunately, those who follow the crowd usually get lost in it." - Rick Warren Been there and done that. Keeping up with the Jones or the Smiths is hard work. Trying to be part of the crowd is not the place where Jesus wants us to be. In fact those who follow Jesus are often in the minority and often are persecuted in one way or another. Following Jesus is not easy. I used to be a bit timid about saying the next statement, yet I have come to understand that through the boldness God gives and the example of those who have followed Him I can speak up: “And you should follow my example, just as I follow Christ's.” 1 Corinthians 11:1 (NLT) Paul said it. Why shouldn’t I? Why can’t you say the same? Literally Jesus said that when we are ashamed of Him and don’t follow Him that we are acting in the flesh and not in the Spirit, we are disobeying what we have heard from God, and we are leading people in the wrong direction. Following Jesus is the most critical point in all of l...

“Every time I think of you, I give thanks to my God. I always pray for you, and I make my requests with a heart full of joy because you have been my partners in spreading the Good News about Christ from the time you first heard it until now. And I am sure that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on that day when Christ Jesus comes back again.” Philippians 1:3-6 (NLT) What are partners? You may answers in many different ways. Some people think of business partners or teammates or the like. What we all need are partners. Paul was writing to his friends and people cared for deeply in Philippi when he penned the words above. Notice how he felt about those people. Notice how he was partnering with them. Notice that entire partnership was formed around God. 1. Partners in prayer … “every time I think of you…always pray for you” he was praying for them. 2. Partners in the gospel … “spreading the Good News” is what this partne...

Sunday morning was our first day of small group meetings. 3 homes. 57 people. Bible Study. Prayer. And so much more. We are excited about all God is doing as we begin this new thing, this new church. During the coming days, I ask for your prayers to complete various tasks that are necessary and for God to guide my steps and those of our leaders. Coming soon ... specials times of prayer during the week (listen and watch for details) small group Bible study, Sunday morning from 10 until noon (a couple changes coming early this week) fellowship and worship, Sunday night beginning at 5 pm (place TBA) activities for our kids (beginning next Sunday morning we will have in place a continuous Bible study and activity time at every small group and event hosted by the COMMUNITY fellowship) "Every time we think of you, we thank God for you. Day and night you're in our prayers as we call to mind your work of faith, your labor of love, and your patience of hope in following our Maste...

Last night 70 people met for our first worship service as we prayed, read, dreamed, studied and ate together. Before the envening was over we chose a name for this brand new church ... The Community Fellowship ... a Southern Baptist Congregation . We meet again on Sunday morning in 3 different homes for Small Group Bible Study and prayer time. E-mail me at michael.harrison@adelphia.net or call me at 276-732-7749 for more information. The coming months are going to be exciting as we move through the process of planting a new church here in Henry County, Virginia. My wife and I have applied to be church planters with the SBC of Virginia , and we will hear from them in the coming days. The process that the new church is going through and that our leadership team will guide us through is as follows: DREAMING ... now thru October 8 ... a time of dreaming about the new church, healing from anger, bitterness and pain and growing to be more like Jesus. DEVELOPING ... October 8 thru Decemb...

“Christ’s work – if it is really Christ’s work and not a comfortable counterfeit – never happens without Christ’ cross. Whatever happens without the cross may be good work, but it is not Christ’s work, for Christ’s work is bloody. Christ’s work is a blood transfusion. That is how salvation happens.” Peter Kreeft, How to Win the Culture War , page 21. Peter Kreeft is a fireball talking about our culture and how our faith must impact the culture. His premise is that our culture is not only dead, but that if it continues in it’s present mode and direction that our enemy will keep us, Christ’s church, from moving forward My prayer is that we will find reason to move forward with power as we see the need, the deep needs of those in our community and around the world. People are lost and need Jesus. People lead aimless lives and need direction. People are hungry for something more than food or success. People are looking to friends, co-workers and others to give them something that ...

7pm, Friday, September 15, 2006 downtown Bassett, Virginia at The Tax Ladies (formerly Main Street Grocery) next to the fire department Join a new church for Community Worship and so much more. We are just getting off the ground and ready to see God do some awesome things. Much more to come! For information call me (Pastor Michael Harrison) at 276 732 7749 or e-mail me at michael.harrison@adelphia.net . "Behold, I will do something new, Now it will spring forth; Will you not be aware of it? I will even make a roadway in the wilderness, Rivers in the desert." Isaiah 43:19 (NASB)

A picture is worth a thousand words (but that is not one of my children). The email it came attached to was about a new way to discipline a child that is not behaving. Not sure that I agree with the practice of this, but you have to admit it stirs our thinking. On this day, Friday, September 15, 2006, let's try something new ...

Last evening I got an e-mail from a prayer warrior friend back home who shared something that blessed my much. It will encourage you as well. He said that we are to do all we can for an “"Audience of Significance". Here is how he described what he meant Every year in Washington, DC at the Kennedy Center, Honors are bestowed on five people who have contributed much to our society through their life's work. In the audience are the President and first lady and the placed is packed with dignitaries. Those who come to perform are truly performing for an "Audience of Significance". As a child, we look for our mom and dad's face in the crowd anytime we are on stage or a ball field and they are our "Audience of Significance" and we want so much to please them. As a child of God we have the supreme creator as our "Audience of Significance" and as long as we look for and see Jesus' face in the crowd, we have the power to overcome trials and tem...

Not the most comfortable place, you may say. But it is comfortable. Not the place we may choose. But it is the right place. Where is it? I am talking about placing our lives in the hands of God. I remember the story of a missionary who was speaking to a church here in the United States telling his story of how his children, 2 of them, died on the mission field, and he had to fight the government to allow this missionary to bury them in that specific country. A sweet lady asked a question, “weren’t you afraid you might be killed or die?” The missionary answered, “No ma’am. I died before I went.” What a tough statement. What a God kind of statement. We must learn big time. “…Save your fear for God, who holds your entire life— body and soul— in his hands.” Matthew 10:28 (MSG) “Jesus called loudly, "Father, I place my life in your hands!" Then he breathed his last.” Luke 23:46 (MSG) Placing our lives in God’s hands is not easy. As humans, we like to be in control a...

Last evening I had the honor of taking part in a short 9/11 memorial service at Martinsville Speedway. These have been tough days for our family, but this single event gave me some moments to reflect on the words I heard, remembered and shared after September 11, 2001. I needed them. Ever had a person who is always Re-Telling a you story? I have some friends that may tell you the same story 100 times. Ever need someone that often Re-Minds you of what are the backs facts? I have friends that keep telling me stuff like that. Yet we have a God who loves us enough to do both, and through the memorial service for 9/11 God Re-Telling Truth that Re-Minds ME of what is really in control. I needed that. The scripture that was so strong was Psalms 46. It is copied below from The Message, but before we go to the scripture, I give you my three main praises I learn: :) God is my safe and happy place! :) I need to stop and look to Him! :) Seeing His awesome ways encourages me! That is our God, my Go...

Where were you 5 years ago today? You have heard that question before and in this and other context … when the space shuttle exploded, when Elvis died, when Kennedy was shot, etc… 5 years ago today was the fiercest day of fighting in our nation’s history on our soil as terrorist invaded our land. We have heard from those who remain strong, those who lost loved ones and others that were touched in big ways by 9/11. Our nation is not the same. We are not the same. Points of history mark turning points and changes in our lives. Continue to pray for those fighting for our freedom and those who lost their lives. May God be honored in each direction. I remember hearing our president mention some of the scripture below: “Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straini...

Today is a tough day for the Harrison family and The Orchard Church family. It has been a difficult ride the last few months, and the Lord has allowed us to move on. God's peace is real. I will preach my last sermon and say my last good byes this morning. My kids will have a tough time with this and so will my wife and I. Pray for us. The Lord has great things in store for us, and He is leading us to plant a brand new and very different kind of church in our area. Check back here from time to time to hear the progress or read my devotions. God has been so very faithful! Colossians 3:2 - "Set your eyes on things above, not on things of this earth."

"Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations..." Psalms 46:10 (NIV) I have used that verse and the context of it maybe a million times since I became a Christian. The first I remember thinking about it was as a teenager on a retreat near a beautiful lake in Arkansas. Just being still was awesome. Then as a young adult moving into new areas of life, I heard God call me surrounding that same truth. Often over a period of 9 months I would leave town and go to a friend's farm and sit listening to the Lord and enjoying time with Him. I kind of felt like David out in the pasture alone with the sheep. Then this morning I came back to that verse after spending time the last few weeks seeking Jesus and being quiet in His presence, the last part of the verse and the next verse hit me hard. Read on! "...I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth. The LORD Almighty is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress." Psal...

Do you ever sit down and just need to hear something good and something that encourages you? Been there and done that. We all have. Hearing from God this morning I saw a living portrait of the Apostle Paul’s passion to serve God. Obligation, Opportunity and Obsession describes what he did and how he lived toward the lost world, people who need Jesus. Obligation – Paul saw that he owed a debt to people who need Jesus. “For I have a great sense of obligation to people in both the civilized world and the rest of the world, to the educated and uneducated alike.” Romans 1:14 (NLT) Opportunity – Paul was ready to share what he had received from God and knew would impact others. One of the things I always pray for is the opportunity… So I am eager to come to you in Rome, too, to preach the Good News.” Romans 1:10,15 (NLT) Obsession – Paul’s heart was that nothing could stop him for giving Jesus to those who desperately need Him. “For I am not ashamed of this Good News about Christ. It is the ...

"So we must listen very carefully to the truth we have heard, or we may drift away from it." Hebrews 2:1 (NLT) One of my favorite places ... the beach. Several times this summer as the mighty men and kids we vacation with played in the ocean we noticed how we were drifting because of the power of the water. Sometimes it was a slow and gentle drift. Other times it was a quick and powerful pull to help us drift. We where moving away from the place we needed to be. The scripture above illustrates for us what it is to leave the best for what seems culturally right or comfortable. The drift could be for many reasons: personal compromise, public opinion, growing sin, indifference or countless other points. Fact is: people drift. Fact is: we will drift if we don't stay close to God. Read on. "The message God delivered through angels has always proved true, and the people were punished for every violation of the law and every act of disobedience. What makes us think that we ...

(Thanks for allowing me to not send a devotion yesterday. It was our 13th wedding anniversary, and my precious wife and I spent the day together. It was great!) "For the ways of man are before the eyes of the LORD, And He ponders all his paths." Proverbs 5:21 (NKJV) Some one walks up to you at the right time and gives you a hug. I needed that. A note comes in the mail with a word of encouragement and blessing. I needed that. God speaks to you in a Bible verse as you are reading and seeking Him. I needed that. Those 3 situations and countless others have happened even in the last couple days where God sent a person, a note or a verse to answers my request to know His peace and direction. Aren't you glad that God not only knows what we need, but He provides it? That is His peace. In the verse I gave you at the first of the devotion, I hear our gracious God telling us that our path is before Him or He is watching. Do we care that He watches? Are we concerned with ...

"You're blessed when you get your inside world— your mind and heart— put right. Then you can see God in the outside world." Matthew 5:8 (MSG) What does that verse mean to you? I am convinced that our inside must match what and who our God is. By the way, when our inside matches God our outside will line up with the inside. I need --- no --- we need God in the middle of everything. Think about it. God is still God. Keep Him on your mind and let Him deal with your heart. "Let us not give up the habit of meeting together ... instead let us encourage one another." - Hebrews 10:25 (GN) "Without a purpose, life is motion without meaning." - Rick Warren