family, flaws and all // Monday E-Devotion

My brother can beat up your brother! My dad is bigger than your dad!

Remember any of those conversations from the playground in elementary? I do. In fact, from earliest childhood God has built within each of us the sense of and need for family. It is awesome to see that need fulfilled with a healthy family and relationships, yet it is terrible to watch those relationships sour. Literally, we need family and we need each other.

Romans 15:2 (nlt) --- We should help others do what is right and build them up in the Lord.

Deuteronomy 11:19 (nlt) --- Teach them to your children. Talk about them when you are at home and when you are on the road, when you are going to bed and when you are getting up.

Ephesians 6:1 (nlt) --- Children, obey your parents because you belong to the Lord, for this is the right thing to do.

Just a couple verses to get us started there. I like those Law and Order shows on TV, and sometimes those shows get me a bit mad about family. Kids doing bad stuff, parents being horrible and the like.

Here is my point: we need to build and guard our families. Children need to know that parents love God and love their kids more than anything. It our call as Christians to live unselfish lives. In fact, the first institution that God created was the family way back in the garden of Eden. They had their troubles, but along the way (through thousands of years of history) we have seen God do some incredible things through the family unit. We have also seen Satan rip it apart.

It is our goal to see that families are re-built and strengthened at The Community Fellowship. Better yet, that is God's goal. So, what are we going to do with that truth?

Proverbs 4:23 (nlt) --- Guard your heart above all else,for it determines the course of your life .

God loves relationships. People often tear them apart. Let's strive to make family work and to let others see God in all our relationships. By the way, I think us parents need to take the challenge that we WILL give our kids pictures fo God through the way we live (everything we do). Our families, flaws and all, can bring huge glory to God. Lets make it happen!

Matthew 5:16 (nlt) --- In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father.

Have you heard of EDITH BURNS?

Edith Burns was a wonderful Christian who lived in San Antonio, Texas . She was the patient of a doctor by the name of Will Phillips. Dr. Phillips was a gentle doctor who saw patients as people. His favorite patient was Edith Burns. One morning he went to his office with a heavy heart and it was because of Edith Burns. When he walked into that waiting room, there sat Edith with her big black Bible in her lap earnestly talking to a young mother sitting beside her. Edith Burns had a habit of introducing herself in this way: "Hello, my name is Edith Burns. Do you believe in Easter?" Then she would explain the meaning of Easter, and many times people would be saved. Dr. Phillips walked into that office and there he saw the head nurse, Beverly. Beverly had first met Edith when she was taking her blood pressure. Edith began by saying,"My name is Edith Burns. Do you believe in Easter?" Beverly said, "Why yes I do." Edith said, "Well, what do you ...

wash feet, sharing hope

John 13:4-5,14 NLT So he got up from the table, took off his robe, wrapped a towel around his waist, 5 and poured water into a basin. Then he began to wash the disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel he had around him… 14 And since I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you ought to wash each other’s feet. Jesus set the example we follow. He served. He valued and gave value to others. That is why we choose to serve. For 18 years our church has shared an outreach called back2school, and for 16 of those years we have chosen to give students brand new shoes and socks as well as washing their feet. It is one of the most important parts of this event. Washing feet is a humbling experience where both the give and the receiver learn how to share some moments that might change their lives. Jesus said we should do this. See the verse above. Follow His example, do what He did, and give far more than you will ever know....

Catalyst ticket arrived

My ticket to the Catalyst Conference, in Atlanta Oct 8-10, just arrived. I'm excited!

Michael Harrison's e-devotion

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