Michael Harrison's e-devotion

Philippians 2:3  (nlt) --- Don't be selfish; don't try to impress others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves.   Our tag line at The Community Fellowship and what we strive to do with all we are and all we have is Demonstrate the Love of GOD to Our Community .  Whether it is an event, offering, big push or worship, this is where we head.  It guides us and allows us to impact the world for just.   BUT if you head and heart are not in the right place, this is impossible.  Think about that.  Humility and pride are polar opposites.  They cannot work together or even live together.  For us to be successful with what this goal is at The Community, we have to check everything at the door and see that Jesus is first in all things.   One of my favorite blogs is from Greg Groeschel at Lifechurch and is called swerve .  This week they have written some awesome stuff that I want to leave you with and ask our church to really pray over (go to that

Romans 8:9  (nlt) --- But you are not controlled by your sinful nature. You are controlled by the Spirit if you have the Spirit of God living in you.   Ever felt like life is spinning out of control?  Sure you have, and you know people whose lives are in that kind of mix all most all the time.  Therefore, the children of God have to step up, speak up and tell His story.  The story that God is in control and we have to trust Him all the way.   How true this is and how awesome are the reminders!  The last couple of days I have caught a song on the radio that has reminded me...here it goes:   Natalie Grant – In Better Hands It's hard to stand On shifting sand It's hard to shine In the shadows of the night You can't be free If you don't reach for help And you can't love If you don't love yourself But there is hope when my faith runs out… Casuse I'm in better hands now Chorus: It's like the sun is shining When the rain is pouring down

"If we don't stand on our convictions, we will fall all over them."  That has been a statement and creed that I have stuck with for over 2 decades.  In fact, I have learned more about convictions during times of pain and crisis than in times of victory.   Romans 14:23  (nlt) --- But if you have doubts about whether or not you should eat something, you are sinning if you go ahead and do it. For you are not following your convictions. If you do anything you believe is not right, you are sinning.   Understand that when we choose to stand by our convictions, that there will be pain and disappointment.  People won't understand what you are doing or the reason behind it.  Thus, there are some things we ought to put through a testing process.   1. Does my conviction build my faith in God?   2. Does my conviction find proof in the Word of God?   3. Does my conviction point others toward God?   That so-called litmus test may prove to be a powerful t

Driving home from our thanksgiving trek to see family, my phone rang and began my heart and my mind racing.  One of our church leader's children has taken his own life.  No answers.  Yes, there had been problems.  No words to fill in the blanks.  God is the only place.   In the last two days I have experienced a family torn apart with lots of unanswered questions, and all I can say is, "we need God."  He is our comfort and hope.  He is our helper and friend.  He is our patience and peace.  God not only offers those things to us, His children, but He is those things to us.  We have to get a grip on that.   James 5:11 (nlt) --- We give great honor to those who endure under suffering. For instance, you know about Job, a man of great endurance. You can see how the Lord was kind to him at the end, for the Lord is full of tenderness and mercy.   That verse came to my attention just before Thanksgiving, and I kept it close in my e-mail inbox until this mornin

pre-Christmas card picture ... for ya

Our family on Thanksgiving!  Oh the blessings....

Philippians 3:7  (nasb) --- But whatever things were gain to me, those things I have counted as loss for the sake of Christ.   First of all, this is the last devotion for Thanksgiving week as our family will do doing the sweet family things....see you in the e-devotion world next week!   Second, lets talk about thanksgiving.  This past Sunday I shared a message with our church about a new view of giving thanks, the big T.  Thanks is about attitude, our salvation, it gives us insight and is part of God's best for us.  Thankful people get stuff done. They are great to be around and encourage others.  So, what do people who are not thankful do?  They are pretty negative.   There is more to being thankful than just saying thanks or thank you.  It is an attitude.  Some people think they are owed something ... and by the way, as humans we owed something - death because of our sin.  BUT Jesus.  Man, God went on all out with Jesus on the cross and His love for us.  There

Colossians 4:5  (nlt) --- Live wisely among those who are not believers, and make the most of every opportunity.   Seems like yesterday that we were celebrating Christmas or bringing in the new year of 2007.  Thanksgiving is here already.  We are gearing up for some pretty cool celebration as a church and as a family.  How about you?   Just had another birthday.  I swear, they seem to get closer together, but what I do know is that I seem to have less and less time.  That means we have to make adjustments to get stuff done and make sure that our time and what we have is used wisely.  Does that make sense?  Time flies but opportunities pass us by as well.  Tell people you love them.  Tell people about Jesus.  Use what you have before it is all gone.   1 Timothy 1:4  (nlt) --- Don't let them waste their time in endless discussion of myths and spiritual pedigrees. These things only lead to meaningless speculations, which don't help people live a life of faith in

My family saw Big Daddy Weave in concert last night at The Church at Mercy Crossing . It was good. 700 people showed up for a concert that benefited the disaster outreach ministry of God's Pit Crew . Their first song they sang is The Community Fellowship's these....Let It Rise. Awesome! Here is that video.

The Gospel Music Channel is awesome. I catch some pretty cool things on this channel .... the Dove awards, lots of videos, interviews and more. Right now thru December 5th they are taking nominations for their video awards. You can vote once a day in each category . Give it a try... Here are some of my picks.... ROCK ---- Oh! Gravity by Switchfoot HIP HOP --- Boomin' by tobyMac CONTEMPORARY --- How to Say Goodbye by Michael W Smith COUNTRY --- Watching You by Rodney Atkins Lifting the name of JESUS higher .... or .... demonstrating the love of God to our community .... even through music videos!

We've has recently updated our cable here at home to the world of HD. It is awesome with a TV something like this .... It is a VIZIO 42". It rocks. Come and check it out

Leadership is sometimes sweet and sometimes tough.  I love being a part of the lives of the precious people of The Community and beyond.   Recently I asked God to reveal some things about leadership to me.  I have come to some places since then and found some unusual, some typical and some insightful things along the way.   Psalm 43:3  (nlt) --- Send out your light and your truth;let them guide me.Let them lead me to your holy mountain,to the place where you live.   The first place was just after taking our son to school, and I noticed the beautiful colors of fall on a hill near our home.  It was awesome, and this thought came to me: all those colors blend together for an awesome scene....just like the church with all its people who blend together who bring God glory and change the world.   Matthew 24:42  (nlt) --- So you, too, must keep watch! For you don't know what day your Lord is coming.   The next place was at a denominational meeting.  Yep, thats ri

John 15:13  (nlt) --- There is no greater love than to lay down one's life for one's friends.   That verse hit me hard this morning as I was driving toward the church and spending a few minutes praying for some friends on my mind.  I sit down at my computer and read my daily devotion, and there this verse is.  Plain as a day.  The thought hits me hard ...   Laying down your life as little to do with the real kind of dieing but has lots to do with giving of yourself or being selfless.  That is real giving.   Last week week my wife and I were watching an older movie and really got into.  There is a character in the movie that had been put in prison for killing a man while he was protecting someone else.  Then as he is about to be released, the man does everything he can to help others.  A Christ kind of character, to say the least.   In the middle of the movie, the following quote I grabbed (Nicolas Cage in "ConAir"):   "I am gonna show you

Psalm 73:26 (nlt) --- My health may fail, and my spirit may grow weak, but God remains the strength of my heart; he is mine forever.   Just returned from a denominational meeting here in our state, and to be honest with you, it was not like any other denominational meeting that I have attended in the past.   No fighting.  Lots of encouragement.  No downfalls in budgets.  Lots and lots of music and preaching.  Little business.  Refreshing, to say the least.   This was an encouraging couple of days.  Had the blessing of taking our missions team leader from The Community with me, and we had a great time.  We will just call him Bubba for now.  As we drove, we dreamed and talked.  As we listened and began to understand, we dug in to see where God has us and where He wants us.  It was good as it really brought us stuff for gettin' strong and stronger.   So, here are some note from various speakers we heard:   Doyle Chauncey (executive director of the SBCV ) --- C

That is just what I am doing.  Overflowing.  Living in the overflow is an awesome place to be.  Our church has Biker Sunday this weekend, and it was oof the hook.  The biggest crowd we've ever had with out of town guests and lots of in-town, local new visitors too.   Our guest speaker was from The ROC (Richmond Outreach Center) was Bear Garrett who is a part of their Soulwinning Soldier motorcycle ministry.  He talked about his passion for winning people to Jesus and how God changed his life.  What a powerful testimony!  (Watch our church TV program on btw21 .)   Proverbs 11:30  (nasb) --- The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life,And he who is wise wins souls. John 3:17   (nlt) --- God sent his Son into the world not to judge the world, but to save the world through him.   Telling people about Jesus and seeing lives change is the highest calling of the Christian's life.  For the next couple of says, I challenge you and and me to think through some qu

I enjoy teasing my children.  Taking our two girls to school this morning, I heard myself say this: "until further notice, the bloggings and beatings will continue."  Did you catch that?  Should have been "floggings".  Oh my.   The truth comes out.  Our world has changes in SO MANY ways just in the years I have been around.  Lots of cable TV stations in the 80's, cell phones in the 90's, the Internet, disposable diapers....you get the picture.  Our lives have been thrust into overdrive with the changes.   Hebrews 10:24  (nlt) --- Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works. Proverbs 10:21  (nlt) --- The words of the godly encourage many... One of those changes is blogging.  Yes, I am into this stuff, and ministry has some awesome stuff and people that offer great wisdom each and every day.  If I am not careful, I could spend hours there, and every time I spend a few minutes I take in all kinds of ideas an

Henry Blackaby writes that, "He (God) pursues a love relationship with you..."   God is chasing you.  He wants you and me in His family and on His team.  You were a # 1 draft pick.  He wanted you just like you are.  Know what?  He still wants you, and He is still chasing you and me all the time.   Some of us have to be chased even longer because we don't always believe the things that God says about us.  So, here is my thought for the day ... let God catch you since He is chasing you.  And when He catches you, listen to what He has to say to you and about you...   You may not know me, but I know everything about you. Psalm 139:1   I know when you sit down and when you rise up. Psalm 139:2   I am familiar with all your ways. Psalm 139:3   Even the very hairs on your head are numbered. Matthew 10:29-31   For you were made in my image. Genesis 1:27   In me you live and move and have your being. Acts 17:28   For you are my offspring. Acts

Proverbs 12:11  (nlt) --- ...a person who chases fantasies has no sense.   Psalm 16:4  (nlt) --- Troubles multiply for those who chase after other gods.  I will not take part in their sacrifices...   The binoculars of one and the gun sight of another center in on the target.  It is one they have been chasing for some time.  They trained for this, planned for it and even went straight to where they knew the target would be...   What are they chasing?  It could be a couple of dudes in a deer stand here in southwestern Virginia or skilled soldiers on the battle field of the Middle East, but both know their target and understand their chase.  It takes time and it takes effort, yet they press on because they understand and know about the chase.   Christians have a similar chase that we are always on.  Some think we are chasing after God.  Others believe we are chasing after some divine dream.  I would beg to differ and ask each of us to center in on the real chase.

I have to stay ahead.  That is one of the hardest things I do.  Dreaming.  Thinking.  Kickin' life into high gear and doing more for Jesus is my thought right now.   2008 is going to be an awesome year for our church and our family as God is laying some huge things on my heart, but what is on my mind this morning is how we dream, plan and move forward.  Question: do we allow God to fill and fulfill our dreams?   Joel 2:28  (nlt) ---  Then, after doing all those things,I will pour out my Spirit upon all people.  Your sons and daughters will prophesy.  Your old men will dream dreams,and your young men will see visions.   Yep.  These are the last days, and what we do for Jesus makes a huge difference. That is why I am sold out to demonstrating the love of God to our community through The Community Fellowship.  That means (1) getting the attention of our community and while we have their attention tell them about Jesus and (2) understanding that the church is to b

Just those I'd throw a blog out there with the books I have on my reading list at this time. And yes, I am readint them all, slowly I might ad. So, here are the books, a little description, a note or link or so. Enjoy....I am! Our leadership team at The Community Fellowship is reading Deadly Viper Character Assassins which is a great little book about integrity and godliness. Learn more at this website: http://www.deadlyvipers.org/ A buddy of mine gave me this book a couple years ago, and I have just started it. Interesting read with lots of big words and thoughts. I am finding some stuff that I have not thought about. Craig Groeschel is pastor of Lifechurch.tv and writes a blog called Swerve . The book is about relationships that work. Written for people headed into or out of marriage, or for those trying to make sense of the one they are in. I am considering use this as a tool for pre-marital counseling. By the way, my brother Steve and his family go to life church, and I am

Who are you going to vote for?  (If you need some help, let me know.)   First things first and this is a soap box speech...no one has the right to complain when they are not willing to do any thing to fix the situation.  Whether it is about an elected official or a problem at school, work or beyond, we have to do something to clear the problem or make the situation better.   One of the ways we can let people know who we are is by voting by our Biblical values and beliefs.  That does not always mean voting for the best Christian, but it does mean voting and finding the right people who will do the right thing (that at times you and I might not agree on).  What I am saying is this...Christians need to vote.  Think about it:   Psalm 33:12  (nlt) --- What joy for the nation whose God is the Lord,whose people he has chosen as his inheritance.   Romans 13:7  (nlt) ---  Give to everyone what you owe them: Pay your taxes and government fees to those who collect them, and gi

Philippians 1:6  (nlt) --- And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns.   Its an old story that remains true to this day.  God uses our circumstances to teach us about Him and to make us more like Jesus.  Sure you have been there, and so have I.  But some of those lessons I would have chosen to learn in other ways.   Looking back over the last 15 plus years of ministry I see some of those lessons that hurt like you-know-what.  Then I get some perspective....   Ephesians 1:18  (nlt) --- I pray that your hearts will be flooded with light so that you can understand the confident hope he has given to those he called—his holy people who are his rich and glorious inheritance.   One version of that verse says that Paul prayed that a person's "eyes of their heart" would see as God sees.  That is what we need.  To see as God sees.   When we take our situat

Click on this poster/picture and send it to others. We will have more posters at Community Worship this Sunday for you to use in getting the word out as well as some invite cards. Lets make our Biker Sunday rock for Jesus!

What do these things have in common?   Over 400 hot dogs.  Pounds and pounds and more pounds of candy.  4 race cars.  More than 400 feet of A/V wires.  3 fire trucks.  2 rescue vehicles.  400+ kids.   All those are pieces of our KID'S BASH '07 Halloween outreach.  No telling how many people and families we were able to encourage.  It is time to follow up.  Speak to folks.  Pray for them.  Ask God to do big things as well as to remind us of what all this is about!   1 Corinthians 9:23  (nlt) --- I do everything to spread the Good News and share in its blessings.   That is what we are all about at church and why our purposes are what they are.  But I have to point in one more direction that makes this stuff possible...   Sacrifice.  Our Community people went all out.  Lots of work preparing and pulling off a huge event.  Great job, team!  I so proud of these precious people, and what an honor it is to be their pastor!