Michael Harrison's e-devotion

The last of Christmas Favs.  It comes down to this, and most importantly the one Fav that we cannot miss ever.  You got.  His name...JESUS.   Born at Christmas more than 2,000 years ago (not Dec 25th yet this is the day we remember).  Sent from God.  Savior of the world.  Our Savior.  My Savior and my friend.   There has been much talk this year of people who push Christ out of their Christmas.  That just cannot happen.  We need to interject Him more.  Talk about Him daily.  Let people see How Jesus would act, how He would give and what He would say.  You know, I don't think Jesus would get angry because of people misusing the holiday (its OK to disagree with me) but our Jesus would see with eyes of compassion, with a heart of understanding that people, more than ever, need Him.  There are people dying lost, going to Hell that we can share with.  Use your time.  Use the opportunities.  Tell them about Jesus.   Here is a glimpse of our Savior:   Isaiah 7:14  (n

May God give each of you the best Christmas ever and fill your new year with vision and His truth. Just remember ... God didn't send His son to judge, but Jesus was sent to save and set free people (see John 3:17 ). Lets get the word out!

What is your favorite thing about Christmas?  Family.  Tradition.  Winter.  Gifts and giving.  Joy and music.  Church and friends.  Whatever your favorites, we need to remember that we are a blessed people.  Blessings come because we serve a great God.  He is able to care for us, guide us and to provide even when we don't see the possibilities.   A story like that provides our 1st Christmas Fav of the day.  (Drum roll please) It is Mary, the mother of Jesus.  What an awesome lady!  Read on:   (verses taken from Luke 1 of the New Living Translation of the Bible )   28 Gabriel appeared to her and said, "Greetings, favored woman! The Lord is with you!"  29 Confused and disturbed, Mary tried to think what the angel could mean. 30 "Don't be afraid, Mary," the angel told her, "for you have found favor with God!   That is just the start.  What do we learn about this young girl?  God chose her.  She was blessed because she knew God and

I am dreaming of a cool Christmas.  No, not the temperature cool, but awesome and unforgettable.  We continue our top Christmas Favs today with two more people that light my fire.  Enjoy.   We all love the Christmas season.  One of my favorite, but also a pet-pevs, is the special music.  I hate it when radio stations start too early and don't stop when it is over.  But I love the music.  All the way to Oklahoma (this Christmas) or to Georgia (Christmas' past), I've made my family listen to endless Christmas music.  Now that XM radio is part of my life, there are many stations of Christmas festive tunes to choose from.  I love it.   What was the first Christmas song.  No, it wasn't Perry Como and his " White Christmas ".  It was Mary, Jesus' mother, and then the Shepherds with the Angels.  We will get to Mary later in the week.   My first Christmas Fav of the day are the Shepherds.  Yep, not one person but a slew of 'em.  These we

We continue our top Christmas Favs as our celebration is only one week away, and our favorites for the day are Zechariah, Jesus' uncle and John the Baptist's dad, and a special friend of mine.   Zechariah was a good man of God.  He served in the temple, cared for his family and was hugely respected by many, many people.  Yet one day this dude lost his voice.  He questioned God, and God wanted to use this happening to let others know that God is awesome.  That is just what happened.  A man chosen by God to influence the world and would pave the way for the forerunner or prophet that would get ready for Jesus' ministry.  Here is what this giant of faith, Zechariah said after his son, John the Baptist, was born:   Luke 1:68-79  (nlt) --- "Praise the Lord, the God of Israel, because he has visited and redeemed his people.  He has sent us a mighty Savior   from the royal line of his servant David,  just as he promised through his holy prophets long ago. 

Proverbs 21:21  (nlt) --- Whoever pursues righteousness and unfailing love will find life, righteousness, and honor.   I love this season of Christmas.  The Celebrations.  Family and friends.  Church and all the stuff about our great and gracious God.  It is all about Him.   I also love to watch God work.  Saw Him answer some pretty cool stuff this week along with provide bigger vision for The Community Fellowship .  Pursuing God is awesome.  It is fun and filled with all types of adventures.  Faith filled and more.   January begins a new day at The Community as we start The Great Adventure '08 which is a year long theme of chasing God and doing whatever He asks of us.  It won't be easy, but it is going to be off the hook.  Each piece of the puzzle that God continues to put in place teaches me about Him being in total control and about His desire to touch our world for His cause.  We just get to be a small part.  Think about it....the God of the unive

It's the week before Christmas and all through the town people are stirring...   That's enough of that.  We love the season of Christmas.  Memories are sweet and run through our heads especially when we get quiet, rest and think.  So, this week I hope to bring you a glimpse of Christmas season from my point of view and with some joy as well.  Each day of this week I am going to choose Christmas Favorites (Favs).  A couple people each day God has used to encourage me.  Here goes our top 5 Christmas Favs:   Simeon, the dude at the temple where Jesus' parents took Him after He was born.  Here is what Simeon said ...   Luke 2:28-33 (nasb) ---  T hen he took Him into his arms, and blessed God, and said, "Now Lord, You are releasing Your bond-servant to depart in peace, According to Your word; For my eyes have seen Your salvation, Which You have prepared in the presence of all peoples, A LIGHT OF REVELATION TO THE GENTILES, And the glory of Your people

Earlier this week I took my kids on a little excursion to look at some Christmas lights.  We didn't see that many, but what we did see what obvious.   Santa Claus and reindeer scenes in front of many homes.  Lights from beginning to end of some streets.  Frosty the snow man (in the form of an air filled doll).  Stars and even a couple manger scenes.  We saw things that reminded us that this is a different time of the year.  I love the few houses that have candles in the windows or the name of Jesus.  This is the time to remind ourselves and the world that "Joy to the World" and the angels singing is all about our Savior and not the season.   As I sat to read my daily dose of the Bible, I was hit with some insight into the season.  This is from Proverbs 13 (nlt).  Enjoy and I close this thoughts from me and from the Scripture...   6 Godliness guards the path of the blameless ...   What an example of the birth of our Savior and God guarded their lives

It is not even the new year yet, and I am talking about resolutions.  That is just wrong.    But wait.  Do you make them?  Do you keep them?  I seem to remember something God said about the commitments we make and something about His commitments, too.   Matthew 5:37  (nasb) --- But let your statement be, 'Yes, yes' or 'No, no'; anything beyond these is of evil.   Psalm 145:13   (nlt) --- For your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom.You rule throughout all generations.The Lord always keeps his promises;he is gracious in all he does.   We live in a day of 'unkept promises', and what does that say about Christians?  When the divorce rate among Christians is just as high as non-Christians.  When commitments to job or family or others continues to decline among the people who go to church, what are we going to do?   My point is this....we are called to show the world Jesus and at Christmas time we have a blank check that we can write in telling

Have you written your Christmas list yet?  Oh, this is an annual big deal for our kids.  One list is long and sweet.  Another is short and expensive.  The last is all about superheros and boy stuff.   Psalm 127:3  (nlt) --- Children are a gift from the Lord;they are a reward from him.   I know that is true, but I don't always agree with that verse.  Our children open many doors for us to walk through, they open our eyes to things we need to see, and they give us opportunity to love and live life.  Christmas is just one place where we MUST GIVE THEM JESUS.   That is an awesome responsibility.  How do we deal with the kids and with Santa?  There is no comparison of Jesus and Santa.  One is vital to our eternity, and the other is lots of fun along the way.  Yet do we ever confuse the kids or confuse ourselves in the process?  Our commitment has got to be....point them all to Jesus.   I am not saying 'kick Santa' out of Christmas.  I am saying keep Christ i

1 John 1:7  (nlt) --- But if we are living in the light, as God is in the light, then we have fellowship with each other, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, cleanses us from all sin.   It is all about Jesus.  This season is not about you or your family.  It is not about the gifts and the decorations.  There is no competition.  It is all about Jesus.  Lets get in that light.   You see, when Jesus becomes our light, we will see things differently, act differently and find out that there is stuff about this life that matters and other stuff that doesn't.  The verse above is pretty clean....God cleaned us up and gave us a new start.  That was His choice because of our need.  Notice also that that life and light are about relationships.   This season is about giving Him to others.  It is about serving others for His.  Literally, Christmas is all about Him.   John 1:14  (The Message) ---  The Word became flesh and blood, and moved into the neighborhood.  We saw the g

December 7, 1941 our nation was crushed by a heavy blow at Pearly Harbor, Hawaii.  President Roosevelt wrote and later spoke these words: "A day which will live in infamy."  2,403 lost their lives, countless ships and planes destroyed and a nation standing ready to face the world.   I wasn't there.  I am not old enough to remember any thing other than people talking about it and lesson from history, but I do confess that this event from history leaves my heart heavy for people.  It reminds Christians of the reality of life and pain.  66 years ago, America was given a wake up call.  May responded to God.   Psalm 36:7  (nlt) --- How precious is your unfailing love, O God!  All humanity finds shelter in the shadow of your wings. How about the days when God wakes us up?  Those are special days, and I pray it takes very little to wake you.  Some called our nation a sleeping giant.  Other say us as weak (some still do).  Be reminded that God promised us tha

Go ahead.  Climb up into his lap.  He won't bite.  "What do you want for Christmas?"   Some kids say, "I don't know" while most spout off a list that would cripple the bank, so-to-speak.  But I like kids with confidence and some tough faith.  This is not a devotion defending the authenticity and existence of Mr. Kriss Kringle, Santa Claus.  This is a note about knowing what ya want.  Listen up.   John 8:14, 16 (nlt) --- (paraphrase) For I know where I came from and where I am going . . . I am not alone. The Father who sent me is with me. There is nothing more attractive than a confident leader. "I know who I am, I know where I'm going, and I know how to get there," are statements that exude certainty and vision. But the most critical issue for confident leaders is whether or not they have the right to be confident. Do they have credibility? Credibility is related not to the amount of confidence one exudes but to one's past

Yep.  Got up this morning and it was snowing.  Not cold enough for it to stick and not enough to really matter, but it was the fluffy little white stuff coming down.  I love it.  Bring it on.   It is beginning to look a lot like Christmas.  Winter wonderland.  Let it snow.  Frosty....you get the picture.  This season reminds me of the huge blessings that all of us have (see yesterday's e-devotion).  Yet I got to keep on.   No, I am not telling you to ask the Lord for more and more blessings.  What I am saying is name the ones and claim the ones you already have.  You are blessed.  I am so blessed.  Last night, I had the honor of being a dad for while and spending a little time with each of the kids.  We talked, laughed and enjoyed some together.  My kids, all three, are so very different and so awesome.  Little later when their mom, my wife, got in from a church activity we talked and enjoyed a little more.  Honestly, I far too often neglect time with the fam.  I a

Cannot see the forest for the tress?  Oh, that is true for all of us.  Even in the darkness, the pain and the chaos there are blessings.  Time to get out your glasses, the magnifying glass, the map and whatever else it takes to see how God has blessed our lives.  Are you ready?   Ephesians 1:3  (nlt) ---  All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realms because we are united with Christ.   Proverbs 22:9  (nlt) --- Blessed are those who are generous,because they feed the poor.   Matthew 5:3  (nlt) --- God blesses those who are poor and realize their need for him, for the Kingdom of Heaven is theirs.   Just a couple thoughts (from those verses).    Like it or not.  See them or not.  Believe it or not.  God has big time blessed you since you are His kid.  Those blessings are around us every day.  They are ahead of us in the future, and some have even been missed in the past.   The big

Proverbs 18:15  (nlt) --- Intelligent people are always ready to learn.  Their ears are open for knowledge. This past week was very full for many people in our church.  One of the tough things that family has to deal with is the issue of death.  One of our leader's had a son to die.  Many tears.  Lots of hugs.  Much prayer.  Some big lessons to learn.   Ministry is not easy.  Most of you know and see that truth.  Yet pastors get to see from perspectives that few others see.  That means we have some major lessons to learn.  Through almost 2 decades of ministry, I have learned some things that have paid off in huge ways.  So, lets step back for a minute and take the last 10 days or so in.  Think about it.   Family is so very important.  I really enjoyed spending time with my wife's family in Georgia during Thanksgiving.  Cherish those times.  Hug the kids and watch the horses run with the kids, too.  Eat lots of homemade stuff and learn from those who have &q