Michael Harrison's e-devotion

As I often do, I am sitting back thinking and preparing for the week God shows up.  He continues a conversation we started a few days ago.  I am in awe.  The things I hear God say have blown me away.  The thoughts running through my head are not mine.  They are his and are changing me in big ways. Have you ever experienced that?  A relationship with God will change your life.  I read the following verses and know that God is talking about my motives.  This man gets honest and hits hard.  He asks God to keep him pure and keep his life straight.  This man reveals his weakness.  A tough conversation, but what I see is someone saying "I need God all the way."  And we do. Proverbs 30:7-9  (The Message) ---  And then he prayed, "God, I'm asking for two things before I die; don't refuse me— Banish lies from my lips and liars from my presence.  Give me enough food to live on, neither too much nor too little.  If I'm too full, I might get independent, say...

What are you thankful for?  I mean, really.  What do the people around you know that you are thankful for?  Does my life and yours show others that we are grateful for anything?  Far too often Christians are known for what they are against or for what they are mad about.  That is just flat out wrong.  It is time to let the world know what we are excited about and what we are thankful for! 1 Thessalonians 5:18  (NASB) ---  in everything give thanks; for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus. I recently told a story about a lady who was going through a tough time in her life.  One day as she was in the bathtub God brought a thought to her mind.  "What am I thankful for?" She asked.  At that moment she looked around the bathroom and began to thank God for everything.  I mean everything from the toilet to the toilet seat, from the rug on the floor to the blinds on the window. That may be a strange story, but it shows us a great point.  God intends for u...

There are some things in life that are safe.  There are some things in this life that are dangerous.  We have a choice.  We can seek what is secure and gives us hope.  Or we can seek what will be gone during the next wind or storm that life sends our way.   Proverbs 24:14  (The Message) ---   Likewise knowledge, and wisdom for your soul — Get that and your future's secured, your hope is on solid rock.   The more we gain the truth and wisdom God gives, the more we know the hope that God alone gives. On top of that wisdom comes a life that changes by, radically changed by God.  Like I said yesterday ...   changed lives, change lives  ... to see that we have to put into place what God says.  We have to apply what we learn from the Bible, from sermons and from the wisdom God gives.   Jesus taught the disciples and those who followed Him that there is more to faith than just knowing what is right.  In fact as I had this thought today I came across this verse:   Luke 9:4...

Luke 8:25  (The Message) ---  Then he said to his disciples, "Why can't you trust me?" They were in absolute awe, staggered and stammering, "Who is this, anyway? He calls out to the winds and sea, and they do what he tells them!"   Jesus spent 3 and 1/2 years with the disciples.  Day in and day out he taught them to live by faith and to see the impossible.  One of those days was when they were in a boat and a storm came up.  The disciples woke Jesus up because they were afraid they were going to die.  The verse above is Jesus' response, and that is a powerful word. Dod you think that the disciples didn't trust Jesus?  I think they did, but their circumstances led them to fear.  Those times when fear grips us, it is time to look to and to trust Jesus. These kind of situations led the disciples to be strong men who led others to strong faith.  Powerful lives lived out for God will be changed lives that in turn change lives.  What do peopl...

This week we had the honor of hosting a new ministry at The Community.  It is called "The Table" and is seeking to lead young adults into relationship with Christ.  During the event we had a live Q&A discussion and one of the questions has continued to cross my mind since.  It was the question of what is the difference between religion and relationship.  You should have heard the answers. Here are some points that hit me this morning from Luke 6  (from The Message) , and I will throw in some thoughts along the way: 5  Then he said, "The Son of Man is no slave to the Sabbath; he's in charge." Jesus is in charge of the day of worship.  Point for me is another question.  Do I go to church because I want to or because I think I have to?  Jesus emphasized our need for Him and not for laws. 9  Then Jesus addressed them, "Let me ask you something: What kind of action suits the Sabbath best? Doing good or doing evil? Helping people or le...

Have you ever been shocked by following the Spirit of God?  I have, and it happens pretty often.  It is not being shocked always cause I am wrong or when God does some miracle.  It is mostly when the Spirit shows me how sweet it is to follow Him.   In those times I remember that obeying God is the real sign of success.  The Spirit speaks to my heart and effects what my hands do, where my feet take me and what my mind thinks.  All of that shows up in how I deal with the people around me.  I have been shocked by following the Spirit. Here is some of that evidence: Galatians 5:25  (NLT) ---  Since we are living by the Spirit, let us follow the Spirit's leading in every part of our lives. God intends for us to follow the Spirit. John 16:13  (NLT) ---  When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on his own but will tell you what he has heard. He will tell you about the future. God intends for us to listen to the Spirit.  ...

Galatians 5:25  (NASB) ---  If we live by the  Spirit , let us also  walk  by the  Spirit . I am reading Forgotten God the new by Francis Chan , and God is speaking incredible ways.  What I have known and heard for years is that we often leave out the work of the Holy Spirit.  We talk receiving the Spirit but rarely about following the Spirit.  Here are some pieces of what I read today: We need the Spirit in order to life faithfully.  But we also need each other as we work out our faith. (page 56) Chan writes, I can't imagine how much it pains God to see His children hold back from relationship with the Holy Spirit out of fear that He won't come through.  (page 48) "... many of us don't want to be led by anyone other than ourselves.  The whole idea of giving up control is terrifying, isn't it?" (page 50) Sometimes the sin that we take on becomes such a part of us that it requires this same kind of ripping and tearing us free.  T...

Whether we like it or not, we are leaders.  Knowing that fact there are some choices that we must make.  Some of them are easy while others are hard.  Yet every decision we make have has consequences.    One of the ways leading happens is by the people who watch us.  Our kids see the choices we make and the things we do.  Somewhere in time, they will repeat it.  Our neighbors see us leading are led in various ways.  Our co-workers, employees, friends and others are often led by what we say and do.     So ask the question, is my leading impacting the people I lead in a good or bad way?  Be honest with your answer.  Here is what I read this morning:   Proverbs 16:10-16  (The Message) ---  A good leader motivates, doesn't mislead, doesn't exploit.  God  cares about honesty in the workplace; your business is his business. Good leaders abhor wrongdoing of all kinds; sound leadership has a moral foundation.  Good leaders cultivate honest speech; they love advisors who tel...

Whether we like it or not, we are leaders.  Knowing that fact there are some choices that we must make.  Some of them are easy while others are hard.  Yet every decision we make have has consequences.  One of the ways leading happens is by the people who watch us.  Our kids see the choices we make and the things we do.  Somewhere in time, they will repeat it.  Our neighbors see us leading are led in various ways.  Our co-workers, employees, friends and others are often led by what we say and do.   So ask the question, is my leading impacting the people I lead in a good or bad way?  Be honest with your answer.  Here is what I read this morning: Proverbs 16:10-16  (The Message) ---  A good leader motivates, doesn't mislead, doesn't exploit.  God  cares about honesty in the workplace; your business is his business. Good  leaders abhor wrongdoing of all kinds; sound leadership has a moral foundation.   Good leaders cultivate honest speech; they love advisors who ...

Acts 13:15  (NLT) ---  After the usual readings from the books of Moses and the prophets, those in charge of the service sent them this message: "Brothers, if you have any word of encouragement for the people, come and give it." Hebrews 10:25  (NLT) ---  And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of his return is drawing near. Twice this week I have had a particular thought that continues to rattle around in my head and heart.  You know, when those kind of things stick around, God must be speaking, and it is something that we need to deal with. The thought goes something like this: when you have the opportunity and/or ability to encourage a person, do it. It may be our words that leads that person to Jesus.  It may be our encouragement that this person remembers when they fall flat and don't want to get up.  It may be, in my case or any church leader's case, that our en...

This week I spent with some of our partners in ministry celebrating what God has done in the past and what He is going to do in the coming days.  During a message Sunday night, Danny Akin , President of Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary , said something that hit my heart in a big way.  I want to share that and my conviction with you. First, I remind you want God did in our home back in August.  We began having family devotions.  This grew out of the 40 days of Prayer for the Children  that www.childrenscup.org does each year.  I know that Dave & Jean Ohlerking along with their son Dan has some great rewards coming from heaven for their work with kids around the world.  But they influenced my family by helping us hear from God almost every day.  For that I am so grateful. Sunday night God reminded me that I have this churning inside of me for my kids to walk with God and to impact the world for Him.  But a question struck me and honestly blew me away.  Would I b...

I've spent the last couple of days at the SBCV meeting in Norfolk, Virginia.  We have some incredible partners in ministry, and these are some of the best.  I appreciate so many of these people who have poured life into me and into The Community . Today there were two messages that hit my heart.  One was by a man who has lead thousands into ministry and taught them to walk with God and to preach His word with passion.  That would be B. Gray Allison .  The other was from Tom Elliff .  He was the pastor of the church where I went to much of elementary school. Elliff's message is one I want to share with you in this devotion.  Here are just some pieces of it that I caught: Psalm 42:1-2  (NASB) ---  As the deer  pants for the water brooks, So my soul  pants for You, O God.  My soul  thirsts for God, for the  living God; When shall I come and  appear before God? We learned that this Psalm was penned by King Hezekiah when Jerusalem was surrounded by an enemy....

I came arose this question late Sunday evening: Husbands, are you pursuing your wife like you did "back then"?  When's last time you went out of your way to communicate how valuable she is t o you? That is a powerful question.  After the message I preached Sunday morning, I can see how God is working in my heart.  Last week I examined the truth how we deal with passion.  Today I preached on sex, and it may have been the hardest sermon that I have ever preached. What amazed me most is the response and the graciousness of our people at The Community .  When our men and our couples get honest with God and with each other, we will see huge things happen.  We will find victory that only God can give.  Does that happen for you?  Far too often we are seeing our lives empty because we would rather settle for less than success and even pursue our pleasure rather the things of God.  Ouch! Here are some of the things I shared today: Proverbs 5:16-19  (NASB) ...

James 4:1-3  (NLT) ---  What is causing the quarrels and fights among you? Don't they come from the evil desires at war within you?   You want what you don't have, so you scheme and kill to get it. You are jealous of what others have, but you can't get it, so you fight and wage war to take it away from them. Yet you don't have what you want because you don't ask God for it. And even when you ask, you don't get it because your motives are all wrong—you want only what will give you pleasure. Have you ever felt like there is a war going on inside of you?  It is kind of like the old cartoon with the little red demon with a pitch fork sitting on one shoulder talking in one ear while on your other shoulder is a little white angel talking in your other ear.  There always seems to be a battle.  And there is.  Why does that battle take place? Before we go to that question, I have to remind myself and you of a truth.  What ever you feed the most is going to w...

The day is almost over, but I want to let you in on some of my thinking for the day.  Been spending some extra time preparing, listening and asking God for His heart beat.  Hear what I have heard some of today: Proverbs 4:23  (NLT) ---  Guard  your  heart  above all else, for it determines the course of your life. We have all kinds of passion in our lives.  Some of those are tiny little things were rarely think about like our urges for certain food or to watch a ball game.  Some passions are strong that are life our love for a person or passion about a certain issue. After these passions are examined, we have to get honest.  Some of them are healthy; some are not.  Some of them are from God; some are not.  Some make us better people; some make us worse.  Some show we are healthy; some show we are sick or even perverted.  Our passions often define the kind of person we are and the kind of direction we are living in. It concerns me that often times my passion or p...

Joshua 1:2-4,5 (NLT) --- "Moses my servant is dead. Therefore, the time has come for you to lead these people, the Israelites, across the Jordan River into the land I am giving them.     I promise you what I promised Moses: 'Wherever you set foot, you will be on land I have given you—…   No one will be able to stand against you as long as you live. For I will be with you as I was with Moses. I will not fail you or abandon you.   This is a tough day for God's people.  They had been wondering in the wilderness for 40 years.  Yes, God has cared for them.  He fed them.  He protected them and was with them all the time.    But maybe you don't get it.  The people had lost perspective because it was the same thing every day.  Their leader was gone.  Egypt was a bad place, but there they had different food to eat and a better schedule, maybe.  The desert was not their favorite place.  It was hard.   One of our people at The Community asked this question:   Why do...