Michael Harrison's e-devotion

James 5:16 NLT Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and produces wonderful results. Our family enjoyed a mini vacation the end of last week in our nation's capital.  Along with our visit to Arlington National Cemetery (that I shared with you earlier), we were able to visit one of the Smithsonian museums, the White House (from the fence only), the Washington Monument, the Lincoln Memorial and George Washington's Mount Vernon home.  This was my 3rd visit and my families 2nd.  It was good.  It was good for us. Going to Washington DC means several things to me.  It means getting lost (most likely several times).  It means the endless search for parking.  It also means lots and lots and lots of walking.  This trip was no different other than the fact that our kids are older and know how to complain in louder and larger fashion.  Just being honest.

Colossians 3:13 NLT Make allowance for each other's faults, and forgive anyone who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others.   My favorite verse is not the one about turning the other cheek when someone slaps you.  Maybe I have an issue.  Forgiving is not always easy especially if the person is close to you.  I have found through my years of ministry and through living life that is often easier to forgive people you don't know or people you rarely see, but it is tough to forgive those you have to interact with often.  You might disagree.   But you will agree with this ... forgiveness is part of life.  No.  We don't need to let people walk all over us, but people need to see God in our lives.  He forgave us.  We can and must forgive others.  Do you have an issue with this?   Matthew 6:15 NASB "But if you do not forgive others, then your Father will not forgive your transgressions.   Mark 11:25 NLT

When God is calling one of kids often the first thing God says is leave.  It might be about your location or about something you are holding onto in your mind.  The think that we have to grasp is that everything God does is about His kingdom.  It is NOT about us feeling good or getting what we want.  When God wants to use you, He always says leave!   Genesis 12:1-4 NASB Now the LORD said to Abram, "Go forth from your country, 
And from your relatives 
And from your father's house, 
To the land which I will show you; 
 2 And I will make you a great nation, 
And I will bless you, 
And make your name great; 
And so you shall be a blessing; 
 3 And I will bless those who bless you, 
And the one who curses you I will curse. 
And in you all the families of the earth will be blessed." 4 So Abram went forth as the LORD had spoken to him; and Lot went with him. Now Abram was seventy-five years old when he departed from Haran.   Abraham was one of God's cho

Acts 15:26 NLT who have risked their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. My family just experienced maybe one of the most moving events we've ever seen.  In our visit to Washington DC we made our way to Arlington National Cemetery where thousands who have severed our nation are buried.  We saw the graves of John F. Kennedy and his family.  Then we went to the Tomb of the Unknown solider. On a side note, if you chose to walk while at the cemetery, it is about a mile one way uphill.  The lady at the information counter was right, and our children reminded us of the walk the entire time.  When we made it to the tomb, I just hoped it was worth the walk and the complaining and the scraped knees that our 7 year old had by now.  It was. Every hour is the changing of the guard.  And often through the day the wreath at the tomb is changed.  As we were there watching this ritual, I was struck by the the magnitude that this person in the tomb went throu

Today's post is a letter from Rob.  I met him a couple years ago as he was going through a local Christian program and was attending our church.  We clicked, and through the months he has had some tough things happen.  But I wanted to share with you a letter he wrote to our church family.  This may be a letter that helps many people. So, meet Rob who is in jail and a dear friend of mine and our church..... Dear Brothers and Sisters, I want to start off by saying thank you from the bottom of my heart for the prayers and support that you've given me and my family as we continue down this path the Lord has placed on us. As most of you know, I've been in jail serving time for a crime I committed a year ago. This year has been one of tears, joy, regret, love and many emotions.  So many that I can't even recall all of them. This past year has also caused something amazing to happen.  It's enabled me to see first hand the power, love, care, joy, peac

Have you taken much time lately to sit and think about the character of God?  I did this morning, and once again, I was overwhelmed with how big and how good our God is. I sat earlier this week thinking about the character of the people I get to interact with.  One man I serve with and am learning from is a man of huge character.  You can tell he loves people and is so genuine in what he is doing.  Another guy comes to mind that we have been struggling with.  He doesn't seem to follow through with anything and is hard to keep going.  I move on to a precious lady that is many years my senior.  When I ask her to help or pray, she is on it.  She calls to check on me or the situation.  Her character is so sharp. What about you and me?  What will people say about our character?  My prayer is that my word is strong, my follow through is prompt and good, my heart is clean and clear and what I am doing is bringing out the best in others.  I don't desire to be good or to

Henry County Public Schools (Virginia) is sponsoring a free "Summer Food Service Program" June 13 through August 5, Monday through Thursday.  Free meals are served to any child age 18 and under.  There are three school-based sites: Laurel Park Middle School, Sanville Elementary School, and Stanleytown Elementary School.  Breakfast is available from 8:00 to 9:30 a.m. and lunch is available from 11:45 a.m. -12:30 p.m.  The community site is Smith Memorial United Methodist Church located at 2703 Daniels Creek Road (Corner of Daniels Creek Rd. & John Redd Blvd.), Collinsville, VA 24078.  Lunch is available from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.  Any adults bringing children to this site can also eat for free.  Both sites will be closed July 4-7.

We worry about so many things.  But the fact is that when we worry, we say that we don't trust God.  I meet people daily who are in tough place and can't seem to make sense out of their situation, their pain or the trouble that plaques their life.   The biggest piece of this is faith.  Does our faith impact how we feel, how we respond or how we deal with others  What ya worrying about? Matthew 6:31-34 NLT "So don't worry about these things, saying, 'What will we eat? What will we drink? What will we wear?'     These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers, but your heavenly Father already knows all your needs.     Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.    "So don't worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today's trouble is enough for today. Those verses are huge.  That is, if we believe them.  Does what we are worrying ab

Proverbs 17:9 NLT Love prospers when a fault is forgiven, but dwelling on it separates close friends. How many of us have a hard time forgiving people?  If you are human, you most likely have to answer YES to that question.  There are times that we say we forgive but move in a direction that is unhealthy holding unforgiveness which leads to bitterness which can lead to other issues including health problems.   We offer the love of God when we forgive people the way God has forgiven us.  Maybe we need a reminder.  Maybe we need to take a look at how much we needed someone to forgive us at one point or another. 1 John 2:12 NLT I am writing to you who are God's children because your sins have been forgiven through Jesus. Unforgiveness is somewhat like a rotten apple.  Just one will spoil all the others around it.  Love is the same.  When we show a little of God's love and offer forgiveness to others, it will effect and impact the p

I often feel like a chicken with it's head cut off running around try to do the things that will make others happy.   That is not good.   But I confess that this is one of my biggest hang-ups.   I like for people to be happy and for them to like me.   Which means I sometimes miss what is the most important thing.   The most important is GOD.   This might be true of you as well.   What does God think about you and about me?   That might just be the thing that helps us reach our potential.   Worrying about what other people think might keep us from success.   "Becoming obsessed with what PEOPLE think about you is the quickest way to forget what GOD thinks about you." – Craig Groeschel, www.lifechurch.tv   Dig in with me.   Why you we want to please people?   There are so many reason.   But one thing stands out … it is the fact our relationship with God is not as sweet as it can be.   He loves you and me.   His desire is for our good and our success.   Paul

Matthew 25:40  nlt "And the King will say, 'I tell you the truth, when you did it to one of the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were doing it to me!' Matthew 19:14  nlt But Jesus said, "Let the children come to me. Don't stop them! For the Kingdom of Heaven belongs to those who are like these children." If you have been with me any length of time, you know that our biggest event of the year is our back2school outreach that takes place each fall.  This is the the same.  It is our 4th year, and our people and church and even community are excited about what we are able to do.  But it is time to YOU to join us or take the "challenge to help the kids" that I am sharing with you today. Our goal is to help 1,000 kids get ready for a successful 2011-2012 school year.  Here is what each school age kid will get: new shoes and socks (in partnership with www.samaritansfeet.org who we purchase shows from) each chi

Ephesians 5:2  NLT Live a life filled with love, following the example of Christ. He loved us and offered himself as a sacrifice for us, a pleasing aroma to God . Psalm 19:14  NLT May the words of my mouthand the meditation of my heart be pleasing to you, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer. Since the beginning of time people have been asking "what pleases God?"  Jesus was asked that and more.  His reply points people back to some of the earliest words about loving God, and then Jesus reminded His listeners that loving God means you are to love people as well.  That pleases God. The way we look at, think about and interact with people demonstrates the fact that we either love or don't love others.  Some people say they love others but don't.  It is not about loving those who are easy to love or those who are like us.  God calls us to love everyone.  That love goes beyond what we are comfortable with to what might make us cringe.  

I love listening to people tell stories.  Many times it is their story of what life has brought their way.  Other times it is the story of someone we have met and learned from.  But stories go a long way. From history we learn that the things people have learned from the beginning of time have been handed down through telling stories, even when there is not a written language (speaking of years ago or even of people far from us today).  We need to share stories. The power of God can come to life through the power of stories.  God has impacted my life and many of your lives.  What God has done in you and through you is not only credible, but those stories have powerful potential of touching countless lives.  Who needs to hear your story today? Some stories make you laugh.  Some make you cry.  Others make you stop and think. There are some awesome people that I have met through the years that have a gift of telling stories.  One was a pastor.  That dude, Joe Brooks,