Michael Harrison's e-devotion

John 8:36 NASB So if the Son makes you free, you will be free indeed. I sat and listened several times to people talk about hard times this week.  Some shared stories of being homeless or without a job.  Others talked about sickness and uncontrollable things that happen.  Life just doesn't seem fair.  Would you agree? God is the only one that can make us free.  He does forgive our sin.  A man was in my office today and shared with me that while he was in jail recently he felt that he freedom like few times before.  I get letters from a friend who is in prison, and he shares with me how God is speaking to him and through him while behind bar (my friend's name is Rob, and he led one of his cell mates to Christ last week!!!!). Go is in the business of setting us free when nothing and no one else can do that.  You see, often we allow our situations that tie us up or put us in some sort of prison.  That is not something that those who follow God should...

I cannot tell how excited I am about our back2school 2011 outreach that is 10 days away.  1,000 students plus their parents or guardians will come through our building.  Our largest and most awesome deal of the year here at our church. While they are here not only will the students get new shoes and socks, new backpacks and school supplies, gently used clothes and haircuts, but they will hear a story that will give them hope and possibly change their lives.  Each student will have their feet washed as one of our team members talk to them about things that really matter in life. This is flat incredible.  You need to hear their stories, the kids and our volunteers.  But we still need some things. First, we need clothes.  Everything from little kids to older high school students.  If you live in our area and would like to donate, please let me know (or call the church at 276-647-8231 ). Second, we need volunteers, team members.  This weekend we work to "stuff the bus...

2 Timothy 1:7 NKJV For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.   When the gas light comes on in the car, do you think that you can go another 2 or 3 days?   Some of you don't.   It comes on, and you are fighting for a gas station.   You need to know me.   I've been there and done some stupid things.   More than once I have thought I had enough gas only to … run out.   That ain't fun.   This past Sunday I shared about confronting the fear of not having enough.   The fear of coming up short.   The fear of not having what you need.   In 1 Samuel 14&15 we see two different people.   One is Saul, and the other is his son Jonathan.   They responded differently to their situations.   Saul most likely lived his life in a mindset of scarcity or thinking he was about to run out of everything.   Jonathan wasn't like that.   Jonathan believed what he needed would be provided.   When you think you will never h...

I am excited about the coming days, but I also know who is in control.  This is one of the busiest times of the year for our church family, but we will also serve more people the first of August than we will almost the entire rest of the year.  Why is this true?  It is because we chose to step up and share what we have AND what we believe with others. That is why I want to start this week a bit different than others.  My Scripture reading yesterday was powerful, and one portion of Romans has stuck in my head.  Therefore, you are getting it this morning.  Read on, and I pray each of us will be re-enforced, re-energized, re-freshed and re-newed by God as we see the truth and believe it too. Romans 8:1-8 NASB 1   Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. 2   For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death. 3   For what the Law could not do, weak as it was through the flesh, God...

You remember the TV commercial that used the line "can you hear me now?".  It is one that few of us in this generation will forget.  Often I am on the phone (especially when in certain locations) and have to ask that question.  I am grateful that most of the time our connections are better than they used to be. But this question can stream into other areas of life as we think about our faith and how we live or don't live for God.  Maybe you have heard it put this way, "what you do is so loud that I can't hear what you say".  Our actions and our words often don't match.  We may say that believe in God yet our lives scream that we need God.  What does your life say to those who look on or to those who see you for the first time? James 2:19 NLT You say you have faith, for you believe that there is one God. Good for you! Even the demons believe this, and they tremble in terror. What we say and what we do should match up.  ...

Hebrews 11:6 NLT And it is impossible to please God without faith. Anyone who wants to come to him must believe that God exists and that he rewards those who sincerely seek him. Have you ever been shaken where you asked if you had faith or if you had enough faith?  Most of us have been there.  That is a tough point.  Earlier this week I shared about the message I preached Sunday where Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego made plans before their faith was tested to follow God.  Have you done that? Allowing God to increase our faith is something we are in need of.  Some of us are in desperate need.  When God does increase our faith, awesome things will happen.  God will show up as he did for those 3 guys. Early Monday morning this week I spent some time with one of our church leaders and spent an extended time with God.  The Scripture was so good and so insightful from a place in the Bible that I have rarely been to (God often talks in places we don't exp...

Before I share today's thought with you, I want to let you know that we are still signing up students for our back2school outreach  that is taking place Saturday, August 6th.  To register simply call the church at 276-647-8231 .  Donations, volunteers and students who need this outreach are needed!!!  Students will receive brand new shoes and socks, backpacks and school supplies, clothes and haircuts as well as each one will have their feet washed by one of our volunteers who will take to them about having real hope in life.  Will you pray for this outreach event?  Will you support and help this event?  Let me know, and thank you to those who have and those who will be underwriting this effort with your prayers and resources. On to today's thought... I am preaching through a series called FEARLESS at The Community Fellowship, and it is going well.  We are talking about people from the Old Testament who faced fear head on.  This week we took a look at Shadrach, Mes...

This past Thursday my parents celebrated 51 years of marriage.  I asked them to give us a glimpse of what it takes to have a great marriage.  Here are their thoughts: MY MOM --- " The secret is making a committment and standing by it - it also helps to have a husband who is loving, caring, honest, dependable, a wonderful father, always thinks of you first and continues to love you even when you are not deserving an d you are unloveable. 51 years ago I made the best decision of my life and married your Father. And at 18 years of age I didn't have a clue as to what I was doing. But I have been so blessed ! The greatest thing to come out of this marriage are 3 sons who all have the best of their Father in them. Their earthly Father and their heavenly Father." MY DAD --- "Your Mom said it best---- making a committment and sticking to it, for better or worse. None of us are really perfect, but with the grace of God we make the best of all situations and think of others...

Matthew 25:24-36 NLT "Then the King will say to those on his right, 'Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the creation of the world.   For I was hungry, and you fed me. I was thirsty, and you gave me a drink. I was a stranger, and you invited me into your home.   I was naked, and you gave me clothing. I was sick, and you cared for me. I was in prison, and you visited me.' Those are Jesus' words.  In James 1:27 He told us that pure religion is about helping those in need.  He used the example of orphans and widows.  So my question to you and to me on this day is simply this:  who around us needs our help?  Who are the people who have lost their dreams, who have no hope and are headed in a downward direction? I don't have all the answer.  But I know who does.  Our church doesn't have enough resources to help all of those in our community.  But I know who does.  I don't even know who all the people ...

I'm into giving 2nd chances, and the biggest reason is because I have needed them and received them.  Praise God for His grace. Isaiah 40:29 NLT He gives power to the weak and strength to the powerless. There have been times in my life where I not only needed someone to step in and help but also needed someone to hold me up.  It was in those times where I remember people showing up to help, and I am convinced that God stepped in at just the right time.  When my wife and I chose faith, God held our hands and met our needs. That was a 2nd chance and the grace of God several times.  I've seen it in money when we have had a need.  I've seen it with a friend showing up to speak into my life.  Often those words were hard and cutting but needed.  I've had those friends put their arms around me and hold me when life was or seemed hopeless. What God has given us we are to give to others... Job 4:4 NLT Your words ha...

Romans 10:17 NASB So faith comes from hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ. The Bible is a powerful tool that God uses in our lives and the lives of all who turn to and hear the word.  The verse above literally says that when people hear the word their faith is in increased. By the way, I am in the business of encouraging people to strengthen and stretch their faith.  I desire to open windows for people to see God and to open doors where others can walk toward God and with Him. Hearing the word spoken and reading the Bible is life changing.  In my reading today I came across a king that was crushed by and then changed because he read what God said.  It so changed his life that 2 Kings 23:25 says there was no king before or after Josiah who obeyed God's commands as this king did.  I love that truth and that verse.  While reading this next verse, my mind began to spin: 2 Kings 22:11 NLT When the king heard what was writt...