have I met you before?

Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples.

Have I met you before? Several times in the last few weeks I have had this question come from some people I came in contact with, and I even had to ask a couple people this. The people that I have met and spent some time with are incredible in so many ways.

This weekend my son and I traveled to New York to work with some friends from Raceway Ministries to help restart the outreach at Watkins Glen International Speedway. First of all, road racing is strange. The people there say it is racing but twisted. Which is true. The cars turn right many times, and there are 11 turns in the race. My boy had a blast, and it was so good to spend that time with him. But Sunday morning I had the opportunity to preach in the fan outreach worship service. One of the couples there had been to Martinsville. We connected, prayed together and got to encourage one another. It was awesome.

Last weekend was our back2school outreach, and there were many people who I recognized but couldn't remember where I met them before. The stories we shared were so good. I heard about churches that are winning people to Jesus and thinking outside the box. I heard stories about how God had given people 2nd chances and God's grace had become so real.

I've even had some of those moments where I think "I've been here before". I'm not psychotic or psychic, but those kind of things happen. What is God doing? Maybe He is preparing us to be a blessing or to be blessed. The people we encounter every day are not coming along our journey just by chance. God has a plan. God wants to teach us and use us.

Your story and mine are credible. The pain we have gone through has meaning and is important. As we share where we have been, where we are and where we are going, we can point out how good God is and help others see they they too can experience God.

If we will look at the people we meet a little different, we might be able to have a bigger impact on the kingdom of God. I don't know about you but blessing people, encouraging people and lifting people is something that I want to be right in the middle of. Yes. God blessed you and has blessed me so we can be a blessing to others.

Next time you get the chance, ask the question "have I met you before?" and see how God works in your conversations and in the lives around you.

Psalm 145:7 NLT

Everyone will share the story of your wonderful goodness; they will sing with joy about your righteousness.

Have you heard of EDITH BURNS?

Edith Burns was a wonderful Christian who lived in San Antonio, Texas . She was the patient of a doctor by the name of Will Phillips. Dr. Phillips was a gentle doctor who saw patients as people. His favorite patient was Edith Burns. One morning he went to his office with a heavy heart and it was because of Edith Burns. When he walked into that waiting room, there sat Edith with her big black Bible in her lap earnestly talking to a young mother sitting beside her. Edith Burns had a habit of introducing herself in this way: "Hello, my name is Edith Burns. Do you believe in Easter?" Then she would explain the meaning of Easter, and many times people would be saved. Dr. Phillips walked into that office and there he saw the head nurse, Beverly. Beverly had first met Edith when she was taking her blood pressure. Edith began by saying,"My name is Edith Burns. Do you believe in Easter?" Beverly said, "Why yes I do." Edith said, "Well, what do you ...

wash feet, sharing hope

John 13:4-5,14 NLT So he got up from the table, took off his robe, wrapped a towel around his waist, 5 and poured water into a basin. Then he began to wash the disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel he had around him… 14 And since I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you ought to wash each other’s feet. Jesus set the example we follow. He served. He valued and gave value to others. That is why we choose to serve. For 18 years our church has shared an outreach called back2school, and for 16 of those years we have chosen to give students brand new shoes and socks as well as washing their feet. It is one of the most important parts of this event. Washing feet is a humbling experience where both the give and the receiver learn how to share some moments that might change their lives. Jesus said we should do this. See the verse above. Follow His example, do what He did, and give far more than you will ever know....

Catalyst ticket arrived

My ticket to the Catalyst Conference, in Atlanta Oct 8-10, just arrived. I'm excited!

Michael Harrison's e-devotion

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