Michael Harrison's e-devotion

Deuteronomy 11:19 NLT Teach them to your children. Talk about them when you are at home and when you are on the road, when you are going to bed and when you are getting up.   It has been almost 3 years since our family began maybe the most important thing we have ever done.   That would be our family devotions.   Each night before we go to bed we stop and turn off as many distractions as possible.   We then read Scripture and pray.   For me and for Julie this is so important.   I want to spend a few minutes talking with you about some of the pieces of family devotions.   Some of these items are pieces that have helped us be successful and keep going.   DON'T STOP.   Keep on and make sure it happens every night.   Even if one of the family is gone, we still do our devotions.   One of the cool pieces of technology that has helped us is FaceTime from Apple.   We can do devotions together even when I have to be away.   HAVE A READING PLAN .   Right ...

John 13:35 NLT Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples.   As I began a conversation with a dude I've never met before, we reached across the table to shake hands.   It is the kind thing to do in our culture.   (You know, use your right hand.   Look each other in the eye.   Make it a firm but not too firm handshake.)   Our conversation continued as he ate a meal we were providing.   I was intrigued by his questions and by his story.   We talked only for about 5 minutes, but there seems to be some kind of connection that I pray will go further.   He seems to be about 50 years old and has been down some pretty rough roads.   We are at a job fair for people that are on probation or parole in our community.   He shared with me about his experience of being in jail, about being homeless, about trying to find a job in our community where there are almost no jobs to be had and he talked about going to school to be a welder....

Romans 12:10 NLT Love each other with genuine affection, and take delight in honoring each other.   October is "pastor appreciation month", and I trust that your church took part in this as ours did.   Before I begin, please know that I have the honor of serving the greatest church in the entire world.   There is no arguing this point.   So don't even try.   Yesterday was awesome.   I knew that there were rumblings, but I had no idea what was up among our leaders and our people.   As I was about to take the stage to share the message, Bruce jumped ahead of me and began to share some things about worship and our church.   Bruce is the newest members of our leadership team and brings lots of character, much wisdom and little bit of fun.   If you know him, you know what I mean.   Our church is different.   We get the opportunity to ministry to many people who might not be welcome in other churches and some who have been hurt by churches in thei...

info from The Community for the week of Oct 19, 2011 What is going on in your life this week?  Unless you are sticking your head in the sand like an ostrich, there is bound to be a lot going on in your life. This Sunday marks 3 weeks left in our  CHASE THE LION  series, and we will be talking about taking risks.  The biggest risk of all is to take no risk.  Think about that.  Your biggest success, your most exciting times may be hiding behind your biggest fear.  Taking some risk may unlock that success for you. Join us this Sunday at The Community at 10:10am, and invite someone to come with you.  It is sure to be an awesome day that may change your life.  Jesus is still in that business, you know. Our  4th Saturday FREE community meal  is this weekend.  Our food outreach leader, Shannon, has asked for people to donate desserts for this outreach time.  Volunteers need to arrive before 3:30.  Pass the word and share with people who are hungry and in need. Next weekend is the NASCAR...

Jeremiah 32:27 NLT "I am the LORD, the God of all the peoples of the world. Is anything too hard for me?   Today is my girl's birthday.   We've been together since 1993 and have seen all kinds of things in the last 18 years.   We are blessed.   Lots of our life points to the fact of blessings … 3 awesome kids, ministry that we get to share and have experienced, lots of connections, so many memories, and more.   The verse I started with has to do with how our relationship started.   If you will allow me to tell you a story, maybe God will give you some hope like I needed when that verse became a reality.   It was in the summer of 1992 that I was ready to hang up dating or looking for a wife.   Yes, I was only 21 and had lots of time left, but I felt like I'd never find anyone.   At that time I was working at First Baptist Vidalia, GA as a youth intern with junior high students (I really enjoyed that 18 months).   I recall in vivid color ...

Jeremiah 29:13 NLT If you look for me wholeheartedly, you will find me.   Your heart is tied too much more than just what you feel.   It is tied to what you do and even who you are.   In fact your wallet and your heart are inseparable.   Think about it.   Better yet, go look at your checkbook and what you have spent money on as of late.   What you care about is what gets your time, your money and your energy.   Now check your calendar because it shows your heart as well.     Someone reminded me of the old line "the road to Hell is paved with good intentions", and all of us know that is true.   We are judged by others not by what we think or our motives but by our actions.   Praise God that He looks at and knows our heart.   I ask you to take a few minutes and see how close you believe that your wallet and your heart are tied today.   Give yourself some kind of test.   Write down the things you really care about.   Chose a few things that sta...

Ephesians 4:32 NASB Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you.   The way we treat people says a lot about who we are, what we believe and the character of our lives.   Think about the last argument or disagreement you were part of.   Did the other person leave thinking about how mean you are, how fair you are or even that you truly care for them?   Some people say "just walk away".   There are times that might be the best thing to do.   In fact, I hate confrontation, and I confess that too often I have walked away from situations where I should have stayed, talked, shared and sought forgiveness.   But that is not always easy.   Lets talk about it.   When is it best just to walk away?   There are situations where you can't win.   You have loved and cared and gone the extra mile.   You've been slapped and kicked and maybe even robbed or used.   Maybe you ought to just walk awa...

Hebrews 12:12 
NLT So take a new grip with your tired hand s and strengthen your weak knees.   You may have seen the email circulating around the Internet about the worth of people's hands.   It mentioned several celebrities and sports stars.     That email ended up talking about the hands of Jesus.   His hands are priceless because of the scares in them from being nailed to the cross.   His hands are priceless because of the lepers that he touched and healed.   His hands are priceless for lifting up the lady thrown in front of him who was caught in adultery.   The hands of Jesus, our Savior, mean much to those of us who follow Jesus.   As I sat in the barber's chair this morning I was reminded of the incredible hands that were about to cut my hair.   These hands are steady and strong.   These hands are skilled and caring.   Let me introduce you to Burnett.   He is 84 years old and been cutting hair for almost 70 years.   Each Sunday he com...

Matthew 18:20 NLT For where two or three gather together as my followers, I am there among them.   As Jennifer sang just before the sermon, our guitar player lifted his arm to reveal a pink wristband.   Another arm went up and then another.   David stepped from behind the drums and placed a wristband on Jennifer's arm.   In the following minute every arm in the building was raised having a pink "breast cancer awareness" revealed for all to see and to say "we are in this together".   Just 10 days before this precious lady found out that the lump that was found was cancer.   DR's have said that it is early, but she must begin the process.   A biopsy took place to show the cancerous cells.   Today there was an MRI, and now they wait for a visit with another surgeon.   Meet Jennifer.   This awesome lady taught both my children in elementary school.   While my oldest daughter, Rebecca, was in her class, Jennifer's husband found ...

I love to serve, and it was an honor to volunteer all three days of Catalyst in Atlanta.  There were some awesome people I got to connect with, work with and be around.  But I want to take today's post and share some notes from a few of the sessions that inspired me.   >>> ANDY STANLEY   The more successful you are, the less accessible you will become.   This unavoidable truth drives us in one of two directions.   1. Refuse to face this reality and burn out trying to be accessible to everyone. You can only truly be accessible and present to a very few people.    Ministry is about people, not programming. They break you're heart.   2.   Use success as an excuse to become more inaccessible than necessary.   There is pride and the "big shot" mentality.   Galatians 6:9 – Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.   Don't be fair. Be engaged. Deeper rather tha...

Dear Community church family - We will be having a memorial service for Jim Fulcher this Wednesday evening at 7pm at The Community Fellowship.  Please pass this information on to others who knew Jim. Please consider giving a gift to help with his funeral expenses as his insurance covered about half of the cost.  Please call the church if you need more information.  That number is 276-647-8231. I have talked to his family today, and they will join us for this special worship service.  It will include music, testimonies and a message.  Jim impacted many of our lives and the lives of others.  It is important to our church family to honor one of our family in this way. Thank you for your help.  I look forward to seeing Wednesday at 7pm for Jim's memorial service. With GOD as my guide, Pastor Michael James 1:5

James 2:23 NLT And so it happened just as the Scriptures say: "Abraham believed God, and God counted him as righteous because of his faith." He was even called the friend of God.   I first met Jim four years ago.   He was one of a kind.   After being in the military and going through some very difficult times, he had a stroke that made the left side of his body partially paralyzed.   But he didn't let his physical issues keep him down.   Jim lived life to the fullest.   The last few years if you live in our community you would have seen him crossing the highway in front of the church on his power scooter sporting a huge American flag flying in the wind.   On that maroon cart that seemed to run at NASCAR speed you would find some unique items.   Most common was probably a golf club, but you'd also find a teddy bear, a fire helmet, a toy double barrel shotgun, incredible hulk hands (the glove things) and a knife of some sort.   He was differ...