Michael Harrison's e-devotion

It is that time again.   Pray for our team serving at Martinsville Speedway as thousands of people come to town, and we get to talk with them about Jesus and to meet needs along the way.   The following is a devotion that I shared several years ago. Twice a year the world comes to our city through the world of NASCAR racing, and it is an honor to be part of this event through Raceway Ministries.  Almost 100 volunteers from several churches come together to serve race fans and have conversations about Jesus. 43 drivers start the race, but only one will win.  Does that mean that 42 of them lost?  It is true.   But you have to answer that for yourself.  I have some thoughts for you as the race traffic heads toward Martinsville, Virginia. Hebrews 12:1  nlt Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips...

Ephesians 4:32   NLT Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgive n you. Earlier this week there was a story in our local newspaper that spoke of forgiveness, and it illustrated how people live above the human thoughts or rewards or vengeance.   Here is the article, and I pray we hear more about people living out real forgiveness like this… Man convicted, fined in fatal crash By PAUL COLLINS Bulletin Staff Writer (original story can be found at THIS LINK ) In Henry County General District Court on Monday, a man who was charged with reckless driving in an Aug. 21 traffic crash that killed a Floyd couple was convicted of an amended charge of improper driving and fined $5 after the brother of one of the deceased expressed forgiveness and said he came to court to pay any fine. The defendant, Conel Stafford Martin Jr. of Bassett, also will have to pay court costs ($61), Assistant Commonweal...

Today all I am going to share with you are some quotes.   These and many like them take hold of my thinking and even of my heart.   Some preachers catch my attention more than others. These men have caught my attention.   A couple of them are from my history.   Others are more current, but each makes me stop in my tracks and think.   The church and Christians need to stop and think.   Our faith must increase. I remember reading from Henry Blackaby that the reason the world is not seeing God in the church is because the church is not attempting things that only God can do (not a direct quote but comes from his book Experiencing God ). As you read on I pray God speaks to our hearts and that we will be challenged: I believe that one reason why the church of God at this present moment has so little influence over the world is because the world has so much influence over the church. --- Charles Spurgeon The quickest way to forget about ...

Philippians 4:8   NLT And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure , and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise. I am not one of those people that says if you are always positive that things will turn out right, but I do believe if you choose your thoughts and seek to be positive that you will have a better attitude and accomplish more. One of the things I found in my mom’s Bibles after she passed away was a list.   It is a list that I shared with our church yesterday morning.   These things are a choice or choices in the way you live and interact with others.   Read through these 10 things, and seek to be an encourager.   Have great things to share with others.   Make a difference with your words and your life. HOW TO BE AN OPTIMIST I.   Be so strong nothing can disturb your peace of mind. II.   To...