Michael Harrison's e-devotion

Life is precious and a gift from God.  He is the creator of every things, and we have seen, through Scripture and through example of many, just how loved people are by God. Take some time today to simply read through these observations.  May God burden our heart that we may give life and help others experience God’s grace! 1 Corinthians 8:6  NLT But for us, There is one   God, the Father,   by whom all things were   created, and for whom we live. And there is one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom all things were   created, and through whom we live. Jeremiah 1:5  NLT “I knew you before I   formed   you in your   mother’s womb. Before you were born I set you apart and appointed you as my prophet to the nations.” John 10:10  NLT The thief’s purpose is to steal and kill and destroy. My purpose is to   give   them a rich and satisfying   life. Psalm 139:13-18  NASB For You   formed my inward parts; You   wove me in my mother’s womb.     I will give thanks to Y

There are many one-liners that stick out to me.  Today’s devotion is simply.  Take in these secular quotes.  Then, more through the Bible verses.  Many of these are truly strong and profound.  Read on… Quotes: Before anything else, preparation is the key to success. -  Alexander Graham Bell We may encounter many defeats but we must not be defeated. -  Maya Angelou Capital isn’t scarce; vision is. -  Sam Walton Let your hopes, not your hurts, shape your future. -  Robert H. Schuller Do what you can, with what you have, where you are. -  Theodore Roosevelt Never succumb to the temptation of bitterness. -  Martin Luther King Jr Leadership is influence. -  John C. Maxwell Scripture: 1 Chronicles 16:11  NIV Look to the LORD and his strength; seek his face always. 1 Thessalonians 5:17  NASB pray   without   ceasing ; Acts 16:31  NLT They replied, “Believe in the Lord Jesus and you will be saved, along with everyone in your household.”

Life is full of ups and downs, celebrations and sad times, weddings, births and funerals.  Everyone goes through some difficult things in life, but the question is how will we deal with such times?  When you need help, who do you go to or where do you look for it? Psalm 121:1-3 NLT I look up to the mountains- does my help come from there?    My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth!  He will not let you stumble; the one who watches over you will not slumber. Each day presents itself with the obstacles that I have to deal with.  I have watched God work in tremendous ways.  Watching and experiencing people follow God really is amazing and inspiring.  Yet there are also those times when you lose someone close to you, and his or her death is not expected.  Much pain comes from their death as well. In those places we need the help of God.  We need to know that personally, and we can and must help others find their help in God.  We cannot make people go to God

2 Corinthians 5:16-17  NLT So we have stopped evaluating others from a human point of view. At one time we thought of Christ merely from a human point of view. How differently we know him now!   This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun! This verse gives us a reason to be both.  Our lives have been changed by the grace of God and because of the gift of His son.   That second verse is the most powerful one.  The old stuff, the old way, the old life and all our sin is gone, forgiven and washed away.  It is our choice to live that truth out or to go back to the old way. The first verse gives us something to think about. It says we are to look at life from a new point of view.  The old way or the human was is one of legalism or judging.  It examines people from what you see and what they have done, but that is not the way that God looks at us. He sees us as His children, forgiven, changed and set o

We are called by God to help others be stronger. The people around us ought to be helping us in the same way.  To encourage is to “give somebody hope or confidence or to urge somebody to do something”. If you don’t know how to go about being encourager, it simply is an action taken from one person, you, designed to influence another person because of something we know, have experienced or strongly believe. 1 Thessalonians 5:11  NASB Therefore encourageone another and build up one another, just as you also are doing. As you are already doing … there are ways you are doing this already.  Keep on. Make a choice to make a difference as an encourager in the lives of the people you come in contact with. 1 Thessalonians 5:14  NASB We urge you, brethren, admonish the unruly, encouragethe fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with everyone. Who are the people that we need to encourage? Fainthearted, weak.  There are plenty of people that fall in those two categorie

There are some incredible songs playing on Christian radio. Let me give you just a few of the lines that have hit my heart: Josh Baldwin’s “Stand in Your Love” …  My fear doesn’t stand a chance when I stand in your love. Michael W. Smith’s “Surrounded” …  It may look like I’m surrounded but I’m surrounded by your love…this is how we fight our battles. Tauren Wells’ “Known” …  I’m fully known and loved by you, you won’t let go no matter what I do. Lauren Daigle’s “You Say” …  You say I am loved when I can’t feel a thing, You say I am strong when I think I am weak, And You say I am held when I am falling short, When I don’t belong, oh You say that I am Yours Each has huge truth to pour in to our lives.  We need to hear and hold these. With that said, I struggle.   There.  I said it.  At times I struggle with thoughts that I am ashamed of, with depression and even low self-esteem at times, with anger and selfishness.  But I bet it is good that you know you don’