Michael Harrison's e-devotion

I have had the honor of being part of Raceway Ministries since our family moved to Virginia in 2001.    It has been a great blessing with so many opportunities for ministry and lives to be touched by what God is doing. Today we celebrate one of those lives that has invested much in this ministry.  Eugene Wagoner was one of the first people I met.  Gene was there all the time and understood how ministry to race fans made a huge difference in their lives.  He gave willingly of his time and energy as well of his own resources. Gene was an influencer. He encouraged others to get involved. It was often that you would hear him scheduling the youth group from his church and others to do hands on ministry at the speedway.  His desire was to see lives touched, and he didn’t just talk about it.  He got people involved. Gene was an encourager. When he asked how you were doing, you knew he meant it.  W...

There are so many things in this world that distract us. In fact the ways that we respond to the world and our situations tell a lot about what we believe and how we follow God. Take a few minutes to read the following verses.  Here are just a few thoughts that will keep us focused as we follow God. James 1:19-25  NLT Understand this, my dear brothers and sisters: You must all be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to get angry.   20  Human anger   does not produce the righteousness   God desires.   21  So get rid of all the filth and evil in your lives, and humbly accept the word God has planted in your hearts, for it has the power to save your souls.22 But don’t just listen to God’s word. You must do what it says. Otherwise, you are only fooling yourselves.   23  For if you listen to the word and don’t obey, it is like glancing at your face in a mirror.   24  You see yourself, walk away,...

When we get tired, we have a hard time standing up.  If you are really tired, we might not be a able to sit up or even lean.  That is why we need to commit to self-care even before we care for others. Let me out it another way: when you have nothing to give, you cannot help yourself or anyone else for that matter.  Make sure you take a Sabbath.  That is the day that God calls us to rest and reflect on life while we worship Him. Make sure you care for yourself. Let me define just one way we care for ourselves.  That is by understanding the battle going on around us and even inside of us.  There are many battles going on, but we cannot let that battle get the best or the most of us. Galatians 6:10-13  NASB Finally,   be strong in the Lord and in   the strength of His might.   11  Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the   schemes of ...

Part of this devotion was first shared in August 2017, and it remains true to this day and will beyond.  I share it AGAIN because we need the reminders of who God is and what God does.  Bringing out thinking and acting and speaking in alignment with who God is helps us to be part of what God is doing, in and around our lives. Read on and may God remind us that He i s...  This devotion is from “Doing Things That Matter”, a devotional from youversion.com.    Please read and let it sink in: God is different, and it starts with His name. Moses had a crazy encounter with God in the book of Exodus that began with a burning bush and led to other things like God parting the Red Sea and the Ten Commandments! There is a moment near the beginning of that story where Moses asks God His name…and if you think about it—that’s sort of crazy! Moses had an out loud conversation with the Creator—the one that spoke the universe into reality—the on...

There are some things I need to be reminded of.  It is easy to get knocked off track or to live out of balance or to miss what really matters. How are those things possible?  Life happens.  Lots of stuff goes on, and it is important that we remember God, allow others to pour truth in to our lives and stay connected to God. Why is that true?  Here is a word about that: John 15:4-5  NASB Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit   of itself unless it abides in the vine, so neither   can   you unless you abide in Me.   5  I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me and I in him, he   bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing. Nothing.  Alone we end up with nothing.  Or nothing might just mean we have chosen the wrong things and have none of the right things. Not alone is a great way to look at this opportunity or maybe mis...

More of those verses. You know the ones that keep coming up in our minds or we see quoted. Yesterday we talked about the verses that some times are taken out of context yet we know that God will use His words.  They are meant for our building up, learning, encouragement and drawing us closer to Him. What verses to you keep dealing with?  Yesterday’s were the common ones.  Today I share with you the ones I have dealt with for years and keep using, sharing, hearing and holding tight to. These ought to give you stuff to think about and even some joy to share: Philippians 4:6-7 NLT Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done.   Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus. Colossians 3:2 NLT Think about the things of heaven, not the thin...