Michael Harrison's e-devotion

I close out the week with a shorter than normal devotion built around a simply phrase.  It’s amazing.  I am referring to the things that I have seen God. I remember a young man accepting Jesus at church.  We have been praying for him for a while.  Sometime he sent me a text message that his children’s mother is close to accepting Jesus as well.  This really is amazing. I remember a mission team that that came to serve at our new campus.  I had walked through the building many times, but when I realized the work that God helped us complete the word “WOW” came out of my mouth.  It really is amazing.  God is making our dreams come true and positioning us to be able to bless more and more people. 1 Chronicles 16:24   NLT Publish his glorious deeds among the nations. Tell everyone about the amazing things he does. Psalm 111:2   NLT How amazing are the deeds of the Lord! All who delight in him should ponder them. Habakkuk 3:2   NLT I ha...

I ran across this yesterday, it really hit home.  We say we believe that God is able to do anything and everything.  But do we believe it.  Take a few minutes to digest the reality of the following: God is bigger than… your past. your pain. your anger. your fears. your insecurities. your scars. your anxiety. your sin. and Corona. Luke 18:27  NLT He replied, “What is impossible for people is possible with God.” Romans 4:21 NLT He was fully convinced that God is able to do whatever he promises. Now, go apply that truth!

  Too often faith has become a question rather than a foundation.  For some it is an option or something that makes little or no difference.  Answer for yourself. Research by the smartest medical schools have shown that patients who are prayed for or praying seem to recover and have some inner strength. That makes sense. Another test that I heard of taking place in an area of Africa where a tribe had very little contact with the outside world.  The test, from the leaders of the tribe, looked at people who received encouragement and those who didn’t.  Those who were encouraged were stronger, physically and mentally, than those who were alone and not encouraged. So what about faith?  Does it make a difference? Hebrews 11:1  NLT Faith shows the reality of what we hope for; it is the evidence of things we cannot see. Faith is a real and very needed part of life.  May we live with faith.  May we seek even more faith.  May our lives thrive whe...

I have never been in a strong man competition.  But I can see me pulling a bus.  I am sure I could flip one of those tractor tires …. Ok, that’s enough.  One of those beefed up and muscle bound peeps I am not. But I am strong.  And I can prove it! 2 Corinthians 12:10  NLT That’s why I take pleasure in my weaknesses, and in the insults, hardships, persecutions, and troubles that I suffer for Christ. For when I am weak, then I am strong. Psalm 31:24 NLT So be strong and courageous, all you who put your hope in the Lord! Ephesians 6:10 NLT A final word: Be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Exodus 15:2 NLT The Lord is my strength and my song; he has given me victory. This is my God, and I will praise him— my father’s God, and I will exalt him! Psalm 28:7 NLT The...

The first month of a new year is almost gone.  We have a new president in office.  The Corona Virus continues to hold our attention as well as the impending doses of the vaccine will turn it all around.  Around us is still the confused, the struggle and more and more of the unknown.  But that is not our God.  He is not that way.  In fact we know that the author of confusion is our enemy, Satan.  We know that our hope in our Savior, the encourager.  Who is it we are going to believe? What we believe about God will color our view.  Literally hope gives us perspective.  Having hope that is based on something or someone bigger and stronger we will have much greater perspective.  We will be able to see further and last much longer in the world of chaos. Hebrews 6:19  NLT This hope is a strong and trustworthy anchor for our souls. It leads us through the curtain into God’s inner sanctuary. Here is a reminder.  Hope is strong....

  It is time for me to share one of the things that has stuck with me for over 25 years.  Reading Scripture on a daily basis is important.  It is a big deal with me. At a meeting almost three decades ago I want encouraged to read Proverbs each day.  Remember that there are 31 chapters and 31 days in most months.  One chapter a day brings strength and wisdom.  Dig in and read daily. Recently I have had people ask me where to start in the Bible reading on a daily basis.  I encourage people to stick with the basics.  Start with Proverbs, Psalms and the Gospels, Matthew, Mark, Luke and John.  That will give you a great view of our God. Here is the chapter from yesterday.  Several of these verses stick out for me as ones that are important and point us in a direction to see God. Proverbs 21 NLT The king’s heart is like a stream of water directed by the Lord; he guides it wherever he pleases. 2 People may be right in their own eyes, but t...

  This is a special time for our country as we have a new president.  Whether you agree with or like the new leadership, it our place as Christians to be what a follower of Christ should be. I suggest there are two parts to being a Christian and honoring our leaders.  These are simple.  Neither calls for you to join a political party.  These are things that make all of us stronger and better.  They also make this country stronger and better. Romans 13:1  NLT Everyone must submit to governing authorities. For all authority comes from God, and those in positions of authority have been placed there by God. First, be a good citizen. Be responsible by doing what good citizens do.  There could be a long list, but a few of them would be these: be kind and help others, vote and share your opinion, obey the laws of the lands, support leaders. The Bible says much about being a good citizen.  Do you remember as I do one of those boxes on our report card...

  Matthew 5:13-16  NLT “You are the salt of the earth. But what good is salt if it has lost its flavor? Can you make it salty again? It will be thrown out and trampled underfoot as worthless. 14 “You are the light of the world—like a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden. 15 No one lights a lamp and then puts it under a basket. Instead, a lamp is placed on a stand, where it gives light to everyone in the house. 16 In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father. What are you?  That is a tough question that has so many answers, answers in all different kinds of directions. But the answer that I am looking for comes from the verses above, but this answer or answers comes from other places as well.  We have the ability to impact the world around us as we understand our place and purpose. You are salt. You are light. Salt has lots of purposes.  Some salt can be put on ice, and the ice ...

  This is not meant to be a post about politics or division.  Simply I want to share my position and plea to God for our country. My prayer is for peace and unity.  Asking God for others is called intercession, and this is something Christians are encouraged to do.  Pray for others.  Pray for those in need.  When you feel you can do nothing else, you can pray. Spend time praying.  Spend time looking to God for what is happening around us.  But don’t be eaten up by all the negativity.  Remember that God is always, always in control.  God is always working.  His good will come out and many lives will be changed because of what God is doing. Seeking the blessing of God for you and for others. Psalm 33:12  NASB Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord, The people He has chosen for His own inheritance. Make sure that prayer is a priority for you and for those you influence. 2 Chronicles 7:14  NLT Then if my people who are ca...

  "The time is always right to do what is right.”  MLK Today we celebrate the life of Martin Luther King, Jr.  He walked, spoke and lived to help others.  We are all flawed and have our issues, but we all have the inner calling and strength to do good. Many of the quotes I have seen from Dr. King are incredible.  Like the one above, it is all the right right to do what is right.  It is my calling to help those in need and to speak up for people who cannot speak for themselves.  How are you doing that? Proverbs 31:8-9  NLT Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves; ensure justice for those being crushed.  Yes, speak up for the poor and helpless, and see that they get justice. That verse stands out for me and helps me stand up for others.  To make sure that people get justice is something that we cannot side step.  So many people are ill treated.  So many people don’t have the means to take care of themselves.  So m...

  One of the greatest or best known passages of Scripture is called the Beatitudes.  It is found in Matthew 5 and is one of the first sermons that Jesus shared. The first verse is telling.  It says that Jesus taught because he saw the multitudes.  He understood their need, saw their heartache, and their place in life.  These things are the essence of living for Christ and knowing our need for God. Take a few minutes to read through these verses.  It is from a translation we don’t read very often.  So, it will sound a little different, but the realties are strong and needed. Matthew 5:1-12  GWT When Jesus saw the crowds, he went up a mountain and sat down. His disciples came to him, 2 and he began to teach them: 3  “Blessed are those who recognize they are spiritually helpless.  The kingdom of heaven belongs to them. 4 Blessed are those who mourn. They will be comforted. 5  Blessed are those who are gentle. They will inheri...

  One of the most important parts of our body are our eyes.  When we cannot see, we have a problem.  When one of our senses, the other senses are heightened.  Yet it seems that our sight and the health of our eyes is one of the most important thing we can have. God says the same thing about us spiritually.  We need to be able to see physically, but we also must be able to see spiritually. There are all sorts of things and happenings that keep our spiritual eyes from being healthy. Matthew 6:22  NLT “Your eye is like a lamp that provides light for your body. When your eye is healthy, your whole body is filled with light. The eye is the lamp of the body.  Make sure you stay healthy and clear of the things that hamper us and our hearts for God.  To have great spiritual sight is to have a life hull of light. Hebrews 12:2  NLT We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith. Because of the joy awaiting hi...

Jeremiah 6:16  NLT This is what the Lord says: “Stop at the crossroads and look around. Ask for the old, godly way, and walk in it. Travel its path, and you will find rest for your souls. But you reply, ‘No, that’s not the road we want!’   Some things really are important.  Struggles are a reality in the mix of life.  We connect with so many other things but often not with who is most important.   Resting really is not easy.  In fact rest of something few people get enough of.  God offers us rest.  He offers His children refreshing and strengthening as we lean on and listen to Him.   Hebrews 4:9-11 NLT  So there is a special rest still waiting for the people of God. 10 For all who have entered into God’s rest have rested from their labors, just as God did after creating the world. 11 So let us do our best to enter that rest…    It is a choice to rest.  It is a choice to accept what God offers us.  It does no...

  Romans 5:3-5  NLT We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance. 4 And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation. 5 And this hope will not lead to disappointment. For we know how dearly God loves us, because he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love. Life is far from easy.  In fact if we take a hard look at present situations around our nation and around the world we will see things that strangle hope.  It squeezes us and others where we have a hard time breathing and seeing the future. Get perspective.  God is still in control.  We believe that the things God has taught us go far beyond any trials and every struggle we go through.  It doesn’t matter whether we have been alive 5 years, 55 years or 105 years, God is moving, and He is working in our lives. Look at the pain and problems.  Don’t let ...

Hope is an incredible thing.  When someone has hope, their life will be lived out differently.  Hope fills our days. Without hope, people find life mundane and even depressing.  Without hope is it easy to just get by.  That is why it is so important to find hope and to give hope to others.  Life is meant to be full and strong. That is why David, the king and giant killer, said he had to spend time with the one who gives hope.  When he does spend that time with God and in His word, his journey is greater. Psalm 119:11 NIV I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you. The Word of God gives us hope.  That hope comes with guidance, strength and with hope.  Hide His word in you for more of the same good stuff. Psalm 71:5 NASB For You are my hope; Lord God, You are my confidence from my youth. Again that is from David.  He said from his earliest of years God was the beginning of and the hold of the hope that was so important...

  The following devotion is by Pastor Robert Morris and the Gateway series “The Blessed Life”.  This spoke volumes to me.  Read on. Mark 4:26–29  NLT Jesus also said, “The Kingdom of God is like a farmer who scatters seed on the ground. 27 Night and day, while he’s asleep or awake, the seed sprouts and grows, but he does not understand how it happens. 28 The earth produces the crops on its own. First a leaf blade pushes through, then the heads of wheat are formed, and finally the grain ripens. 29 And as soon as the grain is ready, the farmer comes and harvests it with a sickle, for the harvest time has come.” There are three fundamental principles relating to seed that I want to tell you about. 1. You reap what you sow. I'm sure you've heard this phrase before. It's a common saying because it's a self-evident truth. For example, if you sow corn, you reap corn; if you sow wheat, you reap wheat; and if, as Paul suggests, you sow money, you reap money. I...