Michael Harrison's e-devotion

The battle is real.  I am not talking about the battle currently happening with Ukraine and Russian, although we need to pray over the people of both nations and their leaders.  I am talking about the spiritual battle that takes place every day. You and I have the understanding when we choose to follow Jesus that our enemy, who is very real, is set to be against us, distract us or discredit us.  That was the case in the message that I shared with our church yesterday from Nehemiah 6 as the people opposing Nehemiah and God’s people did all they could to stop the rebuilding of the city of Jerusalem.  But the enemy failed. And our enemy will fail too if we take the appropriate steps headed toward victory and not defeated, listening to God rather than the enemy.  Listen in… Ephesians 6:10-13  NLT   A final word: Be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 11 Put on all of God’s armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies of ...

Community family and friends - This Sunday, February 27th, at 5:30 we will host a celebration of life memorial reception for Susanna Dunham.  This will include some special music and sharing, but it will really be a time to fellowship and encourage the Dunham family. Bring bring reception type foods, finger foods or all sorts, to help us celebrate Susanna's life.  Everyone is invited and encouraged to come be part of this special evening. Susanna is the daughter of Cathy and David Dunham.  She passed away on February 2nd.  She enjoyed serving at church and has also been part of some of our mission trips, most recently to Cuba.  Her family asks that donations in her memory be made to the Martinsville SPCA. Remember that we are called to "demonstrate the love of God to our community", and one way we do this is by caring for people close to us.  Join us Sunday at 5:30pm for Susanna's celebration of life reception.  Continue to pray for and encourage the Dunham family. Wi...

My heart is heavy for the Ukraine and our world.  That is why I shared yesterday that we need to pray.  As we move in to the weekend I challenge us to spend time thinking and praying for world events as well as worshipping God who remains in control. The following is a prayer guides from Send Relief.  Here is great insight: After eight years of ongoing conflict, tension continues to mount on the border between Ukraine and Russia. Imminent conflict between the two countries could spark a catastrophic humanitarian crisis in Ukraine, causing millions to be displaced from their homes. Send Relief, a cooperative ministry between the International Mission Board and the North American Mission Board, is working with local Baptist partners in Ukraine to care for displaced families in desperate need of help and hope. You can help! There is extraordinary power in prayer. Here are ten ways you can pray for the Ukraine crisis: PRAY FOR: 1. The people of Ukraine as tension builds on th...

Choose to pray.   Yesterday we talked about connecting with people.  The best way to keep the connection and assure that it is clear is to begin the connection with God.  Our connection to God. We hear from Him in many ways, yet the best connection is to pray.  This is a subject and need that we have examined many times in the devotions I have shared.   Prayer is essential.  Circumstances in our lives and around the world call us to pray. A friend with a health need… we need to pray. A conflict in another part of the world… we need to pray. All the time and not just in crisis… we need to pray. That is why I bring this to ur attention once again today with the needs around us growing in so many ways.  We can pray and connect with God. He is able, and He is listening. Spend time praying today because… we need to pray. 2 Chronicles 7:15  NLT My eyes will be open and my ears attentive to every prayer made in this place. Lamentations 2:19  NLT Ris...

  There are many different ways to connect.  Today I want to challenge us to think about the ways we choose to connect with the people around us each day.  Connections ought to be strong, or communication that is.  And there are many ways to connect with others. Let’s take a little trip.  Depending on how old you are there has been lots of change in technology.  Take for instance the internet and how we connect there.  Do you remember the dial up connection?  Your computer would literally have to call a number and hear those funny tones, like a fax machine machine, and connect to the internet.  It was very slow. Now there are much faster ways to connect and to stay connected much longer, like all the time.  We even stream movies and content that is huge, and that old dial up connection couldn’t hardly play a short and grainy video. Connections mean a lot.  Again, how do we connect to people?  There are many ways to connect and ...

  It is Tuesday, and it is 2-22-2022.  That is a lot of 2’s.  Pretty cool.  I don’t believe we will see another date like this for many years.   Is there a spiritual significance?  I am pretty sure there is, but that is not what I am here to share with you today.  I simply want to point out some significant uses of the number 2 in the Bible. Genesis 1:16  NLT God made two great lights—the larger one to govern the day, and the smaller one to govern the night. He also made the stars. Matthew 6:24  NLT   No one can serve two masters. For you will hate one and love the other; you will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and be enslaved to money. Matthew 22:37-40  NLT   Jesus replied, “‘You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.’ 38 This is the first and greatest commandment. 39 A second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ 40 Th...

  I am really enjoying the study of Nehemiah in our series called “reBuilding” as yesterday we talked about the time to work on the wall and deal with the people who were against them. Let’s start the week with the understanding of what is our responsibility.  If we lived in Jerusalem at the time of Nehemiah, what would be required of us?  It is pretty simple First is to answer the question of what is in front of you?  Take a hard look at what you look at what is in and be honest about what you you find.  It is easier to focus somewhere else or someone else.  It is easier to see their problems and mistakes rather than dealing with our own.  It is tough to deal with your own issue or problems.   Second our work is to encourage the people around us.  Who is next to you or who is your neighbor?  You should know them and note your relationship with them all the while knowing that you are to be an example and encouragement to each person arou...

I am currently preaching through the book of Nehemiah and a series titled “reBuilding”.  We are talking about how Nehemiah led the people of Jerusalem to rebuild the city in recored time, and we are spending some time talking about how we must rebuild due to the trauma and trouble that Covid has brought our way. Last Sunday was from Nehemiah chapter 2 about his love for God and the people as he walked out his compassion and God’s call on his life.  Nehemiah was an incredible guy. One of the reasons that he was a blessing and incredible and able to do what he did was a simple thing.  Watch or listen to these two verses that call out that reason. Nehemiah 2:8  NLT And please give me a letter addressed to Asaph, the manager of the king’s forest, instructing him to give me timber. I will need it to make beams for the gates of the Temple fortress, for the city walls, and for a house for myself.” And the king granted these requests, because the gracious hand of God was on ...

  There are so many things that people seek each and every day.  Most of us would confess that much of what we and others seek doesn’t last.  It is what makes us feel good either with pleasure or material things.  Either way they do not last. Make a choice to seek what lasts.  The right choices today will build our future.  The wrong choices rob our future.  The choices are yours and mine. 1 Chronicles 16:11  NLT Search for the Lord and for his strength; continually seek him. Seek the right things matters.  Seek God, and he will build your strength. Proverbs 3:6  NLT Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take. Seek the will of God, and He will give you the guidance to make life better and to make you wiser. Isaiah 55:6  NLT Seek the Lord while you can find him. Call on him now while he is near. Just seek God.  He will be found because He is near, and He cares about you.  That is why He stays close...

Wednesday Bible Study. It is that time again. Join me at 6pm either online via Zoom, The Community Fellowship facebook page or in person at the church. We are taking another look at Sunday's sermon, Nehemiah 2 "Love & Walk it Out" Join Zoom Meeting https://us02web.zoom.us/j/88301596489?pwd=SXBZaHVHMENNRyt4V0FXbmx6MzVFZz09 See you soon! MICHAEL Michael Harrison Lead Pastor, The Community Fellowship, Collinsville, VA  pastormh@gmail.com   276-647-8231 office blog ---  http://e-devotion.com church ---  www.thecommunityfellowship.org

  It seems that this week we have come to think about love and relationships (well, at least I have).  With Valentine’s Day, some family stuff, time with my wife and more I have come across some articles as well as a lot of Scripture that remind me that relationships take work, and relationships are worth working hard for. One of those articles is from one of my favorite writers Henri Nouwen.  The following is from an entry he wrote titled “Enter the House of Love” … When we enter into the household of God, we come to realize that the fragmentation of humanity and its agony grow from the false supposition that all human beings have to fight for their right to be appreciated and loved.  In the house of God’s love we come to see with new eyes and hear with new ears and thus recognize all people, whatever their race, religion, sex, wealth, intelligence, or background, belong to that same house.  God’s house has no dividing walls or closed doors.  “I am the doo...

I shared the following in 2012 about joy, and it came to my attention today once again.  Joy, I believe, is a choice that is vital to our walk of faith.  Pursue God, and it is God’s grace that allows us to hold true joy! As you read, choose joy.  As you think through these things, choose joy.  Let this sink in.  Not happiness but joy.  Happiness comes and goes.  Joy sticks around, and joy is reinforced as stay close to God. Psalm 20:5  NLT May we shout for joy when we hear of your victory and raise a victory banner in the name of our God. May the Lord answer all your prayers.   Psalm 28:7 NLT The Lord is my strength and shield. I trust him with all my heart. He helps me, and my heart is filled with joy. I burst out in songs of thanksgiving.   Psalm 32:2 NLT Yes, what joy for those whose record the Lord has cleared of guilt, whose lives are lived in complete honesty!   ...

1 Corinthians 13:4-7  NLT Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud 5 or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged. 6 It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. 7 Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance. Happy Valentine’s Day to you! My valentine is Julie Harrison.  This is our 29th celebration of this holiday together.  That amazes me because it seems like it was not that long ago that we began this journey today.  Nope.  28 years of marriage.  Numerous homes and cars and stuff.  3 children and now a grand child.  This sweet lady has my heart, more than just my valentine. You know, love is something that few of us really unstained because as humans and especially those who are flawed we mess it up.  We make love about us or about what we can get out of it...

I don’t want to miss a day.  Thus, I remind you that this coming Monday is February 14th.  Valentine’s Day. You might think it is an awesome day full of reminders of those you love and good feelings. Lots of good stuff, right?  Well, some people don’t see it that way. Valentine’s Day reminds some people of loss, struggle, feeling of being alone and so much more.  Those feelings are very real and painful.  What can we do to change that in someone’s life. Philippians 4:6-7  NASB Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility consider one another as more important than yourselves; 4 do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others. Help others.  Look out for others. It is easy to be selfish and to think less of others.  But what is real love?  What is serving others?  Literally is thinking less of us and more of them.  It is doing something that seems unnatural to help s...

Christians never have the luxury of being unkind - Jerry Vines One of my favorite preachers and mentors has quoted that so many times when I have been around him.  That preacher is Johnny Hunt.  He spells out this reality, and it continues to rung in my ears a lot these days. Why don’t we have that luxury?  It is because God called us to live selfless lives, not selfish.  It is because the kindness that God extended to us can be given to others that desperately need God.  It is because in our kindness people find much more than kindness. Ephesians 4:32  NLT Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you. The best understanding of kindness is wrapped in what God has done for us.  You have it.  Experience it.  Let that sink in.  Now, share that kind of kindness with the kind of people who need it so much.  Philemon 1:10  NTL I appeal to you to show kindness to my ...