Michael Harrison's e-devotion

Yesterday I shared some things with you about prayer.  Today let’s walk a little further and ask God to help us understand what prayer does to us and the people we encounter.   Prayer focuses our hearts and eyes.  Prayer prepares us to encounter God.  Prayer is connects us to the most important of all things. PSALM 103:17 But from everlasting to everlasting the Lord’s love is with those who fear him, and his righteousness with their children’s children. NAHUM 1:7 The Lord is good, a refuge in times of trouble. He cares for those who trust in him. MATTHEW 6:31‑33 So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. ROMANS 8:32 He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciousl...

This weekend I shared a message with our church that comes from our theme of “There is more to come”, and the sermon was titled “Pray for more”.  It hinged on these verses: Matthew 9:37-38  NLT  He said to his disciples, “The harvest is great, but the workers are few. 38 So pray to the Lord who is in charge of the harvest; ask him to send more workers into his fields.” When you see a need, stop and pray.  When you have a question or are dealing with stress, go to God in prayer.  That was the point Jesus was making in pointing His closest followers to the place where we all need to start.  That was go God. In today’s e-devotion I give you that challenge.  Pray.  Begin there. I then turn to a pray from King Solomon that is packed with truth that hit my heart.  It was the last piece of yesterday’s sermon.  Maybe this will work on you as a new week full of opportunities begins. 2 Chronicles 6:14-21  NLT   He prayed, “O Lord, G...

There is a huge amount of things that we miss.  And what I want to encourage us to do as the week ends is to seek truth.  Ask God to open your eyes and heart to what is His heart and mind. Truth literally opens doors that no one and nothing else can open.  Truth is a gift from God.  Truth is a person, and His name is Jesus. John 8:32  NLT   And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free. It is Jesus that sets us free.  Living in freedom is something that will change the way we look at ourselves and the way we look at others.  Being set free when you have not known freedom is something few people understand.   I love to see people who are set free.  Live like you are free.  Free because we are forgiven.  Free because of God’s love. Psalm 15:2  NLT   Those who lead blameless lives and do what is right, speaking the truth from sincere hearts. Living in freedom is seen in how we live.  Live blameless li...

Do you have the answers?  I mean like all the answers.  I know some things.  But I definitely do not know all things.  Only God holds that right. So, in the middle of the story, or in the middle of life, or in the day to day and in and out of things we have to figure out who we trust.  It is easy to go down the path of least resistance and do what feels best or what is easy.  Yet so many times that is not the right or best way. Let me illustrate through some God thoughts: Proverbs 3:5-6  NLT   Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. 6  Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take. Proverbs 12:15  NLT   Fools think their own way is right, but the wise listen to others. Proverbs 16:18  NLT   Pride goes before destruction, and haughtiness before a fall. That sets the case pretty well.  Pride will help you fail and fall, not succeed or do well.  Fools th...

  Today I am sharing a devotion from the Navigators.  I receive one each day from this great organization.  Check this out and go to navigators.org for more of their resources! Pride’s End Proverbs 6:16-19  There are six things the Lord hates, seven that are detestable to him: haughty eyes, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked schemes, feet that are quick to rush into evil, a false witness who pours out lies and a man who stirs up dissension among brothers. In Leviticus 8-10, we see that the consecration of the priests contained a strange ritual. God instructed Moses to kill a ram, take the blood, and put it on the ears, hands, and feet of Aaron and his sons. They were set apart for God through this anointing, and dedicated to His service in all they did. Soon after this, Leviticus 10 records that Aaron’s sons are killed for offering strange fire before God. God had not authorized them to burn incense on the solemn day of inaugu...

Today’s email is simple.  Honest.  It takes a page out of one I shared last week.  Really.  It is simple.   Here are the verses on my mind.  Like I said, I shared them last week. Psalm 19:10-11  NLT   They are more desirable than gold, even the finest gold. They are sweeter than honey, even honey dripping from the comb. 11  They are a warning to your servant, a great reward for those who obey them. It is talking about the  truth of God revealed in the Bible, the word of God.  We can trust them, and we should see them as valuable, more valuable than many other things. A couple weeks ago I was at an event and having breakfast.  While making my morning coffee I chose to put honey in it.  Wow.  It was sweet.  I liked it. The word of God is that too.  It is sweet.  It is powerful.  It tastes a little like other things, but it is so much better.  Like honey dripping from a honey comb that is wanted ...

We serve the God that we can expect great things from.  But do we expect great things from our God?  He will take our faith and move in ways out of the norm.  He forgives sinners like us, comforts each of us when we are down or lonely, heals us when we are sick and shows up with new mercies each day.  That is what we can expect and more. I challenge us to make sure that our lives speak up as the life of Jesus spoke.  Few things speak louder than true, godly love. 1 John 4:7-9  NLT   Dear friends, let us continue to love one another, for love comes from God. Anyone who loves is a child of God and knows God. 8 But anyone who does not love does not know God, for God is love. 9 God showed how much he loved us by sending his one and only Son into the world so that we might have eternal life through him.  We love because He loved us first.  He demonstrated that love in tangible ways and didn’t just tell us that we are loved.  That is...

Outcomes are always something I am thinking about.  But you know the “cause and aeffect” thinking some times goes a little further than I think or understand.  I am talking about in the scientific world or physics and stuff I just don’t understand.   Here is something I do understand and continue to learn… Proverbs 26:27  NASB   One who digs a pit will fall into it, And one who rolls a stone, it will come back on him. That is a very simple cause and effect.  The outcome is based on what you do and why you do it.  Is God involved?  Yes, He is.   That is why we have to learn from God (like listening to the Holy Spirit and reading the Bible).  Often Proverbs is the wisdom I need for a particular situation or thought.  God and wise people help us understand things. Lean on those who know.  Do what is right always. I turn our attention today to a “cause and effect” that sticks in my mind.  I have shared these verses many times ...

It is not a simple day.  But I want to share with you something simple.   Often things get complicated, and we might even complicate what is not complicated.  That even happens with our faith. Thus, a challenge is ahead from this e-devotion.  Take some time today to simplify and think about connecting with God, trusting God, continuing with God and allowing His way to be yours. Two passages of Scripture stand out in my mind.  And then a closing verse.  So let’s get to it… Psalm 139:23-24  NLT   Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. 24  Point out anything in me that offends you, and lead me along the path of everlasting life. Pray this prayer.  Trust the answers God gives you.  Then walk it out no matter what God says. What did God say to you? Psalm 23:1-3  NLT   The Lord is my shepherd; I have all that I need. 2  He lets me rest in green meadows; he leads me beside peaceful streams...

A friend asked for prayer.  As he shared his request, the other friend began to pray. When he concluded the prayer concluded, he humbly stated, “Please stay on the wall.” He understood the effectiveness of the Christian who tirelessly commits himself to sharing the Gospel of Christ. In that same token, he knew all too well the intense desire of the enemy to deter the Christian from staying on the wall through various means (e.g. discouragement, weariness, etc.). He knew that for people to be reached, including himself, Christians must stay on the wall, instead of climbing down and walking away from a God-called mission. Nehemiah was the man, and the people of Jerusalem needed the wall and city rebuilt.  God called Nehemiah to do just that. Years prior, an urgent need touched the heart of Nehemiah. God used the hardship to move Nehemiah not only to pray, but to action as well. Nehemiah 1:1-4  NLT  “The words of Nehemiah the son of Hacaliah. Now it happened in...

Proverbs 1:33  NLT But all who listen to me will live in peace, untroubled by fear of harm.   Listening is not only to learn but to gain wisdom from those who really know.  We can also gain so much experience from those who have been there before us.  That would be from Jesus first and in the life of someone sold out to Him.   Over the last several days I have connected with some people I have known for over a decade and have also met a several more that are awesome people.  All of them have something in common.  That is that they want to impact the world by serving.  We are connected through the ministry of washing people’s feet and giving them shoes. The testimonies, stories and opportunities really are incredible.  I am grateful for Manny and Tracie Ohonme who have continued to pour out their God given vision so others can join them in such a work. The verse above reminds us to listen to God, to learn and to be impacted by truth....

  "The time is always right to do what is right.”  MLK   Today we celebrate the birthday and life of Martin Luther King, Jr.  He lived to speak up for and to help others.   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.  That is where I learn from people like Dr. King who did things in extra ordinary ways.  We have the ability to help others succeed.  Let's do it.  We have the resources to help others have what they need.  Let’s give it.  We have the time to stop, listen and respond where there are opportunities.  Let’s give the time.   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....

I continue to think about and plan for what our church’s theme is packed with for this new year.  2023 is the year of “there is more to come”, and I believe that is our reality.  How will we strive for it? That is a tough question, and if you do not understand life, following Jesus and living by faith, you will never understand what God means by more.  It might be a wrong view of God.  It could be arrogance.  Might even be pride or greed.  But I believe God wants to change our view of what matters most. Habakkuk 2:5  NLT   Wealth is treacherous, and the arrogant are never at rest. They open their mouths as wide as the grave, and like death, they are never satisfied. In their greed they have gathered up many nations and swallowed many peoples. Most people are never satisfied.  They often complain.  They often strive for more of what they don’t have, and when they get that, it is not enough. Be honest.  Have you ever been there? ...

  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 ...

  Joshua 1:6-9  NLT   “Be strong and courageous, for you are the one who will lead these people to possess all the land I swore to their ancestors I would give them. 7 Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the instructions Moses gave you. Do not deviate from them, turning either to the right or to the left. Then you will be successful in everything you do. 8 Study this Book of Instruction continually. Meditate on it day and night so you will be sure to obey everything written in it. Only then will you prosper and succeed in all you do. 9 This is my command—be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid or discouraged. For the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” Leading can be very difficult.  There are stories throughout the Bible of men and women who chose to lead others in the direction of God and what is best.  Often they would struggle with things that seemed far to difficult for anyone to have to contend with. Let me remin...

Who are the people that inspire you?  There are many different people in my book.  Some of them are from history.  Some of them are from stories I have heard.  Some of them are personal and people who have impacted my life.  We need to be inspired.   Most of the people that stick out to me are those who loved sacrificially.  These are people like Mother Teresa or Billy Graham.  Others would be like the sweet little lady at church that serves so faithfully or a friend that has many times gone out of their way to serve you.   Romans 12:9  NLT Don’t just pretend to love others. Really love them. Hate what is wrong. Hold tightly to what is good.   Loving the way Jesus loves is sacrificial.  It is giving of itself not expecting anything in return or totally unconditional.     To love like this will help those loved be more confident and help more people know they ...