Michael Harrison's e-devotion

What keeps you going? Lots of answers to that question.  But most often for me that is tied to the purpose that God has given me.  He put in my heart some things that cannot be removed.  It is the passion to serve those who cannot give anything in return.  It is a desire to make a difference in the places where people are struggling. What stays on my mind? That question and answer is similar to the first one, but it is different too.  Family is one of the most important parts as well as most difficult.  I miss those who are far away and long to spend time with them.  Julie’s family is a few hundred miles away.  My brothers are over 1,000 miles away.  Our children are scattered but what a blessing that in the last several weeks we have spent time with each. The things that consume our minds and hearts are important.  Make sure that those things have been filtered through what God loves and cares so deeply about.   I said it earlier t...

Firsts.  This summer has brought several of these, and I want to tell you about a few of them.  I am pretty excited about each one, but I am especially excited about the last one. As I have shared with you a couple weeks ago we had the opportunity to see an active volcano while we were visiting Hawaii.  It was awesome.  It was once in a lifetime.  There were so many things that went through my mind those days.  It was an incredible event for Julie, our daughter Rebecca and myself. Watching the volcano during the day was one thing.  You could see steam.  You could see limited lava flow and some lava.  Night was so much different, and it was breath taking.  The light from the lava flow.  Both shooting in the air and flowing.  The crater lit up.  It was awesome  1 Chronicles 16:24  NLT   Publish his glorious deeds among the nations. Tell everyone about the amazing things he does. I will only share one more thin...

  There are so many things that happen that we do not expect.  Some of them aren’t good.  Some of them are very good. That is why I take a little time to draw our attention to the things we see or experience or find that are just amazing.  It is kind of like the rainbow that springs across the sky as it sprays beauty for all to see.  It is the cry of a little one and as they calm and smile making your heart melt.  It is seeing the precious guy or girl spending time at the altar because of what is going on in their lives, and their time at the altar brings an extra sense of peace over our hearts. Psalm 29:11  NLT   The Lord gives his people strength. The Lord blesses them with peace. We have experienced a few things recent that have taken my attention back to God.  It brought praise and and such contentment to my life.  God is working.  I am grateful. Psalm 19:1-3  NLT   The heavens proclaim the glory of God.  The skie...

  One of my favorite authors is Henri Nouwen.  Insightful and pointing… just a couple of words that describes what happens in my heart when I spend a little time reading what He wrote. I shared recently how I have been encouraged and even challenged by a book on praying through Psalms.  That is why what I share today is so good.  It hit me, and I had to share with you. The following is from a newsletter from Henry Nouwen from June30, 2022: A Prayer O Lord, who else or what else can I desire but you? You are my Lord, Lord of my heart, mind, and soul. You know me through and through. In and through you everything that is finds its origin and goal. You embrace all that exists and care for it with divine love and compassion. Why, then, do I keep expecting happiness and satisfaction outside of you? Why do I keep relating to you as one of my many relationships, instead of my only relationship, in which all other ones are grounded? Why do I keep looking for popularity, resp...

Non negotiables … there some things that I just believe about God.  When we are convinced, we will be more convincing.  When we know who holds us, we will have more peace that we have ever had before. Let’s talk about some of those truths.  Each tells us about God, how He deals with us and how we can trust His working in our lives. What a great way to start the week.   Believe and watch how God works! John 10:4  NLT   After he has gathered his own flock, he walks ahead of them, and they follow him because they know his voice.  Follow the voice that you know.  The people who get to know God and recognize His voice are confidently following because each is convinced of who He is. 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. 7 Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts ...

Sunday is BACK2SCHOOL Sunday.  Please wear your back2school shirt.  New shirts will be available to purchase Sunday morning. Some of our team will be barefoot Sunday to remind us of how we provide in a very special way to each student we serve. Join us for back2school Sunday as this will be the best and greatest year of our outreach! Katie Whitlow, Project Leader, back2school 276-565-8234 emailback2school@gmail.com Michael Harrison, Pastor, The Community Fellowship Founder and leader, back2school  276-647-8231 pastormh@gmail.com

Hello Community Family and Friends ... This news from the church is intended to let you know what is going on, what is coming up and to remind you that we still believe that God is good! Currently our series on Sunday is "There Is More to Come" and we are looking at Revelation 2 and 3 about the seven churches of Revelation that had a message directly from God.  Please join us Sunday as we look at the fourth church, Thyatira.  We will celebrate Jesus in our worship and hear from His word.  Bring a friend and pray expecting to hear from God. Sunday at 5pm we will also have a funeral / memorial service for Anita Sparks who has been part of our church for many years.  Keep her daughter, Jenny Cassell, and son, Scott Kellar, as well as their families in your prayers.  This service will also take place at our church in Collinsville. We were so blessed by the work of the mission team at our new campus.  Much was accomplished in the main hall wall and entrance, the sanctuary, the chi...

The grace of God is for the people of God who desperately need God.  And we do.  We need His mercy over us.  We need His hand on us.  We need His wisdom in us.  We need His guidance for us.  And it doesn’t stop there. We have been challenged.  Being in places where it is easy to not see there is a purpose or even a plan there is a challenge to loose our focus or even to stop all together seeking God and serving Him.  There is good news because God is not done with us. There is good news because the world needs the message that God has given us.  No matter where we have been, what we have been through or how bad we have acted, there is good news that God still loves people and desires for our good and His glory. Do you get that?  It is still all about Him.  It is not about us.  In fact we get it wrong when we think it is even a but about us.  We get in the way and off of His path when we follow anything or anyone other than...

  The greatest things in all the world are not things.  Literally if we learn from God what is most important we will agree that is it people.  God loves people more than anything. We ought to cherish what God cherishes.  Hold tight to what you should hold to and let go of all what does not have value … Genesis 1:27  NLT   So God created human beings in his own image. In the image of God he created them; male and female he created them. Jeremiah 29:11  NLT   For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.  Jeremiah 31:3  NLT   Long ago the Lord said to Israel: “I have loved you, my people, with an everlasting love. With unfailing love I have drawn you to myself. Romans 5:8  NLT   But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners.  1 Peter 1:18-19  NLT   For you know that God pa...