people are important

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 this week. God loves people.

That is what stays on my heart heart the most. People.

How do we make sure that stays as vital to us as it does to God?

How do we make sure that we are hearing God speak?

A simple answer that I have shared so many times. I have shared it in e-devotions. I have preached so many sermons about it. Across the office, across the dinner table, walking down the road … I have shared the importance of staying in the Scripture.

Staying in Scripture will keep us hearing from God and caring about what God cares about the most.

1 John 4:9-10 NLT

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. 10 This is real love—not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as a sacrifice to take away our sins.

This next week we celebrate Independence Day, our nation’s birthday. It really is not about the land and freedom. It really is about the people who are free.

May celebrate what really matters. And celebrate often!

Have you heard of EDITH BURNS?

Edith Burns was a wonderful Christian who lived in San Antonio, Texas . She was the patient of a doctor by the name of Will Phillips. Dr. Phillips was a gentle doctor who saw patients as people. His favorite patient was Edith Burns. One morning he went to his office with a heavy heart and it was because of Edith Burns. When he walked into that waiting room, there sat Edith with her big black Bible in her lap earnestly talking to a young mother sitting beside her. Edith Burns had a habit of introducing herself in this way: "Hello, my name is Edith Burns. Do you believe in Easter?" Then she would explain the meaning of Easter, and many times people would be saved. Dr. Phillips walked into that office and there he saw the head nurse, Beverly. Beverly had first met Edith when she was taking her blood pressure. Edith began by saying,"My name is Edith Burns. Do you believe in Easter?" Beverly said, "Why yes I do." Edith said, "Well, what do you ...

wash feet, sharing hope

John 13:4-5,14 NLT So he got up from the table, took off his robe, wrapped a towel around his waist, 5 and poured water into a basin. Then he began to wash the disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel he had around him… 14 And since I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you ought to wash each other’s feet. Jesus set the example we follow. He served. He valued and gave value to others. That is why we choose to serve. For 18 years our church has shared an outreach called back2school, and for 16 of those years we have chosen to give students brand new shoes and socks as well as washing their feet. It is one of the most important parts of this event. Washing feet is a humbling experience where both the give and the receiver learn how to share some moments that might change their lives. Jesus said we should do this. See the verse above. Follow His example, do what He did, and give far more than you will ever know....

Catalyst ticket arrived

My ticket to the Catalyst Conference, in Atlanta Oct 8-10, just arrived. I'm excited!

Michael Harrison's e-devotion

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