Michael Harrison's e-devotion

  This last Sunday I shared a message with our church titled “look around the table”, and it was about who we are with this Thanksgiving.  So I encourage you this week to look around the table. Maybe you will see people who are alone, or someone who is grieving because of losing a loved one, or maybe it is someone who is struggling with health or finances or even being homeless.  Do something for that person.  Step up to love and serve. As you look around the table make sure that you are thankful.  An attitude of gratitude is something that is chosen by each of us.  In fact far too often we lose our thankfulness because we are distracted or even by simply focusing on wrong things.   What are you thankful for?  No.  Let’s ask that differently.  Who are you thankful for?  I bet we can name a lot of people. Take some time to look around the table and do things that helps others become more and more thankful.  Your attitude might b...

  There are some people who stand out in our lives.  Some are not known by many others but others are famous.  It is these special people that have made a difference in your life in one way or another. I would tell you about the sweet littl e lady that poured wisdom in to your life.  That was in one of my first churches, and she was a sweet saint full of life and knowing God. Another is the Sunday school teacher from my childhood.  He was older and even missing a finger on one hand from a saw accident, but this man believed in me and the other boys in our class. How about that school teacher that gave me a chance and showed me how to think differently.  That same teacher still contacts me today to let me know that she is thinking about and praying for me. There are so many others, but there isn’t enough time here.  But I point you to a few thoughts that get my attention from someone who speaks in to my life… Those who leave everything in God’s hands wi...

  1 Thessalonians 5:16-22  NLT   Always be joyful. 17 Never stop praying. 18 Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.19 Do not stifle the Holy Spirit. 20 Do not scoff at prophecies, 21 but test everything that is said. Hold on to what is good. 22 Stay away from every kind of evil. Through the pen of the Apostle Paul and his first letter to the church at Thessalonica God gives us some insight in to what really is important. Too often it is the small things that seem to be insignificant, but God says these are the things that can change so much around us.  Take a look at some of those in the verses above. Be joyful. Keep on praying.   Be thankful. Let the Holy Spirit work. Listen to the prophecy from God. Hold on to what is good. Stay away from what is evil. A simple list with huge outcomes, but there is one more thing I don’t want to leave out of the list that might just hold them a...

  The word walk doesn’t always mean you have to move your feet.  It refers to living out our salvation, following Jesus and walking the way that is best.  The Bible uses the word walk in our understanding of the Christian life.   Colossians 1:10 NASB so that you will walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, to please Him in all respects, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God;   Walk so God is seen in your life.   2 Corinthians 5:7  NASB for we walk by faith, not by sight—   Walk by Faith.  I’ve even gotten lost by thinking I knew where I was or even by using GPS.  The same is true in our spiritual lives which is why we need faith in God every day.   Ephesians 5:15 NASB Therefore be careful how you walk, not as unwise men but as wise,   Joshua 22:5 NASB Only be very careful to observe the co...

  All of us have looked for the sure thing.  In face we might have overlooked the best and surest, if that is a word, thing because our approach or our perspective is screwed up.   That is where God comes in line with our need.  Let’s problem that God is the one true, sure thing. LAMENTATIONS 3:22-26 NLT The faithful love of the lord never ends!  His mercies never cease.  Great is his faithfulness; his mercies begin afresh each morning.  I say to myself, “The lord is my inheritance; therefore, I will hope in him!”  The lord is good to those who depend on him, to those who search for him.  So it is good to wait quietly for salvation from the lord.   A simply list the sure things from these verses proclaim and we should claim.   SURE THING: God’s love never ends!   SURE THING: God’s mercy never ends.   SURE THING: God’s faithfulness is incredible.   SURE THING: God’s mercy is refreshing and sweet eve...

  Looking Unto Jesus (poem)   Just one glimpse of Jesus and all the cloud depart; All my foes are conquered, Peace reigns in my heart. Not a lonely feeling, Not a tear may dwell. Just one glimpse of Jesus And everything is well.   Look to Jesus.  That is an imperative.  It is a must for all who choose to follow Him and to know God.  Looking to Jesus will do many different things in our lives.   Why look to Jesus?  He will change things in and around our lives.  He will establish our way and even the character that we need in life.  He is the one who did for us what no one else could do.   Make looking to Jesus a regular practice and a habit.   Hebrews 12:1-3  ESV Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 2 looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith,...