Michael Harrison's e-devotion

  I am going to take today to share some personal things on my mind.  Maybe this is a download or just rambling.  But it is the beginning of the week and the first e-devotion of a busy week. First, today is my wife’s birthday.  Julie is a very special lady.  School teacher.  Wife.  Mother.  Grandmother.  She is so much more, but most of all she is my best friend and partner in life.  That makes her a gift from God.  I am grateful for her. Proverbs 18:22  NLT   The man who finds a wife finds a treasure, and he receives favor from the Lord. As you know I returned from Cuba about a week ago, and I have had some time to reflect on what God did in their past trip and how He is working in this country and ministry that I love.  Obviously I will return, and my heart is heavy for our friends and partners, my Cuba family, that deal with so many concerns and struggles each and every day.  I am grateful for the work they do...

  Proverbs 18:22 NASB He who finds a wife finds a good thing And obtains favor from the Lord. Oh the memories, and today I stop to share with you some of the best.  I am blessed, and here you go! It was early fall and the end of summer, but in south Georgia you can’t tell the difference in the seasons.  This was a day I had looked forward to for a long time.  A couple years before I began asking God to give me something very special… a wife. The day was September 4th, 32 years ago today.  That day I had the honor of marrying my sweet wife Julie.  We were 22 years old.  Seems like it was forever ago (or five-ever as Julie might say).  32 years ago.  3 awesome children.  2 grand children now.  7 family dogs.  9 houses in total.  3 states lived in.  Lots of money and many memories have come and gone.  The list goes on and on because we have been very blessed! Happy anniversary to my Julie who continues to be my bes...

Happy birthday to my Julie.  It was 31 years ago that I first met this incredible lady.  We have as of today celebrated 30 of her birthdays together, and that makes me happy. Proverbs 18:22  NLT   The man who finds a wife finds a treasure, and he receives favor from the Lord. I found a treasure in so many ways.  A friend, a partner, a wife, a mother to our children and now grand mother, an advisor… and so much more. That is why today I ask that if you see her in the next few days please wish her a happy birthday.  If you are at church Sunday, please bless her with a birthday card. But the best thing you can do for her is to pray for her, our family and the future.  We are excited and trusting God for what is ahead, and this is something that we pray about and ask God for all the time.  It is good to know who holds our future and to see how blessed we are, have been and will be. Proverbs 31:25  NLT   She is clothed with strength and digni...

This is the 30th time I have had the blessing of Julie being my Valentine.  In fact is was just before Valentine’s Day in 1993 that Julie said yes to being my wife.  No our marriage isn’t perfect.  Neither of us is the perfect partner, but we love each other and are so blessed by God with the gift of each other.   She is so much more than I share, but today I want to give you just a little glimpse in to who this special lady is to our kids, to the world and to me!  My Valentine, Julie, is a gift from God! Proverbs 31:10  NASB   An excellent wife, who can find her? For her worth is far above jewels. She is worth more than any Jewels.  She is worthy of more!  To me she is a precious jewel! Song of Solomon 6:9  NASB   But my dove, my perfect one, is unique… My valentine is unique.  There are no others to me as special and made fore me as my Jesus.  She literally is unique! Ephesians 5:33  NLT    So again I say,...

Today is a big day.  It is my wife’s 50th birthday.  We have been married for more than 27 years, and I continue to be amazed at this lady.  She is incredible (and not just because she married me). There are many things that God says about wives.  And I draw your attention to some of those things, and in honor of Julie, let you know that she is these and so much more… Proverbs 18:22  NLT The man who finds a wife finds a treasure, and he receives favor from the Lord. Julie is a treasure, and having her in my life helps me realize just how God has blessed my life and our family. Proverbs 31:28-31  NLT Her children stand and bless her.  Her husband praises her: 29 “There are many virtuous and capable women in the world, but you surpass them all!” 30 Charm is deceptive, and beauty does not last; but a woman who fears the Lord will be greatly praised. 31 Reward her for all she has done.  Let her deeds publicly declare her praise. I want ...

  Proverbs 18:22  NASB He who finds a wife finds a good thing And obtains favor from the Lord. Twenty seven years ago today.  That was the day we said “I do” and made our commitment to each other.  There have been a lot of changes since then.  We have gone through, gotten through and been blessed many times through it all. I am grateful for Julie and the life God has given us.   It was in December of 1992 that I believe God began to open my life to prepare me for marriage.  I had met Julie the month before when I began to pastor my first church in Georgia.  In early January we began dating.  We actually got engaged in February and were married the following September.   Some have said we are that family with the perfect kids, the best marriage and the home with the white picket fence.  That could not be further from the truth.  We have had our struggles in so many areas.  We still struggle.  We have dealt with sicknes...

Proverbs 18:22  NASB He who finds a   wife   finds a   good   thing And obtains favor from the   Lord . 26 years ago today we said I do.  Honestly, I cried through the entire ceremony.  It was moving.  My tears were about blessing and being overwhelmed with joy. I truly am blessed.  Julie makes me and my life so much better than it would be without her.  She strengthens our family.  She puts up with a lot (and I do mean me because I am no always easy to live with). Very simply I want to praise God for allowing me to enjoy my days and partner with this incredible lady.  We have been together far longer than we were a part, and we have a long way to go still.  That is even more proof of the blessing. May God remind me and us often of His grace!  26 years with Julie is proof! Proverbs 31:28-30 NASB Her children rise up and bless her; ...

Romans 12:10  NIV Love one another with brotherly affection.   Outdo   one another in showing honor. We were surprised.  This past Saturday night many of our friends and family from church surprised Julie and I with a celebrate of our 25th wedding anniversary.  I was suspicious, but I had no idea of just what was going to happen.  The size, the sweetness and celebration was really over the top. Julie and I were whisked away.  She was with our daughter and son.  I was with the leader of our recovery ministry.  Again, I knew something was going on.  Those days and minutes were sweet.  Great conversation.  Anticipation.  If you know me, I am hard to surprise and I am a bit nosey. Walking in the door at the Spencer-Penn event center was amazing. People everywhere.  Maybe 125 or so people showed up.  Over to one side was several of Ju...