Michael Harrison's e-devotion

The last few days I have been spending time with my brothers.  It was a little more than one year ago that our dad passed away, and that fact has been something we have all dealt with in different ways. 1 Thessalonians 5:11  NLT   So encourage each other and build each other up, just as you are already doing. The conversations have been so good.  Sharing memories.  Talking about family.  Remembering some special times.  Looking at how things have changed around our home town.  Talking about the challenges of life, growing older and the like.  This really has been a packed few days. Yesterday I got to be a some time with my best friend from my high school days.  It was so good to reconnect, to share stories and to remember.  This friend is involved in ministry and has made a great impact on so many lives.  He and I were discipled by some great people. One of the things we talked about most was how we each encouraged one another ...

  Who encourages you? Think about that. So many people come to mind when I answer this question.  Currently there are people that come to mind that make me smile and who have made my life so much better. Proverbs 18:22  NLT   The man who finds a wife finds a treasure, and he receives favor from the Lord. My wife Julie began praying a few months ago and sharing some things with me that we have seen happen this summer.  What a blessing for us and for all our family.  Also Julie has been a huge encouragement to me.  I mean big time. Proverbs 18:24  NLT   There are “friends” who destroy each other, but a real friend sticks closer than a brother. There are several people who have become great influencers in my life.  Some you might know, and some you most likely do not. My oldest brother has been reading Scripture with me each day for a few years.  I would say Steve is one of my biggest encouragers.  His place in my life makes me be...

Have you ever heard this phrase?   “I am not my brother’s keeper.” I have heard it.   Heck, to be completely honest, I have said it.   Yet I would beg to differ, in light of what God says, we are our brother and sister’s keeper.   We are responsible to be builders, encouragers, lovers, helpers and keepers of others. Our lives can hurt others or help them.   The choice is yours and mine.   I can live for myself or for others.   I can waste my life and my time, or I can use my abilities to make others better and my life stronger with God’s help.   Think about your choices.   What are you actively doing? Philippians 2:3-5   NASB 3  Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves; 4  do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others. 5  Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Chr...