Michael Harrison's e-devotion

  Proverbs 20:7  NLT   The godly walk with integrity; blessed are their children who follow them.   Today would be my dad’s 86th birthday.  Just a month away is Father’s Day, and I miss my mom and dad very much.  There are so many things I can share about my parents and in particular my dad.  A few things stick out about him that I remember very well, and that I would like to share with you.   Recognize the blessings.   Often we take things and time for granted.  Recognize the blessings that God has given.  After you recognize them do something about it.  Share those special times with the people that mean so much to you.  It is easy to miss the fact that we are blessed.   Speak up and share what is on your heart.   Dad would call almost every Sunday.  I miss the things he would share and the conversations.  So … That text message should be sent.  Make that phone call.  Go visit when you can....

Proverbs 20:7  NLT   The godly walk with integrity; blessed are their children who follow them. Yesterday was Father’s Day, and it was the first since my dad passed away in July of last year.  There are so many things I can share about my dad.  A few things stick out and that I would like to remember as well as share with you. Recognize the blessings. Often we take things and time for granted.  Recognize the blessings and take them in.  Share those special times with the people that mean so much to you.  It is easy to miss the fact that you are really blessed. Speak up and share what is on your heart. That text message should be sent.  Make that phone call.  Go visit when you can.  Again, life is busy, and our time is one of the most precious things we have.  Our biggest regrets will be the things we did not do.  So plan it now and follow through. The gifts we have are from God. You have heard it.  You might even have said...

  Hey friends.  I enjoy sharing with you what is on my heart.  This summer has been so full.  Full of ups and downs as well as so many wins.  That is why I am going to share just a few favorites. I have loved the time with family this summer.  Our vacation to be with our oldest daughter was so much fun and full of memories we made.  Most recently the back2school outreach was a hut in many ways.  Children were served and lives touched all for the cause of sharing Jesus.  Those two are my favorites. There have been some lows, but for today I am skipping forward.  Lets head over to the favorites.  Lean in.  And think about your favorites. Favorite verses I have come across this summer: Psalms 30:11-12 MSG  “You did it: you changed wild lament into whirling dance; You ripped off my black mourning band and decked me with wildflowers. I’m about to burst with song; I can’t keep quiet about you. God, my God, I can’t thank you enou...

It was a hot day.  Emotions were running wild.  Not the high energy and bouncing off the walls wild.  It was the unending crying and make sure you breathe kind of emotions. Today I am going to share a little of something I have held in.  Over and over this stuff comes out, but it happens when I least expect and even over taking other emotions, smiles, clouds and other things.  I really don’t understand it.  You think I am crazy, right? That day my brother Steve shared a song with me.  He said that he had left it on repeat.  Maybe it had been a couple days  This day was different. Heaven’s All Around You opened my eyes To the unseen Once I was blind But now I believe You tore down the walls That kept us apart What seemed like the end Was only the start Heaven’s all around Heaven’s all around Jesus is near I can see it now I can see it now Your kingdom is here For all that we’ve seen There’s still more to come We know You’ll fini...

It is easy to get side tracked from our mission.  Further we often get pushed away from our real purpose.  It takes God and some great people to keep us on track.  What is the reason you are on earth? Each of us has a God given call.  That begins with our salvation.  We know and believe that God loves people.  Because of sin and separation from God something had to happen, and Jesus is what happened.  God sent His son to take our place, to pay for our sin and to give us purpose. John 3:16  NLT   For this is how God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. We know that.  We have even seen the signs about this all over the place.  Some guys even paint that verse on themselves and go to bank games in the middle of winter.  But it is true.  God loves you.  God gives us life through His son, Jesus. God also has given us a purpose to live....

This week will have a few, sporadic e-devotions.  I do thank you for understanding and giving me some personal time with family.  I hope to share some things with you a few times if possible. Psalm 116:15  NASB   Precious in the sight of the Lord Is the death of His godly ones. As you may know last Wednesday Julie and I boarded a plane to go to Oklahoma to spend time with my dad and my family.  Over the last week my dad had been sick.  This trip was quickly planned as until Monday of that week it seemed my dad was improving.  That was not the case. I spent most of two days after we arrived with my dad, during the day and night, at what we affectionately refer to as the “pink palace” or St. Francis Hospital in Tulsa, Oklahoma.  Covid and pneumonia as well as problems with his kidneys seemed to be the culprit that was holding on and not letting go. My dad is a great man and stubborn as well.  For as long as I can remember he has said that he ne...

  Today I continue on a trip to Cuba serving with the FCA sports ministry team there.  Please pray for each member of the team as well as the planning being done for future mission projects and ministry to athletes and coaches. I take time for personal thoughts today.  I want to give a huge birthday shoutout to a couple of my favorite people! First, my dad’s birthday was yesterday.  He turned 82 years old and remains one of my most trusted advisors as well as one of the wisest men I know.  He has taught me so much through the years, and I will never have the insight or skills that he has has.  My brothers and I are big time blessed to have Richard Harrison as our father.  Happy birthday, dad! Second, today is daughter Rebecca’s 25th birthday.  This young lady continues to amaze us with her abilities and gifts.  She and her husband Colman life in Hawaii where he serves in the Army.  She is a kind and quiet person who enjoys life.  I ...

Man I wanna tell y'all something man Man I'm not gonna let these material things get in my way y'all I'm trying to get somewhere I'm trying to get somewhere that's real and pure and true and eternal… Father God, I am clay in your hands Help me to stay that way through all life's demands 'Cause they chip and they nag and they pull at me And every little thing I make up my mind to be Like I'm gonna be a daddy who's in the mix And I'm gonna be a husband who stays legit And I pray that I'm an artist who rises above The road that is wide and filled with self-love Everything that I see draws me Though it's only in You that I can truly see That its a feast for the eyes - a low blow to purpose And I'm a little kid at a three ring circus I don't want to gain the whole world and lose my soul…   Those are the words from Toby Mac’s song Lose My Soul , and they are powerful especially for those of us in place of influence in our homes. “I’...

Cinco de Mayo isn’t a holiday or is it?  It is my dad’s birthday.  He is a great man, and I have known that for almost 5 decades.  Today he celebrates his 8th decade on earth. This is one incredible man and not just because he has a great son (in fact he has 3).  My dad has taught me much in my 49 years.  He has stayed close even when he is 1,000 plus miles away.  He stays connected, compassion and confident.  My dad is my friend, was the best man at my wedding, and is one of the greatest encouragers I have ever known. That is my dad, and today I wish I was close to tell him happy birthday.  My brothers and I are blessed.  Our father really is a great man.  Many of you might know that already, but these kind of great men are hard to find, important to our lives and even more treasured than gold. Proverbs 22:6  NASB Train   up a   child   in the w...

Proverbs 18:22  NLT The man who finds a   wife   finds a treasure, and he receives   favor   from the   Lord . That is the way I see it, but of coarse I am the father of the bride.  This has been a big, good, blessed weekend as we got to be part of a sacred event for our daughter and our new son, Ruth and Sean. There are so many things I would like to share about the wedding and everything leading up to it.  Honestly, it is too much for one sitting or one devotion.  Therefore, I plan to share just some of the pieces. My hope is to lift up my daughter and her husband (there I said it, good start).  Just observations or what one mind call a good mind dump (a mind dump is simply a listing of random things that roll our of the mind as they come up).  Here is goes: … it is good to be the Father of the Bride and sit back and watch and enjoy our daughter enjoy herself. … it is hard to...