Michael Harrison's e-devotion

  Ephesians 4:32  NLT   And be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving one another, just as God also forgave you in Christ. How we respond to people does make a difference.  It makes a big difference. Some situations require us to be stern and strong.  Other situations demand humility and quiet.  Every situation requires a response of some kind, and that is why I ask us to think through we respond to people going through so many different situations. Be kind.  That is the first.  Being kind is one of the things that costs us nothing, and kindness can open hearts and doors and so much more. Be compassionate.  This is one of those Philippians 2:3-4 where we look out for others and not just ourselves.  Jesus chose to have compassion on the people He dealt with. Be forgiving.  What might be the hardest thing to do might just be the most important.  We have been forgive, as the verse above says.  We should extend forgi...

  Just over one week away is the back2school outreach.  We will serve over 1,500 students.  Please join me and others in praying for the impact of this outreach.  Today we will also share the school supply items we are still in need of (be watching for that announcement). This week we have been learning to pray based on the Lord’s Prayer.  This special prayer came to Scripture when one of Jesus’ disciples asked for him to teach them how to pray.  This prayer guides us how we pray as well reminds us of the importance of prayer. Matthew 6:9-13  NASB   “Pray, then, in this way: ‘Our Father, who is in heaven, Hallowed be Your name. 10 Your kingdom come. Your will be done, On earth as it is in heaven. 11 Give us this day our daily bread. 12 And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. 13 And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from evil. Focus on verse 12 today.  One of the biggest issues in life a...

  Earlier this week I shared a post that gained the attention of several people.  It first rolled around my head and heart.  I think it is important enough to repeat here… 7 Keys to Life 1.  Put God first 2.  Love One Another 3.  Never Hate 4.  Give Generously  5.  Live Simply 6.  Forgive Quickly 7.  Pray Everyday That is some powerful stuff.  In fact, as the new year begins those are many of the things that wraps us resolutions and life change that so many people are longing for.  Some of them are close to impossible if we are honest. You might not have an issue or problem with putting God first, loving others or living simple.  But a lot of people struggle with forgiving or dealing with hate.  Those are the characteristics that lead to frustration and even more problems when they are not dealt with. Look close at the list again.  Might two of those things be the opposite or the cure for hate and not forgiv...

Yesterday I shared a message with our church about the people who brought their friend to Jesus.  They had to cut a hole in the roof of a house to get him to Jesus.  And that one act, bringing their friend to Jesus, changed so many things. In the message I asked two questions.  These might be very good questions for you to answer and to think about a little deeper… Who brought you to Jesus? Who are you bringing to Jesus? We all need Jesus.  First it is salvation.  That changes us forever and ever.  But we also need Jesus every day. It might be that we can bring people to Jesus when they are struggling, when they need healing, or when we need a dose of hope and help.  Jesus is the one who gives what we can’t give, and what He gives last a lot longer than anything we can give. Think of the reasons you would bring people to Jesus.  It ought to be many reasons.  And praise God that He gave us His son to come to. 1 Peter 5:7  NLT   Give ...

  I continue to be serving in Cuba with the FCA team.  Tomorrow, Thursday, May 12th I will be headed home.  I am grateful for all God has done on this trip.  Please pray for my travels and the FCA team here in Cuba.   Last Sunday I shared a message with our church from Psalm 130.  I would like to ask you to do a few things with this chapter. Read Psalm 130 and use it as some what of a prayer guide.  Declare the truth you read in it through your prayer. Note the things that God teaches you in these few verses.  They continue to encourage me. Here is the passage.  After I will give you a couple application points that I am working on… Psalm 130 NLT   From the depths of despair, O Lord, I call for your help. 2  Hear my cry, O Lord. Pay attention to my prayer. 3  Lord, if you kept a record of our sins, who, O Lord, could ever survive? 4  But you offer forgiveness, that we might learn to fear you. 5  I am counting on the L...

Make some choices that count.  Think through the things that you hang on to and how those will impact your life tomorrow or next month.  That is because our choices will impact our lives and the lives of those around us. We don’t always choose that perspective or the one that will have the greatest influence.  Too often we choose what feels good or what is fine.  Only to find that the consequences of our choices have led to pain between friends, impact on our health or something that cannot be reversed. Find the things that bring life and health, strength and peace, smiles and closeness to your life and to others.  Those choices will have impact for a long time in great ways that will leave you much better.  What are those choices for you! Ephesians 4:32  NLT Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you. Choose kindness and forgiveness over being mean or becoming bitter Romans 12:14...

I finished our series called Treasure yesterday at The Community Fellowship with a message from John 8 about the lady caught in adultery.  Lots of great news and strength and freedom comes from these 11 verses.   My favorite part is that Jesus looked this lady in the eye and gave her back her value.  Even with wrong choices and lots of accusations, Jesus spoke life and love back to her.  We should be doing the same to the people we encounter that are messed up due to life’s pain and trials.  Maybe we are the ones who need to know we have value. In preparing for this message I ran across a great article about the things that Jesus gave this lady.  Read this and take in what we learn about God… John 8:9b-11  And Jesus was left alone with the woman standing before him. Jesus stood up and said to her, “Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?” She said, “No one, Lord.” And Jesus said, “Neither do I condemn you; go, and from now on sin no more.” Ima...

We continue our series based upon hymns of the faith, and yesterday we sang and shared from “Amazing Grace”.  Full on, totally honest, many agree that when we get a good glimpse of God’s grace we are more and more touched, excited and overwhelmed by how God gives us this incredible gift. Grace is a gift.  Grace is what God does to forgive our sin and bring us close to and in right standing with God.  No one but God could do this. Micah 7:18  NASB Who is a God like You, who pardons wrongdoing And passes over a rebellious act of the remnant of His possession? He does not retain His anger forever, Because He delights in mercy. He wants to have mercy on us.  His desire and longing since the beginning of time has been to bring His people closer to Him, but the problem of sin keeps people away from God.  That is why there is such a need for grace, amazing grace. What does real grace look like, how does it act, what does it mean?  Powerful questions wrapped u...

  The power is yours.  Not really but really.  Unless you take what you have been offered you have no power at all.  Literally God has offered us the ability to move forward and live in abundant freedom. This might seem a little strange or awkward.  Yet these verses stand out to me.  They represent how real power is gained in our lives. No, I am not talking about power that comes from the position you hold or the possessions that are yours or the privileges that are yours.  This power comes from using your choices to allow you to live in freedom. John 10:10  NLT The thief’s purpose is to steal and kill and destroy. My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life. Colossians 3:2  NLT Think about the things of heaven, not the things of earth. Galatians 5:13  NLT For you have been called to live in freedom, my brothers and sisters. But don’t use your freedom to satisfy your sinful nature. Instead, use your freedom to serve one another...

  Our church family went last night to see the movie “My Brother’s Crossing”.  It was an incredible event and also great to have many of our people in the same room and being so blessed. You’ve got to see this movie.  It is playing in two places in our town.  Also playing in Roanoke and Westlake.  Have heard it is playing in about 100 places around the nation including Texas, South Carolina, Illinois and many more.  Look for it at your local theater, and if it is not there, ask for it.  Learn more by going to https://mybrotherscrossing.org .  You can also go to the IMDB website. We first learned of this story when we met JT Clark.  I shared much of this last week in devotions.  He has not shared at our church several times.  The message of forgiveness and love is one that never gets old. Why is that?  It is because we all need forgiveness and love.  We have the opportunity to get it from God, and God calls each of us to sh...

I began reading my friend JT Clark’s new book last night.  It is an amazing biography and story of forgiveness and a life well lived.  Since first meeting JT and learning about the journey God has Him on I have been leaning in to listen and to watch what God does through JT, his wife Terri Lee and now their ministry “My Brother’s Crossing”. Boiling down to the heart of the story is the need for forgiveness.  Some of us have a hard time giving forgiveness and often receiving forgiveness. If we following what God says, we will understand just how much we are forgiven.  If we do what God leads us to do, we will forgive even when forgiveness isn’t understandable. Colossians 3:13  NLT Make allowance for each other’s faults, and   forgive   anyone who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must   forgive others. Ephesians 4:32  NLT Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted,...