Michael Harrison's e-devotion

  Yesterday was Father's day, and I grateful and blessed to be a father to three great children.  Also Julie and I were blessed with great and godly fathers.  We have so much to be thankful for. That is why I take some time the first of this week to point you to the wisest man who ever lived, King Solomon who was the son of King David.  There are so many things we can talk about when it comes to the example of great and godly Fathers. Here is just one place in Scripture that reminds me of what a godly father is like.  Read these verses and take note of what a godly father is like. 2 Chronicles 1:1,7-12  NLT  1 Solomon son of David took firm control of his kingdom, for the Lord his God was with him and made him very powerful. … 7 That night God appeared to Solomon and said, “What do you want? Ask, and I will give it to you!” 8 Solomon replied to God, “You showed great and faithful love to David, my father, and now you have made me king in his place...

  Choose what you say carefully.  Our words have power, and our words say a lot about who we are. James 3:6,10  NLT   And among all the parts of the body, the tongue is a flame of fire. It is a whole world of wickedness, corrupting your entire body. It can set your whole life on fire, for it is set on fire by hell itself… And so blessing and cursing come pouring out of the same mouth. Surely, my brothers and sisters, this is not right! Blessing.  Cursing.  Which one comes out of you the most? Ephesians 4:29  NLT   Don’t use foul or abusive language. Let everything you say be good and helpful, so that your words will be an encouragement to those who hear them. Does it bother you when you hear people use foul language?  What words or conversations encourage you? Proverbs 15:4  NLT   Gentle words are a tree of life; a deceitful tongue crushes the spirit. Gentle words or deceitful words… both are powerful. Colossians 4:6  NLT ...

We are almost to the end of our series and study of Ephesians, and we have learned a lot from Ephesians in the series I have been teaching through.  We learned where and what our strength is.  Mostly, we area reminded that People matter.   Ephesians comes alive because Paul, the writer of the book, pours his heart out for the people he cared so much about.  He wrote to Ephesus from prison.  Paul loved God and people.  He built relationships with the people he cared about.   Through his teaching and writing our faith in God is build stronger and stronger.  Paul through the direction of the Spirit answers some of the most difficult questions.  As a Christ follower we choose to lean on and learn from God.  We choose to honor God. Before we look at Ephesians, think about this verse: Hebrews 10:24  NLT   Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works. Consider how you interact with others.  How do y...

  One of my favorite passages of Scripture is from Psalm 1.  That is for several reasons, and I would like to share with you just a few of those reasons. First, I know that I need God and His word.  Getting in to it.  Digging in to the Word of God changes my life.  Plus the more of it that is in me and in my mind the more of God will be heard. Second, I remember learning from some Godly people as I was growing up hw this passage hits home for those seeking God.  It gives direction and strength.   Third, I remember in the middle 90’s as we served on mission trips in Honduras standing next to a tree that vividly made this passage come to life for me. Fourth and finally, these verse ring in my head often.  Just like they have this morning. Psalm 1  NLT Oh, the joys of those who do not follow the advice of the wicked, or stand around with sinners, or join in with mockers.  2  But they delight in the law of the Lord, meditating on it day...

Proverbs 20:7   NLT The godly walk with integrity;   blessed   are their children who follow them. There is no question of blessing.   Almost everyone on the outside and on the inside notices when a person or family or business or ministry is blessed.   It is almost like everyone stops to see what is up. The book shelves, both in the store and online, are filled with volumes and volumes of self-help leading to success books.   There are videos, seminars, programs, articles and blogs about how to reach your maximum potential and success.   Countless people and companies are making money off of those who are seeking to be blessed or to be successful. No shortcuts when it comes to the blessings from God.   This will not come because you were dressed right or simply in the right place at the right time.   The greatest blessings come from some specific reasons. The godly will be blessed.   Their children will be blessed ...

Proverbs 21:26 NLT Some people are always greedy for more, but the godly love to give! Psalm 37:21 NLT The wicked borrow and never repay, but the godly are generous givers. The book of Job in the Old Testament is a very interesting book.  I've heard the story forever, yet there were a few things that stick out in my mind.  God said that Job was blameless and righteous.  In Job's troubles when Satan was inflicting and testing him, Job never stepped away from God.  He hurt and was angry but never with God. It is not a question at all if Job was a godly man.  He was.  I love the parts of the story where Job interceded for his children.  His desire was for their blessing and for the to be right with God. That took me back to a verse that I quoted earlier this week.  It says in Matthew 6:33 that if we seek God's righteousness that God will bless us with what we need.  That is a fact.  Take it to the bank.  When ...