Michael Harrison's e-devotion

  The search is on.  Yet the question is will we be honest.  If we get on honest, greater things are ahead. That is just part of what I shared in the message Sunday at The Community Fellowship through our series “Road to Recovery”.  Whether it is addiction or so many other things, even our health, until we admit there is a problem, help will not come. That is why we have to ask God to help the search begin.  Allow God to look in and begin to work in your life.  The outcome is what makes it worth it.  Follow on. Lamentations 3:40  NLT   Instead, let us test and examine our ways. Let us turn back to the Lord. Examine.  Search.  And then turn to where God leads.  Psalm 139:23–24  NLT   Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. 24  Point out anything in me that offends you, and lead me along the path of everlasting life. I love those verses from Psalms.  I first reach them as a t...

One of my favorite nights of the week is Celebrate Recovery.  A little over one year ago we moved our recovery ministry from Saturday to Tuesday and began the incredible outreach and ministry known as Celebrate Recovery.  God sent us great leaders.  Many people have come through the doors and been impacted. Last evening I shared a lesson about examining our lives, getting honest about our struggles and moving on from what has held us back.  At the beginning of the lesson I read Psalms 139.   Here are some verses from that chapter.  You might want to read this chapter several times and note what God says to you… Psalms 139  NLT O Lord, you have examined my heart and know everything about me…  4 You know what I am going to say even before I say it, Lord. 5 You go before me and follow me. You place your hand of blessing on my head. 6 Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too great for me to understand! 7 I can never escape from ...

There are times you just have to stop and have a talk.  This is true in ever relationship.  You will not have a great marriage unless there conversations, heart to heart ones, in the easy and the difficult times.  They aren’t always easy to have, but these talks are important.   Between spouses.  Between parents and children.  Between bosses and employees.  Between me and God.    The ones between God and one of His kids happened often in the Bible.  Below is part of a conversation between God and David.  As you read through this conversation note the results David comes to.   Psalm 51 NLT Have mercy on me, O God, because of your unfailing love. Because of your great compassion, blot out the stain of my sins. 2 Wash me clean from my guilt.  Purify me from my sin. 3 For I recognize my rebellion; it haunts me day and night. 4 Against you, and you alone, have I sinned; I have done what is evil in your sight. Y...

Romans 12:15  NLT Be happy with those who are happy, and weep with those who weep.  Today’s devotion is more personal than usual, but I think it is important for me to share my journey with you.  This is isn’t asking for your help or pity.  Simply, this is overflow.  Thanks for reading.  Thank you for praying. The last week has been one of those emotional roller coasters.  You’ve been on them.  You know, I remember one of the first coasters I was on and how the immediate response my stomach had after it wasn’t much fun.  Know what I mean. Last week was wrapped in the death of Julie’s dad, Ellis Howell, after eight months of being in hospice care after covid and pneumonia and a tough battle with dementia.  It was a great time with family.  His funeral was a beautiful home going.  But honestly it was and is bitter sweet.  Pa will be missed, and I will continue to pray for my mother in law, Sandra, my wife and her siblings....

  Yesterday I began a new series at The Community Fellowship called “Getting Honest”, and we talked about believing lies or the truth.  We must understand that who we follow dictates the character in us and in who we follow. Understand that the premise of lies or the foundation of lies is from the enemy.  It is his character to lie and to pervert our lives. John 8:44  NASB You are of your father the devil, and you want to do the desires of your father. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth because there is no truth in him. Whenever he tells a lie, he speaks from his own nature, because he is a liar and the father of lies. He is the father of lies and is the original liar.  He is opposed to the truth.  Now truth to Jesus. John 14:6  NASB Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father except through Me. He is truth.  He is life.  His character is the opposite of lies and...

Yesterday was Father’s Day.  It is an important day to remember some of the people who have impacted our lives.  I am grateful for my dad, my father-in-law and several other men who have made a difference in my life. We are watching all around us life seem to unravel.  From the affects of the Covid-19 virus to the unrest of protests and riots all the way to the political happens around our nation, this is obviously a time when we need people of great character to step up and lead.   In the message I shared with our church yesterday I asserted, as many have before me, that our homes and families must be places of strength and peace where countless people and even our nation are led with strength.  How can we have stronger homes?  I believe that happens with strong commitments from the leaders of our homes.  And we think about dads, husbands and parents where much of that great leadership should begin. Stop thinking that the schools or th...

There is more to life than just getting by.  In fact it is really easy to move day-to-day, week-to-week, doing the same old thing.  Without direction and desire life will seem empty and useless. The Bible tells us that life is full of purpose for those who choose to follow Jesus.  In fact Jesus said often that He stayed connected to the Father to know His way, His words and His purpose.  We must do the same. Out of bad can come good.  Out of the current chaos and uncertainty can come blessing and even strength.  That is why I turn back to Proverbs for some wisdom. Wrestle with these nuggets of truth from   Proverbs 11 … 2 ... Pride leads to disgrace, but with humility comes wisdom. 3 Honesty guides good people... 4 ... right living can save you from death. 5 The godly are directed by honesty; the wicked fall beneath their load of sin. 8 The godly are rescued from trouble... 10 The whole city celebrates when...

During the sermon yesterday at The Community I shared some verses from Micah 7 that hit me this past week as I was studying.   It was one of those things that hit me like a ton of bricks.   God was speaking to me from right where I am living and where I am struggling.   God cares for His children, but one of the things that I have been reminded of is that I must not, we must not seek our confidence and satisfaction from people or the situations around us.   Our confidence comes from a personal relationship with our God.   It is vital to me that I make sure I am honest, and what I have found is that the more honest I am, the more I can encourage others to get closer to God and allow Him to heal our hurts and brokenness.   I’ve been broken.   I deal with pain.   No, this is not pain from body aches or sickness.   This is the inner pain that happens in life.   It sounds like this passage was written by me, and it wasn’t, simply ...