Michael Harrison's e-devotion

  James 5:11  NLT   We give great honor to those who endure under suffering. For instance, you know about Job, a man of great endurance. You can see how the Lord was kind to him at the end, for the Lord is full of tenderness and mercy. Last week was very full with lots of outcomes that make me smile as well as make me know that the future of our ministry is going to be even stronger than the past 20 years.  It is an honor to be part of what God is doing and of a church where God is working. In the last few months I have been led to read through the book of Job.  It is a book of suffering with not many answers of why suffering happens.  More so we are given an example of how to maintain character in the middle of suffering, pain and tragedy.   But what has stuck out to me most is toward the end of the story.  Job was tested by Satan because God allowed that to happen.  Job was encouraged to quit.  Job was told by his wife to walk away fro...

Proverbs 1:33  NLT But all who listen to me will live in peace, untroubled by fear of harm.   Listening is not only to learn but to gain wisdom from those who really know.  We can also gain so much experience from those who have been there before us.  That would be from Jesus first and in the life of someone sold out to Him.   Over the last several days I have connected with some people I have known for over a decade and have also met a several more that are awesome people.  All of them have something in common.  That is that they want to impact the world by serving.  We are connected through the ministry of washing people’s feet and giving them shoes. The testimonies, stories and opportunities really are incredible.  I am grateful for Manny and Tracie Ohonme who have continued to pour out their God given vision so others can join them in such a work. The verse above reminds us to listen to God, to learn and to be impacted by truth....

There are no substitutes are great character.  Integrity is something that I have always known as much more important than anything we possess.   Our family devotion this week has been about integrity.  Even though I am out of town I want to share with you what I read today.  This is good stuff.  It is from youversion.com and a devotion titled “A Life of Integrity” day 2. Proverbs 2:7-8  NLT 'He grants a treasure of common sense to the honest. He is a shield to those who walk with integrity. He guards the paths of the just and protects those who are faithful to him.'  Only God’s Spirit can create integrity within us, but everything in the world can rob us of it. People and situations will intentionally and unintentionally corrupt and compromise our integrity. We aren’t born with a heart of integrity, and if we want it, we have to fight for it.  If we want to fight for deep-rooted integrity, it means ...

It was in the mountains of north Georgia that I first heard the challenge.   A preacher, much my senior, talked about and challenged us with the invaluable trait of integrity.   He spoke with passion and great conviction. He was asked how he made sure that his integrity in place.   It took just a few minutes to explain the need to be close to God.   There are some important steps to take to stay close.   One of those is staying in the Bible.   Read it daily. He said one of those for him was the habit of reading one chapter of Proverbs everyday, and that is why I begin September 2016 with this challenge.   Join me in reading one chapter of Proverbs each day.   Many months, unlike September, have 31 days which goes along with the 31 chapters of Proverbs. Do this for a year and see if it makes a difference.   See if this keeps you closer to God.   Read one chapter from Proverbs each day. Here is the start and from The Me...