Michael Harrison's e-devotion

  What are you looking for?  There are many ways to answer this question, but for the people who are seeking God, there is strength and life and so much more. Take some time today to consider a few thoughts of how we look for God and seek Him. Isaiah 55:6  NLT   Seek the Lord while you can find him. Call on him now while he is near. Isaiah 45:22  NLT   Let all the world look to me for salvation! For I am God; there is no other. Romans 5:2  NLT   Because of our faith, Christ has brought us into this place of undeserved privilege where we now stand, and we confidently and joyfully look forward to sharing God’s glory. That is just a start.  See the Lord.  Look to the salvation God gives.  Look toward Him with great confidence that gives you joy. Psalm 121  NLT I look up to the mountains— does my help come from there? 2 My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth! 3 He will not let you stumble; the one who wat...

  1 Thessalonians 5:18  NLT   Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus. Right in front of you.  Do you see it? My wife and I have this conversation a lot, and she tells me I struggle seeing things because I look like a man looks.  You know what I mean. Being thankful is much the same.  Life is busy, and we forget to notice.  So much going on and so much to do that we miss the opportunities.  Those opportunities to be thankful for what we have, what we get to see and where God is working around us. Take some time today to notice.  Look what is in front you.  Be thankful.  Stop and stay thank you to God. This week I get to work with some of the greatest people through the ministry and work of Raceway Ministries at Martinsville Speedway.  I am thankful for this opportunity and what God does through the conversations and the serving. What is it you are missing?  It is right in...

  Are your watching?  I mean really watching.  Like your eyes are open and looking for what is next and what God is doing.  I didn’t ask you are “woke” or alive.  God is working.  Let’s be watching.   Romans 8:28  NLT   And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them.   God has a plan for your life and mine, for my family and yours, for the church and churches around the world.  And that plan includes our good and His glory.   But are we watching?   God can open our eyes, and He will.  If we let that happen, we will be amazed at what we see.    Psalm 119:18  NLT Open my eyes to see the wonderful truths in your instructions.   Pray that God will open your eyes to know Him, to see His goodness and to understand His word and wisdom.  And even so we can share with others.   Luke 24:31  NLT Suddenl...

  Often we need a fresh look or a new look.  No, I am not talking about some new clothes or a new hair cut.  I am talking about how we see others. Take some time today to work through verses that God shares with us how we look at the people around us.  This is insightful and needed.   Any way.  Read on.  May God help us be more like Jesus. Matthew 7:12  NLT   Do to others whatever you would like them to do to you. This is the essence of all that is taught in the law and the prophets. We know that as the golden rule. Mark 12:31  NLT   The second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ No other commandment is greater than these We have lots of neighbors.  Not just the people who live next to us. Philippians 2:3-4  NLT   Don’t be selfish; don’t try to impress others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves. 4  Don’t look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others,...

  Looking Unto Jesus (poem)   Just one glimpse of Jesus and all the cloud depart; All my foes are conquered, Peace reigns in my heart. Not a lonely feeling, Not a tear may dwell. Just one glimpse of Jesus And everything is well.   Look to Jesus.  That is an imperative.  It is a must for all who choose to follow Him and to know God.  Looking to Jesus will do many different things in our lives.   Why look to Jesus?  He will change things in and around our lives.  He will establish our way and even the character that we need in life.  He is the one who did for us what no one else could do.   Make looking to Jesus a regular practice and a habit.   Hebrews 12:1-3  ESV Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 2 looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith,...

  Look around.  Notice your blessings and notice the many needs.  They are many of both.  Some are big.  Others seem small.  But all are so very real.   When focusing on the people around us, we see where we need to be encouragers.  Plan to make a difference in the lives of the people that we encounter every day, those close to us and others not so close.   1 Thessalonians 5:11  NASB Therefore encourage one another and build up one another, just as you also are doing.   Encourage people.  Build them up.  Building helps people stay strong, helps us to be strong and for us all to know our worth.   Hebrews 3:13  NASB But encourage one another day after day, as long as it is still called “Today,” so that none of you will be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin.   The pain and heartache around us often makes us lea...

  It is the time of the year where there is lots of change.  Look around you and you might see some pretty incredible things.  That is if you have the perspective God desires us all to have. Psalm 103:19  NLT   The Lord has made the heavens his throne; from there he rules over everything. Let’s begin with spring.  Notice the flowers, the colors of various things growing, and they are so beautiful.  Notice the skyline of the mountains or the rallies or even the cities.   Move forward to the joy and celebration that comes from the changes of life like graduation.  We have watched and congratulated high school and college graduates as well as others who have completed goals each longed to achieve.   So what is next?  These challenges are tough.  But these challenges are good. If we believe that God is gracious and has a plan, we will see from His perspective and desire all He has for us.  Remember that John 10:10 offers promi...