Michael Harrison's e-devotion

  What keeps you going?   There are many different answers to that question.  But most often for me that is tied to the purpose that God has given me.  He put in my heart things that cannot be removed.  It is the passion to serve those who cannot give anything in return.  It is a desire to make a difference in the places where people are struggling.   What stays on my mind?   That question and answer is similar to the first one, but it is a bit different.  Family is one of the most important parts.  I miss those who are far away.  Julie’s family is a few hundred miles away.  My brothers are over 1,000 miles away.  Our children are scattered but what a blessing when we get to be together.   The things that consume our minds and hearts are important.  Make sure that those things have been filtered through what God loves and cares so deeply about.     God loves people.   That is what stays on my heart...

  God gave me as a Bible promise over 30 years ago.  I have quoted these so many times.  It tells us about His incredible peace that God wants to put in our lives.    Philippians 4:6-7 NLT   Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. 7 Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.   I love these verses.  Most of all, the direction of these verses will give us what God desires for us to have.    His peace will guard you hearts.   Apart from Christ there is no peace.  With Christ there is extreme peace.  God’s peace guards our hearts.  That is the place where salvation starts and where convincing comes strongest for people of faith.  It is from our heart we speak.  It is from our heart that the greatest decisions happen....

  Sunday I woke up with a song on my mind.  This happens a lot.  Some times it goes away quickly.  Other times it hangs on for a while.  This one hung on to my mind and maybe my heart. What keep me going to the song are a couple strong lines that speak volumes to me and about our God.  It talks of how God has power over our lives, and we need to trust Him, listen to Him and do what He says.  The lines from the song: Get up out of that grave … If He did it for me, He can do it for you … Too often we head toward the grave and stay there.  It might not be a real grave in the ground.  Maybe it is a choice or lifestyle that keeps us from knowing God and His best for us.  Maybe it is a mindset that needs to be adjusted or changed.  The grave can be many things. And what He did you for you speaks to your testimony or the testimony of someone who has met and experienced God.  Share it.  He will do the same for others.  Trust ...

So many things run through my mind as we close out the weekend and move in to a new week.  A few years ago I would share something called a “mind dump” on Mondays to simply unload all that went on during the weekend. So I will jump back to the mind dump and share just a little of the overflow from the weekend!  Remember this is not bragging or gloating but to sharing what is on my mind. Proverbs 20:7  NLT   The godly walk with integrity; blessed are their children who follow them. Last week was full.  It had opportunities of all kinds as well as meetings.  But the best part of the week was time with our oldest daughter.  She lives thousands of miles away, and she came to visit her new nephew as well as the rest of the family.  Having adult children is very different from having children at home. Cherish the moments you have with those you love.  We enjoyed breakfast several mornings.  We enjoyed some afternoon talks and time with her mom...

Psalm 69:13  NLT But I keep praying to you, Lord, hoping this time you will show me favor. In your unfailing love, O God, answer my prayer with your sure salvation. What’s on your mind?  So that I know what you are praying for. You know it is like that credit card that always ends with that saying, “what’s in your wallet?”  You need that card.  It keeps you going and provides when nothing else can.  We know that is not the case, but that phrase caught my attention and maybe your’s too. What’s on your mind? Thanks for asking because it is a lot.  So many people going through tough times that would stretch anyone.  So many dealing with situations that are out of their control and need the work of God in their lives. I read a story yesterday of how some Christian workers in the Ukraine continue to meet needs and are making a difference.  Pray for open communication between those who are in need and those who are able to help.  Pray fo...

Do you hear that?  Come on, aren’t you listening?  This is good stuff.  You can’t miss this.  But often we do. It is right in front of us, yet there are so many times that our busy schedule and choices keep us missing the sweetness that God has for us.  It is time to tune in our ears and heart to hear what God is saying. For so long I have been reading through the book of Proverbs each day.  Some days seem a little less than others in what I hear.  Some days are like the old saying “drinking from a fire hose” because the truth is heavy or just a lot.  Yesterday was one of those days. Proverbs 8.  It is packed full of verses that came before me yesterday, and I am still taking in the truths and rolling through them.  Then God reminds me how I can be feeding on, living with and changed by what I am hearing.  It hits me.  Yes, big time.  Why do I sometimes stay away from hearing God?  Open my ears.  God, open my hea...

  This past Sunday I shared a message titled “Jesus is greater than…” and talked about how the book of Hebrews outlines the greatness of our savior and the son of God.  There are many ways that Jesus is greater than other things and people, but what we really do know is that the creator and holder of everything is the greatest. That is Jesus.  He is before all things, and all things are through Him.  Continue to lift Him up, yet this is not always easy.  It is easy to let other things stand above Jesus.  So, how do you make sure that doesn’t happen? Here are a few thoughts and verses that come to mind in how we keep Jesus the greatest.  These are some of my go-to and favorite verses. Set Your Mind Colossians 3:2  NASB Set your minds on the things that are above, not on the things that are on earth. Focus on Jesus Hebrews 12:2  NLT We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith… Take Thoughts Captive...

  There was a time I remember a special verse began to take a hold in my life.  God does that.  He uses His word. In fact the Bible tells us, God tells us, that His word is useful in our lives.  It acts to guide and even rebuke, to encourage and to comfort, and it does so much more.  It will not be void or useless. There are times that stick out in my minds.  Some of those are like what I shared yesterday about times where God spoke to me.  But then there are other times that stick out.  This is like when my dad had heart-attack when I was young. God spoke in those times too.  It is one verse that keeps popping up at some critical times.  This began when I was very young.  It says, “let everything that has breathe praise the Lord.”   No matter what and when anything happens just praise God.  Think about praising Him when everything around you says don’t praise.  It will make a difference. When life is hard, praise God...