Michael Harrison's e-devotion

  There are many different ways to connect with the people around us.  Think about the ways you choose to connect with them.  Connections are important and ought to be strong.    Technology is mot likely the way we run to most to connect with others.  But do you remember when all you had was a phone or even before that with pen and paper or even smoke signals.  Whatever you might remember, these are the ways we chose to connect with people.  It was always slow.   There are faster ways to connect and to stay connected.  We stream movies and files that are huge.  Very different from the old dial up connection.   Connecting with people mean a lot.  Think again about how we connect to people.    Colossians 3:12-14  NLT Since God chose you to be the holy people he loves, you must clothe yourselves with tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. 13 Make allowance for each other’s fault...

  I am spending this week with ministries that are deeply involved in helping people with physical needs and sharing Christ with them.  So in this e-devotion I am going to share some of the highlights I have gleaned so far. They are in no specific order and not from one specific topic.  I am highlighting a day full of meetings as I go through my notes.  Check it out… more to come. — Some questions to ask to help you re-evaluate your purpose:  what are we supposed to do?  Are we doing the right things? What are the right things? How do we decide what is right?  — Focusing too much on the blessings of the past may keep us from aiming higher in the future. — God calls His people to do hard things. — Do our beliefs transform us so much that we serve others? — To reach people no one is reaching you have to do things no one is doing. — We rob God when our work and life are out of balance.  Both work and living life should be done as an act of worship gi...

  Luke 22:32  NASB   but I have prayed for you, that your faith will not fail; and you, when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers.”   Who are you praying for?  That is a good question because many people are non my mind. Do you ever wake up and aren’t able to go back to sleep?  When that happens to me, I begin to pray for whoever is on my mind.  At times there is a reason I learn later.  Sometimes there isn’t.  But pray!   How can I pray for you?   Stop and pray for those who come across your mind.  in the middle of the night or in the middle of the day… those are great times to pray.  When someone is on your mind, stop and pray for them.  Someone drives by you on the road or you see them down the aisle at the grocery story.  Pray for them.   Honestly I believe that God is asking His children to be spiritually sensitive to pray for others.  Be a person of prayer!   I am praying for many p...

  We continue our road through the book of Romans that we are on this year at The Community Fellowship.  This past Sunday we looked at Romans 2:1-16 asking who is our judge. We know that is God, but often we get this out of line by giving authority to the wrong people in our lives.  Maybe it is a person who we think too much or too little of.  Maybe it is ourselves who end up judging others too much and not as much on us. Here are a couple take aways from Sunday’s sermon that are worth remembering often.  First, be careful how you look at, size up and judge others. James 7:24  NLT   Look beneath the surface so you can judge correctly. 1 Samuel 16:7  NLT   But the Lord said to Samuel, “Don’t judge by his appearance or height, for I have rejected him. The Lord doesn’t see things the way you see them. People judge by outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.” God looks at the heart.  He knows our motives and even our actions and ...

  Last week was thanksgiving and ahead is Christmas.  And today is called Giving Tuesday.  Many organizations have a special request for giving and seeking resources to do the work they are called to.     I see a lot of through the work that so many do.  It is the season of giving, during Christmas, as people are often ready to share and serve others.  Be encouraged to serve and give from your heart.  Many organizations close to me are worthy and in need of #GivingTuesday …   Consider helping some that mean much to me: Helping our church with ministries and the finishing of our new campus.  You can go online to our church website.  ( www.thecommunityfellowship.org ) The Community Dream Center which runs two homes for homeless men getting their lives back together.    The warming center of MHC that is open each night serving homeless friends with a warm place to stay, a meal and support to make good decisions. Sports m...

  When you get the message or information and I am too far away to do anything, I can still pray. A friend shares there is a need, a struggle or heart ache, I can pray. It is an honor to be the intercessor that lifts them to God.  I will pray. This might seem simple, but the most profound thing we can do is acknowledge where the real power is, who is in control and what will make a difference.  That person is God.  He has connected to us.  He called us to pray. Matthew 7:7-11  NLT   Keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you. 8 For everyone who asks, receives. Everyone who seeks, finds. And to everyone who knocks, the door will be opened. 9 “You parents—if your children ask for a loaf of bread, do you give them a stone instead? 10 Or if they ask for a fish, do you give them a snake? Of course not! 11 So if you sinful people know how ...

  How we respond to the needs and conversations of others is a big deal.  I challenge you today to choose as a response that builds you both up, that makes all around you better and leads people to think about making a difference rather than not having any value at all. Pray for one another. James 5:16  NLT   Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and produces wonderful results. Honor one another. Romans 12:10  NLT   Love each other with genuine affection, and take delight in honoring each other. Respect and love one another. 1 Peter 2:17  NLT   Show proper respect to everyone, love the family of believers, fear God, honor the emperor. Serve one another. Mark 10:45  NLT   For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others and to give his life as a ransom for many.” It really is that easy.  Choose your response and take...