Michael Harrison's e-devotion

Proverbs 27:19  NLT   As a face is reflected in water, so the heart reflects the real person. What are we reflecting or showing that matters in our lives?  Often we begin to look like the people who we are around.  This verse reminds us that what we do and who or what we look like matters. Guard the places you go. Guard the relationships you have. Guard your mouth and feet as you talk and walk. God knows what is going on inside us all the time. Matthew 23:28  NLT   Outwardly you look like righteous people, but inwardly your hearts are filled with hypocrisy and lawlessness. Choose what comes out of your life so that it literally reflects what you care about.  That is a big deal.  Or it ought to be. Luke 6:45  NLT   A good person produces good things from the treasury of a good heart, and an evil person produces evil things from the treasury of an evil heart. What you say flows from what is in your heart. Be a reflection of God for good! P...

Let's close out the week with some thoughts that might get the weekend going in a little different direction.  It might be a little research or reflective, but I think this will be very helpful.  It has been for me. Proverbs 23:18  NASB Certainly there is a future, And your hope will not be cut off. That is good, but I share another verse that we often hear.  It is a promise from God.  Claim it.  Think hard about it. Jeremiah 29:11  NASB For I know the plans that I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans for prosperity and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope. Now for the research. What are some of your dreams or desire for your future and your family’s future? What are you doing to get you to what you desire for your future? Hard questions.  Takes some reflection as well as honesty.  God has a plan as well. If we care about what God wants and want to follow where He leads, our dreams will be from Him and even about Him.  H...

Sometimes it is good to reflect on conversations.  In fact, I have been doing that a lot.  There are many different reasons to think back over these. 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.” This one is not so good.  Maybe you reflect over conversations to see what you said wrong of to see if people like you agree with one.  Don’t reflect for this reason because it seems that this is about pleasing people and not pleasing God. Proverbs 4:4  NLT My father taught me, “Take my   words   to heart. Follow my commands, and you will live. Reflect back over conversations to see what you can learn.  This is a great way to look back.  Always learning is a big...

This has been a week of reflecting, praying and even remembering what God has taught me in the past.   As a pastor, a husband, a father and even as a son I see how God has blessed my life.   Let me remind you that those blessings aren’t based on what I deserved.   They are based on the gracious hand of God.   Maybe Nehemiah said it best in this verse: Nehemiah 2:18   NLT Then I told them about how the gracious   hand   of   God had been on   me , and about my conversation with the king. They replied at once, “Yes, let’s rebuild the wall!” So they began the good work. “The gracious hand of God had been on me.”   That is powerful.   Nehemiah knew God personally, and the people around Nehemiah saw that evidence.   I want that to be more and more true of me. As Julie and I were reading through a big envelope of memories my mom saved, I came across a devotion I shared November of 2000.   I think is appropriate...