Michael Harrison's e-devotion

  Today is the day that our nation celebrates Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.  There are so many things we can share about this difference maker.  For years I have shared quotes and some things that Dr King did to make our nation stronger and to give confidence to some people who had very little. What I remind you of today are just a few thoughts that I have about Dr. King, the difference his life made and how we ought to learn from his example. Keep dreaming and share your dreams.   Dr. king wasn’t alone, but he led the way for many who marched, many who stood up and so many who spoke up for what is right. Look out for those who often are over looked. People matter to God, and as a Christian, Dr. King gave value to people who wee be considered second class citizens with little value.   Call out what is wrong that you encounter in your sphere of influence. Dr. King shared and led and became a leader for people he spoke up for and for those who opposed what he stood ...

  I’d like to share a little something different today.  Maybe not real different, but it is something that I got to thinking about over the last month through the news of revivals happening with college age students across the nations. There are many ways to praise God.  The fact is we just need to praise Him.  Who we praise says a lot about us.  Think a little deeper with me. Stand Up Nehemiah 9:5  NLT  …“Stand up and praise the Lord your God, for he lives from everlasting to everlasting!” Then they prayed: “May your glorious name be praised! May it be exalted above all blessing and praise! Posture speaks volumes.  In conversations we need to not only listen but look like you are listening. In praise posture speaks volumes.  When someone you want to honor comes in to your presence, you often stand to greet them. We can do the same for our great and gracious God.  Stand up to show honor.  Stand up to change your mindset or even to ...

  I literally believe that God has given us the tools and desire to have great relationships, yet when we become selfish, when we pull away from people, when we seek to live life our way and not God’s way, we are in for trouble. One of the most powerful places in Scripture, a place I run to in my mind often, is this: 1 Thessalonians 5:12-18  NLT   Dear brothers and sisters, honor those who are your leaders in the Lord’s work. They work hard among you and give you spiritual guidance. 13 Show them great respect and wholehearted love because of their work. And live peacefully with each other. 14 Brothers and sisters, we urge you to warn those who are lazy. Encourage those who are timid. Take tender care of those who are weak. Be patient with everyone.15 See that no one pays back evil for evil, but always try to do good to each other and to all people. 16 Always be joyful. 17 Never stop praying. 18 Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is Go...

  Today I come to you with a heavy heart for so many reasons.  Compassion is something that Jesus had for the people He met who were hurting and living without direction.  He did something about the hurting around Him, and we must do the same. Proverbs 3:25-26  NASB Do not be afraid of sudden danger, Nor of trouble from the wicked when it comes; 26  For the Lord will be your confidence, And will keep your foot from being caught. Yesterday there was a shooting at an elementary school in Uvalde, Texas.  Such a sad tragedy in so many ways.  Many students and a few adults lost their lives in this event, and it breaks my heart.   Pray for those impacted by the shooting.  Pray for those who touched by tragedy and who are victims of things outside their control.  Ask God to protect the innocent and to have mercy and justice on those who have responsibility.   My heart is heavy due to a report given to my denomination earlier this week abou...

  Wins might seem different for each and every person.  For an athlete a win is crossing the finish line first or scoring the most points in the important game.  For a parent a win might look like a kid’s first steps or graduation from a particular grade or even their first grand child born.  Wins take on all different shapes and sizes as our lives encounter the journeys we are on. In relation to my recent trip to Cuba I would like to end this week and sharing about the trip with sharing what I saw as the biggest wins.  There were many, and I will not share all of them.  yet I do want to point you to the places where I saw God work and believe that He will continue to do the same. Psalm 34:5  NLT Those who look to him for help will be radiant with joy; no shadow of shame will darken their faces. After walking away from the carousel and retrieving my checked bag at the Havana Airport I walked through the “nothing to declare” check point.  And this ...

Some of my favorite people who have made a difference in my life are coaches.  Not really the athletic coach but the leadership and ministry coaches that I have spent some time with.   Two of these that have impacted my life are Scott Couchenour and Blaine Bartel.  You can find Scott at www.servingstrong.com and Blaine at www.blainebartel.com.  Both have poured in to my life in various ways and challenged me to pursue God more and to lead better. Another coach that I have enjoyed interacting with and learning from is Tom Ziglar.  Tom is the son of the incredible business coach and author Zig Ziglar.  You can find Tom at www.ziglar.com/tom-ziglar/ as well as many of the resources from his dad. It is important to learn from great people and to choose keep yourself around people who will challenge you to be better.  You have heard something like this before…  1 Corinthians 15:33  NASB Do not be deceived: “Bad company corrupts good morals.” If th...

  I have been thinking a lot lately about old hymns.  Many of these I learned in my childhood or early in ministry.  They ring true with theology and what it is to follow Christ on a daily basis.  One of those hymns is Standing On the Promises , and that is what I want to share with you today.  Read some of the word of this precious hymn: Standing on the promises of Christ my king, through eternal ages let his praises ring; glory in the highest, I will shout and sing, standing on the promises of God… Standing on the promises that cannot fail, when the howling storms of doubt and fear assail, by the living Word of God I shall prevail, standing on the promises of God… Standing on the promises of Christ the Lord, bound to him eternally by love’s strong cord, overcoming daily with the Spirit’s sword, standing on the promises of God… Standing on the promises I cannot fall, listening every moment to the Spirit’s call, resting in my Savior as my all in all, standing on...

  Choose to stand out.  That is not an easy thing, but it does make a difference.   Julie and I were coming home on Sunday from somewhere when we noticed the flowers in front of our house.  Amid all the beautiful similar color flowers were these yellow flowers.  We talked about where they might have come from, and we realize they may have come out of a near by flower pot or be left over from a few years ago. Those yellow flowers stand out, and they are beautiful.  Notice the picture at the top that I shared. I remember that people that stand out have somethings about them that are different, defining and strong.  But what I want to remind each of us of is that we should stand out for really matters. This is a time when people choose all different types of things to stand out for.  Many of those things seem petty or not very important.  I am not here today to judge or demean anyone.  Yet I do want to ask that we make sure that what we sta...

There are some things that ought to stand out.  This is not about standing out in a crowd.  It is not about standing out because of being stronger or better or something like that. What should make us stand out is our great character.  As Martin Luther King Jr said in his great speech and alluding to his children, he desired that they be judged not by the color of their skin but by the content of their character. That is why I will take this day, the last day of the week, and give you some things that out to stand out in our lives.  Read on and apply what God places on your heart. Philippians 4:8  NLT And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise. Choose to think about the good stuff.  Set yourself up with great character. Colossians 3:12  NASB So, as those who ha...

What will make us stand out? No, I am not asking about being selfish or making everything about you.  In fact yesterday I asked about who gets the final word. My thought today is really about what can we do to make sure people see the goodness of God? There is a life style that points people to God.  Others might even ask why you are so forgiving or so kind?  People may no understand why you don’t do things to people so you get ahead. The fact is God wants us to live our lives so others see what is good and that God is good. What is different in the person who stands out with God in their lives as number one? Proverbs 18 NLT (various verses) 4. Wise words are like deep waters; wisdom flows from the wise like a bubbling brook. 10  The name of the Lord is a strong fortress; the godly run to him and are safe. 12  Haughtiness goes before destruction; humility precedes honor. 15  Intelligent ...