Michael Harrison's e-devotion

  Easter is less than three weeks away, and this is the most important day for Christians that we cannot take for granted.  More important than Christmas, Easter and the resurrection are literally the central belief of salvation and the Gospel.   God sent John the Baptist to prepare people to know Jesus.  God continues to send the story and testimony and life through other people.  People like you and me have the opportunity to point others to Jesus.   God has prepared us and the world for Jesus and His death.  He is also coming again.   Psalm 45:6-7  NLT   Your throne, O God, endures forever and ever.  You rule with a scepter of justice. 7 You love justice and hate evil. Therefore God, your God, has anointed you, pouring out the oil of joy on you more than on anyone else.   The throne won’t be one that people expect.   His rule is unlike what those before him held.   Many will miss Him and even hate Him, but thi...

  Stop and Praise.  That is something important for Christians to do. I heard a song recently that has stuck with me.  It is simple.  It is profound.  Most likely the simplicity of this particular worship song from Mac Powell may include the greatest of all theological truths.  Let me illustrate. A long time ago a prominent pastor of a large influential church was asked a great question.  This pastor was also know as a theological scholar.  He was asked, “what is the greatest theological thought you have ever had?” The pastor stopped and thought for a minute.  Then be began to hum and then sing.  “Jesus loves me this I know…” Profound and important.  That is the fact of the song the pastor sung and the thought that he had. Back to the Mac Powell song I mentioned above.  The song is “I Love Jesus” and here are some of the lyrics… I love Jesus, yes I do I love Jesus, yes it's true I love Jesus While I was on the wrong road Lost a...

  Wow.  I am overwhelmed by all that has taken place over the weekend.  Last week I shared what was taking place and even asked you to pray over each one. Colossians 1:3  NLT   We always pray for you, and we give thanks to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. I will begin with the mission trip that 14 people from our church were blessed to be part of.  We traveled to Virginia Beach to be part of the Serve Tour.  58 churches from 13 different states partnered together to complete 40 different projects.  What excited me the most was to watch our team from The Community Fellowship grow closer and closer.  God was working.  We complete several projects from flower beds at schools, a wall at an animal shelter, helping with a roof, sharing the Gospel door to door on what is called a grill walk, sharing the Gospel on the beach and more.  It was awesome. Move on to Emmaus as 6 ladies from our church had a lifetime of God’s goodness ove...

  We get to serve. 1 Corinthians 12:5  NLT  There are different kinds of service, but we serve the same Lord.   This is one of those times where we learn to do what God has called us to do.  As I shared yesterday, it will be a busy week and weekend for many in our church as we are part of ministry at Emmaus, the speedway and on a mission trip. It all began 24 years ago with Raceway Ministries Martinsville.  One great outreach in our community happens two times per year or more.  We have met and served thousands of race fans from all over the world. Conversations, praying for people, snacks and coffee, golf cart rides and more.   But the best part is we get to talk about Jesus.  It is happening again this weekend! Another thing happened even longer ago.  It was 30 years ago when I first went on a mission trip to Honduras, and most recently in Cuba.  But mission trips happen in so many places from close to home to far off.  We ge...

  This is going to be a full week and provide lots of opportunities.  I ask that you pray for our people and others who are serving in various places. Isaiah 55:6  NLT   Seek the Lord while you can find him. Call on him now while he is near. Several ladies from our church will be part of the Emmaus walk this weekend and join a great number who have been part of this incredible spiritual time.  Pray for them and their families as well as the work God will do in their lives. 1 Peter 4:10  NLT   God has given each of you a gift from his great variety of spiritual gifts. Use them well to serve one another. A group from our church is joining hundreds more to love on the community around Virginia Beach this Friday and Saturday through an outreach and mission event called Serve Tour.  Pray for the team as they travel and serve. 1 Peter 3:15  NLT   Instead, you must worship Christ as Lord of your life. And if someone asks about your hope as a be...

  We continue our journey through Romans on Sundays at The Community Fellowship, and this past weekend we looked at Romans 6 and the movement for the Christian from being a slave to sin to obeying and following God.  It is an awesome thing to understand. Here are some of the verses that I used to highlight what Jesus has done for us! Matthew 7:13-14  NLT   You can enter God’s Kingdom only through the narrow gate. The highway to hell is broad, and its gate is wide for the many who choose that way. 14 But the gateway to life is very narrow and the road is difficult, and only a few ever find it. It is not exclusive because this way is offered to any one.  Yet as it says few find it.  This is why we share and pray. 2 Corinthians 5:14  NLT   Either way, Christ’s love controls us. Since we believe that Christ died for all, we also believe that we have all died to our old life. It is the love of Christ that changes every thing.  It is the love ...