Michael Harrison's e-devotion

  1 Thessalonians 5:18  NLT   Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus. Right in front of you.  Do you see it? My wife and I have this conversation a lot, and she tells me I struggle seeing things because I look like a man looks.  You know what I mean. Being thankful is much the same.  Life is busy, and we forget to notice.  So much going on and so much to do that we miss the opportunities.  Those opportunities to be thankful for what we have, what we get to see and where God is working around us. Take some time today to notice.  Look what is in front you.  Be thankful.  Stop and stay thank you to God. This week I get to work with some of the greatest people through the ministry and work of Raceway Ministries at Martinsville Speedway.  I am thankful for this opportunity and what God does through the conversations and the serving. What is it you are missing?  It is right in...

  2 Chronicles 20:17  NASB   You need not fight in this battle; take your position, stand and watch the salvation of the Lord in your behalf, Judah and Jerusalem.’ Do not fear or be dismayed; tomorrow, go out to face them, for the Lord is with you.” I woke with a song on my mind.  This happens a lot.  But at times the song is stronger and seems to have a meaning.  Therefore, I will remind you today what I believe God is saying to me. The song is The Battle Belongs to the Lord .  It is by Phil Wickham When all I see is the battle, You see my victory When all I see is the mountain, You see a mountain moved And as I walk through the shadow, Your love surrounds me There's nothing to fear now, for I am safe with You So when I fight, I'll fight on my knees With my hands lifted high Oh God, the battle belongs to You And every fear I lay at Your feet I'll sing through the night Oh God, the battle belongs to You And if You are for me, who can be against me? Yea...

  I am going to take today to share some personal things on my mind.  Maybe this is a download or just rambling.  But it is the beginning of the week and the first e-devotion of a busy week. First, today is my wife’s birthday.  Julie is a very special lady.  School teacher.  Wife.  Mother.  Grandmother.  She is so much more, but most of all she is my best friend and partner in life.  That makes her a gift from God.  I am grateful for her. Proverbs 18:22  NLT   The man who finds a wife finds a treasure, and he receives favor from the Lord. As you know I returned from Cuba about a week ago, and I have had some time to reflect on what God did in their past trip and how He is working in this country and ministry that I love.  Obviously I will return, and my heart is heavy for our friends and partners, my Cuba family, that deal with so many concerns and struggles each and every day.  I am grateful for the work they do...

  We have all learned in life that there are some things that we do that make us better and stronger.  In this Friday e-devotion I share just a few that I have found to make me stronger, that give me wisdom and that put life in to perspective. I am not saying that I do these well.  I am saying that I have found these things to be helpful.  Here are some routines that will help us win. Pressing Pause Psalm 46:10  NLT   “Be still, and know that I am God! I will be honored by every nation. I will be honored throughout the world.” Exodus 31:13  NLT   “Tell the people of Israel: ‘Be careful to keep my Sabbath day, for the Sabbath is a sign of the covenant between me and you from generation to generation. It is given so you may know that I am the Lord, who makes you holy. Times to be quiet and reflect can add so much to our lives.  Life is busy and hectic and even at times overwhelming.  Getting quiet may be one of the best ways to turn off th...

  Proverbs 15:30  NLT   Fear of the Lord teaches wisdom; humility precedes honor. Thank you to everyone who supported and prayed for the past mission trip to Cuba.  Since this is the first e-devotion after I have returned home, I will share with you some of the points of celebration, some of my take aways and what God did. It was such a blessing to have Julie return to Cuba with me.  We served at Ebenezer church in the area of Havana known as Guanabacoa.  It was a great time of ministry and encouraging Pastor Julio and his wife Arelis. I am grateful for the FCA sports ministry team in Cuba.  Roberto Texidor from Missouri leads the US board, and I enjoy traveling with him.  Alex is the Cuban leader for sports ministry.  He and his family are a great blessing.  His team are amazing people.  One of the things that I love is that this team really are pastors in their community who serve athletes and their families.  Sharing Jesus a...

  Tomorrow we get to return to Cuba to be part of the sports ministry there!  It is an honor to serve the Lord with a group of people that I love others.  These incredible people serve with all their hearts and have a passion to see lives change for Christ.   Please pray for the ministry work in Cuba and for this mission trip.  Julie and I will be with Ebenezer church this weekend.  It will be awesome to serve along side Pastor Julio Cesar and his wife Arelis as well well our ministry partners Diocelis and Belkis (my favorite translator).  Next week I get to host a brand new mission team serving with us from Boone, North Carolina and helping with a baseball tournament.  Much of this work is with a team that serves athletes and coaches and is connected to the Fellowship of Christian Athletes or FCA.  Alex and his team serve and share the Gospel and meet so many needs of those who are hungry and need hope.    The economy in Cuba is no...