Michael Harrison's e-devotion

  We celebrated 250 years and the birthday of our nation.  We celebrate is.  Men and women have fought for our freedom, and this should not be taken lightly or casually.   We are blessed.  Blessings come in many ways, different shapes and even with different thoughts.  As a Christian I believe that our blessings are tied directly to who we worship and honor.  That is God.  And that is why our God must be lifted, shared and talked of often.  America must bless God.   Psalm 33:12  NASB   Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord, The people He has chosen for His own inheritance.   The people who seek God, who put God first, will be blessed.  That is a promise from the Bible that cannot be neglected.  In fact what is worth having is worth working for.   That blessing is incredible.  Freedom is a gift.  Think about that.   "Those who would give up essential liberty to purchase a little temporary...

  Let it continue to fill your mind and heart.  What is it?  Thanks for asking. It is the word of God.  A daily diet of time with God and His word changes us.  Our thinking and living begin to adjust to how God thinks, and all that is required of us is to follow. That is why, once again, I point you to some of things I am reading and the overflow of time with God.  This is good stuff! Psalm 115  NLT   1 Not to us, O Lord, not to us, but to your name goes all the glory for your unfailing love and faithfulness. 9 O Israel, trust the Lord! He is your helper and your shield. 13 He will bless those who fear the Lord, both great and lowly. Psalm 116  NLT   1 I love the Lord because he hears my voice and my prayer for mercy. 7  Let my soul be at rest again, for the Lord has been good to me. Psalm 117  NLT 1 Praise the Lord, all you nations. Praise him, all you people of the earth. 2  For his unfailing love for us i...

  Too often we don’t make changes until it is obvious and needed.  Pain begins and we need to go to the doctor.  We find ourselves broke and say we need to save money.  Our marriages are in need and we decide to do something about it.   Yet the best thing to do is to start praying before the storm begins and prepare yourself.  Take care of your health before you need to go to the doctor.  Begin saving money before you are broke.  Work on your marriage before your it falls apart.     Does that make sense?    1 Timothy 2:8  NLT   In every place of worship, I want men to pray with holy hands lifted up to God, free from anger and controversy.   Make adjustments now.  Check out these verses where the followers of Jesus had little faith and needed to remember Jesus had all the power they need.   Matthew 8:24-26  NLT   Suddenly, a fierce storm struck the lake, with waves breaking into the boat. But J...

  Psalm 145:2-3  NLT   I will praise you every day; yes, I will praise you forever. 3 Great is the Lord! He is most worthy of praise! No one can measure his greatness. In those verses David declared and promised that he would choose to praise God every day and no matter what.  There is something about praising God that changes us. His life was not only changed by God by recharged, refreshed and renewed as David made time for the presence of God.  Go to those times of celebration, like when the Ark of the Covenant returned home and he danced in the streets, and on to the times of deepest hurt, like in the death of a son or of falling in to sin.  David chose to remember and bless the Lord or praise the Lord. When we choose to bless God at all times we set ourselves up to be blessed.  Literally the results of blessing God and praising God show up in our lives.  That happens for many reasons but the biggest one is we have realigned ourselves to G...

  The greatest things in all the world are not things.  Literally if we learn from God what is most important, and we will agree that is it people.  God loves people more than anything.   Cherish what God cherishes.  Value what God says is valuable.  Hold tight to what you should hold to and let go of all what does not have value.   Genesis 1:27  NLT   So God created human beings in his own image. In the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.   Jeremiah 29:11  NLT   For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.    Jeremiah 31:3  NLT   Long ago the Lord said to Israel: “I have loved you, my people, with an everlasting love. With unfailing love I have drawn you to myself.   Romans 5:8  NLT   But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners...

  Today I return to an old theme.  Pray for Cuba.  I have shared it before and will many more times, and with the current situation in that country, prayers and support are needed in greater ways. Today I get to share why Cuba once again with some great people in our community.  Another of our team is sharing in Branson, Missouri with another group of leaders.  Please pray for these presentations around noon, but even more pray for the ministry, our friends and for what is needed for survival both here and in eternity.  It really is for the gospel and His call on my life and on others.   Cuba is on my mind.  That is not a new thing.  It is an every day thing.  I get to return there in the fall.  Another friend arrives today in Cuba.  We choose to support the work with sports ministry and various churches all for the sake of the gospel.   Psalm 2:8  NLT  Only ask, and I will give you the nations as your inheritanc...