Michael Harrison's e-devotion

  We continue our series “Like Him” at The Community Fellowship this weekend as we study 1 Peter.  So many of the verses in this book stand out as important as does the vital truth that God is changing us so that others can see Him even more. One verse this weekend stands out a little more.  This verse was one I learned as a teenager being discipled by my youth pastor.  The thoughts and theology behind the verse is what makes it so incredible. As you read this verse note what stands out as important.  Being a Jesus follower is more than just having faith.  It is about trusting the completed work of Christ. 1 Peter 3:18  NLT   Christ suffered for our sins once for all time. He never sinned, but he died for sinners to bring you safely home to God. He suffered physical death, but he was raised to life in the Spirit. For our sins and shortcomings Jesus suffered and died. The sinless one died for us who are sinful. What happened in the flesh through de...

  Ain’t God good.  Come on now.  You have seen this reality in your life and in the lives of others.   This month we have asked our church to seek “God moments” and to share those times where God has shown up.  I love hearing these stories. I will share one.  August is one of our busiest and craziest of the year as we lead the back2school program.  It is crazy, but it is also amazing.  I am grateful for the almost 2,000 students that have been served this year. Anyway, I was on the way from our church in Collinsville, Virginia to Charlotte, North Carolina to pick up the shoes we were to use for back2school when our church box truck, former U Haul, broke down in Winston-Salem which is about an hour from us and an hour and a half from my destination. The box truck was out of commission.  I pulled in to a park and called a friend.  That friend is Andy Bowersox of Energize Ministries.  Where the box truck broke down was about a mile fro...

  I love it when Scripture seems to come to life.  You know literally Scripture is designed by God to be living and interactive in our lives.  Watch how God does that.  Psalms is one of the greatest places for me as I use the verses for Scripture-fed, Spirit-led, worship-based prayer. For years I have been reading Proverbs on a daily basis.  Those verses come alive.  Add to that Psalms and the book Praying the Psalms by Daniel Henderson.   Strategic Renewal and the 6:4 Fellowship is where I found this.  Check out www.strategicrenewal.com for that and other resources as well as great content on prayer.  Also for a great conference call “Resilience” coming in October.  Daniel’s book guides you through Psalms in your prayer time.   Take some time today to read and pray the Psalms.  Here are just a few verses.  Grab from them some characteristics of God…  He is my shield and holds me, His love is unfailing, He ...

  As I was reading Scripture last I was struck by one person and their commitment to God.  This king was a leader.  He is mentioned in other places, but the verses I share with you are the two points I want us to look at for a few minutes today. 2 Chronicles 26:3-5  CSB   Uzziah was sixteen years old when he became king, and he reigned fifty-two years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name was Jecoliah; she was from Jerusalem. 4 He did what was right in the Lord’s sight just as his father Amaziah had done. 5 He sought God throughout the lifetime of Zechariah, the teacher of the fear of God. During the time that he sought the Lord, God gave him success. Uzziah did what was right.  He honored God as a man, as a leader and in all he did.  That was not the common thing for kings.  In fact if you read about the kings in the Old Testament often the king is said to have done evil before the Lord.   That wasn’t the case with this man.  We nee...

  Psalm 37:4  CSB   Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you your heart’s desires. What has your attention?  Take a close, up close look at all the things that distract you, the things that make you mad, the stuff that makes you glad and anything that keeps your gaze and your mind for more than just a few seconds. I listened to a message this week from an incredible preacher that talked about how our phones have completely grabbed our attention.  And he talked about many other things to.   But what caught my attention (did you hear that) the most was the importance of letting God be who gets and takes your attention.  The verse above is a promise.  Delight in God, and He fulfills your desires. How can that be true?  It is.  Whatever we look at longing and lovingly we become like. In his message Andrew Forrest reminded us that choosing to put our mind on God does make a difference.  Further, he shared somethings that should hel...

  One of the best questions you can ask others is “how can I pray for you?”  It might catch someone off guard, like they aren’t prepared for it.  But the conversations after are always telling and important. I have found that people appreciate being prayed for.  People are touched when you you show that you care.  And yes, the most important part is that someone knows Jesus, and I find that prayer can be a great connector. God calls us to pray.  He challenges us to pray for ourselves and others.  Prayer reminds us all of who us really in control.  So, today try this if you haven’t before.  Ask the waitress, the cashier, your co-worker, your neighbor, or that person you happen to be with “how can I pray for you?”  Then follow through with the conversation.  It might be simply to listen, but make sure to pray for that person and what they share. James 5:16 NASB Therefore, confess your sins to one another, and pray for one an...