Michael Harrison's e-devotion

  This will be the only e-devotion for this week and the last week of 2021.  I am writing with the intent on looking back and learning from this year as well as looking forward with joy and determination to a new year full of possibilities. Three words come to mind in this reflection and time of planning.  I pray they will give you some what of a guide. REMEMBER. REPENT. REDEEM. Remember what is in the past, but leave things in the past.  They are to be points of learning and event some what of a trampoline to help you move to the next place. I am excited about the future, yet it really is the things of the past year, and further back, that have set the stage for what is ahead.  God called me to Himself first.  I long for a deeper relationship with Him.  God gave me a passion to serve Him and others.  Throughout my life there have been spiritual markers, as Henry Blackaby called them, that line my life and even set me up for more.  I long for a deeper relationship with Him and for more

Welcome to Christmas eve!!!  Yeah, tomorrow is the day so many have been waiting for and excited about.  That is why I challenge us to slow down looking unto Jesus, the reason for the season and Savior of the world. We continue our journey looking at the players in the Christmas story.  It is an incredible trip that has given me a lot to think about.  We have looked at Mary, Joseph, the shepherds and the wise men.  One last look has us taking a look at Simeon and Anna. Incredible people that were both intent on watching for the coming of the Messiah.  Much of the following verses teach us about watching what God is doing as well as keeping His heart centered in our lives.  Read on: Luke 2:25-38  NLT At that time there was a man in Jerusalem named Simeon. He was righteous and devout and was eagerly waiting for the Messiah to come and rescue Israel. The Holy Spirit was upon him 26 and had revealed to him that he would not die until he had seen the Lord’s Messiah. 27 That day the Spirit l

We continue our journey looking at the players in the Christmas story.  It is an incredible trip that has given me a lot to think about as I studied each of these people.  So far we have looked at Mary, Joseph and the shepherds.  Today we are looking at the wise men. Matthew 2:1-12 NLT Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, magi from the east arrived in Jerusalem, saying, 2 “Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? For we saw His star in the east and have come to worship Him.” 3 When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him. 4 And gathering together all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Messiah was to be born. 5 They said to him, “In Bethlehem of Judea; for this is what has been written by the prophet: 6 ‘And you, Bethlehem, land of Judah, Are by no means least among the leaders of Judah; For from you will come forth a Ruler Who will shepherd My people Israel.’”

  We continue our journey with the players of the first Christmas story.  We began with sweet Mary, moved on to the carpenter Joseph, and today we take a look at the shepherds, the first to get the birth announcement.  We know some about him but not a lot. This is one of my favorite pieces of the Christmas story because it reminds me that God will switch things up even more than we might expect.  He told Mary and Joseph first.  Of coarse He did since they would actually be there at the beginning.  But why the shepherds?  They stink.  They are really more like outcasts and not who should be told first, if you ask the opinion of others. Listen in to their part of the story: Luke 2:8-20  NLT In the same region there were some shepherds staying out in the fields and keeping watch over their flock at night. 9 And an angel of the Lord suddenly stood near them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them; and they were terribly frightened. 10 And so the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid;

We continue our journey with the players of the Christmas story, and today we look to Joseph, the earthly father of our Savior.  We know some about him but not a lot. Joseph was from the right family, was a righteous man, and he was a tradesman, a carpenter.  This was a great time in his life as he was engaged to be married to Mary, the player we talked about yesterday.  He was a good bit older than her at the time. Then all his world began to spin.  Things went off track real quick, and he had to make some decisions.  When Joseph learned that his wife to be was pregnant and that he wasn’t the father, Joseph was going to make some hard choices, yet in the middle of those choices, he was going to be kind to Mary. Let’s listen to the story for a minute. Matthew 1:18-25  NLT This is how Jesus the Messiah was born. His mother, Mary, was engaged to be married to Joseph. But before the marriage took place, while she was still a virgin, she became pregnant through the power of the Holy Spirit

Christmas is less than a week away.  This week we will take a trip with the players of the Christmas story.  Some of them we may know well.  Others we will get to know. Let’s look at Mary, the mother of Jesus.  She has a key role in the story, and the way that God planned for her in Jesus’ life really is incredible. We have been sharing a series at The Community Fellowship called “Who Is Jesus?” shared four key names of our Savior.  They are Son of God, Immanuel, Messiah and Savior.   Each person of the Christmas story encounter Jesus in each of these ways.  These names tell us a little more about Jesus and how His life impacts us, our families and the world.  Mary teaches us much about life and how we can experience Jesus. Luke 1:28-38  NLT Gabriel appeared to her and said, “Greetings,  favored woman! The Lord is with you!” 29 Confused and disturbed, Mary tried to think what the angel could mean. 30 “Don’t be afraid, Mary,” the angel told her, “for you have found favor with God! 31 Yo

  Many churches celebrate Advent by talking through the candles of the Advent wreath with points of HOPE, PEACE, JOY and LOVE.  I’d like to share with you a each piece of it.  The word Advent means “coming” or “visit”.  In the Christian season of Christmas or Advent, we prepare for the “advent” of the Christ child.  For this devotion lets light the advent candles as we move towards Christmas and the remembrance of the birth of Christ. Hope When the whole world seems to be against us, hope can appear to be dim.  It is at these times that we feel helpless and depressed.  Yet we forget that even IF the whole world is against us (which often isn’t the case), God is still there for us.  He has promised to never leave us or forsake us, and He will always be there for us no matter how bad we may have messed up.  We always have the hope of God. Ephesians 4:4   NLT For there is one body and one Spirit, just as you have been called to one glorious hope for the future. Matthew 12:21   NLT And his

It is almost one week till Christmas.  We have so much to be thankful for.  PLUS this is one of those times of the year that we might miss the very meaning of the season, its celebration and making much of our God. With that said I would like to remind us, or be reminded, what God tells us about Christmas.  It is all about Christ, the gift God the Father gave us.  His purpose remains clear.  He was looked for.  He is looked to.  He is followed and worthy of our following.  That is true for me, and I pray it is true for you as well. Walk with me through some of those reminders… Genesis 12:3  NIV “I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you.” Isaiah 7:14  NIV Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel. Isaiah 9:6-7  NIV For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be

I shared the following two year ago just before Christmas, and it reminds me of the wonder of this special holiday.  May God bless you today and this Christmas… The people of the Christmas stand out, as they should.  Each person and each group were given a special part, but it is only Jesus who is fully God and the gift of heaven.  Let’s celebrate the truth of Jesus.   Matthew 1:21  NLT And she will have a son, and you are to name him Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.   That is Jesus.   That is the reason God touched humanity that was messed up almost from the beginning by one simple act of disobedience by Adam and Even.  Praise God for the covering of their sin and ours.   For the rest of the people of the Christmas story we learn much.  Read on…   The wise men.   God came through Christ to demonstrate His love and goodness to those who are far off and to those of every class.   The shepherds.   God came in Jesus to everyone.  Shepherds were some of the worst smellin

Blessed.  Christmas is one of those times.  The times we realize we are blessed. But then God gives blessings.  Realize that.  They aren’t something you made up on your own.  There’s no luck or coincidence.  It is a gift from God.   Think about it. One of those times is when a baby is born.  Of coarse I have never had a baby.  I could not deal with the pain.  But watching Julie, my wife, give birth to our three children and see the joy that comes right after… that is just amazing. We are blessed.  So are you! Isaiah 9:6  NASB For a Child will be born to us, a Son will be given to us; And the government will rest on His shoulders; And His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace. Isaiah 7:14  NASB Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, the virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and she will name Him Immanuel. Matthew 1:21  NASB She will give birth to a Son; and you shall name Him Jesus, for He will save His people from

Matthew 16:14-16  NLT “Well,” they replied, “some say John the Baptist, some say Elijah, and others say Jeremiah or one of the other prophets.” 15 Then he asked them, “But who do you say I am?” 16 Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.” Answer for yourself.  Answer for those around you, those you have influence over.  Make this personal and not a church answer or what you heard others say.  Who do you say or think, or best yet, who do you know that He is? Peter’s answer reveals a lot about his heart and even a lot about Christmas, our celebration and what we believe comes our in the answer.  Peter answered… You are the Messiah from God! Who is Jesus?  Many continue to struggle because they don’t know for themselves who Jesus is.  Many doubt.  Yet so many, like us, are convinced.  Remember you aren’t alone in your observation.   This reality isn’t based on what you know, it is based on who you know.  This truth comes to life as you experience God, not as

  Ephesians 1:3  NLT All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realms because we are united with Christ. We really are blessed.  Look around and count your blessings rather than loathing or complaining about what you don’t have.  That is easy to do, confusing our problems with our blessings. When we are distracted, we will not see what God is doing.  Have you noticed that? Signs of the Christmas season are all around.  The lights and the decorations.  The music and the holiday festivities. All around us are also needs that stand open for us to help with.  Can you do something about those?  I did not ask if you can fix the problems of the world.  I did not ask if you can change all the people who are struggling or the governments that seem to be missing the most important.  I asked how can you help? I assert that one of the best ways to help is to recognize how blessed you are.  Count your blessings.  Name th

Do you hear that?  Come on, aren’t you listening?  This is good stuff.  You can’t miss this.  But often we do. It is right in front of us, yet there are so many times that our busy schedule and choices keep us missing the sweetness that God has for us.  It is time to tune in our ears and heart to hear what God is saying. For so long I have been reading through the book of Proverbs each day.  Some days seem a little less than others in what I hear.  Some days are like the old saying “drinking from a fire hose” because the truth is heavy or just a lot.  Yesterday was one of those days. Proverbs 8.  It is packed full of verses that came before me yesterday, and I am still taking in the truths and rolling through them.  Then God reminds me how I can be feeding on, living with and changed by what I am hearing.  It hits me.  Yes, big time.  Why do I sometimes stay away from hearing God?  Open my ears.  God, open my heart. Here are some of the verses from Proverbs 8 that God spoke to me yeste