Michael Harrison's e-devotion

Sunday I enjoyed sharing with our church a message from our theme of HE>i from the book of Hebrews.  We talked about how Jesus is greater than everything.  Specifically He is greater than the angels, greater than Moses, greater than Joshua and greater than Aaron. Answer this… what have you made great than Jesus in your life?  That is a tough and telling question.  Answer that and figure out why you feel alone at some points in your life.   The book of Hebrews has some incredible truth from the first to the last chapter with a huge portion being in chapters 11 and 12.  But the crux of the book are these two verses: Hebrews 10:23-24  NLT Let’s hold firmly to the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful; 24 and let’s consider how to encourage one another in love and good deeds,  How do we make Jesus greater?  We become less.  We make more of Him, believe Him, share Him with others and spend time with Him.  It will make a difference.  In fact whatever is

Let's close out the week with some thoughts that might get the weekend going in a little different direction.  It might be a little research or reflective, but I think this will be very helpful.  It has been for me. Proverbs 23:18  NASB Certainly there is a future, And your hope will not be cut off. That is good, but I share another verse that we often hear.  It is a promise from God.  Claim it.  Think hard about it. Jeremiah 29:11  NASB For I know the plans that I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans for prosperity and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope. Now for the research. What are some of your dreams or desire for your future and your family’s future? What are you doing to get you to what you desire for your future? Hard questions.  Takes some reflection as well as honesty.  God has a plan as well. If we care about what God wants and want to follow where He leads, our dreams will be from Him and even about Him.  How are you going to pursue God to know and ha

  The last couple days I have been at a pastor’s meeting in Atlanta.  It is one I have attended before, and it is awesome to soak up learning and to spend time with people who do what I do in life.  None of us have arrived.  We all need to grow, and this is a place that helps me, challenges me and brings me a lot of joy. So, I’d like to share some of the things that stood out for me.  May some of these encourage you as they have me. From Pastor Johnny Hunt - Everything rises and falls on leadership. - Your calling determines your staying power - God has called you to teach you something - If you don't have a vision, you are not a leader. - The Christian never has the luxury to be unkind.  (quoting Jerry Vines) - None of us are who we are without the people who poured into us. Every now and then God gets you alone so he can get something out of you. From seminary president Dr. Danny Akin - - The hardest work we will ever do is marriage. - Love is not an emotion but a choice - Reflec

  I sat and listening to stories that kept shocking me.  Have you ever been taken back by what you hear?  It was that way for me sitting around that table with about 15 people who are my peers from various parts of the country. They shared about broken homes and drug abuse.  Some shared about being hurt by co-workers or by people that said they cared for them.  Others seemed to have very little conflict but strong convictions.  What held each of us together is our similar calling to pursue God and to serve others. God is still calling people.  That is people like you and me.  People with a story often have an opportunity to impact the lives of people who have a story. What I have to say is this, that God for His grace and mercy.  Thank God for second chances.  He is still in the business of taking what is broken and putting it back together again. I wouldn’t believe some of those stories without experiencing a little of it myself.  What I love is the fact that God has a plan, and He is

James 1:22  NASB But prove yourselves doers of the word, and not just hearers who deceive themselves. One of the things I really enjoy and learn from is listening to pastor’s preaching.  I mean I love to preach and share God’s word with others and inspire people to live by faith.  That is why I enjoy the same from others. Yesterday I listened to several sermons, and a couple of them stick out with some huge points that I want to share with you today.  I pray these big ideas will encourage and inspire you to think big, to pursue God and to not stay the same. The first is from Robert Morris, maybe my favorite preacher.  He shared a message about judgment that hit home with me.  One thing Pastor Morris said was this, Our beliefs determine our behavior. He shared about a man who talked about the importance of giving and said he believed in tithing but was not giving.  It is a fact that what we say and what we do ought to line up.  That really is a big deal. Another message I listened to wa

Some of my favorite people who have made a difference in my life are coaches.  Not really the athletic coach but the leadership and ministry coaches that I have spent some time with.   Two of these that have impacted my life are Scott Couchenour and Blaine Bartel.  You can find Scott at www.servingstrong.com and Blaine at www.blainebartel.com.  Both have poured in to my life in various ways and challenged me to pursue God more and to lead better. Another coach that I have enjoyed interacting with and learning from is Tom Ziglar.  Tom is the son of the incredible business coach and author Zig Ziglar.  You can find Tom at www.ziglar.com/tom-ziglar/ as well as many of the resources from his dad. It is important to learn from great people and to choose keep yourself around people who will challenge you to be better.  You have heard something like this before…  1 Corinthians 15:33  NASB Do not be deceived: “Bad company corrupts good morals.” If that is true, take the opposite to be true as

  Remember what is most important.  In fact, we ought to be working hard to make sure the most important thing is really what I am focused on and headed toward in my life.  It is far too easy to live in the meaningless rather than living out of our God given call and passion.   Think about this… do you know what God has put on your heart to accomplish?  We can know.  We must go that direction! 1 Corinthians 9:22-23  NASB To the weak I became weak, that I might gain the weak; I have become all things to all people, so that I may by all means save some. 23 I do all things for the sake of the gospel, so that I may become a fellow partaker of it. I first heard those verses or understood them well when we were putting together what we know as our church, The Community Fellowship, well over 15 years ago.  It was that call that led us to focus on those who are hungry, hurting and homeless so that we can win some to Christ. Last night I listening to a friend and minister leader share these ver

  I love to share stories of what God is doing, and there are a lot of them.  We ought to be putting ourselves in places where we are seeing God work.   Last night I sat at the dinner table with 10 friends from across the United States.  The stories poured out, and they were good.  They were not stories of self promotion or one upping someone else.  They were not stories of slander or someone in pain.  They were stories of what God is doing and what we are seeing Him doing around us. Luke 5:26  NLT Everyone was gripped with great wonder and awe, and they praised God, exclaiming, “We have seen amazing things today!” I shared several stories myself.  These are things that light my fire, keep me going, remind me of God’s work and allow me to share with others how our church and ministry is making a difference. I shared about a teen girl who has come out of her shell and is growing in her faith.  On my phone is a picture of this young lady washing the feet of a student during our back2scho

2 Peter 3:9  NASB  The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not willing for any to perish, but for all to come to repentance. There is more to this life and our reality that just day in and day out living.  In fact there is an afterlife, a heaven and a hell.  Our gracious God has offered the truth of salvation with His Son, with Jesus. He gave all of His life so we can have meaning, abundant life while we physically live and eternal life with God. Then, take this a step further knowing that this is not just about us.  It is about all who need to meet and know and accept Jesus.  The following song says it very well.  I first hear this when I was young.  The song continues to ring in my head, my heart and even was even waking me from sleep one morning this week. “People Need the Lord” by Steve Green Everyday they pass me by, I can see it in their eyes Empty people filled with care, Headed who knows where On they go through private pain,

  1 John 4:4  NASB You are from God, little children, and have overcome them; because greater is He who is in you than he who is in the world. When we see God as greater, things are different.  We not only see things differently, but at that time we act different and even speak different.  You might call that confidence.  I say it is faith. Knowing God is greater than I am and that He is great and capable gives me courage to lives differently and to lean wholly on God.  Leaning on Him.  Trusting Him.  That is not where it ends.  It is where it begins.  I can begin there often. Whatever we set up as great causes us to either sink or swim, fail or sail, hit the floor or soar in the sky.  It is our choice.  Confidence really is a choice, and if we will live with courage, God will change our lives and the lives of the people directly linked to us. Our new theme at church for 2022 is HE>i  John 3:30  NLT He must become greater and greater, and I must become less and less. How does God be

  We all need to remember.  But those memories cannot be the handcuffs that lock us up.  Let them be the keys that free us to life and abundant life. Take for example, from yesterday’s sermon, what Joshua was led by God to do for the people.  Joshua took the place of Moses who was known by all, had shown the people how to follow God and how to see as well as enjoy the present of God.  Directly Joshua heard “be strong and courageous”.  The only way to be that would be to in the word of God and know that God is with you. Joshua 1:9  NLT This is my command—be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid or discouraged. For the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” Another way to learn from the past is to learn from the example of those who lived with faith and so much more.  So much was Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.  Today we stop remember Dr. King and listen to his words and follow his learn Dr. King literally spoke up for those who could not or would not speak up.  He wasn’t perfect but

Our experiences with God are wide and varied, yet our needs are very familiar.  There is one thing that nobody can steal from you or tear away.  That one thing is your testimony and your experience.  Whether that is something you share on a witness stand because of an experience or what you tell others you have learned.  The truth and life you have received from God cannot be taken from you. Today’s post is a compilation of the things I have thought about, incredible things I’ve been through since I started walking with God almost thirty-five years ago.  Described here are times that I spent alone with God as well as times I sat in stadiums with thousands of people as God moved or whispered. Never have I sought or am I seeking to accumulate experiences.  Rather I want to get closer and closer to the One who loved me first and most.  His time is precious, and His love is endless.  Here are the things I’ve come us with in the experiences that led to me being closer to my God: Giving and

Does living differently from most people make a difference?  That is a good question. It is not about just looking different because many people are fake.  They put on a costume, if you will.  They look the part of the proper or righteous person, yet underneath they are dead or dishonest.   It is important that we know to the core who we are, and that we are the same in public or private.  It does matter what God sees in us and what others see coming from us. Psalm 37:34  NLT Put your hope in the Lord. Travel steadily along his path. He will honor you by giving you the land. You will see the wicked destroyed. If we have real and lasting hope in the one who is in charge, there will be a result that only God can give.  He literally honors those He sees and knows are living  for Him.   Romans 2:7 NLT He will give eternal life to those who keep on doing good, seeking after the glory and honor and immortality that God offers. Eternal life isn’t earned by what we do or by doing the right thi