Michael Harrison's e-devotion

2022 was a good year, yet it held so many things there were unexpected and some that seemed not too good.  That is why I want to choose to spend just a few minutes looking back on this year. There were highlights.  Some of those were at the first of the year and some near the end.  We saw the end closing in of the covid virus and the loosening of restrictions that the last two years held over us.  Masks began to go away and life returned to some what normal. Still there was pain.  Still there were and are struggles that God has to help us with.  But what I have experienced in the low times as well as in the celebrations is that God is working and speaking. Psalm 34:15  NASB   The eyes of the Lord are toward the righteous, And His ears are toward their cry for help. He loves His children, and God is always working.  Where did you experience God working this year?  I saw Him bless my family.  I saw Him draw people to Himself.  I watched miracles happen on mission trips and in the church

How did you hear?   Everyone knows.  Or so it seems.  But the stories that are going around often have their root in half truths or even less.  In fact when the story relies on faith there might be even less room to listen, understand or believe what you hear. That might be the case for the story of Joseph.  He was a carpenter and was engaged to be married to a great young lady, but things went a different direction.  He had learned that his wife to be was pregnant.  That was taboo, to say the least.  He was willing to be kind but to stop the wedding. God shows up  Well, the news comes out.  The news from an angel sent by God in a dream to Joseph.  That is when we watch a common man become anything but common.  And what he does after hearing from God is pretty incredible. Let’s listen in or read the Bible passage. 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

How did you hear?   There are lots of things in life that we don’t understand.  In fact, some of those things go far beyond what we think is possible.   Mary, the mother of Jesus. was one of those cases.  She was pregnant but had never had sex.  She was chosen to give birth to the child sent by God who would be the savior or messiah sent from God. The story is a bit out there.  Her story doesn’t line up with what is scientifically possible or even reality.  Yet God can do anything, and His plan for humanity included a few miracles.  How did Mary hear about what was going to happen? It was an angel sent by God with a message for Mary.  This visit wasn’t common place, and it even brought some fear and uneasiness to Mary.  She was young.  She was engaged to be married.  Who would believe her story or what she had been told or that she met with an Angel? Luke 1:26-38  NLT   In the sixth month of Elizabeth’s pregnancy, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a village in Galilee, 27 to a vi

How did you hear?   What a question.  It keeps on confusing people as to what is or isn’t important.  The same might have been said to some strangers that came to town looking for someone they had heard about.  It was the wisemen from the east who said they had followed a star.  Now that is strange.  Or is it? They heard about something that happened a long way from their home, and they even brought gifts because what they heard was about to change their lives and the lives many others. How did they hear? Matthew 2:2  NLT “Where is the newborn king of the Jews? We saw his star as it rose, and we have come to worship him.” Their faith wasn’t the same as the people they approached on their journey.  In fact what they heard about this one who was born would shake the faith of millions to come.  How do we know that?  The leader that they spoke to, King Herod, wasn’t happy.  He was mad, intimidated and even more.  Herod would try to do everything He could to stop a challenge to his power. A

How do you know?   That is a question that has always confused, maybe because I am often confused.  But it depends on where you are coming from as to how you answer the question. There are many different ways to learn.  The methods of communication can vary from the text message to the message on the billboard, the letter in the mail or the unscheduled meeting at the store.  Each time information is passed.  It might be good news.  It might be simple information.  It could be anything. But those shepherds were in the right place at the right time.  Better yet, God knew them and knew where they were.  Not the most highly favored in the eyes of the world because they often didn’t smell very good and maybe were different than the other people around. The shepherds were the first to hear the good news.  How did they know?  The angels told them.  And what they were told was amazing. Let’s replay that one again. Luke 2:9-14  NLT   Suddenly, an angel of the Lord appeared among them, and the r

It is good to be home from Cuba, and the trip was great. I want to thank all who made the trip possible by giving or sharing resources.  It would not have happened without all the gifts. I enjoy preaching, but I might be preached out after so many times this past week (I will be ready for Sunday as we celebrate Christmas).  I was blessed to be able to share.  I do want to give a huge shout out to my interpreters who did a great job… Xavier,  Vladimir, Belkie, Liannis.  What an honor to work with these people. So in today’s devotion I share with you verses from the many sermons I preached the last week… Proverbs 16:3 NASB  Commit your works to the Lord, And your plans will be established.  John 14:1,6 NLT  ““Don’t let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God, and trust also in me. Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me.” Galatians 6:9 NASB  Let’s not become discouraged in doing good, for in due time we will reap, if we do not

Galatians 5:13   NLT For you have been called to live in freedom, my brothers and sisters. But don’t use your freedom to satisfy your sinful nature. Instead, use your freedom to serve one another in love.   Tomorrow I will be back in Cuba, and I will be serving again with the FCA staff there.  We are working with FCA leaders across the country as well as with student athletes and coaches. This will be my third trip this year and my sixth time in Cuba serving with these incredible people.  Each trip and each opportunity seems to open up more possibilities as well as the ability to see what God is doing in places many of us are not aware of.   FCA is Fellowship of Christian Athletes, and I am honored to work with this same group in Virginia FCA Southside Virginia that covers a four county area where we live.  And in Cuba we have found some great connections, similar work, to some people making a difference in the name of Jesus.   This week and through next Wednesday please pray for those

Isaiah 7:14  NLT   All right then, the Lord himself will give you the sign. Look! The virgin will conceive a child! She will give birth to a son and will call him Immanuel (which means ‘God is with us’).  The season of Christmas is loved and cherished by so many people.  I presume that is true for you and me as well.  God have us His seal, His promise, His son and became part of us. In the coming two weeks I encourage you to spend much time making much of Jesus.  Look at the signs of the seasons, and point yourself, point others to the really meaning and the strength that comes from pursing what matters most. 1 John 3:16  NLT   We know what real love is because Jesus gave up his life for us. So we also ought to give up our lives for our brothers and sisters. His love is the real deal.  His love is what changes us and changes others.  Real love is what Christmas was wrapped in way back then, and the best Christmas celebration continues to be wrapped in God’s best for us, which is His lo

I pray for you, and today I wanted to share my prayer for you.  Well, at least I wanted to give you just a few things I am praying for. Before that, I am committed to praying for several different people on a daily and weekly basis.   My family… big time, daily and often many times a day.   Those in and around our church… lots of them I have known for years but some only a short time. Ministry friends… people who do what I do as a pastor or servant who have such beautiful hearts and heavy loads. Many others… there are so many people on my mind each day. It is an honor to pray for others, and here are just a few of the things I pray for and think you may use as a guide to pray for as well. Salvation! Romans 10:1  NLT   Dear brothers and sisters, the longing of my heart and my prayer to God is for the people of Israel to be saved. Paul said that.  These people are his heart and on his mind.  I have many who I want to come close to God. Strength and joy! Colossians 1:11  NLT   We also pra

December is here.  That has so many things tied to it for all us.   It is the holiday and time off from work or school.  It is time with family, those you rarely get to see.  It is a time of giving, sharing and doing things for others that we don’t always do the rest of the year. It is also the time of the year when we talk even more about Jesus, the real reason for Christmas.  It is His birthday.  It is Him who is the reason for the season.  It is time of the year when we can put up decorations and talk about Jesus without dear of being shunned.   You get it.  But I ask you to really get it.  Get the goal in front of you to make much 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 From the manger to the cross… it was a three decade journey full of life and meaning.  It was a God given gift, the first Christmas gift, that took on more meaning than any of us really know.  That is why I ask you to take a fe