Michael Harrison's e-devotion

  There is always a need for hope.  We spoke of this earlier this week.  Hope is a part of the Christmas experience and even of our faith.  On Sunday we began our Advent celebration with the candle lighting and shared how real and lasting hope can impact some important parts of our lives. HOPE and HELP … God invites each of is to come to him and ask for His help.  Hebrews 4:16  “to come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in our time of need” HOPE and OVERCOMING … Life often leaves us feeling powerless and needing hope.  Christ’s strength gives us the ability to overcome obstacles and builds our faith in Jesus. 1 John 5:4 “and this is the victory that overcomes the world, even our faith” HOPE and POWER … we find that simply tasks looks too big for us.  We don’t a little of God’s strength added to our own, but we need his strength to take over.  He will give it!  2 Corinthians 12:9  “My grace is sufficient for you: for my strength is made pe

  Time is getting close for me to head back to Cuba to serve with the FCA (fellowship of christian athletes or MADEM in Cuba) team that are making a huge difference for Jesus in that country and beyond.  This will be my last trip for 2023 but more are being planned for the year to come.  Hard to believe all this started almost 5 years ago in the winter of 2019. 1 Corinthians 14:3  NLT   But one who prophesies strengthens others, encourages them, and comforts them. My work there is pretty simple.  I am to encourage those who are part of this ministry and their families.  What an honor it is to do that kind of work, to partner with incredible kingdom minded people who are passionate about sharing Jesus. On this trip we will be working our way across Cuba from East to West.  What I ask you to do is pray in the following ways… Pray for the ministry workers and their families.  There are 10 to 12 employees who serve full or part time and are led by Alex.  Pray for the resources they need fo

  Last week was thanksgiving and ahead is the Christmas season.  The last few days have been touted as the largest shopping days of the year.  Yet there is a day we might miss. It is today.  It is called Giving Tuesday.  Many non profit organizations have a special request for giving and seeking resources to do the work they are called to.   I see a lot of through the work that we do.  It is the season of giving, during Christmas, as people are often ready to share and serve others.   Be encouraged to serve and give from your heart.  Many organizations close to me are so worthy of #GivingTuesday … Consider helping The Community Dream Center which runs two homes for homeless men getting their lives back together.  You can go online to our church website and choose the Dream Center.  (www.thecommunityfellowship.org) Another is assisting with the warming center of MHC that is open each night that temperatures are 40 or below.  Homeless friends are offered a warm place to stay, an evening

  We started our Christmas series yesterday at The Community Fellowship, and one of the parts of it that I enjoy is the ADVENT thoughts.  Our first candle was the one that reminded us of HOPE.   We need real and lasting hope.  It is not hope based on circumstances or feelings.  This real hope comes from God and is a gift when our faith grows stronger because we are connected to God and believe what He says. Do you have this kind of HOPE? 1 Thessalonians 4:13  NLT   And now, dear brothers and sisters, we want you to know what will happen to the believers who have died so you will not grieve like people who have no hope. Problem of no hope is rampant.  But it does not have to be this way.  We can trust God and receive His gift of real and lasting hope! Mathew 12:21  NLT And His name will be the hope of the world. Solution of hope is JESUS.  A person.  Reality.  The one who gets us through and promises us eternity.  Hope is readily available for each of us!  Just trust God. 1 Thessalonian

  Why should we be thankful?  There are so many reasons, but the number one reason that comes to my mind is what being thankful does to us. Being thankful changes my mindset. Being thankful changes how I look at people. Being thankful changes how much hope I have. Being thankful changes how thankful people around us are. It is vitally important that our bodies function properly.  Like we need blood to flow freely all through our bodies.  We need our nerves to fire throughout our bodies.  Brain function, kidney function… all of it has to work together. That is why it seems that being thankful helps our spiritual life to function so much better and for us to be stronger.   But take that a step further.  Being thankful will make us physically healthier. Negativity is removed.  Stress is lessened.  Worry is replaced with faith.  Anxiety removes itself because we have the peace of God. Just by being thankful.  As I said yesterday being thankful is not just for a day, a week or a season.  Be

  It is Thanksgiving week, and there are so many opportunities for us to be thankful and a different mindset.  Having an attitude of gratitude is a life changing experience. Choosing to be thankful is not just for a week or a day or a season.  In fact it is something that every Christian should have as part of every day of life.  It is a choice.  It is a new perspective. Let’s give it some feet or application … Colossians 3:16  NLT   Let the message about Christ, in all its richness, fill your lives. Teach and counsel each other with all the wisdom he gives. Sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs to God with thankful hearts. When the message and truth about Christ interacts with us, gets planted in us and fills us, there will be an outcome of being thankful.  It will be more than saying thank you.  It will come out in the songs we sing, the stories we tell and even the look on our face. And then … Colossians 2:6-7  NIV   So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue t

  You claim the ones that are yours.  Some times you can just tell what belongs to you because they look like you or you’ve had it so long. Scripture can be some thing like that.  Some verses you share often.  Some verses you think about a lot or hold on to very tight.  It is kind of like memories that you cherish and mean much to you. That is why today I share what is mine.  Better yet, what are mine.  My favorite or “go-to” verses that stick close to me and my heart.  Here are mine … Psalm 150:6  NASB   Everything that has breath shall praise the Lord.  Praise the Lord! Colossians 3:2  NASB   Set your minds on the things that are above, not on the things that are on earth. James 1:2-4  NASB   Consider it all joy, my brothers and sisters, when you encounter various trials, 3 knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. 4 And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. Psalm 139:23-24  NASB   Search me, God, and know