Michael Harrison's e-devotion

  Today’s devotion is from one of my favorite authors, Henri Nouwen.  I pray this will encourage you to keep on giving what is most valuable to the people you encounter. Our Lives Multiply by Giving Them Away The fruitfulness of our little life, once we recognize it and live it as the life of the Beloved, is beyond anything we can imagine.  One of the greatest acts of faith is to believe that the few years we live on this earth are like a little seed planted in very rich soil.  For this seed to bear fruit, it must die.  We often see or feel only the dying, but the harvest will be abundant even when we ourselves are the harvesters. How different would our life be were we truly able to trust that it multiplied in being given away!  How different would our life be if we could believe that every little act of faithfulness, every gesture of love, every word of forgiveness, every little bit of joy and peace will multiply and multiply as long as there are people to receive it . . . and that—e

  Proverbs 16:20  NLT   Those who listen to instruction will prosper; those who trust the Lord will be joyful. This last Sunday we completed our series in Proverbs of “begin with wisdom”, and it has been great.  This next week we begin learning from 1 Corinthians 13 and a series called “love and live”.  Hope you will join us. Proverbs 1:7  NLT   Fear of the Lord is the foundation of true knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and discipline. Lean in to Proverbs and God’s wisdom.  We learn from God what is real wisdom, what is life changing truth and what keeps us on the right path.  I need this type of wisdom.  Do you?  We need wisdom that will clear up confusion, stop chaos and clear our journey of pitfalls. The wisdom of God shouts to us, shows up for us and issues guidelines to guide us.  His wisdom is … oh remember this. James 3:17  NIV   But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and

  Sunday I woke up with a song on my mind.  This happens a lot.  Some times it goes away quickly.  Other times it hangs on for a while.  This one hung on to my mind and maybe my heart. What keep me going to the song are a couple strong lines that speak volumes to me and about our God.  It talks of how God has power over our lives, and we need to trust Him, listen to Him and do what He says.  The lines from the song: Get up out of that grave … If He did it for me, He can do it for you … Too often we head toward the grave and stay there.  It might not be a real grave in the ground.  Maybe it is a choice or lifestyle that keeps us from knowing God and His best for us.  Maybe it is a mindset that needs to be adjusted or changed.  The grave can be many things. And what He did you for you speaks to your testimony or the testimony of someone who has met and experienced God.  Share it.  He will do the same for others.  Trust God to work. Here are some of the lyrics from the song I Thank God b

  Here is an e-devotion I shared many years ago.  As I was looking back it caught my attention, and I pray it will catch yours.   Inspiration at the speed of words.  Conviction from the heart of God.  Individuals desiring to follow Jesus.  You.  Me.  Read on:   Acts 15:26  NLT "...risked their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ."    Philippians 2:30  NLT "For he risked his life for the work of Christ..."    Luke 18:27  NLT "What is impossible for people is possible with God."    Acts 16:34  NLT "...he and his entire household rejoiced because they all believed in God."   Jeremiah 46:17  NLT "...a loud mouth who missed his opportunity!"   1 Timothy 1:6  NLT "But some people have missed this whole point..."   2 Corinthians 4:11  NLT "Yes, we live under constant danger of death because we serve Jesus..."    Luke 8:15  NLT "...good-hearted people who hear God's word, cling to it, and patiently produce a

  Some of the best… Some of the ones I am thinking about as of late… Some makes me stop and think a little more than they used to… Today, I share some substance with you in this e-devotion.  Just some verses that have been running through mind, and it seems that God will use these in your life.  Or I pray He will. Read on.  And there is more to come. Genesis 29:35  NLT   Once again Leah became pregnant and gave birth to another son. She named him Judah, for she said, “Now I will praise the Lord!” And then she stopped having children. Read the verses before that one.  Check out the story, and you will see how things changed for Leah and why she praised the Lord.  It was important. Lamentations 3:22-24  NLT   The faithful love of the Lord never ends!  His mercies never cease. 23 Great is his faithfulness; his mercies begin afresh each morning. 24 I say to myself, “The Lord is my inheritance; therefore, I will hope in him!” That reminder goes deeper than lots of others.  I need His mercy.

  Believe it or not, God’s plan for you is amazing.  He is actually working in ways that is making us more like Jesus.  He is adding to our lives what will last and what will impact more than just you. Take some time to let God work.  Allow His work to produce in you peace that goes in directions that no human can lead.  Watch how this happens based on what Paul experienced. Romans 5:1-5  NLT   Therefore, since we have been made right in God’s sight by faith, we have peace with God because of what Jesus Christ our Lord has done for us. 2 Because of our faith, Christ has brought us into this place of undeserved privilege where we now stand, and we confidently and joyfully look forward to sharing God’s glory. 3 We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance. 4 And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation. 5 And this hope will not lead to disappointment. For we know how d