Michael Harrison's e-devotion

  It is that time once again as I travel to Cuba to serve with the sports ministry there.  I ask that you join me in prayer for this ministry as well as for this trip. 1 Corinthians 1:4  NLT   I always thank my God for you and for the gracious gifts he has given you, now that you belong to Christ Jesus. Pray for the FCA sports ministry staff in Cuba and their families.  This coming weekend most of these families will meet together for learning, encouragement and to seek the Lord together.  God builds teams so that they can use their gifts and calling to impact their communities and more with the message of Christ.  Jesus built His disciples, and it is a join in a similar way to see God build this team. Pray for those who are traveling for this particular Cuba FCA sports ministry event.  Two of us from the United States as well as many across Cuba will be traveling to be together, to teach and to plan for even more ministry to athletes and coaches in various sports.  All need to know th

  Please pray for our mission team serving in West Virginia this week.  We will share about the trip on Sunday.  Also pray for the trip to Cuba that begins next Tuesday. A few months ago my brother shared an article or devotion titled “stir the water”.  Read and think through this great truth. SOMETIMES YOU HAVE TO STIR UP THE WATER The religious leaders were conservative, highly trained experts who had memorized large swaths of the Old Testament.  They got the PRINCIPLES and but missed the PERSON.  Jesus said to them, "You study the Scriptures diligently because you think that in them you have eternal life.  These are the very Scriptures that testify of me, yet you refuse to come to me to have life” (John 5:39-41).  Their Messiah was standing right smack in front of them, and yet they missed Him.  They missed the PERSON.  They got RELIGION but not the RELATIONSHIP. Notice, all Scripture points to Jesus: Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus… Psalms… all the way to Malachi.  There are over t

  The church is one of the most precious place.  As we gather the church is not about the building or the location or even the functions that happen when we gather.  The church is the people, you and me who are the children of God.  He loves each of us. When the church gathers, worship often happens.  At great times we will serve, encourage each other and do all kinds of things.  It is important that we spend time together because it makes each of us bette and stronger. Hebrews 10:25  NLT   And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of his return is drawing near. Choose to spend time together as a body of believers committed to following Christ and sharing His story with the world.  That is a great opportunity and a great responsibility.   This year our church began to use a book by Daniel Henderson, Praying the Psalms , and each week we are reading one chapter and leading the church in prayer by following what

  Jesus called us sheep.  God through the writers of the Bible talked about the sheep who went astray, and the facts are in on sheep.  They aren’t the brightest animals in the barn.  But the relationship between the shepherd and the sheep is an incredibly important one.   John 10:3-4  NLT The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep recognize his voice and come to him.  He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out.  After he has gathered his own flock, he walks ahead of them, and they follow him because they know his voice.   Notice the relationship between the shepherd and the sheep and how there is comfort, strength and protection, yet the most important word here is relationship.   The sheep recognize the shepherd’s voice.   We can know the voice of God.  What makes it easy to recognize is the fact that we’ve heard it a lot.  We’ve talked.  We’ve listened.  We’ve enjoyed time in His presence.  The sheep found that the shepherd’s voice calms their fears, allows them to e

  Psalm 34:4  NLT   I sought the Lord, and he answered me; he delivered me from all my fears. Do you ever have something that grabs your mind that just won’t let go?  I do, and sometimes that something is a song.  Therefore, I share with you this one. Trust in God by Elevation Worship … And what He did for me on Calvary is more than enough…  I trust in God, my Savior, The one who will never fail, He will never fail…  Perfect submission, all is at rest.  I know the author of tomorrow has ordered my steps.  So this is my story and this is my song.  I’m praising my risen King and Savior all the day long.  I trust in God, my Savior, The one who will never fail, He will never fail… He didn't fail you then, He won't fail you now … I sought the Lord and He heard and He answered I sought the Lord and He heard and He answered I sought the Lord and He heard and He answered That's why I trust Him, that's why I trust Him…  That is just part of the song, but it has played over and

  Choose what you say carefully.  Our words have power, and our words say a lot about who we are. James 3:6,10  NLT   And among all the parts of the body, the tongue is a flame of fire. It is a whole world of wickedness, corrupting your entire body. It can set your whole life on fire, for it is set on fire by hell itself… And so blessing and cursing come pouring out of the same mouth. Surely, my brothers and sisters, this is not right! Blessing.  Cursing.  Which one comes out of you the most? Ephesians 4:29  NLT   Don’t use foul or abusive language. Let everything you say be good and helpful, so that your words will be an encouragement to those who hear them. Does it bother you when you hear people use foul language?  What words or conversations encourage you? Proverbs 15:4  NLT   Gentle words are a tree of life; a deceitful tongue crushes the spirit. Gentle words or deceitful words… both are powerful. Colossians 4:6  NLT   Let your conversation be gracious and attractive so that you w

  There are plenty of things that we can claim that come from God, but one of the greatest is the victory that God promises. This might be victory or healing over illness or a battle you are in.  This might be victory in restoring a relationship that means much to you.  This might be victory over addiction and those habits that keep tripping you up. Whatever the victory is we need, here are just a few of the promises that come up on my list.  Claim these today: 1 John 5:4-5 NLT  For every child of God defeats this evil world, and we achieve this victory through our faith. 5 And who can win this battle against the world? Only those who believe that Jesus is the Son of God. Romans 8:28  NLT   And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them. Jeremiah 29:11  NLT   For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope. Hebr