Michael Harrison's e-devotion

  Before I move in to today’s e-devotion I want to say a huge THANK YOU to all who prayed for an supported me during the Cuba mission trip.  I plan to share from the trip later this week. Yesterday we began a new series at The Community Fellowship.  We are studying John 3.  We began by looking at the conversation between Nicodemus and Jesus.  It was eye opening and even pointed to some of the things true of each of us. I talked about God’s love, but one of the things that God’s love reminds us of is how God is and has changed our lives… 2 Corinthians 5:17-21  NLT   This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun! 18 And all of this is a gift from God, who brought us back to himself through Christ. And God has given us this task of reconciling people to him. 19 For God was in Christ, reconciling the world to himself, no longer counting people’s sins against them. And he gave us this wonderful message of reconciliation. 20 

We have just come off and incredible weekend, and it is day 8 of the mission trip in Cuba.  Thank you to all who have been praying for this trip, the mission team and the impact it will have on those we serve.   Please don’t stop praying. Last week Alex and I served with a mission team in the mountains of southern Cuba.  There were several challenges, but God gave us safety, provision and opportunity to serve some of the sweetest people I have ever met.  No running water… sporadic electricity generated by a small, logo dammed up river, no transportation other than animals, limited food sources and more.  These people love the Lord and sharing their faith with others. Over the weekend we made our way back to Havana.  On Friday our vehicle broke down leaving us on the side of the road for several hours.  We then boarded a bus and rode 14 hours.  We arrived safely and even got some rest. Sunday was so, so good.  We visited two partner churches.  In the morning we were with one church that

2 Thessalonians 2:14  NLT   He called you to salvation when we told you the Good News; now you can share in the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. How awesome it is to be part of what God is doing around the world.  Paul said that God called him to be an apostle, a sent out one, with the message of Good News. That is the same good news that we share today.  Paul wasn’t perfect, but he knew that his life and preaching were very important.  He knew that what he wants to do was very different from what he did earlier in life. May we be people who press on.  May we share Christ.  Do all that we can to let as many people know Jesus as we do. Philippians 3:12-14  NLT   I don’t mean to say that I have already achieved these things or that I have already reached perfection. But I press on to possess that perfection for which Christ Jesus first possessed me. 13 No, dear brothers and sisters, I have not achieved it, but I focus on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies

  I am still in Cuba and seeing in a remote mountain of southern Cuba.  Thank you for your prayers. But today is a special day.  Let me share a bit. Proverbs 18:22  NLT   The man who finds a wife finds a treasure, and he receives favor from the Lord. Today marks 31 years that Julie and I have been married, and I share with you today that I see the hand of God over our family.  Julie literally is a treasure to me as well as a gift from God. There is so much I can share, but one simple thing stands out to me.  I love Julie more today than I did when we first began this journey together. Happy anniversary, my Julie! Pray for the entire time in Cuba and the impact that this trip will have!  Thank you for your prayers and support.  The e-devotions will come to you only a few times while I am in Cuba.

  Romans 1:16-17 NLT   For I am not ashamed of this Good News about Christ. It is the power of God at work, saving everyone who believes—the Jew first and also the Gentile. 17 This Good News tells us how God makes us right in his sight. This is accomplished from start to finish by faith. As the Scriptures say, “It is through faith that a righteous person has life.” Paul wrote those words and meant them.  I encourage us to do the same.  Don’t be ashamed of the Gospel.  Don’t hold back.  Tell others.  Believe it and live out what being a Jesus follower is all about. I am grateful for those words Paul penned and sent to the church at Rome.  The message is same today as it was then. Tonight I have the honor of sharing in a small, remote village the story of the Gospel.  Please pray for those to hear well what God says and for my sharing to be directly from God and touch lives. Pray for the entire time in Cuba and the impact that this trip will have!  Thank you for your prayers and support.

It is that time.  As you read this I am either on my way to Cuba or have arrived.  Please pray for the next 12 days and the impact that the sports ministry. Day 1 in Cuba Over the next four days I will be part of a mission team serving in the mountain area of southern Cuba.  We will serve in a village that is almost cut off from the world, and I am excited about what God going to do. The following week we will be back in Havana serving with the sports ministry, helping with a camp and encouraging the FCA staff.  This is a great group of people that God is using to change lives and even to help heaven get sweeter and bigger. Pray for my family as I am away.  Pray for our church family and the incredible ministries we get to be part of.  I am grateful for all those who serve and those receive through what we can give.  But what I am even more grateful for is that we get to tell everyone about Jesus. 1 Corinthians 9:22-23  NLT   … Yes, I try to find common ground with everyone, doing ever