Michael Harrison's e-devotion

  We have come to Friday, the close of another week, and I remind you of just one of the spiritual disciplines that can keep us centered.  That is reading Scripture. Centered.  That is a weird word.  It is also one we need to understand with all of our minds and hearts. Have ever noticed how a car looks and acts when it’s front end if out of alignment?  It can be all over the road and is tough to keep in between the lines.  The tires will wear unevenly and need to be replaced more often.  It can even look like it is going side ways.  Being aligned or centered is important for a car. It is also important for us as Christians.  Keep our eyes and heart and mind on what matters and keep moving forward.  The is what Scripture does for me.  That is what staying in the book of Proverbs does (one chapter per day, and today is March 20.  So read Proverbs 20). Here are verses for each of the last 5 days that helped me stay centered on Go...

  What keeps you going?   There are many different answers to that question.  But most often for me that is tied to the purpose that God has given me.  He put in my heart things that cannot be removed.  It is the passion to serve those who cannot give anything in return.  It is a desire to make a difference in the places where people are struggling.   What stays on my mind?   That question and answer is similar to the first one, but it is a bit different.  Family is one of the most important parts.  I miss those who are far away.  Julie’s family is a few hundred miles away.  My brothers are over 1,000 miles away.  Our children are scattered but what a blessing when we get to be together.   The things that consume our minds and hearts are important.  Make sure that those things have been filtered through what God loves and cares so deeply about.     God loves people.   That is what stays on my heart...

  Who was it?   Who spoke well of you when you were down and felt all alone?   Proverbs 31:26  NLT   When she speaks, her words are wise, and she gives instructions with kindness.   Who was kind to you when you didn’t expect it?   Ephesians 4:32  NLT   Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you.   Who helped you when you needed someone to show up?   Ecclesiastes 4:9  NLT   Two people are better off than one, for they can help each other succeed.    Who showed up in your life when you needed them the most?   1 Peter 4:10  NLT   God has given each of you a gift from his great variety of spiritual gifts. Use them well to serve one another.   Who was compassionate and comforted you when you were sad?   2 Corinthians 1:4  NLT   He comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others. When they are trouble...

  Today’s devotion is a thought, and a powerful thought at that, from Henri Nouwen.  He was one of the greatest authors I have read.  His writing makes me stop and think. And this topic in particular is extremely powerful if we get it.  So, spend some time going deeper and hearing what Jesus meant by giving us more when He left.  We need to know that Christ lives in us, and nothing can change that fact. Read on and keep applying the truth of God. Matthew 28: 20  “And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”   Jesus says, “It is good for you that I go, so that I can send you my breath, so that you can breathe my life in you.”  We start seeing what it means when Jesus finally says, “I will be with you always until the end of time.”  He means, “I will be so intimately with you that you and I are one.  You can breathe my breath and you can say, 'Not I live anymore, but Christ lives in me.'”

  It is a new week, and Easter is only a few weeks away.  In fact there are lots of opportunities in front of us. Take some time this week and ask God to speak to you, guide you, prepare you for celebrating Easter and seeking what God desires for you.   In this e-devotion I am simply going to share some verses from yesterday’s sermon.  Something from each verse stands out and speaks about faith in God alone.  It strengthens us and helps us lean on God even more. Ephesians 2:4  NLT   But God is so rich in mercy, and he loved us so much, Facts.  Our God desires to give His mercy and to show His love. Mark 13:31  NLT   Heaven and earth will disappear, but my words will never disappear. The words God shares are eternal and trust worthy. Mark 8:35  NLT   If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for my sake and for the sake of the Good News, you will save it. In John 12 Jesus is quoted to say...

  Yesterday I encouraged us to embrace moments of growth.  There are lots of opportunities, even daily, to learn and grow. Growth is something that should be natural an even desired.  Yet what keeps us from growing can be many things.  It could be thinking too little of yourself.  It could be thinking too much of yourself.  It could be that you think you have already grown enough. It is my understanding that God desires us to grow and learn all the way to the moment that we have no more life in us.  Desire to grow.  Desire to be more like Jesus.   Ephesians 4:15-16  NLT   Then we will no longer be immature like children. We won’t be tossed and blown about by every wind of new teaching. We will not be influenced when people try to trick us with lies so clever they sound like the truth.  Instead, we will speak the truth in love, growing in every way more and more like Christ, who is the head of his body, the church.  Those v...

  1 Peter 3:17-18  NLT   You already know these things, dear friends. So be on guard; then you will not be carried away by the errors of these wicked people and lose your own secure footing.  Rather, you must grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. All glory to him, both now and forever! Amen. The opportunities really are endless.  But do we take them?  Each day there are growth moments that we either taken in or we push away.  It is great to grow and let God work in our lives. These can be moments with God.  And we need these.  Times in the Bible, praying, seeking God and thinking about all He has done. This is opportunities to hear how others are growing in their faith.  Listen to stories, music, sermons and have conversations about what God is doing, how He works and the wonderful ways God moves. Go on that trip.  Read that book.  Check out what gets you moving in the way of faith.  Those ar...

  May we get this, hold this, believe this and tell others about this!   Hebrews 12:1-2  NLT  Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us. 2 We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith. Because of the joy awaiting him, he endured the cross, disregarding its shame. Now he is seated in the place of honor beside God’s throne.   Be encouraged.  You are not alone.   Not only is God with us but others are with us.  So many have been through what we are going through.  Like a huge stadium (see verse 1 above) many are cheering us on.   Be encouraged.  Throw away what slows you down and tripps you up.   Some times it is sin.  Deal with it.  Ask forgiveness and move on. ...