Michael Harrison's e-devotion

  The greatest things in all the world are not things.  Literally if we learn from God what is most important, and we will agree that is it people.  God loves people more than anything.   Cherish what God cherishes.  Value what God says is valuable.  Hold tight to what you should hold to and let go of all what does not have value.   Genesis 1:27  NLT   So God created human beings in his own image. In the image of God he created them; male and female he created 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.    Jeremiah 31:3  NLT   Long ago the Lord said to Israel: “I have loved you, my people, with an everlasting love. With unfailing love I have drawn you to myself.   Romans 5:8  NLT   But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners...

  Today I return to an old theme.  Pray for Cuba.  I have shared it before and will many more times, and with the current situation in that country, prayers and support are needed in greater ways. Today I get to share why Cuba once again with some great people in our community.  Another of our team is sharing in Branson, Missouri with another group of leaders.  Please pray for these presentations around noon, but even more pray for the ministry, our friends and for what is needed for survival both here and in eternity.  It really is for the gospel and His call on my life and on others.   Cuba is on my mind.  That is not a new thing.  It is an every day thing.  I get to return there in the fall.  Another friend arrives today in Cuba.  We choose to support the work with sports ministry and various churches all for the sake of the gospel.   Psalm 2:8  NLT  Only ask, and I will give you the nations as your inheritanc...

  I take us back a few weeks.  Actually it was a couple months ago through a daily reading of Scripture that something clicked.  It wasn’t a voice out of the sky.  It wasn’t a bolt of lightening or even wind blowing or lights flickering.  What it was was something that opened my eyes to see something truly beautiful. As I sat on the couch that week day morning the verses of Psalm 103 seemed to come alive more than usually.  There was power in those verses almost like God was sitting on the other end of the couch, and we were having a conversation. Scripture does that.  God does that, and I need it.  How about you? That spun me in to preparing for the sermon series we are currently in at The Community Fellowship as we teach through Psalm 103.  There is nothing super different.  There is nothing earth shattering.  But there is our incredible God that met with King David after of a lifetime of experience and living.  We idolize so...

  Proverbs 1:7  NLT   Fear of the Lord is the foundation of true knowledge , but fools despise wisdom and discipline. The fear of the Lord is a powerful and needed truth.  The more we know God, spend time with God and follow God the more we will honor God.  And that honoring, acknowledging and following has some incredible results in our lives. These verses today I shared from yesterday’s message about “a father’s eternal influence” that was based in Psalm 103:13-19 where twice David reminded us that fearing God leads to greater things.  In those verses it says God is compassionate to those who fear Him and the love of Lord remains for those who fear Him. In the following verses we see underlined, like in the verse above, what happens for those who choose to live in the fear of the Lord. Joshua 4:24  NLT   He did this so all the nations of the earth might know that the Lord’s hand is powerful, and so you might fear the Lord your God forever. ” Ps...

  John 8:36  NLT   So if the Son sets you free, you are truly free. Today we celebrate freedom and fathers.  Freedom is one of those things we take for granted, and it has so many facets to it.  It could speak of prison.  It can speak of oppression.  It can speak of inner turmoil and so much more. In 1863 in our nation a declaration was made to free slaves in the the United States of America.  Yet as I read in an interesting article yesterday there were parts of the nation that did not hear about this for two years.   In other words there were still people living without freedom who were declared free.  Live as free people!  But until you know know you are free you can can not do that.  Celebrate freedom!  You cannot celebrate until you know and live free. My prayer is that we will celebrate the freedom given in the past, and we will also know the freedom that comes to us through God.  He frees us from sin.  He f...

  Today’s e-devotion is shared from one of my favorite preachers, Alistair Begg and from Spurgeon’s “Morning and Evening”.  This is so good… Psalm 27:1  The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life; of whom shall I be afraid? The LORD is my light and my salvation." Here is personal interest: "my light," "my salvation"; the soul is assured of it, and therefore declares it boldly. Into the soul at the new birth, divine light is poured as the forerunner of salvation; where there is not enough light to reveal our own darkness and to make us long for the Lord Jesus, there is no evidence of salvation. After conversion our God is our joy, comfort, guide, teacher, and in every sense our light: He is light within us, light around us, light reflected from us, and light to be revealed to us. Note, it does not just say that the Lord gives light, but that He is light; nor that He gives salvation, but that He is salvation; s...

  Psalm 23 is an incredible piece of Scripture, literature, encouragement and even a gift from God.  Psalm 23 is a gift from God.  I need this kind of treat and long for it.   Have you come to love Psalm 23?  It is quoted in so many places and references in countless sermons and devotions.  There are many passages in the Bible that come to mind when I think of my favorites.  Few that are as well known as Psalm 23.     The beauty of chapter of Psalms gets our attention in many different translations.  Today I share with you The Message translation of the Bible.  It is a powerful reminder.  This is good stuff.   Psalm 23  The Message  God, my shepherd! I don’t need a thing. You have bedded me down in lush meadows, you find me quiet pools to drink from. True to your word, you let me catch my breath and send me in the right direction. 4  Even when the way goes through Death Valley, I’m not afraid when you walk a...

  God has a plan.  We can trust His plan.  But you might ask at times why things are tough or why the struggle keeps on.  That is a great question. God can be trusted, but we can align ourselves with God.  In following Him there are so many things that come in to place.  Our choices really do make a difference.  Our decisions have consequences.   Good and bad.  Those choices and then the consequences are either leading us closer to God or further from Him. So, who are you following?  Who are you learning from?  What is the legacy you want to leave?  What kind of life do you want to live? Those questions can be best answered, in my opinion, from people of faith.  Learn from those who have followed God before you.  Their lives might just some what of a pattern that helps your life.   Try this one. Philippians 4:8-9  NLT   And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is tr...