Michael Harrison's e-devotion

  What do you do when you can’t sleep?  When you wake up early and try to go back to sleep, what do you do? The older I get the more the answer to that question is to pray.  Just pray.  What do I pray for?  I pray for the people who come to my mind, and the more I pray the more people come to my mind. It is the interaction with the one who cares for us the most that makes the most difference in our lives.  This could be when we are at our lowest and struggling.  This could even be when everything is going well.  Just spend that time with God and praying. Praying has several parts that you don’t want to miss.  The two biggest are speaking and listening.  Too often our prayers are just pouring out to God.  Stop and listen.  Listen to what seems to be in your mind and heart.  Hear the things that God puts in your heart.  Even go to Scripture and pray the verses you are reading back to God.  Let Him speak.  He i...

  In an old song, actually a Christian, the question is asked “do you see what I see?”  Great question, and what I want to do today is ask it another way. Do we see what Jesus saw? Mark 6:34  CSB  When he went ashore, he saw a large crowd and had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd. Then he began to teach them many things. Matthew 14:14  CSB   When he went ashore, he saw a large crowd, had compassion on them, and healed their sick. When Jesus saw the needs of the people, He was moved inside with compassion.  But it was just feeling sorry for people.  He did something about it.  At one point He fed them.  At another He healed the sick.  At another time He taught them. Do we see what Jesus saw and do something about it? 1 John 3:17  CSB   If anyone has this world’s goods and sees a fellow believer in need but withholds compassion from him—how does God’s love reside in him? Do something about w...

Hey Community Family, I love you all and excited about what God has ahead of us as a church family celebrating our 20th year. Be   watching   for more   opportunities . Also,   thank you   to all who helped make back2school a powerful outreach. Here is something   heavy   on my heart. Like many of you, we have watched Virginia move closer to becoming a state where abortion is available on demand, even late in pregnancy. This November, Virginians are expected to vote on a proposed constitutional amendment that would place abortion protections directly into the Virginia Constitution. The proposed language reads: “The Commonwealth may regulate the provision of abortion care in the third trimester, provided that in no circumstance shall the Commonwealth prohibit an abortion that in the professional judgment of a physician is medically indicated to protect the life or physical or mental health of the pregnant individual.” ...

  My oldest brother and I continue to read through James this year.  Our intention is to memorize much of the book as well as let the truth of it sink in as much as possible.  James is maybe the one of the most practical books of the Bible next to Proverbs in my opinion. As a teen I listened to one serve from James 1:2-4 that my aunt had given to me from her pastor.  That pastor sounded a lot like God, or so I thought.  His voice was easy to listen to and made me want to dig even deeper.  You know the voice.  Deep, confident and drawing from the Scripture would characterize the message and His voice. So, in our reading today we come back to the start of the book of James and those verses.  Could not be at a much more needed time.   Do you ever deal with the unknown that can be a little unsettling?  Do you ever feel pushed and struggling?  James issues the challenge or the courage to keep on and do not quit.  There is a reason t...

  Our current sermon series at The Community Fellowship is “like Him”, and we a walking through the book of 1 Peter with the understanding that God is making us more and more like Jesus.  This week’s theme was about our calling and work from the end of chapter 2. Peter challenges believers to submit to people in authority and to serve well those we work for.  And in that vein I came across some verses I would like to share with you today. Ephesians 6:5-7  NLT   Slaves, obey your earthly masters with deep respect and fear. Serve them sincerely as you would serve Christ. Try to please them all the time, not just when they are watching you. As slaves of Christ, do the will of God with all your heart. Work with enthusiasm, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people. Peter talked about salves as does Paul in those verses.  We work for and with people maybe not as slaves and masters, but the same relationship is vital.  Serve them as if...

  The time we get with the Lord is precious.  You might not feel that way today.  You might not have felt that way in the past.  But what I have come to long for and enjoy is what He shares with me. It is not because I am special.  But to Him I am.  It is not because I am a pastor.  But I am called.  It is because God desires to meet with each of His children and impart to them the truths and the love that He has.  It really is as simple as setting aside some time just for you and God.  He will speak. Matthew 6:6,33  NLT   But when you pray, go away by yourself, shut the door behind you, and pray to your Father in private. Then your Father, who sees everything, will reward you… Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need. First thing and best thing is that time with Him.  Seek God and His kingdom. Romans 10:17  NLT   So faith comes from hearing, that is, ...

  It is the week after back2school, and I am amazed at all God has done through this outreach.  Plus, it is not over.  More people are receiving items and being blessed and even being served as an overflow of the outreach.  There is more to share than I can possibly deal with today.   What grabs my attention the most is the response to what God has done.  I remember the little one who said “thank you”.  I remember the team member who fell in to a hug with another little one and prayed for them.  I remember the team member who washing feet for the first time and shared their emotional experience.  I remember and am grateful for a lot.   I loved hearing the story that our children’s leader shared and see how students were listening.  And now we keep on praying for a response to the invitation to know God’s love.  And His love has been shown and shared all over.   Romans 12:9-10  NLT   Don’t just pretend to l...

  One of the things I have learned and enjoy is praying Scripture.  A few years ago I learned about a ministry called Strategic Renewal and the 6:4 Fellowship that helps churches and pastors do just that… pray Scripture and lead others to do the same. As I was reading earlier this week in Proverbs 10 I was reminded of how these verses come alive in our prayers.  Check these and use them as you say them back to God: 1 A wise child brings joy to a father… 2 … right living can save your life. 3 The Lord will not let the godly go hungry… 6 The godly are showered with blessings;… 8 The wise are glad to be instructed… 9 People with integrity walk safely, but those who follow crooked paths will be exposed. 10 … bold reproof promotes peace. 11 The words of the godly are a life-giving fountain… 12 … love makes up for all offenses. 13 Wise words come from the lips of people with understanding… 14 Wise people treasure knowledge...

  With the start of the new school year and the competition of the back2school outreach, join me in praying for students and educators.  Pray for college students, school aged students and all those who teach or serve or share in schools.  Dwane Massenburg is a friend and local pastor, and this is a prayer guide he shared.  This is good.   Matthew 7:7-8 NLT   Keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you. 8 For everyone who asks, receives. Everyone who seeks, finds. And to everyone who knocks, the door will be opened.   PRAY FOR OUR CHILDREN   To have alert, inquisitive minds towards the subject, and long attention spans   To come to school with a good attitude and respect for adults   For the ability to resist peer pressure   To respect each other as people so they can attend classes without bullying   PRAY WITH OUR CHILDREN ...