Michael Harrison's e-devotion

It is easy to get side tracked from our mission.  Further we often get pushed away from our real purpose.  It takes God and some great people to keep us on track.  What is the reason you are on earth? Each of us has a God given call.  That begins with our salvation.  We know and believe that God loves people.  Because of sin and separation from God something had to happen, and Jesus is what happened.  God sent His son to take our place, to pay for our sin and to give us purpose. John 3:16  NLT   For this is how God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. We know that.  We have even seen the signs about this all over the place.  Some guys even paint that verse on themselves and go to bank games in the middle of winter.  But it is true.  God loves you.  God gives us life through His son, Jesus. God also has given us a purpose to live....

Stop and pray!    But don’t stop there.    Think for a few minutes.    What is so easy even when we are seeking to be sensitive to others is that we too often miss many things because we are running here and there. It might be that we could bless even more people or help in greater ways those that we pray for by understanding their needs.    Maybe that is simply stopping to listen.    Maybe stopping to actually pray with a person rather saying you will be praying.    There are many ways to stop and think. Amazed is a word that characterizes the events of our world these days.    I don’t watch the news very much.    I do scroll through Facebook and read a few newspaper articles.    There are so many things happening.    I heard stories this week of human trafficking, stories of great pain and even the horror of people taking their own lives.    Step on to another plac...

We are not in control.  It is like this hurricane we have been talking about and waiting on. Who knows where it will go or the path it will take or it’s severity.  What we do know is that we cannot and no one can control it. Dealing with the unknown is tough.  This is where worry and anxiety seem to get the best of us.  We have to make a choice to let God be God and for Him lead us through.  If we wait for the right moment or the perfect situation, we will never make a move.  In fact, faith is an exercise in uncertainty because by faith we admit that God is in control.  We are not.  It gets easier to deal with the unknown when we confess that fact. Here are some verses to help us in dealing with the unknown: Hebrews 11:1  nlt Faith is the confidence that what we hope for will actually happen; it gives us assurance about things we cannot see. Hebrews 13:6   nlt So we can say with confidence,...

Romans 12:10  NIV Love one another with brotherly affection.   Outdo   one another in showing honor. We were surprised.  This past Saturday night many of our friends and family from church surprised Julie and I with a celebrate of our 25th wedding anniversary.  I was suspicious, but I had no idea of just what was going to happen.  The size, the sweetness and celebration was really over the top. Julie and I were whisked away.  She was with our daughter and son.  I was with the leader of our recovery ministry.  Again, I knew something was going on.  Those days and minutes were sweet.  Great conversation.  Anticipation.  If you know me, I am hard to surprise and I am a bit nosey. Walking in the door at the Spencer-Penn event center was amazing. People everywhere.  Maybe 125 or so people showed up.  Over to one side was several of Ju...

Proverbs 18:22  NASB He who finds a   wife   finds a   good   thing And obtains favor from the   Lord . 25 years.  9 homes.  3 kids.  6 dogs. Too many cars and jobs and other items to name.  But we really are blessed. It was 25 years ago today that we said “I do” to each other.  The old saying goes, “the rest is history”, but that would be way to easy.  We have experience life and pain, strains and strength, lows and highs, and so much more that there isn’t enough room to name. What I do know is that today is a very special day.  We celebrate. You might not want the rest of this, but here it goes. Julie and I met when I became the pastor of Bear Creek Baptist Church in Mount Vernon, Georgia. She was dating a guy whose grandparents went to the church.  A month or so later they broke, and his grandmother insisted that I call and ask her out...

As the week begins claim some of the promises that the Bible gives us about our great and gracious God.  Read on.  Take in what hits home with you… Psalm 27:1 NASB The   Lord   is my   light   and my   salvation; Whom shall I fear? The   Lord   is the defense of my life; Whom shall I dread? Daniel 10:19 NASB He said, “O man of high esteem, do not be afraid. Peace be with you; take courage and be courageous!” Now as soon as he spoke to me, I received   strength   and said, “May   my lord speak, for you have   strengthened me.” Acts 3:19 NASB The refore repent and return, so that your sins may be wiped away, in order that times   of refreshing may come from   the   presence   of the   Lord; Deuteronomy 31:6   NIV Be strong and courageous.   Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the   Lord   your God goes w...