Michael Harrison's e-devotion

Please pray for me and the team I will serve with in Cuba the next 10 days.  It is an honor to partner with the Sports ministry in Cuba (FCA or known as MADEM in Cuba).  This ministry is making a difference in the lives of people across the country. How is that?  Thanks for asking. FCA serves athletes and coaches through all kinds of avenues with the intent of sharing the Gospel with each and every person.  Along the way the team of FCA staff (more than 10 people) are meeting needs of their neighbors, church members and others.  That happens in all kinds of ways, and that keeps me even more excited about this incredible work. Philippians 2:9-11  NLT   Therefore, God elevated him to the place of highest honor and gave him the name above all other names, 10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue declare that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. Over the n...

Prayer is an awesome opportunity to connect with God.  In fact Jesus showed us so many times that connecting with God is a vital part of our lives.  He spent time with the Father as a priority and taught others to do the same. In fact this Saturday there is an event in Washington DC hosted by Franklin Graham called “Prayer March 2020” (prayermarch2020.com). There are other events as well around the country.  It is my belief that we must continue to pray. Our situation around the world and with the coronavirus is a matter of prayer.  The various opportunities or challenges in our lives calls us to pray.  Many things you are dealing with remind you and me that we must spend time in prayer, speaking with and listening to our God. Colossians 4:2  NLT Devote yourselves to prayer with an alert mind and a thankful heart. I have asked you to join me in a week of prayer for Vision Virginia.  This is an event in partnership with our Virginia partner churches and...

2 Peter 1:3  NLT By his divine   power, God has given us everything we need for living a godly life. We have received all of this by coming to   know   him, the one who called us to   himself by means of his marvelous glory and excellence. It is day 4 of the Cuba mission trip.  Today we will be serving at  Iglesia Bautista de parraga and will serve 75 boys and their leaders. Thank you for continuing to pray for this mission team and for our families back home.  Pray today for the boys we serve in a sports setting.

1 Corinthians 12:11-12   NLT It is the one and only Spirit who distributes all these gifts. He alone decides which gift each person should have.   The human body has many parts, but the many parts make up one whole body. So it is with the body of Christ. This past 7 days has been a whirlwind in so many ways.   Our family had a great time on vacation and returned home last Friday after much needed rest and fun time together.   But it didn’t stop there. Saturday was the kickoff of our back2school outreach where students began to register to be part of the event (there is another registration next Tuesday, July 21, and pack the bus begins today).   It is always an awesome thing to watch several churches come together to make this, our largest outreach, of the year a great success.   I cannot wait to see the fruit and enjoy the overflow God gives.   So much more happens and many more people are served as we all work together. The next da...

Tomorrow is almost here.   Our team of 12 is headed to Nicaragua to serve in several ways and solely for the purpose of sharing God’s love through acts of kindness, meeting needs and telling what God has done for us. Whether you are on the trip of staying home, there is a big something that you have to be part of.   That is the PRAYER TEAM.   You have been asked to pray, and I once again ask you to spend some time each day, between now and next Saturday night lifting our mission team to the Lord. Jude 1:20   NLT But you, dear friends, must build each other up in your most holy faith, pray in the power of the Holy Spirit, PRAY FOR: Jeannie, Kim, George, Tracy, Carolyn, Megan, Steve, Moriah, Tina, Betsy, China and Michael (me).   SCHEDULE: traveling this Saturday and next Saturday, ministry in local villages churches on Sunday, various ministry points including food, kids events, radio, pastor’s school, and more will take place Monday throu...

In just two days a team of 12 people from our church will be on the way to serve in Nicaragua with Because We Care Ministries.   Leading this trip will be Steve and Tina Stone.   Today’s post was written by Steve earlier this year, and I share much of it again today as we prepare to travel this Saturday.  May this past help us see from God’s perspective: Matthew 28:19 Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. The words go, goest, going, goings, goeth, and gone appear in the King James Version of the bible 2004 times!  While the words stay, stays, stayeth, and stayed appear 69 times!  Any question of what God wants Christians to do? A survey of professing Christians sadly revealed that 95% of all Christians have never led a non-believer to Christ; 80% of all Christians do not consistently witness for Christ; and only 2% are involved in a ministry of evangelism. ...

I recently shared a song with you that asked a question of God.   The answer was simple and profound.   The song is Matthew West’s Do Something where God is asked “why don’t you do something” about the pain and hurt in our world.   In turn God answers “I did, I created you”. That is the fact of our purpose in the world.   God fills us and blesses us so that we can share with others.   Our lives are intended to make a difference in the world, in the lives of the people that we come in contact with.   Life is not intended to be lived selfishly or without purpose.   God fills us with purpose and points us in a various directions to share and influence people. The song goes on to say “If not us, then who.   If not me and you, right now is the time for us to do something.”   What is it that God is calling you to do so that you will be making a difference in the lives of the people you come in contact with? Psalm 112:9   NLT ...

In four days our team will be on an airplane headed to the central American paradise called Nicaragua.   There are mountains and beaches, cities and countryside, and we will be spending our time at some villages off the normal path.   I am excited about being stretched and serving in ways and places outside of our comfort zone. Thinking about the things we often share there so are so many verses from the Bible that people quote all the time.   You probably have your favorites.   I have mine.   Sometimes we forget where those verses are found.   I had some great meetings yesterday, and in preparing for one of those leader meetings I read through a bunch of quotes.   It made me think of many of the sayings that stick out in my mind. There are many great people who said things that stick out.   There are many verses that I share often.   The best things that last and are most powerful are the ones rooted in the Bible Here are...

This coming weekend I will travel with a team of 12 people from our church to serve in Nicaragua.   I am excited.   It has been over 13 years since I have been in Central America.   Will you pray for our team? We will be working with Donald and Pamela Gillette who lead Because We Care Ministries from their ministry site in Somotillo, Nicaragua.   They serve villages all around them meeting needs and sharing Jesus.   Donald has been a pastor for many years, and he continues to inspire pastors across Central America. Will you please pray for our team?   The team is made up of Kim Key, Tina Stone, Steve Stone, George Hopkins, Jeannie Hopkins, Moriah Hodges, Betsy Hodges, Tracy Mosley, Megan Hines, China Biggs, Carolyn Holland and myself.   Pray for our safety, for God to use us and that He would work in our lives. Acts 1:8   NLT But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you.   And you will be my witness es,...

We worked near the New River Bridge in Fayetteville, West Virginia. Beautiful scenery and people. The bridge is the 2nd largest bridge of its kind in the world. The picture is taken from a small bridge 800 feet below. Little Evan cleaning with her toilet brush. We had an awesome time with 20 people from The Community Fellowship on our team. Our fearless and capable leader, Kasim Adams, looking over the New River one evening. Kasim and Cindy Adams were great leaders and led us to see God, hear God and seeing a new place where He is working ... Evangel Fellowship in Fayetteville, West Virginia. Our first mission trip at The Community Fellowship!