Michael Harrison's e-devotion

Over the last several weeks some very famous people have died that have been talked about a lot in my circle.   Robin Williams made me laugh a lot from the time I was a kid through recent years as well.   Joan Rivers also gave people much to laugh about and to think about.   Neither of them claimed to be Christians in the media, but many Christians have shared how these people shaped their lives through TV and movies.   This week another great public figure passed away.   Truett Cathy was the founder of one of the greater chicken restaurants in of our day in Chik-fil-A.   Mr. Cathy lived by faith and shared his convictions in big ways. Proverbs 17:22   NLT A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a broken spirit saps a person’s strength. Matthew 5:16   NLT In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father. The question of legacy is a big one.   People will re...

This past week I was in Nicaragua serving with a team from our church: Tina and Steve Stone, Jeannie and George Hopkins, Betsy and Moriah Hodges, China Biggs, Carolyn Holland, Megan Hines, Tracy Mosley, Kim Key and myself.   God put together a great team that worked hard together, served many people and meshed together real well.   On social media we tagged this mission trip #Nicaragau14.   The days would start out with team devotions and going to the local radio station to share our testimonies and for me to preach.   Each morning we would travel to a school near Somitillo, Nicaragua and serve the children at that school.   It would include making balloon animals, putting together wooden toys, playing games, singing songs, sharing Bible stories and such.   In the afternoons we would travel to a village and along the way we would be able to bless locals with candy and gifts from the back of the truck we road in.   At the villages we would help ...

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 ...

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,...

This winter season has gone on and on, and this email comes your way we are recovering from another snow that dropped almost 5 inches of snow in Collinsville.  It really is time for us to spring forward. Sunday is the beginning of Daylight Savings time which means we are to  change our clocks  Saturday night by turning them forward one hour.  That's right.  We gain an hour of sunshine each evening.  We are ready for spring and for winter to be gone.  Pass the word so you and others are not late for church Sunday morning at 10:10am. Yes.  We have had snow, but we will be having our  2nd Saturday FREE Community Meal and Clothes closet  tomorrow from 9am until noon.  Volunteers arrive at 8:30, and extra volunteers are needed as some of our regulars won't be able to help due to weather concerns.  Our REACH Ministry will also have the Saturday  FREE MEAL  at the Martinsville Hotel at 5pm as we do every Saturday.  S...

Today’s post is written by my friend Steve Stone who attends The Community with his wife, Tina.   They are leading mission teams to work in Nicaragua, and I will be part of a trip them lead in September.   As you read I pray God will prick our hearts for missions outside of our local community: 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 recent survey of professed Christians reveals that sadly, 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. Acts 1:8 But you will receive power when the Holy S...