Michael Harrison's e-devotion

Jack. He strolled into our Saturday addiction ministry service about two years ago led by one of our faithful men, Fred Spencer, who went to high school with Fred and was very concerned about his old friend.  Jack had led a tough life full of struggle and some not so good choices. That was then.  In the last few weeks, even on a recent Sunday, Jack shouted at me one more time “I am the righteousness of Christ”.  And he meant it. Daily this gentleman would pour over the word of God.  Before getting a new Bible at Christmas, one that was much easier to read, Jack would read his Bible and often call his pastor friend in Georgia to discuss what he was reading.  Jack had fallen in love with his God and the word of God. His testimony was strong.  One that several people heard first hand about the power of addiction and the results of those choices.  One of his children who had continued to make tough choices and had issues of various kinds. Jack’s life chang...

There is power in making a change.  It could be as simple as a slight adjustment or as radical as moving half way around the world.  Change can be a very healthy and good thing. First, I ask that we think about change differently.  It is not the rattle in our pocket or the jar on the dresser filled with coins that at times add up to a lot.   Second, change is not the movement because of a problem or being uncomfortable that results in healing or the relief of our body or soul. Change can be positive or negative.  But the change that I am calling us to think about happens differently.  It literally is from the inside out. 2 Corinthians 5:17  NASB Therefore if anyone is in Christ, this person is a new creation; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come. Romans 12:2  NASB And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptab...

I learn a lot from the people that God sends my way.  Through the years I can point you to all different kinds of people.  Some have been older.  Some have been young.  Some of them had great means in this world.  Some of them had very little as far as the world counts. What I do know is that God is working in each of these relationships.  Watch and let God work.  Listen and don’t miss all that He is doing. Philippians 2:13  NLT For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases him. Some times He is working in us.  Some times He is working around us.  But always He is working.  Take that reality letting it soak in and change your life, your thinking, directing your actions and even softening your heart toward God. That is why I take some time to tell you about my friend Fred Harrington.  Today is his funeral, and my mind and heart are overflowing with all that Fred has taught me about life and ab...

  Jesus prayed for us, and one specific occasion is in the prayer recorded in John 17.  Some of these words and thoughts often ring in my head and in my heart.   John 17:15-18  NLT I’m not asking you to take them out of the world, but to keep them safe from the evil one. 16 They do not belong to this world any more than I do.17 Make them holy by your truth; teach them your word, which is truth. 18 Just as you sent me into the world, I am sending them into the world.    Do you ever wish God would take us out of this world and send us to heaven?  Well, that is not the plan.  See the last phrase, I am sending them, gives us a great reminder of God’s plan.  We must stay here until it is time, but we stay here so that God’s plan and purpose for us and the world comes together.   Take some time to see how you are connected to the world.  Are you like the world?  Does the wor...

What a week! It has been a great one as I spent time at a conference and then got to spend some time with our oldest daughter.  The rest of the week will be spent with our marching band at national competition in Indianapolis (pray for the band). This week through sermons and reaching God grabbed my attention in 2 Corinthians 5.  Several of the verses stick out.  Some great Biblical truth is found here about you and me as well as some things that only God can do.  We must hold on to truth. So in this devotion I am simply going to give you a few of these verses and a couple thoughts at the end.  Read the verses a couple times.  See what God has to say to you! 2 Corinthians 5  NLT 17  This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun! 19  For God was in Christ, reconciling the world to himself, no longer counting people’...

Thanksgiving is just a few weeks away.    Well, November is key for lots of different things.     We just finished the World Series.     Football is full force with high school play off just around the corner.     Thanksgiving will top it all off. Then there is family.  It is the holiday season when some will have a great time while others grieve the loss of loved ones or the fact that life has the alone at this time.  But there is other family.  Church family is here and we need each other. What are you thankful for?   Share your answer with others. I am thankful for changed lives.  God is still in this business. 2 Corinthians 5:17  NASB Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come. Something I am highly grateful for is changed lives.  Yesterday...

We are in a series called “welcome to the future”, and a I shared a message Sunday about the fact that God has made our future secure.  That truth changes our situation now as well as our destiny and future. Jesus prayed for us. That happened in the prayer recorded in John 17.  Some of these words and thoughts often ring in my head and in my heart. John 17:15-18  NLT 15  I’m not asking you to take them out of the world, but to keep them safe from the evil one.   16 They do not belong to this world any more than I do.17 Make them holy by your truth; teach them your word, which is truth.   18 Just as you sent me into the world, I am sending them into the world.   We often wish God would take us out of this world and send us to heaven.  Right?  Well, that is not the plan.  See the last phrase: I am sending them.  We must stay here until it is time, but we stay her...

2 Corinthians 5:16-17  NLT So we have stopped evaluating others from a human point of view. At one time we thought of Christ merely from a human point of view. How differently we know him now!   This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun! This verse gives us a reason to be both.  Our lives have been changed by the grace of God and because of the gift of His son.   That second verse is the most powerful one.  The old stuff, the old way, the old life and all our sin is gone, forgiven and washed away.  It is our choice to live that truth out or to go back to the old way. The first verse gives us something to think about. It says we are to look at life from a new point of view.  The old way or the human was is one of legalism or judging.  It examines people from what you see and what they have done, but that is not the way th...

Yes, I am getting older.   But so is this great country of ours.   With time things change.   My eyesight has changed and even more. In relation to spiritual truth my eyesight has changed a great deal.   At first I thought this was due to diabetes, but that is not the case.   The eye doctor told me that the change in what I can see or how I see is due to age.   Yes, I am getting older. As we move forward in our faith there are times we see less when we should be seeing much more.   That can happen because we are less sensitive to God or that we have stopped growing in our faith.   Take some time to refocus your spiritual sight like we refocus our ability to see. That might mean glasses to wear.   That might mean having corrective surgery.   It could mean compensating in other ways.   We need to be able to see and understand. The following verses remind us of what God has done for us.   To see as God sees and...