Michael Harrison's e-devotion

  Holy Week moves toward Easter weekend, the cross and the resurrection  Palm Sunday leads us to see the passion of our hero, and the price He will pay for us.   Monday and Tuesday of Holy Week week finds Jesus teaching important lessons.  Here is part of the story that sticks out for me.   Remember that Jesus was and is God.  Jesus was also human.  Often that is what makes him stand out.   Can you imagine the difficultly and power of the fist holy week?  Can you imagine being fully God knowing all that the coming days were going to bring?  Jesus kept on following the Father’s direction and helping others find faith.   On Monday Jesus went to the temple.    Matthew 21:12-13  NLT Jesus entered the Temple and began to drive out all the people buying and selling animals for sacrifice. He knocked over the tables of the money changers and the chairs of those selling doves. 13 He said to them, “The Scriptures decl...

There are so many things that we read in the Bible that need for us to connect.  If we connect the truth we read to our lives, we will live differently. That is why I point out Galatians 5 in this devotion.  This is not all the chapter but several verses that mean much to me in my daily walk with God.  At the end I will download a few of the facts of what God says about our lives as we follow Him. Read on.  Spend extra time where God speaks to you.  This really is good stuff. Galatians 5  NLT 1 So Christ has truly set us free. Now make sure that you stay free, and don’t get tied up again in slavery to the law. 4 For if you are trying to make yourselves right with God by keeping the law, you have been cut off from Christ! You have fallen away from God’s grace. 7 You were running the race so well. Who has held you back from following the truth? 8 It certainly isn’t God, for he is the one who called you to freedom. 9 This false teaching is ...

Galatians 5:22-23  NLT But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things! That is not new.  We have learned, if we have been in church or read the Bible, that the fruit of the Spirit is a big deal.  These characteristics come directly from God.   Jesus is the example, and each of these can be found in the life of our Savior.  The people around Him found these in their lives as well, especially the closer they got on their journey of faith. Take a few minutes to look at these things we call the fruit of the Spirit, but begin with the understanding of the singular word “fruit”.  Not multiples like “fruits”.  Singluar.  They are linked together.  They work better when in a group. Love Joy Peace Patience Kindness Goodness ...

The fruit of the Spirit is not push, drive, climb, grasp and trample. Life is more than a climb to the top of the heap . – Richard J. Foster There is a purpose for everything.  In fact even people who lack or say they lack purpose and fulfillment in life have some kind of purpose.  Just take a few minutes to watch.  You will see the results of words and actions, and often that is the purpose or goal ahead. What is the fruit coming from our lives?  Is it the overflow of selfishness or from being a servant?  Can people tell you have been with Jesus or have not been with Him? It is telling, and my prayer is that the fruit of the spirit will be evident in my life, in my family and in God’s church. Galatians 5:22-23  NLT But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,   gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these th...

James 3:17  NLT But the   wisdom   from   above   is first of all pure. It is also peace loving, gentle at all times, and willing to yield to others. It is full of mercy and the fruit of good deeds. It shows no favoritism and is always sincere. We need measuring sticks.  Yard stick, measuring tape and whatever you use to measure out what is needed sure is helpful. They are helpful in construction, in cooking, in sewing and in lots of areas.  I will take the word of others for most of those. But even in other areas of life we need things that help us measure. Often the world or the norms tell us that doing whatever you have to so you can get ahead is fine.  Hurt people.  Step on people.  Disregard truth.  Whatever you need to do, and I disagree with that. As the conference I attended earlier this week ended Clayton King reminded us that our Christian walk or testimony sho...

The following devotion is from Pastor Morris, Gateway Church in Southlake, Texas, and he is one of my favorite preachers.   This devotion encouraged me.   Thus, I share with you… Exodus 23:19   NKJV The first of the first fruits of your land you shall bring into the house of the Lord your God. Imagine I’ve given you 10 one-dollar bills and you have them laid out side by side. My first question is, “How much is the tithe on this money?” I think most Christians would get this one right. The tithe on   10   dollars is, obviously,   one   dollar. But here’s the more difficult question. Which   one   is the first fruit? Is it the one on your left or is it the one on your right? Let me answer that for you. The first fruit is the first one spent or given. In other words, when you get paid, the first check you write should be the tithe check. I first heard this illustration from Pastor Mike Hayes of Covenant Church, and I like it because...