Michael Harrison's e-devotion

One of the things that we all look forward to is growing up.  Well, most of us want to grow.  We want our kids to grow up.  We want to grow up ourselves.  But then when we are grown it is like we growing too much, and our thought is we should be a kid again. There is a constant struggle going on.  Growth is natural.  We are made to grow.  Yet to stay a kid forever and not grow up is not natural.  Do you get that?  When someone is not growing, there is a problem.  Think of that physically.  And the same is true spiritually.   Without growth there is a major problem.  That is true in our bodies.  That is true in us spiritually.  That is why we need to make sure a few things are happening. First, I need to make sure I am growing.  Stay close to God.  Be in the word.  Spend time in church.  Be with people that help you grow.  Make sure there aren’t things in the way. Second, I am to help othe...

I recently shared with our folks a document called "Introduction to Property Law from a Toddler's Perspective." This is funny ... " The Introduction to Property Law From A Toddler's Perspective." If I like it, it's mine. If I can take it away from you, it's mine. If I had it a while ago, it's mine. If I say it's mine, it's mine. If it looks like mine, it's mine. If I say I saw it first, it's mine. If you're having fun with it, it's mine. If you lay down your toy, it's mine. If it's broken, it's yours. Reality, would you say? But I have seen some adults act like that and live by those concepts. Now, that is sad. Earlier this week I gave you some verses that I want to share with you again: Micah 6:6-8 (nlt) --- What can we bring to the Lord? What kind of offerings should we give him? Should we bow before God with offerings of yearling calves? Should we offer him thousands of rams and ten thousand rivers of ol...

Colossians 2:2-3 (NLT) --- I want them to be encouraged and knit together by strong ties of love. I want them to have complete confidence that they understand God's mysterious plan, which is Christ himself. In him lie hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. Who are the people that encourage you the most? For me there are three different types of people that light my fire. The first are Christians excited about their relationship with God. The second like minded servants of God (church planters, pastors and others). The third is people who have taken extra interest in or invested in my life over the years. Man, do I need their encouragement. To disconnect ourselves from people who encourage us is awful and will cause deep trouble in our lives. Alone we are in trouble. Together we find strength and are built so we can build others. Proverbs 27:17 (NLT) --- As iron sharpens iron, so a friend sharpens a friend. Paul continued in Colossians 2 with some words that ...

At church yesterday we read from four men who have had significant impact and influence on religious leaders. In today's devotion I give you a few pieces of what they said. My prayer is that God will influence us so that we will influence others for Him (plan to do that). From Saint Augustine's On Faith, Hope, and Love In this the grace of God is supremely manifest, commended in grand and visible fashion; for what had the human nature in the man Christ merited, that it, and no other, should be assumed into the unity of the Person of the only Son of God? What good will, what zealous strivings, what good works preceded this assumption by which that particular man deserved to become one Person with God? Was he a man before the union, and was this singular grace given him as to one particularly deserving before God? Of course not! For, from the moment he began to be a man, that man began to be nothing other than God's Son, the only Son, and this because the Word of God assumi...

Galatians 5:22-23 (NLT) --- "But when the Holy Spirit controls our lives, he will produce this kind of fruit in us: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Here there is no conflict with the law." Do you remember the days when you were being stretched? I am not talking about the old images of movies while you were in the dungeon on the that stretching machine thingy or hanging upside down. What I am referring to are the times when God was showing you through trial and error and His plan what the fruit of the Spirit looks, acts and is like. Maybe you have been on a mission team or part of planting a church and you heard, as I have millions of times, the key is being flexible. What did that mean? Take life as it comes. Role with the punches. Don't be surprised if plans change. Be ready for whatever. Follow the Spirit always. It is all true. What I am learning is that God uses the awful to produce the awesome. He ...