Michael Harrison's e-devotion

Have you ever had a song stuck in your head?  It just won’t go away.  That happens to me, often, and when it does there is usually something that I need to hear. This is one of those days.  As I deal with the uncertainty of our world situation via the Coronavirus and prepare for a funeral this comes close to home.  I believe that God has a plan for His people.  We need to be reminded that we win.  We are winners because of what Jesus has done for each of us. Romans 8:37  NLT No, despite all these things, overwhelming victory is ours through Christ, who loved us. That is right.  Victory is ours.  We just need to keep moving forward and hold on to the truth God has given us.  We have victory because of what Jesus has done for us. That song I mentioned is “Almost Home” by the group Mercy Me, and I have shared some of it below.  My prayer for each of us is that today we will realize that our home really is in heave...

There are some places that ought to be safe.  I mean safe as in you feel welcome, at peace and calm.  That would include where you can let your guard down because you know you won’t be attacked physically or emotionally.  These kinds of places are important. The first is our homes, and maybe you realize as I do that it is very easy to let our homes become a battleground rather than a safe zone.  This happens when we let our guard down, when we stop doing what God called us to do, when we start thinking about ourselves rather than helping others.  For our homes to be safe we have to realize we are on the same team and win when we are together.  Husbands and wives.  Parents and kids.  Family.  We are challenged to make our homes safe places. Another place that ought to be a safe zone is our churches, and if you are like me, you’ve seen lots of churches that look more like war than peace.  Again, when we think that our agenda is...

There are places and times that make little to no sense. But you have to get through them. Few answers make a lot of sense.  Yet there are people who have it all together.  Or maybe they look like they have it all together in the way that I judge. That couldn’t be farther from the truth. Everyone is going through something.  It might be big or small.  It might be life changing or just a bump in the road.  Whatever it is, we all need to see God in the mix of what life brings our way. Choices do make a difference.  Choices will allow us to see God, but some will keep us from seeing Him and how good He really is. Read on and spend some time with God.  The writer of this Psalm says as it comes to a close “I’ve made the Lord God my home”. That is a powerful place. Home.  It is a place of safety and comfort and where you can always go when no other place will do. Read on....

A short time before I accepted Jesus as my Savior I read a small book called “My Heart, Christ’s Home”.  It was about giving our lives to Jesus.  Through each room of the house this small book talked about how Christ desires to have our whole heart.  It spoke to me deeply, and not long after it gripping my heart Christ really did make his home in my heart. That is the promise of God, the truth of salvation. Like a small child when asked where Jesus is, I could say and fully believe that Jesus takes up residency in our lives forever. Our heart ought to beat for what is close to the heart of God because we are His children.  It will beat almost in rhythm with His as we come closer and closer to God. We get all of our Savior at salvation, but we become more and more like Jesus the closer we get to God.  That changes our hearts. Following is a post I wrote and shared over 10 years ago, and it remains true today....

Psalm 50:14   NLT Make thankful ness your sacrifice to God, and keep the vows you made to the Most High. This will be short.   It is time for some rest and reflection as our family arrived back in Virginia last night.   There are lots of things I’d like to share, but that will come in time. What I will share with you is that these feelings are ones I have had before, but I realize that I’ve never been here before.   Losing a parent is difficult, and I know that many have experienced far more difficult things. One of the things I am learning about is the grieving process.   You may know that I deal with depression from time to time, and these type of events send your emotions in all kinds of directions that help you lose control.   That is why I am looking forward to sharing, to writing, to learning through the process. My dad continues to be on my mind so much.   Losing my mom is much tougher on him than it is on my brothers. ...

You may be tired of hearing about my mom, but this week is not over yet.   And you well know that no one forgets the people that have meant the most and sacrificed for them.   That is my mom. For as long as I can remember my mom made sure that our family was in church.   She helped me learn about faith as did my dad.   I’m actually told that I was in church 9 months before I was born.   True. Today I am going to share with you some things my mom treasured and wanted to share.   These are verses, sayings, prayers and more that I have found in her Bible this week.   Her funeral is this Friday at 2pm in Tulsa, but what my mom believed will go with me forever. I pray some of these things will bless, encourage and teach you: Proverbs 17:17 TLB A true friend is always loyal, and a brother is born to help in time of need. Proverbs 18:24   TLB There are friends who pretend to be friends, but there is a friend who sticks closer ...