Michael Harrison's e-devotion

  Today I return to an old theme.  Pray for Cuba.  I have shared it before and will many more times, and with the current situation in that country, prayers and support are needed in greater ways. Today I get to share why Cuba once again with some great people in our community.  Another of our team is sharing in Branson, Missouri with another group of leaders.  Please pray for these presentations around noon, but even more pray for the ministry, our friends and for what is needed for survival both here and in eternity.  It really is for the gospel and His call on my life and on others.   Cuba is on my mind.  That is not a new thing.  It is an every day thing.  I get to return there in the fall.  Another friend arrives today in Cuba.  We choose to support the work with sports ministry and various churches all for the sake of the gospel.   Psalm 2:8  NLT  Only ask, and I will give you the nations as your inheritanc...

  This has been a great week as a team from our church went on a mission trip to help build a church in eastern North Carolina.  They continue to serve, and I was able to spend two days serving. So many things rush through my mind as we worked in the church’s new building.  First and foremost, I am overwhelmed with the responsibility and opportunity that the church has to impact their community and the world.  Second, I was reminded of what still needs to be done in the building we are working on.  And third, it is obvious that we all have the same call. That call is to worship God and to help others see and come to know God.  May we take up that challenge and be who God called us to be.  He is worthy, and we are needy.  That is why I remind you of the facts from Psalm 1.   This is a powerful statement that has long been part of my faith.  Read this and make it part of how you walk with God and serve others. Psalm 1:1-3  NLT   ...

  Matthew 5:3  NLT   God blesses those who are poor and realize their need for him, for the Kingdom of Heaven is theirs. Welcome home!  Yes.  I returned home from the latest Cuba mission trip late Monday, and I am excited to share with you just a little form the trip.  This might seem like a little bit of overflow, and it is.  I might forget some things.  BUT… God showed up.  That is so, so good.  The people of Cuba are open to hearing and following Jesus.  That is evident not just because of the great needs they have, but it is evident because they have hope in days of crisis.  I am grateful for the churches, ministries and more that are making a difference for Jesus! The crisis continues.  The lack of gasoline is the biggest thing you see.  There are less vehicles on the road and less movement over all.  Lots of the other things … electric vehicles, bicycles, horses and more.  Electricity is sporadic as be...

  Why Cuba?  Thanks for asking, and because of the critical needs in the nation of Cuba I ask that you join me in this incredible opportunity for missions   On Monday I get to return to Cuba!  It is an honor to serve the Lord with a group of people that love others, serve with all their heart and have a passion to see lives change.  I will travel with Bob Texidor from Missouri and seek to encourage Alex and the team in Cuba as well as meet some needs they have.   Pray for the sports ministry work in Cuba.  The sports ministry team works with athletes and coaches and is connected to the Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA).  The big goal is to share the Gospel and meet many needs. Let me know if you would like to help.  Donations are appreciated, but the biggest need is for prayer.     On every trip we are able to meet needs, and this time we will do that once again.  High on the news list are the salaries for the team in...

  Tomorrow we get to return to Cuba to be part of the sports ministry there!  It is an honor to serve the Lord with a group of people that I love others.  These incredible people serve with all their hearts and have a passion to see lives change for Christ.   Please pray for the ministry work in Cuba and for this mission trip.  Julie and I will be with Ebenezer church this weekend.  It will be awesome to serve along side Pastor Julio Cesar and his wife Arelis as well well our ministry partners Diocelis and Belkis (my favorite translator).  Next week I get to host a brand new mission team serving with us from Boone, North Carolina and helping with a baseball tournament.  Much of this work is with a team that serves athletes and coaches and is connected to the Fellowship of Christian Athletes or FCA.  Alex and his team serve and share the Gospel and meet so many needs of those who are hungry and need hope.    The economy in Cuba is no...

  1 John 3:17  NLT   If someone has enough money to live well and sees a brother or sister in need but shows no compassion—how can God’s love be in that person? It has been 9 months.  Hurricane Helene hit with devastation, and one of the places it did the most damage was in the western part of North Carolina. Early this week I was part of the Men on a Mission annual trip to serve others.  This is a great group of men from several different states that gathers the week of Memorial Day to build or rebuild churches.  Some times it is to rebuild homes or other buildings. These men are so awesome, and it is an honor to serve with these great guys who encourage me big time.  8 men from our church are a part.  We worked with skilled workers with so much talent.  I am proud to be part of this, but it really is a time to see needs and do what we can to serve others. The area we worked is Chimney Rock, North Carolina which is next to Lake Lure, the pla...

  I returned home from Cuba Friday afternoon after there were several travel delays.  So glad to be home, but there is much overflow that I would like to share with you as well as thanks to every one that helped make the trip possible. Romans 8:1  NLT   Let me say first that I thank my God through Jesus Christ for all of you, because your faith in him is being talked about all over the world. There were many things that I wanted to accomplish on this trip, and I will begin by sharing that all of those things and more were completed because of the goodness of God. The first thing that comes to mind is the power of salvation.  On my last morning in Cuba a friend came to see me to share that he had decided to accept Jesus as his savior.  This is after 7 years of our sharing with him and praying for him.  Please pray for Angel as he begins to grow in Christ. Another very important thing was something I watched happen over and over on this trip.  It is...

  As you read this I am either preparing to head home or on my way.  Please pray for safety as I travel. But I want to say a huge THANK YOU to each and every person that has made this trip possible.  From the friend who gave me $5 to the grant of $3000 from another sports ministry group, every part of this trip has been set in motion and happened because the gracious hand of God. And there is more to come.  Keep on watching and listening as I will be sharing how God worked during this trip.  I am grateful for you. Nehemiah 2:18  NLT   Then I told them about how the gracious hand of God had been on me, and about my conversation with the king. They replied at once, “Yes, let’s rebuild the wall!” So they began the good work.

  Thank you for your continued prayers for the Cuba mission trip that I am on right now.  This week our team has been joined by two more friends that are seeking to help with church planting as well as promotion of ministry in Cuba.  Pray that there will be great connections and conversations. Keep on praying for the FCA team in Cuba that serve every day and across the country.  These precious people have stolen my heart, and it is an honor to work with and encourage all of them. I cannot wait to share more with you of all I have seen God do on this trip.  Have a great week.  God is good! Ephesians 3:19  NLT   May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully. Then you will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God.

  Continue to pray for the mission trip I am on in Cuba.  As you read this I am serving the FCA team and their families at a retreat.  Ask God to encourage each person. Thank you for your continued prayers and support.  I also ask you to pray for Julie and my family who are at home, and I miss them a great deal. 1 John 3:1  NLT   See how very much our Father loves us, for he calls us his children, and that is what we are! But the people who belong to this world don’t recognize that we are God’s children because they don’t know him.

  What are you looking forward to?  That is a tough question because I live always planning for the next event, the next trip, the next thing and more.  After what I planned for I often feel let down and even struggle.  But there is more to get ready for. This past week was so full with our ladies at the Emmaus Walk, Raceway Ministries at the speedway and the Serve Tour mission trip in Virginia Beach.  All three of those were incredible and effective.   But there is more ahead.  Like this weekend we have an outreach we are hosting.  The next week is a worship service, meal and kid’s Easter event at our church’s future campus.  Then the next week is Easter and Resurrection Sunday.  Wait, the following week I head back to Cuba for a mission trip. Whew.  I need a break after all that.  I need a break before that. But what am I looking forward to?  Thanks for asking. I look forward to this … God changing more and more lives....