Michael Harrison's e-devotion

  Ephesians 4:15  NLT Instead, we will speak the truth in love, growing in every way more and more like Christ, who is the head of his body, the church.   Today is an important day in our nation as a new president takes office.  Please join me praying for the USA.   It is also the day to remember Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.  Dr. King was great man who spoke up for those being oppressed.  We learn much from he taught and shared and even more from his heart.  He was a servant.     Here are some quotes from him that will remind us of some important truths we need to hold on to…   Faith is taking the first step even when you don't see the whole staircase.   The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy.   We must develop and maintain the capacity to forgive. He who is devoid ...

I shared much of the following e-devotion in May of 2013.  We must honor those who gave their all for our nation’s freedom! I remember hearing my grandfather mention being in the U.S. Navy during World War II.  He wouldn’t share much, but you could tell he was proud of his service to our nation.  Another grand father, the one I am named after, served in the Army, and I had two other uncles that were in the military, one who was a U.S. Air Force jet pilot.  He was my idol for lots of years (he also had a corvette).  Being in the military was an honor, or at least I remember people holding those who have served in great esteem.  We should continue to do the same today.  Men and women through the years have fought for our freedom.  Many have lost their lives.  Many have returned home to share stories, but all for the same reason. I listened to a preacher talk about the reason America is a great country.  He quoted a leader from a country aw...

  This is not meant to be a post about politics or division.  Simply I want to share my position and plea to God for our country. My prayer is for peace and unity.  Asking God for others is called intercession, and this is something Christians are encouraged to do.  Pray for others.  Pray for those in need.  When you feel you can do nothing else, you can pray. Spend time praying.  Spend time looking to God for what is happening around us.  But don’t be eaten up by all the negativity.  Remember that God is always, always in control.  God is always working.  His good will come out and many lives will be changed because of what God is doing. Seeking the blessing of God for you and for others. Psalm 33:12  NASB Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord, The people He has chosen for His own inheritance. Make sure that prayer is a priority for you and for those you influence. 2 Chronicles 7:14  NLT Then if my people who are ca...

  Today is voting day, election day, in the USA.  We have a great privilege to live in this land.  Yes, things may be hard and troubled, but we have so many blessings that others around the world don't.  If you haven't voted yet, step up and exercise your right and responsibility to do so.  I am praying for our nation and leaders today.  Join me. Why vote?  Be a good citizen.  Honor God and the standards He calls us to hold.  Make a difference. Where should we focus?  These are tough times, but all around us are all kinds of blessings.  What we choose to focus on changes everything for us and others.  Choose to be negative and you will lead others to be negative.  Be position and see how others begin to see the light or dream big. Why even care?  Many think that they will not make a difference to vote or to be kind or to go out of our way for someone else.  We should stop looking at the struggle and what holds ba...

Happy birthday to our country, and I love our nation.   It is important to realize just how blessed we are.   Freedom is an incredible thing.   We live in the greatest country of our day.   No, this is not a perfect land, and we are not perfect people.   Yet it is obvious that with our many God-given blessings there are also many difficult things happening all around us.   Still, we are blessed. Psalm 33:12   NASB Blessed   is the   nation   whose God is the   Lord , The people whom He has chosen for His own inheritance. The United State of America was founded on Christian principles and faith by people who sought out freedom.   In our history books and throughout our rich history are the facts that stand in honor of our founders and much of that points to our great God. As a country we would be lost without God.   As people we are lost without faith in and a relationship with God.   We need Him, and...

2 Chronicles 7:14   NLT Then if my   people   who are   call ed by my name will   humble   themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sins and restore their land. That one important verse is seen on marquees, is quoted in sermons and is touted in so many places when we talk about the needs of our country and of many other things.   If you read the verses that surround it, there is much, much to learn. Solomon had just completed the incredible feat of the construction of the temple and the palace.   It was a beautiful landmark that his father so wanted to build, but it was the son now king, Solomon, that brought the temple in to its glory.   God appears to him and reminds Solomon of the deep need of God to know His people and to love them. Even if all kinds of bad things happen when God’s people come humbly to their God, God will be who He promises to b...

Zechariah 7:9   NLT This is what the Lord of Heaven’s Armies says: Judge fairly, and show mercy and kind ness to one another. I have been struggling with this devotion most of the day.   Actually is started in my mind a few days ago with the death of a man in my home town of Tulsa, Oklahoma by a police officer and then what has happened closer to us in Charlotte, North Carolina.   My heart aches for hurting people around the world.   To hear of hatred, riots and more pain being caused crushes my heart, and honestly it is hard to grasp.   People in so many different places are hurting, questioning their situation and in deep need of the hope that only God can give. I talked with a young man earlier this week who recently got out of jail, then was in the hospital and now he is struggling with being told he has a mental illness.   Maybe I left out what connected us, this young man was homeless.   We talked about his options, about his f...