Michael Harrison's e-devotion

  Proverbs 10:21  NLT   The words of the godly encourage many, but fools are destroyed by their lack of common sense. A word that encourages, an act that lifts someone, a helping hand… all of those things may change someone’s life.  Did you realize that? One of the things that I have talked about for years is the power of putting your hand on someone’s back.  It may be the encouragement they need to keep going, to go further, to not stop, to make a difficult decision, to do the right thing, to be kind, to know they aren’t alone, to try something new, to stop doing what is hurting them and others, to seek God, to live life… You get the point.  Or I hope you do. Be the encouragement someone needs today.  Put your hand on someone’s back.  Help others be better and stronger by giving just a little bit of what you have been given. This is one of the things that we have talked about ministry doing for those who are in difficult times.  It might be ...

  It is the Christmas season, and one of the things we talk about is JOY.  May we prepare to be joyful and to share joy with others.  Why?  Here are some reasons… share joy! Psalm 20:5  NLT May we shout for joy when we hear of your victory and raise a victory banner in the name of our God. May the Lord answer all your prayers.   Psalm 28:7 NLT The Lord is my strength and shield. I trust him with all my heart. He helps me, and my heart is filled with joy. I burst out in songs of thanksgiving.   Psalm 32:2 NLT Yes, what joy for those whose record the Lord has cleared of guilt, whose lives are lived in complete honesty!   Psalm 126:3 NLT Yes, the Lord has done amazing things for us! What joy!   Nehemiah 8:10 NIV Nehemiah said, “Go and enjoy choice food and sweet drinks, and send some to those who have nothing prepared. This day is holy to our Lord. Do not g...

Who is your person? Yeah.  I didn’t say say what is your thing? Why?  Because too often we choose things to hold on to to give us peace or strength.  God never intended for things to be the greatest encouragement in my life. Who is your person? Yeah.  I didn’t say where is your place? Why?  Because God didn’t call us to be alone and someone where most of the time to get what we need and the peace that keeps us going. There are too many places and things that we but our trust in when God has given us Himself for the grandest and biggest blessings.  He has also blessed us with gifts and people and places and even things.  But those aren’t the most important. God gave us people.  Maybe you have many.  Maybe you have one.  We need each other.  God first.  Others next.  God best of all.  People should give us great encouragement as well. Turn that the other direction.  You and I should be the people others need. ...

Romans 15:32  NLT Then, by the will of God, I will be able to come to you with a joyful heart, and we will be an   encouragement to each   other. This has been a great week.  We have a mission team in town that is their second trip.  Some of them have been here several times.  What a blessing! In this short and to the point devotion I want to share how encouraging it is to be able to share our heart and work with others.  It is great to build relationships with like-minded people. First, these people love Jesus.  Their purpose for being in town and being part of church is to share their faith with others and to serve. Second, I love to hear the stories people share.  This week has several take a ways from conversations.  Pastor friends shared about life and ministry.  One has vast experience with apartment complexes, and our talks have been awesome.  Others...

Romans 12:8   NLT If your gift is to encourage others , be encouraging. If it is giving, give generously. If God has given you lead ership ability, take the responsibility seriously. And if you have a gift for showing kindness to others , do it gladly. More than a decade ago I traveled to a meeting that I had been invited to.   I wasn’t sure why I was going, but I had met some great people that were serving in Asia that invited me and others to join them for what was something of a strange meeting at that time. It was a conference taking place somewhere else at the same time, but the conference was being broadcast via satellite or internet to where we would be.   Again this meeting was about 12 years ago. I walked in to a filled room.   In this room were several people I had met before.   One of the couples had served in China for years and seen God do amazing things.   Their influence and some of the people they introduced me to began a c...