Michael Harrison's e-devotion

  Lamentations 3:22-26  NLT The faithful love of the Lord never ends!  His mercies never cease. 23 Great is his faithfulness; his mercies begin afresh each morning. 24 I say to myself, “The Lord is my inheritance; therefore, I will hope in him!” 25 The Lord is good to those who depend on him, to those who search for him. 26 So it is good to wait quietly for salvation from the Lord.   Where is the place that you find peace?   What do you do or where do you go to be refreshed? Maybe it is beside the water at the ocean as you feel the breeze and hear the waves.  Maybe it is in the mountains overlooking taking in the view that seems to go on for miles.  Maybe it is in a valley next to a stream where the water is rushing over rocks.  Any of those and more can calm your heart rate and to reignite your thoughts and joy. God does that....

  1 Timothy 2:1  NLT   I urge you, first of all, to pray for all people. Ask God to help them; intercede on their behalf, and give thanks for them. One of the things I do in conversations is to ask how I can pray for them.  The answers I get are often pretty cool, and often people are caught by surprise when asked.  It really is an honor to pray for people. This past week I asked a young professional how I could pray for him.  The conversation was so good.  We talked about his faith, his work and his family.  But one of the things this man said caught me off guard but was so good. He shared how his brother passed away a few years ago.  One of the things that encouraged me after his brother’s death was adding prayer to his daily life.  Then he said something like this … “I cannot tell you how much peace it added to me just to make prayer a priority.” That is an under statement to say the least, but I have found that to be true over and ov...

  We continue our series in the book Romans at our church.  This week we take our second dive in to chapter, but before moving any further forward, I want to remind you of what we talked about last Sunday in the first 11 verses.   This is good stuff.  It is truth that we need to hold on to with all that we believe.  Read the first few verses of this chapter… Romans 8:1-2  NLT   So now there is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus. 2 And because you belong to him, the power of the life-giving Spirit has freed you from the power of sin that leads to death. Yes, I have already shared this verses earlier in the week, but I cannot get over this truth.  Condemnation has been removed.  It is gone because God did for me what I could not do for myself.  The gift of Jesus took all my issue and struggle and gave me new life. Now, move on to a couple more verses that also are important for us to hold on. Romans 8:5-6  NLT ...

  There is the problem that hits our faith when we don’t understand the presence of God.  The enemy tells us we are alone, and we are way off of our journey with God, without help and helpless.  Yet that could not be further from the truth that God gives us.   There is a reason for everything.  The reason for the wilderness was the Promised Land.  The people of God were set to inherit the greatest piece of land on the earth.  They needed to know that God was with them and for them.  Often they acted like God was no where around.   The presence of God is the most powerful truth a believe can hold.  His presence will save us from heartache.  To believe what God says and to practice His presence will help our lives turn out much different.    God is with us today like He was in the past.  The Holy Spirit has arrived and is involved in our lives.   We have the Spirit of God, the presence...

  God gave me as a Bible promise over 30 years ago.  I have quoted these so many times.  It tells us about His incredible peace that God wants to put in our lives.    Philippians 4:6-7 NLT   Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. 7 Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.   I love these verses.  Most of all, the direction of these verses will give us what God desires for us to have.    His peace will guard you hearts.   Apart from Christ there is no peace.  With Christ there is extreme peace.  God’s peace guards our hearts.  That is the place where salvation starts and where convincing comes strongest for people of faith.  It is from our heart we speak.  It is from our heart that the greatest decisions happen....

  Peace is important.  Few people have much peace   How we find true, lasting peace?  The kind of peace that covers us, our families and goes even further.     Peace doesn’t come from something we do or from something we are.  True peace comes from the one who is peace.  Jesus.  Knowing Jesus, trusting Him and walking with Him on a daily basis brings peace in to our lives.   It is at times when peace seems furthest from us that we must seek it in ways and in places where peace isn’t present.  Walk it out and see how peace becomes a reality.   John 14:27  NASB Peace I leave you, My peace I give you; not as the world gives, do I give to you. Do not let your hearts be troubled, nor fearful.   Peace comes from God, from trusting God.  Lay down our struggles and trouble so we can have true peace.    Psalm 85:8  NASB I will hear what God the Lord will say; For He will speak peace to His people, to H...

  Christmas Fear Yes.  You read that right.  It is not about Christmas cheer but fear.  Too many people have lots of this. Fears comes in the times where we are out of control, are unsure of some things or maybe even fear people.  It could be a million things that we fear. What fear does is magnify where we have not let faith and trust in God fully take our hearts and lives.  No, christians will never fear, but we should fear less.  Why is that? 2 Timothy 1:7  NLT   For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline.   Isaiah 41:10  NLT   Don’t be afraid, for I am with you.  Don’t be discouraged, for I am your God.  I will strengthen you and help you.  I will hold you up with my victorious right hand. There are a couple things that God has gifted us with.  No, they are not Christmas gifts, but they are gifts that the best Christmas gift has given us.  Jesus r...

  What a week it has been, and it is not over.  The mission team in town is doing a great job working on our new building as well as serving in a local apartment complex.  Also, we are gearing up for a great year with back2school with the last planning meeting being tonight. So much going on, and even our youngest grandson’s first birthday is tomorrow.  That is making this week even more fun, greater and … you get it.  But it is a full and blessed week. As I was headed home late last evening a song caught my attention.  You know, it is one of those songs that leads me to think about God and even to worship.  The words took on a life of their own.  It was a song of several repeats and strong words that helped me seek God. Isaiah 55:6  NASB   Seek the Lord while He may be found; Call upon Him while He is near. To seek God is to pray.  It is to focus and worship Him.  It is to let the other things that have our attention fade in t...