Michael Harrison's e-devotion

  Every one is going through something.  Often we are unaware of what that might be, and that is why we should be kind, lookout for our neighbor and pray for one another. Maybe it is you that is going through something that is tough, big and out of your control.  Simply put you are looking for help.  Here is an invitation from God. Matthew 11:28-30  NLT “ Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light.” ” That is big.  In this invitation is an offer we cannot miss and shouldn’t ignore.  Yet we do put it off and ignore the promises of God.  He promises help with our burdens.  He promises rest.  He promises life that has more meaning and strength for the days. In our series at church, Road to recover...

For more than one year we have been honored to have the Celebrate Recovery program at our church.  I have learned a lot.  It has been a challenge and so good. In fact some of my favorite people to work with are those who are in or leading recovery.  Even our transitional houses benefit from and need the truth and strength of recovery. Last night at our Celebrate Recovery program was happening I was encourage by the 8 principles that the program is founded on.  That is why today I share those principles with you in this e-devotion. 1. Realize I’m not God: I admit that I am powerless to control my tendency to do the wrong thing and my life is unmanageable. “Happy are those who know they are spiritually poor.” Matthew 5:3 2. Earnestly believe that God exists, that I matter to Him, and that He has the power to help me recover. “Happy are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.” Mathew 5:4 3. Consciously choose to commit all my life and will to Christ’s care and con...

One of my favorite nights of the week is Celebrate Recovery.  A little over one year ago we moved our recovery ministry from Saturday to Tuesday and began the incredible outreach and ministry known as Celebrate Recovery.  God sent us great leaders.  Many people have come through the doors and been impacted. Last evening I shared a lesson about examining our lives, getting honest about our struggles and moving on from what has held us back.  At the beginning of the lesson I read Psalms 139.   Here are some verses from that chapter.  You might want to read this chapter several times and note what God says to you… Psalms 139  NLT O Lord, you have examined my heart and know everything about me…  4 You know what I am going to say even before I say it, Lord. 5 You go before me and follow me. You place your hand of blessing on my head. 6 Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too great for me to understand! 7 I can never escape from ...

  I had the great opportunity to share a message about HOPE last evening in our Celebrate Recovery ministry.  It is always an honor to be part of such a great work. Here is part of the lesson I shared, and there is so much truth and power in this message.  I pray you are challenged by this… Romans 5:5  NASB  and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us. By embracing and being embraced by God and His love we will have HOPE.  It is through this admission of being powerlessness that we are able to believe and receive God’s power.  We come to understand that God wants to fill our lives with His love, His joy, and His presence.  One of the parables in Luke 15 is the story of the prodigal son. Though the story is about a father’s love for his lost son; it really is a picture of God the Father loving you. God’s love is looking for you, no matter how lost you feel...

Freedom. That was the word that William Wallace in Braveheart screamed.   That scene has stuck in my mind for years. John 8:36   NLT So if the   Son   sets you   free , you are truly   free . There are many ways that we can talk about and explain freedom, and every one of them deal with a condition of the heart and mind.   So many people in bondage or that need release live in a kind of prison not made of bars or concrete. Often those are the structures of habits, of bad relationships, of choices piled upon bad choices that have led to being held down and held back from other things and from living life.   This can be the description of the battle of addiction and much more.   It is a place so many of us need freedom from. God offers us freedom.   His way for us is life, abundant life and brings a sense of joy and of enjoying the life He has given us.   Some people don’t enjoy their lives at all.   Some of...

Romans 15:13   NLT I pray that God, the source of hope, will fill you completely with joy and peace because you trust in him. Then you will   overflow   with confident hope through the power of the Holy Spirit. This is just the overflow coming off of an awesome weekend.   At The Community Fellowship God did some amazing things that I am still trying to wrap my brain around, but I will stop with simply acknowledging that God can always do more.   My mind or thoughts cannot keep God from doing even more. It all began a couple months ago when a friend and I were having a conversation.   He shared about his new book, and that conversation led to an invitation to come to town.   Morgan and Lynn Clough drove in from their home in Tellico Plains, Tennessee and blessed our socks off. We have history.   It really is a funny and sweet story that I will leave for another time.   What I will say is that has been a blessing to watch God ...