Michael Harrison's e-devotion

  The greatest things in all the world are not things.  Literally if we learn from God what is most important, and we will agree that is it people.  God loves people more than anything.   Cherish what God cherishes.  Value what God says is valuable.  Hold tight to what you should hold to and let go of all what does not have value.   Genesis 1:27  NLT   So God created human beings in his own image. In the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.   Jeremiah 29:11  NLT   For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.    Jeremiah 31:3  NLT   Long ago the Lord said to Israel: “I have loved you, my people, with an everlasting love. With unfailing love I have drawn you to myself.   Romans 5:8  NLT   But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners...

  Just soak in some of the most important wisdom we might ever get.  Proverbs 19 overflows with strength and wisdom.  Read on… Proverbs 19  NLT 1  Better to be poor and honest than to be dishonest and a fool. 8 To acquire wisdom is to love yourself; people who cherish understanding will prosper. 11 Sensible people control their temper; they earn respect by overlooking wrongs. 14  Fathers can give their sons an inheritance of houses and wealth, but only the Lord can give an understanding wife. 16-18  Keep the commandments and keep your life; despising them leads to death.  If you help the poor, you are lending to the Lord— and he will repay you! Discipline your children while there is hope. Otherwise you will ruin their lives. 20-21 Get all the advice and instruction you can, so you will be wise the rest of your life.  You can make many plans, but the Lord’s purpose will prevail. 23  Fear of the Lord leads to life, bringing secu...

Remember that God told us we are to be in the world but not of the world.  That means we are not be like the world, think like the world, be distracted by what the world values and so much more. That is one of the major problems that we deal with.  We want more of God, but the things around us keep our attention and often distract us from the things of God.  But it is what we allow in our lives and where we point our attention that distracts us. Today I suggest to things to help us keep our attention on God.  You might think this is simple, but it is profound.  What we store in our lives and what we seek from our lives will keep us pointed toward God or point us away from God. Think about it. Matthew 6:19-21  NLT   “Don’t store up treasures here on earth, where moths eat them and rust destroys them, and where thieves break in and steal. 20 Store your treasures in heaven, where moths and rust cannot destroy, and thieves do not break in and steal. 2...

We finished our series “Treasure” this Sunday at The Community Fellowship.  We have examined many things that get in the way of treasuring what God treasures.  That is why I challenge us to see as God sees, to hold what God holds and to spend as much time as possible with God. What have you found true about God?  When comparing all you have compiled in your life, how do those things and those people compare to God?  Be honest.  Not all of us have had the same experience. Joshua 24:15  NASB But if it is disagreeable in your sight to serve the Lord, choose for yourselves today whom you will serve: whether the gods which your fathers served, which were beyond the Euphrates River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you are living; but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.” The choice is yours and mine.  We get the opportunity to choose God and to hold as most important what God says.   There are many choices we can make.  There a...

Mark 12:43-44  NLT Jesus called his disciples to him and said, “I tell you the truth, this poor widow has given more than all the others who are making contributions.  For they gave a tiny part of their surplus, but she, poor as she is, has given everything she had to live on.” That is from the time Jesus took His followers to the temple and talked to them about giving.  What a powerful example of how to give and how it can impact others. I am preaching through a series at The Community Fellowship called Treasure, and yesterday we talked about how we hold our treasure or how our treasure holds us.  Literally when we understand that our treasure is a gift from God and how blessed we are, our desire will be to be generous. Think about the promise and plan of those who are generous.  These people see themselves as a child of God using their blessings to serve others.  Those who are generous know that giving away what they have ends in them being blessed even m...

Does worry take away what you treasure most?  Or, does your treasure help you worry less? This is one of those questions or suggestions that really doesn’t make sense, at least at first glance.  It is an opposing view or point.  Think about it.  I believe both statements are true and difficult.  What comes to your mind when you think of your treasure, what you hold closest and dearest to your life? Matthew 6:21  NLT Wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will also be. Whatever your treasure is either guides and guards your heart OR distorts and even destroys your heart.  Ouch.  Worries rob you of your treasure unless your treasure lessens your worries.  Trusting God more means we worry less.  Thus, treasuring what God treasures assures us that we will worry less.  Then, treasuring with doesn’t last will ensure that we will worry more. Luke 21:34-36  NASB Be on guard, so that your hearts will not be weighed d...

It’s people.  Literally God’s treasure is people.  All He says and does is for the good of the people He created, and the stories of Scripture remind us that He will do whatever it takes so that people will have what they need and will thrive no matter what is going on. John 3:16-17  NLT For this is how God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. 17 God sent his Son into the world not to judge the world, but to save the world through him. Yep.  Love is the reason He sent His son for our good and His glory by giving the savior and healing, not a judge or a solider.   Notice how all Scripture is turned in this same direction.  You can almost see it on every page of the Bible, and it amazes me how God is turning His face to the people who so often turn against Him.  We are wicked people who do our own thing.  Then our great and gracious God turns toward us,...

1 Timothy 6:17-19   NASB   Instruct those who are rich in   this present world   not to be conceited or to   fix their hope on the uncertainty of riches, but on God,   who richly supplies us with all things to enjoy.   18  Instruct them to do good, to be rich in   good works,   to be generous and ready to share,   19  storing up for themselves the treasure of a good foundation for the future, so that they may   take hold of that which is life indeed. It is through the process of church life, working on our new campus and in guiding through back2school that I come across lots of needs, funding opportunities and wisdom.   This year of back2school and all that is happening around me is the same.   I am challenged by lots and learning, too. Last week in my reading I came across a quote that made me stop and think that I would like to share with you.   Read on: “One of the dangers of having a l...