Michael Harrison's e-devotion

  Who are they?  I mean who are the people that make your life and work more meaningful.  I finish out this week with telling you about a few people that make my life better.   This isn’t about pointing out specific people, but I am pointing out the places and tasks where specific people fill.  Things would not work as good as they do without these people. The Servant. Romans 12:7  NLT   If your gift is serving others, serve them well… There are so many of these people in my life.  From the ladies that spend time at church several days a week, to the people who fix meals and serve others, to those who donate items and others.  We all can serve others.  And we should. The Friend. Proverbs 27:17  NLT   As iron sharpens iron, so a friend sharpens a friend. I have a few of these, but there are a couple that have dug in.  They show up often and make life better and me stronger.  We all need friends and need to be a friend....

Happy birthday to my Julie.  It was 31 years ago that I first met this incredible lady.  We have as of today celebrated 30 of her birthdays together, and that makes me happy. Proverbs 18:22  NLT   The man who finds a wife finds a treasure, and he receives favor from the Lord. I found a treasure in so many ways.  A friend, a partner, a wife, a mother to our children and now grand mother, an advisor… and so much more. That is why today I ask that if you see her in the next few days please wish her a happy birthday.  If you are at church Sunday, please bless her with a birthday card. But the best thing you can do for her is to pray for her, our family and the future.  We are excited and trusting God for what is ahead, and this is something that we pray about and ask God for all the time.  It is good to know who holds our future and to see how blessed we are, have been and will be. Proverbs 31:25  NLT   She is clothed with strength and digni...

Thirty year, and it doesn’t seem that long ago.  I remember where we were 30 years ago.  Julie and I had just arrived in Panama City Beach, Florida for our honeymoon.  It was a great week! Our wedding was one for the books.  I cried through the entire day, well as least most of it.  Those were good tears.  We enjoyed time with family and have so many memories of that weekend as well as the last 30 years. We have been together a lot longer than we have been apart.  We have learned so much about life and love and about relationships.  We have shared ministry and relationships with others.  Plus there are three incredible children that God placed in our lives.  Now, add to that two awesome grandchildren that belong to us. Blessed … that is a great word but an understatement.  Yesterday Julie and I celebrated 30 years of marriage, and the commitment we have made to each other is that there will be many more years and memories. Proverbs ...

  Who encourages you? Think about that. So many people come to mind when I answer this question.  Currently there are people that come to mind that make me smile and who have made my life so much better. Proverbs 18:22  NLT   The man who finds a wife finds a treasure, and he receives favor from the Lord. My wife Julie began praying a few months ago and sharing some things with me that we have seen happen this summer.  What a blessing for us and for all our family.  Also Julie has been a huge encouragement to me.  I mean big time. Proverbs 18:24  NLT   There are “friends” who destroy each other, but a real friend sticks closer than a brother. There are several people who have become great influencers in my life.  Some you might know, and some you most likely do not. My oldest brother has been reading Scripture with me each day for a few years.  I would say Steve is one of my biggest encouragers.  His place in my life makes me be...

This is the 30th time I have had the blessing of Julie being my Valentine.  In fact is was just before Valentine’s Day in 1993 that Julie said yes to being my wife.  No our marriage isn’t perfect.  Neither of us is the perfect partner, but we love each other and are so blessed by God with the gift of each other.   She is so much more than I share, but today I want to give you just a little glimpse in to who this special lady is to our kids, to the world and to me!  My Valentine, Julie, is a gift from God! Proverbs 31:10  NASB   An excellent wife, who can find her? For her worth is far above jewels. She is worth more than any Jewels.  She is worthy of more!  To me she is a precious jewel! Song of Solomon 6:9  NASB   But my dove, my perfect one, is unique… My valentine is unique.  There are no others to me as special and made fore me as my Jesus.  She literally is unique! Ephesians 5:33  NLT    So again I say,...

It is a very special day.  My sweet wife and my friend and the most precious gift to our children, Julie celebrates her birthday today.  We have done this together almost 30 times, and each one is just as special and important. I am truly blessed to have this lady in my life.  Julie is more than my partner.  She really has turned in to so much more as we have gone through the valleys and enjoyed the mountain tops.  We have been through some very difficult times, and together we have been in some great and excellent times. Plus, there is much more to come.  I am excited about the future and excited to enjoy the future with my sweet Julie. Let me declare a few things on this day. Proverbs 18:22  NLT   The man who finds a wife finds a treasure, and he receives favor from the Lord. Julie is a treasure.  This is true for me and our children.   Proverbs 31:28-30  NLT   Her children stand and bless her. Her husband praises her: 29...

It is her birthday, and I wanted to share a little bit about Julie with you. She is a gift.  My gift and our family. She is a blessing.  My blessings and so many others. She is strong and confident.  My confidence is built by her. She is faithful and encouraging.  My encourager. She is a friend and a sister.  To many, her family and more. She is my Julie, my bride, my friend, my lover and so much more. Proverbs 18:22  NASB He who finds a wife finds a good thing And obtains favor from the Lord. I do not want to do like alone, and for the last almost 28 and a half years we have done life together.   We have celebrated birthdays, weddings, births, graduations and so much more.   We have mourned the loss of a parent, the pain of struggles and the ups and downs of every day life. We worship God together.  We grow in grace together.  We seek the Lord because we want to walk this life, spiritual and physical, together which makes us stronger an...

Today is a big day.  It is my wife’s 50th birthday.  We have been married for more than 27 years, and I continue to be amazed at this lady.  She is incredible (and not just because she married me). There are many things that God says about wives.  And I draw your attention to some of those things, and in honor of Julie, let you know that she is these and so much more… Proverbs 18:22  NLT The man who finds a wife finds a treasure, and he receives favor from the Lord. Julie is a treasure, and having her in my life helps me realize just how God has blessed my life and our family. Proverbs 31:28-31  NLT Her children stand and bless her.  Her husband praises her: 29 “There are many virtuous and capable women in the world, but you surpass them all!” 30 Charm is deceptive, and beauty does not last; but a woman who fears the Lord will be greatly praised. 31 Reward her for all she has done.  Let her deeds publicly declare her praise. I want ...

This has been a week of reflecting, praying and even remembering what God has taught me in the past.   As a pastor, a husband, a father and even as a son I see how God has blessed my life.   Let me remind you that those blessings aren’t based on what I deserved.   They are based on the gracious hand of God.   Maybe Nehemiah said it best in this verse: Nehemiah 2:18   NLT Then I told them about how the gracious   hand   of   God had been on   me , and about my conversation with the king. They replied at once, “Yes, let’s rebuild the wall!” So they began the good work. “The gracious hand of God had been on me.”   That is powerful.   Nehemiah knew God personally, and the people around Nehemiah saw that evidence.   I want that to be more and more true of me. As Julie and I were reading through a big envelope of memories my mom saved, I came across a devotion I shared November of 2000.   I think is appropriate...