Michael Harrison's e-devotion

Lawn Chairs Food  (enough food for you & to share with others) Be ready to  celebrate Jesus !!! Yep. One of our favorite events. It is outdoor baptism followed by a picnic on the parking lot . At present there are 7 people who will be baptized this Sunday. Want to be baptized? Want to help set up? Come early! It all happens in our  Sunday 10:10am  worship time right in front of The Community Fellowship. Join in. Bring a friend.

Psalm 46:10  (NLT) ---   "Be still, and know that I am God!  I will be honored by every nation.  I will be honored throughout the world." Other translations .... NASB ---  Cease striving CEV ---  Calm down, and learn that I am God! GWT ---  Let go of your concerns! Then you will know that I am God. HCSB ---  Stop [your fighting]—and know that I am God, Those are some powerful words.  And when we get it, really get it God will begin to work wonders as He has our hearts.  At that point He teaches us to trust Him more and listen less to our feelings and our emotions. I've been reminded of this several times, yet not in such a dramatic way as one instance in the recent past.  Honestly, I was stressed, worried and asking for help as well as consumed.  As I began to step back (not because I wanted to but God made that happen), God worked right in front of my eyes.  He changed the situation.  He turned the issue or the problem into a situation whe...

1 Peter 4:10-11 (NLT) ---   God has given each of you a gift from his great variety of spiritual gifts. Use them well to serve one another.  Do you have the gift of speaking? Then speak as though God himself were speaking through you. Do you have the gift of helping others? Do it with all the strength and energy that God supplies. Then everything you do will bring glory to God through Jesus Christ. All glory and power to him forever and ever! Ame n. Each of us have talents and have gifts.  Our lives are blessed.  Those blessings are always measured by dollars and possessions.  Much of the time it can be measured by our ability.  It can also be seen in our heart, our passion and where we thrive. God has gifted us for one reason.  He gave us ability and gifts so that we can serve others.  How can we use what we have to serve our family, or our church, or even people we have never met. Case study: JESUS.  He came to serve and not be served.  One song that we sing says J...

This past week I went to www.thewhiteboardsessions.com conference with Greg from The Community.  This event is about ideas.  There were 7 speakers who spoke 30 minutes each.  It was good and an honor to serve there with Ben Arment who created the event. So, today I want to share with you just a few pieces of what I brought home: Jonathan Falwell --  To many of us are trying to wear someone else's armor.  We spend too much time trying to be something we are not.  Then we fall.√To many of us are trying to wear someone else's armor.  We spend too much time trying to be something we are not.  Then we fall. Falwell --  Pride and grace can't co-exi st. Falwell --   After Walt Disney has build Disney Land, he had a dream to build Disney World.  During construction Walt died.  At the dedication of Disney World someone said to Walt Disney's wife that is was a shame that Walt never saw this.  She replied, "he did see it. That's why it's here....

The notes below are from www.thewhiteboardsessions.com and a message shared there: We often reduce grace to what we think.  We often reduce love in terms of simply giving. Romans 1:15-17 --- Paul used a negative to talk about a positive by saying he was "not ashamed" Hebrews 12:2 --- Jesus despised the shame More references: Colossians 2:13-15, Romans 10:16, 15:10, 16:25 According the the Gospel it SAVES lost people and TRANSFORMS saved people. Even the disciple struggled with keeping the Gospel central in their lives. (Eric told a story of how this might of went down from Galatians 3.) Romans 8:29 --- we are destined to look like Christ.  That is from God. Colossians 1:29 --- we continue to strive or struggle with our enemy. (I was impressed and touched by Eric's message in a big way.  Looking forward to hearing more from him in the future.) (Learn more from Eric Mason here  http://www.epiphanyfellowship.org/discover/pastors )

The notes below are from www.thewhiteboardsessions.com and a message shared there: No more bait and switch ... it is time for the church and ministry to know the truth.  Ministry is HARD but it is worth it. 1 Timothy 4:9 --- Paul was alone.  LONELINESS is often a fact.  It is lonely to lead. DISCOMFORT --- Paul asked them to bring stuff with them when they came to visit. CONFLICT --- in verse 15 Paul spoke of Alexander who did him much harm. REJECTION --- seen in verse 16 when Paul says no one came to stand by him. If we really knew the sweetness of heaven we would all make a beeline to get there.  Ministry is hard but it is worth is.  THE DAY is coming our way when we will be with Jesus.   We must realize it's not about me.  It's all about JESUS. James told a great story from his life about conflict at church when someone called him a donkey.  It hurt him deeply and he couldn't stop dwelling on it.  One day he was having lunch with one of his mentors who said "...

The notes below are from www.thewhiteboardsessions.com and a message shared there: We must embrace the season of pain in our lives as God will work through it.  When we do that, we will see and experience the blessing of God.  We will see Jesus in a unique way.  Just like Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, the furnace had to be seven times hotter before they could see Jesus. CRITICISM It comes.  It is just the way it is.  Surround yourself with people who love Jesus and love you, but love you enough to tell you the truth.  Listen to your coach and not the fat guy in the stands yelling at you.  Don't focus on what you don't have.  Focus on what you do have and what God is doing. DEPRESSION You must have FUN.  What do you do for fun?  When was the last time went on a date with your wife?  Build your FAMILY.  The church will turn its back on you but your family won't.  Take care of your family.  Check your FOCUS.  Psalm 46:10 - be still (cease striving) and know that I am Go...