Michael Harrison's e-devotion

  Luke 22:32  NASB   but I have prayed for you, that your faith will not fail; and you, when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers.”   Who are you praying for?  That is a good question because many people are non my mind. Do you ever wake up and aren’t able to go back to sleep?  When that happens to me, I begin to pray for whoever is on my mind.  At times there is a reason I learn later.  Sometimes there isn’t.  But pray!   How can I pray for you?   Stop and pray for those who come across your mind.  in the middle of the night or in the middle of the day… those are great times to pray.  When someone is on your mind, stop and pray for them.  Someone drives by you on the road or you see them down the aisle at the grocery story.  Pray for them.   Honestly I believe that God is asking His children to be spiritually sensitive to pray for others.  Be a person of prayer!   I am praying for many p...

  Who inspires you?  My answer is many different people in my book.  Often these are people very close to me, but at times they are people from history or stories I have heard.  Each story or person has left a mark on me by being an inspiration.  We need to be inspired.   There are people who stick out because they loved me and others sacrificially.  Then there are people like Mother Teresa or Billy Graham.  Move on to the sweet little lady at church that serves faithfully or a friend that few people know but has made a a huge difference in many lives.   Romans 12:9  NLT Don’t just pretend to love others. Really love them. Hate what is wrong. Hold tightly to what is good.   Loving the way Jesus loves is incredible.  It is inspiring.  To love like like Jesus loved is a high calling and stirs up confidence as you help someone know they have value and are loved.   John 15...

  We continue our road through the book of Romans that we are on this year at The Community Fellowship.  This past Sunday we looked at Romans 2:1-16 asking who is our judge. We know that is God, but often we get this out of line by giving authority to the wrong people in our lives.  Maybe it is a person who we think too much or too little of.  Maybe it is ourselves who end up judging others too much and not as much on us. Here are a couple take aways from Sunday’s sermon that are worth remembering often.  First, be careful how you look at, size up and judge others. James 7:24  NLT   Look beneath the surface so you can judge correctly. 1 Samuel 16:7  NLT   But the Lord said to Samuel, “Don’t judge by his appearance or height, for I have rejected him. The Lord doesn’t see things the way you see them. People judge by outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.” God looks at the heart.  He knows our motives and even our actions and ...

  Ephesians 4:15  NLT Instead, we will speak the truth in love, growing in every way more and more like Christ, who is the head of his body, the church.   Today is an important day in our nation as a new president takes office.  Please join me praying for the USA.   It is also the day to remember Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.  Dr. King was great man who spoke up for those being oppressed.  We learn much from he taught and shared and even more from his heart.  He was a servant.     Here are some quotes from him that will remind us of some important truths we need to hold on to…   Faith is taking the first step even when you don't see the whole staircase.   The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy.   We must develop and maintain the capacity to forgive. He who is devoid ...

  Who are the people that when you are around them they make you stronger and better?  If we make a list, there will be lots of people on the list.  These are some of the greatest people in my life. Think about the ways you have been encouraged.  Those are the things we ought to be doing often and for many people. 1 Thessalonians 5:11  NLT   So encourage each other and build each other up, just as you are already doing. Build others.  Be an encourager.  It is not that hard, but it is a choice. Philippians 4:9  NLT   Keep putting into practice all you learned and received from me—everything you heard from me and saw me doing. Then the God of peace will be with you. The best things we learned from those who gave us strength is what we should give and teach others.  Great things can happen when we give to others what we have been given. Proverbs 15:22  NLT   Plans go wrong for lack of advice; many advisers bring success. List...

  There are several things that Jesus says about Himself in the Bible.  We can call these promises.  They are really descriptions of our God.  They are reminders for us of who Jesus is. Many of these statements can be found in the “I AM” statements throughout the Bible and some of the best are in the book of John.   First, I am the bread of life (John 6:35).   Second, I am the light of the world (John 8:12).   Third, I am the gate (John 10:9).   Fourth, I am the good shepherd (John 10:11).   Fifth, I am the resurrection and the life (John 11:25-26).   Sixth, I am the way, the truth and the life (John 14:6).   Seventh, I am the vine (John 15:5).   Seven powerful statements about the character of God.  We know and have experienced the moving and blessings of God.   How have you experienced Jesus?  It is true that every one of us have a different testimony, but each on reflects who Jesus is.  Take som...

  Freedom can be found in many places and have lots of differing definitions, yet I believe that as a Christ follower, real freedom is found in coming to know Christ. Last night I was blessed to share the lesson during our Celebrate Recovery ministry.  The lesson is on “denial”, and one of the greatest truths about denial is when we give it up we find freedom.  Check out this quote: “The basic test of freedom is not what I’m free to do, it’s what I’m free not to do!” God frees us to know Him and follow Him and leave regret, guilt, shame and even sin behind.  There is the freedom God offers those who choose to follow, choose His best rather than what we think is best. John 8:32  NLT   And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free. May we learn to live in real freedom.  That real freedom is found in the person who gave Himself so others can be free.  Jesus gave Himself for our freedom. That is why I ask you to spend a few minutes read...