incredible hands

Psalm 89:13  NLT

Powerful is your arm! Strong is your hand! Your right hand is lifted high in glorious strength.

The hand of God is an incredible thing.  When God’s hand is on you, there is almost nothing that can bring you down.  We can count on God and trust Him at all times.  What He says He will do, and that has been proven over and over.

In the past few weeks I have been reading through some Old Testament passages that depict who has God’s hand on them and those who didn’t.  Victory came to those with God’s hand on them.  The difference is described in one word: obedience.  Those who follow God find an incredible hand and find huge value and worth in the hands of God.

Think about it.  There is worth in our hands.

It All Depends on Whose Hands It's In


By Paul Ciniraj

A basketball in my hands is worth about $19.

A basketball in Michael Jordan's hands is worth about $33 million.

It depends on whose hands it's in...

A baseball in my hands is worth about $6.


A baseball in Mark McGuire's hands is worth $19 million.


It depends on whose hands it's in...

A golf club is useless in my hands.


A golf club in Tiger Wood's hands is a 4 Major Golf Championships


It depends on whose hands it's in...

A rod in my hands will keep away a wild animal.


A rod in Moses' hands will part the mighty sea.


It depends on whose hands it's in...

A sling shot in my hands is a toy.


A slingshot in David's hands is a mighty weapon.


It depends on whose hands it's in...

Two fish and five loaves in my hands is a couple of fish sandwiches.


Two fish and five loaves in Jesus' hands will feed thousands.


It depends on whose hands they're in...

Nails in my hands might produce a bird house.


Nails in Christ Jesus' hands will produce salvation for the entire world.


It depends on whose hands they're in...

As you see now it depends on whose hands it's in. 


So put your concerns, worries, fears, hopes, dreams, families 
and relationships in God's Hands. 


Because, It depends on whose hands they're in.

It all depends on whose hands are involved.  If we stop focusing on God and trust anything or anyone other than God, we have missed the most incredible hand of all.  David said it this way:

Psalm 139:7-10  NLT

I can never escape from your Spirit!  I can never get away from your presence! 8 If I go up to heaven, you are there; if I go down to the grave, you are there. 9 If I ride the wings of the morning, if I dwell by the farthest oceans, 10 even there your hand will guide me, and your strength will support me.

I pray that not only will God’s hand be on our church and the people we serve, but I pray that those around us will be how awesome and incredible God’s hand is.  To have God’s hand on your life brings blessings, but it also brings honor to the one with the greatest amount of worth.  Who is most worthy?  That person is God, and He has incredible hands.

Joshua 4:24  NLT

He did this so all the nations of the earth might know that the Lord’s hand is powerful, and so you might fear the Lord your God forever.

lessons from the church of Acts

“Find a need and fill it.  Find a hurt and heal it.”  Those two phrases are echoed from Tommy Barnett.  Those are the dreams that I have had for a long time.  But wait, some of it is bigger than I expected.  Some of it is different.  It is God’s desire and as well my desire to see lives changes.  By meeting needs we win the right to share Jesus with people.

A question I heard has stuck with me.  When we read ACTS do we come away saying, “Yep, that’s our church”?  I am afraid not.  I often leave those verses thinking, “where did we go wrong?  What has to change?” 

Acts 2:37-47  NLT

Now when they heard this, they were pierced to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, "Brethren, what shall we do?" 38 Peter said to them, "Repent, and each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 39 For the promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off, as many as the Lord our God will call to Himself." 40 And with many other words he solemnly testified and kept on exhorting them, saying, "Be saved from this perverse generation!" 41 So then, those who had received his word were baptized; and that day there were added about three thousand souls. 42 They were continually devoting themselves to the apostles' teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. 43 Everyone kept feeling a sense of awe; and many wonders and signs were taking place through the apostles. 44 And all those who had believed were together and had all things in common; 45 and they began selling their property and possessions and were sharing them with all, as anyone might have need. 46 Day by day continuing with one mind in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they were taking their meals together with gladness and sincerity of heart, 47 praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord was adding to their number day by day those who were being saved.

They weren’t much different than us.  We might be a little busier.  We might have more technology.  We most likely have it is easier.  But what made the first church successful is what will make our churches successful.

The people in book of Acts, the first church, show us that we must ---  Be devoted to the truth.  The Bible says that they were cut to the heart when the Word of God was read, discussed and focused on.  When we see or hear God, we will be cut, and the people of Acts and us must interact with God’s truth allowing God’s truth to daily impact our lives. 

The people of the book of Acts demonstrate for us that we must --- Be devoted to one another.  They spent time together.  The reason why they were united is because they focused on the same things.  They focused on God.  We are stronger when we are together, when we are sharing with each other, and encouraging each other.

Another things that was true of the people in the book of Acts and that ought to be true of us is that we should --- Be devoted to making a difference.  Making a difference is not about having a lot of people at your church or a bunch of resources.  Making a difference is about people.  It is about lives being changed by the grace of God.

Repentance was the way in, and it still is.  Praise God that our sins are forgiven.  Repenting means that we turn from one direction to another, from sin and self and come close to God.  When God changes someone, they and like us will be sharing Jesus every chance we get and will by meeting needs of the people around us.  We win the right to share Jesus with people when we serve them.

The church of Acts was growing, and people being saved as lives were changed.  Even the Gentiles were being saved.  Those are the people that weren’t like the church people and were somewhat of outcasts.  But we must be willing to serve people that are not like us.  We ought to be serving the people around us and the people we need to be serving are those that are often not like us.  Be careful because when we go the wrong way when we are focused on wrong people or the wrong things.

I close by asking you to look at verse 43 again.  These people had a “sense of awe” around them and about them.  Why?  It is because they were having fun following Jesus.  AWE comes from being with Jesus.  AWE comes from doing things Jesus’ way.  AWE comes from see Jesus change lives.  AWE comes when our focus is JESUS

Are we more or less like the church we read about in the book of Acts?

power of perception

I love the cartoons when a character learns or realizes something and a light bulb turns on over their head.  It is when something finally comes into understanding.  God does that for us.  He turns on the light bulbs.  He gives us wisdom.

Here are two different versions of the same verse:

Ephesians 1:18  HCSB

I pray that the perception of your mind may be enlightened so you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the glorious riches of His inheritance among the saints,

Ephesians 1:18  NLT

I pray that your hearts will be flooded with light so that you can understand the confident hope he has given to those he called—his holy people who are his rich and glorious inheritance.

The Apostle Paul prayed that someone would be able to see past their perception.  He prayed that they would be enlightened.  I love the phrase “flooded with light”.  God helps us see what we cannot see on our own.  He opens our minds and our hearts to the things that only He can do.  Folks, that is faith at work.  Faith helps us see past human thinking and seeing to divine thinking and seeing.

I want to see as God sees.  I did not say that I want to be like God or that I am like God.  What I said was that I want to be able to see.  Can you imagine not having to guess about things when making decisions or knowing what the future knows?  God knows everything.  Therefore, following God makes sense.  He sees further.  He leads us further.  He knows it all.  He leads us in ways and to places that we cannot go without Him.

There is power in perspective.  I believe that God wants His church to attempt things that we cannot do without Him.  I believe that God desires to demonstrate His goodness and His grace to the world, yet our human perception and our small thinking keep us from seeing God and helping others see God.

As a leader and a pastor I have to see further.  I desire to lead a great group of people to be who God called them to be and to attempt things that only God can help them do.  There is faith at work.  There is God given perception.  There are our hearts big time flooded with light.

Walk into a place that is dark and at one moment have all the lights, and I mean bright lights, turned on at the same time.  It almost blinds you.  Your eyes have to adjust.  Notice as you walk out of a well lit room and into a dark places that after a little while your eyes begin to adjust, and you are able to see even though it is somewhat dark.

There you have it.  That is how God gives us His perception.  He takes us when we cannot see or have trouble seeing and helps us to see.  Often it takes a little time, it takes patience on our part, and it takes trusting God.  There is power in perception that God gives us.

May God flood our understanding with His incredible light so that we see and we help others see the greatness and the grace of our God.

1 Corinthians 1:27  NLT

Instead, God chose things the world considers foolish in order to shame those who think they are wise. And he chose things that are powerless to shame those who are powerful.

opportunities this week

Hey COMMUNITY family and friends ---

This is a great week to be part of The Community as we celebrate all God did this past weekend during our Mother's Day outreach and worship.  It was incredible, yet there is more to come.  Over 50 ladies were blessed with having the oil in their care changed, many of them also received a free massage, over 250 people were served through our feeding and clothing ministries as well.  How awesome is that!!!

On Sunday we will continue our series called BLESS THIS HOME and be discussing the role of children in the home.  Brings your kids, your kid's kids and your neighbor's kids and all the kids.  You get the point.  By the way, Jesus loves Kids.  Be here Sunday at 10:10am ready to celebrate kids.  By the way last Sunday 2 brothers, young boys in our church accepted Jesus as their Savior after worship.  How awesome!!!!

Our back2school outreach is picking up momentum.  Wednesday at 5:30pm at church there will be a meeting for people who want to help lead.  See Michelle Kasey for more details, and please pass yesterday's email and message about back2school on to other people who would like to serve with us.

This coming Friday evening is 31 BINGO for our youth ministry.  Tickets are $20 for 20 games before that night and $25 that night.  All proceeds assist our youth ministry with events as well as summer camp the last week of June.  Call the church at 276-647-8231 or see Jennifer Terry for more information.

Our Saturday evening feedings have grown in huge ways.  The name of this ministry is "We H.O.P.E" which standing for Helping Other People Eat.  At 5pm each Saturday we are able to feed people uptown, in front of our church and in Bassett (in the parking lot of Open Door Baptist Church).  If you would like to give to this ministry or provide food, please call Donna Pratt at church at 276-647-8231.  Listen for more details.

Continue to pray for our new property as this week is an important time.  Ask God to help us see what He wants and to follow His lead.  Also ask God to provide the money and people to get it done.  More news to come!

I pray that during this week you will have the opportunity to witness to someone, to share your story of how you have experienced God's love.  Ask God to help you share and for you to know who to share with.  May God help The Community family to big time be about demonstrating the love of God to community in awesome ways.  There is more, much more to come!  See you soon.

With GOD as my guide,

Pastor Michael Harrison
-- James 1:5


for more information about The COMMUNITY FELLOWSHIP or THE COMMUNITY DREAM CENTER call 276-647-8231 or email info@thecommunityfellowship.org

all for one, for the children (back2school 2013)

Matthew 18:5  NLT

And anyone who welcomes a little child like this on my behalf is welcoming me.

Psalm 72:4  NLT

Help him to defend the poor, to rescue the children of the needy, and to crush their oppressors.

If you have known me for very long, you know that the back2school outreach is one of our favorite and biggest events of the year.  I mean this year is about to be the best ever for many, many reasons.  We are 81 days away, and that scares me, excites me and makes me realize that we need your help.

In all the past years of back2school we have served over 4,500 students in various ways.  Last year the total was over 1,750 with 3 churches and over 400 volunteers all working for a common cause and making a big difference in the lives of many students.  Students receive a new backpack filled with school supplies, gently used clothes, a haircut and brand new shoes and socks.  Also each student has their feet washed by one of our team members who talks to them about their future and about hope in Jesus.  All the glory goes to God. 

But 2013 will be the best yet.  Really, it will.  Why?  Thanks for asking.  The goal for this year’s back2school is to serve over 3,100 students and 6 churches have come together.  Yes, that is 6 churches (Fairway in Bassett, CrossPoint in Bassett, The Community in Collinsville, Mercy Crossing in Martinsville, Mt. Calvary in Axton, and First Pentecostal Holiness in Danville).  That makes me want to shout a lot, dance a bit and tell the entire world.

Lots of that makes me proud to lead an awesome group of people, yet what I see now, have seen in the past, and am ready to see in the time to come is how God gets all the glory.  You see, I believe when Christians come together for a cause to glorify God big things happen.  Often people see us fight and not work together.  Often people hear what we are against and not what we are for.  Often churches major on our differences rather than on what makes us one church and what is really the main thing.  The main thing is Jesus.  We must gather together to serve Jesus.  You heard me … JESUS!

I am more excited than ever about these churches working together to impact the lives of students and their families.  This is going to be bigger and better than any of us have planned.  Wait!  God knows, and He planned this awesome event.  But we will have to wait to see how big and good and sweet it will be.

Here is the thing… your help is needed.  The goal is to serve 3,100 students, and the cost is $18 per student.  If you do the math, that is over $55,000.  We are already praising God for what He has provided, and that He will provide the rest.  Will you help us get there?  Commit to pray for the students and team who will serve on Saturday, August 3rd, when the back2school outreach event will happen across the area (by the way, it is 53 miles from one end to the other as the map above shows).  Commit to volunteer that day or on the days before as we prepare.  Commit to donate gently used clothes for kids and brand new socks.  Or give a gift to help make the event happen (send your donation to TCF back2school, PO Box 388, Collinsville, VA 24078 or email info@thecommunityfellowship.org or call 276-647-8231; you can also give online by CLICKING THIS LINK).

Why do we do this?  Why does back2school exist?  It is because God called us to this ministry, and we ain’t seen nothing yet.  Our prayer is that God would use this effort to demonstrate the love of God to our community and beyond.  Join in.  Let’s make it happen.  It’s gonna be bigger than ever, and I can’t wait ……….

1 Timothy 2:4  NASB

(God) who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.

Titus 3:14  NLT

Our people must learn to do good by meeting the urgent needs of others; then they will not be unproductive.

for more information about The Community Fellowship or The Community Dream Center call 276-647-8231 or email info@thecommunityfellowship.org