Pastor's Devotions by Tim Harris

I was thinking recently of how the Christmas lights come at just the right time of the year. After all, December and the winter months to follow are some of the hardest months of the year (at least here in the northern hemisphere). Not only is it cold and the weather unpredictable, but the days are short and the nights long. Each day of December, at least up until December 21 or 22 (approximately), the days get shorter and shorter—and the nights longer and longer. And even after that, any lengthening of the days has zero effect upon us. Thankfully, it is during these dark days of December that we have Christmas. It is during this particular month that we find the increase in darkness counterbalanced by the brightness of the lights of Christmas. In spite of the fact that the days are getting shorter and darker, we often call this month, “The  Season of Light.” And, that’s exactly what Christmas is all about: light shining into darkness. As the prophet Isaiah wrote long ago, “The peo...

Last weekend, Kim and I went to a local park with our son Jonathan’s family. While the adults  walked, our two grandsons Jesse and Jack rode their balance bikes around the park. (The youngest, Caleb, was in the stroller.)  At one point, Jesse, the older of the two, yelled to the rest of us, “Dad, Grandpa, Grandma, Mom, you’ve got to come see this!” “What is it, Jesse?” we replied. “Hurry! Look! Come over here! It’s a puddle of ice!”  Dutifully, and with the most excited faces we could put on, we all went to see what all the excitement was about. Well, there it was: a very normal looking puddle that had frozen over—at least to some degree. For most of us, it was anything but all that exciting. For Jesse, however, it was the most exciting thing he has seen all day—maybe all week!  It’s true that, when we are young the small things in life can feel very exciting. Unfortunately, as we age, it takes much more to wow us. No longer does a puddle of ice or a butterfly flitti...

I remember how, when our children were young, we tried hard to teach them to say, “Thank you.” Each time they would receive something from us or from someone else we would say, “What do you say?” And they would eventually respond, “Thank you.”  Our goal of course was to not only teach them proper manners, but as well what it means to be grateful. The first was easy; the second not so much. After all, just because one says, “Thank you,” doesn’t always mean they feel thankful for whatever it is they have received. Our hope as parents was that, eventually our children’s words would represent something within their hearts.  With the arrival of Thanksgiving, I want to remind us of not only the importance of giving thanks, but of actually having a thankful heart. Again, the first is easy; the second is a bit harder. How do we go beyond merely saying, “thank you” to a deep-felt sense of gratitude? Let me share a few means of doing so. (1) Learn contentment . The Apostle Paul wrote of...

Since my retirement from pastoring, I’ve been working as a personal trainer at a local gym, The Fort Athletic Club, as well as through my own business, Second Wind Personal Training. I’m passionate about fitness and health both for myself and for others. That’s why I entered this field as a second career. It’s my hope that I might be able to help others gain the fitness and health they need to enjoy life and live the kind of life God intends for them to live. After all, an unfit and unhealthy body ends up as a body filled with limitations. A fit body is able to move and do and enjoy every aspect of life.  However, I’m also keenly aware that we as people are more than our bodies. God created us as holistic beings: body, mind, soul, and spirit. He designed us to be multi-faceted, not merely one dimensional bodies. That requires that we not only take care of our bodies, but as well care for our whole selves—i.e., our minds, our souls, and our spirits.  The Apostle Paul wrote to T...

With fall in full force, the trees here in New Jersey are bursting with color. The reds, the yellows, the oranges, and even the browns of fall are as awe-inspiring as are the purples and pinks of spring. The colors of the season highlight the fact that we live in a colorful world.   Not only that, but the way we react to the colors of fall (e.g. going to “see the colors” and all the pictures we take), reminds us that we were made for color. Our eyes were designed to perceive color and our brains designed to interpret it. We paint our homes with an array of colors both inside and out. We are intrigued by artists who know how to use color in just the right way or the designer who knows how to bring the right colors together. We create fabrics that are filled with color and thus wear clothing filled with color. And we can’t help but comment on the colors of a rainbow or of a sunrise or sunset as they show up in the sky. Again, we seem to be made for color.   As I was gr...

It seems that just about every fall we have at least one big storm that excels the falling of the leaves. Today was that day. Thankfully, here in the US Northeast we did not experience a hurricane as did Jamaica, Haiti, Cuba, and other parts of the Caribbean. (Let’s be sure to pray for the people there and give towards their recovery.) We did, however, have our share of rain, wind, and falling leaves.  We woke up to find the morning was a bit grey and damp. Throughout the morning the wind began to substantially pick up. And then early this afternoon, the skies opened up. By the end of the day, the roads were flooded, branches were strewn across the lawns, and the trees looked a bit more bare than they did earlier in the day. For sure, we had our share of rain, wind, and falling leaves.  What we experienced today—the rain, wind, and falling leaves—seems to me to be quite a picture of the way life can be. You wake up one morning and things just seem a little more grey—i.e., some...

As you may or may not know, since retiring from the pastorate, I have begun a new journey, a new career—a new life you might say. I have entered the world of personal training. Currently, I am jump starting my own business, “Second Wind Personal Training.” And I am working at a local gym, “The Fort Athletic Club.”   Of course, it is for me quite a different environment than what I have been used to. For the first time in over 40 years I am working outside of the confines of a church.  I’m now working with a team of trainers who are, for the most part, in their 20’s and 30’s (that makes me quite a bit older than them!), all of whom are in excellent shape—i.e., fit and strong (which of course challenges me!) And, I’m working with clients, most of whom are in their 50’s and 60’s (which is a perfect fit for me), trying to help them reach their fitness goals. Thankfully, everyone I’m working with has been very kind, respectful, encouraging, and helpful, which makes it all a bi...

A couple of weeks ago, Kim and I were treated to the fanciest and most expensive restaurant we have ever been to. Some friends of ours gave us a gift card to a Michelin star restaurant right on Central Park south. At first, Kim and I wondered how in the world we could spend the amount of money on the gift card for one meal. Once we saw the menu we understood how!   That night we had a caprese salad that was made with burrata cheese and chunks of lobster. The garlic bread was topped with burrata and caviar. One pasta included shrimp and the other grilled octopus. Kim’s scallops and my halibut were cooked to perfection and served in a way that was far beyond what we had ever experienced. And I can’t even begin to describe the tiramisu. Best of all, one of the chefs was a young man who was part of the church we had pastored a few years ago in Queens. Chef Dan kept on sending out extras to our table such that, we ended up with close to twice as much food as we had actually ordered...

As most of you know, for so many years I was the senior pastor of the churches I served. That meant, one might say, “being in charge.” I was the one leading the services, leading staff, leadership, and board meetings. It meant setting the course and giving instructions, direction, and correction. Now, however, I find myself in a very different position.   It struck me the other day as I sat in a meeting for all the trainers at the gym where I have begun to work part-time. The training manager had called us together for our monthly meeting. Now I was on the other side listening to her give instructions, direction, and correction. She was the one setting the course. I was now in a place I had not been in for so many years. And I won’t say that it didn’t feel a little tough.  But can you imagine what would have happened if in that meeting I decided that I wanted to be the leader? Can you imagine what it would have been like if I had tried to take over the meeting and give my...

It’s been almost three weeks since my retirement from full-time pastoring and I can tell you,  everything is different. I no longer have the same routines I once had. I find myself  immersed in a very different environment. I’m no longer doing many of the things I once did on such a regular basis. Yes, everything is different.  For the many years I was pastoring, I had pretty set routines. I knew when I needed to be in the church office, which days were for sermon preparation, when there would be staff meetings, and which days and times were my own for going to the gym, getting things done around the house, and spending time with family. I had my Sunday morning and Wednesday night schedule. I knew which evenings were set aside for meetings, services, counseling, etc. My schedule now looks very different.   I now find myself immersed in a totally different environment. As you may or may not know, I’ve plunged into the world of personal training. I’m jump-starting...

Last weekend Kim and I spent a couple of days at our family cabin in the Adirondack Mountains. It was a nice break after all the busyness of my retirement weekend and the weeks leading up to it. Being there gave us a chance to unwind and catch our breath.  As most of you know, however, when the Harrises go away to relax that doesn’t mean we sit on the beach or couch all day. For us, relaxing usually includes some sort of activity. So, our first morning there, after eating a relaxed breakfast, Kim and I decide to go for a hike up Panther Mountain.  Now let me be clear, this was not a hike up one of the high peaks (as our son Jonathan would do). Although it was quite steep in some parts, especially towards the top, it was just shy of a mile each way with an elevation gain of 666 feet (don’t worry about that number, please!). Going up took us about 40 minutes, including a couple of short stops. Once we reached the top we sat on the rocks, ate a snack (there must always be snacks!...

As I wrote last week, this past Sunday was my retirement Sunday. I had a great weekend with my children and grandchildren. We went to the beach and out for dinner on Saturday, and of course they were with us on Sunday for our final service. Our church, Shrewsbury First Assembly, honored and celebrated Kim and me with kind words, prayers, gifts, and a beautiful reception. And I was so blessed to have so many extended family members and friends from throughout the years join us that day.  Then came Monday and Tuesday and….suddenly, it all seemed so final! One season of life had ended and a new season had begun. Yes, I had been planning for this moment for over a year, yet it still seemed so sudden—and again, so final. By Tuesday, I was questioning whether or not I had made the right decision. Was this a good thing? Would I get used to this new life? Would I become anxious, depressed, bored, lonely, etc.? Would Kim and I make it financially? So many questions—and even fears—began to r...

This coming Sunday, September 7, 2025, is my retirement Sunday here at First Assembly of God in Shrewsbury, NJ.  After over 40 years of church ministry, ten years here at First Assembly, and over a year of planning with my church board and assistant pastor, the day is upon me. This Sunday I’ll be preaching my final sermon as a “Senior Pastor.” And I’ll be moving from one season of life to another. After Sunday’s service I’ll officially be a “retired minister.”  That doesn’t mean I’ll be sitting around doing nothing. I do hope to still be involved in ministry, filling pulpits and helping churches as needed. I might do some writing. And in case you don’t already know, this past year I received my certification as a personal trainer. Right now the plan is to work at a local gym a few hours per week as well as run my own training business (Second Wind Personal Training). And of course, I’m hoping to get a bit more time with my kids and grandkids!  As most pastors can attest, ...

As many of you know by now, I’m currently in the process of retiring from over 40 years of pastoral ministry. My final Sunday at First Assembly of God of Shrewsbury, NJ will be September 7, just over a week from now. Thus over the past few weeks, I’ve been dismantling my office, piece by piece and book by book. And, have I collected a lot of books! After all, in ministry one is constantly using books.  Some of those books were one time reads. Some were kept on hand for help with further study and sermon preparation. I had my share of commentaries, word study books, concordances, counseling books, leadership books, and more. Some I’ve given away. Some I’ve reshelved in another room in our church office for use by others. And there are a number that I’ve boxed up to bring home. Thus, both my office and my home now have boxes of books.   Admittedly, it’s not easy for me to part with books that have been on my shelves for so many years. In fact, the other day I found myself g...

Most mornings, I try to eat a good/healthy breakfast to get my day going.  For me that means eggs, toast, some fruit, including a banana, and of course coffee. My goal is to eat a good balance of protein, carbs, and fat so that I can avoid the morning crash I would face when eating merely a bagel and butter or a muffin or a bowl of cereal. I think of my breakfast as fuel for the day. It’s like putting gas in the tank so that I’ll have the energy and strength to do what needs to be done, at least in the first part of that day. In the same way, and even more so, I know I need to fuel not just my body but as well my heart, mind, and spirit. That’s where time spent reading the Bible comes in. Thus, each morning, I pull out my Bible (actually on my iPad), and pick up where I left off the day before, reading two passages of scripture, including one Psalm. Often I include a reading from a devotional book as well.  You see, my time spent reading the Bible is not merely an obligation, ...

The other day, as I was walking the boardwalk, I passed by an elderly couple walking hand-in-hand. I couldn’t help but stop and ask them how long they have been married. The husband simply said, “A very long time.” The wife, however, with a big smile on her face gave the real answer: “70 years!” I thought that was astounding. Here they were, married for 70 years, and still walking the boardwalk hand-in-hand! (Think of it, they must have been in their 90’s.) I let the couple know that about two weeks ago, Kim and I celebrated our fortieth wedding anniversary!  To which the wife responded, “Mazel tov…may you have many more!”  At that moment, however, their 70 years of marriage made me feel like a newlywed—as if I was just starting out. I wish I could have sat down with them and heard their stories and learned how it was that after 70 years of marriage, they were still holding hands. I’m sure they would have had some pretty good advice.  As I reflect on my own 40 years of ma...

Over the past few weeks Kim and I got to spend quite a bit of time with our three grandsons, Jesse, Jack, and Caleb. As we did, we learned one of the dinner routines they often do as a family in order to create conversation around the dinner table, as well as keep the kids engaged during that time (after all, like most kids they hate sitting at the table for too long).  Their routine is called, “Highs, Lows, and Buffalos.”  One by one each family member first shares a “high”—that is, something from their day that was especially good or that they really enjoyed. Then they each share a “low”—i.e., something they had to do or that took place that they didn’t like at all. Then they share a “buffalo.” I’m not sure why it’s called a “buffalo,” but a “buffalo” is some sort of surprise that they experienced that day. (I guess if they came across a buffalo that would be quite a surprise!) So, during our time together with them, we would periodically all share our “highs, lows, and buff...

This past week our son Jonathan’s family was with us. That meant that all three grandsons were here: Jesse, Jack, and Caleb. One evening, as the others were getting ready for bed (which is quite an event!), Caleb, who is now just over one year old, was with me on the couch as we waited for his mom or dad to come get him for bed. While we waited he and I played his little one year old games, like gently bonking heads or letting him clap my hands together. He has gotten to be quite animated and can be so much fun—and seems to love playing with his grandpa!   Suddenly Caleb laid his head down on my chest. He moved back and forth a few times, making me think he was just playing another game. Before I knew it, however, his head was down between my shoulders—i.e., on my chest—and he had fallen asleep. I was pleasantly surprised and quite glad that he would feel so comfortable with me that he would fall asleep on me in that way.  I immediately thought of one of my favorite verse...

If you don’t know already, after 41 years of being involved in ministry and 34 years as a senior pastor, at the end of the summer I’m retiring from full-time pastoral ministry. My final Sunday here at Shrewsbury First Assembly is September 7 which is now just about two months away. I have to admit, this is a quite a bitter-sweet time as I know I’m going to miss many things about pastoring while at the same time I’m looking forward to the changes that retirement can bring, especially more time with my family.  In the meantime, I’m getting myself and the church ready for what is to come. I’ve been working with our church board and assistant pastor, Guilherme Medeiros, who has been elected to step into my position upon my retirement, on this transition for about a year. Especially over the past six months, I’ve worked with Pastor Gui, preparing him for the role he is about to step into, hoping to help him and the church be well-prepared for the future that is before them.  For my...

I think you would agree that we live in a culture in which working “’round the clock,” as we call it, is something of a badge of honor. Those who “burn the candle at both ends” and say, “I only need a few hours of sleep,” are looked up to as if they are some sort of super hero. But is that the way it is supposed to be? Is that what God intended for our lives? Is that how God designed our bodies to work?  The more I’ve dived into the fitness world, the more I’ve learned about the importance of a good night’s sleep—which is usually defined as seven to eight hours of good sleep. It’s during sleep that our bodies recover from not only that day’s run or workout, but most importantly from the stresses and strains of what has often been a busy day. During sleep, our bodies heal and build and get back to where they are supposed to be so that the next day we can function at our highest capacity. Just ask any sleep-deprived parent of a newborn what happens when one loses too much sleep! I be...