Pastor's Devotions by Tim Harris

Every year, from the time they were each born, Kim and I have purchased each of our children a new Christmas ornament. That means they each have one ornament for every year of their life. Thus, at this point we have almost 60 ornaments on our Christmas tree that belong to our kids representing the years of the lives. In addition, Kim and I have ornaments that represent various time periods and aspects of our lives. There is the ornament for our first year of marriage. We have ornaments that represent Kim’s years of music ministry.   There is even one that represents my years of pastoring.   And, many of our ornaments, since they were given to us as gifts, remind us of the many people who have been part of our lives; people whom we remember as we hang the ornament they gave to us on our tree. I find it fascinating at this point to look at our tree and try to think through each of the years represented by the ornaments hung on it and all that has tak...

On this Thanksgiving weekend, I can’t help but look back over the past year and see the faithful hand of God at work in my life.   God has been faithful to provide when my family needed provision, to reveal his presence in the midst of some great transitions, and to bring peace and help in the middle of some the challenges we have faced. God has brought kept us close as a family, used some very dear friends to walk beside us, and brought some really great new people into our lives.   Like most people, this past year has been for me a mix of some really good times and some very difficult times.   Honestly, I didn’t always see God or trust him the way I should have.   In retrospect, however, I see much more clearly that, through both the good and bad, God has been with us; God has been faithful; and God has shown himself to be a good God who really does care for his people.   For all of that and more, I am thankful.   The prophet ...

In response to the terrible blow that Hurricane Sandy unleashed on the Greater New York area, this past week I went with a team from our church, Promise International Fellowship (PIF), to Island Park, Long Island. We went to work with Convoy of Hope and Samaritan’s Purse.   After signing in, we were sent to the home of a couple in their 70’s.   The walls of the first floor of their home had to be completely ripped out.   We went to work with hammers and crowbars, shovels and brooms, tearing down the plaster, the wood behind it, and the insulation. The debris quickly piled up as the dust filled the air. It was hard work…no, it was sad work.   For me, the ripping out of those walls was a picture of just how devastated the people around us were feeling. Understandably, as we did our work, the couple whose home we worked in seemed broken-hearted to see the walls of their home being demolished. It was as if the walls of their hearts were crumbling as wel...

This morning Kim got out of the house early to try to find gasoline for our van. (We have been concerned as to whether or not we will have enough gas to get Nathaniel back to college on Saturday as well as have enough gas to get to church on Sunday.)   After Kim waited for an hour and a half, I came along with some breakfast and switched with her. Thankfully, for me there was only about another half an hour of the wait left—but only for super at $4.50 per gallon with a $30 limit, and only cash!   But, we at least got that much.   I think the last thing anyone expected with the onset of “Sandy” would be the long line of cars at the gas stations throughout the region.   Although, many of us thought to fill-up our tanks before the storm hit, who would have thought that four days later we would have gasoline being rationed?   Who would have expected to be waiting on lines for two hours or more for a few gallons of gas? But, wait we do—on som...

Last week I was in Nicaragua experiencing some of the most torrential rain I've ever seen in my life (it is the rainy season there).  Today I am home with my family riding out "Sandy," waiting for the worst that we are told is yet to come.  As I reflect on the rain and the wind and storms, the words to the old hymn come to mind.  I trust they will bless you as you ride out the storm - or even if you are in another part of the world with sunny skies! The Lord’s our Rock, in Him we hide, A Shelter in the time of storm; Secure whatever ill betide, A Shelter in the time of storm. Refrain Oh, Jesus is a Rock in a weary land, A weary land, a weary land; Oh, Jesus is a Rock in a weary land, A Shelter in the time of storm. A shade by day, defense by night, A Shelter in the time of storm; No fears alarm, no foes afright, A Shelter in the time of storm. Refrain The raging storms may round us beat, A Shelter in the time of storm We’ll never leave our...

Baseball season has officially come to an end in the New York City area.   With the Yankees’ final loss to the Tigers last night (and a terrible loss at that!), the Yankees go home to watch the world series on their television sets just like the rest of us—if they will do that (not sure I will).   Until next April, we are done with baseball in New York.   If you are a Yankee fan, you are of course both disappointed and almost stunned by the startling fall of the team.   After all, this was one of the best teams in baseball.   With their payroll and share of baseball superstars, we all expected a much longer post-season.   Who would have thought they would have crashed and burned as they did?   Who would have thought that in three games they would come up with only two runs? It’s not that they were a shoe-in to win the pennant, but who would have thought that they would lose in a shut-out? But, even the strongest and mightiest g...