Travel Escapes by Mike

11/06/2024

From the BP Temp 65

“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.” John‬ ‭14‬:‭27‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Last night listening to election results, I turned the TV off early and went to bed. I was confident whoever won the election, the sun would come up this morning and God would be in control. I was correct the Eastern sky is beginning to light up.

I am not into politics. Can’t carry on a two minute conversation about any of it. I can carry on a lengthy conversation about Auburn Football and what I think is wrong down there…with a little coaching experience to back it up. Even with all that , I know the Sun will come up and it will be orange and the sky will be blue. But politics, Nope not me.

I can carry on a longer conversation about my God. Let me tell you about my God. He is in control. He loves us. He sent his only Son to Earth to die for us, so we may be saved and spend eternity with him. Put your faith in the One in control. I know that when I die, I will spend eternity with him.

So the election is over, good thing is there will be no more political commercials on the Tv for a while. And know this, the sun will come up and we will keep on keeping on.

God is in control.

Have a great Wednesday!!

War Eagle 🦅

11/05/2024

From the BP. Temp 68

“Then they cried out to the Lord in their trouble, and he brought them out of their distress.” Psalms‬ ‭107‬:‭28‬ ‭NIV‬‬

“Evening, morning and noon I cry out in distress, and he hears my voice.”
‭‭Psalms‬ ‭55‬:‭17‬ ‭NIV‬‬

You wake up with stuff on your mind, sometimes in the middle of the night. You hit the ground running with stuff on your mind, racing at full speed. Got to do this….got to do that. Make this deadline , deal with this situation, appease this person, avoid this person, make it through the day. I understand, we have all been there. Nowhere in the Bible does it say there will not be days like these. It is how we deal with them and how we handle the stress that is the key.

David writes in Psalms to cry out morning, noon, night. Yell to God!!!! You noticed I said yell to not at Him, even though he can take the yelling at as well. God understands. He knows our innermost thoughts and being. He is there for you during times of stress.

If you are going through a high stress period in your life, slow down for just a little bit and take time with the Father. Read your Bible, pray. Tell God what is going on, lay the situation at his feet. Listen and sing some praise music on the way to work. Sing your lungs out. I promise you will feel better. Hard to maintain stress when you are praising the Lord.

Have a great Tuesday.

War Eagle 🦅

11/04/2024

From the BP. Temp 64

“But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind.” James‬ ‭1‬:‭6‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Sitting on the BP this morning and the wind is blowing pretty good. I am watching leaves blow off the trees into the backyard. Oh Joy!!! The leaves are tossed about by the wind. I have been fishing up on the Tennessee River and the wind come up, trolling motor doing everything it could to keep up and getting tossed about by the wind. Not a good feeling, a feeling of no to minimal control.

When you ask God for wisdom and help with a situation, DO NOT DOUBT. Believe that he is going to answer your cry. Believe and carry out his answer. Do not become the wave/leaf/boat being tossed about by your situation and lack of faith.

God is listening and waiting to help you through all of your situations. I promise it is nothing he has not seen nor doesn’t already know.

Ask God for wisdom today. Do not doubt, he will answer and do not doubt his answer.

Have a great Monday.

War Eagle 🦅

11/03/2024

From the BP. Temp 65

“For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and him crucified. I came to you in weakness with great fear and trembling.”
‭‭1 Corinthians‬ ‭2‬:‭2‬-‭3‬ ‭NIV‬‬

“But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.”
‭‭2 Corinthians‬ ‭12‬:‭9‬ ‭NIV‬‬

In church we often hear, you need to find your strengths, use your strengths to serve God and to serve others. We do surveys and questionnaires about our spiritual gifts, (i.e. strengths) and how we can use them to serve in the church. I believe we all have spiritual gifts that God wants us to use to glorify and strengthen his kingdom.

But God also wants our WEAKNESSES. God wants ALL of you, not just the “good” stuff. He wants to use your weaknesses too.

Quit holding back on serving our God because you do not think you have anything to offer Him. You have everything you need for even in our weaknesses he is made strong. All He wants is you to surrender, He will do the rest.

Remember Saul became Paul on the road to Damascus…..

Have a great Sunday!!!

War Eagle 🦅

11/02/2024

From the BP. Temp 67

““Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.”
‭‭Matthew‬ ‭11‬:‭28‬ ‭NIV‬‬

“The Lord replied, “My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.””
‭‭Exodus‬ ‭33‬:‭14‬ ‭NIV‬‬

“for anyone who enters God’s rest also rests from their works, just as God did from his.” Hebrews‬ ‭4‬:‭10‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Hello weekend!!! Take time to rest this weekend. Take some time to spend in rest with Him. Read your Bible, take time to pray. Give thanks for all the many blessings he has given you. Sit on your back porch or front porch or under your shade tree, get outside and breathe fresh air, soak up some sun.

I know some of you have to work, well take time to rest on your day off. I know we all have lots to do on our days off, but take a few minutes to just sit and rest.

Even God took time to rest after a week of work.

Have a great Saturday!!

War Eagle 🦅

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.

10/31/2024

From the BP Temp 68

“always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.” Ephesians‬ ‭5‬:‭20‬ ‭NIV‬‬

“give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”
‭‭1 Thessalonians‬ ‭5‬:‭18‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Well it is Halloween, October 31. I am not much on Halloween anymore. Kids are grown, I don’t have any grandchildren yet, we don’t have a lot of trick or treaters so I let the day pass. Tomorrow is November 1.

What holidays come in November? Veterans Day and Thanksgiving.

Kind of ironic the Veterans Day is a day we give thanks and appreciation for our veterans and couple of weeks later we celebrate Thanksgiving to give thanks for everything. We should be living a life of Thanksgiving DAILY!

First I want to say thanks and my heartfelt appreciation to all the Veterans now and those that have gone to be with the Lord. My Dad, Father-in-Law, uncles, great uncles. Thank you to my sister and numerous friends who have served our country in order to preserve our freedom. When you see someone with a uniform or a veteran hat on tell them thank you. THANK YOU.

We should be living a life of constant Thanksgiving! The Bible says in “all circumstances”. Read it as you will, but I read it to mean in the GOOD times, not so good times and the BAD times. Give Thanks, even for the littlest things, things that may seem insignificant. The act of giving thanks is definitely a form of praise to the Father. If not for the Father……..you can fill in the space.

Thank you Father for your Son and the Holy Spirit!! Without y’all we are nothing. We are lost!!

Give thanks today!!

Have a Thankful Thursday!!

War Eagle 🦅

10/30/2024

“And do this, understanding the present time: The hour has already come for you to wake up from your slumber, because our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed.” Romans‬ ‭13‬:‭11‬ ‭NIV‬‬

“So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.” 2 Corinthians‬ ‭4‬:‭18‬ ‭NIV‬‬

The Rolling Stones sing a song titled “Time is on My Side”. I know you have heard it at least once. Cyndi Lauper had a hit back in the day “Time after Time”. Bob Dylan wrote “Forever Young”, I remember the Rod Stewart version of the song.

I have heard it said that the one thing we all have is Time. I beg to differ. We only have so much time. And the rub is…none of us know how much time we have left.

Make the most of every minute. Spend time with the people you love. Spend time mending the fences that need mending. Spend time worshipping and praising our Father in Heaven. Tell people about Christ. Tell your people you love them.

If you do not know Christ as your personal Savior, don’t wait another minute. You are not guaranteed another second.

Know God! Live life!! No time for moping around. No time to waste. Love your people. Get busy!!!

Do not run out of time.

Have a great Wednesday!

War Eagle 🦅

10/29/2024

From the BP. Temp 64

“Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these.””
‭‭Mark‬ ‭12‬:‭30‬-‭31‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Pretty simple, Right? Wrong!!! While it is simple to love God, are we doing it with all our soul, mind and strength? Think about it for a minute, are you pouring your ALL into your love for the Father? Strive to be able to say YES, not only in the bad times but in the good times as well. I believe it is we tend to focus on loving God when things are bad. You know, during “Hey God, I love you and I need your help here!!!!!” times.

What about when things are great! Everything is A OK! You know those times when work is good, kids are good, marriage is good, money is good, everything is going our way. Do we sometimes forget the Why? Do we forget who is blessing us? Do we forget our love for the Father? Do we become complacent?

What about loving others? I think it is the exact opposite. When things are bad, we are more focused on ourselves and our situations. Not as concerned about the neighbor whose kid is sick or guy at work who is having trouble at home or anything else for that matter. We are so self absorbed in our mess that we are not aware of others.

Easy to love others when things are good. “Hey, I am happy! Let me spread this good cheer and fortune!!!!” “Hi!!! Welcome to church!” “What can I do to help? What do you need?”

I may be way off base with these ramblings today. It may just be me talking to me. I need to focus on loving God ALL the time. Putting maximum effort when things are good as well as bad. I need to focus on loving others consistently not only when I am in a good mood and feel like it.

Have a great Tuesday.

War Eagle 🦅

10/28/2024

“Light is sweet, and it pleases the eyes to see the sun.” Ecclesiastes‬ ‭11‬:‭7‬ ‭NIV‬‬

“But I will sing of your strength, in the morning I will sing of your love; for you are my fortress, my refuge in times of trouble.”
‭‭Psalms‬ ‭59‬:‭16‬ ‭NIV‬‬

I love to see the sunrise! Almost every morning I am up before the sun comes up. I make it a point to watch the sky lighten as the sun comes up. I have my quiet time every morning as the sun comes up. It is the one time of the day that I have 100% to myself with no interruptions.

I know that a lot of you are not morning people. Ok, no worries. Find your time when you can be alone with God. Spend time with him daily.

The sunrise reminds me daily that he is our strength and love. He is our fortress and refuge DAILY. Back in the day, forts were a sign of strength. They kept the good guys in and the bad guys out. Remember, when times are bad, he is there. He is the fort in the wilderness providing protection and refuge. Also we need to remember that in the good times he is there as well.

Sometimes we take the “fort” for granted.

If the bad guys are coming, run to your fort and shut the gates!!! Thank God for your fort.

Have a great Monday.

War Eagle 🦅

10/27/2024

From the BP. Temp 64

“Indeed, the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Don’t be afraid.” Luke‬ ‭12‬:‭7‬ ‭NIV‬‬

“You discern my going out and my lying down; you are familiar with all my ways.”
‭‭Psalms‬ ‭139‬:‭3‬ ‭NIV‬‬

As I watch the sun come up through the trees, I thank God for a new day. Even with the clouds the sun is shining and the sky is lit up. Beautiful.

It is a new day. God knows what you are going through. God knows. He knows the number of hairs on your head. He is familiar with you.

Whatever is going on in your life, bad or good, give it to God. Thank him for the good and lay the bad at his feet. He never fails.

Have a great Sunday!

War Eagle 🦅

10/25/2024

“Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!” Philippians‬ ‭4‬:‭4‬ ‭NIV‬‬

“give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”
‭‭1 Thessalonians‬ ‭5‬:‭18‬ ‭NIV‬‬

I had a rough day yesterday. Nothing major, just a rough day. (Teachers know these kind of days) It had me questioning a lot of things.
But………..TODAY is a new day.

Even as I was having my day, I did say thanks to God for the opportunity that had been granted to me. I know that God is the reason for my very existence and definitely has placed me where I am at this time in my life.

Give thanks to God in all circumstances. Rejoice in the Lord. Look to him when it gets rough. It is always better to look up than to look down.

Rejoice in the fact it is FRIDAY.

HAPPY FRIDAY Y’ALL!!!!

War Eagle 🦅

10/24/2024

From the BP Temp 61

““Yet if you devote your heart to him and stretch out your hands to him,”
‭‭Job‬ ‭11‬:‭13‬ ‭NIV‬‬

“I stretch forth my hands unto thee: My soul thirsteth after thee, as a thirsty land. Selah.” Psalm‬ ‭143‬:‭6‬ ‭KJV

As I was sitting on the BP this morning talking with God asking him what to write this morning, I was stretching. Nothing feels better than a good stretch. Ask your dog. Have you ever noticed if they have been laying around for a while the first thing they do when they get up is stretch. My Bella looks so happy and content as she stretches.

As I was stretching, I lifted both hands above my head and tried to make myself 6 feet tall, which would take an act of God and a miracle. It was then, I heard a small voice say, “ Do this every day. Stretch your hands toward Me.”

For us vertically challenged, everything is a stretch. Most of the time they do not feel good. But when we stretch with the sole purpose of stretching, there is a different feeling all-together! A feeling of relief. A feeling of relaxation. A feeling of Aaaahhh!

Stretch your hands toward the One who brings the relief, relaxation and sense of
aaaaahhhh! Devote your heart to Him. Thirst for Him. Just as our kids reached up to us to be picked up, so the same toward Him.

What a difference a good stretch makes!!!

Have a great Thursday!!!

War Eagle 🦅

10/23/2024

From the BP Temp 59

“The Lord makes firm the steps of the one who delights in him; though he may stumble, he will not fall, for the Lord upholds him with his hand.”
‭‭Psalms‬ ‭37‬:‭23‬-‭24‬ ‭NIV‬‬

“Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart.”
‭‭Psalms‬ ‭37‬:‭4‬ ‭NIV‬‬

We all stumble. I stumble daily. Read the first verse again. Though you stumble, you will not fall. Delight in the Lord. Seek a honest, loving, daily relationship with him. Without the delightful relationship with Him, you will fall. Will he stand you back up? Yes!!!

I do not believe the second verse is a “name it claim it verse”. I read that to say, be happy in the Lord, keep your relationship real and vibrant with Him. Seek him daily in all that you do. You will be happy and content. Your desires will reflect the Father’s.

I would give just about anything to hang with Ed Harrison for one more day. Just like a child finds delight in hanging with their earthly father, we need to find delight hanging with our Heavenly Father.

Seek him. Talk to him. Love him. Delight in him. He will keep you upright in this sideways world.

Have a great Wednesday.

War Eagle 🦅

10/20/2024

From the Back Porch Temp 52

“A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.”
‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭17‬:‭22‬ ‭NIV‬‬

“Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!” Philippians‬ ‭4‬:‭4‬ ‭NIV‬‬

“Then my soul will rejoice in the Lord and delight in his salvation.” Psalms‬ ‭35‬:‭9‬ ‭NIV‬‬

After all three of my teams lost yesterday, I still rejoice in the Lord. I rejoice in the fact that he woke me up this morning before the alarm went off. I rejoice in the fact that I am able to go to church and fellowship with other believers. I rejoice in the fact that I am able to serve at church this morning. I REJOICE in the fact that I am saved.

I do not know what you are going through this Sunday morning or what you have been through in the past. God calls us to rejoice in Him. Yes, there are times for sadness, there is a time for everything. But in the end God calls us to rejoice in Him and our salvation.

I do not know what tomorrow brings, but I do know in the end we WIN. I do not know what tomorrow brings, but today I choose to rejoice.

Go to church somewhere today. Gather with other believers. Sing songs of praise and worship. Rejoice in the Lord.

Have a great Sunday.

War Eagle 🦅

10/19/2024

From the BP Temp 53

“I sought the Lord, and he answered me; he delivered me from all my fears.”
‭‭Psalms‬ ‭34‬:‭4‬ ‭NIV‬‬

“to rescue us from the hand of our enemies, and to enable us to serve him without fear” Luke‬ ‭1‬:‭74‬ ‭NIV‬‬

“Do not call conspiracy everything this people calls a conspiracy; do not fear what they fear, and do not dread it.”
Isaiah‬ ‭8‬:‭12‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Some people say that “Do not fear” is mentioned in the Bible 365 times, one for each day. Other places on the internet says it is more like 145-200 depending upon which site you open. I do not have a definitive number so let’s just say it is mentioned a bunch.

Some people are scared of snakes, some of spiders, some of water and some of their own shadow. I really have had only two fears in my life: HEIGHTS and FAILURE.

How do I combat these two fears? HEIGHTS. I do not get on ladders, roofs or climb trees. An eight foot step ladder gives me the heebee geebees. It is the chance that I may fall. It is not the flight that scares me, it is the landing. If I have to get on a ladder, believe me I am praying all the time I am on it.

FAILURE. Throughout my life, I have always feared FAILURE. Have I failed? Yes, but it was not from the lack of trying and working. I never wanted to be looked at as a failure. I did not want to let people down. Nothing bothered me more than to think I had let my parents, head coaches, family, or myself down. How do I combat this fear now? Through hard work, perseverance, and PRAYER.

God does not want us to live a life of fear. I believe, when God says Fear the Lord, that he is demanding unwavering respect/reverence for Him. As the son of Ed Harrison, I had unwavering respect for him, not out of fear but out of love. We need to have the same for our Heavenly Father.

Pray that God will deliver you from your fears. Demonstrate your “Fear of the Lord”.
He will comfort you and deliver you from your fears.

I will get off my “High Horse” now. Getting a little antsy up here.

Have a great Saturday!!! Rest, eat, and watch some football.

War Eagle 🦅
Sooie Pigs 🐷
Hookem Horns 🤘

10/18/2024

From the BP. Temp 48

“Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us,” Hebrews‬ ‭12‬:‭1‬ ‭NIV‬‬

“And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people.”
‭‭Ephesians‬ ‭6‬:‭18‬ ‭NIV‬‬

““Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.” Matthew‬ ‭7‬:‭7‬ ‭NIV‬‬

How many times have you felt like giving up? Many times, I have thought and said, “I am done!” “I can’t do this anymore!” I am worn out!” Was I done, No! Could I do it some more, Yes! Was I worn out, Yes! But I kept on keeping on.

I have been in education for most of my life, either as a student or a teacher/coach. I began with 2 years of kindergarten, elementary, middle, high school and then 5+ glorious years of college. After the training years, I embarked on 35 years in education and even “retired” I am still working each day as a long term sub. Many times I was ready to throw in the towel. Many times I said I was D U N.
I kept on going. Going to class, going to practice, going to meetings, day after day..year after year.

We have to persevere through the bad times. We have to ask God for the perseverance and strength to make through the day, maybe through the next minute. We are all running a race, albeit some faster than others and some through and obstacle course verses a smooth track. We have to keep running.

I know that my God will get me through anything. I have been there with Him more times than I can count in my 59 years. Some things of my doings, some of others doings and some of just life. How did I get through the anythings? Prayer! Knocking on the door. Sometimes beating it off its hinges.

Know this he is waiting and listening for the knock. He is there for us. He listens to us and he wants to bless us and help us through the everyday challenges of this life.

As Bob Dylan and Guns and Roses sang
“Knock, Knock, Knocking of Heaven’s Door” he will answer and you will persevere!!!

Have a great Friday!!

War Eagle 🦅