My Trials are Wearing Me Out!
But they who wait for the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint. Isaiah 40:31 "Don't stop! You keep running. [...]
The Anxiety of Unknown Possibilities
Cast all your cares on Him because He cares for you. 1 Peter 5:7 Transparency is sometimes difficult for me because of the expectations I place on myself. Being a pastor carries a ton of weight and responsibilities, especially [...]
Truth is an Important Indicator of Authentic Worship
This people honors me with their lips, but their heart is far from me; in vain do they worship me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men. You leave the commandment of God and hold to the tradition of [...]
Worthy is So Much Better than Worthless
For all the gods of the peoples are worthless idols, but the Lord made the heavens. Psalm 96:5 Have you ever owned something worthless? Lari and I did, and it was the worst purchase we ever made. We [...]
Great is the Lord, So Praise Him
For great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised; He is to be feared above all gods. Psalm 96:4 I had the privilege of meeting John Calipari, basketball coach of the Kentucky Wildcats, several years ago. I heard [...]
We Sing Because His Mercy is Fresh
Oh sing to the LORD a new song; sing to the LORD, all the earth! Sing to the LORD, bless His name; tell of His salvation from day to day. Declare His glory among the nations, His marvelous works [...]
Searching for Heaven in a World of Princes
Put not your trust in princes, in a son of man, in whom there is no salvation. Psalm 146:3 Sometimes, the most straightforward verses teach us the most. When God wrote Scripture, He did not write it so that [...]
Compassion and Crooked Lines Make a Great Team
As a father shows compassion to his children, so the Lord shows compassion to those who fear Him. Psalm 103:13 I was so excited the first time my dad let me cut the grass. I can remember the day. [...]
My Neighbor is so Incredibly Worthless!
One who is righteous is a guide to his neighbor, but the way of the wicked leads them astray. Proverbs 12:26 Over the years, we've had many neighbors, and I have to say that they have all been great. [...]
The Father Seeks us Relentlessly
Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep that was lost Luke 15:6 Larry Gene Bell abducted Shari Smith from the end of her driveway on Friday, May 31st, 1985, somewhere around 3:15 PM after arriving home from [...]
Chained for Life Because of Jesus
and, having been set free from sin, have become slaves of righteousness. Romans 6:18 Sunday afternoons around my house growing up were what I call prison days. The old ball and chain. Locked up tight and doors closed. We [...]
Do You Believe Jesus Can Still Do Miracles?
Do not fear, only believe. Mark 5:36 When your world collapses and all seems lost, only believe. That's easy for Jesus to say...I mean, He's Jesus. I think it's ok to be real with each other. Sometimes it doesn't [...]
Grace is Not a Gift to be Taken Lightly
What then? Are we to sin because we are not under the law but under grace? By no means. Romans 6:15 I find it interesting that we live in a time where discipline in homes has shifted from quick [...]
Grace is the Answer to Our Failures
For sin will have no dominion over you, since you are not under law but under grace. Romans 6:14 When I was younger and played basketball for a youth league, I remember a "run-in" I had with Coach [...]
Righteousness or Unrighteousness…It is a Choice
Do not present your members to sin as instruments for unrighteousness, but present yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life, and your member to God as instruments for righteousness. Romans 6:13 Are you [...]
Sin Trades Your Cadillac for a Yugo
So you also must consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus. Let not sin, therefore reign in your mortal body, to make you obey its passions. Romans 6:11-12 "I'm trying so hard to live [...]
Love One Another in Difficult Times
For the whole law is fulfilled in one word: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. But if you bite and devour one another, watch out that you are not consumed by one another. Galatians 5:14-15 The other day, [...]
Constant Care Overcomes our Greatest Despair
The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases, His mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness. Lamentations 3:22-23 Boy, have I made mistakes. No one ever gave me a handbook for [...]
It seemed appropriate for our children to study about Noah’s ark and the flood in our Sunday School this past Sunday. Our parking lot had become a flowing river and people all over the city began to experience the results of 10-17 inches of rain over the past couple of days. For the safety of those who might have braved the weather, I cancelled all of our services for the day. I waited at the church for an hour or so in the event someone showed up unexpectedly. This never happened. So, I used the time to pray for our city and state.
I can’t even begin to understand the devastating loss. Our state, like many others, is connected through so many different relationships. This web of relationships extends not only through the state, but also through other states as well. We hurt for those who became victims of the uncertain flooding. Thousands and thousands of people are struggling to figure out their next steps as they spend time in shelters and hotels around the state. Many are cut off from surrounding communities because the rising water washed away access from all roads. Many of the hardest hit cities are without running water, and those who do have water in those areas have been encouraged to boil their water before drinking. I’m sure that you’ve seen pictures of the widespread destruction. It is bad. I ask that you pray for South Carolina.
Officials in Columbia, S.C. stated that all deaths were from an identical cause: people stranded in cars that filled with water. He was sure the death toll would increase as the waters begin to recede.
You may ask, “What is the purpose of such tragedy,” or “What now?” I want to explore a couple of thoughts with you.
God’s Ways are Higher than Ours
For some, this may be an excuse without support. However, as I reflect on the difficult times we face in life, I am always reminded that God’s purpose prevails (Proverbs 19:21). God takes the tragedy and destruction in this world and uses it for His good. We may never know how many people God will change as a result of what has happened in South Carolina this week. I am not minimizing the heartbreak, but I am highlighting the one who mends the broken hearted.
God’s Economy Helps us to Understand the Brevity of Stuff
We live in a self-sufficient world that seemingly does not need God. We have everything we need. We have cars, fancy houses, granite top counters, stainless steel appliances, computers, antique furniture, family pictures, and things that mean so much to us. However, God’s economy says that those things are just things that will eventually be gone (Matthew 6:19). While our stuff may not last, our relationship with God will.
God’s Desire is to Have a Relationship with us
Above all, God desires to have a relationship with us. He created us to worship Him and Him alone. This relationship begins with our salvation (Romans 3:23; 6:23; 10:9; 8:9-10) and continues as we walk in the Spirit (Galatians 5:16-26). This relationship is more important than anything else in your life. It is more important than your spouse, children, job, or career path.
So now what?
If you are in the middle of the flood crisis, seek God for His favor and grace in your life. God will provide so much love and care for you in the middle of what seems like total devastation. Pray and seek God’s strength. Pray and seek God’s peace (Philippians 4:6-7). Understanding Philippians 4:6-7 is easy when things are going well in our lives. But, lose your house, car, family pet, years of photographs, and other significant items and it becomes more difficult.
If you are reading this from the outside, please pray for the people of South Carolina. I really believe God is going to do things with the hearts of people throughout this state and country. Your generous donations have helped to provide water, shelter, and clothing to so many.
Pray that God would allow you to develop a heart of compassion towards those who are less fortunate. As we develop a right understanding of our place in the universe, we quickly acknowledge that we are really just a small part of something incredibly large. Pray that God would allow you to significantly touch someone today and make a difference. You never know the difficulty someone may be facing.