Bless the Lord on a Rainy Monday – February 24
I will bless the Lord at all times; His praise shall continually be in my mouth. ~ Psalms 34:1 Every day is a struggle. You struggle to wake up from not enough sleep and groan as you take that [...]
Rude Driving and Loving Relationships
Love is not rude ~ 1 Corinthians 13:5a I have a rude habit when I drive, and I'm probably the only one who does anything like this. From time to time, I tend to get a little too close [...]
Arrogant People are Puffed People – February 19
Love is not arrogant ~ 1 Corinthians 13:4 Love is selfless; however, it is so easy to become puffed up and arrogant. Think about it. Sometimes we try to "one-up" each other in relationships. Your spouse or friend shares [...]
Pride and Dishwashers – February 18
Love does not boast ~1 Corinthians 13:4 As I look back over my marriage, I can identify times when my arrogance and pride caused problems in my relationship with my wife. Sometimes I'm just a man with no sense. [...]
Envy is the Enemy of Contentment – February 17
Love does not envy ~ 1 Corinthians 13:4 Paul was my best friend growing up. He lived two doors down and we did most everything together. We played video games, football, basketball, and most everything else. I can remember [...]
Love is Kind – February 14
Love is Kind ~1 Corinthians 13:4 So often on Valentine's Day, we think of girlfriends and boyfriends, husbands and wives, and people who are falling in love. I want to steer the ship in a different direction today. I [...]
Patience is Difficult – February 13
Love is patient ~1 Corinthians 13:1 This is certainly the time of year when we all think about those we love. I wanted to share some thoughts about the kind of love that Jesus wants us to demonstrate towards [...]
Trials Make No Sense To Me – February 12
Consider it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. ~James 1:2 Trials are very difficult for me to grasp. I guess it is because [...]
Maturity is Critical for Church Health – February 11
And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ. ~Philippians 1:6 Philippians has been a favorite book of so many throughout the [...]
Follow Jesus and Disrupt Your Preferences
If anyone wants to follow after Me, let him deny himself. Matthew 16:24 There are so many things in life that I want. I would love to be a body-builder, but what are the chances? I have a desire [...]
Christ is our Hope – Day 3 of our Semi-Quarantine
To them, God chose to make known how great among the Gentiles are the riches of the glory of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. ~ Colossians 1:27 Hope is an exciting word. Some [...]
The Lord Provides in Day 2 of our Semi-Quarantine
The Lord is my strength and shield; in Him, my heart trusts, and I am helped; my heart exults, and with my song, I give thanks to Him. Psalm 28:7 Well, this morning I woke up to pouring rain [...]
Who do You Trust When it All Falls Apart – March 12
Blessed is the man who makes the Lord his trust. Psalm 40:4 I drove down to Florida to see my son not too long ago. I took my truck, which I love. I started the truck and took off. [...]
When You’re Lame and Don’t Realize it – March 11
And leaping up he stood and began to walk, and entered the temple with them, walking and leaping and praising God. Acts 3:8 So what happens when you have no hope? Imagine your normal life is so undesirable that [...]
Jesus wants to Rescue You – March 10
Come out of sadness from wherever you've been Come broken hearted let rescue begin Come find your mercy oh sinner come kneel Earth has no sorrow that heaven can't heal Earth has no sorrow that heaven can't heal So [...]
The Unlikely Leave it All – March 6
And leaving everything, he rose and followed Him. Luke 5:28 In 2008 my wife and I decided to move to Florence. This move was a decision that would change the trajectory of my family, career, and life. As a [...]
Sin Always Has Consequences – March 5
~ 2 Samuel 11:1-5 We all get into messes. We make bad choices and find ourselves squarely in the sights of Satan, the evil one, and he is quick to turn our messes into a blazing dumpster fire. We [...]
Your Speech Matters – March 4
If anyone thinks he is religious and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his heart, this person's religion is worthless. ~ James 1:26 Being a Christ-follower is a serious business. I can't even explain how serious, but there [...]
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.