31 Days of Promise and Hope…..Day 21: Fireworks and the Glory of God
12 And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.” 13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, 14 “Glory [...]
31 Days of Promise and Hope…..Day 20: Shepherds, Sheep, and a Savior
Have you ever felt really insignificant? You know, like you didn’t matter. Maybe you have a job where you feel like you don’t make a difference. Maybe you struggle with your chosen profession or even your self-esteem. I think we [...]
31 Days of Promise and Hope…..Day 19: The Grinch
A story is told of a furry green creature who was mistreated as a child. One Christmas, he was ridiculed for bringing a homemade quirky gift to school for the gift exchange. Children laughed at him and he became the [...]
31 Days of Promise and Hope…..Day 18: Celebrate Christ
I wonder what Mary and Joseph were doing about this time 2000 or so years ago only 7 days before Jesus’ birth. It is somewhere around 80-90 miles from Nazareth to Bethlehem. This means that Mary and Joseph were doing [...]
Singing Fish and Trout Ties
A singing fish whose tail flaps to the song “Don’t Worry, Be Happy” may have been the worst gift of all time. What at first seemed like a great idea flapped on the office wall, eventually moved to the garage, [...]
31 Days of Promise and Hope…..Day 16: I Can’t Find a Parking Place!
Watch out! Hey, you took my place! I can’t believe that guy cut me off like that! Can you believe she took the last Kitchen Aid Mixer! I wanted the purple one to match my kitchen and she took it. [...]
31 Days of Promise and Hope…..Day 15: Fruit Cake, Family Reunions, and Stress
A mass of people gathering in a room too small around a tiny camera balanced on several encyclopedias, families wearing matching tacky sweaters, and we can’t forget about the 9 pound fruitcake that no one eats. Maybe it’s the caroling [...]
31 Days of Promise and Hope…..Day 14: Unassuming Accommodations
Unassuming accommodations. Seriously, you can’t make this stuff up. A stable? A manger? A feeding trough? Animals? Put me in charge and it would have been totally different. Mary and Joseph would have had a penthouse room at the Hilton. [...]
31 Days of Promise and Hope…..Day 13: O Come to See Frosty Have a Wonderful Life
Most of us grew up in hope where children were all nestled in their beds with sugar plum fairies dancing in their heads because they were guaranteed the most expensive and trendy gifts on the market. With dreams of Xboxes, [...]
Dump Day: Packaging Matters for the Christ-Follower
It happens every year sometime during the week after Christmas. People all over the world grab their trash bags full of torn paper and leftover food and throw it into the back of their trucks. They then sort through [...]
Housetops and Mountaintops: A Perspective on Christmas
As I sit here thinking about all the preparations made for one day each year, I’m overwhelmed at how we spend so much time coordinating with family members to meet for good times together and the annual gift exchange. [...]
3 Reasons We Withdraw from Conflict
Let’s be honest. Regardless of our age, communicating with spouse is perhaps the most difficult thing we will ever do. I’m not kidding. It is just difficult. We bring different perspectives and sometimes opposing views to the conversation. It’s [...]
6 Ways to Know if You Are Seeking God’s Heart
One who seeks God's heart seldom uses the word "I" in a conversation. It is way to easy to use the word “I” in a conversation. Think about how many times you use that word in conversations with others. [...]
5 Truths About Authentic Faith
It had been a very long day for Jesus, His disciples, and the many followers who traveled miles just to hear Jesus teach. Jesus just fed around 5000 people and his disciples were there to help distribute and do [...]
The Secret of Unconditional Forgiveness
Wouldn’t it be nice if we could set up a system that people navigated through to gain forgiveness? Maybe we could implement a penance system where they do hard time digging holes or picking up trash from the side [...]
Don’t Let Communication Kill Your Marriage!
Why is communication so important in your marriage? First, if you never talk to your spouse, you will live in an extremely quiet house. Second, if you don’t talk with your spouse, you will eventually talk with someone who [...]
4 Ways to Guarantee Your Marriage Fails
Marriages today are failing at an alarming rate. How do you prevent the trauma of divorce and unhappiness in your marriage? How do you find joy?
4 Myths of Multitasking
There are not many films that create lasting impressions and impact a generation of people, but The Karate Kid is one of those films. Ghostbusters, Gremlins, A Nightmare on Elm Street, and Footloose are just a few other hits [...]
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.