31 Days of Promise and Hope…..Day 9: Undeserved Favor
26 In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, 27 to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. And the virgin’s name was Mary. 28 And [...]
31 Days of Promise and Hope…..Day 8: You Can Believe It!
18 And Zechariah said to the angel, “How shall I know this? For I am an old man, and my wife is advanced in years.” 19 And the angel answered him, “I am Gabriel. I stand in the presence of God, and [...]
31 Days of Promise and Hope…..Day 7: Griddles and Tongs!
5 In the days of Herod, king of Judea, there was a priest named Zechariah, of the division of Abijah. And he had a wife from the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth. 6 And they were both righteous before [...]
31 Days of Promise and Hope…..Day 6: Christmas Means Having a Prince of Peace
There was never any peace in our family growing up. If you have kids, you know what I mean. I am 4 years older than my sister and I can tell you that we didn’t have much in common. I [...]
31 Days of Promise and Hope…..Day 5: Christmas Means Having an Everlasting Father
I love my dad, but we didn’t always see eye to eye. What a shock! When I was in elementary school, my dad spent more time disciplining me than most anything else. Here’s the way it worked. If I got [...]
31 Days of Promise and Hope…..Day 4: Christmas Means Having a Mighty God
International travel is always just a little difficult. After traveling through 4 airports and 36 hours, a handful of people found themselves 4,300 miles away from their homes. They were now in Cachoeira, Brazil and were hoping God would use [...]
31 Days of Promise and Hope: Christmas Means Having a Wonderful Counselor
Mr. Etheridge was my guidance counselor in middle school. He was a kind man and always very patient. He continually gave me great advice and didn’t mind spending time listening to my problems, heartaches, and middle school woes. He was [...]
31 Days of December…..Day 2: Christmas is about Presence
Thunder and lightening are two things that always brought our family together when our kids were younger. I always knew when a thunderstorm was forecast, that our bedroom would have visitors. One flash of lightening and a crack of thunder [...]
31 Days of Promise and Hope…Day 1: God is Faithful
Christmas is such a magical time of the year. Elves on the shelves, presents, family gatherings, ribbons, all the lights, decorated trees, and shopping tend to capture our imagination and time. For several months we become consumed with the magic [...]
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.