“Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him.” (Psalms 37:74) On occasion, I will republish a devotion, especially when I think it helps to explains something significant that is going on in our world. This particular devotion was written just after Hurricane Floyd ravaged eastern North Carolina in September of 1999. The events of the past couple of weeks reminded me of its message. We live in a world that teaches us that we are at the center of whatever success or failure we experience. You […]

“Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap.” (Galatians 6:7) It’s second nature to wonder from time to time why God allows us to suffer the way we do – particularly now, as many Americans face the decimation from Hurricane Katrina. How many times have you heard the question asked over the last week: “How could a loving God allow such death and destruction?” Think carefully about how you respond because if you’re a Christian, your answer to […]

“When the centurion and those with him who were guarding Jesus saw the earthquake and all that had happened, they were terrified, and exclaimed, ‘Surely he was the Son of God!’ ” (Matthew 27:54) When you stop and think about it, there is a wonderful salvation story here because that Roman Centurion was the first man to believe that Jesus died on the Cross to save him. I am sure he felt the shame that many of us felt when our eyes were first opened to the sin […]

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” (Matthew 11:28) Several years ago, my wife spent two weeks in Hawaii with her mother. The idea was her mom’s. “I want to watch you enjoy part of your inheritance,” she told her. For several weeks prior to leaving, Robbie repeatedly thanked me for “letting her go”. “I’m not letting you go,” I told her. “I want you to go. This will be a great memory for you and you mother to […]