Hurricane Harvey – How to Help
We have just witnessed what might become the worst natural disaster in American history in Hurricane Harvey's devastation of parts of Texas and surrounding states. Rescue efforts continue as flooding has destroyed hundreds of thousands of homes and displaced the families that live in them. We live in an era where we can learn so much about the far away disaster and yet feel so helpless to offer relief. Here are a few ways to support those who are hurting and those who are helping. Give Southern Baptist relief was on its way before Hurricane Harvey made landfall. The North American Mission Board (NAMB) has
Work, Calling, Coffee and Strategic Weirdness …
This blog post is about our own Kyle Ramage, who often runs sound at NW during the morning services, and who also won the national barista competition this year! The interviewer is Nathaniel Williams, a former NWer, who is the pastor of Cedar Rock Baptist Church near Louisburg and who also manages the SEBTS blog, the intersect project, about faith, work and culture. Intersect: Where Faith Meets Culture Read Kyle's story and be encouraged about your work and calling! Make People Wonder Why You're Weird Larry
Summer Lovin’: Basics of Daily Devotions for Teens (and others!)
I L-O-V-E summer. Even though I am not in school anymore, summer still smells like freedom to me! Summer meant replacing my school books with the pool, the ocean, the rivers, and the woods of South Georgia! (We didn’t have any of that “year round school” stuff back in the day!) My birthday is right in the middle of summer. (Watermelon and homemade ice cream anyone?!) During college, summers meant that my long-distance lady-friend (now wife) and I lived in the same town for a few weeks. Years later, we were married in summer… and our first child was born
Elder Update From Gene Woodall
The blog this week is from one of our elders, Gene Woodall. Gene has been serving as an elder for several years now and is going to take a respite from actively serving as an elder for a season. His encouraging, thoughtful, prayerful presence will be greatly missed by our team. Your prayers for him and for all our elders are so greatly needed and appreciated! Thankful, Larry Dear North Wakers, Over the last several months, I have been praying about whether or not to stay active as an elder at NW. After a season of prayer, I feel led
Just the Facts Christianity
There is a catchphrase from 1950’s television that I have always related to…“Just the facts, ma’am.” This was the phrase regularly uttered by Sgt. Joe Friday while conducting interviews during police investigations on the show Dragnet. As an ex-accountant whose left-brain is regularly in charge, I default to logic, analysis, structure and organization. So I can connect with a guy who helps people get straight to the facts. Just tell me the important information that I need to know so that I can be as productive as possible. After all, this is efficient and does not waste anyone’s time. Well,
The Valley of Vision
Have you ever sat down to your devotional time with the Lord and wondered what to pray, or just started praying the same things, like, “Dear God, thank you for today, thank you for my family…” You mean what you pray, but sometimes, your prayer time has become such a routine that you zone out, don’t pay attention, and pray the same thing twice or even three times. The Valley of Vision is a book of puritan prayers that has become an amazing prompt for me. There are sections labeled things like “Needs and Devotions,” “Holy Aspirations,” and “Service and
Precious Remedies Against Satan’s Devices
Thomas Brooks wrote this really cool reference-devotional for people struggling with various plaguing thoughts and habits. In a way, it is a guide for self-counseling, which has been weird at times, but fun. When a dear friend gave it to me, I thought, “What a strange title,” but it has turned out to be one of the sweetest gifts ever. Some of the chapters are about ‘Keeping the soul from holy duties,’ ‘Keeping the soul in a sad, doubting, uncomfortable state,’ and ‘Drawing the soul to sin.’ These chapters then include subsections like, “By (Satan’s) causing [souls] to be still
Day-By-Day Readings to Walk with Jesus Leading Up to Easter
Here are some day-by-day readings to walk with Jesus each day this week leading up to Easter. The Final Days of Jesus Holy Week Daily Devotional: A daily devotional to lead you through the week leading up to Easter. For more resources, click HERE.
Fig Monday: Forgiveness and Moving Mountains
In Sunday's message (3/12/17) I alluded to a Lenten devotional on forgiveness that was very powerful. You can read the whole devotional (poetry, art, scripture, video, devotion) here: Lenten Devotional On Forgiveness If you'd just like to watch the video from that devotional that I alluded to in the services on Amish Forgiveness. Here it is: Amish Grace And this is the article I mentioned by Pastor John Piper on the amazing promise of mountain-moving prayer in Mark 11. I found his perspective very helpful: What Do Answers to Prayer Depend On?
Finding Freedom From Sin
If you are anything like me, you probably struggle with some recurring sin habits. You know they are ugly, you know God hates them but you just can’t seem to change. Why? I believe it is partly because we all enjoy the idea of change but are unwilling to do the work of change. The attached document (Transformation Guide) will describe in greater detail what I mean. This "guide" is a resource, an aid, to help you find victory over these sin struggles. I hope it helps you find freedom..."For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again
