Surviving Tropical Storm Fay

Because of Tropical Storm Fay, which contributed to 11 deaths in Florida, one in Georgia and one in Alabama and caused millions of dollars worth of damage, affected areas have been declared major disaster areas by President Bush.

Beyond the flood of rain, there also have been a flood of prayers. Florida Today looks at how pastors have been addressing the devastation in their sermons. One example was from Mount Moriah Missionary Baptist Church:

Pastor Harvey Riley spoke of patience through adverse times. Many shouted praises to God and stood as Riley talked about waiting on God.

'This week we anticipated that the rain would stop,' Riley preached. 'But God let it go on. Then God spoke to Fay and told her to move on. We just have to remember to be patient.'

Let's pray that some FEMA funds become available to those affected by Tropical Storm Fay.

God's hand in leading Katrina evacuees out of New Orleans

The Austin American-Statesman ran a really cool article on the third anniversary of Hurricane Katrina about evacuees who trusted God's plan to lead them to Austin. Their stories are really fascinating -- particularly Nicole Marie Barriere's story. She said that God spoke to her: "Leave, because I'm about to destroy the city."

Celebrating 10 years of the LifeLight Music Festival

For a decade, Christian music fans have been flocking to Sioux Falls, S.D., to celebrate Christ at the LifeLight Music Festival. The festival's origins lie in a mission trip to Mexico taken by founders Alan and Vicki Greene:

'It really started because my wife and I went on a missions trip with a group of other people from here. We went down to Mexico and God spoke to us.' (KELO-TV)

Five years ago, the Greenes quit their jobs to take on LifeLight full time, and now their mission has evolved to more than the festival. They have organized mission trips, brought food to countries in Africa, and organized student-led clubs in high schools and middle schools.

Erik Williams gives back

Erik Williams once was one of the most amazing offensive tackles in the NFL. He was an all-star for the Dallas Cowboys, but got into a major car accident in 1994 that derailed his football career.

About two years ago, Williams rededicated his life to God. In a column on the Dallas Cowboys Web site, Williams reflects on his relationship with God:

'I was praying, and God spoke to me. He told me that I owe Him, that He has blessed me and I needed to be living differently. That's what has put me on the path I'm on.'

Williams now is giving back to the next generation of football players by coaching as an assistant offensive line coach on the team's Minority Fellowship coaching program.

Chuck Norris' encounter with a homeless man

Chuck Norris recently wrote a column for Townhall.com about his family's encounter with a homeless man while on vacation in Santa Cruz this summer. No, Norris did not arrest the man or give him the karate chop. . .

His kids drew pictures for the homeless man and bought him iced tea. But the experience had some very unique coincidences that Norris reveals in his column.

Reflecting about the encounter, Norris writes:

God spoke to us that summer day. Heaven sent a big sign through what might seem like a relatively small encounter. And it can serve as a reminder to us all -- one that's also in the Good Book: 'Do not forget to entertain strangers, for by so doing some people have entertained angels without knowing it.'

Norris' story is an excellent reminder that we should be courteous to the homeless.

Have you read "The Shack"?

My sister-in-law recently lent me "The Shack" by William P. Young, but I have not had a chance to read it yet. She says that it's an outstanding story of God's love for us.

I know that the book has been very popular in Christian circles recently. Have you read it? What did you think of "The Shack"?

Becoming meth free

I believe that God uses the deepest pain in our heart to help others. That's definitely the case with Libbie Combee, the president and founder of Leland Family Ministries and the Meth-Free Project. Combee's journey from child of divorce to drug abuser to leader of a ministry recently was chronicled in The Ledger.

Combee's son, who became a meth user himself, ended up in jail. That's where God spoke to Combee about starting her ministry:

It was while she was visiting her son at the jail, she said, that God spoke to her about ministering to meth addicts and their families. 'At first, I was really mad that God would want me to do this. I wanted to get as far away as possible from that world. God asked me, 'I thought you trusted me.' I decided I did.'

That was the beginning of Leland Family Ministries. It's named after her son, Jason Leland.

Combee now is starting Florida's first court-ordered meth program. In the state budget, she was allocated $65,000 - the first state or federal dollars she's accepted - to create a meth education class that can be ordered by the courts for any meth-related offense, much like DUI classes are. A pilot program begins next month, with 1,200 offenders enrolled in 24 classes.