On Wednesday I will be traveling with my son Samuel and two other amazing guys, Corey and Mitch, to the Dominican Republic and Haiti.  As you pray for those who are surviving the devastation in Haiti, please add your prayers for our small team who will be gone the 20-25.

 

I can't begin to explain the reason for this catastrophe and God's exact role in it.  I don't know why such a tragedy has hit a people who've already suffered tremendously throughout history. I don't have the precise thoughts and mind of God on this.  But I do know that there are millions of suffering helpless people in Haiti and I do know that my God is alive. And because of that I have the opportunity to give life. It's never too late to give life to the living.  He is the  living God.  He is alive and He lives in me.  The words to this worship song have been the song of my heart this morning.

 

All of my life

In every season

You are still God

I have a reason (to live) & to sing

I have a reason to worship

 

Easy for me to say when I am not trapped under rubble or grieving the loss of my family, huh?  You're right.  I am so thankful for my life today. And I am thankful for the opportunity to "consider (move near or among) the helpless (dangling)" Ps.41:1  But I would also like to say that I see a message of encouragement and hope for all of us. 

 

I know that many of you are buried in grief, suffering, troubles, financial struggle, sickness, and even death and loss.  Many of you feel the weight of the world crushing your back.  Many of you battle darkness in your everyday.  Many are famished from the wear and tear of life lately.  Many of you feel trapped or stuck in some way.  The tragic pictures of Haiti are a mirror of so many of our own hearts where the rubble of hardship has weighed heavy and suffocated the joy of life.

 

God sees your arm dangling in the open air of freedom and life.  He sees your hand that's found it's way out of the rubble and your foot that's pushed it's way to safety.  He sees the hidden parts as well. The rest of you that's waiting and longing for Him to pull you entirely up and out of the rubble.  He hears your strained and weakened voice calling out for help, for rescue.  He hears the cries of your heart and knows where they're coming from.

 

And He is your rescue.

 

 

The children who take refuge in Him drink their fill of the abundance of His house and He gives them to drink of the river of His delights. With Him is the fountain of life. 

 

 

 

In the light of Him we see light (from Ps.36).  He is daylight in the darkness and life among death.  So hang on.  Hang on to Him.

 

 

In His love for you, He will hold your face in His hands and grant you strength, courage, faith, and hope.  May He wondrously show His lovingkindness to those who take refuge at His right hand. (from Ps. 17:7)

 

 

photos taken from the LATimes