There is a revival underway at the Methodist church in Carrefour. After a half day of travel and setting up camp, the music started. The music moved with such a power that I was drawn to it like a fly to sugar. I had to see the experience that I could hear so clearly. I found myself weeping at the beauty of it. The power of the Spirit to transform even the despair of the Hatian disaster into the hopeful song of God's transforming power. The children, so many children, sang the songs of hope for a future better than the squalor of today.
I simply had no idea how bad things here are. Even as I write this, I realize that the small court yard I'm sitting in has literally half a dozen or more people sleeping in every shadow. They simply have no home. Everything they had, which likely wasn't much, is gone. They are reduced to seeking refuge in the courtyard of a church. May God provide a safe refuge for them! My mind could have never imagined a humanitarian crisis on a scale this great. There are no FEMA trailers here, only cities of tents as far as the eye can see. The cries of infants in the early morning hours and the sounds of diesel motors for those privileged enough to have work.
The power of their worship comes out of a desperate need for God's intervention into the hell of their lives. May I never complain about anything again. Ever!
And yet, in worship, they seem more blessed than I. The love and grace of God at work in people's lives was amazing. the songs and the sermon placed let me see the Spirit at work. In the desert of despair blooms a flower of hope. Will I be able to join God's effort to restore Haiti? Can I find away to give more of my money and time to help alleviate the suffering of Haitians? How can I become informed enough to help these people and join God's response to their faithfulness? What will my worship be?
For people who are unfamiliar with the Bible, studying Holy Scripture can seem an intimidating experience. There are so many things about the people, places, and situations described in the Bible that it can seem as though one has to be an expert in biblical studies to be able to grow through Bible study. This is not so. Let me encourage you in your study of Holy Scripture. If you seek to learn about God through the study of scripture, God will meet you in that endeavor. No matter how brilliant or simple you consider yourself, studying the word of God will vitally shape your daily walk in faith. The word of God is accessible to you, at any level of reading comprehension, historical understanding, etc.. Because, when we read Holy Scripture, we do not read it alone. As Christians, when we read the Bible we ask God to allow the Holy Spirit to inspire our reading so that the words from the text become real in our current lives and life situ...
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