Love

At church yesterday we sang this song that I'd never heard before.  As often happens during worship time in Haitian churches, I was way outside of my comfort zone and also completely knocked off my feet by the heart of thanksgiving and praise in the body of believers.  What a beautifully joyful noise our Haitian brothers and sisters make when they raise their voices in worship together!

Here is just a small part of the song that keeps echoing in my heart...

There's no shadow You won't light up,

mountain You won't climb up,

coming after me.

There's no wall You won't kick down,

lie You won't tear down,

coming after me.

O the overwhelming, never-ending, reckless love of God

O it chases me down, fights 'til I'm found,

leaves the ninety-nine...

I think so often I can say the truth, but it doesn't always leave its imprint on my heart.  God loves me.  God loves me.  God loves me.  God loves me.  There's no way to place the emphasis on that small sentence that doesn't send me spinning.  I wonder what my life would look like if I really believed and lived out of a place of confidence in the overwhelming, never-ending, reckless love of God.

One way that I have seen evidence of God's care and love for me is the provision of people in my life.  Dear ones who know how to love me well.  Ones who challenge and encourage and accept and welcome and forgive me in the midst of life.  Family and friends and church community in abundance - some scattered far away and others close enough to see every day.  As I get to connect with my Haiti family, I'm so thankful that God has demonstrated His love to me in allowing me to know these dear ones.  

Thank you for being one who has loved me well and in doing so, has been the hands and feet of our Savior - reminding me of God's love in tangible and life-altering ways.  I'm so thankful for your support during this summer in Haiti!  Much love in Christ, Jessie