Haiti, Holly Aman | Blog 1.

Yesterday marked three years since the earthquake in Haiti. On January 12, 2010 and the days that followed, it has been estimated that 330,000 people lost their lives. Even as I write that, it bothers me how easily 330,000 can become a number instead of lives, people, destinies, moms, dads, children, siblings and friends. 

While we sat in the memorial service yesterday evening, I felt struck with the beautiful reality of what God calls us into - not a job, a list of rules, or a set of obligations. He did not redeem us and set us free to work for Him. He calls us into relationship with Him and invites us to walk with Him through everything. It is a deep, head over heels, changes everything, obsessed kind of love. 

No one exhibited this better than eight year old Sophia.

She worshipped as if Jesus really was all that mattered to her. Her eyes shut tight and body swaying back and forth as the words of the song burst through her little lips. Dressed in white from head to toe, I wondered if she had forgotten that anyone else was in the room while her arms flung wide as if to engulf the Lord in a big bear-hug. The more she worshipped, the more she became lost in God’s presence, tears falling down her cheeks while a smile formed across her sweet face.

I loved watching Sophia worship, not because she did what would be expected but because she did what was completely unexpected for an eight year old girl on the anniversary of one of the most devastating days in her country’s history. In the midst of a country marked by instability, she completely engaged with Jesus. To her, God was not a last resort or someone she depended upon so she could make it through the day. It was her relationship with Him that made everything else worth it. 

I desire to be a Church who is entirely obsessed with Jesus. So obsessed that we are not concerned with what those around think when He walks into the room. There does not need to be balance between loving God and loving people. When you hit the heart of God, you will always hit His heart for people. The more obsessed we become with Him, the more we will look like Him and the better we will love and live for the world He gave everything for. 

Miss you, Church!

Holly