The Date:                                  January 14, 2010; 7:50 a.m., Central Standard Time

The Place:                                 Standing in my bathroom; in Dallas, Texas

The Human Form:                      Female; dark skinned; early 30's; dancing brown eyes

Dear Girlfriends,

I was staring into my makeup mirror, applying my mascara, as I listened to the morning's edition of The Today Show. Tragedy had fallen on Haiti less than 48 hours earlier and reporters were interviewing the survivors first-hand to give us, here at home, some insight into the physical and emotional devastation that was playing out on a beautiful island in the Caribbean.   

I was processing the morning news as I regularly do - ears slightly tuned into the speakers in my bathroom, eyes focused on concealing imperfections reflecting in my makeup mirror, while my mind planned and strategized my day. In other words - I was only sort-of, kind-of listening. Until I heard a beautiful lilting voice softly say, "My baby is safe. Now I know God loves me."

I blinked. Then thought, 'What did she say?'  Wanting to ensure that I heard her correctly, I ran to the remote control, to replay the interview. The woman, a young mother, was beaming at the camera, holding her wee one in her arms. My Haitian angel rocked my world reminding me how misguided we all are when it comes to the mind and ways and the love of God.

Had her baby perished, would this devoted mother have believed that God despised her? That he was punishing her or worse - that he was completely apathetic? What if the little one had lost a limb? I wonder what she would have thought God felt towards her then? Or perhaps, what message of hate or punishment would she have believed God was sending to her child?

My dark-skinned angel could not have been more wrong about our God but she could not have been a better mouthpiece for most of us: When life is good: God loves us. When life is bad: He doesn't.

We may not be sitting in rubble. We may not be desperate for a bottle of water. We may not be suffering from broken bones or lacerations and our emotional state might be fine and well today as our children sit safely at their little desks at school. But individually, most of us are as confused spiritually as my Haitian sister. We put God in a box and blame him for nature's wrath and man's frailty and sin. We limited God to only what we know of our own conditional grace and mercy, failing to grasp that his love is beyond anything we can fathom; so often forgetting that he celebrates for us when we have an earthly win and grieves with us when our world comes undone.

Then, Jesus wept. John 11:35

My Haitian angel jolted my being as she reminded me how little we really know about God; how we so often forget that in good times and bad times, in joy and suffering, and times of abundance and scarcity God is with us. And how we forget that his love is not demonstrated by a happy ending on earth - but a better-ever-after in eternity.

Praying for the Haitian angels and all the angels working to save them,

Ellen

Posted by Ellen on January 20, 2010 4:44 PM  |  Category: An Angel Bombing

Ellen- I am an associate of Jan Long Harris and therefore have a copy of your Tyndale ONE YEAR book. Good work! I have several "other" connections with your which I find interesting. When I read some of your entries in the Playing the Scales section I relized that while you knew Kelly, I know Frank and Carolyn (I was Carolyn's youth pastor many years ago!I would love to publish her (we've talked about it more than once). Bedes that I live within site of Mt Hood and often wonder where the "other" two guys are up there. Besides all that, we probably know many of the same people in your area--Gene Getz, Hendrickses, Swindolls etc. (I attended DTS)
Now to my question. Since I origio)0nally founded Multnomah and now do some acquisitions for Tyndale, I became acquainted with the publishing world and have "put together several books including two books on miracles, published by Multnomah. Recently, I received the rights back from one of them (Unsolved Miracles) and Harvest House planas to reintroduce it into the market. But, they would like me to include a couple of new stories coming from a women AND when I saw your"stuff" I thought you might just have a couple of miracle stories that I might include. oops,ran out of space-so will wait for your response.. John Van Diest Associate Publisher, Tyndale.

Posted by John Van Diest | January 23, 2010 10:06 AM

Ellen, thank you for stating so eloquently the same thoughts I have had many times. By the way, you and I have a connection: Your half-sisters Betty and Bobbie are my cousins. Bobbie introduced me to your website. You are doing great work. It would be nice to meet you. Sometime if you are coming to Austin and will be available for a chat, let me know.

Posted by Marsha Cockrell Hartos | January 25, 2010 10:55 AM

Ellen we me just last night at a Cooking class, I really enjoyed cooking with you and your family, you all have wonderful spirits and it was a pleasure to meet and talk with you all. I am now a "fan of your FaceBook page, and have signed up for your "Truth Nuggets".
Your book is available for Kindle! I just downloaded it and ordered a copy for my sister! I can't wait to read it, good luck and God Speed!

Posted by Gwen George | February 3, 2010 8:23 AM

Hi Ellen.
I am so excited about getting to hear your thoughts! I was wanting a new devotional and picked up your "Inspirations for Girlfriends." I love it!!! It is fun, thoughtful and wise!
So glad you have blog and I will enjoy reading them. I particularly appreciate the latest one because I found myself kind of mesmorized with the plight of so many people and children in Haiti.
It is true, that we don't have to be thirsty for water or have broken bones to beneeding God.
I have to take time to really go back and read your blog to see your point. I was so excited about getting opening up the site and registering for your "Truth Nuggets" that I quickly read through your posting.
I am sharing "you" with friends and am just very excited about continui9ng to think about my faith through your words and thoughts.
Thank you!!!!!
~ Ann

Posted by Ann Kent | February 4, 2010 7:34 PM

I'm a new comer to your books and website and I have to admit that your Girlfriends daily devotional hits very close to home for me. I bought myself one and my best firend and we read and share your devotions, along with all life throws at us. My struggle with forgiveness of myself, others and situations and my relationship with God is something that I just can't seem to find a peace over. I'm an over achiever,people pleaser with a fear of failing, so I place limits on myself and always try to make everything okay for everyone. I know I have real issues...I say all that to tell you thank you for having the insight to so much,the love of God in your heart and the ability to share it with others. I ask that you prayer for me.
Sherry Jones

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