God's Mystery in Haiti

All week I've been getting ready for Disciple Now in my hometown.
But the past two days I've been distracted.
And unlike the D-Now of 2 years ago, it's not by a boy and a broken heart, but an earthquake and a broken nation.
I'm talking about the earthquake in Haiti.
After going to Passion 2010, my heart towards the lost, the poor, the invisible, the powerless of the world has been softened. I was stirred almost to tears by the photos in the Houston Chronicle but felt almost frozen. What do I do? How do I respond to this? The people of New Life Church are so encouraging and have provided access to ways in which we can help Haiti and how to see God in this disaster as well.

Pat Robertson says Haitians made a pact with the devil and they're being punished.
An angry commentator in reaction to these claims said that God has nothing to do with it.
I'm just trying to make heads or tails of it all.
Then Jenn Bacak sent our church this link to John Piper's website called Desiring God in regards to the 2004 Tsunami that hit Sri Lanka; it relates so well to the earthquake Haiti.

It was an interview by a woman who asked a lot of tough questions I think we all want answered in such a time as this.

Things like if God is omniscient and omnipresent and good, why did He let the Tsunami hit all those people?

If God works for the good of those who love Him, will we ever understand His purposes behind the tsunami?

Could God have stopped the wave if He wanted to, and if so, why didn't He?

I wish I could answer them as beautifully and comprehensively as Mr. Piper did.
But I can't.
So if you want to get some real, Biblical perspective on the subject of God's role in disasters, set aside some time (like when you're getting dressed and doing your hair/make-up in the morning like I did haha) to listen to this audio clip.

Desiring God Audio Clip

Mr. Piper quoted these verses more than once and felt them as something tangible to hold onto in these circumstances:

What, then, shall we say in response to this? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things? Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies. Who is he that condemns? Christ Jesus, who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? As it is written:
"For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered. No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons,neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord."
Romans 8:32-39

So in response to this I hope you realize that while we are wanting anwers to they "why and how" questions, we need to be active.
Active in prayer and in giving.
A sweet, sweet girl who is involved in Compassion International sent me this link to how we can help by donations.

Compassions Relief Website

May this tragedy pull you closer to God. May you see His power in the ability to literally move mountains. May you weep with those weeping in Haiti and help in any way you can, we asked the kids going to Dnow to bring a few dollars for the Haiti Relief Fund as a way to Live and Love the way Christ calls us to.
Isn't all of this for His glory anyway?