What do you see in the picture above? 

I see displacement. I see things that don't belong. Bricks, part of a road sign, other building materials, human trash...things that do have a right place and purpose, but it isn't here. Not scattered amongst the rocks. 

 I took some time away this past weekend in-between teams to process and pray at Great Kills National Park which is where the above photo came from. This part of the beach, like so many parts, hasn't been cleaned up yet. As I walked along the forgotten shore I saw so much more than road signs and bricks. I saw dolls, clothing items, and even the remains of what appeared to be a dog. It was a sobering time to consider the suffering that this part of the country has been through. So many things have been taken by nature. Material things, jobs, homes, stability, security, and the lives of loved ones. Staten Island reportedly had around 90 deaths, but that report only included registered people. The actual body count taken from this area was closer to 200 bodies. That is a crazy amount of human loss from one small amount of land (SI is about 17 by 27 miles).

Beyond the loss of life, thousands upon thousands have been displaced. I am currently sitting in a hotel room (we have a small team here this week which has allowed me to pull away and rest for a couple of days) and even here I see affects of Super Storm Sandy. Lauren, the girl that works the front desk, was telling me about a little girl and her family that still are living here at the Comfort Inn. One day Lauren commented on the little girls doll- about how pretty the doll was. The little girl replied that she used to have several more like her but Sandy took them all. 

The brokenness here is so great. The effects long lasting. But I am grateful to be here as a catalyst of hope. To be a physical representation that God has not forgotten these people. That He indeed is love. He is here and just as He longed to be everything to the people of Israel in Matthew 23:37 He longs to be everything that we need, and everything that these folks who have been devastated by Sandy need as well. 

I am continually reminded that He works out all things for the good of those who love Him and for his own glory. The sun will shine after the rain. That is the promise that we bank our lives on and that we have to share with so many here who are broken and without hope. Keep praying for our teams here on the ground. Pray that we would come with hearts that are eager to follow the Lord into what "relief" He might use us to bring. We are here eagerly anticipating Him to work and move through us. Also please continue to pray for so many that we have already ministered to. Seeds are being planted in huge ways and we trust the God will continue to water those seeds and that they will spring forth life!

Because our God is good and because He is sovereign displacement doesn't have to only be the end of something..it can be the beginning of something else. Something quite wonderful; something eternal. Yep. 

 So here's to a new day; the promises that we have for hope and for redemption. Healing is coming Staten Island, and it's found in Jesus Christ!