International Prayer Day First Monday each month 10 am

Joel Griffith 1/8/21 Joel Griffith 1/8/21

A special gift.

“But when the set time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those under the law, that we might receive adoption to sonship.” Galatians 4:4-5

How much planning went into your Christmas shopping last year? If you are like me, the pandemic brought me to Amazon. Did you give much thought when picking out a special gift for a family member? How important was it for you to get that ‘special gift’ for your child or grandchild and be blessed to see them light up as they removed the wrapping paper to reveal a gift that brought about a huge smile and loud “WOW”! Consider the gift that our Heavenly Father sent us. It only needed to be given once as it keeps on giving through the ages.

Our Heavenly Father waited until history reached the proper moment in time and then sent Jesus; the perfect, special gift. The timing was perfect; the Roman rule, Jewish ordination, passable roads, freedom, a degree of safety and a common trading language. He sent his Son to be a woman's son. From Heaven He send His Son to earth to be the Savior of the world. He did it so all of the inhabitants of His world could be called His children. He gave the perfect gift of all time; for all time.

Thank you for sharing your gift of support for these children attending Christian schools in Haiti; enabling and preparing them to share the Gift of salvation with those still living in bondage to the vodou priests of Haiti.

Heavenly Father, you have called your servants to ventures of which we cannot see the ending, by paths as yet untrodden, through perils unknown. Give us faith to go out with good courage, not knowing where we go but only that your hand is leading us and your love supporting us through Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior. Amen.

May God be with you…Jay

Joel Griffith 1/7/21 Joel Griffith 1/7/21

A willing spirit.

“Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. Do not cast me from your presence or take your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me.” Psalm 51:10-12

The last eight words of the above verses “grant me a willing spirit to sustain me” are words that should be in our daily prayers. A ‘willing spirit’ needs to drive me in this world where we are often being told these days to mind your own business; don’t get involved.

How many people did your Heavenly Father intentionally place along your journey yesterday? How many hurting lives brushed up against you at work or on-line? How many lonely souls sat next to you at the doctor office? How many broken relationships went past your grocery cart? How many visitors sat a safe social distance in your pew at Church on Sunday? How many lives searching for a Savior did you share the Gospel with yesterday?

This little boy from Cap Haitian who is carrying a chair on his head touched my life on the day this picture was taken and today as well; he knows Jesus and lives in a neighborhood where many do not or are afraid to talk about. A willing spirit continues to move me to help him share the message with the people along his journey. May a ‘willing spirit’ move you as well to finish well in the remainder of your days.

May God be with you…Jay

Joel Griffith 1/6/21 Joel Griffith 1/6/21

Prayers answered.

Elisha] said, "This is what the Lord says: I will fill this valley with pools of water. For this s what the Lord says: You will see neither wind nor rain, yet this valley will be filled with water, and you, your cattle and your other animals will drink." 2 Kings 3:16-17

Tonight, there is a Zoom meeting with ten members from my church who were given the title of Direction Committee; we volunteered, and the Council asked me to lead. I admit, that I tried to pray my way out of this position, but after a few days the response from God was something like this; “Be still…you can do this.” Ever had that happen to you?

There are probably times in your life when the prayers just aren’t being answered in what we would consider to be a ‘timely’ manner or the way we had hoped; it has happened to me quite often. Seemingly unanswered prayers can bring a sense of helplessness and hopelessness. The people that are being described in 2 Kings had no water. No clouds in sight and not a drop of water could be found in the wells; hopelessness. Where do you turn when your faucet is dry, when your marriage is breaking up, when your kids are fighting, when you tested positive for COVID, when medical bills are mounting, when you are turned down for another job, when a loved one passes away or when your doctor tells you that you only have a short time to live?

The young boy in this photo attends the Bois Marchand School in Gonaives and there is no well at their school. Before my visit there ended, he followed me to the door and asked if I could do something to get a well at their school. He had been praying…but the cooks were still hauling water by the bucketful. We need to keep praying, be patient and remain faithful. The people in 2 Kings were so certain that God would bring rain that they began to dig ditches and continued to pray. Children attending the Lutheran School in Thomassique brought kindling wood to school, knowing that a feeding program would come someday…and they prayed and it did come. They had wood for the fire…bring the kettle.

Our Triune God has a way of answering prayers, quite often in ways that we don’t understand at the moment but come to enjoy the blessing later on in life. Our Heavenly Father’s timetable is not one that we are familiar with or can understand. He provides in His time and in His way and we give thanks for Him taking care of us. Have you started to dig any ditches recently? Have you begun to store up firewood? He is faithful.

May God be with you…Jay

Joel Griffith 1/5/21 Joel Griffith 1/5/21

Boastful.

“Now listen, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money.” Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. Instead, you ought to say, “If it is the Lord’s will, we will live and do this or that.” As it is, you boast in your arrogant schemes. All such boasting is evil. If anyone, then, knows the good they ought to do and doesn’t do it, it is sin for them.” James 4:13-17

What do you suppose your life and it’s journey will be like in this new year? The world that we live in urges us to boast of our worldly achievements that ‘we’ have accomplished without help from anyone else; WE DID IT! Strive to do better, finish well for Him. Damn the pandemic!!!

Be the kind of person that when you sit up in bed and your feet hit the floor each morning, the evil foe says "Oh Crap, they’re up!" Life is too short to wake up in the middle of the night or early in the morning with regrets; love the people who encourage and strengthen you and forgive the ones who don't; just because you can and because Jesus forgives you. Believe that everything happens for a reason and if you are given a second chance, grab it with both hands. When you feel that your blood pressure is rising to the point of noticing a pulse throbbing in your neck and muscles are growing tense, take a few deep breaths, count to ten and think about how to finish well before you speak when you are becoming angry; forgive quickly. Our Heavenly Father never said life would be easy; He just promised it would be worth it and He will always be there with you.

There are over thirty-three thousand children like this child living in Haiti who are only receiving one meal a day and that is at their school; that is an important blessing. There are thousands more who are not eating regularly at their homes and don’t know Jesus; that is an opportunity for you to finish well while on your life’s journey. Please pray for these children and if the Holy Spirit moves you to feed a few of these children this year; please contact Trinity/HOPE.

Joel Griffith 1/4/21 Joel Griffith 1/4/21

It's not easy for me.

“You adulterous people, don’t you know that friendship with the world means enmity against God? Therefore, anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God.” James 4:4

From my past experience, I can share with you that it’s been very difficult to serve our Triune God while aimlessly getting caught up in following the delights that this world has to offer; you too may already know that and satan delights in those times when your most precious time is spent giving to the world instead of Christ. Or, fearing what challenge is darkening your doorway tomorrow; satan likes it when we live in fear.

If you follow Christ, all the ‘friendly dogs’ of this world will be nipping at your heels. If you are living in worldly ways and have decided that you will turn to Christ just before you take your last breath; you are taking quite a risky and unbelievable chance. If you spend most of your time in His word and walk in His ways the eyes and tongues of this world will not speak well of you; you will be under attack daily.

Do what is right, finish well, and don’t be afraid of what the tongues of this world will say about you or what stone they may hurl at you. Be strong, be courageous; finish well. Remain in His word and pray without ceasing. I close today’s devotion with the words from verse 7 of the hymn ‘If Thou but suffer God to guide Thee’ which was written by Georg Nuemark in 1640.

“Sing, pray, and keep His ways unswerving, perform thy duties faithfully, and trust His Word, though undeserving, thou yet shalt find it true for thee. God never yet forsook in need the soul that trusted Him indeed.”

May God be with you…Jay

Joel Griffith 1/2/21 Joel Griffith 1/2/21

Love your enemies.

“Woe to you when everyone speaks well of you, for that is how their ancestors treated the false prophets. But to you who are listening I say: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you.” Luke 6:26-28

The words of Jesus tell us to ‘love your enemies’ are difficult for most sinners to follow. As sinful Christians, here in North America and also in Haiti, we will ultimately make enemies. Somebody is going to hold a grudge against you or blame you for bringing problems upon their physical or financial wellbeing; you might have unknowingly shared a COVID germ with them.

Although it will not be our first plan of action, simply believing the truth and doing what is right will cause us to lose many of our earthly friends or acquaintances. Suffice to say and never forget that there is a Friend in heaven who will reveal Himself to us one day as He gave His life on the cross of Calvary for you, me and that ‘enemy’ if they too believe in Him.

This young child has an enemy in Haiti; the local vodou priest; and they are afraid of her. The vodou priest wants her to believe in the lies of satan and may even want to take her life so he can use her body parts in his sacrifices to the spirits of the evil world. Just as Christ instructs us to pray for our enemies, He teaches this child to pray for the vodou priest. Christ came to earth to seek and save the lost because this entire world needs a Savior.

Thank you for helping to prepare these children attending Christian schools to finish well in their lives; may their witness bring many more into the Kingdom.

May God be with you…Jay

Joel Griffith 1/1/21 Joel Griffith 1/1/21

25,604

“Again Jesus said, “Simon son of John, do you love me?” He answered, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Take care of my sheep.” The third time he said to him, “Simon son of John, do you love me?” Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him the third time, “Do you love me?” He said, “Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Feed my sheep.” John 21:16-17

Hard to believe that it is already time to put up three new calendars in my house. This year I have scenic ones from Nebraska, Texas and Hawaii to help me keep track of my days. I really don’t care much about the day part but do spend more time looking at the really beautiful photos of the scenic places within each state.

Another year has gone by and with it, hopefully the pandemic will begin to be less of a problem in our world. Some will say that this year seems to have lasted forever, but I feel like the older that I get, the faster the end of my journey nears. My Heavenly Father knows full well that I have been out of my mother’s womb for 25,604 days now…and counting; only He knows when my expiration date will come.

How many sunsets have appeared on your day-o-meter? I have read a lot of devotions recently with a central theme of making the most of all our energy used each and every day; that is why God created us and still has us here, on the job…His job.

Thank you for answering the call of our Holy Spirit to go into the mission fields of Haiti and joining TrinityHope in ‘feeding His sheep’ and sharing of your time, talents and daily prayers as these children are being prepared to take the love of Jesus into a country that was dedicated to satan on January 1, 1804.

May God be with you…Jay

Joel Griffith 12/31/20 Joel Griffith 12/31/20

Going, going, gone...

“Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of his faithful servants.” Psalm 116:15

This verse has been roaming throughout my day and as this year draws to a close it seemed like a good topic to dwell upon today as it touches lives in Haiti and also in the lives of Trinity/HOPE donors. Its been a year unlike none most of us have ever seen through our journey.

Our Heavenly Father holds the lives of His saints very dearly within His care. He hears our prayers, is with each of us in times of sorrow and celebration; He is always there with us. His saints will not die prematurely; they shall be immortal till their work is done; and when their time shall come to die, then their deaths shall be precious.

This young child from Caredeux is precious to our Heavenly Father; He watches over them in the heat of the night, causes their beads of sweat in the stillness of night to turn into rivers of cool flowing water, He sustains the beating of their hearts, and receives their souls. All of His children are so very precious to Him.

The deathbeds of saints are very precious to the church, she often learns much from them; they are very precious to all believers, who delight to treasure up the last words of the departed; but they are most of all precious to our Heavenly Father, who views the victorious deaths of His children with sacred delight. If we have walked before Him in the land of the living, proclaiming the Holy Gospel from His Son, we need not fear to die before Him when the hour of our departure is at hand. Thank you for helping to prepare His children to bring the message of Salvation to Haiti during this past year.

I close today with the words to verse 6 of the hymn ‘Awake, my soul and with the sun’ that was written by Thomas Ken in 1695.

“Praise God, from whom all blessings flow; praise Him, all creatures here below; praise Him above, ye heavenly host: praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.”

May God be with you…Jay

Joel Griffith 12/30/20 Joel Griffith 12/30/20

Life with a point.

“Cast your cares on the LORD and he will sustain you; he will never let the righteous be shaken.” Psalm 55:22

There was a quote in one of my morning ‘online’ devotions this week that said “May your troubles be less, your blessings more, and may nothing but happiness, come through your door. Life without God is like an unsharpened pencil; it has no point." We were brought here to do as His Son Jesus did; accomplish His will. Sometimes it doesn’t seem like we know what His purpose is for our lives, or what we are expected to accomplish. Remain faithful, continue to call upon the Lord for direction for your lives and He has promised to be with you and provide direction, comfort and peace.
I close today with the words to the hymn ‘If thou but suffer God to guide thee’ which was written by Georg Neumark in 1640. It is a long hymn that written a long, long time ago but the words have such great directions for today, in this world filled with a pandemic and at times difficult to see the point of it all.

“If thou but suffer God to guide thee and hope in Him through all thy ways, He'll give thee strength, whate'er betide thee, and bear thee through the evil days. Who trusts in God's unchanging love builds on the Rock that naught can move. What can these anxious cares avail thee, these never-ceasing moans and sighs? What can it help if thou bewail thee o'er each dark moment as it flies? Our cross and trials do but press the heavier for our bitterness. Be patient and await His leisure in cheerful hope, with heart content to take whate'er thy Father's pleasure and His discerning love hath sent, nor doubt our inmost wants are known to Him who chose us for His own. God knows full well when times of gladness shall be the needful thing for thee. When He has tried thy soul with sadness and from all guile has found thee free, He comes to thee all unaware and makes thee own His loving care. Nor think amid the fiery trial that God hath cast thee off unheard, that he whose hopes meet no denial must surely be of God preferred. Time passes and much change doth bring and sets a bound to everything. All are alike before the Highest; tis easy to our God, we know, to raise thee up, though low thou liest, to make the rich man poor and low. True wonders still by Him are wrought who setteth up and brings to naught. Sing, pray, and keep His ways unswerving, perform thy duties faithfully, and trust His Word, though undeserving, thou yet shalt find it true for thee. God never yet forsook in need the soul that trusted Him indeed.”

May God be with you…Jay

Joel Griffith 12/29/20 Joel Griffith 12/29/20

Your time.

“Grace to all who love our Lord Jesus Christ with an undying love.” Ephesians 6:24

While reading the ‘Nearing Home’ book by Dr. Billy Graham, the following quote attributed to Carrie Ten Bloom was shared; “the measure of life is not by the duration but by the donation.” It struck me like that frozen snowball that hit me in the face when I wasn’t looking so many years ago and gave me a black eye; it still has my attention.

It really doesn’t matter how many years you are blessed with but rather how much you have been a blessing throughout the span of your life. It seems that is an accurate description of Trinity/HOPE. In a span of a little over ten years faithful donors have grown from feeding 46 kids in Tarrasse to just over 33,000 in January. What a blessing that cloud of young missionaries will be to the country of Haiti. The vodou priests will cringe when they see them coming from their schools but will be thankful when their closed ears hear the truth of the risen Christ and express joy when they realize that their sins are forgiven. I close today with the words to the hymn ‘Take my life and let it be’ which was written by Frances R. Havergal in 1874.

“Take my life and let it be consecrated, Lord, to Thee; take my moments and my days, let them flow in ceaseless praise. Take my hands and let them move at the impulse of Thy love; take my feet and let them be swift and beautiful for Thee. Take my voice and let me sing always, only, for my King; take my lips and let them be filled with messages from Thee. Take my silver and my gold, not a mite would I withhold; take my intellect and use every power as Thou shalt choose. Take my will and make it Thine, it shall be no longer mine; take my heart, it is Thine own, it shall be Thy royal throne. Take my love, my Lord, I pour at Thy feet its treasure-store; take myself, and I will be ever, only, all, for Thee.”

May God be with you…Jay