Count your blessings.

“Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations.”  Jeremiah 1:5

Have you ever imagined how, when and why God actually put you together?  Have you ever thought about how very important your life is to Him?  He has been waiting and watching for you to accomplish a work for Him through many generations.  What can it possibly be?  Who else has He placed along your life’s journey to either nudge you back on the right path, or be the recipient of your gift?  It is mind boggling.

There are 546 children attending the school at Font Baptiste in the Arcahaie District and the attached photo captured just a group of them that fit in the view finder.  Do you suppose that God placed you where you are today to assist one or two of these children in getting a Christian education and a solid meal every day they are in school?  These kids live up on top of a mountain range in the Northern claw of Haiti in a rolling countryside and most of them walk for an hour or more to school every day and it is hard to imagine how God has interwoven their lives with yours.

I roughly counted 160 children in this photo.  If you drove to this school and wanted to pay for their lunch on any given day before you drove back to Chincheron, it would cost $40 for these kids.  Hard to imagine that you could impact the lives of so many with what we might consider so little.  Our small blessings can be such big blessings in their lives.  There is a song titled “Count your blessings” that was written by Johnson Oatman Jr. in 1897 that helps to put our blessings into a proper perspective and also think about how our blessings impact the lives of the children in Font Baptiste.

“When upon life’s billows you are tempest-tossed, when you are discouraged, thinking all is lost, count your many blessings, name them one by one, and it will surprise you what the Lord hath done.  Count your blessings, name them one by one, count your blessings, see what God hath done!  Are you ever burdened with a load of care?  Does the cross seem heavy you are called to bear?  Count your many blessings, every doubt will fly, and you will keep singing as the days go by.  Count your blessings, name them one by one, count your blessings, see what God hath done!  When you look at others with their lands and gold, think that Christ has promised you His wealth untold; count your many blessings—wealth can never buy your reward in heaven, nor your home on high.  Count your blessings, name them one by one, count your blessings, see what God hath done!  So, amid the conflict whether great or small, do not be discouraged, God is over all; count your many blessings, angels will attend, help and comfort give you to your journey’s end.   Count your blessings, name them one by one, count your blessings, see what God hath done!”

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

Its better to give...

“In everything I did, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said: ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’” Acts 20:35

I’m sure that you have heard the above verse before; either your parents or grandparents shared it with you sometime when you were growing up.  Hopefully, the older we get the more we understand what Jesus meant in this passage; giving makes you happy.  Do you want to be known as a joyful person?  I don’t mean someone who is always slappy, happy 24/7; that’s just not possible on this side of Heaven.  I mean someone who has the joy of the Lord, whose hope is not shaken by life’s ups and downs.  A joyful person sees God at work, even in their challenges.  I’ve always liked this verse because it’s so honest in our sinful world.  Does Jesus say there’s no happiness in receiving?  No.  There is happiness in receiving. But Jesus says there’s more happiness in giving; and there certainly is.

That’s the exact opposite of the way the world thinks.  Most of our world thinks there’s more happiness in getting…from the government recently.  The more you get, the happier you’ll be.  But thankfully, Jesus doesn’t think like the world or the majority of our government.  He knows you are most like him when you are giving, and that giving produces an abundant amount of joy in your life; it feels good to give.

God wants us as individuals to be more generous, because it makes us more like him.  He uses our giving to bless others here in our hometown, country and abroad…perhaps a Christian school in Haiti.  Do you want your family to be more joyful?  Then be more generous as a family; sponsor a school.  Do you want to be a more joyful person?  Then be more generous as a person.

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

Walking with Jesus.

“Follow God’s example, therefore, as dearly loved children and walk in the way of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.”  Ephesians 5:1-2

The words of the Apostle Paul exhort us to follow God’s example and to walk and love in the same manner that Christ Jesus loved us.  The child in the attached photo attends the Lutheran school in Ouanaminthe which is located in the Fort Liberte District in the Northern part of Haiti along the border with the Dominican Republic.  Sometimes a simple photo just speaks for itself and saying thank you for helping to support this child seems so small of a statement for all the blessings that will come from her life in a land with so many challenges. 

The hymn “Let us ever walk with Jesus” which was written by Sigismund von Birken, 1626-1681 and translated by J. Adam Rimbach, 1871-1941, is such a wonderful way to end this devotion.  

“Let us ever walk with Jesus, follow His example pure, flee the world, which would deceive us and to sin our souls allure.  Ever in His footsteps treading, body here, yet soul above, full of faith and hope and love.  Let us do the Father's bidding. faithful Lord, abide with me; Savior, lead, I follow Thee.  Let us suffer here with Jesus, to His image, e'er conform; Heaven's glory soon will please us, sunshine follow on the storm.  Though we sow in tears of sorrow, we shall reap with heavenly joy; and the fears that now annoy shall be laughter on the morrow.  Christ, I suffer here with Thee; there, oh, share Thy joy with me!  Let us also die with Jesus.  His death from the second death, from our soul's destruction, frees us, quickens us with life's glad breath.  Let us mortify, while living, flesh and blood and die to sin; and the grave that shuts us in shall but prove the gate to heaven.  Jesus, here I die to Thee there to live eternally.  Let us gladly live with Jesus; since He's risen from the dead, death and grave must soon release us.  Jesus, Thou art now our Head, we are truly Thine own members; where Thou livest, there live we.  Take and own us constantly, faithful Friend, as Thy dear brethren.  Jesus, here I live to Thee, also there eternally.”

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

Walking on water.

“Shortly before dawn Jesus went out to them, walking on the lake.  When the disciples saw him walking on the lake, they were terrified.  “It’s a ghost,” they said, and cried out in fear.  But Jesus immediately said to them: “Take courage! It is I.  Don’t be afraid.”  “Lord, if it’s you,” Peter replied, “tell me to come to you on the water.”  “Come,” he said.  Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus.  But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, “Lord, save me!”  Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him.  “You of little faith,” he said, “why did you doubt?” Matthew 14:25-31

Have you ever tried to walk on water?  One time I thought that I could do that with scuba diving fins kicking as hard as my legs would permit and it probably appeared that I was walking in waist deep water for a brief period of time until sinking below the surface.  Having faith in Jesus to be able to walk on water; what was Peter thinking or better yet what was he asking of our Savior?

It’s been seasonally hot and humid in Normal this afternoon and when I came home and prepared to open the door between the garage and the laundry room, I had faith that my air conditioner had kept the inside of my house eighty degrees as that is what my thermostat setting is in the daytime.  When I lived in Haiti and would prepare to open the door to my apartment, I knew the temperature inside would either match or be greater than the temperature outside; in that I had faith as back in the day there was usually no electricity during daylight in Petionville.

Returning to life in North America has somewhat deadened my faith in our Triune God; way too much gets taken for granted.  The young woman in the attached photo is Nadine Isidor who was my office manager in the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Haiti headquarters in Port-au-Prince.  There was no AC in the building and we only ran a fan when the generator was on.  Her faith walk was a blessing to me as the Holy Spirit working through her brought me closer to Jesus because without Him, my life was lonely and in danger.  Nadine had faith that her job was secure and that Jesus had promised her a mansion in Heaven; the most important was a home in Heaven where she would be with Him.

I heard a song on the drive home recently by Johnny Cash and Pam Tillis titled ‘Keep your eyes on Jesus.’  Been doing a lot of reflecting on that tonight and pray that you too will with me and Nadine, George and their children, keep our fixed upon Jesus.

“Keep your eyes on Jesus, when the tidal wave of trouble around you rolls.  Keep your eyes on Jesus’ He will calm the storms of life that toss your soul.  Living in a world that’s full of sorrow, we are tried and tempted every day.  Knowing not the secrets of tomorrow, we find if you win, we watch and pray.  In Matthew, Chapter 14, when the disciples were in the ship in the midst of the sea, being tossed with waves, for the wind was contrary.  In the fourth watch of the night, Jesus went unto them, walking on the sea.  And when the disciples saw Him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, 'it is a spirit'; and they cried out for help.  But straightway, Jesus spake unto them, saying, "Be of good cheer; It is I; Be not afraid."  And Peter answered him and said, Lord 'If it be Thou, let me come unto Thee upon the water.'  And He said, "Come." And when Peter was come down out of the ship, he walked on the water, to go to Jesus.  But when he saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink, he cried out, 'Lord, save me.'  Peter was doing alright while he kept his eyes on Jesus. But when he looked away at the rolling waves about him, he began to sink.  And immediately, Jesus stretched forth His Hand, and caught him, and said unto him, "O, thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt?"

Being tossed about in this life by disappointments, a pandemic and worldly temptations; we are very much the same as this disciple.  If we want to live for Jesus, we must keep our eyes on Him, and not the pleasures of this world.

“Keep your eyes on Jesus, when the tidal wave of trouble around you rolls.  Keep your eyes on Jesus; He will calm the storms of life that toss your soul.”

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

Bob on a soapbox.

“If we live, we live to the Lord, and if we die, we die to the Lord.  So then, whether we live or whether we die, we are the Lord's.  For to this end Christ died and lived again, that He might be Lord both of the dead and of the living.”  Romans 14:8-9

This scripture from Romans reminded me of a faithful servant named Bob who passed into the other side at least a decade ago; he and I had attended the same Bible class for a number of years in Lincoln.  Bob had a wonderful memory for Scriptures and could generally provide a verse that fit perfectly into most of our discussions while standing on his ‘soapbox’.  He memorized the Book of Romans and I imagine that after hugging Jesus upon his arrival he headed over to the Apostle Paul’s mansion and spent time catching up with his hero.

Just as Bob lived by the above verses from Romans, you and I and the young children in the attached photo belong to the Lord.  You, Bob and I may not resemble these boys from Gonaives, but you have to look inside and forget about the wrapper that we wear.  What and where we are living today is temporary, not our permanent home; my temporary journey has been 62 years spent in Nebraska, 3 in Haiti and now 6 and counting in Normal.  Where we are headed one day is important and we need to stay focused on that direction and take as many with us to Heaven as we can possibly bring.

I read a statement recently that asked why is a car’s windshield so large and the rearview mirror so small?  It is because our past is not as important as our future; we need to continually look ahead, stay focused on the future and move on toward that goal.  Bob is with King Jesus today; soon you, me and the Haitian children will also leave this dusty earth and enjoy our permanent home in Heaven.  A song recently played on the radio, “King Jesus” by the Oak Ridge Boys.  One day we will be there with King Jesus enjoying the peace that is unimaginable.

“All the armies of the world will someday gather and they'll pass before the great reviewing stand.  And they'll beat their swords and weapons into plowshares and the Prince of Peace shall give the last command.  When King Jesus comes to live with us again He will show His righteous love to every man.  Wars and strife will all be passed there'll be peace on earth at last when King Jesus comes to live with us again.  Un-obscured the sun will drive away the shadows at the dawning of that great eternal day and there'll be no sounds of crying in the ghetto for all grief and pain and death shall pass away.  When King Jesus comes to live with us again He will show His righteous love to every man.  Wars and strife will all be passed there'll be peace on earth at last when King Jesus comes to live with us again.”

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

Hold that tongue.

“Likewise, the tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts.  Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark.  The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body.  It corrupts the whole body, sets the whole course of one’s life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell” James 3:5‑6

My television remote has a mute button as does Zoom on my laptop; too bad that my tongue doesn’t have one that is attached to the small wisdom sector in my brain.  There have been countless times when my tongue has launched words that should have been deleted or sent to the trash bin.

Heavenly Father, we are sinful human beings and quite often our tongues are way out of control.  We have breached confidences that were meant to be held in trust.  We have told several people of the offense we received but have failed to speak with the offender to make things right.  Many of our family, friends and co-workers lack the courage to tell us to our face of our error, but You don't; You command us to get control of our tongues.  We're rebuked by Your indictment: from our mouth come both blessing and cursing; these things ought not to be this way.

Lord, help us to remember that there's no decision more important than salvation.  And on the heels of that, there's no decision more important than the decision to restore a relationship that has been fractured because of hurtful words.  Forgive us for speaking before we knew the facts or before we earned the right to say what we've said.  Forgive us for hurting a brother or a sister who wasn't even there to defend himself or herself.  Hear our prayer today and vindicate us, Lord, for we, too, have been verbally assassinated and our integrity has been violated.  And we ask You to fight our battles for us.  Help us to mute our tongue when needed.  We come to You today in faith in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Call upon HIS name.

“And everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”  Acts 2:21

The Bible tells us quite plainly that ‘everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved’ and yet there are people who just don’t ever need or want to call upon Jesus as their Savior.  Why do you suppose that some people will believe you when you tell them there are four billion stars in the Heavens but then they will stop and touch the wall when you say that the paint is still wet?

At times it is difficult to share the truth in a world full of falsehoods; tales of deception spun by the prince of lies and spread like warm butter on soft bread by evil trolls in a world with wide-eyed people looking for something better that they can devour more easily.  They need Jesus.

The two Lutheran boys staring at a missionary in Cap Haitian know about Jesus; they call upon His name and they will be saved.  I heard a song recently called ‘Take the Name of Jesus with you’ that was written by Lydia Baxter in 1874 just four days before she died at the age of 65; what a way to leave a legacy.  We all need to be reminded daily how precious and powerful the Name of Jesus really is and the promises that come to us when we call upon Him in prayer.

“Take the Name of Jesus with you, child of sorrow and of woe, it will joy and comfort give you; take it then, where’er you go.  Precious Name, O how sweet!  Hope of earth and joy of Heav’n.  Precious Name, O how sweet!  Hope of earth and joy of Heav’n.  Take the Name of Jesus ever, as a shield from every snare; if temptations round you gather, breathe that holy Name in prayer.  Precious Name, O how sweet!  Hope of earth and joy of Heav’n.  Precious Name, O how sweet!  Hope of earth and joy of Heav’n.  O the precious Name of Jesus!  How it thrills our souls with joy, when His loving arms receive us, and His songs our tongues employ!  Precious Name, O how sweet!  Hope of earth and joy of Heav’n.  Precious Name, O how sweet!  Hope of earth and joy of Heav’n.  At the Name of Jesus bowing, falling prostrate at His feet, King of kings in Heav’n we’ll crown Him, when our journey is complete.  Precious Name, O how sweet!  Hope of earth and joy of Heav’n.  Precious Name, O how sweet!  Hope of earth and joy of Heav’n.”

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

Heart and treasure.

“Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also” Matthew 6:21

Does this verse remind you of a Stewardship Sunday at your church?  Back in the day while living in Haiti, occasionally I was asked to give a message about tithing to the congregation where I worshipped at Caredeux.  At that point in time, the collection plate there was typically filled with coins and a few envelopes.  In 2001, the average income for a Haitian family was $400-$600 per year and ten percent of that would reflect Gourdes in the collection plate.

Living in the U.S., gainfully employed or retired, the collection plates are fuller with our tithes.  So where is your heart today?  It’s a simple question.  Your heart is wherever you place your money, time and talents.  For some of us, our heart is in our home and yard, because that’s where we put our time and money.  Or maybe our heart is in our boat that is cooler than the neighbor’s boat.  Or it could be in our second house; the cabin by the lake.  Or for some of us it could be the sport you spend your time and money on.

Wherever you put your money is where your heart is going to go.  Where you spend your time also reveals your priorities.  You can say you love to be in shape, but do you exercise?  No?  Then you don’t really love being in shape.

You can say you love Jesus, but if you don’t spend any time with him, then you don’t love him as much as you think you do.   Here’s how you know what’s really important to someone; look at their calendar, and look at their bank statement.  The way you spend your time and money shows what’s really important to you.  You can say, “This is really important to me.”  But what you say in this case doesn’t really matter.  If you don’t spend time on it and you don’t spend money on it, then your heart isn’t really there.

When you give to God, guess where your heart goes?  It turns toward Him and the things that please Him.  When you spend time with God in His Word, you become closer to Him as you know Him more.  Giving God your time and money is an act of worship; it’s a way you align your heart with His.  So, back to that question; “Where is your heart today?”  Where do you want it to be?  Prayerfully decide where you want your heart to be and start investing your time, talents and treasures there.  It won’t be long and you will find your heart there too.

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

Being generous.

Being generous.

"Bless the LORD, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless His holy name. Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget none of His benefits; who pardons all your iniquities, who heals all your diseases; who redeems your life from the pit, who crowns you with lovingkindness and compassion; who satisfies your years with good things, so that your youth is renewed like the eagle. The LORD performs righteous deeds and judgments for all who are oppressed." Psalm 103:1–6

It’s my belief, that before a sinful human being can be generous, they need to honestly take a personal inventory of their earthly blessings on this side of Heaven.  Yesterday, I shared a photo of a group of 22 Haitian school kids who would list their blessings as follows; having a Savior, being able to attend a Christian school with a feeding program and having clothes.  The author of Psalm 103 lists several blessings to start our thinking.  As we reflect on God's gifts to us, it's helpful to be specific.

Do you have eyesight?  Mine is flawed, but it's still a gift.  Do you have a good mind?  Once again, mine is questionable, but it's a gift.  Do you have leadership abilities that cause others to follow?  A good education?  These are all gifts.  Has our Creator given you a family?  Has He given you sufficient clothes?  How about a nice home and a warm, soft bed on a cold night or a comfortable place to live in the hot summer?  Do you have more than one home?  These are all gifts from God's hand.  Reflect on His numerous gifts to you.  It will increase your joy and prayerfully, a smile will soon replace that frown as you consider being generous; sharing with someone who if facing more challenges than you are facing.

I like to label the attached photo ‘two dollars’ as that is the price to purchase lunch for these eight students.  Their parents didn’t purchase their shoes at a Foot Locker or their clothes from Old Navy.  They most likely purchased them from a large cardboard barrel in a local market; they are throw away items from the U.S.  These kids don’t know that ‘new’ shoes come in a colorful box with tissue paper and have never experienced the aroma of new shoes.

Generosity; please remind yourself of God's promises regarding generosity. God promises if you sow bountifully, you will reap bountifully.  Don't ever be afraid of outgiving God; it is absolutely impossible to do that.  He will keep every one of His promises related to generosity.  For the price of a few soft shell tacos you can provide lunch for these eight young missionaries.

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

Retired...keeping busy?

“The word of the Lord came to me, saying, “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations.”  “Alas, Sovereign Lord,” I said, “I do not know how to speak; I am too young.”  But the Lord said to me, “Do not say, ‘I am too young.’  You must go to everyone I send you to and say whatever I command you.  Do not be afraid of them, for I am with you and will rescue you,” declares the Lord.” Jeremiah 1:4-8

A few phrases from current wise, worldly, sages that I have heard since  retiring ten years ago; a new fifth wheel trailer, traveling, a $60 golf outing, a two-week European river cruise, buying a new villa or cabin somewhere in the mountains or the dreaded one; another surgery cause its back.  At times it seems like people ‘have’ to find something to do when they retire; hour after hour of monotony and mediocrity mesh like teeth in well-made precision gears.  One spawns the other, leaving us yawning, bored, and adrift; day after long day without fresh entertainment.  As a child, did your parents entertain you?  In referring to monotony, I do not have in mind a lack of activity as much as a lack of purpose.  We can be busy yet bored; involved yet indifferent.  Life becomes tediously repetitious, dull, humdrum.  Try putting a spoonful of salsa on your eggs tomorrow.

I’ve talked with farmers who took their last crop to the grain elevator, a local TV news anchor, physicians out of the office, ER and hospital corridors, a few Pastors who gave their last message and a few engineers who put their slide rule on a shelf.  Show me an individual who once soared in their given profession, whose life was characterized by enthusiasm and excellence, but who no longer works hard to reach those heights, and I'll show you a person who probably didn’t have a plan for the remainder of their journey on this side of Heaven.

Take a close look at these 22 Haitian children giving thanks for their noon meal of rice and beans; $5.50 for their lunch.  I asked my daughters recently what their AC was set on, as mine is 78.  None of these 22 school kids in a hot, open air classroom have ever experienced climate control and for most of them, the plate on their desk is their meal for the day. 

As you sit here, possibly beginning another drab and seemingly meaningless day on this side, please know that God is there!  He is with you on your journey through the desert.  He cares!  He knows!  From your yesterday to your tomorrow; God is and will be there with you and these 22 Haitian kids.

From the beginning of their school year to the end of school year, God is there for each of them.  From the assignments that will never really make the headlines like your profession may have done; God is there.  He is there!  So, my friend, put some salsa on your morning eggs and if you want to make a difference with the time you have left and break out of your daily schedule, please prayerfully consider donating the next round of golf to feed these 22 or trade that river cruise for sponsoring their whole school for a year with Trinity HOPE. 

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