International Prayer Day First Monday each month 10 am

Joel Griffith 10/4/21 Joel Griffith 10/4/21

Fallen world.

“When I say to a wicked person, ‘You will surely die,’ and you do not warn them or speak out to dissuade them from their evil ways in order to save their life, that wicked person will die for their sin, and I will hold you accountable for their blood.” Ezekiel 3:18

The initial thought that entered my mind, when seeing thousands of Haitian immigrants camping under a bridge near Del Rio, TX was, ‘How many of those people are bringing vodou practices across the border?’ I wasn’t thinking about them bringing COVID-19 or some other disease, it was about them bringing devil worship with them into our country within this fallen world; bringing one more thing the devil has brought here in hopes that it will seem normal after a few weeks, months or years. One more flag.

The above verse initially may seem like quite a strong warning to those who have heard the message of salvation; that they are to not just keep this knowledge to themselves but freely share with the lost. The Haitian man in the attached photo is the witch doctor at this unimposing vodou temple in Croix d’ Bouquets which is a suburb in Port-au-Prince; he needs to hear the message of salvation.

It seems that while we learn that the lost are certainly doomed to hell and we are to speak the truth with them; there is also the fact that God loves each and every one of us and only wants the best for each of us. It is His desire that this man trapped in vodou, the people camped under that bridge in Texas and you and I would all accept the fact that He sent His Son to die for us and salvation has been won and is awaiting all who call upon the name of Jesus.

There are several thousands of young Haitian missionaries attending Christian schools in the Port-au-Prince district who are learning more and more about Jesus Christ and being fed daily by donors like you and me. As you have shared the truth in your neighborhood, thank you for also sharing of your gifts to assist in the preparation of the youth in Haiti who will take the message of salvation to those caught up in the lies of vodou and perhaps to the ears of this witch doctor. Isaac Watts wrote the words for the Hymn ‘Am I a soldier of the Cross’ in 1721 and they will close this message today.

“Am I a solder of the Cross, a foll'wer of the Lamb and shall I fear to own His cause or blush to speak His name? Must I be carried to the skies on flow'ry beds of ease while others fought to win the prize and sailed thro' bloody seas? Are there no foes for me to face? Must I not stem the flood? Is this vile world a friend to grace to help me on to God? Sure I must fight if I would reign; increase my courage, Lord! I'll bear the toil, endure the pain, supported by Thy Word. Thy saints in all this glorious war shall conquer though they die; they see the triumph from afar with faith's discerning eye. When that illustrious Day shall rise and all Thine armies shine in robes of victory through the skies, the glory shall be Thine.”

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 10/2/21 Joel Griffith 10/2/21

Forgive us.

"Open shame belongs to us, O Lord, to our kings, our princes and our fathers, because we have sinned against You. To the Lord our God belong compassion and forgiveness, for we have rebelled against Him; nor have we obeyed the voice of the LORD our God, to walk in His teachings which He set before us through His servants the prophets." Daniel 9:8–10

Spend an hour watching television or surfing the Internet and then read these verses from Daniel. We live in a fallen world. Look how far we have drifted away from the truth. We have followed manmade idols and godless leaders who have led us farther away from our Savior. If we are honest with ourselves, there are too many hours of each day where we are a part of this fallen world and not living for Jesus. Father, forgive us, for being attracted to the pleasures of sin in this fallen world; to what appears to be full of ecstasy and satisfaction but is, in fact, empty, hollow and oozing with sin. Thank You for bringing conviction, for pointing out our weakness and those times of rebellion. We need that reminder countless times every day as we numbly smile at this world, so that we might invest ourselves in that which endures; Your Word. We want to pursue the things of God, the things You consider important and valuable; a righteous walk, a pure heart, a lifestyle committed to You. We long to place family values above worldly fortune and purpose above fame and righteousness above riches. Father, You instruct us and teach us in the way we should go; thank You for that. You shine a bright light on our path that we may see Your Word. Thank You for the relief that comes with being forgiven and the peace of mind that ultimately accompanies a clean heart. Finally, thank You for Your mercies, new every morning, and Your grace, needed every day. We thank You in the dear name of Jesus. Amen.

Joel Griffith 10/1/21 Joel Griffith 10/1/21

Fallen world.

“Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everyone. If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” says the Lord.” Romans 12:17-19

The majority of inhabitants living in our fallen world tell us "Don’t get mad…get even." I don’t know if this would have been something said in Paul’s time but this type of thinking makes it sound like we are totally in control of a painful situation.

The attached photo is a glimpse at evil; a haven in our fallen world. The building within the corrugated metal fence on the left side of road between Cap Haitian and Ouanaminthe has many colored flags. Each flag represents a powerful evil spirit that the local vodou priest has at their bidding. To the Christians living in Haiti this is the competition that is far more dangerous than the earthquake, storms, political and economic hardships and living conditions that challenge the inhabitants of Haiti each day.

The vodou priest will call upon evil spirits sent from satan to bring problems and illnesses to rain down on innocent lives. Vodou is work of the devil and is not of our Triune God. There are over 52,000 children being fed by a Trinity HOPE feeding program every day they are in school learning more about the Triune God and the power of the Holy Spirit that will drive evil spirits away.

These children are placing their trust in Jesus as He has defeated satan and His truth exposes the lies of the vodou priest. Thank you for helping to prepare the young missionaries living in Haiti as they take the Gospel message to those still living in fear of the neighborhood vodou temple. In 1874 Frances R. Havergal wrote the words for ‘I am trusting Thee Lord Jesus’ and the last two verses are a wonderful way to close this devotion.

“I am trusting Thee for power; Thine can never fail. Words which Thou Thyself shalt give me must prevail. I am trusting Thee, Lord Jesus; never let me fall. I am trusting Thee forever and for all.”

May God be with you…Jay

Joel Griffith 9/30/21 Joel Griffith 9/30/21

Enduring trials.

“The islands will look to me and wait in hope for my arm.” Isaiah 51:5

Hopefully, you and I will seldom experience truly extreme, severe trials in our lifetime. The trials of a North American are greatly different than the Haitian boy in the attached photo will probably face daily. Too often what seem like a trial to us can be eliminated with the swipe of a credit card or the writing of a check, time out at a golf course or a trip to the doctor; too often we fail to turn to Him with our trials.

The child in the photo attends the Messif School in Ouanaminthe and the trials that the students there face daily, force them to place their trust in God alone. When there is no food for their table at home and no human deliverance is possible, they must completely place their trust in our Heavenly Father. The severe trial is a blessing to them, and could also be a blessing to us if we surrender all of our problems to Him who created us.

Our fallen world tells us to look to ourselves for the escape route from trials but this young boy and his family have nowhere else to turn; they humbly run into their Heavenly Father's arms and wait patiently to receive His blessings as promised. Together we join our brothers and sisters in Haiti and lean on His everlasting arms. Elisha Hoffman penned the following words in 1887 and are still true today.

“What a fellowship, what a joy divine, leaning on the everlasting arms; what a blessedness, what a peace is mine, leaning on the everlasting arms. Oh, how sweet to walk in this pilgrim way, leaning on the everlasting arms; oh, how bright the path grows from day to day, leaning on the everlasting arms. What have I to dread, what have I to fear, leaning on the everlasting arms? I have blessed peace with my Lord so near, leaning on the everlasting arms.”

May God be with you…Jay

Joel Griffith 9/29/21 Joel Griffith 9/29/21

Ten years.

“But remember the LORD your God, for it is he who gives you the ability to produce wealth, and so confirms his covenant, which he swore to your ancestors, as it is today.” Deuteronomy 8:18

I’ve been retired from gainful employment for just over ten years, and now have been volunteering my time writing, with Trinity HOPE. Back in the day, there were times when working and receiving a pay check, it was difficult to trust in the Lord alone; this sinful world told me that it was me that was generating the income and my Heavenly Father was just ‘standing’ beside me watching my daily activities. Our world is overly impressed with wealth and the ability of some people to produce great wealth; it’s not about me.

Retirement meant that no longer could I support Trinity HOPE at the level I was donating when gainfully employed to help fulfill the financial need to feed 17,000 children in 2011. Now in 2021, that number is 52,000, and did anybody see this coming? I trust that the Lord will use me in other ways to feed the child in the attached photo who attends school at Ouanaminthe; it still only takes a quarter to fill his blue bowl with rice and beans.

I read the following in a devotion about retirement some years ago and it brings wisdom to the foolishness of the way this world thinks. “Why should I fear when evil days come, when wicked deceivers surround me; those who trust in their wealth and boast of their great riches? For all can see that wise men die; the foolish and the senseless alike perish and leave their wealth to others. This is the fate of those who trust in themselves, and of their followers; who approve their sayings. Do not be overawed when a man grows rich, when the splendor of his house increases; for he will take nothing with him when he dies, his splendor will not descend with him. A man who has riches without understanding is like the beasts that perish.”

If you are wondering how you can help to feed more children in Haiti, please encourage others to go to ‘trinityhope.org’ and may they prayerfully consider supporting the efforts of Trinity HOPE to feed more children attending Christian schools in Haiti. There is strength in numbers; our Heavenly Father can accomplish much working through people who have placed their trust in Him and not in themselves.

May God be with you…Jay

Joel Griffith 9/28/21 Joel Griffith 9/28/21

Everyday blessing.

“We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God.” 2 Corinthians 5:20

A greeting card in HyVee waved at me a few days ago while looking for a birthday card; the words “Everyday Blessing” caught my attention. Is there anything on the face of this fallen world that could be an everyday blessing to you? Solomon was one of the richest and wisest men in all of History and he said that when he considered everything that he had accomplished and accumulated, it was all meaningless.

I am sure that there are at least a few people in your life that bless your journey from time to time, but sad to say, people ultimately disappoint as we are by nature sinful and unclean. The greeting card was directed to tell the recipient how their life had brought countless blessings into the life of the sender. The children from Bois Marchand in the attached photo would probably tell you that the plate of Trinity HOPE rice and beans in front of them is their “Everyday Blessing”. Truth is, the only real and sure “Everyday Blessing” for them and us, is Jesus Christ. And, recently I heard the Kenny Rogers song “I can’t unlove you” and the lyrics caused me to think about a number of things about ‘Everyday blessings’; thanks Alexa.

“Postcards and letters and pictures made to last forever; to be boxed up and tossed away. Knickknacks and souvenirs in an afternoon, they're out of here. They'll disappear without a trace but what they mean to me can never be replaced. I can't unthink about you, I can't unfeel your touch, I can't unhear all the words unsay all the things that used to mean so much. I wish I could unremember everything my heart's been through; I'm finding out it's impossible to do. Oh, it's no use, I can't unlove you.”

When you see these children, the future of Haiti who will bring Jesus to the lost in Haiti, it is difficult to not love them. When I consider the many supporters who are ambassadors of Christ and bless these children with their gifts and prayers; it is difficult to not love them. And once again, the truth is, we can’t unlove Jesus. His ‘everyday blessing’ for us was shed on the cross of Calvary and set us free, free to be ‘everyday blessings’.

May God be with you…Jay

Joel Griffith 9/27/21 Joel Griffith 9/27/21

Special gifts.

“But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us. We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body.” 2 Corinthians 4:7-10

It is difficult at times to admit that we are vessels created by our Heavenly Father to ultimately. do His work. Our vessels are needed to carry water, wine, dry goods and sometimes we need to carry smelly waste material. We each have been given specific ways to use our talents to do His work, according to His plan and in His precise time.

When people learn about Trinity HOPE feeding children they generally think about that in North American ways. Our financial support is wired to Haiti and the school feeding program administrators purchase the food and the cooks prepare the food over a fire and feed the children. You’ve seen a few photos of children praying before they eat, washing their hands, carrying the plate and eating, but consider what is taking place in the attached photo.

There are so many different people in His plan that use their vessels to accomplish His work. The two men in the attached are wading through a river carrying supplies to a school in the Les Cayes District where hundreds of children receive lunch daily. The taptap or small pickup truck couldn’t drive through this swift river on this day and for these feeding program directors to be able to reach this school so they needed to wade through the river to deliver the goods.

Thank you for answering His call to provide support for this school and the other 240 schools that have Trinity HOPE schools in Haiti. When you give thanks add a special petition to your prayer for the countless people in Haiti that make these feeding programs accomplish His goal of training young children in Haiti to be His missionaries. The song “Have Thine own way Lord” which was written by Adelaide Pollard (1862-1934) is a great reminder of how our Heavenly Father continues to use the ‘special’ gifts that each of has to accomplish His will.

“Have Thine own way, Lord! Have Thine own way! Thou art the potter, I am the clay. Mold me and make me after thy will, while I am waiting, yielded and still. Have Thine own way, Lord! Have Thine own way! Search me and try me, Savior today! Wash me just now, Lord, wash me just now, as in thy presence humbly I bow. Have Thine own way, Lord! Have Thine own way! Wounded and weary, help me I pray! Power, all power, surely is Thine! Touch me and heal me, Savior divine! Have Thine own way, Lord! Have Thine own way! Hold o'er my being absolute sway. Fill with thy Spirit till all shall see Christ only, always, living in me!”

May God be with you…Jay

Joel Griffith 9/25/21 Joel Griffith 9/25/21

A heart for service.

"For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many." Mark 10:45

I watched about 30 minutes of cable news recently; “NEWS FLASH”, we live in a fallen world. We need to reflect the life and work of Jesus; we need to serve. Father, it's a pretty awesome thing to be in Your service. In our fallen world, it's a lot easier to begin and run a company, even a really big corporation, than it is to serve the body of Christ; we live in a fallen world. We are told we are wasting ‘our’ time. As sinful human beings, we see the outward appearance, but You look at the heart. Our world will often reward achievements that everybody notices, but You reward those things that nobody knows about. You reward motives behind the actions. You reward generosity that is never publicly announced. You reward sacrifice, which is what a humble servant is all about. And so, Father, thank You for the joy of serving You; supporting Your work, believing in Your ministry, trusting You with our whole hearts, and not leaning on our own understanding. Guide us, O Lord; continually. Our desire is to serve You with quality, authenticity, humility, grace, mercy, and compassion. May we serve better in deeds than in words. Make us a people who have a heart for the whole world, not just our own little backyard. Guard us from acts of the flesh, from foolish decisions, from rash actions, from impatient reactions, from promoting our unseen deeds, from micro-managing, from wanting the spotlight time, from selfish motives. Lord, we hold You in highest esteem, our desire is to know Christ intimately, and in knowing Him, to model His life of service in an authentic manner. We pray this in Jesus name. Amen.

Joel Griffith 9/24/21 Joel Griffith 9/24/21

A lighthouse.

“When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” John 8:12

I’ve read about and also been told that there are several lighthouses on the coast line of Haiti, I have only seen one that was in the Jeremie District but didn’t think at the time to take a photograph as I didn’t find that it was very picturesque; reminded me of a Civil Defense siren. There are probably quite a few lighthouses throughout this world that are not worthy of a photo or a painting but certainly remain a memory.

Jesus Christ is the light of this world…and I don’t have an actual photo of Him either. The girl in the attached photo attends a Lutheran School in Gonaives and she is a lighthouse of sorts. Her witness sends out a saving message to those lost in her neighborhood in Haiti. Consider yourself to be an integral part of the lighthouse as you provide the oil for her light. Your quarter each day keeps her light shining brightly.

I heard a song by Randy Travis and a group of ‘famous’ singers recently titled “Didn’t we shine” and the words caused me to consider what you and I might say to this young girl from Gonaives when we meet in Heaven; didn’t we shine? What a glorious time we will have in Heaven, with her and with Him smiling about how He used us to reach so many who needed the Light of this world to bring them to safety.

“Hello, it's good to see you, just how long has it been? I've often wondered what I'd say if we ever met again; if I'd try just being clever or pretend not to remember. But it's funny how you've lingered on my mind. Didn't we shine? Didn't we shine? Didn't we share and care and lay our hearts on the line? Maybe it wasn't meant to last till the end of time; oh, but while it did didn't we shine. I still have some blue days that I could do without and when I have my blue days; you're all I think about. But I've long ago forgiven you for what you did or didn't do. Now all I can recall are the happy times. Didn't we shine? Didn't we shine? Didn't we share and care and lay our hearts on the line? Maybe it wasn't meant to last till the end of time; oh, but while it did didn't we shine.”

May God be with you…Jay

Joel Griffith 9/23/21 Joel Griffith 9/23/21

Abide with me.

“As they approached the village to which they were going, Jesus continued on as if he were going farther. But they urged him strongly, “Stay with us, for it is nearly evening; the day is almost over.” So he went in to stay with them.” Luke 24:28-29

The two disciples were walking down the dirt road to Emmaus, a journey of about seven miles when Jesus came up and walked with them. Their exchange recorded in Luke provides another account that assures us and all believers that Jesus Christ defeated death and the devil.

The attached photo with the really long flag pole behind a tree is the location of a vodou temple just outside Pont Sonde. And the news coming out of that house is that the Gospel of Luke is nothing more than a story, a fable…a lie. The vodou priest has assured everyone that goes there that satan had most definitely defeated Christ on the cross; the body of our Savior is still in the tomb. The vodou spirit or war, Ogou, defeated Jesus Christ.

The 153 children attending the Lutheran School in Pont Sonde know the truth and face the mighty challenge of sharing the true message of their risen Savior with the lost who have closed their ears to the truth. Thank you for providing prayers and support for their ministry efforts. Henry Lyte wrote the words to the hymn ‘Abide with me’ in 1847 and the words provide comfort for us, for the children in Pont Sonde and direction for those lost and waiting to hear the Gospel message.

“Abide with me! Fast falls the eventide; the darkness deepens; Lord with me abide. When other helpers fail and comforts flee, help of the helpless, oh, abide with me! Swift to its close ebbs out life's little day; earth's joys grow dim, its glories pass away; change and decay in all around I see. O Thou, who changest not, abide with me! Not a brief glance I beg, a passing word, but as Thou dwell'st with Thy disciples, Lord, familiar, condescending, patient, free. Come not to sojourn, but abide with me. Come not in terror, as the King of kings, but kind and good, with healing in Thy wings; tears for all woes, a heart for every plea. Come, Friend of sinners, thus abide with me. Thou on my head in every youth didst smile, and though rebellious and perverse meanwhile, Thou hast not left me, oft as I left Thee. On to the close, O Lord, abide with me. I need Thy presence every passing hour; what but Thy grace can foil the Tempter's power? Who like Thyself my guide and stay can be? Through cloud and sunshine, oh, abide with me! I fear no foe, with Thee at hand to bless; ills have no weight and tears no bitterness. Where is death's sting? Where, grave, thy victory? I triumph still if Thou abide with me. Hold Thou Thy cross before my closing eyes, shine through the gloom, and point me to the skies. Heaven's morning breaks, and earth's vain shadows flee; in life, in death, O Lord, abide with me!”

May God be with you…Jay