Getting a call.

“The boy Samuel ministered before the LORD under Eli. In those days the word of the LORD was rare; there were not many visions.  One night Eli, whose eyes were becoming so weak that he could barely see, was lying down in his usual place.  The lamp of God had not yet gone out, and Samuel was lying down in the house of the LORD, where the ark of God was.  Then the LORD called Samuel.  Samuel answered, “Here I am.”  And he ran to Eli and said, “Here I am; you called me.”  But Eli said, “I did not call; go back and lie down.”  So he went and lay down.  Again the LORD called, “Samuel!” And Samuel got up and went to Eli and said, “Here I am; you called me.”  “My son,” Eli said, “I did not call; go back and lie down.”  Now Samuel did not yet know the LORD: The word of the LORD had not yet been revealed to him.  A third time the LORD called, “Samuel!” And Samuel got up and went to Eli and said, “Here I am; you called me.”  Then Eli realized that the LORD was calling the boy.  So Eli told Samuel, “Go and lie down, and if he calls you, say, ‘Speak, LORD, for your servant is listening.’” So Samuel went and lay down in his place.”  1 Samuel 3:1-9

As a child, calling a person was done on a telephone with a rotary dial or by opening the door and yelling out a name.  The scripture reading talks about how Samuel received his ‘call’ from God.  It is good to read these passages from time to time as we too have been called but sometimes, we don’t understand who was calling or what it was they wanted.

The young boy in the photo attends the Lutheran school in Ouanaminthe and this is one of those special photos as the boy sitting next to him is wearing a North American throw away t-shirt that proclaims “saving the best for last.”  This young boy, you and me have each received the ‘call’ from our Heavenly Father; but each of our calls was different but each will bring blessings back to our Heavenly Father.  Your gift is feeding this child and he is growing the Kingdom in Haiti.

We get calls all the time and sometimes we answer and sometimes I just glance at the caller I.D. and let the phone ring and ring and hope that they will leave a message if they aren’t selling something.  He continues to call you and His children in Ouanaminthe and around this world.  Thank you for answering His call and taking the message.  Alexa was playing some Southern Gospel yesterday and George Younce sang a song titled “Who at my door is standing” and its words seem relevant to this passage in 1 Samuel. 

“Who at my door is standing, patiently drawing near, entrance within demanding?  Whose is the voice I hear?  Sweetly the tones are falling; “Open the door for Me!  If thou wilt heed My calling, I will abide with thee.  Lonely without He’s staying, lonely within am I, while I am still delaying, will He not pass me by?  Sweetly the tones are falling; “Open the door for Me!  If thou wilt heed My calling, I will abide with thee.  All through the dark hours dreary, knocking again is He; Jesus, art Thou not weary, waiting so long for me?  Sweetly the tones are falling; “Open the door for Me!  If thou wilt heed My calling, I will abide with thee.  Door of my heart, I hasten!  Thee will I open wide.  Though He rebuke and chasten, He shall with me abide.  Sweetly the tones are falling; “Open the door for Me!  If thou wilt heed My calling, I will abide with thee.”

Dear 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

Empty temptations.

“But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him.  “The son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’  “But the father said to his servants, ‘Quick!  Bring the best robe and put it on him.  Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet.  Bring the fattened calf and kill it.  Let’s have a feast and celebrate.  For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ So they began to celebrate.” Luke 15:20-24

The lost son didn’t understand how much his father loved him and seldom do we really understand how our Heavenly Father can possibly be excited when we are walking back after being lost in the affairs of this world.

The children in the attached photo are just a few of the 361 that attend Grace Lutheran School in the Les Cayes District.  They are His kids and they like you and me have strayed now and then as we have been tempted by this world to turn away.  Certainly, their temptations are different than our temptations.  We take our food for granted and think nothing of spending $90 a month for cable TV, a cell phone, groceries, clothes, shoes, filling our gas tank; ninety dollars would feed all the children at Grace for one day. 

When we find that this world’s temptations don’t bring what we had thought they would, we turn and return home to our Heavenly Father who is changeless.  His love is everlasting; for you, for them and for me.  Have you been following the temptations of this world recently?  Have you been searching for something you can't find?  Are you running with nowhere to run to?  Come home; come home to the One who loves you more than anyone.  Thank you for helping to feed His children.

I heard a song from Alexa recently which was written by Cleavant Derricks and this is not found in the Lutheran Service Book, but a quartet sang it on her speaker.  The title is ‘We’ll soon be done with troubles and trials’ and the words hit home.

“Some of these days I'm going home where no sorrows ever come, we'll soon be done, we'll soon be done with troubles and trials; safe from Heartaches, pain and care, we shall all that glory share, and I'm gonna sit down beside my Jesus, Lord, I'm gonna sit down and rest a little while.  We'll soon be done, we'll soon be done with troubles and trials, troubles and trials.  In that home yes, in that home on the other side, on the other side, and I'm gonna shake glad hands with the elders, tell my kindred good morning.  Then I'm gonna sit down beside my Jesus, and rest a little while.”

Dear 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

Gen konfyans.

“But you have said, ‘I will surely make you prosper and will make your descendants like the sand of the sea, which cannot be counted.’” Genesis 32:12

Have you ever doubted God’s direction for your life’s journey?  Jacob did as he told God, “You said I will make you prosper.”  Our difficulty with God is that He keeps His promises in His time and not ours.  His will is always accomplished in His ways and too often we don’t understand how or when  that is taking place in our lives; God is faithful.

The Haitian word for faith is ‘gen konfyans’ and the children in the attached photo have much faith; anpil gen konfyans.  We all have times when we doubt His presence in our daily lives and lose patience waiting for His promises to be fulfilled.  God is faithful, was faithful yesterday, will be faithful today and again tomorrow.

Their school at Torbeck will once again have food prepared tomorrow.  Our Triune God is faithful and will always remain faithful to His children.  I close today with the words from the hymn ‘Great is Thy faithfulness’ which was a poem that written by Thomas O. Chisolm in 1923.

“Great is Thy faithfulness," O God my Father, there is no shadow of turning with Thee; Thou changest not, Thy compassions, they fail not as Thou hast been Thou forever wilt be.  Great is Thy faithfulness!  Great is Thy faithfulness!   Morning by morning new mercies I see; all I have needed Thy hand hath provided; Great is Thy faithfulness, Lord, unto me!  Summer and winter, and springtime and harvest, sun, moon and stars in their courses above, join with all nature in manifold witness to Thy great faithfulness, mercy and love.  Pardon for sin and a peace that endureth, Thy own dear presence to cheer and to guide; strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow, blessings all mine, with ten thousand beside!  Great is Thy faithfulness!”

Dear 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

Alone...in a desert?

“You, God, are my God, earnestly I seek you; I thirst for you, my whole being longs for you, in a dry and parched land where there is no water.  I have seen you in the sanctuary and beheld your power and your glory.  Because your love is better than life, my lips will glorify you.”  Psalm 63:1-3

David wrote these words when he was in the Desert of Judah.  Have you ever been standing outside and alone in the middle of a desert?  Just the thought of that degree of heat causes my mouth to get dry; my lips are almost starting to feel cracked and waxy.  The most important thing to David’s mind this day was knowing that God loved him. 

A person who understands that God’s unfailing love is in their life is on their way to eternal glory.  The children eating lunch attend school at Bois Marchand in the Artibonite District.  Their school is located on the North edge of Gonaives next to the Highway and there are cacti within a stone’s throw of this school.  It was very hot on this day but these children understand God’s unfailing love and they, like you and I are on our way to eternal life.

There is a peace that comes from knowing that God has our best interest at heart.  How do they and you and I know that God truly loves us?  Take a look at the cross.  He knew us before we were born, before the foundations of the universe were laid, He set a plan in place that would offer forgiveness for sins we had not yet committed.  He placed you where you are to help these children He placed at the Bois Marchand School.

Sometimes we look at our hardships living in North America, and they may seem HUGE but I ask that you consider your blessings and take another look at these children eating their only meal of the day…in a desert.  Hardships here and there; with all the things He has done for you, could you not take a few hardships for him?  Trust Him.  Trust His love.  Feed His sheep.

Dear 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

Whispering HOPE.

“You then, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus.  And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable people who will also be qualified to teach others.”  2 Timothy 2:1-2

Many theologians have said that this message could have very well been the Apostle Paul’s last words from inside a Roman prison.  At this time of writing, Paul knew it could be his final contact with Timothy because his execution was most likely imminent.  It is important to know what gives hope in the face of a painful death like the one Paul encountered.  Paul, in his letter to Timothy, gave two points that should keep a believer strong: gaining strength in the grace of Jesus Christ and gaining strength in all the testimonies in the Word of God.

Do you know people who might be in a similar situation as was facing Paul in prison?  You have most assuredly been entrusted with the Word of God throughout your life.  Are there reliable people within your voice or touch who will share your love of Jesus Christ and knowledge of the Word of God with others after you have gone?

The young girl in the photo is from Ouanaminthe.  She attends the Lutheran school there and she is praying; giving thanks for her noon meal and for people like you who are helping her to be qualified to teach others along her journey about the grace of Jesus Christ and God’s Holy Word.

I recently heard Alexa play the song ‘Whispering Hope’ which was written by Septimus Winner in 1868.  The words reminded of this small child living on the Northern border of Haiti, in her own type of prison.  Her soft witness will change lives because of your answering of His call to prepare others to share the Good News of a risen Savior.

“Soft as the voice of an angel, breathing a lesson unheard; hope with a gentle persuasion whispers her comforting word.  Wait till the darkness is over, wait till the tempest is done.  Hope for the sunshine tomorrow, after the shower is gone.  Whispering hope, oh, how welcome thy voice, making my heart in its sorrow rejoice.  If, in the dusk of the twilight, dim be the region afar; will not the deepening darkness brighten the glimmering star?  Then when the night is upon us, why should the heart sink away?  When the dark midnight is over, watch for the breaking of day.   Whispering hope, oh, how welcome thy voice, making my heart in its sorrow rejoice.  Hope, as an anchor so steadfast, rends the dark veil for the soul; whither the Master has entered, robbing the grave of its goal.  Come then, oh, come, glad fruition, come to my sad weary heart.  Come, O Thou blest hope of glory, never, oh, never depart.  Whispering hope, oh, how welcome thy voice, making my heart in its sorrow rejoice.”

Dear 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

Everlasting arms.

“Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.”  Matthew 19:14

A recent devotion stated that God’s care includes people of all ages; those in diapers unable to walk, those in jeans and sneakers running everywhere and those using walkers who can’t ‘run’ anywhere; except maybe a hasty trip to the bathroom.  We are all God’s children, no matter our age, our physical ability, our status in the eyes of this world, the color of our skin or the type of blood flowing through our veins. 

God’s care includes and does not exclude.  When infants and small children were brought to Jesus he didn’t say “take them away, I am too busy.”  The children attending school at Petit Amis in Caredeux would be welcomed by our Savior to sit on His lap, tug on His arm and share their love with Him who came to save us.

Our Savior, the Good Shepherd invites us to ‘come’ and be with Him here and one day in Heaven.  We place our faith in Him, lean on Him and call upon Him daily.  I heard a favorite song this morning on Alexa, ‘Leaning on the everlasting arms’ by Elisha Hoffman that was published in 1887.  It is such a wonderful reminder that there is a Savior to lean on, no matter who we are, where we are or what we have done; He is always there.

“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.  Leaning, leaning, safe and secure from all alarms; leaning, leaning, 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.   Leaning, leaning, safe and secure from all alarms; leaning, leaning, 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. Leaning, leaning, safe and secure from all alarms; leaning, leaning, leaning on the everlasting arms.”

Dear 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

What are you afraid of?

“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.”  Then those who were in the boat worshiped him, saying, “Truly you are the Son of God.”  Matthew 14:25-27, 33

While laying on my back in bed yesterday, feeling the coolness of antibiotics fluid in the IV from my morning infusion, I was listening to a radio evangelist asking of his listeners; “So, what are you afraid of?”  We read in Matthew 14:22-33 what Peter and the other disciples feared.  Peter, the brave one, asked Jesus to make it possible for him to walk out on the water and be with Him.  Peter walked out and then began to sink when he realized where He was and satan brought him back to this world and the power of gravity.

What fears do you have in your life’s journey?  Health, money, relationships, wrong directions or non-productive temptations?  The children who attend the school at Pont Quenepe in the Artibonite District fear that when they go to school, the pot of food will be empty and the fire will be out.  The vodou priest is telling them that God does not love them, Jesus is still in the grave and the power of the Holy Spirit cannot match their evil spirits.  The gangs in Gonaives tell their parents to keep the little kids home.  The children attending school here check every morning to make sure the fire is burning, and they, like us and the disciples can exclaim “truly you are the Son of God.”

So what are you afraid of today?  Worried that your donation will be too small and insignificant?  Twenty-one dollars will fill the pot at Pont Quenepe.  God continues to fill the pot at 210 schools with Trinity HOPE feeding programs in Haiti every day.  “Truly, you are the Son of God!”  The first verse of the song ‘Have no Fear little flock’ pairs up very well with this scripture and these words are a gentle reminder that we truly have nothing to fear.  “Have no fear, little flock, have no fear little flock.  For the Father has chosen to give you the Kingdom, have no fear, little flock.”

Go out into the world in peace; have courage; hold on to what is good; return no man evil for evil; strengthen the faint-hearted; support the weak; help the suffering; honor all men; love and serve the Lord; rejoicing in the power of the Holy Spirit.  And may almighty God, the Father, Son and the Holy Spirit bless you.

Dear 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

I can only imagine.

“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”  Jeremiah 29:11

Have you heard the saying that “even the best laid plans will go wrong”?  I retired from the State of Nebraska eleven years ago this month and I still remember that several co-workers and a few friends from Church asked what my future plans were?  My retirement was early as I had not reached the magic age that our North American culture tells us is the correct time, but it was the right time for me.

I have never heard of anybody in Haiti ever retiring; never saw a Haitian social security card, no Medicare.  When the men and women in Haiti reach an age where they can no longer put food into their bodies or provide for themselves, they go to live with relatives and die; thankfully, that was not my plan.  The attached photo is of some of the children and teachers at the Lutheran school at Bongnol which is located in the Artibonite District.  These children are the reason that I volunteer my labors for Trinity HOPE and help feed them while they learn about Jesus Christ.

As long as my feeble fingers can create a daily devotion that will help to feed 52,000 children in Haiti; that is what I will do.  What are your plans for retirement?  Have you given any thought to helping feed children in Haiti when you retire or even before you pick that date?  These kids need you and your talents.  Imagine how many could be touched by your life or by your legacy when it is your time to leave this world and receive you Glory.  I was listening to Amy Grant on Alexa recently sing ‘I can only imagine’ and the words placed thoughts into my mind about what the future will bring.

“I can only imagine what it will be like when I walk by your side.  I can only imagine what my eyes will see when your face is before me.  I can only imagine; I can only imagine.  Surrounded by your glory, what will my heart feel?  Will I dance for you Jesus, or in awe of you be still?  Will I stand in your presence, or to my knees will I fall?  Will I sing Halelluja, will I be able to speak at all?  I can only imagine; I can only imagine.  I can only imagine when that day comes and I find myself standing in the Son.  I can only imagine when all I will do is forever, forever worship you.  I can only imagine; I can only imagine.  Surrounded by your glory, what will my heart feel?  Will I dance for you Jesus, or in awe of you be still?  Will I stand in your presence, or to my knees will I fall?  Will I sing Halelluja, will I be able to speak at all?  I can only imagine; yeah I can only imagine.”

Dear 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

Your first breath.

“Listen to me, you who pursue righteousness and who seek the LORD: look to the rock from which you were cut and to the quarry from which you were hewn.”  Isaiah 51:1

What part of this earth did you come from?  Where did your lungs get that initial filling of the outside air?  The two small children in the attached photo live in Cap Haitian, Haiti.  I am certain that their nostrils drew their first breath of air from the inside of their home; probably on their parent’s bed.  The mission team worker next to them, who is now by the way a doctor, and probably you as well drew that first lung filling inhalation in a clean hospital in North America.

These two girls and Paige and you and I all have one thing in common; we are all united in the same belief of a risen Savior.  Doesn’t matter from which quarry we originally came from.  Ancestors from Germany, England, France, Africa or Haiti; we are all His children here on earth and will be together in Heaven one day.

I listened to a song from Alexa recently, ‘Let there be peace on Earth’ sung by Vince Gill and a small child.  Listening to the two of them brought back memories of me singing ‘Lavi’ with children in Haiti about the same age as these two girls.  One day, you and I will be singing praises to our Triune God together in Heaven, singing with our brothers and sisters from this generation and generations before us.

“Let there be peace on earth and let it begin with me.  Let there be peace on earth; the peace that was meant to be.  With God as our father, brothers all are we.  Let me walk with my brother in perfect harmony.  Let peace begin with me, let this be the moment now.  With every step I take, let this be my solemn vow.  To take each moment and live each moment with peace eternally.  Let there be peace on earth, and let it begin with me.”

Dear 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

Sing for joy!

“Come, let us sing for joy to the LORD; let us shout aloud to the Rock of our salvation.  Let us come before him with thanksgiving and extol him with music and song.”  Psalm 95:1-2

A fellow mission worker once ‘chided’ me for sharing with him photos of healthy and happy children living in Haiti; he wanted to see more of the downcast children.  The verses from Psalm 95 explain the reason for the smile on the face of the child in the attached photo who attends the Lutheran school in Cap Haitian.  I have heard this child ‘Shout’ and ‘Rejoice’ when asked if she knew of the Triune God and if she loves Jesus; not just a monotone ‘yes’ but an enthusiastic “OUI”.

There are times when we, and she, do not feel like praising God more enthusiastically, and certainly not out loud.  It seems too easy to focus on our hurts, pressure from this world and the gangs and vodou priest down the street.  Doubt, fear, defeat and hunger become the enemies of joy and these can bring a suffocating load of depression.

Consider the joy that this young girl now has and what her face reflected while still living under the chains of the vodou priest before coming to know Jesus.  Think of how listless her eyes and smile were like before she began receiving daily nourishment from a Trinity HOPE donor like you.

We all must be reminded to raise our hands and our head and look again at whom our Triune God is and what He had done for us.  We must remind ourselves that He is our Savior, comfort, shelter, refuge and our strength.  No one can ever compare to our powerful and loving God.  Last night, Alexa brought a familiar song and also a favorite of mine.  I sat and listened to Randy Travis sing ‘Shout to the Lord’ and the words to that song, the face of that little girl and you came to mind.
“My Jesus, My Savior, Lord, there is none like You; all of my days I want to praise the wonders of Your mighty love.  Shout to the Lord, all the earth, let us sing.  Power and majesty, praise to the King; mountains bow down and the seas will roar at the sound of Your name.  I sing for joy at the work of Your hands, forever I'll love You, forever I'll stand, nothing compares to the promise I have in You.  My comfort, my shelter, tower of refuge and strength; let every breath, all that I am never cease to worship You.  Shout to the Lord, all the earth, let us sing.  Power and majesty, praise to the King; mountains bow down and the seas will roar at the sound of Your name.  I sing for joy at the work of Your hands, forever I'll love You, forever I'll stand, nothing compares to the promise I have in You.”

Dear 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