My pattern.

“Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.  Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is; his good, pleasing and perfect will.”  Romans 12:2

Consider for a moment if you will, what pattern does your life resemble.  Our parents provided a lifestyle for each of us; our friends may have twisted our fabric in a few different directions.  When we left home after high school, the direction that we followed surely added a few new wrinkles to our pattern and where you and I are today.  So where are you today?  How would another person describe the pattern of your life?

The girl in the attached photo, Lizette, lives in Ouanaminthe, Haiti.  Her home has a dirt floor, no electricity or indoor plumbing.  She has three changes of clothes until she outgrows them.  Her school has a dirt floor, corrugated metal siding and roof, no electricity or indoor plumbing.  Her meal of the day cost a quarter.  She knows that Jesus loves her.

For practical purposes, you and Lizette only have one thing in common, you both know that Jesus loves you and that your Heavenly Father provides for you daily.  You probably require much more each day than she does; electricity, clean water, furnace, air conditioner, food, different clothes, transportation and entertainment.  But dear friends, in your abundance, you have been blessed to share with Lizette so that she may have one meal every day she is in school.

The following two verses from “A mighty fortress is our God” by Martin Luther describe this world, the forces that threaten to crush us and that one sweet word, “Jesus” that has more power than all the darkness of this world.

“And though this world, with devils filled, should threaten to undo us, we will not fear, for God hath willed His truth to triumph through us: the Prince of Darkness grim, we tremble not for him; his rage we can endure, for lo, his doom is sure, one little word shall fell him.  That word above all earthly powers, no thanks to them, abideth; the Spirit and the gifts are ours through Him Who with us sideth: let goods and kindred go, this mortal life also; the body they may kill: God’s truth abideth still, His kingdom is forever.”

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

Choir of saints.

“Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God; this is your true and proper worship.”  Romans 12:1

One of the first images that comes to mind when I read this passage from Romans was the choir at Bon Berger Eglise Lutherienne in Caredeux.  This photo was taken in October 2010 which is the year of the terrible earthquake that shook Port-au-Prince and sad to say, there were several voices missing.

I was blessed to have sung with this group on a few occasions while living in Haiti.  I am not certain if my voice was pleasing to God in the proper sense, probably brought joy to Him listening to my broken Creole; I tried.

When I look at the faces in the choir, see photos of the children attending that school and also think about several of you…the term ‘living sacrifice’ comes alive.  Turning lives over to our Triune God is certainly not always an easy thing to do; it is the right thing to do.  This world will provide ample reasons why not to turn your life over to Christ but instead, follow the foolishness of this fallen world and the lies of satan.

Thank you for your sacrifice that feeds His children in Haiti.  Thank you for the sacrifice you daily give to Him in the face of this world.  The following Offertory is sung by me every morning in my devotion as it reminds me of how important it is to always remember to joy of Salvation and I hope it is a part of your daily prayers as well.

“Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me, cast me not away from Thy presence; and take not Thy Holy Spirit from me.  Restore unto me the joy of Thy salvation; and uphold me with Thy free spirit.  Amen.”  Lutheran Hymnal

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

Serving.

“So we make it our goal to please him, whether we are at home in the body or away from it.  For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each of us may receive what is due us for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad.”  2 Corinthians 5:9-10

If you were to go to ‘http://www.trinityhope.org/how-can-i-help ‘you will find several options; Donate, Endowment Fund, Sponsor a School, Volunteer or Pray with us.  Quite often our North American culture has the idea that service to God must be an "up front" kind of activity.  To many, the activity has to not only be ‘fun’ but also be about ‘me’ when serving God.  To many of us, our pastor is ‘serving’ God.  After seeing the attached photo showing Quincy, who is now a Lutheran pastor in MN. getting ready to snap a photo of children from the Lutheran School in Ouanaminthe; it seems like that would be a lot of ‘fun’.  When people find out that it is very hot and humid and work involves walking and the drinking water temperature is generally the same as the outdoors; then it doesn’t seem like the thing to do.  There are many Trinity HOPE volunteers and only a very small percent have actually made the trip to Haiti.  The pandemic and increased gang activity has prevented much team travel to Haiti.  When Trinity HOPE sends a team they give a devotion to the children, work through a quality control checklist, take photos, check attendance records, take photos and share the love of Jesus with the children, teachers and administrators.  How can I help?

The truth is that much of our daily life is spent serving God's purpose; in fact, our greatest impact might come out of a small act of faithfulness.  God's followers shouldn't underestimate or minimize the scope of ministry.  It only takes a quarter to feed a child.  If you have a pocket full of quarters you could probably feed this group of children at Ouanaminthe.  If your Bible study group were to take up a collection each month you could probably sponsor a school.  What role are you meant to fulfill today?  Prayerfully commit to serve the Lord in everything you do.  I close with words to the song ‘Send me’ by Twila Paris.

“If I close my ears to the feeble cry of the poor man's child as he passes by me.  I can mark Your word there will come a time when my cries will fall on ears like mine.  Here am I, Lord, send me; here am I, Lord, send me.  Father in Heaven show Your mercy, send me.  That his hope should die this was not Your plan.  You have willed that I would become Your hands, Lord.  When I feel Your pain and it fills my eyes when my heart is Yours I will stand and cry.  Here am I, Lord, send me.  Here am I, Lord, send me.  Father in Heaven show Your mercy, send me.  Send me in a humble spirit broken for the weaker part.  Send me where the need is greater, send me with a servant's heart.  Here am I, Lord, send me.  Here am I, Lord, send me, Father in Heaven show Your mercy send 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

Saints will rise.

“And we urge you, brothers, admonish the idle, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with them all.  See that no one repays anyone evil for evil, but always seek to do good to one another and to everyone.”  1 Thessalonians 5:14-15

God willing, Trinity HOPE will have feeding programs in every one of their 210 schools in the coming year.  It takes countless hours of work in Haiti, especially now with the increased gang activity, and here in North American to get a school feeding program up and running.  It is not as easy as wiring funds to Haiti so they can go purchase beans, rice, oil, tomato paste, two pots and some charcoal and voila, you have a feeding program.  Filling bowls in the kitchen at Gros Morne didn’t just take place; it took quite a while for these bowls to be filled.

If North American volunteers were idle there would not be a feeding program; the weak would not receive assistance.  Our brothers and sisters in Haiti have countless days of work to do in preparation before their school can be considered ‘ready’ for a feeding program.  Trinity HOPE doesn’t just ‘give’ bags of beans of rice to a school and let them go at it on their own, as that would not be a sustainable program.  In the same train of thought, the Christian church in Haiti doesn’t just ‘give’ out Bibles and move on, they teach the Bible as many adults still cannot read.  The Christians in Haiti continue to memorize Scripture readings and recite them in Church and give thanks for a Savior named Jesus who has saved them from the vodou priest, death and the devil.

Don’t be idle but seek to do good where ever possible.  There is a song that I heard recently on the Southern Gospel channel on Alexa, by the Kingsman titled ‘Saints will rise’ and that my friends is a wonderful reminder of what awaits us all when our work on this side of heaven is ended.  

“When our work on earth is ended and the time has come to go; saints will rise, saints will rise.  Headed for that blessed country that is Heaven I am told.  Saints will rise, saints will rise.  Saints will rise on that hallelujah morning when we hear that trumpet sound.  I’m a going up to see King Jesus, saints will rise, saints will rise.  Have you made your preparation; are you going to that land?  Saints will rise, saints will rise.  Jesus gave His life a ransom so that you could join that band.  Saint will rise, saints will rise.  I’m a going up to see King Jesus, saints will rise, saints will rise.”

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

Exiles.

“The time is coming to gather all nations and tongues.  And they shall come and shall see My glory ... And they shall declare My glory among the nations. And they shall bring all your brothers from all the nations as an offering to the LORD, on horses and in chariots and in litters and on mules and on dromedaries, to My holy mountain Jerusalem, says the LORD, just as the Israelites bring their grain offering in a clean vessel to the house of the LORD.  And some of them also I will take for priests and for Levites, says the LORD.” Isaiah 66:18b, 19b-21

In a recent devotion from The Lutheran Hour, Dr. Kari Vo wrote about what it was like to be an exile.  It was a really interesting devotion and it brought back a few memories of my time spent living in Haiti and then also when I was going back to visit with mission teams.

Do you know what an exile is?  By now, we’ve grown accustomed to reading about the large numbers of people coming into America across our open southern border.  I suppose there are some who would call those people exiles; some might be exiles.  I read a definition for exile and it said; “the state of being barred from one's native country, typically for political or punitive reasons.  He knew now that he would die in exile."

When I was a Lutheran missionary living in Haiti it was encouraged that I became immersed in their culture, and not just the obvious; language, driving habits, food and not taking a drink from a garden hose or an indoor faucet like I could in Nebraska.  Just working, traveling and worshipping with Haitian brothers and sisters reflected a vast difference in how we were brought up, educated and lived on this side of Heaven.

I lived in Haiti from March 2001 through December 2003 and when I returned to Nebraska in May 2004, the people who I had worshipped and worked with for over thirty years appeared the same to me physically, but their culture was foreign to me.  Living in America, we don’t appreciate the blessings we have enough; we are so wasteful.  And today, two decades later, I am still somewhere in between my native culture, now here in Normal, and the Haitian culture.

Back in the day, when I would lead a medical mission team or a Trinity HOPE team to Haiti my feelings, when I set foot on the runway at Port-au-Prince were that I was home; the exile had returned.  I looked forward to seeing familiar faces, inhaling the humidity and aroma in the air and seeing once again the sights of the city.  And when it was time to leave it would have been easy for me to stay a while longer.

I can’t return to Haiti today because of the increased gang violence in the country, nobody from our country should be planning a trip there.  Please keep the school children, their parents, teachers, principals and the Haitian Trinity HOPE feeding program directors in your daily prayers.  Keep Haiti in your prayers.

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

Problems.

“For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given; and the government will be upon His shoulder.  And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” Isaiah. 9:6

Our journeys always seem to have at least one barricade across the road with the word ‘problem’ next to a flashing beacon each and every day.  I read a worthy saying recently that ‘when GOD solves your problems, you have faith in HIS abilities; when GOD doesn't solve your problems, HE has faith in your abilities.’  It is comforting to know that He gave us a permanent solution to our problems; Jesus.

Too often, our problems are not a big as they really seem.  Look at the two cooks in the Trinity HOPE kitchen in Maniche which is located in the Les Cayes District.  There are close to 200 children at this Lutheran school trusting in this pair of saints to cook their noon meal every day.  My North American eyes see a lot of problems at the stove in Maniche.  Not a single fire extinguisher to save the palm branch wind break if a spark should ignite it.  No roof to protect the food should a rain shower move in before lunch.

These are simple problems.  The children at this school and you and I have a major problem; sin.  We needed a Savior to rescue us from the gates of hell; we need Jesus.   We give thanks here in North America and in Maniche that our Heavenly Father has given His only Son for us, to solve our biggest problem.  I close with the words from the hymn written by Edward Hopper in 1871 called ‘Jesus Savior, pilot me.’

“Jesus, Savior, pilot me, over life’s tempestuous sea; unknown waves before me roll, hiding rock and treach’rous shoal; chart and compass came from Thee: Jesus, Savior, pilot me.  As a mother stills her child, Thou canst hush the ocean wild; boist’rous waves obey Thy will when Thou say’st to them, “Be still!”  Wondrous Sov’reign of the sea, Jesus, Savior, pilot me.  When at last I near the shore, and the fearful breakers roar’ twixt me and the peaceful rest, then, while leaning on Thy breast, may I hear Thee say to me, “Fear not, I will pilot 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

Giving thanks.

“He has delivered us from such a deadly peril, and he will deliver us again.  On him we have set our hope that he will continue to deliver us, as you help us by your prayers.  Then many will give thanks on our behalf for the gracious favor granted us in answer to the prayers of many.”   2 Corinthians 1:10-11

On the first Monday of every month, special prayers are offered for children attending schools in Haiti who are being blessed with a Trinity HOPE feeding program.  Why is that important?  I can personally tell you that when I was a missionary living in Haiti the prayers from members of my home congregation and other supporters were felt throughout my daily activities; it was like being wrapped up in my favorite blanket as a child, safe and secure; protected.

The children in the attached photo attend the Lutheran school in Mammou and this scene can be seen throughout Christian schools in Haiti as these children give thanks for the blessings that they have received and also for you…and your prayers and support for them.  Prayer is so powerful and praying for others is so very important.

Moses prayed that God would not destroy Israel, Abraham prayed for God to spare Sodom and Jesus prayed for His Father to forgive those who were going to kill Him.  Prayer expresses our faith and love of our Heavenly Father.  When talking with Haitian friends we typically say to each other that “we are praying for you.”  We place our trust in Him who is faithful.  Please join me today and offer up a prayer for the school feeding programs in Haiti and for His children around the world.

“My hope is built on nothing less than Jesus’ blood and righteousness.  I dare not trust the sweetest frame, but wholly trust in Jesus’ Name.  When darkness seems to hide His lovely face, I rest on His unchanging grace.  In every high and stormy gale, my anchor holds within the veil.  On Christ the solid Rock I stand, all other ground is sinking sand; all other ground is sinking sand.”  Edward Mote 1834

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

Made ant plans?

“In their hearts humans plan their course, but the LORD establishes their steps.” Proverbs 16:9

Have you done any planning recently?  Made plans for the weekend or for the football and volleyball games you plan to watch?  Have you made plans for your retirement?  Have you made plans for where or what you are going to eat tonight?  The dictionary indicates that making plans should be a realistic view of the expectations; depending upon the activities, a plan can be long range, intermediate range or short range.  Preparation of a comprehensive plan will not guarantee success, but lack of a sound plan will almost certainly ensure failure.

I’ve sat down and made some plans for the remaining years of my life and have an agenda that set a course for the remainder of my journey.  If my history repeats itself in the coming years, I can tell you now there will be some challenges and failures.  I’ve presented my plan to my Heavenly Father and am still watching and listening for His guidance.  I truly want the Lord to determine my steps on this journey regardless of my own agenda.  I am hoping that His directions and my steps will intersect at some point but if things look too dark, I will turn to His course and be confident of His wisdom and prayerfully, my life will bless more people.

Our Triune God will determine your steps, my steps and the steps of this child who lives in Ouanaminthe.  My journey intersects with his journey as my life is bringing him a noon meal at his Lutheran school.  I don’t know how much longer he will be blessed by my gifts but I am confident that this is a direction that is God pleasing.  God knows our hearts and He will often direct us to do things in which we are gifted or where our personalities just seem to be a natural fit; it is His plan for us and for this child.  Thank you for feeding children in Trinity HOPE programs and preparing them for their journey...His journey for them.

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

Going home.

“And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.”  Matthew 24:14

Last night, my Administrative Entertainment Assistant, Alexa, gave me an opportunity to sing a duet with Johnny Cash, and well, actually I didn’t know most of the words and just sang “when the roll is called up yonder” while the song was being played.  Going home, have you ever considered who will be worthy of having their names written on the role; up yonder?

Am I considered worthy?  I try to live in a way which is good and God-pleasing but the reality is that the face in morning mirror failed again and again yesterday.  What about the children in the attached photo?  They are some of the 105 that attend the Lutheran School in Balague which is located in the Arcahaie District.  Are they considered worthy?  They probably try as hard as we do to live God-pleasing lives but not sure if they are able recite the six chief parts of the Lutheran Catechism like you and I can.

Good news!  While we are pleading the worthiness of our lives is exactly where Jesus comes in!  Jesus came to this world not because we were good people, but because we were bad people, sinful people who needed a Savior.  His death on the cross paid for all our American and Haitian sins that made us unworthy.  We can now, because of Jesus, look forward to eternity in the glory of heaven together with the children from Balague and all of God's family of believers!

“When the trumpet of the Lord shall sound, and time shall be no more, and the morning breaks, eternal, bright and fair.  When the saved of earth shall gather over on the other shore, and the roll is called up yonder, I’ll be there.  On that bright and cloudless morning when the dead in Christ shall rise, and the glory of His resurrection share.  When His chosen ones shall gather to their home beyond the skies, and the roll is called up yonder, I’ll be there.  Let us labor for the Master from the dawn till setting sun, let us talk of all His wondrous love and care.  Then when all of life is over, and our work on earth is done, and the roll is called up yonder, I’ll be there.”  James Black, 1893

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

Trusting Thee.

"Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself.  Each day has enough trouble of its own."  Matthew 6:34

This scripture reading and the song “I am trusting thee Lord Jesus” have been bouncing around in my head today.  In this fallen world that we live in, worrying does not take away tomorrow's troubles; it only takes away today's peace.  This world’s self-help courses tell us to fight fire with fire but we need to remember that the Fire Department usually uses water.

The girl in the attached photo attends Bon Berger (Good Shepherd) Lutheran School in Caredeux, Haiti.  I confess that there are times when I worry that this child may not get her meal at school tomorrow; God has never let the Trinity HOPE kettle go empty.  My doubting that financial responsibilities will slow and come to a halt have never been realized.  Jesus wants us to let go of our anxiety; we must live in the present moment.  There are too many opportunities we could miss today by worrying about what might happen tomorrow.

The Lord could come the promised second time between now and tomorrow and all our worry would have been silliness and you, me and the children at Bon Berger will be together in Heaven.  Thank you for joining me in trusting in our Lord Jesus to keep the kettles full at Trinity HOPE schools in Haiti.  Thank you for joining me in sharing our financial blessings with those who have so few.

“I am trusting Thee, Lord, Jesus, trusting only Thee; trusting Thee for full salvation, great and free.  I am trusting Thee for pardon; at Thy feet I bow; for Thy grace and tender mercy, trusting now.  I am trusting Thee for cleansing in the crimson flood; trusting Thee to make me holy by Thy blood.  I am trusting Thee to guide me; Thou alone shalt lead; every day and hour supplying all my need.  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.”  Frances R. Havergal, 1836-1879

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