International Prayer Day First Monday each month 10 am

Joel Griffith 9/14/22 Joel Griffith 9/14/22

Use me.

“I believe that I cannot by my own reason or strength believe in Jesus Christ my Lord, or come to Him; but the Holy Ghost has called me through the Gospel, enlightened me by his gifts, and sanctified and preserved me in the true faith; in like manner as He calls, gathers, enlightens, and sanctifies the whole Christian Church on earth, and preserves it in union with Jesus Christ in the true faith; in which Christian Church He daily forgives abundantly all my sins, and the sins of all believers, and will raise up me and all the dead at the last day, and will grant everlasting life to me and to all who believe in Christ. This is most certainly true.” The Explanation of the Third Article of the Apostle’s Creed by Martin Luther.

A number of years ago there was a popular book called the ‘Forty days of Purpose’ by Rick Warren. This was a Bible study that millions of people went through and I went through this book a number of times; with a group in Davie, FL and with a few close friends via E-mail while I was living in Haiti at the time and it now stands in my bookcase, being referenced occasionally.

The truly important part of this book in my mind was that our being here is not about me, it is ALL about our Triune God. He is the one preparing us and providing opportunities to use the time, talents and treasures that He has provided to us; we are not calling the shots. We aren’t the judges…HE is the Judge. I don’t know if Mr. Warren studied Martin Luther but he might have as the phrase Luther wrote in the 1500’s “the Holy Ghost has called me through the Gospel, enlightened me by his gifts, and sanctified and preserved me in the true faith; in like manner as He calls, gathers, enlightens, and sanctifies the whole Christian Church on earth” certainly reminds us today what force is working through us.

The girl standing next to me in the Messif School has been called by the Holy Spirit to do His work. The Holy Spirit does not just choose the tall or short, the young or old, the rich or poor, the sick or healthy or the meek or the courageous; He calls us all. This child living in Ouanaminthe and you and I are all being daily called by the Holy Spirit to use the gifts that we have been given to do His work; bring one more soul to hear the Good News of a Savior who is Christ the Lord.

Your gifts are different than her gifts and also different than mine. Thank you for letting the Holy Spirit move you to help prepare this child for her call. A wonderful way to close this devotion is by using the words to a Welsh hymn ‘Sent forth by God’s blessing’ which was written by Omer Westendorf (1917-1997) and is one of my personal favorites.

“Sent forth by God's blessing, our true faith confessing, the people of God from this dwelling take leave. The supper is ended. Oh, now be extended the fruits of this service in all who believe. The fruit of Christ's teaching, receptive souls reaching, shall blossom in action for God and for all. His grace did invite us, his love shall unite us to work for God's kingdom and answer his call. With praise and thanksgiving to God ever-living the tasks of our everyday life we will face. Our faith ever sharing, in love ever caring, embracing the children of each tribe and race. With your feast you feed us, with your light now lead us, unite us as one in this life that we share. Then may all the living with praise and thanksgiving give honor to Christ and his name that we bear.”

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

Joel Griffith 9/13/22 Joel Griffith 9/13/22

Our Help.

“May the favor of the Lord our God rest on us; establish the work of our hands for us, yes, establish the work of our hands.” Psalm 90:17

It is so important to acknowledge that our accomplishments in our lifetime are really not much unless their directions come from our Heavenly Father. The importance of ‘His’ work is far greater than what this fallen world holds as important.

At this writing, Trinity HOPE has feeding programs in 210 Christian schools in Haiti; a milestone that I never thought would be reached in my lifetime. There are some 50,000 young Haitian missionaries attending these schools, waiting to take to Gospel message to the lost.

The attached photo is of a rather large cemetery on a mountain top near Chincheron in the Arcahaie District. The bones of vodou followers and Christians were laid to rest here. When passing by cemeteries in Haiti the question of how many went to their grave not having had a Savior always came up in our conversation; many more following the vodou priest than clinging to Christ in this country.

Thank you so much for helping to feed 210 schools in this coming school year and for following His directions to help prepare those children to share the Good News of a Risen Savior with the lost. I close with the words from the hymn "Our God, Our Help in Ages Past" that was written by Isaac Watts, 1719.

“Our God, our Help in ages past, our Hope for years to come, our Shelter from the stormy blast and our eternal Home! Under the shadow of Thy throne Thy saints have dwelt secure; sufficient is Thine arm alone and our defense is sure. Before the hills in order stood or earth received her frame, from everlasting Thou art God, to endless years the same. A thousand ages in Thy sight are like an evening gone, short as the watch that ends the night before the rising sun. Thy word commands our flesh to dust: “Return ye sons of men!" All nations rose from earth at first and turn to earth again. Time, like an ever-rolling stream, bears all its sons away; they fly forgotten as a dream dies at the opening day. Like flowery fields the nations stand, pleased with the morning light; the flowers beneath the mower's hand lie withering ere 'tis night. Our God, our Help in ages past, Our Hope for years to come, be Thou our Guard while troubles last and our eternal Home!”

May God be with you,

Jay

Joel Griffith 9/12/22 Joel Griffith 9/12/22

Hunger pains.

“The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. And by him we cry, “Abba, Father.” Romans 8:15

Why does our Triune God call us to work in places outside of our own backyard? There are people that live within my city that receive their daily manna from the food bank and soup kitchen; why does the Holy Spirit nudge us to go outside of our city and State? When the hunger pains in a child living in Haiti become unbearable their cries can be silenced when their small stomachs are filled with a dirt cake. The woman in the attached photo is preparing quite a supply that she will sell at the local market.

Hunger has always been a pressing reason why we go to Haiti but probably more important now with the gangs in control of the port and food and fuel coming into the country. In the greater scope of history, satan worship was brought to Haiti on French slave ships traveling from Africa. The devil is alive and well within the vodou priests residing in Haiti casting evil spirits throughout local neighborhoods.

Satan will be cast out of Haiti from within by the young missionaries that are being trained and fed in the Christian schools today; with your help. The truth and light is being spread by the mouths and actions of the young children who are being fed beans and rice and not dirt cakes. Their witness is dispelling the fear of the vodou priest and is bringing hope to a country that has for so long been without hope.

Heinrich Held penned the words for the hymn “Come, Oh, Come, Thou Quickening Spirit” in 1664 and this particular hymn is one of those that goes on and on and the final three verses will close today’s devotion.

“Holy Spirit, strong and mighty; Thou who makest all things new, make Thy work within us perfect and the evil Foe subdue. Grant us weapons for the strife and with victory crown our life. Guard, O God, our faith forever; let not Satan, death, or shame ever part us from our Savior; Lord our Refuge is Thy name. Though our flesh cry ever: Nay! Be Thy Word to us still Yea! And when life's frail thread is breaking; then assure us more and more, as the heirs of life unending. Of the glory there in store, glory never yet expressed, glory of the saints at rest.”

May God be with you,

Jay

Joel Griffith 9/10/22 Joel Griffith 9/10/22

Hear the News!

“The high priest said to him, “I charge you under oath by the living God: Tell us if you are the Messiah, the Son of God.” “You have said so,” Jesus replied. “But I say to all of you: From now on you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Mighty One and coming on the clouds of heaven.” Then the high priest tore his clothes and said, “He has spoken blasphemy! Why do we need any more witnesses? Look, now you have heard the blasphemy. What do you think?” “He is worthy of death,” they answered. Then they spit in his face and struck him with their fists. Others slapped him.” Matthew 26:64-67

Back in the day, did you see the movie ‘Passion of Christ’? The above scripture reading caused me to consider why Christ came here and also who He came here to save.

Just stop for a few moments and spend time looking at this girl attending the Lutheran school in Ouanaminthe. The first thing that you should know is that the children at this school wear uniforms, and she has none; she is wearing a dress. In a country where families have scarcely any earthly belongings…her family is just managing to exist. The bowl of food resting in her lap is her daily manna. I can only imagine that this child is coming from a vodou household and she daily hears contradicting words about what she is learning in school. Here she has the news of a Savior and is fed her only meal for the day. At home there are no promises. The Son of God came to earth for this child. Jesus went to the cross on Calvary for this single child and for each of us. How great a sacrifice He gave for each of us and when considering what He accomplished on Easter what a privilege to share in helping to prepare this child to be His missionary.

The hymn ‘Christ, the life of all the living’ was written by Ernst Homburg in 1659 and verses 1, 5-7 seem like excellent words to close this devotion on this Saturday. Have a blessed Sabbath worshipping our risen Savior.

“Christ, the Life of all the living, Christ, the Death of death, our foe, Who, Thyself for me once giving to the darkest depths of woe. Through thy sufferings, death, and merit I eternal life inherit: thousand, thousand thanks shall be, dearest Jesus, unto Thee. Thou hast suffered men to bruise Thee that from pain I might be free; falsely did Thy foes accuse Thee. Thence I gain security; comfortless Thy soul did languish me to comfort in my anguish. Thousand, thousand thanks shall be, dearest Jesus, unto Thee. Thou hast suffered great affliction and hast borne it patiently, even death by crucifixion, fully to atone for me; Thou didst choose to be tormented that my doom should be prevented. Thousand, thousand thanks shall be, dearest Jesus, unto Thee. Then, for all that wrought my pardon, for Thy sorrows deep and sore, for Thine anguish in the Garden, I will thank Thee evermore. Thank Thee for Thy groaning, sighing, for Thy bleeding and Thy dying, for that last triumphant cry, and shall praise Thee, Lord, on high.”

May God be with you,

Jay

Joel Griffith 9/9/22 Joel Griffith 9/9/22

If that ain't love.

“There was a written notice above him, which read: THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS. One of the criminals who hung there hurled insults at him: “Aren’t you the Messiah? Save yourself and us!” But the other criminal rebuked him. “Don’t you fear God,” he said, “since you are under the same sentence? We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong.” Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” Jesus answered him, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise.” Luke 23:38-43

Imagine what your life would be like today If your grandparents, parents and friends told you over and over that Christ is dead and buried; you would eventually give up hope and accept their words. The attached photo of a vodou priestess kneeling before the altar in her temple with a bottle of Haitian Rhum, a bottle of animal blood and a jar of bone fragments are setting on the top and a collection bowl is down in front. Possibly the most dramatic part of this photo is behind the altar where the cross is buried into the dirt floor and this is to signify that Jesus is still buried in the tomb.

When visiting schools with Trinity HOPE feeding programs, your North American mind struggles to fully understand what many of the children are being confronted with at home. The story at home is probably that Jesus is dead and at school the news that He is risen from the dead is spoken. At home there is fear, emptiness and despair and at school there is hope, food and happiness that we have a Risen Savior who is Christ the Lord.

Thank you for helping to prepare the children attending Christian schools in Haiti. The message Christ gave us in Luke “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise” is such an immense comfort to hear in this world of lies. A song by the Dove’s called ‘If that isn’t love’ was playing on my Internet radio today and its lyrics are a wonderful way to close.

“He left the splendor of heaven knowing His destiny was the lonely hill of Golgotha there to lay down His life for me. And if that isn't love then the ocean is dry; there's no stars in the sky and the little sparrows can't fly. Yeah if that isn't love then heaven's a myth. There's no feeling like this if that isn't love. Even in death He remembered the thief hanging by His side then he spoke of love and compassion and He took him to paradise. And if that isn't love then the ocean is dry; there's no stars in the sky and the little sparrows can't fly. Yeah if that isn't love then heaven's a myth there's no feeling like this if that isn't love.”

May God be with you,

Jay

Joel Griffith 9/8/22 Joel Griffith 9/8/22

Bon Berger.

“The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters. He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever.” Psalm 23 (KJV)

Call me old fashioned, or just call me old, but I really enjoy reading some favorite scripture passages in the King James Version; reminds me of ‘back in the day’ moments. The Creole word for ‘Good Shepherd’ is Bon Berger and you will see that name being used at several Lutheran schools in Haiti. The majority of the children attending Lutheran schools in Haiti know of an actual shepherd and perhaps many of them have fathers or relatives who are shepherds tending to goat herds.

Our Good Shepherd gave up His life for each of us when it was given on the cross of Calvary. There are many instances where men and women have given much, even the great sacrifice of their lives for their families and perhaps for strangers to save somebody else’s life. I heard a story recently of a young girl who had a serious illness and needed a blood transfusion or she would die. The doctors determined that the only person who could donate this lifegiving blood to this young girl was her little brother. The parents and doctors asked the little boy if they could use his blood to save his sister and he gave it much thought; several hours to be exact. He finally told them that he was ready to give his blood to his sister so she would live and asked how long he would live after they had taken his blood. He didn’t understand that both she and he would live.

There are many hardships in Haiti these days especially harsh due to the gangs causing so many problems throughout the country. There are children, who will be attending Lutheran schools in Haiti next month, who are being fed dirt cakes from their mothers as they cannot afford food. The woman in the attached photo is a vendor of dirt cakes. Some of these children are slowly passing away because of this ‘food’; their life lights are growing dim. They need Jesus for their Spiritual welfare and you to help to fulfill their daily food. Thank you for reaching out to these children, giving of your time, talents and treasures. I close today with the words from the hymn ‘The Lord my pasture shall prepare’ that was written by Joseph Addison in 1712.

“The Lord my pasture shall prepare and feed me with a shepherd's care; His presence shall my wants supply and guard me with a watchful eye; my noonday walks He shall attend and all my midnight hours defend. When in the sultry glebe I faint or on the thirsty mountain pant, to fertile vales and dewy meads my weary, wandering steps He leads, where peaceful rivers, soft and slow, amid the verdant landscape flow. Though in the paths of death I tread, with gloomy horrors overspread, my steadfast heart shall fear no ill, for Thou, O Lord, art with me still; Thy friendly crook shall give me aid and guide me through the dreadful shade. Though in a bare and rugged way, through devious lonely wilds, I stray, Thy bounty shall my pains beguile; the barren wilderness shall smile, with sudden greens and herbage crowned, and streams shall murmur all around.”

May God be with you,

Jay

Joel Griffith 9/7/22 Joel Griffith 9/7/22

Being like Christ.

“In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus” Philippians 2:5

This passage written by the Apostle Paul should be such a vivid reminder for each of us every day along our journey to have the same mindset as Christ Jesus. We shouldn’t be thinking in the ways of this world but be considering our thoughts, words and actions to be what Jesus would be doing in a similar circumstance.

Jesus didn’t appear on this planet to live for Himself. His entire earthly life was dedicated to serving us and giving us the most important gift of all; His life to rescue us from sin, death and the devil. It was all about Him for us, and we should strive to do likewise. Our world tells us it is all about ME and not about you, or our neighbor or about Jesus.

Would you consider helping to provide a meal for this young child attending the Lutheran school in Ouanaminthe? There are those in this world that will tell you to send her clothes, a radio, a cell phone and a host of other North America ‘necessities’ but what she really needs is Jesus and some food. Pastor Daniel Paul and a staff of teachers are providing for her Christian education and you can help to provide her daily food. Thank you for considering supporting children in Trinity HOPE school feeding programs.

Back in the day, I was given a piece of paper from Gov. Kay Orr and it had a hymn title that matched well with a Rev. Luke Schnake message that particular Sunday we worshipped at the early service in Lincoln, and also a few other events that took place along my journey. The hymn is titled ‘May the mind of Christ, my Savior’ and these words were written by Kate Barclay Wilkinson sometime before 1913 and it seems like a good way to close for the day.

“May the mind of Christ, my Savior, live in me from day to day, by His love and power controlling all I do and say. May the Word of God dwell richly in my heart from hour to hour, so that all may see I triumph only through His power. May the peace of God my Father rule my life in everything, that I may be calm to comfort sick and sorrowing. May the love of Jesus fill me as the waters fill the sea; Him exalting, self-abasing, this is victory. May I run the race before me, strong and brave to face the foe, looking only unto Jesus as I onward go. May His beauty rest upon me, as I seek the lost to win, and may they forget the channel, seeing only Him.”

May God be with you,

Jay

Joel Griffith 9/6/22 Joel Griffith 9/6/22

Still complaining?

“Do everything without grumbling or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, “children of God without fault in a warped and crooked generation.” Then you will shine among them like stars in the sky” Philippians 2:14-15

I read in a devotion recently that complaining is a sure sign of spiritual immaturity as a lack of faith is being shown by the person doing the complaining. The reasoning was that if we place our trust in our Triune God, He has our best interest in His plans. If I am constantly complaining about my provisions, my family, my house, my job, my retirement life then I cannot accept God’s will for my life. A complainer will cry, rant, kick and scream until they get their way and when that moment arrives…they are generally still not happy.

A friend called me yesterday after reading my devotion and we talked about how this world seems to spend so much time in negative thoughts, words and actions. Have you seen any positive news on the political “news” channels recently? Have you seen any positive comments on the Internet “news” outlets in the past twelve months?

The opposite of complaining might be praising. The opposite of grumbling with the gifts that God has given to you is giving thanks for all that He has placed on your plate. The child in the attached photo attends the Lutheran school in Cap Haitian. The smile on her face is a sign of happiness and giving thanks for somebody like you who has blessed her day with a meal; the only meal of her day. She won’t complain that she got rice and beans yesterday, today and tomorrow; it is food!!!

I close today with the words from the song ‘It is well with my soul’ that was written by Horatio Spafford in 1873. He wrote the song following the sinking of the steamship Ville du Havre which carried four of his daughters while crossing the Atlantic.

“When peace, like a river, attendeth my way, when sorrows like sea billows roll; whatever my lot, thou hast taught me to say, it is well, it is well with my soul. Though Satan should buffet, though trials should come, let this blest assurance control, that Christ has regarded my helpless estate, and hath shed his own blood for my soul. My sin, oh, the bliss of this glorious thought! My sin, not in part but the whole, is nailed to the cross, and I bear it no more, praise the Lord, praise the Lord, O my soul! And, Lord, haste the day when my faith shall be sight, the clouds be rolled back as a scroll; the trump shall resound, and the Lord shall descend, even so, it is well with my soul.”

Been complaining lately? Consider all that He has lavished upon you.

May God be with you,

Jay

Joel Griffith 9/5/22 Joel Griffith 9/5/22

Complainers.

I clearly remember when my oldest daughter came to visit me in Nebraska and brought her son Miles to Nebraska for the very first time; what a blessing to see him filling his lungs with fresher air…than Illinois. I got to watch over him while she went out to pick up a few things. It struck me that while watching him on the floor, enjoying, complaining, enjoying, complaining how remarkably well he took after me; and possibly some of you who are reading this.

Living on this side of paradise, aren’t we all just natural complainers? It is in our genes, our sinful genes. Our Triune God gives us everything that we truly need to exist; food, shelter, clothing and family. He takes care of us each and every day but we can always still find time to complain about something. When I was still working for the State of Nebraska, I would find something to complain about at the office. Children complain about their parents, husbands complain about their wives and wives about their husbands. People in the pews complain about their pastors and politicians; they complain about everything. From the Old Testament to the New Testament to today, man has always found something to complain about.

My grandson wanted me to hold him, put him down, hold him, put him down, hold him and I wanted to shout at him “Miles, what do you want?” but of course at nine months old, all he heard me say was “blah, blah, blah.” Miles in not a perfect grandchild, I am not a perfect grandfather and his parents are not perfect parents either but Our Heavenly Father loves us just the way we are. He does not always give us what we may want and thankfully not what we deserve, but rather gives us what we need.

The children in the attached photo are from Cap Haitian and they are getting their Trinity HOPE lunch. They don’t need pizza, chicken nuggets, corn on the cob or hamburgers; they need food. This meal will provide them with all the nutritional elements that their young bodies need; their teachers provide them with a message of Hope of their risen Savior and a Heavenly Father who loves them and continues to provide for them.

May God be with you,

Jay

Joel Griffith 9/3/22 Joel Griffith 9/3/22

Morning star.

“I, Jesus, have sent my angel to give you this testimony for the churches. I am the Root and the Offspring of David, and the bright Morning Star.” Revelation 22:16

Our Heavenly Father has given us some pretty awesome things to appreciate while living on this planet; on this side of Heaven. Watching your children taking their initial breath is truly special. Standing in awe of the Grand Canyon, the Rocky Mountains, the autumn colors in the Niobrara River valley in Nebraska and watching the waves of the ocean crashing on the beach are memorable sights.

Simple things like watching a colorful sun dropping into the horizon in the evening or getting up early to catch the sun rising in the morning are also treasures to be captured. The attached photo was taken just after sunrise in the Arcahaie District one quiet morning in 2002 and it reminded me of God giving me another day to serve Him…living in Haiti.

With every coming day, He has given each of us another opportunity to spend time here, on this side of Heaven, dwelling within His creation serving Him with the gifts and talents He has provided to each of us. As the sun rises in North America it is also rising in Haiti and children attending Christian schools are offering up prayers of thanks for Him and for you and for the Morning Star who is the Savior of this world.

The hymn ‘How Lovely Shines the Morning Star’ was written by Philipp Nicolai in 1597 and verses 1, 6, 7 are a wonderful way to close this morning.

“How lovely shines the Morning Star! The nations see and hail afar the light in Judah shining. Thou David's Son of Jacob's race, my Bridegroom and my King of Grace, for Thee my heart is pining. Lowly, Holy, great and glorious, Thou victorious Prince of graces; filling all the heavenly places. Lift up the voice and strike the string. Let all glad sounds of music ring in God's high praises blended. Christ will be with me all the way, today, tomorrow, every day, till traveling days be ended. Sing out, ring out triumph glorious, O victorious, chosen nation; praise the God of your salvation. Oh, joy to know that Thou, my Friend, art Lord, beginning without end, the First and Last, Eternal! And Thou at length O glorious grace! Wilt take me to that holy place, the home of joys supernal. Amen, Amen!”

May God be with you,

Jay