International Prayer Day First Monday each month 10 am

Joel Griffith 9/26/22 Joel Griffith 9/26/22

Choose Heaven.

“We are confident, I say, and would prefer to be away from the body and at home with the Lord.” 2 Corinthians 5:8

A few days ago I listened to a David Jeremiah broadcast and he talked about an eternal reality that we all really need to know; there is no second chance after you die. You get to choose where you’re going to spend eternity. But you have to choose now while you’re alive, not after you’re dead. There is no going back! God gives you an entire lifetime on this side of Heaven to make the right decision. If you keep putting it off, then there will be no second chance to get it right once you have died. There is no halfway house between heaven and hell. There’s no intermediate state. There’s no limbo. There is no purgatory.

When Jesus was dying on the cross, there was a thief next to him who had been a criminal his entire life. In his last moments of life in this fallen, sin filled world, the man surrendered his life to Jesus and said, “Lord, remember me when You come into Your kingdom”. All he knew about salvation was that Jesus could save him. He didn’t know all the doctrines or theology. He didn’t know all the “right” words. He just said “yes” to Jesus. And because of his faith, Jesus said to him, “Today you will be with me in paradise”.

God has done everything possible to make sure that you get into heaven. Now you have to do your part to ensure you partake of His promise. Have you made your choice? Have you brought the saving Light of this world to another living in uncertainty about eternity?

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 9/24/22 Joel Griffith 9/24/22

Satan is defeated.

“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.

Many of the people that live near the vodou temple near Pont Sonde in the attached photo will tell you that the above passages from the Gospel of Luke are nothing more than a story, a fable…a lie. The vodou priest has assured them that satan defeated Christ on the cross. The vodou spirit or war, Ogou, defeated Jesus Christ.

The 174 children attending the Lutheran School in Pont Sonde know the truth and face the mighty challenge of sharing the 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

Joel Griffith 9/23/22 Joel Griffith 9/23/22

YOU are my everything.

“Because you are my help, I sing in the shadow of your wings.” Psalm 63:7

I was driving home from my appointment at the Carle Brommen Wound Center last week and was grumbling to myself about all the detours in Normal this year and how the streets that I was driving on seem rough as I could hear tire noise going over the joints in the concrete. And, our Leaders in Illinois lowered the gas tax so the cost per gallon would be less, but the funds needed next year to repair potholes will be much less and my grumbles in 2023 will probably be even louder. And then, while looking through some photos that were taken in Haiti the attached caught my eye.

This photo was taken on the only surfaced highway between Cap Haitian and Gonaives and this particular place is probably just a few miles south of Limbe where best casava bread in Haiti is made. The road is surfaced but it is rough; you don’t see many speed limit signs posted in Haiti because a vehicle generally cannot drive very fast under normal conditions to warrant a speed limit.

The woman on the left side is walking to a market to try to sell her goods; it appears that it might be a large pan full of homemade peanut brittle in small paper bags. I was grumbling about driving on a rough road in Illinois and this woman is walking for miles to sell her peanut brittle. Satan caused me to be discouraged and unhappy with this life and I was reminded of life in Haiti and now things are back in a proper perspective; for the time being.

Constantly being in the Word is His way of keeping us in that proper perspective. The children attending Christian schools in Haiti are also in His Word daily and they too are being reminded of how blessed we truly are being His children. Mr. Dennis Jernigan wrote the song “You are my all in all” and its words are a wonderful reminder of how important it is to keep our Heavenly Father in our daily thoughts and prayers.

“You are my strength when I am weak. You are the treasure that I seek. You are my all in all. Seeking You as a precious jewel Lord, to give up I'd be a fool; You are my all in all. Taking my sin, my cross, my shame; rising up again I bless Your name. You are my all in all. When I fall down You pick me up. When I am dry You fill my cup. You are my all in all. Jesus, Lamb of God worthy is Your name.”

May God be with you,

Jay

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

The Church.

“I have heard the prayer and plea you have made before me; I have consecrated this temple, which you have built, by putting my Name there forever. My eyes and my heart will always be there.” 1 Kings 9:3

Prior to living in Haiti it was my perception that a congregation worshipped in a ‘Church’ and if the congregation had a day school that too was another structure. Most of the churches that are in Haiti are more like the early Church in Acts.

The attached photo is of the Lay Pastor standing in front of the Lutheran Church at Berjot which is located on the East edge of Les Cayes. This Church also happens to be his home and the woman standing in the doorway is his wife. This photo was taken in 2002 and at that time the Pastor also had a few children from the neighborhood come to learn about Jesus Christ…in his home…in this Church. Pastor Israel Isidor, who was the Les Cayes District President at that time, advised that this part of Les Cayes not only had a strong vodou presence but also had many cases of leprosy.

Whether you worship the Triune God in a large brick or stone Church or a small concrete block building tucked into a small neighborhood; He is always there. The hymn ‘Christ is our Cornerstone’ was composed by John Darwall in 1770 and translated by John Chandler in 1837 and its words still provide us with the importance of Who is the cornerstone of our Church and lives; here in North American, in Haiti and throughout the world.

“Christ is our Corner-stone, on Him alone we build; with His true saints alone the courts of heaven are filled. On His great love, our hopes we place of present grace and joys above. Oh, then, with hymns of praise, these hallowed courts shall ring; our voices we will raise the three in One to sing. And thus proclaim in joyful song, both loud and long that glorious name. Here, gracious God, do Thou forevermore draw nigh; accept each faithful vow and mark each suppliant sigh. In copious shower on all who pray each holy day, Thy blessing pour. Here may we gain from heaven the grace which we implore, and may that grace, once given, be with us evermore. Until that day when all the blest to endless rest are called away!”
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 9/21/22 Joel Griffith 9/21/22

Where to serve.

“Jesus replied, “Let us go somewhere else, to the nearby villages, so I can preach there also. That is why I have come.”” Mark 1:38

When our Heavenly Father created each of us, He didn’t just put us into a small area to do His work. We are blessed with a sinful world with many large areas to do His work. In Acts 1:8 we read “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”

We’ve been created to move throughout our neighborhoods, our home country of origin and throughout this fallen world and through the power of Holy Spirit, to proclaim the message of salvation of our risen Savior to the lost.

The attached photo is of the congregation at Tarasse which is located in the Artibonite District, a few miles East of Gonaives. This is where the initial Trinity HOPE feeding program began in 1999; forty-two children attending this Lutheran School ate that first serving of beans and rice. Today there are over 50,000 children in Christian schools in Haiti, learning the salvation story about Jesus Christ and are receiving a serving of rice and beans when there is nothing to eat in their homes.

Thank you for supporting the feeding of His children in Haiti, permitting the programs to spread throughout Christian schools in Haiti. Johann Heermann was credited with writing the words to the hymn ‘Feed Thy children, God most Holy’ in 1656 and they are a wonderful way to close this devotion.

“Feed Thy children, God most holy, comfort sinners poor and lowly; O Thou Bread of Life from heaven, bless the food Thou here hast given! As these gifts the body nourish, may our souls in graces flourish till with saints in heavenly splendor at Thy feast due thanks we render.”

May God be with you,

Jay

Joel Griffith 9/20/22 Joel Griffith 9/20/22

When life has ended.

“It is written: “‘As surely as I live,’ says the Lord, every knee will bow before me; every tongue will acknowledge God.’” So then, each of us will give an account of ourselves to God.” Romans 14:11-12

I watched the funeral of Queen Elizabeth II yesterday and happened to read these two verses in a morning devotion and I’m thinking that the words from the Apostle Paul should place every person into a moment of solemn pause. Just take a brief moment to stop and really consider the implications of these two verses. On one day in all of our futures, God will compare how much time and energy we spent on ourselves compared with what we invested in serving others. At that point, all of our excuses for our own self-centeredness will sound hollow: “I was too busy” or “I had my own goals” or “I was preoccupied with working, having fun, and preparing for retirement.” To all these excuses, God will respond with something like this: “Sorry, wrong answer. I created, saved, and called you. Then I commanded you to live a life of service. What part did you not understand?”

The Apostle Paul warns unbelievers and us as well in Romans 2:8, “But for those who are self-seeking and who reject the truth and follow evil, there will be wrath and anger”. The Bible says that you’re only fully alive when you’re helping others. Jesus said it like this: “For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me and for the gospel will save it.” This truth is so important. If you are not serving, you are just existing; our lives are meant for ministry. What does God expect from you? He wants you to learn to love and serve others unselfishly.

May God be with you,

Jay

Joel Griffith 9/19/22 Joel Griffith 9/19/22

God's handiwork.

“For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” Ephesians 2:10

I read a devotion last week that reminded the reader that God had created us for His good works; God calls us to a service far beyond anything that we could ever imagine. You and I were put on Earth to sit at the head of the table to enjoy your time here, you were created to make a contribution with your time, talents and treasures.

God designed each of us to make a difference with our lives. We weren’t created just to consume resources; to eat, breathe, and take up space. We were created to add to life on Earth, not just to take from it. God wants us to give something back; to help other people in our neighborhood, state and around the world; special work for us because of how He created us.

When most people living in this fallen world think of this “special work,” they think of pastors, priests, and professional clergy. But God says that He expects every member of His family to minister. In the Bible, the words “servant” and “minister” are synonyms; “service” and “ministry” are synonyms too. If you are a Christian, you are a minister. And when you’re serving, you’re ministering. Have you ever wondered why God didn’t just immediately take you to heaven the moment you accepted His grace? Why does He leave His children in this fallen world? He leaves you here to fulfill His purposes.

Once you are saved, God intends to use you for His goals. God has a ministry for you in His church and a mission for you in this fallen world.

May God be with you,

Jay

Joel Griffith 9/17/22 Joel Griffith 9/17/22

What's really important?

“Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.” James 1:22

What do you suppose is really important to the child in the attached photo? This young girl attends the Lutheran school in Cap Haitian and on this day she was visited by a Trinity HOPE mission team and received a bracelet that was used to help tell the story of our Triune God. What is really important to the life of this child?

She no doubt lives in a neighborhood where the vodou drums are pounded in the evening and animals are sacrificed. She no doubt has some members of her family that still visit the local vodou priest in hopes that they can receive healing or an answer to a problem that is happening in their lives. What is really important to the life of this child?

She has heard the Gospel message; this little lamb is saved. Her light is being refueled to shine brightly in a neighborhood of darkness and gang violence. The cupboard in her house is most likely empty each morning but she is being fed at school every day. Her light is shining brightly as she takes the message of the Triune God into the neighborhood of doubt and fear.

In the same manner as she hears the Word daily, she, and us continue to ‘do what it says’ as we continue along on our earthly journey doing His work and answering His call. In 1834 Edward Mote wrote the words for the hymn ‘My hope is built on nothing less’ and as you read those words, consider her life, your life and what our Savior accomplished for us and continues to accomplish through us. What is most important?

“My hope is built on nothing less than Jesus' blood and righteousness; I dare not trust the sweetest frame, but wholly lean on Jesus' name. On Christ, the solid Rock, I stand; all other ground is sinking sand. When darkness veils 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. His oath, His covenant, and blood support me in the whelming flood; when every earthly prop gives way, He then is all my Hope and Stay. On Christ, the solid Rock, I stand; all other ground is sinking sand. When He shall come with trumpet sound, oh may I then in Him be found; clothed in His righteousness alone; faultless to stand before the throne! On Christ, the solid Rock, I stand; all other ground is sinking sand.”

May God be with you,

Jay

Joel Griffith 9/16/22 Joel Griffith 9/16/22

What are you lacking?

“Taste and see that the LORD is good; blessed is the one who takes refuge in him. Fear the LORD, you his holy people, for those who fear him lack nothing. The lions may grow weak and hungry, but those who seek the LORD lack no good thing.” Psalm 34:8-10

As you sit and read this devotion, please take just a few moments to consider what you lack at this point in your life. Are you lacking stuff, time, friends, treasures, food, shelter or good health? The final verse from Psalm 34 should cause each of us to take an inventory of our lives and also consider how others on this planet might reply of what it is they may be lacking.

The child in the attached photo attends the Lutheran school in Bois Marchand on the northern edge of Gonaives. I can’t imagine what she would say that she lacks, probably food at home as she told me that she had nothing to eat before walking to school and nothing to eat the night before we met on this hot day in March of 2010.

If we all continue to ‘seek the Lord’ we will realize how many blessings have been poured out for us and not be tempted by the ‘needs’ of this sinful world. Our Heavenly Father sent His only Son into this world to pay the price for our sins and Jesus promised that He has prepared a mansion in Heaven for each of us. Seek the Lord and lack no good thing. In 1876 Henry Baker wrote ‘Redeemed, restored, forgiven’ and this hymn sums up all that we have today and will have in eternity.

“Redeemed, restored, forgiven, through Jesus' precious blood. Heirs of His home in heaven, oh, praise our pardoning God! Praise Him in tuneful measures Who gave His Son to die; praise Him whose sevenfold treasures enrich and sanctify. Once on the dreary mountain we wandered far and wide; far from the cleansing fountain, far from the pierced side. But Jesus sought and found us and washed our guilt away; with cords of love He bound us to be His own for aye. Dear Master, Thine the glory of each recovered soul. Ah! who can tell the story of love that made us whole? Not ours, not ours, the merit; be Thine alone the praise and ours a thankful spirit to serve Thee all our days. Now keep us, holy Savior, in Thy true love and fear and grant us of Thy favor. The grace to persevere till in Thy new creation; earth's time-long travail o'er, we find our full salvation and praise Thee evermore.“

May God be with you,

Jay

Joel Griffith 9/15/22 Joel Griffith 9/15/22

Giving thanks.

“As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, my God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When can I go and meet with God? My tears have been my food day and night, while people say to me all day long, “Where is your God?” These things I remember as I pour out my soul: how I used to go to the house of God under the protection of the Mighty One with shouts of joy and praise among the festive throng.” Psalm 42:1-4

When a wall of razor wire is placed in the middle of our journey, we need to thank our Heavenly Father for those times when life is hard, when we can’t handle life’s challenges on our own, when we fully realize that our wisdom and resources are inadequate. Our North American culture makes this a hard pill to swallow.

When my wheels are stuck in the slimy muddy goo of this fallen world there is a part of me that absolutely hates the situation and I have no choice but to remember how much I need my Heavenly Father and it is in those times, I can feel the longing of my soul for His presence, love and protection. The people that live in this stone house in the Arcahaie District are sitting in their home and probably don’t see themselves facing problems as I do when I snapped this photo. No electrical or telephone lines running into their house or indoor plumbing; no propane tank in the yard, no solar or wind generator.

Their children attend Lutheran school at Chincheron a few miles from their house and they have heard about our risen Savior and know about the word ‘Salvation’ and have turned away from the vodou priest; their lives have a purpose to share His message. Without our Heavenly Father, our lives would have no purpose. Without Him, we all would faint from exhaustion and fade away and not receive our Crown of Life. Without Him, our discouragement with this fallen world would stack up higher and higher, with no hope of relief. So, we yearn for the presence of our Heavenly Father and like a deer and the water, He alone can satisfy our soul.

In 1984, Martin Nystrom took the words of the above psalm and put them to music: “As the deer panteth for the water, so my soul longeth after Thee. You alone are my heart’s desire and I long to worship Thee.”

May God be with you,

Jay