International Prayer Day First Monday each month 10 am

Joel Griffith 10/7/22 Joel Griffith 10/7/22

Got a Light?

“Remember those earlier days after you had received the light, when you endured in a great conflict full of suffering” Hebrews 10:32

Do you remember receiving your first flashlight? For some of you, like me, fire on a stick was our first real flashlight. Was your first flashlight small or large? My uncle Vic was an electrician and he had a powerful flashlight with a large battery that I always thought that sometime when I was older that would be what I would have to provide light during an emergency.

Lessons from the Bible are much like powerful flashlights than can light up the darkest of challenges and trials that this fallen world can throw at children and adults. The four girls in the attached photo attend Bon Berger in Caredeux and survive the vodou priest, violent gangs and on January 12, 2010 lived through the earthquake that claimed so many lives.

These girls have learned the message of Hope from the Bible and you may have seen others like them whose light shone brightly in the evenings following that deadly earthquake on CNN. They were the bright lights praying and singing hymns in the darkness of Port-au-Prince when death, suffering and uncertainty seemed to be everywhere.

God has given us Hope in the darkness and the ability to find comfort in hopeless time when the lost cling in vain to the ways and logic of this world. I listened to Anne Murray sing ‘Whispering Hope’ recently on the Internet radio and they are a wonderful way to close this devotion.

“Soft as the voice of an angel breathing a lesson unheard; hope with a gentle persuasion whispers a 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 dimmed be the region afar willn't 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.”

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 10/6/22 Joel Griffith 10/6/22

Praying...waiting.

“This, then, is how you should pray” Matthew 6:9

When I was a child, it didn’t seem like anybody was listening to my prayer and today, well I absolutely know that God answers prayer in His way and in His time. Yesterday, schools in Haiti were to start throughout the country and from what the Trinity HOPE feeding program directors reported a few did but sadly, most did not. Those that did not will now try to start on Monday. Please join me in praying for all of those 61,000 children in the 268 schools.

Another ongoing prayer from me is for my congregation that has been in a vacancy for the past year and we recently extended a Call to a Pastor and after a few weeks of prayer, he returned the Call. Prayers from his congregation and my congregation have been answered…and now we begin the Call process anew. Often, God’s answers to prayer are ‘yes’, ‘no’ or ‘wait’ and it seems much easier to hear the first two answers…but the ‘wait’ is still hard to do.

So, why is prayer so important? Now, that I am in my senior years and supposed to be oozing with wisdom, I can tell you that there are four short reasons why prayer is important to me.

First, quite often my Heavenly Father does make me wait. If there is a difficult problem facing me there is a time of prayer and a then a time of waiting. Prayer forces me to leave the situation with God; it makes me wait and has taught me patience. HE is in control.

Secondly, prayer clears my thoughts and opens my mind to the things to be thankful for, what sins I have done that need to be confessed and a list of supplications for others and myself. Prayer brings me to the face of my Heavenly Father and He has promised to listen to my prayer, your prayer and the prayer of this child in Ouanaminthe.

Third, prayer quiets my heart. Prayer is a time for me to be still as I am in His Holy presence; prayer makes me quiet. And lastly, prayer activates my faith; as I know that He is on the other end of the phone listening to my words. Prayer brings me so close to the face of God and brings a sense of peace about me. Please continue to pray daily for the believers living in Haiti and also for the Trinity HOPE feeding programs in Haiti. I close today with the words from the hymn ‘Our Father, Thou in Heaven above’ that was written by Martin Luther so many centuries ago.

“Our Father, Thou in heaven above, Who biddest us to dwell in love, as brethren of one family, to cry in every need to Thee, teach us no thoughtless word to say, but from our inmost heart to pray. Thy name be hallowed. Help us, Lord, in purity to keep Thy Word, that to the glory of thy name we walk before Thee free from blame. Let no false doctrine us pervert; all poor, deluded souls convert. Thy kingdom come. Thine let it be in time and in eternity. Let Thy good Spirit e'er be nigh our hearts with graces to supply. Break Satan's power, defeat his rage; preserve Thy Church from age to age. Thy gracious will on earth be done as 'tis in heaven before Thy throne; obedience in our weal and woe and patience in all grief bestow. Curb flesh and blood and every ill that sets itself against Thy will. Give us this day our daily bread and let us all be clothed and fed. From war and strife be our Defense, from famine and from pestilence, that we may live in godly peace, free from all care and avarice. Forgive our sins, Lord, we implore, remove from us their burden sore, as we their trespasses forgive who by offenses us do grieve. Thus let us dwell in charity and serve our brother willingly. Into temptation lead us not. When evil foes against us plot and vex our souls on every hand, oh, give us strength that we may stand firm in the faith, a well-armed host, through comfort of the Holy Ghost! From evil, Lord, deliver us; the times and days are perilous. Redeem us from eternal death, and when we yield our dying breath, console us, grant us calm release, and take our souls to Thee in peace. Amen, that is, So shall it be. Confirm our faith and hope in Thee that we may doubt not, but believe what here we ask we shall receive. Thus in Thy name and at Thy word we say: Amen. Oh, hear us, Lord! Amen.”

May God be with you,

Jay

Joel Griffith 10/5/22 Joel Griffith 10/5/22

Warn them.

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

Last month, the Haitian leaders proclaimed that today was going to be the first day of school. They assumed ‘things’ would have calmed down in five weeks since their announcement. Evil verses good continues to be there in Haiti…and here too and throughout this fallen world. How does this conflict apply to you? Read that passage one more time. Initially, this verse may seem like quite a strong warning to those who have heard the message of salvation, that they are to not just to keep this knowledge to themselves but freely share with the lost. The man in the attached photo is the witch doctor at this vodou temple in Croix d’ Bouquets which is a suburb in Northeast part of Port-au-Prince; he needs to hear the message of salvation.

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

There are 7,291 young missionaries attending Lutheran schools in the Port-au-Prince district who are supposed to be starting school today; learning more about Jesus Christ and being fed daily by donors like you. As you have shared the truth in your neighborhood thank you for also sharing of your gifts to assist in the preparation of the youth in Haiti who will take the message of salvation to those caught up in the lies of vodou. Isaac Watts wrote the words for the Hymn ‘Am I a soldier of the Cross’ in 1721 and they will close this message today.

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

May God be with you,

Jay

Joel Griffith 10/4/22 Joel Griffith 10/4/22

Heading to THE City.

“For here we do not have an enduring city, but we are looking for the city that is to come.” Hebrews 13:14

You were not meant to live here forever. The home you have made your own, just the way you like it is not forever. This is not all there is! And that is really a good thing; because surely, you and I don’t want to live in a sin filled, imperfect place forever. You want to live in a perfect place that was made just for you, as a member of God’s family.

God’s plan for eternity is such an amazing expression of his love. The Bible tells us that God created the entire universe because He wanted a family that would love Him and live with Him forever. I recall back in the day while teaching Midweek to 7-8 grade youth that some were not thrilled about going to Heaven; if there weren’t some of the ‘fun things’ from this fallen world waiting for them in their new mansion, then they weren’t inclined to go there. In their minds, Heaven would be a step below what they now have, living in this fallen world.

The three girls in the attached photo are excited about their home waiting in Heaven. Their earthly shelter has a dirt floor, no utilities and the danger of bullets whizzing through their neighborhood. In their minds, Heaven will be so much better…Jesus will be there.

I read an article yesterday in the Washington Post about Haiti. The Haitian Government was supposed to commence school in the country tomorrow. I’m not sure what has changed from last month, when it was scheduled to commence, that makes it any better to start tomorrow. There was one short paragraph that sums up the current situation in Haiti today and what it is like for it’s citizens. “You are in a lawless country. Nobody is in charge. It’s the gang that’s in charge,” said Cécile Accilien, vice president of the nonprofit Haitian Studies Association. “People cannot go get clean water because they are barricaded by the gang. People have died because they can’t get to the hospital.” Today there isn’t much Hope. Our fallen world needs Jesus.

God’s family will be in Heaven; all colors, all sizes, male and female, from here and there. There’s a word for God’s family: church. The only thing in this fallen world that’s going to last is the church; the people who have chosen to be part of God’s family in faith and obedience.

Because you were made to last forever, you can choose to spend eternity in one of two places: heaven or hell. Not sure if there will be golf, pickleball, swimming pools, theme parks or movie theaters in Heaven…Jesus will be there. When you make Jesus the Lord of your life, you accept your inheritance as God’s child and your forever home in heaven. That inheritance can never be taken away from you! It is God’s amazing gift to you. It changes not just where you spend eternity but how you live life now. Once you become part of God’s family, there’s a whole lot more to life than just the here and now. You realize that this world really is not your home. You’re just passing through!

May God be with you,

Jay

Joel Griffith 10/3/22 Joel Griffith 10/3/22

Overcome evil with good.

“Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.” Romans 12:21

The Haitian government determined that it would be safe to commence the start of school this week…instead of last week. The gangs are still very active in Haiti. The president of the Dominican Republic has placed soldiers on the border to keep the violence from spilling over into the DR. He likened the turmoil in Haiti to that of a mild civil war. To me, it is more of a battle of evil trying to suppress good.

The verse this morning is so applicable for believers living in Haiti; “When you’re faced with evil, don’t return it…overcome it.” This is just the opposite of human nature and what our sin filled world encourages us to do. This fallen world tells us that when somebody hurts you, you hurt them back. When somebody hits you, you hit them back. When somebody slanders you, you slander against them. “Overcome evil with good” is why Jesus Christ came to Earth to show that you don’t destroy evil by retaliating; you destroy it by overcoming it with good. Jesus came to obliterate evil. He came to wipe it out. Evil is going to end one day. It is not going to exist forever. One day God is going to end activity in this fallen world and take his family into eternity with him.

Good and evil are not equal in force or competition. It may feel like evil is stronger and that evil is winning, but love is far stronger than evil. Kindness is far stronger than evil. Good is much greater than evil. In the end, His followers will win. Good will triumph over evil because God is love, and His love will last forever. Evil is going to lose. Victory is assured!

May God be with you,

Jay

Joel Griffith 10/1/22 Joel Griffith 10/1/22

Where is your Hope?

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

Hopefully, you and I seldom experience all kinds of truly severe trials in our lifetime. The trials of a North American are greatly different than the Haitian boy in the attached photo. Too often what seem like a trial to us can be eliminated with the swipe of a credit card or the writing of a check; too often we fail to turn to Him with our trials.

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

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

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

May God be with you,

Jay

Joel Griffith 9/30/22 Joel Griffith 9/30/22

Everyday blessing.

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

While searching for a sympathy card recently at Hy-Vee, a greeting card waved at me; the words “Everyday Blessing” caught my attention. Is there anything on the face of this sin filled, fallen planet that could be an everyday blessing to you? Solomon was one of the richest men in all of History and he said that when he considered everything that he had accomplished and accumulated, it was all meaningless.

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

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

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

May God be with you,

Jay

Joel Griffith 9/29/22 Joel Griffith 9/29/22

Our vessel.

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

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

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

There are so many different people in His plan that use their vessels to accomplish His work. The two men in the attached photo are wading through a river carrying supplies to a School in the Les Cayes District where over 200 children eat daily. The taptap or small pickup truck couldn’t drive through this swift river and to reach this school and a person usually needs to wade through the river.

Thank you for answering His call to provide support for this school and the other 210 schools that have Trinity HOPE schools in Haiti. When you give thanks add a special petition for the countless people in Haiti that make these feeding programs accomplish His goal of training young children in Haiti to be His missionaries. The song “Have Thine own way Lord” which was written by Adelaide Pollard (1862-1934) is a great reminder of how our Heavenly Father continues to use the ‘special’ gifts that each of has to accomplish His will.

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

May God be with you,

Jay

Joel Griffith 9/28/22 Joel Griffith 9/28/22

Please...not me.

“And Moses said unto God, who am I, that I should go unto Pharaoh, and that I should bring forth the children of Israel out of Egypt?” Exodus 3:11 (KJV)

How many times have we been in the same predicament as Moses and told God “who am I to do your work?” Too often we question God’s motives for using us as surely He knows our limitations; HE created us. How do you say NO to God? A man that I respect shared the following that I too have come to use at times when asked to do something that I don’t feel is within my abilities, not in my wheelhouse; “You know, I don’t think that will be a good match for my schedule at this time.” Trust me, this reply works really well; thanks Pastor Luke.

Jonah didn’t have a choice as God sent a great fish to rescue him from drowning and swallow him and later spit him out on a beach and then repeated His marching orders, go to Nineveh! Have there been any trips to Nineveh that you have either placed on hold, closed the door or just decided not to go there? There have been a few times when I have been planning to take a mission team to Haiti when members of this world’s genius clubs were telling me to just stay home when planning, coordination and financing were taking a toll on my life.

I have spoken with a few people who won’t give a quarter to provide a meal for a child attending a Christian school in Haiti. Their response is to let their Haitian parents take care of them like we do here; be careful what you do or say, God has a way to nudge you to do His work. Our Triune God has a plan for your life, you were put here for a reason; His reason. Don’t be swayed by the ‘deep thinkers’ of this fallen world and follow their wisdom. Seek His wisdom through prayer, spend some time waiting on Him and then follow in the direction that the Holy Spirit nudges you. Whether your gifts and directions are to be used to feed children in Haiti or the homeless in your community, follow His lead for your life. I close today with the words to the hymn ‘Every morning mercies new’ that was written by Greville Phillimore in 1863.

“Every morning mercies new fall as fresh as morning dew; every morning let us pay tribute with the early day; for Thy mercies, Lord, are sure, Thy compassion doth endure. Still the greatness of Thy love daily doth our sins remove; daily, far as east from west, lifts the burden from the breast; gives un-bought to those who pray strength to stand in evil day. Let our prayers each morn prevail that these gifts may never fail; and as we confess the sin
and the Tempter's power within, feed us with the Bread of Life; fit us for our daily strife. As the morning light returns, as the sun with splendor burns, teach us still to turn to Thee, ever-blessed Trinity. With our hands our hearts to raise in unfailing prayer and praise.”

May God be with you,

Jay

Joel Griffith 9/27/22 Joel Griffith 9/27/22

Shine the Light.

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

I have read in a Haitian travel book and also been told that there are several lighthouses on the coast line of Haiti. I have only actually seen one and it was in the Jeremie District, but didn’t think to take a photograph as it was not very picturesque. Just a pole with a light. There are probably quite a few lighthouses throughout this world that are not worthy of a photo or a painting but just the same. They serve a purpose and remain a memory.

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

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

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

May God be with you,

Jay