What is really important?

“But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.” Matthew 6:33

Things always look better on the outside.  The grass is always greener on the other side of the fence.  Over the past twenty-five years, I have visited many of you and may I say that you are richly blessed.  You worship in a beautiful Church and also have a really nice house, well furnished, and I assume that your neighbors are in awe of your life.

During this time of December, material possessions in North America mean a lot to us; the more stuff that you have under the tree. the better your life is, the higher up the food chain you have risen.  The children in this photo are not from North America but judging from their smiles they must be doing very well.  They have on clean clothes, go to school and get a daily meal as they attend a school with a Trinity HOPE feeding program.  Their outside appearance looks pretty good and it is too bad you cannot visit their home during December, as your opinion might be different if you knew where they lived and what was in their closet, kitchen cupboards, bathroom and they probably don’t have a Christmas tree.  My guess is that few of them have any of these three conveniences in their home.

Satan tells us that we need more of this and that; more money will bring us more happiness.  His lies keep nagging at us and it is good to visit the lives of children in Haiti to bring us back to reality.  True happiness comes from knowing and living for Jesus Christ; that happiness is eternal.  Don’t be blinded by the lies of this world.  Don’t let your ears and mind be numbed by the words of the liar of this world telling you that more is always better.  You want true riches; turn to Jesus.  I close with the words from the song ‘Shout to the Lord’ that I heard Randy Travis sing recently.

“My Jesus, My Savior, Lord, there is none like You; all of my days I want to praise the wonders of Your mighty love.  My comfort, my shelter, tower of refuge and strength; let every breath, all that I am never cease to worship You.  Shout to the Lord, all the earth, let us sing.  Power and majesty, praise to the King; mountains bow down and the seas will roar at the sound of Your name.  I sing for joy at the work of Your hands, forever I'll love You, forever I'll stand, nothing compares to the promise I have in You.”

Dear Heavenly Father, you have called your servants to ventures of which we cannot see the ending, by paths as yet untrodden, through perils unknown.  Give us faith to go out with good courage, not knowing where we go but only that your hand is leading us and your love supporting us through Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior.  Amen.

May God be with you,

Jay

Comfort for today.

“Comfort, comfort my people, says your God.  Speak tenderly to Jerusalem, and proclaim to her that her hard service has been completed, that her sin has been paid for, that she has received from the LORD’s hand double for all her sins.  A voice of one calling: “In the wilderness prepare the way for the LORD; make straight in the desert a highway for our God.  Every valley shall be raised up, every mountain and hill made low; the rough ground shall become level, the rugged places a plain.  And the glory of the LORD will be revealed, and all people will see it together.  For the mouth of the LORD has spoken.” Isaiah 40:1-5

What brings you the most comfort on this sixth day of Advent?  In our North American culture, some may find a fleeting moment of comfort when all their ‘preparations’ for Christmas are finally accomplished.  When that last batch of cookies is baked, that last gift is purchased and that last detail for the family gathering has been completed.

What is truly important is the message that the voice in the desert was calling out, “Prepare the way for the LORD.”  Do you still recall what filled your Holiday plate five years ago?  Do you recall what your favorite gift was ten years ago?  Do you remember who was born two thousand years ago that the Prophet Isaiah was writing about?  That should be our focus during this Advent season.

The child that I am holding in my arms in the attached photo is a little girl named Suzette and at that time in 2002 she lived several miles west of Torbeck in Southwest Haiti in a one-room house made of sticks that is standing just behind us; about the floor space of a garage shed.  If she is still alive today, I can tell you with much assurance that she still has the red bear that she is holding.  This simple small gift was sent to her from Lindie Nord’s class of students in Sioux Falls, SD.  Suzette didn’t have a toy box in her house, probably just a small space in a drawer where her two outfits were kept, and the red bear; a most precious gift.

Over time, there have been a few who have called me a ‘nagger’ and once in a while even accused me dumping a load of Lutheran ‘guilt’ in my devotions.  But if there is one message that reaches you today it is this; first and foremost, celebrate Christmas for the real reason for which God brought His Son to this earth.  Reinforce that message with your friends and family this year and if you can, help prepare the way for children like Suzette to also go and tell the real reason of Christmas with the people along her pathway.  I close today with the words to the hymn ‘Comfort, Comfort, Ye My People’ what was written by Johann Olearius, 1671.

“Comfort, comfort, ye My people, speak ye peace, thus saith our God; comfort those who sit in darkness, mourning 'neath their sorrows' load.  Speak ye to Jerusalem of the peace that waits for them; tell her that her sins I cover and her warfare now is over.  Yea, her sins our God will pardon, blotting out each dark misdeed; all that well deserved His anger He no more will see or heed.  She hath suffered many a day, now her griefs have passed away; God will change her pining sadness into ever-springing gladness.  Hark, the Herald's voice is crying in the desert far and near, bidding all men to repentance since the Kingdom now is here.  Oh, that warning cry obey!  Now prepare for God a way; let the valleys rise to meet Him and the hills bow down to greet Him.  Make ye straight what long was crooked, make the rougher places plain; let your hearts be true and humble, as befits His holy reign.  For the glory of the Lord now o'er earth is shed abroad, and all flesh shall see the token that His Word is never broken.”

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

The brightest and best.

“On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him.  Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh.” Matthew 2:11

Dear North America; please, no more Christmas flyers cluttering up my mailbox; I’ve lost count as they started appearing after Labor Day.  I wonder how long it took the Magi to decide on bringing gold, frankincense and myrrh as gifts for the King?  Do you suppose that they did their shopping before they left or did it along the way?

The attached photo is of a class that attends the Lutheran School in Bas Des Gris which is located in the Bainet area of Haiti.  I doubt that they get many Christmas flyers down there.  While I lived in Haiti not one ‘wish book’ appeared at my address; life was good and it was not hard to focus on the true meaning of Advent and consider what the Christ child meant for me and for these children and for this world.

Not sure what you are shopping for this year, but if you, your family or your Bible study group would be interested in sponsoring the school in Bas Des Gris it would cost roughly $971 a month to feed their school.  The 230 children attending this school will be sharing the real meaning of Christmas with their neighborhood and the generations to come in their lives as their bright lights will shine brightly in a country that still has much darkness from vodou and danger from gangs.  I close this devotion with the words to the hymn ‘Brightest and Best of the Sons of the Morning’ which was written by Reginald Heber in 1811.

“Brightest and best of the sons of the morning, dawn on our darkness and lend us Thine aid; Star of the East, the horizon adorning, guide where our infant Redeemer is laid.  Cold on His cradle the dewdrops are shining; low lies His head with the beasts of the stall.  Angels adore Him in slumber reclining, Maker and Monarch and Savior of all.  Shall we not yield Him, In costly devotion odors of Edom and offerings divine, gems of the mountain and pearls of the ocean, myrrh from the forest and gold from the mine?  Vainly we offer each ample oblation, vainly with gifts would His favor secure.  Richer by far is the heart's adoration; dearer to God are the prayers of the poor.  Brightest and best of the sons of the morning, dawn on our darkness and lend us Thine aid; Star of the East, the horizon adorning, guide where our infant Redeemer is laid.”

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

Advent; day 5, so much more.

“Beyond all question, the mystery from which true godliness springs is great: He appeared in the flesh, was vindicated by the Spirit, was seen by angels, was preached among the nations, was believed on in the world, was taken up in glory.” 1Timothy 3:16

It’s Thursday, December first and it seems like yesterday was Labor Day and the football season was about to start.  Dear North America; the season of Advent is so much more than Black Friday; colored strings of lights on houses and trees, snow, presents, catalogues, fruitcakes and mistletoe hung in doorways.  Advent is so much more than what this fallen world has to offer.  The Apostle Paul writes that godliness is a mystery and it is because we mortal North Americans can seldom comprehend just how awesome Advent truly is; only our Heavenly Father and Creator can do that.

The minds of our sinful world cannot begin to wrap their man made ‘knowledge’ around the truth of our Savior being born to a virgin in Bethlehem; doesn’t make any sense to us how this could possibly happen.  This ‘mystery’ is the answer to the problems in this world.  This ‘mystery’ is what is truly important to this world Charley Brown.

The importance of feeding these children who attend the Lutheran School in Dondon is also a ‘mystery’ to many living in North America.  Seeking and saving the lost was the message and direction our Savior, the Christ child, left with us.  As you go about your family tradition during Advent, please consider sharing of your blessings to bring a meal of hope to these children that are being prepared to be His missionaries in Haiti.  They will be taking the true message of our Savior to the lost, still living in fear of the vodou priest in Haiti and to those hopeless souls who are members of violent gangs in Haiti.  I close today with the hymn ‘A Great and Mighty Wonder’ that was attributed to have been written by St. Germanus in 1734.

“A great and mighty wonder.  A full and holy cure: the Virgin bears the Infant with virgin honor pure.  Repeat the hymn again: to God on high be glory and peace on earth to men!  The Word becomes incarnate and yet remains on high, and cherubim sing anthems to shepherds from the sky.  Repeat the hymn again: to God on high be glory and peace on earth to men!  While thus they sing your Monarch, those bright angelic bands, rejoice, ye vales and mountains, ye oceans, clap your hands.  Repeat the hymn again: to God on high be glory and peace on earth to men!  Since all He comes to ransom.  By all be He adored, the Infant born in Bethl'em, the Savior and the Lord.  Repeat the hymn again: to God on high be glory and peace on earth to men.  And idol forms shall perish, and error shall decay, and Christ shall wield His scepter, our Lord and God for aye.  Repeat the hymn again:
to God on high be glory and peace on earth to men!"

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

Advent; day 4.

“Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles.  And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith.”  Hebrews 12:1-2

The season of Advent is upon us.  Advent services begin during the middle of the week tonight.  Our service is at 5 PM.  In some congregations, the children are practicing their reading parts and songs for the Christmas program.  Christmas trees are being brought into the sanctuary and decorations are now shining brightly throughout the community.  In Normal, there were many homes that had their Christmas decorations up on November 1st; they needed the Good News of Christmas to shine in their lives as early as possible this year.  It is the time of the year when some people make their annual journey back to Church; to celebrate the birth of their Savior.  They may even give you a look that says “what are you doing in my pew” as they stop at where they were sitting in last year.

I read a devotion recently that was written back in the day by D.L. Moody and the topic was the importance of Church attendance.  He shared an object lesson comparing each Christian as an ember in a fire place.  When we are nestled in the firebox with others, in God’s Word daily, we are glowing and our heat brings comfort to others.  When an ember is removed from the firebox it remains warm and slowly loses it heat and eventually is useless.

Take a piece of charcoal out of a grill some time and place it under a pan of water and see how long the water will boil.  Being present in Church only during Advent will not keep your fire burning all year long; your warmth will not bring comfort or strength to others who come along your life’s journey.  The children in the attached photo attend the Lutheran school in Osse and their embers are hot all year long.  Thank you for your continual effort to support children attending Christian schools in Haiti.  As you remain in the firebox at your congregation, your gifts continue to keep the fire in their lives burning brightly before the people chained to vodou.  The words of the hymn ‘For All the Saints Who from Their Labors Rest’ which was written by William W. How in 1864 at the age of 41 and seems like a proper way to end this devotion.

“For all the saints who from their labors rest, who Thee by faith before the world confess, Thy name, O Jesus, be forever blest.  Alleluia! Alleluia!  Thou wast their Rock, their Fortress, and their Might; Thou, Lord, their Captain in the well-fought fight Thou, in the darkness drear, their one true Light.  Alleluia! Alleluia!  Oh, may Thy soldiers, faithful, true and bold, fight as the saints who nobly fought of old and win with them the victor's crown of gold.
Alleluia! Alleluia!  O blest communion, fellowship divine, we feebly struggle, they in glory shine; yet all are one in Thee, for all are Thine.  Alleluia! Alleluia!  And when the fight is fierce, the warfare long, steals on the ear the distant triumph song, And hearts are brave again, and arms are strong.  Alleluia! Alleluia!  But, lo, there breaks a yet more glorious day; the saints triumphant rise in bright array; the King of Glory passes on His way.  Alleluia! Alleluia!  From earth's wide bounds, from ocean's farthest coast, through gates of pearl streams in the countless host, singing to Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.  Alleluia! Alleluia!  The golden evening brightens in the west; soon, soon, to faithful warriors cometh rest.  Sweet is the calm of Paradise the blest.  Alleluia! Alleluia!”

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

Like a child.

“The wolf will live with the lamb, the leopard will lie down with the goat, the calf and the lion and the yearling together; and a little child will lead them.” Isaiah 11:6

What is wrong with this image?  Carnivores and herbivore’s living together and being led by a child; the image is out of order, out of control.  The lions, leopards, wolves, goats and cattle are being led by a child, not a strong shepherd with a whip, chair and sidearm…but being led by a child.

Take just a moment to hit pause and think about this verse; why would our Heavenly Father choose a child to lead this chaos?  It just doesn’t make much sense to worldly wisdom in this fallen world.  Can you imagine what the young child in attached photo who attends the Messif School in Ouanaminthe could do to keep the peace with these animals?  I recall that when my daughters were decades younger, their lives, like this child, were filled with innocence; their lives were not stained with the lies of this world.  They got excited with the simplest of things and had a peace about them that you and I on this side of senior citizen, can only recall as a cloudy moment in time.  They placed all of their trust in their parents and as we get older, we learn that we need to place all of our trust in our Triune God.

Jesus tells us in Matthew that in order for us to enter the kingdom, we need to be like a child.  A small child is innocent, humble and trusting and can lead in ways that we cannot.  Thank you for continuing to support Trinity HOPE feeding programs in Haiti that help to prepare these children to lead their neighbors away from the vodou priests that prey on the innocent of Haiti.  I close today with the words from the hymn ‘Let us ever walk with Jesus’ written by Sigismund von Birken in 1653.

“Let us ever walk with Jesus, follow His example pure, flee the world, which would deceive us and to sin our souls allure.  Ever in His footsteps treading, body here, yet soul above, full of faith and hope and love, let us do the Father's bidding.  Faithful Lord, abide with me; Savior, lead, I follow Thee.  Let us suffer here with Jesus, to His image, e'er conform; Heaven's glory soon will please us, sunshine follow on the storm.  Though we sow in tears of sorrow, we shall reap with heavenly joy; and the fears that now annoy shall be laughter on the morrow.  Christ, I suffer here with Thee; there, oh, share Thy joy with me!  Let us also die with Jesus.  His death from the second death, from our soul's destruction, frees us, quickens us with life's glad breath.  Let us mortify, while living, flesh and blood and die to sin; and the grave that shuts us in shall but prove the gate to heaven.  Jesus, here I die to Thee there to live eternally.  Let us gladly live with Jesus; since He's risen from the dead, death and grave must soon release us.  Jesus, Thou art now our Head, we are truly Thine own members; where Thou livest, there live we.  Take and own us constantly, faithful Friend, as Thy dear brethren.  Jesus, here I live to Thee, also there eternally.”

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

Advent.

“Lift up your heads, you gates; be lifted up, you ancient doors, that the King of glory may come in.  Who is this King of glory?  The Lord strong and mighty, the Lord mighty in battle.  Lift up your heads, you gates; lift them up, you ancient doors, that the King of glory may come in.  Who is he, this King of glory?  The Lord Almighty; he is the King of glory.” Psalm 24:7-10

Yesterday was the first Sunday in Advent and the Advent Wreaths were up in most Churches.  The past year, I’ve been working through the book ‘Church History in Plain Language’ by Bruce L. Shelley and last week I started chapter eleven that was titled “EMMANUEL!” and I suppose that might be considered a God moment by some because of the impeccable timing.  I thought it might be good to share a few paragraphs from this chapter this morning with you, on this second day in Advent.

“In the foothill region of Mount Hermon, Jesus once asked His disciples, “Who do men say that I am?”  They told Him that most people associated Him with the prophets of Israel.  When He pressed them further, “And how about you?  Who do you say I am?”  Peter responded, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.”  Men have given a thousand answers to Jesus’ question.  “He is an unusual Jewish rabbi preaching a kingdom of love.”  Others answer, “No, he is a revolutionary whose primary purpose is the overthrow of Rome’s tyrannical rule.”  Still others claim, “He is a misguided dreamer who looked for God to step into history and establish justice on the earth.”  Well, who do you say Jesus is?    

I’m going to agree with Peter’s reply, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.”  It is my hope that during this season of Advent, as we are distracted by so many challenges in this fallen world and tempted to focus our eyes way too long at all those pretty lights on the trees…that we place the reason for this season on the highest possible level of esteem.  Give thanks and celebrate the birth of the Messiah, the Son of the living God.

I’m going to close today with the words from the hymn ‘O Come, O Come Emmanuel’ that was originally written in Latin with a title of ‘Veni, Veni, Emmanuel’ in 1710.  The English translation of the Christmas carol came about in 1851 when priest and scholar John Mason Neale’s version was featured in the history of hymns collected by hymnal documenter Thomas Helmore.

“O come, O come, Emmanuel, and ransom captive Israel, that mourns in lonely exile here, until the Son of God appear.  Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel, shall come to thee, O Israel.  O come, Thou Rod of Jesse, free Thine own from Satan's tyranny; from depths of hell Thy people save, and give them victory o'er the grave.  Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel, shall come to thee, O Israel.  O come, Thou Dayspring, from on high, and cheer us by Thy drawing nigh; disperse the gloomy clouds of night, and death's dark shadows put to flight.  Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel, shall come to thee, O Israel.  O come, Thou Key of David, come and open wide our heav'nly home; make safe the way that leads on high, and close the path to misery.  Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel, shall come to thee, O Israel.  O come, Adonai, Lord of might,
Who to Thy tribes, on Sinai's height, in ancient times didst give the law in cloud and majesty and awe.  Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel, shall come to thee, O Israel.”

Dear Heavenly Father, you have called your servants to ventures of which we cannot see the ending, by paths as yet untrodden, through perils unknown.  Give us faith to go out with good courage, not knowing where we go but only that your hand is leading us and your love supporting us through Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior.  Amen.

May God be with you,

Jay

I am trusting Thee, Lord Jesus.

“Help, Lord, for no one is faithful anymore; those who are loyal have vanished from the human race.  Everyone lies to their neighbor; they flatter with their lips but harbor deception in their hearts.  May the Lord silence all flattering lips and every boastful tongue; those who say, “By our tongues we will prevail; our own lips will defend us, who is lord over us?”  “Because the poor are plundered and the needy groan, I will now arise” says the Lord.  “I will protect them from those who malign them.”  And the words of the Lord are flawless, like silver purified in a crucible, like gold refined seven times.  You, Lord, will keep the needy safe and will protect us forever from the wicked, who freely strut about when what is vile is honored by the human race.”  Psalm 12

Can these words from the Old Testament possibly be relevant for today?  Are you facing any challenges?  Has this fallen world brought you stress today?  Stress comes in many different forms; the people at work who would rather than work spend more time complaining about work.  The neighbors across the fence who bend your ear complaining about their ‘other’ neighbors and you can see the worn path between their houses as you were also their ‘other’ neighbor.  Church leaders who want another new hymnal.  Family members who don’t live up to your expectations or don’t see eye to eye with you and the smooth political figures who spend your tax dollars in ways that fill their personal coffers and drive our country further into debt; is God watching us?  Does He hear our prayers?

The Haitian word for ‘stress’ is “tèt chaje” and this Haitian child has stress in her life too, but her stress is different from your stress.  Today, she wonders if there will be food at her school as she has heard the vodou priest has cast a spell on the cooks and they will be sick today and there will be no food at school.  Will the gang members terrorize her home and school today?  Is God watching over this child today?  He sees, He cares, He knows and He is aware of the needs at her school.

Satan wants you, this child and me to believe that our Heavenly Father doesn’t care about us.  We are stressed out worrying about today and tomorrow; life is not fair, if He cared He would do something now!  Is our Heavenly Father watching?  Why should I give a quarter to feed this child living in a poor country, not really my problem; God can take care of her.  Our Heavenly Father has a plan for this child and for you and me; our lives have a purpose in His creation.  We are called to trust in Him, seek His wisdom and go out into this sin filled world and seek and save the lost and prayerfully bring them the hope of Jesus Christ.  I close today with the words to the hymn ‘I am trusting Thee, Lord Jesus’ that was written by Frances R. Havergal in 1874.

“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, ev'ry 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.”

Dear Heavenly Father, you have called your servants to ventures of which we cannot see the ending, by paths as yet untrodden, through perils unknown.  Give us faith to go out with good courage, not knowing where we go but only that your hand is leading us and your love supporting us through Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior.  Amen.

May God be with you,

Jay

I AM forever who I AM.

“He says, “Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.” Psalm 46:10

The Church in the attached photo is Eglise Evangelique Lutherienne du Bon Berger in Caredeux which is a suburb in the Northeast of Port-au-Prince; the white truck was the vehicle God blessed me with while living in Haiti.  I was blessed to have worshipped there on a few Reformation Sundays and the above verse from Psalm 46 reminded me of that again; that God is exalted among ALL the nations, in ALL the earth.

I remember Pastor Thomas Bernard reading Psalm 46 in French during the service and I followed along in my NIV Bible; God was present at that moment in French, Creole and English.  No matter what the evil forces of this world are throwing at you or the congregation in Caredeux, God reminds us to be still…and know that He is God; He is in control.  We will be tossed about throughout our lives, pulled this way and that but don’t fear; be still and know that God is with you.  I close today with the words to the hymn ‘I AM forever who I Am’ that we sang on Reformation Day a few decades ago in Lincoln and it was written by Kurt Von Kampen.

“Though mountains slide into the sea, and waters rush where fields should be, though monuments and nations fall, Your Holy city stands through all.  When nothing seems to stay the same, You teach us your eternal name.  We buy and sell, we lose or gain, our fortunes shift like sun and rain.  Sustain our lives, reward our toil with bread and honey, wine and oil.  Save us and others from our greed; You always give us what we need.  Our lust for power, wealth and land diminishes the earth you planned.  Prevent our crimes and futile wars; convince us that all things are yours.  We rage and burn and kill and steal, but you redeem, restore and heal.  Like shepherds watching for the light, aware of dangers in the night, we hear the angel “do not fear”, the Savior of the world is near.  We run, we see, we touch, we laugh, You came to earth on our behalf.  Each generation looks for truth and doubt can trouble age or youth.  If other gods would take your place, remember us with love and grace.  Reclaim us if we go astray; You are the Truth, the Life, the Way.  Some days seem long, though life is brief, and death is waiting like a thief.  When vision fades and dreams go dry, we still on unseen things rely.  Our stories take up but a page but Yours goes on from age to age.  I AM forever Who I AM; above you, beneath you, around you and within you.  Be still and know that I am God.”  

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

Thanksgiving.

“He says, “Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.” Psalm 46:10

Today, Thanksgiving is celebrated in my native country.  There is a spiral sliced ham and turkey breast going into my smoker; using hickory wood today.  Back in the day, many decades ago, when I was a young child, the focus of Thanksgiving was pilgrims, Indians, turkey and giving thanks for our blessings.  That was six decades ago and now the focus of thanksgiving seems to be fading as our culture is insisting that we remove the Indians and has us preparing for Christmas before the expensive and smaller size Halloween candy was even set out.  The Christmas Story and Elf movies were showing on November 1.  Television and the internet are running ads and commercials proclaiming that sales are starting NOW in the second week of November; before Thanksgiving.  Get out your credit card.

When I lived in Haiti this North American holiday was not celebrated there.  The office staff knew this and asked if I would prepare a thanksgiving meal for them with mashed potatoes and gravy; something that they had never experienced.  We fried a Haitian chicken and I made mashed potatoes and homemade gravy like my mother and grandmother used to make with lumps of the goody left in the frying pan.  Recalling thanksgiving in Nebraska while living in Haiti brought me memories of the reasons for which I was thankful.

Our Heavenly Father has ordained many traditions and specific rituals to teach His people proper responses to His love and mercy.  Our Lord Jesus fulfilled the law of the Old Testament, and because of His ultimate sacrifice, we no longer must practice the laws that were in place to teach us of our shortcomings.  But, Christ clearly promoted special times of giving thanks, and the teachings of Paul include turning our attitudes constantly towards gratitude.  The girls in the attached photo attend the Lutheran School in Ouanaminthe and they are giving thanks for their loving Savior, their school, their teachers, their meal and for you.

Our Heavenly Father is not the God of hustle and bustle and stressful preparations that we North Americans have come to know.  He taught that we should quiet down and sit before Him. "Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth."  Perhaps the best way for us to experience this thanksgiving season is to make a special time for Thanksgiving prayers and heartfelt meditation.  We close today with the words from the hymn ‘Christ, by Heavenly Hosts Adored’ which was written by Henry Harbaugh in 1860.

“Christ, by heavenly host adored, gracious, mighty, sovereign Lord God of nations, King of kings, Head of all created things, by the Church with Joy confest, God o'er all forever blest, pleading at Thy throne we stand, save Thy people, bless our land.  On our fields of grass and grain send, 0 Lord, the kindly rain; o'er our wide and goodly land crown the labors of each hand.  Let Thy kind protection be o'er our commerce on the sea. open, Lord, Thy bounteous hand; bless Thy people, bless our land.  Let our rulers ever be men that love and honor Thee; let the powers by Thee ordained be in righteousness maintained.  In the people's hearts increase love of piety and peace.  Thus united, we shall stand one wide, free, and happy land.”

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