Idle time?

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

God willing, Trinity HOPE will have feeding programs in over 270 schools in Haiti this coming year.  It takes countless hours of work in Haiti and here in North American to get a school feeding program up and running.  It is not as easy as wiring funds to Haiti so they can go purchase beans, rice, oil, tomato paste, a few pots and some charcoal and voila, you have a feeding program.  Filling bowls in the kitchen at Gros Morne didn’t just take place; it took quite a while for these bowls to be filled.

If North American volunteers were idle there would not be a feeding program; the weak would not receive assistance.  Our brothers and sisters in Haiti have countless days of work to do in preparation before their school can be considered ‘ready’ for a feeding program.  Trinity HOPE doesn’t just ‘give’ bags of beans of rice to a school as that would not be a sustainable program.  In the same train of thought, the Christian church in Haiti doesn’t just ‘give’ out Bibles and move on; they teach the Bible as many cannot read.  The Christians in Haiti continue to memorize Scripture readings and recite them in Church and give thanks for a Savior named Jesus who has saved them from the vodou priest, death and the devil.  Don’t be idle but seek to do good where ever possible.  There is a song by the Kingsman titled ‘Saints will rise’ that is a wonderful reminder of what awaits us all when our work on earth is ended.  

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

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

Our lineage.

“Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.  This is what the ancients were commended for.”  Hebrews 11:1-2

The thought for this Monday is would you please consider for just a moment the faith walk of your ancestors.  Yesterday, Pastor Tom Wirsing asked our congregation to imagine that Jesus was there and asked us “Who do you say that I am?”  How would you reply?  What does your spiritual tree look like?  Since the late 1500’s there are so many different ‘brands’ of Lutherans throughout this sin filled, fallen world.  Both sides of my family came to America from Germany and they were Lutherans.  Back in the day, while serving as a Lutheran missionary in Haiti, I often wondered what my ancestors would think of me being there walking through the rural countryside visiting churches and schools.

I marvel at how the Holy Spirit worked through my lineage and also wondered about how the Spirit will move through the Lutherans living in Haiti today.  I heard the hymn ‘faith of our fathers’ recently and it brought me to think about a question that I hear quite often from people asking what will happen to the children attending Christian schools in Haiti.  Where do they go?  Quite a few of them come from homes that still practice vodou and these Christian children in the attached photo will be the family members who will be recognized as ancestors that began the Christian legacy in their family tree; ‘Faith of our fathers’ will describe the work of the Holy Spirit within their lives.  These boys in the attached photo that was taken perhaps 20 years ago at Bon Berger in Caredeux are now in their mid to late 30’s, if they survived the earthquake in 2010…and the gangs today.

“Faith of our fathers, living still, in spite of dungeon, fire, and sword; oh, how our hearts beat high with joy whene’er we hear that glorious Word!  Faith of our fathers, holy faith!  We will be true to thee till death.  Faith of our fathers, we will strive to win all nations unto thee; and through the truth that comes from God, we all shall then be truly free.  Faith of our fathers, we will love both friend and foe in all our strife; and preach thee, too, as love knows how by kindly words and virtuous life.”  Frederick Faber 1849

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

Special prayer.

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

On this last Saturday of August, I would ask that you spend a moment of time to offer a special prayer for the children attending schools in Haiti who are being blessed with a Trinity HOPE feeding program.  Why is that important?  I can personally tell you that when I was a missionary living in Haiti, the prayers from members of my home congregation and other supporters were felt throughout my daily activities; it was like being wrapped up in my favorite blanket as a child; safe and secure.

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

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

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

Please pray for the physical safety of all His children living in Haiti.  May the violent gangs not harm their families or disrupt their schools.  May His hands surround them, protect them and keep them close to their Savior.  And also pray that the school buildings will dry out following the rainfall that Tropical Storm Franklin left this week.

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

Making plans.

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

There are two things I've learned from my time on this side of Paradise: there is a God…and I'm not Him.  When I make plans, He provides the wisdom and timing.  Have you done any planning recently?  Made plans for the weekend or for the summer or for a special vacation?  Have you made plans for your retirement?  Have you made plans for where or what you are going to eat tonight?  The dictionary indicates that making plans should be a realistic view of the expectations; depending upon the activities, a plan can be long range, intermediate range or short range.  Preparation of a comprehensive plan will not guarantee success, but lack of a sound plan will almost certainly ensure failure.

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

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

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

When the roll is called up yonder...

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

Johnny Cash and I sang a duet while driving home from the grocery store yesterday…well, actually I just sang “when the roll is called up yonder” while the song was being played on the radio.  Going home, have you ever considered who will be worthy of having their names written on the role, up yonder?  There is one thief who got his name on that roll.

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

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

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

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

A plateful of Hope.

“Whoever serves me must follow me; and where I am, my servant also will be.  My Father will honor the one who serves me.”  John 12:26

In a recent devotion from The Lutheran Hour, the late Pastor Ken Klaus shared a brief story of Helen Roseveare who was a missionary to the Congo.  During her years serving our Lord in the Congo her faith had been challenged many times and she was often physically brutalized.  She shared the following observation "There is no cost in following Jesus" and added “there is only privilege."

The young girl in the attached photo attends school at Bon Berger Lutheran School in Caredeux and she has been given a high honor by her teacher.  Entrusted to her is the task of bringing a tray with noon lunches to the children in her class.  It may not seem like much of an honor but this child will not spill one drop of food while taking to her classmates who for many, will have nothing else to eat on this day.

We should consider serving Christ as an honor.  Helping to support the noon meal at Bon Berger is an honor as we serve the Lord with our treasures.  Although being His servant is a free will choice each of us can make on our own, we should embrace the opportunity to humbly follow Him and serve Him.  We should be eager at having the opportunity to be Christ’s servant here in our home town, across the State, in the Congo or in Haiti.  Serving Him is such a wonderful privilege.

We should not walk our Christian path in a spirit of pride or ego as all the Glory is His.  Thank you for sharing your blessings and bringing a plate of Hope to the children in Caredeux.  The hymn “Let us ever walk with Jesus” by Sigismund von Birken (1653) is a great reminder of the honor of walking with and following our Savior.

“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.”

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.

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

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

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

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

“I am trusting Thee, Lord, Jesus, trusting only Thee; trusting Thee for full salvation, great and free.  I am trusting Thee for pardon; at Thy feet I bow; for Thy grace and tender mercy, trusting now.  I am trusting Thee for cleansing in the crimson flood; trusting Thee to make me holy by Thy blood.  I am trusting Thee to guide me; Thou alone shalt lead; every day and hour supplying all my need.  I am trusting Thee for power, Thine can never fail; words which Thou Thyself shalt give me must prevail.  I am trusting Thee, Lord Jesus; never let me fall; I am trusting Thee forever, and for all.”  Frances R. Havergal, 1836-1879

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

Two thieves.

“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 23:39–43

I read a quote this weekend and thought this Monday morning might be a good time to share it with you.  “Your worst days are never so bad that you are beyond the reach of God's grace.  Your best days are never so good that you are beyond the need of God's grace.”  In the news from Haiti yesterday it was reported that Kenya was sending a preliminary force of Police officers to formulate a plan of action to deal with the gang violence in Haiti. To the gang leaders, that news was a bad day in their lives.  Perhaps the coming large force of Kenyan police will be the beginning of their repenting and seeking God’s grace.

In the above verses from Luke, there were two thieves hanging on their cross; one on each side of Jesus.  Take a moment to apply that quote to each of them.  That had to be the worst day in their life and next to them was Grace.  Their names aren’t recorded in the Bible.  Just two thieves; left and right.  They both, like each of us and this Haitian child need Grace.  The repentant thief was able to observe everything that happened when Jesus was on the cross, including His cry: “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do”.  Both thieves had to have heard those words and must have asked themselves why He was ready to forgive the man who drove the spikes into His hands and feet, maybe He was ready to forgive me too.

One thief kept hurling insults at Jesus, going along with the crowd.  And the other thief said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom”.  The Holy Spirit came knocking on his door.  The thief believed that Jesus was a king with a real kingdom.  The thief believed that this king was more than an earthly king, He was a Savior King able to take him to His heavenly kingdom.

Jesus answered the repentant thief with the most hopeful words possible: “Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in paradise”.  A common thief who woke up in the morning on his way to hell had his eternal destiny changed with a simple plea to the Savior.  “Jesus, remember me.”

The experience of the repentant thief is a perfect illustration for you, me and this Haitian child of the Biblical truth that salvation is a gift of God’s Grace that we receive through faith and not by works.  What about the un-repentant thief?  When the three lifeless bodies were being removed from their crosses it would seem from all outward appearances that one thief went to Paradise and the other didn’t.  Ultimately, this story means there is Hope for all of us. The repentant thief believed in Jesus Christ in his last minutes and he found Grace in his final moments on that cross on Calvary.  The other thief who heard what the King said to his cohort didn’t believe it.  There are more like him who need to hear that same message; that is our job…plant the seeds of truth and ask the Holy Spirit to unharden their heart.

After reading the verses from the Gospel of Luke and sharing of my thoughts I heard the hymn ‘How shall they hear’ sung while worshipping online with Christ Lincoln recently.  The words were written by Timothy Dudley-Smith and really brought home the importance of bringing the message of Hope to souls like the ‘other’ thief who appear along our journey on this side of Paradise.

“How shall they hear,” who have not heard news of a Lord who loved and came, nor known his reconciling word, nor learned to trust a Savior’s name?  “To all the world,” to ev’ry place, neighbors and friends and far-off lands, preach the good news of saving grace; go while the great commission stands.  “Whom shall I send?”  Who hears the call, constant in prayer, through toil and pain, telling of One who died for all, to bring a lost world home again?  “Lord, here am I: ”your fire impart to this poor, cold, self-centered soul; touch but my lips, my hands, my heart, and make a world for Christ my goal.  Spirit of love, within us move: Spirit of truth, in pow’r come down!  So shall they hear and find and prove Christ is their life, their joy, their crown.”

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

Getting a call.

“The boy Samuel ministered before the LORD under Eli. In those days the word of the LORD was rare; there were not many visions.  One night Eli, whose eyes were becoming so weak that he could barely see, was lying down in his usual place.  The lamp of God had not yet gone out, and Samuel was lying down in the house of the LORD, where the ark of God was.  Then the LORD called Samuel.  Samuel answered, “Here I am.”  And he ran to Eli and said, “Here I am; you called me.”  But Eli said, “I did not call; go back and lie down.”  So he went and lay down.  Again the LORD called, “Samuel!” And Samuel got up and went to Eli and said, “Here I am; you called me.”  “My son,” Eli said, “I did not call; go back and lie down.”  Now Samuel did not yet know the LORD: The word of the LORD had not yet been revealed to him.  A third time the LORD called, “Samuel!” And Samuel got up and went to Eli and said, “Here I am; you called me.”  Then Eli realized that the LORD was calling the boy.  So Eli told Samuel, “Go and lie down, and if he calls you, say, ‘Speak, LORD, for your servant is listening.’” So Samuel went and lay down in his place.”  1 Samuel 3:1-9

Saturday morning question.  How have you received a call recently?  As a child in Nebraska, photographed in black & white, calling a person was either done on a telephone with a rotary dial or by opening the door and yelling out a name.  Our farmhouse was on a party line and we were 2 rings.  The above scripture reading talks about how Samuel received his ‘call’ from God.  It is good to read these passages from time to time as we too have been called but sometimes we don’t understand who was calling or what it was they wanted.

The young boy in the photo attends the Lutheran school in Ouanaminthe and this is one of those special photos as the boy sitting next to him is wearing a North American throw away t-shirt that proclaims “saving the best for last.”  This young boy and you both have received the ‘call’ from our Heavenly Father; but each of your calls was different but will both bring blessings back to our Heavenly Father.  Your gift is feeding this child and he is growing the Kingdom in Haiti.

We get calls all the time and sometimes we answer and sometimes we just let the phone ring and ring and hope that they will leave a message.  He continues to call you and His children in Ouanaminthe and around this world.  Thank you for answering His call and taking the message.  While driving home recently, George Younce sang a song titled “Who at my door is standing” and its words seem relevant to this passage in 1 Samuel. 

“Who at my door is standing, patiently drawing near, entrance within demanding?  Whose is the voice I hear?  Sweetly the tones are falling; “Open the door for Me!  If thou wilt heed My calling, I will abide with thee.  Lonely without He’s staying, lonely within am I, while I am still delaying, will He not pass me by?  Sweetly the tones are falling; “Open the door for Me!  If thou wilt heed My calling, I will abide with thee.  All through the dark hours dreary, knocking again is He; Jesus, art Thou not weary, waiting so long for me?  Sweetly the tones are falling; “Open the door for Me!  If thou wilt heed My calling, I will abide with thee.  Door of my heart, I hasten!  Thee will I open wide.  Though He rebuke and chasten, He shall with me abide.  Sweetly the tones are falling; “Open the door for Me!  If thou wilt heed My calling, I will abide with thee.”

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

This world's temptations.

“But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him.  “The son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’  “But the father said to his servants, ‘Quick!  Bring the best robe and put it on him.  Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet.  Bring the fattened calf and kill it.  Let’s have a feast and celebrate.  For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ So they began to celebrate.” Luke 15:20-24

In this lesson from the Gospel of Luke. the lost son didn’t understand how much his father loved him and seldom do we really understand how our Heavenly Father can possibly be excited when we are walking back after being lost in the affairs of this fallen world.

The children in the attached photo are some of the 343 that attend Grace Lutheran School in the Les Cayes District.  They are His kids and they like you and me, their parents, teachers and Pastor have strayed now and then and we have been tempted by this world to turn away.  Their temptations are different than our temptations.  We take our food for granted and think nothing of spending $286 a month for cable TV, a cell phone, groceries, clothes, shoes; eighty-six dollars would feed all the children for one day. 

When we find that this world’s temptations don’t bring what we had thought they would, we turn and return home to our Heavenly Father who is changeless.  His love is everlasting; for you, for them and for me.  Have you been following the temptations of this world recently?  Have you been on Amazon searching for something you can't find?  Are you running with nowhere to run to?  Come home; come home to the One who loves you more than anyone.  Thank you for helping to feed His children.

I heard a song on Alexa recently which was written by Cleavant Derricks and this is not found in the Lutheran Service Book, but a quartet has it in Alexa’s music library.  The title is ‘We’ll soon be done with troubles and trials’ and the words hit home.

“Some of these days I'm going home where no sorrows ever come, we'll soon be done, we'll soon be done with troubles and trials; safe from Heartaches, pain and care, we shall all that glory share, and I'm gonna sit down beside my Jesus, Lord, I'm gonna sit down and rest a little while.  We'll soon be done, we'll soon be done with troubles and trials, troubles and trials.  In that home yes, in that home on the other side, on the other side, and I'm gonna shake glad hands with the elders, tell my kindred good morning.  Then I'm gonna sit down beside my Jesus, and rest a little while.”

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