International Prayer Day First Monday each month 10 am
Love your enemies.
“Woe to you when everyone speaks well of you, for that is how their ancestors treated the false prophets. But to you who are listening I say: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you.” Luke 6:26-28
“Woe to you when everyone speaks well of you, for that is how their ancestors treated the false prophets. But to you who are listening I say: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you.” Luke 6:26-28
While trying to start this new year with a few different directions, the above passage might be tough for some in this fallen world. The words of Jesus tell us to ‘love your enemies’ are difficult for all sinners to follow. As sinful Christians, here in North America and also in Haiti, we will ultimately make enemies. Somebody is going to hold a grudge against you or blame you for bringing problems upon their physical or financial wellbeing.
Although it will not be our plan of action, simply believing the truth and doing what is right will cause us to lose many of our earthly friends or acquaintances. Suffice to say and never forget that there is a Friend in heaven who will reveal Himself to us one day as He gave His life on the cross of Calvary for you, me and that ‘enemy’ if they too believe in Him.
This young child has an enemy in Haiti; the local vodou priest; and they are afraid of him. He wants them to believe in the lies of satan and may even want to take their lives so he can use their body parts in his sacrifices to the spirits of the evil world. Just as Christ instructs us to pray for our enemies, He teaches this child to pray for the vodou priest. And the gang members, the politicians and the rest on that list. Christ came to earth to seek and save the lost because this entire world needs a Savior. Thank you for helping to prepare these children attending Christian schools to finish well in their lives; may their witness bring many more into the Kingdom.
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, 8not 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
Day two.
“Therefore, we are always confident and know that as long as we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord. For we live by faith, not by sight. We are confident, I say, and would prefer to be away from the body and at home with the Lord.” 2 Corinthians 5:6-8
“Therefore, we are always confident and know that as long as we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord. For we live by faith, not by sight. We are confident, I say, and would prefer to be away from the body and at home with the Lord.” 2 Corinthians 5:6-8
The week of festivities and celebrations has ended. Leftovers in the fridge and some went into the freezer. Going back to work or school and some of us back to our retirement routine. During the past ten days of Advent, were there moments when you felt like you were trapped in a little space where God was silent? Were you overwhelmed by the clutter and business of this fallen world? Please be assured that God was not silent. He was there with you.
God gave each of us a mind. God gave each of us the ability to reason. God gave each of us a unique sensitivity; it's built into our spiritual system, and each person's system is tuned differently. God wants to reveal His will to you and to teach you while you are waiting. So this year, while we are waiting for His directions, walk by faith and not by sight. Be immersed in His Word; daily. Be more open to accept counsel from those who are maturing and balanced believers, solidly biblical in their theology and in their own lives; and spend time waiting.
While we wait, seek a variety of tangible things to connect with; passages of Scripture that bring comfort and insight. Devotions, blogs or messages that enlighten and enliven. Certain people you respect. Tap into those, wait, and listen with a sensitive ear. Don't rush into big decisions. And one more thing that I have learned; don't talk so much! I have found that believers who are maturing not only respect God's silence; they model it as well. Have a safe and prosperous new year while living in this fallen world.
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, 8not 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
Prayer guide for January 2024
We begin our prayer time in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. + Amen.
Prayer Guide for Janvier – 2024
We begin our prayer time in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. + Amen.
2 Corinthians 9:10-11; “Now he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness. You will be enriched in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God.”
Rev. Dr. Luke Schnake shared the following prayer that was written by Rev. Karl E. Lutze, in a message a few months ago. It struck me on so many different levels that I thought that I would share it with you this month.
“Alarm clocks and church bells and bugle calls and crowing roosters woke Your people this morning, Lord. And some awoke to sirens and flashing red lights and the smell of smoke and some to persistent pounding on the door, not knowing who was on the other side. And some were roused by screaming children and others by some sharp and frightening pain. And there were people, Lord, who stayed awake all night, who twisted and turned and could not sleep at all; and others sat in waiting, struggling to stay awake, eyes open but they waited anxiously, torn wretchedly between their hope and their fearing yet the worst; worried mothers, frightened refugees, those awaiting surgery, or even execution.
And my night, Lord? You were at my side and at the side of all. You, caring Lord, You were with me and with my loved ones and with all Your people; You were there, and You have brought me to this day, Your gift to me, not just another day, but a day with You; and thus a day in which the worst hours of my yesterdays are all behind me and forgiven, because of You.
Open my eyes and ears and heart to all its goodnesses that I may say with courage and strong faith, “This is the day the Lord has made; I will be glad in it,” that once again when it is ended, I might bow my head and say that I have walked with God today; and it was good. Amen.
· We give thanks for our Creator, Redeemer and Holy Spirit.
· We give thanks for having a Savior.
· We give thanks our providence; monetary, food, clothing and shelter. As we give of our first fruits may we also give a portion of our best to His children who need the assistance we can provide.
· We give You thanks for the Haitian children who are not only the prime purpose of Trinity HOPE but also Your missionaries for the future generations in Haiti who bring the true message of Christmas to lives who have never known.
· We give You thanks for the work that is being accomplished by the Haitian parents, teachers, school principals and Feeding Program Directors who are shaping the lives of young Haitian children this school year.
· Heavenly Father, this coming year please continue to lead and bless Trinity HOPE with Your loving hand; may we always strive to accomplish Your will.
· Bless the workers here in the U.S. and in Haiti and give them courage as they face challenges from the evil foe. Provide them with courage, endurance and love.
· Lord, please soften the hearts of the leaders and members of the gangs that continue to harm the innocent in Haiti.
· Heavenly Father, may Your Holy Spirit descend on the vodou temples in Haiti and drive out the evil that resides inside. May truth overcome the lies of the vodou priest. May the Hope of your Son, our Savior bring Hope to the hopeless.
Lord God, bless Your Word wherever it is proclaimed. Make it a Word of power and peace to convert those not yet Your own and to confirm those who have come to saving faith. May Your Word pass from the ear to the heart, from the heart to the lip and from the lip to the life that, as You have promised, Your Word may achieve the purpose for which You sent it; through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.
2 Corinthians 13:11-14; “Finally, brothers, good-by. Aim for perfection, listen to my appeal, be of one mind, live in peace. And the God of love and peace will be with you. Greet one another with a holy kiss. All the saints send their greetings. May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.”
May God go before you to guide you; may His arms be beneath you to support you, around you to protect you and above you to bless you. And may the blessings of God the Father, Son and Holy Spirit be with you always dear sister and brother in Christ,
In His love, have a very prosperous, safe and blessed new year.
Jay Brinkmeyer
2024
“In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters. And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light. God saw that the light was good, and he separated the light from the darkness. God called the light “day,” and the darkness he called “night.” And there was evening, and there was morning—the first day.” Genesis 1:1-5
“In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters. And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light. God saw that the light was good, and he separated the light from the darkness. God called the light “day,” and the darkness he called “night.” And there was evening, and there was morning—the first day.” Genesis 1:1-5
On this first day of 2024, I would like to share the words from a favorite hymn of mine, “Thine the Amen” that was written by Dr. Herbert Brokering and his wife Lois.
“Thine the amen, Thine the praise, alleluias angels raise. Thine the everlasting head, Thine the breaking of the bread. Thine the glory, Thine the story, Thine the harvest then the cup. Thine the vineyard, then the cup is lifted up; lifted up. Thine the life eternally, Thine the promise let there be. Thine the vision, Thine the tree, all the earth on bended knee. Gone the nailing, gone the railing, gone the pleading, gone the cry. Gone the sighing, gone the dying what was loss lifted high. Thine the truly, Thine the yes, Thine the table we the guest. Thine the mercy all from Thee, Thine the glory yet to be. Then the ringing and the singing, then the end of all the war. Thine the living, Thine the loving evermore; evermore. Thine the kingdom, Thine the prize, Thine the wonder full surprise. Thine the banquet, then the praise, then the justice of Thy ways. Thine the glory, Thine the story, then the welcome to the least. Then the wonder all increasing at Thy feast, at Thy feast. Thine the glory in the night, no more dying only light. Thine the river, Thine the tree, then the Lamb eternally. Then the holy, holy, holy celebration; jubilee. Thine the splendor. Thine the brightness, only Thee; only 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, 8not 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
Precious time.
“Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of his faithful servants.” Psalm 116:15
“Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of his faithful servants.” Psalm 116:15
This verse was roaming throughout my thoughts yesterday and as this last Saturday in 2023 draws to a close it seemed like a good topic to dwell upon today as it touches lives in Haiti and also in the lives of Trinity HOPE donors.
Our Heavenly Father holds the lives of His saints very dearly within His care. He hears our prayers, is with each of us in times of sorrow and celebration; He is always there with us. His saints will not die prematurely; they shall be immortal till their work is done; and when their time shall come to die, then their deaths shall be precious.
This young child from Caredeux is precious to our Heavenly Father; He watches over them in the heat of the night, causes their beads of sweat in the stillness of night to turn into rivers of cool water, He sustains the beating of their hearts, and receives their souls. All of His children are so very precious to Him.
The deathbeds of saints are very precious to the church. This child often learns much from them; they are very precious to all believers, who delight to treasure up the last words of the departed; but they are most of all precious to our Heavenly Father, who views the victorious deaths of His children with sacred delight. If we have walked before Him in the land of the living, proclaiming the Holy Gospel from His Son, we need not fear to die before Him when the hour of our departure is at hand. Thank you for helping to prepare His children to bring the message of Salvation to Haiti during this past year. I close today with the words to verse 6 of the hymn ‘Awake, my soul and with the sun’ that was written by Thomas Ken in 1695.
“Praise God, from whom all blessings flow; praise Him, all creatures here below; praise Him above, ye heavenly host: praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.”
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, 8not 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
Accomplish His Will.
“Cast your cares on the LORD and he will sustain you; he will never let the righteous be shaken.” Psalm 55:22
“Cast your cares on the LORD and he will sustain you; he will never let the righteous be shaken.” Psalm 55:22
There was a quote in one of my morning ‘online’ devotions this week that said “May your troubles be less, your blessings more, and may nothing but happiness, come through your door. Life without God is like an unsharpened pencil; it has no point." We were brought here to do as His Son Jesus did; accomplish His will. Sometimes it doesn’t seem like we know what His purpose is for our lives, or what we are expected to accomplish. Remain faithful, continue to call upon the Lord for direction for your lives and He has promised to be with you and provide direction, comfort and peace.
I close today with the words to the hymn ‘If thou but suffer God to guide thee’ which was written by Georg Neumark in 1640. It is a long hymn that written a long, long time ago but the words have such great directions for today.
“If thou but suffer God to guide thee and hope in Him through all thy ways, He'll give thee strength, whate'er betide thee, and bear thee through the evil days. Who trusts in God's unchanging love builds on the Rock that naught can move. What can these anxious cares avail thee, these never-ceasing moans and sighs? What can it help if thou bewail thee o'er each dark moment as it flies? Our cross and trials do but press the heavier for our bitterness. Be patient and await His leisure in cheerful hope, with heart content to take whate'er thy Father's pleasure and His discerning love hath sent, nor doubt our inmost wants are known to Him who chose us for His own. God knows full well when times of gladness shall be the needful thing for thee. When He has tried thy soul with sadness and from all guile has found thee free, He comes to thee all unaware and makes thee own His loving care. Nor think amid the fiery trial that God hath cast thee off unheard, that he whose hopes meet no denial must surely be of God preferred. Time passes and much change doth bring and sets a bound to everything. All are alike before the Highest; tis easy to our God, we know, to raise thee up, though low thou liest, to make the rich man poor and low. True wonders still by Him are wrought who setteth up and brings to naught. Sing, pray, and keep His ways unswerving, perform thy duties faithfully, and trust His Word, though undeserving, thou yet shalt find it true for thee. God never yet forsook in need the soul that trusted Him indeed.”
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, 8not 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
How are you spending time?
“Grace to all who love our Lord Jesus Christ with an undying love.” Ephesians 6:24
“Grace to all who love our Lord Jesus Christ with an undying love.” Ephesians 6:24
While reading the ‘Nearing Home’ book by Dr. Billy Graham the following quote attributed to Carrie Ten Bloom was shared; “the measure of life is not by the duration but by the donation.” It struck me like that frozen snowball that hit me in the face so many years ago and gave me a black eye; it still has my attention.
It really doesn’t matter how many years you are blessed with but rather how much you have been a blessing throughout the span of your life. It seems that is an accurate description of Trinity HOPE. In a span of a little over twenty years faithful donors have grown from feeding 46 kids in Tarrasse to just over 62,000 in January. What a blessing that growing cloud of young missionaries will be to the country of Haiti. The vodou priests will cringe when they see them coming from their schools but will be thankful when their closed ears hear the truth of the risen Christ and express joy when they realize that their sins are forgiven. I close today with the words to the hymn ‘Take my life and let it be’ which was written by Frances R. Havergal in 1874.
“Take my life and let it be consecrated, Lord, to Thee; take my moments and my days, let them flow in ceaseless praise. Take my hands and let them move at the impulse of Thy love; take my feet and let them be swift and beautiful for Thee. Take my voice and let me sing always, only, for my King; take my lips and let them be filled with messages from Thee. Take my silver and my gold, not a mite would I withhold; take my intellect and use every power as Thou shalt choose. Take my will and make it Thine, it shall be no longer mine; take my heart, it is Thine own, it shall be Thy royal throne. Take my love, my Lord, I pour at Thy feet its treasure-store; take myself, and I will be ever, only, all, for 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, 8not 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
That is not fair!
“Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life.” 1 John 5:12
“Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life.” 1 John 5:12
Have you ever known any people who were disappointed because the neighbors went on a cruise over Christmas, or got a new Hummer, or diamonds or a pony or some other gift that screamed ‘WOW’ to the neighbors? Not fair!!!
One of the world's great ironies is that the lost in this world often view Christians as being deprived of the so-called ‘good life’" not realizing that believers are the only ones with life; they seldom are able to grasp the fact that true joy, peace, contentment, and the ongoing enjoyment of life are possessed by the children of God alone. They are the ones who come up to you when you are seemingly walking through the valley of the shadow of death and despair and ask ‘how can you possibly get through this?’
We have a Savior who is Christ the Lord. These children living in Haiti have this same Savior. Before we look at ourselves with pride because we have this Savior, remember that we are chosen by God through no works of our own; we are covered by God’s grace. Our Savior has given us the direction of sharing this message of the way to salvation with the lost souls of this world; no matter who they are or what they happened to have bought themselves for Christmas. I close with the words to the hymn ‘Send Thou O Lord to every place’ which was written by Mary Gates in 1888.
“Send Thou, O Lord, to every place swift messengers before Thy face, the heralds of Thy wondrous grace, where Thou Thyself wilt come. Send men whose eyes have seen the King, men in whose ears His sweet words ring; send such Thy lost ones home to bring; send them where Thou wilt come to bring good news to souls in sin, the bruised and broken hearts to win; in ev'ry place to bring them in where Thou Thyself wilt come. Thou who hast died, Thy vict'ry claim; assert, O Christ, Thy glory's name and far to lands of pagan shame send men where Thou wilt come. Gird each one with the Spirit's Sword, the sword of Thine own deathless Word, and make them conquerors, conquering Lord, where Thou Thyself wilt come. Raise up, O Lord the Holy Ghost, from this broad land a mighty host; their war cry, "We will seek the lost where Thou, O Christ, wilt come."
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, 8not 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
Where am I going?
“May God be gracious to us and bless us and make his face shine on us so that your ways may be known on earth, your salvation among all nations.” Psalm 67:1-2
“May God be gracious to us and bless us and make his face shine on us so that your ways may be known on earth, your salvation among all nations.” Psalm 67:1-2
I’ve been re-reading the book ‘Nearing Home’ by Billy Graham as it has become an annual event and I like to see how it impacted me since I am a year older than I was when I last read it and also because I found that it was a wonderful book to read as your journey, like my journey, will come to a close one day. There was a story about Dr. Graham in which he shared a memory about Albert Einstein with his publicist in 2000 and I would like to share that with you today.
"I'm reminded today of Albert Einstein, the great physicist who this month has been honored by Time magazine as the Man of the Century. Einstein was once traveling from Princeton on a train when the conductor came down the aisle, punching the tickets of every passenger. When he came to Einstein, he reached in his vest pocket. He couldn't find his ticket, so he reached in his trouser pockets. It wasn't there. He looked in his briefcase but couldn't find it. Then he looked in the seat beside him. He still couldn't find it. The conductor said, 'Dr. Einstein, I know who you are. We all know who you are. I'm sure you bought a ticket. Don't worry about it.' "Einstein nodded appreciatively. The conductor continued down the aisle punching tickets. As he was ready to move to the next car, he turned around and saw the great physicist down on his hands and knees looking under his seat for his ticket. "The conductor rushed back and said, 'Dr. Einstein, Dr. Einstein, don't worry, I know who you are; no problem. You don't need a ticket. I'm sure you bought one.' Einstein looked at him and said, 'Young man, I too, know who I am. What I don't know is where I'm going.''
The children in the attached photo attend the Lutheran School at Bois Marchand; their tickets have been punched and thankfully they know where they are going and are reminded every day they are in school and in prayer. They live in a place where many of their neighbors follow the drums of the vodou priest and recruit souls for satan. Too many in our world aren’t sure where they are going. Thank you for sharing the message through your prayers and gifts. I close today with the words to the hymn ‘May God bestow on us His Grace’ that was written by Martin Luther in 1524.
“May God bestow on us His grace, with blessings rich provide us, and may the brightness of His face to life eternal guide us that we His saving health may know, His gracious will and pleasure, and also to the heathen show Christ's riches without measure and unto God convert them. Thine over all shall be the praise and thanks of every nation, and all the world with joy shall raise the voice of exultation; for Thou shalt judge the earth, O Lord, nor suffer sin to flourish; Thy people's pasture is Thy Word their souls to feed and nourish, in righteous paths to keep them. Oh, let the people praise Thy worth, in all good works increasing; the land shall plenteous fruit bring forth, Thy Word is rich in blessing. May God the Father, God the Son, and God the Spirit bless us! Let all the world praise Him alone, let solemn awe possess us.”
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, 8not 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
Christmas.
“How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of those who bring good news, who proclaim peace, who bring good tidings, who proclaim salvation, who say to Zion, “Your God reigns!” Listen! Your watchmen lift up their voices; together they shout for joy. When the LORD returns to Zion, they will see it with their own eyes. Burst into songs of joy together, you ruins of Jerusalem, for the LORD has comforted his people, he has redeemed Jerusalem. The LORD will lay bare his holy arm in the sight of all the nations, and all the ends of the earth will see the salvation of our God.” Isaiah 52:7-10
“How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of those who bring good news, who proclaim peace, who bring good tidings, who proclaim salvation, who say to Zion, “Your God reigns!” Listen! Your watchmen lift up their voices; together they shout for joy. When the LORD returns to Zion, they will see it with their own eyes. Burst into songs of joy together, you ruins of Jerusalem, for the LORD has comforted his people, he has redeemed Jerusalem. The LORD will lay bare his holy arm in the sight of all the nations, and all the ends of the earth will see the salvation of our God.” Isaiah 52:7-10
“Alarm clocks and church bells and bugle calls and crowing roosters woke Your people this morning, Lord. And some awoke to sirens and flashing red lights and the smell of smoke and some to persistent pounding on the door, not knowing who was on the other side. And some were roused by screaming children and others by some sharp and frightening pain. And there were people, Lord, who stayed awake all night, who twisted and turned and could not sleep at all; and others sat in waiting, struggling to stay awake, eyes open but they waited anxiously, torn wretchedly between their hope and their fearing yet the worst; worried mothers, frightened refugees, those awaiting surgery, or even execution.
And my night, Lord? You were at my side and at the side of all. You, caring Lord, You were with me and with my loved ones and with all Your people; You were there, and You have brought me to this day, Your gift to me, not just another day, but a day with You; and thus a day in which the worst hours of my yesterdays are all behind me and forgiven, because of You.
Open my eyes and ears and heart to all its goodnesses that I may say with courage and strong faith, “This is the day the Lord has made; I will be glad in it,” that once again when it is ended, I might bow my head and say that I have walked with God today; and it was good. Amen.” Rev Karl E. Lutze (1920-2015)
Have a blessed Christmas.
Jay