Bon Berger.

“And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd.”  John 10:16 (KJV)

Pastor Ivan Peterson was the second to the last Pastor who lead our worship service during our vacancy and he gave us a sermon series of Psalm 23 over a number of Sunday’s.  Early on, he asked if any of us were shepherds; no hands were raised.  There are not very many shepherds left in Illinois these days; the profession is growing extinct.  When we read about the work of the shepherds in the Bible, it probably reminds us of when we cared for small children and perhaps even brings back memories when our parents were raising and nurturing us.

This verse in John causes us to consider that there are numerous ‘folds’ on this planet.  There are many flocks that are marked by the blood of Christ throughout this world that one day will all be in the same ‘fold’; the gate of Heaven will open for each of us from every nation who have been called and redeemed by our risen Savior.

Not sure where the two boys are from in the attached photo; not sure which ‘fold’ they are from.  They each have a different type of pan that they brought from their home and each is filled with their daily manna.  Thank you for sharing of your resources to bring this blessing to their school.  One day, they and you will be reunited in Heaven and together share in the eternal joy of being with our Savior, the Good Shepherd.

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 Good Shepherd.

“The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.  He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.  He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake.  Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.  Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.  Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever.”  Psalm 23 (KJV)

I was updating my funeral plans this week and one of the scriptures that I would like to be read is Psalm 23.  When I was in the 7th Grade at St. John’s Lutheran in Seward, NE it was ‘mandatory’ that this Psalm was memorized and as children of German descent, we recited it until we got it correctly.  I didn’t have a lot of experiences working around sheep while growing up.  One of my jobs while in high school was working for farmers picking up hay bales from the alfalfa fields and loading them into a barn and one of the farmers where I worked happened to raise sheep and I recall that they had a peculiar pungent odor and it was almost impossible to avoid stepping in their droppings.

When I moved to Haiti in 2001, it became apparent that there were goats grazing everywhere; in towns, along the roadside ditches and on the hillsides.  Quite often while driving through the countryside and gazing at goats grazing, the 23rd Psalm would come to mind and by the grace of God and at that time in my life, it’s verse was still retrievable from my memory bank.  When David wrote that Psalm, he had a lot of experience working with sheep and knew all too well that he too was like one of the sheep he was protecting.

The goats and their shepherd in the attached photo was taken in the Les Cayes District.  The late Pastor Israel Isidor is smiling as he watched over this flock of his and was probably giving thanks for the blessings this herd would bring to his congregation in Les Cayes.  Our Heavenly Father takes care of His sheep; our Good Shepherd is here with us daily.  He gave His life for us on Calvary to redeem us from death, sin and the devil.  It is so easy for us to ‘see’ that we don’t need anybody watching over our daily lives as we can take of ourselves without any help from anyone else; we certainly don’t need a shepherd.  We do need a Savior and we need to stop listening to the devil who continues to tempt us away to seemingly greener pastures that this world has to offer.

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

Where were you?

“Who is this that obscures my plans with words without knowledge?  Brace yourself like a man; I will question you, and you shall answer me.  Where were you when I laid the earth’s foundation?  Tell me, if you understand.  Who marked off its dimensions?  Surely you know!  Who stretched a measuring line across it?  On what were its footings set, or who laid its cornerstone while the morning stars sang together and all the angels shouted for joy?” Job 38:2-7

“The morning stars sang” casts a vision of a very immense God moment.  You probably know by now that I enjoy most music.  I am not a rapper and my daughters will attest that their father did not like that ‘rap crap’ while occasionally driving them and their friends to school.  My mother sang in an ‘octet’ and was very proud of the work she and seven other females did in Seward High School at the talent show.  When my mom, sister and I would drive to Lincoln we periodically sang along with a song on the radio and mom always encouraged us to sing in parts; I realize that may sound corny, but that was over sixty years ago and we listened to KFAB in Omaha. 

Words to songs have always interested me and I enjoy investigating the composer’s message.  While living in Haiti I heard the children at the school at Merrotte sing the Haitian national anthem one morning as the Haitian flag was being raised in the schoolyard.  The national anthem of Haiti is the ‘Dessalines Song’ and it honored the patriot Jean-Jacques Dessalines who was a founding father and hero of the war of independence from the French in 1804 and could be compared to George Washington as he was the first leader of the Republic of Haiti.  The song was written by Justin Lherisson and composed by Nicholas Geffrard and adopted in 1904 and the words in English are as follows.

“For our country, for our forefathers, united let us march; united let us march.  Let there be no traitors in our ranks!  Let there be masters of our soil.  United let us march, united let us march.  For our country, for our forefathers.  March, march, united let us march.  For our country, for our forefathers.  For our forebears, for our country let us toil joyfully.  May the fields be fertile and our souls take courage.  Let us toil joyfully for our forebears, for our country.  For our country and for our forefathers, let us train our sons.  Free, strong and prosperous, we shall always be as brothers.  Let us train our sons for our country and for our forefathers.”

While our national anthem reflects on the battle of 1812, the Haitian national anthem provides more of a theme of unity, working the land and remembering their ancestors.  Neither anthem offers thanks to God for their victories over oppression and it seems like a missed opportunity. 

Take another look at the children from Merrotte and consider how blessed these children are to live in a country that is free from foreign oppression but still lives under the dark cloud of vodou and gangs.  Please don’t miss the opportunity to help to provide them with a Christian education and a meal each day they are in school.  I close today with another ‘anthem’ called ‘Songs of praise the Angels sang’ that was written by James Montgomery in 1819.

“Songs of praise the angels sang, Heaven with alleluias rang, when creation was begun, when God spake and it was done.  Songs of praise awoke the morn when the Prince of Peace was born; songs of praise arose when He captive led captivity.  Heaven and earth must pass away; songs of praise shall crown that day.  God will make new heavens and earth; songs of praise shall hail their birth.  And shall man alone be dumb till that glorious kingdom come?  No; the Church delights to raise Psalms and hymns and songs of praise.  Saints below, with heart and voice, still in songs of praise rejoice; learning here, by faith and love, songs of praise to sing above.  Borne upon their latest breath, songs of praise shall conquer death; then, amidst eternal joy, songs of praise their powers employ.”

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 will satisfy your craving.

“Is tasteless food eaten without salt, or is there flavor in the sap of the mallow?  I refuse to touch it; such food makes me ill.”  Job 6:6-7

One of the tasks that a Trinity HOPE mission team member undertakes when going to Haiti is to check the status of where the food is stored and to check on the supplies that are used for the food that is prepared.  Storage areas might be anything from a small building about the size of an outdoor privy with a chain and padlock on the door to a small storage room in a school also with a locked door.  We check for any traces of rodent droppings or bugs or mildew; ensure the food is in a safe place.

Supplies are generally a can of vegetable oil, a couple of bags of red beans, a bag of rice, sometimes there are some vegetables, a can of tomato paste, a box of Maggi which is a seasoning like chicken bouillon and usually there will be a container of smoked herring, or as is the case in the attached photo a box with some of the smelly fish.  You may be thinking “ew!” but the fish is used sparingly and gives the rice and beans a delicious hint of smoke.  My taste buds crave Haitian food from time to time and plantain, goat and rice and beans find their way into my kitchen.  My personal favorite recipe for Diri ak sòs pwa is as follows. 

You will need 1 cup dried pinto beans, soaked overnight in 5 cups of water

2 tablespoons of olive oil, 1/3 cup tomato paste, 1 large white onion, diced, 4 cups white rice, 2 bay leaves, 1 smoked kipper snack from a can, ¼ teaspoon ground cloves, 3 large sprigs fresh parsley, 3 sprigs fresh thyme and salt and pepper to your taste.

In a large pot, bring the beans and their soaking water to a boil and then lower the heat, cover the pan, and simmer about 45 minutes, or until they are tender.  Drain the beans, reserving the liquid.  In the same large pot, heat the oil.  Add the onion and herring, cook until onion is translucent, stirring, for 2 minutes until the mixture browns lightly.  Next, stir in the beans and tomato paste and cook for 2 minutes, stirring.  Next measure the reserved cooking liquid, and add enough water to make 8 cups.  Pour it into the beans and bring to a boil.  Stir in the rice.  Lower the heat and simmer, stirring often, for 20 minutes or until only a little liquid remains.  Turn the heat to the lowest setting.  Stir in the bay leaves, salt, pepper, and cloves.  Place the parsley sprigs and thyme sprigs on top.  Press a large piece of foil directly onto the rice; many Haitian cooks use a large piece of plastic.  Cover the pot and continue cooking for 18 to 20 minutes or until the rice is very tender.  Remove parsley, thyme, and chili pepper before serving.

Next get a metal pie pan or plastic cereal bowl and a spoon and place two and a half cups of rice and beans into your serving bowl and set it at your table.  Wash your hands under running water, wipe them dry on a cloth towel, say your mealtime prayer and imagine that you are dining with a child attending a Christian school somewhere in Haiti savoring each spoonful of your only meal of the day.  Beni soit L’Eternal!!!

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

Don't repay evil for evil.

“Do not repay anyone evil for evil.  Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everyone.  If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.  Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” says the Lord.  On the contrary: “If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink.  In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head.”  Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.”  Romans 12:17-20

Revenge!  Our fallen world screams “Let’s get revenge!”  Have you either heard or felt that recently?  Have you been wronged by anyone recently or have you been on the other end of a bad situation where you are tempted to enact revenge?  Our Savior instructs us to just suck it up and realize that it is satan causing the problems.  Don’t seek revenge, be nice to them; forgive them.  It was our Savior who turned the other cheek.

While reading this scripture from Romans 12 the song “love lifted me” came from the Southern Gospel music on Alexa.  If you didn’t know by now, I am a Southern Gospel junkie; when you get to Heaven and can’t find me, head over to the Southern Gospel arena and I will either be singing with the band or sitting on a padded folding chair and tapping my toe.  The words from this song give a nice response to the Apostle Paul’s words.

“I was sinking deep in sin, far from the peaceful shore, very deeply stained within, sinking to rise no more, but the Master of the sea, heard my despairing cry, from the waters lifted me, now safe am I.  Love lifted me! Love lifted me!  When nothing else could help love lifted me!  All my heart to Him I give, ever to Him I'll cling in His blessed presence live, ever His praises sing, love so mighty and so true, merits my soul's best songs, faithful, loving service too, to Him belongs.   Love lifted me! Love lifted me!  When nothing else could help love lifted me!  Souls in danger look above, Jesus completely saves, He will lift you by His love, out of the angry waves.  He's the Master of the sea, billows His will obey, He your Savior wants to be, be saved today.  Love lifted me! Love lifted me!  When nothing else could help love lifted me!”

Sometimes it is hard to think about being lifted by love, His love, but it happens every day throughout our lives.  It is happening now in the life of the child attending Mammou Lutheran School in Port-au-Prince in the attached photo.  Consider the last verse that Paul wrote above ‘Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good’ and know that while she is a sinner, she is not evil.  Satan, the gang members and the vodou priest don’t want her in school and don’t want you to even consider helping to educate or feed this one small child; that is evil and this world has plenty of that kind of thinking to go around.  Thank you for resisting satan and this world’s directions.  Thank for you supporting this child, this school and the other 52,000 children attending Schools in Haiti with a Trinity HOPE feeding program.

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

Bless those who...

“Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse.  Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn.  Live in harmony with one another.  Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position.  Do not be conceited.”  Romans 12:14-16

Much of this text from Romans that was written by the Apostle Paul goes against the grain of our world today; bless those who persecute me and bless, don’t curse?  Have you watched the television, read the news on the internet or the newspaper or sat in a public gathering recently?  As Christians living in North America, we have our struggles and the children attending the Lutheran school in Mammou have their struggles with simple things like having to listening to the vodou priest down the street sacrificing animals at night.  There is a song ‘He is Here’ by a Gospel group called the Talley’s that reminds me that God is in fact here and in Haiti and is calling out to each of us.

“He is here! Hallalujah! He is here! Amen!  He is here, holy, holy, I will bless His name again; He is here, listen closely; Hear Him calling out your name; He is here, you can touch Him; You will never be the same!  I sense an awesome moving of the Holy Spirit; I see His countenance resting on your face; I know that there are angels hov'ring all around us, for the presence of the Lord is in this place.  He is here! Hallalujah! He is here! Amen!  He is here, holy, holy, I will bless His name again; He is here, listen closely; Hear Him calling out your name; He is here, you can touch Him; You will never be the same!  I searched for peace among the shadows dark and lonely, gave up on finding that strong and lasting love; I tasted all the things that sin could think to offer me, but today, I feast on manna from above.  He is here! Hallalujah! He is here! Amen!  He is here, holy, holy, I will bless His name again; He is here, listen closely; Hear Him calling out your name; He is here, you can touch Him; You will never be the same!”

Rejoice with the children at Mammou, knowing that our Triune God sent His only Son, Jesus Christ to rescue us from the lawlessness and sinfulness of this world.  He is here, with us every day and the ‘high and mighty’ of this fallen world cannot separate us from our Savior.

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

Where and when does God need you?

“Love must be sincere.  Hate what is evil; cling to what is good.  Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves.  Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord.  Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.  Share with the Lord’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality.”  Romans 12:9-13

It may be hard to believe, but at this stage in my life, I must say that there is an abundance of people in this fallen world that always seem to know where they need to go and what they need to do and know only one speed; full speed ahead.  They epitomize the saying “lead, follow or get the hell out of the way” that was credited to Gen George Patton.  And on the other end of the spectrum are those who cannot seem to make a decision along their journey; reluctant to go, unsure that their spiritual gifts are sufficient for the task presented to them.

The attached photo was taken at Mixte Lutheran School in Port-au-Prince.  The children are eating their noon meal; for some of them their only meal of the day.  Back in the day, probably in the early 1990’s, we sang a song in church that written by Daniel L. Schutte in 1991.  Let me suggest, that if you are sitting on the fence and not sure of where God needs you, read the words to this song and pray about your future.

“I, the Lord of sea and sky, I have heard my people cry.  All who dwell in dark and sin, My hand will save.  Here am I, Lord.  Is it I, Lord?  I have heard you calling in the night.  I will go, Lord, if you lead me.  I will hold your people in my heart.  I, who made the stars of night, I will make their darkness bright.  Who will bear my light to them?  Whom shall I send?  Here am I, Lord.  Is it I, Lord?  I have heard you calling in the night.  I will go, Lord, if you lead me.  I will hold your people in my heart.  I, the Lord of snow and rain, I have borne my people’s pain.  I have wept for love of them.  They turn away.  Here am I, Lord.  Is it I, Lord?  I have heard you calling in the night.  I will go, Lord, if you lead me.  I will hold your people in my heart.  I will break their hearts of stone, Give them hearts for love alone.  I will speak my words to them.  Whom shall I send?  Here am I, Lord.  Is it I, Lord?  I have heard you calling in the night.  I will go, Lord, if you lead me.  I will hold your people in my heart.  I, the Lord of wind and flame, I will send the poor and lame.  I will set a feast for them.  My hand will save. Here am I, Lord.  Is it I, Lord?  I have heard you calling in the night.  I will go, Lord, if you lead me.  I will hold your people in my heart.  Finest bread I will provide, 'til their hearts be satisfied.  I will give my life to them.  Whom shall I send?  Here am I, Lord.  Is it I, Lord?  I have heard you calling in the night.  I will go, Lord, if you lead me.  I will hold your people in my heart.”

What is your reply when our Lord calls you in the night?  There are twenty hungry children sitting around each of the two tables in the photo.  Is the Lord calling you to help?  You don’t have to cook, you don’t have to get a passport and a bunch of shots and travel to Haiti and you don’t have to buy a bag of rice and beans and put them into a cardboard box and mail it to Haiti. 

Five dollars will probably cover the meal of every child in the attached photo for this particular day; two dollars and fifty cents for each table.  It is almost too easy to say “Here am I, Lord, it is I Lord, send me!” 

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

Be a blessing to someone.

“For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the faith God has distributed to each of you.  For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others.  We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us.  If your gift is prophesying, then prophesy in accordance with your faith; if it is serving, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach; if it is to encourage, then give encouragement; if it is giving, then give generously; if it is to lead, do it diligently; if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully.”  Romans 12:3-8

These words from the Apostle Paul should be on my bathroom mirror, my refrigerator door, on the visor of my truck and engraved inside my heart to daily remind me that God is intending to use me to do His work, His way and in His time; and not revel in the meaningless paper accomplishments this world gives to me.

Is your gift listed in the above verses?  It must be there in those choices that Paul provides.  If you think that your mind, hands, eyes and skills you have been given cannot accomplish any of those choices, then you really need to consider the attached photo.  This is the bathroom that ‘somebody’ constructed at Petite Paridis Lutheran school in Port-au-Prince.  It may not look like much when compared to the standards of North America but it is a blessing to the children attending school there as they don’t have to go outside and squat in a nearby ditch.

For the children attending school you are the blessing, your blessings bring them food to eat each day as they are learning about a gracious God who is preparing each of them to go and do His work with what they have been given at birth.  Thank you for answering His call and using the blessings He has entrusted with you. 

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

Motjher's Day.

“Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God; this is your true and proper worship.  Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is; his good, pleasing and perfect will.”  Romans 12:1-2

I thought that it would be a good idea to share some important news for you today.  Mother’s Day is this weekend and the verses from Romans 12 had been part of my scripture readings last week and the lesson from the Apostle Paul just seemed to be appropriately matched for this coming weekend.  Having said that, today is also Ascension Day and that should probably have been more of a relevant subject…but I have chosen Mother’s Day.

Whether you are a mother or a father or childless, Paul encourages each of us to offer our lives as a living sacrifice to our Triune God.  This sin filled world gets into the way too often as we are told we are supposed to be happy, supposed to get our way and we have a ‘right’ to be given more than we have.  The hymn “The day of resurrection” was sung recently and I found it online today.  It was put into a song by Henry T. Smart 1813-1879, and its words tell of what the blessings await at the end of our journey.

“The day of resurrection!  Earth, tell it out abroad; the passover of gladness, the passover of God.  From death to life eternal, from earth unto the sky, our Christ hath brought us over, with hymns of victory.  Our hearts be pure from evil, that we may see aright the Lord in rays eternal of resurrection light; and listening to his accents, may hear, so calm and plain, his own "All hail!" and, hearing, may raise the victor strain.  Now let the heavens be joyful!  Let earth the song begin!  Let the round world keep triumph, and all that is therein!  Let all things seen and unseen their notes in gladness blend, for Christ the Lord hath risen, our joy that hath no end. “

The attached photo is of the cook at Mixte Lutheran School in Port-au-Prince.  She has been laboring over a pot of rice and beans this morning in a hot kitchen, bringing food to children who have had none this day.  Her humble service is God pleasing.  No matter what your task on this day, healing, cooking, cleaning, plumbing, building, checking computations or teaching young children; may your work be God pleasing and may your life serve Him and not this world.  Give your mom a hug, if she is not yet with Jesus.

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

Where have you been?

“You have searched me, LORD, and you know me.” Psalm 139:1

Sometime today, will you please sit down and spend a half an hour to just imagine what has transpired throughout your life since your conception.  When and where you were baptized; where you went to school, what your favorite subjects were and how closely you walked with Christ during those years; if you were like me your path was full of zigzags that took you off course for a period of time.  There were many lessons learned in our early years, how to crawl, walk, eat, talk, read and trust.  How did you possibly get to be where you are today?

Now take a good look at this child who attends the Lutheran school in Ouanaminthe.  Imagine what has taken place in her life since conception.  Her steps have been no doubt been different than yours but still very similar; we all have strayed now and then away as we are tempted by this world.  Each of us in not an enigma to God; He has known each of us since conception and consequently, He does not reject or despise us.  Rather, He begins now to re-create each of us in His own lovely likeness; we are His children.

He placed you here to read this devotion and think about sending a quarter to Trinity HOPE to feed this child for one day as she learns about a loving Triune God who cares deeply for her.  At this point in your journey, He has presented you with an opportunity to feed this child, or a couple of children or perhaps their school.  It is amazing to see how the hand of God has touched our lives and we in turn will accomplish His work by touching the life of this child in Haiti.  I close today with the words to the hymn ‘Take my life and let it be’ which was written by Frances 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, 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