International Prayer Day First Monday each month 10 am

Joel Griffith 8/28/24 Joel Griffith 8/28/24

Victory!!!

“But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.” 1 Corinthians 15:57

What comes to mind when you hear the word ‘victory’? Do you imagine hearing a crowd chant ‘U-S-A’ or see a wide smile on your teenager’s face? Victory, noun; (1) win: success in a contest against an enemy or opponent, or a particular contest or battle that is won (2) success: success in overcoming a difficult situation or an obstacle "Being able to get out of bed was a small victory in her struggle against the illness."

Watching these children from Merrotte walk across a gravel school yard from the kitchen to their classroom holding onto their daily lunch is a victory. We cannot imagine what kind of difficult situations or obstacles they have gone through when not in school. I have slept in the Church near this school on several occasions and I can tell you that the vodou drums beat very loudly in Merrotte on Saturday night; pounding out a beat to attract evil spirits from near and far.

These children attending Christ the King Lutheran School in Merrotte have a smile on their face because they have Jesus! They have a smile on their face because they have their meal for the day in their hands as promised! The vodou priest cannot claim their spot in Heaven. The vodou priest lied when he told them there would be no food at school on this day. There are 16 children in this photo. Thank you for sending a little over six dollars for their lunch on this day. What seems to be so little to us is such a large victory for them. Barney Warren wrote a hymn titled ‘Victory’ in 1897 and its words are a wonderful way to close.

“Hallelujah, what a thought! Jesus full salvation brought, victory, victory; let the pow’rs of sin assail, Heaven’s grace can never fail, victory, victory. Victory, yes, victory. Hallelujah! I am free, Jesus gives me victory; glory, glory! hallelujah! He is all in all to me. I am trusting in the Lord, I am standing on His Word, victory, victory; I have peace and joy within, since my life is free from sin, victory, victory. Shout your freedom everywhere, His eternal peace declare, victory, victory. Let us sing it here below, in the face of every foe, victory, victory. We will sing it on that shore, when this fleeting life is o’er, victory, victory; sing it here, ye ransomed throng, start the everlasting song: victory, victory.”

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

May God be with you,

Jay

Joel Griffith 8/27/24 Joel Griffith 8/27/24

Seen any barricades recently?

“For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given; and the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” Isaiah 9:6

Our earthly journeys always seem to have a barricade or two with the word ‘problem’ in the middle of the path each and every day. There is a worthy saying that ‘when GOD solves your problems, you have faith in HIS abilities; when GOD doesn't solve your problems HE has faith in your abilities.’ It is comforting to know that He gave us a permanent solution to our problems; Jesus.

Too often, our problems are not a big as they seem. Look at the two cooks in the Trinity HOPE kitchen at Droit which is located in the Les Cayes District. There are 185 children at this Lutheran school trusting in this pair of saints to cook their noon meal every day. My North American eyes see a lot of problems at the stove in Droit. Not a single fire extinguisher to save the palm branch wind break if a spark should ignite it. No roof to protect the food should a rain shower move in before lunch. These are simple problems; little barricades. The children and you and I have a major problem; sin. We needed a Savior to rescue us from the gates of hell; we need Jesus. We give thanks here in North America and in Droit that our Heavenly Father has given His only Son for us, to solve our biggest problem. I close with a hymn written by Edward Hopper in 1871 called ‘Jesus Savior, pilot me.’

“Jesus, Savior, pilot me, over life’s tempestuous sea; unknown waves before me roll, hiding rock and treach’rous shoal; chart and compass came from Thee: Jesus, Savior, pilot me. As a mother stills her child, Thou canst hush the ocean wild; boist’rous waves obey Thy will when Thou say’st to them, “Be still!” Wondrous Sov’reign of the sea, Jesus, Savior, pilot me. When at last I near the shore, and the fearful breakers roar’ twixt me and the peaceful rest, then, while leaning on Thy breast, may I hear Thee say to me, “Fear not, I will pilot thee.”

May God be with you,

Jay

Joel Griffith 8/26/24 Joel Griffith 8/26/24

Praying during peril.

“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 the first Monday of every week, I have a habit of setting aside a special time of praying for children attending schools in Haiti who are facing peril and also 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 which is in Port-au-Prince, and this scene can been seen throughout Christian schools in Haiti at meal time, 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 or messaging 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

May God be with you,

Jay

Joel Griffith 8/24/24 Joel Griffith 8/24/24

Am I worthy?

“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 yesterday, well, actually I just sang the words “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?

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 mirror failed again and again. What about the children in the attached photo? They are some of the children who attend a Lutheran School which is located in the Arcahaie District. Are they considered worthy? They probably try as hard as we do to live God-pleasing lives but not sure if they are able recite the six chief parts of the Lutheran Catechism like you and I can. Right?

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 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 these Haitian children and all of God's family of believers! I am closing this Saturday with the words from that song that Johnny Cash was singing yesterday.

“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

May God be with you,

Jay

Joel Griffith 8/23/24 Joel Griffith 8/23/24

Serving our Lord. Jesus.

“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 Luther Hour, the late speaker 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 bringing it to children who will probably 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 our Lord with our talents. Although being His servant is a free will choice that 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.”

May God be with you,

Jay

Joel Griffith 8/22/24 Joel Griffith 8/22/24

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 due to gangs and money; God has never let the Trinity HOPE pot go empty. We can’t stop the gangs, but we can keep the pot full of food. 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 we could miss today by worrying about what might happen tomorrow.

The Lord could come and take us home 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. Thank you for joining me in trusting in our Lord Jesus to keep the kettles 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

May God be with you,

Jay

Joel Griffith 8/21/24 Joel Griffith 8/21/24

When we get 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

Back in the day, when I was a child, calling another person was done on a telephone with a rotary dial or by opening the door and yelling out a name. 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 or can’t believe who was calling or what it was they wanted.

The young boy in the photo attends one the Lutheran schools 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 I heard George Younce sing 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.”

May God be with you,

Jay

Joel Griffith 8/20/24 Joel Griffith 8/20/24

Our home on the other side.

“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

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 215 that attend Grace Lutheran School in the Les Cayes District. They are His kids and they like you and me 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 around $85 a month for cable TV or a cell phone, a few bags of groceries, clothes, shoes; eighty-five 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 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 recently which was written by Cleavant Derricks and this is not found in the Lutheran Service Book, but a quartet sang it on the internet radio station. 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.”

May God be with you,

Jay

Joel Griffith 8/19/24 Joel Griffith 8/19/24

Jesus wept.

“Jesus wept” John 11:35

This was the Bible passage that many of us hoped to draw for our memory verse in 1964 when Pastor L.W. Heidemann was assigning us confirmation verses at St. John’s in Seward, NE. It is hard to imagine that the Son of God ever wept but while reading the news headlines these days it seems that this sinful world has many reasons to bring tears to the eyes of Jesus. Tears came to His eyes when He came to the tomb of Lazarus. Theologians assert that the tears of Jesus were tears of anger as He saw what the sin of this world had done to Lazarus. The tears of Jesus could have been tears of sadness at the thought of bringing Lazarus back to life as he had to come back to this sinful world.

The tears of Jesus were tears of compassion. One can imagine that Jesus might be smiling upon you for having compassion on this child who attends one of the Lutheran schools in Ouanaminthe. There may be a tear of joy as this child receives his daily meal, from you, in this sinful world. Thank you for showing compassion to the children being blessed by Trinity HOPE and consider the compassion that God had for you by sending His Son to die for you on the cross. The words from a Statler Brothers song seem like a wonderful way to close this devotion, hope that they will touch you and possibly bring a tear to your eye.

“There were tears in the eyes of Jesus; there were nails in the palms of His hands. There were thorns in his brow and only God could know how much pain he could withstand. There was blood all around the hillside as a mother mourned her loss, and we all stood to gain from the heavenly pain on the other side of the cross. On the other side of the cross, the side that no one could see; hung the Spirit of things yet to come, hung the future of you and me. And what He gave that day on the cross not one bit of love has been lost. Hold my hand, stand up and say if you were there on that day; on the other side of the cross.”

May God be with you,

Jay

Joel Griffith 8/17/24 Joel Griffith 8/17/24

God is faithful.

“But you have said, ‘I will surely make you prosper and will make your descendants like the sand of the sea, which cannot be counted.’” Genesis 32:12

Have you ever doubted God’s direction for your life’s journey? Jacob did as he told God, “You said I will make you prosper.” Our difficulty with God is that He keeps His promises in His time and not ours. In our eyes, His will is always accomplished in His ways and time and too often we just don’t understand how that is taking place in our lives; God is faithful.

The Haitian word for faith is ‘gen konfyans’ and the children in the attached photo have much faith; anpil gen komfyans. We all have times when we doubt His presence in our daily lives and lose patience waiting for His promises to be fulfilled. God is faithful, was faithful yesterday, will be faithful today and again tomorrow.

The kids in the photo in their school at Torbeck, will once again have food prepared tomorrow. Our Triune God is faithful and will always remain faithful to His children. I close today with the words from the hymn ‘Great is Thy faithfulness’ which was a poem that written by Thomas O. Chisolm in 1923.

“Great is Thy faithfulness," O God my Father, there is no shadow of turning with Thee; Thou changest not, Thy compassions, they fail not as Thou hast been Thou forever wilt be. Great is Thy faithfulness! Great is Thy faithfulness! Morning by morning new mercies I see; all I have needed Thy hand hath provided; Great is Thy faithfulness, Lord, unto me! Summer and winter, and springtime and harvest, sun, moon and stars in their courses above, join with all nature in manifold witness to Thy great faithfulness, mercy and love. Pardon for sin and a peace that endureth, Thy own dear presence to cheer and to guide; strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow, blessings all mine, with ten thousand beside! Great is Thy faithfulness!”

May God be with you,

Jay