International Prayer Day First Monday each month 10 am

Joel Griffith 10/1/24 Joel Griffith 10/1/24

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.” Romans 12:17-19

It is election time here and the media loves the attention they are getting. Do you hear the words? The learned wise men in this fallen world tell us "Don’t get mad…get even." Don’t know if this would have been something said in Paul’s time but this type of thinking makes it sound like we are totally in control of a painful situation.

The attached photo is a glimpse at evil. The building within the corrugated metal fence on the left side of road between Cap Haitian and Ouanaminthe has many colored flags. Each flag represents a powerful evil spirit that the local vodou priest has at their bidding. To the Christians living in Haiti this is the competition that is far more dangerous than the economic hardships, gangs and living conditions that challenge the inhabitant each day.

The vodou priest will call upon evil spirits sent from satan to bring problems and illnesses to rain down on innocent lives. Vodou is the work of the devil and is not of our Triune God. Prayerfully, there are over 62,000 children being fed by a Trinity HOPE feeding program every day they are in school learning more about the Triune God and the power of the Holy Spirit that will drive evil spirits away and will be returning to school this week.

These children are placing their trust in Jesus as He has defeated satan and His truth covers the lies of the vodou priest. Thank you for helping to prepare these young missionaries living in Haiti as they take the Gospel message to those still living in fear of the neighborhood vodou temple. In 1874, Frances R. Havergal wrote the words for ‘I am trusting Thee Lord Jesus’ and the last two verses are a wonderful way to close this devotion.

“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.”

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 9/30/24 Joel Griffith 9/30/24

Wrapping up September.

“Jesus turned and said to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; you do not have in mind the concerns of God, but merely human concerns.” Then Jesus said to his disciples, “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me.” Matthew 16:23-24

On this last day of September, I want to share a few questions that I’ve been asked by several people this month. Are the Haitian kids back in school? Has it gotten any safer in Haiti? Do Haitian people really eat cats and dogs?

This week, there will prayerfully be 265 Haitian schools with Trinity HOPE feeding programs starting the new school year. Just over 62,000 children will prayerfully be back in school learning about Jesus Christ; reading, writing, arithmetic, science, French and being fed a nutritious lunch. Those children, teachers and parents will be shouting ‘Beni soit L’Eternal’ and we will be saying ‘Praise the Lord!’

Safety in Haiti changes from day to day, depending on where you happen to live in the country. The United Nations is considering sending a full peacekeeping force to replace the International Police force that is there now. It will be more costly but it will increase the size and duration of the force to remove the gang violence and chaos from Haiti. The local Haitians do not like foreign intervention on their soil but hopefully, if it can bring about a sustainable sense of order to their country and elections can be held soon and the country of Haiti can resume it’s challenge towards becoming a self-dependent country in the Caribbean’ that is a God pleasing plan.

Eating dogs and cats. I lived in Haiti for 33 months and I could probably count on one hand how many cats I saw while traveling throughout the country. I heard the vodou priest sacrificing live dogs and most likely eating the meat not used for the calling of evil spirits. Is it possible that illegal aliens from ANY foreign culture, living in our country are terribly hungry and the only food that they can find are the neighborhood pets; possibly. I was told by a friend in the Navy that they eat dogs in the Far East. I have read that locals eat horse meat in Europe. Would the media in our country be upset if people in McLean County Illinois were eating dirt cakes? In August of 2001, I witnessed Pierre, the groundskeeper at the Haiti Lutheran office, pan fry a rat that he had trapped and an ear of corn, and he offered to share it with me and sadly, I told him that I wasn’t hungry. I was hungry but not after I saw the contents of his skillet. My point is, when the empty pain in your stomach burns so hot for so long, you will eat whatever it takes to ease the pain; bugs, horses, dirt cakes, dogs and even a cat. Give thanks you have food in your house and are able to help feed children attending schools in Haiti. Please don’t judge people. The attached photo was my breakfast at a Hotel in Delmas; piece of bread, banana, spaghetti and mystery meat sauce and a cup of coffee. I was hungry and it came with the room.

I chose the verse from Matthew today to make a point of saying to the voices in this learned world; get behind me satan! Too many voices in our fallen world are telling us to listen to and believe them when they tell us it’s all about ‘me’ and I ‘deserve’ this and that. No, it’s not about me and No, I don’t deserve to have things my way. When we are faced with the words of this fallen world, look to Jesus. How do their words compare with what our Savior told us? Listen to Jesus. It's time to turn from selfishness, lies, arguments and strife as you embrace the way of the Cross. Stay in His Word. Remain connected to Jesus. Jesus is your Number One. Not us. Not the media. Stay focused on Christ.

May God be with you,

Jay

Joel Griffith 9/28/24 Joel Griffith 9/28/24

Going through severe trails?

“The islands will look to me and wait in hope for my arm.” Isaiah 51:5

The last Saturday of September is here already. Where has this month gone? Have you faced many challenges this month? Hopefully, you and I haven’t experienced many severe trials this month, this past year or for that matter, in our lifetime. The trials of a North American are greatly different than the Haitian boy in the attached photo. Too often what seem like a trial to us can be eliminated with the swipe of a credit card or the writing of a check; too often we fail to turn to our Creator with our trials.

The child in the photo attends the Messif School in Ouanaminthe and the trials that they face daily forces them to place their trust in our Triune God alone. When there is no food for their table and no human deliverance from the gangs is possible, they must completely place their trust in our Heavenly Father. The severe trial is a blessing to them, and could also be a blessing to us if we surrender our all to Him who created us.

Our sin filled world tells us to look to ourselves for the escape route from trials but this young boy and his family have nowhere else to turn; they run into their Heavenly Father's arms and receive His blessings as promised. Together we join our brothers and sisters in Haiti and lean on His everlasting arms. Elisha Hoffman penned the following words in 1887 and are still true today.

“What a fellowship, what a joy divine, leaning on the everlasting arms; what a blessedness, what a peace is mine, leaning on the everlasting arms. Oh, how sweet to walk in this pilgrim way, leaning on the everlasting arms; oh, how bright the path grows from day to day, leaning on the everlasting arms. What have I to dread, what have I to fear, leaning on the everlasting arms? I have blessed peace with my Lord so near, leaning on the everlasting arms.”

May God be with you,

Jay

Joel Griffith 9/27/24 Joel Griffith 9/27/24

Laboring for Christ.

“Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.” Colossians 3:23-24

We celebrated Labor Day several weeks ago; a Federal Holiday. I read a few facts about it yesterday. It is reported that the first big Labor Day celebration in the United States was on September 5, 1882, by the Central Labor Union of New York. Labor Day became a federal holiday in 1894 following the deaths of a number of workers at the hands of the U.S. military and U.S. Marshals during the Pullman Strike and was signed into law by President Grover Cleveland.

The man in the attached photo is ‘laboring’ with a wheel barrow in Port-au-Prince. This man has a job, delivering goods, every day that he can get up and perform this task; probably makes a dollar a day. While living in Haiti there didn’t ever seem to be a day that was designated as ‘labor day’ in Haiti. Every day people labored under the sun like an army of ants toiling endlessly throughout the daylight hours.

Labor Day originated as a way to celebrate the social and economic advancements of the United States and pay tribute to the driving force of our economy; the American laborer. Too often we fail to recognize that our ‘world’ created holidays don’t give thanks to God, for giving us the abilities, the talents and the jobs that we are blessed with here in North America and give thanks that we are not driving a wheel barrow in Port-au-Prince during our twilight years.

Take a moment to consider the immenseness of the blessings that have been given to you. Give thanks for a Savior that took your burdens to the cross. Give thanks for the Holy Spirit that continues to guide your daily steps and provides you with opportunities to share of your labors with the children living in Haiti. I close with the words to the hymn ‘What a friend we have in Jesus’ which was written by Joseph Scriven in 1855.

“What a friend we have in Jesus, all our sins and griefs to bear! What a privilege to carry everything to God in prayer! Oh, what peace we often forfeit, oh, what needless pain we bear, all because we do not carry everything to God in prayer! Have we trials and temptations? Is there trouble anywhere? We should never be discouraged; take it to the Lord in prayer. Can we find a friend so faithful, who will all our sorrows share? Jesus knows our every weakness; take it to the Lord in prayer. Are we weak and heavy-laden, cumbered with a load of care? Precious Savior, still our refuge; take it to the Lord in prayer. Do thy friends despise, forsake thee? Take it to the Lord in prayer! In His arms He’ll take and shield thee, thou wilt find a solace there. Blessed Savior, Thou hast promised Thou wilt all our burdens bear; may we ever, Lord, be bringing all to Thee in earnest prayer. Soon in glory bright, unclouded, there will be no need for prayer; rapture, praise, and endless worship will be our sweet portion there.”

May God be with you,

Jay

Joel Griffith 9/26/24 Joel Griffith 9/26/24

An everyday blessing.

“We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God.” 2 Corinthians 5:20

I was looking for a sympathy card recently at the grocery store when a greeting card waved at me; the words “Everyday Blessing” caught my attention. Is there anything on the face of this earth that could be an everyday blessing to you? Solomon was one of the richest men in all of History and he said that when he considered everything that he had accomplished and accumulated, it was all meaningless.

There most likely are a few people in your life that bless your journey from time to time, but sad to say people ultimately disappoint as we are by nature sinful and unclean. The greeting card was directed to tell the recipient how their life had brought countless blessings into the life of the sender. The children from Bois Marchand in the attached photo would probably tell you that the plate of Trinity HOPE rice and beans in front of them is their “Everyday Blessing”. Truth is, the only real and sure “Everyday Blessing” is Jesus Christ. I heard a Kenny Rogers song recently “I can’t unlove you” and the lyrics caused me to think about a number of things.

“Postcards and letters and pictures made to last forever; to be boxed up and tossed away. Knickknacks and souvenirs in an afternoon, they're out of here. They'll disappear without a trace but what they mean to me can never be replaced. I can't unthink about you, I can't unfeel your touch, I can't unhear all the words unsay all the things that used to mean so much. I wish I could unremember everything my heart's been through; I'm finding out it's impossible to do. Oh, it's no use, I can't unlove you.”

When you see these children, they are the future of Haiti who will bring Jesus to the lost in Haiti; it is difficult to not love them. When I consider the many supporters who are ambassadors of Christ and bless these children with their gifts and prayers; it is difficult to not love them. And once again, the truth is, we can’t unlove Jesus. His ‘everyday blessing’ for us was shed on the cross of Calvary.

May God be with you,

Jay

Joel Griffith 9/25/24 Joel Griffith 9/25/24

Who am I?

“And Moses said unto God, who am I, that I should go unto Pharaoh, and that I should bring forth the children of Israel out of Egypt?” Exodus 3:11 (KJV)

How many times have we been in the same predicament as Moses and told God “who am I to do your work?” Too often we question God’s motives for using us as surely, He knows our limitations. How do you say NO? A man that I respect uses the following that I too have come to use at times when asked to do something that I don’t feel is within my abilities; “You know, I don’t think that will be a good match for my schedule at this time.” Trust me, this reply works really well; thanks Pastor Luke.

Jonah didn’t have a choice as God sent a great fish to rescue him from drowning and swallow him and later spit him out on a beach and then repeated His marching orders, go to Nineveh! Have there been any trips to Nineveh that you have either placed on hold or just decided not to go there? There have been a few times when I had been planning to take a mission team to Haiti when members of this world’s genius clubs were telling me to just stay home when planning, coordination and financing were taking a toll on my life.

I have spoken with a few people who won’t give so much as a dime to help provide a meal for a child attending a Lutheran school in Haiti. Their response is to let their parents take care of them like we do here; be careful what you do or say, God has a way to nudge you to do His work. Our Triune God has a plan for your life, you were put here for a reason; His reason. Don’t be swayed by the ‘thinkers’ of this world and follow the wisdom of this world. Seek His wisdom through prayer and follow in the direction that the Holy Spirit nudges you. Whether your gifts and directions are to be used to feed children in Haiti or the homeless in your community, follow His lead for your life. I close today with the words to the hymn ‘Every morning mercies new’ that was written by Greville Phillimore in 1863.

“Every morning mercies new fall as fresh as morning dew; every morning let us pay tribute with the early day; for Thy mercies, Lord, are sure, Thy compassion doth endure. Still the greatness of Thy love daily doth our sins remove; daily, far as east from west, lifts the burden from the breast; gives un-bought to those who pray strength to stand in evil day. Let our prayers each morn prevail that these gifts may never fail; and as we confess the sin
and the Tempter's power within, feed us with the Bread of Life; fit us for our daily strife. As the morning light returns, as the sun with splendor burns, teach us still to turn to Thee, ever-blessed Trinity. With our hands our hearts to raise in unfailing prayer and praise.”

May God be with you,

Jay

Joel Griffith 9/24/24 Joel Griffith 9/24/24

The Lighthouse.

“When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” John 8:12

Back in the day, while living in Haiti, I was told that there were several lighthouses on the coast line of Haiti; I have only seen one in the Jeremie District, but didn’t think to take a photograph as it was more of a pole with a light and not very picturesque. There are probably quite a few lighthouses throughout this world that are not worthy of a photo or a painting but remain a memory.

Jesus Christ is the light of this world…and I don’t have a photo of him either. The girl in the attached photo attends the Pont Quenepe School in Gonaives and she is a lighthouse of sorts. Her witness sends out a saving message to those lost in her neighborhood in Haiti. Consider yourself to be an integral part of the lighthouse as you provide the oil for her light. Your forty cents each day keeps her light shining brightly.

I heard a song by Randy Travis and a group of ‘famous’ singers recently titled “Didn’t we shine” and the words caused me to consider what you and might say to this young girl from Gonaives when we meet in Heaven; didn’t we shine? What a glorious time we will have in Heaven, with her and with Him smiling about how He used us to reach so many who needed the light of this world to bring them to safety.

“Hello, it's good to see you, just how long has it been? I've often wondered what I'd say if we ever met again; if I'd try just being clever or pretend not to remember. But it's funny how you've lingered on my mind. Didn't we shine? Didn't we shine? Didn't we share and care and lay our hearts on the line? Maybe it wasn't meant to last till the end of time; oh, but while it did didn't we shine. I still have some blue days that I could do without and when I have my blue days; you're all I think about. But I've long ago forgiven you for what you did or didn't do. Now all I can recall are the happy times. Didn't we shine? Didn't we shine? Didn't we share and care and lay our hearts on the line? Maybe it wasn't meant to last till the end of time; oh, but while it did, didn't we shine.”

May God be with you,

Jay

Joel Griffith 9/23/24 Joel Griffith 9/23/24

Who wants to be first?

“Jesus called them together and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be your slave; just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” Matthew 20:25-28

We are roughly into four weeks of college football now and if you have watched any games, you have probably seen many hands with their index finger pointed up to Paradise after a score; WE ARE Number ONE! Doesn’t matter if their team is 0-4. If their team scored a touchdown, in their minds they are indeed number one. Isn’t that what we strive to be? Numero Uno. In this passage from Matthew, Mrs. Zebedee wants to get her sons James and John placed up next to Jesus on His Throne. Sinful fisherman in a place of honor?

We are by nature, sinful and unclean; not number one material. The First Commandment tells us that we are to have NO other gods…than our Triune God. Jesus tells us to be first…we must be a servant. That was and is His model for our lives; be a Servant. My congregation has one Pastor and that is all we need. Pastor Smith leads and we follow and serve him and our Lord Jesus as we set out on our life’s journey. Trinity HOPE has one person as our CEO and there are countless volunteers accomplishing many activities to bring food into the bowls of Haitian school children. We are serving our Lord Jesus by helping to further the message of Hope throughout Haiti.

May God be with you,

Jay

Joel Griffith 9/21/24 Joel Griffith 9/21/24

Not the end of the story.

“As they approached the village to which they were going, Jesus continued on as if he were going farther. But they urged him strongly, “Stay with us, for it is nearly evening; the day is almost over.” So, he went in to stay with them.” Luke 24:28-29

The two disciples were walking down the dirt road to Emmaus, a journey of about seven miles when Jesus came up and walked with them. Their exchange recorded in Luke provides another account that assures us and all believers that Jesus Christ defeated death and the devil.

The people that live near the vodou temple with the two flags on the southern edge of Pont Sonde in the attached photo will tell you that the Gospel of Luke is nothing more than a story, a fable…a lie. The vodou priest has assured them that satan defeated Christ on the cross. The vodou spirit or war, Ogou, defeated Jesus Christ. End of story.

The 155 children attending the Lutheran School in Pont Sonde know the truth and face the mighty challenge of sharing the message of their risen Savior with the lost who have closed their ears to the truth. Thank you for providing prayers and support for their ministry efforts. Henry Lyte wrote the words to the hymn ‘Abide with me’ in 1847 and the words provide comfort for us, for the children in Pont Sonde and direction for those lost and waiting to hear the Gospel message.

“Abide with me! Fast falls the eventide; the darkness deepens; Lord with me abide. When other helpers fail and comforts flee, help of the helpless, oh, abide with me! Swift to its close ebbs out life's little day; earth's joys grow dim, its glories pass away; change and decay in all around I see. O Thou, who changest not, abide with me! Not a brief glance I beg, a passing word, but as Thou dwell'st with Thy disciples, Lord, familiar, condescending, patient, free. Come not to sojourn, but abide with me. Come not in terror, as the King of kings, but kind and good, with healing in Thy wings; tears for all woes, a heart for every plea. Come, Friend of sinners, thus abide with me. Thou on my head in every youth didst smile, and though rebellious and perverse meanwhile, Thou hast not left me, oft as I left Thee. On to the close, O Lord, abide with me. I need Thy presence every passing hour; what but Thy grace can foil the Tempter's power? Who like Thyself my guide and stay can be? Through cloud and sunshine, oh, abide with me! I fear no foe, with Thee at hand to bless; ills have no weight and tears no bitterness. Where is death's sting? Where, grave, thy victory? I triumph still if Thou abide with me. Hold Thou Thy cross before my closing eyes, shine through the gloom, and point me to the skies. Heaven's morning breaks, and earth's vain shadows flee; in life, in death, O Lord, abide with me!”

May God be with you,

Jay

Joel Griffith 9/20/24 Joel Griffith 9/20/24

You are my strength.

“Because you are my help, I sing in the shadow of your wings.” Psalm 63:7

I was driving home yesterday and was grumbling to myself about all the road work and lane closures in Normal this time of year and how the streets that I was on seem very rough as I could hear tire noise going over the joints in the concrete. Then while looking through photos that were taken when I was living in Haiti, the attached caught my eye.

This is on the main highway between Cap Haitian and Gonaives and this particular place is probably a few miles south of Limbe. The road is surfaced but is rough; you don’t see many speed limit signs in Haiti because a vehicle generally cannot drive very fast under normal conditions to warrant a speed limit.

The woman on the left side is walking several miles to a neighborhood market and try to sell her goods; it appears that it might be a large pan full homemade peanut brittle in bags. I was grumbling about driving on a rough road and this woman is walking for miles to sell her peanut brittle. Satan caused me to be discouraged and unhappy with this life and I was reminded of life in Haiti and now things are back in a proper perspective; for the time being.

Constantly being in the Word is His way of keeping me in that proper perspective. The children attending Christian schools in Haiti are also in His Word daily and they too are being reminded of how blessed we truly are being His children. Mr. Dennis Jernigan wrote the song “You are my all in all” and its words are a wonderful reminder of how important it is to keep our Heavenly Father in our daily thoughts and prayers.

“You are my strength when I am weak. You are the treasure that I seek; You are my all in all. Seeking You as a precious jewel Lord, to give up I'd be a fool; You are my all in all. Taking my sin, my cross, my shame; rising up again I bless Your name; You are my all in all. When I fall down You pick me up. When I am dry You fill my cup. You are my all in all. Jesus, Lamb of God worthy is Your name.”

May God be with you,

Jay