International Prayer Day First Monday each month 10 am

Joel Griffith 10/23/24 Joel Griffith 10/23/24

Being nourished.

“I meditate on your precepts and consider your ways.” Psalm 119:15

Back in the day, while living in Haiti, many were the times that I was alone and if someone was near, we didn’t share a common language or similar culture; there were many times when solitude was better than fellowship and when silence was wiser than speech.

I firmly believe that each of us would be better Christians if we spent more time being alone, waiting on God and finding spiritual strength for service to Him by meditating on His Word. We should first consider the things of God because only then will we get real nutrition from them.

Consider these children in Cap Haitian, preparing to eat their daily meal; simply taking food into their mouths does not nourish their bodies, for it is the full process of digestion that supplies nutrients to muscles, nerves and bones. And it is through spiritual "digestion" that outward food is brought into our inner life. Our souls are not nourished merely by listening for a while to this and that, and later to another portion of His Word. Hearing, reading, examining, and learning all requires inward digestion to complete their usefulness, and that inner digesting of the truth takes place primarily by meditating on it; dwelling upon His Word. We all need to be fed on His Word and His food daily. Isaac Watts wrote the hymn ‘Oh, that the Lord would guide my ways’ in 1719 and it seems a fitting way to close this message.

“Oh, that the Lord would guide my ways to keep His statutes still! Oh, that my God would grant me grace to know and do His will! Order my footsteps by Thy Word and make my heart sincere; let sin have no dominion, Lord, but keep my conscience clear. Assist my soul, too apt to stray, a stricter watch to keep; and should I e'er forget Thy way, restore Thy wandering sheep. Make me to walk in Thy commands, 'Tis a delightful road, nor let my head or heart or hands offend against my God.”

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 10/22/24 Joel Griffith 10/22/24

The children.

“People were bringing little children to Jesus for him to place his hands on them, but the disciples rebuked them. When Jesus saw this, he was indignant. He said to them, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. Truly I tell you, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.” And he took the children in his arms, placed his hands on them and blessed them.” Mark 10:13-16

Sometimes, it is difficult to visit Trinity HOPE school feeding programs in Haiti and not remember this passage in the tenth chapter of Mark when looking at little children, like this young girl from Ouanaminthe. There shouldn’t be a difference between this child and the young children who attend Christian Schools here, in the U.S.A.; Jesus would have taken each of them into His arms and blessed them. The children here in America and those in Haiti are both being prepared to go and share the message of salvation with those who will come along their life’s journey. The Kingdom of Heaven belongs to each of them and to us.

The main difference is the food. Most of the children in America are fed at home and at school. The vast majority of the children attending the Lutheran school in Ouanaminthe don’t get food at home and rely upon the meal at school for their daily manna; thank you for helping to provide for them. Benjamin Schmolck wrote the hymn ‘Dearest Jesus, we are here’ in 1704 and it will close today’s message.

“Dearest Jesus, we are here, gladly Thy command obeying; with this child we now draw near in accord with Thine own saying that to Thee it shall be given as a child and heir of heaven. Yea, Thy word is clear and plain, and we would obey it duly: "He who is not born again, heart and life renewing truly, born of water and the Spirit, can My kingdom not inherit. Therefore hasten we to Thee, in our arms this infant bearing; let us here Thy glory see let this child, Thy mercy sharing, in Thine arms be shielded ever, Thine on earth and Thine forever. Gracious Head, Thy member own; Shepherd, take Thy lamb and feed it; Prince of Peace, make here Thy throne; Way of Life, to heaven lead it; Precious Vine, let nothing sever from Thy side this branch forever. Now into Thy heart we pour prayers that from our hearts proceeded. Our petitions heavenward soar; may our warm desires be heeded! Write the name we now have given, write it in the book of heaven.”

May God be with you,

Jay

Joel Griffith 10/21/24 Joel Griffith 10/21/24

A few questions.

“I say to God my Rock, “Why have you forgotten me? Why must I go about mourning, oppressed by the enemy?” My bones suffer mortal agony as my foes taunt me, saying to me all day long, “Where is your God?” Why, my soul, are you downcast? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God.” Psalm 42:9-11

Something to ponder on this Monday. Schools in Haiti commenced 3 weeks ago and most are in session now. Some are not as gangs are still making life miserable for many living in Haiti. I have read a few people saying that if the gangs were to just lay down their weapons, repent and help undo what they have done, shouldn’t we just forgive and forget? Forgive and forget? I am a sinful man and have been that way since when I was conceived in my mom’s womb. I can honestly forgive the person who wronged me, but forget? That is the hardest thing to remove from my mind. Why is that? My only answer is that for me, forgetting is something that is shared with no other person. That wrong is frozen in my memory probably until the day I die and then, in Paradise, it’s gone. It was foolish to cling on to so tightly. My energy used to keep that chunk of minutia frozen in my mind should have been focused on the Lord and not on person who wronged me.

On this Monday morning, here two questions for you. First, is there someone or something that we have refused to forget, which keeps us from being happy and productive? If our answer is yes, stop right now and declare it openly to our Heavenly Father. Ask Him to take away the pain and the bitterness.

Second, AM I a victim of self-pity, living out my days emotionally paralyzed by anguish and despair? Being a card carrying Lutheran, there are times that I wear a millstone around my neck with the words “self-pity” engraved in stone. If your answer is yes, stop and consider the consequences of living the rest of your life excusing your self-pity rather than turning it all over to the only One who can remove it. From the words David wrote in Psalm 42, we read and learn that it is not too hard and we are not too old to change our sinful ways. And our situation is not too much to overcome. What we need to do is to place our hope in God today. On this Monday, there's a wonderful freedom there. It's never too late to start doing what is right. Invite our Heavenly Father to bring about this change in you.

May God be with you,

Jay

Joel Griffith 10/19/24 Joel Griffith 10/19/24

Be humble.

“Then, Lord,” Simon Peter replied, “not just my feet but my hands and my head as well!” Jesus answered, “Those who have had a bath need only to wash their feet; their whole body is clean. And you are clean, though not every one of you.” For he knew who was going to betray him, and that was why he said not every one was clean.” John 13:9-11

A.John 13:7 : ver 12

B.John 13:10 : Jn 15:3

C.John 13:10 : ver 18

D.John 13:11 : S Mt 10:4

” John 13:9-11

How often have we been given an opportunity to be humble? That is a tough lesson as this world tells us just the opposite; everything should be about me. The letters ‘IAM’ in our time mean ‘It’s all about ME’ and you can see this same condition in the Pharisees that were confronted by Jesus throughout His ministry.

Being willing to receive, submit to others and serve others takes more grace on our part than giving to others. Our reluctance to be on the receiving end exposed our pride in our being in charge of things; it is all about us and not about our Triune God. Pride can be an ugly thing and if you have been insulated from it just open your ears to a concert of ‘look what we did’ or ‘look at what I am doing’ messages coming from various organizations. It should never be about us, but always about what He has done through us. When we boast about how many Trinity HOPE is should always begin with what our Triune God is accomplishing in Haiti through our time, treasures and talents.

When Christ went about washing the disciple’s feet He removed His outer tunic and with a towel, pitcher, and pan in hand He proceeded to teach another lesson to the twelve. The response from Peter was “no, not my feet, but my head and hands too.” Peter was capable of washing himself and didn’t need Jesus to do that for him. God’s children in Haiti are being fed through people like you who are serving through their donations. Learning that these children are praying for you and I daily is humbling and sometimes we may wonder why in the world would this child be praying for me. They give thanks to God for you and your gift every day.

May God be with you,

Jay

Joel Griffith 10/18/24 Joel Griffith 10/18/24

Are you careful?

“When the Pharisees saw this, they asked his disciples, “Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?” On hearing this, Jesus said, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. But go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice.’ For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.” Matthew 9:11-13

Are you careful who you eat with? We are probably careful not to be seen in public sharing a meal with a person who happens to have their photograph on a wanted poster down at the Post Office. There are some people that I try to avoid at mealtime because they chew with their mouths open and make irritating noises that attract attention from nearby diners.

Jesus is in the business of seeking the lost and bringing them the gift of life that can only be found in Him. He would not hesitate to sit at a table across from a person who would chew their food with their mouths wide open, if they needed to hear the message of salvation. Take a close look at some of the kids who attend a Christian school in Les Cayes, would you consider sharing a meal with any of them? Statistics in Haiti lead us to believe that more than half of these children come from homes where vodou is still being practiced. All of the children in this school and all the 265 schools in Haiti where there are Trinity HOPE feeding programs are being fed a meal and are given the news of a loving Savior, Jesus Christ who has prepared a place for each of them in Heaven. The hymn ‘The Savior calls; let every ear’ was written by Anne Steele in 1760 and its message will close this message.

“The Savior calls; let every ear attend the heavenly sound. Ye doubting souls, dismiss your fear; hope smiles reviving round. For every thirsty, longing heart here streams of bounty flow and life and health and bliss impart to banish mortal woe. Here springs of sacred pleasures rise to ease your every pain; immortal fountain, full supplies! Nor shall you thirst in vain. Ye sinners, come, 'tis Mercy's voice; the gracious call obey; mercy invites to heavenly joys, and can you yet delay? Dear Savior, draw reluctant hearts; to Thee let sinners fly and take the bliss Thy love imparts and drink and never die.”

May God be with you,

Jay

Joel Griffith 10/17/24 Joel Griffith 10/17/24

Facing challenges.

“Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we boast in the hope of the glory of God. Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.” Romans 5:1-11

There were numerous times when my mother would provide me with calming words before I was about to begin one of this fallen world’s trials; she prepared me with a fundamental foundation that I would ultimately find some positive value in having gone through this experience. Her faith had brought her through the sudden death of her husband, raising two children (one perfect son and that older drama queen daughter) and the grief we must have placed upon her plate during our teenage years.

Being calm when facing life’s hardships is of God as we are confident in His Word as we endure painful trials that will produce maturity which leads to reflect our love of our Heavenly Father. While looking for a photo for this devotion the attached caught my eye. I don’t recall where I took this but given the date, the desks, the color of the children’s uniforms and the fact that these children are praying for their daily meal it must be in the Artibonite District.

Perhaps not knowing where makes it that much more special as when I write a check to Trinity HOPE today as I generally don’t know which children will be receiving a meal because of my donation; it doesn’t matter because they are all His children. They are all facing hardships and that plate of food on their desk is from Him and provides a sense of calmness in a country where there is so little hope. In 1846 a hymn titled ‘I heard the voice of Jesus say’ was written by Horatius Bonar and the words provide a calming effect for the trials of this day. BTW, my sister Charlotte entered Paradise in June, 1999.

“I heard the voice of Jesus say, "Come unto Me and rest; lay down, thou weary one, lay down, thy head upon My breast." I came to Jesus as I was, weary and worn and sad; I found in Him a resting-place, and He has made me glad. I heard the voice of Jesus say, "Behold, I freely give the living water; thirsty one, stoop down and drink and live." I came to Jesus, and I drank of that life-giving stream. My thirst was quenched, my soul revived, and now I live in Him. I heard the voice of Jesus say, "I am this dark world's Light. Look unto Me; thy morn shall rise and all thy day be bright." I looked to Jesus, and I found in Him my Star, my Sun; and in that Light of Life I'll walk till traveling days are done.”

May God be with you,

Jay

Joel Griffith 10/16/24 Joel Griffith 10/16/24

Learning about God.

“What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ” Philippians 3:8

I read a quote recently from John Timmer that advised “You can learn about God with your mind or through your life’s experiences. God prefers the latter. He wants us to know Him experientially, to engage Him with our whole lives.”

I recall from leading the Lutheran Confirmation classes that we cannot know Jesus through another person's acquaintance with him; my faith in Jesus cannot save my children. It must be their own personal faith. Our faith in the handful of children who attend this Lutheran school at Lauture cannot save them; cannot save one of these lives. They, like us must know him on our own account.

The Holy Spirit comes to us through the Word and reveals our Salvation found only through Jesus Christ. God has called each of us here and in this school in Haiti to go and share this ‘knowledge’ of Salvation with the lost. This knowledge of Christ Jesus will elevate us and them above all trials, and doubts, and sorrows; and it will prepare each of us for the immortality of being with our Savior enjoying His eternal joy.

Thank you for continuing to help prepare them for this journey in Haiti, with the gifts that you have sent to provide them with a feeding program while they too are prepared through Lutheran Pastors and teachers in Lauture. In 1832 James Montgomery wrote the words for the hymn ‘Pour out Thy Spirit from on High’ and they will close this devotion.

“Pour out Thy Spirit from on high, Lord, Thine assembled servants bless; graces and gifts to each supply and clothe Thy priests with righteousness. Before Thine altar when we stand to teach the truth as taught by Thee, Savior, like stars in Thy right hand the angels of Thy churches be. Wisdom and zeal and faith impart, firmness with meekness, from above, to bear Thy people on our heart and love the souls whom Thou dost love. To watch and pray and never faint by day and night strict guard to keep, to warn the sinner, cheer the saint, nourish Thy lambs, and feed Thy sheep. Then, when our work is finished here, we may in hope our charge resign, when the Chief Shepherd shall appear, O God, may they and we be Thine!”

May God be with you,

Jay

Joel Griffith 10/15/24 Joel Griffith 10/15/24

Are you content?

“I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do all this through him who gives me strength.” Philippians 4:11-13

Our culture tells us that ‘contentment is not the fulfillment of what you want, but the realization of how much you already have.’ If we measure our own contentment with the ‘stuff’ that we in North America have then we should be very CONTENT. Sadly, most of the people I listen to are not content with all the things that they have; it is never enough.

Most people look for contentment by purchasing another new house or a newer car, or any number of things that they don’t need online, from a catalogue or god forbid a garage sale. Some people in this fallen world seek to find contentment by sacrificing possessions and living a simple life, free from the temptations of this world. The attached photo is of the apartment building where my one room apartment was located in Petionville, Haiti.

When laundry day is here my memory bank is opened and thoughts of washing clothes in the bathtub or sink and then heading to clothesline on the roof fill of that building reappear in my mind. While my clothes appeared to be clean after they were dry, they were never as clean as the women who washed their families’ clothes in the river, or so it seemed to me. I don’t think that I was ever to remove the ‘B’ from the ‘O’ in my laundry. I was content in my living conditions and I imagine that the people living to the west of my apartment on the hillside were also very content as they lived in a house and didn’t have to sleep in the street or under a sheet of metal or plastic.

My friends, the truth is that real contentment can only be found through Jesus Christ. You know that as well as I do and also the Christians living in Haiti. When the Apostle Paul wrote the above passages to the church in Philippi, he was writing this letter from prison. His contentment, hope, strength and riches were found in Christ. We should have this contentment today; that our Heavenly Father that empowered Paul to be content in prison, is at work in our lives today and in the lives of all His children throughout this world. The hymn ‘God bless our native land’ was written by Charles T. Brooks in 1834 and their message seems to be an appropriate way to close today.

“God bless our native land! Firm may she ever stand thro' storm and night! When the wild tempests rave, ruler of wind and wave do Thou our country save by Thy great might. For her our prayer shall rise to God above the skies; on Him we wait. Thou who art ever nigh, guarding with watchful eye, to Thee aloud we cry, God save the State! Amen.”

May God be with you,

Jay

Joel Griffith 10/14/24 Joel Griffith 10/14/24

Washing feet; serving.

“Jesus replied, “You do not realize now what I am doing, but later you will understand.” “No,” said Peter, “you shall never wash my feet.” Jesus answered, “Unless I wash you, you have no part with me.” John 13:8

A.John 13:7 : ver 12

” John 13:8

Have you washed another person’s feet recently? I don’t mean have you washed your children’s feet or grandchildren’s feet or your elderly parent’s feet recently. Have you ever washed the feet of an acquaintance or a stranger’s feet? When Jesus was going to wash His disciple’s feet the response from Peter was “no, you will never wash my feet!” Peter didn’t fully understand what we are asked to do as Christ teaches us to serve. Jesus gave one more lesson while washing feet; being a servant is not merely a sign of inner weakness but of incredible inner strength.

Witnessing the washing of children’s hands throughout Trinity HOPE feeding programs in Haiti reminds me of the lesson Jesus gave us when He washed feet. The washing certainly is a practical thing to do as the disciple’s feet were dirty from their walking in the sand wearing sandals; their feet were dirty. The washing of the children’s hands in Haiti is important as their little hands have touched so many unclean items before lunch and the lesson of hygiene is important to them and their parents; their hands are unclean.

When Jesus told Peter that ‘unless I wash you, you have no part with me’ He was not only talking about his unclean feet, but was telling Peter and you and I and the children in Haiti that we are sinful and unclean and unless we accept Christ as our Servant and Savior; we will never be clean. We have His lesson to always remind us of the need of our service to Him and others. Go out into the world and seek and save the lost. People need the Lord. We are the one’s to wash their feet and bring people closer to Jesus. I am closing today with the words to the song “People need the Lord” by Steve Green.

“Every day they pass me by. I can see it in their eye. Empty people filled with care, headed who knows where. On they go through private pain, living fear to fear. Laughter hides the silent cries, only Jesus hears. People need the Lord; people need the Lord. At the end of broken dreams, He's the open door. People need the Lord; people need the Lord. When will we realize, people need the Lord. We are called to take His light. To a world where wrong seems right. What could be too great a cost, for sharing life with one who's lost. Through His love our hearts can feel, all the grief they bear. They must hear the words of life only we can share. People need the Lord; people need the Lord. At the end of broken dreams, He's the open door. People need the Lord; people need the Lord. When will we realize, people need the Lord.”

May God be with you,

Jay

Joel Griffith 10/12/24 Joel Griffith 10/12/24

Give Him thanks.

“And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.” Colossians 3:17

Another Saturday; thanks for the weekend. Perhaps nothing can better describe our Lord Jesus with more grace than when we consider Him humbly stooping from His throne descending from heaven to bring a cure for the sinful nature of this world. Give HIM thanks. Throughout the ages our Heavenly Father has again and again rescued His people from despair; the army of the Egyptians, the flood, Sodom and Gomorrah, Goliath, lions, pestilence, disease and all kinds of evil that satan continues to unleash on this world.

How can we not offer our lives as living vessels to Him who continues to listen to the whispers of His children who are in trouble, starving, in danger or on their death bed? When the girl in the attached photo gives thanks to our Heavenly Father for the manna she has again received in a stone school in Chinchiron…He listens to her prayer. When we offer petitions that this child’s life and the lives of other children in Haiti would be His instruments to bring hope to Haiti in situations where there is no hope…He listens. In whatever you do, wherever you may be, whether in word or deed; do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. I am closing today with the words from the hymn “Now thank we all our God” which was written by Martin Rinckart in 1636.

“Now thank we all our God with heart and hands and voices, Who wondrous things hath done, in whom His world rejoices; Who from our mother's arms hath blessed us on our way. With countless gifts of love, and still is ours today. Oh, may this bounteous God through all our life be near us, with ever joyful hearts and blessed peace to cheer us; and keep us in His grace and guide us when perplexed. And free us from all ills in this world and the next. All praise and thanks to God the Father now be given, the Son, and Him who reigns with them in highest heaven: the one eternal God, Whom earth and heaven adore! For thus it was, is now, and shall be evermore.”

May God be with you,

Jay