November prayer guide.

We begin our prayer time in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. + Amen.

“I thank You, my heavenly Father, through Jesus Christ, Your dear Son, that You have kept me this night from all harm and danger; and I pray that You would keep me this day also from sin and every evil, that all my doings and life may please You. For into Your hands, I commend myself, my body and soul, and all things. Let Your holy angel be with me, that the evil foe may have no power over me. Amen.”  Martin Luther

‘Adoration’

Revelation 4:8-11; “Each of the four living creatures had six wings and was covered with eyes all around, even under its wings.  Day and night they never stop saying: “‘Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty,’ who was, and is, and is to come.”  Whenever the living creatures give glory, honor and thanks to him who sits on the throne and who lives for ever and ever, the twenty-four elders fall down before him who sits on the throne and worship him who lives for ever and ever.  They lay their crowns before the throne and say: “You are worthy, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they were created and have their being.”

Lord God Almighty; Creator of heaven, earth and of everything visible and invisible; we stand in awe of You and of all that You created so many centuries ago, that surrounds us and is within us.  Those of us living here in the Midwest cannot help but marvel at the harvest of the crops in rural areas, the changes in the colors of the shrubs and tree foliage and how You sustain all life on this planet daily.  Dear Lord, You have given each of us an appointed measure of time, talents and treasures with which to seek, discern and accomplish Your will; Heavenly Father, direct us accordingly.  For many of us who are Trinity HOPE supporters, November is a fund-raising month in many locations and a time for fellowship with other like-minded donors.  For those living in Haiti, this is still a time of unthinkable challenges from many different directions.  This is a time for all of us to quietly direct our thoughts for a few moments, here in the U.S. and there in Haiti, to all that our Awesome God has done and will accomplish through our lives no matter what or where we may be…He is in Control. 

A time of ‘Adoration’ to our Triune God.    

·        Think about the provisions, protection, hope and love that surround you because of His unfailing love for you.

·        Try to grasp the immense work that our Creator has and is doing in the lives of each Haitian child who are daily facing challenges from cholera, gangs, border issues and vodou.

·        Consider how our God is using your daily energies to accomplish His work throughout this world.

 ‘Confession’

1 John 1:9; “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.”

We were born, sinful and unclean, through no fault of our own, but because of the sins of our parents, grandparents…Adam and Eve. 

God sent His only Son to die for our sins. Jesus did everything right while he was here on this earth. He loves you with a love that cannot be measured.  He gave to the world when no thanks were returned to Him.  He healed when there was no hope, and He died without complaint.  Jesus did nothing wrong and everything right; all this for you.  He lived for you and died for you.  Our sins nailed Him to the cross on Calvary and kept Him there until His life on earth had ended.

·        A time of personal confession.

Our sins are placed at the base of the Calvary cross...His cross, and we give thanks that the times we have fallen short in the eyes of our Heavenly Father have been washed clean and we have been forgiven through the Blood of our Risen Savior Jesus Christ.

 ‘Thanksgiving’

Heavenly Father, as we look at the morning news each day, we cannot help but see that there are so many areas in our world today, where news reports are bleak and challenging.  Wars, rumors of wars, supply shortages, weather calamities, human suffering and worst of all, there are people turning away from You.  Father, in these times, where do we begin to give You thanks?  As we sit and look to You, may we take a few moments to recall Who is always with each of us; so great are the blessings that You have poured into our lives and continues to daily shower upon us.  We give thanks that despite these challenges in our fallen world and from inflation, gangs. Cholera, border disputes and vodou in Haiti; our Heavenly Father still provides daily care for children throughout Haiti and here in our homeland.      

Psalm 107:1; “Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever.”

Heavenly Father, we come to You now with hearts, minds and words filled with ‘Thanksgiving’.”

·        We give thanks for our Creator, Redeemer and Holy Spirit and for Your continued blessings in our lives.

·        We give thanks for the start of the school year last month.  There are many new students who will learn about Jesus, be filled with ‘JOY’ and receive a daily meal from Trinity HOPE.  We pray that ALL of the children will be in school ALL day soon.

·        We give you thanks for our providence and as we give of our first fruits may we also give a portion of our best to His children in Haiti who need the assistance we can provide because of You.

·        We give thanks the birth of Leo Usher Ibrahim Dieudonne, the son of Willy our Haitian Supervisor and his wife Fernande.  Leo was born at 8:20am Thursday morning in a hospital near down town Port au Prince.  Mother and baby are doing well.

‘Supplications’

“Almighty God, Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, grant, we pray, that we might be grounded and settled in Your truth by the coming of Your Holy Spirit in our hearts.  What we do not know, reveal to us; what is lacking within us, make complete; what we do know, confirm in us; and keep us blameless in Your service, through Jesus Christ our Lord.  Amen.”  Clement, c. 35–99 AD, served as bishop in Rome after the apostle Peter.

Heavenly Father, the number of places on the face of this planet where Your children live in uncertain times…is ever increasing.  There seem to be more times where we feel as if we are surrounded by evil and higher walls of challenges and wonder where to begin to ask for deliverance.  Father, You alone know our hearts.  You feel our fears.  You hear our groanings.  The Republic of Haiti is facing challenges from inside and out at this present time.  There are voices from within Haiti and from many locations around this fallen world that are sharing their messages on what ‘needs’ to be done to end the chaos and bring peace and Hope to the Haitian people.  May we all seek YOUR wisdom and wise discernment and be found blameless as we seek to help, and not hinder, but to bless Your people in Haiti with our time, talents and treasures.    

Heavenly Father, please hear our requests;

·        Heavenly Father, please provide safe travel for the donors who are having Trinity HOPE fundraising events this month in many areas of our country.

·        Lord Jesus, cause Your Haitian children to be strong, courageous and faithful in their witness as they continue to face challenges from gangs in their neighborhoods.

·        May the fires started by the cooks last month, scorch the lies of those who are opposed to YOU.  May the Holy Spirit seek and change the cold hearts of those who still desire to please the devil, and bring them to the foot of the cross seeking Your forgiveness and favor.

·        Lord Jesus, bring comfort to the families living in Pont Sonde and in the neighborhoods surrounding Arcahaie where gangs have taken lives and driven many from their homes.

·        Father, provide ample teams of volunteers with Trinity HOPE who oversee the monthly records from Haitian school’s abundant joy as they serve you in this way.

·        Almighty God, be with those countries and organizations that are seeking ways to help Haiti find ways to stop the gangs, fuel shortages and the spread of cholera.  May the additional police from Kenya work with the people of Haiti, listening to them and working side by side accomplishing Your work.

·        Heavenly Father, bring patience, wisdom and maturity to the leaders in Haiti and the Dominican Republic as they argue over closure of their border.

·        Lord, those of us who live in the U.S. are voting for leaders this month.  Please bless those individuals on our ballets with godly wisdom.  Grant them with lives reflecting honesty, humility and avoidance of arrogance.  Keep them from harm and danger.  Correct them when they stray from Your Law and pleasing directions.  Help each of us to pray for them as they serve our country. 

Lord God, bless Your Word wherever it is proclaimed.  Make it a Word of power and peace to convert those not yet Your own and to confirm those who have come to saving faith.  May Your Word pass from the ear to the heart, from the heart to the lip and from the lip to the life that, as You have promised, Your Word may achieve the purpose for which You sent it; through Jesus Christ, our Lord.  Amen.

“I thank You, my heavenly Father, through Jesus Christ, Your dear Son, that You have graciously kept me this day; and I pray that You would forgive me all my sins where I have done wrong, and graciously keep me this night. For into Your hands, I commend myself, my body and soul, and all things. Let your holy angel be with me, that the evil foe may have no power over me.  Amen.” Martin Luther

2 Corinthians 13:11-14; “Finally, brothers, good-by. Aim for perfection, listen to my appeal, be of one mind, live in peace. And the God of love and peace will be with you.  Greet one another with a holy kiss.  All the saints send their greetings.  May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.”

May God go before you to guide you; may His arms be beneath you to support you, around you to protect you and above you to bless you.  And may the blessings of God the Father, Son and Holy Spirit be with you always dear sister and brother in Christ,

In His love,

Jay Brinkmeyer

I AM trusting Thee.

“Truly I tell you, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.” Luke 18:17

The children in the attached photo attend the Lutheran school in Bois Marchand which is located on the North edge of Gonaives in the northern claw of Haiti.  It was about 11:15 when this photo was snapped and it must have been 100 degrees in this ‘airy’ building.  The children had put down their school books, washed their hands from a white plastic bucket, said their prayers and their food was brought to them by the teachers.

Visiting Trinity HOPE feeding programs can sometimes almost make me weep when I consider what these children are going through every day; every day after day after day living in Haiti.  What do you suppose the little boy on the right side of the second desk is thinking about, he has a thoughtful stare on his face?  His name is Richard (Ree-shard) and he approached me before I left and through an interpreter he thanked me for the feeding program as his school.  I gave him a big hug and my sunglasses prevented him from seeing moisture in my eyes.  Thank you, for the feeding program at his school and the other 255 schools in Haiti.  Richard places his trust in Jesus as every day this plate of food arrives at his desk in Bois Marchand; a plate of hope where there is little hope to go around.  Frances Havergal wrote the words to the hymn ‘I am trusting Thee, Lord Jesus’ in 1874 and they provide comfort His children when this world tells us there is no hope.

“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, ev'ry 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.”

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

Troubles in November?

“Though I walk in the midst of trouble, you preserve my life.  You stretch out your hand against the anger of my foes; with your right hand you save me” Psalm 138:7

As a child of God living in North America, there will always be some form of trouble or challenges in my life as the evil foe will have it no other way while he is still unleashed; roaming through every crook and cranny on this earth.  The child on the left in the attached photo is no doubt enduring more troubles in her life than the children next to her as her eyes seem to be filled with thoughts elsewhere on this day as she eats her lunch.  Her prayer time in Bois Marchand is reaching our Heavenly Father in the same amount of time that our prayers reach Him; immediately.  We think that her problems can’t possibly be like ours, but in truth they are as they were started by satan, in the form of a serpent in the Garden of Eden, in Illinois, in Haiti, in Tennessee and all over this world; the evil foe brings trouble into the lives of those who call upon the Triune God; and trouble also drops upon those who don’t.  Big difference here, we are saved, those still clinging to the lies of the vodou priest are not saved.  Horatius Bonar wrote the lyrics for the hymn ‘Thy works, not mine, O Christ’ in 1857 and they are such a wonderful reminder that our Savior is always near, always there when we call upon His name.

“Thy works, not mine, O Christ, speak gladness to this heart; they tell me all is done, they bid my fear depart.  To whom save Thee, who canst alone for sin atone, Lord, shall I flee?  Thy wounds, not mine, O Christ, can heal my bruised soul; Thy stripes, not mine, contain the balm that makes me whole.  To whom save Thee, who canst alone for sin atone, Lord, shall I flee?  Thy cross, not mine, O Christ, has borne the awe-full load of sins that none could bear but the incarnate God.  To whom save Thee, who canst alone for sin atone, Lord, shall I flee?  Thy death, not mine, O Christ, has paid the ransom due; ten thousand deaths like mine would have been all too few.  To whom save Thee, who canst alone for sin atone, Lord, shall I flee?  Thy righteousness, O Christ, alone can cover me; no righteousness avails save that which is of Thee.  To whom save Thee, who canst alone for sin atone, Lord, shall I flee?”

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

For all the Saints.

“I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has given me strength, that he considered me trustworthy, appointing me to his service.” 1 Timothy 1:12

While listening to “Focus on the Family” recently, I heard Sheila Walsh say “It is the Shepherds job to get me home” and those words and that program really caught my attention.  Nothing that you or I ever accomplish on our own will get us into Heaven; it is only what Jesus has already done that will get us into Paradise.  The Good Shepherd watches over us, the Holy Spirit encourages us and we are truly blessed that He considers us worthy to help to use our ‘gifts’ to do His work on this side of Paradise.

When I was in high school and worked during the summer months in the alfalfa fields picking up haybales, I remember one farmer who happened to raise sheep instead of cattle, as a few farmers in Eastern Nebraska did back then.  I will never forget the awful smell of the sheep; a pungent odor that caused the eyes to squint and face to wrinkle as the words ‘pee-ewe’ left my mouth.  The attached photo is of a Lutheran goatherd in Saltadere, Haiti.  These Haitian goats smell like Nebraska sheep and seemed to be just as smart as well; they needed a shepherd. 

We too are like sheep, our sinful lives reek of a pungent odor.  The children attending Christian schools in Haiti need the Bon Berger (Good Shepherd) and you and I also need that Good Shepherd to lead us along our journey.  The hymn ‘For all the Saints who from their labors rest’ was written by William How in 1864 and they are an excellent reminder of our journey to our Heavenly home after following our Good Shepherd.

“For all the saints who from their labors rest, who Thee by faith before the world confess, Thy name, O Jesus, be forever blest, Alleluia! Alleluia!  Thou wast their Rock, their Fortress, and their Might; Thou, Lord, their Captain in the well-fought fight; Thou, in the darkness drear, their one true Light.  Alleluia! Alleluia!  Oh, may Thy soldiers, faithful, true and bold, fight as the saints who nobly fought of old and win with them the victor's crown of gold.
Alleluia! Alleluia!  O blest communion, fellowship divine, we feebly struggle, they in glory shine; yet all are one in Thee, for all are Thine.  Alleluia! Alleluia!  And when the fight is fierce, the warfare long, steals on the ear the distant triumph song, and hearts are brave again, and arms are strong.  Alleluia! Alleluia!  But, lo, there breaks a yet more glorious day; the saints triumphant rise in bright array; the King of Glory passes on His way.  Alleluia! Alleluia!  From earth's wide bounds, from ocean's farthest coast, through gates of pearl streams in the countless host, singing to Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, Alleluia! Alleluia!  The golden evening brightens in the west; soon, soon, to faithful warriors cometh rest.  Sweet is the calm of Paradise the blest.  Alleluia! Alleluia!”

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

Outward appearances.

“But the LORD said to Samuel, “Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him.  The LORD does not look at the things people look at.  People look at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.” 1 Samuel 16:7

We should all be thankful that God looks at the heart of a person and not their outward appearance.  If He didn’t view us through the eyes of Jesus, we would be seen for what we truly are; sinful and unclean.  This world that we live in too often, almost all of the time, views a person by what they do, how popular they happen to be, what kind of a house they live in, what model of car they drive and the size of their bank account.

That is not what is of interest to God.  This child attending the Lutheran school in Ouanaminthe doesn’t have a school uniform; doesn’t matter to God as she is in school.  Her left leg has an ailment; not a problem, look what He did with the Apostle Paul.  Our culture is intent on ‘quick’ fixes to perceived problems in this world; Trinity HOPE is feeding children for the long term. 

She may sing in the Church choir one day or be a teacher at this school or give birth to a child who will be a Pastor in her Church; God is in control of her life and has plans for her future.  We continue to feed His sheep and watch Him mold these young lives into mission workers in His fields.  Charlotte Elliott wrote the words to the hymn ‘Just as I am, without one plea’ in 1836 and they seem to be a wonderful way to close this message.

“Just as I am, without one plea but that Thy blood was shed for me and that Thou bidd'st me come to Thee, O Lamb of God, I come, I come.  Just as I am and waiting not to rid my soul of one dark blot, to Thee, whose blood can cleanse each spot, O Lamb of God, I come, I come.  Just as I am, though tossed about with many a conflict, many a doubt, fightings and fears within, without, O Lamb of God, I come, I come.  Just as I am, poor, wretched, blind; sight, riches, healing of the mind, yea, all I need, in Thee to find, O Lamb of God, I come, I come.  Just as I am, Thou wilt receive, wilt welcome, pardon, cleanse, relieve; because Thy promise I believe, O Lamb of God, I come, I come.  Just as I am; Thy love unknown has broken every barrier down.  Now to be Thine, yea, Thine alone, O Lamb of God, I come, I come.”

Heavenly Father, you have called your servants to ventures of which we cannot see the ending, by paths as yet untrodden, through perils unknown.  Give us faith to go out with good courage, 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

Living by faith.

“All these people were still living by faith when they died.  They did not receive the things promised; they only saw them and welcomed them from a distance, admitting that they were foreigners and strangers on earth.” Hebrews 11:13

What a beautiful statement regarding all those saints who fell asleep before the coming of our Lord Jesus.  It really doesn't matter how they died, where they died or when they died but the most important thing they had in common was that they all "were still living by faith when they died."  Our Heavenly Father wants you, me, these children from Haiti and all people on this earth to be living by faith when we breathe our last.  He sent His only Son to come into this world to seek and save the lost.

Believers in Christ should not die while resting in a recliner or basking in the glow of our earthly accomplishments, but firmly holding to our faith in our risen Savior.  The followers of Christ in Hebrews 11 understood that it is as precious to die by faith as it is to live by faith.  These children living in Haiti are learning more about their Savior every day and are enjoying their daily meal.  For many of them, their ancestors practiced vodou and probably denied Christ and did not receive the same promises of Eternal Glory in Heaven as these young saints are waiting for in the coming days.  These young children are confident of their acceptance by God, daily enjoying the rays of His love and resting in His faithfulness to the very end.  I close today with the words to the hymn ‘Savior of the nations, come’ that was written by Martin Luther in 1524.

“Savior of the nations, come, virgin's Son, make here Thy home!  Marvel now, O heaven and earth, that the Lord chose such a birth.  Not by human flesh and blood, by the Spirit of our God, was the Word of God made flesh; woman's Offspring, pure and fresh.  Wondrous birth! O wondrous Child of the Virgin undefiled!  Though by all the world disowned, still to be in heaven enthroned.  From the Father forth He came and returneth to the same, captive leading death and hell; high the song of triumph swell!  Thou, the Father's only Son, hast o'er sin the victory won.  Boundless shall Thy kingdom be; when shall we its glories see?  Brightly doth Thy manger shine, glorious is its light divine.  Let not sin o'ercloud this light; ever be our faith thus bright.  Praise to God the Father sing, praise to God the Son, our King, praise to God the Spirit be ever and eternally.”

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

Forgive us, Lord.

“For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.” 1 Corinthians 1:18

I was listening to the radio in my truck recently and heard Joel Osteen giving a message that centered upon the ‘garbage in – garbage out’ philosophy.  If we are spending the majority of our time watching the flat screen we are spending less time in His Word.  If we are spending more time feeding our bodies at the all-you-can eat counter we are probably taking away precious hours from our life of serving our Heavenly Father.

The girl in the attached photo attends one of the Lutheran schools in Gonaives and she has a cloth next to her face, not to wipe away tears of boredom as she listens to my devotion on this particular day, but rather to wipe away perspiration on this typically hot early afternoon in March.  Her idle time is not spent in front of a television at home but is spent studying her homework because that is what is most important to her.  Her meal comes because of somebody just like you who has shared a portion of their tithe on her life so she could eat a meal of beans and rice for lunch.  Please take time today to consider how our Heavenly Father is either using your life today or is nudging you to go in one of His directions instead of the ways of this world.  I am closing today with the words from the Hymn “Forgive us, Lord, for shallow thankfulness” that was written by William Watkins Reid, Sr.  We sang this hymn a few weeks ago and its words seemed like a powerful message.

“Forgive us, Lord, for shallow thankfulness, for dull content with warmth and sheltered care.  For songs of praise for food and harvest press, while of Your richer gifts we're unaware.  Teach us to thank You, Lord, for love and grace.  For life and vision, for a purpose clear, for Christ your Son, and for each human face that shows Your message ever new and near.  Forgive us, Lord, for selfish thanks and praise; for words that speak at variance with deeds.  Forgive our thanks for waling pleasant ways unmindful of a broken brother's needs.  Teach us, O Lord, true thankfulness divine, that gives as Christ gave, never counting cost; that knows no barrier of "yours" and "mine," assured that only what's withheld is lost.  Forgive us, Lord, for feast that knows not fast; for joy in things that meanwhile starve the soul.  For walls and wars that hide Your mercies vast and blur our vision of the Kingdom goal.  Open our eyes to see Your love's intent; to know with minds and hearts its depth and height; may thankfulness be days in service spend, reflection of Christ's life and love and light.”

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

In His Word.

“But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.” John 20:31

Today is the last Saturday in October.  On this day, I can assure you that all of the children attending Lutheran schools in Haiti are in His Word daily and are being prepared to go and share the Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ with the people of Haiti who are foolishly clinging to the lies of the vodou priest.

When you look at the attached photo of a ‘Bib La’ resting on a pew in the Central Plateau in Haiti, it is important for you to know that an estimated sixty percent of the people living in Haiti cannot read or write.  On one of my visits to the Central Plateau I saw a large collection of new Lutheran Catechism’s in a box that had been translated into Haitian Creole by the late Rev. Dr. Doris Louis.  I asked why they were in the box and not in the hands of the lay Pastors in the countryside and the reply was that they could not read them; the Pastors could read French, but not Creole as that language had been taught audibly.

It is truly important for you to understand just how valuable your support is to Trinity HOPE as over 60,000 children in these schools are learning to read and write; their impact upon the country of Haiti in the next decade will truly be monumental.  These children in Haiti will be the Pastors, teachers and missionaries who will share His Word with the country as their gifts of literacy will impact so many for Him.  Their witness will impact so many more than the witness of the present Pastors and teachers.  The hymn ‘Lord, keep us steadfast in Thy Word’ was written by Martin Luther in 1541 and those words are still applicable today and close this message.

“Lord, keep us steadfast in Thy Word; curb those who fain by craft and sword would wrest the Kingdom from Thy Son and set at naught all He hath done.  Lord Jesus Christ, Thy power make known, for Thou art Lord of lords alone; defend Thy Christendom that we may evermore sing praise to Thee.  O Comforter of priceless worth.  Send peace and unity on earth.  Support us in our final strife and lead us out of death to life.”

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

Pride.

“He has shown you, O mortal, what is good.  And what does the Lord require of you?  To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.” Micah 6:8

I went through an online Chuck Swindoll Bible study recently and he wrote this about pride; “Pride is a terrible trait, manifesting itself in our passion for the ‘best seats’; insisting on recognition, wanting to be noticed, longing for prominence, smarting when we’re not consulted or advised, dominating social situations.  It displays itself when we resist authority or become angry and defensive when crossed or challenged; when we harbor grudges, nurse grievances or wallow in self-pity.  It’s the drive behind our penchant for associating with the rich and famous rather than the little people who make up most of our world.”

The Creole word for ‘pride’ is lògèy.  Pride rears its ugly head all over this world as satan continues to encourage us about how special we are; we are god’s children and we are as smart as and sometimes smarter than god.  As I was typing Mr. Swindoll’s description about pride I was reminded of several people, even a Lutheran Pastor, who had some of those traits.  If I were to highlight the areas where my pride was described there would be several highlighted words.  If you tried hard, you too could probably find one that would fit into your life.  These children in Haiti also have lògèy. 

I take pride in my daughters and my grandchildren; they are from God and members of His family.  I take pride in the work that Trinity HOPE is accomplishing in Haiti; it is all happening because of God.  The parents of these Haitian children take pride in their accomplishments; again, gifts from God.  Taking pride in what ‘we’ have done is ugly and can be dangerous to our relationship with our Triune God.  Taking pride in what God has accomplished through us, relating that it is all from Him for His Glory is beautiful and fulfills His purpose for our lives.  I close with the words to the hymn ‘The will of God is always best’ that was written by Albrecht von Brandenburg in 1553.

“The will of God is always best and shall be done forever; and they who trust in Him are blest, He will forsake them never.  He helps indeed In time of need, He chastens with forbearing; they who depend On God, their Friend, shall not be left despairing.  God is my Comfort and my Trust, my Hope and life abiding; and to His counsel wise and just, I yield in Him confiding.  The very hairs, His Word declares, upon my head He numbers. by night and day God is my Stay, He never sleeps nor slumbers.  Lord Jesus, this I ask of Thee, deny me not this favor: when Satan sorely troubles me, then do not let me waver.  Keep watch and ward, O gracious Lord, fulfill Thy faithful saying: who doth believe He shall receive an answer to His praying.  When life's brief course on earth is run and I this world am leaving, grant me to say: "Thy will be done." by faith to Thee still cleaving.  My heavenly Friend, I now commend my soul into Thy keeping, o'er sin and hell, and death as well, through Thee the victory reaping.”

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 need to be first.

“Sitting down, Jesus called the Twelve and said, “Anyone who wants to be first must be the very last, and the servant of all.” Mark 9:35

As a North American, the words of Christ to the twelve may be difficult to accept as our culture impresses upon us the need to be first and have everybody else in last place, or at least behind us.  The dictionary defines the word ‘servant’ as follows; one that serves others; a public servant; especially one that performs duties about the person or home of a master or personal employer.  The word is ‘Middle English’ and its first known use was in the 13th century.

This word ‘servant’ has been in my thoughts a lot since the earthquake rocked Haiti on January 12, 2010 while watching and reading about service organizations and mission societies ‘rush’ to Haiti to provide assistance.  Too often it seems that their initial focus was to provide well-meaning aid with a true ‘servant’ attitude and after seeing what other groups were doing next to their ‘space’ they wanted the world to know that they were ‘first’ and the rest of this world needed to look at them and see what they had done.  The servant attitude had been replaced with a self-serving attitude.

The children in the attached photo attend the Lutheran school at Bas De Sceaut in the Artibonite District.  This a small rural school of 40 children who are fed daily in this school.  These young servants are happy servants, going to school in this wooden structure with a dirt floor, no glass in the windows and a piece of canvas for a door. 

They are learning the true meaning of Mark 9:35 and are receiving their only real meal of the day at this location.  Too often we get our priorities twisted around and fail to see what is really important in this lifetime.  Put down the wall that this world has placed around you, lower your guard and seek to follow the model of service that Christ has given you.  Martin Luther wrote the hymn ‘Come, Holy Ghost, God and Lord’ a long time ago but his words are a wonderful way to close today’s message.

“Come, Holy Ghost, God and Lord!  Be all Thy graces now out poured on each believer's mind and heart; Thy fervent love to them impart.  Lord, by the brightness of Thy light, Thou in the faith dost men unite of every land and every tongue; this to Thy praise, O Lord, our God, be sung.  Hallelujah! Hallelujah!  Thou holy Light, Guide Divine, oh, cause the Word of Life to shine!  Teach us to know our God aright and call Him Father with delight. from every error keep us free; let none but Christ our Master be that we in living faith abide, in Him, our Lord, with all our might confide.  Hallelujah! Hallelujah!  Thou holy Fire, Comfort true, grant us the will Thy work to do and in Thy service to abide; let trials turn us not aside.  Lord, by Thy power prepare each heart and to our weakness strength impart that bravely here we may contend, through life and death to Thee, our Lord, ascend.  Hallelujah! Hallelujah!”

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