Find us faithful.

“Be faithful, even to the point of death, and I will give you life as your victor’s crown.” Revelation 2:10b

One of my morning devotions this week focused on the word ‘faithful’.  The Bing dictionary gives the following meanings for this word, “1.  Unwavering in belief: believing firmly in something or somebody, especially a religion or a political doctrine.  2.  Consistently loyal: consistently trustworthy and loyal, especially to a person, promise, or duty.  3.  Not adulterous or promiscuous: not having sexual relations with somebody other than a spouse or partner.  4.  Conscientious: displaying or resulting from a sense of responsibility or devotion to duty.  5.  Correct: accurate and true; "a faithful account of the events".

To what are you faithful?  I have been faithful to many things in this world; machines, people and some dogs but ultimately, they have failed me and I at times failed them as well.  There is really only one sure thing that will never fail us; our Triune God.  The Holy Trinity never fails us, never will; upon Him we place our trust.

The Haitian word for faithful is ‘Fidel.’  If you asked a child in a Trinity HOPE feeding program who they place their trust in, their initial response would probably, and prayerfully be ‘Bondye’ or God.  Their HOPE is built on nothing less.  Their second answer for what they place their trust in are the cooks at their school as typically when they get to school in the morning, they usually peek around the corner to see if their smiling faces are there and the fire has been started.  The vodou followers in their neighborhood continue to plant seeds of unbelief that Bondye does not like them and there will be no food at their school.  Thanks to you, the fire is lit, their faith is secure and growing stronger and the lies of the vodou people are once again proven wrong.  Steve Green wrote the song ‘Find us Faithful’ and it seemed like a wonderful way to close this devotion.

“We're pilgrims on the journey of the narrow road and those who've gone before us line the way cheering on the faithful, encouraging the weary.  Their lives a stirring testament to God's sustaining grace.  Surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses let us run the race not only for the prize but as those who've gone before us.  Let us leave to those behind us the heritage of faithfulness passed on through godly lives.  Oh may all who come behind us find us faithful.  May the fire of our devotion light their way.  May the footprints that we leave lead them to believe and the lives we live inspire them to obey.  Oh may all who come behind us find us faithful after all our hopes and dreams have come and gone and our children sift through all we've left behind.  May the clues that they discover and the memories they uncover become the light that leads them to the road we each must find.”

Thank you for finishing well through your support of Trinity HOPE; may your blessings leave a legacy for generations to come, here the U.S. and in Haiti.

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

Saying goodbye.

“Greet all God’s people in Christ Jesus. The brothers and sisters who are with me send greetings.  All God’s people here send you greetings, especially those who belong to Caesar’s household.  The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Amen.”  Philippians 4:21-23

On this side of Heaven, saying goodbye can sometimes be difficult.  When you travel with a mission team to visit school children in Haiti there is always perhaps one or two children who will just linger and hold on to your hand, your shirt sleeve, tap your leg with their hand just not wanting the moment to end.

When I lived in Haiti it was me at the airport with the departing mission team, hanging with them at the airport while they stood in line waiting to enter the airport terminal.  It was me standing there in the heat, trying to catch one more fleeting glimpse of their smile, listen to their voice, one last hand shake, just one more hug…one last word before they left for North America and I would return to my truck and drive back to my apartment in Petionville.

After a week of conversation with English speaking brothers and sisters in Christ, it was hard to return up the long hill on Delmas to a hot and lonely apartment room.  Saying goodbye can be difficult on both ends of the handshake.  There is a song by a Gospel group called ‘The Nelons’ that is titled “Christians Never say Goodbye” and it comes to mind every time I have to say goodbye.  Good bye to children in Haiti, goodbye to a loved one or goodbye to one who was close to death.

“I was standing by the bed side of a dear and precious saint with tear stained eyes I held his hand his life was growing faint.  He looked at me and said; "my child why do you look so sad, I'm going now to my new home you'll see me again.  Christians never say goodbye, we only move to our home on high; free from pain and never die with Jesus we will reign.  A wife may lose her husband or a mother lose her child whatever the case we all can say Christians never say goodbye.  Now he's gone to live in heaven, a life free from pain.  His suffering now has an end and our loss will be their gain.  By Jesus rights he is healed; his pain will be no more let's release the precious saint to the arms of the Lord.”

On a hot afternoon in Ouanaminthe, two girls stood by the open door of our vehicle waiting to say goodbye.  Good bye is temporary in this world.  These faces will be reunited in Heaven.  Thank you for preparing these children for the reunion with Jesus, and with you in Heaven.

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

Summer camp.

“Do everything without grumbling or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, “children of God without fault in a warped and crooked generation.”  Then you will shine among them like stars in the sky as you hold firmly to the word of life.  And then I will be able to boast on the day of Christ that I did.” Philippians 2:14–16

Back in the day, when I was the age that my grandchildren are today, I don’t recall hearing the term ‘summer camp’ being used by kids in my neighborhood.  Most of us had some chores to do and then were free to go fishing, swimming, exploring places on the outskirts of town and playing some sort of sports that we could ride our bikes to, as our parents worked and didn’t take us places like is so common today.  There weren’t camps where we could go to improve our young lives.

As I was reading the above verses written by the Apostle Paul to people in Philippi, the thought came into my mind about a summer camp for us, well at least some of us, of a camp where we could get some help this summer with our grumbling and arguing.  I have heard it in the facility where I live; daily.  I try not to join in and pile on in an argument about the food, the help or how my laundry was done.  We really should try to model our lives that are not like the majority of the grumblers.  A positive attitude makes a major statement in our ‘warped and crooked generation.’  We don't need to shout it out or make a ‘better than you’ appearance; just got to stop grumbling and arguing.

Paul identifies four startling differences in our summer camp between those who know Christ and those who don't.  These four descriptive words make all the difference in the world. Unlike our unbelieving friends, we are to be Blameless.  This suggests a purity of life that is both undeniable and unhypocritical; free of defect.  Pure. This means unmixed and unadulterated; inexperienced in evil and untainted in motive; possessing integrity.  Above reproach.  This description is used of sacrificial lambs offered on altars and means free of blemish.  Shining Lights.  Actually, the term used here means ‘luminaries’, meaning we are to shine like stars surrounded by darkness.  The six girls in the attached photo appear to be brightly shining stars.

Paul goes on to say in our summer camp, that as we shine like stars, we are to  ‘hold firmly to the word of life.’  We should strive to be bold, blazing, light-giving stars in this fallen world!  There you have it.  Paul’s five-minute summer camp.  

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

A pearl of wisdom.

“Yet it was good of you to share in my troubles.  Moreover, as you Philippians know, in the early days of your acquaintance with the gospel, when I set out from Macedonia, not one church shared with me in the matter of giving and receiving, except you only; for even when I was in Thessalonica, you sent me aid more than once when I was in need.  Not that I desire your gifts; what I desire is that more be credited to your account.  I have received full payment and have more than enough.  I am amply supplied, now that I have received from Epaphroditus the gifts you sent.  They are a fragrant offering, an acceptable sacrifice, pleasing to God.  And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus.  To our God and Father be glory for ever and ever. Amen.”  Philippians 4:14-20

Over the years, I have witnessed mission teams that bring gifts, suitcases full of odds and ends that seemingly are needed by the recipients in a faraway land.  Our ancestors in North America gave blankets, beads and buttons to the Native inhabitants prior to moving into their land.  When the Apostle Paul went his journeys Churches provided for him, not the other way around.

Paul was an ambassador for Christ and his message was the Holy Gospel and the news of the gift of salvation that is found only in Christ.  Sometimes we stray from this direction and return to the ways of our culture.  Instead of bringing that which is of real value and will last forever, the Gospel, we tote and deliver worthless trinkets that only bring short lived happiness.  The child from Ouanaminthe in the attached photo is giving thanks to God for their daily food, and for your support.  She doesn’t know you or me, but she does know Him who brought this food to her table.  It is not about me, it is about Him.  

I read a pearl of wisdom recently which says “When you pray for others, God listens to you and blesses them, and sometimes, when you are safe and happy, remember that someone has prayed for you.”  Thank you for continuing to pray for the children in Haiti who receive the true gift of life and the gift of nourishment daily.  Also never forget that you are in their prayers as well.  We recently sang ‘Christ be my leader’ which was written by Timothy Dudley-Smith in the early 1960’s and this song reminds us of the presence of Christ in our lives each and every day.

“Christ be my leader by night as by day; safe through the darkness for he is the way.  Gladly I follow, my future his care, darkness is daylight when Jesus is there.  Christ be my teacher in age as in youth, drifting or doubting, for he is the truth.  Grant me to trust him, though shifting as sand, doubt cannot daunt me; in Jesus I stand.  Christ be my Savior in calm as in strife; death cannot hold me, for he is the life.  Nor darkness nor doubting nor sin and its stain can touch my salvation: with Jesus I reign.”

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

You are richly blessed; Glory be to God.

“I rejoiced greatly in the Lord that at last you renewed your concern for me.  Indeed, you were concerned, but you had no opportunity to show it.  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 4:10-13

If my experience in Haiti and pictures and Holy Scriptures do nothing more than causing you to better understand how blessed your life is and how wonderfully our Triune God continues to provide for you and all His children then all is well; Glory be to Him who has brought this about.

The attached photo is of Pastor Daniel Paul, his wife Clynie and their daughters in Ouanaminthe.  Clynie gave me a “How to speak Creole” book when I first moved to Haiti.  It helped me to learn their language and I still have the book and open its pages before when looking for creole words that I want to use in a message.

Pastor Daniel received his training at the Lutheran Seminary in Ft. Wayne, IN and returned to Haiti in June of 2001 with Clynie to begin their ministry first in Port-au-Prince and later in Ouanaminthe.  They have been blessed through a relationship with congregations in Washington State that have been mindful in assisting in ways that promote self-dependency.  There is a Trinity HOPE school feeding program at their school and children in their orphanage are some of the children that attend this school.  The song “Thank you Lord for Your blessings on me” by the Easter Brothers was on my computer gospel station recently and its words gave reason for the smiles from the Paul family.

“As the world looks upon me, as I struggle along.  They say I have nothing, but they are so wrong.  In my heart I'm rejoicing, how I wish they could see.  Thank you Lord, for your blessings on me.  There’s a roof up above me, I’ve a good place to sleep.  There’s food on my table and shoes on my feet.  You gave me your love Lord and a fine family.  Thank you Lord, for your blessings on me.  Now I know I'm not wealthy, and these clothes, they're not new.  I don't have much money, but Lord I have you.  And to me that's all that matters, though the world cannot see.  Thank you Lord, for your blessings on me.”

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

May God be with you,

Jay

How can we be used.

“Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable; if anything is excellent or praiseworthy…think about such things.  Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me; put it into practice.  And the God of peace will be with you.”  Philippians 4:8-9

Back in the day while living in Haiti my quiet hours either in the early morning or at night, if it was just too hot to sleep, were spent searching for Bible verses to insert into PowerPoint programs.  The Apostle Paul provided me with a plethora of verses from which to choose from.  These verses in the 4th chapter of Philippians rank very high on the closing passages that I used.  The late Pastor Darrell Stuehrenberg would always remind me that these that they were his life verses; Pastor Darrell is richly blessed today.

When we consider our mission, His mission for us, and how we can be used to do His mission to the assist the believers in Haiti to reach the un-believers in Haiti these passages should be considered before anything is planned.  Too often well-meaning North Americans have gone off to foreign lands with mission ideas that have en-slaved believers in the mission fields.  These types of ‘assistance’ do not go unseen by the un-believers; schools without a roof, broken trucks sitting idle for years, empty medical clinics and empty concrete block churches.  Where is their God, why doesn’t their God come back and fix these problems?

The attached photo was taken in Ouanaminthe, Haiti.  This school does not need to be fixed.  The clothes that this young girl is wearing are just fine.  The food in the bowl is her daily meal.  The smile on her face is genuine.  She has a Savior who gave His life for her and prepared a place for her in Heaven.  She has Jesus!  The hymn “Beautiful Savior” from the Lutheran Hymnal is such a wonderful reminder of what it is that we truly need and also what we have.  No author was ever given for this hymn that appeared in 1677, must have been a Lutheran who didn’t want this hymn to be about him, but rather about the Savior.  

“Beautiful Savior, King of Creation, Son of God and Son of Man!  Truly I'd love Thee, truly I'd serve Thee, light of my soul, my Joy, my Crown.  Fair are the meadows, fair are the woodlands, robed in flowers of blooming spring; Jesus is fairer, Jesus is purer; He makes our sorrowing spirit sing.  Fair is the sunshine, fair is the moonlight, bright the sparkling stars on high; Jesus shines brighter, Jesus shines purer, than all the angels in the sky.  Beautiful Savior, Lord of the nations, Son of God and Son of Man!  Glory and honor, praise, adoration, now and forevermore be Thine!”

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

Rejoice in the Lord.

“Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!  Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near.  Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.  And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”  Philippians 4:4-7

I watched a funeral service on line recently for a Saint that I knew from SE Nebraska.  I had met her a few times and she was confined to a wheelchair like I am today.  I really didn’t know at the time how confining that really was like.  But, this Saint was so cheerful; why?  ‘Rejoice in the Lord always, I will say it again; REJOICE!’

These children in the attached photo attend school in Ouanaminthe and they too rejoice in their Savior.  Their school has a dirt floor, it is dark, it is hot, their desk is nothing more than a few boards; they are fed a lunch each day in school and they are happy knowing their Savior loves them.  The group of mourners sang “Abide with me” recently at the funeral I mentioned, which was written by Henry F. Lyte in1847 and it seems that this hymn is sung at every single Lutheran funeral that I have either attended or watched online during the past 60 years, but it always seems to put a lump in my throat and put my life into a proper perspective.

“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.  I need Thy presence every passing hour; what but Thy grace can foil the tempter’s pow’r?  Who, like Thyself, my guide and stay can be?  Through cloud and sunshine, Lord, 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.  Heav’n’s morning breaks, and earth’s vain shadows flee; in life, in death, O Lord, abide with me.”

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

May God be with you,

Jay

Encourage one another.

“Therefore, my brothers and sisters, you whom I love and long for, my joy and crown, stand firm in the Lord in this way, dear friends!  I plead with Euodia and I plead with Syntyche to be of the same mind in the Lord.  Yes, and I ask you, my true companion, help these women since they have contended at my side in the cause of the gospel, along with Clement and the rest of my co-workers, whose names are in the book of life.”  Philippians 4:1-3

The Apostle Paul encourages the gathering in Philippi to be steadfast and likeminded in their faith in their Lord.  Same can be said of us here in North America and also with the believers in Haiti and elsewhere throughout this world.

The two girls from Haiti the attached photo could well be Euodia and Syntyche; they both attend the Lutheran school in Ouanaminthe.  As you encourage them, they encourage others in their families, school and neighborhood.  Encouraging one another, through words, support and prayer, should be our direction.  Words that lift up and not put down, support that encourages self-dependence and not continual slavery and most importantly prayer.  In our sinful ways, we are not able to do these three at all times and must call upon our Triune God to provide us with direction, patience and perseverance.  I heard the song “Precious Lord” recently, written by the Rev. Thomas Dorsey (1899-1993) and it reminded me of my need for daily prayer for myself, for you and for the children in Haiti.

“Precious Lord, take my hand; lead me on, let me stand.  I'm tired, I’m weak, I’m alone.  Through the storm, through the night, lead me on to the light take my hand precious Lord, lead me home.  When my way grows drear precious Lord linger near; when my life is almost gone.  Hear my cry, hear my call, hold my hand lest I fall.  Take my hand precious Lord, lead me home.  When the darkness appears and the night draws near; and the day is past and gone.  At the river I stand; guide my feet, hold my hand.  Take my hand precious Lord, lead me home.  Precious Lord, take my hand; lead me on, let me stand.  I'm tired, I’m weak, Lord I’m worn.  Through the storm, through the night, lead me on to the light take my hand precious Lord, lead me home.”

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 Saint next to you,

“Paul and Timothy, bond-servants of Christ Jesus.  To all the saints in Christ Jesus who are in Philippi, including the overseers and deacons: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.” Philippians 1:1-2 NASB

These verses brought me back to the devotion from Portals of Prayer on Ascension Day just twelve days ago.  It talked about how when Jesus ascended that day, He passed the baton of ‘making disciples’ to His disciples.  And they, passed it along to the next group of believers and from there to the next generation and finally…it’s in your hands.

I chose to share these verses from the NASB because it uses the word ‘saints’ and I know that I have written about them before but here, this is a letter from servants to saints.  From Paul and Timothy to all the saints in Christ Jesus; servants are writing to all the saints, pastors, deacons and elders.

Here in assisted living, I eat my three meals a day in the dining room with Bob and George.  Bob is a 93 yr old Methodist and George is an 85 yr old who watches his non- denominational church on Sunday.  At times, I consider them to be saints to me when I need to be brought a little closer to Jesus.  The saints Paul was writing to were ordinary people.  They were simple, normal folks like you, Bob, George, this Haitian child and me.  We seldom put common names in that light, but we certainly could.  Saint Ron, Saint Keith, Saint Candi, Saint Bob, Saint George, Saint Deidre, Saint Kirsten and Saint Char.  If I left your name out; I’m sorry, it’s my memory.  If I added it; thank you!

The Greek term translated saint is from a word that means “set apart and consecrated for the purpose of God's service.”  When you were born into God's family by Holy Baptism in the name of the Holy Trinity, you got that title; Saint. You were set apart for God's special purpose.  Consecration is at the core of the word.  And now Saint (Your Name), you have been passed that baton from our Risen Savior.  Time to go and make some disciples and grow the Kingdom of Heaven.

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

Look what I did!!!

“Whoever listens to you listens to me; whoever rejects you rejects me; but whoever rejects me rejects him who sent me.”  The seventy-two returned with joy and said, “Lord, even the demons submit to us in your name.”  He replied, “I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven.  I have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy; nothing will harm you.  However, do not rejoice that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.”  At that time Jesus, full of joy through the Holy Spirit, said, “I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children. Yes, Father, for this is what you were pleased to do.”  Luke 10:16-21

How often are we tempted to exclaim “Look at what I did” when something went really well.  Following the terrible earthquake of 2010 in Haiti there were many groups and individuals from North America saying “Look at what we did!” when returning from a mission trip to help Haiti.  North Americans spending incredible amounts of money to build a plywood house for a family with North American hands.  The funds were used for airfare, food and lodging, transportation and translators that probably could have been donated to build many homes, for many Haitian families and constructed by Haitian hands.  It is not about us, what we did, but it is ALL about Him and what He did for us and them and accomplished “THROUGH” us. 

Jesus sent the 72 out into the world to spread the news of the Gospel throughout the land.  They came back rejoicing at what the Holy Spirit had accomplished.  Then Jesus gave them and us a very important lesson.  Don’t rejoice that the Spirits submit to YOU, but rejoice that your names will be written in Heaven.  It is not about us, it is ALL about Him.

The attached photo is of a preaching station in the Northwestern part of the Plateau Central, west of Saltedere.  It is a small stick structure with boards attached to branches for seats.  It would not surprise me to see a North American mission team to view this as an opportunity to build a new church, a parking lot, a driveway up the side of the steep hill and also provide a gasoline powered generator so there would be electricity for lights and fans.  There are well meaning minds within our synod that would do that, I have seen them in action and cringed when I listened to their plans; plans about them and their North American ministry and not about Him and the ministry plan for this Haitian Lutheran congregation that worships on a hill that is closer to the Triune God than we can imagine or begin to understand.  Feed my sheep, tend to my lambs said the Good Shepherd.  Feeding children through Trinity HOPE programs preparing them, like the 72, to go out into the world and share the Gospel is about Him, not about those of us supporting their education and preparation for the task of their lives; it is about Him.

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