International Prayer Day First Monday each month 10 am

Joel Griffith 8/15/25 Joel Griffith 8/15/25

Having faith.

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

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

The Haitian word for faith is ‘gen konfyans’ and the children in the attached photo have much faith; anpil gen komfyans. We all have times when we doubt His presence in our daily lives and lose patience waiting for His promises to be fulfilled. God is faithful, was faithful yesterday, will be faithful today and again tomorrow. Their school at Torbeck will once again have food prepared tomorrow. Our Triune God is faithful and will always remain faithful to His children. I close today with the words from the hymn ‘Great is Thy faithfulness’ which was a poem written by Thomas O. Chisolm in 1923.

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

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

May God be with you,

Jay

Joel Griffith 8/14/25 Joel Griffith 8/14/25

In the heat.

“You, God, are my God, earnestly I seek you; I thirst for you, my whole being longs for you, in a dry and parched land where there is no water. I have seen you in the sanctuary and beheld your power and your glory. Because your love is better than life, my lips will glorify you.” Psalm 63:1-3

David wrote these words when he was in the Desert of Judah. Have you ever been standing outside and alone in the middle of a desert? Just the thought of that degree of heat causes my mouth to get dry; my lips are almost starting to feel cracked and waxy. The most important thing to David’s mind this day was knowing that God loved him.

A person who understands that God’s unfailing love in their life is on their way to eternal glory. The children in the above photo eating lunch attend school at Bois Marchand in the Artibonite District. Their school is located on the Northwest edge of Gonaives and there are cacti within a stone throw of this school. It was very hot on this day but these children understand God’s unfailing love and they, like you and I are on our way to eternal life.

There is a peace that comes from knowing that God has our best interest at heart. How do they and you and I know that God truly loves us? Take a look at the cross. He knew us before we were born, before the foundations of the universe were laid, He set a plan in place that would offer forgiveness for sins we had not yet committed. He placed you where you are to help these children He placed at the Bois Marchand School.

Sometimes we look at our hardships living in North America, and they may seem HUGE but I ask that you consider your blessings and take another look at these children eating their only meal of the day…in a desert. Hardships here and there; with all the things He has done for you, could you not take a few hardships for him? Trust Him. Trust His love. Feed His sheep.

May God be with you,

Jay

Joel Griffith 8/13/25 Joel Griffith 8/13/25

The boy and the chair...again.

"Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes." Ephesians 6:10-11

"Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes." Ephesians 6:10-11
I know that I’ve shared this photo before; but it is a keeper for me. Such a cute little child. What kind of chaos filled the headlines today on your screen? Do you suppose that this small child from with the chair on his head could nuzzle up to your PC and stand up on his chair and yell at the top of his voice “STOP THIS MADNESS”? Would you listen to him? What if found his way in the NY Stock Exchange and yelled there? What would he accomplish?

Sadly, there are people in our world that will read the above words of the Apostle Paul in Ephesians and imagine that God is telling ‘them’ to be strong and trust in their own wisdom and strength; after all, they are in control of their destiny. Our Triune God has not instructed this world to be strong in ourselves or in our resources.

The little boy from Cap Haitian would probably get some attention, but not because of his financial might, but rather because of the oddity that he would bring. Our Lord is telling us in Ephesians to be strong in the Lord. Do not put your trust in worldly wisdom, wealth or strength; turn back to Him who created you and blessed with the possessions that you have.

This young child does not have much more than the school uniform that he is wearing. He does have Jesus and is being fed by somebody like you who have shared a portion of their providence. Thank you for sharing with those who have less…much less.

May God be with you,

Jay

Joel Griffith 8/12/25 Joel Griffith 8/12/25

Sharing Hope.

“You then, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable people who will also be qualified to teach others.” 2 Timothy 2:1-2

Many theologians have said that this message could have very well been the Apostle Paul’s last words from a Roman prison. At this time of writing, Paul knew it could be his final contact with Timothy because his execution was most likely imminent. It is important to know what gives hope in the face of a painful death like the one Paul encountered. Paul, in his letter to Timothy, gave two points that should keep a believer strong: gaining strength in the grace of Jesus Christ and gaining strength in all the testimonies in the Word of God.

Do you know people who might be in a similar situation as was facing Paul in prison? You have most assuredly been entrusted with the Word of God throughout your life. Are there reliable people within your voice or touch who will share your love of Jesus Christ and knowledge of the Word of God with others after you have gone? The young girl in the attached photo is from Ouanaminthe. She attends the Lutheran school there and she is praying; giving thanks for her noon meal and for people like you who are helping her to be qualified to teach others along her journey about the grace of Jesus Christ and God’s Holy Word.

I recently heard the song ‘Whispering Hope’ which was written by Septimus Winner in 1868. The words reminded me of this small child living on the Northern border of Haiti; in her own type of prison. Her soft witness will change lives because of your answering of His call to prepare others to share the Good News of a risen Savior.

“Soft as the voice of an angel, breathing a lesson unheard; hope with a gentle persuasion whispers her comforting word. Wait till the darkness is over, wait till the tempest is done. Hope for the sunshine tomorrow, after the shower is gone. Whispering hope, oh, how welcome thy voice, making my heart in its sorrow rejoice. If, in the dusk of the twilight, dim be the region afar; will not the deepening darkness brighten the glimmering star? Then when the night is upon us, why should the heart sink away? When the dark midnight is over, watch for the breaking of day. Whispering hope, oh, how welcome thy voice, making my heart in its sorrow rejoice. Hope, as an anchor so steadfast, rends the dark veil for the soul; whither the Master has entered, robbing the grave of its goal. Come then, oh, come, glad fruition, come to my sad weary heart. Come, O Thou blest hope of glory, never, oh, never depart. Whispering hope, oh, how welcome thy voice, making my heart in its sorrow rejoice.”

May God be with you,

Jay

Joel Griffith 8/11/25 Joel Griffith 8/11/25

Bring the children to ME.

“Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.” Matthew 19:14

A recent devotion stated that God’s care includes people of all ages; those in diapers unable to walk, those in jeans and sneakers running everywhere, those using walkers who can ‘run’ nowhere and back to those in diapers unable to walk. We are all God’s children, no matter our age, our physical ability, our status in the eyes of this world, the color of our skin or the type of blood flowing through our veins. God’s care includes and does not exclude. When infants and small children were brought to Jesus he didn’t say “take them away, I am too busy.” The children attending school at Petit Amis in Caredeux would be welcomed by our Savior to sit on His lap, tug on His arm and share their love with Him who came to save us.

Our Savior, the Good Shepherd invites us to ‘come’ and be with Him here and one day in Heaven. We place our faith in Him, lean on Him and call upon Him daily. I heard a favorite song this morning jon my PC, ‘Leaning on the everlasting arms’ by Elisha Hoffman that was published in 1887. It is such a wonderful reminder that there is a Savior to lean on, no matter who we are, where we are or what we have done; He is always there.

“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. Leaning, leaning, safe and secure from all alarms; leaning, leaning, 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. Leaning, leaning, safe and secure from all alarms; leaning, leaning, 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. Leaning, leaning, safe and secure from all alarms; leaning, leaning, leaning on the everlasting arms.”

May God be with you,

Jay

Joel Griffith 8/9/25 Joel Griffith 8/9/25

So, what are you afraid of?

“Shortly before dawn Jesus went out to them, walking on the lake. When the disciples saw him walking on the lake, they were terrified. “It’s a ghost,” they said, and cried out in fear. But Jesus immediately said to them: “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.” Then those who were in the boat worshiped him, saying, “Truly you are the Son of God.” Matthew 14:25-27, 33

This reading from the Gospel of Matthew still reminds me of a sermon given back in the day by Pastor Darrell Stuehrenberg from Bethlehem in Ft. Meyers, FL. Pastor Darrell is in Heaven today but his words are still with me. I recall him asking us, “So, what are you afraid of?” We read in Matthew 14:22-33 what Peter and the other disciples feared. Peter, the brave one, asked Jesus to make it possible for him to walk out on the water and be with Him. Peter walked out and then began to sink when he realized where He was and satan brought him back to this world and the power of gravity.

What fears do you have in your life’s journey? Health, money, relationships, wrong directions or non-productive temptations? The children who attend the school at Pont Quenepe in the Artibonite District fear that when they go to school, the pot of food will be empty and the fire will be out. The vodou priest is still telling them that God does not love them, Jesus is still in the grave and the power of the Holy Spirit cannot match their evil spirits. The children attending school here, check every morning to make sure the fire is burning, and they like us and the disciples can exclaim “truly you are the Son of God.”

So what are you afraid of today? Worried that your donation will be too small and insignificant? The Lord is bringing the fire to every pot full of Trinity HOPE food at every school in Haiti every day. “Truly, you are the Son of God!” I also remember that Pastor Darrell shared the first verse of the song ‘Have no Fear little flock’ and these words are a gentle reminder that we truly have nothing to fear. “Have no fear, little flock, have no fear little flock. For the Father has chosen to give you the Kingdom, have no fear, little flock.”

Go out into the world in peace; have courage; hold on to what is good; return no man evil for evil; strengthen the faint-hearted; support the weak; help the suffering; honor all men; love and serve the Lord; rejoicing in the power of the Holy Spirit. And may almighty God, the Father, Son and the Holy Spirit bless you.

May God be with you,

Jay

Joel Griffith 8/8/25 Joel Griffith 8/8/25

HE knows HIS plans for us.

“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” Jeremiah 29:11

I am glad that the Lord knows the plans He has for me. Because if I had a clue of what was coming on April 10, I would have left Normal on April 9 and headed to the mountains. Have you heard the saying that “even the best laid plans will go wrong”? My ‘plans’ have changed. They certainly aren’t where I thought I would be heading. I retired in 2011 to this?

I have never heard of anybody in Haiti ever retiring. The men and women reach an age where they can no longer put food into their bodies and they go to live with relatives and die; that is not my plan. Living in this facility wasn’t in my plan. But it is what it is. The attached photo is of some of the children and teachers at the Lutheran school at Bongnol which is located in the Artibonite District. There are ninety-five children attending school here and for me that is ninety-five reasons to volunteer my labors for Trinity HOPE to help feed these children while they learn about Jesus Christ.

As long as my feeble fingers can type out a daily devotion that will draw somebody here to help to feed 52,000 children in Haiti; that is what I will do. What are your plans for retirement? Have you given any thought to helping feed children in Haiti when you retire or even before you pick that date? These kids need you and your talents. Imagine how many could be touched by your life or by your legacy when it is your time to leave this world. I was listening to Amy Grant sing on my PC the song ‘I can only imagine’ recently and the words placed thoughts about what the future will bring.

“I can only imagine what it will be like when I walk by your side. I can only imagine what my eyes will see when your face is before me. I can only imagine; I can only imagine. Surrounded by your glory, what will my heart feel? Will I dance for you Jesus, or in awe of you be still? Will I stand in your presence, or to my knees will I fall? Will I sing Halelluja, will I be able to speak at all? I can only imagine; I can only imagine. I can only imagine when that day comes and I find myself standing in the Son. I can only imagine when all I will do is forever, forever worship you. I can only imagine; I can only imagine. Surrounded by your glory, what will my heart feel? Will I dance for you Jesus, or in awe of you be still? Will I stand in your presence, or to my knees will I fall? Will I sing Halelluja, will I be able to speak at all? I can only imagine; yeah I can only imagine.”

May God be with you,

Jay

Joel Griffith 8/7/25 Joel Griffith 8/7/25

Real proof.

“Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe.” John 20:27

I heard a phrase in a Lutheran Hour sermon recently that placed its hooks into my thought process when the Pastor said “Jesus has changed everything!” Being a Lutheran, change is not always deemed to be good or a desired direction. But his statement is so true; the resurrection of Jesus Christ has changed everything; for you, for me, for this child in Haiti and also for Thomas who needed ‘real’ proof that Christ had risen from the dead before he would believe.

Have you ever doubted? Have you ever caught yourself doubting the truth of the resurrection? This girl from Cap Haitian probably has a family member that still doesn’t believe that Jesus conquered satan and rolled away a huge stone to reveal his empty tomb on Easter. Vodou followers do not accept the resurrection story; they will tell you that Christ was crucified, died and was buried; nothing more. Thomas needed proof; the vodou priest needs proof.

It is interesting to imagine how our Heavenly Father will use this child to tell the truth of her risen Savior to her family, neighbors and friends; that is what God is preparing her to do. The Apostle Thomas doubted until he came face to face with Jesus and then he believed and would later bring news of the risen Christ to India. Jesus Christ has changed everything. His death on the cross and resurrection provides the hope of salvation for this world of sinners. In our remaining days we need to share the message of Easter with ears that have not heard. It is our pleasure to help to send this child from Cap Haitian to share the Easter message with the lost vodou followers in her city. Everything has changed; He is risen! I close today with the last three verses of the hymn ‘Abide with Me!’ that was written by Henry F. Lyte around 1847.

“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 8/6/25 Joel Griffith 8/6/25

Where were you formed?

“Listen to me, you who pursue righteousness and who seek the LORD: look to the rock from which you were cut and to the quarry from which you were hewn.” Isaiah 51:1

Where were you when???

“Listen to me, you who pursue righteousness and who seek the LORD: look to the rock from which you were cut and to the quarry from which you were hewn.” Isaiah 51:1

What part of this earth did you come from? Where did your lungs get that initial filling of the outside air? The two small children in the attached photo live in Cap Haitian, Haiti. I am certain that their nostrils drew their first breath of air from the inside of their home probably on their parent’s bed. The mission team worker next to them, and probably you as well drew that first lung filling inhalation in a clean hospital in North America.

These two girls and Paige and you and I all have one thing in common, we are all united in the same belief of a risen Savior. Where did you come from? It really doesn’t matter which quarry we come from. Ancestors from Germany, England, France, Africa or Haiti; we are all His children here on earth and will be together in Heaven one day.

I listened to a song recently, ‘Let there be peace on Earth’ sung by Vince Gill and a small child. Listening to the two of them brought back memories of me singing ‘Lavi’ with children in Haiti about the same age as these two girls. One day, you and I will be singing praises to our Triune God together in Heaven, singing with our brothers and sisters from this generation and generations before us.

“Let there be peace on earth and let it begin with me. Let there be peace on earth; the peace that was meant to be. With God as our father, brothers all are we. Let me walk with my brother in perfect harmony. Let peace begin with me, let this be the moment now. With every step I take, let this be my solemn vow. To take each moment and live each moment with peace eternally. Let there be peace on earth, and let it begin with me.”

May God be with you,

Jay

Joel Griffith 8/5/25 Joel Griffith 8/5/25

YOU care for us.

“When I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, what is mankind that you are mindful of them, human beings that you care for them?” Psalm 8:3-4

Have you ever looked into the mirror in the morning after stumbling out of bed when your eyes are still puffy, your breath smells like Lazarus after a week in the tomb and your mind asks the question “how can God love and use me?” After all that our Triune God has accomplished and continues to do on this earth, who am I to think that my words matter to Him?

Look into the faces of the six children in the attached photo. They attend the Lutheran school in Ouanaminthe in north central Haiti. If you think that your life matters or is even remotely important to our Triune God; what about their lives? They live in homes with dirt floors, are wearing one of the two sets of clothes that they own, don’t have a doctor or a dentist, don’t have air conditioning or running water in their homes; how could our Triune God possibly use their lives?

For a couple of dollars, Trinity HOPE will feed these six children at their school; most likely their only meal for the day. Your donation will be taking part in His plan for them, and also His plan for you. Amazing how He has accomplished His work through shepherds, fisherman, virgins, carpenters, tax collectors and children throughout the Bible and now, well now He is ready to use you. While sitting out on the sun deck here at the facility recently, I listened to the song on my phone ‘I stand amazed’ by Squire Parsons Jr. When I consider how God is using me, and you and these kids in Ouanaminthe; well I too stand amazed.

“When I examine that old rugged cross the mighty gulf did span; it reaches down to the brinks of hell, to heaven's golden stand. I stand amazed, I stand amazed; of the love that has sought me, saved me and bought me. I stand amazed. When I imagine in glory that day, when all of heav'n stood still as God, incarnate, the Savior of man, died upon Calv'ry's hill. I stand amazed, I stand amazed; of the love that has sought me, saved me and bought me. I stand amazed.”

May God be with you,

Jay