Serve Our Lord Joyfully

“Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God; this is your true and proper worship.  Do not conform to the pattern of this world but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.  Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is; his good, pleasing and perfect will.” Romans 12:1-2

The two verses written to the people of Rome by Apostle Paul go against the grain of this world we live in today as we are told that everything, we do is about me: it’s most certainly all about me!  The attached photo at a Lutheran school in Petionville has two unusual things to look at.  First, there is a light switch on the wall and there isn’t electricity running to it throughout the day; probably only for several hours after the sun goes down but when the school was built there was hope that one day, there would be electricity.  Second, the two feeding program directors and the principal were very surprised when I asked them to hold up the ‘Praise the Lord!’ signs instead of the children in the back of the room; that is typically kid stuff.  Each of us at times are asked to do menial chores that seem to be beneath who we imagine ourselves to be.  Sometimes, humbly serving the Lord can be the best of times.  Being a Trinity HOPE sponsor isn’t difficult work, but it is very fulfilling when you learn about the blessings that our Heavenly Father is accomplishing daily through the use of your treasures.  May your day be filled with many opportunities to serve our Lord joyfully with your time and talents. and treasures.  I am closing today with the words from the hymn Lord, Whose Love Through Humble Service that was written by Albert F. Bayly in 1961.

“Lord, whose love through humble service bore the weight of human need, Who upon the cross, forsaken, offered mercy's perfect deed, we, Your servants, bring the worship not of voice alone, but heart, consecrating to Your purpose every gift that You impart. 

Still Your children wander homeless; still the hungry cry for bread; still the captives long for freedom; still in grief we mourn our dead.  As, O Lord, Your deep compassion healed the sick and freed the soul, use the love Your Spirit kindles still to save and make us whole. 

As we worship, grant us vision, till Your love's revealing light, in its height and depth and greatness, dawns upon our quickened sight, making known the needs and burdens Your compassion bids us bear, stirring us to tireless striving, Your abundant life to share. 

Called from worship to Your service, forth in Your dear name we go, to the child, the youth, the aged, love in living deeds to show; hope and health, goodwill and comfort, counsel, aid, and peace we give, that Your servants, Lord, in freedom may Your mercy know and live.”

Dear Heavenly Father, you have called your servants to ventures of which we cannot see the ending, by paths 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

Be Humble and Kind

“As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received.  Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love.” Ephesians 4:1-2

Even though I had previously heard the Tim McGraw song that was on the radio, I had never really paid much attention to the words. A particular line caught my attention, “Go to church because your momma says to.”  Were you told to do that, or did you tell your children to do that?  I looked up the lyrics and was surprised to find quite a few worthy lessons to share with anyone who might listen. There were also several that took me back in time when too many things were taken for granted in my youth.  Our culture does that quite frequently; take things for granted.  Take the attached photo for instance; what do you suppose this is?  A hole in the ground?  I’ll give you a clue…you don’t need a plunger for this one.  This is an outdoor toilet at one of the Christian schools in Haiti.  Don’t take things for granted this week and…be humble and kind.  I am closing today with the words from that Tim McGraw song I heard on the radio, Humble and Kind.

“You know there's a light that glows by the front door, don't forget the keys under the mat; when childhood stars shine, always stay humble and kind. 

Go to church 'cause your mamma says to, visit grandpa every chance that you can; it won't be wasted time, always stay humble and kind. 

Hold the door, say "please", say "thank you", don't steal, don't cheat, and don't lie.  I know you’ve got mountains to climb but always stay humble and kind. 

When the dreams you're dreamin' come to you. When the work you put in is realized, let yourself feel the pride; but always stay humble and kind. 

Don't expect a free ride from no one, don't hold a grudge or a chip and here's why; bitterness keeps you from flyin'; always stay humble and kind. 

Know the difference between sleeping with someone and sleeping with someone you love.  I love you" ain't no pick-up line so always, stay humble and kind. 

When it's hot, eat a root beer popsicle, shut off the AC and roll the windows down, let that summer sun shine; always stay humble and kind. 

Don't take for granted the love this life gives you, when you get where you're going don't forget turn back around and help the next one in line; always stay humble and kind.”

Dear Heavenly Father, you have called your servants to ventures of which we cannot see the ending, by paths 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

Are You at Peace with God?

“I am the vine; you are the branches.  If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.  If you do not remain in me, you are like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned.” John 15: 5-6

Several years ago, when I lived in Haiti, I escorted a medical mission to Jeremie. There were four of us, a woman doctor from Idaho, a Haitian with a guitar, and a female Haitian translator. The two Haitians were singing “Ou pa Kapob” and a few other hymns in Creole.  I was tired and at peace as I listened to them. I was thinking that if God chose to take me home at that moment, that would be fine.  How about you?  Are you at peace with God?  I’ve read about people struggling to complete just one more ‘important’ task before they draw their last breath.  The only way to be at peace with Jesus is to remain in Jesus, and give your troubles and victories to Him.  May you spend some time at peace this week and consider what is most important for your life at this moment in time.  I am closing today with the words from the hymn When My Last Hour is Close at Hand that was written by Nikolaus Herman in 1561.

“When my last hour is close at hand, Lord Jesus Christ, attend me; beside me then, O Savior, stand to comfort and defend me.  Into Thy hands I will commend my soul at this my earthly end, and Thou wilt keep it safely. 

My sins, dear Lord, disturb me sore, my conscience cannot slumber; but though as sands upon the shore my sins may be in number, I will not quail, but think of Thee; Thy death, Thy sorrow, borne for me, Thy sufferings, shall uphold me. 

I am a branch in Thee, the Vine, and hence the comfort borrow that Thou wilt surely keep me Thine through fear and pain and sorrow; and when I die, I die to Thee, Thy precious death hath won for me the life that never endeth. 

Since Thou the power of death didst rend, in death Thou wilt not leave me; since Thou didst into heaven ascend, no fear of death shall grieve me.  For where Thou art, there shall I be that I may ever live with Thee; that is my hope when dying. 

My spirit I commend to Thee and gladly hence betake me; peaceful and calm my sleep shall be, no human voice can wake me.  But Christ is with me through the strife, and He will bear me into life and open heaven before me.”

Dear Heavenly Father, you have called your servants to ventures of which we cannot see the ending, by paths 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

Baptized into Thy Name

“Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go.  When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted.  Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.  Therefore, go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.  And surely, I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” Matthew 28:16-20

When I read an article in Men’s Health that provided the pros and cons of taking a daily cold shower, I was reminded of some experiences in Haiti.  The writer described when he first stepped under the cold stream, his shoulders impulsively bent upward, and muscles tightened. He decided that the extreme cold caused his mind to think more clearly after following this practice for a full week.  Most of my showers or cup showers while living in Haiti were cold, so I can identify with his descriptions. My showers never lasted more than a couple of minutes, and they sure did make me appreciate a hot shower when that luxury was available.  Recalling this memory caused me to recall seeing a child baptized. Whenever the water from the font was too cold, the baby would tense up and offer a vocal noise that must have meant “NO” to the Pastor and the person holding them as the waters of Holy Baptism marked them as a child of our risen Savior, Jesus Christ.  Now, consider  people bathing and doing laundry in a Haitian canal filled with cool water.  Vodou is a part of the Haitian culture and many Haitians are still caught up in the lies of vodou and are not yet disciples of our Triune God.  We pray that the children attending Christian schools in Haiti will courageously share the Gospel Message with them and bring them to the redeeming waters of Holy Baptism.  I close today with the words from the hymn Baptized into Thy Name Most Holy that were written by Johann J. Rambach in 1734.

“Baptized into Thy name most holy, O Father, Son and Holy Ghost, I claim a place, though weak and lowly, among Thy seed, Thy chosen host. buried with Christ and dead to sin, Thy Spirit now shall live within. 

My loving Father, Thou dost take me to be henceforth Thy child and heir; my faithful Savior, Thou dost make me the fruit of all Thy sorrows share; Thou, Holy Ghost, wilt comfort me when darkest clouds around I see.  And I have vowed to love and fear Thee and to obey Thee, Lord, alone; because the Holy Ghost did move me, I dared to pledge myself Thine own, renouncing sin to keep the faith and war with evil unto death. 

My faithful God, Thou failest never, Thy covenant surely will abide; Oh, cast me not away forever should I transgress it on my side!  Though I have oft my soul defiled, do Thou forgive, restore, Thy child. 

Yea, all I am and love most dearly I offer now, O Lord, to Thee, Oh, let me make my vows sincerely and help me Thine own child to be!  Let naught within me, naught I own, serve any will but Thine alone.  And never let my purpose falter, O Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, but keep me faithful to Thine altar till Thou shalt call me from my post, so unto Thee I live and die and praise Thee evermore on high.”

Dear Heavenly Father, you have called your servants to ventures of which we cannot see the ending, by paths 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

Dirtiest of Sins White as Snow

“He said to them, “How foolish you are, and how slow to believe all that the prophets have spoken!  Did not the Messiah have to suffer these things and then enter his glory?”  And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning himself.  As they approached the village to which they were going, Jesus continued as if he were going farther.  But they urged him strongly, “Stay with us, for it is nearly evening; the day is almost over.”  So, he went in to stay with them.” Luke 24:25-29

When watching a video footage of the flood waters from a year ago in North Carolina, it recalled children like these at the Cap Haitian school of Kant. Can you tell me how they get their white clothes looking so bright when their mothers do the laundry in water that resembles that brown flood water?  How do they possibly hand wash and dry their clothes and they come out so clean?  Two things that I really missed while living in Haiti when doing my laundry by hand were the rinse and spin cycles.  It seemed that hanging clothes out to dry on an outdoor line and letting God’s sunshine bleach out any possible stain worked miracles every time.  The work that His Son Jesus Christ accomplished for us was very similar to doing laundry.  He hung on a tree to make our dirtiest of sins appear white as snow.  These children from Kant along with you and me can repeat the words of His disciples as we gaze upon the Cross, repent of our sins, and pray “Jesus, stay with us.”  I close today with the words from the hymn Lord Jesus Christ, with us Abide that were written by Nikolaus Selnecker in 1611.

“Lord Jesus Christ, with us abide, for round us falls the eventide; nor let Thy Word, that heavenly light, for us be ever veiled in night. 

In these last days of sore distress grant us, dear Lord, true steadfastness that pure we keep, till life is spent, Thy holy Word and Sacrament. 

O God, how sin’s dread works abound! Throughout the earth no rest is found, and falsehood’s spirit wide has spread, and error boldly rears its head.

Lord Jesus, help, Thy Church uphold, for we are sluggish, thoughtless, cold.  Oh, prosper well Thy Word of grace and spread its truth in every place! 

Oh, keep us in Thy Word, we pray; the guile and rage of Satan stay!  Oh, may Thy mercy never cease!  Give concord, patience, courage, peace. 

A trusty weapon is Thy Word, Thy Church's buckler, shield and sword.  Oh, let us in its power confide that we may seek no other guide! 

Oh, grant that in Thy holy Word we here may live and die, dear Lord; and when our journey endeth here, receive us into glory there.”

Dear Heavenly Father, you have called your servants to ventures of which we cannot see the ending, by paths 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

Prayer guide for October.

Prayer Guide for October – 2025

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’

Psalm 33:1-10; “Sing joyfully to the Lord, you righteous; it is fitting for the upright to praise him.  Praise the Lord with the harp; make music to him on the ten-stringed lyre.  Sing to him a new song; play skillfully, and shout for joy.  For the word of the Lord is right and true; he is faithful in all he does.  The Lord loves righteousness and justice; the earth is full of his unfailing love.  By the word of the Lord the heavens were made, their starry host by the breath of his mouth.  He gathers the waters of the sea into jars; he puts the deep into storehouses.  Let all the earth fear the Lord; let all the people of the world revere him.  For he spoke, and it came to be; he commanded, and it stood firm.  The Lord foils the plans of the nations; he thwarts the purposes of the peoples.”

Lord God Almighty; Creator of heaven, earth and of everything visible and invisible that inhabits our planet; we stand in awe of You and of all that You created which surrounds us and is within us.  Those of us living here in the Midwest of the U.S. cannot help but marvel at the change of seasons and how You sustain all life on this planet daily.  Father, as You have blessed our ancestors with descendants who seek Your Divine Favor and have further used each of us here today in the many different parts of this world to be a blessing to our families and also for others who have no Hope; please continue to use for Your work.  Lord, we are confident that You will continue to move among and within each of us.  You have given each of us an appointed measure of time, talents and treasures with which to seek and accomplish Your will in the coming seasons.  Heavenly Father, direct us accordingly.   

Psalm 28:6-9; “Praise be to the Lord, for he has heard my cry for mercy.  The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in him, and he helps me.  My heart leaps for joy, and with my song I praise him.  The Lord is the strength of his people, a fortress of salvation for his anointed one.  Save your people and bless your inheritance; be their shepherd and carry them forever.”

A time of ‘Adoration’ to our Heavenly Father.    

·        Please take a portion of this day to sit quietly in a secluded area and consider how our Triune God has impacted your life and molded and brought you to this very point in your life’s journey.

·        Spend a few hours this week to enjoy the change in colors of the plants, trees and crops and consider how our Heavenly Father had a purpose for each of them and us.

·        As you look at the trees changing colors and the harvest of crops this month, sit quietly and listen to His hand at work in the firmament He created.

·        Consider for a moment about the past generations of the Haitian school children who were brought to Haiti from Africa in bondage on French slave ships and how God knew how their descendants would impact their new country with the Good News…in His timing. 

·        Consider the lives of the workers in Haiti who walk closely with our Heavenly Father; parents, teachers, principals, feeding program directors and Pastors.

·        Consider the Haitian children who will prayerfully be going back to school this month and be learning about our Triune God; seeking Your directions for their future, joyfully and courageously giving Witness of their Risen Savior to the souls still caught up in the lies of vodou and caught up with the gangs.

‘Confession’

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 loved 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.

Psalm 32:1-7; “Blessed is he whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered.  Blessed is the man whose sin the LORD does not count against him and in whose spirit is no deceit.  When I kept silent, my bones wasted away through my groaning all day long.  For day and night your hand was heavy upon me; my strength was sapped as in the heat of summer.  Then I acknowledged my sin to you and did not cover up my iniquity.  I said, "I will confess my transgressions to the LORD" and you forgave the guilt of my sin.  Therefore, let everyone who is godly pray to you while you may be found; surely when the mighty waters rise, they will not reach him.  You are my hiding place; you will protect me from trouble and surround me with songs of deliverance.”

Matthew 5:4; “Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.”

There comes a time when you mourn, when you reach the point of uncontrollable sorrow for your sins, when you admit that you have no other option but to place all your sins upon Him and when there is truly no other name that you can call; place your sins upon Him and His Cross on that lonely hill called Calvary.

·        A time of personal confession.

Our sins are placed at the base of the 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 turn on the television or go online for the current news, we cannot help but see that there are so many areas in our world today where news reports are bleak and challenging.  Many people are asking if these times are not the end times.  Father, in these uncertain times, where do we begin to give You thanks for those unrecognized blessings?  As we sit and look to You, may we take a few moments to recall Who is with each of us every hour of every day; so great are the blessings that You have poured into our lives and continue to daily shower upon us, wherever we may reside on this planet.

1 Thessalonians 5:12-18; “Now we ask you, brothers and sisters, to acknowledge those who work hard among you, who care for you in the Lord and who admonish you.  Hold them in the highest regard in love because of their work.  Live in peace with each other.  And we urge you, brothers and sisters, warn those who are idle and disruptive, encourage the disheartened, help the weak, be patient with everyone.  Make sure that nobody pays back wrong for wrong, but always strive to do what is good for each other and for everyone else.  Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”

The schools in Haiti had historically been scheduled to commence last month but during the past several years, due to the continued gang violence, have been moved to this month; or possibly next month.  While there are still areas of Haiti that are facing gang driven chaos, the parents daily give thanks for their jobs or whatever means to supplement their family with an income to provide food, when that wonderful school lunch for their children isn’t available. 

Psalm 118:1-4; “Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever.  Let Israel say: “His love endures forever.”  Let the house of Aaron say: “His love endures forever.”  Let those who fear the Lord say: “His love endures forever.”

We come to You now with hearts, minds and words filled with ‘Thanksgiving.’

·        We give thanks for our Creator, Redeemer and Holy Spirit.

·        We give You thanks for the Haitian children who are not only the prime purpose of Trinity HOPE but also Your missionaries and leaders for the future generations in Haiti.

·        We give You thanks for the countless hours that the many Trinity HOPE volunteers have expended working with other volunteers here in the U.S. and in Haiti to be prepared when school does begin.

·        We give You thanks for the work that is being accomplished by the Haitian parents, teachers, school principals and Feeding Program Directors who are shaping the lives of young Haitian children in this coming school year.

·        We give thanks Father for protecting the lives of Your servants from the gang violence in recent times.

‘Supplications’

Genesis 3:8-10; “Then the man and his wife heard the sound of the Lord God as he was walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and they hid from the Lord God among the trees of the garden.  But the Lord God called to the man, “Where are you?”  He answered, “I heard you in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked; so I hid.”

Heavenly Father, there are moments of doubt when we and people living in Haiti ask “why is this trouble still happening to this country?”  Lord, we in North America need to pause and take a close look at our own cities and country and ask the same question as we witness crime in our cities and growing cultural differences as well.  This original sin began with the inhabitants of the Garden of Eden and is still staining this planet that You created.  Sin happens.  We face challenges here in the U.S., in Haiti and around this planet; the evil foe doesn’t stop tearing apart what isn’t already broken.  We live in uncertain times.  Father, today, there seem to be more times where we feel as if we are surrounded by higher walls filled with greater challenges that we cannot recall and wonder where to begin to ask for Your Divine deliverance.  You know our hearts.  You feel our fears.  You hear our groanings.  So often, we ‘ask’ for things without really considering how they will impact our calling and our journey; to serve Him as He desires us to serve Him by bringing others into the Kingdom.  And we ‘wait’ for HIS response.  Father, in this season of waiting; hear us, be near us and guide us.

1 John 5:13-15; “I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life.  This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us.  And if we know that he hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have what we asked of him.”

Heavenly Father, we bring our supplications before You;

·        Heavenly Father, continue to lead and bless Trinity HOPE with Your loving hand; may we always strive to accomplish Your Will.

·        Bless the workers here in the U.S. and in Haiti and give them courage as they face challenges from the evil foe.  Provide them with courage, endurance and love.

·        Heavenly Father, as we have been waiting for school to begin and the violence to end, please keep up close to You.  May we never doubt Your Wisdom and reasons for us to wait a little longer for Your Will to be known.

·        Heavenly Father, bind satan from throwing challenges into the workings of our feeding programs in schools that will prayerfully be starting soon in Haiti and in our activities here at home.

·        Father…put an end to the endless challenges brought about by angry people who are gang members doing the bidding of the evil foe.  We ask that You would bring peace and Hope to Haiti and bring forward Christian leaders who will seek Your council and follow Your directions.

·        Heavenly Father, protect the U.N. Police force, a new large force from Panama and other foreign forces in Haiti as they work daily protecting citizens and attempting to bring an end to the gang activity.

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

Fruit of the Spirit.

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.  Against such things there is no law.” Galatians 5:22-23

While listening to a Christian radio station last night the speaker spent twenty-five minutes preaching law and quoting scripture.  The speaker was not aligned with any specific church but seemed to be focused on ‘scaring’ people to repent of their sins.  Must have been his Oktob sermon theme.

The attached photo is of Pastor Thomas Bernard from Bon Berger Lutheran Church and School in Caredeux which is a suburb of Port-au-Prince.  He is teaching a Sunday morning Bible study group ‘Law and Gospel’ from the Lutheran Catechism.  Whether sitting in a Lutheran church in Illinois or in Caredeux, the balance was the same.  Luther taught balance…always balance.  If you only hear the tough ‘Law’ stuff it can make people cold, distant, intolerant and unbearable.  Hearing both tends to mold a person to be gentle, thoughtful, teachable and considerate.

The words of Ambrose in the Book of Concord support this balance; he denies justification to words and ascribes it to faith which liberates us through the blood of Jesus Christ.  This balance is so important to our heritage and to the young children and adults living Haiti who are hearing this teaching…for the first time.  There is a short hymn in the ‘Old’ Lutheran Hymnal titled ‘God’s Word is our great heritage’ that was written by Nikolai Grundtvig in 1817 and will close this message.

“God's Word is our great heritage and shall be ours forever; to spread its light from age to age shall be our chief endeavor.  Through life it guides our way, in death it is our stay.  Lord, grant, while worlds endure, we keep its teachings pure throughout all generations.”

Before closing in prayer, I need to tell you that I’m going to pause writing for the next few weeks.  My eyes, fingers, hands and mind need a season of rest and restoration.

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 Light.

“Remember those earlier days after you had received the light, when you endured in a great conflict full of suffering” Hebrews 10:32

Do you remember receiving your first flashlight?  Was it small or large?  My uncle Vic was an electrician and he had a powerful flashlight with a large battery that I always thought that sometime when I was older that would be what I would have to provide light during an emergency.

Lessons from the Bible are much like powerful flashlights than can light up the darkest of trials that the world can throw at children and adults.  The four girls in the attached photo attend Bon Barger in Caredeux and survive the vodou priest and on January 12, 2010 lived through the earthquake that claimed thousands of lives.

These girls have learned the message of Hope from the Bible and you may have seen others like them whose light shone brightly in the evenings following the earthquake on CNN.  They were the bright lights praying and singing hymns in the darkness of Port-au-Prince when death, suffering and uncertainty seemed to be everywhere.

God has given us Hope in the darkness and the ability to find comfort in hopeless time when the lost cling in vain to the ways and logic of this world.  I listened to Anne Murray sing ‘Whispering Hope’ recently on the Internet radio and they are a wonderful way to close this devotion.

“Soft as the voice of an angel breathing a lesson unheard; hope with a gentle persuasion whispers a 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 dimmed be the region afar willn't 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.”

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 we should pray.

“This, then, is how you should pray” Matthew 6:9

When I was a child, it didn’t seem like anybody was listening to my prayer and today I know that God answers prayer in His way and in His time.  Often His answers are ‘yes’, ‘no’ or ‘wait’ and it seems much easier to hear the first two answers but the ‘wait’ is still hard to do.

So, why is prayer so important?   Now in my senior years, Job and I can tell you that there are four short reasons why prayer is important to me.  First, quite often my Heavenly Father does make me wait.  If there is a difficult problem facing me there is a time of prayer and a time of waiting.  Prayer forces me to leave the situation with God; it makes me wait and has taught me patience. 

Secondly, prayer clears my thoughts and opens my mind to what to be thankful for, what sins I have done that need to be confessed and supplications for others and myself.  Prayer brings me to the face of my Heavenly Father and He has promised to listen to my prayer, your prayer and the prayer of this child in Ouanaminthe.

Third, prayer quiets my heart.  Prayer is a time for me to be still as I am in His Holy presence; prayer makes me quiet.  And lastly, prayer activates my faith; as I know that He is on the other end of the phone listening to my words.  Prayer brings me so close to the face of God and brings a sense of peace about me.  Please continue to pray daily for the Trinity/HOPE feeding programs in Haiti.  I close today with the words from the hymn ‘Our Father, Thou in Heaven above’ that was written by Martin Luther so many centuries ago.

“Our Father, Thou in heaven above, Who biddest us to dwell in love, as brethren of one family, to cry in every need to Thee, teach us no thoughtless word to say, but from our inmost heart to pray.  Thy name be hallowed.  Help us, Lord, in purity to keep Thy Word, that to the glory of thy name we walk before Thee free from blame.  Let no false doctrine us pervert; all poor, deluded souls convert.  Thy kingdom come.  Thine let it be in time and in eternity.  Let Thy good Spirit e'er be nigh our hearts with graces to supply.  Break Satan's power, defeat his rage; preserve Thy Church from age to age.  Thy gracious will on earth be done as 'tis in heaven before Thy throne; obedience in our weal and woe and patience in all grief bestow.  Curb flesh and blood and every ill that sets itself against Thy will.  Give us this day our daily bread and let us all be clothed and fed.  From war and strife be our Defense, from famine and from pestilence, that we may live in godly peace, free from all care and avarice.   Forgive our sins, Lord, we implore, remove from us their burden sore, as we their trespasses forgive who by offenses us do grieve.  Thus let us dwell in charity and serve our brother willingly.  Into temptation lead us not.  When evil foes against us plot and vex our souls on every hand, oh, give us strength that we may stand firm in the faith, a well-armed host, through comfort of the Holy Ghost!  From evil, Lord, deliver us; the times and days are perilous.  Redeem us from eternal death, and when we yield our dying breath, console us, grant us calm release, and take our souls to Thee in peace.  Amen, that is, So shall it be.  Confirm our faith and hope in Thee that we may doubt not, but believe what here we ask we shall receive.  Thus in Thy name and at Thy word we say: Amen. Oh, hear us, Lord!  Amen.”

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

Evil man.

“When I say to a wicked person, ‘You will surely die,’ and you do not warn them or speak out to dissuade them from their evil ways in order to save their life, that wicked person will die for their sin, and I will hold you accountable for their blood.” Ezekiel 3:18

Turn the calendar as the month of Oktob is here.  I saw Halloween decorations a few weeks ago.  Our culture has people that celebrate evil stuff for this whole month.  This verse initially may seem like quite a strong warning to those who have heard the message of salvation that they are to not just keep this knowledge to themselves but freely share with the lost.  The man in the attached photo is the witch doctor at this vodou temple in Croix d’ Bouquets which is a suburb in Port-au-Prince; he needs to hear the message of salvation.

It seems that while we learn that the lost are certainly doomed to hell and we are to speak the truth with them, there is also the fact that God loves each and every one of us and only wants the best for each of us.  It is His desire that this man trapped in vodou, and you and I would all accept the fact that He sent His Son to die for us and salvation has been won and is awaiting all who call upon the name of Jesus.

There are around 5,000 young missionaries attending Lutheran schools in the Port-au-Prince district who are learning more and more about Jesus Christ and being fed daily by donors like you.  As you have shared the truth in your neighborhood thank you for also sharing of your gifts to assist in the preparation of the youth in Haiti who will take the message of salvation to those caught up in the lies of vodou and also the gangs who have tormented them.  Isaac Watts wrote the words for the Hymn ‘Am I a soldier of the Cross’ in 1721 and they will close this message today.

“Am I a solder of the Cross, a foll'wer of the Lamb and shall I fear to own His cause or blush to speak His name?  Must I be carried to the skies on flow'ry beds of ease while others fought to win the prize and sailed thro' bloody seas?  Are there no foes for me to face?  Must I not stem the flood?  Is this vile world a friend to grace to help me on to God?  Sure I must fight if I would reign; increase my courage, Lord!  I'll bear the toil, endure the pain, supported by Thy Word.  Thy saints in all this glorious war shall conquer though they die; they see the triumph from afar with faith's discerning eye.  When that illustrious Day shall rise and all Thine armies shine in robes of victory through the skies, the glory shall 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