“Then those who feared the Lord talked with each other, and the Lord listened and heard. A scroll of remembrance was written in his presence concerning those who feared the Lord and honored his name. “On the day when I act,” says the Lord Almighty, “they will be my treasured possession. I will spare them, just as a father has compassion and spares his son who serves him. And you will again see the distinction between the righteous and the wicked, between those who serve God and those who do not.” Malachi 3:16-18
When I lived in Haiti the Lutheran school at Merotte was just one story. When I was designing this school Pastor Joseph asked that I make it strong so one day a second floor could be added. That was a generation ago and now there are two floors of missionaries being trained to bring the Good News into the surrounding neighborhood that had lively vodou drums pounding loudly on the few occasions that I slept in the spare room of the church on Saturday night. The cooks are serving quite a few more Trinity/HOPE meals than were served ten years ago. Ain’t God good? Our Almighty Lord has many treasured possessions in Haiti and also in the mirror in your house. I am closing today with the words from the hymn ‘Thine Forever, God of Love’ that were written by Mary F. Maude in 1847.
“Thine forever, God of Love! Hear us from Thy throne above; Thine forever may we be here and in eternity! Thine forever! Oh, how blest they who find in Thee their rest! Savior, Guardian, heavenly Friend, oh, defend us to the end! Thine forever, Lord of Life! Shield us through our earthly strife. Thou, the Life, the Truth, the Way, guide us to the realms of day. Thine forever! Shepherd, keep these Thy frail and trembling sheep safe alone beneath Thy care, let us all Thy goodness share. Thine forever! Thou our Guide, all our wants by Thee supplied, all our sins by Thee forgiven; lead us, Lord, from earth to heaven.”
Dear 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