“Relent, Lord! How long will it be? Have compassion on your servants. Satisfy us in the morning with your unfailing love, that we may sing for joy and be glad all our days. Make us glad for as many days as you have afflicted us, for as many years as we have seen trouble. May your deeds be shown to your servants, your splendor to their children. May the favor of the Lord our God rest on us; establish the work of our hands for us; yes, establish the work of our hands. ” Psalm 90:13-17
Ouanaminthe is a city on the Northeast border of Haiti and the Dominican Republic and a little over a week ago hurricane Irma blew by and thankfully only left abundant rainfall. These kids from the Lutheran school there only missed 3 days of school prior to the event. And if you watch the news you know that hurricane Maria is the next challenge heading their way; it is hurricane season. Sometimes we have a warning to the storms that are heading our way and sometimes…we don’t. We can board up our windows, eat healthy and exercise, insure our belongings and keep supplies in the basement in case of an emergency but in all our preparation for life’s challenges we need to acknowledge that our Triune God still cares for us here on earth no matter what the challenge and has also prepared an Eternal Home that will never be destroyed. Please pray for these children in Haiti that as they prepare for the next earthly challenge they will also share the Good News with those who don’t have that same source of Hope. I am closing today with the words from the hymn ‘Our God, our Help in Ages Past’ that were written by Isaac Watts in 1719.
“Our God, our Help in ages past, our Hope for years to come, our Shelter from the stormy blast, and our eternal Home! Under the shadow of Thy throne Thy saints have dwelt secure; sufficient is Thine arm alone, and our defense is sure. Before the hills in order stood or earth received her frame, from everlasting Thou art God, to endless years the same. A thousand ages in Thy sight are like an evening gone, short as the watch that ends the night before the rising sun. Thy word commands our flesh to dust: "Return ye sons of men!" all nations rose from earth at first and turn to earth again. Time, like an ever rolling stream, bears all its sons away; they fly forgotten as a dream dies at the opening day. Like flowery fields the nations stand, pleased with the morning light; the flowers beneath the mower's hand lie withering ere 'tis night. Our God, our Help in ages past, our Hope for years to come, be Thou our Guard while troubles last and our eternal Home!”
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