“Then Thomas (also known as Didymus) said to the rest of the disciples, “Let us also go, that we may die with him.” John 11:16
I read a short message recently that somebody had written to comfort a friend whose family member had passed away and after reading it a few times I wished that I could write like that. Has that ever happened to you when reading a note from someone else? Often, we just need to be ourselves and use the gifts that God has given us because they are so special in their own way. Each of us are wired differently for a reason as our gifts are needed at different times and ways along the journey He has set for us. Trinity HOPE donors come from many different vocations and stages in their lives and support school feeding programs in different ways. A quarter, a dollar or a thousand dollars are all blessings for children like these and for our Heavenly Father who will use these children to share a special message about His Son, our Savior with somebody in Haiti. Just be yourself and walk with Jesus…always. I am closing today with the words from the hymn ‘Let us ever walk with Jesus’ that were written by Sigismund von Birken in 1653.
“Let us ever walk with Jesus, follow His example pure, flee the world, which would deceive us and to sin our soul’s allure. Ever in His footsteps treading, body here, yet soul above, full of faith and hope and love, let us do the Father's bidding. Faithful Lord, abide with me; Savior, lead, I follow Thee. Let us suffer here with Jesus, to His image, e'er conform; Heaven's glory soon will please us, sunshine follow on the storm. Though we sow in tears of sorrow, we shall reap with heavenly joy; and the fears that now annoy shall be laughter on the morrow. Christ, I suffer here with Thee; there, oh, share Thy joy with me! Let us also die with Jesus. His death from the second death, from our soul's destruction, frees us, quickens us with life's glad breath. Let us mortify, while living, flesh and blood and die to sin; and the grave that shuts us in shall but prove the gate to heaven. Jesus, here I die to Thee there to live eternally. Let us gladly live with Jesus; since He's risen from the dead, death and grave must soon release us. Jesus, Thou art now our Head, we are truly Thine own members; where Thou livest, there live we. Take and own us constantly, Faithful Friend, as Thy dear brethren. Jesus, here I live to Thee, also there eternally.”
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.