“Oh, that my ways were steadfast in obeying your decrees! Then I would not be put to shame when I consider all your commands. I will praise you with an upright heart as I learn your righteous laws. I will obey your decrees; do not utterly forsake me.” Psalm 119:5-8
The attached photo is of a rock formation in the Caribbean that Pastor Isidor told me was called ‘Tableau du Satan’ or ‘devils table’. It’s located about 6 miles North from Port Salut and this is a place where the local vodou priest wades out a hundred yards through the shallow water and sacrificed animals and sometimes humans on this ‘altar’ while crowds of followers stood on the shore and chanted at the evil spectacle. Spiritual warfare is raging in Haiti. Children attending Lutheran and other Christian schools are being prepared to share the Good News that brings Hope to the hopeless who are still living and believing the lies of vodou. We pray that our Triune God will draw close to these children as they bring the message in the most difficult of times and that we will remain by their sides with our time, talents, treasures and prayers. I am closing today with the words from the hymn ‘My Maker, be Thou nigh’ that were written by Johann J. Rambach in 1735.
“My Maker, be Thou nigh the light of life to give and guide me with Thine eye while here on earth I live. to Thee my heart I tender and all my powers surrender; make it my one endeavor to love and serve Thee ever. Upon Thy promise I rely; my Maker, be Thou nigh. My Savior, wash me clean with Thy most precious blood, that takes away all sin and seals my peace with God my soul in peace abideth when in Thy wounds it hideth. There I find full salvation and freedom from damnation. Without Thee lost, defiled by sin, my Savior, wash me clean. My Comforter, give power that I may stand secure when in temptation's hour the world and sin allure. The Son to me revealing, inspire my thought and feeling, His Word of grace to ponder, nor let me from Him wander, On me Thy gifts and graces shower: my Comforter, give power! O Holy Trinity! to whom I all things owe, Thine image graciously within my heart bestow. Choose me, though weak and lowly, to be Thy temple holy where praise shall rise unending for grace so condescending. O heavenly bliss, Thine own to be, O Holy Trinity!”
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.