“Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn. Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited.” Romans 12:14-16
Is this last Friday in September bringing smooth gentle waters for the weekend or a boat load of afflictions? We all have afflictions. Some are out there for all the world to see and some are hidden within our bodies where they can only be seen through an expensive scope. This sinful world is full of afflictions and at times it may be difficult for us to be drawn closer to help them when this world is telling to us turn away.
The child in the attached photo attends the Lutheran School in Ouanaminthe and had an affliction on this day from eating bad mangoes and she is waiting to see the ‘bon doctye’ Paul Bernhardson from Lincoln, NE. Dr. Paul was able to cure her affliction with medication. Only Jesus can cure the real problem that she and we face; sin. This world quite often urges us not to associate with people with ‘problems’ that are on the outside; stay away. The problem with that kind of thinking is that what is afflicting on the inside is often far greater of a problem than what is on the surface. Jesus Christ walked with many of this world’s problems; lepers, lame, blind, deaf, demon possessed, dead and even children. He knew what their real problem was and what the cause of those problems was; sin.
Thank you for following His directions and walking with and feeding these children attending Christian schools in Haiti. The Gold City Quartet sang ‘When He blessed my soul’ on my internet radio recently and it was a great reminder of what our Savior has done for all of us.
“Jesus washed my sins away one glorious morning; praise His dear name. He blessed my soul and He made me whole ever since that happy day. I'm tellin' the story; praise His dear name, oh how He washed my sin away when He blessed my soul. Well you oughta been there that blessed morning when the love of the Lord came down into my soul and He made me whole. If you'da been there, you'da shouted glory to the Lamb, to my Lord and King. Well you oughta been there; yes you oughta been there when He blessed my soul. Jesus claimed me as His own one glorious morning; He blessed my soul and He made me whole. Ever since this joy I've known I'm telling the story; oh how He washed my sin away when He blessed my soul.”
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