“Just before dawn Paul urged them all to eat. “For the last fourteen days,” he said, “you have been in constant suspense and have gone without food; you haven’t eaten anything. Now I urge you to take some food. You need it to survive. Not one of you will lose a single hair from his head.” After he said this, he took some bread and gave thanks to God in front of them all. Then he broke it and began to eat.” Acts 27:33-35
In these verses from Acts 27, we read that the Apostle Paul had just survived a strong storm on the open sea and their ship was battered and he and the other prisoners, guards and crew had been tossing back and forth in the ocean for weeks; without hope. No radio, radar or emergency warning device to send for help…only prayer.
You cannot help to consider the news these days of our country and Haiti being financially challenged and being tossed back and forth with civil chaos and seemingly being damaged again and again; we are in a similar situation as the Apostle Paul. In our personal lives there have been times when our journey was battered again and again by the strong waves of this fallen world and nothing that we can do seems to help…only prayer. The attached photo is of three children who attend a Lutheran school in Gonaives which is located in the Artibonite District. They have survived hurricanes, floods, gone without food and been swamped by gangs and battered by the lies of the vodou priest. Their hope and our only hope, comes from our risen Savior; Jesus Christ.
Following in the footsteps of Paul, we give thanks for our blessings and pray for our Triune God to rescue His children from the calamities of satan and this world. On this day that we celebrate our Independence, it seemed fitting to share the words from the hymn “Eternal Father” which was written by William Whiting in 1860 and joined with music by John B. Dykes in 1861. These are words that our country needs to remember, draw hope from and give thanks to our Triune God for being with us and ask for his deliverance and blessings.
“Eternal Father, strong to save, Whose arm hath bound the restless wave, Who biddest the mighty ocean deep its own appointed limits keep; oh hear us when we cry to Thee, for those who peril on the sea! O Christ, whose voice the waters heard and hushed their raging at Thy Word, Who walked on the foaming deep, and calm amidst its rage didst sleep; oh hear us when we cry to Thee, for those who peril on the sea! Most Holy Spirit, who didst brood upon chaos dark and rude, and bid its angry tumult cease, and give, for wild confusion, peace; oh hear us when we cry to Thee, for those who peril on the sea! O Trinity of love and power, our family shield in danger’s hour; from rock and tempest, fire and foe, protect us wheresoever we go; thus evermore shall rise to Thee glad hymns of praise from land and sea.”
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