Good evening and happy Friday. Welcome to October 1st. Yep, that’s right, we have made it to the tenth month. I am sending this out this evening because I am in a place where wifi is almost non-existent. I saw an opportunity to connect so I am taking it. Btw, if you committed to reading through the Bible this year, it is time to check your progress. If you haven’t started yet, well, good luck with that. Actually, if you haven’t been consistent in your reading, just try doing a little each day. It doesn’t matter if you start January 1st or October 1st. It should be a discipline that we seek to have in our lives.
On Thursday evening, I had a wonderful time doing a Bible study with the kids in the orphanage in Haiti. Even though it was on Zoom, it was such a blessing to be able to see them and talk with them. Brother Jacques and the kids are doing well even though the circumstances in Haiti are quite challenging. Inflation is running very high. There is a scarcity of even the basic necessities. The government is in turmoil after the assassination of the president earlier this year. The gangs control several parts of the country including areas in and around Port au Prince. Kidnappings, violence, robbery and other crimes are a fact of life for the people in Haiti. So too is food scarcity, disease, natural disasters and social unrest. But in the midst of that, is the Lifesaver Center Orphanage. God laid it on brother Jacques’ heart to start an orphanage many years ago. Sadly, the major earthquake destroyed the first location in 2010. By the grace of God, while in the States working to support the kids, Jacques was led to attend Community Impact Church. I am so grateful that he did so that we could learn about the plans to build a new building to house the kids. Thanks to the blessings that God gave us, we were able to complete that project and move the kids into a wonderful new place. Over the last year or so, we have been able to send some support to help with the food, education, medicine, clothing and staff. Jacques has also started a new church and is overseeing three others. He now has an opportunity to help with a small Christian school. Obviously, it is going to take more resources to support what God is doing in Haiti. If God lays it on your heart to help with this ministry, please let me know.
When I was spending time with the kids the other night they wanted to sing a song for me. As I listened to their beautiful voices, I was struck by the song they chose. It is a very familiar song written by Don Moen that we often don’t pay much attention to the words. However, coming from the lips of kids living in an orphanage in Haiti, they seem rather impactful.
Give thanks with a grateful heart
Give thanks to the Holy One
Give thanks because He’s given Jesus Christ, His Son
And now let the weak say, “I am strong”
Let the poor say, “I am rich
Because of what the Lord has done for us”
There I was, sitting in the comforts of my townhome in Johnson County, Kansas and a group of kids in an orphanage in the poorest nation in the western hemisphere were singing about how they are rich because of what the Lord has done for them. Wow, if that doesn’t get your attention, I don’t know what will. Even the most well intentioned of us are surrounded by so much stuff we lose sight of the fact that our true riches are found in Christ alone. All this other stuff doesn’t matter. In fact, it is often a distraction to keep us from recognizing what is truly important in this life. We sing and we say things like, “Jesus is enough for me” and, “Jesus is all I need.” But I wonder if that is demonstrated by the way we actually live our lives.
Rejoice in the Lord always. Again, I say rejoice. Let us seek to give thanks in all circumstances, for that is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. It was a blessing and an encouragement to see the kids doing that very thing.
From our neighborhoods to the nations,
Pastor Larry
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