A Visit to a Remote Mountain Village

Tuesday, July 11
I wake up to the swish, swish of a straw broom. Groaning I roll over, by body still trapped in the throes of deep sleep. Outside, the sun is slowly rising over the distant mountains bathing the plateau with a serene, golden glow. 

Not normally a coffee drinker, I opt for a cup today. The rich Haitian coffee is just what I need to give my body the kickstart it needs.

Today we plan to head out to distribute food baskets to a very poor remote community in the mountains. As the only English/Creole speaker, I have been given the role of translating for the entire day trip. I pray for the gift of languages and am reminded that the same God who sent students for the various classes we were hosting and the same God who turned one donkey into thirteen would also provide for me now.

The road to Nanyilla is narrow and bumpy, winding around high mountains and steep valleys.

The views are beautiful and the sky is blue as we travel to our remote destination.

When we arrived in Nanyilla we are greeted by many elderly and blind people. 

After greeting them we sing for them, so at least those who can not see us can hear us. We leave the handing out of the food to the local pastor. 

One of the Haitian Lemuel staff, who is also a pastor shares the gospel with the people and several of them come forward asking for prayer and wanting to put their faith and hope in Christ. It is a very touching experience to witness.

When the food has been distributed, family members help to carry it home for their elderly or disable loved ones. 

Our next stop is a remote market where pale skinned people have rarely, if ever been seen. Many curious glances are cast our way.

We then stop for lunch at a local’s home. The soup that we are served is prepared over a stick fire.

As we eat, the sky becomes increasingly dark and threatening to the point that the Lemuel staff decide it is prudent to leave quickly.

Heavy rain could quickly turn the steep mountain road into an impassable muddy mess so in order to make it safely back to the mission compound we have no time to waste.

Although the ride is incredibly bumpy, fatigue quickly sets in and I soon doze off, even as we are tossed too and fro over the rough roads. I awake to a local woman slapping my leg in an attempt to wake me up. Slowly opening my eyes I am met by a pair of smiling eyes and a wide grin.

We spend the rest of the afternoon working on a local’s property, a stone's throw from the mission. 

The lack of edible greenery really hits me when I try to find a blade of grass for the neighbours goat and kid. They both look scrawny and dirty and hungry, but although I spend a little time searching the area, the only greenery is thorny and inedible and I find nothing to offer them.

For dinner that night we are served a delicious meal of Haitian pate', popcorn and pikliz. 

After the sun sets we sing together and have a devotional time. Charles Spurgeon has a good illustration of what faith is which I share with the team: 
""But must we not believe on Him?" "Aye, certainly. If I say of a certain ointment that it heals, I do not deny that you need a bandage with which to apply it to the wound. Faith is the linen which binds the plaster of Christ's reconciliation to the sore of our sin. The linen does not heal; that is the work of the ointment. So faith does not heal; that is the work of the atonement of Christ." 

What a beautiful description of faith!

Our evening visitors include geckos feasting on insects by one of the few light sources, a large cockroach in the sinkhouse and a toad the size of a baseball jumping out at me on the dark path.

That night, before falling into an exhausted slumber I thank God for His provisions for us. How great is our God!

One Day

Monday, July 10 
My alarm buzzes at 5:35 a.m. . Outside it is still dark. Today we hope to head out to the local market before breakfast and our transportation is donkeys. Unfortunately when I get to the airstrip. Only 1 of the 13 donkeys is waiting for us. Praying for more, I watch as they slowly begin to materialize. Sure enough one by one all thirteen of them eventually appear. 

Riding donkeys is more challenging then you think as they can be very stubborn. Mine wants to race and lead the pack so it takes careful, firm handling to keep him in line. Telling him I’ve had my share of experience with willful, stubborn toddlers and I won’t let him get the best of me makes no difference whatsoever! 

As we travel along a young man comes up alongside me, leading his donkey. Staring at me he begins to make kissing sounds. Holding up my hand I quickly tell him in Creole that I am married. I watch as a confused look comes over his face only to be replaced by a wide toothy grin. “We just make that sound to tell our donkeys to hurry up,” he then proceeds to explain in Creole, much to my chagrin. Laughing, we carrying on. 

The market is a most interesting place, bursting with life and colour and sounds and smells; many too disgusting to even want to try to identify.

We make a few purchases and then try not to watch as animals get butchered and skinned. 

Once we're back at Lemuel we eat a quick breakfast before getting set up for our computer classes.

That afternoon we head with the local youth to a nearby beach for a cleanup event. 

The ocean washes in a lot of garbage and working together we rake it on piles so it can be burned and disposed of. 

Once it’s cleaned up it looks much better and we take some time cooling off in the salty waves of the Caribbean Sea. 

When it's time for dinner we pile into two vehicles and head back to the mission.

The sun set that night is beautiful.

That night before I fall asleep, I listen to a song about heaven and how we will one day see Jesus face to face. The song reminds me of the verse where Jesus tells the disciples of John that the children of the bridechamber don’t weep or mourn when the bridegroom is present. 

And Jesus said unto them, Can the children of the bridechamber mourn, as long as the bridegroom is with them? Matthew 9:15a

Thinking about seeing Jesus fills me with excitement and joy. How amazing it will be to one day see Him face to face and live with Him forever. Forever in a place where there is no more sadness, or crying or tears. 

Sunday at Lemuel

Sunday, July 9
I wake up to the sound of rain. I reach over to check the time and seeing it’s only 6:15 a.m., I lay back down. Outside, tropical birds chirp excitedly in the trees. Rain in the desert is special indeed, and definitely something to sing about. The fresh scent of rain wafts through the screened door and I breathe it in.

Church starts at 9:30 a.m. and I listen as the congregation recites Psalm 23 in unison.
Hearing it in Creole I automatically translate the words in my head.

The Lord is my Shepherd; I shall not want. 

He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: He leadeth me beside the still waters. 

He restoreth my soul: He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for His name's sake. 

Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for Thou art with me; Thy rod and Thy staff they comfort me.

Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: Thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over. 

Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever. 

It’s both surprising and heartwarming when I hear them sing my trip theme song “Nearer Still Nearer” in Creole. Knowing God is with us and He loves and cares for us is such a great comfort. 

After teaching us a Creole hymn, we sing several Psalters for them. Then our team heads to the gazebo for a time of Bible Study with missionary Brad, since they can’t understand the Creole Bible teaching. 

Together we read the story of Jonah and then discuss different aspects of it. We talk about how the story isn’t really about Jonah at all, but really about the grace and loving kindness of God. We also talk about how the Ninevites needed saving, but so do we. Have you looked to Jesus, our only hope, and the only name given under heaven whereby we must be saved?

Look unto Me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth: for I am God, and there is none else. Isaiah 45:22

Traveling from Port au Prince and First Day at Lemuel

Friday, July 7 
Sometime in the middle of the night I wake up due to an unusual silence. The fan blowing humid air at me has shut off and everything is still and dark. With no city power, the battery bank powering the guesthouse must have given out. A few moments later I hear the rumble, rumble of a generator being started up. Within seconds the fan kicks back to life once again. I doze off again only to be awakened shortly thereafter by growling dogs and crowing roosters. 

6:15 a.m. 
Wide awake long before my alarm goes off, I take the time to read through the devotional guide Hungry For Life has provided. Today’s topic is the importance of solitude and how quiet time is not about being all along, but being alone with God. Some of the reference verses include: 

Mark 1:35 
And in the morning, rising up a great while before day, He (Jesus) went out, and departed into a solitary place, and there prayed. 

And Lamentations 3:25-28 The Lord is good unto them that wait for Him, to the soul that seeketh Him. It is good that a man should both hope and quietly wait for the salvation of the Lord. It is good for a man that he bear the yoke in his youth. He sitteth alone and keepeth silence, because He hath borne it upon him. 

By 6:50 a.m. the rest of the group begins to wake up and get ready so I get to work unlocking a myriad of security gates and doors so we can get into the courtyard. The final hurdle is an iron gate leading onto the street, but no matter which one of the forty keys I try the lock refuses to budge. 

By now it’s already 7:30 a.m., the time our driver, Pierre, is supposed to pick us up and drive us to the airport, but I have no way of seeing if he is waiting outside the gate or not. I decide to just call him and he reassures me he is coming. This really means nothing to me as in Haiti “I’m coming” could mean in 5 minutes or 5 hours. 

I get back to work on the gate with the help of a Haitian youth who has at some point replaced our guard from the previous night. When we finally manage to get it open he high fives me with a big grin. 

A few minutes later I hear the friendly beep beep of our taxi van and after piling all our suitcases on top we squish in.

It takes thirty minutes to drive over extremely rough backroads to the airport.

As soon as we arrive at the domestic terminal we are swarmed by baggage handlers and money changers. Many of them recognize me and ask where Jason is. When I tell them he is taking care of our boys they have a big laugh. 

Once inside, we head straight through security and then wait by the MAF office. I greet the staff there and it’s special to catch up with them. Heading over to the office window I’m handed two flight manifests so I quickly get to work dividing up the group and writing down names.

The flight from Haiti’s capital to her north western tip is both familiar and beautiful. Tin shacks crowded together haphazardly, thin and then disappear, replaced by brown and green mountain ranges.

On the left a turquoise ocean sparkles invitingly. 

Thirty minutes later as we near Anse Rouge colourful palettes of salt flats dot the shoreline.

The vegetation becomes more and more desert-like the closer we get to Anse Rouge.

When Lemuel mission materializes beneath us, the airplane banks sharply and then descends down, a few minutes later connecting solidly with the hard packed earth below.

On the ground we are greeted by the Brunsch family who joined the Lemuel Mission six months ago, and who I had met on my last trip to Haiti in March.

Photo missing their two daughters.\

After a delicious breakfast of tropical fruit, cereal and freshly baked bread we receive a tour of the ever growing compound.

It now includes a church, school, several homes and guest rooms, outhouses and shower houses, a giant cafeteria and kitchen, an outdoor gazebo and a new kindergarten building under construction that the team raised money for.

We spend the day gettting to know the local youth and making home visits.

One thing that quickly becomes very evident is how valuable water is to the community. To think that people actually drink the water from this waterhole is inconceivable.

It's also incredible to walk through the hand dug canals that the locals have dug so that they can channel water from the mountains to their gardens.

How quickly do we take for granted that clean drinking water just flows into our sinks at the turn of a tap, when others struggle so much to receive even this most basic necessity of life?

Travel Day 2 & First Day in Port au Prince

Wednesday, July 5 
It’s 7:30 a.m. and I am wandering through the Toronto Pearson International Airport. My overnight flight has just landed and I now need to find out where to go next. Since there is no gate number on my ticket for my next flight, I find an information booth and get the information I need. It’s a long walk from where I am but since my next flight doesn’t’ leave till 2:30 p.m. I have lots of time. 

Finding the gate I alternate between dozing off and reading my book. Just after noon the team arrives from Calgary and we take a little time to get acquainted.

That afternoon we fly to Fort Lauderdale where we overnight before taking the first flight out to Port au Prince the following morning. 

Thursday, July 6 
My alarm buzzes at 5:25 the following morning. We catch the free shuttle to the airport and then find out gate, only to come to the conclusion a little later that it probably has changed. Sure enough when we google our flight number we find a new gate has been assigned to our Port au Prince flight. Surprisingly enough all the announcements done by Jet Blue are in Creole so I’m thankful I know the language and can understand the directions of the desk staff. 

Inefficiency and misunderstandings soon lead to our flight being delayed by thirty minutes, but thankfully we eventually take off. Once in the air, I get to work switching my Canadian Sim Card with a Haitian one. My brows furrow as I concentrate on completing this task correctly. Jason is a master of technology which has lead to me depending on him entirely for these types of tasks and now I wish I had paid attention more. Thankfully I get it to work and it doesn’t take long before Haiti’s coastline appears beneath us. I marvel at the mix of poverty and beauty as we slowly descend.

Emotions stir but I force them down; Haiti will always have a special place in my heart. 

As we deplane straight onto the tarmac, we are hit by a thick, familiar wave of heat and humidity. As the team exclaims in amazement over a climate so different then theirs, I soak it in. It feels good. 

My next task is to make sure everyone makes it through Haitian Customs and to contact the driver that will be taking us to the guesthouse we will be staying at that night. Since our usual driver is busy, he has recommended someone else “Pierre” but I’ve never seen him before and he doesn’t speak any English. 

Hoping my Creole isn’t too rusty for lack of use, I get out my phone. Just as we are about to exit the airport I see a Haitian man with a large white paper that says “WILL KULL”, through the glass. That must be our driver, I decide, quickly slipping my phone back into my backpack. Sure enough, after verifying that he is in fact Pierre, we follow him through a maze of people and vehicles. 

Haiti shows no mercy to her visitors as we are once again bombarded by heat and humidity and now on top of that, dust, fumes, funky smells, masses of people, and crazy traffic. 

After paying a baggage handler, who keeps demanding more money for helping us load our bags onto the top of our minibus, we begin the bumpy journey to the Apparent Project Guesthouse. 

Looking back I catch a glimpse of the wide-eyed expressions of the team as they absorb their surroundings.

Pulling out my notebook full of Jason’s instructions, I get to work transferring money on my phone to an internet plan so I can contact Jason and let him know we arrived safely. Once that task is successfully completed, I direct the driver to make a stop at a familiar grocery store. 

Armed with shotguns guards mill around the parking lot as we pull up. Disembarking we head in and I quickly get to work shopping for staple food items for Anoud and Denise. Once I’ve paid for those I head over to the main counter to purchase a phone card only to find out later, much to my chagrin, that the code has already been scratched and I’ve just been scammed out of a 1000 Gds (apr 17USD). 

I then direct Pierre to Anoud and Denise’s house where we have a chance to quickly get reacquainted and give them the food staples. It is great to see them again and this time I am thankful to see they are doing a little better financially then they were when I seen them last, 4 months ago. 

Our next stop is the guest house. At this point I pay the driver and he heads on his way. After depositing our bags, we take our valuables with us and are escorted by the guesthouse staff to the Apparent Project, a few block over.

Here I have a chance to greet old friends and show the team the difference employment is making in the lives of the people in the surrounding area. 

Since our MAF Flight to Anse Rouge doesn’t leave till early tomorrow morning we take the afternoon to acclimatize, get to know each other better, and get started on the daily Hungry for Life Blog.

That evening the streets are dark, as city power has not been turned on and it’s difficult to not stumble over the rocks and ruts as we are lead back to the guesthouse. 

 At the guesthouse we gather for our first official team meeting and share our most impactful moments. I do my best to answer all the team member’s questions, before leading a devotional time with them.  At the end of the devotional time I share a poem about how God doesn’t use the most bright or smart or beautiful person but the one who is humble and willing; the one who spends time in God’s presence and in and in so doing reflects Him to others. We close in song and I am struck by how beautifully the Psalter resonates in the dark night. 

Travel Day 1

Tuesday, July 4 (two weeks ago) 
9:30 p.m. Vancouver, B.C. 
After checking in for my flight and clearing security I am waiting by my gate. Since it is still two hours before my flights planned departure the gate area is for the most part empty and quiet. 

Outside the sun is setting bathing the airport in a beautiful rose coloured glow. 

Used to having one or sometimes all three boys clamouring for my attention it seems strangely quiet just sitting there on my own. The last three days have been busy as Jason did his best to prepare me and coach me on everything I needed to do and I did the same for him. 

Unsure of what to do with myself now that everything is said and done, I reach for my phone and my earbuds; with a click of a few buttons the hymn “Nearer Still Nearer”, begins to play softly in my ears. Knowing that God is always near, and that I am never truly alone, brings comfort and peace. 

Homebound

July 18, 2017  

I glance down at my cellphone to check the time; 5:04 a.m.. It’s been almost 23 hours since we left our hotel in Port au Prince and we’re still not home yet. With unexpected delays in Fort Lauderdale we missed our connections to Calgary and Vancouver and were forced to overnight in Montreal. Since our new flights were scheduled to leave first thing in the morning, there was not a lot of time to sleep, but with the thought of seeing Jason and the boys again soon, sleep, or the lack thereof seems trivial. 

When my cellphone alarm buzzed at 3:45 a.m. I groggily forced myself out of bed to find the bathroom. Pushing contact lenses into bleary eyes I marvelled once again about being back in a country with drinkable tap water and clean cool air. At 4:00 a.m. we caught a shuttle to the nearby Montreal Tradeau Airport which proved to be the epitome of efficiency and class, a world apart from our Port au Prince airport experience the previous day. Trying hard not to compare I simply relished the beauty and competency of it all. 

It being Tuesday again means it’s been exactly 14 days since I stood on the sidewalk of the Vancouver International Airport waving goodbye to Jason and our boys; the boy’s sniffles and tears still ringing in my ears. Allowing myself to relive that memory, I can’t help but smile in anticipation of soon being reunited with them once again. 

These last two weeks has been a great experience of learning and growing for me as I led my first team to Haiti on my own. I definitely have gained a whole new appreciation and understanding of the work Jason does on a regular basis and with him taking on the role of both Mom and Dad while I was away I am pretty sure he has gained a new appreciation of my role as well! 

God has been so faithful during the entire trip and to Him be all the glory! 

If I had to choose a theme song for this trip it would be the hymn: Nearer, Still Nearer. 

Nearer, still nearer, close to Thy heart, 

Draw me, my Saviour – so precious Thou art! 

Fold me, oh fold me, close to Thy breast. 

Shelter me safe in that “haven of rest”. 

Lelia N. Morris

Although I didn’t have time to update our personal blog during out trip, like I had hoped, I did write notes in my journal and now that I have some time left before my flight to Vancouver, I plan to get to work piecing it all together. It won’t be complete or exhaustive but it is my form of processing so bear with me!

Remind Me Who I Am

But when the fullness of the time was come, God sent forth His Son, made of a woman, made under the law, To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons. And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of His Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father. Galatians 4:4-6

For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. Romans 8:15

The Lord hath appeared of old unto me, saying, Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn thee. Jeremiah 31:3

He found him in a desert land, and in the waste howling wilderness; He led him about, He instructed him, He kept him as the apple of His eye. Deuteronomy 32:10

Ye are bought with a price; 1 Corinthians 7:23a

Behold, I have graven thee upon the palms of My hands; Isaiah 49:16a

I will love Thee, O Lord, my Strength. The Lord is my Rock, and my Fortress, and my Deliverer; my God, my Strength, in Whom I will trust; my Buckler, and the Horn of my Salvation, and my High Tower.  Psalm 18:1-2

But Thou, O Lord, art a Shield for me; my Glory, and the Lifter up of mine head.  Psalm 3:3 

Thou wilt show me the path of life: in Thy presence is fullness of joy; at Thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore. Psalm 16:11 

Thou shalt guide me with Thy counsel, and afterward receive me to glory. Psalm 73:24

Your Adversary, the Devil

Friday, June 16
10:30 a.m. 
Traffic is light as I turn onto Knight Road. Earlier this morning God had directed me to write the blog, Jesus the Author and Finisher of our Faith, and now I need to get a few errands done. As I’m driving God’s Spirit suddenly reminds me of the words of 1 Peter 5:8: Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: 

I had just written how the Devil was the Father of Lies who blinds those who follow him lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them. (2 Corinthians 4:4) and the Devil obviously did not appreciate being exposed. The time for subtlety was long past. I was no longer blinded by his schemes and following him cheerfully, blissfully unaware of the danger I was in. I was, through God’s Spirit, encroaching on his domain and he wasn’t going to take it sitting down. 

It didn’t take long for retaliation to begin. At our first stop my two youngest sons began to fight so incessantly, I had to turn around and go home. My boys fight occasionally, but it’s never been that bad that the only solution was to go home. The day didn’t get better. Everything that could possibly irritate, annoy and frustrate me happened. Later my husband came home and we quickly began fighting too. It was over something so insignificant I can’t for the life of me even remember what it was about!  Discouraged and defeated I turned to God. He quickly reminded me of His word. Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw nigh to God, and He will draw nigh to you. James 4:7-8a 

He then reminded me of the armour of God. 

Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of His might. Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God: Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints; Ephesians 6:10-18 

One commentary explained it like this: “You are in a spiritual battle. If you are ignorant or ignore that fact, you probably aren’t winning the battle.” D. Guzik 

 “Even though Satan’s ultimate defeat is guaranteed, Christians must not take his works lightly. He wages a daily war for our hearts and minds.” B. Graham 

 “This is your armor from God to fight spiritual battles. In your own strength Satan is a formidable enemy; but when you are properly armed for spiritual warfare, you can stand against the devil’s schemes.” B. Graham 

 “While aware of Satan’s work we must be even more aware of the real source of Power: Jesus Christ. Satan is a defeated foe. Jesus Christ is King of Kings and Lord of lords.” B. Graham 

One of Satan's tactics is to create division. "Divide and conquer" is a motto he came up with. Jesus knew this and instead prayed for unity among believers. 

Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on Me through their word; That they all may be one; as Thou, Father, art in Me, and I in Thee, that they also may be one in Us: that the world may believe that Thou hast sent Me. John 17:20-21 

Satan loves division. If he can divide us, we become easier targets. Even within our own families when we fight and argue and disagree amongst each other, we quickly lose our unity and forget that we are on the same side. 

Now when my children fight amongst each other I ask them: "Do you think the Devil is happy you are fighting?" Even very little children can quickly grasp that Satan loves it when they fight and call each other names and hurt each other.  “That makes Satan happy? Well then I don’t want to do that!” was Justin’s quick response. 

Be alert. Be wary. Know your enemy and his tricks. 

Spurgeon explains it this way:

"TO BE A CHRISTIAN is to be a warrior. The good soldier of Jesus Christ must not expect to find ease in this world: it is a battlefield. Neither must he reckon upon the friendship of the world; for that would be enmity against God. His occupation is war. As he puts on piece by piece of the panoply provided for him, he may wisely say to himself, "This warns me of danger; this prepares me for warfare; this prophesies opposition." Difficulties meet us even in standing our ground; for the apostle, two or three times, bids us-"Stand." In the rush of the fight, men are apt to be carried off their legs. If they can keep their footing, they will be victorious; but if they are borne down by the rush of their adversaries, everything is lost. You are to put on the heavenly armor in order that you may stand; and you will need it to maintain the position in which your Captain has placed you. If even to stand requires all this care, judge ye what the warfare must be! The apostle also speaks of withstanding as well as standing. We are not merely to defend, but also to assail. It is not enough that you are not conquered; you have to conquer: and hence we find, that we are to take, not only a helmet to protect the head, but also a sword, with which to annoy the foe. Ours, therefore, is a stern conflict, standing and withstanding; and we shall want all the armor from the divine magazine, all the strength from the mighty God of Jacob." C. Spurgeon 

 Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is He that is in you, than he that is in the world. 1 John 4:4

Jesus the Author and Finisher of our Faith

Did you know that the Devil is the father of lies? If you’ve never looked to Jesus for your salvation, the Devil is your father too. He will continue to deceive you with his lies until it is too late. It’s a scary thought isn’t it? To belong to the Devil. 

When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it. John 8:44b 

In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.2 Corinthians 4:4 

God on the other hand is perfect. He is holy. He is the Father of lights. He never lies. He never changes. Through Jesus, God can be our Father too. 

God is not a man, that he should lie; neither the son of man, that he should repent: hath He said, and shall he not do it? or hath He spoken, and shall he not make it good? Numbers 23:19 

Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning. James 1:17 

Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ. Phil 1:2

The Devil wants us to believe that our salvation is somehow about us: our feelings, our emotions, our understanding of our misery (which is never enough), and our experiences. 

Salvation is really all about Jesus. 

Jesus, the Author and Finisher of our faith. 
Looking unto Jesus the Author and Finisher of our faith; Hebrews 12:2a 

Jesus, the Son of God. 
 And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him: And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. Matthew 3:16-17 

Jesus, the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world. 
The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world. John 1:29 

Jesus, the One who must be lifted up. 
And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up: that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life. John 3:14-15 

Jesus, the one who was wounded, bruised and chastised for our sins. 
But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed. Isaiah 53:5 

The Devil wants to trip us up, confuse us, make us doubt we can be saved, and when we fall into his traps he is very pleased. The only way we can be free from his lies is by the truth. 

Jesus is the Truth. 
Jesus saith unto him, I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. John 14:6 

And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free. John 8:32 

Make sure what you are believing is really the truth. 

One lie Satan uses to immobilize us is the lie: What if I don’t feel my misery enough? Spurgeon uses the illustration of a house on fire to deal with this question. If your house is on fire should you wait for it to become fully involved before trying to escape it? Shouldn’t the smoke alarms going off be enough to rouse you from your sleep and look for a way of escape? Or the frantic calling of a loved one be enough to get you to look for a way of escape? Or the smell of smoke? Or even the smallest hint of fire? 

Outside of Jesus we are all in grave danger. Our house is on fire, whether we fully grasp it yet or not! Outside of Jesus, God’s wrath cannot be satisfied. 

For our God is a consuming fire. Hebrews 12:29 

Outside of Jesus is eternal damnation, everlasting punishment, torment, worms that never die, and a fire that is never quenched. 

In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ: Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power; 2 Thes 1:8-9 

Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched. Mark 9:45b-46 

Life is temporary. We have no idea how much time we have left. Today might be our last day. We still have time to escape the torment of hell where the rich man ended up. 
And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, Luke 16;23a 

Jesus could return at any moment. 
For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night. For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape. But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief. 1 Thes 5:2-4 

Shouldn’t we use the time God has given us wisely? The Bible says how shall we escape if we neglect so great a salvation? 
How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation; Hebrews 2:3a 

Are we really going to waste the time God has given us? As we read these warnings, will we harden our hearts? 
Today if ye will hear His voice, harden not your hearts, as in the provocation. Hebrews 3:15b 

Today is the day of salvation. For He saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succoured thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation. 2 Corinthians 6:2 

Seek the Lord while He may be found, call upon Him while He is near. 
Seek ye the Lord while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near: Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the Lord, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon. Isaiah 55:6-7 

Jesus must be our focus. 
And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up: That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life. John 3:14-15 

Only Jesus can save us from the wrath of God. 
But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, being now justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him. Romans 5:8-9 

Come to Jesus. He is our only hope and He promises to save all those who come to Him. All that The Father giveth unto Me will come unto me and he that comething unto Me I will in no wise cast out.  John 6:37

Truths To Live By:

Remember Who made us. 

So God created man in His own image, in the image of God created He him; male and female created He them. Gen 1:27 

Remember now thy Creator in the days of thy youth, while the evil days come not, nor the years draw nigh, when thou shalt say, I have no pleasure in them; Ecclesiasts 12:1 

Know ye that the Lord He is God: it is He that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are His people, and the sheep of His pasture. Psalm 100:3 

But now, O Lord, Thou art our Father; we are the clay, and Thou our Potter; and we all are the work of Thy hand. Isaiah 64:8 

Our sin separates us from God. 

For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; Romans 3:23 

We need a Saviour, a Mediator. 

For there is one God, and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus; 1 Timothy 2:5 

And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up: That whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have eternal life. John 3:14-15 

Our only hope is Jesus. 

And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house. Acts16:31 

When we believe in Him, we receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 

Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. Acts 2:38 

And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, Acts 2:4a 

We must daily, consciously, abide in Christ and let His Spirit fill us. 

I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without Me ye can do nothing. John 15:5 

For I will pour water upon him that is thirsty, and floods upon the dry ground: I will pour My Spirit upon thy seed, and My blessing upon thine offspring: Isaiah 44:3 

But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life. John 4:14 

Abiding in Christ and being Spirit filled, gives us love, joy and peace regardless of our circumstances. 

And the disciples were filled with joy, and with the Holy Ghost. Acts 13:52 

And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us. Romans 5:5 

Peace I leave with you, My peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. (Jesus) John 14:27