Thérèse de Lisieux: Distant Islands

Sing to the LORD a new song, his praise from the ends of the earth, you who go down to the sea, and all that is in it, you islands, and all who live in them. Isaiah 42:10

“I so desire, Lord, to travel the length and breadth of the earth preaching your name and planting the hope of your glorious cross in pagan territory. Furthermore, one mission alone would not be enough for me. I would want to spread your gospel throughout the whole world all at once, including the most distant islands. . . Do you know what gives me strength? I am walking for the benefit of a missionary. I believe there is one working far away, on the verge of collapse on account of his apostolic undertakings. To lessen his fatigue, I offer my own to God.”

Terese de Lisieux, Autobiography of a Soul XII, 9.

This post seemed fitting for me as I serve in Port of Spain, Trinidad and Scarborough, Tobago this weekend. It’s how God works. We make ourselves available. He sends us to distant islands. The next thing we know. People report that our presence impacted their lives and caused praise to God to go forth widely.

And I could relate to the source of apostolic strength to which Terese refers. When we empty ourselves for others. God replenishes us. We only get enriched when we empty ourselves. And not only do we find new strength, we lessen the fatigue and strengthen the faith of those we serve. It’s a paradox of generosity, one of many anyway.

While most may never visit Trinidad & Tobago (I know I never thought I would), God sends us out of our comfort zone to deploy our rigor and resources in service to others.

Perhaps you have been invited by your children to help watch your grandchildren 2-3 days a week. This may sap your strength, but it shapes the faith and formation of the future generation. Or maybe you could serve as a mentor. But you feel more frustrated than hopeful about helping an emerging worker. Might God have placed you fill the obvious gaps in their knowledge and experience. Or maybe as a youth, you liked church online. But you get spiritual food in podcasts and don’t engage with a small group or Bible study. Might God want you to pursue community for what you can both give and get.

Where might He be calling you to serve in 2025? If you don’t have clarity, take some time to pray about it this weekend. God may just have an island in store for you to bless people and receive blessing. That’s my testimony.

Here’s an article I contributed to the National Christian Foundation website that I just learned had posted live. Read it here. And stay tuned for another GTP trip report from Trinidad & Tobago by Monday. Read the trip report from this past week in Jamaica here.

When [Jesus] saw the crowds, He had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. Matthew 9:36

“As we look around us we realize that there are many people who still do not yet know Christ. May who are baptized live as though Christ had not redeemed them, as if He were not truly present in our midst every day. Many go about their lives like those who drew down the compassion of Jesus, crowds who were bewildered and dejected like sheep without a shepherd. They go on and on, without any specific aim in life, disoriented, and wasting their precious time, since they seem to have no sense of direction. Like the Lord, we too are filled with compassion for those people. Though at times they seem – humanly speaking – happy and successful, they fail in the worst way possible because they do not behave as, nor are they even aware of being, children of God on the journey to eternal home of the Father. We cannot let the eternal salvation of anyone be at risk due to our lack of apostolic spirit.”

Francis Fernandez in In Conversation with God: Meditations for Each Day of the Year, volume 7 (London: Scepter, 1993) 292.

As we move into the Advent season, if you know anyone at risk – harassed and helpless – who you might reach out to at this time. This might be a neighbor or co-worker. Our most generous act this advent may be to invite them to journey with us.

I have done that with Michael (pictured above). We started reading my Advent devotional together. Click here to access it.

Thanks for your prayers. We made it safely from Jamaica to Trinidad. Today we fly across to Tobago for program work. Then back to Tobago at the end of the day. Again, appreciate your prayers as we spread the vision of accountability in the Caribbean.

And as we keep our eyes open for at risk people along the way. When we do this we imitate the good Samaritan.

Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Matthew 11:28

“The blessed always lean on Christ. for support. They often visit Him in the tabernacle to draw renewed energy from His presence there. The personalities of the blessed vary enormously, but in this life they had in common one distinguishing feature. They lived charitably with those around them.”

Francis Fernandez in In Conversation with God: Meditations for Each Day of the Year, volume 7 (London: Scepter, 1993) 240-241.

Yesterday went crazy awesome. Imagine my driver at 6:00am collects me at my hotel. We hit it off, the Spirit guides the conversation and by 7:00am in the parking lot of the University of West Indies, he confessed his sins and professed faith in Jesus Christ.

For the full story, His grandmother sowed the seeds. Others watered them, and for Michael Clark, I got to be there on harvest day, praise God. See his photo with me above. Take a moment and pray for fruit that lasts. And imagine, my day had just started.

From there, the launch for CCEFA (Christian Council for Ethical and Financial Accountability) went fantastic. Reply if you want a copy of the trip report. In short people stepped up to serve, pray, give, and register their ministries to pursue accreditation.

Then, when I got back to my room (as if that was not enough), I received requests for the translation of my book and videos, entitled, Faith and Finances, into Chinese and the Community: 30-day devotional, into multiple languages in India.

Of course, I will allow this freely as Christian workers have offered to translate the books freely. Then, I received a request to print The Sower, The Choice, and The Council for ministries for workers Africa but that would come at a cost. In response, I leaned on Christ for renewed energy.

I did. I did what today’s Scripture says and what today’s reading says. I read it on the treadmill at the hotel last night. Like a little child, I ran into His presence, and there, I begged Him to renew my energy and supply resources so I could continue to serve charitably.

Join in this work which strengthens workers and, on days like today, sees people come to faith. Give to GTP. We are praying for 100 monthly givers and have 49 so far. Give here. And thanks to a matching gift, for every person who sets up monthly giving, GTP gets an additional $100.

Today, John, Lea, Horace, and I fly to Port of Spain, Trinidad to spread the word to Trinidad & Tobago.

For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. Ephesians 2:10

“We, the faithful, are the pilgrim church on our way to heaven. While we make progress towards heaven we need to gather up the treasure of good works we will one day present before God… Winning heaven is the challenge we face with the grace of God each day. Happily it always involves the task in hand and is effected precisely among the persons God has wanted to place at our side. We need to realize fully that our generous and holy resolve to improve constantly has an important impact on others. If through God’s grace and the help of others we do reach heaven, we will not enter into eternal glory alone, but will draw many others there with us.”

Francis Fernandez in In Conversation with God: Meditations for Each Day of the Year, volume 7 (London: Scepter, 1993) 238-239.

Something really cool happened on the first day of this trip. I spoke at a missions conference on accountability, then my colleague, John Roomes spoke on generosity.

We invited participants to steward money with accountability and generosity, to give their lives in service to God on mission, and if they had not already done so, to give their life to Jesus for the first time.

That’s the first step of stewardship. And one young woman came forward and gave her life to Jesus. It was beautiful to see her confess her sins and profess her faith in the work of Jesus for her. I have had joy ever since.

That gal just started her pilgrimage to heaven. She saw others willing to take steps, so she took the first bold step for her, praise God. And today pray with me that many more take a step.

After one TV show, two radio interviews, and many meetings, it’s time to launch the CCEFA vision for peer accountability in Jamaica and the Caribbean. Pray for hearts receptive to join the vision. Thanks.

Pray that our good works draw others to join the movement in Jesus name.

Make every effort to live in peace with everyone and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord. Hebrews 12:14

“Sanctity does not depend on one’s state in life – single, married, widower, or minister – but on our personal correspondence with the grace God grants each one of us.”

Josemaria Escrivá in In Love With the Church (Strongsville: Scepter, 2008) 67.

Today’s reading moved me in this way.

My sanctity or holiness relates not to my position but to my personal interaction with the grace of God. I feel this most, I think, when I step out of my comfort zone.

For example, when I take trips like Caribbean one to attempt new tasks and serve in new countries.

When I travel, I find myself constantly in personal correspondence with people and with God. I often talk out loud to Him in the quietness of my hotel room. I believe He hears me.

I find myself saying things like, “What should I do, Lord?” or “How should I handle this situation?”

But notice, if I was at home I could slide into fleshy actions or attitudes (and sometimes I do), without conversing with Him. It appears as the “I know what to do Lord” or “I know how to handle this.”

So for me the answer is in the “make every effort” part of living at peace with people and being holy.

God wants us to look to Him always, to reflect His love with generosity and to rely on His grace to do this. As we live into that rhythm, we become more like Jesus.

Make it so Lord, in each of us. And continue to guide our efforts in Jamaica.

Keep praying. Fun TV interview yesterday on the “Smile Jamaica” good morning show. Another one today. Then huge launch event tomorrow. Appreciate your prayers.

Our GTP Chinese team is in Taiwan and also out of their comfort zone yet powerfully experiencing God and His favor. Thank you LORD.

Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. Romans 12:11

“A person who does not stop going forward will eventually arrive, though perhaps late… There is no greater cause of straying from the path of faithful perseverance than letting up in prayer.”

Teresa of Avila in The Life of St. Teresa of Ávila 19, 5, as cited with supplemental comments by Francis Fernandez in In Conversation with God: Meditations for Each Day of the Year, volume 7 (London: Scepter, 1993) 217.

How do we keep the fires of our spiritual fervor stoked? Prayer.

I was reading excerpts from The Life of St. Teresa of Ávila today in Jamaica (pictured above). Her comment that we may arrive where God wants us to go, but “perhaps late” resonated with me.

Why? I find myself in a place where things happen slowly.

This idea of pace got me thinking as I mine the topic of “waiting” this month. If you have not downloaded my Advent ebook entitled, WAITING, click here to download it freely. Don’t just read it. Go through it with a friend. Now back to today’s thoughts.

God does not want us to rush too fast through life. I have been guilty of that.

He does, however, want us to persevere faithfully with an unending pace at prayer. This discipline helps us stay on the path God has for us and get where He wants us to go faster. Teresa goes on to describe prayer as “establishing a foundation” for everything else we do.

CCEFA (Caribbean Council for Ethical and Financial Accountability) is launching this week.

If the Lord wills, CCEFA will serve as the peer accountability group (PAG) for the Caribbean. This will all come together thanks to the faithful work of God’s servants and prayer.

Please, if you have a moment, pray with me for the launch of CCEFA in Jamaica this week for this country and the entire region. I have many meetings, TV and radio interviews, and speaking engagements in advance to raise awareness. And this is my prayer.

Father in heaven, advance the vision of CCEFA to grow accountability and regional generosity. By your Holy Spirit, raise up prayer partners, givers in Jamaica to meet the $10,000 match from GTP, givers from USA and around the world to contribute to the match here, accountants and lawyers to serve as volunteer accreditors, and move church and ministry workers to follow standards and get CCEFA accredited for your glory. In your mercy, Father, hear my prayer. Make it so I pray in the name of Jesus. Amen.

Wait for the LORD and keep His way, And He will exalt you to inherit the land; When the wicked are eliminated, you will see it. Psalm 37:34

“When the moral tone in society is low, our faith needs to be strong and accompanied by loving generosity with others. We should continue to learn how to have a good rapport with everyone, including those who do not understand us. Our heart should continue to expand to include others who hold different social and political views from our own. Whether we are dealing with highly educated individuals or with people who are barely literate, we need to have a friendly disposition which comes from dealing with God intimately in daily prayer. Such an attitude of affection is perfectly compatible with great fortitude in speaking out in support of the teachings of the church.

Francis Fernandez in In Conversation with God: Meditations for Each Day of the Year, volume 7 (London: Scepter, 1993) 213.

Waiting and loving generosity go hand in hand.

When we wait on the Lord and take a posture of loving generosity, it strengthens our witness. David, the psalmist, puts it rightly in saying that you “inherit the land” when you wait on the Lord and keep His way.

Also notice that the wicked, those who don’t keep His way, will be eliminated.

Then when you read today’s post from Fernandez, you get a modern vision of what it looks like to inherit the land. This takes time for God to work things out so our focus is waiting with strong faith and loving generosity.

Want help to grow spiritually along these lines? Download WAITING as a free 30-day devotional for Advent here.

It offers fresh insights from a variety of Bible characters to help us make the most of waiting opportunities. And it will help strengthen your fortitude to live out your faith.

And I have arrived safely in the Caribbean for two weeks of program work in Jamaica, Trinidad & Tobago, and Guyana. Preaching this morning and speaking tonight. Appreciate your prayers.

Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened. Which of you, if your son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask Him! Matthew 7:7-11

“There is another reason to persevere in prayer: the more we petition Christ the more our friendship with God matures. In human affairs, when it is necessary to ask a powerful person a favor, we seek a bond of union and an opportune moment, perhaps when the one approached is in a good mood before making our request. With the Lord, however, we find him ever ready to hear us. We have every reason to approach our Father God with confidence, no matter at what hour of the day. Nothing should be able to diminish our faith in God’s almighty power.”

Francis Fernandez in In Conversation with God: Meditations for Each Day of the Year, volume 7 (London: Scepter, 1993) 200.

Our Father in heaven stands “ever ready” and eager to give us good gifts. And these gifts are not for us alone but for all those with whom we serve. And He loves it when we ask for and make gifts to others demonstrating His generosity to us.

Today I pray for God’s blessing on GTP program work over the next 13 days in Jamaica, Trinidad & Tobago, and Guyana. We are launching another peer accountability group, CCEFA (Caribbean Council for Ethical and Financial Accountability).

This marks an historic moment for the region. I am asking God to raise up good gifts for CCEFA: givers, prayer partners, volunteer accreditors, country representatives, and churches and ministries to pursue accreditation.

Pray with me for this. And should you desire to support work in this region, GTP is praying God supplies $10,000 for “PAG matching funds for CCEFA (Caribbean)” to help CCEFA activate operations. Click here to designate your gift.

And I am praying that each person reading this will persevere in prayer for whatever you need or whatever those around you need knowing that your cries for help do not fall on deaf ears but on a loving Father in heaven who stands ever ready to come to our aid.

Then Jesus told His disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up. Luke 18:1

“Since we are in need of a great deal of assistance in order to advance, we join constant petition to our continual thanksgiving. Although the Lord grants us many graces without our asking for them, He permits other graces to come to us in proportion to the fervor of our prayer. Since we do not know the measure of petition, His unfathomable providence expects from us, it is necessary to keep praying with intensity.”

Francis Fernandez in In Conversation with God: Meditations for Each Day of the Year, volume 7 (London: Scepter, 1993) 200.

Adding constant petition to our continual thanksgiving is good advice from Fernandez that follows the instructions of Jesus to always pray and not lose heart.

The additional comment that our Lord “permits other graces to come to us in proportion to the fervour of our prayer” adds depth to the parable.

In plain terms, the more we persist and persevere in prayer, the greater the probability that God will hear and act from His unfathomable providence.

Do we live like we believe this. And notice how generosity comes into view. Let us pray for God’s blessings on those around us and anyone we serve with fervor.

This is the kind of generosity anyone can practice: offer continual thanksgiving with constant petition for our own needs and the needs of others.

“Father, I give you thanks that you have heard me.” John 11:41b

“We have a great deal to be thankful for and still stand in great need. Expressing gratitude and asking for specific graces are two ways we can daily pray to God our Father. In the first place we need to recognize the gifts the Lord has given us. We will not learn how to love if we are not grateful… We find Christ in the Gospels constantly giving thanks to God. And He is our Model. When raising Lazarus from the dead, Jesus exclaims: Father I give you thanks that you have heard me. On the occasion of another miracle, Jesus took the loaves and, after giving thanks, distributed them and the fishes to those who were reclining. At the institution of the eucharist (meaning “thanksgiving”), the Lord gave thanks before blessing the bread and wine.”

Teresa of Avila in The Life of St. Teresa of Ávila 10. 3, as cited with supplemental comments by Francis Fernandez in In Conversation with God: Meditations for Each Day of the Year, volume 7 (London: Scepter, 1993) 196-197.

What a profound idea. That we take time to express gratitude while also asking for graces.

Each of us has so much to be thankful for, and yet, we still stand in great need. Every day we have huge needs. And notice the example of Jesus.

For Him thanksgiving is bigger than turkey, football, parades, and pumpkin pie.

He gives thanks that the Father hears Him, that the Father provides for the people, and that the Father supplies the bread and wine, which implies the sacrifice for sins of humanity.

Let us pause today, at least in USA, from our labor and convene with loved ones.

And let us express our gratitude to God for hearing us, providing for our needs, and supplying the sacrifice for our sins. And let us also ask for special graces.

We need Him right now, today, as much or more than ever.

Father, we give thanks you that you hear and love us. Grant us special graces. Strengthen us by your Holy Spirit to live, give, serve, and love generously. Make it so, we ask in the name of Jesus. Amen.