Sunday morning the team arrives ready for worship. The Hondurans came from all directions on foot to worship the Lord. They started out singing, "God is Good", "Thank You Jesus" and "I Am Waiting for that Day". Topher was asked to read the scripture out of Luke 14:25-33, "The Cost of Being a Disciple." There was a solo by Mercelle, "I Will Choose My God". Then God used Joe in a mighty way this Sunday morning. Joe shared the story of Jonah and The Whale. God called Jonah to go and share the gospel with the people of Ninevah. Jonah did not want to go to Ninevah. They were evil and wicked people who lived in Ninevah. So Jonah ran away from God and his calling for his life. He got on a ship and skipped town. A really bad storm came up and caused Jonah to fall out of the ship and end up in the belly of a whale. While in the belly of the whale Jonah realized God was giving him a second chance to go and do what He had called Jonah to do. Once Jonah prayed to God and asked forgiveness, the whale spit Jonah out and Jonah went to Nivevah to proclaim God's story. Thank you God for second chances. God is a compassionate God. God was compassionate to the evil people of Ninevah. They repented of their sins. Praise The Lord once again for second chances. Jonah did not want to give these people a second chance. He got made at God for wanting to do this for the people. We can be this way sometimes as well. Someone hurts us or makes us angry we do not want to forgive them. This is our human side and not allowing God to work through us to forgive others. God forgave us and in return we need to forgive others as well. How quickly Jonah had forgotten what God had done for him. He saved him from the belly of the whale. God loves everyone even though we are sinners saved by God's grace. Romans 3:23, "for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God," Our God is gracious, merciful, compassionate and slow to anger. He sent HIS SON on this earth to cover our sins by a brutal death on a cross. He is the Perfect Lamb. We should all run to God not away from God. We may miss a huge blessing by running from God. Joe shared about his shoulder surgery and how he almost did not come to Honduras because he was afraid he would not be any help to his team. But God wanted me to come and made it very clear I, Joe, was to go to Honduras to help build El Limonal a bridge. If I had stayed behind I would have missed out on seeing your beautiful community come together and show the North Americans what true community is about. Years ago God also gave me a second chance to become His child. I am grateful today for second chances and all the blessings I have received from God by his second chances. If you do not know Christ as your Lord and Savior today I pray you will receive the sweetest and most important gift of all, Jesus Christ and an eternal home. Joe thanked them for allowing him to share and for being in El Limonal this week.
Pastor Santiago shared some thougths and asked if there was any one who needed Jesus today or wanted to rededicate their lives to Christ. Slowly as we sang four different people came forward and rededicated their lives to Christ.
While Joe was preaching about Jonah, his daughter Shelby and their friend Topher, were teaching the same story in Sunday School. Shelby did the entire lesson in Spanish. She taught this lesson to two different groups. While she had a break between classes Shelby went back in the worship service and sang, "Oceans" in Spanish for the adult congregation. Thank you Shelby for using your God given talents for the kingdom of God. The people love to hear North Americans share and speak their native language. Job well done.
After a full day of worship we had an afternoon to visit Mt. Horeb and share watermelon with our guys on Mt. Horeb. Before the cold watermelon some of the folks climbed one of the smaller rocks to look out over the mountains and beauty of Honduras. This was a restful afternoon and several of us reflected back years ago how on Sunday afternoon we took the time to set on our front porch with family or friends and simply relax. This was an amazing afternoon full of friends, fruit and fellowship. Thank you God for teaching us to be still and relax.
Please enjoy reading:
Luke 14:25-33
The Book of Jonah
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