We arrived and immediately Keith and Ron helped Ms. Banca and her family put out the chairs for church. Lanezo and Ferenado threw water across the ground to keep the wind from blowing the sand on everyone. We were blessed to worship our Lord under the mango trees. Beau postioned himself and started playing soft and gentle music preparing our hearts for worship. Suzanne and Alexia went over what they were going to do for the children during worship along with the assistance of Meida. So grateful for our Meida who always works so hard for the teams and to help her Honduran culture worship our Lord.
Steve and Meida approached the circle of friends to allow time to welcome everyone and to thank Ms. Banca for the use of her home all week and now today. We give all the praise and honor to our Lord Jesus Christ for this gathering today. The Father who provides all we need provided us a place today to worship HIM under these beautiful mango trees. Suzanne, Jeremy and Alexia came forward and led the children in the singing of three songs, "Praise the Lord", "Jesus loves Me" and "If You Are Happy and You Know It". This was their first public appearance and those little ones did a great job praising the Lord. Joel then came forward to share his personal testimony. Joel shared he grew up in church, he memorized all the right bible verses and sang all the hymns from memory. He did all the right things and yes he knew Jesus but Joel shared it was not until he was twenty six years old that he realized he was doing it all wrong. He was trying to please himself in the presence of the Lord. Joel shared I knew Jesus but so does the devil. He did know Jesus as the Lord of his life. He thought temperal stuff would bring him happiness and joy. But he found out too quickly that it did not bring him joy at all. Until I quit focusing on myself and the desires of his heart and started focusing on the God's will for his life and God's desires was then when he found true joy. The joy you can only find when you have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. Joel shared it takes time in His Word daily to know Him, truly know Him. Joel shared I am not there yet but I am getting closer. He shared it was not always happy or life was not always easy but he said he was always joyful. Joy is a word you cannot touch. Joy only comes with a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. Joel shared with everyone he may never see them again, but I hope I will see you in Heaven where there will be no language barriers, no more sorrow and no more pain.
John got up to read the different scriputres references Steve would be preaching from. The one which truly stood out was John 3:16-17. Most folks know where this is in the Bible. Our new friends were all give a bible from the team. As Keith shared we had just enough for everyone to have one. God's provisions never cease to amaze me. So there these ladies and children were with a brand new bible but did not know what to do with it. They did not know where the book of John is in the Bible. They may have never held a bible before. This could have very well have been their first experperince with God's Word. So a few of us jumped up and helped them find the book of John.
Can you imagiane not having assess to God's Word daily? Or even worse we as North Americans may have five or six bibles laying around inside our homes but do we even open them up and spend quality time reading His Word and lifting the Lord up in praise and thanksgiving. What is your idol in life as we talked about one evening, idol which is keeping you from spending quality time with our Heavenly Father as His children. Do not go another day as a child of God and no spend quality time in His Word and in His Holy Presence. This is a gift we should not ever take for granted.
Steve and Meida proceeded to share a sweet and simple sermon about Jesus, the one who died for you and me. He referenced Romans 5:8 and John 3:16-17. God created everything which is found in the first book of the Bible Genesis. Our team traveled across mountains, plains, sea and farmland to arrive Tegus. We traveled over 3,000 miles to come to be with you under these mango trees today and this past week. But we are only a very small part of the world God created. Our God is so big. Our God is with us in this circle amongst the mango trees. He knows each of our names and the hairs on our heads. He loves the world he created included each of us. God loves us so much He sent His one and only Son Jesus Christ to die for each of our sins. Jesus was killed by those who rejected Him. Jesus is the only one through His blood on the cross and His resurrection from the grave on the third day who can give us this complete and fulfilling joy and peace. We search for earthly things to bring us happiness. This happiness will never give us complete joy the way Jesus Christ can. The only way we can have this complete joy is to receive and accept His free gift of salvation. This is something which cannot be earned, all the work you did this week cannot get you this salvation only found through Jesus Christ. We cannot have this joy without Jesus, our own self gratification can not fulfill the voids in our lives through our short term happiness.
Also the rest of the story, Jesus is alive and living in those who are called His Children. You can only be called a child of God when you receive Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior. If you think going to church Wednesday and Sunday, being a deacon in your church, being a Sunday School teacher or teach VBS which is all great things, but if you are not a child of God and have a personal relationship with HIM then all your work is in vain. Earlier I shared about God's Word, I challenge all you is reading this today, if you do not find time in your day to spend time with the one who died for your and my sins please stop and do it. Please pick up your Bible daily and dive in to the sweetest and most powerful book out there. Halleiugh Jesus died for my a sinner, lost in bondage to my past and now I am free, free to live my life for the Son of God, my Heavenly Father and I pray today if you do not know Jesus as your personal Lord and Savior please receive the sweetest gift of all and it is free, salvation.
We are not promised tomorrow, tomorrow may be too late.
Please read His Word and grow in his joy, grace, mercy and peace.
He gave it all for you and me to have eternal life.
What are you giving HIM?
How much of you is He getting?
As team leader Steve shared one evening, What is your idol?
What is keeping you from a personal relationship with Jesus and what is keeping you from being in His Word daily?
This is the greatest gift anyone ever gave me, was sharing Jesus with me. So here I am today sharing Jesus with whoever is reading this blog.
Jesus!!!
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