Shine Out of Darkness: AUDACIA

Tara and I arrived in Costa Rica last night and were blessed to see Jonathan and Maggie, jonandmaggie.org. We got to attend a youth bible study with them and see their ministry in action. It was really awesome to see so many youth all from different backgrounds praising God and digging deeper into His word and experiencing His covenant community. 60 YOUTH PRAISING GOD! AMEN!!!!!

Our time in Honduras with HOI was truly amazing what a blessing it is for God to bring two cultures together to work and praise Him. As I was doing my devotion the Lord led me to several verses in Acts that I would like to share. Starting with Acts 4: 29-30, Now, Lord, look on their threats and grant to Your servants that with all boldness they may speak your word, by stretching out Your hand to heal, and that signs and wonders may be done through the name of Your holy Servant Jesus. It is God's hand that is stretched out through the staff of HOI that touches the mission teams hearts and draws us deeper and closer to Him and I pray that it is God's hand that is stretched out through us that touches the hearts of the people in Honduras. When God stretches out His hand many great things are done in the name of Jesus! Lives are changed and we experience His great love for us.

Acts 4:31 And when they had prayed, the place where they were assembled together was shaken; and they were filled with the Holy Spirit, and they spoke the word of God with boldness. Many cultures come together at the HOI's Rancho el Paraiso...people of Honduras, people from America, people from Nicaragua (and that 1 guy from Young Life, Tegucigalpa :-) We all come together to spread the gospel to others and to pray as one that we may speak with boldness. And God answers! The Agalta Valley, Olancho, Honduras has been shaken! It is filled with the Holy Spirit and the word of God is spoken with boldness. The mission teams, the staff at the ranch, their
actions speak boldly, their lives speak boldly of God and His great love for us all.

Acts 4:32-33 Now the multitude of those who believed were of one heart and one soul; neither did anyone say that any of the things he possessed was his own, but they had all things in common. And with great power the apostles gave witness to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. And great grace was upon them all. We are of many cultures but we are in accord with one heart and one soul sharing all that we have to give glory to God. We come together to help each other grow closer to God. Allowing Him to stretch out His hand through us and minister to others. HOI does this in many ways...by construction projects, by medical clinics, by vet clinics, by providing education through the schools and by prayer visitations to the "shut-ins" throughout the valley...HOI is addressing all the needs of the community, but the most important of all is that HOI speaks boldly that Jesus Christ was obediant and that Jesus Christ died on the cross and Jesus Christ was resurrected three days later and through Jesus Christ God gives grace to us all and is bringing us back into relationship with God Himself, ourselves, each other and the rest of His creation!!!!!

Gracias y que Dios los bendiga

Gracia y paz~ Joel and Tara