Urgent Need of Prayer

We urgently need your prayers here in Costa Rica. Yesterday at 1:21 p.m. we were hit by the most damaging earthquake Costa Rica has had in 118 years. It registered at 6.2 and the epicenter was some 10 kilometers from Poas Volcano. The damage is extensive due to the mountainous nature of the area. There are 14 known dead so far as of 7 a.m. today with dozens missing and feared buried under landslides. It is raining in the mountains this morning which is seriously hampering rescue operations, and increasing the possibility of more landslides. Entire communities are cut off as many miles of roads totally disappeared and bridges are gone as well. The Red Cross is trying to get into those areas by helicopter and the latest report is that the U.S. military in Honduras is sending down two large helicopters to help airlift people out. So far we have had over 1500 aftershocks and OVSICORI (the earthquake/volcano people) are advising that this may go on for an indefinite period of time. The epicenter was 35 kilometers NNW of San Jose where we live. We were shaken up quite a bit, but suffered no major damage. The quake was caused by movement of a local fault system (not tectonic or subductive). Geologists are keeping a close watch on Poas Volcano because the epicenter was quite close to the principle crater. Will try to keep everyone updated as much as possible.

Worth a Thousand Words

Searching the Scripture

Lesson 3 GOD is a Balanced Being

Part 1:

GOD is holy, loving, merciful, and faithful. GOD is also just and righteous. Many people today have a one-sided view of GOD. They put all their emphasizes on HIS love and forget that HE is also just and holy. It is GOD´s love that allows HIM to forgive sin and show mercy to the repentant sinner. (Repentant is the key word). However, the holiness and justice of GOD demands that sin be punished to the full extent of the law.

Romans 6:23 - For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of GOD is eternal life through JESUS
CHRIST our LORD.

Many argue that hell is an impossibility. How can a loving, merciful GOD send a human being there for all eternity? To think this is to have an unbalanced view of GOD. Take a look at II Corinthians 5:11 and think about it. It will help you to understand the horrors of hell and the blackout a Calvary as you consider the holiness and severity of GOD´s wrath against sin.
GOD´s holiness demands that we be holy. GOD´s law places eternal damnation on the guilty sinner in accordance with GOD´s justice. It is one of the greatest miracles of all time that GOD found a way of salvation that satisfies both GOD´s holiness and HIS love. It satisfies the law and yet allows man to be a creature of free will who can choose salvation or damnation, heaven or hell.

GOD is Holy.

How can we imagine HIM as anything but perfectly holy. To be holy means to be pure; to be undefiled. GOD is totally pure. Read these verses: Habakkuk 1:13; Exodus 15:11; I Samuel 2:2; and Isaiah 6:3.

The holiness of GOD separated HIM from fallen man.

Eph. 2:13 - But now in CHRIST JESUS ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of CHRIST.

The only way that man can approach holy GOD is through the blood of JESUS CHRIST.

GOD is holy. GOD hates sin. His holy wrath must punish sin.

Isaiah 53:6 - All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on HIM the iniquity of us all.

This is why the FATHER forsook and punished HIS SON on Calvary. This demand was assumed by the SAVIOUR on the cross and the sacrifice completely satisfied the FATHER.

GOD is Love.

I John 4:8 - He that loveth not knoweth not GOD; for GOD is love.

Love here is not only a verb, it is also a noun. If GOD lives in my heart then I must love because I am indwelt by LOVE.

I John 4:7 - Beloved, let us love one another; for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of GOD, and knoweth GOD

What is love? It is a desire for and a delight in the welfare on the one whom the love is bestowed. True love even loves sinners and enemies.

Matthew 5:44-45 - But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;
That ye may be the children of your FATHER which is in heaven; for HE maketh HIS sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.

John 3:16 - For GOD so loved the world that HE gave HIS only begotten SON, that whosoever believeth in HIM should not perish, but have everlasting life.

GOD loves the world (mankind) and because of that love HE formed a plan of salvation so that we (mankind) might have the opportunity to escape wrath and damnation.

Shared Blessings in 2008

Our Share the Blessings 2008 project was to provide 33 children with a Christmas gift. Donations were asked so that we would have $20 to spend on each child. As we all know, this was a hard year here in Costa Rica as well as everywhere else. By the morning of December 19 we had received funding for 23 children and it was time to make our purchases. GOD was most gracious in HIS provision. The available funds ($460) were divided by 33, giving us $14 to spend on each child. I spent the 19Th shopping and GOD provided so absolutely amazing sales. Each of the children received either clothing or school supplies (whichever the parents had said was most needed). Here are photos of some of the children receiving their gift.

Gifts distributed on December 20th at the church in Ochomogo.

Gifts distributed in Barrio Nazaret (Maria Elena´s house) on December 24th.

Nandis is a very special child. She is a twin. She was born with cerebral palsy and her twin was born completely healthy. They are 8 years old. Their mother is a single parent and is always so grateful for any help provided for Nandis.

We want to send a huge thank you to everyone who made Christmas special for these children. You, through your love and giving, made this wonderful time of year blessed for them. Thank you so much for your willingness to be a part of Share the Blessing 2008. We will not list your names. What is most important is that GOD knows exactly who you are. May you be richly blessed in 2009.

A Quote to Ponder

What may be done at any time will be done at no time. Scottish proverb

Earthquake Report for 2008

In 2008 OVSICORI (Observatory of Volcanism and Seismology of Costa Rica) recorded 4,746 earthquakes here in Costa Rica. Of those only 61 were reported as having been felt by the public.

Here is a monthly count of those 61 reported as being felt.

January - 6
February - 3
March - 3
April - 6
May - 15
June - 5
July - 6
August - 6
September - 4
October - 1
November - 2
December - 3

Here is a monthly count of those 4,746 recorded on OVSICORI seismographs.

January - 330
February - 368
March - 472
April - 375
May - 414
June - 393
July - 596
August - 370
September - 405
October - 311
November - 493
December - 291

The daily quake average for 2008 was 13.

DATE * MAGNITUDE * MILES DEEP * DESCRIPTION
1-1.................. 3.0............................ 5............Local fault
1-18................ 5.0.......................... 18.6 .......Subduction Zone
1-19................ 3.3............................ 3.7.........Local Fault
1-22................ 3.5......................... 25.48.......Subduction Zone
1-24................ 4.0......................... 20.5.........Subduction Zone
1-28................ 3.5......................... 19.3..........Subduction Zone
2-21................ 4.2......................... 15.............N.Panama Deformity
2-25................ 3.3........................... 8.............Local Fault
2-28................ 4.3......................... 18.6..........Subduction Zone
3-17................. 2.3........................... 1.9..........Local Fault
3-18................. 3.2........................... 7.5..........Local Fault
3-20................. 3.5........................... 6.2.........Local Fault
4-2................... 4.0......................... 21.7.........Subduction Zone
4-3................... 2.6........................... 6.2..........Local Fault
4-6................... 4.4......................... 21.7...........Subduction Zone
4-6................... 3.8......................... 15.5...........Subduction Zone
4-11................. 3.5........................... 6.8...........Local Fault
4-12................. 2.0............................. .6..........Local Fault
5-22................. 4.8........................... 9.3..........Local Fault
5-23.................. 3.1.......................... 2.2..........Local Fault
5-24.................. 2.7.......................... 6.2..........Local Fault
5-25.................. 3.7.......................... 3.7..........Local Fault
5-26.................. 5.1.......................... 0 ............Panama Fracture
5-26.................. 4.8.........................21.7..........Local Fault
5-26.................. 4.6.......................... 3.7..........Local Fault
5-26.................. 5.3.......................... 8.7..........Local Fault
5-26.................. 5.4.......................... 9.9..........Panama Fracture
5-27.................. 4.8........................... 3.7.........Tectonic Zone Panama Fracture
5-28.................. 3.7............................. .6.........Tectonic Zone Panama Fracture
5-29.................. 5.1 ............................. .6........Tectonic Zone Panama Fracture
5-29.................. 3.6.............................. .6........Tectonic Zone Panama Fracture
5-29.................. 4.9.......................... 21.1........Tectonic Zone Panama Fracture
5-29.................. 4.9 .............................. .6.......Tectonic Zone Panama Fracture
5-30.................. 4.1............................. 9.3........Subduction Zone
6-2.................... 4.2............................ 18 ..........Local Fault
6-10.................. 3.8........................... 43.5........Tectonic Subduction Zone
6-13.................. 2.5............................. 5.6.........Local Fault
6-17.................. 5.8............................ 11.2........Panama Fracture
6-29.................. 3.5........................... 12.4........Subduction Zone
7-13.................. 3.1.............................. 4.3........Local Fault
7-19.................. 4.8............................ 31.1........Subduction Zone
7-20.................. 4.5............................ 22.4.......Subduction Zone
7-22.................. 3.2............................... 6.8.......Local Fault
7-22.................. 4.2............................. 28.1.......Subduction Zone
7-23.................. 3.0............................... 8 .........Local Fault
8-3.................... 2.6............................... 5.6........Local Fault
8-3 ....................2.1............................. 14.3........Local Fault
8-4.................... 1.7................................ ? ..........Local Fault
8-14.................. 6.0.............................. 6.2.........Panama Fracture
8-20.................. 4.5............................ 15.5........Subduction Zone
8-22.................. 5.4............................ 14.3.........Panama Fracture
9-10.................. 5.6.............................. 9.3........ Panama Fracture
9-12.................. 2.9............................. 11.2........Subduction Zone
9-19.................. 2.8............................... 5.6........Local Fault
9-21.................. 2.8............................... 5.6........Local Fault
10-2.................. 4.6............................. 16.8........Subduction Zone
11-19................. 6.2............................. 15.5........Panama Fracture
11-20................. 3.3............................... 3.1........Local Fault
12-6................... 4.9............................. 21.7.........Subduction Zone
12-15................. 5.0............................. 24.2........Local Fault
12-16................. 3.0............................... 7.5.........Local Fault


**** All the information used in this post was obtained and translated from a report made by OVSICORI.

Worth a Thousand Words