Devotional for friends // Devocional para as amigas

  Almost a month ago, I received sad news about an old colleague; she has been hospitalized since then, in a coma or in an unconscious state. I cannot imagine what it has been like for her family and closest friends. I had the pleasure of working with her for a short time during my Ph.D., and she was always very kind and loving. I cannot say the same for me, but she was a better person than I was at that time. I asked her forgiveness for once I had lost my temper with her; she wasn’t at fault, she knew what I was going through and didn’t make a big deal of it. What I want to say is that God has his plans and He doesn’t fill us in on what comes next. We stay here wondering the whys, hows, and what should or should not have been done to prevent such and such. There is nothing one can say that will comfort the hearts of her family or friends. We don’t know if she’ll wake up or if God will take her to himself. The Job story in the Bible tell...

  Mouth guard, if only we wore them all day long. Protetor bucal, quem dera pudéssemos usá-lo o dia todo. Happy New Year to all. If you can understand the joke above. The mouth guard above protects our teeth, but what if it could protect us from our uncontrollable impulses to talk?   Let’s start this year with at least good intentions. Let’s get better. Let’s get more humble and wiser. Let’s start with acknowledging the vices we have, which appear in our speech. Here, the author, Thomas a Kempis, and I will quote him the whole section, because I cannot write it better. “Who can fully judge or comprehend just how many and varied are the sins and vices which come to being through our words? Let us ask ourselves, how often are our words: •             pointless and profitless, •             Flippant and foolish,...

  The year is about to turn 2026. When we get to a certain age, we start looking back and seeing how fast time goes, life happens, and sometimes we don’t know what we have done with all this time that we have lived. We have partied, we have studied, and we have travelled. We have seen the world and experienced so many things. We have aged. If you are young and think that you have a lot of time ahead of you, you might do but once in a while is good to evaluate what you want and what is achievable. Old and young people say the most stupid things to young people who are searching and trying to figure out their lives. Some say ‘Follow your heart’. Please, if you have ever said that to someone, go and apologize because this is the worst advice one can give. Don’t follow your heart. Your heart doesn’t know a thing about life. Your heart only sees emotions, and emotions change all the time. We women, know that very well. Just look at the month, before ...

  I am happy with the place where I live. In this complex of apartments, we have a basketball court, a playground, and a green space where kids can play whatever they want. They do. There, the children and adolescents often make some noise outside. Good noise. They have a safe place to be. I believe those kids are healthier than those who are inside playing video games or studying all the time. It is good to study, don’t get me wrong. But a balanced life is also important. For kids, that means time to study and time to play outside. To make friends, real friends. Where they see each other and don’t need to see them as their competitors, enemies, rivals, or different. Friendship is as important as studying. With friends, they are forming and strengthening their minds. Today, people call it mental health. I thank God that I grew up in a place and time where I could go outside, ride a bike, run around, and play with others without my parents being ...

  "Deixe-o ouvir!"   A dificuldade de ouvir É difícil para os outros explicarem para eles. (Hebreus 5:8-11; Mateus 13:13-15)   Aqueles com ouvidos que coçam Eles ouvem apenas o que lhes agrada. (2 Timóteo 4:3-4; "Não" à sã doutrina vs. 2)   Aqueles que ouvem com um coração nobre e bom O tipo de ouvinte que todos nós deveríamos ser. (Lucas 8:15; Atos 17:11) One day, I think I’ve read in a book, which one I don’t remember now, what it means to be filled with the Holy Spirit. For most people, this concept might be weird, filled with the Holy Spirit. But this is exactly what makes the difference between how a Christian behaves, speaks, what he/she listens, and what he/she chooses to see or watch. That is why when a new Christian starts changing the old crowd, he/she used to walk with won’t be fit anymore. It is not because the church demands, or it is a cover, or just superficial. It is the Holy Spirit changing from the...

  The death of my cousin made me think about a few things. Yes, it was a sad thing. So unexpected. It got us all by surprise, which hurt. He was such a nice, joyful, and lively guy or man. He will certainly be missed. What we have here but the present. My mom and my other cousin spoke at the funeral. Yes, we have nothing here. It makes no sense at all to get attached to things of this world when at any moment we might leave it. Our days are numbered, but we don’t know how many we were given. How are you living your days? Sometimes we take it for granted because we are young or have health and may think that we have a whole life ahead of us. But do we really? Some live their lives as if all they have to do is party. As if parties were the most important thing in the world. Fun is part of life, so are sadness, problems and relationships, and hard times. Are we going to take something from this world when we die? I am pretty sure we a...