Devotional for friends // Devocional para as amigas

Feliz dia de Ações de Graças Thanksgiving is right around the corner, and here COVID is spreading faster than any gossip that the gossiper could ever imagine. So, everybody that I know is re-thinking about their plans or thinking very carefully if they are going to meet or not.   Despite that, in my opinion, this is not a case of not being grateful for this unexpected year. I know from some people this year couldn’t be worse. I know that domestic violence has increased, alcoholism too, depression, anxieties and so other many bad things happened.   However, the Bible teaches us to be thankful despite the circumstances (Philippians 4:10 – 13). How is that possible? Here is how it is possible: Philippians 4:13 – I can do all things through him (Jesus) who strengthens me.   It is possible. We should start looking at the half-full cup of water instead of a half-empty cup of water. Did you get that? I mean we should not keep l...

"E se 2020 foi só o trailer de 2021? " We are one month and a half to the end of the year. What a year was this!!! I think everybody can’t wait to see this awful year ends. Although this year will enter the history book throughout the world, the next generation will remember 2020.   I am going to dare to make a parallel here between a person without Christ and 2020, and a person with Christ and the hope of the new. I am not good at this, bear with me.   "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here! 2 Corinthians 5:17"   This year of 2020 was a waste, many would say. Many lives went into pause. Others have been broken completely. Some got depressed and lost their ways. Confusion. Hopelessness. Despair. Sorrow, oh so many sorrows. But somehow, we hope. We hope to find our way back. To put our lives back on track. To move on from this horrible nightmare that seems that never end...

  Do you know what is your cross? You might think your cross is the problems of life, the hardships, or even a disease. I know I thought that too. But rethinking about it, of course with the help of a book that I’ve just read, I came to agree with the Author. It is kind of selfish to think that our cross is about ourselves.   Jesus went up to the cross, even though he had done no wrong. He didn’t say, “I deserve justice!”, or “I need a fair trial”, “Wait for me outside I’m gonna get you”. Or “I’m gonna make sulfur rain over all of you”. No. He went in silence. He accepted the unfairness of those human beings, why? Because he loved it. “God so loved the world…”   He died for us. He didn’t need to. He could do differently if He wanted. But He didn’t.   One question for you: What is the most thing Jesus repeated to the disciples and in all New Testament? I’m gonna answer that for ya. “Love your neighbor”, isn’ it? Why? Be...

  Fortunately, I haven’t heard anyone say that “we are all going to heaven therefore I don’t need to worry about nature”. Funny thing, it is clear that anyone who says that has never read the Bible. Because several times in the Bible the description of heaven is too much like the earth. Eden’s restoration ( Revelation 22 NIV ), “the wolf and the lamb shall gaze together ( Isaiah 65:25 )… etc. What to think about this? Have you ever thought that heaven will be here on earth? In fact, in Revelation ( 21:10 ) it is written that the New Jerusalem will be coming down from heaven. Why? Because it will shine upon the kings of the earth ( Revelation 21:24 ). So, the Bible is saying that there will be earth and heaven communicating openly through the New Jerusalem. What I am saying is: The earth will still be earth, of course, cleaned from the sins and death, but still earth, a restored one. So, we are on earth in this journey in heaven’s direction, (or restored earth’s dir...