Devotional for friends // Devocional para as amigas

Venha e Veja   Two verses stood out for me this morning. John 7:17-18 and 7:24.   “ Anyone who chooses to do the will of God will find out whether my teaching comes from God or whether I speak on my own.   18  Whoever speaks on their own does so to gain personal glory, but he who seeks the glory of the one who sent him is a man of truth; there is nothing false about him.” John 7:24 “ Stop judging by mere appearances, but instead judge correctly.”   That was Jesus talking.  I lately heard that some people with vast knowledge of the Bible (we all want to believe) are being led astray through the vain doctrines of this world. Meaning, that some church leaders or people have earned the people's trust by telling them lies about the teachings of the Bible. People seek their own popularity by agreeing with the lies the world has offered them.  I have seen churches with flags and teaching doctrines that the Bible condemns. They have twisted the ...

" Better be slapped with the truth than kissed with a lie" Russian proverb. (Melhor levar um tapa com a verdade, do que um beijo com uma mentira" Provérbio russo.) Can’t handle a little of the law?  Lately, people are so sensitive about everything. Everybody needs to think twice before saying a word so people won’t get offended by it and threaten to sue anyone who disagrees with them.   I was wondering about these people and the Bible. They hate the Bible because it is written in it that God doesn’t approve of their promiscuous behaviors. God didn’t force anyone to follow His law. He gave his law so people who loved God and had seen his deeds could live a life He had planned for them.    For example, a drug dealer lives a life that any law condemns. However, the police are after him because of the life he chose to live. It is up to him now. Unlike the Law of God. God gives an opportunity to turn away from the life God condemns and once the person decides to give up h...

Onde há perda de esperança, desespero, há uma abundância da Graça.   Today people get appalled about things so easily, especially if the thing is related to tradition or Christianity. A simple example: divorce/adultery. Nobody wants, right? But nobody seems to care if someone does it. It is something so common. Marriage, why are people so afraid of it? Because they don’t want the probability of being cheated on, and eventually getting a divorce. However, if both people in the relationship want it to work, they have to work on it.  They think that the magical feeling will go on forever; yes, they might, but they might not. They might if you work on them, they might not if you just keep waiting for them to work themselves out, as if “life” wouldn’t get in the way of it.  Why reject something that wants to prevent you from getting a divorce/ adultery? The thing that expressively says “You shall not”. You shall not covet, You shall not commit adultery. If you covet the o...