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How good Christian are you? // Quão bom cristão é você?

How good Christian are you? Are you truly following Jesus footsteps? It is easy to say, “I’m Christian”, maybe not so easy lately in our current days. What have you been doing that makes you affirm that with so much conviction? ü   You are going to church ü   You are reading your bible daily ü   You are praying before your meals ü    You have been holding your tongue to not complain ü   You are always grateful ü   You are serving the community ü   You are talking about the gospel ü   You have been persecuted ü   You love those who don’t love you back and have been praying for them ever since ü   You are a giver, always worried about the poor in your neighborhood, and praying for them ü   You are a good steward, worried about the environment, and doing the best you can to protect it. ü   You don’t have evil thought when you are driving ü   You see yourself as a righteous person ...

Peace and War // Paz e Guerra

I used to think that when Jesus said: “Do not think that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I have not come to bring peace, but the sword” ( Matthew 10:34 ; Luke 12:51 ), he was saying something that could be used to justify some religions wars.  I don’t think like that anymore. If you remember when Judas came to give away Jesus to the Jews, Peter was ready to start a war, a riot. What did Jesus do? ( Matthew 26:52; Luke 22:51 ). “Put your sword back into place”; “Enough with this”. So, clearly, Jesus wasn’t talking about making wars. Because in Isaiah 9:6 says: “and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace ”. The Bible does not contradict itself. So, what was Jesus talking about? In 2 Corinthians 6:14 Paul asks: “…For what partnership has righteousness with lawlessness? Or what fellowship has the light with darkness?” In the following verses (Luke 12:52 – 52; Matthew 10:35 – 38 ) Jesus explains it. The...

The will of God for you // A vontade de Deus para você

In the past when I used to read the Old Testament, I usually didn’t take into account most of the historical facts and the commandments, because I thought they had nothing to do with the New Testament. How mistaken I was! We have to remember His Word never changes, that's why both, the New and the Old Testament are linked. Unfortunately, I learned that not some many years ago, and fortunately I did learn that. Better later than never! We can see Jesus all over the Old Testament and we can see the commandment all over the New Testament. Reading the bible is easy. Understanding the Bible not so much; we can accomplish that only with the Holy Spirit help. People frequently wonder “what is the will of God for my life?” They can’t quite figure that out. His will is all over the Bible, described several times with several different words. It isn’t anything mysterious. It is very clear. The plan for your life is your choice. If you obey His word, your plan will follo...

According to my lifestyle // De acordo com meu estilo de vida

We all know the parable of the Good Samaritan. We have heard a lot about it. How is important to feel compassion and act compassionately. We already know who our neighbors are.  They are everyone. We need to care for everyone who crosses our way. But what I want to highlight here today is on who made Jesus tells us about the good Samaritan in the first place. Luke 10:25 – 29 Jesus made a question (ESV): “ He said to him: What is written in the law? How do you read it?” Two questions. One is about if the lawyer knew the Law (it is supposed that yes, he should know it), and how he had been interpreting it. Sometimes, we read and read the bible and we think we get it. Do we really? Or we are adapting the meaning to feel more comfortable? Like the man in verse 29: “ But he, to justify himself said: Who is my neighbor?” Have you done it? You choose a part of the Bible, out of context, to justify yourself? I am sure you have. Who hasn’t? At least once in lif...

Greener grass // Grama mais verde

Psalms 73 some verses 2 But as for me, my feet had almost stumbled,     my steps had nearly slipped. 3 For I was envious of the arrogant     when I saw the prosperity of the wicked. 4 For they have no pangs until death;     their bodies are fat and sleek. 5 They are not in trouble as others are;     they are not stricken like the rest of mankind. 6 Therefore pride is their necklace;     violence covers them as a garment. 12 Behold, these are the wicked;     always at ease, they increase in riches. 13 All in vain have I kept my heart clean     and washed my hands in innocence. 16 But when I thought how to understand this,     it seemed to me a wearisome task, 17 until I went into the sanctuary of God;     then I discerned their end . Who never looked to the neighbor’s yard and thought “their yar...

Grains, wine and oil // Grãos, vinho e azeite

God was giving Israel a new land, where before they take possession of it, the LORD made promises and a new covenant with them. When you read this passage, I want you to think about the land as your life. A new life. A life with a purpose, the purpose of serving God, the Mighty God. I am going to underline some words and think about them. Deuteronomy 11: 8 , 11 – 17 “ Observe therefore all the commands I am giving you today, so that you may have the strength to go in and take over the land that you are crossing the Jordan to possess; But the land you are crossing the Jordan to take possession of is a land of mountains and valleys that drinks rain from heaven . 12 It is a land the Lord your God cares for ; the eyes of the Lord your God are continually on it from the beginning of the year to its end . 13 So if you faithfully obey the commands I am giving you today— to love the Lord your God and to serve him with all your heart and with all your soul — 14 ...