Devotional for friends // Devocional para as amigas

What we speak should always pass through a filter and be analyzed if what we are about to say will build somebody up of demolishing somebody life. Everything has consequences. If you have nothing good to say, better to say nothing. In James chapter 3 he is talking about to watch what we speak but also the consequences of what we speak. That is why we should be always seeking for wisdom that comes from God. When You Open Your Mouth 3  1-2  Don’t be in any rush to become a teacher, my friends. Teaching is highly responsible work. Teachers are held to the strictest standards. And none of us is perfectly qualified. We get it wrong nearly every time we open our mouths. If you could find someone whose speech was perfectly true, you’d have a perfect person, in perfect control of life. 3-5  A bit in the mouth of a horse controls the whole horse. A small rudder on a huge ship in the hands of a skilled captain sets a course in the face of the stronges...

You know many times in the Bible God calls the Israelites as rebellious I've just read a passage in 1 Samuel 8:1- 9 . Two things got my attention here: 1. No matter how well-intentioned the parents are in educating their sons, somehow sin gets in the way, and they might not follow their teachings. They will go and choose their own way what cannot certainly be God's way. You know, Samuel was a good man, and I believe he tried his best with his sons, different from Eli ( 1 Samuel 3:13 ), who didn't restrain his sons. Samuel’s sons didn’t follow his ways. This was the first thing. The second thing is: how the people of God is always looking the other way, away from God. Until that day they didn't have a King. God was supposed to be their King. But they were always making the wrong choices (verses 7 – 8). they asked for a human King to rule over them because the other nations around them had. From verse 9 -18 Samuel says what was ...

For the last 13 years, I have only spent 2 Mother’s Day with my mom. How sad is that? Even though I have never stopped learning from her. I left my mom’s house when I decided to pursue my career; she was supportive. When I thought I would come back for good, I got married and left the country. We cried together, but she understood. When she learned that I couldn’t give her a grandchild from my womb, we cried; she opened her heart and let me know adoption is an option. Mothers’ and daughters’ relationship at the beginning is hard. Everybody says that. I say that. However, it doesn’t have to be this way until the end. There were hard moments between my mom and me. Do I remember all that? No. Why? Because they don’t matter, certainly I was wrong, she was right. I was stupid, she wanted what was best for me. I had to learn. I chose my mom over my father; we started our relationship when I was 15 years old (better age for that, right? Nooo). It was rough; too...

One day we will lose her. Some of us has already lost her. Others have never met her. I can’t even imagine the size of this pain. Many still have her but don’t give her the attention she needs. Some would love to, but they are far away. Maybe you don’t see yourself in any of these scenarios. Luck you! But those who have identify oneself in one of these options may be suffering a great deal or trying to hide their feelings. I don’t know the reasons that have taken you here when every year when most of your friends are celebrating their mothers, and you are not. If it is possible if she is still alive, please try to contact her before is too late. She won’t be here forever. Put yourself on her shoes. I am sure all that she has done was because she truly believed she was doing her best, even if she wasn’t trying that hard, do yourself your best. Show her that you still love her and miss her. She only wants your attention and compassion, maybe your forgive...

Another day, Juan and I met an old lady at the church. We were having this interesting conversation when she showed us pictures of her daughter’s family wearing Brazilian soccer’s team t-shirt and then she asked, ‘do you have children?’, we frankly answered ‘No, we don’t’. We said it naturally. But she replied as if God had just told her our whole story, ‘I’m sorry for asking such private question’. It didn’t bother us the question, however her sensitiveness about the possible reasons we don’t have kids was what surprised us the most. Why am I telling you this? Because it is more common to hear a reply like ‘why?’ than like ‘sorry for asking such private question’. The thing is, I am not ashamed for not having kids. I understand some people might feel the urge of sympathizing with us by telling some miraculous story and making the situation more awkward than it should be. But I understand God has different plans for each one of us. I am in no pos...

So, two things I’ve noticed in Ruth’s story ( Ruth 1 – 4 ). 1. Her great love and respect for her mother-in-law, and vice-versa, even they were from different cultures. We don’t know Ruth’s past history if there was another reason she had chosen Naomi rather her own family. But the thing we know is that she loved her mother-in-law. Ruth in this story represents us, the Gentiles, the non-Jews people. Even though we’ve been accepted in the chosen’s people family through Christ. 2. Because of her love and respect for her mother-in-law, God hasn’t forsaken them, and provide a redeemer, in this story he represents Christ by Boaz, who gently accepted her and asked her to keep gleaning in his field, and later on, they marry. As Christ asked us to be among his children and working together respecting one another, and Christ is the groom and we (the church) are the bride. Boaz will redeem them, as Christ came to be our redeemer. Because Ruth and Naomi, Ruth’s mo...