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...

  Sad to think that man is the only species that destroy his own “house”. To think that just because we don’t live in the middle of a forest or in front of the sea we don’t need to care about those who do. And those who do live in those areas should also take care of the place he/she is dwelling. Many years ago, I heard a guy saying that if we cleaned the street, we would be doing the street sweeper’s job, and he used that excuse to throw away on the street his trash. I was horrified with so much ignorance and stupidity. As some people on social media are saying: “we don’t have planet B”. We won’t be living on the moon or Mars or wherever. What do you think? Would we take better care of the next planet or would we keep destroying the next one and the next one and so on? Yes, I think so too. Of course, we would keep destroying as many planets as we could find. Human beings should be ashamed of themselves. We should feel shame when we dare to look at the beautiful places ...

  I have known some people who told me that he believes in everything, although most of them say that they believe in God. I don't argue with them. But what their statement has shown me is that they are very confused people about their own spirituality. Obviously, each way that a person chooses to follow will lead to some destiny. A person cannot walk in two streets at the same time, can he? It gets to a point that you must decide which way you are going to follow. So, I ask you a question. “Do you know the God that you say so convincingly say you believe? Do you know Him well as you know your wife?” How can you say that you believe in everything but not everything will lead you to what you are looking for? You know what you are looking for? Is it a purpose? I tell you there is only one way for you to have peace of mind. And it is Jesus. If only you know him as you know your spouse or a friend, you would have what you’ve been looking for. Don’t be naïve thinking that an...

  Are you bothered when you spot someone throw trash on the floor, or through a car window? Yeah, me too! What do you do? What I do is sometimes pick up the trash and put it in a trash bin, but sometimes I don’t do that. Why? Because sometimes I am so pissed with these animals who say they are human beings, but don’t seem to care enough about their surroundings. We see homeless everywhere. We judge them. We are called to help them, yes, if we leave the house determined to help every homeless person we see on the street, soon enough we will be joining them. How then? a little faith, a little prayer, a little mercy, a little noticing them, and donating to some organization that can provide better care for them. Let’s judge less and take care of our surroundings. Day Five: Five Were Wise We can’t speak about the destruction of the environment without taking at least a little time to speak about the end of the world! But rest assured that this isn’t all doom and g...