Devotional for friends // Devocional para as amigas

  Today, the meditation was on Matthew 6:19-21. “ Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also .” What was Jesus talking about? How do you interpret this passage? What treasures am I storing up here, on the earth? What treasures am I storing up in the skies? When we read the gospel, do we notice what things are precious to Jesus? When he says a parable about reward, riches, and money (yes, Jesus talks about money), is He putting spiritual value in it? Is He condemning who is rich? No, and No. We usually consider values such as security and pleasure. And what on earth can give us that? In fact, some of the things in the Bible teach us to be wise with money. For example, “we control the money” rather than “the money controls us.” D...

 (Leia-me) Do you know the Bible? How much do you know about the Bible? How old are you? How many times have you read the book you say you know?  Do you believe in it?   Do you believe that the Bible is the Word of God? Do you believe in this statement: “God is the same yesterday, today, and He will always be the same”? If God is the same, His Words are also permanent. If this Word is permanent, as Jesus said, “My Words will never pass away”? You said you believe in God, but you don’t want anything to do with His people (Church) or His Word. Hmm… and You think because you are a good person (in your own eyes), you have the right to go to heaven, am I right? If you read the Bible, which is the Word of God, you would know that it doesn’t work that way. You who say that are a believer. Act like it. Read your Bible. The Old and New Testaments are the Word of God and have the same value. They don’t contradict each other. You just have to study them. Why do you think that Deuter...

  One day I'll go there. Um dia eu vou lá “ How long will you go limping between two different opinions? If the LORD is God, follow Him.  (1 Kings 18:21b).”  “ Now set your mind and heart and seek the LORD your God . Arise and build the sanctuary of the LORD God, so that the ark of the covenant of the LORD God and the holy vessels of God may be brought into a house built for the name of the LORD.” (1 Chronicles 22:19)   There are days when I have nothing to say and days when I have plenty. Today, I don’t have much, I think. My mind is blank as I type these words.    However, when I sat down here, I opened my Bible, not really sure what I was going to do. I opened the chapter I’d just read, and this first verse was underlined. Then I moved some pages, and I saw the verse that was also underlined. Both verses are from different stories, but I think when I put the two together, they are telling me something very particular.    This is election year i...

  While listening to the Bible Project podcast this morning, I started thinking about what I grew up hearing in Christian surroundings. I bet most Protestant people also grew up hearing these kinds of things; I confesse I have also said the same things. But before I say what got me thinking, I want you to start thinking, too.   What do you consider worshiping? Singing songs to the LORD is worshiping, right? Praying, reading, and meditating on the Word of God are also worshiping.    Now, how many times have you sung the same song? How many times do you read the same Psalm? Have you ever used a Psalm as a prayer?   So, we repeat ourselves a lot to God. Then I realized my prejudice with our Catholic brethren. When everybody does the same thing. I have also learned about some of their prayers, which are beautiful, touching, and convicting of our sins.    And this morning when I was listening to Tim Mackie explaining the Lord’s Prayer and he said how import...

Everybody does or at least should try making a list with pros and cons about one big, important decision once in a lifetime. So, I am bringing this principle to our spiritual life. Have you ever thought about making a list of your daily sins in opposition to the daily blessings given by God? Why not give it a try? So, let’s say you’ve made this list. Now what? It's time for some deep introspection. Reflect on your beliefs and how you're living them. The Holy Spirit will guide you, but first, be brutally honest with yourself. Even in the smallest things, the ones you do without even realizing. We often try to justify or downplay our sins, but remember, God sees everything. To Him, it doesn’t matter if you believe you were right or wrong. What matters is if you have done right by Him. Your opinion, at this moment, holds little value. Let me give you some tips about how to make this list: Go over your day. All the interactions you had with each person. How did you do? What did you...

  Some people may not like to read the Bible because of its stories. There are all kinds of stories. Love stories, war stories, adultery, violence… you name it.  We like to judge ourselves. Sometimes there are some of us who likes to think of themselves as good, beautiful, smart, wise… others not so much; there are those who look at themselves badly as weak, ugly, dumb, incompetent etc.  God doesn’t take any of that into consideration when He wants to use someone. Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come (2 Corinthians 5:17), meaning that none of that needs to keep being a reality. Jesus transforms and reforms. But there is one thing that hinders the work of God the most: pride. With pride comes all the rest. Pride makes you lie; Pride makes you trump over people; Pride is the opposite of forgiveness because if you want to forgive, you need to humble yourself and give in to the other person. Pride make...