Devotional for friends // Devocional para as amigas

    I love the Lord of Ring and the Hobbit stories. They are so good and teach us so much.  Although my reflection was not about the Lord of the Ring’s wars, my reflection has a lot to do with wars. All kinds of wars that we face every day. I battle with my body every day. Few inches of my body has something to tell me every day. My body wants to keep me down, feeling defeated, unable. Sometimes I think my body is against me for no reason, just because.  But I must remember, I am not alone. I am not fighting this battle alone. I must show up for war to see God in action. Like king Jehoshaphat’s story.    I don’t know your story, your battle or even the war your are in. I just know that if only you remember that there is a God willing to help you, you will see what amazing things He can do for you and for those around you.    Here it goes a Jehoshaphat’s recipe for victory.   2 Chronicles 19   2 ... “Should you help the wicked and lo...

  The Spirit of God came on Azariah son of Oded. 2 He went out to meet Asa and said to him, “Listen to me, Asa and all Judah and Benjamin. The Lord is with you when you are with him. If you seek him, he will be found by you, but if you forsake him, he will forsake you. 3 For a long time, Israel was without the true God, without a priest to teach and without the law. 4 But in their distress they turned to the Lord, the God of Israel, and sought him, and he was found by them. 5 In those days it was not safe to travel about, for all the inhabitants of the lands were in great turmoil. 6 One nation was being crushed by another and one city by another, because  God was troubling them with every kind of distress . 7 But as for you, be strong and do not give up, for your work will be rewarded.” (2 Chronicles 15:1 -7)   Lately, Christians are preoccupied with the end of times. They think this might be it. Well, I cannot confirm or deny it. But what I can tell is that everything t...

  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...