Day 265 - The insights of the Spirit

The one incident I can remember in the Bible that talks about hearing the Spirit is Samuel, when he is asleep and he hears God talking to Him, calling him by his name.

We must keep our ears open to hear the Spirit's voice, the gentle and still voice that tells us what we are supposed to do. It's a true burning pinch in our heatrs that makes us aware, 'I know it is the Spirit telling me this'

I love when I realiza that something happened because te Holy Spirit of God told me so.

Day 264 - He is my Lord

He is my Saviour, my light in the darkness, He is the light under my feet, and without Him there is no ground, He lifts me up when I am down and in His name I do all things. I want my life to be honourable so I can glorify my Lord and Saviour. He has forgiven me, He has died for my sins, it is all paid for, and because of that I will look to live my life righteously. It's not easy but it is possible through Him, because ALL THINGS ARE POSSIBLE FOR THOSE WHO BELIEVE.

Day 263 - Nature vs. Reason

The unbelievers use reason as an excuse to not obey God, they say it is illogical that we have been created by God and that Science is the correct one. Now, the thing that I don't understand it, when we follow God we have to use our rationality in order to push our nature away and do not follow our instincts, which would make us like animals, but the 'rational' people just follow their natural instincts as if doing that is to be rational.

It doesn't make sense, does it?
How can you say, 'I believe in science and in rational things' but the minute later you are in bed with somebody you barely know just because your hormones are telling you to. Is that being rational?

When we obey the law of God we have to go against our nature, that's the big thing about being a believer and that's why it is so hard to be a true Christian, so how can people say Christians don't use their reasons and logics?

"But these men say evil about such things as they have no knowledge of; and the things of which they have natural knowledge, like beasts without reason, are the cause of their destruction." Judas 1:10

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Razão x Natureza

Aqueles que não crêem em Deus usam a racionalidade como desculpa para tal, dizem que não tem lógica que tenhamos sido criados por um Deus e que a Ciência é que está correta. Agora, o que eu não entendo é, quando obedecemos a Deus temos que usar a racionalidade para deixar a natureza de lado, do contrário agiríamos como animais. Mas as pessoasl 'racionais' simplesmente seguem seus instintos, como se o fazendo estariam sendo lógicos.

Não faz sentido.

Como você pode dizer 'Eu creio na Ciência e em coisas racionais' mas no minuto seguinte está na cama com um quase estranho só porque seus instintos te disseram para fazê-lo?

Quando obedecemos a Deus temos que ir contra à nossa Natureza, e é por isso que é tão difícil ser um verdadeiro Cristão. Então como as pessoas podem dizer que acreditar em Deus não é racional?

"Estes, porém, dizem mal do que não sabem; e, naquilo que naturalmente conhecem, como animais irracionais se corrompem." Judas 1:10

Day 262 - How can he love me?

How can God, the only perfect being in this whole Universe love somebody like me?

I mean, I am such a human, I make mistakes all the time, I stink if I don't shower, I cry for no reason and I get mad once in a while, I lose patience, I forget important things, I disappoint people.

How can He still love me? How can He love us?

I like to remember that part in the Scripture where it says we are no surprise to God, He knows how we are, and He still loves us. I guess God's love can be comparable to a mothers love but in a bigger sense, you know, we through things at our moms, we have crocked teeth, we make them clean us and five minutes later we are dirty again, and they still love us.

If it wasn't for God sending His son onto Earth to die for us, we would be screwed. But I guess He knew it, since the very beginning, and even knowing all these things, I'm sure He would do it all over again, and He doesn't regret a thing, because He loves us.

Day 261 - Our duties

Three passages within the same two pages talk define our duties as Christians in this life:

Since God chose you to be holy people He loves, you must clothe yourselves with tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. Make allowance for each other's faults, and forgive anyone who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others. Colossians 3:12-13

Live wisely among those who are not believers, and make most of every opportunity. Let your conversation be gracious and attractive so that you will have the right response for everyone. Colossians 4:5-6

For we speak as messengers approved by God to be entrusted with the Good News. Our purpose is to please God, not people, He alone examines the motives of our hearts. 1 Thessalonians 1:4

Those things being said, I can only affirm that God knows what we are doing and why. We can't be hypocrites before Him. He has given us clear instructions and on the day of our judgement, the truth will prevail. He knows the truth, He IS the truth, and before Him we are just small little grasshoppers.

Let His will be done, the way He wants, how He wants. And let us follow His instructions with honest hearts.
Amen.

Day 260 - Patience

You wake up in the morning and hear the neighbour shoutting....Patience
Your kids don't want to do their chores or don't want to eat dinner....Patience
You search, search and search and can't find a job.....Patience
You are trying to show somebody that Jesus is the answer....Patience
You are in a hospital bed, and there is nothing you can't do about your condition....Patience
Your boss don't understand the things you try to explain...Patience
You want to get married, but God hasn't showed you the one yet....Patience

For everything in life there is a season, and all things are under God's mighty power, therefore He knows when it's time to plan and when it's time to harvest, and He will let us know through His Spirit. We must persevere, be strong in faith, work hard and wait for the results in every area of our lives. God is good and He knows what He is doing.


"Because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance." James 1:3

"We do not want you to become lazy, but to imitate those who through faith and patience inherit what has been promised." Hebrews 6:12

 

 

Day 259 - Finishing well

Today my day did not start very well, it kept going, and going, and it just went worse and worse. My heart felt as if it was sinking into a deep mire. As I got home and stared at the computer screen trying to find something to write about I realized, He, the Lord of it all is alpha and omega, therefore He is the beginning and the end, so even if my day has been that great, what matters is that at the end of it I still have my God's Grace with me, and that I can feel His love, that I can breathe the air He gave me, and that I can say, I am alive because of Him.

So many people with real problems out there, mine are nothing compared to lots of ill and suffering people that I don't have any idea about. Even those, they are not in the worse situation, because this life is temporary, but the ones who don't know who our Lord is or who refuse to recognize Him as Lord, those people really need help and I feel bad for them. At the end of a bad day, I can cry out to my God and say God, help me. But those who don't have Him, what can they do?

Day 258 - Am I doing according to my calling?

What is my calling? - My calling is to put my wants and desires aside and do what God has told me to do. But what is it? - I have been called to do what I wouldn't do on my own, things for the Kingdom of Heaven, and those other things that are placed in our hearts when we lay down our lives to Christ.
I never wanted to get married, now I am; I didn't think of having children, now my heart is pulsing to do so; I can't stop thinking of adopting a child, the one that people wanted the least. Those type of things that I wouldn't do without the Holy Spirit telling me so, those are my calling.

When everybody else is occupied with their own things and their own wants and desires and all of a sudden you have this thing piercing your heart to do different, that's your calling.

Let's not avoid our calling, because that's what makes us holy and separated by Jesus Christ our Lord.

"You expected much, but see, it turned out to be little. What you brought home, I blew away. Why?" declares the LORD Almighty. "Because of my house, which remains a ruin, while each of you is busy with your own house."


Haggai 1:9
 
"You have planted much, but harvested little. You eat, but never have enough. You drink, but never have your fill. You put on clothes, but are not warm. You earn wages, only to put them in a purse with holes in it."


This is what the LORD Almighty says: "Give careful thought to your ways."

Haggai 1:6-7
 
"But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well."

Matthew 6:33

Day 257 - Living for others

Living in community is the "ultimate dream" of lots of people, they dream of this perfect environment where people will help each other and do to others as they would like to be done to themselves.

And why not?

The Bible does say, do to others what you would like to receive, and the measure you use to others will be used to you, judge and you will be judged, and so on.

If we could live in harmony amongst our brothers and sisters and we weren't selfish in the first place, violence and robberies wouldn't happen as much, if we are generous there is no reason to stealing, if the resources were shared there would be less jealousy.

If I am happy with what I have and I understand there is more to this life than possessions and belongings than I can be content and my heart is in peace, therefore I can stop waste my time being jealous and pursuing the things and status others have and I can focus on making this world a better place to live.

Day 256 - Blessed are those...

"Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.
Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.
Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.
Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.
Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.
Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me." Matthew 5:3-11

I am out of words when the Word of God says it all.

Day 255 - Músicas Santas

Ainda que sejamos impuros, o maior de todos os advogados se coloca à nossa frente, levando com ele à cruz todas as nossas iniquidades, e  
"Porquanto está escrito: Sede santos, porque eu sou santo." 1 Pedro 1:16 Vida áquele que crê!

Day 254 - God calls me

God calls me to do what I am not capable of doing by myself, or what I wouldn't do on my own.
That just means: 'It is not the way I wanted!'

But God also says He will be with me all the time, by my side, giving me strength and wisdom to face everything that comes my way. Isn't that beautiful?

God's Will will not take you where His Grace can't cover you up.
That said, it is better for me to go where I am insecure and I don't know what to do, but it's where God wants me to be, that to be where it feels safe and I know what to do, but God's grace will not back me up, anything could happen.
The safest place to be is in the centre of God's will.

Day 253 - Expectations

All of us have expectations, about everyone and everything, including expectations about ourselves. The question is, do our expectations match with what we are here for?
- What are we here for? To love and give, or to be loved and receive? To serve or to be served?

- God's main goals for us here is first, to love Him, then to love others as ourselves.
Of course sometimes we have to think reasonably but if God is telling us something, for example, we have saved some money and we aren't sure what we were going to do with it, we had plans, let's say a trip, or a new couch. And then God tells us, give it to the poor, or do something specific with it. We have to do it, no question.

- It may be frustrating that we have to put our desires down in order to fulfill God's desires, but it is all worth it and in cause of a bigger and better plan.

- If our expectations are to please God to begin with, our own wants will mostly match with His, and there will be no space for frustration and it will be easier for us to let go on earthly things.

Day 252- Our two natures

What makes Jesus so special is that He has two natures, a human nature and a divine nature. He has the same struggles of a free willing human but at the same time, in His Spirit He is God, what makes Him be a perfect being.

We, on the other hand, are born with one nature, the human one. Therefore since we are born we follow the wants and needs of our human nature, we cry when we are hungry, we act on emotions and feelings until one day it all changes.
The change in that pattern is when we accept Jesus in our hearts. According to the Bible, when we accept Him as our Lord and Saviour, He lives inside of us in our Spirit. What was empty before, or even full of evil, now is clean and filled by Jesus' power.

That's the advantage of having a God living inside of us, controling our spirit and soul, of course we still have the wants and desires of our human nature but because our Spirit is in Jesus' control, we no longer fall for them, we now have the tools to control ourselves and do not be enslaved by wants and wishes.

Day 251 - Hearing to God

- Less talking, more listening
- Lord, give me ears like Samuel's ears, let me listen to what you have to say, as an obedient child.
- Having the guts to act accordingly to what God just said.

- God told you, you have to move somewhere unexpected, what do you do?
- God tells you, you shouldn't marry this person, or marry that person instead, do you follow?

- What is more important, being happy or being holly?

- Adam and Eve sinned because they did not listen to God, therefore, not doing what He asks us, is a very big sin.

- Sometimes God won't say anything for days, months, but sometimes, He is close and talking very loud.

- Sometimes we must be attentive to His small, still voice.

Day 250 - The greatest of all

Who would you want to serve? The Loving King or the Loser of Darkness?
Why would anyone want to serve a loser???
Since there is no in between, whoever is not in light, is already in darkness, and it's just too bad for you, although Your Father will still cry in sadness for a lost child, but He will rejoice with the ones who chose to stay at His house of Glory.

"He said to me: "It is done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. To the thirsty I will give water without cost from the spring of the water of life." Revelation 21:6

"Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters." Matthew 12:30

"They will wage war against the Lamb, but the Lamb will triumph over them because he is Lord of lords and King of kings —and with him will be his called, chosen and faithful followers." Revelation 17:14
Amen.

Day 249 - God's time for answering

"There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens" Ecclesiastes 3:1

God is the owner of time,therefore He is he owner of all that happens with us and has control of His actions. He will let us know when it's time for plant, and when it's time for harvest. When it's time to work and when it's time to rest.

We shouldn't worry about anything concerning time. 'Is there going to be enough time?' 'When it's time?' 'I don't think it's the right time'. Those things must only be said to God in our prayers, it's from Him that we will find the answers and through Him that things will happen.

If we ask, and there is no answer, it's because there is not supposed to be any, because when He wants to do something, He does it.

Day 248 - Leave everything behind and follow Jesus

He said to another man, "Follow me." But he replied, "Lord, first let me go and bury my father." Luke 9:59

But Jesus told him, "Follow me, and let the dead bury their own dead." Matthew 8:22


"Whoever serves me must follow me; and where I am, my servant also will be. My Father will honor the one who serves me." John 12:26

I these occasions, Jesus clearly stated, "leave everything behind and follow me".But why is it so hard for us to follow? To dettach from things, people and feelings and just go where He wants us to go.
 
Yesterday I watched a documentary about a man that left His rich Jewish family in New York to follow Jesus' voice and live on a Christian family in Alaska, woking in his relationship with God. His family couldn't understand it, and I guess that's why Jesus say, just go, because the truth is, people will never understand that unless they have also been touched by God and received a calling from Him.
 
- What is Jesus telling you to do? - What is Jesus asking you to leave behind?
People, things, feelings, past emotions, drugs, a violent husband, what is it?
 
My advice is, go! Leave everything He is asking you to leave, because the most important thing is your relationship with God and His calling.
 
"But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well."
Matthew 6:33

Day 247 - There is no coincidence

"Did not he who made me in the womb make them? Did not the same one form us both within our mothers?"
Job 31:15
 
"Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground outside your Father's care. And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. So don't be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows." Matthew 10:29-31
 
We can't think of coincidences when we clearly see God's work in every single detail of our lives. His work and His will are so perfect that He manages to match every situation we need to be in with our busy schedules.
 
Of course we sometimes walk out of His plan, but He still manages to get something happening so that we will be where He wants us to be.
 
Do not believe in coincidence or randomness, because our Father is in control.
 

Day 246 - Words vs. Actions

I feel it's difficult for me sometimes act according to what I say, I mean, just this morning I told somebody "I have faith this and this will happen" but in the afternoon I am already anxious wating for it to happen and questioning if it will happen.

No wonder Jesus said "The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak" (Mathew 26:41)

He knows about our weaknesses but we tend to forget how small we are. It's easy to say 'I will' or 'I will not' but from saying it to acting it out, there is a big gap and only the strength that God gives us can take us from one side to the other.

And that's why Jesus said "watch and pray" He knew it and so He gave us the key. Watch, meaning, to let go of the wheel, don't get distracted, be alert at all times, and Pray, as He knows that's our source of everything.

Day 245 - Daily Changes

What am I going to change today?

- The power of Jesus in our lives makes us change, some changes are sudden, but others are just like refinement of a carver working on a piece of wood, he takes the big pieces out first and then starts refining the work.

Our job is to allow Jesus to make those changes,  because He needs an open and soft heart to work with.

I can see in my life the big sudden changes, but I also feel Him working day after day, giving me new little inspiration with His small still voice to make me apply new things and concepts to my daily life.

Our journey is long, and we need Him to become like Him.

"How I wish I could be with you now and change my tone, because I am perplexed about you!"
Galatians 4:20

Day 244 - Identity

Who are you?

I mean, I am not asking your profession, your age, even your name, nor your last name.

What I meant is, who are you in Christ? What's your purpose here?

Everyone knows this life is just temporary, and we must find our identity in Christ in order to fulfill God's desire for us.
We also have to remember that each one of us is a unique person, so why try to make everyone look the same, act the same, be the same?

Specially during teenage years, we try to fit in in groups and we try to make ourselves blend in with other people. What we don't know is that the fun is in diversity not in likeness.
If we were all the same, how boring would that be!

Who are you in Christ? Ask Him that today.

Day 243 - Being Holy

Going to McDonalds doesn't make you a hamburguer, so why going to Church would make you Holy?

- People must understand that Christianity is way more than going to Church on Sundays.
It's a way of life, a culture, a pair of lenses we wear all the time and through which we see the world and act accordingly.

Being Holy is not easy since we are all sinners, but it's worth a try, it's very worth it.

Jesus never said we have to be perfect, but we must follow Him at all times, Praise the Father at all times, and at all times have Him as our Lord and Saviour, after all, that's why He died for.

We have had enough in this world about religious rituals and babbling of words that don't mean anything to people's hearts, we need an honest relationship with God, we need communication with Him and trust, real faith, real love.

It is not enough to go to church on Sunday, we need to carry it out with us, WE are the church, God lives in us.

- Go to church and criticize the neighbour? - No go!

Day 242 - Brothers and Sisters

It is so good to live among good and Godly people, whenever you need something they are there for you, and most importantly, there is our chance to serve others.
The Bible mentions in Proverbs 18:24 "A person who has friends may be harmed by them, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother".
We must learn to find those good friends, some people will just bring us down, put us through trouble, but the friends sent by God to become our brothers and sisters, those ones are faithful and we can count on them anytime.

It is better to have brothers and sisters in Christ for us to care about, than to live for ourselves, as the selfish life is very very sad and lonely.

Day 241 - Nothing can take my peace away

The Bible says Satan came to steal, kill and destroy. And that's what he tries to do to our lives very often. Have you ever had a great day that has to have some stressful situation at the end? So, that's what happens, this awful guy tries to get us mad and take our peace away before the day is over.

Well, he tries, doesn't mean he will get it. The Bible also says that Jesus died so we could have life, and life in abundance, therefore, there is absolutely no reason for me to be upset in any situation of my days. I can just hold myself, leave my worries to Jesus, breathe in and out, and there we go, Satan lost.

We must enjoy this life, our families, our work, or even our lack of work. We must keep our peace and share it with people around us, let Jesus use our hearts to transform others, we are salt and light on this Earth. Jesus loves you.

Day 240 - God first, Others second, Me third

"The most important one," answered Jesus, "is this: 'Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one.
Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.' The second is this: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' There is no commandment greater than these."
Mark 12:29-31

Jesus teaches us the secret for a successful, humble and loving life. There is: put God first, others second, and yourself third. The reason for that is first, you please God, and He is going to be in your favour, when you start by doing things for yourself, you have no providence from God, He has no reason why to back you up, but when you start by doing things for Him, or by honouring Him, then you obtain a extra strength, a backup from The Most High, that means, the work of your hands will succeed.

"But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well."
Matthew 6:33

When Jesus said that the command to love our neighbour as yourself is just as important as to love God above all things, means that it doesn't matter who the other person is, or what he or she has done, what matters is that they are part of God's creation and we should love them because they have been made image and likeness of our Father. They are all our siblings, even if sometimes they are the bad sibling.
That's why I put this message, it makes a difference in our daily lives, it's just a matter of schedule yourself:
- God first
-Others second
-Me third

Your life will change when you do this, you will obtain God's favour and the work of your hands will be multiplied.

Day 239 - Reasons to be happy

1) I have a God that loves me and died for me to erase all my mistakes
2) There is food on my table
3) I have a worm bed to sleep
4) My body is not ill, I am a healthy person
5) There are people around me that love me a lot
6) God takes care of my school and my job
7) I can tell Him everything that bothers me knowing it will be solved
8) There is hope with God
9) If I had no food, no bed, no love, no health, God would give me the strenght to be happy
10) I have the chance to be happy because of God

Day 238 - The personal encounter with Jesus

We all know that it needs a personal encounter with Jesus for someone to realize He is real and longing to be with us. It's so crazy how so many people out there, including myself in the past, would respect the religions of the world, but would hate to talk about Jesus, maybe it's because Jesus said "I am the way, the only way" and then out pride would be offended by that.

I am happy that God have us freewill but at the same time, so many people suffer because of that. When people ask "If God exists, why is there so much poverty?" and they are all arrogante thinking they have just tricked a Christian, well, the answer is, God doesn't stop us from doing stupid things, unless we ask Him for it. So, if there are children that suffer with famine, it's because we don't give them food, it's because we are selfish and we make inocentes die.

I pray everyone of my friends and family, my classmates, my coworkers, everyone I know, would bump into Jesus eventually, so that they will realize what this life is about. Imagine Jesus invinting each one of us for dinner one day:

Day 237 - FInding Joy

Life gets hard sometimes, I know. Sometimes, God's will is not exactly what we were planning. even so, we must keep our faith at all times. The Bible says "Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!" Philippians 4:4. That means, accepting God's plans without fear, without worrying, without complaining and remembering that His will is perfect and beautiful, and that we do not have to understand it.


"The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. And by him we cry, Father." Romans 8:15

Jesus came to take our fear away, so why bother? Whenever there is something worrying us, we should just hand in to Him, and live. He died so we could have life, mostly eternal life, but also, He wanted us to have a decent life here on Earth, He also said:

"That each of them may eat and drink, and find satisfaction in all their toil —this is the gift of God. " Ecclesiastes 3:13

God is not a mean God, he loves seeing us happy, just like any parent. Without fear then, we surrender our lifes to Him, and trust, that wherever He takes us, it is the best way possible.

Day 236 - Nothing is gonna hold me back

We all have at least once experienced the terrible taste of failure. Whether is a mean word we give to someone, a lie, lust, murderer, adultery, envy, it doesn't matter what, from the smalled to the most complex, we ALL HAVE SINNED AND WE ALL DO. That miserable feeling of failure takes over us and we try to look up but it seems like we are trapped in our own actions. We feel ridiculous.

The thing is, God knows it all. He knew those things and that's why He gave us The Second Chance. That's Jesus. All the sins that we fall for today, the ones we have fallen for in the past, and even the future ones, they have all been paid for with pure holy blood.

That doesn't mean we can get comfortable, actually it's the opposite way, we MUST live a life in a perpetual state of alert. We are not meant to be mastered by anything else other than The Holy Trinity.

To do that takes a lot of work, but trust me, it's worth it. It is so worth it to have the feeling of victory instead of the instant allure of sin and then the miserable feeling of failure. Because of Jesus we can say that nothing will hold us back, nothing has the power to trap us, nothing has the power to control us. We may fall, but our Lord continues to be the Holy Lamb of God. If Jesus doesn't condemn us, than no one can, neither the devil nor ourselves.

"Then Jesus came up and said to them, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me". Matthew 28:18

"The one who believes in Him is not condemned. The one who does not believe has been condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the one and only Son of God." John 3:18

Day 235 - Being perfectionist

Being perfectionist is a very common thing among lots of us. We are God's image and likeness therefore it's understandable that we may want to be perfect sometimes, just as perfect as He is.
It is important to remember though that we are simply humans and that's that. We can be very good at things, but there will always someone better than us.
Once, a long time ago, someone very close to God was too proud to not be the best one at everything, his name is Lucifer.
Being humble is the way to go, so that we don't frustrate ourselves when someone does something better than us, or when for some reason we fail to do something. We must be humble, that's what Jesus tried to teach us during His ministry. Just accept our lack of perfection and surrender it all to Him, tell Him how much we need Him and that we are beyond perfection, and then He will pour out His power and mercy and make us succeed.

Day 234 - Born again

Since I've been born again, I know what love really means, I smile at everything and at all times I give praise.
He has given me a second chance, gave me new life, erased my memory, put me in a high place.