Courage Of The Lord

August 22, 2023·Rapha Abreu

Prayer: Planting time

In recent texts, I brought some reflections about sowing and burying some dreams, projects and ideals. Leaving space for the act of God and the fulfillment of His promises. Today I want to invite you to pray with about this matter. Ask the Lord to take care of each stage of planting and each season, taking care of your heart in every process. Remembering that you don’t need to pray exactly as I’m going to write here, because I know that everyone has their own way of talking to the Father and I want you to feel comfortable talking to Him in your way. But if you want, I’ll be happy to accompany you in this prayer. Prayer “Lord, at this moment I want to thank you for everything you have done in me like a soil. I also thank you for the seeds that You has prepared and helped me to cultivate. I ask that you, Lord, watch over my heart during the time of waiting, as You prepare me to receive the best of Your blessings. I want to ask you for moments when the seed is in silence and darkness, when the root is growing. Don’t let […]

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August 15, 2023·Rapha Abreu

Not yet…Wait!

I have a potted oxalis purple clover at home. It is a flower that hibernates at certain times, and during the day it opens or closes more depending on the incidence of the sun. I want to focus with you precisely on this period when the clover is silent. Writing the last text on the blog, about burying and planting, I thought a lot about this flower and I’d like to talk about the details in its care. Process “…Is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither— whatever they do prospers.“ Psalm 1:3 I commented with you in the last text about the importance of understanding the right time to bury and plant, the difference between these two actions. But do you know the similarity between them? Both take place in darkness and silence. When the clover arrives in the “hibernation” season, we cannot water it or put it in the sun. He needs to be recluse, as if there is nothing inside the vase. It is the moment when we really need to forget about it and, when it grows back, we take care of it again so that it is […]

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August 01, 2023·Rapha Abreu

Prayer: Strength, Faith and Spirituality

Today I want to pray with you for strengthening of faith and spirituality. The Bible brings faith as the certainty of things we still don’t see, as the hope of what we ask for, dream of, but which is not yet palpable. It’s about what’s yet to happen. Our faith needs to exist when we still have no clue that something is happening. When we ask and still don’t have an answer, that’s where our full trust in the Father lives. Spirituality is when our life is based on what is spiritual, what is supernatural. It concerns the moment when we elevate our thoughts to what is Divine and Eternal, having faith and trust in the word that comes from above. Remembering that you don’t need to pray exactly as it is here, because everyone has their own way of talking to the Father. But if you want, I’ll be happy to accompany you in this prayer. Prayer “Father, today I want to ask you for my faith. I cry out to You so that You fill my life with full trust in Your word and in Who You are. Teach me to trust even when my eyes still can’t […]

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July 13, 2023·Rapha Abreu

Worship the Perfect Love

Gratitude is also a type of worship. Being grateful and worshiping the Lord are natural responses of a heart that lives in His love. They are common actions of someone who loves the Father and His Kingdom. Love that drives “It is good to praise the Lord and make music to your name, O Most High, proclaiming your love in the morning and your faithfulness at night.” Psalm 92:1-2 When we understand the size and beauty of God’s love and grace, it is natural for our hearts to overflow with love. This is praising God, expressing in words and actions how wonderful He is in every detail. We are loved unconditionally and that alone should be a reason to be grateful for the rest of our lives. But many times we stagnate by knowing that we are loved unconditionally. However, I want to tell you that this love does not exist to stop us. We need to evolve into thinking that if God loves us unconditionally, we need to move in that love. Really, this love is not a bargaining chip, it does not exist based on what we do or fail to do. His main goal is for you to move knowing […]

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June 15, 2023·Rapha Abreu

Led by the Spirit

The Holy Spirit transforms many things in us and many of them have to do with our positioning. These days I heard a preaching from a very special pastor and I would like to share with you some of the ideas he presented. To position “Be on your guard. Stand firm in the faith. Be courageous. Be strong. Do everything in love.” 1 Corinthians 16:13,14 Sometimes we think that having the Holy Spirit, in certain situations such as arguments or difficulties, is keeping quiet and just holding back, sitting back and waiting for Him to do something. But the Spirit of God gives us discernment for a good position in any situation. To be filled with this Spirit is to know how to position yourself, but not with your own strength, but by recognizing your dependence on Him. God expects us to position wisely. Even if we are without strength, He calls us to act according to His will. If the call comes from Him, He will be the source of strength to walk toward it. He empowers you “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid. Do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with […]

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May 16, 2023·Rapha Abreu

Action or reaction?

When we know God, He reveals to us our identity, His ways and His dreams. That way, it becomes much easier for us to surrender control into His hands. He is our origin “So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them. Male and female he created them.” Genesis 1:27 When we want to know more about a fish, we need to dive into the sea and understand more about how the sea works. Just studying the fish won’t tell us much. It’s like that in our lives too. If we want to know more about ourselves, we need to delve into God first and in Him we will find answers. For if we dive within ourselves to find ourselves, we will lose ourselves more and more. We don’t have the answers inside us, they come from our Creator. Our paths and the steps we take should not be based on our own experiences, but on our origin. That origin is God. It was in Him that we were born even before we came into the world and it is in Him that we exist. Nothing stops Him “In the same way, the Spirit helps us in […]

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May 04, 2023·Rapha Abreu

What is greater than God?

Have you heard of Billy Graham? He was a pastor who was at the forefront of revivalist movements that took place around the world. He was a channel for approximately 2.5 million people to convert. This wise man, who lived the Word of God so intensely, said a sentence that really caught my attention. I always try to remember it when I’m having a hard time. “Anxiety is the natural result when our hopes are centered in anything short of God and His will for us.” Billy Graham Change of Measure “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding” Proverbs 3:5 When our expectations and faith are focused on things other than God, it is normal for us to be exposed to fear, anxiety, hopelessness, and thoughts of giving up. Understanding that the greatest strength man can achieve would still be weakness before God, is also understanding how He is greater than everything and how we are nothing. If we are so small and fragile close to the Lord, our thoughts and feelings are also smaller than His and that’s why we can trust completely in this love and care from heaven. Just as we […]

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March 23, 2023·Rapha Abreu

Have you been dreading your call?

Do you know what your calling is? What did the Lord form you and call you for? It is important as Christians to know this, because God counts on us. Your calling won’t do anything for you if you don’t say “yes” to it. God does not suggest “He has saved us and called us to a holy life—not because of anything we have done but because of his own purpose and grace. This grace was given us in Christ Jesus before the beginning of time.” 2 Timothy 1:9 It all starts with understanding that your calling is not a suggestion from God. It’s not like your life is a suggestion box, where God puts little slips of what He thinks could be better. We need to begin to understand the voice of God as a duty. Not that duty that tires us and is a boring obligation. But listening with obedience and devotion. When our obedience is activated, so are God’s graces and blessings in our lives. And it is through our calling that many of them are poured out on us. Obedience is faith “Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.“ James 1:22 […]

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March 09, 2023·Rapha Abreu

The strength does not come from you

We are in women’s month, which is celebrated on March 8th. In today’s times, much is heard about the strength of women. This subject is in great evidence and there are millions of people fighting for this force to be recognized. I think it’s important that we talk about it. Identity in Him “Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting. But a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised” Proverbs 31:30 I want to start by saying it’s not through your strength, woman. I don’t know about you, but a lot of issues about women being empowered sometimes overwhelm me. I feel as if I need to produce, do and create at all times, because that way I don’t express my vulnerability, something that every human being has. I understand that people’s struggle has many points and arguments. This is not what I want to discuss or judge, because I understand that this role is not up to me. But I want to remind you that you don’t need to burden yourself with an identity that God has already given you. Graced by Him “And now, my daughter, don’t be afraid. I will do for you all you ask. All […]

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October 13, 2022·Rapha Abreu

Take Risks!

“It is only fair that much costs what is worth much”. This phrase is one of my favorites. I heard it from a writer that I admire a lot and it was forever in my heart. Many times we want something so badly, and we make it too valuable for us. We ended up marveling at the idea of arriving at this place, forgetting that the path we have to walk to it requires a responsibility on our part. Come out of the shadow “You foolish person, do you want evidence that faith without deeds is useless? Was not our father Abraham considered righteous for what he did when he offered his son Isaac on the altar? You see that his faith and his actions were working together, and his faith was made complete by what he did” James 2:20-22 A lot of passion doesn’t get you anywhere, it needs to be filled with strategy and action. And the answer to that comes from above. When we don’t leave the place and don’t take the risks that come with what we want, we also don’t get anywhere and here comes the monotony and frustration, making us believe that God has abandoned […]

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September 01, 2022·Rapha Abreu

Is fearing death a sin?

I’ve heard some people say that if you’re sure of your salvation, it’s wrong to fear death. It is important to know that fear is a natural feeling, it appears whenever something threatens our present or future. Taking care of ourselves with our life can awaken this feeling. Living the now We recently lost a great Brazilian journalist, the famous Jô Soares. In one of the interviews he did a few years ago, he spoke the following sentence: “I’m not afraid to die, I’m sorry”. Life has so many possibilities, we are so used to thinking about tomorrow and planning until the year that hasn’t even started yet. We are made of “nows”, but these “nows” always lead to tomorrow, and imagining this cycle ending at some point can often despair us. Created for “always” “He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the human heart” Ecclesiastes 3:11 The human being was created by an eternal Being. We were created for eternity, she lives in our hearts. Accepting anything less than that is not in our setup. Looking at such a big world and thinking that we won’t have time on earth to see everything […]

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May 05, 2022·Rapha Abreu

The gift of motherhood

It’s Mother’s Week and I couldn’t come here with a different subject. I want to honor them and remember the value of their role. Remember that when a child is born, with it is born a mother and her strength. A Strong mother Today I want to talk about Jochebed. At that time the King of Egypt, with the desire to prevent the growth of Israel, ordered that all boys born from the Hebrews should be killed or thrown to the crocodiles in the Nile River. Jochebed gave birth to Moses, who, by the law of the government, was to be given into the hands of soldiers to be sacrificed. But she was a woman of faith and made a basket, put Moses in it, and left him by the river, hoping the Lord would guide him to safety. This mother’s attitude could lead to her death, for disobedience to Pharaoh’s orders. But Jochebed trusted, surrendered everything to God and the heavens heard! The rest of the story you should already know, right? Across the river the basket reached the palace. The king’s daughter found the baby and felt sorry for him. Then Moses’ sister asked if the princess would […]

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February 17, 2022·Ana Julia Luiz

Take heart!

The days have definitely not been easy, we’ve been through so many things that discourage us and leave us with a restless heart. Every day, every second and every moment feels like they’re there just to discourage us, to make us stop. But can I tell you something? The message “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” John 16:33 Jesus’ last words were not intended to punish, but to bring comfort and consolation. He promised PEACE and JOY. He also brought the fact that He had already conquered the world. Spiritually we are already conquerors with Christ. We are joint heirs with Him and given access to all spiritual riches. Therefore, no matter how much we experience trials and difficult situations in the present time, we can have PEACE because we know that we are already victorious for eternity. There is no message more consoling and that can bring more encouragement than this. Praying about it The words of Jesus correct us, guide us, but they also bring us hope. As we read: “…In this world you will […]

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