Grace

October 05, 2023·Rapha Abreu

Prayer: Right Intention

In the last text I talked about how our heart needs to be focused on the correct intention. We must follow God’s paths and desires, always working with the intention that His work is done everywhere through our lives and in the best possible way. We will never be perfect channels, but we are the imperfect instruments that He perfects at each new stage in the process of building His work. He doesn’t want you to be perfect so that He can use you, He just wants your heart to be generous and humble, totally focused on His voice. And that’s what I want to pray with you about right now. You don’t need to pray exactly as I’m going to pray here. I know that everyone has a specific way of talking to the Father and it is important to have our intimacy with Him. I want you to feel comfortable talking to Him in your own way. But if you want, I will be happy to accompany you in this prayer. Prayer “Father, I am embarrassed to remember how, even without me deserving it, You use me and shape me in Your love. Instruct and teach my heart […]

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October 03, 2023·Rapha Abreu

What is your real intention?

Generosity is something difficult to put into practice, as most of the time it is accompanied by sacrifice. Whether it’s sacrificing part of our time to serve someone or even donating material resources, which we often don’t have spare, but we do so to share with those in need. Therefore, serving and being generous is an act of courage and gratitude. Surrender and devotion “Those who sacrifice thank offerings honor me, and to the blameless, I will show my salvation.” Psalm 50:23 We need to be generous, because through this action, in addition to serving other people, we express our gratitude through giving, whatever the scope. More than give material resources or donate our time, we need to look at everything we have, all areas of our lives, in a generous way. Because generosity is at the essence of the Gospel. Pastor Tim Keller said something interesting in one of his sermons: Jesus Christ was the only human being who was not simply born, but who was delivered. God gave, donated His son out of love for us. Christ gave himself out of love for us. He became poor so that we could become rich. Through this surrender of Christ we […]

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September 25, 2023·Rapha Abreu

How does the glory reveal itself?

Anyone who has never tried to take control out of God’s hands should throw the first stone… I often thought that my way was better and closed my ears to what He had to say to me. I closed my eyes to His ways and followed a direction that I invented and judged to be sensible. In some moments when I decided for myself and for myself, everything worked out right away. But then I saw everything falling apart, becoming almost impossible to hold. He’s not like us “I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us.” Romans 8:18 If miracles happened as we imagine and according to our dynamics of faith, those miracles we see in the Bible would be different and much less impactful. This is because often, in our prayers, we plead for deliverance, and not for more structure and strength to face a given situation. But the glory of God is revealed in the midst of trials. We would not recognize the Father’s grace if it were equal to our thoughts and actions. We would easily think that a certain event occurred due to our strength […]

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September 21, 2023·Rapha Abreu

Giving up understanding

We hear a lot about the passage from Philippians 4, about receiving into our hearts the peace of God that surpasses all human understanding, that is beyond what we can comprehend with our intellect. Looking at the world around us we come across many reasons not to believe, not to maintain our peace. And at these times I remember a quote from Bill Johnson… Don’t depend on the obvious “In order to have a peace that surpasses all understanding, you have to give up your right to understand.” Bill Johnson Feeling peace after the storm or when dreams come true is very simple, as it is obvious. If everything happened as I wanted, everything is going well, without any difficulties, it’s easy to have peace, it’s an obvious feeling. To experience the peace of God, the one that goes beyond everything that happens around us, we need to not let ourselves be shaken by what happens around us. We always want to have the peace of mind of being with God, but even though we are with the Father, we don’t focus on Him, and this shakes our calm in the face of life’s situations. We focus on problems as […]

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September 19, 2023·Rapha Abreu

Purified by the storm

Rain is also seen as purification. I know that sometimes we see it as something that causes dirt and often gets in our way. At many times we see storms as a delay in our day, and I know that it can really be difficult to get through them. But they are also a way of purifying. Rains are necessary “Ask the Lord for rain in the springtime. It is the Lord who sends the thunderstorms. He gives showers of rain to all people, and plants of the field to everyone” Zechariah 10:1 You’ve probably been through a time when it hasn’t rained for a while. The air becomes dry, at times it is difficult to breathe, the heat intensifies and crops are damaged. After a while without rain, when it finally rains, breathing becomes better, the streets are clean, the plants grow more easily…Physiologically we need this moisture and cleanliness. As frustrating as it is to get ready to go out and get your shoes wet in unexpected rain, the pleasure and purification that this rain brings makes it worth it later. Rains are inevitable “Now no shrub had yet appeared on the earth and no plant had yet sprung up, for the Lord God had not sent […]

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September 05, 2023·Rapha Abreu

Negotiating the price of blood

Do not negotiate what cost the price of blood! Several times to fit in places and intentionally approach people, we give up what we are and what we received from the Father. But He didn’t die for you so that you can use this truth only when it suits you. Focus on him “You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires. To be made new in the attitude of your minds. And to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.” Ephesians 4:22-24 Jesus paid with His own blood so that we could freely live out the identity we received through Him. Through his work we are children loved, cared for and protected by the Father. However, in certain situations in our lives, we are so focused on feeling part of something that we lower ourselves to fit into scenarios that are not for us. When I see myself in those moments where I start to negotiate my truths, I realize that this has almost 100% to do with fear of the future. It’s as if the place where I […]

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July 18, 2023·Rapha Abreu

Prayer: Forgiveness and Love

In the last texts we talked about forgiveness and perfect love. Although we’ve talked about the two separately, forgiveness and perfect love always go together. God’s love is full of mercy and grace, so we have the Father’s forgiveness at all times. Today I want to use this space to pray for forgiveness and love. I invite you to pray with me so that we can learn from the heart of God. Remembering that you don’t have to pray exactly as it is written here. Everyone has their own way of talking to the Father. Please feel free to pray as you wish and if you wish, I will be happy to accompany you in this prayer time. Prayer “Lord, Your heart teaches me so much! Your steps minister and illuminate mine. Mold my heart to be like Yours. May I in all my days remember the walk of Your Son Jesus, which was full of wisdom and full discernment of Yours word. Guide my life in love, teach me to love as You love. I know that in Your love lives complete forgiveness and I want to know how to release that forgiveness on other people too. As I […]

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July 04, 2023·Rapha Abreu

Gift X Fruit

For a long time I had doubts about the difference between gifts and fruits. And the meaning is so deep and beautiful. When we understand this difference, we feel part of something and it fills us with hope and identity. A good soil “Make a tree good and its fruit will be good, or make a tree bad and its fruit will be bad, for a tree is recognized by its fruit.” Matthew 12:33 What God does and pours out to us concerns the gift. Fruit is the result of what we do with the gift He has given us. If the gift is the seed that God gives, it says much more about the Lord. The fruit speaks more about the type of land in which that seed was deposited. That is, the fruit speaks about us. Everything we receive from Him must be used for the sake of the Kingdom. We are graced by Him so that we can serve each other better. Thus, we can build the path to His Kingdom in the best way. These seeds planted in our hearts, the gifts we receive from the Father’s grace, need to be watered and cultivated. Through the […]

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April 25, 2023·Rapha Abreu

Scars are Stories

In times when we go through turmoil, if our minds are not connected to the Father, they will make us believe that we will be known by our pains. But that’s not what He promised us. Tagged “But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.“ 1 Peter 2:9 “Is the glass half empty or half full?” Do you know this phrase? You can focus on your pain and you have complete freedom to do that, although it is a bad path to choose. Such decision can stop you and lead you to a place of stagnation. That’s not what God called you for. The situations He allows us to go through are not to stop us, but are to mark us. And that doesn’t mean that we will be marked by pain, but by a victorious passage through difficult times. Pointing to a miracle When Jesus was resurrected, He didn’t come back unscathed. His hands still had the nail marks. Christ went to meet His disciples when Thomas was not there. So the disciples told Thomas that Jesus had […]

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April 11, 2023·Ana Julia Luiz

Wonderful Grace

Last weekend, we went through the Easter holiday and honestly, it’s one of my favorite dates of the year. I like to reflect on what brought us to celebrate this very important date. How did it start? Easter started long before Jesus, actually the celebration started in the book of Exodus. Hebrews were slaves in Egypt and I believe you remember that God raised up Moses to free them. Before the Red Sea miracle happened, we know that the Lord sent the famous 10 plagues. We started with the waters that became blood, then the frogs, the lice, the flies, the plague in animals, boils, hail, the locusts, darkness over the land of Egypt and then the tenth plague: the death of the firstborn. God guided, through Moses, that each family of the people of Israel killed a lamb, male, just one year old, without defects, and spread the blood on the doorframes. That way, the firstborn of that house would not be harmed. The lamb delivered in place of the first born symbolized what would become the work and sacrifice of Christ, our Paschal lamb, delivered in our place. By Grace Today, we celebrate Easter because we are freed […]

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April 06, 2023·Rapha Abreu

Have you been focusing on death or resurrection?

At Easter time we remember how loved we were by God, who sent His own Son to suffer and die for our sins. The sacrifice of an immaculate lamb that cleansed us and made us the Father’s family. But what about in our day-to-day life? Have we been focusing on the resurrection? The lost “At noon, darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon. And at three in the afternoon Jesus cried out in a loud voice, “Eloi, Eloi, lema sabachthani?” (which means ‘My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?’)“ Mark 15:33-34 It’s beautiful how Jesus gave Himself for so many people who didn’t deserve even a drop of His sweat. The sixth shows us this pain and makes us recognize His sacrifice. But when we focus only on her, losing hope is inevitable. People who loved Jesus suffered with Him, saw the Man they trusted and followed being killed in a cruel way. We humans know that death is the end here on earth. The people who were close to Him thought they would never again see the One who “was” the promise. In our lifetime, in the midst of what seems like death, finding hope for […]

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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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February 27, 2023·Rapha Abreu

Do you understand Agape Love?

I’ve come here a few times to talk about how the word of God generates real changes in our hearts. These changes start within us and, without forcing it, spill over onto other people. Thus, we become channels of blessings in the lives of others. For we have been blessed to bless. Was born of him “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” John 13:34-35 I want to start by talking about the importance of focusing on blessing, not receiving blessings. “But why should I love?”. Simple, because He loved you first. Whoever is born of love is love. A bird does not give birth to a cat. If we are children of God, we are also filled with love, for we are children of Love. I know that sometimes we can’t connect with certain people because they are very different from us in some points, so we end up being closer to others with whom we identify more. Just like some people might have the same feeling about us. And that’s okay. But […]

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February 22, 2023·Rapha Abreu

Sin does not stop the miracle

The Bible often has that part that we almost always skip when reading: the long and neglected genealogy. I understand why we skip. There are many names and that gives that feeling of wasting time in our devotional. But today I want to show you something very special. Everything has a reason “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness“. 2 Timothy 3:16 Everything in the Bible has meaning and importance. God doesn’t do anything for nothing, without purpose and that doesn’t carry a special message. Understanding where we came from and the path we took to a certain place teaches us to be grateful for where we are in the present and also to be hopeful about where we will go. Even if the walk was not made with 100% beautiful steps and only correct choices. An imperfect lineage “For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through the endurance taught in the Scriptures and the encouragement they provide we might have hope“. Romans 15:4 The genealogy of Jesus is presented in two ways: by Matthew, beginning with Abraham, and by Luke, who tells it from Adam. Regardless […]

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June 23, 2022·Rapha Abreu

[Series: Miracles of Jesus] Outstretched Hands

For the penultimate miracle in this series I chose the story of the man whose hand was withered and Jesus healed him. This was yet another healing that Jesus performed on Saturday, a day when non-emergency medical assistance was not allowed. But He always put the human need and the doing of good above this law, showing once again how mercy and generosity are above traditions. Is there a day to heal? The passage begins in Matthew 12, from verse 9. The priests who were working in the temple where Jesus was spending that day wanted to accuse Him of healing on the Sabbath, questioning Him if healing was allowed on the holy day. If the priests were allowed to do active work on the Sabbath inside the temple, Jesus could act too, for He is greater than the temple! Mercy should also be greater than such a doctrine. The Pharisees did not understand that the Sabbath was created for the good of the people, not to burden them. In verse 7, Jesus also mentions the passage in Hosea 6:6, in which God says that he desires the practice of love and mercy above the offering of sacrifices. Even knowing […]

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April 28, 2022·Rapha Abreu

What does it mean to be the ‘salt of the earth’?

Have you ever eaten a food without salt? If the answer is yes, you know how bland and totally different flavor it is without it. And that’s what I want to talk to you about today: Being the salt of the earth First, the salt in the dish In Matthew 5:13 we see the phrase “You are the salt of the earth…”. This condiment has the power to change the entire flavor of the food and enhance the qualities of the food. In this way, you were called to change the flavor of things. You can transform people’s lives, the world around you, highlight for each one how the Father’s love is present around us. For a long time I focused on this verse thinking it was too difficult. It felt like a lot of responsibility and something far away to be the salt for the whole earth. That’s because I forgot that the salt of the earth starts out being the salt of the dish. With every pinch I don’t need to be a person with all the talents and wisdom in the world to be able to salt something. I don’t need to charge myself to do something […]

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January 04, 2022·Gabriela Angerami

Prayer for a 2022 in the presence of God

We have just entered the first week of another new year. We list goals and set out to do so many things. But first of all we need to commit our year to God and invite the Holy Spirit to be part of all our plans and dreams, because it is He who reveals the Father’s will for us. Only then will we live the eternal purposes that the Lord has for us in 2022. Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and he will establish your plans. (Pv. 16:3) Remembering that you don’t need to repeat the prayer exactly as I’m going to write it here, because each one of us has a specific way of communicating with the Lord. But if you want to accompany me, it would be a pleasure. Feel free to speak your way. PRAYER Dear and beloved God, I want to begin this prayer by thanking you for so much grace and kindness. Thank you for all the years that have passed and Your mercy and Your care have accompanied me. Thank you for having the opportunity to live new days. Thank you for the new chances that the Lord gives me so that I can […]

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December 16, 2021·Gabriela Angerami

Prayer: sharing what God gave you

In the last text I wrote about the blessings that are poured into our lives in an overflowing way so that we can share them. (Click here to read). You certainly occupy a place of blessing in something. Maybe in your relationships, maybe in knowledge, maybe financially, in talents. Or in various things. Know that this is grace that was bestowed upon you. And God will generously provide all you need. Then you will always have everything you need and plenty left over to share with others. – 2 Cor. 8:8 God wants to give us more than we need so that we can use that overflow to connect with one another, to bless one another. To live in church. God wants us to experience living in unity. That’s why the pouring out of gifts is different on each person, so that we are just complete in each other. Most likely your friend is overflowing with something you need, and likewise, you may have something the person next to you is in need. Let’s pray that you will be able to identify all that God has done in your life and then multiply. Remember that you don’t have to repeat the […]

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July 22, 2021·Nicole Leao

Prayer: Adoration and Gratitude!

Today I want to join you in a prayer of adoration and gratitude, to bring to mind all that our good God has already done for us. After all, we should not pray as if we were making a “checklist” of requests. It is good to stop and give thanks for what God has already done or is still doing, and to worship Him for His infinite grace and goodness. Worship, like the act of giving thanks for what God is already doing in our lives, creates peace, calms anxiety, as we remember the goodness of the One who first loved us. So I invite you to take this time to reflect a little. I leave here some passages especially for you today: 1 It is good to praise the Lord and make music to your name, O Most High,2 proclaiming your love in the morning and your faithfulness at night, Psalms 92:1-2 18 give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. 1 Thessalonians 5:18 28 Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe, Hebrews 12:28 Remembering that you don’t have to repeat the prayer exactly as I’m […]

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August 04, 2020·Gabriela Angerami

Teach me to depend on You, Lord

We need to learn to depend on God, on His amazing grace. It is this grace that enables us to go through the most difficult situations in life without losing sleep, faith and hope. So I would like to say a prayer on this topic. Say this powerful prayer with me! Lord, teach me to depend on You, only You. In so many situations I place my dependence on people, resources, my work or my own understanding of life. May I remember Your sovereignty every day. That You are the One who has all knowledge, understanding and power over any circumstance. In this prayer, I want to exalt You and recognize that You Lord is greater than everything. Bigger than any health crisis, bigger than any financial crisis, bigger than the economy, bigger than any illness. There is no one like You. There is no one greater than You. May I always remember all the great things that the Lord has done, the greatest miracle that was the life we received through Jesus and all the miracles that the Lord has already done in my life and in my family. So many times I depend on things that are fleeting, […]

grace prayer

July 21, 2020·Léo

Thank You for everything!

I would like to say a prayer with you to thank the Lord for all that He has done for us! We constantly need to give thanks to God for His goodness and mercy! Remembering that you don’t need to repeat this prayer exactly as I am going to leave it here, because each of us has a specific way of communicating with the Lord. So if you want to accompany me, it will be a pleasure, but feel free to speak your way. “Jesus, thank you so much for the life the Lord has given me. I am grateful for all the undeserved things I have and received. With my own hands, I could never reach any of them, but by His grace, love and mercy, I can enjoy them. Thank you for my family, God. I apologize, because I often end up stressing them out and I don’t appreciate their presence and life. But I am extremely grateful for each one of them. I am also grateful for the friends You gave me. For all the dear companions that the Lord has placed beside me. And I ask You to show me if any of my friendships are […]

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July 19, 2020·Léo

I can’t hear God’s voice

Have you also been troubled by not being able to hear the Lord’s voice? Have you ever wondered why you didn’t hear God speak? Are you going through this today? Today I would like to talk about one of the phrases that I spoke most in my life and that I hear many times! If you’ve ever felt that way, I imagine it’s an important text for you! Shall we talk about it? The noise is too loud! “But Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed.” Luke 5:16 The Bible shows us that, on several occasions, Jesus withdrew from the presence of others, went to a quiet place and prayed to His Father. But for what reason did He do this? In my view, Jesus withdrew for two reasons: to avoid noise and to be alone with the Lord. I would like to speak specifically about the noise. Noise that deafens us and disturbs us. What noise would that be? The vast majority of us have a busy schedule and a very busy life. We got involved in a lot of activities and ended up with a very full mind too. It is important to say that there is […]

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July 14, 2020·Léo

Purify my heart!

I would like to make this prayer with you, to ask the Lord to cleanse our being and our hearts. We need to repent and purify our soul and heart! Remembering that you do not need to repeat this prayer exactly as I am going to leave it here, because each of us has a specific way of communicating with the Lord. So if you want to accompany me, it will be a pleasure, but feel free to make it as you wish. “Father, today was a difficult day. Several times I got distracted from Your ways and I gave way to temptation. Even though I knew I was going the wrong way, I decided to go on. I got dirty with the impurities of sin, polluted my mind and ignored Your Spirit, I am dirty and I have neither the strength to get up nor the water to wash myself. Therefore, I ask You, once again, to pour out Your water on me and extend Your mighty hand to me. Free me from myself, purify my heart, my mind and my soul from the things that I put in me. I ask you, God: please, have mercy on me […]

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June 25, 2020·Léo

There is no problem on having fear!

Many times we go through difficulties, moments of tribulation and we are afraid! And fear is a natural human feeling. The big problem is from there: in what we do in the face of fear. Have you been afraid? Have you let fear paralyze you, or have you taken advantage of that fear to grow? I would like to talk to you today about how to use fear to learn, grow, depend more on God and glorify Him more! Come on? Be afraid! “When I am afraid, I put my trust in you.” Psalms 56: 3 It is extremely common to be afraid and, unfortunately, it is also common to think that it is wrong to be afraid! Fear is a simple reaction of our mind and thoughts. It is normal to be afraid of something. However, we need to use this fear to glorify God! But how? Use that fear to depend even more on the Lord. The moment we are afraid is the perfect time to look at ourselves and realize how small we are. That way, when we notice that we are fragile and flawed, we realize that we need to run to the Lord and put all […]

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