Love Your Neighbor

May 23, 2024·Gabriela Angerami

We should take care of each other

We often assume that caring for people within the church is solely the responsibility of leaders or pastors. However, the Gospel instructs us to love our neighbors as God does and to emulate the example of the Good Shepherd, Jesus. I believe that if we grasped the concept that caregiving and shepherding aren’t exclusive duties of ordained pastors, the entire church would function more effectively. If individuals understood their call to care for one another in a compassionate manner, conflicts might be less severe, and many situations could be managed more adeptly or with greater empathy. We all need to learn to view circumstances through a lens of compassion and caring. How Jesus Demonstrated Care Jesus left the synagogue and went to the home of Simon. Now Simon’s mother-in-law was suffering from a high fever, and they asked Jesus to help her. So he bent over her and rebuked the fever, and it left her. She got up at once and began to wait on them. At sunset, the people brought to Jesus all who had various kinds of sickness, and laying his hands on each one, he healed them. – Luke 4:38-40 Your text is clear and well-structured, but […]

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May 21, 2024·Gabriela Angerami

Blessing your family

Last year, during one of the meetings at my church, we discussed how parents’ generosity blesses their children. Each person shared a different experience that, in some way, highlighted this idea. David’s Great-Grandparents Do you know who King David’s great-grandparents were? Some biblical narratives teach us about generosity and its blessings for families. I’d like to emphasize the story of Ruth and Boaz here. They were King David’s great-grandparents and are also mentioned in the genealogy of Christ, as we see in the Gospels, where Jesus is depicted as a direct descendant of King David. The book of Ruth narrates their story. Ruth, an incredibly generous woman, chose to stay with her mother-in-law Naomi after losing her husband, despite having the option to return to her family. She famously declared, “Wherever you go, I will go; wherever you live, I will live. Your people will be my people, and your God will be my God” (Ruth 1:16). Together, they returned to Naomi’s homeland, Israel. Ruth committed herself to caring for her mother-in-law and started working in the fields to support them both. It was there that she met Boaz, a man who showed kindness to them. Boaz had heard of […]

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April 25, 2024·Rapha Abreu

Prayer: Influencing through the Spirit

In the previous message, I mentioned the importance of not allowing ourselves to be influenced by others, but rather allowing ourselves to be guided by God and influencing others through that. I would like to take this moment to pray together about this matter. Remembering that you don’t need to pray exactly as I’m going to say here. I know that everyone has their own way of communicating with the Father, and it is important that we seek this intimacy. Feel free to talk to the Lord in your way. But if you wish, I am here to accompany you in this prayer. Prayer “God, lead my heart to follow in the footsteps of Jesus. Teach me the way and direct my focus to where You want me to go. I long to move towards Your promises and the calling You have for my life. I do not want to be shaped by the influences of the world around me. I acknowledge, Lord, that You are the source of all wisdom and truth, and Your words and deeds are the standard by which I should live. Empower my heart to discern what I should absorb and learn from the things […]

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April 23, 2024·Rapha Abreu

Influenced by the Spirit

Jesus was in the world physically. He walked among sinners and lived among those whom society excluded. And because of that, we distort this message and find comfort in being in certain places and situations that distance us from Him. Presence of God “Then Jesus said to his disciples, ‘Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will find it.” Matthew 16:24-25 Jesus was not influenced easily. He was so rooted in God and lived out the Word so deeply that He was not swayed by His surroundings. He did not approach these people just for the sake of it; He stayed close to teach and exhort about the word and the truth of the Gospel. The environment never corrupted Him; instead, in the authority given by God, He transformed environments and people. The Father was with Him at all times. He was a teacher, a brother, a friend, and an intercessor for those people, not just a companion. Standing firm in Christ “Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand […]

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April 11, 2024·Rapha Abreu

Prayer: Merciful like Christ

I spoke last week about how our mercy is often selective and limited. Today, I want to pray with you about this, to be meek and have a heart filled with God’s love and grace. We need to express this care that the Father has for us, reflecting this to the people around us, being witnesses of God’s grace and mercy on earth. And God has His eyes and ears open to receive our prayer at all times. Remembering that you don’t need to pray exactly as I’m going to say here. I know that everyone has their own way of communicating with the Father, and it is important that we seek this intimacy. Feel free to talk to the Lord in your way. But if you wish, I am here to accompany you in this prayer. Prayer “God, I want to be more like you. Knowing You transforms me every day, walking with the Lord renews me. I know how much I make mistakes. I am not worthy of Your love, but even so, the Lord continues to pour it into me abundantly. Your mercy accompanies me every day, and just as the Lord forgives and consoles me, I […]

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April 08, 2024·Rapha Abreu

Selective mercy

God expects from us a merciful heart, just like His. And in several biblical passages, He teaches us about mercy, love, and compassion… But have you truly been merciful? Weaknesses “Not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.” Philippians 2:4 One of the things I ask God for the most, and where He has worked the most in me, is patience. It’s understanding other people’s timing and difficulties, as this sometimes prevents me from being merciful. Our tendency is not to show mercy toward what is not our weakness, but to desire mercy in our moments of weakness. What hurts us deserves all the grace and gentleness in the world, but have we shown gentleness and grace toward what doesn’t cause us pain but affects others? The Bible calls us beyond ourselves. And I write this text in complete vulnerability about one of my own struggles as well. Unit “Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful. Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven. Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together […]

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March 18, 2024·Nicole Leao

Have you complimented anyone today?

Praise is just as important as warning. How many times have you mentally praised someone for a change in attitude and forgotten to verbalize it? Certainly we remember more to demand changes than to praise, when everything is fine we tend not to pay attention to the behavioral changes of those we live with, but when people do something that displeases us, we soon notice and get upset. Family relationships Now bringing it to a more specific topic, I have an 11 year old brother and like any child, sometimes he is a bit fumbling or doesn’t want to do what was asked of him at the time he should have done it and recently I realized that I as a sister was taking the wrong approach by just criticizing him about these things. Of course I can admonish him to be more committed to his tasks, but how many times has he done what he was supposed to do and come to me happy, and I in turn said “that’s very good, but it could always be like this”. I praised him, but soon after charged him for an attitude that he was already trying to change. Maybe in […]

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March 12, 2024·Nicole Leao

Individualism does not come from God

Today I opened my cell phone and the first thing I saw on my social networks was a publication that praised the fact that people increasingly want to be alone. This is not in the context of taking time for yourself and reflecting, but of not wanting to live with other people, because as it was written in the unfortunate image “it’s work”. Now, is this what God expects from us? Is this the way Jesus would act? I have the impression that with each passing year I see a hyper valorization of “me”, where what is individual over collective good comes out. However, as much as the world is like this, we must not conform to this “standard”. We didn’t come to be served, but to serve Just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many. Matthew 20:28 Our savior, who is worthy of all honor and glory, did not come into the world to be served, but to serve. He washed the feet of his disciples, being the main example of humility that we can have and showing what attitude he expects from his faithful. […]

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March 05, 2024·Rapha Abreu

Prayer: Servants

We are servants of the Kingdom, which means we depend on one Lord, under one God, and follow one direction. Offering ourselves for our brothers, just as the Lord gave himself for us, is our greatest calling. A high price, in blood, was paid so that today we could be free, and in that freedom, choose to be servants of the One who called us! We have already received, and therefore, we give. Today, I want to pray with you about this devotion and obedience in serving and pouring everything at His feet. You don’t need to pray exactly as I’m going to say here. I know that everyone has their way of talking to the Father, and it is important that we individually seek intimacy with Him. Therefore, feel comfortable talking to the Lord in your own way. But if you want, I will be happy to accompany you in this prayer. Prayer “God, today I come before You with a heart overflowing with gratitude. I acknowledge the abundance of blessings I have received from You and the unconditional love You have bestowed upon me since before my birth. Thank You for envisioning my existence and showering Your boundless […]

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February 27, 2024·Rapha Abreu

Prayer: Consuming fire

I want to invite you to pray together for revival. We are living in a time where we witness the desires of the flesh outweighing the purposes of the Spirit. People are getting lost, entangled in ties and chains that hold them back and distance them from God and His paths. But He calls us, you and me, to be voices in this generation, bringing His life back to hearts and spirits. One way to accomplish this is by praying for the people around you, for your city, and for your country. Keep in mind that it is not necessary for you to pray exactly as I am about to do here. Everyone has their own way of communicating with the Father, and it is important that we seek this intimacy with Him. Feel free to speak to the Lord in your own way. However, if you wish, I am here to join you in this prayer. Prayer “Lord, Your presence burns like fire, and we yearn to feel it once again, increasingly. It invigorates and purifies those who seek it with sincerity of heart, and that is precisely what we are doing in this moment. Bring life to our […]

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January 15, 2024·Rapha Abreu

Prayer: What really matters

Previously, I spoke to you about seizing opportunities and the present. Today, I want to pray about this, so that we don’t waste time and enjoy every detail of life: the places, the people, possibilities, moments, opportunities… Life is a reflection of the One who created it, and we need to enjoy every part of it. You don’t need to pray exactly as I’m going to say here. I know that everyone has their way of talking to the Father, and it is important that we individually seek intimacy with Him. Therefore, feel comfortable talking to the Lord in your own way. But if you want, I will be happy to accompany you in this prayer. Prayer Father, I express my gratitude for the precious gift of life and for every blessing You bestow upon me, even when undeserved. I acknowledge that You present me with people, places, and opportunities that I can only experience through Your grace and wisdom. Teach me to relish every detail of these gifts. Guide my heart to love others unconditionally and sacrificially, expressing my feelings to make them feel loved by You. May my heart learn to value places, moments, and opportunities, maintaining the […]

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December 14, 2023·Rapha Abreu

Prayer: Reaching for eternity

I want to use this space to pray with you for clarity and depth so that we can prepare ourselves for eternity with the Father. May we walk and act with this purpose, longing for Him and sharing His love and grace with people along our journey. In this journey, may we love above all, for He loved us first. The love, which is Christ, dwells within us. The Holy Spirit of God resides in me and in you. Therefore, may our response always be one of love and grace. You don’t need to pray exactly as I’m going to say here. I know that everyone has their way of talking to the Father, and it is important that we individually seek intimacy with Him. Therefore, feel comfortable talking to the Lord in your own way. But if you want, I will be happy to accompany you in this prayer. Prayer Father, I come before You today to ask for clarity, not to know all the steps I will take in life and have a false sense of control, but so that I can see You and hear You. I don’t need to understand eternity, but I want to fear […]

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December 13, 2023·Rapha Abreu

An eternity to love

Eternity is something difficult for us to understand. This is because humans are destined to end, humanly and physically speaking. We get hurt, feel pain, are fragile, and mortal. But when we stop to think about this, we may ask ourselves, ‘But what will God do there?’ After all, a perfect place, with His full presence, without any evil, what will He do? Simple, what He has always done and continues to do in Eternity: to love. From the beginning “And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light.“ Genesis 1:3,4 The world has never been the result of an eternity filled with boredom and emptiness. God was not idle, just thinking of writing a simple story to fill His time. He is complete; everything needs Him to exist, it has never been the other way around. But He loved! The Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit already coexisted in perfection, and the creation of such a vast universe was always so that this perfect and complete love could overflow. The world is the full expression of God’s great love and, as it is so sovereign and complete, He invites us to also discover this lifestyle. God’s love […]

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November 23, 2023·Rapha Abreu

The Christian Mission

The Gospel continually teaches us about our mission as christians. This goes beyond what we can measure in distance or time. It doesn’t matter the geographical distance or the time it takes to fulfill this mission. What really matters is how deeply we carry it out and how our hearts are devoted to this purpose. Instructed by love “In fact, this is love for God: to keep His commands. And His commands are not burdensome” 1 John 5:3 The Bible instructs us in various ways and through various texts about the missionary role we have as christians. It invites us to live out the Great Commandment and the Great Commission. When we think of missionary work, it’s common to think about trips to Africa or other countries. But Jesus urges us to love the Lord our God with all our heart, soul, and mind, and to love our neighbor as ourselves, spreading the love of the Father and His message of mercy and grace. The ‘Great Commandment,’ revealed by Jesus in Matthew 22:37-39, is the fundamental basis for the missionary call. This love that renounces our own desires and wishes is the driving force behind the Christian mission. When we love […]

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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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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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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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November 04, 2022·Gabriela Angerami

How to be remembered forever?

Today I would like to talk to you about Generosity and how it is capable of producing an eternal memory. After all, no one would like to simply be forgotten. I think we all want to do something relevant that people will remember us positively and in a way that glorifies God. I never met my great-grandfather, but everyone who talks about him gets emotional and remembers him as a good and generous man. I don’t know about you, but whenever I received something generously, it was engraved in my heart with great affection and gratitude. A generous gesture marks people, generates memory. Even if there is a remarkable way for us to express God’s character and love, it is through generosity. Your deeds will be remembered forever “Good will come to those who are generous and lend freely, who conduct their affairs with justice. Surely the righteous will never be shaken; they will be remembered forever.” – Psalm 112:5-6 Psalm 112 describes the conduct of a God-fearing person. This biblical chapter reveals that the fear of the Lord leads to a generous life. The person who fears is upright, honors the principles of the Kingdom of Heaven, and blesses his […]

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August 25, 2022·Rapha Abreu

Have you been intentional?

“A man is known by the company he keeps…” In Brazil there is a popular saying that says “Tell me who you hang out with and I’ll tell you who you are“. My mother always told me this phrase, changing the ending of the original sentence to “…that I say if I will go along“. I brought this sentence today, with either of the two endings, because I want to talk about intentional connections with you. Be intentional when connecting “Keep on loving one another as brothers and sisters. Do not forget to show hospitality to strangers, for by so doing some people have shown hospitality to angels without knowing it“ Hebrews 13:1-2 The pun didn’t take away from the fact that she always taught me that we shouldn’t be a respecter of persons. That I should reach out and help, regardless of beliefs, values, or any other circumstance. After all, Jesus rescued everyone. But she also taught me that I should be intentional in my connections. That I am an average of the people I live with and that can bring me closer or further away from God and what He has for me. One step changes the whole race Much […]

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August 18, 2022·Rapha Abreu

If I am a servant, am I weak?

“Serve”… When we don’t live that word for real, it seems to give the title of “weak” to someone, after all, who seems to be more important? What is sitting around the table or who is serving that table? Who am I to do nothing? “And the chief priests and the teachers of the law were looking for some way to get rid of Jesus, for they were afraid of the people“ Luke 22:2 He was among us as a servant, and if the greatest was a servant, who am I to sit around and do nothing? Personally, my biggest love language is acts of service. My way of telling someone how special that person is to me is to do something for them. I pay close attention to the things around me and I keep everything people tell me they like or want, then I use this information to do something for her, whether it’s making my mom’s favorite cake, buying my father’s favorite chocolate, setting up decorations for friends’ parties, serving within my ministry… At home and in ministry In my church I am the leader of the general production of the cult, that is, my job is nothing […]

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June 09, 2022·Rapha Abreu

God unites people…

…through a commom purpose. This weekend is Valentine’s Day in Brazil. So I would like to talk about relationships. Not specifically about love relationships, but about whatever connection we can have with others. There is a well-known phrase in Portuguese that says “God does not unite people, unites purposes”. But does it make biblical sense? Let’s reflect together. About Purpose he made known to us the mystery of his will according to his good pleasure, which he purposed in Christ, to be put into effect when the times reach their fulfillment—to bring unity to all things in heaven and on earth under Christ. – Ephesians 1:9-10 In the dictionary, purpose means intention. When two people’s intentions, pursuits, and desires are aligned, it’s the moment when bonding becomes natural. God has bring unity to all things in Christ. And He unites our hearts around His good pleasure, goals and will. In this way, by adding our strengths, we can express His Kingdom together. For a body to be a body, each member needs to be aligned and focused on being functional. Two legs only get us somewhere when both are aligned with the same goal, which is to move in the […]

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March 31, 2022·Gabriela Angerami

What Does It Mean To Be a Living Stone?

I recently stopped by for a Bible study and was reminded of an old song played in my church when I was a kid. The song said that “we are living stones of the Temple of the Lord”. So I decided to look for the passage of this song. And the verse is in 1 Peter, chapter 2, verse 5: you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. Jesus, the stone that gives us life This passage teaches us important points about the new covenant church. JESUS is the living stone that was rejected (1 Pet. 2:4). Other passages refer to Him as the cornerstone of God’s plan of redemption for mankind and as the cornerstone on which the church is built. Through his redemptive work Christ gives us life and makes us living stones. Based on Him, we together build a new house that is now spiritual. While in the Old Testament the temple was physical located in a specific place where the presence of God was manifested, TODAY, through the Holy Spirit who dwells in us and gives us life, the Lord […]

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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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December 16, 2021·Gabriela Angerami

Share the blessings that are upon you

Surely you occupy a place of blessing in something. Maybe in your relationships, maybe in knowledge, maybe financially, in talents. Or in various things. Know that all of this is grace that was bestowed upon you. And these blessings that are upon you were poured out in abundance for you to share. Every grace and gift begins in JESUS As it is written in Ephesians 4:7: But to each one of us grace has been given as Christ apportioned it. Every grace and gift began with the generosity of Christ. He shared with us the authority of His name (John 14:13). He made us co-heirs with Him (Rom. 8:17), sharing His place as a Son (It was through Him that we became children). In Him we are blessed with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realms (Eph. 1:3). From Jesus we have received so much and that cannot stop with us! When the Bible talks about blessings, the example of agriculture is used several times. When we take the result of a harvest, we can simply keep stocking and retaining for ourselves or we can reinvest the seeds in the soil for multiplication. When we multiply the blessings that are upon us by […]

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