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July 11, 2023·Rapha Abreu

Where does forgiveness live

I want to talk to you today about the power of forgiveness and reconciliation. That’s how God demonstrated on the cross how he loves us. He calls us to act in this way towards one another as well. What have you valued? “For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you.” Matthew 6:14 In this passage from Matthew 6 Jesus teaches us about the importance of releasing forgiveness. He underscores in that sentence how the forgiveness we offer others is linked to the forgiveness we receive from Him. Forgiveness shouldn’t be a choice for us, it should already be one of our foundations. When we offer forgiveness we can experience the fullness of the Father’s forgiveness. We are not perfect, we all make mistakes at some point. We are often inflexible. When we demand of the people around us that they be perfect, we seem to erase from our minds the fact that we fail too. To forgive is to say that we value the relationship and communion more than the pain and anguish that exist in pride. Beloved in failure “Shouldn’t you have had mercy on your fellow servant just […]

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June 22, 2023·Rapha Abreu

No space for the new

How do you want to receive new things from God if you remain the old man? No, our attitudes do not change God. His character is something permanent and solid. But our actions directly interfere with everything we receive from the Father. Not because we influence His power, but because we impede the miracle and blessings in our lives by being full of ourselves. We leave no room for the will of God. Empty yourself “For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are in conflict with each other, so that you are not to do whatever you want.” Galatians 5:17 In some of the texts I wrote here for the blog, I commented on how the actions of people at the time of Jesus prevented them from living profound experiences with God, prevented them from enjoying the presence of Christ. A very simple and quick explanation related to this is that God is not going to put new wine in an old wineskin. If we live a life for our desires, without emptying ourselves, we don’t make room for the new. Even if God poured out His new […]

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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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December 19, 2022·Rapha Abreu

Have you been grateful?

When a new year begins, we always look for dreams in the drawer to put them into action during the new months and not let them stand still. And filling our heart with hope is great! Having a goal moves us and, when we hear His voice to know the best path, it also takes us closer to Him. The problem is when we transfer our happiness to our dreams, putting the responsibility of making us happy on them. Gratitude in the now “Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus”. 1 Thessalonians 5:18 It makes me question whether I’ve been grateful for what I already have. Have I been seeing the little things that God has already poured into my life or am I busy waiting for a hyper event that takes me off the ground and makes me lose my breath? When we plan big things, we end up focusing too much on them and forgetting about the small pieces that put together such a bigger and amazing puzzle. As human beings, we are used to easily noticing the big and we let go unnoticed or with less attention to what is […]

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