JFA Blog

Reflections, studies and news for your walk with God.

August 27, 2020·Nicole Leão

Good News is better when we don’t expect it!

Like cold water to a weary soul, is good news from a distant land. Proverbs 25:25 We are all thirsty for good news, especially when we await the result of a medical exam, a test, or a decision to hire a new job, but all of this is expected good news! In Proverbs 25, Solomon tells us about the effect of unexpected news, which arrives without warning and surprises us positively. The unexpected news is usually negative, but what is written is that the positive news shivers the soul, like cold water for those who are thirsty. And it is interesting to note that the effect (quenching thirst with ice water) is fully expected. Whoever takes a sip in the water expects to feel this relief. Which leads us to think that, deep down, we all hope to receive good news, even without knowing why or when. We always hope that next year will be better, that things will work out in the future, that everything will work out in the end. We simply don’t know why, but the Bible says that our souls are thirsty for God (Psalm 63: 1) and that, like the doe that craves water, our […]

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August 24, 2020·Nicole Leão

God, teach me to take care of my finances!

In recent times many people have lost their jobs and the world is going through a major financial crisis with the coronavirus. I know this is not an easy time, but I also know that our Lord is faithful to the righteous. God is so good to us, that he even left precious teachings in the Bible about the care we should take with our finances, a passage that I really like is Luke 14:28, where it is written: “Which one of you, if you want to build a tower, do not sit down first and calculate the price, to see if you have enough money to complete it? ”. Planning is very important and I know that in times of unemployment or financial hardship it can be a challenge, so I would like to invite you to pray with me for your personal finances and the homes of our nation. Remembering that you don’t need to repeat the prayer exactly as I am going to leave it here, because each of us has a specific way of communicating with the Lord. But if you want to accompany me, it will be a pleasure, feel free to speak your way. […]

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August 21, 2020·Nicole Leão

The joy that comes from God

God is happy with your joy. Many times when we think of the Lord, we immediately think of the words of seriousness, fear and justice, in fact all this represents Him, but joy too! Being in the presence of God means being happy. Think with me, have you ever been sad when praising the Lord and meditating on His word? We may even be saddened by the situations we are experiencing, but in that precious moment our heart finds comfort. Where do you look for joy? Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4: 4-7 We live a decade where at all times we are bombarded, whether on television, on our smartphones or computers. Everywhere somebody is trying to sell us something: a product, an idea and even a lifestyle. These things are presented to us as if they were the solution to our […]

happiness love-of-god

August 20, 2020·Nicole Leão

Your thoughts matter

It is in your thoughts that the greatest battles take place. It is in your mind that you have your greatest anxieties, fears and afflictions, it is also in it that you have control over your attitudes, choose to obey, love and even choose to have thoughts of happiness or sadness. So I would like to start today’s message by asking you a few questions: Where has your mind been wandering? Is she calm or agitated? Have you been able to hear God’s voice? These are important questions that can reveal a lot about how we view life and about our relationship with God. So, I would like to invite you to reflect a little on your thoughts. Where has your mind wandered? What I fear, and want to avoid, is that just as the serpent has deceived Eve so cunningly, your mind will be corrupted and deviate from your sincere and pure devotion to Christ. 2 Corinthians 11: 3 The mind of someone who has accepted Christ and is a new creature, must not be wandering, on the contrary, must be centered and focused, because that is where the enemy works, trying to take control of his thoughts. very […]

devotional love-of-god

August 17, 2020·Nicole Leão

God, break my heart!

Having a broken heart is fundamental and it means recognizing our own limitations so that God can work in us. In 2 Corinthians 12: 9 it is written: “And he said to me, My grace is sufficient for you, because my power is perfected in weakness. Therefore, I will be happy to glory in my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me ”. It is through brokenness that our lives are transformed and we are shaped according to God’s plans. Praying for a broken heart may not be such an easy task, but the Lord is with us to go through everything we need, as it is written in Psalm 34:18, that God is close to those with a broken heart, so I invite you to do this prayer of surrender with me. Remembering that you do not need to repeat the prayer exactly as I am going to leave it here, as each of us has a specific way of communicating with the Lord. But if you want to accompany me, it will be a pleasure, feel free to speak your way. Beloved Father, I want to be closer to You, to Your infinite love […]

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August 14, 2020·Nicole Leão

What the Bible says about love

In the dictionary, love receives the following meaning: “A feeling that leads one to wish the good of the other, deep affection for someone or something, intense inclination of affective character, sympathy, friendship, zeal and care”. However, I would like to start today’s text by stating that love is not just a feeling, but a decision and a command from God for us. Love as a commandment ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’There is no commandment greater than these. Mark 12:31 Love is the second commandment of God for His people and the greatest left by Him, and why? Well, our father, with all his sovereignty and understanding, knew that we have an easier time loving those who are similar to us, but that is not what he expects of you and me. Likewise, in Matthew 22:39, Jesus leaves it as a command that we love our neighbors as ourselves. The “neighbor” of this passage is not only the people who are close to us, but all those we live with, including those we have some difficulty in dealing with. Decide to love every day Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is […]

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August 12, 2020·Nicole Leão

Where is your expectation?

Expectation is the condition of those who expect something to happen at a given time and it is common for many to put their desires in situations or people. However, such an attitude may not be healthy since the other does not have the power to transform a situation in the way we imagine, which can generate frustration and insecurity. At some point in life, we have all been frustrated in our relationships, whether with family, spouse, friends or even leaders and authorities on the Christian walk. In general, this is because we feel that the other is not meeting our expectations, which shows how important it is to be anchored in the One who has the power to do more than we imagine, the One whose plans are better than ours: God ! Expectation is a good thing as long as it is in God That is why I am suffering as I am. Yet this is no cause for shame, because I know whom I have believed, and am convinced that he is able to guard what I have entrusted to him until that day. 2 Timothy 1:12 The Bible teaches us to expect, as written in the […]

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August 10, 2020·Nicole Leão

I will praise God every day!

Today I want to say a prayer of praise to the Lord with you! Faithful and just is the God we serve and is with us at all times! 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 speak your way. I praise you Lord for who You are. You show me Your fidelity in the simplest of everyday situations, even when there seems to be no solution. Wonderful is your name, for the undeserved grace that You pour on me. As I am happy to adore You, your presence satisfies me and my desire is to be closer and closer to You. All your promises have been fulfilled in my life, because You are a God of your word and perfect in everything you do. You move mountains and make the impossible possible. My beloved father, you took care of me and protected me. I praise You because You gave Your only child to die on a cross and today […]

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August 07, 2020·Nicole Leão

The importance of Identity

Do you recognize your identity? Or rather, do you know your identity in Christ? These are certainly difficult but important questions. Your identity determines who you are, which involves many aspects of your life, such as how you act and your personal tastes. So, being sure of it is essential to not lose focus during a walk. You are a child of God Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God. John 1:12 Certainly, much of who we are on earth is determined by nationality, upbringing and family, but by accepting Jesus as our only savior, we became part of a heavenly family, we became God’s beloved children. Bearing in mind that the creator of all things is your father, is the first step in knowing your identity. Our body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, so as it is written in 1 Corinthians 6: 19 – 20, we do not belong to ourselves, as we were bought at a high price and with that we must honor God, through it, which begins in our identity. Know Christ Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, […]

follow-jesus obedience word-of-god

August 06, 2020·Gabriela Angerami

Be faithful when no one sees

Only you and God know your secret. Choosing to do the right thing, regardless of who is around or if no one is around, is about our integrity. Have we been whole and faithful to the principles of the Kingdom of God in all circumstances? That is what I would like to talk about in this text. And for that, I separated my favorite examples on this subject. Joseph was a faithful servant and after a while his master’s wife took notice of Joseph and said, “Come to bed with me!”, But he refused. “With me in charge,” he told her, “my master does not concern himself with anything in the house; everything he owns he has entrusted to my care. No one is greater in this house than I am. My master has withheld nothing from me except you, because you are his wife. How then could I do such a wicked thing and sin against God?” And though she spoke to Joseph day after day, he refused to go to bed with her or even be with her. Genesis 39: 7-10 In this passage, Joseph was a servant in the home of Potiphar, an Egyptian officer. Everything Joseph […]

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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

August 01, 2020·Léo

It was never about a feeling!

Have we based our relationship with God on feeling? Do we understand that we should not seek only the feeling? Today, I would like us to talk a little about this topic so much talked about in the Christian world. Have we sought the Lord’s presence just to feel Him? Shall we talk about? A rational search “The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it?” Jeremiah 17: 9 I don’t know if you have been through this situation, but for a good part of my spiritual walk, I carried a heavy burden on my heart because I was deceiving myself. I thought that I would only be having a total surrender to the Lord and would only be living a sincere relationship with Him, if I felt His presence in all services and at all times. It hurt me for a long time and even demotivated me. I went to conferences, services, had my moments with God, but I didn’t feel His presence. Many times I was stressed with the Lord, I was angry and sad, because I did not understand why all this was happening. It didn’t make sense to me. I was looking, […]

follow-jesus love-of-god miracles obedience

July 30, 2020·Marcel Rocco

Be the carrier of the Good News

Andrew was working with his brother when a stranger came up to him and said: I have a good job offer for you. In the segment where you already work, but earning more, much more! Paul was lost on the road driving, when out of nowhere a “car” appeared with the light in his face saying: you are on the wrong road. I will guide you on how to get to your destination! An IRS inspector was on the street in his hometown, when he was approached by a celebrity in the whole country, who was passing by and who told him that he would be a guest at his home. You may have already realized of whom I’m talking about … In these 3 situations, people were in their daily lives, when they were surprised with a Good News that literally saved their lives! Jesus changed the life of Andrew, Peter, Paul, Zacchaeus… and continues to change the life of anyone He approaches. Always with Good News: The good news of the gospel! You have been called to be a carrier of good news And how can anyone preach unless they are sent? As it is written: “How beautiful […]

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July 28, 2020·Léo

Help not to look back!

I would like to say a prayer with you to ask for the help of the Lord for us to be consistent and look forward! We constantly need to remember that it is not good to look back and desire what we used to do before we truly met God! 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, first of all I want to thank you for Your love for me and for Your mercy! Even though I don’t deserve it, You pour all that I need into my life. I confess that I have had some difficulties in relation to my past! The desire to look at back and do the same things again has increased! So I ask you to give me strength and make me see with my spiritual eyes, instead of seeing with carnal eyes. Help me to see the beauty in the journey and in the processes! As a sinner, I have […]

heart love-of-god

July 26, 2020·Gabriela Angerami

Ask for a generous heart!

Generosity is a virtue of the Kingdom of God. If being generous is a difficulty for us, we can ask God for a generous heart. We have a kind Father who wants to add to us the virtues of His Kingdom, such as generosity. Sharing a testimony I will start this text by sharing an experience I had last weekend. I was attending an online class and the teacher showed the case of a foundation that serves children and teenagers. It showed a particular action they took to encourage donations. In class we watched the video of this action. And in this action, they asked the children who received help from the foundation, that is, children in need, to donate a toy to other needy children. They not only asked them to donate a toy, but asked them to donate their favorite toy. When I saw the beginning of the video, I was sure the children would donate, but in the end they would get new toys as a reward for the gesture they made. But not! The video ended with the children donating and the call was “everyone can help”. I confess that I was trying to assimilate, you […]

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July 23, 2020·Léo

What are your priorities?

Have we given due importance to the Word of God? Has the Lord been a priority in our lives? Or do we leave to have a moment with God only at the end of the day and prefer to do other things before? In today’s blog, we would like to bring this reflection! We know that God and His Word are extremely important, but have we given due attention? I think this reflection is valid for all of us! Come on? The day by day! “But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.” Matthew 6: 33 In our life, we have several things to do. We have dreams, plans and projects and we strive and dedicate ourselves to achieve them. However, we understand that if our dreams and plans are not in accordance with God’s will, we will never be able to please God, much less be truly happy. Happiness is exclusively tied to the will of God in our lives. We Christians know very well that deep, true and overflowing happiness cannot be found in the things of the world. Okay, but what does all this have to do […]

bible heart love-of-god obedience

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 […]

devotional faith follow-jesus grace

July 16, 2020·Léo

Men of the Lord!

Today’s text is especially for men and I would like to ask: have we properly performed the role of men of God? Or are we disrespecting and not caring for the people around us? This is very important to talk about this topic, because many of us men do not understand what it is to be a man of God and end up acting in the way they think is best. Shall we talk about? A man loves! “Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be courageous; be strong. Do everything in love.“ 1 Corinthians 16: 13-14 One thing I find interesting about this passage is the way Paul talks about love. He doesn’t just tell us to love one another, but he tells us to do everything with love. But what’s the difference? The principle itself is the same, but the big difference is the verb “to do”. We can often think that love is just a feeling and that there is no need for anything else. However, it is extremely important to understand that love comes with actions. If we love Christ, we act as one. It should likewise work with the people around us. The Lord told […]

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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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July 10, 2020·Gabriela Angerami

A kingdom of justice and righteousness

The Lord’s justice will dwell in the desert, his righteousness live in the fertile field. The fruit of that righteousness will be peace; its effect will be quietness and confidence forever. My people will live in peaceful dwelling places, in secure homes, in undisturbed places of rest. Isaiah 32:16-18 If today we live in a world of injustice, corruption and evil, it is because the human being has neglected the Creator’s initial plan. God’s plan for the earth and for humanity has always been that we could dwell in a kingdom of justice and righteousness, in a perfect kingdom, just as He is perfect. The chaotic social context in which we live is the result of distorted relationships, a consequence of sin. The fall damaged the relationship between man and God. And a damaged relationship with God has had consequences in all kinds of human relationships: in family, between people in general, and in the relation between human beings and nature. God called man in Genesis to take care of His creation, and today there is irresponsible exploitation of nature. But all is not lost, there is hope! He brought us into the kingdom of light For he has rescued […]

kingdom-of-god wisdom

July 09, 2020·Léo

Where can I run from You?

Have we tried to flee from the Lord? Have we tried to hide from our responsibilities to Him? There is not a single space that the Lord is not in. Today I would like to talk about our responsibilities to the Lord! It is important to understand, embrace and fulfill the responsibilities we have as children of God! Come on? We have nowhere to go! “Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence?If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there.If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea,even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast.If I say, “Surely the darkness will hide me and the light become night around me,”even the darkness will not be dark to you; the night will shine like the day, for darkness is as light to you.” Psalm 139: 7-12 I think it is very important to make a correlation between our responsibilities and the Lord’s omnipresence! How does it work? As we said in the last text on Communion, each of us has a specific responsibility in the kingdom. So, if […]

bible heart love-of-god

July 07, 2020·Léo

The importance of Communion!

Have we enjoyed the communion of people, even through technology? Have we spent time with our brothers / sisters in the faith? Or have we walked alone? Today I would like to talk a little about the importance of communion between the brothers. We often think that there is no need to be in communion! Is that really it? Let’s talk about? The Society! ” Praise the Lord. Praise the Lord, you his servants; praise the name of the Lord. Let the name of the Lord be praised, both now and forevermore. From the rising of the sun to the place where it sets, the name of the Lord is to be praised. “ Psalm 113: 1-3 As we have already said in one of the last texts, it is not new for any of us who live in society. And, because we live in society, we need to understand the value of relating to the people around us. Many times, people hurt us or we hurt other people and it ends up disturbing our relationships. In fact, many people turn away from God and stop attending churches, due to the attitudes of people who hurt them. But we need to understand that just as we have flaws, so do the people around […]

love-of-god love-your-neighbor

July 04, 2020·Léo

A prayer from the heart!

I would like to make this prayer with you, to ask the Lord for a sincere and pure heart! We must have a heart that seeks the Lord with all of its strength! Just let me remind you that there is no 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. “Lord, today I come here to ask for your forgiveness for all the times that I didn’t seek you with all my heart. Also, for the times that I didn’t worship you in spirit and in truth. I do not want my search, my life and my devotion to be superficial. I want to find fullness in You; guide my heart, show me how to overflow of joy in Your presence. I’m tired of living something shallow and meaningless. I seek you, but I feel that I do not put myself there entirely. I know that Your Word says that all those who seek with all their heart will find You, but […]

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