JFA Blog

Prayer: See the opportunities of God

Sometimes I find myself wondering if we don’t miss many opportunities for such banal reasons as time, mood, shame and so many others. I don’t speak only of those opportunities that are very clear, but also of those that seem more like a common everyday event. Examples of this are moments between children and parents that are lost because they are “too busy”, when a friend comes to tell us about a delicate situation that is going on, and we simply speak a generic phrase instead of being willing to pray, or when we have the great opportunity to speak of God’s love for someone and out of shame we stop doing it. Finally, in 2021, we cannot let opportunities pass us by, whether big or small, and today I invite you to pray that God will open our eyes before them. I also want to leave a passage here for you today: Be very careful, then, how you live not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. Ephesians 5:15,16 Remembering that you don’t have to repeat the prayer exactly as I’m going to leave it here, because each one of […]

A year of victory!

We are on the fourth day of the year 2021, which is just beginning. Well, one of the most beautiful things for me at this time is to see how everyone fills up with hope, a few weeks ago I wrote here in one of the blog texts about how and important it is that this hope is not only kept in the time of parties, but that we carry it all year long. This is because we serve a God who is hope itself. Over the past year I’ve heard many pastors saying that this would be a special year for the people of God, of many victories and I really don’t doubt it at all. I don’t know if you noticed the same thing, but I saw many people returning to Jesus last year, choosing baptism and having their lives transformed, which is already a victory. The True Victory With this, I believe that 2020 has been a year of preparation, but the preparation does not last only a year when we are God’s people, but a whole life, because our victory is in heaven, it is on high. The true victory is the one we have in […]

Discover your ideal reading plan for 2021!

Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful. Joshua 1:8 We know that with the rush of day by day, reading the Bible daily can be a challenge. Sometimes in the midst of our routine we find ourselves completely out of time, but reading from God’s word is essential. The Bible is food for our soul and through it we are often directed by God. In addition, God’s Word says it is important that we seek knowledge and listen to the instructions and advice of the wise, and surely there is no wiser advice than we can find in the Bible. So today I want to present you with reading plans that can help you a lot in this challenge. Reading plans are super important, they can help you in your daily life and also to make you accumulate knowledge. In our application we have an area especially for them, which is very easy to find, just look in its menu section “Plans”. And now I invite you to get to know each […]

Be a messenger of good news!

Are you easy to talk about the gospel? In talking about the sacrifice of our Lord and Savior? Many times we think that we can be invasive or bother the other, but this is a mistaken thought on our part. That is because knowing Jesus is a privilege, and when we stop talking about His love we are being negligent in spreading salvation. Some time ago I met a girl who only heard about Jesus and his beautiful sacrifice of love, when she was 15 years old, even though she lived in Brazil, a mostly Christian country. Fortunately, this girl, who is now over 20 years old, had time to have a real encounter with Jesus and today has been used a lot to reach other lives. With this, I keep thinking, how many times have I stopped talking about salvation? how many lives could have been reached? Knowing Jesus is something wonderful and we who already know him have the mission to be messengers of the best news anyone can receive, the news of salvation. I know it can be challenging, but that is why we must prepare ourselves in prayer and reading the word. Well, thinking about it […]

How to find the path to prosperity?

Have you noticed what we say to each other when the Year ends …? We wish you all a Happy and prosperous New Year! To prosper is to advance, to grow, to move forward. So, when we think about prosperity, we think about the future. Do you think 2021 can be a prosperous year in your life? Do you think, want or need? In fact, the distance between being prosperous and wanting to be prosperous is not wanting too much or needing too much … who doesn’t? Many need it! It is also not to have a hunch or even a feeling. The difference is in finding, finding the path to prosperity! So I want to leave here some tips of what we learn from the Word of God about it: “Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland.” Isaiah 43:18-19 “Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what […]

We want to thank you!

Prayer: Renew your hope!

We are already on December 23rd and as we have already said, this has been an intense year, very different from what we could imagine and what we would like to experience. But now it is time to look at what is to come, to remember God’s faithfulness this year to us, and to renew our hopes. We must do this having the confidence that God will not abandon us, he is with us even in the midst of the storm. The year is ending but it is still a time of hope, every day is a day to keep hope. Our Lord will not act only in 9 days when the year “turns”, no, he for sure has already done great things throughout this year, is doing, and will continue to do. So, today my prayer is for us to keep hope and have hope in the one who has the power to change everything. I also want to leave a passage here for you today: May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. Romans 15:13 […]

Have you made plans?

Are you a person who plans or who prefers to see where it goes? I particularly have always planned everything, which does not mean that everything has happened as I thought. But the point is that I have always made plans, about my education, lifestyle, family and so many other areas that I consider important. The Bible teaches us to plan, in Luke 14:28, it is written: “Which of you, if you want to build a tower, first don’t sit down and calculate the price, to see if you have enough money to complete it? As reported in this verse, planning is essential if we want to make our dreams come true. In another passage of the Bible, Proverbs 13:16, we are also warned about the need for prudence, which is so necessary when we have dreams and plans, in the first place so that we can evaluate whether or not such a desire is convenient and plan how to make it come true. Act upon your dreams I believe that every realization begins in our dreams, one day a little seed sprouts in our hearts and minds, which may or may not be cultivated – now if you’ll allow […]

Generosity beyond festivities!

The world seems more colorful between Christmas and the New Year, people tend to be more kind and generous. With this, they leave aside little silly or intrigues because after all, it’s time to party, to rejoice and be united. But it shouldn’t be like this only at this time of year, should it? Today, together with you, I want to reflect about this great generosity that ravishes people at this time and why it doesn’t last the whole year. The birth of hope itself Well, I believe that the first point to think about is that Christmas is considered a time of hope, since the birth of hope itself is celebrated, which explains the behavior of many. After all, a birth is something beautiful and that brings joy, of humanity before and after Christ. Therefore, as much as there are differences of thought regarding the true day when Jesus came into the world, even though we commemorate such an event regardless of the date, it reminds us of our Father’s faithfulness and that in Him our hopes are renewed every day. And from this I think: If our hope is in a faithful God who sent his son to […]

Prayer: Bringing to mind what God has done!

How many times have we forgotten what our Father did and has done in our lives? We live daily miracles that are beaten or simply seen as chance. The point is that 2020, with all its problems, was also a year of provision, family reunion, healing and faith. That’s why in today’s prayer I want to remember the good things that happened to us, because no matter how difficult the moment may be, there is still something for which we can be grateful. Once I heard the following phrase which I don’t know who the author is: “Your reality is someone’s dream. So let us bring to mind what God has done in our lives. I also want to leave a passage here for you today: Look to the Lord and his strength; seek his face always. Remember the wonders he has done, his miracles, and the judgments he pronounced, you his servants, the descendants of Israel, his chosen ones, the children of Jacob. 1 Chronicles 16:11-13 Remembering that you don’t have to repeat the prayer exactly as I’m going to leave it here, because each one of us has a specific way to communicate with the Lord. But if […]

Hope, the art of waiting with faith!

Yet this I call to mind and therefore I have hope: Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. I say to myself, “The Lord is my portion; therefore I will wait for him.” Lamentations 3:21-24 It’s almost mid-December, near the end of the year, and usually this is a time when we get more reflective, thinking about what happened and what is to come. I don’t know about you, but I usually get even more excited, thinking about what I’m going to do, what’s to come, and this always brings me hope, a subject I want to talk to you about today. Hope in a different year The year 2020, for sure, was very different from what we could imagine there in January. The virus that the whole world has been living with had just been discovered, it was still not possible to imagine everything that would come. But soon after the world scenario changed and we saw despair, fear and insecurity probing the lives of many. The rate of death by covid increased, that of unemployment skyrocketed. We began to experience a […]

Learn to deal with different opinions!

Since childhood people have different opinions, either for simple everyday things or even more serious questions, topics that need further deepening and reflection. Even within the church there are disagreements or different understandings on certain issues. And one of the points that makes fellowship so important is this one, through these debates and conversation, one can help the other to see more clearly. The divergent opinions in the book of Job In Job’s book, it is reported that they and their friends had different opinions about the reason for the tragedies that affected his life. Eliphaz, for example, was sure that his friend had committed some serious sin and was therefore being punished, as described in Job 22. On the other hand, Job was convinced of his innocence and believed that even God would be in his favor. In the course of the book, Job’s four friends presented their different and divergent opinions. As we read a few paragraphs we can even imagine them exalted, with each one defending his point of view. But it is also remarkable that there was mutual respect there. Each one listened to the other attentively, at times it was almost a speech, the placement […]

Father, fulfill your plans in my life!

How many times have you prayed asking for the concretion of a plan or a dream? I can say that I have prayed this prayer a few times and I have not always received what I wanted in the time I was waiting. Many people are discouraged by this, but they forget that there are some reasons for these wishes not to come true. The most obvious is that these plans and dreams might not be good for us and our God as Father does not grant them because he knows the evil they would bring. Another, and that many times still is not the right time, so the Lord needs to work in us so that they can be realized in a perfect way. Besides, I believe that one of the most important reasons is the fact that God has the best in us, and thinking about this, today we will pray that not our own, but the Lord’s plans will come true in our lives. I also want to leave here 3 verses for you today: Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is […]

Make wise choices!

We know that every choice brings consequences. That is why we must be prepared to take responsibility not only for the choice made, but also for its results. Even if we are free to choose, we will never be free of consequences, be they good or bad, because they will inevitably come. This reminds me of Jeremiah’s story. Together with thousands of Jews, Jeremiah had been imprisoned by the Babylonians, as he himself had prophesied. However, the captain of the guard, believing in the prophecies that Jeremiah had previously uttered, released him from jail and gave him freedom to choose, giving him the following options: He could travel to Babylon and stay under his protection, or go wherever he wished, even to return to Judah, which was destroyed, and live with the poor who had remained there (Jer. 39:10). This was a difficult choice, which would certainly have consequences: if he went to Babylon he would have peace and comfort, but he would be considered a traitor by the Jews, if he returned to Judah he would remain poor and rejected. In Jeremiah 40:1-6 it is reported that he was slow to give an answer, probably because he was pondering […]

We are forgiven in Christ

Who is a God like you, who pardons sin and forgives the transgression of the remnant of his inheritance? You do not stay angry forever but delight to show mercy. You will again have compassion on us; you will tread our sins underfoot and hurl all our iniquities into the depths of the sea. Micah 7: 18-19 In the above passage we find a beautiful statement about God’s forgiveness for us. Micah’s prophecy certifies the total extermination of our iniquities by our God. He not only forgives them, but throws them into the depths of the sea, that is, to an unreachable place, such is His fullness and forgiveness, through grace. Forgiven through the cross The main aspect of the Old Testament is forgiveness, while the entire legal and cultural structure established by God precedes the promise of the coming of the redeemer, Christ Jesus. God’s forgiveness is the fruit of the work of Christ, who paid the debt for our sins on the cross (Col 2:13-15), so that we can be justified no matter what good deeds we do (Rom 4:5-6). Unlike the old sacrifices, the work of Christ was definitive (Heb. 10. 11-14), so that forgiveness is within […]

Prayer: Discouragement? Never!

How many times we feel discouraged, with a feeling that we can’t describe, we just feel and want to get rid of this “weirdness”. Anyway, I believe that everybody sometimes feels this way. With this, we end up not having the will to do what we need, we stop in time, we become stagnant. This discouragement can be momentary or not, sometimes situations end up causing it, a discussion, news we didn’t expect and so many other things. Thinking about it, today we will pray for God’s help to free us from this evil. I also want to leave here 3 verses to get out of discouragement: “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 (NIV) And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:7 (NIV) But the Lord is faithful, and he will strengthen you and protect you from the evil one. 2 Thessalonians 3:3 Remembering that you don’t have to repeat the prayer exactly as I’m going to leave it here, because each one of us has a specific […]

What is the real victory?

Have you ever heard of the expression “Pyrrhic Victory”? Pyrrhus was a Greek general who was born at the time of Alexander the Great and died (318 B.C.). He fought for the restoration of his power in Greece and southern Italy. He faced the Romans and defeated them a few times, but at such a cost in lives, that the campaign could not be considered really victorious… When they congratulated him on his victory against the Romans at the Battle of Asculus, he would have responded: “One more victory like this, and I am lost! Since then, the term “Pyrrhic Victory” has been used to express something like “won, but did not take”. What have you been fighting for? Have you experienced victories like this in your life? Fight hard for something, pay a high price and then find out it wasn’t worth it? Actually, our lives are full of Pyrrhus’ victories…men and women who pay high prices for a professional victory, to later discover that they lost their marriage or their children; people who prioritize above all the money, to end their life without friends; people so determined to reach their destiny, that they can’t even enjoy the way […]

What does the Bible teach about success?

I would like to start this text by reminding you of a successful biblical character, that is Joshua, who with the death of Moses, was called to take the leadership of God’s people and lead them to the conquest of Canaan. This man of God’s task was to lead more than 2 million people in a strange land to war and conquer a new life. In face of such a challenge, we can already say that without God, this would be impossible, but when we have the Lord by our side, success is guaranteed. Joshua heard God. He was instructed, encouraged and taught by God. So, with him we can learn the secret of the Christian’s success. Read the passage where the Lord speaks to Joshua and encourage him: No one will be able to stand against you all the days of your life. As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will never leave you nor forsake you. Be strong and courageous, because you will lead these people to inherit the land I swore to their ancestors to give them. “Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave […]

Prayer: Shame, never more!

Whoever is more shy knows how difficult and challenging it can be to talk to people for anything, to talk to many people then… Shame can get in the way of our lives in many ways, whether at work, college or even at church. With this, even our ministries and calls from God to our lives can be impacted. The fact that we have shame also hinders the fulfillment of a great commandment for us Christians, which is found in the text of Matthew 28:19;20: “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age”. We can often miss the opportunity to introduce Jesus to others. One day, someone sowed the word of Christ in your and my life or in the life of someone close to us. In the same way, we have the mission to present to people the greatest good news of humanity: salvation granted to those who accept Jesus as their only savior. Thinking about it, today […]

Don’t doubt God’s actions!

It is common to see people doubting God’s actions. Many times we find ourselves in situations so complicated that we begin to fear that our Lord is not listening to our prayers or has forgotten us. But, although it is common, this should not happen because our Father is the first to want the best for us, His children. So today we are going to reflect on doubt and how dangerous it can be. Is it a sin to doubt? And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him. Hebrews 11: 6 Doubt is not a sin, as long as it does not compromise our faith, so when it comes to God’s action in our lives it is wrong to doubt, because in this case we are showing unbelief about what the Lord has already done and is doing in our lives. And how it is written in verse above, it is necessary to have faith to please God. When we doubt, we act by our own strength, being unstable. In James 1:6-8, it is written that whoever doubts must […]

Rahab: a lesson of faith

Rahab is a curious character in the Bible. She was the one who hid the spies sent by Joshua in his house and protected them when the king of Jericho found out about their presence. After hiding them, Rahab asked them to remember her and her family. And to spare them when Jericho was conquered by the people of Israel. Her declaration of faith in God She was a prostitute and was mentioned 8 times in the Bible, 5 of them as “the prostitute Rahab. She acame from a culture of worship of other gods. Even so, when she made the agreement with the spies to spare her family, she makes a statement of faith in which she recognizes the supreme sovereignty of God: And said to them, “I know that the Lord has given you this land and that a great fear of you has fallen on us, so that all who live in this country are melting in fear because of you. We have heard how the Lord dried up the water of the Red Sea for you when you came out of Egypt, and what you did to Sihon and Og, the two kings of the Amorites […]

Do you thank or murmur?

These days I was thinking that we seldom sadden or identify murmuring as a sin, we forget that murmuring is ungrateful and we usually do it without realizing it. Murmuring is the same as slandering, mumbling, speaking in a low voice, speaking ill of someone or something. So I ask how many times did you mumble today? We complain about so many things that we don’t even notice, because the more we complain, the more we will complain, but also the more we thank, the more we will be grateful. In 1 Thessalonians it is written that we should always be grateful, because that is what God wants from those who are united to Christ. We may not realize it, but murmuring takes us away from God, because when we murmur we cannot see everything he has done in our lives. Our Lord is faithful to us and does not rejoice in ingratitude, being grateful is an act of worship and that shows confidence in God. Thinking about it, today we will pray thanking our Lord for everything he did and asking for help and forgiveness for the murmurings. I also want to leave here 3 lines about waiting: Give […]

Learning about the fruit of the Holy Spirit: Temperance

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. Galatians 5:22 (JKV) We are in the eighth text of the series “Learning about the Fruit of the Spirit”, in which we will go deeper into what is written in the Bible about the fruit of the Holy Spirit of God, mentioned in the book of Galatians and today we will learn more about temperance. I would like to start by saying that temperance is moderation in thought, word or action, that is, it is directly linked to self-control. Temperance and self-control He that hath no rule over his own spirit is like a city that is broken down, and without walls. Proverbs 25:28 (KJV) Those who practice temperance have self-control and show moderation in their passions and behavior. Therefore, temperance as a character trait is a common theme throughout the Bible, especially in the New Testament. It is impossible to live a godly life and please the Lord without self-control because our flesh desires only to please itself. But in Romans 13:14, we are warned not to seek to satisfy the evil desires of our human and […]

4 lessons from Esther’s life

Esther was a young Jewish woman from the tribe of Benjamin, whose parents died during the Babylonian exile. Esther was raised by her cousin Mordecai in Susan, one of the capitals of the Medo-Persian Empire, during the reign of Ahasuerus – approximately 483 B.C. The story of the young Jewish woman unfolds after the banishment of Queen Vashti, when King Ahasuerus, at a feast that lasted 180 days, asked her to parade before the guests and she refused. Then he ordered another woman to take the queen’s place. The king summoned all the virgin and beautiful women of the kingdom, to choose his new queen and Mordecai who served in the palace, arranged that Esther be among the suitors. With this, she was taken by the guards together with the other women to the palace. Esther did not tell anyone she was Jewish because Mordecai had warned her not to reveal where she came from. One year later, the king started calling the girls he had selected. Finally, Esther was called to the presence of the king, who was delighted with her beauty and attitude, so much so that made her his queen, (Esther 2:17). In time, Esther proved to […]