JFA Blog

Reflections, studies and news for your walk with God.

January 18, 2024·Rapha Abreu

The Names of Jesus

Jesus is described in the Bible in various ways, with different words and names, but these descriptions always reveal His divine character and the profound nature of who He is and was sent to be. God incarnate “He appeared in the flesh…” 1 Timothy 3:16 All those names are beautiful, but the one that captures my attention the most is: “God with us” “Immanuel“! Among all the names by which He is called, this one encapsulates it well. It signifies the greatest miracle and the expression of grace, where God chose to reside among humanity, revealing His love in a personal and accessible manner, close to sinners and the forgotten. Throughout our lives, we strive for luxury, wealth, recognition, and yet, the greatest among us, who could possess all this with a snap of His fingers, remains the most humble and simple, dwelling among us. He loves everyone, even those who don’t deserve that love. The name “Jesus” also carries the meaning of “Savior,” and this is the name we hear most often, embodying the calling of Jesus, the purpose that the heart of the Son yearned for. He came to rescue humanity from sin and the separation from God, […]

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January 15, 2024·Gabriela Angerami

Our breath is in God

Then the Lord God formed a man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being. Genesis 2:7 How good it is to remember how much our existence depends entirely on God. For the human being to live, it was necessary for the Lord to breathe the breath of life. An inexhaustible breath Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint. Isaiah 40:30-31 It is He who has the power to give us an inexhaustible breath. So often we are stubborn and try to run the journey of life with our own strengths, but they will always be insufficient. We must learn to our hope in the Lord so that we can fly like eagles and walk without getting tired. To wait on the Lord is to live in union with Him. Even in our humanity we were made to live in communion with God. In Genesis God created us in his image and likeness so that we could […]

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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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January 11, 2024·Rapha Abreu

Don’t chase the wind

Life goes by so fast. Places are renovated, addresses change, people come and go; We are often forced to say goodbye. At other times, it is necessary to choose wisely who to say “hello” to and who to say “goodbye” to, no matter how much it hurts. Growing up hurts, but it teaches us and matures us. It prepares us for things much greater than anything we dream or plan. Life does not stop “When times are good, be happy; but when times are bad, consider this: God has made the one as well as the other. Therefore, no one can discover anything about their future.” Ecclesiastes 7:14 My favorite quote has always been that of Saint Teresa of Ávila: “It is fair that much costs what much is worth.“ To reach “tomorrow,” it is fair that it costs our “today.” Some cycles can only begin when others close, when we understand that we need to leave behind what is behind, that life goes on above any situation. The world does not stop as we need or want; each day has the same number of hours, and we need to act wisely in every minute. Do not waste time. I […]

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January 09, 2024·Rapha Abreu

Walking in the light of the Word

I always heard about the Word; I was raised by my parents hearing about its importance in knowing how and where to walk, following Jesus and the kingdom of God above all. It is essential that we read and delve deeper into it at the end of the process as well, as the Word of God always teaches and feeds us, but it is at the beginning of things that it provides paths and directions. From the beginning “If the part of the dough offered as firstfruits is holy, then the whole batch is holy; if the root is holy, so are the branches.” Romans 11:16 If we take our own steps when starting our journey and then everything goes wrong, even if we seek God just at that moment, entrusting our path into His hands, the Lord hears us and responds; He corrects our walk. But do you agree that it becomes more difficult this way? Because He will need to undo what we do to actually begin His work. We have to deliver our firstfruits, the beginning when everything is still a dream and project, because He guides us and clarifies our paths. He answers us in the end, […]

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December 22, 2023·Rapha Abreu

Prayer to One God

Our minds, in moments of sadness and turmoil, become weak if they are not established in Christ. Consequently, we begin to try to fill the void within ourselves at any cost, but we can never fill it with anything other than God and His life-giving Word. This prayer is based on the previous text Creating other gods. 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 “Dear God, thank you for being complete. I appreciate that everything we need can be found in You. Please don’t let me create other gods or prioritize dreams and projects over You. I don’t want to seek answers elsewhere. Keep me steadfast in Your word, following Your direction. God, I ask for forgiveness for the times I’ve placed any other subject, place, person, or situation above You. Do not let my eyes stray from You, Father. Grant me discernment to identify and […]

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December 22, 2023·Rapha Abreu

Creating other gods

The Lord instructs us several times that He should be the Only One worshiped, above anything else, because He is the Only God. This is not because He simply desires exclusivity. It goes far beyond that thought. Thinking like this makes it seems like God pleads for attention and needs us. But that is not it. One God for all The Father desires to be first in our lives, but He does not instruct us to worship Him solely out of a desire for exclusivity, as if His power depended on it. He calls us to have Him as the Only God because it is not necessary for us to look for something elsewhere. He is already the true source of everything. He is complete, whole, unique, and incomparable. Why would we worship other gods? Why would we create other gods? Just as the disciple Peter said in John 6:68: “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life.” If He already possesses everything and gives us all these wonders through His grace and love, why would we run to other gods? In the past, it was common to hear about a god for each subject. […]

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December 18, 2023·Rapha Abreu

Prayer: Aligning Paths

In the last text, I spoke to you about walking. We mus know that the path and steps will often seem messy, but we must follow with a focus on God’s promises and directions. I want to invite you to pray today for the perfect path we find in God. Also for obedience and faith to take each step towards what the Father has for us. 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 “Lord, first, I want to thank You. For loving me and guiding me, even though I don’t deserve to follow in Your footsteps. Thank You for speaking to me, even though I’m not worthy of hearing Your voice. Make me sensitive to what You have to speak to me, that I can feel You in every breath always. I ask you for firmness to walk with you. My eyes are limited, and Your […]

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December 18, 2023·Rapha Abreu

A messy organized

In moments when life seems messy, it’s normal to think that God is not with us. But the hardships and confusions of life do not mean the absence of the Lord. I understood this in a beautiful way, even after going through difficulties. Finding your place “In their hearts humans plan their course, but the Lord establishes their steps.” Proverbs 16:9 Many times, and I would venture to say that in most of them, God “mess up” the paths to then align them and allow us to understand them. On a trip I took, on the road, I missed an entrance, and the return was far ahead. At the time, the feeling was stress for having made a mistake, that feeling of wasting a lot of time for a small mistake. But before returning, I found an amazing bakery on the way. Big, beautiful, and full of good options. I stopped, bought something to eat, and continued my journey happily. I wouldn’t have known about that stop if I hadn’t missed the entrance. We know the path by walking. Therefore, it is good to allow yourself to miss an entry. Sometimes your place is at the entrance, on the way, at 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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December 12, 2023·Rapha Abreu

Prayer: Bought by the blood

I spoke to you in the previous text about the price paid through the blood of Jesus to redeem our sins. Today, I want to pray about recognizing and remembering this sacrifice daily. We need to surrender and pour out our hearts completely and constantly. 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, thank you. I express gratitude today because I can call you Father, all thanks to the blood of Jesus shed on the cross. I can now pray to the Lord wherever I am, without the need for sacrifices or grand temples. I acknowledge the sacrifice of Jesus, which allowed me to receive the Holy Spirit into my heart, granting me the privilege of living in Your love and care, even without deserving it, being Your home. Teach me to deeply understand the meaning of this redemptive act and to value the price paid […]

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December 07, 2023·Rapha Abreu

It wasn’t for free

It wasn’t free. Nothing Jesus did, nothing the Father poured out, was without value or cost. We hear the word “grace” so much that we confuse it with something that doesn’t have a value or that doesn’t need a price to be paid. However, I emphasize, nothing in the Bible was free, but everything came through grace and because of it. It is finished “You were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies.” 1 Corinthians 6:20 You were bought at a price… The cross was a delivery, a payment, so that God’s grace could reach everyone. I’m not saying that we can buy God, but rather that a cross price was paid for us to reach the Father. We have so many mistakes, so many flaws and faults in our human configuration. Nothing we could do would be able to redeem and cleanse everything we have done, are doing and will still do. Nothing can purify us from our impure way of living except the grace of God. This grace represents unconditional love. If this love is unconditional, the name itself already says that it does not need conditions to exist. The mercy and unmerited favor given by […]

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December 05, 2023·Rapha Abreu

Prayer: Promises that guide us

We are often frightened by new paths and only obey God when He explains every detail of what lies ahead to us. But most of the time, He won’t tell us where. He will just show us what we should do now, and as we obey, new paths will take shape in front of us. Today I want to pray for this so that we trust when there is light to see each step, but also (and even more) when everything is dark and abstract. 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 “Dear God, in this moment of reflection and prayer, I open my heart to You. Help me recognize Your greatness and faithfulness more and more each day, placing complete trust in You. I don’t need to know the entire path, nor do I want to rely on my understanding of each step to be […]

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November 30, 2023·Rapha Abreu

Guided by a Promise

New beginnings are, in a way, endings too. Moving forward means leaving old steps behind. The difficulty in starting over lies both in the uncertainty of the unknown and in the nature of endings. A step in the dark “Truly my soul finds rest in God. My salvation comes from him.” Psalm 62:1 Many times, God calls us to start over, and we take a long time to take action, waiting for Him to tell us what to do after the first step. However, starting over is not necessarily linked to knowing what to do, but rather to continuing to sail even without knowing where the boat is going, resting in the truth that Jesus is in that boat. Noah didn’t know where the boat was going; nothing he knew before existed at that moment, everything was below his vision, flooded. However, he continued, for that was what the Lord commanded. You won’t have the answers at all times; The Lord is not a GPS that will constantly be telling you to turn or go straight. But His silence never meant His absence or lack. He put you on the boat, and He will take that boat to the right place, […]

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November 28, 2023·Rapha Abreu

Prayer: A good soldier

Whenever I hear the word “Missions,” I remember soldiers who are placed in front of tasks that must be completed in the best way, seeking excellence in carrying them out. We are those soldiers in the Gospel. In addition to being called as Children of God, we are also included in the mission of spreading the word, making it known and desired. Today, I want to pray about this Christian mission, about us as His soldiers. Remember that you don’t need to pray in the same way as I’m going to say here. I know that everyone has their own way of talking to the Father, and it is important to have our intimacy with Him. Feel comfortable talking to the Lord in your own way, and, if you wish, I will be happy to accompany you in this prayer. Prayer “Father, I lift my heart to You at this moment, laying at Your feet my complete reverence and a full surrender to You. I desire to be a faithful instrument in Your hands, seeking to be an increasingly effective soldier in carrying out Your works. May my entire being be dedicated to proclaiming Your Gospel and truth, spreading Your […]

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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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November 21, 2023·Rapha Abreu

Prayer: Liberation

I invite you to join me in prayer today, seeking deliverance and the true freedom that comes from God. Our Father desires our hearts to be free from guilt, remorse, and the shackles of sin. Life with the Lord leads us to a healthy fear of Him, which, in turn, guides us to obey His will. Let not the weight of sin and guilt keep you at a distance from Him, preventing you from recognizing the intricate details of His work in your life. Keep in mind that you don’t have to follow my words precisely in prayer. Each person has their unique way of communing with the Father, and it’s crucial that we individually strive for intimacy with Him. So, feel free to speak to the Lord in your own manner. However, if you’d like, I’d be delighted to join you in this prayer. PRAYER God, thank you for never giving up on me. Despite my mistakes, Your love persists, and Your arms remain open to welcome me back. Open my eyes to see Your wonders and continuous blessings in every detail of my days. I want to avoid the risk of complaining about something that You, Lord, did […]

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November 16, 2023·Rapha Abreu

Message not sent

The word thrown can hurt, both those who receive it and those who say it. It is capable of dirtying our spirit. But it can also positively transform places and hearts. It is capable of hurting and healing. But what have your words done? Do you understand how important they are? Artificial world “Sin is not ended by multiplying words, but the prudent hold their tongues.” Proverbs 10:19 Since I was a child, I was taught that we should control what we say, that this is part of self-control. It’s something difficult to do in moments of great emotions (good or bad), because at the time the feeling ends up taking over us, if we’re not focused. And we end up losing control of what comes out of our mouths. We are in a technological era full of different functionalities. We can communicate with someone miles and miles away as if we were right next to each other. This facilitates and unites, but if we don’t know how to balance the use of technology, we easily lose control in our real lives. Power of the word “From the fruit of their mouth a person’s stomach is filled. With the harvest […]

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November 14, 2023·Rapha Abreu

Slaves of pain

Have you ever thought about losing all the things we complain about? If we were to lose our jobs because we complain about them, if we were denied access to places because of our complaints, or to people, situations, opportunities… Complaining about something is often connected to a lack of appreciation for it, even if only for a brief moment. It’s when something irritates me to the point of blinding my eyes to the value it holds in my life. Activate the faith. “Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance. Perseverance, character. And character, hope. And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.” Romans 5:3-5 Many times, we complain about storms and difficult situations. We forget that it is precisely these adversities that activate our faith and lead us to new levels with God. It’s not about a bad life, but rather a challenging day, perhaps just a complicated hour that, if we dwell on for hours, can ruin the entire day. Then, we ruin weeks, months, and even years! The reality is that we […]

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November 09, 2023·Rapha Abreu

Prayer: Overcoming

In the previous text, I spoke to you about the feeling of overcoming and renewal that the end of the year brings and how we should learn to use it to improve and grow, to fully trust in God. Today, I want to pray with you about this moment, about leaving the past behind and focusing on the future with hope for tomorrow. You don’t need to pray exactly as I will write here. I know that everyone has their own way of talking to the Father, and it is important for each of us to individually seek intimacy with Him. Therefore, feel comfortable to talk to the Lord in your own way. But if you’d like, I’ll be happy to accompany you in this prayer. Prayer “Lord, how good it is to be able to trust in You and rest in the truth that You will do infinitely more than I have ever dreamed or asked. Lead me to reach even higher places than I’ve already reached. Remind me that nothing I’ve lost compares to what lies ahead; nothing matches what I will receive from You. However, I desire to focus on nothing more than Your presence. I may […]

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November 07, 2023·Rapha Abreu

Overcoming

I have a special affection for the story of Joseph. It speaks about overcoming, forgiveness, perseverance, dreams, and faith. Joseph suffered physically and psychologically. He was emotionally wounded, saw bonds being broken in all his relationships, and experienced God’s silence for a while. But in every moment, he remained steadfast in his faith and held onto his hope in the promises of the Lord. Focus on What’s to come “…Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead,” Philippians 3:13 I don’t know if it happens the same for you, but when the end of the year approaches, I feel the need for overcoming. Overcoming the bad things that happened, learning from the difficulties, and leaving them behind, looking forward to the sense of renewal that a new year brings. At this time, I always remember the story of Joseph, which teaches a lot about overcoming, that is, about leaving the past behind and striving to achieve every dream we have. After everything Joseph went through, he was elevated to a position of great influence and power in Egypt, becoming an instrument to save his people from famine. The one who experienced hunger, poverty, forgetfulness, sadness, and the feeling of […]

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November 02, 2023·Rapha Abreu

Prayer: Prepared for the return

Since I can remember, most people talk about the return of Christ in a frightening way, filled with fear. I have reverence for that day, but the fear has ceased to be a part of my heart when I truly understood that it’s just anticipation for His return. I long at every moment for the time when He will come, so I can meet Him and know Him face to face. The only thing that scares me about this is my lack of action on the matter. I’m afraid that my lack of attention will increase and I will become distracted, forgetting Jesus’ return. Now that can fill my head with thoughts I’m afraid of. Today I want to pray with you about this, about turning our attention and goals to His return. About preparing ourselves and having an open and transformed heart for this long-awaited arrival. We need to act at all times for the return of the Son. You don’t need to pray exactly as I’m going to say here. I know that everyone has their own way of talking to the Father and it is important that we individually seek intimacy with Him. Therefore, feel comfortable talking […]

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October 31, 2023·Rapha Abreu

The sign of return

The Bible is full of details, and the more we study and get to know it, the more we realize those that make all the difference. Today, I want to talk about the death of Jesus and how the tomb was left when the promise is fulfilled. Folding the cloth When Jesus died, a cloth was placed over his face at the time of burial. In John 20:7, we can see that the cloth was not just left aside when He rose, as all the cloths were left in the tomb: “…while the cloth that had covered Jesus’ head was folded up and lying apart from the other wrappings.“ At that time, while the master was eating, the servant would stay out of his sight. When he finished, he would crumple the cloth and set it aside, which meant the servant could clear the table, as the master would not return. If the master got up but, before doing so, folded the cloth, it meant he would come back, and the servant should wait for him. Other studies also suggest that if a man went to eat at the house of his intended bride’s family and folded the cloth when […]

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