Hi, dear friend!

On December 25th we celebrate Christmas, but...  What’s “Christmas”?

 

-Christmas or Christmas Day  is an annual commemoration of the birth of Jesus Christ, celebrated generally on December 25th as a religious and cultural holiday by billions of people around the world. (Wikipedia)

 

You might say "everybody knows that!", but it's so easy to get involved in the way the world celebrates it. We tend to do what everybody else does...

However, we can't forget the true meaning of Christmas.

Christmas has nothing to do with "santa claus"... or just good food, gifts...

 

We are supposed to celebrate that wonderful day (it doesn't matter the exact day), when the son of God left His glory and became human being... He divided history. He came to suffer and die on the cross, to provide us salvation.  This is the real meaning of Christmas.

•Isaiah 9:6 says:

 “For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.”

 

Matthew 1:18-24 and Luke 1.26-38; 2.1-20 tell us the beautiful story of the birth of Jesus.

 

Take the opportunity to give thanks to God for JESUS... To Him, and to Him alone, be all the glory and honor, now and forever more....

 

Have a very merry Christmas!!!

 

A big hug!

Pr Silvana - Get English Worship Service - Saturday, 5PM.

 

PS. Thanks a lot for your participation in the Christmas celebration last Saturday in the English service. It was a beautiful and blessed celebration! Thanks to all of you who brought snacks, sweets, soda, cake, etc. God will reward your generosity!

Live a life to bring a smile to GOD!

I Just Want To Be Where You Are

On the road to Emmaus

Hi, dear friend!

 

How are you doing? Hope you're fine.

After Jesus'  resurrection, He appeared to many people over a period of 40 days. He ate, walked, talked with them and spoke about the kingdom of God until the day He was taken up to heaven (Acts 1.1-4).

LUKE 24.13-35 tells us a very interesting story. Two disciples were on their way to a village called Emmaus, about 11 km from Jerusalem. It was on Sunday and Jesus had been crucified on Friday. They were extremely sad, disappointed, frustated, upset, hopeless because of Jesus' death and completely forgot what Jesus had taught them about His suffering, death and resurrection on the third day.

On their way to Emmaus, they were discussing about what had happened in those days and suddenly Jesus came up and walked along with them. They didn't recognized Him.

Sadness, depression, anguish, worries, distress and feelings like these prevent us to see and feel Jesus walking beside us... (Pv. 15.13,30; 17.22 - II Thes. 5.16)

Then, Jesus reprimanded them saying: "How foolish and slow of heart to believe you are..."  and explained (again) the Scriptures to them. Jesus was sowing the Word into their hearts (their hearts were burning within them...), preparing them to see Him and understand that He had risen from the dead and was alive.

When we are not feeling well, overwhelmed by problems, bad circumstances, troubles, etc., we can't stop going to the House of God. We have to listen to the Word of God in order to get strength and go on...

When Jesus was at the table with them and had supper with them, their eyes were opened and they recognized Jesus.

It's sitting with Jesus, being and feasting at His table, listening to Him, in communion with Jesus, that we get to know Him.

 

I encourage you to rejoice in Jesus ALWAYS and continue believing in His promises and serving Him, in spite of the circumstances.

 

The Lord give you strength and open your spiritual eyes to see Him walking beside you!

 

NEXT SATURDAY, AT 5PM,  WE WILL CELEBRATE CHRISTMAS! YOU'RE INVITED TO CELEBRATE IT WITH US! YOU CAN'T MISS IT!

 

NEXT SUNDAY MORNING,  AT 9, IT WILL BE OUR LAST BIBLE SCHOOL CLASS OF THIS YEAR. DON'T MISS IT!

 

A big hug!

 

Pr Silvana

X-mas

Hello dear friends!
Next Saturday, December 17th, we will celebrate Christmas in the English Service.
We anticipate the celebration because many brothers will travel.
We will also celebrate the birthdays of  the month.
You can not lose!
We await you!
God bless you!

Make war - John Piper

Holiness

Hello, my dear friend!

 

Time passes quickly. The end of the year is approaching.... Many things will pass away, but God's Word will never pass away. He is the same yesterday, today and tomorrow. He is HOLY. And He wants us to be HOLY as He is. This will never change...

 

HOLINESS means more than to be pure... it means  to be distinct, separate, set apart... the one who is holy is uniquely holy, with no rivals or competition (God Himself).

Hebrews 12:14  says “Make every effort to live in peace with all men and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord.” If we want to see the Lord, we must be HOLY. That's God's will. (I Thes.  4.3-8; I  Pe. 1.15-16)

There is a WAR inside of us: the flesh, our sinful nature, is always at war with our spirit. To be holy, we need to make war against our sinful nature 24 hours a day, 7 days a week!

 

Romans 8:5-9,  13-14 - "Those who live according to the sinful nature have their minds set on what that nature desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires. (What have you set your mind on? What have you been thinking about more than anything else these past six months? What has consumed most of your time and prayers? Has it been mostly bread issues—personal needs?) The mind of sinful man is death, but the mind controlled by the Spirit is life and peace; the sinful mind is hostile (enmity) to God. It does not submit to God's law, nor can it do so. Those controlled by the sinful nature cannot please God. – James 4.4

You, however, are controlled not by the sinful nature but by the Spirit, if the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Christ. For if you live according to the sinful nature, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live, because those who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God.

Galatians 5:16 -“So I say, live by the Spirit (walk in the Spirit), and you will not gratify (satisfy) the desires of the sinful nature.”

 

- If we make every effort to be holy and always live in accordance with the Holy Spirit, we will be able to be holy as our God is. It's possible!

 

The Holy Spirit help you and sanctify you all the time....

 

A strong hug!

 

Pr Silvana

Thanksgiving Day Pictures

Hidden Check

 

Once upon a time, there was a boy who was not a good studient. His grades and behavior were a disappointment to his parents, as good Christians dreamed to see him graduated and successful.One day, the good father offered him a deal: if you, my son, change behavior, to focus on academics and to pass the entrance exam for university of medicine, then a car will be given to you.Because of the car, the boy changed. Went on to study as never before and have an exemplary behavior. The father was happy, but had a concern. He knew that changing the boy was not the result of a sincere conversion, but only of interest in getting the car. That was bad!So the big day has arrived! The boy was approved for medical school! As promised, the father invited his family and friends to a party. The boy was at the party for granted that the father would give him the car.When asked to speak, the father praised the result obtained by the child and gave his hands a gift box. Believing that it held the car keys, the boy opened the package. To his surprise it was a bible.The boy was visibly disappointed and said nothing. From that day the silence and distance separated father and son. The young man felt betrayed, and now struggling to be independent.He left his parents and settled in the University Campus.Rarely sent news to the family. As time passed, he graduated, got a job at a good hospital and forgot all about the father.One day the old man, very sad about the situation, became ill and could not resist, died. At the funeral, the mother gave the child, indifferent, the Bible that would have been the last gift of his father and had been left behind.Back at home, when the boy put the book a shelf, noticed an envelope inside. Opening it he found a letter and a check. The letter said:"My dear son, I know how much you want to have a car, and I promised here is the check for you to choose that car that you like. However, I made sure to give you an even better gift, the Holy Bible. Here you will learn the love of God and do good, not for the sake of reward, but with gratitude and duty of conscience. "With remorse, the son fell into a deep mourning. How sad life of not forgiving. This leads to terrible mistakes and even an worse end.
 Before it's too late, forgive the one you think have done you wrong. Maybe if you look carefully, you will see that there is also a "check hidden" in all diversity of life.