Worthy of every song we could ever sing Worthy of all the praise we could ever bring Worthy of every breath we could ever breathe We live for You Jesus, the Name above every other name Jesus, the only One who could ever save Worthy of every breath we could ever breathe We live for You Holy, there is no one like You There is none beside You Open up my eyes in wonder Show me who You are and fill me With Your heart and lead me In Your love to those around me Jesus, the Name above every other name Jesus, the only One who could ever save Worthy of every breath we could ever breathe We live for You Holy, there is no one like You There is none beside You Open up my eyes in wonder Show me who You are and fill me With Your heart and lead me In Your love to those around me I will build my life upon Your love It is a firm foundation I will put my trust in You alone And I will not be shaken [x2] Holy, there is no one like You There is none beside You Open up my eyes in wonder Show me who You are and fill me With Your heart and lead me In Your love to those around me I will build my life upon Your love It is a firm foundation I will put my trust in You alone And I will not be shaken
Chega um dia na vida de todos quando não podemos evitar mais a questão. Temos que decidir. Vou crer em Deus ou nos ídolos deste mundo? Um ídolo é qualquer coisa ou alguém na vida que vem antes de Deus. Às vezes, esses ídolos assumem a forma de coisas boas, como o cônjuge, um filho ou a carreira. Outras vezes, os ídolos podem ser perigosos e maus, como um vício ou pecado.
Para os Israelitas, esse momento decisivo foi o dia em que o profeta Elias enfrentou mais de 450 profetas de Baal, o deus da chuva, no desafio mais importante: Qual Deus ou deus de quem apareceria? A história começou quando o Rei Acabe voltou as costas a Deus, resultando em três anos e meio de seca e fome severas. Podes ler a história completa em 1 Reis 17 e 18. Finalmente, Deus enviou o profeta Elias para demonstrar o Seu verdadeiro poder contra os profetas de Baal. É aí que esta história começa em 1 Reis, capítulo 18, com Elias a desafiar as pessoas a saírem de detrás da cerca e a decidir, de uma vez por todas. Quem é que eles seguiriam? Somente quando o Único Deus Verdadeiro enviou fogo do Céu depois que o "deus" Baal permaneceu em silêncio, o povo declarou: "O Senhor, Ele é Deus!" Eles finalmente saíram de detrás da cerca.
E tu? Estás a vacilar na tua fé? Estás hesitante em estar "todo" na tua caminhada com Deus? Pede a Deus por clareza e coragem para tomar uma posição. Assim como as pessoas no dia de Elias, que o dia hoje possa ser o dia em que decides estar todo por Deus. Será uma decisão da qual não te vais arrepender, Deus o promete!
~ 1 Reis 18:20, 21
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There comes a day in everyone’s life when we just can’t avoid the question any longer. We must decide. Am I going to believe God or the idols of this world? An idol is anything or anyone in life that comes before God. Sometimes these idols take the form of good things, like a spouse, child or career. Other times, idols can be dangerous and evil, like an addiction or sin.
For the Israelites, that deciding moment was the day the prophet Elijah faced over 450 prophets of Baal, the god of rain, in the ultimate show-down: Whose God or god would show up? The story began when King Ahab turned his back on God, resulting in three and a half years of severe drought and famine. You can read the full story in 1 Kings 17 and 18. Finally, God sent the prophet Elijah to demonstrate His true power against the prophets of Baal. That’s where this story picks up in 1 Kings chapter 18 with Elijah challenging the people to get off the fence and decide, once and for all. Who would they follow? Only when the One True God sent down fire from Heaven after the "god" Baal had remained silent, did the people declare, "The Lord, He is God!" They finally got off the fence.
What about you? Are you wavering in your faith? Are you hesitant to be "all in" in your walk with God? Ask God for the clarity and the courage to take a stand. Just like the people in Elijah’s day, may today be the day you decide to be all in for God. It will be a decision you won’t regret, God promises it!
I can barely stand right now. Everything is crashing down, And I wonder where you are. I try to find the words to pray. I don't always know what to say, But you're the one that can hear my heart. Even though I don't know what your plan is, I know you make beauty from these ashes. I've seen joy and I've seen pain. On my knees, I call your name. Here's my broken hallelujah. With nothing left to hold onto, I raise these empty hands to you. Here's my broken, here's my broken, Hallelujah [x3] (Here's my broken) Hallelujah You know the things that have brought me here. You know the story of every tear. 'Cause you've been here from the very start. Even though I don't know what your plan is, I know you make beauty from these ashes. I've seen joy and I've seen pain. On my knees, I call your name. Here's my broken Hallelujah. With nothing left to hold onto, I raise these empty hands to you. Here's my broken, here's my broken, Hallelujah [x3] (Here's my broken) Hallelujah When all is taken away, don't let my heart be changed. Let me always sing Hallelujah And when I feel afraid, don't let my hope be erased Let me always sing (let me always sing), Let my always sing, Hallelujah [x3] (Let my always sing) Hallelujah (Let my always sing) Hallelujah Here's my broken, Here's my broken, Hallelujah [x3] Here's my broken, Here's my broken, Hallelujah [x4]
O que aqui vemos é um fresco no tecto de tirar o fôlego do pintor e arquitecto Italiano Giulio Romano. Como jovem assistente no estúdio de Rafael, ele trabalhou nos frescos das galerias do Vaticano aos desenhos de Rafael e na Estela de Rafael no Vaticano pintou um grupo de figuras no freso do Fogo no Borgo. # Seen here is a breathtaking ceiling fresco by Italian painter and architect Giulio Romano. As a young assistant in Raphael’s studio, he worked on the frescos in the Vatican loggias to designs by Raphael and in Raphael’s Stanze in the Vatican painted a group of figures in the Fire in the Borgo fresco.
Em meados dos anos 1800, George Mueller administrou um orfanato na Inglaterra. Certa manhã, ele enfrentou uma verdadeira crise, não havia comida para o pequeno almoço. Ele então sentou-se e fez uma oração simples, agradecendo a Deus por providenciar o que não tinham pois não tinham como consegui-lo por conta própria. De repente, alguém bateu à porta. Era um padeiro a oferecer pão fresco. De seguida apareceu o homem do leite. Uma resposta milagrosa para uma oração muito simples. Muller começou uma vida a pedir a Deus para satisfazer as suas necessidades. Vez após vez, Deus usou homens e mulheres para prover (e, surpreendentemente, isto aconteceu sem que Muller falasse sobre estas necessidades com os outros).
Mueller não foi o único a experimentar respostas milagrosas à oração. Em 1 Reis, lemos a história do profeta Elias. Depois de três anos e meio de seca, Elias disse ao Rei Acabe que esperasse uma enorme tempestade. Então ele orou. Sete vezes Elias enviou o seu servo para verificar qualquer sinal de chuva até que viu uma pequena nuvem de chuva no horizonte. Então Elias disse: "Vai dizer ao Rei Acabe que uma grande chuva está a caminho." Esta pequena nuvem transformou-se numa resposta miraculosa à oração.
O que é preciso para te tornares numa pessoa de oração poderosa e fé como Elias?
1. Justiça. (Tiago 5:15) Ser justo significa estar bem com Deus, andar e confiar em Deus, mesmo quando isso não é popular. Tiago diz-nos que a oração de um homem justo realiza muito.
2. Persistência. (Tiago 4:2b) Elias orou persistentemente na vontade de Deus, e isso é fundamental. Muitas vezes oramos pelas coisas que queremos e não pelas coisas que Deus quer. Tudo se resume aos motivos por trás das nossas orações, é sobre MIM ou sobre DEUS?
3. Fé. Elias orou com muita fé. Da derrota dos profetas de Baal (850 deles para 1 ele), a informar o Rei de Israel que deveria apressar-se para chegar a casa antes de ser apanhado na tempestade quando não chovia há mais de três anos, Elias tinha uma fé incrível.
Hoje, o que as nossas casas e famílias, igrejas e comunidades precisam agora mais do que nunca são pessoas que oram com orações poderosas. Assim como Elias e George Mueller, dois homens comuns que acreditavam num Deus extraordinário. Tu também pode tornar-te numa pessoa de oração poderosa.
~ 1 Reis 18:41, 42, 44
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In the mid 1800s, George Mueller ran an orphanage in England. One morning he faced a real crisis, there was no food for breakfast. So he sat down and prayed a simple prayer, thanking God for providing what they didn’t have and had no way of obtaining on their own. Suddenly, there was a knock on the door. It was a baker offering fresh bread. Next a milkman appeared. Talk about a miraculous answer to a very simple prayer. Muller began a life of asking God to meet their needs. Time and time again, God used men and women to provide (and amazingly this happened without Muller sharing these needs with others).
Mueller wasn’t the only one to experience miraculous answers to prayer. In 1 Kings, we read the story of the prophet Elijah. After three and a half years of drought, Elijah told King Ahab to expect a huge rainstorm. Then he prayed. Seven times Elijah sent his servant to check for any sign of rain until he spotted a very tiny rain cloud on the horizon. Then Elijah said, "Go tell King Ahab a huge downpour is on the way." This small cloud turned into a miraculous answer to prayer.
What does it take to become a person of tremendous prayer and faith like Elijah?
1. Righteousness. (James 5:15) To be righteous means to be right with God, walking with and trusting God, even when it isn’t popular. James tells us that the prayer of a righteous man accomplishes a lot.
2. Persistence. (James 4:2b) Elijah prayed persistently in God’s will, and this is key. Too often we pray for things we want rather than things God wants. It comes down to the motives behind our prayers, is it about ME or about GOD?
3. Faith. Elijah prayed with great faith. From overcoming the prophets of Baal (850 of them to 1 of him), to informing the King of Israel that he better hurry on home before getting caught in the storm when it hadn’t rained in over three years, Elijah had incredible faith.
Today, what our homes and families, churches and communities need now more than ever before are people who pray powerful prayers. Just like Elijah and George Mueller, two ordinary men who believed in an extraordinary God. You too can become a person of powerful prayer.
Have you been praying And you still have no answers Have you been pouring out your heart for so many years Have you been hoping That things would have changed by now Have you cried all the faith you have through so many tears Don’t forget the things that He has done before And remember He can do it all once more It’s like the brightest sunrise Waiting on the other side Of the darkest night Don’t ever lose hope, hold on and believe Maybe you just haven’t seen it Just haven’t seen it yet You’re closer than you think you are Only moments from the break of dawn All His promises are just up ahead Maybe you just haven’t seen it Just haven’t seen it yet He had the solution Before you had the problem He sees the best in you when you feel at your worst So in the questioning don’t ever doubt His love for you ‘Cause it’s only in His love that you’ll find a breakthrough It’s like the brightest sunrise Waiting on the other side Of the darkest night Don’t ever lose hope, hold on and believe Maybe you just haven’t seen it Just haven’t seen it yet You’re closer than you think you are Only moments from the break of dawn All His promises are just up ahead Maybe you just haven’t seen it He is moving with a love so deep Hallelujah for the victory Good things are coming even when we can’t see We can’t see it yet, but we believe that [x2] It’s like the brightest sunrise Waiting on the other side Of the darkest night Don’t ever lose hope, hold on and believe Maybe you just haven’t seen it Just haven’t seen it yet You’re closer than you think you are Only moments from the break of dawn All His promises are just up ahead Maybe you just haven’t seen it
Quando trabalhadores da cidade de Coeur d'Alene, Idaho, disseram a Sharalee Armitage Howard que teriam de remover uma enorme árvore de 110 anos do seu quintal da frente, ela ficou triste. Determinada a preservar o que pudesse da bela árvore, decidiu transformar o tronco da árvore numa biblioteca da vizinhança gratuita com a ajuda da organização sem fins lucrativos, Little Free Library. # When city workers of Coeur d’Alene, Idaho told Sharalee Armitage Howard they would have to remove a huge 110-year-old tree from her front yard, she was saddened. Determined to preserve whatever she could of the beautiful tree, she decided to turn the tree’s trunk into a free neighbourhood library with the help of the nonprofit organization, Little Free Library.
Há um momento na caminhada de fé de cada Cristão quando finalmente percebem que foram perdoados e limpos pelo sacrifício de Jesus na cruz. É o momento em que dão a vida a Jesus e começam a caminhar com Ele. É o começo de um relacionamento ou deveria ser. Muitas vezes o "momento" desaparece e as pressões e desapontamentos da vida voltam. Podemos encontrar-nos a passar de um relacionamento para a religião.
O que é que eu quero dizer? Com o passar do tempo, começamos a aprender COMO nos comportamos e falamos sobre a nossa fé, mas no processo esquecemo-nos a QUEM é que demos as nossas vidas. Lentamente, podemos passar de um relacionamento com Jesus Cristo para seguir uma lista de regras. Se isso soa familiar, se estás a sentir-te parado a passar pela emoções em vez de conhecer a pessoa de Jesus Cristo, existe uma solução. O caminho da religião de volta ao relacionamento começa com Jesus.
Concentra-te em quem é Jesus, no Seu carácter e vida, nos Seus ensinamentos e promessas. Lembra-te do Jesus que encontraste no momento em que decidiste dar-Lhe a tua vida. Pede a Deus para reacender esse primeiro amor, não com uma "religião" mas com um relacionamento com Jesus Cristo.
~ Mateus 16:13, 15
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There’s a moment in every Christian’s faith journey when they finally realize they’ve been forgiven and washed clean by Jesus’s sacrifice on the cross. It’s the moment they give their life to Jesus and begin walking with Him. It’s the start of a relationship, or it should be. Too often the "moment" fades and life’s pressures and disappointments creep back in. We can find ourselves moving from relationship to religion.
What do I mean? Over time, we begin to learn HOW to behave and talk about our faith, but in the process we forget WHO it is we’ve given our lives to. Slowly, we can move from a relationship with Jesus Christ towards following a list of rules. If this sounds familiar, if you’re feeling stuck going through the motions rather than getting to know the person of Jesus Christ, there is a solution. The way from religion back to relationship begins with Jesus.
Focus on who Jesus is, His character and life, His teachings and promises. Remind yourself of the Jesus whom you encountered in that moment when you first decided to give your life to Him. Ask God to reignite that first love, not with a "religion" but with a relationship with Jesus Christ.
I still remember when I heard You call me by name I’d follow You anywhere, knew I could trust You with anything But now sorrow beats down on me, waiting for You to come through I’m all alone with my questions, I’m dry and cracked open I thirst for You
And as I fall apart Come flood this desert heart Fall like the rain, living water And I know Your way is best Lord, help me find my rest And I’ll be the clay in the hands of the Potter
My world is spinning, my life seems so out of control Nailed scarred hands tell the story of love that will never let go of me Through the sunshine or rain, I know where my hope is found What You started in me I know You will complete from the inside out
And as I fall apart Come flood this desert heart Fall like the rain, living water And I know Your way is best Lord, help me find my rest And I’ll be the clay in the hands of the Potter
My world is breaking me Your love is shaping me And now the enemy is afraid of what You’re making me [x3]
And as I fall apart Come flood this desert heart Fall like the rain, living water And I know Your way is best Lord, help me find my rest And I’ll be the clay in the hands of the Potter And I’ll be the clay in the hands of the Potter
A fila do Instagram. Para os curiosos, este é o famoso miradouro do Roy's Peak em Wanaka, na Nova Zelândia. São cerca de 3 horas de subida até o cume. # The Instagram queue. For those curious, this is the famous lookout point at Roy’s Peak in Wanaka, New Zealand. It’s about a 3 hour ascent to the summit.
Algumas pessoas encontram esperança renovada e significado no novo ano. Mas outras chegam à conclusão que é apenas o começo de mais um ano de tristeza e depressão.
Bem, não estás sozinho.
Jonas estava deprimido. Tendo acabado de testemunhar a toda a cidade de Nínive imediatamente arrependeu-se e clamou a Deus depois de um sermão de uma frase, Jonas devia ter regozijado. Em vez disso, ele ficou chateado e frustrado. Sabes, o povo de Nínive era incrivelmente perverso e Jonas preferia que conhecessem o julgamento de Deus em vez da Sua misericórdia. Quando as coisas não correram de acordo com o plano de JONAS, a sua raiva interiorizou-se e ficou deprimido.
A depressão de Jonas não era uma depressão química com a qual muitos lutam hoje. Este é o tipo de depressão que aparece quando a vida não está ir da forma que achamos que deveria. É quando o desânimo e a raiva não resolvida se constrói e eventualmente se transformam em depressão. E Jonas não foi o único profeta bíblico a lutar contra a depressão.
Depois que Moisés tirou os Israelitas do cativeiro no Egipto, ele passou 40 anos no deserto a ouvir o povo reclamar. Por fim, tornou-se demais e Moisés não queria mais nada para além de morrer. Elias, talvez o maior profeta da Bíblia, partiu de uma experiência no topo da montanha testemunhando Deus a derrotar os profetas de Baal a fugir pela sua vida. O medo somado à exaustão levou-o a uma profunda depressão. Depois, temos Jó, que de repente perdeu os seus filhos, a sua subsistência, saúde e riqueza. É compreensível que Jó se achasse a contemplar se a vida valeria a pena. Em cada uma destas histórias, lemos como Deus os ajudou nestes momentos difíceis. Hoje, as suas vidas e histórias são aquelas que lembramos como os "grandes" da fé.
O que é que fazes quando a vida não atende às tuas expectativas? Se estás a lutar com a depressão, não estás sozinho. Vai a Deus e pede-Lhe uma solução. Pede-Lhe a força para procurar ajuda e sair deste momento mais forte do que começaste. Ele está à espera de ti agora!
~ Jonas 4:1, 3-4
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Some people find renewed hope and meaning in the new year. But, some find that it’s just the beginning of another year of sadness and depression.
Well, you’re not alone.
Jonah was depressed. Having just witnessed the entire city of Nineveh immediately repent and cry out to God after a one sentence sermon, Jonah should have been overjoyed. Instead, he was upset and frustrated. You see, the people of Nineveh were incredibly wicked and Jonah preferred they meet God’s judgement rather than His mercy. When things didn’t go according to JONAH’S plan, his anger turned inward and he became depressed.
Jonah’s depression wasn’t a chemical depression that many struggle with today. This was the type of depression that appears when life isn’t going the way we think it should. It’s when discouragement and unresolved anger builds and eventually turns into depression. And, Jonah wasn’t the only Biblical prophet to struggle with depression.
After Moses led the Israelites out of captivity in Egypt, he spent 40 years in the wilderness listening to the people complain. Eventually it became too much and Moses wanted nothing more than to die. Elijah, perhaps the greatest prophet in the Bible, went from a literal mountaintop experience witnessing God defeat the prophets of Baal to running for his life. Fear coupled with exhaustion led him into a deep depression. Then there’s Job who suddenly lost his children, his livelihood, health and wealth. It’s understandable that Job found himself contemplating if life was worth living. In each of these stories, we read how God helped them through those tough seasons. Today, their lives and stories are ones we remember as "greats" of the faith.
What do you do when life doesn’t meet your expectations? If you’re struggling with depression, you are not alone. Go to God and ask Him for perspective. Ask Him for the strength to seek help and to leave this season stronger than you began. He’s waiting for you now!
Every anxious thought that steals my breath It's a heavy weight upon my chest As I lie awake and wonder what the future will hold Help me to remember that You're in control You're my courage when I worry in the dead of night You're my strength 'cause I'm not strong enough to win this fight You are greater than the battle raging in my mind I will trust You, Lord, I will fear no more I will lift my eyes, I will lift my cares Lay them in Your hands, I'll leave them there When the wind and waves are coming, You shelter me Even though I'm in the storm, the storm is not in me You're my courage when I worry in the dead of night You're my strength 'cause I'm not strong enough to win this fight You are greater than the battle raging in my mind I will trust You, Lord, I will fear no more (Oh-oh-oh-ohh, oh-oh-oh-oh-ohhhh) I will fear no more (Oh-oh-oh-ohh, oh-oh-oh-oh-ohhhh) I will fear no more No power can come against me 'cause You have overcome No darkness can overwhelm me 'cause You've already won No power can come against me 'cause You have overcome (Oh-oh-oh-ohh, oh-oh-oh-oh-ohhhh) No darkness can overwhelm me 'cause You've already won (Oh-oh-oh-ohh, oh-oh-oh-oh-ohhhh) You're my courage when I worry in the dead of night You're my strength 'cause I'm not strong enough to win this fight You are greater than the battle raging in my mind I will trust You, Lord (Trust You, Lord) I will fear no more (Fear no more) (Oh-oh-oh-ohh, oh-oh-oh-oh-ohhhh) I will fear no more (Fear no more) (Oh-oh-oh-ohh, oh-oh-oh-oh-ohhhh) I will fear no more (Oh-oh-oh-ohh, oh-oh-oh-oh-ohhhh) I will fear no more (Oh-oh-oh-ohh, oh-oh-oh-oh-ohhhh) I will fear no more
Nesta fascinante foto aérea, terras agrícolas planas no Leste do Colorado parecem tridimensionais depois de passar ventos que sopraram a neve à volta. # In this fascinating aerial photo, flat farmland in Eastern Colorado appears 3-dimensional after passing winds blew the snow around.
É outro Ano Novo! E posso perguntar, o que é tão especial sobre um Ano Novo? Talvez seja isto: uma vez que uma Quarta-Feira passa, outra aparece sete dias depois. Vamos ver um Dezembro todos os anos, e por mais que sintamos falta da Primavera, podemos confortar-nos no facto de que veremos outra no ano seguinte, no próximo e no outro depois disso. Mas não funciona assim com os anos. Uma vez que este ano de calendário expira, nunca haverá outro. Dias, meses, estações e feriados acabarão por voltar, mas quando o ano terminar, tudo estará terminado.
Talvez seja por isso que tendemos a programar as nossas resoluções para mudanças no início de cada Ano Novo, à espera que os velhos hábitos não voltem mais, tal como esse ano em particular não voltará. É claro, que esta abordagem de mudar-nos é simbólica. A verdadeira mudança exige muito mais do que uma resolução de Ano Novo. É difícil quebrar hábitos estabelecidos, mas lembra-te de que há esperança para a pessoa que sinceramente deseja mudar. O poder para a verdadeira mudança significa admitir que somos incapazes de fazê-lo sozinhos. A mudança duradoura requer a ajuda do Senhor.
A Bíblia diz que se alguém está em Cristo, ele é uma nova criação. Cristo transforma-nos quando damos as nossas vidas a Ele. Ele transforma-nos de dentro para fora. Agora isto é uma mudança para melhor. E é uma mudança que dura.
~ 2 Coríntios 5:17
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It’s another New Year! And what, may I ask, is so special about a New Year? Maybe it is this: once a Wednesday is gone, another pops up seven days later. We’ll see a December every year, and as much as we’ll miss the spring, we do take comfort in the fact that we’ll see another one the next year, and the next, and the one after that. But it doesn’t work that way with years. Once this calendar year expires, there will never be another one. Days, months, seasons, and holidays will all eventually return, but once this year is over, it’s over.
Maybe that is why we tend to schedule our resolutions for change at the beginning of each New Year, hoping the old habits won’t return much as that particular year won’t return. This approach to changing ourselves is symbolic, of course. Real change requires so much more than a New Year’s resolution. It’s tough to break established habits, but remember that there is hope for the person who sincerely desires change. The power for real change means admitting that we are helpless to do it on our own. Lasting change requires the help of the Lord.
The Bible says if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. Christ transforms us when we give our lives to Him. He transforms us from the inside out. Now that’s a change for the better. And it’s a change that lasts.
