The Flood

Wealth is worthless in the day of wrath, but righteousness delivers from death … Hopes placed in mortals die with them; all the promise of their power comes to nothing … Those who are kind benefit themselves, but the cruel bring ruin on themselves. A wicked person earns deceptive wages, but the one who sows righteousness reaps a sure reward. Truly the righteous attain life, but whoever pursues evil finds death … One person gives freely, yet gains even more; another withholds unduly, but comes to poverty … Those who trust in their riches will fall, but the righteous will thrive like a green leaf … If the righteous receive their due on earth, how much more the ungodly and the sinner! Proverbs 11:4, 7, 17-19, 24, 28, 31

In the small town of Vale Sereno, squeezed between the river and the mountains, lived two men who represented two kinds of wealth. The first was Aloísio, a reclusive investor who had built his fortune on the stock market. His house was the highest on the hill, a fortress of glass and concrete with high walls and a state-of-the-art security system. He trusted in his riches; they were his god, his army, and his wall against the world. He was a cruel man, not of violent acts, but of a chilling indifference. As he helped no one and had no empathy, he tormented his own flesh with the deepest of solitudes.

The second was Natanael, the owner of the “Our Daily Bread” bakery. His wealth was not in the bank, but in the notebook where he wrote down, with no hope of repayment, the debts of those who could not pay. He was a generous man and gave freely. His bakery was the heart of the town, a place where a coffee was served with a word of comfort and a loaf of bread with a dose of hope. He was a good man who, by refreshing others, was himself refreshed.

The news came like a distant thunderclap: the dam upstream was at risk. Evacuation was recommended. Aloísio laughed at the news. His house was impenetrable and unreachable. He checked his generator, his stock of canned food, and his drinking water cistern. His money had bought him invulnerability. He watched, with contempt, the panic in the streets below. His wealth was a wage that, he believed, would deliver him from any harm.

Natanael, on the other hand, heard the news and acted. He opened the doors of his bakery. He took his entire stock of flour and began to bake bread, tirelessly.

“Take what you need! Take it to your neighbors, to the bedridden!” he would say to everyone who entered, while his wife, Milena, filled bottles with water. He pursued righteousness, for the good of all.

The dam broke during the night. The wrath of the waters came like a robber, and riches were of no use.

Aloísio’s fortress was the first to feel the fury. a landslide, caused by the saturation of the soil, brought down part of his wall. The muddy water invaded his house, cutting the power and silencing his generator. Trapped on his upper floor, surrounded by his now useless and soaked possessions, he realized the terrible truth: his money was deceptive. It could not stop the water, it could not buy safety, it could not keep him company in the dark. The hope he had placed in his avarice was destroyed with the first wave.

In the lower part of town, Natanael’s bakery was also flooded. But something different happened. The people he had helped, the neighbors he had fed, came to his rescue. Joel, the mechanic, showed up with his motorboat. Gustavo, the young man Natanael had employed, helped carry Milena and their children to safety. Natanael’s righteousness, his life of generosity, was delivering him from death. He lost his oven, his flour, but he was not alone. He was being refreshed by the very community he had refreshed so often.

When the rescue teams finally arrived the next day, they found Aloísio in a state of shock, hypothermic, rescued from the roof of his ruined mansion. He, who trusted in his riches, fell.

And they found Natanael in a makeshift shelter at the local school, still distributing the last loaves of bread he had managed to save. In the midst of the devastation, surrounded by people, he looked like an oak tree that, though battered by the storm, refused to fall. His righteousness continued to flourish and bear fruit.

In the months of reconstruction, the town saw that tragedy can befall everyone, from the righteous Natanael, who lost his material possessions, to Aloísio, who lost everything and had no one to turn to. He left the town broken; his cruelty had sentenced him to abandonment. Natanael, for his part, saw his bakery rebuilt by a crew of volunteers. His new beginning was built not with money, but with the only capital that survives any storm: love.

(Made with AI)

This story is part of my book Everyday Wisdom

https://books2read.com/u/3knogL

Adolescence

Adolescence is a good phase of life,

Every day is a discovering time.

The person passes through many transformations,

There are new desires, thoughts, and emotions.

 

Many new things, the teenager will see,

They will desire to try many of these things.

The person is growing and seeking their identity,

Each one desires to build their personality.

 

This search must be careful and wise,

Because there are dangerous situations in their lives.

The teenager thinks they are doing the right thing,

But they may be doing a terrible thing.

 

There is only one way to avoid traps in life,

In the Bible, everyone must seek all replies.

The adolescent must seek the Lord’s truth,

Trusting in His love and plan for their youth.

 

The Lord will hold in the teenager’s hand,

In good ways, God will lead them.

The Lord will be with them all days,

Giving them intelligence and wisdom on their way.

This poem is part of the book Christian Poetry Volume V.

See the book:

https://books2read.com/u/m0JKpA

Situation and Behavior

We live hard, tough, and complicated situations,

Situations in which justice is not in action.

Evil is free and acts in all and everyone with ease,

There is no slightest trace of righteousness, truth, or peace.

 

All seems to be rotten and corrupted,

All good feelings have been destroyed.

Vengeance gathers like the water in a dam,

All cruelty options are on hand.

 

Each of us can choose what we want to do,

Each one can choose our way to get through.

All is allowed; it seems not to have any condemnation,

The darkest desires are available for our utilization.

 

Even though we are faced with so many possibilities,

We must flee from all these iniquities.

We cannot behave like this generation,

We are the chosen people by God for salvation.

 

We are the chosen children and heirs of light,

We are the elected nation that will dwell with Christ.

Even if no one does what is right and fair,

We must be and make a difference in this world out there.

Our mission is to show that there is still goodness,

Showing the world that there is still happiness.

Let everyone know of the love and justice of the Lord,

Let everyone know there is a Savior.

This poem is part of the book Words of Faith.

See the book:

https://books2read.com/u/meLvPr

The Bridge of Truth

The Lord detests dishonest scales, but accurate weights find favor with him. When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with humility comes wisdom. The integrity of the upright guides them, but the unfaithful are destroyed by their duplicity … The righteousness of the blameless makes their paths straight, but the wicked are brought down by their own wickedness. The righteousness of the upright delivers them, but the unfaithful are trapped by evil desires … Through the blessing of the upright a city is exalted, but by the mouth of the wicked it is destroyed … For lack of guidance a nation falls, but victory is won through many advisers … The Lord detests those whose hearts are perverse, but he delights in those whose ways are blameless. Be sure of this: The wicked will not go unpunished, but those who are righteous will go free. Proverbs 11:1-3, 5-6, 11, 14, 20-21

The city of Rio Belo needed a new bridge. The old one, a tired iron structure, was the only link to the capital, and its days were numbered. The construction of the new bridge was not just a project; it was the promise of a future, of progress. And at the center of this promise were two men: the newly elected mayor, Cássio Siqueira, and the most powerful contractor in the region, Renato Vargas.

Renato Vargas was a man guided by his perversity. He saw the bridge not as a service, but as the greatest profit opportunity of his life. His company, “Vargas Construction,” was known for winning bids with low proposals and then compensating with contract amendments and inferior quality materials. His conduct was deceitful, an instrument of greed that he wielded with the skill of a master. To him, the corrupt and dishonest were his natural allies, and he quickly formed a collusion with two city councilmen, believing that, together, they would be untouchable, free from any punishment.

On the other side was Cássio. A former history teacher elected on the promise of a “transparent administration.” His integrity was his guide. He knew that without proper guidance, a people falls, and the weight of that responsibility kept him awake at night. Faced with the bridge project, his first action was not to open the bidding process, but to assemble a technical council. He sought the safety of counselors: retired engineers, academics from the local university, community leaders. People whose only loyalty was to the city.

Renato Vargas’s proposal arrived in the city hall as expected: the cheapest, the fastest. His allied councilmen pushed for immediate approval.

“It is the best offer, Mayor! We can’t waste time!” they would say.

But Cássio’s technical council found the anomalies. The budget for steel was dangerously underestimated; the concrete specifications were vague. They were dishonest measures and false balances. The righteousness of the upright Cássio kept him on his path: he called for a public hearing to discuss the proposals, exposing the technical data to the entire city.

The wicked, Renato and his councilmen, tried to overthrow the city. They went to the local radio station, accusing Cássio of “bureaucracy,” of “delaying progress.” But Cássio’s transparency was his shield. The righteous, armed with the knowledge presented at the hearing, defended the mayor’s decision.

Furious, Renato tried the path of direct corruption. He scheduled a private meeting with Cássio.

“Be reasonable, Mayor,” the contractor said, sliding a thick envelope across the table. “Everybody wins. We can be partners.”

At that moment, Cássio felt the weight of the choice. To accept the bribe would be the fall, the betrayal of everything he believed in. Justice will prevail, he thought. Renato’s greed would be his own trap.

“Mr. Vargas,” Cássio said, standing up and pushing the envelope back. “The only partnership I am interested in is with the people of Rio Belo. The bidding process will be redone, with stricter technical criteria. And I suggest you prepare an honest proposal this time.”

What followed was a silent battle. Renato, caught in his own greed, tried everything to undermine Cássio’s administration. But the mayor’s integrity, like a light, guided his every step. The new bid was won by an outside company, with a more expensive but safe and transparent project.

The blessing for the upright was manifested. The construction of the bridge generated jobs, utilized local businesses, and, when inaugurated, became a symbol of pride for the city. Rio Belo was exalted, not just for the concrete structure, but for the triumph of honesty.

And what of Renato Vargas? By his wickedness, he fell. An investigation, initiated from the suspicions raised by Cássio’s technical council, revealed a scheme of fraud in several others of the contractor’s projects. He and his councilmen, who had joined in the collusion, did not go unpunished. They were arrested, their assets frozen. The righteous people, the citizens of Rio Belo, were freed from their corrupting influence.

Years later, crossing the new, now solid and safe bridge, Cássio reflected. He had faced the storm and won. His integrity had been his guide and his salvation, proving that, in the end, righteousness is not just an ideal, but the only foundation upon which anything of value can truly be built.

(Made with AI)

This story is part of my book Everyday Wisdom

https://books2read.com/u/3knogL

Transformations

Jesus is a powerful name,

If you meet and learn from Him,

Your life will never be the same,

You will gain many new things.

He will be your master and guide,

You will access a sea of knowledge.

You will be able to live a fresh life,

The infinite wisdom, you will get.

His teachings will be engraved on you,

The radiance of your mind will glow.

No foolishness bullet will touch you.

It does not matter how many they throw.

Go ahead with Jesus in your way,

With Him, you will never feel alone.

Never forget the miracles He performed.

You will be accompanied by the Might One.

This poem is part of the book Words of Faith.

See the book:

https://books2read.com/u/meLvPr

God’s House

The temples were built to adore you,

They are houses for the whole people to praise you.

In the temple, we can get close to you,

Staying closer to you to love you.

 

Your temple must be an honored place,

By your hand, it must be blessed.

It will be a place where your people choose,

A place for everyone to adore you.

 

In your house, everyone will talk to the Lord,

They talk through praise and the word.

The prayers will be elevated to your throne,

The Lord will hear the clamor of everyone.

 

Lord, may the prayers elevate themselves to you,

And in all moments, you hear our clamor.

We talk to the Lord in his habitation,

In your heart will arrive our petitions.

 

Your house is called a praying house,

Where everyone will open their hearts and mouths,

They will talk the most intimate of the soul with the Lord,

Hoping the Lord comes to be our Savior.

This poem is part of the book Christian Poetry Volume IV.

See the book:

https://books2read.com/u/bpMr16

The Memory and the Foundation

The Lord does not let the righteous go hungry, but he thwarts the craving of the wicked … The name of the righteous is used in blessings, but the name of the wicked will rot …  Whoever walks in integrity walks securely, but whoever takes crooked paths will be found out … Whoever heeds discipline shows the way to life, but whoever ignores correction leads others astray … What the wicked dread will overtake them; what the righteous desire will be granted.  When the storm has swept by, the wicked are gone, but the righteous stand firm forever …  The fear of the Lord adds length to life, but the years of the wicked are cut short. The prospect of the righteous is joy, but the hopes of the wicked come to nothing. The way of the Lord is a refuge for the blameless, but it is the ruin of those who do evil. The righteous will never be uprooted, but the wicked will not remain in the land. Proverbs 10:3, 7, 9, 17, 24-25, 27-30

Ten years away from home create a fog over memories. Upon returning to the small town of Águas Claras, Valdir, now a thirty-year-old man, felt like an archaeologist of his own childhood. The town had changed, but the ghosts of the past remained. And no ghost was larger than that of Ernani Gusmão.

Ernani had been the most powerful man in town. The owner of the meatpacking plant, the largest employer in the region, he ruled Águas Claras with an iron fist. Valdir remembered him as a feared figure, a man whose desire seemed unshakable. If Ernani wanted a piece of land, he got it. If an employee challenged him, he was destroyed. His prosperity seemed to mock the idea of justice. The fear he inspired, however, was the terror that would come upon him. He lived securely in his wealth but never in sincerity. His ways were perverse, and everyone knew it, but no one dared to speak.

Valdir’s first stop was the cemetery, to visit his grandparents’ graves. As he walked among the headstones, he passed the opulent mausoleum of the Gusmão family. The marble was imposing, but it was covered in dry leaves and cobwebs. Ernani had passed away five years ago. Valdir realized something strange: in two days in town, no one had mentioned his name. It was as if, after his death, a conspiracy of silence had swallowed him. It was as if the name of that man had never existed. Ernani’s name had not just rotted; it had been buried under the weight of collective relief.

His second stop was the old library in the town square, his refuge during his teenage years. There, he found a stark contrast. On the entrance wall, there was a simple, polished bronze plaque: “Jorge Valença Municipal Library - In memory of a man who planted trees and ideas.”

Jorge Valença. The name brought an immediate warmth to Valdir’s heart. Jorge had been the opposite of Ernani. A history teacher and owner of a small bookstore, he was a man of modest means but of unshakable integrity. He walked in sincerity, and because of it, he walked securely. Everyone in town knew him not for what he had, but for what he was. He treasured knowledge and taught the path of life to generations of young people, including Valdir.

As he browsed the books, Valdir began to see the “everlasting foundation” that Jorge had left behind. The librarian, a young woman who had been Jorge’s student, spoke enthusiastically about the new book club. The gardener who tended the square was a former-troubled student whom Jorge had taken under his wing. The hope of the righteous results in joy, and the joy planted by Jorge was still blossoming throughout the town.

In the afternoon, Valdir walked to the riverbank. He remembered a great storm, years ago, that had almost flooded the town. The flood had destroyed several businesses in the lower part of town, including one of Ernani Gusmão’s front sawmills. Ernani’s empire, built on greed, had no roots.

But Jorge’s house, which stood on a small hill, remained intact. And Valdir remembered his teacher, on the day after the flood, not worrying about his own possessions, but organizing work crews to help the homeless, his righteous soul fed not by food but by the purpose of serving and helping.

At the end of the day, sitting on a bench in the square, under the shade of an ipê tree he had seen Jorge plant, Valdir understood. The fear of the Lord, which Jorge lived out in his humility and service, indeed prolongs days—not necessarily on the calendar, but in the legacy, in the blessed memory that refuses to die. Ernani’s hope, placed in his own strength, died with him. Jorge’s hope, placed in God and in people, became the joy of an entire town.

The powerful man who perverted his ways was, in the end, “known” and erased. The simple man who walked in sincerity left a foundation that neither time nor storms could shake. And Valdir, breathing the air of his hometown, felt deeply grateful, not for the man everyone had feared, but for the man whose legacy had taught him how to live.

(Made with AI)

This story is part of my book Everyday Wisdom

https://books2read.com/u/3knogL