Abomination in Israel

Some of Israel’s kings led the nation to sin,

Their abominable idols, they were adoring.

They did not remember Israel’s God,

They did not remember the true Heavenly God.

 

Everyone sacrificed and burned incense,

Idolatry was a consensus in that land.

It began since from the house of the king,

The king was the first one to do bad things.

 

That was a time of big tribulation,

All the people around invaded the nation.

Many ancient treasures were stolen,

The holy places were profaned.

 

All this evil was allowed by the Lord,

Against his people rose the wrath of God.

Each one walked in his own way,

Each one sought to adore his idol.

 

The people sent by God were discredited,

Sinful people tried to kill every new prophet.

Virtually nobody wanted to come back to the Lord,

Everyone preferred those loveless gods.

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

See the book:

https://books2read.com/u/bpMr16

Opportunity for Forgiveness

The Lord always gives an opportunity for salvation,

When they sin, his envoy will call their attention.

God’s envoys warn about transgression,

God wants repentance and a change of heart’s intention.

 

The Lord wants to forgive those who sincerely repent,

God wants to receive those who seek the path of truth.

The Lord desires that many participate in salvation,

God is ready to forget the sins of any nation.

 

God has no partiality to any person,

He forgives both the bad one and the good one.

Before God, even the most perfect is pure wickedness,

By actions, no one could obtain God’s forgiveness.

 

God is most merciful to forgive his beloved children,

Even though they are not worthy, the Lord forgets them.

He brings new life where death and perdition reigned,

God grants his children the greatest grace of forgiveness.

 

After forgiving, the Lord wants his children to sin no more,

He gives them a new life to act differently from before.

The Lord hopes to have a great friendship with His children,

Being best friends, so that they can live together in eternity.

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

See the book:

https://books2read.com/u/4EBjBl

The Storehouses of the Heart

Honor the Lord with your wealth, with the first fruits of all your crops; then your barns will be filled to overflowing, and your vats will brim over with new wine. Proverbs 3:9-10

Sérgio looked at his banking app and felt the familiar knot in his stomach. His salary had just been deposited, but the feeling was not one of relief, but of anxiety. His mind was already in defense mode, calculating every cent, dreading every unexpected expense. To him, money was synonymous with security, and security was something he never had enough of.

He and his wife, Beatriz, were Christians, but their views on finances were from different planets. Beatriz firmly believed in tithing and offering, in giving the “first part” with a cheerful heart. To Sérgio, this was mathematically illogical.

“Bia, we can’t!” he argued that morning, showing her his phone screen. “Look at the rent, the car payment, the kids’ school. After we pay for everything, there’s barely anything left. Giving ten percent right off the top is irresponsible. It’s taking from our family.”

“But the promise, Sérgio…” she replied in a gentle voice. “It’s about honoring God first. It is an act of trust, not of accounting.”

“Trust doesn’t pay the bills,” he retorted, ending the discussion.

Sérgio operated on the logic of fear. He gave God the leftovers, what remained after all his anxieties were appeased. And, invariably, there was never anything left. His financial life was a perpetually near-empty storehouse. He guarded every grain with desperation, and because of that, there was never abundance, only the constant feeling of scarcity.

That same month, the small church they attended announced a special project: to renovate the house of Mrs. Íris, an elderly widow in the community whose roof had collapsed after a heavy rain. Beatriz came home with her eyes shining.

“Sérgio, I felt it in my heart that we need to help. I thought we could donate the money we were saving to replace the television.”

Sérgio felt a wave of panic.

“The television? Bia, we have been saving for six months! It is our money, our comfort! Mrs. Íris has children, she has the city…”

“She has no one, Sérgio. And we are the church,” she said, the firmness in her voice cutting through the air. “Honoring God is not just about the tithe. It is with what we have. With our substance.”

The argument was long and painful. In the end, exhausted, Sérgio gave in, but with a heavy heart, feeling like a fool. He saw the money leaving his account not as an offering, but as a loss.

Over the weekend, he reluctantly went with Beatriz and other church members to help with the work. While he was fixing the plumbing, he saw the joy on the faces of volunteers who had much less than he did. He saw Mrs. Íris crying with gratitude as she received a basket of groceries. And he saw his wife, Beatriz, her face smudged with dust, laughing as she painted a wall, more beautiful than he had seen her in years.

Something inside him began to change. That joy, that community, that sense of purpose… that was a kind of wealth his bank statement did not show.

On Monday, he arrived at work and his boss called him in. “Sérgio, I know things are tight for everyone, but the board has approved a performance bonus for your team for last semester’s project. It’s not much, but it’s a recognition.”

The bonus amount was almost exactly the same as what he and Beatriz had donated for the renovation.

Sérgio stood frozen in front of his desk. The skeptic inside him screamed “coincidence.” But his heart, for the first time, whispered “providence.” It was not a payment, but a wink from God. An affirmation.

That night, he came home, opened his banking app, and did something he had never done before. Before paying any bills, he transferred the tithe. He gave the first part.

There was no instant financial miracle. But the knot in his stomach had disappeared. For the first time, he looked at the remaining balance and felt not fear, but peace.

In the months that followed, Sérgio and Beatriz continued to practice generosity. And different things began to happen. An unexpected promotion for him. A part-time job that fell into her lap. Expenses that seemed to decrease. The money, which was once a source of stress, seemed to stretch in ways his logic could not explain.

Their material storehouses were never overflowing like a millionaire’s. But his inner storehouse, that of his heart, was full. And their home, once tense with the anxiety of scarcity, began to overflow. Not with wine, but with something far more precious: a deep joy and peace, born from the trust of one who honors the Owner of everything, first.

(Made with AI)

This story is part of my book Everyday Wisdom

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

Jesus Calls You

Jesus calls you to the Christian life,

You will have a great new time.

In the cross, Jesus has provided the salvation,

This is a reason for an amazing celebration.

 

We are going in the streets to proclaim,

After two thousand years, the Lord does not change.

Jesus is the Lord and Savior is his name

The eternal truth, the Christians will proclaim.

 

The truth is that Jesus is the only way to eternal life,

Jesus is the husband, and Christians are his wife.

One wife prepared for a time of transformation,

A time in which God makes innovation.

 

God is preparing a new place to reside,

In this place, all souls have only one desire.

All time in paradise is dedicated to adore,

The people saved living in perpetual glory.

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

See the book:

https://books2read.com/u/4EBjBl

Confidence

On which is it supported your confidence?

Is it supported in a lottery ticket,

Or in your savings account balance?

Is it your confidence in what you can see,

Or is it supported by what you can do?

 

Do you trust more in what someone says,

Or do you trust in what the Lord says?

Do you trust more in everything material,

Or do you trust in the mysteries of the spiritual?

 

Ask yourself what you really trust!

Ask yourself if you really have faith in the Lord’s word.

Ask yourself if you trust in the Lord,

Ask yourself if you accepted him as Savior.

 

If you believe in God, you must be sure,

Your faith must be like a fortress,

So, nothing will shake you,

And nothing in the world can contaminate you.

 

All contamination can discourage us,

From our faith in God, the world wants to separate us.

To distract us, it will be shown a million things,

Promising that with money, we will get everything.

Human resources can do only such things,

In your life, some areas will be improving,

But on the other hand, your mind will be betrayed,

From the Lord’s path, they will put you away.

 

Get out from what put you away from the Lord,

Focus your life on our Savior.

Your soul, God wants to save,

For it, in him, you need to have faith.

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

See the book:

https://books2read.com/u/3nG5R5

The Algorithm of the Soul

Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord and shun evil. This will bring health to your body and nourishment to your bones. Proverbs 3:7-8

Tiago lived in a world of data, metrics, and optimization. At twenty-six, he was the CEO of a successful startup that created productivity apps. His motto, printed on t-shirts and mugs in the office, was “If it cannot be measured, it cannot be improved.” He was, in his own eyes, the personification of modern wisdom.

He applied this logic to everything. His diet was calculated for maximum performance. His sleep routine was monitored by sensors. His relationships were evaluated based on “value exchanges” and “synergy of objectives.” He had even created a personal algorithm to make decisions, weighing pros and cons with mathematical precision. To him, evil was not a moral category; it was simply “inefficiency.” And the fear of God was an irrational variable he had eliminated from his life equation long ago.

His body, however, began to send signals that something was fundamentally wrong. He suffered from chronic migraines, a constant tension in his shoulders, and an insomnia that no meditation app could cure. He felt a deep weariness, a fatigue that was not physical but seemed to come from his bones.

His doctor, Dr. Elias, an older and more perceptive man, was direct after a battery of tests.

“Tiago, your test results are perfect. Physically, you are a machine. But you are sick. Your illness is called arrogance.”

Tiago laughed, uncomfortable.

“That’s not a medical diagnosis, Doctor.”

“It might be the most accurate one you have ever received,” the doctor replied. “You treat your life like a code to be debugged. But life is not a code. And your body is paying the price for the stress of trying to control everything. You consider yourself too wise, and that pride is consuming you from the inside out.”

Tiago dismissed the advice as nonsense. But the seed of doubt was planted.

The breaking point came through his grandfather, Mr. Ramiro, a retired carpenter whom Tiago visited out of a mixture of obligation and affection. One Saturday afternoon, he found his grandfather in the workshop out back, sanding a piece of wood with infinite patience. The air smelled of cedar and peace.

“I’m exhausted, Grandpa,” Tiago confessed, something he would never admit to his team. “I feel like my bones are tired.”

Mr. Ramiro stopped sanding. He wiped the sweat from his brow with the back of his hand and looked at his grandson.

“Bone-tiredness is soul-tiredness, my son. It happens when we try to carry the world on our shoulders. The world is too heavy.”

“But I have to carry it,” Tiago insisted. “If I don’t, everything falls apart.”

“That’s where you’re mistaken,” his grandfather said with a gentle smile. “Do you know which wood is the strongest? It is not the most rigid. It is the one that knows how to bend with the wind, the one that respects a force greater than its own. You are intelligent, Tiago. But do not confuse intelligence with wisdom. Being wise in your own eyes is the easiest tree to break.”

He picked up his old Bible from the workbench.

“Your problem is not a lack of rest. It is a lack of fear. Not the fear that paralyzes, but the respect that puts us in our proper place. When you fear the Lord, you understand that you do not need to have all the answers. You turn away from the evil of trying to be God in your own life. And do you know what happens? Your body relaxes. Your bones find refreshment.”

His grandfather’s words, so simple and analog, penetrated Tiago’s armor of data in a way that no medical diagnosis could. He looked at his own hands, always typing, controlling, optimizing. And he looked at his grandfather’s hands, calloused yet serene.

That week, Tiago did something radically inefficient. He took an afternoon off. Not for a “strategic recharge,” but just to walk aimlessly in a park. He turned off his phone notifications. He sat on a bench and watched the trees, the children, the clouds.

He tried to pray. It was clumsy. He did not ask for anything. He just acknowledged, for the first time, that he was not the center of the universe. That there was a wisdom far greater than his, a Designer behind the entire system. It was an act of humility, a turning away from the evil of his own arrogance.

The migraine did not disappear overnight. But at the end of that afternoon, he felt something he had not felt in years. A lightness in his shoulders. A silence in his mind. A subtle but real refreshment that seemed to reach his bones. He was just beginning to learn that true health did not come from an algorithm, but from a surrender.

(Made with AI)

This story is part of my book Everyday Wisdom

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

The Christian and Creation: Caring for Nature Is an Act of Worship

I have been thinking about various aspects of modern Christian life lately, and I have been surprised by some of my conclusions. Amidst this sea of thoughts, I found myself navigating a sea almost unexplored by most of us Christians: the importance of environmental preservation.

I reflected for a moment and searched my memory for any sermon or conversation I have ever had with someone on the topic, and to my surprise, I found nothing. I asked my wife, who has been a Christian longer than I have, and her search also came up empty.

Stop for a moment and search your own memory for something on the theme…

I suppose your conclusion is the same. In the Christian world, we do not talk about nature, the environment, ecosystems, environmental preservation, or other related subjects.

Genesis 2:15

The Lord God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it.

In truth, we only remember them in a few specific situations:

• Calamity or environmental tragedy
• Climate crises
• Prolonged droughts
• Heavy rains and floods

When one of these things happens, we remember that God controls this aspect of our world. But aside from that, it seems we live in a kind of "environmental apathy." It is as if we do not care about deforestation, air and water pollution, animal extinction, environmental crimes, and so on. Everything seems to be permitted and a part of existence. There is no concern, at least not a visible one, with everything that is happening.

Considering the most recurrent themes in the sermons of major churches, it is possible to understand one of the reasons for this apathy. Many pastors and preachers are focused on the achievements and economic growth of the faithful. Prosperity and dominion over the world are at their peak. However, they are overshadowing other, much more important aspects of the Christian life, such as the focus on Salvation through the blood of Jesus Christ (a discussion for another time) and also the importance of preserving everything that God has created.

We act like teenagers who throw a party and wreck the house when their parents are away. Even knowing who the owner of everything is—God—we despise Him and think only of the immediate benefit: to destroy and consume.

Psalm 24:1

The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it.

It may seem like an exaggeration, but let us look at some simple examples. Churches use disposable cups to serve Holy Communion. In all of them, there are disposable cups at the water fountains for regular members and visitors. The error already begins with the production of waste that could be reduced or even avoided.

Completing the disregard for environmental issues, we have the matter of the political positioning of the churches. Most of them (I speak for Brazil) are practically kneeling before the ideals of the right and far-right, and environmentalism has become a left-wing issue (some “Christians” call them satanists) and something against the progress of society. In short, defending the environment is not a mission for “Christians.”

The saddest part of all this is seeing the reflections of the neglect of God's people daily. Everything is being systematically destroyed, and no one does anything. The children of the Creator God (Elohim) think they are the only creation and forget that everything was made by Him.

Romans 8:19-22

For the creation waits in eager expectation for the children of God to be revealed. For the creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the freedom and glory of the children of God. We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time.

We urgently need to change our way of thinking and acting when it comes to nature and our planet.

Revelation 11:18

The nations were angry, and your wrath has come. The time has come for judging the dead, and for rewarding your servants the prophets and your people who revere your name, both great and small—and for destroying those who destroy the earth.

We must humbly acknowledge our past mistakes and begin to build a new future for the environment. I believe that this is also an act of praise and worship to God: to recognize His marvelous creation and to do our best to preserve it.

We eagerly await the return of Christ and a new and perfect world, but while that does not happen, let us do our best to care for this imperfect one.

2 Peter 3:13-14

But in keeping with his promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, where righteousness dwells. So then, dear friends, since you are looking forward to this, make every effort to be found spotless, blameless and at peace with him.

True Christianity

Christianity is more than teaching,

Christianity is not only a religion.

Christianity is in Jesus Christ to be believing,

And to believe that in each heart He is living.

To follow Christ is not to follow a philosophy,

Follow him is to let the Holy Spirit act.

His actions will change your whole life.

Things you could not do, now, you will get.

To be Christian is to serve the incarnate God,

That one who two thousand years ago was crucified.

In front of all, he was placed in a grave after has died,

After three days in a tomb,

He has been resurrected and was seen and glorified.

Jesus rose to heaven and left the Counselor,

To the true Christian, he is the Helper,

The Holy Spirit, sent by the Lord.

He will teach all things about God,

He will remind us about the wonders of God.

The true Christian believes in living God,

In Jesus Christ was manifested the Lord,

God was described to the men through a book.

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

See the book:

https://books2read.com/u/3nG5R5

The Greatest Sacrifice

Oh Lord, how can I please you?

For you to approve me, what can I do?

Some financial sacrifices, I can do,

But what can I give for who is God and has everything?

 

There is a thing very valuable that I can give,

My heart, I can give to Thee,

Obeying your laws and decrees.

Keeping my heart sincere and pure.

 

In my life, forever, the Lord will reign,

Your word will lead me every day.

Then, Lord’s favor, I can reach.

And the Lord will bless me.

 

God! Your grace is marvelous!

With the Lord, my life is glorious.

Your blessings are always with me.

Thank you, Lord, for your mercy.

Thank you for being my best friend.

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

See the book:

https://books2read.com/u/mg5w0z

The Scalpel and the Guide

Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight. Proverbs 3:5-6

Dr. Heitor’s hands were legendary at Saint Lucia Hospital. Steady, precise, almost artistic. As a cardiac surgeon, he was the best, a maestro in a symphony of scalpels, monitors, and hearts that needed mending. His understanding of human anatomy was profound, his confidence in his own skill, absolute. To Heitor, God was an unnecessary hypothesis, a variable that complicated the elegant equation of science.

He trusted in his own understanding. It was his mantra. It was what guided him through twelve-hour procedures, what made him make life-or-death decisions in seconds. And, until then, his understanding had never failed him.

The problem was that his understanding was not limited to the operating room. He applied it to everything. He analyzed his teenage daughter Laura’s relationships with the same cold logic with which he diagnosed a blocked artery. He planned his family’s future with the same precision with which he sutured a valve. He acknowledged his own intellect in all his ways and firmly believed that he was the one who made his paths straight.

His wife, Elisa, a woman of serene faith, was the only one who dared to challenge him.

“Heitor, there are things your hands can’t fix,” she would say gently. He would respond with a condescending smile.

The test came in the form of a diagnosis. Not for a patient, but for Laura. A rare neurological condition that the best specialists in the country could not fully decipher. The symptoms progressed, unpredictable and cruel.

For the first time in his life, Dr. Heitor was disarmed. His vast medical knowledge was useless. He read every article, consulted every colleague, spent sleepless nights studying MRI scans that looked like riddles. His own understanding, his pillar, his god, was a dead end.

One afternoon, he found Elisa in the small hospital garden. She was not crying. Her eyes were closed, her lips moving in a silent prayer.

“What are you doing?” he asked, the frustration overflowing in his voice. “Do you think that’s going to change anything?”

Elisa opened her eyes. There was no accusation in them, only a deep compassion.

“I’m doing the only thing I have left, Heitor. I am acknowledging that I am not in control. I am trusting God, in all our paths. Even in this one.”

“Blind faith!” he retorted. “I need a plan, a solution!”

“Maybe the plan,” she replied, “is to admit we don’t have one.”

That night, Heitor was in his office, surrounded by books and scans that only magnified his sense of powerlessness. He looked at the photo of Laura on his desk, smiling, before all of this began. And he broke. The great surgeon, the man who leaned on his own mind, crumbled into sobs. He no longer had a path to follow. He was lost in a dark, dense forest.

And at the pit of his despair, he remembered Elisa’s words. “I am trusting God, in all our paths.”

Without knowing exactly why, he knelt. Kneeling was an act his body did not know, a posture of surrender his mind had always rejected.

“God,” he began, the word strange in his mouth. “If You are there… I don’t know what to do. My knowledge has run out. My strength is gone. I trusted myself my whole life and now… I’m lost. Guide me. Please, guide my path, because I can no longer see it.”

A peace that he could not explain, a peace that defied the logic of his situation, began to settle in his heart.

The next day, a colleague from a small town, with whom Heitor had barely spoken at a conference years ago, called.

“Heitor, I know it’s a shot in the dark, but I read an article about a research group in Germany studying cases similar to your daughter’s. I thought I would let you know.”

It was not a spectacular miracle. It was a phone call. A lead. A lit path opening in the darkness.

Heitor followed the lead with a new posture. No longer that of the master who knows everything, but that of a pilgrim learning to trust his Guide. Laura’s journey would be long and uncertain, but something fundamental had changed. Dr. Heitor, the man who trusted only in his scalpel, was finally learning to trust the hand that guided his own. He had stopped leaning on his own understanding, and for the first time, he felt the solid ground of a path that was being made straight for him.

(Made with AI)

This story is part of my book Everyday Wisdom

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

Confidence in the Lord

Sometimes, I am mocked,

They call me crazy, fanatic, and idiot.

I do not care about this.

Because with the Lord, I have a compromise.

 

I owe my praise and glory to God,

Only Him is my unique Lord.

To Him, I give all my cry and love,

I trust in his providence and favor.

 

I follow happy in the path of God,

I obey his commandments and laws.

I am always trying to please Him.

I am waiting for the return of the King of kings.

Jesus! He will come to save us.

 

I love you, my Lord!

I hope for the promised return.

Lead me until the day arrives,

Because, against me, many people will fight.

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

See the book:

https://books2read.com/u/mg5w0z

The Voice

A voice calls me to return to another way,

It says I will live in another place.

A place very different from everything here,

A place where evil will not reach me, no fear.

The voice keeps calling me gently,

It seems to be entering my heart softly.

A voice so sweet, I can’t resist,

Hearing it, I soon wanted to follow it.

I followed to see where it would take me,

To a different place, to the altar, it has taken me. 

And there, the voice spoke to me much more,

Saying that I needed Christ to move forward.

It told me that only Jesus could take me there,

I would go to my true home only with Him.

Outside of Him, there was no possibility,

Outside of Jesus Christ, there was no reality.

All these words went deep into my heart,

I accepted Jesus Christ for my salvation, a brand-new start.

From that day on, He spoke to me even more,

Saying I should follow Him and wait for the final score.

This reality became part of my life,

I walked every day with Jesus Christ.

Waiting for the day when I will be with Him,

Waiting for the day when I will dwell with Him.

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

See the book:

https://books2read.com/u/38l5Oa

The Signature on the Heart

Let love and faithfulness never leave you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart. Then you will win favor and a good name in the sight of God and man. Proverbs 3:3-4

Clara was seen as an anomaly in the sales department at InovaTech. While her colleagues operated under a “whatever it takes” philosophy, promising features that did not exist and impossible deadlines to meet their targets, Clara carried with her two principles that seemed old-fashioned: kindness and faithfulness.

For her, faithfulness was not just about being loyal to the company, but about being true to her own word. If she promised something to a client, it became a sacred contract. Kindness was not about being naive, but about treating every person—from the CEO to the intern, from the millionaire client to the small supplier—with the same respect and honesty. Her colleagues nicknamed her, behind her back, “The Girl Scout.”

“Clara, you waste too much time on the small clients,” her manager, Ricardo, once said. “They don’t move the needle. And all this honesty of yours is going to cost you the promotion. Sometimes, you need to… bend the truth.”

For Clara, kindness and faithfulness were not optional. They were like the discreet necklace she wore every day, a gift from her grandmother. They were the visible reminder of a truth she had written deep in her heart.

The trial by fire came with the Gigantus account, the biggest opportunity in the company’s history. The negotiation was fierce, and the competitor was playing dirty. In a crucial meeting, the director of Gigantus asked a technical question about the integration capacity of InovaTech’s software with a legacy system they used.

It was the product’s weak point. A full integration would only be ready in six months.

Ricardo, the manager, was in the room. He gave Clara a light kick on the shin under the table, a clear signal. Bend the truth.

Clara felt her heart race. The promotion, the year-end bonus, the respect of her colleagues—everything depended on that answer. She could say, “Yes, it is fully compatible,” and leave the problem for the tech team to solve later. It was what everyone else would do.

But the words were written on her heart. She took a deep breath.

“Mr. Medeiros,” she said, her voice firm. “I will be completely transparent. Full integration with your current system will be ready in our next update, six months from now. What we can offer today is a partial solution that meets eighty percent of your needs, and a detailed work plan to implement the remaining twenty percent at no additional cost as soon as the update is released.”

The silence in the room was heavy. Ricardo shot Clara a death glare. In his eyes, she had just lost the deal of the decade.

At the end of the meeting, the director of Gigantus, an experienced man of few words, stood up. He shook Ricardo’s hand and then turned to Clara.

“Miss Clara,” he said. “In the last two months, I have spoken with six companies. All of them promised me the moon. All of them told me yes to everything. You were the first person to tell me the truth. And for that, I know I can trust your company.” He turned to Ricardo. “Prepare the contract. We are going with you.”

The news spread through InovaTech like wildfire. What should have been a failure had become a legendary triumph. Clara had not just sold a product; she had sold trust.

Months later, when the sales director position opened up, Clara’s name was the unanimous choice. She not only had the favor of the board, but she also felt a deep inner peace, the certainty of being on the right path.

In her new office, larger and with a panoramic view of the city, she did not hang diplomas or sales charts on the wall. In a small frame, she placed the phrase her grandmother had told her when giving her the necklace: “Character is who you are when no one is watching, but it is what everyone recognizes when the light comes on.”

Kindness and faithfulness were not a disadvantage. They were her signature. And they were written not only on her heart, but now, in the culture of her entire team.

(Made with AI)

This story is part of my book Everyday Wisdom

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

Eternal Truth

In this human world, everything will pass away,

Nothing will last for endless days.

Human beings, at the right time, will die,

Everything that exists will always be transformed,

There is only one thing that will never be changed…

What does not change is the Word of God,

It will always remain the writings of the Lord.

Through many generations, His Word has been passed,

His writings and designs, no one has changed.

It is impossible to change the Words of life.

It is impossible to try to break its might.

The wicked even tries to discredit it, but in vain,

But soon something comes to punish them with pain,

No one will remember the words they have proclaimed.

With the Word of God, it is distinct,

It remains faithful and is remembered eternally.

Everything that God has done is remembered,

With it, people will know what the Lord has planned.

Through the Word, human beings can be saved,

If they decide to accept His teachings and ways.

By accepting them, they will be closer to the Lord,

And they will see the fulfillment of Scripture.

Human beings will see that the whole world will change,

And the Word of God will always remain.

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

See the book:

https://books2read.com/u/38l5Oa

Plans and Actions

Many times, we desire to do and realize everything,

We have good plans, ideas, and a huge desire to start a new thing.

Our mind gets agitated; it is like a million thoughts,

All wanting to be executed, all ready for that second.

 

We get anxious to execute everything we thought,

We even imagine the future after the plan’s execution.

We see how our life will be better after that action,

The idea of this success makes us happy with satisfaction.

 

But in many cases, we do not get to put it into practice,

Everything stays only on theory and is always static.

We stay only thinking and theorizing without moving.

We create obstacles, and we do not execute anything.

 

We are stuck and paralyzed; the fear dominates our emotions,

The uncertainty invades us and does not allow us to follow a direction.

We stay imagining what we could do and achieve,

We dream about a marvelous life we would have lived.

 

We cannot carry this fear and stay without doing what we dream of,

We must go ahead and realize all that we desire.

If it lacks us strength, we must ask That One who can fortify us,

The Lord God helps us to grow and rids us from all obstacles.

This poem is part of the book Life Through the Words.

See the book:

https://books2read.com/u/bQpQ7d

The Legacy of the Watch

My son, do not forget my teaching, but keep my commands in your heart, for they will prolong your life many years and bring you peace and prosperity. Proverbs 3:1-2

On his seventieth birthday, Artur gave his two sons, Daniel and Pedro, the same gift: a worn copy of his old book of Proverbs and the wristwatch he had worn for fifty years.

“In this book,” Artur said, with the serene voice of one who has lived what he speaks, “is the secret to making the watch run for a long time. Do not forget my teachings; keep good principles in your heart. They are not just rules; they are the instruction manual for a long and peaceful life.”

Daniel, the older son, an ambitious and pragmatic lawyer, smiled politely. He loved his father but considered his faith something quaint, almost folkloric. To him, “years of life and peace” were the result of a good health plan, solid investments, and a powerful network of contacts. He placed the book on a shelf, like a relic, and focused on his relentless career.

Pedro, the younger son, a history teacher, received the gift with reverence. He saw in his father not a wealthy man, but the most prosperous man he knew. Artur possessed a serenity that money could not buy. Pedro decided to take the “instruction manual” seriously.

The years passed, and the brothers’ paths became a study in contrasts.

Daniel built an empire. He worked eighteen hours a day. His law was the contract; his commandments were the quarterly targets. He did not forget deadlines, but he forgot birthdays. His schedule was impeccable, but his health began to fail. Peace was a luxury he could not afford. Chronic stress brought him hypertension. Rushed fast food gave him gastritis. Sleepless nights became his norm. At forty-five, his body began to demand payment for a life lived in a constant state of alert, far from peace. He had “very long days” in the sense of a full schedule, but the quality of those days was poor.

Pedro, on the other hand, kept his father’s commandments in his heart. He understood that the “law” was not about religiosity, but about principles for living. He honored the day of rest, not out of obligation, but because he understood that his body and mind needed repose. He was generous with his time and resources, which freed him from the anxiety of greed. He cultivated his relationships with his wife and children with the same dedication he prepared his lessons, which brought him a deep joy. He ate in moderation, walked in the park, and his nights were filled with deep sleep.

One day, Daniel suffered a minor heart attack in the middle of a meeting. The scare forced him onto medical leave. Confined to his luxurious but cold house, he felt like a prisoner. His partners saw him as a liability; his children barely knew him. Loneliness was his only companion.

Pedro went to visit him. He did not bring moral lessons; he just sat beside him.

“How do you do it?” Daniel asked, his voice weak. “You seem… at peace.”

Pedro glanced at the watch on his wrist; the same one his father had given him. “I just tried to follow the instruction manual, Dani.”

“What manual? That little book of fables?” Daniel spat the words with bitterness.

“No,” Pedro said calmly. “The manual that teaches that forgiveness is healthier than resentment. That generosity lightens the soul. That rest is not laziness, it is wisdom. That loving God and people brings a kind of peace that no multimillion-dollar contract can guarantee. Dad’s commandments were not about earning heaven; they were about how to live well on earth.”

Daniel fell silent. He had conquered the world but had lost his health and his peace. He had years of life ahead of him, but what kind of life would it be?

That afternoon, after Pedro had left, Daniel stood up with difficulty. He walked to his imposing bookshelf, filled with law and economics books. In the corner, covered in dust, was the small book of Proverbs. He opened it.

He began to read, not as a skeptical lawyer, but as a sick man searching for a remedy. And, for the first time, he understood that his father’s teachings were not a prison, but the key to freedom. The freedom of a long life, yes, but a life filled with peace.

(Made with AI)

This story is part of my book Everyday Wisdom

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

Reaching the Limit

In our lives, we always seek to be strong and stand for everything,

We prefer not to demonstrate, even if we are in some tightening.

We keep going and charging with us our pain and suffering,

Avoid talking about it, then, no one knows what we are living.

 

No matter how strong we are, we cannot stand anymore,

We will reach our limit and everything we feel we will show.

Because of that behavior, many people will be surprised,

They will be impressed by how we could hold this long time.

 

And as expected, many people come to us to criticize,

They will say everything is soft and we must stop crying.

They will say this because they do not understand us,

They do not have empathy and do not see the problem like us.

 

These critics will not help us to improve absolutely anything,

Instead, it is something to make our sadness more distressing.

During this time, we feel extremely lonely,

Because we ask for help, and they criticize our suffering.

 

At this moment, we must remember That one who can help us,

That one who raises and hugs us, and in everything He helps us.

The Lord Jesus is the Unique who will never criticize or abandon,

His help is always available, and forever on our side, He is going on. 

This poem is part of the book Life Through the Words.

See the book:

https://books2read.com/u/bQpQ7d

Is Christianity Relevant to the World Today?

I am a Christian, and lately, I have been asking myself this question. It is not because I have stopped believing in God and in the marvelous grace of His salvation. My faith is very firm.

So, what is the purpose of the question?

This question came to my mind after a post I saw on Reddit. It went something like this:

A screenshot of an online conversation, where one person expressed sadness upon learning that Japan had a very low number of Christians. Another person responded by comparing some social indicators of Japan with those of the United States. And indeed, the Asian country without Christianity was doing much better than the “country with a Christian majority.”

I confess that I had never thought about this issue, because for me, being Brazilian and living in a country where the name of God is on the currency, and the name of Jesus is everywhere, it seemed that Christianity made some difference in the countries where it is the dominant religion. But after a slightly deeper analysis, I realized that there is no difference at all. In some cases, Christian-majority countries are worse off than countries with other majority religions or no religion at all.

I know this idea might seem absurd and nonsensical, but let us consider a few points. Analyze them by thinking about the people you know and other data you are familiar with.

• How many politicians who call themselves Christians are involved in crimes?
• How many Christian couples are involved in infidelity or divorce?
• Does the judicial system in Christian-majority countries seem to be more just and function better?
• Do Christian-majority societies have a genuine concern for the needy?
• Are there fewer lies in countries with a Christian majority?

For me, all the answers are NO. And so, we arrive at the point of the title: unfortunately, Christianity is not relevant to society, at least not as an organized religion and institution.

And after this conclusion, comes the big question: How did we get to this point?

I believe there is no simple and direct answer to this. However, if we go back to the Bible, we will find several clues.

Salt of the Earth and Light of the World

Matthew 5:13 You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot. 14 “You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden.15 Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house.16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.

The message in the text is very clear: you (Christians) must make a difference in the world. You are salt, you are light, and your good works must be known. Christ was incisive in His words and actions. He did not come to create a new organized religion that lives on appearances and titles. He came to bring God’s salvation to the world. And His disciples must follow in His footsteps.

Jesus was not afraid of the dominant system or the religious majority. He did what needed to be done without worrying about people’s opinions or His popularity.

And in the present day, what do we see?

People who adapt the Gospel to the politically correct and socially acceptable standard. An example of this is the unwavering defense of modern capitalism. Christians find it completely normal to accumulate limitless wealth while others live in misery. And when someone disagrees, they are called a communist, far-left, and other political labels. People have forgotten what love for one’s neighbor and compassion mean.

Another very striking example is the normalization of lying. Go to a supermarket and read some labels. It is highly likely that you will find promises that are blatant lies. And for society, it is all fine; no one cares. It is just the free market; the economy needs to grow.

Regarding the inertia of Christians, some time ago, I heard a sermon where the pastor said that modern Christians lean on Ephesians 2:8-9 to escape hard work.

Ephesians 2:8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9 not by works, so that no one can boast.

People have repeated this so much that they have convinced themselves they do not need to do anything in this world. This is a huge contrast to the Christians of the past who played extremely important roles in society. John Newton was a former slave trader who fought avidly for the end of this trade. Many educational and medical institutions were founded by Christian churches. There are many philanthropic organizations maintained by churches.

Those who work have read the continuation of the text in Ephesians.

Ephesians 2:10 For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

The complete text says that we are not saved by works, but by the grace of God. And after that, we should do the good works that God has already prepared for us. If we think about it a little, we know what our gift is; we just need to get moving to use it.

I believe at this point we already understand why Christianity has not been relevant in the world. Christians are not fulfilling their role as the light of the world and the salt of the earth. The Christian life has become a title with some predefined rites. Follow the manual and everything is fine:

• Accept the world as it is;
• You do not need to do anything;
• Good works do not save anyone;
• Go to church as much as you can;
• Evangelizing is optional;
• And many other lies…

A Christian can, in fact, live like this, but on Judgment Day, they might hear:

Matthew 7:21 “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. 22 Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?’ 23 Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’”

The words are harsh, yet real. Do a self-assessment to understand if you are living institutionalized Christianity or if you are living the Kingdom of God.

Institutional Christianity may have lost its relevance, but the Gospel of Christ never does. When Christians decide to live as authentic disciples—loving, serving, being just and compassionate—the Kingdom of God is once again perceived as a transformative force in the world.

Gifting

We got satisfied when we receive something,

We love when we are gifted,

We love when our desires are fulfilled.

 

Gaining something makes us feel important,

We feel that we are dear and beloved,

By other people, we are being remembered.

 

The gifts are a demonstration of love,

They show that we are worthy of attention,

They say that we deserve consideration.

 

As we receive love from others,

We must also demonstrate our love and honor,

We must give others our grace and favor.

 

We must seed that we already have received,

We do not need to start with something material,

We can begin visiting sick people at a hospital.

 

We can give a piece of attention to someone,

Bringing a little joy to a lonely person,

Showing that they can count on someone.

 

We can donate our time to hear,

Being attentive to what the other wants to say,

The inner healing, this can generate.

 

We can also dedicate ourselves to others,

Helping them with their necessities,

Small actions produce huge felicity.

 

Another manner of helping is through prayer,

Presenting to God the requirements of someone,

This sacrifice is more valuable than a precious stone.

 

The recognition can be shown with money,

Donating and helping those are more needed,

They will feel immensely blessed.

 

These were only some examples of seeds,

There are many fields where they can be planted,

They wait for someone for sowing them.

 

Do your best to improve the world,

God always does His best for everyone,

Let us try to imitate Him with our best effort.

This poem is part of the book Words of Faith.

See the book:

https://books2read.com/u/meLvPr