The balloons...

There was an old man who was always in the same children's leisure square selling balloons.

He was a great salesperson, of course, his family depended on him ...

Every day on arrival at the square, he would let out a few balloons to the wind, this way, attracting his little customers.

Once there was a boy sitting down on one of the benches, watching this man and the balloons.

His favorite one was the red balloon, but the man let the yellow fly, then the white, the green, but did not let go of the red ...

The boy was watching each one of them flying in the sky, but one thing bothered him, the man would not release the red balloon.

Then approached the seller and asked him:

"- Sir, if you loose the red balloon, would it rise as much as others?"

The old man smiled understandingly, broke the line that was holding the red balloon and as it rose in the air, he said:

"- It's not the color, son, is what's inside that makes it rise. "

Nothing more than useless

Do you know when you do everything right yet no one seems to notice?

Gosh! How frustrating!

It seems like no one values you in spite of all your effort…

At home, you do everything you are asked.

At work, you complete your tasks faithfully.

With your family, at school… what’s wrong with everyone?!

Can’t anybody see it?

All of that effort to complete exactly what must be done totally ignored!!!!

Well, here goes the painful answer… and please note that it’s not coming from me but from the Lord Jesus himself…

“So you also, when you have done everything you were told to do, you should say, ‘We are unworthy servants; we have only done our duty’” Luke 17:10

In other words friends…

When we do everything we are expected to do…

When we complete all of our responsibilities properly…

We aren’t doing anything out of the ordinary!

God expects a lot more from you and me!

Folks, this is soo strong that I am going to stop right here and let you take in the message…

I Think I Like Him!!!

“Dear Nanda, I really like this guy in my church but I’m not sure if I should let him know how I feel… What should I do? Should I tell him what I’m feeling? What do you advise me?

My dears, as incredible as it may seem, emails like this keep on coming in, so I decided to write about it and clear it up here…

Please note that the Bible doesn’t give us a straight answer for questions like these, thus, it is up to us to make use of our common sense and faith.

My answer to this question is:

“What is your faith?” or “What do you have faith to do?”

Your answer is your faith, so follow it…

Now, I’ve been asked “Nanda what is your faith?”

Okay, if this is so then you want to know what I would do, right?

Sincerely speaking I am the old fashion type. When I was single I wasn’t able to approach a guy and tell him I was interested in him, I think I would have blushed out of embarrassment…

But that’s me!

I know women that are now married and were the ones who approached their partners and declared their love.

I would like to point one thing out… be very careful and be discreet!

I have a friend who has a son and as soon as he reaches the church, he is practically “attacked” by girls- it’s embarrassing!

It doesn’t look good, you see?

Use your faith but be intelligent too!

Is he godly? Is he converted? Does he have a good character?

If you still don’t know the answer to these questions, then it’s better to wait and get to know him better… During this time, who knows maybe he’ll declare himself to you!

Photo Galery - This Saturday Morning

This morning, going with our evangelism group to visit our new church, which will open in January!

I won't show you any pictures of it, just yet!

Only on opening day!


Ps: This form of travel is an inexpensive, fresh, super fun and you can even get a tan! Kkkk

Ps2: I know someone whose name I will not mention (Raphaela Castro), who would really enjoy it! Kkk

A big kiss to all!

Think about this...

There was a certain lady, who looked at the wives of pastors in a certain church…

They were all sitting together and said to her friend...

"Look at that! They think they are better than us and do not mix!"

On the same day another lady seeing the same scene ...

"Look how beautiful! All wives sitting together, that’s what I call an united church!"

On another occasion ...

The pastor's wife was well dressed and a lady commented...

"Look, always tidy and well dressed! Wants to show off ..."

A young church member looked at the same pastor’s wife and said...

"I want to be like her! Woman of God, beautiful inside and out!"

One day there was a change of pastors in that church and the new wife arrived for a meeting… She had not had time to go home to get ready, she had been working hard in the offices that day...

The same lady looks at the new wife and says to her friend ...

"Look at that! What a shame and lack of consideration, did not take the time to properly dress to come to church! Embarrassing to God and her husband!"

A young woman looks and think ... "She looks tired, may God give her strength."

You know what is the moral of the story?

"If your eyes are good, your whole body will be bright"

"The lips speak of the abundance of the heart"

"Tell me with whom you walk that'll tell you who you are ..."

"Eyes rotten, rotten lips. Good eyes, sweet lips."

"Tell me with whom you walk and I’ll tell you where you are going to…”

Our Saturday here in Namibia

Last Saturday was crazy and wonderful!

We visited a school in one of the poorest areas here in Windhoek / Namibia. Where it has only zinc shacks without electricity or any other structure.

I was arriving with the Sisterhood girls and we could see the children running down the streets toward the school, as they could see from afar the jumping castles we were putting up for them ...

It was a long day and the children could not contain the joy.

We took drinks, toys, candy, sweets, sandwiches and hotdogs!

We played and danced with them too.

When we were giving away the things, the children entered the queue several times!

They came with their mouths smeared with ketchup or bread crumbs and spoke ..."Auntie, I did not get anything!"

You know, I could not be sad with the lie, they were hungry and never got what they were having that day ...

I heard them saying to each other ... "Yes! Today is our day!"

We were so tired as the line seemed to never end!

Thankfully enough that we could give out repeats.

By late afternoon everyone was happy and content on the way to their houses, at least on that day, empty stomachs was not a problem ...

I share below some pictures from that day.

Things Women do that annoy their Husbands:

1. Reprimanding him in front of others
2. Always criticizing what he does
3. Interrupting him when he is talking
4. Arguing for insignificant things
5. Taking away from his authority
6. Not taking into consideration his opinion
7. Talking about his flaws constantly
8. Taking too long to get ready, making him wait for hours
9. Making him go into all the stores in the mall, knowing he does not like it.
10. Wanting to talk about problems when he is angry and thinking about other things
11. Being super jealous and controlling
12. Treating him as if he were your child and not your husband
13. Being extremely sensitive and crying for everything
14. Always saying no, no matter what he asks for
15. When he is silent and asking him constantly what’s wrong.

I prepared this list with the help of some friends. My intention isn’t to criticize women; I just want to give advice to better the actions we take in our marriage.

Since the list is a bit long, I’ll continue in the next post.

I hope I can be of help

By Tania Rubin

“Ms. Goody- Two- Shoes”

During a certain phase in my life, Ms. Goody-Two-Shoes would come visit me frequently- we were great friends.

Generally, during a strong message or when I read a passage in the Bible, she would come visit me.

She would sit beside me during the meeting and whisper…

“Do you see? So-and-so should be here to hear to this!” “Hummmmm, this word fits like a glove on so-and-so.” “Look at her… Check to see if she’s paying attention, that’s exactly what she needs to hear…”

During my Bible readings…

“Just look at that verse!!! It speaks so strongly to that other so-and-so! She needs to read this!”

The funny thing is that Ms. Goody-Two-Shoes never told me when something was wrong with me; she only had eyes for other people. I never had any flaws; the word was never directed to me but always to others…

One day my eyes were opened and I realized how ridiculous and mistakenly righteous Ms Goody-to-Shoes was. I gathered courage and expelled her from my life!

Now I can hear God’s voice for myself and not for others.

During the meetings I always invite Ms. Look-at-Yourself to sit by my side and contrary to Ms. Goody-Two-Shoes, she makes me look inside myself… The words preached during the service are always for me. During my Bible reading I see that I have to a lot to change!

It isn’t easy, Ms. Goody-Two-Shoes doesn’t want to lose your friendship, and especially not to Ms. Look-at-Yourself!! Every once in while she reappears and I need to put her in her place.

Of course, there are times that we think, with no malice intended, that a certain word can be of true benefit to one person or another. But this shouldn’t happen with much frequency because if it does then we will become arrogant and mistakenly righteous and that will surely not help us at all; what’s worse is that it doesn’t please God.

Look at your life and your actions; observe who has been visiting you frequently. It its Ms. Goodly-Two-Shoes, get rid of her and invite Ms. Look-at-Yourself to sit beside you. She will help you a lot more…

War and Faith

Whoever is in faith is in Spirit, and whoever is in Spirit is in faith, and consequently is at war. There can be no peace in this world for those who live by faith. We can only have peace with God when our conscience is washed in the blood of the Son of God.

But to live in the world by faith is to depend on the Holy Spirit. Why does God give His followers faith?

Faith is not given to comfort people in times of pain, to help them keep religious traditions, or to serve as a mere accessory to their lives. Faith is the power of God to confront the devil; it’s the light of God to dissipate the darkness. That’s why those who are in faith are by nature in a revolt against evil; they are at war because they cannot accept what the world imposes upon them.

The Spirit of faith refuses to accept bowing before adversity or making alliances with the servants of evil.

The faith of the early Christians has nothing to do with the spiritual and moral corruption of this world. That’s why the Lord Jesus said, “Do not think that I came to bring peace on earth. I did not come to bring peace but a sword.” In other words, Christian faith separates those who belong to the Light from those who belong to the darkness; the goats from the sheep, those who are of God from those who are not.

Moses said, “The LORD is a man of war” (Exodus 15:3). In other words, God is like a man of war. And in order to please Him, we have to live in faith and by faith.

It’s impossible to please Him without being in faith.

Bishop Macedo

The list!

What team are you on?

I was very pensive just now…

It’s incredible how certain people can give up so easily on their dreams.

The first stone, the first obstacle and that’s it! They don’t want to try any more, they give up!

“It’s too hard” they say.

My God! What about their salvation? Will they give up on that too? Way too hard? Too much sacrifice???

Well, I learned that those that play on God’s team never give up!

They fight till the end. They fight, fight and fight!

Of course, if your dreams are things that are contrary to God’s will, then that means that you are not playing on God’s team.

My friends, we will never conquer anything without fighting for it and persevering. Have you ever seen someone conquer something without fighting for it?

Those that give up don’t conquer and are defeated.

Therefore, before accepting a challenge, before getting into a fight, think it through…

How have you been dealing with situations?

Do you give up? Do you fight?

The response demonstrates who you are and what team you’re on…

The Sweets...

It is funny how we feel a certain liberty to say what we want out loud when we think no one around us understands…

Have you ever traveled to a country where people speak a different language and don’t understand yours?

That can be dangerous…

The other day during one of our visits to a hospital here in Namibia…

“Where are you from?” I begin the conversation with a lady that had such a sad and anguished face. She stares blankly and looks very lonely and distressed.

“I come from the north.” She responds turning her attention to me.

“What happened to you? Why are you here?” I ask.

She shows me her bandaged arm and says that she was brought to Windhoek in a hurry as the hospital in the north didn’t have the resources to care for her and she needed an operation…

We continue talking and she tells me about how she had to come in a rush and didn’t have anything or anyone to visit her.

She didn’t even have soap to take a shower, a change of clothes, toothpaste, nothing at all. I was moved, for she wasn’t asking me for anything, she was just opening up…

Since there were 6 to 8 people all in the same room, we spoke a little bit more, we prayed for her and prayed for the other ladies in the room. I knew what I must do once we left that room…

I, along with the other pastor’s wives that were with me on that day, looked for a nearby shop where we could purchase basic toiletries for that lady.

We found the shop and each one of us looked for something: soap, toothpaste, toothbrush, lotion, under garments, etc…

On our way to the cash register, our basket full of items, I remembered the other ladies in the hospital room and picked up bags of sweets to give them. I was full of sweets in my arms and headed to the line to pay along with my friends…

When I reached the line a young lady that was standing in front of me turns around and gives me a warm and friendly smile; Surprised, I return the friendly gesture.

To my great shock this same young lady turns around to her friend and speaks out loud in PORTUGUESE…

“Look at that white woman behind me. That’s why their kids are full of rotten teeth; she should be embarrassed to be walking around with all of those sweets. She doesn’t take care of her children and then she complains…” With that she turns back to me and gives me another one of her nice and friendly smiles.

I didn’t waste any time, I smiled back at her and said nicely… “I’m sure it never crossed your mind that I also speak Portuguese, which is why you should be more careful when making your comments in the future and just to clarify, I don’t have children and these sweets are gifts that we will give to some ladies that we have just visited in the hospital.”

The young lady yelled in disbelief and said …. “Oh how embarrassing!” She got out of the line and left.

Her friend that remained on the line said… “Look, it was very good that this happened because I’m always telling her not to do things like that but she always does it. It was good, who knows, maybe this way she’ll change…”

When I look back I even laugh about it but in reality this served as a lesson for me too…

Especially when it comes to our eyes…

Not everything we see is what it looks like. Jumping to conclusions is very dangerous and it can lead us to make horrible mistakes and even hold grudges in our hearts.