segunda-feira, 29 de maio de 2023

 Jewish feasts and holidays 2023



Jewish festivals are important celebrations to keep Jewish history alive in the memory of the people and preserve the remarkable events that are part of it.

The year 2023 corresponds to the years 5783 and 5784 of the Jewish calendar.

Until September 15, 2023 is the year 5783, which started on September 26, 2022.

As of sunset September 15, 2023 is the year 5784, which ends on October 2, 2024.

In 2023, the main Jewish holidays take place on the following dates:

Purim (Feast of Salvation): from sunset on March 6 to sunset on March 7.

Pesach (Jewish Passover): from sunset on April 5 to sunset on April 13.

Shavuot (Feast of the 10 Commandments): from sunset on May 25 to sunset on May 27.

Rosh Hashanah (Jewish New Year): Sunset September 15 to sunset September 17 to celebrate the year 5784.

Yom Kippur (Day of Atonement): from sunset on September 24 to sunset on September 25.

Sukkot (Feast of Tabernacles): from sunset September 29 to sunset October 6.

Shemini Atsêret & Simchat Torah (The Eighth Day of Sukkot and The Joy of Torah): From sunset October 6th to sunset October 8th.

Chanukah (Festival of Lights): from sunset on December 7th to sunset on December 15th.

It is permissible to work on Chanukah, but it is not permissible to work on the other holidays listed above.

purim

The feast that celebrates the salvation from the extermination of the Jews in ancient Persia, where they were in exile, mediated by Queen Esther, is celebrated on the 14th day of the month of Adar.

According to the related story, King Ahasuerus' adviser named Haman persuaded the majesty to eliminate all Jews. His motivation was the conflict he had with one of the people, Mordechai. The 13th of Adar was the date chosen for the genocide in the Persian Empire.

Esther, the king's wife, had Jewish ancestry, but until then kept her origin a secret, so she interceded for the Jews. Due to the risk that the queen was taking in facing the king and trying to reverse the decision, all the people gathered for a fast of three days and three nights.

Upon learning that the queen was Jewish and the manipulation of Haman, King Ahasuerus had him executed and granted the Jews the right to worship their god.

The festival of Purim, which means luck, is a joyful moment of thanksgiving to God for divine mercy.

Passover

The Jewish Passover lasts seven or eight days and takes place from sunset on the 14th day of the month of Nissan/Abib, the first month of the Jewish calendar, between the months of March and April in the Gregorian calendar. It is also known as spring break.

This celebration recalls the liberation of the Hebrews from Egypt after many years of slavery. Pesach means to pass over and refers to the plagues sent to the Egyptians to afflict them and which did not reach the Jews.

Under the leadership of Moses, the Jews carried out the exodus from the Egyptian lands towards the promised land.

This story is remembered in a traditional dinner of a religious ceremony, the Seder, with some elements that recall the history of the people, such as lamb, matzot (unleavened bread) and marór (bitter herb). On this day it is forbidden to eat chametz (fermented food).

According to the holy scriptures, in chapter 23 and verse 15 of the book of Exodus God says:

“You shall keep the Feast of Unleavened Bread: seven days you shall eat unleavened bread, as I commanded you, at the time appointed in the month of Abib, because in it you came out of Egypt.”

Also read about the difference between Jewish Easter and Christian Easter.

Shavuot

The giving of the Ten Commandments by G‑d to Moses and the Israelites on Mount Sinai, seven weeks after leaving Egypt, is celebrated on the feast of Shavuot, a Hebrew word meaning weeks.

After about seven weeks, that is, 49 days after the Jewish Passover (Pesach), the Jews go through a period of purification to receive the sacred laws. The sacred laws were transmitted and taught to the Jews during the 40 years of the Sinai desert.

The Laws are important scriptures of Judaism. The festival, also called the Feast of Weeks, takes place between the sixth and seventh of Sivan, and is one of the commemorations that recall the story of the Exodus of the Jews.

Some of the events in the history of the Hebrew people, remembered during the commemoration, are:

protection through the 10 plagues sent on the Egyptians;

the parting of the Red Sea for the Jews to pass through;

the pilgrimage in the desert, which culminated in a divine revelation and guide to spiritual transformation.

The traditions of the date are the reading of the 10 Commandments and the book of Ruth, in addition to the consumption of dairy products, because during the departure from Egypt the God of the Jews promised to guide them to a land flowing with law and honey.

Rosh Hashanah

The Jewish New Year is marked by the celebration of the 1st day of the month of Tishrei, which is the seventh month of the calendar, and usually occurs between September and October.


Translated from Hebrew as the head of the year, Rosh Hashanah celebrates a new cycle and also recalls the creation of Adam and Eve. Therefore, the sense of celebration reflects the creation of the world and humanity, in addition to the creator's connection with the creature.

The commemoration of the first Jewish festival lasts two days for spiritual renewal, as judgment day and remembrance day are also celebrated. The traditional greeting during the festival is Shana Tova, which means good year.

The festival is based on the passage written in chapter 23 and verses 23 to 25 of the book of Leviticus:

“In the seventh month, on the first day of the month, shall be a solemn rest for you, a commemoration proclaimed with the blowing of the shofar (a trumpet made of ram's horns), a holy convocation.”

Traditionally, the shofar, a wind instrument made from a ram's horn, is played to attract blessings and protection.

Yom Kippur

The day of forgiveness, also called the day of atonement or the day of repentance, is celebrated on the 10th day after Rosh Hashanah.

This time interval between the two festivities is called Yamim Noraim (fearful days or 10 days of repentance) and the Jews use it as a time to reflect on their actions.

Yom Kippur is the holiest day. From the day before, and for about a day, there is a fast from food, drink and physical pleasures. The date is marked by going to the synagogue and praying for forgiveness for sins.

The celebration makes reference to chapter 16 of the book of Leviticus, which portrays the golden calf made by the Israelites in the Sinai desert, and the prayer of Moses, who asked God for forgiveness for the sin committed by the people.

“And this shall be for you a perpetual ordinance: In the seventh month, on the tenth day of the month, you shall afflict your souls, and shall not do any work, neither the native nor the foreigner who sojourns among you.

For on that day atonement will be made for you, to purify you; and you will be cleansed from all your sins before the Lord.” (Leviticus 16:29-30)

Learn more about Yom Kippur.

Sukkot

The Feast of Tabernacles, or Feast of Booths, begins on the 15th day of the month of Tishrei.

The commemoration recalls the pilgrimage that the Jewish people made towards the Temple of Jerusalem to remember the journey of 40 years in the desert, carried out by their ancestors in the exodus from Egypt.

This is one of the three festivals that commemorate the Exodus. The other two are Pesach and Shavuot, which together form “Shloshet ha Regalim”. The festive period also coincides with the harvest season in Israel, which is why this is another meaning attributed to the celebration.

The Torah reading, begun on other festivals, has its annual reading concluded on Sukkot. According to the scriptures, Moses was instructed to celebrate this day.

“And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, Speak to the children of Israel, saying, On the fifteenth day of this seventh month shall be the Feast of Tabernacles to the Lord for seven days.” (Leviticus 23:33-34).

Shemini Atzeret & Simchat Torah

Shemini Atzeret & Simchat Torah is celebrated immediately after Sukkot, starting at sunset on the last day of Sukkot.

On the first day, Shemini Atzeret, known as The Eighth Day of Sukkot, Yizkor is recited. The Yizkor is a prayer to the deceased, which is only recited at four times of the year.

On the second day, Simchat Torah, known as The Joy of Torah, ends and begins a new annual Torah reading cycle. In this celebration, a traditional dance is performed.

During Shemini Atzeret & Simchat Torah, candles are lit in the evening, before the festive dinner, and work is not allowed.

Chanukah

The festival of lights, also called Chanukah or Hanukkah, takes place on the 25th day of the month of Kislev.

Chanukah celebrates the reconquest and reopening of the Holy Temple of Jerusalem in the period that the Israelites resisted against the Hellenic domination and cultural imposition of the Assyrian king Antiochus 4th.

The main tradition during the festivity is to light the branches of the chanukiya or chanukiah. Each day of the festival, which lasts eight days, a branch of the candlestick is lit at dusk.

The lights at the festival are lit from right to left. A chanukiya has eight branches of the same height and a central and taller candle called a shamash, which is used to light the others.



SOURCE:




Jewish feasts and holidays 2023



Jewish festivals are important celebrations to keep Jewish history alive in the memory of the people and preserve the remarkable events that are part of it.

The year 2023 corresponds to the years 5783 and 5784 of the Jewish calendar.

Until September 15, 2023 is the year 5783, which started on September 26, 2022.

As of sunset September 15, 2023 is the year 5784, which ends on October 2, 2024.

In 2023, the main Jewish holidays take place on the following dates:

Purim (Feast of Salvation): from sunset on March 6 to sunset on March 7.

Pesach (Jewish Passover): from sunset on April 5 to sunset on April 13.

Shavuot (Feast of the 10 Commandments): from sunset on May 25 to sunset on May 27.

Rosh Hashanah (Jewish New Year): Sunset September 15 to sunset September 17 to celebrate the year 5784.

Yom Kippur (Day of Atonement): from sunset on September 24 to sunset on September 25.

Sukkot (Feast of Tabernacles): from sunset September 29 to sunset October 6.

Shemini Atsêret & Simchat Torah (The Eighth Day of Sukkot and The Joy of Torah): From sunset October 6th to sunset October 8th.

Chanukah (Festival of Lights): from sunset on December 7th to sunset on December 15th.

It is permissible to work on Chanukah, but it is not permissible to work on the other holidays listed above.

purim

The feast that celebrates the salvation from the extermination of the Jews in ancient Persia, where they were in exile, mediated by Queen Esther, is celebrated on the 14th day of the month of Adar.

According to the related story, King Ahasuerus' adviser named Haman persuaded the majesty to eliminate all Jews. His motivation was the conflict he had with one of the people, Mordechai. The 13th of Adar was the date chosen for the genocide in the Persian Empire.

Esther, the king's wife, had Jewish ancestry, but until then kept her origin a secret, so she interceded for the Jews. Due to the risk that the queen was taking in facing the king and trying to reverse the decision, all the people gathered for a fast of three days and three nights.

Upon learning that the queen was Jewish and the manipulation of Haman, King Ahasuerus had him executed and granted the Jews the right to worship their god.

The festival of Purim, which means luck, is a joyful moment of thanksgiving to God for divine mercy.

Passover

The Jewish Passover lasts seven or eight days and takes place from sunset on the 14th day of the month of Nissan/Abib, the first month of the Jewish calendar, between the months of March and April in the Gregorian calendar. It is also known as spring break.

This celebration recalls the liberation of the Hebrews from Egypt after many years of slavery. Pesach means to pass over and refers to the plagues sent to the Egyptians to afflict them and which did not reach the Jews.

Under the leadership of Moses, the Jews carried out the exodus from the Egyptian lands towards the promised land.

This story is remembered in a traditional dinner of a religious ceremony, the Seder, with some elements that recall the history of the people, such as lamb, matzot (unleavened bread) and marór (bitter herb). On this day it is forbidden to eat chametz (fermented food).

According to the holy scriptures, in chapter 23 and verse 15 of the book of Exodus God says:

“You shall keep the Feast of Unleavened Bread: seven days you shall eat unleavened bread, as I commanded you, at the time appointed in the month of Abib, because in it you came out of Egypt.”

Also read about the difference between Jewish Easter and Christian Easter.

Shavuot

The giving of the Ten Commandments by G‑d to Moses and the Israelites on Mount Sinai, seven weeks after leaving Egypt, is celebrated on the feast of Shavuot, a Hebrew word meaning weeks.

After about seven weeks, that is, 49 days after the Jewish Passover (Pesach), the Jews go through a period of purification to receive the sacred laws. The sacred laws were transmitted and taught to the Jews during the 40 years of the Sinai desert.

The Laws are important scriptures of Judaism. The festival, also called the Feast of Weeks, takes place between the sixth and seventh of Sivan, and is one of the commemorations that recall the story of the Exodus of the Jews.

Some of the events in the history of the Hebrew people, remembered during the commemoration, are:

protection through the 10 plagues sent on the Egyptians;

the parting of the Red Sea for the Jews to pass through;

the pilgrimage in the desert, which culminated in a divine revelation and guide to spiritual transformation.

The traditions of the date are the reading of the 10 Commandments and the book of Ruth, in addition to the consumption of dairy products, because during the departure from Egypt the God of the Jews promised to guide them to a land flowing with law and honey.

Rosh Hashanah

The Jewish New Year is marked by the celebration of the 1st day of the month of Tishrei, which is the seventh month of the calendar, and usually occurs between September and October.

Translated from Hebrew as the head of the year, Rosh Hashanah celebrates a new cycle and also recalls the creation of Adam and Eve. Therefore, the sense of celebration reflects the creation of the world and humanity, in addition to the creator's connection with the creature.

The commemoration of the first Jewish festival lasts two days for spiritual renewal, as judgment day and remembrance day are also celebrated. The traditional greeting during the festival is Shana Tova, which means good year.

The festival is based on the passage written in chapter 23 and verses 23 to 25 of the book of Leviticus:

In the seventh month, on the first day of the month, there will be a solemn rest for you, a commemoration proclaimed with the blowing of the shofar (a trumpet made of ram's horns), a holy convocation.”

Traditionally, the shofar, a wind instrument made from a ram's horn, is played to attract blessings and protection.

Yom Kippur

The day of forgiveness, also called the day of atonement or the day of repentance, is celebrated on the 10th day after Rosh Hashanah.

This time interval between the two festivities is called Yamim Noraim (fearful days or 10 days of repentance) and the Jews use it as a time to reflect on their actions.

Yom Kippur is the holiest day. From the day before, and for about a day, there is a fast from food, drink and physical pleasures. The date is marked by going to the synagogue and praying for forgiveness for sins.

The celebration makes reference to chapter 16 of the book of Leviticus, which portrays the golden calf made by the Israelites in the Sinai desert, and the prayer of Moses, who asked God for forgiveness for the sin committed by the people.

“And this shall be for you a perpetual ordinance: In the seventh month, on the tenth day of the month, you shall afflict your souls, and shall not do any work, neither the native nor the foreigner who sojourns among you.

For on that day atonement will be made for you, to purify you; and you will be cleansed from all your sins before the Lord.” (Leviticus 16:29-30)

Learn more about Yom Kippur.

Sukkot

The Feast of Tabernacles, or Feast of Booths, begins on the 15th day of the month of Tishrei.

The commemoration recalls the pilgrimage that the Jewish people made towards the Temple of Jerusalem to remember the journey of 40 years in the desert, carried out by their ancestors in the exodus from Egypt.

This is one of the three festivals that commemorate the Exodus. The other two are Pesach and Shavuot, which together form “Shloshet ha Regalim”. The festive period also coincides with the harvest season in Israel, which is why this is another meaning attributed to the celebration.

The Torah reading, begun on other festivals, has its annual reading concluded on Sukkot. According to the scriptures, Moses was instructed to celebrate this day.

“And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, Speak to the children of Israel, saying, On the fifteenth day of this seventh month shall be the Feast of Tabernacles to the Lord for seven days.” (Leviticus 23:33-34).

Shemini Atzeret & Simchat Torah

Shemini Atzeret & Simchat Torah is celebrated immediately after Sukkot, starting at sunset on the last day of Sukkot.

On the first day, Shemini Atzeret, known as The Eighth Day of Sukkot, Yizkor is recited. The Yizkor is a prayer to the deceased, which is only recited at four times of the year.

On the second day, Simchat Torah, known as The Joy of Torah, ends and begins a new annual Torah reading cycle. In this celebration, a traditional dance is performed.

During Shemini Atzeret & Simchat Torah, candles are lit in the evening, before the festive dinner, and work is not allowed.

Chanukah

The festival of lights, also called Chanukah or Hanukkah, takes place on the 25th day of the month of Kislev.

Chanukah celebrates the reconquest and reopening of the Holy Temple of Jerusalem in the period that the Israelites resisted against the Hellenic domination and cultural imposition of the Assyrian king Antiochus 4th.

The main tradition during the festivity is to light the branches of the chanukiya or chanukiah. Each day of the festival, which lasts eight days, a branch of the candlestick is lit at dusk.

The lights at the festival are lit from right to left. A chanukiya has eight branches of the same height and a central and taller candle called a shamash, which is used to light the others.



SOURCE: https://www.calendarr.com/brasil/festas-judaicas/

 




We all go through times of sadness but God is with us to comfort us. Many things can cause sadness but sadness doesn't last forever. God will restore joy.

Even in times of sadness, we can praise God. He gives us strength to carry on when we are sad. God is in control at all times and we can trust him to change the situation. God's joy is more powerful than all the sadness we go through!


Give me back the joy of your salvation

and sustain me

with a spirit ready to obey.

Psalm 51:12


Those who sow with tears,

with songs of joy they will reap. The one who comes out crying

as he sows the seed,

will return with songs of joy,

bringing his sheaves.

Psalms 126:5-6


I'm exhausted from moaning.

From crying so much at night

my bed;

with tears I soak my bed. My eyes are consumed with sadness;

weaken because of everyone

my opponents. get away from me

all you who do evil,

because the Lord heard my cry. The Lord heard my supplication;

the Lord accepted my prayer.

Psalms 6:6-9


The Lord is my strength and my shield;

in him my heart trusts, and from him I receive help.

My heart rejoices with joy,

and with my song I will give him thanks.

Psalm 28:7


"Do not let your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me.

John 14:1


This is my consolation in my suffering:

Your promise gives me life.

Psalms 119:50


The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord,

it's over me,

because the Lord anointed me

to bring good news to the poor.

He has sent me to care for those who are

with a broken heart,

announce freedom to the captives

and deliverance from darkness to the prisoners, to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor

and the day of vengeance of our God;

to comfort all who mourn and give to all who mourn in Zion

a beautiful crown instead of ashes,

the oil of joy instead of mourning

and a mantle of praise

instead of depressed spirit.

they will be called

oaks of justice,

planting of the Lord,

for the manifestation of his glory.

Isaiah 61:1-3


For I will pour water on the thirsty land,

and torrents on dry land;

I will pour out my Spirit on your offspring

and my blessing on his descendants.

Isaiah 44:3


In this you rejoice, though now, for a little while, you must be grieved by all kinds of trials. This is to prove that your faith, much more valuable than gold that perishes even if refined by fire, is genuine and will result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed. Even though you haven't seen him, you love him; and though they do not see him now, they believe in him and rejoice with joy unspeakable and glorious, because you are obtaining the goal of your faith, the salvation of your souls.

1 Peter 1:6-9



Is there anyone among you who is suffering? Let him pray. Is there anyone who feels happy? Let him sing praises.

James 5:13


In the fight against sin, you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your own blood. You have forgotten the word of encouragement that he addresses to you as to his children:

"My son, do not despise

the discipline of the Lord

don't even get hurt

with his rebuke, for the Lord disciplines

whom he loves,

and punishes everyone

whom he accepts as a son." Endure difficulties, receiving them as discipline; God treats you as children. Now, what son is not disciplined by his father? If you are not disciplined, and discipline is for all children , then you are not legitimate children, but illegitimate.

Hebrews 12:4-8


For his anger lasts but a moment,

but his favor lasts a lifetime;

crying can persist one night,

but in the morning joy breaks out.

Psalm 30:5


My soul is consumed with sadness;

strengthen me according to your promise.

Psalm 119:28


The ropes of death encircled me,

the pangs of Sheol have come upon me;

affliction and sadness overcame me. So I called on the name of the Lord:

Deliver me, Lord! The Lord is merciful and just;

our God is compassionate. The Lord protects the simple;

when I was already without strength, he saved me.

Psalms 116:3-6

To share

To send

tweet

Email

Why are you so sad,

oh my soul

why are you so upset

inside of me?

Put your hope in God!

For I will yet praise him;

he is my Savior and my God.

Psalm 43:5



PLEASE SHARE THIS MESSAGE WITH EVERYONE YOU KNOW. THANKS.


 "EXHORTATION TO VIGILANCE"

Jesus said, As it was in the days of

Noah, so shall also the coming of the Son be

of the man. For just as in the days before the flood they were eating, drinking,

married and were given in marriage, until

the day that Noah and his family entered

in the ark, and knew not until he came

the flood, and destroyed them all. Like this

will also be the coming of the Son of man.

Matthew, 24:37-39




We all need to be corrected sometimes and I believe that God prefers to talk to us and correct us himself, rather than using situations or people to do it. Correction is one of the hardest things to receive (especially when it comes through others), but we must be humble and recognize our faults, because only then will we be transformed and walk in obedience to God.

When God shows that something is wrong in his life, don't kick the bucket or leave the boat. Simply agree with Him and repent. Tell God you can't change unless He helps you, and thank Him, because if God shows you something wrong, it's because He wants to make changes for the better.

To tidy up a closet, you have to mess everything up first, don't you? In the same way, God wants to teach you step by step how to put everything in its place. Maybe you would like to be living a happier phase of life, healthier, richer or less lonely, but don't cry about it. Use your faith and start from "zero" if you have to. There is no age to start over, so believe that God is doing a beautiful work in your life and soon you will start to see the results, if you simply obey Him!



SOURCE: PASTOR ANTONIO JUNIOR




We need to be careful with pride. Pride makes us think we are better than other people. The proud do not submit to God because they think their own way is better. But in the end he will find that God's way is perfect and he will be humbled.

Our pride must be in God. It is God who helps us succeed; it is God who gives us talents and wisdom. When we understand that everything comes from God, we will have a balanced view of our successes, without excessive pride.


Man's pride humbles him,

but the humble in spirit obtains honor.

Proverbs 29:23


Pride goes before destruction;

the haughty spirit, before the fall.

Proverbs 16:18


For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and everyone who humbles himself will be exalted.

Matthew 23:12


For from within the hearts of men come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, thefts, murders, adulteries, covetousness, malice, deceit, licentiousness, envy, slander, arrogance and foolishness. All these evils come from within and make man impure."

Mark 7:21-23


But he grants us greater grace. Therefore the Scripture says:

"God opposes the proud,

but he grants grace

to the humble".

James 4:6


Likewise, young people, be subject to your elders. Everyone be humble towards one another, because

"God opposes the proud,

but he grants grace

to the humble." Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time.

1 Peter 5:5-6


Therefore, whoever humbles himself like this child, he is the greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven.

Matthew 18:4


Make no mistake. If any of you think he is wise by the standards of this age, he must become "mad" in order for him to become wise.

1 Corinthians 3:18


If I must be proud, let it be in the things that show my weakness.

2 Corinthians 11:30


Have the same attitude towards each other. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of lesser standing. Do not be wise in your own eyes.

Romans 12:16


I have great confidence in you, and I am very proud of you. I feel quite encouraged; my joy overflows in all tribulations.

2 Corinthians 7:4


We, however, will not boast beyond the proper limit, but will limit our pride to the sphere of action that God has entrusted to us, which reaches you included.

2 Corinthians 10:13


If anyone considers himself something, being nothing, he deceives himself. Each one examines his own actions, and then he will be able to be proud of himself, without comparing himself with anyone, for each one will have to carry his own load.

Galatians 6:3-5


Thus says the Lord:

"Do not the wise man glory in his wisdom

nor the strong in his strength

nor the rich in his wealth, but whoever boasts, let him boast in this:

to understand and know me,

for I am the Lord

and act with loyalty,

with justice and righteousness on earth,

because it is these things that I like",

declares the Lord.

Jeremiah 9:23-24


"Son of man, say to the ruler of Tyre: This is what the Sovereign Lord says:

"In the pride of your heart

you say, 'I am a god;

I sit on the throne of a god

in the heart of the seas'.

But you are a man, not a god,

although he considers himself so wise

how much God.

Ezekiel 28:2


"Speak not so proudly,

nor let such arrogance come out of his mouth,

for the Lord is a wise God;

it is he who judges the acts of men.

1 Samuel 2:3


To fear the Lord is to hate evil;

I hate pride and arrogance,

the bad behavior

and perverse speech.

Proverbs 8:13


The end of things is better than

its beginning,

and the patient is better than the proud.

Ecclesiastes 7:8


The arrogance of your heart has you

mistaken,

you who live in the hollows of the rocks

and builds his abode on top of the mountains;

who say to yourself, 'Who can

to tear down?'

Obadiah 1:3


For all that is in the world - the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes and the pride of goods - does not come from the Father, but from the world.

1 John 2:16


If anyone teaches false doctrines and does not agree with the sound doctrine of our Lord Jesus Christ and with the teaching that is according to godliness, he is proud and understands nothing. This one shows an unhealthy interest in controversies and strife over words, which result in envy, quarrels, slander, evil suspicions.

1 Timothy 6:3-4


The vain and arrogant

he is called a mocker;

he acts with extreme pride.

Proverbs 21:24


When pride comes,

misfortune comes,

but wisdom is with the humble.

Proverbs 11:2


Pride only breeds arguments,

but wisdom is

with those who take counsel.

Proverbs 13:10


The Lord of hosts planned it

to bring down all pride and vanity

and humiliate all who are famous in the earth.

Isaiah 23:9


The sinful life of the wicked

you can see it in the proud look

and in the arrogant heart.

Proverbs 21:4



PLEASE SHARE THIS MESSAGE WITH EVERYONE YOU KNOW. THANKS.

 



I know that in practice it is not easy to rejoice in trials, but this is the guideline!

James 1 - NTLH New Translation in Today's Language

1 I, James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, send greetings to all God's people throughout the whole world.

2 My brothers, be happy when you experience all kinds of afflictions.

3 For you know that when your faith overcomes these trials, it produces perseverance.

4 May this perseverance be perfect so that you are mature and correct, failing at nothing!

5 But if anyone lacks wisdom, let him ask God, and he will give it, because he is generous and gives kindly to all.

6 But ask in faith and do not doubt at all, for those who doubt are like the waves of the sea, which the wind blows from side to side.

7 Whoever is like that, do not think that he will receive anything from the Lord,

8 for he has no firmness and never knows what he should do.

9 A brother who is poor should be happy when God makes him better off;

10 and who is rich must feel the same when God makes him worse off. For he who is rich will disappear like the flower of the grass of the field.

11 When the sun shines brightly, and its heat burns the plant, then the flower falls, and its beauty is destroyed. Likewise, he who is rich will be destroyed in the midst of his affairs.

12 Happy is he who remains faithful in afflictions! Because, after being approved of these afflictions, he will receive as a prize the life that God promises to those who love him.

13 When someone is tempted, do not say, “This temptation is from God. ” For God cannot be tempted by evil and he himself does not tempt anyone.

14 But people are tempted when they are enticed and deceived by their own evil desires.

15 Then these desires give birth to sin, and sin, when it is ripe, brings forth death.

16 Make no mistake, my dear brothers.

17 Everything good that we receive and everything that is perfect comes from heaven, comes from God, the Creator of the lights of heaven. He does not change or vary his position, which would cause darkness.

18 By his own will he caused us to be born, through the word of truth, in order to occupy the first place among all his creatures.

19 Remember this, my dear brothers: everyone be ready to listen, but slow to speak and get angry.

20 Because human anger does not produce what God approves.

21 Therefore, leave all immoral custom and all bad conduct. Humbly accept the message that God plants in your hearts that can save you.

22 Make no mistake; don't just be hearers of this message, but put it into practice.

23 For he who hears the message and does not put it into practice is like a person who looks in a mirror and sees himself.

24 he Takes a good look, then walks away, and soon forgets what he looks like.

25 The gospel is the perfect law that gives freedom to people. If someone examines this law well and does not forget it, but puts it into practice, God will bless everything that person does.

26 Is anyone thinking they are religious? If he doesn't know how to control his tongue, his religion is worthless, and he is deceiving himself.

27 For God the Father, religion is pure and true: to help orphans and widows in their affliction and not to be stained with the evil things of this world.


PLEASE SHARE THIS MESSAGE WITH EVERYONE YOU KNOW. THANKS.

 



How to deal with anxiety in difficult times

"Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you" (1 Peter 5:7).

The apostle Peter wrote this letter to Christians throughout the Roman Empire who were suffering persecution from unbelieving Jews and Gentiles. In this passage, Peter shows how they should face the anxiety they are feeling in this situation: they should cast that anxiety on God. By doing so, they would recognize that they are helpless and weak, and that God is able to care for them.

"All your anxiety" is a reference Peter makes to the anguish Christians felt due to hostility and persecution from pagans, such as fear of death, fear of suffering, concern for family and friends, and other similar fears. The word "anxiety" comes from a Greek word meaning part, piece or division, which accurately describes an anxious heart: it is divided, pulled in all directions and in constant distress.

Christians must "cast on him" all these anxieties; that is, they must place all their cares and fears in God's mighty hands, and rest their troubled hearts. This is done, in practice, through prayer and petition, in which we confess our weaknesses to God, tell Him our troubles and needs, plead for His favor and grace, and rest confident that He has heard us. It is implied, though unspoken, that dwelling on these anxieties would be a form of elation and pride.

"Worry is a form of pride because when believers are filled with anxiety, they are convinced that they must solve all the problems of their lives in their own strength. The only god they trust is themselves. When believers cast their concerns about God, express their trust in His mighty hand, acknowledging that He is Lord and Sovereign over all life" (T. Schreiner).

They are encouraged by Peter to do this "because he cares for you", says the apostle. Even if it didn't seem like it, God was taking care of them in the midst of suffering, not necessarily releasing them from pain, but not allowing it to exceed their limits and giving them grace to endure and remain faithful. God was not insensitive to their suffering. God's care for them could also be a reference to what He prepared for them at the coming of Christ, as Peter had already said at the beginning of the letter (1 Peter 1:3-7).

This exhortation of Peter reflects the teaching of many Psalms that encourage the faithful to cast their burdens upon God (Ps 22:10; 37:5; 55:22), as well as the teachings of the Lord Jesus against anxiety (Matthew 6:25 -34).

In this way, Christians are encouraged to trust God and rest in Him in the midst of the most terrible sufferings, confident that Almighty God is caring for them, even if that care is not always noticeable.


SOURCE: AUGUSTUS NICODEMUS LOPES