Last Summer I had the chance to buy a very awesome paraphrased Bible in the US. It is always a lot of fun to read this version of translation that is transliterated into a very easy language. I love one verse in particular of Matthew 9. After reading the Scriptures in this version called The Message, I like to compare with my English Standard Bible, sometimes with the King James Version or the Brazilian Portuguese version. However what I love to do is to go to the originals, Hebrew, Greek or Aramaic and see the word by word meaning of the verse, once I have read the whole context, I can go deep in the Word.

So Jesus was going down this road with his disciples and others and the story tells us two blind men followed him crying out, “Mercy, Son of David! Mercy on us!”, then they keep following Jesus, and even when Jesus goes in the house they go with him. So Jesus asks them if they really believe he can do that. They answer, “Yes, Master!” and Jesus touches their eyes and say, “Become what you believe”, that is on verse 29. It happens, they are healed and after that Jesus healed many others.

What I want to point out here is this powerful declaration of Jesus: Become what you believe. The original says, may it be done to you according to your belief, it means be born out of your faith and it is literally a ‘become what you believe’. It is a become what you behold! Be transformed according to your faith and expectation. Wow! That’s wonderful! Jesus is inviting you to experience more than words, more than convictions, ideologies and expressions! He wants to change your reality, He wants to empower you to change atmospheres everywhere you go.

Jesus asked them, “Do you really believe?” Do you really believe? He is asking you as you read this. If you believe in His words, if you trust in His prophetic voice over you. Your realities are defined by the risk you take and the step out in faith. If your answer is yes, then allow Him to drive you in your daily life. Change your mentality into Kingdom’s perspectives. Love like He loved you. This radical compassion and love of Jesus imparts to us the same power, love and authority to walk as Jesus walked on earth and shape history.

Change your day, take authority over it and be a royal ambassador of the King of Kings on earth! Become what you believe!!!

Adoração é estilo de vida. Eu já ouvi essa declaração diversas e inúmeras vezes. Na igreja eu ouvi isso toda minha vida. Ouvi que adoração não é apenas uma canção ou um sentimento de um momento. Mas demorou alguns anos até eu entender o que realmente é esse estilo de vida. Não que eu não entendesse adoração, mas eu não conhecia as formas que minha vida poderia ser nesse aspecto de louvores e rendição.

Eu cresci em lar cristão, e sempre congreguei e servi na igreja local. Fui em muitos cultos, retiros, acampamentos e conferências. Tive várias experiências profundas na Presença de Deus. Algumas das quais despertaram um grande interesse, uma sede por algo inexplicável até o momento. Foram momentos de total solitude, paz e descanso no espírito que me enchiam desse anseio por mais. Me lembro de estar no meu quarto ao som de Ludmila Ferber, era um dos álbuns de música espontânea, e eu me encharcava no Espírito. Era uma adoração nova e diferente para mim. Nos espontâneos de Diante do Trono eu sentia esse rio fluindo em mim. Pouco sabia eu que essa prática de adoração existia entre os Levitas e em várias partes do mundo atualmente conhecida como Soaking (em Português encharcar, como uma esponja).

Nic Billman prefere o termo Marinar, do origem do termo Bíblico. Nas Escrituras se trata de uma prática dos Levitas quando limpavam o templo, se encharcavam da presença. Era comum entre eles gastarem esse tempo meditando na Palavra e na Presença de Deus.

Em pesquisa na internet sobre o assunto, encontrei essa história que ilustra perfeitamente. A autora do texto conta sobre os seus pais. Ela diz que eles tinham se casado recentemente e que as condições financeiras estavam bem limitadas. Ainda assim resolveram investir e gastar um pouco mais para fazer um churrasco só os dois. Compraram então um pedaço de carne, o que não era muito barato e colocaram para marinar em uma vasilha com temperos e sal. Como os dois trabalhavam em tempo integral, acabaram não conseguindo preparar naquela noite o churrasco. Eles acabaram tendo outras programações e por alguns dias aquela carne ficou imersa no sal e nos temperos. Após esse vários dias que eles não conseguiram ter o churrasco, eles finalmente conseguiram fazê-lo em um jantar. Eles decidiram que não podiam simplesmente jogar aquela carne fora e comprar outra por causa do preço e das condições financeiras. E afinal a carne parecia boa e o tempero a tinha conservado, estava imersa durante todos os esses dias. O marido preparou a churrasqueira e colocou para assar.

Após vários minutos ele percebeu que a carne não assava. Isso o intrigava. Ele insistiu e por um longo período de horas no fogo nada parecia acontecer. A carne se tornou impenetrável, como que em conserva. Isso acontece com vegetais que ficam em conserva, entre eles o picles é o mais comum, origem da expressão em Inglês ‘pickled’. A carne durante esse tempo nos sais e nos temperos fechou seus poros, e o calor não permitia que ela pudesse ser alcançada de alguma forma pelo calor e as chamas.

Assim, somos nós. Precisamos nos imergir, como no termo Grego na Bíblia ‘batismo’, totalmente encharcado da Presença, tão saturado do óleo do Espírito que as chamas do inferno, do sistema maligno não podem mais nos afetar. É nesse tempo com Deus, somente você e Deus, que você é fortalecido no Senhor, e se torna vencedor e cheio Dele. Entre tantas coisa é ouvir a voz Dele, Soaking é ser cheio, encharcado e transbordante do Espírito de Deus.

Se você deseja experimentar isso, os passos são bem simples.

1. Encontre um local quieto, e silencioso para descansar e repousar na presença. Sinta-se confortável, deitar pode ser uma boa forma.
2. Coloque uma música calma de Soaking ou adoração espontânea. Você pode adquirir um dos nossos CDs de Soaking no iTunes, ou na nossa loja online. Escreva para This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it e peça pelo Álbum Immersed. Existem muitos outros, essa é apenas uma recomendação.
3. Aquiete seu espírito, fixe seus olhos em Jesus, sem distrações, permita Ele ministrar ao seu coração e espírito. Sofonias 3.17 diz que Ele canta sobre nós com júbilo, alegria e amor.
4. Ouça a voz Dele e permita que a Palavra se torne vida em você.
5. Gaste o tempo que for preciso se enchendo Dele. Evite orar, muitas vezes oramos tanto, ou melhor, falamos tanto que não conseguimos ouvir a suave voz do Pai. Ouça e anote, registre isso no seu diário ou caderno. Faça isso sempre!

Se tiver alguma dúvida e deseja saber mais sobre Soaking, por favor escreva me por email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it me mande também seu testemunho do seu momento e da sua experiência em Soaking, de como Deus ministrou a você, estou curioso para saber como Deus está derramando sobre sua vida!

Deus abençoe. Em Jesus,

Jonathan Costa

Estamos super animados para anunciar que no mês de abril a Shores of Grace e a Bola de Neve Goiânia estarão realizando a primeira Escola das Ruas do Centro-Oeste! Você não pode perder.

Durante esses dias, os participantes receberão treinamento, ativação e revestimento de poder para sair das quatro paredes e avançar o Reino nas ruas de Goiânia. Mais do que três dias de treinamento, nosso alvo é treinar o corpo de Cristo para um estilo de vida de evangelismo. Pois, "A natureza criada aguarda, com grande expectativa, que os filhos de Deus sejam revelados." (Romanos 8.19)

Confira aqui a programação:

Sexta-feira, dia 13/04/12

19:00 - Inscrições
19:30 - Orientações, Abertura e Apresentações
19:45 - Adoração
20:45 - Sessão e Ativacão 1: "Vendo Com os Olhos de Jesus" e "Orando por Estranhos"
23:00 - Ministração e Transferência de Unção

Sábado, dia 14/04/12

 9:00 - Início e Adoração
10:00 - Sessão e Ativação 2: "Palavras de Conhecimento e 5 Passos para Cura"
12:00 - Intervalo para Almoço e Evangelismo 1

14:30 - Testemunhos e Compartilhar
15:00 - Sessão e Ativação 3: "Arte Profética" 
17:00 - Intervalo para Jantar e Evangelismo 2

19:00 - Adoração
19:45 - Testemunhos
20:00 - Sessão 4: "Compaixão e Poder"
21:00 - Evangelismo 3: Praças, parques, bares e ruas

Domingo, 15/04/12

 9:00 - Início e Adoração
10:00 - Sessão e Ativação 5: "A Revelação do Reino"
12:00 - Intervalo para Almoço e Evangelismo 4

14:30 - Testemunhos
15:00 - Momento de Ministração e Encerramento

 Informações: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it ou (41) 9661-6868 ou (62) 8248-8272

Last Tuesday February 7th, our Shores of Grace team went to minister in Goiânia at Ouvir e Crer Ministries Church, where they host a weekly prayer night. It was a moment of worship and prayers and the Father ministered to the hearts of all who attended. We arrived at 6:30 pm, 1.5 hour before the meeting, pastor Eber Rodrigues received us with great honor. As soon as we arrived there we knew God had something special for that night. Nic and team started sound check and worship begun as we were adjusting the sound system. Around 7:15 pm the sound was ready, but we kept worshiping, pastor Eber said we could either stop for a break or keep worshiping as the meeting would start. We knew we had to keep worshiping and pouring our hearts out. Close to 8:00pm people were still arriving at that point there were about 30 persons and all in the purpose of seeking the Father's heart.

I was as usual beside my spiritual father, as he was leading worship, I was translating prophetic words into Portuguese. In the beginning I felt the Lord calling us to sink in His river. And in every minute I felt the density of deeper waters. In congregational praises, in unity of Body we were aligning our song at the sound of Farther's heartbeat. The room was full with groanings, prayers, songs, tears and shouts as the Holy Spirit was manifest in each brother. The presence of God became so thick, then Nic started to sing spontaneously about total trust in God, at this moment I was able to see the angels freely ministering among us. Many were laying on the floor and we were going more and more down in the river of living waters. At this point there were more then 60 people.

The song was All Consuming Fire, a cry for the flames of love and passion, we sang it declaring it over our families, our friends, our city, state, nation and over our generation. I started to feel a burning in my chest, an intimate compassion for the lost, for the widow, for the orphan and for the foreigner. God was touching in my heart, and I reluctantly did not want to share on the microphone. But a pain was growing in my heart and God confirmed in the Word.

"Whoever says 'I know him' but does not keep his commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in him, but whoever keeps his word, in him truly the love of God is perfected. By this we may know that we are in him: whoever says he abides in him ought to walk in the same way in which he walked." (1 John 2:4-6)

The Word perfects us in God's love, love for the lost sons and daughters, for abandoned and abused children, for drugs addicts and for prostitutes and transvestites. And we will only know that we are indeed and truly in Him, the true vine, if as Jesus we walk. If we are like Jesus on earth, then we will be the revelation the world eagerly desires, sons and daughters (Romans 8:19).

I confess I did not see much more after this, I grabbed the microphone and started to speak as the Lord revealed to me. I felt the weight of the Glory. It was a moment of profound compassion, love and revelation. God was calling the depth of each one for the calling of the Church. We were immersed in the Spirit and now the River was flowing from us. The Lord said about the local church representing the Body of Christ in Brazil, the Church of Jesus Christ, He said He is rising people to be Jesus on earth, who will manifest His love, His power and who will bring the lost from darkness to light. When the world sees them the world will say, 'I see the Father.'

At this point I was weeping, totally in pain for God's presence was so tangible. Then Aline our intercession leader sang prophetic words over the church. It was over 9:00 pm and we were resting in the Spirit. Nic was laying on the floor, and living waters were flowing from the altar and from us. The river that will flood the city, the nation and our generation.

That is Ekklésia - original word for 'church' in the Bible that means 'called out'. When we accept the calling, we allow the authority of Jesus to break the chains, including the
Iies of religion. Be free, be Church, be Jesus on earth, for every aspect of society. Let the Kingdom of heaven!

From the harvest,

Jonathan Costa

Everyday I research stories and statistics about human trafficking in the world today to better understand the tools the enemy uses to try and destroy the body. I don't do this for the shock value or to have a really crazy, horrifying story to post. It's more so I can really understand the depths of this thing, and not become jaded to the fight we are up against. It can be hard though because day after day I find more and more stories of girls found dead, forced into prostitution, labor camps, or the things people do to destroy their will and keep them locked in a life of slavery. Instinctively I begin to feel like we are alone in this battle, like no one is moved enough to do anything....

By: Dan Corcoran (reprinted from wptv.com)

Some in law enforcement are setting their sights away from the bright lights of the game and on to the potential for human sex trafficking.

Jeff Goldberg is part of the Human Trafficking Coalition of the Palm Beaches and said there is a much darker side to the excitement the Super Bowl can bring.

"Basically, it's modern day slavery," he said. "Human traffickers and those involved in the sex industry will go to that area because they know people are there, they're going to spend money," said Goldberg.

By Ivana Kvesic (reprinted from christianpost.com)

Chinese authorities released information on Wednesday on the rescuing of 89 minors that had been victims of child trafficking. The youngest of the 89 victims was 10 days old while the oldest was 4 years of age.

 On November 9th Nic, Aline, Glaucia, Rebecca, and myself took off for Recife, Brasil which is in the far north of the country. Recife is one of the sex tourism and human trafficking (of children) capitols of the world. The main purpose of the trip was to film a documentary about the atrocities that happen there and the power of God’s redemption to save and restore the children trapped in that life. We contracted an awesome film producer named Weslei Vianna to come and film as much footage as possible for the time we were there. While there we spent 16-18 hours a day on the streets, in a restoration house, or driving to and from. We were very blessed to get a lot of footage. This article is a little teaser about what we encountered and how God is working in the north of Brasil. I will continue to update you on our site when the documentary is available.

Você é o mover de Deus que o mundo está aguardando!

You are the move of God the world is waiting for!