THE CREATOR'S DREAM

He looked around and all that glory and beauty of heaven just wasn’t fulfilling. Angels at His service and perfect harmony wherever He went, but God still wanted more. His dream had always been to have children of His Own and not just creatures. Children just like His Son, ready to serve Him out of joy and not of obligation. He then worked hard for this dream to come true.

He thought of every detail in order to change the appearance of this place called earth. Like a mother prepares the room for her new baby and thinks of the color of the room, the clothes, the bedding, and all the decoration so that even though this baby cannot understand what is going on, she can give him the best welcome possible. God did that with all heavens, the seas and rivers, the sun, the moon, the trees, and all the animals. Everything was perfect… each animal knew exactly what role to play, the sun and the moon were given a strict schedule to follow, and moreover, nature had an agenda to work for His Children.

At last everything was ready and the best part was to take place. The Child. He decided that this one wouldn’t be done by Words, so He came down and made this perfect child with His Own Hands. He gave this child everything he needed in order to be just like Him – Perfect. Soon after that, He noticed that this child, like Him, needed a companion. He immediately took care of that and made another child, but this time, a complete different one. He made the woman and she would have everything that the first child didn’t have. She would be more emotional and weaker in some ways, but she would have everything needed to fulfil His first child's needs.

Now His dream seemed to have become a reality and so He was happy and could finally rest. Everyday He would come and walk with His Children, the harmony in heaven extended down here to Earth! His Children had everything and which Father isn't completely satisfied and honored by such a sight? God was fulfilled.

Nevertheless, this harmony did not last as He expected. His Children decided to look beyond that perfect life and to see what else there was for them. They decided to sin. It wasn’t unintentional at all, it was deliberate - they knew exactly what they were doing at the time so much that they did it when God wasn’t around. Why is it that we always miss the big picture? Can we easily exchange great blessings in our lives for a minute of the unknown? Husbands trade their families for a minute of pleasure with a lover… Girls trade their purity for a minute of pleasure with their boyfriends…

Anyhow, God’s dream seemed to be at its end by now. As much as it hurt Him, He could no longer allow His Children to benefit from all that harmony in Paradise, because if He did, it would have even taken away His harmony in heaven because sin just brings more sin! He had no choice but to send them away… He knew now that the only way to see His dream come true was through sacrifice… all He had left was His firstborn Son who had always been there with Him… what a sacrifice… He tried everything else – a nation of His Own, the commandments, and the prophets but nothing was going to do what the sacrifice would and so He gave His Only Son… and here we are – part of His dream come true!

In faith,

Cristiane Cardoso

In the Beginning

God created everything perfect. The skies, the seas, the land, the animals, the birds, the fish, the stars... and you. But you were different, He didn't get that creative about you... He wanted you to be special, to be unique, like nothing else in the whole world. You were created in His Likeness!

God looked in the mirror and made a copy of Himself and called it 'men'.

Think about that.

We're not like animals (like some ridiculous theory made up by a very weird guy says). We're not like nature. We're like God. Isn't that wonderful? All the nature and all the animals were created for us, as if God had decorated the place before our arrival.

Then as a Good Parent, He gave Adam responsibilities. Starting with the naming of all the animals. That must have been fun! Meanwhile, He'd walk side by side with him, telling him of all the unimaginable things he could still do... that was when He realised, Adam was still missing something in his life... something that He Himself included in the making of man... a desire to have a family of his own.

He gently put him to sleep and decided to create the woman from man. Still in God's likeness, just a little more different... a touch of mixed emotions. It was Adam's first gift and he loved it!

Now tell me, why dismiss all that for a mere miserable moment of sin?

We can still get that kind of relationship with God back, the question is, do we want to stay away from sin? Do we want to walk with God hand and hand? Do we see Him?

Mrs Cristiane Cardoso

Are you a tired Christian?

Rainy days come and go, and sometimes we can even get used to them, but not when the rain is pouring down and everything around seems grey and sad! You want to go to sleep and only wake up next month to give plenty of time for it all to disappear. Every now and again, this feeling comes to mind, especially at a certain time of the month — when 75% of our being is pure emotion!

But as soon as the grey skies are gone, we wonder why we made such a big deal out of it in the first place. What were we thinking when the idea of disappearing from the face of the earth was so constant in our minds? Why do we make such a big deal out of small things we find here and there?

Our Lord knew this when He once said: “Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light,” (Matthew 11.29,30).

He knew how dramatic we can be sometimes, especially when things just seem to be going against us, and yet His amazing patience in taking our burdens in His Hands whenever we come to Him can be so rewarding.

You’d think that being a Christian would be another unnecessary yoke upon you — as if we’d have to be this perfect holy person separate from everybody else in the world. But here in this verse, our Lord says, “My yoke is easy and My burden is light”! Why do Christians feel so overburdened then? So much pressure from this religion or that church – what’s wrong then?

Our Lord is gentle and lowly in heart. He said we can find rest for our soul and that His yoke is easy. If you ever feel pressured or burdened because of anything going on in your life, all you need to do is leave it all in His Hands. He will not demand anything that you cannot do. He’s patient and if you don’t have the strength to change everything about yourself at once, He’ll give you that strength and little by little, when you’re ready to take another step towards Him, His open arms will welcome you.

This is the Christian life I know. Everything else that is said about Christianity, that imposes and demands things of people in such a way that it seems as if we were prisoners, are unnecessary burdens that can sometimes drive people away from God. God wants to help, not drive you away. He wants to add and not take away the partial peace you hold onto so tight. His burden is so light so that whenever you are too weak to use your faith, He won’t judge you, but will instead guide you through the paths you need to get rid of the situation.

Think of Him as a Loving Father. Someone who is there for you no matter what. You’ve done something terrible? He’s still taking your side, though He might not agree with what you’ve done, He’ll help you get out of the rut you may have fallen into. Stop placing such a burden and yoke upon yourself – His yoke is easy and His burden is light. Doesn’t that say it all?

In faith,

Cristiane Cardoso