Welcome to the Commencement Ceremony of Christ For The Nations Institute, in this unusual year, 2020. Take the opportunity to also check in the post below the 10 main leanings that my family and I have to share from this period, since that we moved from Brazil to Dallas – TX at a time of training at CFNI.
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Commencement Ceremony | CFNI – Fall 2020
To watch on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/c/ChristForTheNationsInc/videos
3-Year Learning at CFNI
Our move to Dallas – TX in December 2017 was a new step of faith towards God’s call to our family. We didn’t come for a tour or even because we liked the city, where we had never stepped before. And we move forward with new learnings, which we gladly share with you in this post.
1. Relationships: Friends are gifts from God
God guides my schedule – and my relationships – when I trust him. That is why it is not worthy to invest efforts to cultivate friendships. Rather, I must give maximum value to the people the Lord brings into my life, even in times of transition. So I avoid frustrations and bitterness. May my willingness to serve be a highlight in each of my relationships, from near to far, in the short and long term.
Those who look to him are radiant, and their faces shall never be ashamed.
King David, Psalm 34:5
Always make sure that the door of your heart is a revolving door that allows people to come in and allows people to go out.
John Hollar, in memoriam
2. Stewardship: If I do my part, God will certainly do his
God always provides more than I need and before I need it. He loves to bless all people. And as I am faithful about the little, He puts me over the much. I am blessed to bless other people. For everything belongs to God, and I am his steward.
The blessing of the Lord makes rich, and he adds no sorrow with it.
Proverbs 10:22
You will never overcome God.
Robert Morris
3. Prayer: The importance of prioritizing God every morning
There is nothing more important to personal success than prioritizing prayer each morning. The more complex the moment and the busier I am, the more I will prioritize my devotional time (including my spouse) with God. And this should not be a time in silence, but a time to declare the word of God out loud, worship, and pray in the Spirit.
O Lord, in the morning you hear my voice; in the morning I prepare a sacrifice for you and watch.
King David, Psalm 5:3
Praying and meal is the right way to hire people and get hired. Not an interview!
Mike Massa
4. Commitment: I spend less energy to make better decisions because I honor my commitments
If I make a commitment today, I’m certainly not going to undo it right away. It should always be like that, but unfortunately, it wasn’t. For some reason, our family had a terrible habit of canceling schedules for one reason or another. And we have changed in this matter. Today we spend less energy to make better decisions because we understand that the only way to be reliable people is to honor the commitments made.
Let what you say be simply ‘Yes’ or ‘No’; anything more than this comes from evil.
Matthew 5:37
5. Coincidences: There are no coincidences
At some point in the past 3 years, I realized that I, a man of faith, believed in coincidences. And it shook my confidence in God. After experiencing so many miracles, we still allowed anxiety to torment us in the face of new challenges. But I found that there are no coincidences. God, who always takes care of our lives, is good and faithful. And with that, a new truth became a value for our family: There will be no impossible!
Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Philippians 4:6-7
6. Humility: How can I become a more humble person to honor Jesus more?
And the answer is “listening to the person in front of me better”. I was in the habit of interrupting people or at least thinking of an answer while I barely heard them. It is American culture not to interrupt while the other speaks, and it helped me. But the habit of not judging others also surprises me with a greater perception of reality.
Before destruction a man’s heart is haughty, but humility comes before honor.
Proverbs 18:12
7. Israel: The church never replaced Israel as God’s chosen people
The salvation strategy for all mankind chosen by God before the foundation of the world goes through a family, the people of Israel (Gen. 12:3). John Knox, Martin Luther, and even Wesley had understandable difficulty in seeing Israel restored as a nation. But a great miracle happened in 1948 when the Lord brought Israel back to the map. Another great lesson we have inherited from Israel is the concept of weekly rest, although this principle was established by God long before Israel’s existence.
Brothers, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for them is that they may be saved.
Romans 10:1
Every healthy theology affirms the choosiness of Israel, affirms the adding of the gentiles to the salvation, and advocates equality with distinction.
Nic Lesmeister
8. Security: Those who walk with integrity walk in safety
In a nutshell, so many lessons learned from a very special team with whom I worked in the CFNI Security Department in recent years. I need to keep the vision of the whole, and that includes going around the widest angle and never rushing. The enemy is always a coward. The most important thing is not the weapon I carry but the way I live.
Whoever walks in integrity walks securely, but he who makes his ways crooked will be found out.
Proverbs 10:9
God has no weapons but dwells in unapproachable light. The important thing is not the weapon you carry but the way you live.
Felix Tabe
9. Mentoring: “Wait, wait, wait … take it!
From the first weeks here in Dallas, Rapha and I talked and prayed about the need for personal mentors, close and much more experienced than ourselves. We wait for the first year, the second year, and at the end of the third year, God presented us with a couple beyond our expectations. Mentors are necessary, they guarantee relief and savings from years of suffering, but they should never be taken in a hurry. They are precious gifts from God.
Whoever brings blessing will be enriched, and one who waters will himself be watered.
Proverbs 11:25
Wait, wait, wait… get!
Larry Titus
10. “It’s a heart issue”
This phrase by Dr. Dennis Lindsay simplifies many conflicts and helps me protect myself on the walk of faith. Origin, identity, purpose, responsibilities, and destiny. In fact, it’s all about the heart.
Keep your heart with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life.
Proverbs 4:23
Conclusion
This post does not serve as a recipe for success because it excludes many principles that we previously cultivated as a family and, above all, we still have much to learn. But these 10 lessons are valuable learnings that we have added in the last 3 years. I thank you for praying for our family and celebrating with us the arrival of a new season. We love you!
Prayer: God, thank you so much for your love and faithfulness. I ask you to help me to know and to continue to know You each new day. I will live all your plans for my life and family for your glory, in the name of Jesus. Amen.
What is the Holy Spirit saying to you?
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