Autor: eabrazil

The Southern House Wren is singing beautifully outside my office. 

We continue desperate for rain here because it has only rained 329 mm this rainy season from January to March. A good year rains 1,000 mm, a medium year rains 800 mm and a just about alright year rains 600 mm by the end of April. Please pray!

Yesterday Liz went out to Green Pastures with deaconess Josinete.

I have just drunk a glass of Barbadan Cherry fruit juice which is produce of Green Pastures.

The Southern House Wren is singing beautifully outside my office. 

We continue desperate for rain here because it has only rained 329 mm this rainy season from January to March. A good year rains 1,000 mm, a medium year rains 800 mm and a just about alright year rains 600 mm by the end of April. Please pray!

Yesterday Liz went out to Green Pastures with deaconess Josinete.

I have just drunk a glass of Barbadan Cherry fruit juice which is produce of Green Pastures.

Psalm 65, again attributed to David, is a jubilant upbeat poem of praise to God. David exclaims that when we were overwhelmed by sins God atoned for our transgressions… God answers us with awesome deeds of righteousness… God formed the mountains by his power and stills the roaring seas… God cares for the land and cares for it providing the people with grains… and blesses the crops with showers… and the carts overflow with abundance… the grasslands overflow and the meadows are filled with flocks… and the valleys shout for joy and sing! 

I led last night’s mid-week prayer meeting and Bible study and pastor Rafael led the worship. The study was brought by lawyer Murilo on ‘Test the Spirits’ from 1 John 4:1-6. It was a lovely service in which Linda and Espedita sang solos.

We have just taken part in an excellent meeting with Maggy Spence and Jan Stracey of the Danbury Mission missionary committee. We had a good chat about the work of the Lord.

 This is a prayer by David for protection from his enemies. He says: “Protect my life from the threat of the enemy… hide me from the conspiracy of the wicked who sharpen their tongues like swords and aim their words like arrows… they have evil plans… and plot injustice… but God will shoot them with arrows and bring them to ruin… let the righteous rejoice in the Lord!”

 This is a prayer by David for protection from his enemies. He says: “Protect my life from the threat of the enemy… hide me from the conspiracy of the wicked who sharpen their tongues like swords and aim their words like arrows… they have evil plans… and plot injustice… but God will shoot them with arrows and bring them to ruin… let the righteous rejoice in the Lord!”

Psalm 63, written in the Judean desert, is a passionate Davidic declaration of faith in God saying “O God, you are my God… my soul thirsts for you, my body longs for you… I have beheld your power and glory… your love is better than life… with singing lips my mouth will praise you… I sing in the shadow of your wings… those who seek my life will be destroyed… the king will rejoice in God!”

We value your prayers for our social action projects team which in the first half of 2026 are working on the drilling and equipping of 2 more wells, the setting up of 1 further market garden, the construction of 2  more toilet/shower units, and the distribution of more goats and hair sheep in the 4-Legs project. May God be glorified and the poor blessed by these wells, toilets, goats and sheep, and market garden.

Last night we held an excellent Patos Church Council meeting which lasted 2 hours and covered 23 topics in a fine spirit of unity, consensus and Christian love. It was an excellent meeting.

I went to Green Pastures yesterday where I saw some beautiful bright orange Campo Troupials as well as White-naped Jays and Picui Ground-Doves. Everything is beautifully green, but now in desperate need of heavy rains. Please pray!

A 30-year-old Brazilian psychologist from the northeastern city of Fortaleza called Vitória Barreto is being searched for in Essex, England, where she has gone missing. She has been working on a research project with Essex University.

QPR sadly lost away to Birmingham yesterday 1 x 0. 😭

We value your prayers for our social action projects team which in the first half of 2026 are working on the drilling and equipping of 2 more wells, the setting up of 1 further market garden, the construction of 2  more toilet/shower units, and the distribution of more goats and hair sheep in the 4-Legs project. May God be glorified and the poor blessed by these wells, toilets, goats and sheep, and market garden.

Last night we held an excellent Patos Church Council meeting which lasted 2 hours and covered 23 topics in a fine spirit of unity, consensus and Christian love. It was an excellent meeting.

I went to Green Pastures yesterday where I saw some beautiful bright orange Campo Troupials as well as White-naped Jays and Picui Ground-Doves. Everything is beautifully green, but now in desperate need of heavy rains. Please pray!

A 30-year-old Brazilian psychologist from the northeastern city of Fortaleza called Vitória Barreto is being searched for in Essex, England, where she has gone missing. She has been working on a research project with Essex University.

QPR sadly lost away to Birmingham yesterday 1 x 0. 😭

 David’s psalm to Jeduthun expresses his total trust in God. “My soul finds rest in God alone… I shall never be shaken”. David says he faces men that seek to topple him and who curse him in their hearts. However David finds rest in God, “he is my fortress, I shall not be shaken… God is our refuge”. David goes on to say that lowborn and highborn people are “only a breath”… and that no-one should take pride in stolen goods. Trust in God because he is strong and loving and will reward people according to what they do”.

Last night I travelled to the town of São Mamede and preached on the Parables of the Seeds in Mark 4:26-34. School teacher Claudivan led the service and Rebeca evangelized the children whilst I preached. A man came and thanked me for the message after the service and said that he will bring his whole family to the next service there.

During the day yesterday I prepared sermons for the married couples meeting and for next Sunday’s service in Patos.

Last night I travelled to the town of São Mamede and preached on the Parables of the Seeds in Mark 4:26-34. School teacher Claudivan led the service and Rebeca evangelized the children whilst I preached. A man came and thanked me for the message after the service and said that he will bring his whole family to the next service there.

During the day yesterday I prepared sermons for the married couples meeting and for next Sunday’s service in Patos.

Last night I travelled to the town of São Mamede and preached on the Parables of the Seeds in Mark 4:26-34. School teacher Claudivan led the service and Rebeca evangelized the children whilst I preached. A man came and thanked me for the message after the service and said that he will bring his whole family to the next service there.

During the day yesterday I prepared sermons for the married couples meeting and for next Sunday’s service in Patos.

I have completed writing the summary of the first 50 psalms which means I have covered one third of the psalms and about 44% of the Bible. 

Liz went to the women’s prayer meeting last night and she says it was a blessing.

Our field team led by Pastor Rafael went to Fred and Marileide’s farm last night and preached the gospel in an animated service.

I have completed writing the summary of the first 50 psalms which means I have covered one third of the psalms and about 44% of the Bible. 

Liz went to the women’s prayer meeting last night and she says it was a blessing.

Our field team led by Pastor Rafael went to Fred and Marileide’s farm last night and preached the gospel in an animated service.

David here (with stringed instruments) is either in exile (“from the ends of the earth”) or in extreme distress. He says he calls to God for help as his heart grows faint asking to be led to the rock that is higher than I. He says God has been his refuge and that he longs to dwell in God’s tent forever and take refuge in the shelter of his wings. He asks to be enthroned in God’s presence for ever. Then he will sing praise to God’s name. 

This Davidic psalm is a lament when he felt that God had rejected him and his people owing to a battle loss against Edom. David therefore asks for restoration in the face of what he sees as desperate times. He continues saying, “Save us and help us so that those you love can be delivered… give us aid against our enemy… with God we shall gain the victory”!

 David wrote this psalm when Saul had sent men to watch his house in order to kill him. “Deliver me from my enemies, O God”, prayed David, “deliver me from evil doers… these bloodthirsty men lie in wait for me… I have done no wrong but they are ready to attack… O God show no mercy to wicked traitors”! These would-be assassins “snarl like dogs and prowl… spewing swords from their lips… but God laughs at them. You my loving God are my fortress… let these wicked men be caught in their pride… and it will be known that God rules”! “I will sing of your strength in the morning… for you are my fortress and refuge in times of trouble”.

 David wrote this psalm when Saul had sent men to watch his house in order to kill him. “Deliver me from my enemies, O God”, prayed David, “deliver me from evil doers… these bloodthirsty men lie in wait for me… I have done no wrong but they are ready to attack… O God show no mercy to wicked traitors”! These would-be assassins “snarl like dogs and prowl… spewing swords from their lips… but God laughs at them. You my loving God are my fortress… let these wicked men be caught in their pride… and it will be known that God rules”! “I will sing of your strength in the morning… for you are my fortress and refuge in times of trouble”.

Psalm 58 is an imprecatory prayer which invokes divine judgement on corrupt judges and unjust rulers. David asks: “Do you judge uprightly? No, in your heart you devise injustice… the wicked go astray from birth… their venom is like that of a snake… and it won’t heed the tune of the snake charmer… break their teeth O God!…  Let them vanish like water flowing away down the river… let them be slugs melting away… the righteous will be glad when they bathe their feet in the blood of the wicked… for surely there is a God who judges the earth”! 

Psalm 58 is an imprecatory prayer which invokes divine judgement on corrupt judges and unjust rulers. David asks: “Do you judge uprightly? No, in your heart you devise injustice… the wicked go astray from birth… their venom is like that of a snake… and it won’t heed the tune of the snake charmer… break their teeth O God!…  Let them vanish like water flowing away down the river… let them be slugs melting away… the righteous will be glad when they bathe their feet in the blood of the wicked… for surely there is a God who judges the earth”! 

 Psalm 57 was written by David when he was hiding in a cave sheltering from Saul and it is a prayer for protection and for God’s help. “O God… I will take refuge in the shadow of your wings… he rebukes them who hotly pursue me… I am in the midst of lions… be exalted O God above the heavens”. “They spread a net for my feet and dug a pit in my path, but they themselves have fallen into it.” “My heart is steadfast, O God… awake my soul and praise God among the nations… for great is your love and glory”! 

 Psalm 57 was written by David when he was hiding in a cave sheltering from Saul and it is a prayer for protection and for God’s help. “O God… I will take refuge in the shadow of your wings… he rebukes them who hotly pursue me… I am in the midst of lions… be exalted O God above the heavens”. “They spread a net for my feet and dug a pit in my path, but they themselves have fallen into it.” “My heart is steadfast, O God… awake my soul and praise God among the nations… for great is your love and glory”! 

This another psalm by David was written when the Philistines had seized Him in Gath. David prays: “Be merciful to me, O God, for men hotly pursue me… many are attacking me… but when I am afraid, I will trust in you”. “All day long they twist my words… plotting to harm me… don’t let them escape O God… record my lament… list my tears… in God I trust. I will not be afraid. What can man do to me? You have delivered my feet from stumbling that I may walk before God in the light of life”!

This another psalm by David was written when the Philistines had seized Him in Gath. David prays: “Be merciful to me, O God, for men hotly pursue me… many are attacking me… but when I am afraid, I will trust in you”. “All day long they twist my words… plotting to harm me… don’t let them escape O God… record my lament… list my tears… in God I trust. I will not be afraid. What can man do to me? You have delivered my feet from stumbling that I may walk before God in the light of life”!

 Psalm 55 is a Davidic lament saying “hear me and answer me O God… I am distraught… by those who revile me in their anger”. “Fear and trembling have beset me… oh for the wings, for the wings of a dove and I would fly away and be at rest”! “Confuse and confound the wicked O Lord… day and night they prowl after me”. What especially upsets David is that it a close friend and companion (maybe Absalom) who is persecuting and betraying him. “Let death take my enemies… I call on God to save me… he ransoms me unharmed from the battle… my close friend has speech as smooth as butter, yet war is in his heart.” “Cast your cares on the Lord and he will sustain you… but you O God  will bring down the wicked”.