The handwriting was perfect, the letter looked like it was all covered in gold, my eyes turned blue… The feeling was inexplicable! It wasn’t the letter that made it so special for me, it was the way everything happened from a simple trust in God. It was as if I was being rewarded for giving Him the upper hand in my life…

I immediately remembered my sacrifice in the previous campaign of Israel. It had been a ring, but not just a golden ring, my only ring. My father had given it to me as a birthday gift for my 15th birthday. It meant a lot to me, so much so that it was the only thing I had to sacrifice. I didn’t work, I didn’t have any money, I didn’t have any valuables.

After placing it inside the envelope, I felt proud of my faith somehow, as if I had finally done something with it all those years. I asked God for one thing in that envelope, I wanted to marry my first boyfriend, who would have to come from Him (and no one else).

I was the bishop’s daughter, everybody wanted to set me up with somebody… In their eyes, I was available. In my eyes, I wasn’t. I wanted God to set me up because I knew He’d choose someone perfect for me. He knew my expectations and so, it wouldn’t be anything less than those!

When Renato wrote me that love letter, out of the blue, not having met me or once spoken to me, it was as if God had written the perfect romance for me. I couldn’t stop smiling… and I have a feeling, God couldn’t either.

Cristiane Cardoso

I came to church on June 12, 2004, which in Brazil, is Valentine’s Day. I was feeling completely rejected and humiliated. My boyfriend at the time had just broken up with me that same day.

I believe that for most people Valentine’s Day is a day of dreams, expectations, declarations of love, etc, and it would have meant the same for me if it hadn’t marked the end of my relationship. I cursed the fact that that day ever happened.

I was so stunned and hurt that I swore that I would never associate this day with happiness. From that point on, Valentine’s Day would represent sadness and humiliation because I would always remember this huge breakup.

That year, June 12th fell on a Saturday. I decided to attend the Therapy of Love meeting at the Universal Church. Even though I was feeling extremely miserable, I gathered enough strength and went. I knew I would be able to find an answer for everything that was happening to me there.

When the service started the pastor asked all those who were going through problems in their love lives to come to the front of the altar. I went without hesitation. During the prayer, I felt so strongly that God was holding and comforting me. At that moment, I told God that I would never have another serious relationship with anyone who wasn’t born of Him.

The following Saturday, we began the Campaign of Israel. Gradually, I began understanding what the campaign was all about. Even though I had been replaced and rejected, I was still hopeful that my ex-boyfriend would come back to me, even if he wasn’t the right person for me.

I gave my sacrifice and sent my request. Several days passed and I had no answer. But instead of being sad or resentful towards God, I thanked Him for not giving me what I had asked for. Only He knew what the future held for me, whether it was good or bad.

I continued persevering. I reached a point that I no longer had feelings for my ex. I was persistent in my chains of prayer; I evangelised, and remained in faith. And again, it was time for another campaign.

This time I was more spiritually mature, and I decided to leave my love life in God’s hands. I remembered what Mrs. Ester once said during one of her services at the Cathedral in Rio de Janeiro, a message which was also published in the Folha Universal, a Brazilian UCKG newspaper, that year. She said that we shouldn’t be concerned about the physical appearance of our future loved one, but instead we should ask God to prepare the right person for us. And not only would they want to make us happy, but that person would also be our perfect match.

That was the answer to my prayers. On the day of my sacrifice, I asked God for exactly what I had read. I sacrificed and waited, certain that I would be answered sooner or later.

Take a look at what happened: the Campaign of Israel took place in January 2005. In February, I started to get to know a young man that always sat next to me in church, but I had never noticed him before (and vice versa). We started dating a few months later, and on June 12, 2005, exactly 1 year after I had come to the church feeling broken and destroyed, God lifted me up. God honoured me so much and was so good to me that He transformed the saddest day of my life into the greatest day filled with happiness. A year later, I was married and today I’m truly happy. I don’t think there could a better match for me in the world other than my husband.

I believe that when we sacrifice and truly sacrifice our all for God, He honours us. It doesn’t matter how long it takes because for the Owner of the Universe, time is the least of His concerns. Honestly, I didn’t imagine receiving an answer in my love life the very month after the campaign.

Maybe that’s why I was blessed so quickly: I wasn’t expecting it. What I mean is, there was no room inside my heart for anxiety. I was absolutely certain that my blessing would come and that made me happy. I knew that He wouldn’t leave me helpless in any way.

That’s how God works: when we’re not desperately looking for a blessing, even though we desire it very much, God answers quickly. I think it’s because he doesn’t want anything to take His place in our hearts.

In faith,

Jaqueline Corrêa

I would to like to talk about a subject that is extremely important.

Our life begins with our relationship with God. Our life does not begin when we graduate from university or become a successful professional. Not at all! Our life begins with God. No matter how intelligent a person is or the qualifications he has, without God, he’s doomed to failure. Why? Because of his lack of communication with God.

Many people say they want to get married because they want to be happy. But why do they think they will be happy if they just get married? Because they’ll be joined to someone they love. In theory, this is a wonderful thing… But how many married people are now unhappy, living a life much worse than when they were single? Why? Because they married the wrong person!

The problem is that we know that our happiness depends on someone else. No one wants to be lonely, regardless of his sexual preference. Maybe you ask, “Is it possible to stay single and still be happy?” Yes, it is possible, but the probabilities are very thin.

Usually people only feel complete when they establish their own families. No matter what they have accomplished during their “single” life, real life only begins when they are united to someone they love.

And so a person doesn’t begin to live when he is born, when he goes to university or when he becomes successful, but when he is united to someone else in order to build a family. Interesting, isn’t it? And yet, this is not what happens in the world today. Rarely do we see people marrying and living happily ever after. People get married and live in an inferno; instead of life, all hell breaks loose when they get married. It’s frustrating!

But it’s not that way with God. You don’t need to have qualifications or knowledge. It doesn’t matter if you are too young or too old, all you have to do is to marry Him; to make Him the One who you’re going to share your life with forever. With God, there’s no risk of being unhappy because He always wants what is good for us. This is the formula for happiness.

People all over the world are pursuing marriage in order to be happy. In the back of their minds, they know that their happiness depends on someone else. Or do you think a person is happy just being an island?

However, when we put our relationship or covenant with God in first place, rather than someone else, we guarantee our happiness for the rest of our lives. It doesn’t mean that we won’t have problems—we will face problems in this world—but, with God, we stand firm and secure; we conquer and are happy. We are partners with God and wherever we go, God is with us.

Today it’s much easier for a marriage to fail than to succeed. You know that. And when marriage fails, the children suffer the consequences. But when we put God first, God Himself finds the “perfect match” for us! Isn’t it wonderful? He finds the person who completes us. He knows each one of us, so He will find someone who also belongs to Him in order to complete us, and become like a perfect pot of mashed potatoes—inseparable!

That’s exactly what God wants to do for you!

Question:

I want to be a pastor, but I’m dating already. Should I break up with her or not? Please help me, Bishop.
- Edward

Answer:

Hi Edward,

When we want to serve God we must place ourselves totally at His disposal, and that requires a full-time commitment. This must be done until your calling as a pastor is confirmed. Only after this has happened should a pastor look for his suitable helper, someone with the same vision who will help him win even more souls. In your case you already have someone; you’re divided, and either you give your attention to God’s will or to your girlfriend.

The second matter to take into consideration is: Does she have the same vision as you? The same desire to do the Work of God? If the answer is yes, then she will understand when you choose to put your desire to confirm your calling in first place.

Ultimately, the decision is yours. May God guide you.

Evil is relentless in suggesting doubts, fears and worries, and because of that, anxiety sets in. And then, it suggests quick solutions through some kind of “friendly” advice—just like with the man who built his house on the sand.

“You haven’t married yet? Oh… isn’t that too bad? If you’re not careful you’ll end up an old maid!”

This is just an example of a situation that makes a woman fear that God will not answer her prayers. Time goes by and anxiety grows, fomented by people used by evil.

That’s why it’s so important to invest in our faith daily. Only faith can drive away doubts, fears and anxiety.

Jesus said to Peter, “Get behind Me, Satan!” (Matthew 16:23).

Friends, never forget one thing: those who are not well will always be used by evil to spread evil.

Run away from them! Even if they have a godly appearance, run away from them!

Don’t allow them to fill your mind with rubbish, contaminating your faith with a lot of blah blah blah…

Use your ability to think and don’t be influenced by other people’s doubts.

“Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor stands in the path of sinners, nor sits in the seat of the scornful.” (Psalm 1:1)