spiritualsnippets.com

Seeing life's events in the light of God's Word.

Feb 26

An Unusual Choir

by Brenda Poulos

32611567822_700e9f2a64

Acts 16:25- “About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening to them.”

 

Recently, I heard about a group of prisoners in a maximum security prison that had formed a choir. The camaraderie among those inmates and the discovery of their hidden talents was something to behold as the story unfolded. I felt so blessed as I heard them perform.

They are hardened criminals. Many of them have tried to kill each other while in prison.

Now, they are singing together! What a transformation.

There was an earthquake as the singing was going on in the prison in Phillippi. The Bible tells us in verses 27 and 28 that even though all of the previously locked doors were suddenly opened, not one prisoner even tried to escape!

So, is it the power of music that changed both groups of criminals?

I don’t think so. I think we can accord the changes to the fact that God used both of those circumstances to bring the prisoners into better relationship with HIM and, then, with each other.

King David wrote hundreds of songs of praise to God. Christian hymnals are full of beautiful ones written by many gifted individuals throughout the ages.

Whether in the present or the future, God may use singing to lift, inspire, and change, just like He has throughout the ages.

And, we may use it as an offering of praise to HIM.

Biblical lessons Encouraging words Uncategorized

Leave a comment »
Feb 19

The Ultimate “Like”

by Brenda Poulos

5684115572_55bc83414f

John 5:44- “How can you believe, when you receive glory from one another and do not seek the glory that comes from the only God?”

I get several emails per day, saying that a Facebook Friend is requesting that I “LIKE” their Facebook Page.

As an author, I sometimes send out these requests, too. It promotes activity, boosts awareness, and all kinds of things related to the internet that I don’t even begin to understand.

These “Likes” remind me of my days teaching school. A simple sticker on a paper would make a child smile, a positive comment written in a yearbook would be cherished.

As an author or entertainer, we are happy to receive rave reviews.

As a sportsman, we are thrilled when we sell tickets…when we are recognized on the street or in a restaurant.

It’s not a new idea. We want to be liked.

But, have you ever been faced with the dilemma of whether to say or do something to receive accolades from your peers rather than act in a way that pleases God?

When that happens, I remind myself that how others feel about me may change due to circumstances, but that I am God’s child and what I do for Him has lasting effects.

It is then that I realize that I don’t want to trade what is temporary for what is permanent.

I know that I cannot be truly happy unless what I do and say brings glory my Heavenly Father.

Someday, I hope to hear Him say, “Well done, good and faithful servant.”

That will be the ultimate “Like.”

Biblical lessons Encouraging words Uncategorized

2 Comments »
Feb 12

How Deep? How High?

by Brenda Poulos

30977839481_cac9487f3d

 

Romans 3:39- “Neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

 

Wow! There’s nothing so high or so deep that it could keep God’s love from reaching us.

If we would try to contain God’s love, we’d need quite a container.

How tall would it be?

The heavens are calculated to be 46 billion light years higher than earth.

How deep?

The average depth of the ocean is about 12,100 feet, or 2.3 miles. The deepest part of the ocean, called the Challenger Deep, is located beneath the western Pacific Ocean. It is approximately 36,200 feet deep.

It’s impossible for us to even begin to understand just how vast an area that is!

But, we can be assured that

God loves us.

He’s got more than enough love to go around.

He’ll never run out of love.

Even if we wanted to avoid His love, we couldn’t.

Nothing can separate us from God’s love.

Biblical lessons Encouraging words Uncategorized

Leave a comment »
Feb 6

Trumpet Lessons

by Brenda Poulos

298724199_1b95de833b

I Thessalonians 4:16- “For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first.”

We live in a condominium with other families on both sides of us and one living overhead.

On Sunday evenings, the boy upstairs practices playing his trumpet.

When he first started trumpet lessons, I admit his practice sessions were a bit annoying. However, he has either improved a lot or or we’ve just gotten used to the sounds. In either case, practice doesn’t last more than 10-15 minutes.

We used to cringe when we heard the first blast, but now I actually look forward to hearing him play around 7 p.m.

More than that, of course, I anticipate hearing the trumpet of God because it will signal the return of Jesus to earth and call together both living Christians and those who have died prior to that time.

It will be an unbelievably glorious celebration. The event of all time.

The trumpet call of God.

Now that’s something to look forward to.

Biblical lessons Encouraging words Uncategorized

1 Comment »
Blog at WordPress.com.